No Bite-Size Pieces at Marco Polo

How've you been people? Here's another dining experience i heard recently. As published...Enjoy!

Severally, I passed through Marco Polo Restaurant on Karim Kotun Street, Victoria Island, but the first time I stepped into the building was for a business meeting. I wasn’t that impressed, because it appeared like just another of its type, well, after my experience I could not pick any special thing or feeling from it all.
Although Marco Polo is aware of the sensitive nature of the restaurant, business, catering and food service in general, I think the restaurant pays too much attention to customizing everything they own. From the uniforms, badges, menu cards, table covers, crockery and cutlery. I wonder why they all kept shouting “Marco Polo!”
Customer service is on the average at Marco Polo as the waiters are considerably on call, although it seems you have to repeat the order to the waiter, at first I thought it was the particular one that attended to us. But not until I noticed the voice from the next table repeating for the second time, “How many times do I have to say that exactly?”
On the other hand, cleanliness is a big one at Marco Polo, the environs is simply charming, a good dash of colours, the colours and designs still stay clean and beautiful on the walls. The convenience is fresh and the atmosphere is just cool, for that I felt relieved. At least it’s said that a good atmosphere encourages a good dine.
Marco Polo Chinese Restaurant offers a menu of food and beverages with a distinctive taste – which depends on how active your taste buds. The restaurant which started about seven years ago started out offering the best service, but based on regular diners at Marco Polo, it has come to be a-less- than average restaurant.
Marco Polo offers three main menus; the Main menu, the Vegetarian menu and the Chef Wung’s Special menu. Because it’s a business meeting and two, it’s my side paying the bill, I decided to take it cool, Cool like, just get the usual, so I did and saved everyone my speech of ‘what I want in it and what I don’t’. But the ’opponent’ didn’t care about who was paying or not, at least it was tagged a business dinner at 7pm.
There’s one thing though, Sushi at Marco Polo is simply irresistible, when I saw it, and I thought it was a crown of shame on us for dining there, but a first taste of the meal restored me back to life. Marco Polo offers a real alternative; the sushi is a welcome culinary addition to the other varieties on course, the fabulously fresh sushi and sashimi is made beautifully along with traditional dishes which makes the dining experience a fusionist affair, the menu is simply seasonal. The food was great as mentioned but my Chicken Tepanyaki was such a big chunky fillet, that I had to use a knife and fork to cut/eat it. I don't normally complain about there being too much food, but I always thought Japanese food should be small, bite-size pieces you can pick-up with chopsticks?
The intimate dining room is clean and crisp, with comfortable upholstered chairs and dark wood furniture squared up against a deep red wall. A striking tree sculpture, made from bamboo, spreads up the walls and across the ceiling, with lights dangling above the centre tables.


Hmm...I wasn't really impressed with this place at all. For a restaurant that openly boasts about winning lots of remarks, I expected award-winning food and service but the waiters and management seem to be out of the decent type. I really found this odd considering the wait-staff have a touch of snobbery. We ate beside the window to get a view of the beautiful street and the range of lovely cars parking in and out of the lot.


It seems all the things that made Marco Polo "Swell" are now gone? Now it is a typical sushi and tappanyaki on the Island. I don't write this to be mean or cruel the food is still good at Marco Polo but not what it once was. Maybe I will start eating somewhere else each Sunday since it seems there’ll always be a meeting at Marco Polo.


Hope you enjoyed it....

Exercise Tip of the Day
Working on your balance will help prevent muscle cramps.

Also watch this space for events, and i mean lots of events happening over this weekend.

Okay then, enjoy the hols and pray for Nigeria.

Savour Succulent Chocolate Mousee at Saipan.

Hi there, how's your week been? Mine's been very hectic but interesting too, guess your's been fantastic as well. Well, I don't know if you guys have been reading 'The Diner' in the Sunday Life Guardian magazine. This is one of the columns i run in the Sunday Guardian, the diner shares her dining experiences - the good, the bad and the very ugly. okay, so like i mentioned in my 'The Return' note that i'll be sharing few of those articles right here...therefore i will like you to read and drop your comments. You can also share your experiences too and perhaps drop names of good restaurants you've been too. I believe that will give me more ideas on where to be..yikes!


Here it is as published:

For a while now, I’ve always heard that Saipan restaurant is not just another Chinese restaurant in Nigeria, but ‘The Chinese Restaurant’ in Nigeria. Well, I cannot really testify to that yet as I am about to confirm that, right now and now as I sit expectantly for this experience. But from first stare and observation I would say truthfully that the tranquil and stylish environment here is second to none. And while my friend here believes the food and service are first class and prices are reasonable I still feel more could be added to the glamour therein.
Saipan appears as one those places that you could say is just there but has a magnetic feel that will tempt the most seasoned diner back again and again. A friend of mine once said, “If you have not been to Saipan, you have not arrived yet.” I was actually amazed by the modern and traditional Chinese décor blended nicely together, which gives the restaurant and wine bar a unique concept in fine dining.
Quite unusual of me though, I had the opportunity of going to the kitchen; the kitchen is ultra-modern and purpose-built. The chefs looked A team, experienced, talented and like they were carefully selected from top Chinese restaurants, which if so will be applaudable as the kitchen is the heart of the restaurant. The restaurant has a grand reception hall which is overwhelming even before you step into the main bar and restaurant. And while dining, I enjoyed a breathtaking view over The Lagos skyline.
The menu at Saipan is an extensive fusion between Asian dishes and authentic Chinese cuisine. And there’s also the main bar which is known to be the longest bar counter in Nigeria and can seat 20. Well, that’s another interesting one...the check continues though. Somehow, the cool background music with the combination of lighting and decor in the bar kept giving me this intoxicating and relaxing sensation. That also I like. While I diligently sipped my chilled Coke, I surveyed the bar and noticed a wide variety of wines, spirits, beers, minerals coffee (coffee, yay!) and tea. Yes, I also tried the house cocktail ‘Saipan fusion’. Comment? Simply charging.




I recognised many of the menu items, along with some unusual offerings. We (my colleague and I) played it safe, ordering pot stickers for appetizers, followed by snow peas with water chestnuts and BBQ pork chow mein. The food was brought out quickly, wasn't greasy, and tasted great.
Derived from a beautiful, unspoiled tropical paradise island situated in the pacific ocean where tourists go to relax and enjoy themselves, thus Saipan is the restaurant for people who have a taste for class and good food, says the waiter that served us. Quite impressive, Saipan prides itself on serving light-tasting and non-spicy food, and will definitely suit those with lighter palates. The Chief Chef here lets in on their secret formula: to whip up dishes with a touch of mum's cooking, to recreate the vibe of home-cooked dishes. Sincerely, I’ve not been to a restaurant of this kind, perhaps not in the real world, maybe in one of my numerous 5-star dream fantasies.
Saipan offers large menu with traditional Chinese restaurant items and a number of unusual offerings as well as authentic and attentive wait staff. The menu has a wide range of items from; noodles to dumplings to the usual western dishes. However, the restaurant and wine bar include a selection of desserts, which could be savoured and enjoyed from a succulent chocolate mousse and strawberry cheesecake to a lovely tiramisu or lemon gateau
For the main course, the Prawn menu is the signature dish at Saipan. Fresh prawns, cooked with herbal wine and the chef's secret herbs in stock, and with a really wicked concoction. The prawns were fresh and succulent; the soup was light with a hint of herbal taste. The herbs did not overpower the soup, as the sweetness of the prawns was evident in the soup too.

Saipan has friendly waiters, waitresses and hard working owner. They are clearly trying hard to be successful, the food is decent, prices fair, making this a good bet for a quick Chinese bite before a movie.

A Trip on Sushi @ Bonsai

Sushi is thought to be an acquired taste and might not be for everyone, but the chef at Bonsai restaurant in VI prepares wonderful sushi that changes minds..

Sushi is just the beginning, as the original menu at Bonsai rivals the beauty of its setting. The chef at Bonsai took the Japanese menu and put his own twist on it in a way that will bring satisfaction to any and all taste buds. I will say I am not only a novice when it comes to sushi, but it would not be my first choice when it comes to dining. In amazing fashion, the Bonsai chef changed my mind. Not only did he provide two dishes that passed the taste test, but they were so tantalizing they have made me a fan of sushi—at least at Bonsai. The softshell crab was the best I have ever tried. I would say the ginger added a nice flavor, but what really set this dish apart was the crunchy texture of the tempura; it was a delightful extra touch. The second sushi dish that grabbed my taste buds was the poppin’ spicy crab. Mosttimes I can tell if a dish is original, and well it might not be all that original; but assuredly, this one is. The secret ingredient is pop rocks. I could hear the sushi popping when it was served, and I could feel the popping as I aet it. This dish does a wonderful job of walking me through the layers of flavour. The first sensation is, of course, the popping, which started me off with a sweetness and just a hint of crunchy texture. Next I received the crab, well-blended with just a slight flavoring from cucumber and asparagus; finally, just as I was about to finish, I was given that final kick of spice that finished it off in very nice fashion: not too hot, but just a nice, subtle transition, the same as the other flavours.

Ofcourse, Bonsai does not forget someone like me who is looking for a main course dinner to satisfy my hunger. The chef has put together a few Kobe beef-based items that are all outstanding. But if I had to pick just one, the Kobe beef short ribs are a choice I can’t go wrong with. The ribs are boneless and prepared so tenderly that I wondered how they stayed together on my plate, as at the first sign of my fork they began to fall apart.

This would not be a Japanese restaurant without some sake, and when I say some sake, I mean sake like has never been seen sake before. Bonsai has a vast assortment of sake, for me, I didn't have to worry because they also offer plenty of other more reasonable and tasty sake thatkept me satisfied. Because it was sought of my first time giving sake a try, I went with sake tasting to let myself experience a variety of flavours. Of course sake is not for everyone, and there are a number of great drinks that are special to Bonsai. My favorite is the Infusion martini. Not overly sweet, this libation is mixed with kai lychee blueberry-infused vodka and a hint of citrus, a great way to start the evening.

Not that I needed an excuse other than the food to visit Bonsai, but the fact that I heard Bonsaia has a good setting is not a bad bonus. Bonsai is a lovely place for a romantic evening.

The most surprising thing about Bonsai, other than the pop rocks, is the cost. For a restaurant in Victoria Island with such a stunning view, I found it is one of the more reasonable restaurants on the strip. The other noteworthy part of Bonsai is the service: not only was the entire staff friendly and always on top of things, but my waiter, knew the menu up and down and every recommendation he made was stellar.