Xawaashka Hargeisa Resturant

[NGONGE]

In the middle of the city centre, surrounded by bustling trade and heavy traffic is a gem of a restaurant called Xawaashka Hargeisa! It recently had a low-key opening ceremony that was attended by three men and a goat (the men refused to have their picture taken so I sadly can only show you the goat).

 

On the following night, I returned to the restaurant with three of my friends. As is normal with Somali restaurants, we did not bother to book a table and assumed there will be plenty of space. However, upon walking into the restaurant, the owner met us at the door and informed us that he was fully booked. He suggested that we go to the waiting area for refreshments and herbal tea.

 

The waiting area is beautiful with the typical chairs and tables found at most Somali restaurants and coffee shops. In addition, there are several TV screens hanging on the walls and showing Al Jazeera TV. The large windows with greying wide curtains give a really authentic feel to the place. The black and white striped marble flooring shines through and makes the space look bigger than what it really is. The endless hum of the many customers allows one to feel as if they’re in a wedding or some sort of public celebration.

 

After half an hour of drinking tea, talking and eavesdropping on the conversations of others around us, the owner approached us again and beckoned us to walk into the eating area of the restaurant. We went to a table in the corner and sat by a window. The scene outside was beautiful. People were walking past, cars were stuck in traffic with Somali music blaring out of each and every one of them, and dishevelled children were sticking their faces to our window and licking the glass!

 

Our table was exactly the same to the one in the waiting area. However, unlike the plastic tablecloth there, our table had one made of beautiful red velvet! That it was moth ridden and appearing to have several cigarette burns in places, only added to the authenticity of the whole experience. On the table, there were several forks, knives, spoons and silver metal glasses. There was also a silver jug, some folded tissue and toothpicks.

 

The owner, who also acts as a maitre d' when the restaurant is busy, returned with a notebook and a pen. He smilingly asked us what we would like to order. We in turn asked him for the menu. He retorted by saying that due to the popularity of the restaurant it has become common for customers to walk away with menus as souvenirs for this great culinary experience and, therefore, he was afraid there were no menus left to pass around.

 

What he did next though must rank as one of this restaurant's most attractive advantages. He actually sang the menu to us! The way his croaky voice pronounced fish, rice and pasta greatly whetted our appetites and we could not wait to sample the food. Alas, we first had to choose something from this delightfully sounding menu. We finally opted for their dish of the day; meat and rice with a side banana!

 

The owner returned five minutes later carrying a big plastic bowl. In it, he had what looked like foamy water! He placed it in the middle of the table and asked us to get stuck in. Just as we were about to pick up our spoons and sample this strange looking soup, the owner stopped us and said that this was not soup but rather water to wash our hands with! But we are going to use the forks and spoons, we told him. He nodded and started to take the bowl away whilst saying that the experience of eating with one's bare hands was much more satisfying than using forks and spoons. He mentioned that there is no better feeling than eating food whilst smelling the great aroma of the washing up liquid emanating from our hands and mixing itself with the smell of the food. We had to bow to his greater culinary knowledge and washed our hands in this plastic water basin.

 

As soon as we finished washing our hands, he retrieved the bowl and disappeared back into the kitchen. Two minutes later, he returned carrying tiny salad plates, chilli plates, a bunch of bananas and a huge platter of meat. He disappeared once again and returned with rice plates, curry bowls and bottles of mineral water. It was time to eat.

 

We surveyed the feast on our table and struggled to stop the saliva from dripping from our mouths. It was meat heaven. The rice had meat in it. The curry had meat in it. Then there was that huge meat platter with so much meat that I started to wonder if it was not my friend from the photo I was just about to eat!

 

The rice tasted like cumin. The meat tasted like cumin. The mineral water tasted like cumin and even the bananas tasted like cumin. It was a great meal.

 

At the start, we were all busy sampling the food and enjoying the sting of that lovely cumin flavour in our mouths. But as soon as we indulged our curiosity and had a taste of everything on the table, we slowed down and started having a conversation in between bites. The owner returned several times to ask if the food was ok and if we needed a top up (of meat and rice). We told him everything was fine and begged him to pass our compliments to the chef. That is when he started praising the chef and mysteriously talking about a secret ingredient that is added to all his restaurant's food to give it that special taste and feel. He of course refused to reveal what it was.

 

This dinner was great. The restaurant was great. The atmosphere, the constant hum, Magool's voice flying out from the side speakers, Al Jazeera's reporting, our host's easy conversational style, the kids licking the windows and the dual effect of the chandeliers on the ceiling and candles on the tables made this experience one of the best we ever had.

 

I fully recommend Xawashka Hargeisa and advise you all to give it a visit soon. However, if the place had any flaws I will have to say it is the lack of parking spaces. I suggest you leave you car at the nearest parking place and stroll to and from the restaurant. At any rate, walking after eating is healthy and may also help reducing the power of that terrific cumin smell oozing out of your clothes.

[Ibtisam]

I was waiting for the punch line Ngonge, but all i got was a slight dig LOOl

 

Thanks, kept me company while I had lunch

[NGONGE]

^^ It's not a story dee. It's for JB.

[Ibtisam]

^^What do you mean?? You want him to take you there?

[NGONGE]

^^ He's been giving one line resturant reviwes all morning. Have you not been paying attention? When I told him to write a proper one he asked me to give him the guidlines. THIS IS IT!

 

I want to know everything. From malqacadaha ila kuraasida. Not just 'good' and 'no good'.

 

ps

He may yet 'take me there'

[Kool_Kat]

Walee inaad xawaaji ka buuxisay your review...I expect a full review of the restaurant when you go on that date with JB...

[NGONGE]

^^ Sheekada afar quf ba ku jiray. Lets hope JB chooses two good ones.

[MZanzi]

Wale Carabki wadani ayuu noqday ...xayeesiiska halka kasi wad

[NGONGE]

^^ Carab ku dil.

[Jacaylbaro]

loooooooooooooooooooool@Ng ,,

 

This is a real challenge and you know i will never write like that ,, markaa waxba ha ka qorin iska dheh in a plain and simple phrase ,,,

 

 

I can write much much better in Somali though ,,

 

 

Now go check your PM ,,