Country Club Grub

There are just a handful of country clubs in Lagos, which boast of uber exclusivity and a strict members only policy. If you can however smuggle yourself in, or happen to be a member, then you are in luck. Ikoyi Club, offers not just a family friendly scene with an abundance of sports you can try your hands on, but also very surprisingly affordable and indulgent food.

The Food !!! 

Chicken and Chips 

I am probably a bit biased when I say the best chicken and chips in Lagos, is made at Ikoyi Club. The chips are always super crisp, never soggy and never too salty. The chicken is also very well done and fried to golden brown perfection. If you are not a fan of chicken , you can also go for the chips and sausage option.

The Club Sandwich 

As many sections as there are in the club, so there are different club sandwiches. The Swimming section's take on the club sandwich is very juicy and squishy. this four layers of moist bread is filled with ample portions of chicken, eggs, lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers.

The main Bar offers a drier version of the club sandwich, grilled chicken, dried tomatoes and lettuce without any dripping sauce.This makes this sandwich preferable to me. But to each his own, so you can try out both and pick a team.

The Suya 

Once upon a time, I used to say that Ikoyi Club suya is the best suya in the whole world. Not anymore!! At least not today!! I made my way to what used to be the suya shack where the suya connoisseurs once hygienically prepared and roasted the suya in front of customers... the suya shack was no more, it had been replaced by some enclosed green and white building with clean tiles and all that. But no, that is not the new home of the suya spot. The Suya guys have been relegated to the back of green and white building which from the look of the nasty walls, once housed a generator. Despite the "gangsta setting," I still ordered my favourite chicken suya, beef and gizzard.

The Suya honestly tasted nothing like what I am used to. Blandest suya I have ever tasted. It was almost like the suya was caught in the rain or something, and all the spice had been washed away, and they just said ' what the heck, grill it anyway." Major let-down, bleh!! The only high-point was the signature pepper, which still tasted as good as ever. (some of us lick suya pepper just for fun. Don't judge!!)

Candy Floss!!! 

There is something utterly shameless about a twenty something year old proudly strutting around with candy floss. Sooo after pretending to be on the phone with my imaginary niece and asking how many candy flosses she wanted, I hid in the playground and wolfed the sugary treat down. Sadly, there are some things in life you have to outgrow, and candy floss is one of those things. The 6 inch floss kept sticking to my hair, and the sugar rush was ridiculous. Kids high off sugar suddenly made sense.

Ambiance: Ikoyi club is undoubtedly very picturesque. However, being the very exclusive club that it is, cameras are frowned upon and picture taking is also frowned upon. All pictures were strategically captured while no one was looking.Take selfies at your own peril.

Staff: The guys over at the swimming section are really polite and friendly, the ones at the main house, not so much.

Delivery Time: Food gets delivered in record time. The only thing that takes an average of about 15 minutes is the ill-fated suya.

Portion control: So the food isn't super excessive. One serving is just enough for one person, but the food is sooo affordable, you can literally afford to get more than one portion.


A great three course meal at Ikoyi club would cost you a little under N 1500. Ridiculous!! Apparently eating at a country club isn't that pricey. However, they get a four star rating because of the suya!! ****



* Ikoyi Club is located on Club Road, Ikoyi...good luck finding that with that address!!

Hola Mexico !!!

Lagos is a cultural melting pot of not just different tribes, but also different nationalities, many of whom have been kind enough to share their local cuisine with us. In a quest for some Mexican and 'Tex-Mex' cuisine,which is reasonably rare in these parts, I discovered Bottles Restaurant.

Tucked away in a duplex in Victoria-Island, you almost drive past, because you think it's a residential premises. But the minute you walk in through the door, guarded by two 'totem' like light poles, it's like you stepped into a portal and have been teleported either to Mexico or the set of an old Mexican movie.

The Menu: with a menu twice the size of two A4 papers, filled up with Mexican specialities and Tex-Mex Cuisine, you are definitely spoilt for choice and a little overwhelmed with what to try out. What's great about the menu is that it's very precise and descriptive especially about what you are ordering so you know exactly what a dish is made of.

The Food!!!:

The Entree:

The 'awesomeness' of this place knows no bounds. The minute you sit down, you are presented with a 'COMPLIMENTARY' and very generous serving of Tortilla chips and dip. The dip is a surprisingly nice mix of raw tomatoes, red and green peppers, doused with a sprinkle of ground pepper which gives you an insight into the spicy and fiery reputation mexican food has. You can snack on this while you skim through the menu or while you wait for your food to be served.

The main Dish

Enchilada : This is a divine mix of taco beef, chicken breast, spinach and cheese rolled into a soft flour tortilla, and topped yet again with cheese. The enchilada is usually either beef or chicken, but they can mix it up so you have chicken on one end and beef on the other. The texture of the filling is delicate and near perfection. The cheese topping is a great accompliment to the spicy hot chicken and beef waiting to be uncovered underneath.

Tacos: This comes in either hard or soft shell, and it is a wrap generously filled with lettuce, tomatoes and a choice of either chicken of beef. It almost tastes like a sharwama but wayyy better. Despite the fact that the soft shell is quite delicate, it doesn't fall apart and leave you looking like a messy eater.

Most dishes are served with a side of beans(which is a staple in mexican cuisine, not to worry it's not ewa agoyin) and jollof rice, and ode perhaps to us here.

The Margarita!!!!
Sooo...I was going to order the non- alchoholic virgin magharita, but who does Mexican, the birth place of the margarita without trying a real margarita!!

And so I got the house special, frozen magharita! This is one of those dangerous drinks that taste so sweet and amazing you keep drinking until your glass is empty and you are left winking at everyone that passes by(tequila content at work!!). Highly recommended. The alcohol filled snow cone stays frozen even after half an hour of slowly sipping the icy delight.

Delivery Time : The main courses were served between 15 to 20 minutes of the order being taken, which was reasonably fair considering the fact that you get to snack on those crisp tortillas.

Portion control : One plate of whatever you order is enough for two people to share, especially since you're reasonably filled up courtesy the free entree, not to forget the cheese topped beans.

The Staff : The staff are very friendly and helpful when it comes to recommending combos you can try. They also don't do the whole 'breathing down your neck till you decided what to order' skit.

Specials:
Tuesday nights offer an all you can eat of chicken wings and beer at a very fair rate.

Wednesday and Saturday nights also involve a wicked live band, worth checking out.

Ambiance: I saved the ambiance for last, because there are so many cool details that come together to infuse the North American culture. In addition to the Sombreros decorating the bar and the multicoloured chairs, the entire space is littered with artefacts and figurines that clearly have a Mexican influence. Like the name suggests, there are bottles on each table with a candle tucked into it, giving a very rustic and homey feel to the place. It's definitely not just about the food,it's a cultural experience.

Fun outdoor sitting!

Last Words!!!  

Bottles Restaurant is a great way to experience Mexican Cuisine, with a breathtaking ambiance,  and has earned themselves a FIVE STAR rating *****, wish I could give them more stars, but hey, five's the limit!!

Bottles is at No.8, Imam Augusto Close, Olosa Street, Victoria-Island,Lagos.