Who needs a menu?

Restaurant review. At Tick Flavor Restaurant, the menu will be recited by a waitress, and the traditional cuisine will come on time but there will be nothing spectacular about your meal.

During the 80s and 90s, there were two main eating joints located in the city centre that served good traditional food viz. the now defunct Kyosimba Onaya (used to be adjacent to the former Cooperative Bank on William Street what is now Standard Chartered Bank) and Muyonjo’s further along the street on Wilson Road.

Both down to earth establishments that came were renowned for having inexpensive food that consistently excelled in terms of being tasty, wholesome while generally offering quality food. Sadly, the former went out of business in the twilight of the last century while the latter very nearly went belly under when one of those nouvea riche property moguls bought the old building and turned it into a tasteless modern edifice. Muyonjo’s had to move a few times and for all I know, they may have gone belly under.

Recently, we chanced to be in Luzira and came across Tick Flavour Restaurant, which is found along the Port Bell Road plumb opposite Three Star Wholesale (they sell beer and soda). Being lunch time, we decided to check out what they had on offer and surprise, surprise; they do not have a menu on hand. Why, I am not sure.

Nevertheless, snacks in the form of fried chicken, samosas, fried cassava, and kebabs are generally available throughout the course of the day and they are attractively displayed along the counter. I confess they did look appetizing. However, these types of snacks always taste better when they are cooked on the spot but then who has time to wait? Lunch is traditional and one can readily be assured of getting chicken stew or beef stew, fried beans and occasionally fresh peas when they are in season. No sooner had we sat down when the cheerful waitress came along to take our order and as to why they did not have something in writing drew a silly blank. I settled for matooke and all food served with chicken while my colleague chose the beef.

Fortunately, the food arrived within minutes and the portions were adequate while the food was pleasant. The chicken was of no distinct flavour with an abundance of Royco and the beef fared no better. However, judging by the surroundings and the habitué of the joint, good food was of no import to them. Perhaps, one could chalk it down to competition or lack of same.

All in all, Tick Flavour is a neighbourhood joint (for the locals) that probably does very well at the end of the month when people have been paid and during weekends. To their credit, the loos were well kept and the place is tidy though totally lacking in ambience.

editorial@ug.nationmedia.com