Shaka Zulu is the world’s largest South African Restaurant housed in Camden Town. Since the slightly shambolic opening in August 2010 LondOnTheInside hadn’t been back to sample the food…until last week.
Shaka Zulu is like a theme park inside, the 27,000 square foot building is full of carved wooden murals, 20ft high warrior statues and many more weird and wonderful ornaments and trimmings.
There are three menus to choose from we ordered from the Baraai menu opting for Lamb Shank Samoas’s and Spiced Prawns to start. The prawns served cold in a peri peri sauce with coriander, curry leaves and tomato were a pleasant surprise with a spicy kick that hit all the right places. The lamb samoas were generous in size, the crunchy parcels packed with a tasty filling of meat and lentils served with a cooling rose harissa mayonnaise.
For mains the Pork and Lamb Sosaties with peri peri fries was the clear winner. The meat was tender and juicy, and the sweet apricots were a welcome addition. The Coconut fried Halibut was slightly disappointing and didn’t really taste of anything much.
When it came for desert we opted for the trifle, we’re not sure how african trifle is but it was a freaking great trifle all the same. A big hearty glass full of jelly, custard, fruit and cream, it made us think back to when we were kids eating at a birthday party.
The cocktail list is pretty decent and during happy hour they are half price – avoid the coffee like the plague. All in all a fairly decent meal,;some good, some bad and some average – just remember your credit card!
Shaka Zulu, Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road, Camden NW1
www.shaka-zulu.com