What a vivid color explosion as the bright yellow cabs line up in front of the even more vivid orange colored front of the New Ivoire Restaurant. Opened for seventeen years, and opened around the clock 24 Hours - this is an extremely popular restaurant for Ivorian taxi drivers and anyone one who enjoys authentic Ivorian cuisine at inexpensive cost.
The restaurant located in East Harlem on 119th Street is welcoming and overseen by the manager Saase, who makes a warm affable host, and is pleased to explain the food for you. The restaurant seats about twenty-five and is not very atmospheric, virtually no art or posters, but a large TV. However, the constant flow of native Ivorians (many picking up food) adds to the colorful fabric of the restaurant.
New Ivoire each day features four daily lunch specials. Saase strongly recommended the Peanut Butter and Okra Stew with Chicken and this was delicious. The dish had a nice flavor, spicy, but not crazy hot, the chicken very succulent and the okra was grounded in more than cut pieces. In the evening the menu becomes slightly more extensive and features dishes such as Lamb Shank, and various fried fish. New Ivoire also serves joloff rice which is very popular in west Africa and recommend.
New Ivoire 76 East 119th Street (212) 410 - 5982
Interesting Fact about Ivory Coast - Ivory Coast celebrated their independence from France on August 7, 1960.