Barbecue Lunch/ Dinner At The Carnivore Restaurant – Nairobi

Nairobi’s Carnivore Restaurant turns dinner into a full performance of sizzling meat. Waiters carry Maasai swords loaded with generous portions of beef, pork, lamb, chicken, crocodile, ostrich, rabbit, buffalo balls, and more, while a hot iron dish lets you cook each piece a little longer.

I like the all-you-can-eat format, which lets you sample unusual meats without choosing one costly plate. I also like the private round-trip hotel transfer, a useful touch in a large city where an evening meal can otherwise require extra planning. The main drawback is price: at $85 per person, this is a special-occasion meal, not a cheap Nairobi dinner.

Key points to know before booking

• Unlimited meat service: Try the full selection, then request more of your favorites.
• Exotic choices: Crocodile, ostrich, rabbit, and buffalo appear alongside familiar chicken, pork, lamb, and beef.
• Roughly four hours: The meal is leisurely, with soup, bread, salads, meat service, dessert, and coffee.
• Hotel transfers included: Scheduled pickup and drop-off are provided for your Nairobi hotel.
• Lunch or dinner: You can choose the meal time that best fits your plans.
• Alcohol costs extra: The package includes one soft drink, but alcoholic beverages are not included.

What makes Carnivore different from an ordinary Nairobi meal

Carnivore is built around one clear idea: make grilled meat the center of the evening and keep it coming until you raise a small flag to stop. The famous presentation uses Maasai swords rather than standard serving platters, so the food arrives hot, visible, and ready to carve onto your plate.

That theatrical service gives the meal its character. You are not simply handed a plate of meat and left to guess what you ordered. The staff pass around the dining room with different cuts and varieties, offering you a portion from each sword.

The menu mixes familiar fare with more unusual choices. Beef, pork sausages, chicken, and lamb give you safe starting points. Crocodile, ostrich, rabbit, and buffalo balls add the reason many people choose Carnivore in the first place.

I would treat the meal as a tasting session rather than a race to eat as much as possible. Take small portions at the start. You can always ask for more of the meats you enjoy, while a full first plate can leave you too stuffed to try the more interesting options.

Arrival, transfers, and the four-hour schedule

Your experience includes scheduled pickup from and drop-off at your Nairobi hotel. It is described as a private activity, meaning only your group takes part in the booked experience rather than joining a larger shared tour.

The transfer matters most if you are staying outside the immediate restaurant area or planning Carnivore as an evening event. You do not need to arrange a separate taxi for the outward and return journeys, and you can focus on dinner rather than city navigation.

Allow about four hours for the full experience. That time includes transportation, the meal itself, and the sequence of courses. Pickup and drop-off times will affect your exact evening, so keep some flexibility around other Nairobi plans.

You can select lunch or dinner. Lunch may fit better if you have an evening safari, cultural event, or early flight-related schedule. Dinner gives the restaurant’s barbecue theme a more natural setting, but the core menu and service style remain the same.

The package includes a mobile ticket and confirmation at booking. Keep the booking details accessible on your phone, especially if you are coordinating hotel pickup.

Starting with soup, bread, and a Dawa cocktail

The meal begins with a light soup of the day. This is a sensible opening because it gives you something warm and modest before the heavy parade of meat begins.

Next comes homemade bread with butter, served on a sizzling iron dish. The hot plate is not just a serving surface. You can use it to cook the meat a little more if you prefer a firmer finish or want to warm a piece again before eating.

A Dawa, described as a Medicine cocktail, is part of the Carnivore experience described for this meal. The included package specifically covers one soft drink, while alcoholic beverages are listed as extra, so check what is included in your chosen booking if the cocktail matters to you.

The opening courses also give you time to settle into the service pattern. Once the meat starts arriving, the table can fill quickly. A small first serving of soup and bread helps you pace yourself.

The sword-carved meat service

The main course is the reason to book. Staff circulate with Maasai swords holding freshly cooked portions, offering you different meats one by one. You can accept a little of each, skip anything that does not appeal to you, and request more of a favorite after you have sampled the range.

The selection may include:

• Beef
• Pork sausages
• Chicken
• Lamb
• Crocodile
• Ostrich
• Rabbit
• Buffalo balls

The menu has a good balance for mixed groups. One person can stick to chicken, lamb, or beef, while another can focus on the more unusual game. You do not need to commit to a full serving of crocodile or rabbit before knowing whether you like it.

Ostrich meatballs deserve particular attention. They were singled out as a delicious choice, so I would try them early rather than waiting until you are already full. The same advice applies to crocodile, rabbit, and buffalo. Small portions let you compare the flavors without sacrificing room for the rest of the meal.

You can cook the meat further on your sizzling iron dish. This is useful if you like meat more well done, though the serving arrives already cooked. The hot plate also keeps portions warm as you work through the meal.

The generous portions are part of the appeal, but they can also be the challenge. Pace yourself. Eat a small piece, note what you like, and then ask for another helping. The staff’s attentive service makes this flexible approach practical.

Salads and vegetables are not an afterthought

Carnivore is devoted to meat, but the meal includes salads and vegetables to balance the plate. These side dishes matter more than they might seem. Without them, a long sequence of grilled meats can become tiring before the meal is over.

Use the salads and vegetables as palate breaks between richer bites. They also help you build a meal that suits your appetite if you are not eager to eat large quantities of meat.

The accompaniments make the restaurant more workable for a group with different tastes. A person who enjoys the spectacle but wants a lighter plate can rely more heavily on the vegetable selection. Someone focused on sampling every meat can use the sides to keep the meal varied.

Still, you should choose Carnivore for the barbecue rather than for a broad vegetarian menu. Meat is the main event, and anyone seeking a meal centered on vegetables will find the format less suitable.

Coffee and African dessert to finish

After the meat and side dishes, the meal closes with coffee and an African dessert. This final course gives the experience a clear ending instead of simply stopping when the last sword leaves the table.

The dessert is a useful counterpoint to the savory barbecue. Exact dessert details are not specified, so you should expect an African sweet course without booking around one particular recipe.

Coffee also helps mark the shift from the main meal to the return transfer. Since the entire experience lasts about four hours, this closing course gives you time to finish at a comfortable pace before heading back to your hotel.

Is $85 good value?

At $85 per person, this is not a budget meal. The price makes more sense when you count what is included: a multi-course all-you-can-eat dinner, unusual meats, restaurant service, one soft drink, and scheduled round-trip hotel transfers.

The value depends on how much of the format appeals to you. If you only want a standard plate of beef, you can find a less expensive meal in Nairobi. If you want to sample several meats, enjoy a playful presentation, and avoid arranging transport, the price is easier to justify.

The unlimited format is especially useful for people who want variety. You are not paying for one fixed entrée and hoping you chose well. You can taste small portions, return to the best options, and make the meal fit your appetite.

I would call it fair value for a one-time Nairobi experience, but not an everyday dining choice. The cost is worth considering carefully for families or larger groups. Group discounts are offered, which may help reduce the total for several people.

Alcohol is not included, so add that to your budget if you want beer, wine, or the Dawa cocktail. One soft drink is included in the stated package.

Who will enjoy this experience most?

Carnivore suits you if you enjoy trying food that is unusual but still served in a comfortable restaurant setting. You can taste crocodile or ostrich without committing to a full plate, then return to familiar meats if the exotic options are not your favorite.

It also works well for a group with mixed appetites. The all-you-can-eat setup lets each person choose at the table, and the constant service keeps the meal social. You can compare impressions without ordering several separate dishes.

Families and first-time Nairobi visitors may appreciate the included hotel transportation. The private format also gives your group a more controlled schedule than a shared outing.

This is less suitable if you want a quiet, quick meal. The sword service, multiple courses, and long meal period are central to the experience. It is also a poor fit for anyone who avoids meat or prefers a low-cost local meal.

Most people can participate, and confirmation is provided at booking. If you have dietary needs, allergies, or restrictions, contact the provider before paying, since the available menu details focus heavily on meat and the supplied information does not describe special dietary arrangements.

Practical tips for getting the most from dinner

Start with modest portions. The serving style encourages generosity, but you have plenty of time to ask for more later.

Try the unusual meats before filling up on beef and chicken. Familiar choices will still be available, while the crocodile, ostrich, rabbit, and buffalo options are the parts you may not encounter as easily elsewhere.

Pay attention to your preferred cooking level. The hot iron dish lets you cook a portion a little more, so you do not have to accept every piece exactly as served.

Use the salads and vegetables between meat portions. This keeps your plate varied and makes the four-hour meal easier to manage.

If you are choosing between lunch and dinner, match the reservation to your wider Nairobi schedule. Lunch gives you more time afterward, while dinner turns the barbecue into the evening’s main event.

Keep your phone ready for the mobile ticket and pickup details. Since transfers are scheduled, being ready at your hotel helps the experience begin without a scramble.

Book ahead if your dates are fixed. The experience is often reserved around 30 days in advance, which suggests that popular lunch and dinner times may fill before your arrival.

Cancellation and booking details

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund, and the cutoff follows Nairobi local time.

The activity is operated by Samsons Safaris. It is a private tour or activity for your group, with hotel pickup and drop-off included as scheduled services.

FAQ

How long does the Carnivore Restaurant experience last?

The experience lasts approximately four hours, including the meal and scheduled hotel transfers.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

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

Is the activity private?

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

Can I choose lunch or dinner?

Yes. You can select a lunch or dinner reservation, depending on the available booking option.

What meats can I try?

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

Is the meal all you can eat?

Yes. The meat service is all you can eat. You can sample different varieties and request more of the meats you prefer.

Are drinks included?

One soft drink is included. Alcoholic beverages are not included and cost extra.

Should you book Carnivore Restaurant?

Book it if you want a memorable Nairobi meal built around variety, generous portions, and a bit of theater. The sword-served meats, ostrich meatballs, crocodile, rabbit, salads, dessert, and included hotel transfer make it more than a standard dinner.

Skip it if $85 feels too high for a meal, if you want a fast local restaurant stop, or if you do not eat meat. For everyone else, especially first-time visitors and curious food lovers, Carnivore offers a convenient way to try several Kenyan barbecue specialties in one sitting. Pace yourself, start with the unusual meats, and save room for dessert.