AFRI CAFE - GWARIMPA (A review)

Exotic flavors of ice cream.

I was told about this new ice place in Gwarimpa, FCT, It’s meant to have the best ice cream in town.

Naturally I was excited and couldn’t wait!

So off to Africafe, from work, with a friend, we went.

The building itself doesn't really say anything about the possible goodies to be found in it. If it is a strategy it’s not working. I personally like excitement, especially when I am being bad! Cos 1 scoop of ice-cream will not do it for me!  I start from 2 and above and for women my age that is pushing it! (I am not old or aging. Just in my late 20’s is all!)  

On entry the first thing that catches your attention is the display of what they have. Mouth- watering goodies. The usual cupcake looking glam’d up and the unusual choux pastry filled with cream! You know you can’t go wrong with that.

But it’s the Ice cream that got me there. So ice-cream I got.

There are only about 6 flavours of Ice cream, ranging from typical flavours like Vanilla to exotic like the lavender. Although I’m told they change the flavours often.

Vanilla and bubblegum

I got the Vanilla and the bubblegum. Don’t ask me why I got that combination! I am not even a bubblegum ice cream fan. Tried it once and I knew I prefer chewing that flavour than having it in form of a cream emulsion.

That said I enjoyed it. More than the vanilla, which was more of ‘Dulce de Leche’ ice cream. I say change the name to that or make the vanilla come through more. The condensed milk was just too noticeable. Wasn't even trying to hide it’s shameless delicious self! It was nice but frankly mediocre.

My companion got the 1 scoop of lavender! (she being the Good gal evidently *raised eyebrows*), she went to pay, and hooray, in this case only though, they didn't have change so she had to get an extra scoop! (Muahahahahahaha) meaning more flavors for me to try. She got the cream of chocolate (looked more like vanilla with choc chips though, but that’s what they want to call it so I rest my case).

The Lavender was a revelation! I’ve never had a lavender flavoured ice cream, therefore no idea what to expect, and frankly when it comes to ice cream for me I just want it to taste like that! Ice cream, not a froyo and not a sorbet! An ice cream!!!

Lavender and cream of chocolate ice cream.

But we both liked the lavender. The flavor came through without harassing your palette, you know how you drink the tea or jasmine tea and pretend it’s delicious because it’s suppose to be posh but in your head you are begging for the experience to end! (Keep pretending that does not happen to you! That you actually enjoy all those weird flavoured tea! Na you know!). 

The lavender was soft in taste, and frankly I loved it and maybe, just maybe I’ll try the mango flavoured ice cream next time *eeeeeewwwwwww* .

The cream of chocolate was, to be blunt, a failure. It was more like frozen milk with choc chips. I did not enjoy it at all.  My ‘forced’ bad companion (Muahahahahaha), thought it was nice (key word here is nice!), we all know what that means when it’s used as a description of something like food or clothing or even a person! lol.

So we sat down to eat our ice cream outside, and again the lack of excitement of the place hit me! There is no vibe, it’s like visiting an aunt’s house that you don’t like but you just have to go and you are counting the seconds begging for it to end! Sad part is it has potential to be cosy and inviting but hey, I just want ice cream not a place to chill out. *Sarcasm*

need i say more?

I couldn’t resist the display case of course, it had a Twix kind of cake, I decided not to get it considering I can buy Twix, now I’m thinking I should have gotten it!, because the brownie I got was one of the best I’ve had. It was not too chocolaty and the bitterness that comes with chocolate was just right.

I got a non-chocolate lover to taste it (I know! Weird, I mean its chocolate!) And she liked it.

The service really is what you’ll expect in a place like that in this part of the world. It wasn't good. The gals were not very conversant with what they were selling, the manager was nonchalant! Considering we were the only 2 customers in there throughout our stay I expected more from them. Like a smile, a thank you for coming, instead I was interrupted and almost ignored!

RESTAURATEURS, REMEMBER THIS ALWAYS, CUSTOMER IS KING!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stats:

FOOD:  6/10

SERVICE: 4/10

AMBIENCE AND COMFORTABILITY: 3/10

WHAT NEXT: Might go back, for the brownie and the lavender ice cream.

PRICE: 7/10

A scoop of ice cream starts from 200 naira, with cone its 300Naira.

The brownie and a red velvet slice was 450Naira and most of the stuff they had displayed was around that price…………………….hmmmmm maybe I should change the ‘WHAT NEXT’ section to definitely going back! Considering you get a single cupcake for more than that price in some places. Haha but no!

Africafe is located at No 53, 4^th Avenue, Gwarimpa, Abuja.

TEL: 07055040404, 08103444444.

 

said display case

said display case again

Again

THE brownie *smiles*

Disclaimer: the stats up there are based on a couple of individuals take on the places visited not an official statistics, we are not the government!