Zim on a Plate, Zim in a Glass
Restaurant Reviews
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147 The Chase
Mount Pleasant
Harare
Tel 0772 276 319

 

It’s piping hot at Peppers 2012
Being the new kid on the block is often a tricky experience, do you try and stand out from the crowd, or do you meld into the background – a force to be reckoned with or a mere presence?  Peppers Restaurant at 147, The Chase, Mount Pleasant, seems to have decided upon the former strategy as it makes a name for itself in Harare. The bold sign at the entrance entices you inside, making you feel as though this ‘new kid’ is ready to take its place alongside the fine restaurants of Harare.  Categorised as a Family Restaurant, Peppers has much to offer in the way of fun outdoor entertainment for the children, as well as a more sophisticated sector for adult diners. Outdoor tables look onto the fenced sparkling-blue swimming pool and provide easy access to the jungle gyms and children’s area at the bottom of the garden.  If the weather is hot or rainy, you can sit on the wide veranda.  Inside, there is a choice of an open-plan dining area, or a more intimate, exclusive dining room.  The small pub area is welcoming and would be a great place to stop off for a sun-downer after a long day at work. The décor and trimmings at Peppers are modern, with plenty of smooth granite surfaces in view.

Things are looking good on the outside, but the acid test is on the inside; has this ‘new kid’ managed to produce a mouth-watering menu, and is the food delicious?  In a nutshell, the answer is Yes.  The menu is varied, but not overwhelming, with the emphasis on ‘hot’ dishes – Piri-piri and Chillies being base ingredients for many of the dishes.  So if you are looking to spice-up your dining experience, Peppers is the place for you.  However, the menu does cater for tender palates, with several milder choices available.  The menu is geared towards lunch, dinner and in-between meals.

The evening our family went to dinner was mild and balmy, so we sat on the veranda.  The starters were rapidly delivered and we had fun testing each other’s choices.  The Piri Peppers Livers were delicious – saucy and almost a meal in themselves.  We quickly devised a ‘heat scale’ to warn the children of how fiery the food tasted.  On a scale of one to ten, the Livers come in at three; perfect for introducing children to piri-piri.  The Peppers Mushrooms were crumbed and deep-fried, creating that sensational contrast between the smooth mushrooms and their crispy jackets.  The Tempura Vegetables were short on flavour and the sauce was a little too non-descript for our liking. The Carpaccio was magnificent, resplendent with a castle of divine mushrooms and shredded beetroot atop thinly sliced slivers of smoked beef.  Also on offer was a good selection of salads, including the Peppers Tangy Apple and Avo Salad and the Oriental Beef Salad, complete with a ‘cheeky dressing’. Starters range in price between $5 and $8.

Peppers has light meals on offer – croissants, wraps, Saltimbocca, Omelette-à-Trois and Spicy Fajitas, but we were hungry and so zoned in on the main courses.  Fillet, Rump, Chicken, Salmon and Prawns tantalised us, and the Pasta dishes complimented the choice.  This is where the ‘heat scale’ comes into play.  The boys decided on Piri Peppers Chicken and Cajun Fettuccine and both dishes hit high eights (and went off the scale for my more discerning palate).  Nonetheless, both boys loved their meals; the Chicken was tender and exciting, and the Pasta bristled with chicken strips and substantial chunks of chili.  If your palate is accustomed to hotter food, then these dishes are perfect.  There is an option of mild or hot for the piri-piri dishes, but even the ‘mild’ option was pretty powerful.

My daughter and I opted for more moderate dishes and were well-pleased with the Ballantine; a delectable chicken breast stuffed with spinach and feta, and the Fillet Steak, which was tasty and tender. The dishes are served with vegetables and the creamy butternut was exceptional.  Main meals cost between $10 and $18.

After his red-hot Pasta, my partner declined dessert, but the rest of us were intrigued by the Espresso and Vanilla and Strawberry Pannacottas.  They were beautifully plated-up; the smooth dessert nestled in a fine biscuity cradle.  A robust Malva pudding oozing with syrupy sauce, filled the last empty space.  Also on offer were Chocolate Mousse and Chili Chocolate Ice-cream.  Desserts are priced at around $6.  Our after-dinner coffee was robust and enjoyable.

Our meal at Peppers Restaurant was exciting and memorable and we will definitely support this ‘new kid’ as a sizzling addition to our repertoire of restaurants in Harare.
4 Plates
Expect to spend $20 - $30 per head
147 The Chase, Mount Pleasant, Harare
Family Restaurant

Peppers – Delicious Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Cuisine 2011
Peppers Coffee Shop is unfortunately situated on a nightmare of a bend at 147 The Chase in suburban Mount Pleasant.  But, saying that, I do believe that if Zimbabwe drivers can navigate themselves through major junctions with failing robots on a daily basis, then I think the entrance to Peppers should be a breeze.  Apparently road humps are making a comeback to that part of Harare soon anyway.

The sign for Peppers is quite impressive.  In fact it was the sign, as I zoomed past on my way to the ‘Bridge’, that first caught my eye.  Once the entrance has been safely navigated, the first impression as you drive in, is unfortunately not quite so striking.  Peppers is basically a converted house with a pool and a few palm trees, but there is plenty of parking at the rear.  A jungle gym has been installed in the only shady part of the garden so that Mums with young ones can relax and enjoy a coffee or lunch whilst the kiddies entertain themselves.  On the lawn there are plenty of benches with (thankfully) umbrellas.  The terrace next to the enclosed swimming pool is undercover and has bistro type chairs and tables and looks quite inviting.   The interior is a cool calm oasis and the recent renovation is modern with lots of dark chocolate on the walls, giving it a sophisticated Mediterranean appeal.  With a bit more effort, the external appearance of this restaurant could be made to fit the same Mediterranean theme and improve the overall dining experience of the place, as the food itself is excellent.

The cuisine is Mediterranean and Middle Eastern and the menu offers plenty of options, far more than one would expect from a Coffee Shop and indeed, we left feeling this entrant was wrongly categorised and should opt to place itself rather as a Family Restaurant, which it most assuredly is. 

On a very hot day, light meals are best, and Peppers has many tantalising choices.  There were four starters, from which we opted for the beef carpaccio with beetroot and mushroom tiane with coriander pesto.  Our starter arrived (as requested due to time constraints) with our main courses, a chicken wrap and Carousel fruit salad.  There was no doubt about it; everything was delicious and so intensely fresh, with a stunning hint of Middle Eastern spices.  My companion and I were pleasantly surprised.  The food certainly makes it a very good choice for healthy, light and exotic alternatives, so all that’s needed now, is to ensure that the external surroundings are lifted a bit, to be more in keeping with both the food and the interior.

We didn’t have enough of an appetite for dessert, but were very sorely tempted nevertheless.  With Chilli chocolate ice cream, espresso panacotta, vanilla and strawberry panacotta, malva and chocolate pudding – who wouldn’t be!

Peppers can quite easily be used as a venue for wedding receptions and private functions, but I think when I go back, it will be for dinner, as they are open until 10 pm except Sundays (10am to 3pm) and Tuesdays (closed).  The menu had some great choices and I would dearly love to try the citrus prawns or the salmon, and of course one, or maybe two if I have the space, of those delicious puddings!

We ended our impromptu lunch with coffees and as every good Mediterranean/Middle Eastern restaurant should know – only the best coffee should be served….and it was!  For such a new eatery, Peppers did a splendid job.  As the only two people eating lunch on the day, I hope very much that they are able to cope with more patrons at any one sitting….especially as I will certainly be returning for dinner sometime in the very near future!
Entered as a Coffee Shop, but is more, a Family Restaurant
4 Plates
Expect to spend $20 - $30
147 The Chase, Mount Pleasant, Harare