New Restaurant Alert: Bed-Stuy's Le Toukouleur
Bedford Ave. in Bed-Stuy is turning into something of a Restaurant Row for the neighborhood (in that there are now, well, about two restaurants), despite being an otherwise pretty foresaken stretch of road. The newest entry, Le Toukouleur, celebrated its grand opening last night with free appetizers and drinks. Not being one to pass up…
Bedford Ave. in Bed-Stuy is turning into something of a Restaurant Row for the neighborhood (in that there are now, well, about two restaurants), despite being an otherwise pretty foresaken stretch of road. The newest entry, Le Toukouleur, celebrated its grand opening last night with free appetizers and drinks. Not being one to pass up free food and alcohol, and also because I work sort of in the neighborhood sometimes, I decided to examine the place more closely.
While self-described as “French-African,” Le Toukouleur could probably, based on their limited offerings, be considered more of an “Algerian-Caribbean” restaurant, if such a thing exists. For the opening party, they provided a spread of tapas-style appetizers that equally represented the various ethnic elements that went into the restaurant: delicious beef wraps with sliced peppers, and sliced tomato and pesto on puff pastry covers the French aspect (along with some French cognac and wines), while saltfish cakes, shrimp rolls, fresh fruit juices and wondefully potent Trinidadian rum took care of the Caribbean element. All the snacks were artfully prepared, including the open-faced mini cheeseburgers, which forgo a top roll in favor of a tiny dollop of ketchup. The decor is African-inspired and chic, with original art on the walls and windows by a New Jersey-based artist (not sure about the giant African mask). The African design elements are balanced by attractive black tables and leather couches in place of booths (complete with pillows), and plants everywhere.
While the Bed-Stuy neighborhood has certainly seen demographic shifts in the last few years, Le Toukouleur doesn’t seem like a product of gentrification, and since the Franklin Ave. subway is several blocks away, likely won’t see many people coming from other neighborhoods; it does, however, have the makings of an excellent neighborhood restaurant, with its combination of vibrant neighborhood elements, friendly staff and, if the appetizers are any indication, fun, tasty food. Also, two glasses of the rum and you’re set for the walk home.
1160 Bedford Ave. (at Quincy St.). (718) 622 0607. Website will be www.letoukouleur.com, not up yet.
After all, it was only a coupla strong trade winds that blew the African across the Atlantic channel, yes?
One l’atitude 😉
Tou’ couleur
all colors maybe
or more appropriately
Toucouleur people of West Africa
If you travel to Senegal and other parts of West Africa, you’d be surprised to see much of what you describe as “Caribbean” food much in evidence…all the plantains, sorrel, ginger beer, pelau, and thick meat stews that are at the center of “Caribbean” menus…a whole lotta scotch bonnet peppers in the W. African food!
I think it is great that more and more places are opeing up ( be is slow and gradual )so we can start staying in the neighbor hood for a bite to eat rather than go else where.
I ate here last night and it was delicious! I would agree that the food is a bit pricey for grabbing food on the way home, but it’s definitely worth the splurge (13-17 for main courses). I had the lamb kebab with a side of senegalese rice. One of my favorites meals of late, nice decor, extremely warm and friendly staff, and good music. A welcome addition to the neighborhood!
god i hope the food is good. we’re dying for new restaurants around here. several have opened but they just don’t get it. the lafayette bistro on franklin had priomise, but the food is inconsistent and often awful, so people gave up on it. really cold decor also. then the buzz about the new pizza/sandwich/coffee place on bedford and lexington, “foccaccerria (??)” is also poor. they put alot of money into the decor, but apparently can’t make a decent pizza or sandwich. shame, if they’d get it right the business would boom.
We stopped in shortly after the opened. Nice decor, friendly waitress, and really good food. The mussel appetizer is done with a sort of coconut milk and worth sopping up with extra bread. I had a mafe, which was satisfying but not memorable, and my girlfriend had a lamb kebab that was delicious. The sides were also good, and the bread comes with both butter and two kinds of cheeses. They don’t have a liquor license (yet?) but are totally cool with you stopping by the bodega across the street (which happens to have the best beer selection for blocks and blocks). There’s a wine store up Bedford at Lafayette (about 5 blocks) if you’d prefer. My only gripe is it’s too pricey to be casual on-the-way-home from work food, at least to my budget. Entrees are in the mid teens if I recall correctly. Interestingly, the take-out menu they gave us shows prices about $3 cheaper. I don’t know if that’s intentional or a misprint.
Hope they make it.
What the f— Sylvia no one to bring home not even a drunk owner unconchious (must be a higher stage of drunkenness.) Try to lose weight, complain to your mother and or get new teeth.
is the restaurant neighborhood people friendly?
oh, common, this place looks maybe atractive but don’t get fooled be the appearance and nice music, by midnight you will find a drunk owner unconchious at the bar. sad, it could be a nice hangout place, but who normal would spend the money to see alcoholic.