For travellers along the Kampala-Masaka highway, Shell Petrol Station Buyaya is the unofficial stopover for a quick snack or restroom break.
However, those seeking a quieter, more upscale experience often head to Gators Café, located just 50 metres from Shell, at Jalia City. Everyone around will tell you it is owned by Mawokota South MP Yusuf Nsibambi.
While Shell’s Endiiro café prices may seem steep, Gators takes it a notch higher; you will pay more for the added comfort, clean bathrooms and ambience. Operating 24/7, Gators ensures that food is always available, no matter what time you pop in.
The Gators chapatti breakfast combo at Shs 30,000 is the second cheapest option after the continental breakfast (Shs 27,000). The meal includes chapatti, sautéed spinach, home fries (wedges), a fruit bowl and tea.
From the parking lot to the ever-present janitor, the staff at Gators make you feel like you, too, have arrived at the table of the rich. The customer care is impeccable, and the fruits are as fresh, juicy and sweet as only Ugandan fruits can be. Expect the usual mangoes, pineapples, passion fruits and surprise plums in the mix.
However, one odd pairing on the plate is chapatti and spinach, a combination that does not quite hit the mark. Thankfully, the eggs are fried to your preference.
Now, here’s something unmissable: nothing I ate at Gators was salted, not even the lucky spinach or the fluffy chapatti. When I inquired, the staff explained that it’s a deliberate health-conscious decision, ensuring their meals are not the cause or trigger of future illnesses. Aww! If only they cared just as much about our future pockets too!
fkisakye@observer.ug
