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.

Borrowdale Village
Borrowdale
Harare 883158 091 247 990

Leonardo’s Restaurant 2011
As wide eyed country bumpkins, we arrived a little shell shocked into the haven of Leonardo’s. The traffic and pre-Christmas rush in the capital was much more than we were used to.  After spending a year’s worth of savings on Christmas presents, and with the kids still wanting to buy everything they saw, we took temporary refuge and decided to have lunch.  Sam Levy’s Village seems to be the place to be seen in Harare, and the variety of shopping options is impressive. As a visitor to Harare I was impressed with the level of activity and it seems the place is buzzing.  It appears you can buy anything you want, at a price.  Nevertheless, even though things are expensive, it is much better than the days of empty shelves and even emptier stares.

Walking off the street and up to the restaurant, one feels more relieved to be out of the bustle as opposed to arriving in a unique space.  The décor is not going to win awards.  The restaurant styles itself as offering continental food and it is decorated in a mock Italian/Spanish theme.   Although spotlessly clean, the theme seems a little too fake, and the view isn’t great. But the location is perfect.  However one of the first things I noticed was the warm welcome and attentiveness of the staff, and this great service continued throughout. The bar was well stocked and we sat down to enjoy a lunchtime beer and peruse the menu.

At heart I’m a meat-n-potatoes kind of person.  So I generally tend to be put off by exotic menus that have mountains of various pasta dishes and other salad type thingies.  Nevertheless I thought the menu was original and offered a range of different dishes.  After all, that’s the reason we eat out - to try things that we wouldn’t eat at home.  The specials were a great deal. One can choose a starter and main from a list, both for $120.  In a town where money flows out of your pocket like the water in the taps doesn’t, this is great value.  As we had kids with us, we ordered a complex variety of dishes and combos that didn’t seem to confuse the waiter at all.  We ordered chicken Caesar salads, Vienna schnitzels, pizzas, and fish and chips.  I ordered a specialty item, which was a pizza with a hole in the middle filled with salad. Billed as a low fat option, I ordered the prosciutto and low fat cheese variety, with a rocket and tomato salad.

Called to our table after only one drink, we tucked into some foccacia with lots of garlic and tried to control the kids.  Too many chocolate milkshakes and fizzy drinks, along with the fun of Christmas shopping, was making them a little too excited.  The food all arrived promptly and the portions were generous.  I continued to be impressed with the service, as the staff made every effort to help us with the kids by splitting dishes and generally keeping them happy. My pizza with a hole arrived and I didn’t start regretting it, nor wish I had ordered a steak!  It was just the sort of light fare that one needs for lunch, and although my pizza seemed possibly a little overdone, the rocket salad was excellent. 

I really enjoyed our meal at Leonardo’s, the location is convenient and the food was very good. Also it was great value for money. But full marks go for the service and general attentiveness of the staff.  Next time you are shopping at Borrowdale, and you need a break, I really recommend a lunch at Leonardo’s.
Family Restaurant
Expect to spend $15 to $25
5 Plates
Borrowdale Village, Borrowdale, Harare 

 

LEONARDO’S BELISIMA 2010
We arrived for an impromptu mid week lunch at Leonardo’s shortly after 1 pm. We were greeted by the owner who immediately ushered us to a table for two next to a window. Now this is all very nice, but it does highlight one of the shortcomings of Leonardo’s; the fact that it overlooks a messy overcrowded car park at dear Sam Levy’s village. Hence, the view is poor and the background noise is of vehicles trying to find parking in the poorly designed (by Sam Levy) parking area. Having said this, we were extremely lucky to have found a parking place right outside the front door, be it on top of sand and rubble from certain renovations taking place nearby.

The owner provided menus and a drinks waiter arrived poste haste and took our order of refreshing ginger beers. After which we thought, oh what the hell, and ordered a bottle of white wine from an extensive, extremely informative and magnificently laid out wine list. Our first choice was not available and the owner himself came over to apologise for the inconvenience. Easter weekend had come and gone and supplies were short which was quite acceptable to us.

On to the food menus. Like the wine list the food menu is extremely well presented and printed on high quality paper. All sections are well laid out and readable being in a decent sized font. Indeed, we rated the menus as the best we have seen in Harare for many a year. Meal descriptions too are excellent and explanatory with mouth watering descriptions of the fare on offer.

Whilst perusing the menus, a basket of absolutely delicious Italian bread was delivered. It is rather like a pizza base and has a lightly salted / garlic flavour. Unfortunately, it was so good that I ordered a second basket…… glutton!

For starters I ordered Calamari Scampi and my wife ordered a mozzarella cheese salad. The salad was in fact from the “special lunch menu” but the owner said it was no problem to order as a separate starter. It should be noted here that the special lunch menu did look delicious and is very reasonably priced at $10. We had decided to choose from the main menu so as to give a more in depth review of the establishment.

The Calamari Scampi was delicious but a fairly small portion for the $7 charge. The Special Mozzarella salad was also delicious. For mains, I ordered “Pollo Leonardo” which was chicken breast in a creamy pepper sauce with mash potato and fresh veggies. The meal was basically excellent, the only downfall being that the actual piece of chicken breast was not a particularly good cut of meat. My wife ordered “Trota Leonardo” which was a whole trout stuffed with minced chicken and carrot and leek creamy sauce. It was truly delicious and enjoyed (by us both!). I was now regretting having ordered the extra Italian bread, but though I needed to try a dessert, my wife was sated! I tried a light Crème Caramel which is always an old favourite. It was of good substance and had a good flavoured caramel sauce, so it passed the “pud” test admirably. The only downfall here was that there was a pretty long delay after ordering the dessert until it arrived. We ordered filter and espresso coffee. But that is another story. The bill came swiftly after being requested and apart from a minor error which was swiftly corrected and apologised for, we were pretty happy with the overall cost of our meal. Perhaps the prices of starters and desserts could be relooked at. We left having been well looked after by management and staff and decided we would certainly return to Leonardo’s. In fact I did return a couple of weeks later with a group of 10 for dinner. I chose different selections and all of us were very happy with the meal experience. Perhaps the table cloths could be renewed as they are tired. The same goes for the waiters “white” shirts! Leonardo’s is a great establishment, perhaps a better location would make it truly great.
Family Restaurant
Expect to spend $20 to $30
5 Plates

Leonardo’s 2009
After an extended close-down over the Christmas holidays, people will be delighted to know that Leonardo’s is open once again.  Open and humming with clientèle who know where to go for an excellent meal. Leonardo’s is classified as a Family Restaurant with a current five plate rating, and it certainly lived up to all expectations.  

We were glad that we had made a reservation as the restaurant was busy.  Leonardo’s landline is tricky, so bookings are best made using the cell-phone.  The parking area was well attended by security guards, and there was plenty of parking space available in the evening.  Up the flight of stairs and into the inviting, warm atmosphere that pervades Leonardo’s.  We were shown to our table and attended by a bevy of waiters; the standard of service is exceptionally high.  Although the restaurant was full, the level of service was unaffected, making us feel special and well looked-after.  There were couples, small and large groups of diners and plenty of youngsters out having dinner with their parents.

The menu was displayed with a flourish, and it deserves the flourish because it is an extensive menu with a wide range of choice.  There is definitely something to please everyone, even if you happen to be fussy.  When we dine out as a family, we each choose a different dish so that we can taste and test a variety of food.  We were spoilt for choice at Leonardo’s.

Hors d’oeuvres range from Fried Halloumi Cheese to Greek Dips.  We chose a delightful mushroom Gypsy Spit; Crumbed Goat’s Cheese; spicy Chicken Wings and an unusual Vegetable-filled Phyllo Basket.  I am very partial to Phyllo pastry dishes and this one was simply delicious, with a piquant sauce to tantalise the taste buds.  We felt that the portion sizes were just right.

Choosing our Main Course had involved much discussion.  At no time did we feel pressurised to make a quick decision and again, we salute the waiters who were courteous and helpful.  The menu encompasses a wide selection of dishes – pizza, poultry, beef, pork, fish and pasta.  The children chose a Fettucine Carbonara and the Lamb Chops.  The Fettucine is made at the restaurant and tastes wonderful, slightly al dente and enhanced by the Carbonara sauce, rich with bacon, ham and salami.  The spotless plate at the end of the meal signified how much the dish was enjoyed.  Lamb Chops are a favourite treat and my son made short work of them, right down to the last morsel, including the vegetables and chips.  I had to beg for a small titbit – it was tender and tasty.  My husband chose the T-Bone Steak with Pepper Sauce.  The T-Bone was tender and cooked perfectly to the requested ‘medium-done’.  The Pepper Sauce was seasoned with fresh, fragrant black pepper corns.  My choice was delightful – the Ravioli Con Ricotta with Napolitana Sauce.  Each Ravioli parcel was a gem and the Sauce completed the dish, and yes, my plate was spotless as well!

Desserts beckoned and we couldn’t resist the sweet temptations.  The choice, again, is varied and enticing.  We chose the rich, glossy Chocolate Mousse, the Chocolate Pecan Pie, the Brandy Snaps and the decadent Crème Brulée.  Each dessert was delicious - we tested the four choices, but there was no clear winner – they were equally tantalising.

The Wine List at Leonardo’s is excellent and wide-ranging.  We chose the Zonnebloem Shiraz; its spicy overtones complementing our meal.  The children chose Mango Fruit Juice, which they enjoyed – different from the usual Coke or Sprite.

You can expect to spend between $20 and $40 for a three course meal, depending on your choice, and, of course, what you have to drink.  The Hors d’oeuvres are priced between $5 and $9 and the desserts at around $5.  The main courses vary between $17 for the meat dishes and $9 for the pasta dishes.  You can have an excellent meal for a very reasonable price or you have the option of treating yourself to something a little more extravagant.  Leonardo’s is currently running a January lunch special where you can have a starter and main course for a well-priced $10.  The menu is limited for this lunch, but still provides a good choice of meals.

We were most impressed when the meals were served because the waiters without any hesitation knew exactly which dish each person had ordered.  Optional black pepper was offered, served in the largest pepper grinder the children have ever seen!  Leonardo’s has a set standard for service which, in our experience, is unsurpassed. The tone is definitely set by proprietor Daniel Marini – he leads by example and has obviously trained his staff to strive for excellence.  We had a lovely evening; unhurried time with the family; service par excellence; delicious food.  We couldn’t ask for anything more.
Family Restaurant
5 Plates
Expect to spend $20 to $40 a head

Perennial favourite Leonardo’s up to standard 2008
Leonardo’s is a perennial favourite in Harare, a regular award-winning family restaurant at Borrowdale Village.  It’s a friendly family business and it has survived well through the odds that this extraordinary country has thrown the way of long-suffering restaurateurs, managing regardless, to keep on serving up good food and attracting regular custom.  It has developed the sort of reputation every restaurant wants – one of being an establishment where clients pretty much know they can count on good food, good service and a pleasant dining environment.  Would it indeed live up to its name as just such a place tonight?

We were dining in a group on review night, and our gathering was in high spirits.  Yes, forgive us for being cheerful in such difficult times.  Well, someone has to be!  In a place and an era when life gets pared down to its absolute basics, when it all becomes about survival, like ferrets hunting and gathering for basic necessities, dealing with an almost complete lack of ordinary utilities and so finding our own ways of supplying these, and managing by endless small miracles and plenty of devious imagination to make a buck or two to pay our bills, one appreciates what’s actually important in life.   Indeed, we discussed this very issue over dinner.  What it truly boils down to, is family, friends and good company.  Throw in a full appreciation of the very real bonuses of living here – the fantastic weather, wildlife, open spaces and beautiful places, the non-stop, easy to access, theatrical, musical and arts offerings which seem actually to be increasing almost in proportion to the concurrent decline of the economy, the strong sense of community and with it, boundless sociability, our national sense of humour which nothing can kill - and we could all find a lot to be grateful for, and to celebrate.  One of our company that night was just returned from an LSD (look-see-decide) trip overseas. We warmly welcomed her home to the fold, and asked her her views.  Once she’d got her head around the trillion per cent (I kid you not) annual inflation rate (and rising!), she breathed a sigh of relief to be back in a place where these essentials of life get the recognition they really deserve.  Here, when people complain, they have exceeding good cause!  Yet, despite that, they smile, they laugh, they socialise, they are hospitable.  She was happy to be home.

I digress from our examination of Leonardo’s, and how it’s faring in the prevailing insanity of our beleaguered nation and economy (or lack of one!).  The service was friendly and efficient throughout the evening and we were well impressed.  In fact, until we ordered cappuccinos at the end of the meal, we didn’t even know that there was a power cut and the restaurant was on generator. 

On the food front, we sampled a wide range of offerings between our throng, amongst the merriment, effectively oiled by the bottles of Bon Courage Blush sparkling rosé wine which we had brought along.  For starters, the halloumi cheese, very nicely presented, went down a real treat.  The Flaming Choricco spicy sausage, ordered more for curiosity than anything else, was deliciously tasty and fun to behold on its little metal rack, being dramatically licked by blue flames.  We ordered a giant salad for the table and it was great – appetising, colourful and beautifully fresh.  The deep fried mushrooms were good, rather than great.  The delicately crafted, artistically presented filled filo pastries – packed with olives and delicious veggies – were as good as ever.  Amongst the mains orders, there was a preponderance of Italian food, with two opting for pasta dishes and three for some deliciously described and imaginative pizzas.  The Cannelloni was really superb, the pizzas good.  The special pasta that night – lamb with mushroom –an interesting and unusual idea, was acceptable in flavour rather than great.  The chicken breasts with mozzarella cheese were very tasty and good, the Greek style beef kebab, nicely presented on its skewer and hanging in a clever frame designed for the purpose, was good.  The chips that came with it were definitely not – but were willingly swapped out for a baked potato when attention was drawn to this.

We perused the wine list despite bringing our own.  It was sparse – a sign of the times – but probably varied enough to cater for a wine suitable for the range of dishes on offer.  There were plenty of other drinks both soft and hard available, including refreshing ginger beers, several of which we ordered.  Bathrooms were as ever clean, tidy and well equipped.  The assistant manager checked up on us during the meal and the price was probably much on a par with other family restaurants.  It is very hard indeed to gauge value for money these days, given the madness that prevails, and all agreed that restaurant prices are pretty high these days, almost on par with countries in the developed world – yet given shortages, difficulties of availability and dependence on imports, perhaps this is no surprise. 

Leonardo’s, consistently offering a seamless and enjoyable dining experience, rightly returns to its five plate status along with its peers such as Alo Alo and Mama Mia’s.  Who will be announced the Family Restaurant of the Year for the current reviewing year, now extended to March 2009, however, at this stage remains anybody’s guess!  Competition for this prize is very fierce and many restaurants in this category still await review.  In addition, we can expect to see several new entrants in the family category in coming months -  Zim on a Plate, now back in full swing, has signed up four new entrants in other categories in the past week alone.  Leonardo’s deserves congratulation for continuing to keep up its standards in a very hostile environment.  It is perhaps missing “the wow factor” – but one can continue, it seems, to be guaranteed of a really decent, well served meal, every time.
Family Restaurant
5 plates