Rate Naija: Café Vanessa

CAFÉ VANESSA, Italian Restaurant
89B, Agoro Odiyan Street), Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
+234(0)806-123-0003

I was car-hunting when my eyes fell on the landscape that is Café Vanessa. I knew right off the bat it was a new spot and promised I would take the time to check it out sooner than later. The perfect opportunity came around during some random public holiday this month (side note – holidays shoved midweek are the worst. They feel like sick days most of the time and it’s a pain getting back to work right after).

Anyway, I made lunch plans with E to check it out. Right from the second we walked through the door, the service was effusive, in fact, almost overwhelmingly so. First, we had a mini tour of the place. Turns out the restaurant is the front of a club called Auto Lounge (which I’d heard about but never been to) and they had only been open for a month.

The décor and set-up reminded me of Bistro Lounge – not a lot of space but they did miracles with they had. One half is a more casual setting with comfy chairs, magazines to peruse, and cozy cubby spaces by the windows. The other half is the more formal restaurant with the usual settings. A door then leads into the actual club which is quite large and would be the ideal space for a surprise party or something of the sort (not that I’m not secretly hinting my loved ones…not really).

Rate Naija: Bistro 7

BISTRO 7, Intercontinental Restaurant
273B, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos
+234 1-877-6622, +234 807-668-7777

The best thing about Bistro 7, of course, is the décor and ambiance. If you squint and peer with one eye, you can almost imagine you’re nowhere near the jungle that is Lagos city but I imagine that would be rather uncomfortable doing do for an entire meal so, yeah, never mind.

This restaurant is rather hard to find. I’ve been a number of times and keep almost missing it each time but here’s a tip – keep your eyes peeled for the low, white gate with a big gold number ‘7’ plastered on it.

Now I’ll be honest and say I haven’t done much experimenting with the menu they’ve got to offer. Speaking of menu, the variety of options is adequate and by that, I mean they don’t give you one of those huge booklets that have you feeling like you’re about to swot hard for an exam from hell (*mutters ‘Café Royal’ under breath*).

Rate Naija: Hot Chocolate, Milkshakes & Icecream

Having had THE BEST HOT CHOCOLATE LIKE EVUHHHH in THE BEST GADDEM CITY IN THE WORLD (Rome, Italy) 2 summers ago, I had since despaired of ever tasting anything of the like again.

And then…now, don’t get excited, I didn’t exactly find a replacement but I sure as heck had me the best hot chocolate ever in Nigeria at *drumroll* the self-service mini-Café Royal at the top of the Palms in Victoria Island Extension.

My girl had called me up a couple Sundays ago to hang out and have a quick drink. It was the perfect weather – cool with a light drizzle after a thunderstorm much earlier that morning. We decided on the café and went in with zero expectations.

Rate Naija: Terra Kulture

TERRA KULTURE, Arts Venue, African/Intercontinental Restaurant
Plot 1376, Tiamiyu Savage, Victoria Island, Lagos
+234-1-2700588

I love Terra Kulture. No, let me correct that, I LOVE Terra Kulture. I think they have managed to strike a fine and awesome balance between being this artsy, alternative joint while retaining some modernity. It is a very appealing place, honestly.

I have been here quite a couple of times and I’ve never walked away with a complaint. That “feeling” I keep talking about? I get it here at Terra Kulture every single time. Whether it’s their grilled prawns, grilled mixed platter, grilled catfish, fried plantain (don’t ever go to Terra Kulture and leave without ordering a side of their plantain!!!!), chicken pepper soup, fried yam chips, egg and corned beef stew….Lawd Haysus, it’s all GREAT food and relatively healthy fare too! I should know, I’ve had all of the dishes listed and more.