Eatingout: Nyarutarama Sports Centre: More than meets the eye

It’s not often that I will give a thumb up to an eatery that makes me wait for forty minutes, but for once, I will. When one thinks about the Nyarutarama Sports Center you’d not be wrong to imagine a place where you go to get fit. The centre has tennis courts, swimming pools, an aerobics room and a gym but thinking of only the sports facilities when envisioning the centre would be a grave mistake. There is also a kitchen that serves quite a variety of dishes although I noticed that most of the clientele preferred to get something from the grill. As I walked by the grill, which is situated almost right in the middle of the complex, the aroma of the grilled beef, mutton and chicken was tempting to say the least but I decided to ignore the ‘brochette’s and try some ‘real food’. If you indeed pay the establishment a visit, try to sit in the garden area, which is lovely, and avoid the patio just outside the bar. I didn’t know that there was a problem sitting on the patio until I smelt the air freshener’s scent wafting into the dining area from the toilets. I chose from a menu that ranged from Kenyan-style roast leg of goat to spaghetti bolognaise, a dish of grilled pork with rice, potatoes and peas. It was a dish, the kind waiter assured me that would curb my hunger pangs. I believed him; problem was he didn’t tell me that I’d have to wait forty minutes before enjoying it. Around the thirty-ninth minute mark I almost thought that they’d forgotten my order but then, ho, I saw my meal arrive. The rice, peas and potatoes were well cooked but the pork was my real concern. Not very many places know how to make a good pork chop but guess what? The chefs here knew their business! It was succulent, not dry at all, and even better, the quantity of pork chop wasn’t to be scoffed at. And at a price of 3,500 francs, it was an absolute bargain in my books. Along with two bottles of mineral water, the total price of the meal was 4,400 francs. Not bad at all. The service was slow, as I said earlier, but not as bad as in some places I’ve visited. The bathrooms are quite clean and for those with kids, there is a swing and plenty of room for the children to run about whilst you enjoy a cold drink in the fresh night air. Parking is a bit of a tight squeeze but most people park just outside along the road. Will I pay the restaurant a visit again? Certainly; maybe you should as well. Ends