Simba Grill – 375 Donlands Ave, Toronto, ON M4J 3S2
Country: Tanzania    
Seating: Indoor seating. 
Dinner guests: Pornstar Sam
Must-try dish: Beef Thali Platter 
The high: Pili Pili seasoning is a game changer. 
The low: The server made no effort in helping decide on dishes to order. 

Certain countries in Africa have large Indian populations that have been living there for generations, and as a result the landscape of the cuisine has evolved to reflect the population through spices and cooking techniques. Tanzania is one such country where the traditional cuisine has shifted slightly with the introduction of Indian flavours. Simba Grill has effectively married pili pili with masala.

Upon walking into the restaurant, a door bell rings to alert the staff of a newcomer. During our meal, this bell was going off regularly with diners looking for a table. By the time we left, the restaurant that was once empty at our arrival was pretty full. 

We ordered a few appetizers to start that were easy to share. The Mogo are long pieces of cassava that are deep-fried and seasoned with pili pili. They look like french fries but are a little thicker. Pili pili is a sauce or a rub popular in African cuisine made from a variety of chillies and garlic. It can be spicy, but it;s also flavourful. 

The Nylon Bhajia are influenced by Indian immigrants to Tanzania and Kenya. It’s a common snack that is meant to be bite-sized pakoras. It’s made with potatoes that are battered and then deep-fried to be dipped in a variety of sauces: coriander, coconut, or pili pili. Another dish stemming from the Indian migration are the Samosas, which can be ordered vegetarian, chicken, or beef. 

On the grill side, the Chicken Mishkaki is recommended. It’s tender pieces of chicken on skewers seasoned in pili pili and then barbecued. As much as it feels like a safe bet, it’s also a delicious bet. It comes with a mountain of french fries so you won;t go hungry! 

The Beef Thali Platter – the must-try dish of the night, is a large plate with sections for rice, a beef samosa, pickled carrots, a beef curry, a spinach curry, and roti. The curries were great over rice or for dipping the roti into. The beef curry was in a tomato base with small pieces of potato and meat, while the spinach curry seasoned spinach that was cooked down. Both were tasty. The carrots had a tangy taste that lingered but added some vegetables to the meal. 

This was a good start for our first experience at Simba Grill, but next time we would want a little more guidance in what to order. 

Eat with you soon, 
Mandrea Bike(Mat & Andrea)