BON VIVANT: Hidden gem
For the starter you could choose between a mixed salad, mozzarella balls or spicy chicken wings. PHOTO| BON VIVANT
What you need to know:
The mains consisted of beef stew with homemade bread or pork ribs with fried potato wedges and cabbage. The portions were a good size, enough to fill you up without overeating.
The beef stew had tons of beef, and it was good but a little too salty.
One of the newcomers in this year’s Nairobi Restaurant Week (NRW) was the Curragh Irish Pub and Bistro (pronounced kah-rah). The interior looks exactly like the typical pub you would encounter in England, Ireland or Scotland: there is plenty of
hardwood furniture. Since it primarily caters to jockeys, the decor utilises trophies and other paraphernalia related to this sport. The dark wood gives it a timeless ambiance, and the large windows reveal rolling
green lawns with horses set against a forested background. If you choose to sit outdoors, there is plenty of room for children to run around.
Our server provided us with the NRW menus immediately. This is noteworthy because some other participating establishments only provide you with the discounted NRW menu if you ask for it.
The Curragh Restaurant Week offer was a starter, main course and dessert for Sh1000. The menu had vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. For the starter you could choose between a mixed salad, mozzarella
balls or spicy chicken wings.
We tried all three. The salad was simple but fantastically executed; it had fresh crispy lettuce, chunks of feta cheese, mixed veggies and a homemade Italian salad dressing. The portion was generous especially for a starter.
The chicken wings were juicy and bursting with flavour. The mozzarella balls were tasty. They usually consist of cheese rolled in breadcrumbs and deep-fried. These ones had a sausage coating – something that vegetarians may want to avoid.
TENDER PORK RIBS, FALLING OFF THE BONE
The mains consisted of beef stew with homemade bread or pork ribs with fried potato wedges and cabbage. The portions were a good size, enough to fill you up without overeating.
The beef stew had tons of beef, and it was good but a little too salty. The glazed pork ribs were tender, literally falling off the bone. Their rich savoury melt-in-the-mouth flavour was excellent.
The sautéed cabbage was yummy – crunchy, coupled with a tasty dose of carrots and onions. It is so easy to overcook cabbage, but these guys got it just right. Overall, we found that they serve simple, hearty meals that really hit the spot.
Their NRW desserts were simple: fruit salad with ice cream and fruit crumble with ice cream. They remembered to give each patron a complimentary branded pack of NRW Orbit chewing gum.
You would be surprised at how many establishments forget this simple step. The Curragh also made it clear on their NRW menu that you could order the discounted glass of wine from one of their sponsors.
A special mention goes to the servers; they were friendly and professional. Sports enthusiasts can watch the game here on large screens. The Curragh also has an outstanding playlist for their background music.
RATINGS
Value – 4.5/5
Ambiance – 4/5
Hygiene – 4/5
Child-friendliness – 3.5/5
Service – 4/5
Food – 3.5/5
