Sports View: Great ambience but the food could use more work
Jan 28, 2010
SPORTS View Hotel has always been this uninspiring brown building that we stare listlessly at while stuck in the Kireka traffic jam after work. <br>It never registers, even in spite of the neon sign, that it’s actually, well, a hotel. <br><br>
By Ernest Bazanye
SPORTS View Hotel has always been this uninspiring brown building that we stare listlessly at while stuck in the Kireka traffic jam after work.
It never registers, even in spite of the neon sign, that it’s actually, well, a hotel.
Many a time I have heard people who live in the Kireka or Bweyogerere area complain that “there is no place to meet†in the environs.
Just because Sports View never occurred to us.
I turned in to find the parking guy giving out cards and advice as to where to leave your vehicle, which gives confidence that you won’t find your lights missing when you get back.
After that, another employee, with a wordless gesture, shepherded me towards a flight of stairs.
At the top of those stairs was what we had been looking for all along. An excellent place to wind down after work in a neat, calm, environment.
It’s a broad place with a tiny swimming pool in the corner. I’m guessing that the atmosphere is a bit different in the daytime when the pool is actually in use, but at sundown, with the lights just coming on, the distant hills retreating into the dusk, maybe a moon rising, it can be very soothing to be at a poolside.
My date was late, so I had a bit of time to take in the ambience. There are a number of older corporate types — not too many — at the other tables.
My deduction was that they were other natives of the area, not guests of the hotel. The speakers played an assortment of local pop hits as I waited.
The service was attentive. When my date arrived, the waitress was there in a jiffy to take our orders.
I have heard that the pork at this place is incredible, but on this night, the menu was limited, so we opted for chips and goat meat.
It was good food, though
not spectacular. I am holding out for a chance to have a go at that famous pork I have heard so much about.
The chips and goat were good, though I didn’t think they were worth the sh11,000 per plate we paid.
(The thought that I could get a Java’s burger for less!) but for sheer ambience, Sports View was worth it.
SPORTS View Hotel has always been this uninspiring brown building that we stare listlessly at while stuck in the Kireka traffic jam after work.
It never registers, even in spite of the neon sign, that it’s actually, well, a hotel.
Many a time I have heard people who live in the Kireka or Bweyogerere area complain that “there is no place to meet†in the environs.
Just because Sports View never occurred to us.
I turned in to find the parking guy giving out cards and advice as to where to leave your vehicle, which gives confidence that you won’t find your lights missing when you get back.
After that, another employee, with a wordless gesture, shepherded me towards a flight of stairs.
At the top of those stairs was what we had been looking for all along. An excellent place to wind down after work in a neat, calm, environment.
It’s a broad place with a tiny swimming pool in the corner. I’m guessing that the atmosphere is a bit different in the daytime when the pool is actually in use, but at sundown, with the lights just coming on, the distant hills retreating into the dusk, maybe a moon rising, it can be very soothing to be at a poolside.
My date was late, so I had a bit of time to take in the ambience. There are a number of older corporate types — not too many — at the other tables.
My deduction was that they were other natives of the area, not guests of the hotel. The speakers played an assortment of local pop hits as I waited.
The service was attentive. When my date arrived, the waitress was there in a jiffy to take our orders.
I have heard that the pork at this place is incredible, but on this night, the menu was limited, so we opted for chips and goat meat.
It was good food, though
not spectacular. I am holding out for a chance to have a go at that famous pork I have heard so much about.
The chips and goat were good, though I didn’t think they were worth the sh11,000 per plate we paid.
(The thought that I could get a Java’s burger for less!) but for sheer ambience, Sports View was worth it.