Madiba Restaurant – South African Street Food in Brooklyn
By Katherine Jacobson
Looking for a unique foodie experience in Fort Greene? Madiba Restaurant, a traditional South African joint nestled in one of Brooklyn’s hottest neighborhoods, is a perfect spot to get your multicultural eating on. The inventive dining establishment boasts lively servers, beautifully spiced foods, and uniquely flavored dipping sauces, as well as a funky interior that adds that much more intrigue to the culinary adventure. The warm, dim light and lively conversations make a perfect scene for date nights, while the fabulous food easily make this a go-to spot.
We started out with Mom’s Salmon Cake with Roe and Peppadew Mayo. The crispy patty was cooked to perfection; it had a slight crunch to the exterior while the inside was warm, gooey, and salty. The fishy fritter was served on a thick slice of papaya and onion, which gave a fresh, juicy kick to counterbalance the irresistibly salty cake.
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We also tried their Durban Samoosas, stuffed with Potato and Whole Peas and served with Chutney and Atchar. Atchar is a hot South African condiment, usually made from unripe mangoes and chilies. If you’ve never sampled it, it’s definitely worth a try! It’s so tasty, zesty, and unique. The combination of the atchar, chutney, and samoosas gave this dish a sweet, spicy, and tangy flavor, all in one tantalizing bite. YUM!
To cool off our tongues before the main course, we sipped on one of their many addictive juices. Our mocktail of choice boasted Guava, Orange, Cranberry, and Lime—a vibrant blend of fruity deliciousness that was incredibly creative.
The first entrée we sampled was the Vegetable Breyani, which included Chickpeas, Mixed Vegetables, Lentils, Cape Malay Rice Pilaf, and a Boiled Egg. This classic African offering had just enough spice to make the lentils and chickpeas sing, while raisins studding the rice added an element of sweet surprise to every bite.
Next came the Pap & Vleis, a Rack of Lamb Chops served with Chakalaka. Pap is a white cornmeal side that is similar to polenta or grits. Chakalaka, a peppery South African vegetable relish filled with beans, peppers, carrots, tomatoes, onions, and cabbage, is often paired with the more mild pap. The meatiness of lamb, which was seasoned to perfection, the heat of the chakalaka, and the cooling creaminess of the pap blended together to form an exquisite plate. And, like every other dish we tried that night, the chefs at Madiba nailed it with the level of spiciness.
But despite every offering being fantastic, my favorite part of the evening had to be the delicious Dipping Sauces that are served alongside every meal. Very attractively plated, in a long row, the eclectic variety of dips includes Yoghurt Tzaziki, Salsa, Banana Coconut, and Chutney. The best thing about the assortment was that there was a sauce for everyone. Each person I came to Madiba with left raving about a different one. I personally couldn’t get enough of the yoghurt tzaziki, but all of the rest were close seconds!
If your palate is piqued, visit Madiba sooner rather than later. The long-standing restaurant may be closing due to rising rents making it more and more difficult for a restaurant to survive in Fort Greene. If you would like to #savemadibabrooklyn, visit their indiegogo page and donate some much needed funds. They already have over 85 backers and $18,000 raised, but they still need all the foodie help they can get to reach their goal of raising $200,000 before the end of January. So come dine at Madiba, luxuriate in the amazing African cuisine, and, if you love it as much as I did, help Madiba stay open by donating!