Sunday, August 21, 2011

Fresh n Wild - a little Namibian oasis in Windhoek, Namibia

Fresh n Wild is a funky little restaurant/cafe on Liliencronstrasse (or Liliencron Street), near the corner of Robert Mugabe Avenue (yes you read it right) in Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia.

I'm not sure what it is I've done, but there are many workers in the Namibian hospitality industry who don't seem to like me.  I ask for something and I get a look that makes you feel bad for imposing on the waiter.  I say thank you and they respond with "uh huh", like you should have said it a long time ago.  You leave the restaurant and say goodbye, and they just ignore you.  Is it a language issue? Or a cultural thing?  Is it a lack of confidence?  Or is it just me?

Anyway, I'm pleased to say that Fresh N Wild, located at the northern end of this little city, is a refreshing difference.

The staff are always cheerful and friendly, and will keep coming back to check on you (which is not the norm in African restaurants) and to see if you want something else.

They have tables indoors, but the best seats are out the back, in the little shaded garden enclave.  Because Windhoek was experiencing a cold front from Antarctica (temperatures of below zero at night!), I opted for a "shot chocolate" - a tall glass of hot chocolate with a shot of Amarula for N$28.  A rich, delicious drink indeed, which certainly warmed me up!

They do a great selection of breakfasts, and also have an ever-changing lunch menu, displayed on a chalkboard which your waiter will bring to your table.

I opted for the sticky maple pork medallions with rice, and it was nicely presented.  The sauce was a bit gluggy, probably because it was thickened with flour and not reduction.  But still, it was tasty and I ate it all.  Not haute cuisine, but these guys are really trying to do something different and enjoyable, and they deserve full points for that.  And the pricing, at around N$60 a meal (less than AUD10), rounds off a great package.  I'll definitely be coming back here again!

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