Restaurants which open today may be forced to close within a few years.  All it takes is a bad decision by the owner one day. Then, tomorrow, you find that the owner has locked the doors.  This is especially true in countries with a less than welcoming business environment.

Like restaurant owners, God’s servants have to find a way to make a living while serving overseas.  To do so, they must find businesses that last – and run them in a way that makes them an indispensable part of their community.

L’Amandine: a durable N’Djaména classic

Amandine Bakery is a durable N’Djaména classic; what would life in N’Djaména be without it? The bakers and staff have served baked goods, pizza and ice cream for over twenty years and through at least three revolutions. During one of the skirmishes when they were on Charles de Gaulle Street when the trees were intact, a stray bullet put the ice cream dispenser out of commission!

For many years, L’Amandine has been a favorite gathering place for Chadian musicians and artists. Now it reaches out to all sorts of people as a meeting place. Going there during the week is a special treat.  It’s a great place to celebrate and meet with friends and family.

What to expect

L’amandine is a bakery of special treats for any time of the day: there is pain au chocolat and fresh bread for breakfast. For lunch, have a cheese omelet or a panini.  Be sure to buy the biggest fruit juice of the flavor of the day that you can! For supper, take home a pizza or two.  Perhaps, you would prefer a hamburger on a homemade roll to re-heat in the oven.

For a birthday or special occasion, a delicious gourmet chocolate cake will be an unforgettable touch to that special day.

L’Amandine opens around 7:30 AM and closes around 8 PM Monday through Saturday.  So there is plenty of time to pop in and enjoy an ice cream cone or two to get you through the day. However, on Sundays, l’Amandine opens at 9 AM and closes at Noon.

The busiest times at L’Amandine are during the morning commute when parents are dropping off or picking up their children at school, or right after work. If you can, try to pop in when things are a bit quieter, such as from 7:30 to 8:30 AM, 2:00 to 5:00 PM or 6:30 to 8:00 PM.

Seasonal offerings

Throughout the year, they bake seasonal treats, such as Epiphany cakes in January (the ones with a little statue baked into the cake, and a crown on the cake for the one who finds it) and Easter chocolate for Easter. For Christmas, you can order a “bûche de Noël“, the well-loved French cake in the form of a log.

The restaurant always seems to lack waitresses and waiters on duty. This place is extremely popular, but be patient… your patience will be well-rewarded. The staff they DO have is professional and kind. They are always ready to give you a smile, even if it is weary one as they try to keep up with the near-constant demand.

The air-conditioned lobby does not have a lot of seating available. So be ready to try sitting in the garden outside, behind the bakery.

Note: I do not work for L’Amandine, nor do any of my relatives. They have not paid or compensated me to present this evaluation. It’s just that L’Amandine has been a part of my life in Chad for over twenty-one years… so I just wanted to tell you about it.

What restaurant or business you love has endured challenges, but is still open, and thriving?

(Please tell us by filling in the comment box at the bottom of this page.)