Don't let the location of Giuseppe Atrium Restaurant fool you into thinking its one of those overpriced restaurants because for Ksh. 3,500, you will eat to your fill on their 3-course Italian Barbeque Buffet- whose main course is a choice of hand-cut pasta, a build-your-own pizza station and a grill section serving chicken skewers or rump steak or lime fish. You can also choose to have all three options on your plate if you are exceptionally hungry or packing a monster of an appetite!
Giuseppe Atrium is sequestered on the grounds of the Fairview Hotel, in between a lush garden next to Pango Brassier and a quaint set-up of hand-carts decorated with fresh vegetables and a small, black piano on the side next to the hotel lobby.
The Food
The starters were a choice of Italian deli meats, cheese (taleggio, Dolce, and gouda), vegetarian salads, bruschettas, and freshly baked Foccacia. I chose to have taleggio, Italian meats, olives, and bruschetta. I would advise not to have this combination on your plate because the saltiness of the meats, olives, and cheese nearly cut my tongue. I was grateful for the buttery bruschetta which helped relieve me from my poor choice.
My main course was a custom pizza. For my toppings, I chose to have white onions, sweet pepper, lamb, mushroom and pineapple. As the chef kneaded the dough, he explained to me that the flour used to make the bread was Italian Manitoba flour and shared his recipe for the pizza sauce, which in my haste to taste the amazing pizza I had just curated, forgot.
The pizza itself was good. The crust was thin and the bread just right. However, the lamb was underseasoned so the meat was a bit bland - Generally, the toppings were underseasoned but I didn't mind adding a bit of salt to my pizza before eating it. My 'date' had ham, mushroom, pineapple, and onions on his. Because processed meat is already quite salty anyway, it compensated for the saltlessness of the other toppings and the sauce so his pizza tasted better than mine overall.
The pizza portions are generous (about the size of a medium pizza from Pizza Inn). None of us got past four slices so we had the rest packed.
For dessert, we had ice-cream which was a 'build-your-own' cone affair. Guests have a choice of vanilla, tiramisu, chocolate or strawberry, and for toppings, a choice of berries (raspberries and blueberries) or vanilla crumble. The chocolate ice cream was not gelato as they say on the menu and that was a bit disappointing. I enjoyed the crunchy cone, especially when I dipped it in the melted vanilla ice cream. The tartness of raspberries was a nice complement to the sweetness of ice cream.
Service 
The service was good. The staff was friendly and helpful.
Ambiance
Guiseppe is a great place for casual dates - or romantic ones; the dim lighting and low music gives the place an intimate feel. You can also dine at a large group as they have tables set up for numbers larger than 2, 3 or 4 people.

Takeaway

If you are looking to fill up on good food at a pocket-friendly price, Giuseppe Atrium should be on your list. If you are lactose intolerant or a strict vegetarian/vegan, then your food options are greatly limited.
Giuseppe Atruim's Italian Barbeque Buffet is served on the first Monday of every month at Fairview Hotel. The cost is Ksh. 3,500 per person and Ksh. 2,000 for children under 12. For reservations, call +254 20 288 100 or email Fbanqueting@clhg.com

About The Author

Author
Lena Anyuolo

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