La Khaïma

142 Avenue Fairmount Ouest, Montréal, QC, Montréal

A genuine Mauritanian khaïma tent in the middle of Mile End: shoes off at the door, floor cushions around a low table, eating the way Saharan nomads do. Founded by Mohamed Ould Atigh, who arrived from Mauritania in 1996 with three dollars and a student visa, first cooking out of a dorm room and then a rented garage on Parc, before settling at 142 Fairmount in 2007 — reportedly the only Mauritanian restaurant outside Mauritania. The $30 fixed menu changes often: soup, couscous (meat or vegetarian), mint tea. Order the full nomadic menu, taken in ritual order.