I spend a ridiculous percent of my salary on food. It’s not like I haven’t tried to cut down. I just don’t want to. And brothers and sisters I’m a firm believer in this life na one. Instead of just adding inches to my waistline, and leaving my bank account in tears, I thought I’d try something new with my love affair with food.
Every month I’ll share the best food I’ve had, so you guys don’t end up wasting money in places that think poundo yam can pass for pounded yam.
Sometimes it’ll be just Lagos, where I live. If I’m on the road, then you know I’m going to link you up with the best Abacha in let’s say Enugu. But for the months of January and February here are the best things I ate.
Not your average jollof spaghetti.
I’ve had a friend describe Spaghetti Bolognese as Jollof spaghetti garnished with corned beef. I guess that’s the most Nigerian way to describe it. Spaghetti Bolognese is one of my favourite foods and I think it’s very hard to mess it up spaghetti but some Nigerian restaurants will try their hardest to prove you wrong.
The Bolognese at Maison Kayser, however, checks all the right boxes. I’m also very partial to Italian food, so their whole menu has me excited. They also may or may not be making this list because they give a pretty packed complimentary bread basket. And the only thing I like more than food is awoof.
Location: 864 Bishop Ayoade Cole Street, Victoria Island
You should try: The Bolognese of cause and don’t waste that bread basket. They also make a pretty mean lasagna on some days.
Pizza that’s not bread and stew.
If I were an evangelist my gospel would be that Pizza-Riah makes the best pizza in town. I’ll get a bell and walk the streets of Lagos preaching it so that you’ll people will stop suffering at the hands of pizza franchises in Lagos. Their pizza is pretty much within the same price range as any other place so if you find yourself in V.I. craving pizza don’t let me hear you went anywhere else.
Location : 13 Musa Yar’Adua Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
You should try: Marinara pizza if you are a seafood lover, Suya if you are not.
Yam pounded with love from Iya Sulaiman.
Iya Sulaiman is my discovery of the month. Even though I’m super late to the party and still holding a grudge with my coworkers who didn’t point me in her direction sooner. She makes proper pounded yam, not the one from a pack that some criminal establishments try to pass off as pounded yam. She also makes pretty good Amala. I’d say it’s better than Olaiyas but I’d pick Abula from Nok over it.
Location: Ilupeju
You should try: The pounded yam with her Eforiro. Throw in a ton of shaki in there. She makes the type that won’t fight you back when you are eating it.
Icecream flavored suya or suya flavored ice cream?
Icecream and suya were words I never thought would (or should) go together. But Cactus took a risk and tried it. While it’s not replacing any of my favourite flavours any time soon, I think it’s totally worth trying. I mean someone combined suya and ice cream and it didn’t result in a total disaster.
Location: 20, 24 Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Victoria Island, Lagos.
You should try: Asides the suya ice cream, their cheesecake is something you didn’t realize you need in your life until now.
The Amala that went to Harvard.
I already talked about the Amala from Nok here. And it’s become almost habitual to stop at Nol every now and then for their Amala. Even though I live in Surulere and they are in V.I. It’s that good.
It feels wrong to talk about Nok without talking about the goat sliders from their Nok garden menu. If money should reach after buying the Amala, you should totally go for them to
Location: 12a Akin Olugbade Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
You should try: The Abula, and their ‘Eko Traffic’ cocktail.
Chocolate Bliss.
Pure Bliss finally levelled up and started making the chocolate version of their popular wafers. Even though finding it has been harder than finding Ambode (seriously where’s uncle ambo) on this Lagos streets I finally got my hands on it and it’s simply blissful
Even more spaghetti.
The Spaghetti Marinara at Traffic Bar is a little cost at 9500 but it’s the kind of thing you buy just after they’ve paid you salary and you’ve settled all your gbese. It’s also a pretty large serving so last last you can split it with a friend. It’s also spicy enough to appeal to your Nigerian side which is what most people complain about in Lagos.
Location: 1 Polo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
You should try: The Marinara definitely but stay away from their margaritas. If you can handle pepper their gas meat is also pretty good.
Aganyin as the Lord indented it to be.
I already talked about Aganyin Palace here. But here’s a friendly reminder that they do Aganyin very right. I’m pretty sure any UNILAG person can testify to this.
Location: Jaja shopping complex, University of Lagos, Lagos.
You would try: Dodo with your Aganyin and bread. See that’s the quickest way to use enjoyment to kill yourself.
