Food Critic

Now that I have been a volunteer for just about a year, I have had a few too many opportunities (always for work) to visit the grand capitol of Lesotho. Maseru is a wondrous town filled with only the finest eateries known to Peace Corps Volunteer kind. My friends in Richmond have frequently mentioned how I should make a food/restaurant blog giving out my own opinions. Now that I am in Africa, for some reason this idea seems even more plausible. Therefore, this post will divulge into all the fine culinary establishments I have either heard of, or visited in Maseru.

Piri Piri          ✔✔✔✔✔

This is the restaurant all volunteers need to try. Whether you are visiting Maseru for the first time, or are a veteran explorer of the city, without a doubt all worthy people are encouraged to participate in what is personally considered the best place to eat in Maseru. Living in village, without a fridge or electricity, coming across delectable portions of meat can be tricky. The Portuguese steak for 110 Rand, is a steal to send your taste buds back to your favorite home-grown local steak house. Now I’m not one for a sauce on my steak, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. And make sure to get this steak as rare as you comfortably can. The pork chops were also cooked to perfection with a thick piece of succulent fat coating the sides. For those unimpressed vegetarians, where a steak may not be considered an option, the spinach was delicious. Desserts are certainly an option, where you can entertain your tongue with chocolate volcanoes to cool refreshing lemon cheesecakes. If you are looking for a change in your wining and beering, check out the different Mozambican varieties at this fine restaurant.

Please, try this restaurant. I would even consider it difficult to find food in America that could match the quality and perfection of the cooking found in Piri Piri.

Mimmo’s Italian Deli.    ✔✔

Now I am a critic of Italian restaurants in general. Most pastas are pretty replicable. This goes along with pizzas or most Italian concoctions. Although many volunteers think this restaurant is great, I will have to say che (no in Sesotho). If you want a real Alfredo, or marinara sauce visit Alyssa in Katse Dam. I got an Alfredo pasta, and it was essentially a soup. I even took the cream soup back home, thickened it up myself and made a better version of the attempted Alfredo. I have heard the pizza is pretty great, but I think if you want good pizza for your money, go to Romans in Maseru mall, where the pizza is saucy, cheesy, crusty, and a buy one get one free deal for each pizza. I do have to say that this restaurant has a very nice, homey appeal, and has a nice escaped feel away from the busy city. But food-wise, perhaps I will give it another chance, if I am in an adventurous mood. Regardless, being a volunteer cooking can sometimes be a drag. Half of the time we resort to eating quick non-messy foods like cereal (I reuse my bowl way too many times) and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. So even though Mimmo’s doesn’t exactly have your favorite pasta all’amatriciana (my favorite) its still amazing to go somewhere, and have a pseudo-olive garden experience after having been in village for far too long.

Café 72.     ✔✔✔✔

Located in what is racistly named (not actually) White City in Maseru, this restaurant offers a wide variety of refreshingly, impossible-to-find-in-Lesotho- cuisine. Yokels in America would call this a hipster meets classy restaurant. Its one of those restaurants you introduce your friends, and they think its going to be expensive because it says organic; or the kind of restaurant where your friends don’t believe you that this restaurant’s burger tastes better than their favorite McDonald’s one. The food is well proportioned and moderately priced. Iceberg lettuce isn’t even known at this restaurant, which can elaborate on how excellent the food is. I recommend a spiced hot chocolate, with its fragrances of nutmeg and cinnamon; your night is destined to be right. Bacon wrapped chicken, white fish marsala, nice looking burgers, etc. Although I haven’t been here for brunch, I know this place is the place in Maseru for it.

Fuli      ✔✔✔

Although I cannot attest for how amazing the Chinese Restaurant in Lesotho sun is (I’ve heard beyond grand things) this local, small Chinese, take-out, drunk-food restaurant is perfect for your wallet and your stomach. Fuli is located towards the Maseru South African Border, and is extremely cheap, quick, and delicious. Although sometimes the chicken can have an odd slimy texture, I would guess most times it would be on point. Only problem is, try not to order too much. It all sounds good, but I can guarantee you, it would be almost impossible, and uncomfortable to eat that much. It would be recommended that you order one or two dishes that way you can have leftovers and variety in your food. Definitely get the spring rolls.

Ocean Basket   ✔✔✔

Perhaps having been here for almost a year has eliminated my pickiness for sushi, but for a landlocked country in a drought and few rivers, Ocean Basket has some of the finest, freshest tuna and salmon known to PCV-kind. The wasabi is extra intense, and this restaurant even gives you bread with your sushi. Unique deliverance, means for an epic sushi luncheon. It's even pretty good for being a chain!

There are far more restaurants worthy of mentioning, and perhaps that will be in another food post in my blog. But since going to Maseru restaurants happen much rarer than I have elaborated, food for a PCV really is determined by how determined, and creative he or she can be. I left America with virtually no real cooking experience, and with a very critical appetite. I have learned so much from so many people, and have successfully made an astonishing amount of amazing food. Now I don’t know, with little over a year left, when I come back will I continue cooking or continue eating out two meals a day? 

Everything is food.