 |
| Shutterstock |
With over 20 million people in the metro area, it’s no surprise
that Lagos packs a punch in terms of fantastic cuisine. The city also
has a large amount of expats, and they have brought their food with them
from places like England, France, India and Lebanon to mix with the
already delicious Nigerian fare. Here are our picks for the best
restaurants in Lagos, Nigeria.
Villa Medici
Courtesy of tastenigeria.com
From outside, Villa Medici
could be a residential property apart from the small porch with inlaid
mosaic and discrete signage. Those who do spot it are rewarded with a
bamboo screen garden fringed by palms. Bamboo seating lie scattered
around a centerpiece water feature. Inside the main bar runs the full
length of one wall and it’s well stocked with premium spirits. The
cuisine sets a high standard with starters like Duck Roulade and
Carpaccio alongside prawns in a variety of guises. For seafood lovers
there is a choice of snapper, sole, sea bass, and yet more prawns whilst
carnivores can pick from chicken, steak or lamb cutlets or shank. All
dishes are cooked in a European style and served with panache equal to
the surroundings. The eagle-eyed Lebanese manager runs a tight ship and
there is a keen eye for detail occasionally missing from other
establishments.
La Scala
Courtesy of www.dasiko.com
Getting to La Scala
is worth the effort, for those who do venture here will be rewarded
with some of the best French food the city has to offer. From the crabe
diable (fresh flaked crab and chili served hot in the shell) to classics
like tournedos rossini, the food is classically, deliciously French. It
is expensive; however it’s no worse than many of the hotel restaurants
that serve as its main competition. The restaurant is a single-storey
brick summerhouse overlooking a well-tended patio area. It is kept well
shaded by a variety of potted plants and a magnificent creeper strewn
indigenous tree. It is definitely one of the greener spots on Lagos
Island. The interior is neither the most stylish nor the most refined in
Lagos but that is partly as a result of having been open for longer
than most of its competition. However, the food is why most people go
here, and it speaks for itself.
Yellow Chilli
Courtesy of Igori925 / TripAdvisor
For those looking for the best Nigerian cuisine has to offer, Yellow Chilli
has a pretty strong claim to the title. It has been here for over a
decade and through that time developed a reputation for great quality
Nigerian food amongst expat and locals alike. Most of the dishes are
stews and come with a variety of accompanying starches (pounded yams,
semovita etc.) This is true Nigerian food and not all dishes may appeal
to the western palate (offal, snails etc.) but the chicken beef and
prawn dishes are spectacular. Downstairs is a non-smoking section whilst
upstairs is smoking with both areas seating 20-30 people in comfort.
Decor is tastefully African with dark carved wooden doors, Ostrich egg
lamps and Benin brass. For those wary of venturing too far into Nigerian
cuisine there are also a range of milder alternatives such as breaded
prawns.
The Sherlaton
Courtesy of Diva_fatale / TripAdvisor
The Sherlaton
is something of an institution amongst the expats of Vic Island. It has
been here for 30 years and holds claim to being the first Indian
restaurant in Lagos. It’s tucked away behind the Cumberland Hotel on a
site that also comprises a small supermarket and the ‘Nirvana Lounge’
discotheque. It’s popular with expats, mainly due to huge portions and
extremely good value. It’s not just the prices though; Indian staples
like jhalfrezi, kadai, vindaloo and their signature dish, Raan E
Sherlaton (a leg of lamb loaded with spices) are all excellent. As the
waiters rush through the double doors to the kitchen flames lick from
the tandoori ovens and a succession of exotic aromas and spices waft
there way over the diners. Decor is simple and austere; the only
decoration is a large flat screen TV on one wall and the piped music
soundtrack isn’t winning any awards. It’s really not about the
decoration or the soundtrack though, as it’s always busy. Expect a
roughly equal split between Indian, expat and Nigerian diners, all
taking advantage of the 24 hr opening times.
Piccolo Mondo
As part of the Blowfish hospitality group, Piccolo Mondo
is owned by the same proprietors who own several other restaurants in
the area, but this venue is probably the most popular. The restaurant
bills itself as Italian, but like many other restaurants around the
region, it actually serves a wide variety of dishes, most likely in an
attempt to lure as much business as possible. With that said, dishes
here are reasonably well reviewed, with selections ranging from
bolognese beef to smoked salmon & mascarpone. Patrons coming here
definitely get exclusivity and atmosphere. The dining room at Piccolo
Mondo is dark and flashy, with blue neon lights under the bar and
surreptitiously placed around the room. The bar is long and outfitted
with leather seats and a disco ball overhead and the back corner of the
venue has a room decked out solely in white leather couches and designer
chairs. The restaurants is refreshingly easy to find on Idejo Street in
the heart of Victoria Island. Just keep an eye out for a pink
restaurant with a grass awning and a Japanese restaurant on top of it.
Spice Bar
Courtesy of shroffnig / TripAdvisor
Arguably one of the best Indian restaurants in Lagos, Spice Bar
is so popular that it had to have a large expansion in 2013. Spice Bar
serves a combination of north Indian and Chinese cuisine in an open
space with dark, hardwood floors and fine wooden tables. There is also a
full length bar with white leather chairs and a few rooms for private
events. The entire scene is overlooked by an 8m tall Buddha that
peacefully rests over the room.There is a deep variety of north Indian
dishes from murgh masala to tandoori on the menu, and an equally
impressive array of Chinese meals available as well. Guests will also
find an excellent range of beer and spirits, though the wine list is
fairly narrow. There is a reason this restaurant is raved about so much,
and that’s because of the excellent cuisine.
No comments:
Post a Comment