Zim on a Plate, Zim in a Glass
Restaurant Reviews
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92 Josiah Tongogara Street
Bulawayo

 

 

The Rush hour slows down at Indaba Book Café 2012
The lunchtime rush in Bulawayo was just beginning when my partner and I entered the Indaba Book Café.  We were ushered to a table where we could look out over the street and watch the build up of people and vehicles heading off for the lunch hour.  I found it quite soothing looking out from our cosy environment while life carried on outside, almost like watching a movie!  There was a real feeling of slowing down while we looked forward to a much needed meal.

Although the Indaba Book Café is in town, it is situated far enough from the centre so that finding parking is not an issue, with the bonus of being able to look through the window, keeping an eye on the vehicle.  Living up to its name, there is a small section where patrons can buy books, and if they so wish, there is seating in a bay window where the books can be read.  If looking out of coffee shop windows or reading books is not your thing, then you could also take advantage of the WiFi Hotspot. Phew … quite a lot going on and we’ve not even got to the food yet!

I was very impressed with the menu given that we were in a Café.  The choice was quite comprehensive, spanning breakfast, light snacks, lunch and deserts, accompanied by a wide range of drink options.  A Very Veggie (unfortunately one of only a few vegetarian options) and a Chicken Schnitzel were ordered along with juice and a coffee. The food is prepared fresh which would explain why it took a little while to arrive.  When it did arrive, we were both pleasantly surprised by the size of the meals.  I could only assume that my food was on a plate, because I certainly could not see said plate, underneath the Schnitzel, chips and salad!

The food was functional, and I say this as a compliment.  It served its purpose of a decent meal during the lunch hour. Quality was not compromised by quantity, but quantity was certainly emphasised. Although there was no real spark or pizzazz with the food presentation, it tasted good and was filling.  One table of patrons could not finish before lunch hour ended and had to take the excess food with them.

The coffee shop began to fill up with patrons, accommodating those who were squeezing in a quick lunchtime meeting, adding to those who were already there to take advantage of the WiFi and checking their emails. This increased activity was handled seamlessly by the staff.

The setting and ambience all conspired to offer a very pleasant experience.  Having solved the entire world’s problems over lunch, my partner and I timed our departure just as the rush-hour traffic, both foot and vehicular, was beginning to diminish.  Our waiter gallantly opened the sliding doors for us.

From a very quick snack to a more comprehensive meal option, the Indaba Book Café is certainly a venue to consider, and although we were there over lunch, it is open throughout the day with options to suit any time.
Coffee Shop
4 Plates
Corner J. Tongogara and 9th Ave, Bulawayo

 

 

Great food, ambience, value, at Indaba Book Café 2011   
A little jewel of a coffee shop can be found on a pleasant street corner in the city centre of Bulawayo.  No noisy pedestrians or hooting cars disturb one from the delights of consuming delicious food.  Being a ‘book’ café, there is also a bonus of being able to view all the latest books from novels to travel guides, for those young and old and all tastes in between.

When we arrived we were promptly shown to a table and this was followed by a current copy of the Independent paper.  Just as that was being opened, our waiter handed out the menus.  These are quite unusual, being an extremely hard cover in a lovely ochre colour.  On the front is a clever design made of wire and inside the lists of things to eat and drink are printed on coloured paper and laminated.  Not a menu that changes a great deal but always looks clean and presentable.

The first page consisted of breakfasts starting with the aptly named ‘Big Man’s Breakfast’ and going on to more moderate and dare I say, healthier options.  It was very tempting to try these but as we had already ‘broken our fast’, we turned to the next page.  Here, one has a great variety of dishes to choose from, in fact two pages of full-on meals to light snacks and children’s meals.  As we were trying to make up our minds the waiter re-appeared to take the drink order.  As it had been a hectic morning, my partner decided on a beer whilst I felt the need for a good cup of coffee.  These arrived a couple of minutes later and were gratefully received by parched throats.  The beer was well chilled and gave a good head, which indicated a very clean glass.  The coffee was served in a cafetière, which is so much better than coffee from a filter machine as it allows you to ‘make’ the coffee to your liking and you get more than one cup!  Well, this coffee is superb, a lovely aroma and clear taste and just what was needed.

Having finally decided on what to eat, our waiter magically re-appeared.  My partner went for the burger version of the breakfast – Big Man’s Burger - and I asked for a spinach, leek and feta pie.  Both dishes came with chips and a small mixed salad.  The chips were very crisp and light, and the salad fresh, with something spicy in it.  The burger was indeed big as well as juicy and filled a large hole, much to the satisfaction of my partner.  My pie was one of the best vegetarian pies I have had for a long time.  The leeks gave an extra boost to the flavour and texture and there was plenty of feta to make the pie good and creamy.  One thing I did find a bit incongruous was the serving of gravy.  To me gravy is a meat accompliment and I would have enjoyed a white sauce, preferably with herbs, not that the pie was in any way dry or really needing a sauce.  Going back to the menu, to find something sweet to finish off the meal, I noticed on the back page some additional information about the Indaba - they pride themselves on making all sauces and dressings from scratch; no packets or bottles involved.  Also, the cuisine leans to things grilled or baked - the healthier option without being 'too healthy'!

And so, on to dessert.  These all sound divine, but after much deliberation we asked for waffles.  There was bit of a delay in this coming to the table but the maitre d’ did come round and apologise.  In the meantime, my partner’s coffee arrived and he agreed with me on it being very good.  When the waffles were presented, they could have been a meal in themselves, something to remember for a teatime treat or for the children.  They were covered in lashings of syrup with a generous scoop of ice-cream on top.

All in all the Indaba Book Café is a great place for lunch out, with a good selection of dishes, a wonderful ambience, and great background music.  To top it all, the bill won’t give you indigestion or leave a bitter taste in your mouth.
Coffee Shop
4 Plates
Expect to spend $8 to $20 a head
92 Josiah Tongogara Street, Bulawayo

 

 

Hot Chocolate at a Chilli Spot in multi-faceted Indaba Book Cafe (2010)
It was on a cold winter’s morning that we decided to try out the Indaba Book Café.  I was looking forward to warming up with a hot chocolate, and being a chocolate fan means that I am fussy when it comes to hot chocolate. The concept of a book café is interesting, and catching on quite quickly. Indaba Book Café is more than a book café in just name, as it has an area set aside where a small selection of books can be purchased (or ordered if necessary), and a couple of comfortable chairs in which to read newspapers, magazines or indeed the book that you have just bought.  This particular book café takes the artistic theme a step further and advertises the very paintings on the wall for sale, supporting local artists.  And just when you thought that all a café had to do was offer a cup of tea, Indaba Book Café goes yet a step further, and offers you a Chilli Spot!  For those who might be confused, a Chilli Spot is also a Hot Spot as the name might suggest, and as such, offers wireless internet facilities.  So not only can you enjoy your tea while reading a book and pondering whether to buy the picture on the opposite wall, you could also be catching up on your emails at the same time!

There is a lot to offer, but I was still chilly (nothing to do with the Hot Spot, you understand!) so was looking forward to a nice rich warm hot chocolate and something to eat with it.  As it was just past breakfast time I also ordered a Kraal Breakfast while my partner decided to try out the Very Veggie. The hot chocolate and cappuccino arrived, and I was not disappointed, to the extent that I ended up ordering a second before the meal was finished!

The Very Veggie and Kraal breakfast arrived… well most of it did!  The order was quite quick, bordering on impressive, but considering that the food is being prepared from fresh; I did wonder if everything was properly cooked. This was especially the case with the pork sausage, which was part of the meal.  As it happened, with some relief and some disappointment, the pork sausage was to arrive at a later stage in the meal.  This has happened to me twice now in recent months, and I fail to understand why and how such a situation should exist.  Surely everyone knows that an egg cooks quicker than a sausage?  Apart from the delayed arrival of my sausage, which ironically was slightly under-cooked when it did arrive, both meals were very enjoyable, complete with second cup of hot chocolate.

I enjoyed the Indaba Book Café. It is in the CBD of Bulawayo, but just at the edge, so there is not as much noise as you might expect. Big expansive windows allow you to watch the world go past in a relaxing atmosphere. Being on the edge of the CBD means that parking, security and avoiding parking tickets are not issues that will clutter your mind while you enjoy all the literary and artistic features on offer. The comprehensive menu means that the café can attend to your culinary needs at any time of the day, whether you pop in for a quick drink or want to have a meal while discussing business issues.
Family Restaurant
4 Plates
Expect to spend $8 to $15 a head

Indaba Book Cafe in Bulawayo friendly and average, big plans ahead 2009
Situated in central Bulawayo, this was our second visit to Angels in the last few months, and it was pleasant to return.  We were made to feel very welcome.  I phoned to reserve a table, pretty sure it wasn't necessary, and was politely assured by the manageress with a smile in her voice, "No, you don't need to book." 

The restaurant was set out with seven small tables seating four people each.  We were invited to choose our table and took one by the window overlooking the busy street.  Shortly after we arrived a young couple came in, followed by a young family - husband, wife and two small children with two friends.   From appearances they seemed to be regular customers and they all ordered burgers and pies.  It was obvious that Angels caters well for small children, and much fuss was made of the babe-in-arms. 

Immediately we were seated, our waiter arrived with our menu and announced the Day's Special, which was "Sweet and Sour Chicken".  After reading through the menu, which is quite extensive for the size of restaurant, with all the various dishes describedin attractive and appetising terms, I opted for the Special, and my husband chose the Hake and Chips.  The menu also includes breakfast dishes throughout the day and light snacks, so there was plenty to choose from.  We ordered our drinks - Iced Coffee for me (which was delicious) and a Schweppes Lemon for my husband.  They arrived promptly and were served genteelly by the elderly, polite waiter, who took our order quietly and efficiently. 

I was disappointed with the chicken.  Though it was quite nicely cooked and well-presented, the sauce was definitely not sweet-and-sour – but rather more like barbecue.  The chicken was very thickly covered in this sauce, which was not, as I had expected, of a delicate sweet-and-sour flavour.  This was served on a bed of rice with carrots and beans on the side.  But my husband’s fish was very good; a generous portion, and perfectly cooked and served with chips and a small salad.  He asked for tartar sauce and the waiter promptly brought it to the table.  Bread rolls were not provided, and we didn't ask for any, although I'm sure they would have supplied some if requested.  We did however ask for iced water and that was brought to us without delay.  During our meal we were asked by both the manageress and by the waiter if we would like more drinks and if we found everything to our satisfaction.  Both were attentive and made us feel quite special.

The theme of this restaurant echoes its name.  There were Angels in every shape and form, including a free-standing "angel" fountain situated against the wall in the middle of the restaurant.  There were pretty blue matching pottery vases on a wrought iron display table and an abundance of angels and cupids and angel pictures on the walls.  The furnishings and furniture were in the Italian style of wrought iron tables and chairs, tiled floors and lots of potted plants.  Each table was laid with a blue cloth and white overlay and dark blue matching pottery.  There was a small arrangement of fresh flowers on every table. 

While the restaurant had the look of being relatively old, yet well-cared for, its bathrooms were quite unsightly.  Angels is situated in an old building so the fixtures were naturally old style, but the cleanliness of the toilets left much to be desired.  There was no toilet tissue at all in the Ladies, perhaps this had been temporarily overlooked, and the towel had seen better days!  The Gents was no better, I’m afraid – both toilets basically were grossly neglected.

Nonetheless, we enjoyed our lunch and the experience of Angels once again.  As we paid our bill we chatted a while with the manageress and were told they were making some big changes next month. They are planning a renovation incorporating an adjacent reading room and re-naming it The Indaba Book Cafe.  She spoke again of the drastic drop in clientèle and the need to revitalise their business, so evidently they are now swinging into action to do something to reverse the problem.  They feel there is a place in Bulawayo for a Book Café, and she was very enthusiastic about the project.  I am quite sure there is a real need for such a place and feel pretty confident that it will be well patronised.  I do hope so.  They have obviously struggled all year, like so many businesses, to keep afloat, and are now hoping to be able to something to bring the business back on line.  I wish them every success in their new venture. 
Family Restaurant
3 Plates
Expect to spend $10 to $15 a head

 

Angels in Bulawayo maintians high standard in difficult times
2008
After a long and busy morning dashing around town, in preparation for an overseas trip, it was very pleasant to enter the quiet orderliness of Angels!  It was our first visit to this little restaurant in the heart of Bulawayo, but on this particular occasion the name seemed appropriate to our needs… somewhere to rest awhile and order lunch!

Angels is situated on the corner of Tongogara Street and 9th Avenue – the restaurant on one street and their takeaways business on the other.  The restaurant seemed to emanate a very calm and unhurried atmosphere – but maybe that was because we were a little on the late side at 2 o’clock and we had missed the lunchtime rush.  We received a friendly greeting from the manager/owner and our waiter and were invited to choose our own table.   There were ten tables and we chose a small one by the window, overlooking the leafy, tree-lined street where we had parked our car. 

Two other tables were occupied by young business people, quietly enjoying their meal. Our waiter brought our menu – informing us that “Today’s Special” was marinated rump steak – and he took our drinks order.  The menu was attractive and a “good read” with a large and varied choice of dishes.  The main courses listed under the heading Angel Delights and the toasted sandwiches, burgers and snacks described as Angel Lights.  There was also a very comprehensive breakfast menu, and lunch dishes included such delicacies as liver and onions and chicken schnitzel. 

I opted for the “Special” and my companion ordered the tilapia.  The steak and the fish were nicely cooked – mine ‘medium to well’ and my co-conspirator’s grilled with a butter sauce - served with chips and salad.  We thought the prices – at R60-80 for the main course - were a bit on the high-side – especially for a lunchtime restaurant and, while the steak was a good size, the fish portion was very small.  Both dishes were served with chips (quite nice) and a “token” salad of sliced tomato, cucumber and onions.  The bread rolls were homemade and served warm with margarine balls.  Their dessert menu comprised ice cream and chocolate sauce and pancakes and waffles with syrup and ice cream and/or cream.  The waffle that we ordered took quite a long time to come, and we were pleased we were “sharing” as it was a really large one!

The restaurant was in the Italian style with modern tiled floor and attractive wrought iron tables and chairs.  The bare tables were laid with white plastic tablemats and pretty dark blue pottery with the Angels insignia stenciled on it.  There were white paper napkins and a small vase with fresh roses on every table – and, uniquely, a pretty pottery bell to “call for service”!  The décor was pleasant and interesting, with a central water feature of a “stone” urn with an Angel in the middle flanked by fluted plant pots and real plants!  Also, along another wall, was a large wrought iron and glass topped display table with ornaments and plants.  Pictures of angels and several carved cherubs and angels, supporting arrangements of plants and flowers, hung on the walls.  Mock marble columns “supported” the ceiling.  I must say, that their interior designer had done a very effective job in the rather limited space available.  The rest rooms were clean and well-kept and the premises well-maintained, taking account that the premises are quite old.

At almost 3pm we were the last customers to leave so we were able to have a leisurely chat with the lady proprietor who dealt with our bill.  After some preliminaries, she told us that business was bad and the worst it had ever been – that there was simply “no money around”.  She complained that companies were now being charged extra, unrealistic levies for all the necessary services which, if non-negotiable, will cause businesses to close.

Angels also has an adjoining takeaway – quite separate from the restaurant – and we got the impression that business from their breakfast/lunchtime outside trade, selling pies and gravy and sadza and rice, may be subsidising the rest of the establishment.

I must say that if Angels are in fact struggling, they are certainly maintaining a high standard, and keeping their appearance and premises in good order.     
Family Restaurant
4 Plates