The Sunday Mail
HOLIDAYS – this coming Independence Holiday included, in the Zimbabwean culture and even in many parts of the world, are generally time for family and friends to get together. And eat and drink of course.
Having accepted, albeit begrudgingly, an invite from an acquaintance to sample a sprouting eatery or is it fast food outlet in downtown Harare, Mambo’s, I was taken by surprise to see that royal food is no longer a preserve for those in the leafy surbubs of Harare.
Aptly named “Mambo’s”, the place has royal semblance and is quite a departure from what the market has had to cope with for a while.
The management at the eatery was quick to point that they are not doing anything out of this world but rather, “adopted what was already on the market, adjusted it and developed it to come up with the Mambo’s.”
Before even tasting the food, it is the ambiance that catches the eye.
From the 152 seating arrangement that is sub divided into four segments to avoid boredom but open to all patrons, Mambo’s Chicken is just what the doctor ordered.
The four segments are – the bar set up which by and large resembles a bar, the family setup that is most appropriate for those that patronise as families or as a group, the executive place whose outlook is self-explanatory as well as the couples’ place.
“We have realised that in Zimbabwe, so many people have brilliant business ideas but then the problem is from launching their projects almost always they go bust and the reason being they rush to launch the projects before the idea is ripe,” said Mambo’s Chicken General Manager Mr Milton Mukaronda as he sat for an interview.
“We believe we are the first black-owned shop to start in the Central Business District as opposed to the norm where people start from the outskirts before getting into the CBD where the head on (competition) is intense.
“So for us the issue is we are very confident we will make an impression because if a customer visits, they will appreciate our ambiance is ahead of the competition, if they taste our food they will attest we are ahead of the competition.
“Our staff, went for three boot camps where we emphasized on the need for the best service for the customer because we are coming from a background where we believe the local market is starved of the best in terms of customer service,” he said.
Mr Mukaronda said inside three minutes after the cashier punches for an order, a customer should have their order with them.
With their business hours stretching from 7am to 11pm every other day including weekdays, Mambo’s Chicken pride themselves as the only food outlet in town that offers a fusion of both fried and grilled chicken. The sumptuous grilled chicken comes in either the usual lemon and herb or smoky barbecue or two more flavours – the Mozambican or Portuguese.
On the fried menu, the chicken and chips are uncharacteristically very dry compared to what is on the market complete with taste chips sprinkle.
