Welcome to a land where the meat is as tasty as the expectation and the experience is as unique as the location you are in. Karibu (welcome in Swahili) to Carnivore, arguably the most recognized restaurant in Kenya. If you are a meat lover, and you should be if going to dine at this restaurant, then Carnivore can offer some of the most exotic meats you will ever lay your eyes on. Once greeted by a Kenyan woman dressed in a traditional African dress, you will be escorted to your table, passing a mixture of meats being cooked in a large open charcoal pit along the way, taking in the thick aroma while the chefs behind it are excitedly yelling Jambo (hello).

Taking a seat in a large outdoor area filled with distinctive wooden furniture, you realize all the tables are occupied with people, chit-chatting and laughing as their kids are heard in the large playground provided just outside. You are then greeted by the big smile of a man who offers you the traditional Carnivore drink named Dawa, which means “potion of health and revival.”

Preparing it on the spot off a mini-table strapped with a leather belt across his neck, he pours two shots of Vodka, a tablespoon of sugar, a lime cut into quarters, crushed ice, and a stick of honey. I eagerly wait to take a sip, and when I do, I give him a big smile and say Asante Sana (thank you). As he goes round the table preparing each of my friend’s a drink, the waiters, all dressed in zebra striped shirts, place an extremely hot plate in front of us, warning us not to touch it. I feel it with the tip of my finger, obviously, and understand they weren’t kidding.

The iron plates are done that way in order for the meat to sizzle when it arrives. Next a group of three to four waiters surround the table, each holding a traditional Masai sword wrapped with a different type of meat, and start carving an incredible amount in front of you, explaining the type of animal each sword holds. Your selection includes a wide array of meats to satisfy your cravings including tender zebra, ostrich, goat, impala (with it’s juicy flavor), lamb, beef, venison, and pork.

Other more chewy meats include the warthog, hartebeest, and crocodile, where the latter is made for the true, raw meat-eaters who like to work the jaw. The meat-fest doesn’t end there, with chicken wings, chicken tikka (spicy Indian chicken), sausages, spare rips, and sirloins all continuously circling your table. On the table you will find a selection of exotic sauces to go with your feast, and this is accompanied by a wide choice of salads.

To go with your extravagant meat meal, roasted potatoes are also dished out on the Masai skewers. (If you do happen to be a vegetarian and find yourself taken against your will, there is a pleasant vegetarian buffet to enjoy among all the carnivorous creatures surrounding you). Once you have devoured enough meat to satisfy you for at least a couple days, dessert and Kenyan coffee are on the menu, or you may choose to sample Kenya’s well known tea, prepared as Chai.

Most people that come for the Nyama Choma (barbecued meat) experience usually tend to buy the all-you-can-eat option which comes out to about $25 dollars a head. This is all very worth it, not only because of the rare meats to indulge in, but also because the special dining event allows you to leave with a smile on your face and an unforgettable memory.

Carnivore Restaurant
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: 605933-7 602786
www.tamarind.co.ke

- Reviewed by Eyal Moran (eyalmoran_82@hotmail.com)

Eyal Moran currently lives in Los Angeles after studying in Oxford and receiving his degree in Hospitality Management and International Relations. He grew up in Kenya, and has also lived in England, New York, Israel and South Africa, and has continuously traveled to see the world. Everywhere he goes he tends to look for local restaurants and is always excited to try new foods and take in the different flavors of a distinctive culture.