An evening of Salsa, food and good vibes
Can you salsa, or do you have two left feet like some foodies I know? Not pointing fingers.
Recently I went for salsa night at the Artcaffe restaurant at the Oval in Westlands.
They serve Salsa on a silver platter on Friday nights and I will tell you what... it’s a plug!
Whether it’s a date or an after-work plan, I’ll give you a glimpse of what you should expect.
I rarely dine at Artcaffe. Most of the time I would probably have a croissant and coffee to go, but not a proper meal.
By the way, foodies, how do you pronounce that croissant, please don’t think too hard, I’m here to help. Now say it with me “kwa- Son”.
Now you can fodie-flex anytime you order a croissant at a coffee shop or restaurant.
No coffee this time around, especially not on a Friday evening, a little libation will do the job, and the line is not on the table, so we opt for happy hour cocktails.
We first go for a gin-based cocktail, which comes in twos, because happy hour lasts from 4pm to 7pm.
I say we, because I’m with a froodie ( that’s what we call a friend who is also a foodie).
The cranberry gin sour is tasty and because it’s infused with cucumbers, it is very refreshing.
Artcaffe has an extensive food and drinks menu, from starters down to desserts.
The starter menu consists of soups, salads, quiches (a French tart consisting of pastry crust filled with savoury custard and pieces of cheese, meat, seafood or vegetables), and sandwiches.
They also have pizza and burgers if you are craving some cheesy meaty combos.
Their lunch and dinner menu will get you in a dilemma, especially because there are so many options to choose from, to prove that they have a section just for pasta options.
I haven’t had lasagna in a minute, so I went for a lasagna bolognese while my friend ordered a plate of fish and chips.
Lasagna bolognese consists of beef ragu, also known as ground beef sauce, in pasta layers, topped with béchamel sauce, also called white sauce topped and with mozzarella cheese served with a green salad.
The meal is served with a plate of french fries. The lasagna is a beef ragu in pasta layers, topped with béchamel sauce and mozzarella cheese.
It is served when it’s piping hot, and the cheese gets your mouth watery.
Generous cheese serving
The sauce tastes great. The sauce is great with just the right balance between salty and sweet, which is something we tend to enjoy with pasta dishes.
It’s topped with mozzarella, an interesting choice, that always pays off. It complements the sauce quite well.
The real surprise, though, is how generous the chef is with the cheese. There is a whole layer of cheese to the block of lasagna.
Loved every single bite of the cheesy goodness without paying attention to the French fries. I do also have a bite from my friend’s plate of deep fried fish fillet coated in spiced breadcrumbs.
Fish and tartar sauce always go hand in hand. I love how the creamy, tangy taste perfectly complements the taste of the fish.
Both plates went for Sh1,390 each while the cocktails range from Sh900 to Sh1,100.
Playing in the background was acoustic music by Jacob Osiyo’s band and ensemble.
Tunes in the line of salsa, the likes of son montuno, with elements of mambo, Latin jazz, bomba, plena, and guaracha.
The music is soothing, you might be tempted to shake a leg or two. So, in case you want a Friday plan after work this band salsa evening will do.
