My partner and I, both from Vermont and with some experience in Africa and other developing areas, offer these observations about restaurants in Brazzaville. They are based on our experience, greatly helped by an curious diplomat who has made a point of searching out restaurants. None of these are located in hotels.
Pricing guide. Le Jardin des Saveurs is the most expensive of the lot cited below. Full supper meal with drinks cost about $75 US per person on July 4, 2014. The other restaurants are 1/3 to 2/3 this price.
Two restaurants with local flavor are Mamam Ro and Les Rapides. Maman Ro prepares the same meal for all guests on any night in her small, leafy compound. Traditional dishes with a personal twist and a good knowledge of Western palates; for instance, a sorrel-based sauce to go on fish or meat. Strongly recommended by the diplomat. Les Rapides is south of downtown along the shore. During the day you can watch kids go through the not-dangerous rapids. A lovely view. 200 feet from the restaurant is an unnamed (to us at least) women's art collaborative with ambitious art projects.
Two restaurants where you might imagine Rick the owner sitting in the back. (Let's see, Rick left Casablanca in say 1941 for Brazzaville and he looked about 40. So he'd be a ripe 130 or so today.) O Sympathik is in town and very pleasant. Les Jardin des Saveurs is widely regarded as the best restaurant in town.
The better restaurants typically offer a half dozen attractive seafood dishes, with mainly river fish, some crayfish, and a small array of dishes of imported meats, along with some side dishes. Desserts are conventional, not ambitious, and well prepared.
For a downtown lunch place, Chez Noura is recommended. As well, there is a great pastry / gelato store across the street, whose name I forget.