NESTLED just beyond the concrete jungle of Harare’s bustling central business district (CBD) lies a hidden gem that promises an escape into a world of sizzling theatrics and savoury delights, the Kombahari Restaurant (The Kombahari).
Located in arguably Harare’s top hotel, the Rainbow Towers Hotel and Conference Centre, The Kombaharai is different from your typical eatery as it is a Hibachi-themed restaurant.
A Hibachi restaurant is a popular Japanese eatery with the name meaning “fire bowl”.
It’s different in several ways that include cooking style, seating arrangement, chef interaction, entertainment, and menu and cuisine.
These are the key tenants of The Kombahari which offers traditional, vegetarian, halal, Asian, African, Mediterranean, and English cuisines at affordable prices either for singles or groups.
“I would say from the people who come to the hotel, 70% are staying at the hotel, which means we have an opportunity to accommodate more walk-ins,” Rainbow Towers Hotel and Conference Centre food and beverages manager Tatenda Chapinduka told NewsDay Weekender Travel.
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“Being an à la carte restaurant, which is unique, I think we should be the only one in the CBD which has this kind of set-up, the only hotel with this setup. Looking at our location as well, anyone can come through. It is very accessible. We have the parking.”
He said they were in the process of reviving The Kombahari through introducing promotions and activities such teaching cooking classes for both children and adults by the hotel’s top chefs.
“We have got menu items that items are priced separately. So, we have the starter, the main course and we have got desserts,” Chapinduka said.
“In terms of affordability, we have got very affordable meals so even for the young couples, college students who want to go on dates and all, it is the perfect place if you are looking, at the environment, mood, etc, of the restaurant. It’s also good for corporations and for those planning huge gatherings.”
“People are also allowed doggie bags since it’s food you have bought,” Chapinduka added.
An à la carte restaurant offers you a choice of individually priced dishes for each course.
The maximum seating of the restaurant is 32, with the positioning of some of the tables able to accommodate groups of eight people, allowing the restaurant to accommodate singles and large gatherings.
At each table, there is a teppanyaki griddle in the centre surrounded by the seating chairs.
The teppanyaki griddle is a heating plate used for cooking by the chef who entertains the guests seated at the table in what is an interactive experience.
“With the Hibachi style restaurant which we have here, The Kombahari, literally meaning ‘eating while surrounding the cooking pot’, in Shona, the difference is you come here, look at the menu and choose what you want,” Rainbow Towers Hotel and Conference Centre executive chef Thomas Gamani said.
“The chef then goes inside the kitchen, gets everything needed for your dish, comes back, and asks you about your allergies, what you would like in terms of spices and starts cooking with you. For you, as the guest, the chef is your handle and you are making your meal on your own, telling the chef the taste that you desire.”
He said if a person wanted to try cuisines from other countries, they merely had to visit The Kombahari.