Hakuna Mathatha at Mokolodi Bush Kitchen
Michelle Phetlhe | Tuesday February 22, 2022 06:00
A thin road meanders, with bushes along both sides, naturally you are prompted to reduce your speed and radio volume, to allow yourself to be one with nature. Botswana is really just beautiful without trying. We arrived well before sunset, I had heard how magestical the sunset backdrop to the restaurant was and did not want to miss it. It had been a while since appreciating a beautiful Botswana sunset in a perfect setting such as the Mokolodi Bush Kitchen. The restaurant opened its doors with new owners who revamped it in July 2021.
This was mid COVID-19 uncertainties and curfews. For the owners it was an exciting and equally unnerving venture, but the belief in what they had to offer was motivation enough to press in and press on. It is a family restaurant. Its design lends its self to family and groups, with settings of large tables that allow constant flow of air, even when you are inside, you are outside and that gives it that ‘being in the bush’ aesthetic that one can fall in love with over and over again. Large openings allow for superb ventilation and the beautiful views can be taken in from every corner of the restaurant. Besides the breathtaking natural views, there is an array of hand crafted art pieces, clay works and paintings which make up the restaurants décor.
These are the works of one of the owners, who has poured his artistic energy and skill into the lanterns that hang from the trees and light up come nightfall, the pottery piece chandeliers scattered outside plus the two huge 1m ones that hang inside the main restaurant upstairs. All the crockery comes from the home pottery studio and the dishes are finely crafted to match no other around town.
This personal artistic touch, creative execution and design is truly amazing and awe inspiring, with an attention to detail that is second to none. It is no wonder people that take the drive out are so comfortable and at peace, the place simply wraps you in a welcoming embrace even before they feed you generously. There was a table who at 5pm sat enjoying their conversation and drinks and had apparently been there since 11am. I might have not believed it if I myself had not experienced wanting to stay longer than I had anticipated. You get drawn in and really feel at home. My boys and I (Hubby and two sons) arrived just after 4pm and literally only left the place because it was closing time. It is very easy for one to loose track of time once you enter the doors of the Mokolodi Bush Kitchen.
The hostesses are sure to seat you immediately on arrival and provision has been made for instances when it is packed. There are two lounge areas as well as cocktail tables and chairs (that look like an up-side-down kika) outside where you can wait with a coffee, cocktail or any beverage of preference. The staff is hospitable, accommodating and friendly with a great sense of brand ownership as they transpose guests into memorable dining experiences. The management has structured it so that the staff are all a team pushing for the success of the restaurant. One can easily see how proud the staff is to be a part of the magic. Having been in the service industry for years, the owners have a winning formula and approach for service provision and patronage. Essentially this family restaurant is not fine dinning but it serves Soul Food. Spatially and aesthetically it has a touch of fancy with heavy African influences in its art pieces and some décor elements.
The animals, which graze and hang out by the restaurant, are another main attraction for the whole family. Alice the zebra is the most popular, there is Wonder Boy the other zebra, warthogs, springboks and a kudu, which we were lucky to see as it visits once a week. The Jungle gym and playground keeps the kids busy for hours on end, in between them grabbing some pizza which is made in the hand moulded outdoor pizza oven which looks like it should have a name; it has been upholstered to give it character. It’s no wonder I keep hearing the pizza is one of the best in town. Everything is curated to make the dining experience a memorable one as the owners are both food lovers. In the past 28 years of traveling the world together, they have noticed that food plays a big part in creating memories.
This is what they have encapsulated and finessed the space for their guests who will also feel like they are “traveling the world through food”. The look and feel is so picture perfect that different spaces even present themselves as photo booths when in actual fact they are just part of the gorgeous décor. Looking around it’s easy to notice guests make an effort in their appearance and without enforcing a dress code there is an unspoken one, people look good and are comfortable. The boys had different pizzas as this is one of their favourite pastimes. The first born’s was called Morula with ham and pineapple toppings and our little one had a kiddies chicken pizza. It was interesting to see how they named their whole pizza range after traditional Setswana wild fruits. I can’t help but imagine they will soon infuse these into the toppings and blow us away.
My better half, who had just the day before, been slightly under the weather without an appetite, dug into the Lamb Burger from the Specials of the day menu. He says it healed him with an infusion of flavour he has never experienced before in any lamb cut and apparently the sauce was one for the books (I found myself wanting to risk it all and taste, but I don’t eat red meat). He raved throughout every single bite and having eaten by his side for over 10 years, this was genuine culinary pleasure....o fodile..lol. I ordered the Angel Fish with spicy rice, encouraged by one of the owners’ suggestions. I had never heard of it and when I saw a picture I was sold. It came to the table and it demanded attention. Even the table next to mine enquired about it. The plate, actual plating, the entire thing looked too good to eat like an art piece.
This masterpiece was a sheer taste of aquatic opulence. The divinity in its name rings true as it is quite literally heavenly. Definitely a portion to share or doggy bag for later if you didn’t come with a big appetite, it’s so huge! The fish was meaty, buttery and full of flavour.
I loved the rice, perfectly spicy. This very fish is one of the restaurant’s best sellers and rightfully so. On this list is also limited Lamb Rump, and the Mediterranean dishes, tagine rabbit, lamb, chicken or fish. Porcelain food covers for many dishes on the menu, which are hand crafted by the owner, give even the most common dishes an edge. Dessert caters for those who want to play it safe with carrot cake, chocolate and an amazing white chocolate cake made with Almond flour.
Those who are feeling a bit more daring like I was, can try the knafeh; it’s a traditional Middle Eastern dessert made with spun pastry, soaked in a sweet sugar-based syrup and a pinch of salt, typically layered with cheese. It came with ice cream. I was excited until it got to the table and only then did I hear it has cheese in it and all those sides! I threw caution to wind and lo and behold, I tried something new and I liked it. Wherever you are from in the world, you can find something palette familiar. Opening times are Tuesday to Friday 12pm-8pm; weekends get quite busy, book ahead to avoid disappointment; Saturday 10am-8pm and Sunday 10am-3.30pm