Zim on a Plate, Zim in a Glass
Restaurant Reviews
Sponsored by the Cheeseman,
with Press Partner The Standard

©All Zimbabwe On A Plate Reviews and Ratings are
copyright to The Cheeseman and may not be
reproduced without permission.

Q4 Upton Road
Ardbennie
Harare
661697/664745
0772 735177/0774 532 184

 

A tasty surprise at Tinkabell 2012
Tinkabell Restaurant is hidden away in Ardbennie, just off the Simon Mazorodze Road, near the industrial areas of Southerton and Willowvale.  Entering through a large metal sliding gate you drive into what seems to be an old house with a big metal-working workshop at the back and a rather pleasant green garden in the front.  There’s plenty of safe parking.

The restaurant’s seating area is split between indoors – in what I presume was the old lounge-cum-dining room – and an outdoor area on an enormous covered veranda that catches the cool breeze and overlooks the garden.  I could almost imagine that I was in Beira or Maputo and the Indian Ocean was just behind the boundary wall.  The décor and the seating is very simple and informal, but perfectly adequate and spick and span.

In typical Portuguese style we were served fresh bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and little bowls of garlic and VERY hot chilli to garnish the bread.  Our drinks arrived promptly and suitably chilled – a variety of soft drinks and beer and wine are available.  I think I caught a glimpse of a small bar area off to one side, so presumably thirsty managers and directors from surrounding businesses can pop in for a quick one! 

There didn’t seem to be a set menu but the waiter reeled off the offerings for the day.  For a less formal restaurant, this is often a very good idea as only good, fresh ingredients are presented.  On offer that particular day were, of course, peri-peri chicken, or lemon and herb chicken, rump or T-bone steak, prawns, tilapia or salmon.  All of the above are available with rice or chips.  Unfortunately there wasn’t anything suitable for vegetarians, but they would probably have come up with something if asked!  The waiter didn’t mention any starters and I didn’t see anything resembling a starter being taken to any of the other tables.  Perhaps if they decide to expand the menu they could add chicken giblets, the traditional ‘caldo verde’ green soup or a small salad.

Our party of three ordered the mild peri-peri chicken, a T-bone and a portion of prawns.  The portions were huge, quite enough to satisfy even the hungriest factory worker, so perhaps it’s just as well that we didn’t have starters.  The prawns were delicious, very fresh and well grilled and served with savoury rice and a small salad garnish.  The chicken was good, not too hot (peri-peri wise) and still moist and juicy inside with a slightly smoky, crispy skin – just the way I like it.  The steak was enormous, cooked medium rare as ordered and accompanied by a creamy, mushroomy sauce, some vegetables and excellent crispy, crunchy chips.  All the food was very plainly prepared and presented but extremely well cooked and very tasty.

I was pleased to see the chef walking around the restaurant serving some of the orders and chatting to a few of the diners.  Not surprisingly, being an industrial area, most of the diners were men – men of every age, size and ethnic origin from a group of older guys who looked like they’d just walked out of a mafia movie to a table of trendy young Indian and Asian dudes who could’ve graced the pages of a fashion magazine! 

We rounded off the meal with chocolate mousse and some excellent real coffee (definitely NOT nasty instant stuff).  Altogether it was a very satisfying meal – simple, well prepared generous portions and friendly, efficient service.  They’ve only been open for a short time but seem to have hit on a winning formula - it’s a relaxed, easy-going kind of place, definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area. 
Family Restaurant
4 Plates
Q4 Upton Road, Ardbennie
Expect to Spend $15 - $20 per head

Tinkering in the Industrial Sites 2011
Tinkabell (or Tinkerbell – confusingly both variations appear on the till slip) is an odd choice of name for this establishment.  To me it conjures up visions of a twee chintzy tea shop serving tea in china cups with daintily iced cupcakes and petit fours.  Not so this restaurant, which is a no-nonsense, no-frills Portuguese themed eatery situated in Ardbennie, not far off Simon Mazorodze Road and adjacent to the heavy industrial areas of the city.

The restaurant is actually located in a converted house in premises shared with an engineering concern who occupy the rear of the property.  Dust and grime are an integral part of heavy industry and preset crockery on the tables required a dusting before use!  We occupied a table on the large new veranda adjacent to a tinkling fountain and overlooking an expanse of green lawn.  There is a fenced off pond area with ducks and geese but certain of the ducks waddled across to disport themselves in the clean water of the fountain and entertained us with their antics.

It was a warm day and with cold drinks to hand and a basket of fresh bread to stave off immediate hunger pangs we studied the menu.  This has an adequate selection to suit most tastes and there are daily specials chalked on the board.  Having placed our orders, I asked for the wine list but there wasn’t one although the waiter brought out a small selection of wines of Portuguese origin to choose from.  I opted for a Vinho Verde which was cold and crisp and a good foil for our meal.

For starters we had the chicken livers and the Tricando.  These were somewhat disappointing because, whilst perfectly cooked were lacking in flavour and the beef was under-seasoned.  However bowls of garlic and chilli were available to rectify the situation.  The beef was also wonderfully rare and I got the lion’s share of this dish.  The main courses however were very good.  I had the signature dish of peri-peri chicken served mild and it was moist and full of flavour and came with chips and a simple fresh salad.  The chips were beautifully serrated and may well have come from a packet but were very acceptable.  My companion, who considers herself something of a prawn aficionado, thoroughly enjoyed a generous helping of large succulent prawns smothered in garlic which looked delicious and she pronounced them the best that she had tasted in a long while. I was not permitted to share in her enjoyment!

I was urged by the manager to sample one of the desserts which he claimed were very popular and succumbed, ordering the cheesecake.  This was a construction in an oversized cocktail glass comprising a bottom layer of crushed ginger biscuits then the ‘cheesecake’ topped with fresh granadilla and completed with a flourish of whipped cream and chocolate shavings – delicious!  This was accompanied by an acceptable espresso and an unexpected complimentary shot of “Portuguese Fire Water” to complete the meal.

All in all I was pleasantly surprised on this visit – there were one or two issues with slow service but it was Friday lunchtime and the restaurant was busy with of number of parties apparently set in for the duration of the afternoon and for an early start to the weekend festivities.  So, if you find yourself out in the industrial sites with an hour to spare and want a respite, pay Tinkabell’s a visit.  I certainly don’t know of any comparable restaurants in the vicinity.  Being a work-a-day restaurant it only opens from 7.30 am to 5pm on weekdays and from 11am to 5pm on Saturdays which is a family day.

Family Restaurant
3 Plates
Expect to spend $20 to $40 per head
Q4 Upton Road, Ardbennie, Harare