Afrikana Holloway — Restaurant in London

This Ain’t Dalston, Babes…

So my boyfriend (okay, male friend but let’s roll with it) and I popped into Africana in Holloway after a cute little movie night at the Odeon. I’d hyped it up because I’d been to the Dalston branch a couple times and absolutely loved the food and friendly vibe. Big mistake. Huge.

We walked in and the place was basically empty — tumbleweeds. Two staff members were standing behind the till, saw us, and… completely ignored us. No “hi,” no “take a seat,” not even a nod. We waited awkwardly at the entrance, giving them a chance to redeem themselves… nothing. So we sat ourselves down.

We sat there for a solid 10–15 minutes like invisible people while they had a full-blown gossip session behind the counter. Then, plot twist — they started arguing with each other. Loudly. I thought I was back in the cinema, it was giving EastEnders energy.

Finally, the woman storms over, throws two menus on the table like she’s serving attitude with a side of rice and peas, and walks off. No “hello,” no smile, not even eye contact. At that point, me and my man-friend just looked at each other and said, “Yeah, let’s go.”

Absolutely shocking service. The food might be great, but I wouldn’t know — we never got that far. Stick to the Dalston branch if you want decent vibes. Holloway? Not worth it. UPDATE: I’ve just seen the restaurant’s public response and I’m honestly shocked to be accused of lying.

So, Afrikana Holloway management — I won’t be taking this discussion “offline.” Please see my full public response below. 😊 ⸻

Dear Afrikana Holloway,

I’ve just seen your public response to my review, and I’m genuinely shocked and offended by how unprofessional and dismissive it was. To be accused of lying about my experience — especially in such a public and patronising manner — is not only incredibly rude, but also extremely embarrassing for your establishment.

Firstly, I never stated the date or time I visited in my original review, so I’m not sure how you’ve “checked CCTV” and concluded that my account is false. To clarify, I visited your Holloway branch on Thursday 24th July between 6–7pm. There were two members of staff present — a man and a woman — and only two other table of customers at the time. I stand by every word of my review, which reflected my personal experience on that day. I had nothing to gain from writing it, and certainly no reason to lie.

We were ignored at the entrance, left waiting at our table for around 15 minutes, while the staff chatted amongst themselves and even began arguing behind the till. Eventually, the female staff member approached and threw two menus down on the table without a single word — no greeting, no “welcome,” nothing. It was rude, uncomfortable, and completely uncalled for. At that point, we decided to leave.

It’s disappointing — though not surprising — that a business would publicly try to discredit a customer instead of taking feedback seriously. If this is the way management handles criticism, it’s no wonder the service on the floor is lacking. Instead of taking accountability, you’ve chosen to deflect and insult your customers. That in itself is deeply unprofessional and, frankly, quite embarrassing for your brand.

I shared my experience truthfully so others could make informed decisions. Your response only further justifies why I won’t be returning — and why others may want to think twice...

I DONT RECOMMEND, save your money and go elsewhere. Posting this at Fajr time after a horrendous day at Afrikana. I was invited to the bloggers event but on a gifted basis which I declined. I am aware most bloggers who attend get paid but Afrikanakitchen doesnt want to pay me as they feel my page isn't good enough for them but they keep reinviting same paid bloggers to promote for them. So I thought I would go today for the platter. I honestly had the worst experience at afrikanakitchen in Holloway. I honestly wallahi felt like crying today from my experience. With the place being a 10 minutes drive from work. I thought I would pop in to grab a platter for me and my family. Now them promoting the first 20 platters is bogus. Being the 9th in the queue, all the people behind me were served first and out before me. The second thing that made me so angry. The owner asked me to share my platter with a total stranger and then when I said 'No' he insulted me by saying' are you going to eat it all yourself' erm excuse me, but I share my food with my family, free paid whatever! The brother who was behind me was also solo wasn't questioned, served first and also was given his platter and out before me. I made sure I addressed this because it surely did make me angry. When the platter arrived 1 hour, 15 mins later. The food was totally burnt and the lamb chops was pink raw meat, I literally had to spit it back out they took 45 mins to remake 3 lamb chops for me again. I asked them like 10 times. I asked for a prayer space which they didnt have and my Asr salah went Kaza. By now I literally felt like to leave the place immediately. I got there 2.30pm, got in 3pm and didnt leave until 4.50pm, absolutely atrocious. This was my first time in 14 years that my colleagues got worried of me because they couldnt get hold of me. I didnt hear my work phone ring because it was too loud in the restaurant and Im partially deaf. afrikana was in a total mess! So I told work of what had happened! All this for a £50 free platter, my godness, Im so glad my colleagues didn't come, it would have been an embarrassment. Id rather go have chicken and chips from my local PfC! Their waitress also started harrassing me on instagram too so this was...

I’ve walked past this place so many times and can’t believe I never went in until now. From the moment we stepped in, the vibe was on point — warm lighting, greenery, and a calm, welcoming layout that made me want to sit and chill. Brother Hamza served us with a big smile and genuine hospitality — something I always notice and appreciate.

The menu is extensive, but every dish has its own personality. This isn’t your typical grill place — it’s Africana-inspired and packed with flavour. I went for the “Just Kebabin” — a beautifully presented kebab hanging on a skewer — and the lightly battered ladies’ fingers (okra). I’m not usually into vegetables, but I’m on a new health kick and this dish changed my view. It was crisp, light, and full of flavour — like a clean, healthy pakora.

The sauces deserve a special mention. You’ve got options like Fire (super hot — though I’m Bengali, so bring it on!), Lemon & Leaves, Wild Herb, and Mixed Peri. Each one adds a different layer — it’s not just heat, it’s real depth. I dipped everything into everything!

My wife had grilled chicken with jollof rice and coleslaw, my daughter tried the beef tacos with a mojito, and my son — even though he wasn’t feeling well — finished his jollof rice and enjoyed chocolate ice cream drizzled in syrup. Presentation was excellent and portions were generous.

Brother Riz, the owner, came to greet us personally and that really added a personal touch. You could tell he takes pride in what he’s built. The place was spotless — not a speck of dirt in sight — and the prices were very fair for the quality and portion sizes.

I’ve already got plans to bring friends I haven’t seen in a while here for a gathering. Great food and a great setting to reconnect. Just be mindful about street parking on match days — but Morrisons (less than a minute away) offers 2 hours of free parking which makes it super convenient.

And to be clear — this is not a sponsored or discounted review. I’m a content creator and I’ve been reviewing halal food for years. I never ask for discounts, and I always visit anonymously so I can keep it honest. And honestly — this place deserves the praise.

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