By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

CENTRAL FALLS — With its vivid yellow walls accented with dark wood paneling, bamboo curtains, and photographs of native scenes, the Dakar Restaurant pays tribute to its West African roots.

More importantly, Dakar offers the flavors of Senegal, the beautiful land from which the eatery is named, in a variety of native dishes for lunch or dinner.
Pape D. Ndoye, a native of Senegal, recently opened the new restaurant at 502 Roosevelt Avenue in Central Falls, just over the Pawtucket line. He manages the restaurant, and shares ownership with his wife, Colleen Daley, the coordinator of Project Renew with the Pawtucket Citizens Development Corporation.
Ndoye, who has lived in the United States for 10 years, is new to the restaurant business, but had dreamed of one day opening an eatery to bring some of the favorite recipes and dishes from his homeland to the Blackstone Valley area. Plus, he reasoned, there is a large population of Senegalese people in the greater Providence area, and few other restaurants that cater to the West African cuisine.
The restaurant itself is named after Dakar, the capital of Senegal, Ndoye said. He has also incorporated  yellow, red and green — the colors of Senegal's flag — into the décor.
However, it is the food where the Dakar Restaurant really shines, offering seafood, lamb, chicken and beef dishes that have an unmistakable influence from French cuisine. Ndoye's sister, Ndeye F. Ndoye, who recently arrived in the U.S. after living in France, is the chef, and brings her cooking skills and restaurant experience to Dakar.
 Among the entrees is yassa, available in chicken, fish or lamb and served with white rice; and maffe, a  dish of lamb and vegetables with a peanut butter sauce. “We served that at the “Taste of Pawtucket” and people really liked it,” said Ndoye.
Other special entrees include chebujenn, a blend of rice and fish cooked with vegetables and spices, which is described on the menu as  “the most famous and well-loved dish in Senegal; and soupu kandja, a unique dish featuring okra sauce with lamb, fish and vegetables, cooked in palm oil and served with white rice.
From the grill, there is dibbi--grilled lamb served with caramelized onions, and skewers of marinated beef, chicken, lamb or vegetables, which can be enjoyed as an entree or a wrap. Appetizers include naem, a Ndoye family favorite, which are Senegalese-style eggrolls stuffed with beef, shrimp, vegetables and spices; and pastel, a Cape Verdean dish of lightly spiced fish that is wrapped in dough and fried.
Ndoye also offers food for take-out and does catering for parties and special events. On weekends, the Dakar Restaurant will be having music for listening and dancing. The hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.