Restaurant review: Eating out in Pader

Perched on the dusty crossroads in the centre of Pader town is Mego Bar, a quirky dining establishment offering a very traditional and reserved dining experience. The restaurant enjoys views over the main road and is an ideal location for people watching, particularly so in the evening when the road is usually lined with young children selling water.

The décor has a rustic feel to it, with locally crafted handmade furniture complemented by contemporary plastic chairs. The new blue and white patterned table cloths bring a touch of chic and a splash of colour to the subtle colour scheme.

The food is prepared by a team of child mothers, some of whom were previously abductees of the now world renowned Lord’s Resistance Army. It is speculated that this restaurant actually provided the inspiration for Jamie Oliver’s ‘17’ restaurant which is also staffed by underprivileged youth.

The head chef has conjured up a delectable set menu comprising rice, sweet potato, beans, a green leaf yellow sauce made with a secret recipe, and ‘not-fed chicken’, a genetically modified local breed of chicken that does not require regular feeding. This is followed by a plain and heavy cup cake which, in the style of a fortune cookie, occasionally has something buried inside. Careful you don’t chip a tooth!

Explaining this inspired but radical menu choice, the head chef said, "In the West you embrace diversity and change. Here, in the middle of a former conflict zone, we are tired of change and uncertainty. Instead we embrace predictability. Of course this has been controversial in restaurateur circles, but I like to challenge convention. People here have enough things to worry about without having to deliberate over menu choices. And you can see it is a winning formula – every other restaurant in Pader has copied me."

For diners used to the ‘All you can eat’ menu option at such revered establishments as Pizza Hut, be warned! You are only allowed one piece of not-fed chicken. Note too, that flirting with the waiting staff in an attempt to secure two pieces of not-fed chicken, appears to be fruitless.

Although this establishment does not have a wine list, rather surprisingly a select number of eccentric wines can be purchased from a nearby store which locals endearingly refer to as the ‘supermarket’. Be careful not to miss the ‘supermarket’ as it is only 2m x 4m and has no external signage. The wine should be easy to spot though as there are few other items on the shelves. Diners will be delighted to hear that the restaurant does not charge a corkage fee for drinking your own wine on the premises.

The self service arrangement, akin to a soup kitchen under Waterloo Bridge, complements the overall down to earth ambience. Our only grumble would be that the attentive and helpful waiting staff do appear to struggle with arithmetic.

The restaurant attracts a diverse array of diners, including locals and African and Western expatriates. The atmosphere created is refreshingly distinct from restaurants in the West where individuals rarely engage each other in conversation. Instead expect to be greeted by many a stranger. Note though, many will be looking for a job.

Our verdict: A must for any food lover!