Restaurante dos Artistas — Restaurant in Lagos

This is what I call "seemingly posh". Absolutely overpriced and the worst meal I had in Lagos. The tastes were boring and didn't match to each other.

The service tried to be very noble - like in a very high-class restaurant. However, when we said we want all our dishes on the table at once (incl. entrée), because that is what we do to have more choices to mix at once (no matter what price class we go to), the reaction was a slightly arrogant "are you sure?". Yes we were. The wish wasn't fulfilled though. If someone has this wish despite all etiquette conventions, they probably have a reason and as a customer, it should be respected.

Also, we were not offered to choose a table, which is a must at a restaurant that tries to be noble. I ended up sitting at a spot where all waiters could constantly see what I'm putting into my mouth (and they openly did so), which I wasn't comfortable with.

But to the food itself.

Everything we ordered had a hint of sourness in it. Lemon, balsamico... The entrée - raw scallops - would have been delicious despite the lemon sauce hadn't the taste been totally covered by some chilli sauce. My man's main, veal, was allegedly very good, he said. Mine, however, was literally the worst meal I had in Lagos. Vegan black lentils with tofu and pak choi. I love all those things, but here, the lentils were boring, flavoured with balsamico reduction and VERY dry. I myself make better lentils - or vegetarian/vegan meals, really. The tofu was the most disgusting tofu I've ever had - smoked with a very strong smoky smell&flavour, and VERY dry. The only good thing was the pak choi - but even a cheap asian fast food can make it slightly better. Pak choi and balsamico doesn't really fit together. I ended up eating very little and stuffing myself with my husband's extra side - grilled veggies, of course in balsamico! :D

A big minus which I personally have a problem with in many restaurants was the greeting from the chef as an entrée - 2 delicious purées with...chopped pork!!! I don't eat meat - especially pork - and don't want it in front of me; but the problem was I wasn't told it was pork. My husband had to try and I didn't eat it then, but anyway, I just don't want any mysterious greetings from the kitchen on the table. If you do want to do this, you might think of something acceptable for most people, not something with pork.

The house wine was delicious.

The little dessert - a greeting from the kitchen - was a lemon sorbet (notice: lemon again). Again, if I don't order something, I don't wish to eat it. I don't like these "greetings" when something is served and I know that if I don't eat it, it will be wasted. I don't want to waste food. You should first ask politely if someone wishes to have the greeting of the...

This was our nice dinner out in Lagos during our honeymoon. Some very high highs but ultimately underwhelming.

The good: Scallops were some of the finest we'd ever had and the sauce was a perfect pair. The duck entree was also excellent, and the two soups we tried (green chili Thai and lobster bisque) were good.

Not so good: The tuna entree was bland and the sauce didn't help. The ceviche was OK but nothing special.

We asked for a wine recommendation and the waitress told us what she liked but did not ask after any of our preferences, and the bottle she chose, while serviceable, reflected her taste.

There were too many servers during the course of the meal. Our primary waitress served the wine and took our orders but we rarely saw her again: each dish was brought out by a runner, one of whom didn't know whom had ordered what and nearly all of whom felt like they were reciting what they'd been ordered to recite rather than interacting with a guest. Not a big deal in most restaurants but again, I didn't put the Michelin guide mention on the door, so if that's the standard being aimed at then it's not there.

This one may be a personal pet peeve, but we don't like to purchase bottles of water unless they're sparkling water, and when my wife asked for still tap water, the waitress said 'we don't do that here.' I appreciate that you have an image to maintain, but nobody recommends a restaurant because of the water and it isn't going to hurt the Michelin guide mention on your door if you do as your guest asks instead of insisting on the 4 euro bottle of evian.

Finally, we were given some complimentary bread some (mid) spreads upon arrival but then saw a 2x couvert line item on the bill, even though we'd not ordered them. They took it off, but this seemed like a 'maybe they wont' notice' move.

The night before we had dinner at Restaurante dos Artistas, we ate at one of the casual restaurants in town a couple minutes' walk from there. It was a better meal and 1/4 of the price, and the service was charming, funny, and even brought...

Was super excited to try this restaurant...but won't be rushing back anytime soon. The food was really good with the exception of the 'choose your side dish'...I expect at this calibre of place that the chef would pair a side that worked well with my main. I asked the waiter about the sides and he said the cous cous was really good...I asked what the flavours were and he said it had some spices in it (when asked he didn't have any idea what spices). So I ordered it to go along with my pork cheeks....it was not good at all. So I mentioned it to the server and asked if I could get the potatoes instead which they brought out...it was processed so much it seemed close to baby food..and was pretty bland. So, ended up paying €9 on sides that were pretty awful and left uneaten. I also wasn't thrilled to be charged for my covert which was a bit of bread and butter and pate which I didn't order but was just brought out seemingly complimentary. I probably would have overlooked all of this if it weren't for the service we received....I felt the servers were not at all experienced enough nor trained well enough to serve in a restaurant that is supposed to be top notch. At this price point I shouldn't be made to feel like I am seated at a soft opening for a new restaurant...please work out your kinks and train your wait staff on your time...not mine. I expect to be able to ask the waiter what wine he suggests....and what side dish would complement my main and get a good answer. We live part time in Lagos and sadly I thought we had found a really great gem of a restaurant...but I was wrong. We have received food as good, at half the price and with better service at other restaurants in the area. Very...