Three tough looking young men who were sitting at the table made room for us. With their slicked back hair they looked like gangsters in a 30s movie. Nonetheless, they welcomed us, offering to share their dried tamarind. The server who appeared to be ethnic Sudanese (I had also seen Sudanese outside on the street) brought our beers and joined us at the table. We found him to be friendly and loquacious, eager to respond to the questions that we asked via Akeem.