A restaurant for hungry book nerds

Restaurants today are not just places where you go and enjoy a meal. From views of the Nairobi skyline to quintessential ambiance, to a hanging Harley Davidson Motorbike from the ceiling, revolving floors or barn set-ups, restaurants are providing interesting experiences.

At The Library Lounge in Nairobi’s Sarit Centre, it is books and food that draw you. A quote on the menu reads ‘ The secret to a well-balanced life is a cup of tea in one hand and a good book in the other’.

Bright yellow, orange and blue are the theme colours. On the top floor stands a bookshelf with numerous titles.

The book-shaped menu features continental meals, speciality teas and tisanes including Kullad chai served in traditional clay cups, Kashmiri Kahwa (tea flavoured with cinnamon, cardamom and saffron) and Sulaimani tea (spiced black tea with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and ginger). They also offer a make-your-own tea experience where one can add spices such as green cardamom, basil, and burnt chilli black pepper.

I was here for dinner and the place was relatively busy for a Monday evening. I ordered Teriyaki chicken, served in a large bowl with Jasmine rice, soy sauce, honey, coriander and carrots.

The Teriyaki flavour came close to what you would find at a Japanese restaurant, however a much darker and larger serving would have been ideal. The buttery scent of the Jasmine rice is inviting and reveals a sweet and nutty flavour delicious enough to even have it alone.

The slow-cooked lamb chops were accompanied with pickled vegetables, herb salad and mashed potatoes. Prepared with Ras el hanout (a signature mix of Moroccan spices) the spice was slightly hot.

The lamb chops required one to ditch the fork and knife and use bare hands to enjoy the meat.

If you are an avid reader that has a knack for such spaces where you can drift off to another world, then a trip to this lounge is ideal.