Food for all at Blue Banana

The dark and dismal car park in Newlands Shopping Centre did nothing to persuade me that going out was the right decision.
Wind-chilled to the bone, it was a relief to enter through large wood framed glass doors into the warmth of the Blue Banana.
A waiter ushered us to our booked table near a well-stocked bar. Every time the glass doors opened to let in customers, a blast of icy wind hit us so I ordered a cup of tea!
When the manager, a charming young woman, came to take our orders, I told her that I didn’t like where we were sitting.
“No problem at all,” she replied. “When those diners are finished I’ll put you on the raised floor.”
The starters menu offered spring rolls, chicken satays and nuggets with various sauces. There are deep fried Thai triangles, a blend of chicken and prawn sprinkled with sesame seeds, also chicken and vegetable wantons. Samoosas come in beef, chicken and vegetable.
For the more conservative, there are deep fried mushrooms with tartare sauce, chicken wings in a BBQ sauce or chicken livers in a peri peri or lemon and garlic sauce.
All the above priced in the region of US$4-6.
I like Tom Yum, a hot and sour vegetable soup but galangal makes my eyes water so I switched to haloumi cheese. My partner went for the chicken livers.
Then with a minimum of fuss, we moved to the raised dining area where we would eat our starters. It was cosy and private, blue with a hint of green, white and navy tablecloths and rust coloured walls to add warmth.
Our starters arrived, both beautifully presented and the blend of spices was just right.
We asked for recommendations from the manager for the main course,
“The Indian Lamb Curry is to die for,” she said.
I was tempted but wanted Thai food so ordered a Prawn red curry.
My partner wanted the sizzling beef but he doesn’t eat coconut. The manager was most helpful and went to check with the cook and came back to assure us that it was safe for him to order the sizzling beef.
It arrived well-presented, delicious and full of flavour. My red prawn curry was rich and satisfying and the pad Thai noodles — Thai egg noodles, tossed in a peanut sauce, topped with chopped groundnuts was an excellent accompaniment to both the beef and prawn curry.
Blue Banana specialities include green and red curries, and chicken and prawn dishes cooked Thai style, steamed fish with lemon sauce and beef with oyster sauce.
You can also order from The Baobab grill, which offers various types of steak, chicken schnitzel, roast chicken, pork ribs, grilled prawns, hake and crumbed calamari. All served with a choice of chips or mashed potatoes and salad or vegetables. There are two vegetarian options.
There is a children’s menu and desserts include the ubiquitous ice cream and chocolate sauce, chocolate mousse, apple crumble, crepe suzettes, chocolate brownies and banana slices rolled in coconut, deep-fried, and served with ice cream.
This is a happy restaurant combination of the exotic and the more traditional. An ideal choice for those with spouses who complain that food is either too fancy and foreign or too plain and ordinary. Both are catered for, as are vegetarians and diners who have a sweet tooth.
– Blue Banana Asian fusion
The Baobab Grill steakhouse.
Tel: 263-4-252269
Tel/Fax: 263-4-252275
Cell: 263-912 572154
Newlands Shopping Centre
E-mail: bluebanana@mweb.co.zw
Open Mondays to Fridays, lunch & dinner: Sat dinner
Closed: Sat lunch and Sundays