Barbecue Lunch/ Dinner At The Carnivore Restaurant – Nairobi

Nairobi’s Carnivore Restaurant turns dinner into a piece of theater. A huge barbecue and passing Maasai swords deliver generous portions of beef, pork, lamb, chicken, crocodile, ostrich, rabbit, and more directly to your table. I like the chance to sample several unusual meats without arranging a separate safari meal, and I like that private hotel transfers are included.

The all-you-can-eat format is another strong point, especially if you arrive hungry. You can try everything, then ask for more of your favorites. The main drawback is the $85 price, which is high for lunch and may feel steep if you prefer a small, familiar meal or do not eat much.

Key points to know before booking

• Crocodile, ostrich, and rabbit are part of the main feast, alongside more familiar beef, pork, chicken, and lamb.
• Maasai swords carry the meat to your table, making the meal feel like an event rather than a standard restaurant booking.
• You can eat as much as you like, then request another serving of the meat you prefer.
• Private round-trip hotel transfers are included for pickup and drop-off in Nairobi.
• Lunch or dinner reservations let you fit the meal around your sightseeing plans.
• A soft drink is included, while alcoholic drinks cost extra.

The Carnivore experience begins with the barbecue

The first thing you notice is the cooking setup: a large barbecue loaded with skewers and swords of meat. The restaurant is known for serving meat in a dramatic, generous way, and the meal centers on that presentation from start to finish.

You are not simply handed a plated entrée. Instead, waiters move around the dining room with Maasai-style swords carrying freshly cooked portions. They serve meat onto your plate, giving you a chance to work through the full selection at your own pace.

That style matters because it keeps the meal social and flexible. You can sample a small piece of crocodile, try ostrich, return to lamb, and decide later what deserves another serving. If you prefer familiar food, beef, pork sausages, chicken, and lamb keep the meal grounded.

The meat arrives cooked, but you can continue cooking it on the hot iron dish at your table. This is useful if you like meat more well done, though the dish also means you should pay attention while handling your food. The point is not speed. Set aside time to sample, compare, and enjoy the steady procession.

Soup, bread, and the first taste of dinner

The meal starts with a light soup of the day. It is a modest opening before the larger barbecue service, but it gives you time to settle in and get ready for the main course.

After the soup, staff serve a sizzling iron dish with homemade bread and butter. This is a practical part of the meal, since the bread helps fill out a menu built heavily around meat. It also gives you something familiar before you begin trying the more unusual items.

I would pace yourself at this stage. The barbecue portions are generous, and the all-you-can-eat setup can tempt you to accept everything immediately. Take smaller servings first. You can always ask for more once you know which meats suit you.

Sampling crocodile, ostrich, rabbit, and buffalo

The unusual meats are the reason many people choose this experience. Crocodile, ostrich, and rabbit give the meal its adventurous edge, while buffalo balls add another distinctive item to the table.

Ostrich meatballs are especially worth trying. They have been singled out as a favorite, so do not skip them simply because the name sounds unfamiliar. You can also sample crocodile and rabbit in small portions before deciding how much you want.

The menu includes enough standard choices to make the experience workable for a mixed group. Someone who dislikes game meat can stick with pork sausages, chicken, lamb, or beef. That flexibility is important because an exotic menu can otherwise become a gamble.

I also like the fact that you are not forced to choose just one main course in advance. A normal restaurant order asks you to commit before you know what you will like. Here, you can treat the meal as a tasting session, then request more of the meats that appeal to you.

The exact balance of offerings may vary, so think of the listed meats as a guide to the experience rather than a promise that every item will arrive in a fixed order. The central idea remains the same: a wide spread of sizzling meats served in generous portions.

Salads and vegetables keep the meal balanced

The Carnivore meal is not only meat. Salads and vegetables arrive as accompaniments, giving you fresher, lighter choices between servings of barbecue.

That matters more than it may seem. A meal built around unlimited meat can become heavy quickly, especially when bread and dessert follow. Use the salads and vegetables to pace yourself rather than treating them as decoration.

The side dishes also make the experience easier for a group with different tastes. You can focus on the barbecue, build a lighter plate, or alternate between meat and vegetables. Still, this is fundamentally a meat-centered meal. If you want a menu where vegetables or plant-based dishes lead, this is not the right booking.

The Dawa cocktail and included drink

The experience includes a Dawa, or medicine, cocktail as part of the Carnivore setting. It adds a distinctly local touch to the start of the meal and fits the restaurant’s adventurous theme.

One soft drink is also included. Alcoholic beverages are not part of the package, so you should budget separately if you want beer, wine, or another alcoholic drink.

The provided information does not specify the full drink menu or the exact preparation of the Dawa. Treat it as a featured welcome drink rather than assuming that all beverages are covered by the $85 price.

Dessert, coffee, and a proper ending

After the meat, salads, and vegetables, the meal finishes with coffee and an African dessert. This gives the four-hour experience a clear ending instead of leaving you with a final plate and an abrupt departure.

The dessert is useful for another reason: it changes the pace. After a long barbecue meal, a sweet course and coffee provide time to sit back before the ride to your hotel. You should not expect a quick two-course stop. The meal is designed as a full evening or extended lunch.

The exact dessert is not specified, so do not book this expecting one particular sweet. The important detail is that coffee and an African dessert are included at the close of the meal.

Why the private transfer adds real value

Pickup and drop-off from your Nairobi hotel are scheduled and private for your group. That removes the need to arrange a separate taxi or navigate the city after a substantial meal.

The transfer is particularly useful if you are unfamiliar with Nairobi or want a simple evening plan. You leave your hotel, enjoy the meal, and return to the same accommodation. Since the experience lasts about four hours, the transfer also helps keep the timing contained.

The word scheduled matters. You should confirm the pickup details at booking and be ready at the agreed time. The supplied information confirms hotel pickup and drop-off in Nairobi, but it does not give a list of eligible hotels, exact pickup windows, or transfer times.

Because this is a private activity, only your group participates in the tour portion. The restaurant meal itself takes place in a public dining setting, so private transport should not be confused with a private dining room.

Is $85 a fair price?

At $85 per person, this is not a bargain meal. It makes better financial sense if you value the full package: private round-trip transfers, an all-you-can-eat meat service, a soft drink, soup, bread, salads, vegetables, coffee, and dessert.

The price also covers variety. Ordering crocodile, ostrich, rabbit, buffalo, lamb, chicken, pork, and beef separately would be difficult, and you would have to organize your own transportation. Here, you pay for a structured experience rather than just one entrée.

Lunch may feel less cost-effective if you are looking only for food. The price is easier to justify when you see the meal as a Nairobi activity with a distinctive presentation. The restaurant’s former place among the world’s top 50 restaurants adds to its reputation, but reputation alone should not decide your booking.

I would book this for someone who enjoys tasting menus, large portions, and unusual meats. I would hesitate if you eat lightly, avoid meat, or prefer a quiet, inexpensive meal. The all-you-can-eat format gives strong value to a hungry diner, but not necessarily to everyone.

Who will enjoy this Nairobi meal most?

This experience suits first-time visitors who want one memorable Nairobi evening without planning every detail. The hotel transfer and fixed duration keep the outing simple, while the menu gives you something distinctive to talk about afterward.

It also works well for a group with mixed comfort levels. One person can try crocodile and ostrich, while another sticks to chicken, lamb, pork sausages, or beef. The salads, vegetables, bread, dessert, and soft drink widen the appeal.

Families and groups should note that the experience is described as suitable for most travelers, and the activity is private for your group. The provided information does not give a specific child price, age limit, dietary policy, or accessibility information, so ask before booking if any of those details matter to you.

This is less suitable for a strict vegetarian, a person with serious food restrictions, or anyone who dislikes an active serving style. The meal relies on staff bringing repeated portions to your table, and the hot iron dish remains part of the presentation.

How to get the most from the four hours

Arrive ready to eat, but do not fill up on the opening soup and bread. Start with small portions of the unfamiliar meats so you have room to compare them.

Try the ostrich meatballs early. Then sample crocodile and rabbit, followed by the more familiar meats. Once you know what you like, ask for more of those selections instead of accepting every passing sword.

Use the hot dish to adjust the cooking of the meat, but remember that the food has already been cooked. You do not need to cook every portion again. The dish is there for preference and presentation.

Take advantage of the salads and vegetables between meat servings. This keeps the meal from becoming an unbroken run of heavy food and makes it easier to reach dessert and coffee.

Finally, allow the full four hours rather than scheduling a tight activity immediately afterward. The meal includes several stages, repeated meat service, dessert, coffee, and hotel transportation. A rushed schedule would defeat the point.

Cancellation and booking details

Confirmation is provided at booking, and free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts. If you cancel less than 24 hours in advance, you do not receive a refund, and changes made inside that period are not accepted.

The cutoff uses local Nairobi time. Since the experience is often booked about 30 days ahead, reserve early if the lunch or dinner timing matters to your plans. Group discounts are available, and a mobile ticket is offered.

Should you book the Carnivore Restaurant experience?

Book it if you want an easy Nairobi night built around theatrical service, generous portions, and unusual meats. The best reasons are the Maasai sword presentation, the freedom to sample crocodile, ostrich, rabbit, and buffalo, and the private hotel transfers.

Think twice if the $85 price is above your meal budget or if you are not interested in a meat-heavy menu. For the right diner, the cost buys a full four-hour experience rather than a standard restaurant meal. For a light eater, it may be poor value.

My practical call: choose this for a special lunch or dinner, especially when you are traveling with people who want different levels of culinary adventure. Try the ostrich meatballs, pace yourself, and save room for the African dessert.

FAQ

Where is this experience located?

The experience takes place at Carnivore Restaurant in Nairobi, Kenya.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately four hours.

Is lunch or dinner available?

You can choose a lunch or dinner reservation.

Is hotel transportation included?

Yes. Scheduled pickup and drop-off from your Nairobi hotel are included.

Is the activity private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the private tour or activity.

What food is included?

The meal includes all-you-can-eat barbecue meat, salads, vegetables, soup, homemade bread with butter, coffee, and an African dessert.

Which unusual meats can I try?

The menu includes crocodile, ostrich, rabbit, and buffalo balls, along with beef, pork sausages, chicken, lamb, and other meats.

Are drinks included?

One soft drink is included. Alcoholic beverages are not included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours ahead are not refunded or accepted.