The Inglenook is a gem of a restaurant available to the discerning residents of Bulawayo, as well as business folk and tourists visiting the City of Kings and looking for a restaurant with a difference.
Le Connoiseur
The Cresta Churchill is a distinctive hotel, just 6km out of Bulawayo on the road to Matobo National Park.
On arrival we were warmly greeted and it was our waiter, Bernard, who courteously showed us to our reserved table in a cosy corner.
He presented the menu enclosed in a classic well-designed cover which co-ordinated with the table mats and invited us to order drinks, consulting the wine and beverages list on the last pages of the menu, which boasted a good selection of local and imported wines and beers, all reasonably priced, with the usual variety of soft drinks.
We decided on a glass of dry white Chardonnay, a firm favourite. Bernard explained that the restaurant was offering the à la carte menu that evening, and advised that the mushrooms starter and one of the main chicken dishes were not available.
I chose to start with a French salad, which was most enjoyable, while my husband opted for the beef carpaccio, which was absolute perfection! I sampled it too and it was delicious!
In taking our starters order we were told that the waiting time would be seven minutes and happily settled to imbibe the restful atmosphere of this charming restaurant.
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We noticed that one of the questions on the guest questionnaire on our table, was “Were you told how long the order will take?” At the end of the evening we completed the form, ticking relevant boxes, and it was a pleasure to convey our total satisfaction! It is good to know management cares enough to request the opinion of customers on so many aspects of their service, by which they obviously strive to maintain a high standard.
Peter, the Maitre d’, came over to make sure all was satisfactory.
For my main course, I chose the fillet steak which was unbelievably tender, grilled to perfection and served with béarnaise sauce. My husband launched out with the “Churchill Special’ — The Carpetbagger — an imaginative ‘surf-and-turf’ combo of fillet steak wrapped around a dainty seafood selection of prawn, mussel and crabmeat topped with a generous rasher of bacon.
Wow! The accompanying mixed vegetables were delicately-cooked with a choice of potatoes; we opted for roasted.
Apart from the Beef dishes, there was a wide choice of Mains to suit every taste – several Fish dishes including Nyanga Trout; Roasts of Lamb and Pork; Grilled Pork Chops; Barbecued Ribs; a delectable variety of Chicken dishes such as Chicken Cordon Bleu; Stir Fry; Pasta dishes and, not least, those dishes catering for Vegetarian palates. The Menu also had a very special ‘Back to Roots’ section of Zimbabwe dishes which offered Rice, Sadza and Chicken Stew, all wonderful choices, catering for local patrons as well as for overseas visitors who wish to sample traditional foods.
Following our Main course our waiter returned with the Menu for Desserts, with apologies that Black Forest Gâteau was not available. However, there remained tantalising choices of Tropical Fruit Salad, Three flavours of Ice Cream and Apple and Almond Crumble with Custard Sauce, my husband’s choice.
I chose a Dom Pedro, a fitting conclusion to what had been a first rate meal. Our 3 course meal with wine cost $70 – excellent value.
Departing, we checked out the restrooms and spacious foyer, admiring the pictures of famous characters from local and world history – kings and statesmen. Appropriately there are pictures of Lobengula and yes, one of Sir Winston Churchill! We enjoyed a very pleasant, relaxing evening.
This charming restaurant with all that it offers of good food and friendly staff deserves much better patronage by local people. Perhaps management should advertise more widely? It offers a real fine dining experience.
Deluxe Restaurant 5 Plates Expect to spend $35 to $45 per head The Cresta Churchill Hotel, Matopos Road, Bulawayo
