Jiko Restaurant At Tribe Hotel — Restaurant in Nairobi

So I booked my mum a Mother’s Day dinner at the Jiko restaurant which was confirmed via email by a very lovely staff or atleast she sounded lovely via the email conversations . My sister recalled them on the day to confirm booking and this was well confirmed. Now the events following arrival at the restaurant are just beyond my comprehension because when I got there, I found Mum and my sister complaining about the services, about how the reservation had been booked and yet they were taken to a table for two as opposed to three with no cutlery. Turns out the reservation was for formality purposes. They had ordered some drinks which had taken ages to arrive . We waited and waited and waited before the waiter paid any attention to us. When he finally picked our order after over 30 minutes or so...they brought the bread roll, placed it on the table and left. We wanted to eat but there was no cutlery. Now we waited and waited and waited again before anyone looked at our direction again so we could inform them there was no cutlery. After some more 40 minutes or so...we finally managed to grab our waiters attention. He came and feigned some surprise at the fact that there was no cutlery, he then went ahead and brought the cutlery. When the food finally arrived, ( the food was delicious) and we were done eating, we waited and waited and waited again before the waiter paid any attention to us. Mind you, we could see him serving other people all around us😏 Colourism/racism much? I don't know what it was. Anyway when he finally showed up after some more 40 minutes or so after we had completed eating, I ordered some juice. He said he would go and check what was available. Then we waited again for almost an hour, with some utensils from what we had completed eating more than 1 hour before still on the table. We figured that he was probably not gonna come back. Earth had probably swallowed him😒. I was so very thirsty. My sister had to stand up and go to where one of them was to request if they could serve us some water. She came back and we sat and waited again. After a very long wait with no one paying attention to us, we decided to get up and leave. Maybe then they would see us and chase after us to pay the bill. True to our thoughts, after we picked our bags and were on our way out, that is when the waiter hurried towards us with a bottle of water and some glasses on a tray smh...anyway we informed him that we were no longer interested and that he should give us our bills. Funny how he was quick at bringing that. We paid while standing mid-way on our way out. Anyway we took some pictures outside the restaurant and left. We went to get water and...

TRIBE IS JUST RACIST.

Please beware especially if you're melanated. We had a surprise engagement party at Jiko last month and the whole customer experience was HORRIBLE. The only reason I even gave it one star is because the food was decent and our waiter, Vivian, was awesome. Two of us had gone there afew weeks prior and organized with the hotel's event coordinator called Richard, to reserve a separate room for the group together with their rooftop botanical garden for the proposal. On the day of, once we showed up, they had zero record of the reservation. They kept us waiting almost 30mins while they sorted it out, then finally allowed us to decorate the room for the party.

As if that wasn't enough, a lady who is apparently the Head of Staff called Janet, later came at us with a bouncer while we were arranging the flower pots at the botanical garden and the next thing we know, she was ordering us to leave the garden immediately. I don't even know if the bouncer was there to physically drag us out or what was their plan. A whole group of paying customers. She kept telling us we can't be up there, it's a private garden, we can't use it without paying a fee and we need to leave. Everyone was shocked by her rudeness because Richard had told us that we can use the gardens and rearrange however we liked. She called the manager, Mike (who honestly didn't even look sober) and he too kept arguing with us how we're completely out of place by being there and rearranging. He said they never hire out that garden (which was a lie) and it's a liability for them. It wasn't until they called Richard, who confirmed everything, that he changed his tone but even then they refused to take responsibility for the confusion or even give an apology and were reluctant about giving us another place for the proposal. Anyway, after more arguing, they finally gave us a place, far less beautiful but we didn't have a choice. Later on, I happened to pass by one of the halls and saw the same lady, Janet, so courteously helping and almost bending over backwards to please some white guests. I was completely appalled. I had heard rumours about this place but this experience was not expected. So if you're having an event and want a good, reliable and non-discriminatory place, this is not it. Unless ofcourse you're white....

Jiko is more than just a restaurant; it's an experience, and our recent visit was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment we stepped into the beautifully designed space, we were enveloped in an atmosphere that felt both luxurious and genuinely welcoming. The ambiance is perfect for a special occasion or simply a delightful evening out. What truly elevated our dining experience, however, was the impeccable service, especially from Agnes and Mary. These two remarkable individuals are a credit to Jiko. Agnes was incredibly attentive, guiding us through the menu with expert knowledge and offering fantastic recommendations tailored to our preferences. Her warmth and genuine desire to ensure we had a perfect evening shone through in every interaction. Mary was equally exceptional, consistently checking in on us with a friendly smile, ensuring our glasses were never empty, and making sure every detail was just right. Their teamwork and dedication created a seamless and truly enjoyable dining experience. They made us feel not just like customers, but like valued guests. And the food! Oh, the food at Jiko is simply sublime. Each dish was a masterpiece of flavor and presentation. The ingredients were incredibly fresh, and the culinary artistry was evident in every bite. It's clear that the chefs pour their passion into creating unforgettable dishes. Jiko is a must-visit for anyone seeking a top-tier dining experience. The exquisite food, the elegant ambiance, and most importantly, the outstanding service from stars like Agnes and Mary, make it a truly memorable destination. We left feeling completely satisfied and already...