Shere Sardar at The Manor Hotel

First things first: This hotel’s name has got little to do with the biblical “manna from heaven”, and more to do with its definition as “the main house on an estate; a mansion”. The other thing about The Manor is that there seems to be a bit of contention with regards to the number of specialty restaurants they operate. What I know is that it runs three separate gourmet restaurants; Shere Sardar, for Indian; Silk, for contemporary Chinese, and Marco’s, for Italian food. At the O’Connell’s Irish Bar on the terrace, what is served is just a limited selection of pub grub. On Thursday August 14, the Pakistani community in Rwanda converged at the hotel to mark the country’s independence, and there was no better spot for the merry-making than the roof-top based Shere Sardar Restaurant. The Indian restaurant sits majestically under a large, dome-shaped iron rig covered in white tarpaulin. Come evenings when the lights are turned on, the dome looks like a large, bright unidentified flying object. Away from the Indian food, the thing about Shere Sardar is its versatility as a dining and events venue, in that it can host anything from diplomatic events, private parties, dinners and luncheons, corporate get-togethers, wedding receptions, music concerts – you name it. Talking of Indian food, the restaurant’s extensive menu lists over fifty different dishes from which to choose, including several options for the vegetarian. It is this rich menu that the diplomats, government officials and guests were treated to on Thursday night, and judging from the length of the queues to the buffet (and the portions served), it was well-worth it. As a novice at Asian food, I approached the buffet with caution, knowing how much the Indians like akabanga in their sauce. There was no need to worry, however, as most sauces came with only a mild chilli taste. As eating took center stage, the wait and kitchen staff set about work, showing up at tables and inquiring if you needed your pepper hotter. If that was the case, you then made your special order and within minutes, it arrived at your table, steaming hot. In all, and without a doubt, the most striking thing about The Manor is the service, and a generally hassle-free atmosphere. It is the place to go to simply unwind, spoil yourself, and eat decent food. Speaking of food, the one at The Manor is not for everybody, as it does not come cheap, and to partake of the buffet, one has to fork out Rw f 13,000.