TASTE AWARDS SPECIAL
TEXT
SUSAN WONG
BAMBOO
JIKO
Zen Garden, Spring Valley.
Pan-Asian
Bamboo is one of the few restaurants
in Nairobi that takes you through a
quick journey of Asia with a fusion
offering of Chinese, Thai and Japanese cuisine at a beautiful property
surrounded by lush gardens. The
care that has gone into presenting
the food is matched in ensuring each
dish is well-balanced in flavours. I
always look forward to the simple
classic: Chicken in Chili and Basil
with Jasmine Rice.
eatout.co.ke/bamboo
Tribe Hotel, Gigiri.
International
Jiko’s modern sophisticated ambiance matches the beautifully
executed food. Incredible artistry is
usually shown in plating and also the
use of carefully grown fresh ingredients. The delicate and decadent
pastries often cross my mind, but my
most memorable meal at Jiko was
a rich fillet of salmon, grilled with a
simple soy sauce and brown sugar
marinade highlighted with hints of
lemon. The skin crackled when I cut
into its moist flesh.
eatout.co.ke/jiko
CARAMEL
ABC Place, Waiyaki Way.
American
One of Nairobi’s swankiest spots
that opened in 2014, Caramel offers
modern takes on American classics like Mac and Cheese, and pays
exceptional attention to service. An
evening at Caramel should always
include the Dynamite Shrimp, which
are crispy and meaty in texture with
a little bit of zing to chase the light
dressing; and the well-seasoned
Pommes Frites. The creamy Risotto
also often makes it to my table as
well.
eatout.co.ke/caramel
GRAZE
Sankara, Westlands.
Steakhouse
The newest steakhouse in Nairobi
fires their meat in a Josper oven and
offers diners a New York-style experience through ambiance and wellseasoned caramelized crusts. Never
has aged steak tasted so consistently
true in Nairobi. Your choice of cut
arrives with a side of delicious, nutritious and underappreciated bone
marrow. The browned breadcrumb
topping gives the slightest resistance; but the marrow underneath
will literally melt in your mouth,
almost instantly, like the lightest
mousse ever created.
eatout.co.ke/caramel
MANDHARI
Serena Hotel, CBD.
International
This popular fine dining restaurant
welcomes guests with its elegant
interiors and uniquely serves some
extremely delicious healthy options
including those cooked without oil
or salt. Named after the hotel’s spa,
Chicken Maisha, is a simple chicken
cooked in broth dish. However, the
clever use of lemon juice and lemongrass completely changes its simplicity into hushed brilliance. Mandhari
has also been offering elevated fine
dining versions of Kenyan classics
such as Matumbo (tripe) during their
Kenyan-themed buffets.
eatout.co.ke/mandhari
PANGO BRASSERIE
Fairview Hotel, UpperHill.
French
Having been named one of the
best restaurants in Kenya in the
past, Pango consistently offers an
exceptional fine dining experience.
The menu is mostly French with
some Moroccan inspiration thanks to
its chef’s heritage. If you’re a fan of
molecular gastronomy, expect to find
beetroot caviar and other delicious
edible applications on theatrical
plates. Sitting above one of Nairobi’s
most extensive collections of wine,
pairing each course with a different
bottle is just part of the fun.
eatout.co.ke/pango
SEVEN
ABC Place, Waiyaki Way.
Seafood
Seven is one of the very few places
in Nairobi that tackles the finest
fish sourced from the Indian Ocean.
Whether pan-fried in butter with
fresh basil, cooked in a traditional
Gujarati masala or slathered with a
garlic white wine sauce – Seven’s
prawns will stay with you for a while.
If oysters on the half shell are available, don’t think twice.
eatout.co.ke/seven
SOI
Dusit D2, 14 Riverside.
Thai
SOI brought contemporary Thai
cuisine to Nairobi and continues to
challenge palates with its fresh takes
on classics. The contemporary homely ambiance is what SOI is all about;
fuss-free and no pretense – a place
where one can indulge in the exotic
and refreshing flavours of Thailand
undistracted. With coconut cream
specially imported from Thailand,
you will surely enjoy the classic Tom
Kha, which looks elegantly simple
but packs a punch when it comes to
aroma.
eatout.co.ke/soi
TALISMAN
320 Ngong Road, Karen.
European, Pan-Asian
Talisman is a touch of tranqui