Dining During CoVid-19: Lunch at Craft Gourmet (Victoria Island, Lagos)
Craft Gourmet by Lou Baker
Mega Plaza, Idowu Martins Street, Victoria Island, Lagos | 0703 265 2069
A week ago today, restaurants in Lagos were open for dine-in as long as a few conditions were met. The conditions were that the restaurants were only allowed 50% capacity and an inspection from the Lagos State Safety Commission (“LSSC”) to get certification that they could open once again. We went into details on the modalities of restaurants opening here.
To get you news from the front lines, we (a friend and I) risked life and limb, to have lunch at Craft Gourmet.
Craft Gourmet is run by a couple – Tarek and Lou Baker and the spot is pretty easy to find as it is located at the top floor of Mega Plaza, smack dab in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Dining in the ‘new normal’ was a whole new experience and once again, drove home the fact that because of COVID-19, our reality has shifted drastically. At the door, there was a notice that read:
“No Face Mask, No Entry”
We were met by a waiter wearing a mask, armed with a temperature reader. He took our temperature and spritzed our hands with sanitiser, after which he proceeded to lead us to our table.
The restaurant was sparse, with just about four patrons in widely spaced tables. The menu was a barcode mounted in a plastic plaque, which was placed on the table. I found this brilliant because it means minimal contact.
However, the page wasn’t loading due to poor network, so we were given an iPad where we could view the menu. We ordered drinks; I had the Signature drink which was made with Apple, Pineapple, Ginger and Mint. My friend had the Ginger, Pineapple and Hibiscus drink. Though I didn’t really taste the Apple, the Pineapple and Ginger made for a refreshing flavour which I enjoyed.
The drinks were ₦2500 each.
Our waiter, who was the one that greeted us at the door and took our temperature, was called Lucky and he was very kind and efficient. Our orders were taken quickly and the drinks arrived almost immediately. We also ordered Spicy Chicken Pasta and a Chicken Pepper Pizza. The Pasta came with either a choice of Penne or Spaghetti, I chose Spaghetti. The pasta dish was ₦6,500; while the Pizza was ₦5,000.
While we were waiting for our food, I had a quick chat with the Manager about the inspection process and how quickly they got certified by the LSSC to open again. He confirmed that they did cut down to 50% capacity by taking our chairs and tables and spacing out the rest. He also said that the LSSC came to inspect and the restaurant was certified for opening 2 days after the inspection.
Our food arrived quickly, and the waiter who served us was wearing a face shield and a mask. Service was efficient and really satisfying.
I enjoyed the pasta a LOT. The Spaghetti was the perfect texture and was well-spiced. The Chicken, cut into equal bite-sized chunks was soft and you could tell it had been marinated properly. No such thing as bland chicken here. The Pasta dish was my favourite: it was herby, with just the right amount of spice.
The Pizza, I did not like quite as much. The cheese was not a favourite. It was a thin crust Pizza and I might have enjoyed it more if a different type of cheese had been used. The Chicken was bland and a little dry but the veggies elevated it a bit.
We were so full from the Pasta that we had just one slice each of the Pizza at Craft Gourmet and asked that the rest be packed to be taken away. The Pizza tasted better when it was cold, lol.
Service was really great at Craft Gourmet. The manager, Lucky and the waiter who served our food all came out at different intervals to find out if we enjoyed our meal.
Score: 8/10
Craft Gourmet Summary
 | Ambience | It was peaceful and sparse, with social distancing between tables and customers. |
 | Food Quality | The food was great. Absolutely delightful. |
 | Location | Easy to find, although parking is sparse at Mega Plaza. |
 | Price | Signature Drink- ₦2,500 Ginger, Pineapple, Hibiscus drink- ₦2500 Spicy Chicken Pasta – ₦6,500 | Chicken & Pepper Pizza – ₦5,000 Total Damage was ₦18,562 (VAT 7.5% and Lagos Consumption Tax 5% included) View Restaurant Menus here |
 | Service Delivery | Service was fantastic. Friendly staff, quick and efficient delivery. |
Ed Note: I’ve always had a good experience at Craft Gourmet and is easily one of the places in Lagos I like dining at to be sure there won’t be stories that touch and always assured of a good service
