"I show up in January in the middle of a freaking blizzard," KC says laughing. "My instructions were to get to O'Hare, take a bus from O'Hare directly to my campus. But I missed the bus."
He was so worried about missing the next bus that he didn't leave the bus stop.
"In the Chicago cold, two hours waiting for my bus. That was my introduction to the American dream," he says with a big hearty laugh, as he does with most things.
In addition to being a great restaurateur, Kenechi "KC" Nnamani is a great storyteller.
Lauren Drewes Daniels
Those dreams have come true with Cafe Nubia in North Dallas, which celebrated its one-year anniversary in February. Nnamani likes to call the cuisine a "cross-pollination" of African and Mediterranean cuisine, along with a few others, because that's what he grew up with.
"I had a lot of friends growing up back home who were Lebanese or from Turkey. They were Middle Eastern Nigerians. And their food was very popular. And I thought it'd be a good concept to marry the two and create something totally unique," he says.
In dishes that translates to things like chicken curry, with a side of jollof rice, Greek smashed potatoes and pita. And a Rasta Pasta, which would feel right at home on a Cajun table or in Jamaica, also leans toward Mediterranean flavors. Beef suya are skewers of steaks with a peanut-based Nigerian seasoning cooked over a grill like the Greeks would.
Cafe Nubia isn't just a culinary concept, though: it's a community. In addition to themed brunches and whisky Wednesdays, a small stage at the far end of the communal-style dining room is for live music and a host of other acts. The restaurant hosts panels covering financial and political topics, which are packed, as people look for connections on relevant topics.
For its one-year anniversary, Cafe Nubia held an Afro Futurism Meets Haute Couture soiree with a red carpet, Champagne, a feast and a toast to Black excellence in business. The after-party went until 2 a.m. Tickets were $200 each but included a brunch for Saturday or Sunday — a full weekend experience.
Dennis Carr is a regular at Nubia. He says he's lived in North Texas for more than 20 years and struggled to find a place that had great food, upscale ambiance and good music. "Options back then were eating at Eddie V's or Cheesecake Factory then going to Stone Trail for good live music," he says.
Nubia has filled that void. He went once, loved it so much that the next time he went, he proposed to his soon-to-be wife; two dozen of their best friends were there, too.
Osato Ayeni has had a similar experience, one he describes as "complete."
"It’s got a vibe that’s hard to find elsewhere, with music that always seems to match the energy of the crowd," Ayeni says. "And speaking of the crowd, it’s always a sophisticated group of people, which makes it even more enjoyable to hang out there."
Despite these experiences that make Cafe Nubia more than a restaurant, the dishes shine.
"Food shows love," Nnamani says. "It shows camaraderie in a culture. ... And then in order to get diners to come out and eat with us, we make it exciting. We have to introduce something that they typically don't get at home. But at the same time, we have to have some familiarity. Something that gives them comfort."
In addition to the stage, a large bar with craft cocktails, a large patio and hookah lounge, it's a space for lingering. It's a space for experiences. A year in, those experiences have paid off with a mix of regulars and new diners (Nnamani works in data, so he knows exactly how much of each).
"We have what we call our Nubian tribe," he says again with that big laugh that makes you really want to be a part of the tribe. "We have Nubian princesses, we have Nubian queens and emperors. We have different royalty levels."
Show up and see where you fit in. There's bound to be space.
Cafe Nubia, 3920 Rosemeade Parkway, Wedensday 4-11 p.m.; Thursday 4 p.m. to midnight; Friday 4 p.m. - 2 a.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.; Closed Monday - Tuesday
