.Best West African Peanut Stew: Good for your neo-soul

The new restaurant that has taken over the old á la Carte space on Dwight Way is quite a find. Situated next to a couple of Berkeley’s old and dear dining institutions, newcomer Paw Paw’s manages to distinguish itself with its Caribbean-inspired brunch food. The owners describe their cooking as “neo-soul” food; the menu is heavy on organic ingredients and Caribbean spices. Probably the most interesting choice is the West African peanut stew, a sweet, spicy, pungent mixture of peanut, tomato, ginger, onion, and sweet potato flavors. That and a side of Paw Paw’s fried plantains with sour cream maple dip makes for a perfect lunch on a blustery day. Afterward, you can enjoy an organic latte in one of the restaurant’s cozy wooden booths as you watch the world go by through the storefront windows.