Nailantei Norari @ArtNorari

On a chilly Monday afternoon, my friend and I are on Ngong’ Road waiting for her 3pm meeting with a client.

Being a sales lady, she is big on image and is so agitated that her car is all mud streaked from her trip to the countryside. But I do not see any issue.

After all, shouldn’t business deals be based on the value proposition you bring to the table rather than how you look, what you drive and the state of what you drive is in.

But this is not an ideal world, so image is actually everything. So we drive along Ngong’ Road and chance upon a car wash at the junction where Ndemi Road hits Ngong’ Road.

As fate and luck would have it, there is a cool eatery next to it called The Circle, so we decide to check it out as her car gets a wash.

Great décor and ambience

The circle is an unpretentious space keen on polished wood and open spaces. There is ample seating space, with an outdoors deck working tables and officious chairs in case you have some work to catch up on.

The outdoors lounge with comfortable lounging chairs are done in colourful covers with a dash of print, and an upstairs sitting lounge that is littered with wide windows, hence has a chic outdoor feel.

Polished wooden interiors and exteriors evoke a sense of being inside a grand game of jenga. The service is quick and attentive.

We enquire about how long the place has been in existence and we learn that it started a few weeks back.

We order some coffee and a cocktail, the latter is for me, as we decide whether we have time to eat before the meeting.

My whiskey-ginger cocktail is delivered back to our table in no time. It is so good that I almost think of staying for happy hour, which runs from 3pm to 6pm from Monday to Thursday.

Her coffee follows immediately after, with a beautiful design crafted on the foam. We sip and catch up as we go through the extensive menu. 

We settle on sautéed potatoes and chicken wings for me, and beef-ugali for her. The food arrives soon after with compliments from the chef.

The wings are tasty and well done having been cooked for just the right amount of time, so there is a bit of tug with every bite.

The sautéed potatoes are heaven to me. I could sing a whole ode to them. I sneak a bite off my friend’s plate and are elated to find that the beef is tasty and soft.

I decide that I have just discovered my newest lunch chill spot. To clinch the bargain, the meals and drinks are at affordable prices.

I mean, where in Nairobi have you ever had sumptuous wings for Sh350 and you actually got full? Suffice it to say, I am now in a long-term relationship with The Circle, both for their great meals and their great crafted cocktails and well stocked bar, which means having options-whatever your taste buds or your poison is. 

Breakfast or dinner

We have met up on Saturdays with friends for their anything goes party, where great food and great deejays enliven your Saturday all day long well into dinner.

I have managed to buy my former boss kuku kienyeji, mukimo and one for the road a few times after a long day at the plantation and he has successfully returned the favour with great mentoring tips and a few breakfasts.

But I am more inclined to think that he just loves getting his car washed and having a go at the mahamris and viazi karai offered for breakfast more than he likes mentoring me.

But I will live, the breakfast experience at The Circle is something I cannot try to compete with anyway.

It starts every day at eight in the morning. Do try it and thank me later.