Places in Lagos| Mr Panther

Mr. Panther is a restaurant and lounge located in Victoria Island. It became the talk of the town in December 2024, and everyone wanted to go there including me. However, it was usually either fully booked or selectively accepting reservations, which added to its mysterious allure.

In early January 2025, my friend suggested we visit, so I made a reservation. A few minutes later, I received a call informing me that I had been placed on a waitlist, and I never received a callback about getting a table. Frustrated, I decided not to pursue it further.

Later that month, my brother’s friend came to town, and we planned to go out for dinner. I suggested Mr. Panther again but advised him to call for a reservation instead. This time, he was able to secure a table for five without any hassle. That’s how I ended up dining at Mr. Panther in January 2025 with my brother’s friend, Seun, his brother, Kayode, his sister, Tope, and my sister-in-law, Dee.

As Dee and I arrived, we were ushered to an elevator. Opposite the elevator was a mirrored wall featuring the words, “Are you his guest or his prey?” I later discovered that this quote is part of the restaurant’s theme.

AMBIENCE

The restaurant is located on the top floor of a high-rise building. As you exit the elevator, you come across a waiting area and a bar before you see the dining space. The restaurant features a brightly lit ceiling adorned with unique light displays. The main colour scheme includes emerald green, brown and gold tones, creating a classy and modern atmosphere. The resto-lounge spans two floors, with dinner service available from 8 PM to 11 PM and a party setup from 11 PM to 4 AM.

WHAT WE ORDERED

For starters, we ordered the Crispy Squid, Shisho Tempura Shrimps and Chicken Tacos to share. I ordered the Fantasy cocktail while Dee opted for a Pornstar Martini. Seun asked for sparkling water, Tope chose a Long Island Iced Tea and Kayode went with Schwepps tonic water.

The tacos were quite tiny, true to their name—mini, lol—but they were delicious. The tempura shrimps and crispy squid were also delightful, making our mouths water and heightening our anticipation for the main courses.

For mains, Dee and I asked to share the Grilled Ribeye with a side of jollof rice and salad. Seun and Kayode both ordered the Sriracha Honey Glazed Salmon with fries, while Tope asked for a prawn salad along with her order of Grilled Ribeye and fries.

Australian Beef Fillet with potatoes and mushrooms

The salmon dishes arrived first, and they looked appetizing. When our food was finally served, it was by a different waiter, and our original waiter appeared confused. It turned out that he had accidentally punched in the Australian Beef Fillet instead of the Ribeye for both meat orders. I was quite disappointed that he chose to stay back instead of coming to explain what had happened. Being the good sports that we are, we decided to accept the meals. However, while Dee and I were enjoying our food, Tope was not too pleased because she had taken some time to choose between the two meat meals and is not a fan of mushrooms. Fortunately, her original order was later brought out, and she decided to take it home.

The jollof rice was delicious, and the steak was okay—nothing spectacular. The mushrooms, salad, and rice made the meal complete, and we filled up quickly. Seun and Kayode enjoyed their salmon and had no complaints. The prawn salad was also fresh and tasty.

Before we received the bill, I ordered a second cocktail for the road.

Grilled Ribeye Steak with a side of jollof rice

SERVICE DELIVERY AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

Due to the mix-up with our orders, the manager replaced Tope’s meal, and we ended up only paying for her Ribeye steak. I thought that was a good deal, but we had to confirm with the waiter whether the cost would be charged to him, and he assured us it would not.

While we were waiting for our main dishes to arrive, some staff members came over to remind us that our table was only available until 11 PM. We responded irritably because it was just after 9 PM, we hadn’t been served, and the restaurant wasn’t even full.

It’s clear that the restaurant prioritizes aesthetics and ambiance over providing value for money. I don’t understand the hype surrounding this place, and I’m not regretful about it. Is it the Evian water, the fake exclusivity, or the elegant dress code that attracts random guests?

Additionally, the restaurant has limited parking, although there is a valet service available.

We ended the night with a lot of group and family photos. See one below.

DAMAGE

2 Jollof Rice ~ 30,000
1 Crispy Squid ~ 36,000
1 Shisho Tempura Shrimps ~ 37,000
1 Chicken Tacos ~ 22,000
4 French Fries ~ 48,000
1 Side Salad ~ 15,000
1 Prawn Salad ~ 32,000
1 Grilled Ribeye ~ 95,000
2 Sriracha Honey Glazed Salmon ~ 140,000
1 Australian Beef Filet ~ 90,000
2 Evian ~ 18,000
1 Perrier ~ 10,000
1 Tonic Schweppes ~ 5,000
1 Fantasy ~ 16,000
1 Moonlight Lover ~ 16,000
1 Porn-star Martini ~ 17,000
1 Long Island Iced Tea ~ 17,000
Our Total Bill was NGN 644,000.00