Reasons why Habil’s is the only café in Kaduna
While there are some top-notch restaurants in the once-bustling city of Kaduna, a café in every sense of the word has been something of a rarity. Located conveniently on Waff Road, close to Hamdala Hotel in Kaduna, Habil Café is one of those places that a first-time visitor would be surprised to find in the […]
Reasons why Habil’s is the only café in Kaduna
While there are some top-notch restaurants in the once-bustling city of Kaduna, a café in every sense of the word has been something of a rarity. Located conveniently on Waff Road, close to Hamdala Hotel in Kaduna, Habil Café is one of those places that a first-time visitor would be surprised to find in the city.
As one enters the sparkly-clean environment, the smell of good food lightly greets, as do the friendly serving staff. At the counter, a big blackboard-style menu shows what’s on offer, and it is as impressive as it would be tedious to list here.
Today, my companion and I settled for the special of the day, which was a rich, spicy, slightly garlic-infused meatball stew with penne pasta cooked with thin-sliced veggies. The pasta was cooked to perfection, but the carrots and string beans gave a slight feeling of au dente, as they were crunchy. But it was all balanced by the stew. And at N3,500 it didn’t dent the wallet too much.
To wash it down, we had different means. I ordered for small pot of Habil’s Spicy Tea (a specialty I will discuss later), while my companion went for a glass of freshly-squeezed orange juice. The prices on the menu are moderate to pricey, something to be expected with the type of quality served.
The ‘special of the day’ on the menu, I was told, is changed every week, so customers can enjoy the variety that comes from regularly refreshed offerings from the chef, who obviously is an excellent one. Also kid-friendly, the menu offers waffles, pancakes and smoothies.
Back to their specialty spicy tea, it’s a fantastic beverage any time of the day, and especially on rainy days, or chilly evenings. It’s a basic Chai mix with hints of ginger, cloves, cinnamon and others which all combine with the milk for a truly memorable cup. A perfect accompaniment would be the café’s Cinnamon French Toast, made to perfection and served with apple slices. Customers can ask for two sizes of the teapot, small or large, and they all cost the same. Frankly, the tea deserves an article all its own, but that’s for another day.
As far as the ambience goes, as one enters, the well-lit interior is cosy and immediately-pleasing, with an elevated roof adorned by polished wood beams which almost suggest an art deco feel. During the day, the large glass window and doors provide natural light, while at night it’s well-lit without glare. The furniture varies, with some being tables-for-two in the classic bistro style, comfortable armchairs, as well as sofas. The beauty of this, is that even for seating, a customer has a wide choice.
There’s always good music being played, from a playlist that includes mid-tempo R&B and even some excellent Nigerian songs appropriate for the surroundings. There’s also free Wi-Fi, a clean convenience, and a security guard stationed outside. The management seems to have thought of everything. Open in the morning from 9:00am for breakfast, they are open till 10:00pm. They once stayed open after closing that as I was with a large group which found it hard to just eat and go. If you have an hour (or two) to spare in Kaduna, then Habil Café is a great place to spend it, and for many reasons, some of which have been mentioned earlier, and many which you will most likely discover for yourself.