African Restaurants in Rhode Island

Suya Joint in Providence serves Nigerian dishes in a colorful setting designed by Libby Slader. Photography by Angel Tucker

Suya Joint

Cuisine: Nigerian

Bringing Nigerian flavors to Westminster Street, newcomer Suya Joint serves African eats coupled with inviting decor. Chef and owner Cecelia Lizotte is originally from the village of Qua’an Pan in Plateau State, Nigeria, where her grandmother’s small village restaurant inspired her to open her own eatery in the United States. After launching her first location in Boston, she expanded into Providence, enticing guests with savory jollof rice, tender beef or chicken, egusi stew, beans and sweet fried plantains. Wash down your meal with a guava margarita or Zuma Rock punch cocktail. 320 Westminster St., Providence, 388-4952, suyajoint.com 

The Village

Cuisine: African

Journey to Africa at this Nigerian restaurant that specializes in many vegan and vegetarian dishes. Sit down for a meal or take it to go to experience pastries like puff puffs (West African round doughnuts), chin chin (crispy fried dough), meat pies, fish rolls and buns, followed by plates of spicy stews served with rice and plantains. Stews and soups come with fufu (pounded yam), which you use to soak up specialties like efo riro, leafy greens cooked in red stew and flavored with smoked crayfish, fish and turkey; or egusi stew, leafy greens cooked with African melon seed and flavored with smoked crayfish, fish and turkey. You can add your choice of meat or fish to any stew for more sustenance. 100 Fountain St., Providence, 270-3000; 200 Main St., Pawtucket, 727-8444, thevillagerestaurantri.com