Restaurant Watch

Angie's African Cuisine
Proprietor: Mr  Isaac Namabiri
Established: August 2002
Location: 381 Harrow Road, Maida Vale London W9 3NA
Employees: 6

Q: How did you get into the restaurant sector?

A: I was an accountant for many years in the city. I wanted a change and to be my own boss. It did not have anything to do with food really. I just wanted to be in the customer service/ hospitality sector

Q: Do you mainly cater to a family clientele?

A: Not really. We do appeal to families; our vision is to introduce African cuisine to the international community. In fact our focus is more on the corporate sector and in the past we have catered for Egg Bank, Prudential, Homebase, the Nigerian High Commission and the Diplomatic Service.

Q: What have been your successes to date?

A: Since we have opened many upcoming African restaurants have tried to emulate us by their improved standards of décor, presentation and professionalism. More care is being taken in dressing the tables and creating the right ambience. Our website has helped to change the perception of African cuisine in the community. Earlier this year we featured in Time Out Eating and Drinking magazine which is some achievement.

Q: Have you had any major challenges?

A: Catering is a challenging industry to start with. Despite being in our 4th year growth is our basic challenge. Indian and Chinese restaurants essentially cater for a foreign market and this helps to transfer wealth from one community to another. Although there has been some improvement, the African restaurants are still largely untapped in this regard.

Q: What is your most popular menu?

A: Grilled fish or lamb seasoned with traditional African spices. Jollof rice is also popular.

Q: You don't offer the traditional African menu, why is that?

A: It is deliberate. I think food is an art and one needs to be innovative and creative in order to appeal to an international audience. We have just introduced our own special noodles cooked with traditional African spices.

Q: What do you think about school dinners?

A: I am not very pleased about that. The debate has been very focused but the African community has been excluded from it. The same applies to hospitals in areas with a high Afro Caribbean population like Southwark. Despite food being important to health not much has been done to ensure that ethnic minorities are offered good quality traditional food in either establishment. We don't feature in the Food awards on television either.

For more information visit the website at
http://www.angies-restaurant.co.uk/contact_us.html