Magunandu Restaurant - Embu

It this nice evening after some errands in Embu town that I feel a strange craving for some caffeine, my partner for the day decides  we sample out the restaurant in Maguna-andu supermarket. Being in a supermarket right in the center of a busy town you can be sure not to find a parking spot. So after driving through half of the town we get a parking spot infront of an electronics shop and embark on our mission.

There is a common entrance for all shoppers next to the point of sale terminals, after a brief security check we are through to explore the world. The restaurant is on the first floor immediately after a few comfortable steps. The small restaurant is a complete contrast from the crammed spaces of the rest of the supermarket.

They got the setting right, the cashier is right at the door as you enter next to the fruit case, the hot range is next clearly in view as you enter. From the door we can see the chef and his cooks go around their equipment in a fairly well maintained setup. The design ensures that the smoke doesn’t reach the client’s tables and still allows them to see a huge bit of the operations on their food

The furniture and fittings well blended with the wall fittings, it is simply well done. The wall hangings with funny messages about food, the best for us was “he who eats alone chokes alone” the tables and chairs are really unique and elegantly comfortable in an apparently tiny space, even with a handbag storage space below on several tables for the fashionista

The waiters’ uniform is also distinctive with the African print half coats. The waiter approaches us to take the order and for the first time my bubble of bliss bursts. The guy appears tired, no smile no enthusiasm appearing tired though from my observations he has very few stations to get tired. He takes the order in such a hurry that it is apparent to us that the guy is not professional. We order a cup of coffee and some samosas.

The guy brings coffee first then a couple of minutes later literally dumps the dumplings onto our table for us to pick and leaves as if chasing something. We choose to ignore the tired waiter who apparently needs to be retired. The coffee is good, and the samosas also taste well but the freshness is very questionable. The cooking bit is fine. 

Clearance of the tables is wanting since our table remains uncleared for several minutes as we chat away the time. On several occasions I saw the cashier clear tables and pick bills from several tables; noticeably regular clients. We wait for almost half an hour with our bill on the table before we ask the waiter why he was not picking our bill. He explains in a bored, matter-of-fact way that it was our responsibility to walk to the cashier and pay on our way out and let them do the service. You can imagine the smile I had on my face. Apparently even with my philanthropic mood on I could actually comfortably walk away with my tip.

Generally the place is good and I am not letting one waiter ruin the total experience. It is a place worth visiting and enjoying yourself as you shop.