…..Experience the great tastes of Ghana
It was a quiet night, the evening I chose to ‘do’ dinner at Binkabi Restaurant, a charming new offering which opened its doors to serve authentic Ghanaian cuisine at the end of the last quarter to instant acclaim.
As often happens, the word gets out about a fabulous new spot and everyone wants to be seen there. So, they flogged the place. Now, with the fine dining scene so eclectic these days with new facilities opening every time you blink, you need that kind of buzz; and then you hook with tongue slapping flavours.
That’s what Binkabi has done. Focused on a purely Ghanaian experience, Binkabi serves an elevated spread of traditional meals in an elegant setting.
It is set in one of the estate houses in the back street of the capital’s leafy Labone neighbourhood, on the street beside Cupcake Boutique, right behind Bosphorus!
When I received the menu, I was pleasantly impressed that the repertoire was not convoluted but a carefully curated selection of some popular traditional Ghanaian dishes.
I love that I can eat sauce on its own without having to mix it with a carb. I chose the oxtail with sautéed sweet potatoes. I literally scooped out the sauce and ate it all alone with the well seasoned protein, licking the spoon. It was that tasty!
My cousin who accompanied me, contemplated his choice of Red-Red – fried plantain and beans; thinking it might be too heavy for a night meal. What do you know! The chef had done some magic that made the normally dense dish feel rather so light and settled on the belly just right! I tasted it too. I was completely torn between having that, or my earlier choice!
I absolutely loved the simplicity of the menu, which includes the special Binkabi Jollof or Gari Foto with beef or fish; and a braised pilaf with spicy chicken or snapper. There was smoked salmon and koobi garden eggs stew, which I’ve promised myself to have next time; and also palava (kontomire) sauce – all coming with boiled yams, green plantain or steamed rice.
The ambience here, completely attractive and soothing, feels definitely high-end enough. The interior – a rather average space – seats some 40 odd people, has some interesting ethnic art and craft ornaments scattered around, giving off a contemporary but traditional feel.
Like I said, it was a pretty quiet night, considering we got there a bit late – around 9pm, we were just one set of two groups in. So we did receive maximum attention from the waiter, who was also quite versed in the menu and assured us our choices weren’t going to be too heavy for the night!
I’m definitely gathering my people to go do this again! Another dinner visit. But I have to try the lunch buffet too, which has actually become very popular and synonymous with the place!
I indulged in a perfectly blended vir mojito, and ended the night with a pancake with honey. But, I will be back, I promised the art piece near my seat and assured it I will be seated in the same spot again next time I come.
