Le Virunga
African restaurant · La Fontaine Park ·
African fusion cuisine with slow-cooked meats and South African wines
African fusion cuisine with slow-cooked meats and South African wines
"Afro-Portuguese chef Maria-José de Frias named her restaurant after this national park in the Congo Basin in her home country (DRC). Here, produce from Quebec meets sub-Saharan African spices and ingredients, such as yam, plantain, turmeric and manioc. Each plate showcases sincere, spicy fusion cuisine, a shining example being msukumo wa kisiwa, in which beef blade roast is cooked at a low temperature and glazed with a curry and turmeric jus. In the inviting, intimate space of this restaurant focused on faraway horizons, Zoya, the chef's daughter, is a friendly and generous presence. Exclusively South African wine list." - Michelin Inspector
"Behind this six-year-old Rachel Street spot is a mother-daughter duo expertly wielding Quebec ingredients into pan-African flavours. Think tender, slow-cooked meats (oxtail, goat, etc.), nut-encrusted fish, and some seriously stunning cocktails. The restaurant’s wine list is also 100 percent South African." - Joel Balsam
"Near Parc LaFontaine I found their Pan-African restaurant built around conviviality and respect: chef Maria-José de Frias says she 'puts myself in the role of an African mother — without taking a plane, I will make you feel at home,' and they love when solo diners leave feeling part of the family. The restaurant is known for Maria-José’s refined dishes made with high-quality local ingredients and for the warmth of Zoya’s front-of-house service; after six years in business they’ve navigated early growing pains, treat family life as separate from restaurant work, and emphasize giving each other space and responsibility as professional partners." - Ivy Lerner-Frank
"Snug quarters, intricate decor, and soft lighting make this Plateau pan-African spot an obvious pick for date night. Expect local ingredients given the sub-Saharan treatment, on-point service, stunning cocktails, and South African wines." - Eater Staff
"I noticed Le Virunga taking part in Phi Centre collaborations, contributing to the inventive partnerships that kept the scene active." - Valerie Silva