Zweli’s Piri Piri Kitchen

Dined at the recently opened @zweliskitchen, an authentically Zimbabwean restaurant in Downtown Durham. We learned about the history of Zweli's, its owner and her influence, the culture behind the prepared meals, and the sister properties nearby. My absolute favorite dishes were the sweet potato samosas and the braised oxtail. Here's what else we ordered:-Various cocktails: Shown is the Mojito -Veggie samosas and beef samosas-Piri Piri Grilled Shrimp Skewers-Piri Piri Grilled Wings-Fried Plantains -Grilled Boerewors Sausage-Family style sides of Dori Collard Greens and Jallof Rice-Dessert: Sweet MagwinyaThe flavors were bold and delicioussss! The sides are sold family style and the portions are huge. The venue is cozy and quiet and perfect for date night or a business meeting. Parking is available across the street or on the street. Reservations recommended for holidays and special events.

This was an average dining experience. The oxtails were quite tasty and the gravy was amazing. The portion size was small, and filled with mostly gravy and small bones. The chicken was grilled to perfection, wings were large and very moist. We really enjoyed both of the meats. The cabbages were just ok. The jollof rice was not good. It did not have any flavor and was very dry. We tried this place after eating at the Ekhaya. While we would return to Ekhaya, I would not return here.

We met here with some friends for dinner and it was a huge let down. All four of us were looking forward to it as we had been the sister restaurant. I would leave zero stars if I could! Here's where they got it wrong:1. Horrible service - our waiter must have been new. He didn't check on us and had to call him over whenever we needed something. The place was empty, so not sure what the deal was. 2. Food was lacking! The food was tasteless. Has the chef heard of salt? Plus the "bottomless" side ran out. Who runs out of coleslaw on a Friday night? 3. Need to find a new bartender! I was looking forward to having the Mayor, because I had it at the other restaurant. However it was disgusting tonight. If they don't fix these things, they will be out of business soon. Definitely not getting any more of my business. I'm ticked that I had to pay an automatic 20% gratuity because you call it a living wage! The service sucked!

There is a parking lot within walking distance of the restaurant located in the Brightleaf shopping center. The restaurant is spacious with plenty of seating & a bar. It is brightly decorated with nice decor. I was greeted warmly when I walked in. Jason & "mom" were very personable & helpful during my visit. I ordered the piri wings with Jollof rice & Chakalaka as my sides. The wings were tender, flavorful, and were served with pickled onions. The rice and beans were fresh and hot. Everything tasted so good! And my two sides were bottomless. The portion size was large & definitely enough to share. Good service & great food! I will be back for sure!

Excellent food and service! I've now been twice and the food is amazing. Each visit was relatively quiet. There wasn't too much of a crowd. The service is consistent--prompt and enthusiastic. The food is amazing and authentic! My favorite are the veggies samosas, dovi shrimp, bean stew, and curry cabbage. The samosas are bigger than traditional ones and much more fluffy. The dovi sauce is a very rich peanut sauce. It pairs well with the jollof rice and the cornmeal bread. And the cabbage was excellent--the curry definitely takes it up a notch. The bean stew (Chakalaka?) was pleasantly delicious. It's a sweet and savory flavor profile. For the meat eaters at the table, they raved about the peri peri wings and the oxtails. I have no doubt they were just as excellent as the food I ate. I'm looking forward to coming back and bringing more folks to this hidden gem. A major plus is that all entrees come with 2 sides and if you are in a group, you get two unlimited sides for the table!! I love how this place prioritizes community.

Service could definitely improved. Waitress was unorganized, didn't refill water unless asked for and we had to stop a diff waitress even then. Food definitely made up for the service. I had the Piri Piri wings which were perfectly seasoned and grilled. The jallof rice and curried cabbage was amazing and paired well with the entrees. Btw the sides are unlimited if you order entrees. Let me not forget the beef samosas- best samosas I've ever had. Compared to the Indian versions I'm used to.. this puff pastry was delicious. We opted for the most authentic sounding dessert and went for their version of fried donuts... just eh! Nothing I would order again. Location is in a cute part of town

My best friend and I stopped here for dinner. What a beautiful restaurant and the food was amazing. I had the half chicken, collards, jollof rice, and veggie samosas. ABSOLUTELY DEVINE! The host/waiter Chris was so kind and accommodating. The night was a complete success. Give this place a try

Easy to walk in during lunch. The food was made fresh and didn't take too long at all. I was glad the server was able to describe each dish as this was my first visit. Nice decor and will have to come back for dinner!!!

I had a perfect meal at Zweli's, a restaurant that specializes in Zimbabwean food. Their Brightleaf Square location has only been open for a few weeks. I had the Dovi Shrimp which was covered in a rich, spicy peanut sauce; Chakalaka, a bean and vegetable stew; and sadza, a cornmeal side dish. Everything was prepared to perfection. The service was excellent with the server knowledgeable about the food and attentive. It was such a treat to experience the unique food of Zimbabwe.