Although West Philly's Soleil de Minuit is the only established Malian restaurant in Philly, it seems curiously reluctant to market that angle — the awning promises African-American cuisine, and less explicably, a buffet. The confusion is cleared upon entering the restaurant, full of traditional décor and free of soul food. The small weekday menu will be familiar to anyone who's sampled other West African cuisine; highlights include grillade entrées like tender lamb chops and blackened whole tilapia. The exciting mainstays at Soleil, though, are the "sauces," spicy, rich, thick stews that come with a mountainous plate of fluffy white rice. The Senegalese poulet yassa is a braised chicken dish whose mustardy translucent onions and cabbage melt and seep into the snowy grains beneath. It exemplifies Soleil's output of earty, simple dishes that would work no matter how they're presented or packaged — on a platter, buffet-style, whatever. They're just plain good. Open daily, noon-11 p.m.

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