Eatingout: Virunga Sports Pub: for value and variety

The elegant Virunga Sports Pub is a favourite of mine. Located on the second floor of the MTN Centre in Nyarutarama, this is a convenient lunch time joint for workers and shoppers. The leafy balcony commands an impressive view of Kigali City. The cooking style is continental and the chef makes good use of local ingredients with dishes like rice, matooke, boiled sweet and irish potatoes, posho, to mention but a few. As for service, it’s caring and unobtrusive, while prices are more than reasonable. Benjamin Barigenga, manager of the pub, says that they aim to offer the best choice at the lowest prices. A day at the pub begins at 7a.m. with offers of African and English tea, coffee, hot chocolate and bread. “Lunch here goes for only Frw1500 and with it comes a glass of juice and it involves all African foods,” said Barigenga. “There is also a chief’s salad choice, chicken soup, goat’s meat, beef stew, and fish fillet,” explained Dieu Donne Rugira, a receptionist at the pub. Choice is definitely not lacking. While you sit back and relax, there is cool music playing in the background. At Virunga there is DSTV and GTV from which you can enjoy all the local and international football matches. And with a bar stocked full of cold drinks, this is the perfect weekend hangout. Ends