[Disclosure: We were invited for a complimentary meal at Afrikana in Earlsdon for the purposes of this blog]
Any dish that involves using a whole loaf of bread as the receptacle for a whacking great big portion of punchy curry gets my vote. As does anywhere that serves said dish. Which meant that Afrikana in Earlsdon was always going to be a winner for me.
Seriously though, while Coventry has one of the most diverse culinary scenes around here – from Vietnamese to Korean to Indian to Turkish and everything in between – Afrikana stands out as offering something a bit different. Part of a chain that started its life in 2018 in Aldridge, it claims to offer ‘authentic home-cooked African inspired dishes’ but also to incorporate those into ‘dishes most loved by our consumers’.
I’m still not entirely sure what that means, other than this is a place where you can get everything from burgers and wraps to whole chickens and huge sharing platters. There’s a Bunny Chow on offer – the classic South African dish of mutton and potato curry served in that epic loaf of bread that made my day. Week maybe.
But it sits on the menu alongside a whole range of cuisine from around the world, from fish and chips to Jambalaya, and sides of plantain and Jollof rice. It’s round the world in many dishes, with influences coming at you left, right and centre, yet all sharing similar attributes in that they’re big, bold and full of flavour.
If you’re after a booze-up with your dinner, think again, because Afrikana isn’t licensed. But you’ll find a selection of mocktails and softs, and let’s be honest, you can manage a meal without a drink. But if you’re desperate for one then you’ve got plenty of places nearby in Earlsdon for a pre or post-dinner bevvy.
On to the food. The menu has a small plates section that works as starters, or just a selection of stuff to dig into. The ‘cheeky chops’ are big fat marinated lamb chops. There’s a tonne of meat on them, and a nice spice to the glaze they’re covered in, along with pomegranate seeds that add a pop of sweet freshness.
Hummus comes with warm flatbread, transporting us to the Middle East for a dish. But it’s the ‘Prawn to be Wild’ prawns that win. Coated in a crispy batter, then doused in house special sauce that’s got the same spicy, citrus tang as a good buffalo sauce. Like the lamb chops, and everything else at Afrikana, they’re big, and there’s plenty of them. This isn’t a place for small appetites, mark my words.
Like me, Jamie can’t resist a meal served in a loaf of bread so opts for the Bunny Chow. It’s huge. And it’s great. The loaf has a light crust on the outside, but is pillowy soft inside, the sauce from the curry inside gradually soaking into it to create a squishy, spice-saturated delight. The mutton is fall-apart tender, the potatoes soft, and the flavour deep.
It’s too much for one person, but despite having my own meal I find myself repeatedly dipping into it, addicted to the well-judged spice, the thick curry-like gravy and the hefty chunks of meat and potato.
It beats my ‘Jammin’ Jambalaya’, but that doesn’t mean my cajun creation isn’t good. It is. Interestingly, when our waiter describes it, he compares it to a biryani, and it certainly seems to resemble one. There’s plenty of spice – more of that Afrikana boldness when it comes to flavour.
It’s packed with prawns and chicken, the rice cooked right. Again, it’s huge, but there’s no judgement when we ask to take the leftovers home. Which I imagine the people on the table next to us – who ordered one of the huge sharing platters – may have had to do. More power to their elbow.
As we dine, we take in the surroundings that are as bold as the food is. Big murals, lots of colour, and a vibrant atmosphere that needs no booze to create a bit of a buzz.
We leave impressed. Yes Afrikana may be a chain, but the reason why it’s expanding rapidly is because it does what it does well. Big flavour, big portions, and a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Something for everyone, and a meal to remember. I’d definitely go again – for that Bunny Chow, but to work my way through the rest of the menu too.
