MLI: Restaurant Balasoko

Have you had guinea fowl before?

The French occupation of Mali during the late 19th century has resulted in not only the language being designated as the national language, but also the assimilation of the cuisine into the local food scene. Located within the premise of the peaceful Mali National Park, Restaurant Balasoko serves French cuisine.

English translation is available on the menu, but the servers that I encountered that day couldn't really speak English.

Bread

I enjoyed the bread that was really crunchy, but perfectly fluffy inside. While I usually only eat one when going to a restaurant, I just had to eat two with unsalted butter that afternoon.

Pumpkin Soup

Taste: 8.5/10

Served gratis as an amuse-bouche to each patron, the creamy pumpkin soup poured into a small glass was tasty. I enjoyed its thick consistency and the natural sweetness that came from the pumpkins.

Captain Fish Terrine with Mixed Salad CFA 5,000 (~S$11.70)

Taste: 6.5/10

I'd planned to order rabbit terrine (French savoury meat, fish or vegetable mixture typically served in slices), but it wasn't available. Hence, I went for the fish version that turned out to be nothing special, topped with butter sauce that didn't have much flavour. The accompanying mixed salad was pretty fresh.

Guinea Fowl with Fonio CFA 6,500 (~S$15.20)

Taste: 7.5/10

Guinea fowl is a species of bird endemic to Africa. From its appearance, it didn't come as a surprise to me that the bird tasted pretty much like chicken meat. The brown sauce was tangy without being cloying. Served on the side was fonio, a kind of millet with very small grains, which are notable crops in parts of West Africa.

Beef Sirloin with Mustard Sauce CFA 6,500 (~S$15.20)

Taste: 5.5/10

I had high hopes for the sirloin, but unfortunately it was rather tough. Having said that, the thick mustard and pepper sauce was actually nice with an adequate amount of heat. Alas, the fries weren't that good either. They weren't crispy, even though they weren't soggy.

Chocolate Fondant CFA 5,000 (~S$11.70)

Taste: 7.5/10

To end off the meal, I sampled the chocolate fondant that was chocolately enough. Given the adequately rich chocolate centre, I felt that the rather runny chocolate sauce that paled in comparison was unnecessary. The menu says that the dessert comes with peach, but what I had was a slice of canned pineapple on top of the cake.

Melon's Rating

Taste: 7/10

Ambience: 8.5/10

Service: 8/10

Overall: 7.5/10

The rather youthful-looking server I interacted with the most is quite friendly and accommodating, especially when I couldn't understand some parts of his sentences. Pika's advice: If you feel like splurging, try the most expensive main course offered by the restaurant: Jumbo Shrimps Flamed with Pastis with Valencian Rice. It's priced at CFA 10,000 (~S$23.35).

Restaurant Balasoko

Avenue de la Liberte

National Park of Mali

Bamako

Mali

(Opening hours unknown - Anyone knows?)

*Prices quoted are nett prices.

Have a nice meal,

Cliff(y)