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My guidebook said this was a good restaurant and I must say I had a nice meal. The surroundings are an airy tastefully decorated, open area with some nice ceiling fans. The temperature was exactly right. The service was friendly and I was given a nice dish of popcorn and peanuts while I waited for my food. A nice cold Flag beer arrived and I managed a few postcards while my dinner was prepared.
My starter, a mixed tuna salad, was fresh and tasty. I ordered the Poulet Yassa, having absolutely no idea what it was. What a great choice! This is a chicken dish from Senegal. It is made by marinating the chicken with onions and lemon or lime (lime in this case). The chicken itself was a little on the thin side, but reflect the local chickens I guess. Once I had it off the bone and mixed with my rice I was amazed at just how good it was. They also have a good wine selection and several desserts made from local fruit. Main meals are around 4700CFA (7€, $9).
All in all, a nice meal.
They are open for lunch and dinner.
Please note: If your motorcycle taxi does not know the restaurant, ride with another. Its down a side street. My driver took me straight there for 250CFA.
Favorite Dish:
A niced mixed salad with tuna to start. Poulet Yassa with rice for a main meal. All washed down with some Flag beer.
Updated Apr 23, 2012
Address: Rue du Révérend Père Kitti, Zongo, Cotonou
Phone: +229 21 31 29 32
Website: http://www.petitfute.com/adresse/etablissement/id/196114/le-pili-pili-restaurant-cotonou
Helpfulness
I had read about this place as being an ex-pat heaven in the middle of an ex-pat area and decided I would go for a beer and maybe eat here. I wish I had not. I pulled up on my motorcycle taxi to see a packed outside terrace at the front. I made my way inside for a beer and a seat. After a long period of trying 3 different ladies to order a beer- I sat down with my nice Flag beer. That's when it all went wrong. I snapped 2 pictures of the bar and then one of my beer in front of a little gnome character in a funny uniform.
"What are you doing!?"
"Why are you taking pictures!?"
I never want to see a man that big and that angry ever come running at me in any situation for the rest of my life. I honestly thought he might do me or my camera (or both) harm. I made the mistake of being shocked and silent and this seem to make the big man more angry. It took me a few seconds to even connect him with the restaurant. When I tried to explain he let his facial expressions know I was very unwelcome. He watched me until I finished my beer and left.
I find it hard to believe that no one ever celebrated a birthday or had a night out in this place with a flash camera before. I have been treated better by armed guards after taking an accidental picture of a Presidential Palace before.
This was the only aggression I ever had in Benin. All the other businesses I went into were very nice. Some even posed with my VT flag.
So if you are a Tourist - please find somewhere else. Its shocking that any establishment serving customers would become angry because a customer took a photo of the beer they just paid for.
Favorite Dish:
I didn't even get a menu!
Updated Apr 16, 2012
Address: Haie Vive, Cotonou, Benin
Phone: 21 30 27 58
Website: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/benin/cotonou/entertainment-nightlife/music/le-livingstone
Le Festival des Glaces is a popular restaurant chain with restaurants in Cotonou, Lomè, Douala and Dakar. They have bakery, pizzeria and ice cream as the speciality. The food and the prices attract tourists and the local middle class.
There are two Festival restaurants in Cotonou. One close to the traffic circle, Carrefour de Cadjehoun and one in Boulevard Steinmetz, not far from the Missebo market. The warm streets of Cotonou makes this aircondion restaurant a good choice.
This restaurant is a meeting point for young, middle class Africans.
Updated Nov 7, 2010
Address: Boulevard Steinmetz
Phone: +229 21317343, +229 21318125
Salon Glacier is a eating place located 200 m from the airport terminal. I ate a skinny chicken and icecream as desert right before I left Benin. Without stumach problems afterwards.
It is a tivoli or children playground right beside this restuarant. Maybe a good place for the children to use up their energy before a long air flight.
Updated Nov 6, 2010
The food is Belgian, and many dishes can be called authentic Belgian. The owner, Valerie, takes pride in serving Belgian food and her restaurant is cosy.
It is special for good service, good food, good wines and ...
Favorite Dish: Shrimps Croquettes and Steak Tartare. It's the only restaurant in West Africa where I will eat a Steak Tartare (raw minced beef where you add the condiments yourself). You do not want to mess with the condiments yourself, ask Valerie to prepare it for you. Delicious. And I never got sick, not even a stomach ache, from the Steak Tartare.
Written Mar 19, 2009
Address: Haie Vive main road, turn at Brasserie L'Europe.
Helpfulness
Intimate small restaurant with a choice of genuine Moroccan dishes. Nicely decorated. The owner is very helpful explaining the dishes. GO there.
Favorite Dish: The stews are excellent. You can also ask if they can propose dishes. GREAT.
Written May 25, 2006
Address: Piste Amalco in Haie Vive
Helpfulness
Outside restaurant of the Benin Marina Hotel. The right place for lunch. Very nice staff. Good value for money and the view is great around the poolside. Their extensive a-la-carte menu also offers indigenous african dishes.
Favorite Dish: Langouste Thermidor.
Written May 25, 2006
Address: Boulevard de la Marina (opposite French school)
Helpfulness
Nice place to have your meal. Enclosed patio. Live music on saturday nights. Pizza's and Lebanese food. Good value for money.
Favorite Dish: The fist page of their menu. Order must be for 3 minimum but check with the waiters. It is a table full of delights from Lebanon. Not their cheapest dish but definetely their best.
Written May 25, 2006
Address: Piste Amalco (almost at the end) in Haie Vive
Nice to sit outside and have your meal. For 5.000 Fcfa per head you'll have a meal. Drinks are not to expensive. Place is frequented a lot by expatriates living in Benin. Pizza's, Pasta's, Seafood etc.
Favorite Dish: Crevettes Americain
Written May 25, 2006
Address: Piste Amalco (Haie Vive)
Like most nice restaurants in Cotonou, it is above street level. The tables are arranged so that each table seems private. The owner is accommodating and has a daily menu. This is a great place to have a business lunch or dinner.
Written Feb 27, 2004
Address: just off Avenue Clozel
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