Upon getting here, the service was the first thing I noted. There’s parking attendants at every point of the parking lot to direct you (it’s kind of confusing finding the entrance so I appreciated the assistance) #nairobieats
The hostesses are welcoming and reservations are very necessary - the place gets full quick on Fridays and weekends.
The outfitting my goodness🤩 I love good interior decor & these guys have taken such detail in everything from the furniture to lighting, spacing… #nairobieats
wallpaper, wallpaper texture… even the sheers along the windows that make the space feel more intimate than it would had the windows been bare… this may not matter to most but I really love a place that not only looks great, but feels great too. Ambience was 💯 #nairobieats
Now on to food - I had already heard about the insane prices here (thanks @_wangwe) so the menu was as expected, infact a bit higher than I thought it would be🥲 #nairobieats
Had sushi for starters - the Scoville Maki (1200/) and the spicy salmon crispy volcano roll (1500/). Now if you know me you know I don’t like sushi at all🥴 I’ve only had it possibly twice before in my life. I wasn’t willing to try but… #nairobieats
I was told that I wouldn’t be able to taste the rawness of the salmon so much because the sushi was mostly filled with prawn tempura and the maki was super spicy AND it didn’t have avocado😉 They were right on that spicy part because wow! #nairobieats
The perfect burst of spice in your mouth, combined with the prawn tempura crunch, the spiced rice rolled along the seaweed… even the salmon wasn’t gross to me🙊 I enjoyed this Maki roll so much - bummed it only came as 3 pieces because I actually wanted more.#nairobieats
The Volcano roll was also good, filling - I would add the spice from the previous roll to this one to enjoy it fully👌🏾
Mains: we did everything pork - pork belly(2200/), and the pork neck-2 services(2300/). Sides - truffle mac & cheese(700/) and potato skins(600/). #nairobieats
The pork belly dish comes with a white bean stew and pumpkin purée while the pork neck part 1 came with a broccoli fondant (looks like mukimo😄) & butternut purée and part 2 is pulled pork stewed in some pumpkin soup thing… #nairobieats
By 2 services they mean they bring one part of the dish first which was the grilled pork neck and then they bring part 2, the braised pork after you’re done with part 1. Interesting concept - feels like you’re getting a 2 for 1 lol. #nairobieats
The pork belly was GOOD. It didn’t need the beans part - beans and pork for me… don’t go well together. The pork neck part 1 was GOOD even with the broccoli thing etc. the pork neck part 2 - meh… not good, felt flavourless. #nairobieats
The Mac & Cheese, which I was very excited for, disappointed me so much😞 I love a good cheesy mac & cheese but this one fell flat - I’m not sure what cheese they used but😮💨 it needed salt, more than one cheese… it just needed more. Potato skins👌🏾 Can’t go wrong with viazi lol
Dessert: Tried the charcoal roasted pineapple(1050/) which was such a presentation😅 it comes with a spiced banana bread and chamomile ice cream - loved the ice cream, didn’t really care for everything else. #nairobieats
I’ll say my experience here was quite good, the place is beautiful, enjoyed half of the meals, the rest were okay. Will I go back? Not by choice but I’m happy I tried it. #nairobieats
Food: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (need a half star emoji lol)
Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ambience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Since we’re on that fine dining tip, lemme end this review session with one more fine dining restaurant🙃
📍Botanica - One Africa Place, Westlands
For those who don’t know, Botanica took over from Honey & dough which we can all agree was really disappointing. #nairobieats
They rebranded and I feel like they’re going for a more gastro/fine dining route & it’s working for them from the experience we had.
They have quite a vibrant menu, I had the chicken curry bao buns as a starter while my lovely date @DushyKuria had the duck breast carpaccio
For mains I had the fish & chips, she had the Nasi Goreng & for dessert, they made her a special not for carrot cake plate for her birthday while I had the Latte sundae:) #nairobieats
Been here a few times, & the fact that I keep going back means I must like it 😁 I really love their lemon pasta! I’m not a pasta person usually but this particular dish… I’m happy to have over & over again. I added prawns😋 #nairobieats
My friend had the grilled salmon, accompanied with baby potatoes and some vegetables:) We also tried the fried chicken bites for starters and their truffle fries that are quite addictive (but also cost 400/ so… order it once lol) #nairobieats
Then @jaytakeapic mentioned their butter milk chicken one time and I immediately had to try it, let me tell you Maina…😮💨 That dish is the bees knees🤤 So so good! Probably that’s what sold the most at @_wangwe’s bday because it’s just so yum! #nairobieats
Beautiful beautiful place. It’s not been fitted to be IG aesthetic, it’s a restaurant that’s been outfitted to give off an almost exotic ambience, really feels like you’re in a whole different place when you enter there. #nairobieats
Very Swahili/Arab theme decor and the courtyard is so softly lit giving cozy vibes😊 I highly recommend this for a date night location👌🏾 #nairobieats