Quite possibly my favorite spot in town, Italian restaurant Mediterraneo is the perfect place for delicious food and unmatched ambiance. I’ll never forget my first week in Kampala: endless house-hunting, bargaining for roadside furniture, and traffic, traffic, traffic. Luckily, a friend recommended Mediterraneo for a date night with my husband to unwind a bit over a glass of wine. The moment I walked in, the ambiance relaxed and charmed me and I got lost in a delicious glass of their house red South African wine. Suddenly, just knowing that there were spots like this in my new hometown gave me hope that I could really enjoy this city.
Dining at Mediterraneo is not just a place to grab dinner; it’s truly an experience. From the moment you walk in the door, Willie, the maître d’, greets you with a warm smile and fun personality as he directs you to your seat. In my opinion, every nice restaurant in town should have someone like Willie! He is such a valuable asset and really adds to their quality dining experience.
Comparable to any restaurant in the western world, Mediterraneo’s ambiance is truly unmatched around Kampala. Kerosene oil lamps cast a soft light at each table and classy, ivory curtains are drawn back to help create a homey ambiance. The stunning wood structure and design of the open-air restaurant remind you of a Moroccan or Mediterranean feel.
Their extensive Italian menu is famous around town for their wood-fired pizzas, pastas, and fillets. My personal favorites are the pizzas (of any kind) and the melt-in-your-mouth Gorgonzola gnocchi. Pizza and pasta dishes range from 26,000 – 35,000 UGX and are huge portions that make for great leftovers so don’t hesitate to get items packed for take-away! For other entree dishes, they serve a variety of fillet, veal, lamb, pork, chicken, and tilapia costing in the 30,000 UGX range. Imported seafood items such as prawns and rock lobster cost between 60,000 – 68,000 UGX. The food may be high-priced but it is certainly worth it!
Also, make sure to check out their constantly evolving Chef’s Special Menu for additional starter, pasta, and main course options. I always check out their specialty pastas for a unique ravioli or risotto dish. They usually offer a nice meat and seafood special as well! If at all possible, save room for a delicious dessert or plan to share with your friends. Their chocolate soufflé is outstanding! Other options include favorites such as crème brulee, lemon sorbet, affogato, and tiramisu and all run between 12,000- 15,000 UGX.
As if their food wasn’t enough incentive for a visit, their service is also exceptional. Servers are quick to take your drink order and bring a basket of complimentary bread and you won’t have to wait an hour before seeing your food! They are good at understanding complicated orders such as “calzone minus the ham and mushrooms, add green peppers” and your meal always arrives in a timely manner with every detail correct. At one point, before the food arrived, I realized that our table was missing a napkin. Our server not only fixed the mistake immediately but also apologized profusely and was genuinely upset he had made a mistake. Kind of like all of the other restaurants in town, right? Wrong. Mediterraneo’s service tops the charts for our city!
Mediterraneo is the perfect place for romantic date nights, celebrating special occasions with friends, or a dinner with out-of-town guests. This expat paradise seems like it was created especially for those days when you just need a taste of efficiency and wonderful service. As Willie would say, “Bon Appetit!”
Hours: Monday to Sunday 7:3o am – 11 pm
Address: 31 Acacia Avenue, Kololo, Kampala
Phone: 0414 500 533 / 0701 098 732
Email: info@villakololo.com
Website: http://www.villakololo.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mediterraneo-Restaurant-Villa-Kololo/328338720536518
[WPMAP;62]
Leave a Reply