There are a few restaurants in Kampala that, though small, strive to do the best they can with what they have. Ishaazi Restaurant and Café is one of them. In Runyankore, the word ‘ishaazi’ refers to a meeting place where herdsmen would traditionally gather around a fire at the end of the day to relax and discuss the day’s events.
Location and décor
Located on Kira Road in Bukoto, opposite Biplous Furniture Shop, the restaurant, which is actually a small café, has a wide stairway leading to it. The décor, dominated by wooden furniture and fittings, is cosy and homely.
The wooden tables are paired with low-backed, padded chairs upholstered in heavy navy-blue fabric and fitted with brown-and-cream striped cushions. The same navy-blue fabric covers two large, comfortable upholstered benches placed against two facing walls.
One section of the wall near the entrance is decorated with small, horizontal wooden strips glued together to form a wooden motif, interspersed with white strips of paper advertising coffee. The remaining walls are adorned with pictures of coffee beans and African art.
At the front of the restaurant is a glass-and-wood counter displaying packets of coffee for sale. Hanging above it are two huge metal lampshades suspended from the ceiling by thick black metal chains. Behind the counter is a blackboard listing various snacks and refreshments. The café also offers books to read and free Wi-Fi.
The menu
In the current economic climate, the menu is quite pricey for such a small establishment. Prices range from Shs5,000 for a pair of samosas to a whopping Shs80,000 for the Ishaazi Sharing Platter, which comprises three types of meat and three sides.
Large pizzas, steaks, pork chops and goat chops cost Shs40,000. Fish, chicken and vegetable curries, steaks, pasta, sandwiches and chicken wings range from Shs20,000 to Shs40,000. Also on the menu is shepherd’s pie at Shs36,000, while soups cost between Shs12,000 and Shs15,000.
Breakfast dishes range from Shs24,000 to Shs38,000, while chicken and steak salads cost Shs27,000. Fruit salad served with yoghurt goes for Shs18,000. Tea and coffee range from Shs5,000 to Shs17,000, while milkshakes, smoothies and fresh fruit juices cost between Shs12,000 and Shs18,000.
The service and food
The server was welcoming, hospitable and attentive. On the day my friend and I visited, the café was running a BOGO (buy one, get one free) pizza deal, which we decided to try.
On the server’s recommendation, we ordered the Meat Deluxe pizza, topped with minced meat, steak strips and green pepper, along with two bottles of mineral water. Although there were few customers, service was slow, and we had to wait quite a while for our food to arrive.
The pizzas arrived on two wooden paddles and were generously sized. Although we were hungry and managed to demolish the large pizza, we were too full to attempt the second, medium-sized one.
The pizza was tasty, with generous portions of steak strips, minced meat and cheese in every slice. We rounded off our meal with a delicious pot of white coffee and left feeling satisfied.
The washrooms
The washrooms were clean and equipped with the necessary amenities. Although the hand dryer was not working, a roll of paper towels was provided as an alternative for drying hands.
Verdict
Competing with large, well-funded establishments is no easy task for small restaurants such as Ishaazi. However, these businesses could improve their prospects by taking advantage of their lower overheads to serve quality food at competitive prices rather than matching the prices charged by high-end restaurants.
By striking a better balance between quality and affordability, Ishaazi could attract more customers and improve its chances of thriving in Kampala’s fiercely competitive restaurant business.