Nairobi Restaurants

Eat Out is a website which offers 10% off your bill when you book online at a whole range of Kenyan restaurants.

This deal is only valid if you pay with cash or by card.

With that saving, you can afford to have dessert!!!

Update (July 2011): We used this website to book at the superb Angithi Indian restaurant in Westlands last weekend (see my restaurant review), and it worked like a charm. My only complaint? Indeed we could have afforded dessert with the saving, but unfortunately the food was so amazing that by this time, we were so full that we didn't have any space left!

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Meat, meat, and more meat will greet you at the dining experience known as CARNIVORE.

Carnivore is not only delicious, but it also gives you an opportunity to experience new foods and new tastes. At Carnivore you can be offered anything from filet mignon to zebra meat, the menu is wild and definitely can give you a taste of Africa.

While we were there we dined on Crocodile, Camel (it tastes how you'd think camel would taste- like an old weather worn saddle), Ostrich, Wildebeest, Beef, Pork, Goat, and various other exotic meats we'd never be able to have anywhere else. It may sound overwhelning, but it's not.

The presentation of food is kept exciting and the service is exceptional.

Carnivore was considered one of the best places in the world to dine and I've personally seen it featured in books about exotic foods and "places you need to eat"

I highly recommend eating at Carnivore, it's a unique Kenyan experience.

Favorite Dish: Ostrich and DAWA (Dawa is Swahili for "medicine" and it's basically an alcoholic drink consisting of vodka, and they will take a bamboo shoot and dip it in honey and fill the glass up with limes so that you can crush it all together to make a sweet and refreshing drink)

Carnivore is a trademark Nairobi experience. You can get Nyama Choma (roasted meat) anywhere in Kenya, but in this restaurant you get to sample all different kinds of meat before you decide which one you prefer the most.

In the center of this parially outdoor/indoor venue is a large fire pit equipped with what looks like metal swords on which the meat is roasted. Guests pay one price for the set menu, which begins with bread, soup and salad. Then the fun begins.

Every few minutes a gentleman carrying the hot sword with steamy meat. He either slices a piece for you with a cutlass, or slides a chunk of meat from a shishkabob stick. The variety of meats include ostrich meatballs, crocodile, gazelle, pork spare ribs, beef, chicken, turkey, gizzards, liver, lamb, and numerous other entres. This is accompanied by rice, roasted potatoes, and other accompaniaments.

The set menu includes a choice of desert. It is best washed down with copious amounts of the local Tusker beer, although wine is also available.

Favorite Dish: It is a set menu, but I must say that the ostrich and the spare pork ribs were my favourite.

First off, if you are going to go to Carnovire in the hopes of checking out and experiencing a local place, be prepared to be disappointed. There are SO many white people here to dine. It is very much a tourist's joint, and the only reason I didn't put this in the tourists trap section is because it does have good qualities. I love ostrich, so any chance I get to try it out I am down for. Beyond that, you have other oddities like camel and crocodile. Ever since the Kenyan government changed the rules and laws about wildlife, you don't get the unqiue selection you used to, but you still get to try several unique items. So if you want to try ostrich and crocodile and camel, then go for it. But if being surrounded by 150 whites and 15 locals won't suit you, seek your game meat elsewhere.

Favorite Dish: ostrich

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Located just adjacent to the Nairobi Naitonal Park this place serves a variety of game which is delicious!! Obviously the food comes from the park nearby but is regulated by the government controls as portions are 'gourmet' and not excessive. It is truly one of those well healed tourist runs but worth the trip even if you aren't much of a carnivore! Most local tour companies will get you there.
I used Venture Africa who gave me a good offer including an all day private ac-car with driver and guides plus transfers to and from the airport and hotel all for under US$150! Check them out.

Favorite Dish: everything!

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Carnivore Menu :

Starters

Salads and side dishes
(mixed salad, rice salad, kidney beans, corn relish, coleslaw, cucumber raita)
All with Homemade vegetable vinaigrette

Soup of the day with homemade fresh brown bread

Sauces
(garlic fruit salsa, Sweet and sour, masala, mint, chilli)
Charcoal Roasted Meat Dishes
Selection of charcoal roasted meats which include:

Leg of beef
Haunch of venison:
(Zebra, Wildebeest, Buffalo, Oryx, Kongoni, Impala, Thompson Gazelle, Ostrich, Giraffe)
Leg of pork
Leg of Lamb
Pork spare ribs
(Crocodile - when available)
Chicken tikka
Chicken yakitori
Chicken wings
Chicken livers and gizzards
Pork sausages
Beef sausages

Choice of desserts
(apple pie, cheese cake, strawberries and ice-creams)
Kenya coffee

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For someone who is not known for his meat eating preferences, a restaurant caled `Carnivore' wouldnt be first up on a list of priorities.. yet, the enthusiasm of the others on the crew meant that a table was booked, a taxi hired, and we were off... to sample every kind of meat that Africa may be known for...

The restaurant is located in a rather interesting spot, just outside the Nairobi national park. I certainly did wonder if the animals we could have being seeing on our planned safari the next morning, were the ones ending up on our plates:P but i guess it is perfectly legal, since it is a really popular spot in Nairobi, I decided to eat...

There are four choices of wild game, roasted on traditional Maasai swords over a huge charcoal pit near the entrance of the restaurant.
The waiters carry these swords around the restaurant, carving unlimited amounts of the meats onto your plate.
Salads, vegetables and a variety of exotic sauces are already at the table, and then there is that little carnivore flag above it all-- you will be served as long as your flag is up!

I think there are a variety of options on the menu, though i`d reccomend the set option- which will get you- soup and appetisers, unlimited servings of meat, dessert, and coffee or tea.

Favorite Dish: The Crocodile was the most exotic meat on the menu that night... i couldnt help trying to drown out the thought that it was a reptile that i was about to eat!
But it had to be done... how many times do you end up sitting at a restaurant in Africa and being served crocodile?? It seemed hard, there were bones, and i took the tiniest piece there was.

That apart, i had Gazelle, Ostrich, Buffalo, chicken, beef and lamb.

Most people have heard of Carnivores in Nairobi. Also Simba's Saloon it was the place a group of us went on our return voyage through Nairobi on tour....

Basically it is a wonderful chance to taste some of Africa's local game meat at a relatively cheap price. It has a band and disco there too, and was a very enjoyable evening to-boot.

Favorite Dish: We ordered a platter of the evenings game meat. Comprising of Impala Meat balls, Crocodile and Ostrich this meal was amazing. I never used to be much of a meat eater. But I am a convert. The ostrich was my favourite of the three, though I must say the Impala wasn't so bad either. Very delicious. They have a happy hour on the drinks also.... Great for a good night out with a group.... Lots of locals, and an interesting place to go with a difference....