So many of the flavors which make black cuisine so distinctive have their roots in the dishes native to West Africa.

Bissap Baobab on Mission and 18th in San Francisco and its second location Little Bissap around the corner on 19th Street have been recognized with an exhibition in one of the city’s newest hotels, Vitale, on The Embarcadero.

One may not recognize the names of the dishes, but the use of beans and greens and the spicy treatment of chicken, fish and beef will certainly taste familiar.

Like many of the restaurants we’ve visited, you’ll have to make a reservation or arrive early.