Crave Kitchen & bakery

The feeling you get from dining at Craves Kitchen is unique to it alone. The joint is located in Kikuyu some 50 minutes from Nairobi CBD. You can take a cab but public transport is much cheaper. I was there with a colleague who resides in its locale. I didn’t expect such a chill place. The rustic look and the bare walls. The painting on the walls (which you can buy) and the bookshelf, the terrace which is in a garden where they grow their ingredients. I felt like I could kick back, take off my shoes and relax for hours. It’s wasn’t packed at the time which was a plus coz I got to admire the whole setup. We ate ugali and pork which was scrumptious. When it started getting dark, they lit the candles and the mood changed. It got me missing my partner. I’m bringing her here asap.

Unique hidden eat out gem in Kikuyu Crave Kitchen is located in the heart of Kikuyu Town Kiambu County and is about a 40 to 45 minute drive from Nairobi. The beautiful place was initially a garage before it was turned into a lovely food joint that has attracted so many people. They always have a tiny chalkboard outside at the entrance that has a quote of the day written on it. The place is really cute with a rustic theme to it. The outside dining area is in the kitchen garden so you get to have a lovely nature themed surrounding as you have your meal. They still have the option of dining insidw which is equally lovely because they have fantastic art inside and shelves of books available to anyone who wants to have nose stuck in a book as they enjoy one of the finest meals I have gotten a chance to taste. Their mbuzi choma is phenomenal! These guys actually know how to make their customers mouth water with their superb meals that are so yummy. The best part about Crave Kitchen is their meals are very affordable. Can you imagine getting such high quality meals at affordable prices? The ride out of town is definitely 100% worth it. Their staff made the place more lively with their ever smiling faces and great customer services. The guy in charge even came and inquired how our meal was and if we needed anything or had an issue. I found this really nice and professional of them. Crave Kitchen is specially known for its pork and quite famous among the Kikuyu locals. I am planning to go back there soon because places with such amazing food deserve an infinity of visits. It is a perfect place for a solo date or family dinner especially late evening and at night when they usually have the place beautifully candle-lit.

This was a lucky find in Kikuyu town. It is located right at the edge of Kikuyu town and not too far from the old Lunatic Express railway line. Parking space may be a problem seeing how it gets packed, especially on weekends. When you see the tiny door that leads into the cafe, you would not expect to be hit with the culture shock of the contrast of the street and the interior of the cafe. It has a very creative interior, crafty design and beautiful natural decor. The amazing paintings on the walls are a sight for sore eyes and there were book shelves containing a variety of magazines and books. I particularly enjoyed the selection of the background music, giving the place a chill vibe. It has an open kitchen setup and it was an interesting sight seeing the chefs and waiters engrossed in their activities. It also has a pastry area filled with a number of baked delicacies. There is an open garden with outdoor seating at the backside of the restaurant. The roast beef is one of my go to meals in this place and it goes for 800 KES per kg, with an accompaniment at an extra cost. It is fairly good. I would recommend their freshly baked pastries and brews. The service is usually very slow at peak hours but I really love the young and vibrant wait staff. The tranquility of the place is unmatched considering the location and I would highly recommend it to be a must visit!!

I would say that Crave’s Kitchen is a hidden gem located in the rural area of Kiambu County, Kikuyu town. Kikuyu is about an hour’s drive from Nairobi CBD and the restaurant is smack in the middle of Kikuyu town. The countryside restaurant accepts walk-ins and is quite popular. Parking is located on the street so you would have to pay 1$ for parking. The restaurant has a rustic feel – with brick  unfinished walls and pictures on them. My favourite thing about the place is that there is a bookshelf full of books to read while eating and copies of the daily newspaper. My old soul felt right at home. I was having dinner there on recommendation from a friend and I arrived at 6pm  and walked in to wonderful aromas of fried beef and pork.  If you are the kind of person who would enjoy a candlelit restaurant, quiet and serene,then this is a place you should certainly try out. This lighting is intimate, which is perfect for a romantic date filled with great food and conversation. I ordered pork and mashed potatoes, which had also been recommended. The staff are amazing and quick since the place is busiest around dinnertime.  The food was amazing and savoury. The pork was especially good and salted to perfection. I had tea after my meal which is quite amusing if you know me but this is the kind of place where you would enjoy a cup of tea and look at the newspaper headlines. The prices are so friendly with me paying around 6$ in total for the meal and the tea. I know, right? My favourite thing about the countryside is good food that is not overpriced. I did not like the bathrooms- there were only two stalls for ladies and hardly any water which I found quite unsanitary. Crave’s Kitchen is a place I’d have dinner everyday if I was a local. I would definitely go back. I would rate it a 7/10.