Renaissance Harlem

First cousins from Senegal, Chef Cisse Elhadji and Chef Cheikh Ali Cisse, moved to the States in 1995 and now run the kitchen at this Harlem bistro. Their menus blend French-Senegalese roots with New American comfort, so a dinner crowd might order lobster mac and cheese alongside jollof rice. Diners have praised the short ribs, red snapper with plantains, and a hot sauce that comes with the dumplings. On weekend afternoons, a lively brunch crowd and a DJ playing throwback hits can turn a meal into a party.