Restaurant review: What a seasoned menu

Recently, we spent a weekend in Masaka and the place brought back fond memories when I visited (my kwanjula) back in mid-1983 a few years after the liberation war that ousted Idi Amin. And the effects of the war were very evident. Buildings, shops, hotels were greatly damaged and to date Masaka has never fully recovered.

Size
Having chosen Tropic Inn Hotel in which to pitch tent, the first thing that impresses any guest is the sheer size of the property. A hotel in the city centre that occupies 10 acres is hard to come by and suffice it to say that given the generous space that abounds, the owner did not skimp on space when it came to the necessary and essential amenities. The rooms are enormous. The Presidential suite is lavish big and offers fantastic value for money costing a reasonable Shs 380,000.

Impressive management
The property is ably run by the general manager Rose Namurimu, who is always ensuring that all is well and never hesitates to interact with her guests. A seasoned Austrian-trained hotelier, she cut her spurs at Lake View Hotel, Mbarara where she spent a decade and has been with Tropic Inn Hotel for the last seven years. I daresay the owner Dr Samura is a contented man knowing that Rose is in charge of the ship.

Ambience
Outdoors they boast of having an Olympic size pool which unfortunately is presently out of commission and the landscaped gardens are a rare treasure for any hotel worthy of mention.
For a first-time visitor arriving in Masaka after dusk, getting around in a car is not only a daunting task but challenging. There are no street lights and the roads are narrow with the sides eroded by the weather. This makes navigation difficult and at times perilous. Taxis load and offload with abandon along the roads. Another concern at night, whilst walking, is being mugged or stumbling into a pot hole.
Menu
As fortune would have it, the food at Tropic Inn Hotel is on the whole very good and given the wide and eclectic menu offering from which to choose one invariably ends up spoilt for choice. We have tried their pork chops as well as their fish be it whole tilapia or pan fried fillet and the results were never disappointing. There is also a limited vegetarian menu with such favourites as a traditional vegetable curry or dhal (yellow lentils).

What stood out
Of particular note was the 300g pepper steak that was done medium as desired and served with parsley potatoes and a medley of steamed vegetables along with a fried whole tomato to boot.

THE DETAIL

Our Rating: Worth a visit
The place: Tropic Inn Hotel
Address: Plot 33-34 Kampala Road
The space: Situated on 10 acres of very prime land
The crowd: Tourists and fellow travellers
The menu: Beverages: Water, juice and soda, beer, sprits and beer.
Recommended dishes: An array of starters such as tilapia bread crumbed served with tartare sauce a fan of avocado on a bed of lettuce and a choice of salad dressing. The a la carte menu is continental with well-known runners such as grilled pork chops, pan fried tilapia or whole grilled tilapia as well pepper steak and grilled chicken or boneless breast of chicken. As might be expected they also offer sandwiches, salads as well as vegetarian entrees. Starters begin in the range of Shs 10,000 with the most expensive item being grilled beef fillet steak served with parsley potatoes, vegetables in season and a mushroom sauce and this would cost no less than Shs 30,000
The damage: A double room with a King size bed is shs 180,000 while the plush and executive VIP suite is modestly priced at Shs 360,000
Sound level: Very good
Parking: Ample and very secure
Smoke free zone: Strictly not allowed in the dining and public areas

NOTE

RATING: Not to be missed, worth a visit, so so/ok, don’t waste your time
These views are the reviewer’s personal reaction with price being factored into consideration. The menu listings are subject to change without notice.