Local eatery offers African cuisine

Bloomington boasts a variety of ethnic cuisines. From Italian to Japanese to Turkish, Bloomington residents can satisfy many international cravings.

But only one restaurant promises to provide a taste of Africa.

Caravan, a restaurant that specializes in Moroccan and Ethiopian food, sits tucked behind green gates on East Fourth Street.

The ambience of the restaurant is simple and dotted with bronzed coffee pots, ceramic utensils and desert art. At first glimpse, it might be overshadowed by Puccini’s La Dolce Vita, which is Caravan’s sister restaurant.

Older patrons of the restaurant might remember it going by Ashenda’s Caravan, named after the previous owner of the establishment.

Under new management since November, Caravan offers a range of kebabs, injera bread and seasonal Moroccan wines.

Caravan’s head chef and general manager, Sanae Sentissi, used to be the chef at another local restaurant, Casablanca, until it closed.

“Caravan now focuses on Ethiopian and Moroccan food only, in addition to some Puccini specials that you can also order during lunch,”
Sentissi said.

The dinner menu showcases only Moroccan and Ethiopian dishes, such as  Doro Wat, a tomato-based, spiced chicken dish.