The Carnivore
The Carnivore is justifiably referred to as Africas Greatest Eating Experience. Twice voted amongst the worlds 50 best restaurants by UK based Restaurant magazine Carnivore is described as amazing This open air meat specialty restaurant has strikingly different food service and atmosphere to any other restaurant in Kenya. The Carnivore since its inception has played host to over 2 million customers from across the globe including numerous celebrities. In fact the Carnivore visitors book read like a global whose who!
Whole joints of meat - legs of lamb and pork, haunches of exotic meat, rumps of beef, sirloins, racks of lamb, spare ribs, sausages, chicken wings, skewered kidneys, even crocodile, and other tasty morsels - are roasted on traditional Maasai swords over a huge, visually spectacular charcoal pit that dominates the entrance of the restaurant.
The Carnivore makes no show of the familiar restaurant traditions of passing out menus and waiting for people to order. Diners simply take their seats on the Zebra striped chairs and the movable feast begins. First comes the soup of the day then a sizzling cast-iron plate is placed in front of each guest along with a plate of home baked brown bread and butter. An army of carvers wearing striped aprons and straw hats then move from table to table carrying the Masai swords laden with different prime meats deliberately carving unlimited amounts onto the sizzling, cast iron plates in front of each guest. Accompanying the meat feast is a wide selection of salads and vegetable side dishes, and also a variety of exotic sauces made from the Carnivores own recipes and stacked on to a double storey-revolving tray in the center of the table. The feeding frenzy doesnt stop until defeat is declared by the over-fed guests who signal that enough is enough by lowering of a white paper flag perched atop the central tray. This is followed by dessert and coffee. The full meal including a soup course is at a set price. A vegetarian menu is also offered.
Adjoining the main restaurant is the Simba Saloon - a vibrant informal restaurant that incorporates a childrens playground (very popular at weekends) and a lively nightclub. The Simba Saloon provides an alternative to those who do not want to indulge in a large meal serving pizzas (from a traditional, domed, brick oven), an extremely popular salad bar at lunchtime, steaks, hamburgers, scampi, trout, chicken, and other light snacks.
The nightclub operates from Wednesday to Sunday and has themed nights to cater for fans of contemporary African music, rock, soul, dancehall, new jack swing and old school.
The Simba Saloon is well known for hosting some of Africas best musicians and also many international ones such as Maxi Priest, Yellowman, Sadao Watanabe, Manu Dibango, Salif Keta, Chaka Demus and Pliers, Ismael Lo, Habib Koite, just to mention a few.
