The Archipelago is on the seafront and the restaurant is reached by a very steep stone staircase (definitely not suitable for people with mobility problems). The large 'open' dining area has great views of the seafront and in the evening the sea breezes are most refreshing. The staff are friendly and the dining experience is unpretentious.
We ordered Zanzibari dishes and this took a very long time to arrive at the table. My beef and plantain dish was almost inedible. The plantains were undercooked and the beef was very tough. The plate was swimming in a very watery sauce. My partner's fish curry in coconut with rice was bland and unappetising. The two dishes cost 10 pounds. Only soft drinks available.
The restaurant is very popular and most diners had ordered beef burghers. Perhaps we made the wrong choice.... However, the views and the ambiance is truly to be appreciated.

visited Archipelago twice during our 9 day visit in Zanzibar.
Very good and professional service, great views to the ocean, decent food and honest prices.
The Swahili chicken with fried plantains was a very tasty and generous dish.

Busy restaurant with quick service. Tables by the open bay windows are quickly snapped up but nab one if you can!
Menu was a bit boring and limited and my partner suffered a dodgy tummy after eating the fish so although we are not pointing any fingers we are left unimpressed. Very popular with westerners and prices are reasonable although not competitive.

We have visited this restaurant twice in the last two weeks and both times, the service was very slow and inaccurate. the food so so...or hamsiini hamsini and the cost quite high for value received. The ambience being close to the beach and on the top floor of a building does not make up for the lack of service and good food.....sorry, but there are a lot of other place in the local area that provide better allround return on the investment.