I love Nigerian food and have tried many restaurants, so I know what I like and what I don't. When…read moreI heard about a new Nigerian restaurant in East Lansing, I was excited to give it a try.
When I arrived, I was the only customer. I was greeted with a simple "hello," which gave me a good first impression. The restaurant itself looks very new, with a decent amount of seating, including some lounge seating tucked away in a small hallway. There was a large TV on wheels displaying a slideshow of the menu, which was a bit unconventional but not necessarily a bad thing.
At the register, I started asking the cashier a few questions to understand the menu better. The layout was different from other Nigerian restaurants I've been to, and I wasn't seeing the exact dishes I usually order. However, instead of being helpful, the cashier responded with a snarky attitude, making it feel like my questions were an inconvenience.
He then suggested the Spartan Bowl, listing the ingredients, and I thought it sounded good. He mentioned needing to check if they had the drumsticks for it, then walked away. I stood there waiting for a while before assuming he had gone to prepare my order, so I sat down. About 10-15 minutes later, he returned with a box in his hand. Without a word, he rang up my order, I paid, he bagged my food, and he simply walked away. No "thank you," no "enjoy your meal," no effort to make me feel welcome--just silence.
When I looked at my meal, it didn't look appetizing, but I kept an open mind. Unfortunately, the taste confirmed my concerns. The plantain was overcooked and burnt, the sauce on the chicken was unpleasant, and the chicken itself was tiny and unappealing. The only redeeming part of the meal was the jollof rice, which was just decent.
I won't be returning. The poor customer service and disappointing food made for an overall bad experience. I hope they improve both their hospitality and their food quality because first impressions matter. If you're curious, I'd say try it for yourself--but as of now, I can't personally recommend it.