Meet the culinary genius behind Victoria Falls’ best pizza and burgers
Pizza and burgers are among the fast foods that have brought joy to many, and this is why the pizza at The Corner House Restaurant in Victoria Falls, located near one of the world’s seven wonders, has made both local and international tourists return after dining at the restaurant.
My Afrika Magazine reporter, Tapiwanashe Rubaya (TR), visited The Corner House Restaurant in Victoria Falls and was welcomed by the owner, Mthokozisi Ndlovu (MN), who shared a conversation about The Corner House and the delicious meals prepared by Mthokozisi and his team.
TR: Mthokozisi, thank you for inviting us to The Corner House. Can you give us a brief background of yourself and why you established the restaurant?
MN: You are welcome. My name is Mthokozisi Ndlovu, but some call me Mshoza. I am a 27-year-old from Chinotimba Township. I have two siblings and a beautiful daughter named Olwethu. I lost both my parents and had to relocate to South Africa from 2013 to 2020. I might say my hunger for success is driven by my passion for cooking and showing the young boys and girls from the hood that anything is possible, no matter where you grew up.
TR: Why the name Corner House?
MN: People always ask me why I named it The Corner House. The house is situated on the corner, so that’s why I named it THE CORNER HOUSE.
TR: The Corner House is located in a tourism-dominated area. Has that been an advantage for you?
MN: Indeed, the tourism sector is booming in Victoria Falls. It has been an advantage for us, but in a different way. The pricing of the food is inflated for the tourism market, which some locals cannot afford. So that is where we come in, quality food at reasonable pricing.
TR: What makes Corner House Victoria Falls a unique place to dine in?
MN: What makes our place unique is the location, the setup, and mostly our mouth-watering meals.
TR: You usually host what you call “Friends of the Corner Chillas.” Can you tell us more about that exclusive monthly event?
MN: Friends of the Corner is about us socializing with our customers, getting to meet new faces, sharing ideas, and mostly chilling with the clients and hearing from them what needs to be upgraded and how best we can do it.
TR: Some of the delicious meals in your restaurant are the pizza and burgers. What makes the chicken tikka pizza unique?
MN: We are well known for our pizzas and burgers. I love being creative, and I have done that with our menu, which is why it is unique. The chicken tikka pizza is full of flavor because of the different Indian spices it has.
TR: Apart from these special dishes, what inspired you to create school lunch packs, and how has your community been supportive of that project?
MN: I created school lunch packs because I wanted to take the burden off our mothers and sisters who work day and night and still have to wake up early to prepare the kids for school. I have been fortunate enough to have a supportive community.
TR: Why did you prefer to use wood pallets as chairs and tables?
MN: I have always been a fan of DIY, so using wooden pallets was the most satisfying thing I’ve ever done. From cutting them and assembling them into chairs and tables, it was amazing.
TR: What words do you have for those who have supported you from day one?
MN: Thank you so much for your support. I really appreciate it, and may God bless you all. I really want to uplift my community.
