The closer-to-home wilds are quite different from the silent towering rocky majesty of the Jonkershoek and Groot Drakenstein mountains I hiked near Stellenbosch, and probably under-appreciated! Nestling in the east of Harare, not that far from the city centre, in fact, we have our very own Mukuvisi Woodlands; and tucked in there, is a very pleasant Coffee Shop where you can enjoy light meals or tea or coffee accompanied by a cake or muffin. The light meals include pies, toasted sandwiches, samoosas, burgers, steak rolls and the like. For something more substantial, there is the beef or chicken stir-fry with rice, or if you visit at lunch time there is a daily special, which on this day was T-bone and chips. Or you may prefer a tuna or Greek salad. They also have a kids menu with mini pies, chicken nuggets or wings with chips and a small breakfast menu.
My fellow diner was already well ensconced and enjoying a cappuccino when I arrived so I joined her with the home-made and pleasantly tart lemon juice… there was extra sugar on hand if desired. For the main, I gave the T-bone a go, and my companion tried a chicken burger. Our waitress didn’t ask how I liked my steak but it came well-done anyway, tasty, and just a little too cooked, as was the chicken burger, but we had good chips accompanied by a small salad and all was well presented and enjoyable; friends on the next table tucked into a generous stir-fry.
There was a small dessert choice that came from the tea and coffee menu; chocolate cake was on offer plus an assortment of muffins, so we had the cake and my companion complemented hers with a bowl of ice-cream — I was obliged to help polish that off — but what can one do?!
Coffee Shop4 PlatesExpect to Spend US$6 to US$16 per headMukuvisi Woodlands, Corner Glenara Avenue/Hillside Rd, near Msasa.