Im Herzen Afrikas

The indoor of the dining was very nice and vibey music but I was surprised by the service. As a solo diner I was seated within 5 minutes arriving to a bar-like table facing the wall. I sat for about 10 minutes before I could wave down a server for a menu since he forgot to give me one. I ordered still water, the hummus and a mixed platter. The mixed platter came out shortly and was good although I was expecting the hummus appetizer first. The server apologized and brought it out. I was surprised that it was cold hummus...it tasted like store bought with oil poured on top with cold flat bread despite the nice presentation. I had a couple of bites and took the rest to go. I was surprised to be charged for it despite getting it after my main meal. Overall, it was a fun vibe inside but wasn't very impressed with the service and the food was OK. I've had better and more traditional.

This is most definitely a hidden gem in Frankfurt! We were instantly greeted when we entered the door and seated (I'd recommend you call ahead and make a reservation as this place only had one small table available when we arrived). The waitress was bilingual and extremely helpful, and the food was packed with flavor.

Amazing place. If you want to try something truly different that's the place to go. The food was very tasty. The staff is friendly and very accommodating, they speak English. Prices are not too high. Tables can be reserved directly from their official website.

This is, hands down, the most fun atmosphere of any restaurant I've been to in years. The food and cocktails were superb, and the staff friendly and knowledgeable. I will go back to Frankfurt just to go to this restaurant.

Food was phenomenal! I had the mixed platter with a little bit of everything! Atmosphere is super nice too (decoration, music, etc.) Highly recommend and will definitely come back!

It was our first time trying Eritrean food and won’t be our last! Loved the selection included in the veggie platter and the banana mousse.

Amazing restaurant, great food with exceptional service and special ambiance

An unforgettable experience and an unconventional idea to spend a night together with friends. The staff is very friendly and makes a lot of genuine effort to explain the concept. And that was definitely important: there is a different way of eating the meal so the staff did their best to prepare us :) The food is a matter of taste I must admit. But we definitely liked the variety of flavors: sour, spicy, sweet, etc. I’d definitely recommend this place!

The indoor of the dining was very nice and vibey music but I was surprised by the service. As a solo diner I was seated within 5 minutes arriving to a bar-like table facing the wall. I sat for about 10 minutes before I could wave down a server for a menu since he forgot to give me one. I ordered still water, the hummus and a mixed platter. The mixed platter came out shortly and was good although I was expecting the hummus appetizer first. The server apologized and brought it out. I was surprised that it was cold hummus...it tasted like store bought with oil poured on top with cold flat bread despite the nice presentation. I had a couple of bites and took the rest to go. I was surprised to be charged for it despite getting it after my main meal. Overall, it was a fun vibe inside but wasn't very impressed with the service and the food was OK. I've had better and more traditional.

This is most definitely a hidden gem in Frankfurt! We were instantly greeted when we entered the door and seated (I'd recommend you call ahead and make a reservation as this place only had one small table available when we arrived). The waitress was bilingual and extremely helpful, and the food was packed with flavor.

Amazing place. If you want to try something truly different that's the place to go. The food was very tasty. The staff is friendly and very accommodating, they speak English. Prices are not too high. Tables can be reserved directly from their official website.

This is, hands down, the most fun atmosphere of any restaurant I've been to in years. The food and cocktails were superb, and the staff friendly and knowledgeable. I will go back to Frankfurt just to go to this restaurant.

Food was phenomenal! I had the mixed platter with a little bit of everything! Atmosphere is super nice too (decoration, music, etc.) Highly recommend and will definitely come back!

It was our first time trying Eritrean food and won’t be our last! Loved the selection included in the veggie platter and the banana mousse.

Amazing restaurant, great food with exceptional service and special ambiance

An unforgettable experience and an unconventional idea to spend a night together with friends. The staff is very friendly and makes a lot of genuine effort to explain the concept. And that was definitely important: there is a different way of eating the meal so the staff did their best to prepare us :) The food is a matter of taste I must admit. But we definitely liked the variety of flavors: sour, spicy, sweet, etc. I’d definitely recommend this place!

I loved everything about this restaurant. We were able to make a reservation online. We were welcomed warmly and seated immediately. The decor was cozy and I appreciated the sand on the floor, that definitely added to the ambience. We ordered the Hummus, the mixed platter, and the African Banana Cream. Everything was made with love and high quality ingredients. My favorite bite of the night was Dorho. Injera bread instead of utensils...genius! A scooper you can eat!

We had a large team dinner here and it was such a fantastic experience. The restaurant is absolutely unique and amazing. Food was fantastic; the entire team was raving about how good it was. Our server took the time to explain everything to us and really helped make it one of the best team dinners we have had!

First time eating Eastern African food. It was good. I enjoyed the spicy meat dish and the chickpeas. There is no such thing as good okra. Service was very good and the wait staff explained everything to the table. Ambiance is wicked cool. I felt like I was on the set of a Tarzan movie.

It has been a while since I visited, but I have always been pleased with my experience at I'm Herzen Afrikas (in Frankfurt and in mainz). They have a good selection and offer vegetarian plate with small portions of the vegetables. Their Tej has always been a pleasant addition. Staff has been helpful and they have been able to help in English as well (and have an English menu that cab be requested).

Very nice facility! Loved the dirt / sand floor touch. It was well decorated. The waiter that tendered to us did good staying on top of it. Reservations were a must! The food flavor was good - the best part was the flavoring of the injera. The meat samples were medium spice level.

Loved loved loved this place! There are two restaurants located next to each other. Would recommend making a reservation beforehand as this place can be packed. The decor was wonderful. From the ancient appearing door to the unique seating arrangement (floor vs above ground to traditional seating downstairs). Came here with my family for dinner on a weeknight and it was already packed. We were told a 45 min wait but it took much less than that. We were seated on the second floor in a corner area with a cozy table and 4 chairs. It was beautiful! We ordered the Mango, Guava and a combination mango-guava juice which I would highly recommend. For appetizer, the hummus platter was delicious! The bread with it tasted a lot like tortilla. Make sure you save room for the main entree. For the 3 of us, we chose the vegetarian platter which contained various main courses. It came out in a huge dish with 2 layers of injera bread at the bottom above which were the different vegetables and three additional injera breads for each individual. Yeah he bread was soft and light. The meal was absolutely delicious! They provided additional spicy sauce as well.

Absolutely delicious. Every bit of the meal was perfect. We were a party of 4 and had two different platters. There wasn't a dish that we didn't like. Five stars. Will return!

In Seattle we have very good Ethiopian cuisine. I was pleased to discover this highly reviewed East African restaurant in Frankfurt while I was traveling for work. The dining space is creatively subdivided into several cozy dining spaces. There's even a small treehouse loft that can accommodate 2 to 3 diners above the rest of room. I recommend the mixed plate with your choice of vegetarian or meat options. Additionally, their in-house beer is quite good. it's a casual dining environment where you eat with your hands. It is an unusual, creative, and delicious restaurant and I will definitely be back.

The food was good if a bit spicy for my taste, but I didn't like the spinach dish, and the 'bread' was super sour. Is it supposed to be sour? It would've been nice to eat with a spoon to not have to eat so much sour bread, but from other reviews, I gather that's not allowed. So... If you're not a fan of sour bread, bring your own (inconspicuous) spoon. Also the food took a while to come out, before that the waitress took a while to get our drink order, (even though it was soon after 4pm and they weren't busy at all) and it was really dark, so dark you can barely see any of the hundreds of framed photographs on the walls. The staff were friendly and the banana cream dessert other people were eating looked delicious - we were too full to try it though.

I was heading for a traditional German restaurant, but as I walked by Im Herzen Afrikas, the wonderful aromas stopped me in my tracks. Inside, I was greeted by staff as if I were a guest in their home -- or even family. I'm glad I came early, though. Shortly after I arrived, the restaurant began filling up. I chose a combination platter -- or rather, I left it to the server to chose it for me. She did a great job! She asked if I like spicy food (I do), and what she brought me was nicely spiced but more flavorful than hot. A pleasant surprise. At the end, when I received my bill, I got another pleasant surprise. The price was extremely reasonable. At home, I'd expect to pay at least twice as much. Since the restaurant is walking distance from the Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof, this would be a good place to try even if time is limited. The meal was served promptly, and the entire staff was attentive without "hovering." All in all, a wonderful experience!

I've heard a lot of good things about this place and wanted to try it myself. My friends didn't promise too much! The staff is really friendly and open-minded. The menu is pretty small but offers a nice balance between vegetarian and meat dishes. We ordered a plate to share with three people and just told them to pick the best dishes they have. All in all it's been a relatively cheap meal but delicious :)

We were in Frankfurt for one night and saw the rave reviews on this place on yelp and decided to check it out. We had been in the country for 8 days and were looking for a change of pace from the traditional German food (schnitzel, sausages, etc.). Im Herzen Afrikas absolutely lived up to the hype! We started with the hummus which was smooth and spicy. The home brewed beer was delicious. We chose the mixed platter for 3 people and really enjoyed all the choices that were picked for us! Beef, spicy beef, spicy chicken, creamed spinach, potatoes & carrots among other things! All delicious and eating family style was a great way to experience this cuisine. The service was fast and friendly. The interior atmosphere looked very trendy but we ate outside to enjoy the good weather. Can't say enough about this place!

Location: in the middle of downtown. Atmosphere: dim lights, great decor that takes you to another world. The restaurant is divided in two adjacent restaurants, as well as different traits that goes from a small tavern, sandy area, niches as well as small prehistoric huts. Do prepared for an informal setting, getting dirty with your hands as well eating on low tables. Food: portions are generous, great flavours, just dig in, good as well for vegetarians. Service: friendly, cordial.

Good Food, Great Service and nice ambience. Apt for groups, individuals or couples.... Pets are welcome as well!!!

I never thought I would find myself at an African restaurant in Germany, but I am so glad that I did! Every sauce is delicious but definitely feel free to ask the server on their recommendations! The portions were huge so I recommend getting the dish for less people than you have. The homemade juices are outstanding! I recommend the mango guava juice or any of their lemonades. The atmosphere is great, and the staff are all very friendly!!

Food, great; service, great. My wife and I got the sampler for two, let the chef decide the options and it was fantastic. The food had the perfect amount of spice and flavor; I'd recommend any day, not too spicy so don't be scared. Downstairs there's even a jacuzzi...super random. They have a selection of beer, wine, and mixed drinks. The staff is super friendly and upbeat! I plan on returning the next time I'm in Frankfurt.

This is my favorite place to eat in Frankfurt, especially in the summer. Great food. The combo plate has a variety of meat and vegetarian dishes ranging from mild to spicy so it's the perfect thing to share. I've also come here alone and it's a great meal for one. Honey wine and their house beer is excellent. Decor is fun and I love sitting downstairs. Great service. English menu is available as well.

Before going into the restaurant, nobody can make a guess about inside atmosphere and dishes, exactly they have a very interesting concept. Restaurant is designed like a cave, it's wooden furnishes, the ligthing and style of design are really attractive. Another interesting part is it's floor which is completely sand, if you are going an indoor place, stepping on a sand is a good surprise. About dishes, this is anothet interesting part of that place. Menu includes completly African traditional dishes but they are not very complex, everybody can understand what they can order, interesting part is style of eating. Nobody gives you a fork or knife, you have to use special type of thick dough and your hands will help you to eat. If you want a special dinner experience, this adress is for you.

Some day I'd like to go to Africa. Last week was probably the closest I could be without the cost of a plane ticket. The food is typical African fair, similar to Ethiopian food. The restaurant is dimly lit and there's sand everywhere except for the bathrooms. There is a wash sink to the side so that you can wash up before the experience. There are no utensils. You grab your food with traditional bread "Injera" which is homemade as is everything else here. There is a such a warm and inviting atmosphere and reservations must be made weeks in advance otherwise, pray that they can take you in as a walk-in which is how we lucked out after being told that they weren't taking any more reservations but we could try coming down and seeing if we could be seated. We arrived right at opening at 6pm and were told that we may stay as long as we were done by 7. Not a problem. The menu is very simple and easy to follow. We agreed and were seated at a communal table with another couple and shortly after another couple joined us. The food was simply amazing. The atmosphere was so relaxing and we were so happy and content with everything food to the amazing yummy cocktails. The lamb both hot and mild (spices were so wonderful) the chicken was slow-cooked to melt in your mouth, the lentils, oh so good. We're totally coming back with the rest of our team the next time we're in town.

I went to Im Herzen Afrikas with my two colleagues on one of our last nights in Frankfurt. We were looking for something different from your typical (or maybe touristy?) German food. The atmosphere was cool and different (there was sand indoors so that was fun). While I'm vegan, my colleagues are not and we were all so impressed with how delicious and flavorful everything was. We got Hummus and Flatbread, the Mixed Vegan Plate, and the Mixed plate. Our work trip to Frankfurt was almost a year ago at this point, but we still haven't stopped raving about this place. Highly recommend!

One of the first restaurants we visit as we moved to Frankfurt. Always nice atmosphere, friendly staff and delicious food, from appetizer to dessert. It's very funny to eat there because you eat it with hands! Yummy cocktails and if you are into beer try their craft african ! And yes very cool interior, it's really authentic, like in Africa with sand on floor! And it's not expensive.

Once it has been a insider's tipp, it became THE location for eating something different than italian, asian or home-style food. My opinion: Definitely go there, but not too often (just every (second) year)) What to expect: Sitting in sand or normal chairs (depends if you book in the restaurant or bar). You'll get a plate of african bread and different mashs and pastes (including humus). It's not exclusivly but mostly vegetarian. This will cost 10 Euro and everybody on the table has to join in on this all-you-can-eat-plate. Honestly, I've never tried the single meals. And I havent been to Africa so far, so I can't say anything about the authentication of the food. But it tastes good enough ;) Summary: Extra Point for ambience. Minus points for not making meat-focused persons happy and for getting bored if going there too often. Edit: I forgot to mention the service. Very good and friendly. Really trying to help you and bring you the food you deserve in just a few moments. Cheers

I've been here a couple of times. In both instances, I've ordered the mixed platter. The beef is pretty good and so are the vegetarian options. I wasn't particularly impressed by their potato and onion option or the chicken in spicy tomato sauce. I'd opt out of it. The injira is pretty soft but could a bit better cooked though. I've had some pretty good African food in the bay area, as a result this could sound critical (although my criticism of the chicken still stands). I'd rate the place at 3.5 stars. FYI the place doesn't accept cards of almost any kind. It's mentioned that debit cards are accepted. However my visa debit wasn't accepted. So keep cash in hand

Polite staff, great looking ethnic place. Sand instead of hard floor surprised me, pleasantly. Food was good, not that it surprised me, but eating with bare hands was an interesting experience.

I've been to this place many times and I can only say: It's not only amazing, unusual (for Westerners) food, but also quite the experience. (Opens only for dinner from 6 pm on). Grab a couple of friends, reserve!! and maybe you're lucky enough to be seated in the tree house inside the restaurant! (up to 4 people). Here, you feel like on a safari. The waiter brings honey wine or their home brewed African beer. Of course they have also the usual stuff like coke. Then you order a plate to share with vegetables, meat etc. You eat with your hands! Their famous "Injera", which is sort of a sourdough pancake, helps you to pick up the food and put it in your mouth. After this, everybody is full and happy! Guaranteed. Also I want to mention the exceptionally nice service staff. Super friendly, fun and helpful. You will feel like at a friend's place.

Both food and atmosphere were awesome and prices were reasonable. There is something for everyone. Vegetarian, non-vegetarian, and vegan. We tried them all and would recommend this place to anyone.

The problem with Frankfurt's food scene is that certain types of food are oversaturating the market. Ethiopian/Eritrean food is one of them. And damn- I have no problem with this AT ALL. But, there are some that are better than others. Im Herzen Afrikas is just okay to me. I think for the average person, this may be a fan favorite because of the interior. It is cheesy and caters to groups looking for a different experience. The wall decor is all African and the seating is on the floor as many East African experiences are. I, personally, hate this. It is fun one time, but I would never continuously go back here to sit uncomfortably on the floor for hours on end. I will admit that the atmosphere is rather cozy, with many of the tables and sections because in quiet corners, however. They claim to offer African beers, but they don't. They have their own beers for the place that are brewed in Germany with African names. This was not to my liking. At all. If I'm going to eat East African food, I'd like an East African, or even any African beer. After not liking the beers much, I ordered a cocktail. Poor thing was filled with about 10 fruit flies or baby wasps. We couldn't decide what it was. But it was bugs for sure. I quietly told the waiter, who was very apologetic and offered me a new one, but I figured the bugs were in the liquor bottle or syrups so there was not going to be another drink. He did take the drink off of the bill without any hesitation so I can not commend the customer service enough at the place. The food was pretty good. Not the best I have had, but decent. They did make it nice and spicy, which I liked. I won't be going back here. I have already found my favorite East African joints in Frankfurt, and this isn't one of them. But if you're looking for a cool and different atmosphere for a coworker event or something with kids, this is your place!

This place was great. Our first night in Frankfurt and we were looking for vegan/vegetarian food. It was outstanding, sizable portions. The servers were very attentive. Only issue: I had a US Visa card and they only accepted Maestro Visa, so I had to scramble for an ATM. Apologies that I forgot to tip the server. Next time!

Spoken while adorned with full beard and a beautiful woman under each arm, "I don't often travel to Frankfurt, but when I do, I make sure to dine at Im Herzen Afrika's". This place is the real deal. When you leave the cold wet streets of Frankfurt you walk into a warm and inviting Safari camp on the plains of the Kilimanjaro. The menu is short and simple. Ignore it. Put your entire faith and trust in the waitstaff. They will take great care of you. More importantly, I can't think of another restaurant where the entire staff seems so happy to be there and to be serving. For that reason alone, this is worth the trip. Add the unusual atmosphere and the fantastic food you have one of my favorite restaurants to return to. Suddenly the thought of returning to Frankfurt in February doesn't seem so bleak.

This was a really great spot with tasty food, drinks, and fun atmosphere. Inside it is quite warm with sand throughout most of the restaurant. We got the mixed platter for non veg and it came with a variety of food with the bread for eating. I also got a mango guava drink that was quite tasty.

Very tasty food , service also amazing , I love the dark beer very much :))) u won't be disappointed for this place ^^

If you're ever in Frankfurt make sure you dine here! What a fun experience, and on top of that excellent food! I had never had African but can tell you this was delicious. Like other reviewers have said I would just go with the staff's recommendations, especially if you don't speak German. We had delicious lamb, spicy chicken, lentils, vegetables, potatoes and spinach. It's all piled on a round plate over yummy crepes you just use to grab everything with your hands -- no utensils required. Besides the food, the atmosphere is another big draw. It really feels like you're in Africa, immersed in the culture. And definitely not in a cheesy way. Just go see for yourself!

10 day business trip in Frankfurt allowed an opportunity to check out restaurants in the financial district. Liked Heart of Africa so much, took colleagues back a few nights later. From the great African themed ambiance, attentive staff, to the superb food, a super experience from beginning to end. We shared a platter of various meats and another of vegetables.

I really loved this restaurant. Definitely a fun atmosphere, beautifully decorated, and very unique. The food is delicious and seasoned nicely. We also had the delicious cocktails and the African style honey wine was heavenly. Definitely recommend this place. Make sure to book a reservation, the place fills fast.

A welcoming change from average restaurants, this African place has good food, a cozy atmosphere and great service. We were 10 people and had a reservation for Saturday afternoon - unfortunately not in the "sand-floor" part of the restaurant but in the one next door. Not a major let-down of course, because it's just as cozy and we had an entire booth for ourselves. The lighting is very ambient, they seem to take the name "The Dark Continent" quite literally. A bit more light might have been a plus here and there. Since we were so many, we ordered a mixed plate for 10 people which altogether cost us 100EUR (so 10EUR for each). It was served on two big round baskety thingys with extra Injera bread. The bread served as cutlery with which you had to pick up the food. The variety was huge and about 50/50 vegetarian/meat. Most of the dishes were very spicy, hardly any were not, so this kind of food is not something for people who don't like it spicy. I liked it a lot though, everything I tried was very delicious. The service was also great and all of our waiters and waitresses were very nice and caring.

I really enjoyed my visit to Im Herzen Afrikaas. I have never been to sub-Saharan Africa so can't vouch for the authenticity from that point of view, but have been to similar restaurants in London (a particularly good one in Brixton) that have been lauded as very authentic and the food here is similar. Cutlery is generally not used, instead the Injera bread is used to scoop up the variety of African spiced stews. Although others have suggested that the food is "very spicy" I would compare the level of spice to an average authentic Indian dish, though the flavours are pleasantly and interestingly different. The tasting platter is undoubtedly a winner. The cocktails too are delicious. I agree with other reviewers that although the sand, raised dining area and low lighting add to the atmosphere they are perhaps a little on the gimmick side, but am happy to let this slide as the good food and service made it all part of the experience. It is advisable to book on traditionally busy nights.

Oh,the many ways this place oozes atmosphere. Starting with the eclectic seating arrangement: some sit around tables, while others lounge on animal-print beds, one table is perched up a ladder in a "tree-house" and another is inside a mud-hut. The restaurant was busy all night long, and the smiley, friendly wait staff greeted all with a big smile. Against their online advice, I didn't have a reservation on this Saturday night... no problem, they found space for everyone. The music is upbeat and african (of course) And the food is delicious. I ordered a vegetarian platter and received exactly what I would hope for from an eritrean/ethiopian restaurant: the Injera was some of the light & fluffiest I've tasted. The Hamli was yummy and the Timtimo had just the right amount of spice. My honey-wine came in a glass with round bottom and very long neck, it might have had a first-life in a science lab, no worries, it worked. If I'm ever in Frankfurt again, I'll be right back here.

Interesting restaurant, with an unusual style and setup of seating arrangements, yet it is nice and cozy! My first contact with African food, the meat was very tasty, and so were the veg dishes! I did not like the cold "bread" served with the big plate! The service was outstanding! Worth a look!!!

I've been here already three times since I moved too Frankfurt. It's awesome! Staff is super super nice! Great food, great atmosphere. You will enjoy it!

This place is amazing! We decided to give it a try while in town for a few days. The food was delicious, the setting was comfortable, and the staff was very friendly! I got the veggie platter and he got the mixed platter. Both just 12.50 each and more than enough food! Would definitely recommend if you're in the area :)

Sandy restaurant = epic ambiance, food to match.

Very good food from Eritrea with several high quality vegetarian options. Almost half the menu is meatless. The home brew is interesting although it can sometimes be a little fermented. The decoration of this restaurant is a plus. Customer service is very friendly and accommodating. Reservations are recommended, particularly for large parties.

Fantastic Ethiopian food at very low prices. Wonderful service and ambiance. Highly recommend.

It was a cold, cold night. The wind was blowing, and it was snowing heavily as we trudged up the street. But upon walking through the door of Im Herzen Afrikas, we entered a different world. There were drapes hanging from the ceiling, sand on the floor, and a man with dreadlocks playing bongos in the corner. It was like stepping through some gonzo variation on The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. The joint was heaving with customers, all of them seeming to be enjoying themselves, and we'd had the good sense to book a couple of days in advance. Instead of a table, however, we were directed to a pit area where guests perched on low stools with side tables. We perused the menus (which were polished slabs of wood with sheets of paper clipped to them), placed our order and settled down to sip a Fresh Safari cocktail and enjoy the atmosphere. The food was exceptional. It's supposedly traditional Eritrean cuisine, where various delicacies are ladled onto a platter and you scoop them into your mouth using only your hands and a spongy, sour-scented flatbread. We had about five dishes to choose from; hot (very hot) spicy chicken; stewed lamb and onions; red lentils; creamed spinach; and grilled potatoes and carrots. With the exception of the spinach, which was a gloopy-green and somewhat overcooked, my taste-buds were reeling with delight. The service was friendly and courteous, and the bill was ridiculously low. Would recommend Im Herzen Afrikas without hesitation. The only sticking point is the necessity of planning; it's not the kind of place you can visit on impulse. But with prices so cheap and food so good, together with a winning ambience, it's not difficult to see why. For a few blissful hours, we could forget it was winter and pretend we were somewhere warmer. You might even be forgiven for peeling off the winter wellies and socks just to feel the sand between your toes.

Nice food and hospitality. It would've been nice to eat with a spoon to not have to eat so much sour bread, but from other reviews, I gather that's not allowed.

Absolutely awesome! We tried the sampler platter with lamb, chicken, and an assortment of veggies. Everything was delicious, and very friendly service, too.

Just go with the recommendations from the staff. Lamb and Chicken were both great. Very spicy but this place is a real surprise. Would definitely return.

The food was really good and the place was charming. I enjoyed the décor, the music, and the low lighting. However, I cannot give this place more than two stars, which is quite generous considering our experience. We were very dissatisfied with the customer service. When I asked the server for a spoon or a fork, she responded that the restaurant did not have any spoons or forks. I responded that they must have spoons because they serve desserts. The server admitted that I was right. She however stated that the spoons were only for the desserts and she was "not allowed" to give them to us. I asked then if the manager would be allowed to give us spoons and she answered in affirmative. The first thing that the manager said was again that the restaurant did not have spoons. I again responded that they must have them because they serve desserts. Again, he admitted that I was right. Lying into customers' face is a questionable business strategy. The manager explained that it was the restaurant's tradition to only allow eating with hands and that he would not break it. I pointed to my plate, which had four different stews on it, including a runny spinach dish and explained that I did not want to eat all these stews with the bread-like pancake that they served it with and which was supposed to be used for eating their dishes as opposed to using silverware. (If you are new to this type of eating, you take a piece of that bread, grab food with it and eat it together. At the end, you end up eating an equal, if not greater, amount of bread than the food that you ordered.) He said that he could bring us sliced cucumbers that could serve as spoons. There is a dramatic difference between encouraging certain practices and forcing them upon people. Here, we were forced to eat our food with cucumbers since eating with hands and consuming a very large amount of bread were not the options for us. If the restaurant is so inflexible, it should clearly state on their menu that eating with hands is mandatory and no exceptions will be granted. To only make our dining experience worse, the area that we were sitting in (downstairs of the restaurant) was quite incompatible with how the restaurant wants you to eat their food. The downstairs area has extremely low chairs (like for babies) and extremely low tables (also like for babies). I am really not exaggerating here. At first, I actually thought that it was pretty charming. However, since you are sitting on this tiny chair at a tiny table, your plate is quite far from you. As a consequence, you are squeezing your stomach (very uncomfortable) when you try to bend over and get close to your plate in order to either eat with your hands, or in our case, with cucumbers. Otherwise, you are risking having the food all over you. Ok, I get it, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. But, this is Frankfurt, Germany, and not an African country where my request for a spoon or fork could be shocking or offending to local traditions. I have been to numerous African style restaurants in various countries and have never encountered a similar problem. Well what can I say, when you pay 10 Euros or less for a meal, you get what you pay for, here it would be a substandard service.

Came on Tuesday 9th August with friend and kids. Reservation worked well. We got table next to the bar facing the window. Service are very polite and friendly, we got all the wishes we wanted, even sugar for the kids to dip the pancake :) A little tip, perhaps they should make little children menu for family like us. Children have difficulties eating the food, they are too spicy. African fresh coctail was refreshing, can be more rum in it Food was best. We left the place with satisfaction.