Eating in Nkhata Bay is mostly a lodge affair — most guesthouses serve good fresh meals, with grilled lake fish, vegetable curries, and the inevitable nsima with relish. The menus rarely vary, but the food is reliably honest. A few independent restaurants and bars in town add some variety. Order an hour or two ahead for fish dishes if you are anywhere off the main road; the cooking is done over charcoal and takes time.