"The last few years have brought major accolades for Dakar NOLA, chef Serigne Mbaye’s Senegalese tasting menu restaurant in Uptown New Orleans. After first hosting tasting dinner pop-ups around town under the same name, Mbaye and Effie Richardson opened their permanent restaurant in late 2022, receiving a James Beard Award nomination for Emerging Chef that same year and again in 2023. But it was 2024 that brought the biggest win of all when Dakar NOLA was awarded Best New Restaurant. The much-deserved recognition adds an even greater shine to Mbaye’s dazzling cuisine, dishes like soupa konja, shrimp akara, Gulf fish yassa, and jollof." - Beth D'Addono