Bantu Restaurant & Lounge

Bantu Restaurant & Lounge is an African restaurant and lounge on Statiestraat in Antwerp, with a menu built around substantial dishes, grilled specialities and traditional accompaniments. The cooking draws on West and Central African food traditions, bringing together meat, seafood, rice, cassava and leafy vegetables across a broad selection.

Rice is a central part of the menu, served alongside stews and sauced dishes featuring chicken, beef, fish and crab. Peanut-based sauces, tomato preparations and salted fish add different textures and savoury depth, while cassava appears in several forms, including cassava leaves, cassava couscous and firm cassava sides. Vegetable dishes and leafy greens provide options beyond the meat and seafood preparations.

The grill section covers seafood, fish, prawns, lamb, goat, beef and chicken. Skewered beef, grilled lamb and braised or grilled chicken give the menu a direct, charcoal-style character, while mixed grill combinations are designed for sharing. Side dishes include white or fried rice, fried plantain, sweet-potato fries, fufu and other starches that complement the main plates.

Starters offer smaller portions and mixed selections, with savoury pastries, vegetable rolls, samosas, salad and lightly seasoned chicken wings among the available styles. The drinks list includes bissap, a hibiscus-based drink, and ginger beverages, adding familiar West African refreshments to the meal.

The restaurant and lounge format suits diners looking for a full meal rather than a quick snack, with enough variety for guests who prefer grilled food, sauced dishes, seafood or vegetable accompaniments. The menu also includes dishes intended for sharing, making the venue relevant for pairs and small groups. Bantu Restaurant & Lounge provides both table booking and pickup, giving the Statiestraat address a practical option for dining in or taking food away.