Barbecue Lunch/ Dinner At The Carnivore Restaurant – Nairobi

Dinner arrives on a Maasai sword. Nairobi’s Carnivore Restaurant turns a meal into a lively food experience, with servers bringing generous portions of sizzling meat directly to your table. I like the chance to try crocodile, ostrich, rabbit, buffalo, and familiar favorites in one sitting, and I like the easy private hotel pickup and return.

The all-you-can-eat format works well for curious eaters because you can sample first, then request more of what you enjoy. The main drawback is price: at $85 per person, this is a costly lunch or dinner in Nairobi, especially since alcoholic drinks are not included.

Key points to know before booking

• Maasai sword service: Servers bring meat on large swords and carve or serve generous portions at your table.
• Unusual menu choices: Crocodile, ostrich, rabbit, and buffalo join more familiar beef, pork, lamb, and chicken.
• Private hotel transfers: Scheduled pickup and drop-off are included from your Nairobi hotel.
• Four-hour outing: The meal and transportation take about four hours in total.
• Unlimited meat: You can try each variety, then ask for more of your favorites.
• One drink included: The package includes one soft drink, while alcoholic beverages cost extra.

Why Carnivore is more than a standard Nairobi dinner

Carnivore is built around spectacle. The centerpiece is a huge barbecue, with meat cooked and carried to the dining room on Maasai swords. That presentation gives the meal a sense of occasion that you will not get from an ordinary restaurant reservation.

I like this setup because it makes the food easy to explore. You do not have to choose one main course and hope it suits you. Instead, the staff brings a succession of meats, allowing you to taste a little of everything before deciding what deserves a second helping.

The menu mixes game meats with familiar choices. Crocodile, ostrich, rabbit, and buffalo may be the reason you book, but beef, pork, chicken, lamb, and pork sausages give you a safe fallback if the more unusual dishes do not appeal.

This is a restaurant meal, not a safari or wildlife encounter. The unusual meats arrive cooked and ready to eat. The attraction is the cooking, serving style, and chance to compare flavors at one table.

Your four-hour lunch or dinner

The experience lasts about four hours, including the scheduled transfer from your Nairobi hotel and the return journey. You can choose lunch or dinner, which makes it easier to fit the meal around sightseeing or a wider Kenya itinerary.

At the start, expect a light soup of the day. It is a gentle opening before the main service begins, rather than the reason to come. After the soup, the table receives a sizzling iron dish with homemade bread and butter.

That hot dish is useful as both a serving surface and a small cooking station. The meat has already been prepared, but you can cook it a little longer on the hot iron if you prefer a more done finish. You will want to pace yourself at this stage, since the main parade of meat is still ahead.

The restaurant’s staff then begins bringing meat on Maasai swords. Portions are generous, and the service continues as you sample the choices. After you have tried the full selection, you can ask for more of the varieties you liked best.

The pace makes the meal feel social and informal. You can compare notes with the people at your table, decide which meats suit your taste, and avoid wasting appetite on a dish you do not want repeated.

The meat selection, from familiar to exotic

The real appeal is variety. A typical service includes beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and pork sausages, along with less usual choices such as crocodile, ostrich, rabbit, and buffalo balls.

Ostrich is a particularly good choice to try early. One useful tip is to save room for the ostrich meatballs, which are easy to sample and were singled out as a favorite. They offer a less intimidating introduction to game meat than a large unfamiliar cut.

Crocodile is another draw. If you are curious about it, take a small portion before filling up on the more familiar meats. The same advice applies to rabbit and buffalo. The unlimited format means you can be adventurous without committing your entire meal to one choice.

You might find that the game meats are the most memorable part of the meal, but you should not assume every selection will suit you. Taste is personal, and the familiar beef, pork, lamb, and chicken are important for anyone in your group who prefers traditional barbecue.

The food is served hot, and the portions are described as generous. That makes this a poor match for a quick, light meal. It is better suited to someone who enjoys a long dinner and wants to turn eating into the evening’s main event.

Salads, vegetables, bread, and dessert

The meal is not only about meat. Salads and vegetables accompany the barbecue, giving you a break from the richer grilled dishes. Homemade bread with butter arrives early, and it is helpful for balancing the strong flavors and soaking up juices.

I would treat the side dishes as part of the meal rather than decoration. The combination matters because an unlimited meat service can become heavy, particularly if you keep accepting every portion that comes your way.

Coffee and an African dessert finish the meal. The dessert gives the experience a final local touch, although the supplied details do not identify the specific sweet served. You can expect a sweet ending, but you should not book this expecting a particular dessert by name.

One soft drink is included in the price. Alcoholic beverages are not included, so add that cost if you plan to order beer, wine, or spirits. The included drink is a small point, but it helps clarify what the $85 package does and does not cover.

Private transfers make the evening easier

Scheduled pickup and drop-off from your Nairobi hotel are included. Since this is a private activity, only your group participates, which is useful if you prefer not to coordinate with a large shared vehicle or eat on someone else’s schedule.

The transfer also removes some planning from the evening. You can focus on the meal instead of arranging a separate ride back to your hotel. The available information does not provide a pickup window, hotel list, vehicle type, or exact travel time, so you should confirm those details when booking.

The private format does not mean the restaurant itself is reserved only for your group. It refers to the activity and transportation arrangement. The dining room uses the restaurant’s normal service, including staff moving from table to table with the meat swords.

Pickup is offered for the scheduled lunch or dinner reservation. If your plans change, free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not refundable, and late changes are not accepted.

Is $85 a fair price?

At $85 per person, this is not a bargain meal. You are paying for more than food: the restaurant setting, the theatrical service, private round-trip hotel transportation, an all-you-can-eat format, and the chance to taste several unusual meats.

The value improves if you use the meal as an evening activity rather than treating it as a simple dinner. You receive a four-hour outing, and the private transfers save you the time and expense of arranging separate transportation.

The price is harder to justify if you only want a small portion of one familiar meat. In that case, a standard Nairobi restaurant would likely offer better value. Carnivore makes more sense for people who want variety, generous portions, and a memorable serving style.

Group discounts may be available, which could help if you are booking for several people. The exact discount is not specified, so check the final price before assuming it will apply.

Who will enjoy this meal most?

I would recommend this experience to adventurous eaters, first-time visitors looking for a distinctive Nairobi dinner, and groups with mixed tastes. The menu gives curious diners unusual choices while still providing beef, chicken, pork, lamb, and sausages for cautious eaters.

It also suits people who dislike complicated restaurant planning. Pickup, drop-off, the reservation, side dishes, dessert, and one soft drink are bundled together. That convenience has real value after a full day in Nairobi.

Families and groups can benefit from the shareable format, provided everyone is comfortable with a meat-focused meal. Most people can participate, but anyone with strict dietary limits should confirm suitability before booking because the central feature is a long procession of grilled meats.

Vegetarians will find salads and vegetables, but this is clearly not designed as a vegetarian meal. The package details do not list vegetarian mains, vegan substitutions, allergy procedures, or halal options, so you should ask the provider before paying if any of those points matter to you.

Practical tips for pacing your meal

Arrive hungry, but do not eat so little beforehand that you feel rushed into accepting every portion. The meal begins with soup, bread, and butter before the meat service gathers speed.

Try small portions of the unfamiliar meats first. You can request more later, and the unlimited format rewards patience. I would sample ostrich, crocodile, rabbit, and buffalo before concentrating on your favorite familiar cuts.

Keep room for the vegetables and salad. They help break up the meat course, and the meal is more enjoyable when you treat it as several stages rather than one long plate of barbecue.

Use the sizzling iron dish according to your own taste. The food arrives cooked, so additional cooking is optional. If you prefer meat served hotter or more thoroughly cooked, the hot dish gives you some control.

Finally, remember that a four-hour outing is a commitment. This is not a quick stop between attractions. Plan it as the main meal of your day, and leave enough time for the transfer, the full service, coffee, and dessert.

What the experience does especially well

The strongest part is the combination of choice and presentation. You can taste a wide range of meats, then return to the options you prefer. The swords make the service memorable without requiring you to order a complicated tasting menu.

The staff service is another advantage. The meal depends on attentive table service, and the format allows you to signal when you want another portion or when you have had enough. That is more flexible than receiving one fixed platter.

The restaurant also handles the basic details well by including bread, salads, vegetables, dessert, coffee, and one soft drink. You are not left with a plate of meat and nothing else.

The main weakness is the cost. A four-out-of-five rating suggests a strong experience with room for personal preference, and price is the clearest consideration. Some diners will find the unusual meats and private transfer worth it. Others may feel the meal is too expensive for lunch, even with generous portions.

Should you book Carnivore in Nairobi?

Book it if you want a big, social meal with unusual meats, generous portions, and a bit of theater. It is particularly useful for a first Nairobi visit when you want one evening that feels distinct from a normal restaurant dinner.

Think twice if you are watching your budget, prefer quiet meals, eat little meat, or need detailed dietary guarantees. The $85 price is justified by the all-you-can-eat service, private hotel transfers, and variety, but not by the food alone.

My practical choice would be dinner for an occasion or a final Nairobi evening. Try the ostrich meatballs, sample the crocodile and rabbit, pace yourself through the familiar meats, and keep room for dessert. If that sounds like a good night out, Carnivore is a sensible booking.

FAQ

How much does the Carnivore Restaurant experience cost?

The price is $85 per person.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately four hours, including the scheduled hotel pickup and drop-off.

Can I choose lunch or dinner?

Yes. You can select either 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. This is a private activity, and only your group participates.

Is the meal all you can eat?

Yes. The dinner includes unlimited servings of the available meats. After trying the selection, you can request more of your preferred choices.

Which unusual meats might be served?

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

Are drinks included?

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

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refundable or accepted.