If there are two things Lagosians like, its enjoyment and food.
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This is why it’s no surprise that restaurants spring up in the heartbeat city of Nigeria almost every day.
But if there’s something else, Lagos restaurants are known for its their poor service, sub-par food, high prices, and just generally unsatisfactory experiences.
However, there are smart ways to navigate these. Here’s Guardian Life’s guide to restaurant dining in the metropolitan city of Lagos; tried and tested too!
- Look Up Your Restaurants
If your first instinct whenever you come across a restaurant is not to immediately look them up, it’s time you start now.
A quick Google search of any restaurant will tell you almost everything you need to know about them. Whether it is their menu, service or ambience, you’d even find pictures of said restaurant online.
Our tip to filtering through searches is to read reviews from both small scale and large scale food blogs to ensure you get the feel of what it’s like to dine at a place with a budget and a most likely sponsored post.
Either way, you’ll probably be able to make a list of pros and cons from other people’s experience at said restaurant.
- Make A Price Estimate
Until you’ve been charged 50k for a disappointing meal in Lagos, you probably wouldn’t realise how overpriced many restaurants in Lagos are.
So our favourite thing to do before dining out is to look at those menus to create an estimate of what it’ll cost to eat there.
If you have a loose budget, then going all out might work for you. But if you don’t take some time out to decide on food options and what they’ll probably cost you, that way you’re surely getting the most out of your experience.
- Look At Their Specialties
Let’s be frank; ordering a continental meal from a restaurant whose speciality is Nigerian food might leave you sobbing.
It’s typically best to always order in line with the speciality.
So save Chinese for oriental or fusion restaurants and Nigerian food to Nigerian themed restaurants.
This way, you wouldn’t have to complain about your pasta being too cheesy or food not being spicy enough.
If you prefer to choose based on appearances, tap into their social media. Many restaurants upload/repost photos of their meals on there, and that should save you some time.
- Make Reservations And Be Clear About Your Food Requests
One new trend among Lagos restaurants is that they only take reservations. While this is an impressive way to prevent overcrowding, especially during covid times, the truth is Lagosians still aren’t used to it.
So if you have to make reservations and even if you don’t need to, it’s still helpful to make reservations. A small secret no one knows, you’re treated way better when you actually make reservations.
Oh! and when ordering, be sure to make your dietary specifics known. Make sure to repeat to your waiter any allergies you might have, how you like your food prepared, and what spices you prefer.
A closed mouth never helps.
Finally, be on the lookout for red flags. Uncleared tables, loud music, uncouth waiters are just a few turnoffs. If the staff’s rude to you from the door, walk right out. Chances are they’ll probably mess up your order, serve you terrible food or just ruin your experience in general.
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