Hot Spots: Cozy Restaurant and Bar; food on the go …

Cozy Restaurant sits right opposite the Executive Apartments in Kacyiru, and shares a wall with the Kenyan Embassy. And as far as locations go, this place is prime.

Saturday, April 20, 2013
Cozy is known for three things lunch buffet, terrace bar, and the rooms. Photo The New Times/Moses Opobo

Cozy Restaurant sits right opposite the Executive Apartments in Kacyiru, and shares a wall with the Kenyan Embassy. And as far as locations go, this place is prime.

Prime in that it has a steady army of white collar workers in the Kacyiru area, notorious for its dense concentration of international agencies and other corporate office blocks.

Cozy is known for three things; its lunch buffet, terrace bar, and the rooms. They have six rooms, which range from $40-60.

Apart from the rooms, the rest of the structure is open-air, including the buffet area and bar. Climbing plants and local art pieces compliment the open air setting further.

In front of this is the forecourt, which doubles as parking.

The kitchen is clearly visible from the buffet, and you can catch a glimpse of the chef broiling your meat.

Henry, the manager, is a man who won’t hesitate to jump into the ovens or chop up salads, before rushing to the bar to place an order. Henry works at the pace of an errand boy, and the ‘manager’ tag looks misplaced on him sometimes.

The buffet goes for Rwf2,500 (drink inclusive), and though limited, is rich. They do strictly oil-free foods (red and white meat, beans, chicken, rice, matooke and chips.

The buffet is recommended for that person who likes their food piping hot, which is what we were looking for. The food is prepared in small portions, such that the bowls are replenished constantly.

Cozy is good for that quick lunch before you rush back to office, for that quiet wind down drink after work, and for short stay.

While I saw no reason to complain with the buffet, the brochette the previous night had taken forever (never mind the exaggeration). But being memorial week when we visited, we let it pass.