Swahili Village - Newark, NJ

Brooklyn 1 3 months ago

My spouse had the goat stew , fufu , spinach, plantains and the Hennessy Hershey tini said everything was very good. I had the oxtails which was the first time I had them with that kind of flavor they were very good and so was the joloff rice my review for the food is a 5 star . My daughter had the samosa said they were a 2 star and she had the tropic infusion which was way too sweet but the server did warn her when ordering that it was sweet . The place is decorated very nicely with a lot of waiters moving around but maybe not enough my waitress started off great answered questions about the food but after taking our order she was missing in action I had to flag down other waiters to get the things I needed maybe because it was automatic gratuity or maybe because it was after a show. I Will try it again because the food was different and very good . I loved the music we were in the dining room not the bar area and it was way too loud couldn’t hear the person next to me. Now my spouse didn’t think the music was to loud .

Wetlene Pinthiere-Cross 3 months ago

You will not be able to eat the large amount of food that you are served. But, take it home. The food is wonderful, well seasoned, tasty, flavorful, the service is excellent. Our staff Emmy, who made most of the recommendation for the food and drinks. He made an excellent choice. We have had drinks at the restaurant prior, but this was our first time we went specifically for a sit down dinner. It was worth the drive, It did not Dissapointed. The atmosphere is pleasant and lively. If you are in the Newark area; catching a show at NJPAC; the Swahili Village is a Must Stop. Explore other cultures, it makes the World a Better Place. From The front Desk, the greetings of the staffs, to heading out the door. They make you feel welcome and at home. The beautiful Art Works on the Walls. The Area have changed so much. You can enjoy a nice stroll enjoy the surrounding area after your meal. Head downtown, you will enjoy.

Ilhan Tanir 5 months ago

Great Food, but Why Hide the Happy Hour? Running a restaurant is tough, and staying in business is even tougher. You really see that in Newark. You look up places to try, only to find that many restaurants reviewed online have already closed within a year or two. Because of that, I do not like to badmouth restaurants. I would rather offer constructive criticism when it feels deserved. As for Swahili Village East African Restaurant, the first thing I should say is that I really liked the food. I ordered the samosas twice because they were so good—crispy on the outside, with flavorful ground beef, onion, and just the right seasoning inside. I also ordered the goat bites, which came topped with onions. Despite the name, they were not really bite-sized pieces, but rather larger cuts stacked on top of each other. As with most goat dishes, there was a fair amount of fat to trim away, but the meat itself was tender, well-cooked, and flavorful. My only complaint about the dish was that it arrived barely warm, almost cool by the time it reached me. Still, based on the two items I tried, the kitchen clearly knows what it is doing, and I would feel confident trying more of the menu. My ma

Nimoh 6 months ago

First off, the place is amazing,the art, the space, it’s all gorgeous and so well thought out. The food is great, too! This was my partner’s first time trying Swahili food, and he enjoyed everything,( chicken,sambusa and ginger soda were his favorites) giving it a solid 8.5 out of 10. I also loved the dishes: the sambusa were great, but the chapati and spinach could have been better, and the kachumbari definitely needed a little more kick. However, the pilau, ugali, and mbuzi were so good it's criminal! Oh, and the ginger juice is top~tier, literally so good. The bhajia was a bit of a disappointment, though. We enjoyed ourselves, but I did find it odd to see suya and jollof rice on the menu. I understand wanting to cater to everyone, but it felt like a stretch for a Kenyan/Swahili restaurant. We drove all the way from Philly to Jersey for an authentic East African experience, so that felt a bit out of place. The meal was also on the expensive side; my partner and I went back and forth on whether it was truly worth the $200. As for the service, the waiters were sweet. My partner accidentally dropped a glass while packing our leftovers, and the waitress was super understanding about

Lisa D 7 months ago

Everything about this place was great! The food was outstanding. The service was unmatched, honestly the best server we have had in a really long time. The art work throughout the entire restaurant was awesome to look at. We ate here before seeing a show at the NJPAC, we just walked across the street, it is a perfect location. Our reservations were for 4:30pm and we shared a very reasonably priced bottle of wine and took our time enjoying a variety of foods. Next time we are in the area we will definitely go back.