L’HACIENDA: Where creative cooking meets great ambience in Burundi

For a new restaurant to take Buja by storm, there has to be something unique about it. After all, Buja is a city of great food. And yet, right in the centre of town, along Boulevard de l’Uprona,  one restaurant has done just that-taken the city by storm. Its name? L’Hacienda.

Every evening, between 80 and 100 travellers, foodies and just about any group of friends will stream into Bujumbura’s latest culinary obsession as if drawn by some inner magic.

But what is it exactly that draws crowds of smiling guests to L’Hacienda?
Maybe it’s the architecture of the place.
The stylish design of the property, with its numerous prominent arches, evokes the architecture of a Spanish Hacienda after which the restaurant takes its name. The smooth curves of the arches give it an open and inviting air. Add to that the great, laid back ambience of the place, with its open-air seating and gushing fountain outside, the soothing tones of the walls and the beautiful art pieces in the interior of the restaurant, and you have the perfect hangout.

The superfast Wi-Fi also makes it ideal for those who (like me) would love to be able to send out quick emails while having a mid-morning coffee or enjoying that late afternoon beer.
Yet these things alone- decor, wireless internet and friendly staff might be found in any number of places.

What sets L’Hacienda apart?
One reason I think L’Hacienda is such a success is that the people behind it seem to work as a team. Owned by a Burundian, the business itself is managed by an amiable Belgian couple-Karim and Lyseth Jaffer. While Karim runs the kitchen, Lysbeth, mostly handles what might be called the externals of the place: decor, staff and communication. This way, they each utilise their individual strengths for the good of the business.

The second, more important reason, is certainly the food! After all, food is the soul of any restaurant, right? And this is precisely where L’Hacienda excels.

Meet the Chef
At the helm of the kitchen in L’Hacienda is a Belgian chef with the heritage of three continents running in his heart. Of Indian heritage, raised in Lubumbashi, having lived many years and married in Belgium, with a three-year stint in 1980s Rwanda, Karim Jaffer’s wide-ranging life experience expresses itself in the unique meals he prepares.

“I craft each meal to be a unique blend of my Indian, African and European culinary experience,” Karim told me in an interview.

The menu is varied and includes both the staples that any competent restaurant should have: standard coffees, spaghetti servings, pizzas and burgers; but also the “Spécialités du Chef” which features some signature dishes specially created by Karim to titillate and give the food lover a delightfully distinctive experience.

The typical meal will tend to merge staple Burundian or other African staples with a European delicacy and a touch of Indian spice and send your taste buds to gourmet heaven.

The staff were friendly enough when I went there and were generally quite willing to recommend some offerings on the menu that I found tasty.

Prices are on the upper side of the medium range by Buja standards but are well worth it considering the benefits.

Moreover, talking to Karim and Lysbeth, it was clear that they still have a number of plans in store to make l’Hacienda even more awesome than it already is; so whether you stay in Buja or are just passing briefly through, drop by sometime and spoil your taste buds to a rare treat!