Hello foodies of Lagos, welcome to another edition of Culinary Delights’. I hope you are all doing well and staying safe.
I know many of you expected me to be back dining out as soon as the lockdown was eased on August 14th when many restaurants opened at 50 % capacity. Contrary to popular belief, I was actually at home and was unsure about how I felt about going back out and eating in restaurants. I was certain that if and when I ventured out, it would have to be to a small place, whereby I was sure of the safety measures that had been put in place to keep customers safe, which is why Cafeteria was my official first dining out experience since the lockdown. One of the reasons why Cafeteria was a safe choice for me is because, over the time period that they have been opened, I have subconsciously formed a sense of trust in relation to the restaurant. I believe that in this COVID-19 era, the trust that consumers associate with a restaurant will likely guide where people choose to spend their time.
Located on 16 Akin Adesola in the budding neighborhood of Victoria Island Lagos is Cafeteria a cafe/diner that opened its doors late last year and quickly became one of the ‘it’ spots in the area. Cafeteria has a chic, minimalist design, furnished with peek the burnt orange seats; lightbulb word art; and a see-through kitchen reminiscent of a diner somewhere in New York that for a second you might almost forget that you are in Lagos.
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I remember the buzz when Cafeteria opened, Lagosian’s were excited that a fresh new cafe/brunch spot was had opened its doors and this provided a much-needed alternative for brunch, lunch, and dinner options around town, Cafeteria also quickly became one of the most ‘Instagrammable’ restaurants in Lagos. Apart from the fact that the food on the menu is very tasty and creatively put together, one of the reasons customers keep coming back to Cafeteria is because of their impeccable customer service. The owners and staff of this restaurant quite literally put their heart and soul into ensuring their customers have a good experience and this is what differentiates Cafeteria from other places.
During the lockdown, I ordered from the Cafeteria menu for delivery on several occasions, and I realized that the lockdown exposed the restaurants and eateries that provided value for their customers beyond just the restaurant space or ambiance. Ordering from cafeteria during the lockdown definitely made my days brighter. I decided to go on a random weekday, on my way home from work to avoid any potential crowds, and luckily the place already has limited seating capacity so I felt safe going there with the 50% dine-in regulations.
As I walked in, my temperature was checked and I was given hand sanitizer. All the staff were wearing nose masks and the spot was squeaky clean. I have to say that this put me at ease. I saw that they had added a few new items to the menu and because I have tried most things on the menu, I opted for the cheesesteak melt with fries and I also ordered the fresh berries and golden pancakes. The steak melt was just right and the flavors of the cheese and steak pieces were a delightful experience up to the last bite. Cafeteria seems to have perfected the art of creating perfect sandwiches and toasties and overall breakfast type food. The pancakes were soft, berries were fresh and the syrup on the pancakes was just right, not too sweet. I really enjoyed my food and was clearly very hungry this day
Like most restaurants Cafeteria was closed for dine-in and only open for delivery and this took a toll on their revenues, but one thing is for sure the owners of this space have a positive outlook and attitude and are grateful to all the customers that still patronized them despite the lockdown and are looking forward to welcoming customers into the space in a safe and socially distanced manner. Pop in for a bite to eat or order from them. Their delivery is efficient and timely and you will absolutely love the food. Call them on +234 818 188 8993. You can also check them out on Instagram @cafeteria_ng
Total N11,800
Cheesesteak melt and fries N4500
Berry pancakes N 4500
Creamy milky matcha bubble tea N 2800
