Shaka Zulu Restaurant Review - A Carnivore’s Dream
Eating at Shaka Zulu is not so much a dining experience as it is an “experience”. The stunning scenery and decadent décor, mixed with the authentic live entertainment and succulent, exotic cuisines propel this to something more than simply going for a meal.
For over two years The Camden Stables has been home to London's premiere African restaurant; Shaka Zulu serves the delicacies of the Dark Continent with live bands, performers and African music to create the authentic African arena to enjoy truly decadent feasts of the exotic kind.
I recently attended the 2nd birthday of Shaka Zulu, which also saw the opening of their Meat Bar. What is a meat bar you ask? It is very much as the name suggests a bar that serves meaty cocktails. If you like your Bloody Mary heavy on the Worchester Sauce then this will be your idea of Heaven. Cocktails with bacon, chorizo and even salmon are on the menu; and if a whole glass of meat fused with tequila or vodka doesnt rock your boat then there are also shots. In either case I found them too savoury, too heavy for the party atmosphere but I was taken by the novelty factor, and cant think of anything quite better as a bona fide stomach liner of hangover ailment.
Fear not, Shaka Zulu offers a huge selection (an entire menu, in fact) of meat free beverages. They have an extensive range of classic cocktails, but I went straight for the Zulu Innovations. The New Fashioned sees prunes and peaches giving the bitterness to Makers Mark whiskey. Its new, its different and its a nice variation to the classic old fashioned. If you like your cognac and your drinks smoky then the Smoky Desires is the drink for you. The ten year old whiskey gives a further smoothness to the caramel and Grand Marnier that forms the base of this smooth, smoky delight. For a lighter, fresher, fruitier departure, The Shark Alley is a must. The twist of lemon is the only thing in this cocktail that isnt super sweet raspberry vodka blended with pomegranate and rosemary.
The meaty aromas that wafted from the kitchen beside the party had the carnivore within me salivating, and eager for my dinner, which I returned for a few days later with a friend and fellow carnivore.
The first thing that struck my friend about the venue, just as it did me was the décor; it is immense in every sense of the word. Every wall is adorned with a sculpture or statue or mural, painting, collage or piece of paraphernalia that is as ubiquitous with Africa as the lone star is with Texas. Giant elephant heads, to-scale brass Lions, life-size African warriors greet you at every turn. No expense or detail has been spared to create this unique atmosphere, but my friend and I questioned whether it was too much. However, I think of Africa of something vast and epic. And African people are proud of their homeland and their heritage, and proudly display this. Here they embrace more is more. Shaka Zulu is not attempting to be simply an African restaurant, but rather take you to Africa. So for me, the extensive, impressive décor does the trick.
Shaka Zulu offers a number of menus, designed to help you experience a taste of Africa with set dishes. Both the Spirit of Africa and Essence of Africa menus are £49 per head and offer a three course meal of speciality dishes. However, we came for the works so went straight for the Braai Menu Braai meaning roasted meat in Afrikaans and chose the King Shaka Game Board, which offers a platter of South African beasts: springbok, waterbuck boerwors sausage, chilli boerwors sausage and the piece de resistance, zebra. And on the side (not a side of meat) fat peri peri potato wedges soft on the inside with a crisp spicy coating, chakalaka and sheba sauce to give spicy and sweet respites to the meaty delights
For £85 this might seem a bit steep, but as we would come to learn, this is easily enough food for three if not four and the quality and rarity of the meats make this a fair price. However, do check the website as they are constantly running great deals offering huge savings.
Despite waiting for a banquet of meat, we showed no signs of restraint while ordering a plate of biltong for a starter alongside crocodile cigars. We justified this further meat purchase in two ways: crocodile is exotic and we're here to try new things and biltong is pure protein - a solid favourite among the body building community. Unfortunately our membership cards are still in the post.
The cigars look like spring rolls - the pastry is fresh, crisp and crunchy, while the crocodile, heavily packed into this small shell, tastes like sweet chilli chicken. I don't think this is the best say to truly appreciate crocodile flesh.
The biltong, a selection of three varieties, is perhaps the best I have eaten and Im a regular to the South African shop in Victoria station trains have almost been missed due to my obsession with the salty, protein heavy snack. The buffalo droewors are tender, the chilli sticks chewy and delightfully challenging and the classic sliced biltong shredded so thin you can practically breathe it in. The piled high plate is empty in record speed, the waiter lets a wry smile slip out - 'maybe we love our meat a little too much?.'
Onto the beautifully presented game board. Sadly my sense of taste isn't cultured enough to differentiate between the springbok and waterbuck; both were equally tender and succulent. And if one were to describe them as akin to a fine beef fillet steak, then in comparative terms the Zebra would be the veal of the beef world. To call it the finest steak I have eaten would not be fair or accurate as it isn't a bovine, but the rich, intense, beefy flavour, mixed with the buttery texture of this fine cut of exotic beast certainly make it worthy of great credit.
Easier to differentiate were the sausages the chili boerwor packs a real kick. The borewors are a solidly packed think of the meatiest, beef sausage you have ever eaten and youre somewhere close to these.
The waiting staff and management were all extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the food and were all from South Africa. Call me old fashioned but I think having a staff that are from the country from which the cuisine you are partaking can have a great effect on your dining experience. Particularly if its the first time youre trying a food; more so if it is something exotic, strange of different. The personal nostalgic touches and connection between the country and the food do so much, and little phrases like reminds me of home and they take me back to my childhood in relation to the food served were nice touches from the team at Shaka Zulu. The phrase if you cant go to Africa, well bring Africa to you did ring delightfully through my ears.
Eating at Shaka Zulu is not so much a dining experience as it is an experience. The stunning scenery and decadent décor, mixed with the authentic live entertainment and succulent, exotic cuisines propel this to something more than simply going for a meal. Unlike any other restaurant I have been to in London, Shaka Zulu is a definite must visit and offers a wide range of special offers to further tempt you in.
Shaka Zulu, Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road, Camden, NW1 8AB http://www.shaka-zulu.com/