La Taverna Lagos — Restaurant in Lagos State

La Taverna is a hidden gem in Lagos, which offers a cozy escape from the city's hustle and bustle. The moment you step inside, you're transported to an ambiance that feels like a little slice of Mexico; this is probably why it attracts a larger influx of foreign expats. My friends and I decided to try their famous Taco Tuesday, and it turned out to be an absolute hit. We were welcomed with complimentary warm bread—what a delight it was! Our first order was a round of nachos with Guacamole, and it didn’t disappoint. The nachos had a satisfying crunch, while the guacamole remains one of the best I’ve had—rich, fresh, and seasoned just right. Then came the cheese quesadillas, gooey perfection with a light crisp on the outside. For tacos, we went all out with beef, chicken, and pork. Each taco brought something unique to the table. The beef was tender with a smoky flavor, the chicken was light and savory, and the pork was rich and flavorful. All three were delicious, making it hard to pick a favorite. We also tried La Taverna’s signature pizza, a must-try with its perfectly baked thin crust, loads of cheese, and generous beef, ham, and bacon toppings. To complement the meal, we had a trio of drinks. I opted for the La Taverna cocktail, which was so good I’ve already returned twice just for it. My friend had the frozen margarita, which she didn’t love as much, and the El Zubby, a sweeter espresso martini that I absolutely enjoyed. One of the best parts was the seamless timing of the food—everything arrived quickly, so we could enjoy our spread without long waits. For a party of three, our total bill came to about ₦70,000+ (including taxes), which I found reasonable for the quality and variety of food and drinks we had. Parking could be a challenge since the restaurant is on a small street with limited spots, but getting there early helps. Overall, Taco Tuesday at La Taverna was fantastic. With delicious food, well-crafted drinks, and a cozy atmosphere, it’s the perfect spot for a casual, enjoyable evening out. I’m definitely coming back to try their Ramen Mondays next—let’s see if they can give Ki a run for...

I arrived at noon on a Friday afternoon, and initially, it was very quiet—I was the only guest there. However, within an hour, the restaurant began to fill up, creating a warm and lively atmosphere that made it more enjoyable.

For my meal, I ordered calamari as a starter, chicken arrabbiata for the main course, and Dulce de Leche for dessert. The portions were generous, the prices were exceptional for a restaurant of this standard in Lagos, and the food was enjoyable, though I wouldn’t call it exceptional. My friend ordered a soup to start, pork for the main, and we both enjoyed multiple mocktails.

One downside was that, surprisingly, they didn’t have a single high chair for children. This affected my experience as I was dining with my very active 7-month-old daughter, and it’s something I expect from a restaurant aiming to cater to a wide range of guests. Given this limitation, I probably wouldn’t return for a while, as it impacted my ability to fully enjoy the meal.

The ambiance plays a big role in enjoying the space. By lunchtime, it was clear that the clientele is a mix of locals and expats, with several people coming for lunch meetings. I felt comfortable having my daughter there once more people arrived, which helped balance the initial quiet atmosphere. However, I imagine the restaurant is livelier in the evening, which could enhance the experience, as it isn’t a place you’d visit solely for its aesthetics.

Presentation of the food was standard, which is why I even forgot to take pictures—a rare occurrence for me! My friend, who’s a regular, loves the food (and the prices), but for me, while it was nice, it didn’t quite stand out.

The mocktails, however, were probably my least favorite part. They tasted artificial and overly syrupy rather than refreshing. I tried the Hawaiian and a green apple concoction, but honestly, I’d prefer classic water with a slice of lemon next time.

Overall, it’s a nice restaurant, but I’ll reconsider returning unless they decide to accommodate families better with...

I'd looked forward to buying food from here with all the raving positive reviews on google, I was positively expectant but yet again, food here is average, prepare for a detailed read.

First of all the quality of the ambience was pretty low, the place needs good maintenance and better planning, I'm glad I only went in for takeaway, not a place I would be glad to sit and eat.

In the sweltering heat, when you enter a place of this level, you need to be greeted with chilling A/C, this didn't happen. The gentleman's restroom was disappointing, the toilet door barely misses the WC, you will always remember a dodgy toilet experience.

Now the food, hmmmmm....I shared a picture of the Margarita because out of the 3 Pizzas I ordered this one peeved me off with the very scarce presence of cheese, the others were ok (Pepperoni and Taverna), I do like their crust and the very slight presence of a smoky wood oven is there in the taste, always a good one and far better than commercial Pizza takeaways.

I ordered 2 pasta dishes, the smoked Lamb ravioli which had zero taste of Lamb or smoke, but a very dense ravioli with a bitty meat filling that had no flavour, I also ordered a Linguini Alfredo with chicken, which was ok.

Now the really annoying order was the BBQ Pork ribs. I'm a foodie, I manufacture food and two things I love are food and cars. This one was BRM BBQ ribs cut into pieces repacked and sold in the restaurant, I dare the restaurant to try and prove otherwise, I know the flavour and texture of those ribs and they get worse with every cycle of freezing and defrosting.

In summary, food here in my opinion is priced according to the level of the quality offered, which is average and not too expensive, anything more expensive than this would make it a total rip off, its good average quality food nothing more than that.

The question is would I be eager to return and that answer is very simple, I have too many other places to try...