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Business & Tech

Isabella's Cafe Offers International Experience

Decatur/Kirkwood restaurant brings new flavors

When you first walk into Isabella’s Café the first thing that you notice is the upbeat international music playing.  Then you notice the aroma of international spices, like curry.  But with a name like Isabella’s you’d think this was an Italian restaurant; however owner, Wambui Maina, is Kenyan.

 “I named the restaurant after my mother.  She was one of the first female physicians in Kenya.  It was a way for me to honor her,” said Maina.  The restaurant, which opened in July 2010, is in an old 1920’s building on West College Avenue at the edge of Kirkwood.  The space Isabella’s is in used to be a coffee shop that closed around 2008 and stayed empty for two years.  “I love Decatur because it’s like a foodie town.  People look for innovative menus and support local restaurants.  I thought this space was the perfect place to open my eclectic restaurant,” said Maina.

 The eclectic menu offers American dishes with a twist, as Maina adds the flavors she loves from her native Kenya and New Orleans – where she first lived when she moved to this country at age 13.  Dishes like the Kenyan-style Chunky Beef Stew over Basmati rice, Chicken Masala, chipotle-maple black beans, and cheeseburgers made with Isabella’s home-made pimento cheese are a hit with diners.

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 “It’s kind of traditional food with a twist, like the masala in the turkey burger.  It was good.  This is our first time here, but we’ll come back,” said Liz Sheehan who was dining with her husband, Dan, and daughter, Amelia. 

 “We’ve gotten a good response to the menu and many people are asking for more Kenyan influenced fare,” said Maina.  She added, “Our Swahili Shrimp Curry is our most popular dish.  It’s made with coconut milk and fresh mango.  Our samosas are also popular.  We add a Kenyan influence to the Indian dish.  During colonization, the British brought a large Indian population to Kenya, so Kenyan cuisine has British, Indian, and Arabian influences.”

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 The unique desserts are also made in-house, like their popular Hummingbird Cake.  “It’s a little like carrot cake, but made with bananas, pineapple and pecans,” she said.  The restaurant also carries a variety of beers from around the world, including Red Stripe from Jamaica and Tusker Beer from Kenya – which is popular beer in East Africa. Maina added, “And all our wines are from South Africa.  I went there in 2006 and toured the wineries, and I was blown away by the quality and the low prices.” 

 Isabella’s menu prices are also family friendly, and a kids menu adds to the allure.  “Our kids menu has grilled cheese, kids’ pizza, and sweet potato tater tots.  “Amelia really liked the tater tots,” said Sheehan of her daughter.  Maina added, “We give them crayons to color on their menus.  We also allow kids to play and run around in our event space where we’ve had baby showers, birthdays, and rehearsal dinners,” said Maina.  

 The café also gives back to the community.  “We’ve had a few Kenyan events here and the greatest compliment is when they say it tastes just like home.  Also our Wine to Water event is a fundraiser where the money goes to build wells in South Africa.  And we also did a fundraiser for the [local non-profit] Resources for Residents and Communities” said Maina.  It’s one of the reasons Isabella’s has developed loyal customers.

 Kirkwood resident, Darren Rollins comes to Isabella’s often.  “One of the reasons I come back is because I think the service is excellent and friendly and the food is very good. Also it’s well lit, so it’s a great place for me to sit and grade my papers and have a beer, without actually having to be at a bar.  They also have wifi, said Rollins. 

 He added, “I think we could use all the restaurants we can get in this area.  I’ve seen several restaurants in this area go out of business, so I hope this one makes it.  If a few places really make it everyone else in the area will make it, and it will bring people from different neighborhoods.” 

 Maina says, so far Isabella’s is doing well in this economy. “The neighborhood has had fantastic supporters and lots of repeat business,” she said.  Tuesdays and Wednesday are popular with families, but on Fridays and Saturdays get there early or you’ll be waiting for a table.  Rollins added, “I’ll be back because they have more interesting things on the menu I’d like to try.”

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