What started as a humble enterprise in Jason and Portia's Observatory home has turned into a big tourist enterprise in the heart of the city, but it remains a good place to sample traditional dishes from all over Africa. Meals are brought to your table in bowls and you can eat as much as you want. The lineup changes seasonally (check out the menu online), but expect to taste dishes unlike anything back home: Ethiopian black-eyed bean stew; Xhosa imifino patties (made with spinach and mielie meal); seswaa, a game-meat masala curry from Botswana; chicken breasts in Malawian macadamian sauce; and Moroccan chermoula (tomato gravy served with crispy fish). They're all served with tapioca flatbread baked with cheese and yogurt, and finished with Kenyan coffee or mint tea. There's a great moment when the floorboards shake as the ululating staff dance through the restaurant with unrestrained joy. All in all, it's a very touristy experience (there's even a shop attached), but it's memorable nonetheless. Note: If you're interested in the cuisine of southern Africa, nearby is Nyoni's Kraal, 98 Long St. (tel. 021/422-0529), where you can try delicacies like curried tripe, amangina (chicken feet), mopani worms, or a "smiley" (sheep's head). Or head for a real township "restaurant" .
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
