In my quest to find a place to kick off the weekend, I went to the Choma’D Bar & Grill in Nyarutarama in Kigali.

Choma’D is a small cosy restaurant with just eight tables. It has a black and white interior, wooden tables and local imigongo art adorning the walls.

The backyard at Choma’D is surrounded by tall trees, where you can enjoy your meat and drinks in the open. The open area overlooks a large pond next to the Kigali Golf Course.

I arrived just in time for Happy Hour and asked for a strawberry mojito. I was hungry so I ordered a regular portion of smoked beef sausages served with sweet potato chips and coleslaw salad. My order arrived promptly.

The smoked beef sausages reminded me of the Farmers' Choice smokies in Kenya. Served on polished wooden boards, the sausages were well cooked and salted to taste, and paired well with the sweet, crisp sweet potato chips.

The coleslaw salad wasn’t to my liking, so I resorted to ketchup as a condiment to my very filling meal.

For small bitings, Choma’D offers beef samosas, vegetable spring rolls, meatballs, seasoned potato wedges and sweet potato chips, seasoned potato chips, and plantains. Prices range from Rwf3,000 ($3.5) to Rwf12,500 ($14.6).

For larger servings, the restaurant menu has smoked beef sausages, chicken wings, whole chicken, pork ribs, fillet steak, beef burger, cheese steak sandwich and mac ‘n’ cheese, with prices ranging from Rwf4,000 ($4.7) to Rwf45,000 ($53). Vegetarian options include a garden salad and chef’s special salad.

My Choma’D signature cocktail jar was the best part of my meal. The strawberry mojito was refreshing, minty, fizzy, slightly sweet and quenched my thirst.

The cocktails retail at Rwf8,000 ($9.3) and Rwf6,000 ($7) at happy hour from 4pm to 8pm every day. The bar has a wide choice of soft drinks, local and imported beers, and various alcoholic beverages.