Don't Order The Crab At Oriental Garden
Oriental Garden @ Lagos Oriental Hotel
3, Lekki-Epe Express Way, Lekki, Lagos
NOSA: Oriental Garden doesn't have the most extensive dim sum selection, but they have dim sum, which is better than no dim sum at all.
FOLLY: As we were leaving I saw a sign that said they had dim sum on Sundays from 11am to 5pm. I asked, and was told the dim sum menu on Sundays was in fact different. I'd like to come back for that but Nosa might not be too keen after the crab incident. Ps. He wrote the title on this post.
NOSA: We went with the Steamed Shrimp Dumpling, Steamed Shu Mai, Pan Fried Chicken Dumpling, and tossed in a Vegetable Spring Roll at the end.
Pan Fried Chicken Dumplings
NOSA: You know how you get meat pie with barely any meat but a lot of everything else? That's exactly what these dumplings were like. Should've been called a vegetarian dumpling.
FOLLY: I thought these were going to be the only dumplings from those we ordered that I'd like because I've always preferred pan fried dumplings. This is because I'm not a fan of how WHITE the steamed ones always look. I was proven wrong, however, and this was the most meh of the lot.
The steamed shrimp dumplings below were so delicious. I didn't even mind the whiteness of "the bag" - I don't know the technical name. It was just a yummy bag of shrimp-y deliciousness.
STEAMED SHRIMP DUMPLINGS
NOSA: I LOVED the shrimp ones. These were so delightful.
Steamed Shu Mai
NOSA: The Shu Mai was my other favorite. Don't think I've met a Shu Mai that I didn't like, so you might want to take my opinion with a pinch of salt.
FOLLY: Nosa always orders Shu Mai. I never object but in my head I'm always like "That weird bumpy thing again abi? Let's see if I finally like it this time".
Guess what? I FINALLY liked it.
Vegetable Spring Roll
NOSA: Unlike Folly, I wasn't a fan of the spring roll. Thought it was a bit on the average side.
FOLLY: Nah, these spring rolls are solid. Crispy on the outside, okay maybe a little too crispy, but the inside is packed with those stringy vegetables and is just so delicious.
NOSA: For our main, we got the Crab in Ginger & Spring Onions and the Fried Noodles with Beef.
Now, the main reason we got the crab was because the waiter told us it would be de-shelled. I wasn't really trying to stress myself eating the crab.
FOLLY: I mean, and I was just trying to order something adventurous.
NOSA: As you can see, that's a lot of shell on there. Our waiter told us all the lies.
FOLLY: Obviously the waiter "changed mouth" at the end and said that's not what he said. I did appreciate he admitting that maybe he didn't hear the question well.
NOSA: I really feel like I wasted money on the crab. Sure, it was cheap but I really don't think I ate N3,800 in crab. Maybe crab isn't for me.
FOLLY: At some point, Nosa was convinced he was eating crab juice and not crab meat cause he wasn't finding that much flesh.
On how it tasted? The crab came in a curry sauce which wasn't bad at all. The parts of the crab that we got were the white meat part which is apparently really good for you (low fat high protein).
NOSA: The noodles were way too salty and bland. Unfortunately, this was the only thing I really ate.
FOLLY: Thumbs down.
POSTSCRIPT
NOSA: This wasn't going so bad until the main came. Part of me feels like this is an inconclusive review because I really didn't eat that crab.
FOLLY: I don't think the crab detracted from the review as much as Nosa makes it seem - he didn't just want to do that much work to eat food that he was paying for. It definitely would have been better it it was de-shelled as we were expecting.
VERDICT
DAMAGE
Shu Mai - N1200
Crab in ginger & spring onions - N3800
Vegetable spring roll (1pc) - N500
Steamed shrimp dumpling - N1200
Fried noodles with beef - N3100
Fried chicken dumplings - N1100
PARKING
It's in a hotel so there's parking. If they are hosting an event, however, don't try it.