Located at Gisementi, on the road to Kimironko and a few meters to Amahoro National Stadium, Le Banjo Resto-bar with a relatively small car parking lot offers more than services to its patrons; it’s really at it with mouth watering, fun and is the place-to-be for evening and African eats.

Speaking to the manager of the venue, Claudine Umundole, she says that the establishment  its name from the persistent desires for music from the customers who frequented the eatery since it started.

Le Banjo is a French word which means "guitar” - a musical instrument. The restaurant’s settings are sophisticated yet deliberately move to set the natural atmosphere.

At the time I checked in, the restaurant offered meals and beverages at pocket friendly prices. Specialties included grilled steak, fresh line fish, gourmet salads, vegetarian dishes and other African traditional dishes.

With their extensive menu, there is little need for pretension, and they manage to maintain moderate prices while using high quality natural ingredients. If you're looking for an adventure which will land you a good meal, Le Banjo Restaurant is the place to dine.

A tradition for ambience

Inside the restaurant, the concept of Le Banjo is reminiscent of ‘the local and international music scene.’ The staff take the task of providing services to customers with more of pleasure than routine. 

They notice very quickly their customers’ preference and tastes, which makes it colourful to dine in a relaxed and modest atmosphere.

The counter is made of  welfurnished wood which acts as a cage for the beer, spirit, Champagne, rosé wines, Cape Ports, red and white wines from South Africa and overseas.

While the music slowly penetrates the bistro, the television set positioned in one of the corners allows all customers to view local and international scenes.

The Restaurant provides a porch space where people sit to enjoy their warm and cold beverages. Tables and chairs made out of bamboo are covered with maroon and white clothes, arranged in triangular format with reasonable space between them to allow a cool flow of conversations.

The décor

In keeping with the food concept, the décor of Le Banjo Restaurant dinning space is clean and simple in appearance.

Walls are painted yellow, beautiful art gourds, craft articles with pieces put on various sides of the room, wooden and reed walls at the entrance and every corner of the restaurant, all portray a good image of the African cultural art.

And for any case, you happen to run out of conversation with your dining partner, the pictures and paintings on the wall generate good conversation ideas; they speak a thousand words.

The cuisine

The menu is very simple with emphasis placed on natural, wholesome and preservative free ingredients. Resto-bar serves breakfast of African tea and Gatogo every morning from Monday to Friday.

The exceptional barbecue is served at placement of order; steaks are seasoned with a blend of freeze dried herbs and spices and finally brushed with salted butter while grilling. This method allows benefits for the perfect infusion of flavours into steak or other forms of barbecue.

While perceived as a meat lover’s paradise, the steak prepared with sweet chilli jam and lemon butter cream is famous for its own taste while at Le Banjo Resto-bar.

Venison, pork, lamb, fish and vegetarian dishes are prepared to order and complement the ever-changing menu of edibles.

The main dishes are served with African foodstuffs and their buffet which runs from Monday to Saturday goes at a price of Frw1200 which is genuine and affordable.

So within a blink of an eye, Le Banjo Resto-bar solves desires and needs for beverages and African dishes. If I dared making an adventure, this one was really worth it; a bistro and full eatery, unless the one I look forward to will be able to beat out this spot.

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