Taj is a new restaurant and bar in Victoria Island, Lagos that began operations in February 2023. I had just found out this restaurant existed (I’ve obviously lost touch) when my friend D mentioned it to me.

D and I went to Taj for dinner in June, and here’s what I think of the space.

AMBIENCE

I had no intention of writing a review, but as we walked in and saw the beautiful glass walls, I grabbed my phone to take pictures. The restaurant is located on the first floor, and once you climb up the stairs, you’re welcomed to a mix of brown and blue tones of furniture and light fittings. The seating arrangement is a combination of booth and single seats, and toddler chairs are available for your little ones too. We were ushered to a table for two, but we asked to be moved because we thought the table was too small.

MENU

The food menu is categorized into seventeen sections, with a minimum of three options per section. When I heard the name Taj, I assumed it was an Asian restaurant, but the food on the menu is a combination of American Style, Mediterranean, Continental, Nigerian and Asian. You can actually order dumplings, suya, and pancakes from the same menu! I later found out that the name Taj was coined from the owner’s initials. The drinks menu is adequate, with a vast selection of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks and a good number of specials.

WHAT WE ORDERED

For drinks, D chose Fireball New York Sour, and I chose Aperol Rum Punch. We also asked for two bottles of water. For starters, we ordered Crispy Fish Tacos. For Mains, I chose the Chicken Pesto Pasta, and D chose Maple Ginger Chicken.

Our drinks were served some minutes after our orders were placed, and D’s drink came in a hanging cocktail glass. I had a sip, and it was giving Sangria vibes. My cocktail was a typical pineapple, coconut and rum mix.

The tacos came a few minutes later, and they looked packed and yummy. I kept calculating how I was going to eat it without making a mess, but it was hard to avoid that. The tacos were for me, but I made D try one. We both loved them, messy or not.

Our plates were cleared, and the mains arrived. I took a bite of my pasta, and I loved it. As a lover of chicken pesto pasta, I’ve ordered it in different restaurants over the years, but this was the best chicken pesto pasta I’ve ever had. It was really tasty. D’s meal came with a side serving of jollof rice and plantain. He liked his meal, but I only fancied the chicken a little because it had a sweet and sour sauce.

While we were having dinner, we were served complimentary Sallah meat. At this point, we were so stuffed we asked for our leftovers to be packed to go. Dessert was definitely a no-go area.

SERVICE DELIVERY & CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE 

We had a great time at Taj. The service was good. Initially, when we asked to change tables, we were told we were sitting at a table for two, but later on, a lady came to move us. Our waiter was charming and always available when needed. Wait times were decent. However, the female restroom was broken, and women were directed to the male restroom. 

DAMAGE

Mineral Water x2 – 2,000
Crispy Fish Tacos – 8,000
Aperol Rum Punch – 8,500
Chicken Pesto Pasta – 10,500
Maple Ginger Chicken – 13,500
Fireball New York Sour x2 – 17,000
Takeaway Pack x2 – 2,000

Our total bill was 69,187.50, and it included a 7.5% charge for both VAT and Consumption Tax.

RATING

Food – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Service – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ambience – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall Experience – 8.5

Taj is a good spot for date night and group hangouts.

P.S. This is not a sponsored post. All opinions I expressed are truly mine.

Mariam Shittu