The most Indian Indian restaurant

May 27, 2010

KHANA Kazana is legendary. One of the names that has comfortably settled in the definition of “Indian restaurant” in Kampala. Khana Kazana will be one of the ones after the letters “e.g”. If Indian restaurants were musicians, Khana Kazana would be either Chameleone, Bobi Wine or Bebe Cool. I

By Ernest Bazanye

KHANA Kazana is legendary. One of the names that has comfortably settled in the definition of “Indian restaurant” in Kampala. Khana Kazana will be one of the ones after the letters “e.g”. If Indian restaurants were musicians, Khana Kazana would be either Chameleone, Bobi Wine or Bebe Cool. It certainly would not be Toolman.

And on our visit last week we were reminded of exactly why it is right up there approaching the apex.

It is, first of all, the most Indian Indian restraurant I have ever reviewed. The décor is not half-hearted, lackluster and middling as it is in other places I have been to. Here they went full throttle.

Here they meant it. The walls, the floor, the tables and the waiting staff are adorned in attire and ornamentation that immediately inspires one to think of what an exotic and exciting thing it must be to eat Indian food.

But even aside from the eastern charm of the place, we have a lot of the more pleasant aspects of lunch in Uganda. The breeze over the lawns is delectable — that’s when the Ugandan sun has decided to be favourable— and the waiters smile and bow enthusiastically.

I was convinced even before the food arrived that I loved Khana Kazana very much and that this place was definitely going to be on my list of top ten places to eat out.

The waiter was ready to recommend when we looked at the menus. He recommended by number (“You will like number 90,” he said, not naming the dish by its stated title, which would have been more entertaining) and after we had settled on our orders, we did not wait long.

Verdict time: Ambience and décor? Unparalleled in my experience. Staff? Keen, quick and smart. Food? Well, that is where Khana Kazana’s position on my list gets tenuous. I have had better tasting meals at other Indian restaurants, so Khana Kazana isn’t the best in town.

But it is still fully pleasant, and I hope you go there soon.
Just be warned. They do that VAT thing, so the meal for two which I thought would cost under 50k actually came to 53 because of value added tax.

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