Motherland Kitchen

The food, the atmosphere, and the chef are amazing. We came here because my parents looked for a restaurant in the area that we could go to despite gluten allergies. They had such a great time chatting with the chef that they encouraged us to have a family dinner. We were blown away. My daughter ate 3 massive servings of the jollof rice. My son loved the plantains and chickpeas. My wife and I enjoyed the fufu with chicken peanut butter stew. There was another couple there that said they had been going to the restaurant for4 years and they were delightful. Looking forward to trying the greens and the Kathi Kathi chicken the next time we come - which will be very soon.

Probably your only option for West African food in the area, but fortunately it's a very good one. Pros: It's like showing up at your aunty's hungry, if your aunty is the regional authority on Cameroonian cuisine. Walk in, give a shout to let her know you're there, grab a drink from the cooler and have a seat. Everything we've tried is delicious, from the big dishes like peanut butter chicken stew to the sides. She probably has the best fried plantains in the area and that's a tough competition. Our nine-month-old baby goes so nuts for the fufu and stews that we have to order carry-out every time we eat here. The menu is very friendly for gluten-free and vegan diners, especially if you're sick of the same old, and since she makes everything herself she can tell you exactly what's in it. There's no fake meat; she told me she hates the idea of serving "fake" anything, so she makes vegan food that tastes good on its own instead of trying to imitate something else. She sells most if not all of her herb blends and if you look her up on YouTube, she'll teach you how to make most things on the menu. I didn't even know what fufu was the first time we ate here, and now I wish more places would serve it. Cons: It's like showing up at your aunty's hungry. Sabina Jules is the owner... and the head chef, sous chef, hostess, waitress, dishwasher, cashier, and social media manager. She will feed you and feed you well, but if you have exactly 30 minutes for your lunch break, this is not the place. If you show up while she's cooking somebody else's food, she's going to be back in the kitchen cooking and you're going to have to seat yourself or wait. She's pretty quick, so I've never had a problem with it, but I think people who show up without realizing it's a one-woman show can be in for a surprise.

Delicious and nutritious food made from scratch, and almost everything on the menu is gluten free. Highly recommend!