Le Café de Yaoundé

Le Café de Yaoundé is a charming restaurant in the city of Yaoundé, Cameroon, surrounded by a vibrant rose garden and warmly decorated with many examples of local art. The menu is predominately Italian but also contains a bit of Mediterranean and African flare.

Upon arrival my friends and I were seated promptly in the main restaurant, though they also have what looked like courtyard seating for those willing to risk dining with mosquitos. We weren’t feeling that brave. The staff was pleasant and happy to answer any questions we had. I chose the lasagna, my go-to in any Italian restaurant, while my friends ordered the captain fish and the shrimp and avocado salad. Having sampled some of each, I’d say the fish was underwhelming while the salad and lasagna were both excellent. It seems the food is hit or miss here.

The wonderful décor was certainly a highlight of our dining experience and the owner was around to answer questions about the artwork adorning the walls, which was pleasant. With an open atmosphere we were kind of concerned about bugs and heat, but the staff did a wonderful job keeping both at bay.

Overall, I would certainly return here on my next trip to the area, but might avoid ordering anything related to seafood and stick with the Italian options.