Ordered the goat, chakalaka and rice. AMAZING flavor, very tender goat, literally fell off the bone. 10/10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sharon Winston
The wings were fantastic, love the flavor. We had the rice and cabbage and both were delicious. Love that the sides were bottomless.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Jollof Rice, Piri Piri Chicken Wings
Clarence Winston
Outstanding flavors, the oax tails were amazing!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Davina Byrd
Restaurant not overly crowded or busy, placed an order, an hour and 15 minutes later no food, we walked out. Clearly an issue with management.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Anthony Henderson
There were great vibes from the moment we entered the space. Quick seating, engaging server who explained the inspiration behind the restaurant, and exciting menu options all contributed to an overall excellent experience. And dinner was delicious. Favorite items included the oxtails, curried cabbage, beef samosas, jollaf rice, and 'The Mayor' signature bourbon drink.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Jollof Rice, Beef Samosas, Piri Piri Chicken Wings
Wenyi Zhou
Zweli’s Brightleaf location has an elegant warehouse-chic interior and a cultured ambiance that will make you forget that you’re in Durham for an hour. The sophistication and great location command a higher price tag, putting it firmly under the “date night for grown-ups”category. With that said, I thoroughly enjoyed the $12 piri piri shrimp skewer (singular) I ordered. The three shrimps on it were plump, juicy, and flavorful. I’m not as impressed with the dovi collard greens, which were like regular collard greens with peanut butter (4/5). The beef samosas were also good but not great (4/5), mainly because I couldn’t taste the beef in them. Given the various promotions they have, I might come back again to try a main dish like the oxtail before I finalize my opinion. Also, you can order entrees to go and it will be cheaper and come with two sides. Overall a cool place to check it out!
10000/10! Run here immediately!!!! Incredible flavors, beautiful atmosphere, the kindest service, and high, high quality food. Thank you Zweli’s for adding so much to Durham ❤️? and shoutout to Jason for providing us an awesome
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lisa R.
Zweli's Ekhaya is quickly becoming one of my favorite restaurants in Durham! They have a really interesting and flavorful menu, and the space is intimate and lovely! The service is also top notch with waiters who are helpful and responsive to whatever you may need! Our waiter last night was Assad, and he was really great! This is a place we bring all our out of town guests to show off what Durham has to offer! Can't wait to go back!
Helen Conrad
I ate here a few times and then had my wedding rehearsal dinner here. The oxtails were amazing, and the collard greens were frankly some of the most delicious things I've ever eaten, but honestly anything on the menu will be good. This also makes for a really great date night option since the menu is varied enough to have something for everyone. I can't recommend this place highly enough, it's well worth a visit.Vegetarian options: They have some really good vegetarian options on the menu, both things with some spice and things without.Parking: The parking is really easy since the lot serves multiple businesses and there are always free spaces to be had.
Stacya Hendrickson
Huge room for improvement.Customer service: phenomenal Miss Yolanda was polite and attentive. She really ran the place.Food: The meal was a bit much for what I paid. The beans was a huge portion but tasted like baked beans with slices of carrots. I ordered the squash and zucchini but they were spicy. It was only described on the menu as grilled and I thought it would bring the heat down from the beans and chicken but it did not. So it was just a very spicy plate. Nothing to cool down your palate from all that spice but I felt the spicy was unnecessary on the zucchini and squash.Atmosphere: my chair and a few others needed the foot bar pit back in. The seat is wanky and all over the place. I had to grab another chair so I can get comfortable. The floors were a bit grubby, the tables could use a wipe down.I felt the connection with Zimbabwe is hugely missed because you see the African decor and some magazines up front but the logo yells pizza, the menu doesn't tie anything to Zimbabwe as far as visuals (show how the food looks, create a company voice) and was basic. Doesn't have photos or real ties to the owners and the culture. Kind of a bummer.Then I was in shock to hear the restaurant was opening another location. I feel like this establishment needs a little more fleshed out. We'll see.
Ashley
Great food, great presentation, and most of all, great people! The space itself is a little plain, but I like that you can see the kitchen and parking is easy. Will definitely be back! Dovi chicken and peri peri chicken pictured below. Beef samosas were yummy as well.
Great from start to finish. Will be back. Great staff great food great atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Jollof Rice, Half Chicken, Beef Samosas
Ordered the goat, chakalaka and rice. AMAZING flavor, very tender goat, literally fell off the bone. 10/10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The wings were fantastic, love the flavor. We had the rice and cabbage and both were delicious. Love that the sides were bottomless.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Jollof Rice, Piri Piri Chicken Wings
Outstanding flavors, the oax tails were amazing!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Restaurant not overly crowded or busy, placed an order, an hour and 15 minutes later no food, we walked out. Clearly an issue with management.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
There were great vibes from the moment we entered the space. Quick seating, engaging server who explained the inspiration behind the restaurant, and exciting menu options all contributed to an overall excellent experience. And dinner was delicious. Favorite items included the oxtails, curried cabbage, beef samosas, jollaf rice, and 'The Mayor' signature bourbon drink.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Jollof Rice, Beef Samosas, Piri Piri Chicken Wings
Zweli’s Brightleaf location has an elegant warehouse-chic interior and a cultured ambiance that will make you forget that you’re in Durham for an hour. The sophistication and great location command a higher price tag, putting it firmly under the “date night for grown-ups”category. With that said, I thoroughly enjoyed the $12 piri piri shrimp skewer (singular) I ordered. The three shrimps on it were plump, juicy, and flavorful. I’m not as impressed with the dovi collard greens, which were like regular collard greens with peanut butter (4/5). The beef samosas were also good but not great (4/5), mainly because I couldn’t taste the beef in them. Given the various promotions they have, I might come back again to try a main dish like the oxtail before I finalize my opinion. Also, you can order entrees to go and it will be cheaper and come with two sides. Overall a cool place to check it out!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Beef Samosas, Zimbabwean Peanut Butter Spiced Collard Greens
Delish!! So flavorful. Great service. Really friendly staff. Would definitely recommend the samosas.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Piri Piri Chicken Sandwich, Half Chicken, Vegan, Samosa
Dovi shrimp was so savory and tasty. My husband almost ran into the kitchen to get the chakalaka recipe! Love this restaurant.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Samosas, Piri Piri Chips
I ate here three times last week, each time with a different group of friends, and they all loved it. That’s all I’m gonna say.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Piri Piri Chicken Leg, Braised Oxtail, Peri Peri Chicken Wing, Beef Samosas, Zimbabwean Peanut Butter Spiced Collard Greens
Restaurantji Recommends
10000/10! Run here immediately!!!! Incredible flavors, beautiful atmosphere, the kindest service, and high, high quality food. Thank you Zweli’s for adding so much to Durham ❤️? and shoutout to Jason for providing us an awesome
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Zweli's Ekhaya is quickly becoming one of my favorite restaurants in Durham! They have a really interesting and flavorful menu, and the space is intimate and lovely! The service is also top notch with waiters who are helpful and responsive to whatever you may need! Our waiter last night was Assad, and he was really great! This is a place we bring all our out of town guests to show off what Durham has to offer! Can't wait to go back!
I ate here a few times and then had my wedding rehearsal dinner here. The oxtails were amazing, and the collard greens were frankly some of the most delicious things I've ever eaten, but honestly anything on the menu will be good. This also makes for a really great date night option since the menu is varied enough to have something for everyone. I can't recommend this place highly enough, it's well worth a visit.Vegetarian options: They have some really good vegetarian options on the menu, both things with some spice and things without.Parking: The parking is really easy since the lot serves multiple businesses and there are always free spaces to be had.
Huge room for improvement.Customer service: phenomenal Miss Yolanda was polite and attentive. She really ran the place.Food: The meal was a bit much for what I paid. The beans was a huge portion but tasted like baked beans with slices of carrots. I ordered the squash and zucchini but they were spicy. It was only described on the menu as grilled and I thought it would bring the heat down from the beans and chicken but it did not. So it was just a very spicy plate. Nothing to cool down your palate from all that spice but I felt the spicy was unnecessary on the zucchini and squash.Atmosphere: my chair and a few others needed the foot bar pit back in. The seat is wanky and all over the place. I had to grab another chair so I can get comfortable. The floors were a bit grubby, the tables could use a wipe down.I felt the connection with Zimbabwe is hugely missed because you see the African decor and some magazines up front but the logo yells pizza, the menu doesn't tie anything to Zimbabwe as far as visuals (show how the food looks, create a company voice) and was basic. Doesn't have photos or real ties to the owners and the culture. Kind of a bummer.Then I was in shock to hear the restaurant was opening another location. I feel like this establishment needs a little more fleshed out. We'll see.
Great food, great presentation, and most of all, great people! The space itself is a little plain, but I like that you can see the kitchen and parking is easy. Will definitely be back! Dovi chicken and peri peri chicken pictured below. Beef samosas were yummy as well.