Assinie, the elegant African restaurant in the 17th arrondissement, awakens the taste buds

Located in the 17th arrondissement of Paris, the Assinie restaurant invites you on a culinary journey between the Ivory Coast and France. After a fire last December, the restaurant was reborn to offer a unique sensory experience in the heart of Paris. With its new decor and colorful cuisine, this restaurant is a tribute to West Africa.

We're off to the 17th arrondissement of Paris to discover Assinie, an African restaurant that has risen from the ashes. From the outside, there's nothing to suggest the restaurant's beautiful interior design and cosy atmosphere, so we're taking you on a tour of this place that combines fine food and flavors from elsewhere.

At Assinie, every detail evokes the Ivory Coast, inspired by the Ivorian seaside resort of the same name. You'll find the warm spirit of a village where families and friends gather for memorable moments, between land and sea, in a convivial atmosphere. The founders, sisters Fleur and Isabelle Beke, put their dual cultures at the service of a sincere cuisine, rich in flavours and spices, inviting you to immerse yourself in the flavours of West Africa.

The venue has two floors: the first, with different-sized tables on either side and a central bar at the end of the room, and the second, dedicated to groups and families for cocooning get-togethers. This is the ideal floor for business meals, birthdays or family gatherings.

Right from the start, lovers of exotic flavors will be delighted with fish or meat pastels, avocado salad with shrimps or the essential spicy chicken wings. These appetizers are perfect for those wishing to sample the diversity of African cuisine. Assinie also offers an assortment of tapas, ideal for sharing with friends or as a duo, especially when you don't know what to choose. It's the ideal choice for sampling a little of everything. Be careful though, it's copious, and we enjoyed it. Serve with a pretty exotic cocktail and you're in the sun with your taste buds.

For main courses, the restaurant features specialties such as braised Assinie captain or Garba, a typically Ivorian dish of grilled fish and manioc semolina. Lovers of Senegalese cuisine will also find the famous Yassa with chicken or fish, accompanied by simmered onions, while lamb mafé, with its peanut paste sauce, will delight lovers of rich, unctuous flavors. We were seduced by the richly flavored Braised Sea Bass and the generous Lamb Mafé.

The restaurant also offers a wide choice of side dishes, including rice, sweet potato fries,attiéké (steamed cassava semolina) and fried yams. Each of these toppings brings a unique texture and flavor, allowing plates to be modulated according to tastes and desires.

The choice of desserts is limited, but don't miss the Perle de mil (millet pearl) in sweetened yoghurt (Decuê), which combines freshness and sweetness for a light ending to the meal. Chocolate moelleux and vanilla ice cream with caramel coulis are also on offer for lovers of more classic desserts, but always with an African touch.

Assinie is thus a bridge between two cultures, a place where African heritage is celebrated while being rooted in the dynamism of Paris. For lovers of culinary discoveries and authentic experiences, this is an address to note in the 17th arrondissement. The restaurant invites you to savor every bite, to be swept away by unfamiliar flavors and to enjoy a warm, colorful setting set to music that takes you on a journey.

Whether you're coming with family, friends or for a special occasion, Assinie offers a real taste escape in Paris.