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, while 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!
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 7.30am to 5pm on weekdays and from 11am to 5pm on Saturdays, which is a family day.
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.
Family Restaurant3 PlatesExpect to spend US$20 to US$40 per head
Q4 Upton Road, Ardbennie, Harare.
