Long weekend is a good time to treat your palate

Easter beckons next Friday, marking the first of the long weekend of this year. With four days to cap the Christian celebrations, bonding over a dinner, lunch, or brunch with the family can be a way to while away the long weekend.

Most people opt to travel upcountry to visit family, or to just relax away from the chaos that is the city centre. With destinations already planned, those not traveling can enjoy going out to restaurants and eateries around the city.

All you can Eat

Meat is a Kenyan staple for most Kenyans. A holiday is not complete without copious amounts of red meat in the form of Choma.
Restaurants with the concept of Brazilian steakhouses are becoming top selling outlets. These include Pampa Churrascaria which has branches along Mombasa Road and in Lavington, Fogo Gaucho in Westlands and Churrasco Gaucho in Kilimani.

The Steak houses offer all you can eat meats at a cost averaging between Sh1,900 to Sh2,000 per person with over 15 cuts of meat and over 25 different salads.

When talking about all you can eat meat, the oldest facility to offer that cannot be left out. Carnivore restaurant, which used to offer game meat in addition to the regular meats is also part of the list with an offering of different meats including ostrich and crocodile.

Dessert

Easter is not complete without indulging one’s sweet tooth on dessert or decadent pastries. Forget the pre-packaged stuff, if you want to grab a pastry or something sweet around the city, here are some of the places to visit.

Cold Stone Creamery is the latest ice cream franchise in town. With sweet, quite literally, signature creations as well as options of a variety of milkshakes and ice cream cakes, this can be an option on where to go.

The chain has three branches in Nairobi, Fortis Tower in Westlands, Mama Ngina Street in the City Centre and a branch in Gigiri. If you happen to be at the coast, there is a branch at City Mall.

Artcaffe combines the coffee culture and a selection of pastries for its customers. From chocolate truffles to rich brownies and cakes, you can top off your dinner with a coffee and dessert at any of the branches across the city including Lavington, Westlands, Village Market, Parklands and Karen.

Cake City allows you to pick up your cake slices, sitdown and indulge in the desserts. With the option of eggless cakes, you need not worry about religious or dietary restrictions. The shop has branches at Sarit, Pride Inn in Westlands as well as TRM along the Thika Super Highway.

Planet Yoghurt revolutionised yoghurt eating in town. A healthier route to dessert, you can have a pick of the flavours on offer with the option of fresh topping or sweets. This is an option that can be enjoyed by those with an inclination for the sweet and those who prefer to moderate the sugar.

Mama’s Patisserie gives you a taste of French desserts in Nairobi. Located at ABC place, enjoy the offerings at the eatery including the selection of macaroons, Danish and other pastries.

Tiramisu Bakery at the Village Market has added to its menu selections including Apple filled and caramel cheesecake, oreo filled cheesecake, New York cheesecake with mixed berries, chocolate gateau, vanilla and strawberry gateau and celebration eclairs.

Brunch

Good Friday Brunch and Jazz at Best Western Premier in Nairobi. The hotel is offering brunch for Sh3,500 per person with children below 12 paying Sh1,750. The brunch shall be between 11.30 am and 3.30pm.

Easter Eggcitement at Panari Hotel with the brunch going for Sh2,500 the Black gold restaurant, still at the hotel is offering a special menu at sh1,800 per person during the Easter weekend with an hour of ice skating included.

From 12pm to 4pm, you can enjoy brunch over unlimited Prosecco, Italian sparkling wine, over Easter Sunday at Sankara. The sweet and savoury delights will be made at the live cooking station, with kids aged between five and 12 paying half price. The brunch will cost Sh3,500 per person as you are entertained with live music.

Villa Rosa Kempinski’s Lucca is offering its patrons an Italian marketplace feel with an antipasti buffet, pizza, live pasta and nyama choma stations, shawarma and a selection of dessert.

For the Easter Brunch, there will be live music by the Gogo Simo Band, with a kids play area where the young ones can enjoy Easter egg craft activities, egg hunting, face painting, eater bunny and movies. The cost is Sh3,800 per person with children aged between six and 12 paying half price.

Bend and brunch at the Tribe is one of the latest additions to the brunch circuit. The brunch menu at Tribe includes of eggs, Indian vegetarian dishes, cold cuts, cakes, pastries, fresh fruits and sushi. They have special cocktails, fresh fruit juice, coffees and herbal tea. The yoga runs from 10.30 to 11.30 while the brunch starts from 11.30am to 5pm at Sh4,000 for both.

Ole Sereni are on Easter Sunday offering a brunch menu with kids’ activities for Sh3,500 per person at the Big Five restaurant. At the Eagle’s steakhouse, the outfit is offering a five-course lunch and dinner menu for the weekend all the way to Easter Monday, as well as dinner on Good Friday at Sh4,500.

Fast Food

Big Square offers a more relaxed, restaurant-cum-fast food experience. With offering of the buggers and spare ribs, it has a kid-friendly menu and is suitable for the whole family.

Pizza may be one of those meals that as an adult you have had too much of, but kids will always enjoy it. From the latest entrant, Dominoes Pizza and Naked Pizza, to the veteran Debonairs and Pizza Inn, the selection stretches across the country. Pizzas range from Sh300 for a kiddie pizza up to 1,200 for a large one.

Seafood

Seven Seafood Grill has a branch at ABC and one at the Village Market, you’ll have your pick of which Seven to visit. The latest introduction at Seven ABC is the live crab. Patrons will be able to choose the crab they want cooked and how you want it cooked.

Some of the other places one can enjoy great seafood include Ocean Basket, Tamarind in Karen, Café Maghreb at The Serena and the Mediterraneos in Westlands and at The Junction mall.

Cuisine

Nairobi has become a melting pot of different cultures. Every corner you turn, there is an Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, French or even a Spanish restaurant. The four days over Easter offer the time needed to try out different cuisines.

Indian food at Haandi and Haveli in Westlands and along Mombasa Road, Chowpatayat Diamond Plaza and in Westlands, Bhandini at Hotel Intercontinental, Angitti in Westlands, Mughals at Adams Arcade among others.

Japanese at Furusato Japan, Haru in Karen,Sushi Bar by Artcaffe, Phoenician at the Junction and in Westlands, Bamboo, Chiyo, Misono, The Sushi Bar in Fairview.

Chinese at Bamboo in Zen Garden, Taste of China, Xian, Mister Wok on Mombasa Road and in Parklands, Bangko China, Tin Tin, and China Plate.

Thai at Thai Chi at the Stanley, Muhibah at Sankara, Soi at DustD2, Emerald Garden in Gigiri and 88 at Villa Rosa Kempinski.

Italian at Osteria, Mediterraneo, Trattorria in the city centre, Colosseum i in Westlands, Eataly in Nyali, Lucca at Kempinski, Mambo Italia in Langata.

To pay homage to the home continent, there is the option of Ethiopian at Habesha, Asmara, Damera and Smart Village, Kenyan at Amaica, Dari, Mamba Village. For Somali cuisine, one can try Al Yusra and Rayan in the city centre as well as various outlets in Eastleigh.