Press Visit
On Wednesday night, I headed to Southampton to visit the newly launched Mbuntu Cocktail bar and bistro in Southampton. Southampton is around a 40 minute journey from me here in Bournemouth, so not too far for a change of scenery, some good food and drink. Mbuntu is an African word which means “I am who I am because of who we are”, with the key aim of the venue to include everyone and bring people together.
It was a lovely June evening, with the sun still shining, so we opted to sit outside in the cocktail garden, which was nice, with a totally Instagrammable backdrop for my photos – perfect! I was impressed that the tables were all spread out, keeping in line with current social distancing guidelines, with staff wearing face masks.
We had a cocktail whilst waiting for our food, obviously mine was the Passion Fruit Martini – my absolute favourite. The atmosphere was really nice and chilled, and the staff were attentive, without being too in your face, gently checking if everything was alright and if we needed anything else.
We shared the Mozzarella Dippers to start, which was on the menu as a side, and they were really tasty! I could have easily eaten all four by myself. The mains came soon afterwards, and I was really impressed with the presentation of the Katsu Chicken Curry. It isn’t something I have tried before, but I had a little taste and would 100% order it next time. The portion size was generous as well.
I had ordered a burrito, and opted for the Halloumi, filling, after asking the waiter for his recommendation. There was a choice of sauces, and I went with the spicy house sauce, which was pretty hot! Although it was really yummy, I did notice that it didn’t actually have any rice in the burrito, which must have been an oversight. It didn’t bother me, as I had eaten the Mozzarella sticks before, but it did make it a little less filling as a main meal.
After we had finished eating, I had one more cocktail, the Cosmopolitan, which was a lot bigger than I anticipated! I enjoyed sipping it as the sun was starting to set, and we left soon after, as the air got a little chilly. On the way back through the venue, I noticed the indoor seating areas, which looked so cosy, with brilliant decor. I had a really nice evening at Mbuntu, and would definitely go along again. I think it would be great for a catch up with friends in the cocktail garden, or for a special occasion, celebrating in the restaurant area.
Prince, who owns Mbuntu, also owns another venue in Bournemouth, so I will have to check this out too, as it is closer for me. I hadn’t tasted African cuisine before, but I am definitely a fan of the menu, and the cocktail list is also brilliant.
I was invited along to Mbuntu for the purpose of this review, by the lovely people at Route PR, however all words and images are my own.
