Please who isn't bored of chinese food in Lagos? I know I am. It's always the same Singapore Noodles and mixed Fried Rice with some Fish, Pork or Chicken!!! So the other day when my sister Temmy and I decided to have lunch, I was in the mood for food from somewhere else in the Orients. I was thinking Thai or Korean so we decided to check out Oriental Hotel.
This "Orient" consists of only China and Japan; it was such a let down! And with no visible sign to let you know which restaurant is Chinese or Japanese Temmy and I just entered the one to our right coming out of the elevator. Unfortunately it turned out to be the chinese restaurant. I know many of you are probably thinking why didn't you just stand up and go to the japanese restaurant opposite? Well, because Temmy and I happened to bump into an old friend who offered to cover our bill so leaving was the last thing on our minds. In fact, we were ready to eat more than ever!!
![]() | | Setting |
| ![]() | | Setting |
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Down to the real gist! I would have given this restaurant five stars if my review was based purely on service, beauty and comfort. In fact I received the best service I have ever received anywhere else in Lagos! Every waiter smiled politely and was eager to serve and do his job. The seats are comfortable, the restaurant was well air conditioned and beautifully decorated. But given the fact that this is a restaurant and I was there primarily for the FOOD, this restaurant gets two and a half stars.
The food was just not good enough. I'm looking for an euphemistic way to put it but hmm hmm, it just tasted unhealthy and oily with too much sugar and little or no expertise in its preparation. In my opinion the food didn't taste good. One would expect better with two spring rolls selling at one thousand five hundred naira and main dishes going at four thousand five hundred and higher each. Nevertheless the food was garnished properly and served by very competent waiters.
![]() | | Spring rolls |
| ![]() | | Cross-section of food |
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![]() | | Combo fried rice |
| ![]() | | More food! |
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We got complimentary desserts (nice sponge cake and a bowl of fruits) which tasted great and I loved!!
![]() | | Complimentary dessert: fruits and sponge cake |
| ![]() | | Complimentary dessert: fruits and sponge cake |
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In general it was a good experience. The scenery, the location and the service were really good! In fact just to show you how good the waiter was, he received one thousand naira tip (and for a lowly student like me that's good money that could have been spent on waxing my eyebrows and paying the Lekki toll to and fro!) Only the food "been-get-comma" (aka wasn't up to par). But honestly the service and company of Temmy made up for it!
PS - I hope they really work on their food or change to another cuisine completely because this restaurant has the potential to be a solid five star.
