The Other Hotel In Ikoyi
The George
30 Lugard Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos
NOSA: It's a bit weird that I've only been to The George once prior to this visit. My mother's old apartment was a walking distance and I'd never once considered it as a place to go eat. Oh wait, I know why. It's goddamn expensive and the only time I went there, lunch was on the client I was working for at the time.
FOLLY: This was my first time at The George and also my first time ever actually laying eyes on it. I knew it existed but it bewildered me cause I felt there was literally a hotel in Ikoyi hiding in plain sight as I'd heard about it but had never actually seen the structure.
NOSA: For such a "big" hotel, it's weird how there's basically only one restaurant in it. There are multiple "dining areas", but the same menu runs everywhere.
FOLLY: One restaurant with no name.
I was so certain there was another restaurant that I left Nosa at the bar and went to the front desk to ask because I had seen it on their website. She clarified that what I had seen wasn't actually a second restaurant but was their private dining room. So, I scoffed and went back to find Nosa.
NOSA: To start, we got the Fried Calamari, which came with the weirdest tasting tartar sauce. I still don't believe that thing was tartar sauce but the waiter insisted it was.
FOLLY: I'm 95% sure it wasn't tartar sauce. Tartar sauce is white/cream, this mystery substance was dark gray like tar. I'm also 95% sure that was some sort of paté.
NOSA: It had the strangest aftertaste and I couldn't stop myself from dipping in it. It's like when you know something is bad for you but you still do it and you can't explain why. This must be what it feels like when the devil uses you.
FOLLY: Yup, Nosa let the devil use him cause he kept eating that thing. I insisted on being pedestrian and asked for mayonnaise. Do you know it is considered bad etiquette to ask for ketchup at the dinner table if it's not served with the meal?
NOSA: The calamari itself wasn't very good either. I'll leave it at that. Maybe Folly can be more descriptive.
FOLLY: The batter itself was light but the calamari was a very dark color which would suggest one of two things. Either it was burnt or the oil was dirty. It wasn't burnt.
NOSA: For my main, I ordered the rib eye. A very large rib eye, at that. And just like that time at The Wheatbaker, large =/= good. The quality of meat was really disappointing for an establishment of this stature. But hey, they gave me a big slab of meat so I should be grateful.
FOLLY: I had the pork ribs. Unlike, that time at the Wheatbaker I didn't get the entire rack like Nosa did. However, just like that time at the Wheatbaker the ribs weren't very tender and at that price point I expect that you should take the time to cook it properly.
NOSA: The rib eye was very tender and really chewy, but there wasn't a lot of flavor to it. It leaves you a little let down when you're done.
FOLLY: You know what it reminded me of? Slow cooked meat. The menu said it was flame grilled though and it tasted flame grilled, but the texture was that of slow cooked beef. You know what? They could have slow cooked it and then finished it off on the grill.
NOSA: The mash was fantastic, however. Almost flew under the radar during our dinner. At the end of it, Folly looked at me and went, "that mash was really good, you know?".
FOLLY: Look at how pillowy it looks, almost looks like foam and clouds right?
POSTSCRIPT
NOSA: Overall, The George is passable. For how much you spend, you can get a lot better elsewhere.
FOLLY: Terrible value for money and I had heard they had good cocktails but I was thoroughly disappointed with my Caipirinha.
NOSA: It's perfect if you haven't got a shred of imagination when it comes to dinner date locations.
FOLLY: Exactly, many a Lagos babe would be washed by dinner at The George, even more so than at Eko Hotel.
VERDICT
DAMAGE
Rib-eye - N9000
Pork Ribs - N8400
Caipirinha - N3500
Crispy Calamari - N4800
PARKING
Yup, it's a hotel.