My twin daughters may have stumbled upon the runners-up for the best chips/fries this side of the Indian Ocean (their father's is obviously the best) earlier this week. I say this because they have never cared for the deep-fried tubers, yet they literally fought each other for these particular ones. Clawing at each other, scratching, grabbing handfuls of the golden treats in full view of all and sundry - I am a witness! Salute to the culinary great at Mambo Italia in Lavington Curve Mall for awakening my twins' '
Hunger Games' personas! You deserve a medal!
Mambo Italia have one entire half of the open-air, top deck of this boutique mall to themselves and they have made good use of the space. Shaded from the sometimes brutal Nairobi sun by lovely red canvassing is a kids' sliding set, atop the sort of padding you encounter in most modern gyms.
Perfect for the little ones to work up an appetite while allowing the adults some space and time to enjoy cocktails, ales and privacy for grown folk banter. Clever and functional. The rest of their restaurant is dedicated to a well-clad dining space, complete with a bar to one side and a gelato 'station' on the other. Said cladding: three or so round, wooden patio tables, the kind with large umbrella-type shades through the middle placed just next to the play area, while under their partial roof they have large rectangular tables with cushioned bench sitting for large groups/families and smaller, square tables with chairs.
The chairs themselves are crafted from reclaimed wood with a concave seat that hugs one's derriere just right, affording the perfect seated feel. A stunning whitewash finish on their wooden decor evokes images of the beachside.
I did order a steak and gorgonzola panini to go/take-away (whose side was the aforementioned, sibling-civil-war-inciting french fries) and thoroughly enjoyed it later that evening. I should add, the panini comes loaded with bell peppers in the mix, oh yes, please! It was simply scrumptious and the mini steaks were tender and juicy.
My daughters, their aunt and I enjoyed the short time we spent there; we adults had a drink each as we talked while my girls relished their late morning mostly spent sliding, but also running around and shrieking delightedly to their little hearts' content. It's safe to say I have discovered a perfect chill spot in Nairobi perfect for all ages.
