Dining in the company of history

By Titus Kakembo                                                                                 

I and a colleague, Edward Kayiwa, sauntered into a new eating place in the middle of the city, and we were received by a set of cute smiles, and something I found quite unique to my vast dining experience: a couple of vintage stuff including the abacus.

"Karibu", cooed one beautiful waitress as she welcomed us in. And it didn’t stop at that – the courteousness, I mean.

Moments later, after seeing us settle onto our seats, she offered us each a menu.

“Please take your pick,” as she calculatedly moved two steps back to offer us room to peruse the cuisine booklets.
 

A cute waitress right at your service. (Credit: Titus Kakembo)

Kayiwa opted for chicken roast and unwilted leaves with potato chips (French fries). I chose a jumbo chicken burger stuffed with fruits, cheese and vegetables.

Besides the food sending my tongue in riot gear with appetite, I found the staff chatty, always wearing shimmering ear-to-ear smiles. They come polite and friendly. That sure was a bonus to our already mega appetites.
 

Get ready to make a mess of yourself with this yummy-looking burger. (Credit: Titus Kakembo)

In ten minutes flat we were navigating through generous portions and sending them down with piping hot coffees.

For the art lovers, the walls are alive with vibrant colors and themes that mirror the melting pot of cultures in the Kampala City today.  You are also sure to catch a glimpse of historical devices like the abacus, telephone and typewriter.

The joint has a seating capacity of more than 100 diners. It is popular for family outing or lovers fueling relationships on weekends.
 

As you dig into your meal, there is a bit of Maths to do on the wall . . . and perhaps a phone call to make? (Credit: Titus Kakembo)

And the culture of dining out is infecting many well-heeled Ugandans with busy schedules – an ideal meeting point that is free from the hustle found elsewhere in the bustling and noisy city.

As you dine, the Kampala sun splashes passersby with gold. It has several seating options. One looks like a bank teller’s desk.

So far I find the place fresh air in dining circles. Management is striving to maintain the high standards of hygiene and friendly service.

Here, two diners will part with sh50,000 – averagely speaking.

Kampala offers a variety of dining places like Cafe Pap, Handy's and New Delhi but there is something I find irresistible about this new Café Javas on the Kampala Boulevard adjacent to the Main Post Office or Bank of Uganda.

The chain of seven Café Javas dining places in Kampala and Entebbe are popular because of their convenience, familiarity and consistency. So I eased into the new one knowing the menu and the standards there are top tip.