Afrikana Restaurant Leicester — Restaurant in England

Visited with the family on 25/08. We didn’t have a booking but the manager managed to seat us very promptly, only down side of where we were placed is that there was an air on right above us which wasn't comfortable as it was blowing cold air on us in an already fairly cool restaurant & having a baby with us it wasn’t the best as she’d get cold however one of the waiters did turn it down upon request.

We ordered crunchy okra & jerk chicken bites as a starter, big poppa burger, kids baby bun, butterfly bun & a majestic or mysterious mango mocktail forgot what it was called.

The butterfly burger was good as said by my partner, she enjoyed that, the kids baby bun was a good portion for kids & generous, my big poppa burger was also nice apart from a new element which ruined it for me, I’ve had the burger before & it didn’t have the cheese syringe where a member of staff injects he burger tableside with a huge amount of melted cheese, it was a far too much cheese, this resulted in a very disappointing sloppy, wet & messy burger which I really didn’t like, I had to eat it with a knife and fork as every time I picked it up something fell out, last time I had the burger it was perfect to eat with no mess, this time style has overpowered substance, in honesty the burger doesn’t need the melted cheese sauce injection, it would be perfectly fine with half the amount.

Starter wise the crunchy okra was nice however felt bad value for money as it was around 7 pieces of okra for £7, the jerk chicken bites was uninspired as it tasted like chicken nuggets tossed in jerk sauce, the mango mocktail was probably the most disappointing element of the evening as it promised frozen mango, orange, lime & elderflower, instead it tasted like rubicon mango slush with no orange, elderflower or lime at all, for a £7 mocktail this is a shocker, presentation wise aswell it looked bog standard and boring.

I would’ve given a 3 star but we had good service from a young Asian lady who served us and was patient and talked us through some dishes & made some recommendations, oh and also! Last time we visited there were no bbq ribs & even on this visit there were none, wanting to try the ribs was a motive for us to travel from Coventry so it was disappointing they weren’t available for the 2nd time.

EDIT: 14/02/2023

Visited for my daughters birthday, I’ve visited this branch twice previously but this time was the most disappointing, all the food was bland and lacked seasoning, the gizzadodo skewer wasn’t very tasty at all and felt bad value for money for 1 mini skewer for £7, the flavour marinade tasted shop bought and unappealing, my bbq baby back ribs were also bland, unimaginative & boring, everything was soft so you get bored of eating it after a few bites, really needs crunch & freshness, the best part of our visit was the attentive & friendly service aswell as the birthday cake for my daughter, sadly this was the 2nd visit in a row which has been below average here so we won’t...

Although I give 3/5, my experience wouldn't stop me from coming back and giving this place another go. The food overall was great, let down by some inexperienced waiting staff. It's early days though (this particular franchise has only been open for a few weeks), and I can imagine I'll have a completely different experience next time I visit (which I surely will, given the great tasting food).

The food was reasonably priced. Between a group of four of us, we got a mocktail each (it's a non-alcoholic place as an FYI), a few starters to share, a main each as well a couple of desserts to share. It all came to around £120, which you can't complain with.

I would recommend trying any of their starter dishes we tried, like their lady fingers, prawns to be wild (their prawns are huge!), Halloumi and hummus. While I didn't have any complaints with any of their chicken dishes as mains, the standout was certainly their goat curry. The goat was very tender and I would definitely get that again. It seemed to be the favourite of the dishes on our table.

As for the service, it took us around three hours to finish our meal and pay our bill. It's great we didn't feel rushed, but here were times when we had to wait a while to get served. And that's taking into account they had plenty of staff working on the day.

The thing that disappointed me most was that they served us a wrong dish at starters, and when we explained that to the staff, it took a long time for them understand the problem and give us the correct dish. They also served us a sharing platter for our mains, which we didn't order. And again it took a while to explain that to them and for them to take it away. So there is clearly miscommunication between the waiting staff and the kitchen that needs to be sorted. There didn't seem to be a restaurant manager on hand or anyone there to give guidance to the waiters, which would have likely solved all the customer service issues we had.

But I think over time they will find their feet and I look forward to amending my score and hopefully giving them a higher rating...

Our experience at Afrikana during Ramadan was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment we stepped in, we were enveloped in a serene atmosphere that set the stage for a remarkable evening.

Though the restaurant was pleasantly quiet, it was evident that Afrikana is a haven for those seeking both spiritual and culinary satisfaction. As Muslims, the absence of alcohol was perfect, and their halal status, combined with a dedicated prayer facility, offered a unique blend of convenience and reverence. The stellar mocktails were a delightful surprise – each sip a burst of exquisite flavor that left us craving more.

One small hiccup was the initially high volume of the music, which we kindly asked to be lowered. We were pleased to see that they promptly accommodated our request, making the environment even more enjoyable.

What truly set Afrikana apart was their thoughtful gesture of providing free fruit, dates, and water for those observing the fast. This level of consideration speaks volumes about their commitment to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment.

But the crown jewel of our visit was undoubtedly Amaan. His service was nothing short of spectacular – a masterclass in the art of hospitality. He had an uncanny ability to anticipate our needs without being overbearing, striking the perfect balance between attentiveness and discretion. Amaan's exceptional service alone is worth the visit, and he truly deserves every accolade and a well-deserved raise.

The culinary experience was a triumph of flavor and skill. The chef’s mastery was evident in every dish, with the meat cooked to absolute perfection – a true testament to their dedication to quality and taste.

In summary, Afrikana is a gem that excels in every aspect – from its impeccable service and thoughtful amenities to its outstanding cuisine. This place is a must-visit for anyone seeking a sublime dining experience during Ramadan or any other time. We wholeheartedly recommend Afrikana for an unforgettable...