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Rainbow - Hotel Mercure
Cnr Park Way/Selous Ave
Victoria Falls
45871/4/44583/5/42213/6/44651/3

Simujinga Resturant at Rainbow Hotel, Vic Falls 2011
The Rainbow Hotel has always been a unique hotel in Vic Falls.  Its Moorish-style architecture is in great contrast to the usual thatch, safari style lodges and hotels in this resort town.  It remains popular, due to its central location in town and its unique ‘Swim and Sip’ bar in the pool.  Another little known secret of the hotel is that the best view of the Victoria Falls in town, is from the roof of this hotel.  The rooftop terrace is easily accessible from the staircase leading off the dining room.  When we visited the hotel for dinner, we deliberately arrived early, just to catch the magnificent sunset view from the rooftop.

I was lucky to find in my archives, a copy of Africa Calls from March 1982, which features an article on the re-opening of the Rainbow Hotel.  This was an excellent magazine and did much to promote the country.  I find it fascinating to look at the articles and adverts of the time and compare them with today.  It seemed an interesting and optimistic time.  The names of the towns and cities were about to be changed, National Parks was merged with the Ministry of Tourism.   320 000 tourists had visited the country that year, a significant increase on the year before.  The country was bent on making up for lost time and moving forward.  Even with fuel shortages, agriculture was growing and the emphasis was on self-sufficiency.  We produced 18% of the world’s tobacco, 3 million tonnes of maize, enough for local consumption and export, a large export cotton crop, and Hippo Valley was the largest sugar producer in Africa.  It was in this climate of widespread optimism that the Rainbow Hotel re-opened, revamped and renewed, after seven years of closure.  $475 000 was spent, which I assume was a lot at the time, considering that a year’s subscription to the Africa Calls was only $5!  Of interest to me was the description of the new restaurant, which was intended to be a specialty restaurant serving dishes from all over Africa.  This was to be for dinner only, lunch would be served by the pool and breakfast would be taken in a separate breakfast room.  In addition to the unique pool bar, there was another indoor cocktail bar.

How has this Hotel fared after 30 years?  Well there has obviously been ongoing expansion and renovation, but the original Moorish feel seems to have all but disappeared. The dining room is now where the lounge used to be.  The pool bar is still very popular.  Like many restaurants at the Falls, The Simujinga is the dining room for hotel guests, but is also open to visitors and locals not staying there. 

We arrived early to enjoy the sunset from the roof and have a few sundowners.  Dinner was a buffet affair, fairly sparse and expensive for what it was at $20 per head.  The butternut soup was very nice, and the salads very simple but fresh.  At the grill we were offered the usual fare for a Vic Falls hotel - impala, warthog, beef and crocodile.  A very fresh fruit salad rounded off the meal and was most enjoyable.  I rest my case, however, that any restaurant which is serious about winning awards and accolades, really should offer à la carte and move beyond the buffet experience, which rarely does justice to the culinary skills of the kitchen staff.  The meal and service were acceptable, rather than remarkable, and we did not at any stage say ‘wow’, except at the view from the roof!
Family Restaurant
3 Plates
Expect to spend $20 to $30 per head
Rainbow Mercure Hotel, Victoria Falls CBD

 

Simujinga at Rainbow Hotel Victoria Falls lacks “wow” (2010)
My daughter and I were given a warm welcome at The Rainbow Hotel’s Simujinga Restaurant, and fully intended to enjoy our night out, despite weather that had tempted us rather to stay home.  We had our pre-dinner drinks by the attractive pool bar, but were driven inside by the cold.  I didn’t choose any wine, but checked the wine list, which was simple and acceptable.  A bottle of imported wine costs a hefty $22.  Our initial impression of this restaurant is one of plainness.  It appears rather like a continuation of the hotel reception and lacks atmosphere.

There was a set menu at a reasonable $20 for the whole lot, or one could order individual items from this for separate prices, with mains averaging $12 to $15. The selection was fairly sparse. We both opted for the butternut soup to start, and this was delicious.  For mains I chose the pork chops, and my daughter the ‘Game Meat Selection’, both with french fries.  The vegetables served with the mains were very fresh, which I know is a great effort in Victoria Falls, but unfortunately their effect was ruined by being stone cold.  Warming up the beautiful big plates would have made a big difference! The pudding was an unappetising slice of bright, powder-dry birthday cake with hundreds and thousands on top, called Rainbow Cake - pun intended, no doubt! 

On the plus side, the Simujinga staff were very friendly and pleasant, the portions generous, and this restaurant does an enjoyable outdoor barbecue dinner when busy.  The Simujinga is perfectly positioned for plenty of trade in central Victoria Falls Town.  As such, it really does need to provide and cater to a certain level of expectation, especially from visiting foreign tourists, which, with a more exciting menu and décor, it could so easily entice.  As we move to being a more normalised country, and with everything available again and much more competition, shortcomings will be less and less tolerated.  Simple attention to small details, such as warming up the plates, printing an easy to follow, attractive menu, costs little, and would definitely improve their product.  There are some really excellent restaurants in the Falls, so the competition is stiff, and the Simujinga really needs to put in the effort to compete.

If I were a travelling businessman, eating alone, my company was paying the bill, and I was not expecting a grand dining experience, the Simujinga would be quite acceptable.  However, as it stands, it is not currently providing an especially notable or memorable dining experience in keeping with being in a hotel close to one of the world’s greatest wonders.
Family Restaurant
2 Plates
Expect to spend $20 to $30 a head

Simujinga – good dining in tranquil environs 2009
It was a lovely summer day in Victoria Falls and we decided to try a poolside lunch at the Rainbow Hotel’s, Simujinga Restaurant.  Generally, guests use the dining room, which opens out refreshingly on a hot day. We, however, decided to both swim and eat, and so we opted for the pool area. The staff kindly arranged a table for us under a picturesque frangipani tree in full bloom. The swimming pool was sparklingly clean and has a sunken bar area, with stools set in the pool. The barman had set out some cocktails very attractively along the counter, which was a lovely and enticing touch. We were offered drinks, and despite the cocktail temptation settled for non-alcoholic cool drinks, which were brought promptly and were served with ice.

There was an option of the buffet at a reasonable price, or a light lunch menu. We decided against the buffet, as we would not have done it justice, since we had a large dinner to look forward to that night.  So we decided to pace ourselves and share a starter, opting for the bream fillet with tartare sauce.  The kitchen service was unfortunately rather slow, but when we received our fish, it was succulent and tasty.

While waiting for our main course, we dipped in and out of the pool, which is set in well kept gardens. Despite the Rainbow being located on one of the main roads of Victoria Falls, the gardens provide a feeling of peace and tranquillity.  The Falls themselves can be heard all over town at the end of the rainy season, so you never forget where you are. The spray can be seen from a distance and it is a sublime time to visit this tourist town.

Our main courses arrived.  We had ordered sirloin steak with a mushroom sauce and mixed game meat (warthog and buffalo) in a ranch style sauce.  We had requested to substitute the vegetables for a salad, and this was provided without any fuss. The game meat was tasty and served with a lovely sauce, stir fried with onions.  It was slightly overdone and tending towards dry and stringy, but delicious nevertheless. The steak was well cooked, however, the actual quality of the meat could have been better. The mushroom sauce recipe might need reviewing, as it had some small lumps of flour in what was otherwise a passable sauce. Our chips were excellent, served hot and crispy. We were unsure about whether to order wine, and discussed with the wine waiter what options there were. He knew all the wines in stock, and it was a small but balanced selection at reasonable price.

The most pleasing and remarkable aspect of the hotel was its staff. They were well groomed, well spoken, impeccably mannered and well trained.  Hats off to the management for continuing the tradition of excellent service at the Rainbow. We would definitely recommend the Simujinga Restaurant for an uncomplicated and relaxing meal, where the staff will go to any lengths to ensure you are comfortable.  The gardens and the pool are fabulous and it is definitely worth a visit.
Family Restaurant
3 Plates
Expect to spend $30 to $50 per head

 

Delightful dinner at the Simujinga Restaurant, Rainbow Hotel, Victoria Falls 2008
Feeling rather too lazy to cook dinner on a Sunday night of a long weekend, we decided to treat the children to dinner at their favourite hotel in Victoria Falls. Generally, they only get to use the hotel swimming pool and have refreshments in summer, so they were delighted to dress up and have a full meal there.

As always, the staff were very welcoming and polite on our arrival. Our waiter, Willard, had the forethought to advise us to sit facing the entrance and allow our children to face outdoors, so that they could watch the Marimba Band when they began their entertainment. And, what entertainment it was.  I am not normally very enthusiastic about the Marimba, finding the range a bit limited and the tunes repetitive, however, this was the most lively, joyful marimba band I have had the pleasure of experiencing.  The children loved it, as did the French groups of diners sharing the restaurant.  Willard managed to display a few dance moves, much to the delight of the guests.

It was surprising to see the restaurant so full of foreign guests, as Victoria Falls has been very quiet of late.  The restaurant decor is functional rather than tasteful or welcoming, so the band and waiters were all the more valued for creating a warm and fun atmosphere. The restaurant was serving a buffet that night and there was a wide-ranging and limitless supply of food.  Sadly, the same could not be said for the beverages.  The hotel had not received their delivery of spirits and mixers and the wine list was very limited.

The starters were interesting with a hint of an African theme.  Included in the starters selection was a delightful array of salads. Quite a feat in Victoria Falls, where fresh produce is not in frequent supply. Accompanying the rather bland brown onion soup were the most delightful, fresh dinner rolls.

The main course buffet offered an enormous selection of meats, including buffalo, which was delicious.  The chefs at the buffet grilled selections of meat, chicken, boerewors and spare ribs and this was accompanied by mushroom or barbeque sauce, lightly steamed mixed vegetables, crusty mashed potatoes and beef stew and rice. We were all impressed with the standard of cooking and the tastiness of the food.  However, the desserts were disappointing, especially for two sweet-toothed children. The range was poor and the baking uninspired.

We finished off with some delicious coffee and whiskies around the hotel swimming pool, with the band still playing creating a festive, holiday atmosphere. The hotel certainly offers good value for money, and the staff have to be the jewel in their crown.  Judging by the delight on the faces of the other diners, we were not the only ones to leave well-fed, satisfied and with a little skip in our step. 

4 Plates
Family Restaurant
Expect to spend $16 to $20 per head incl drinks