The Nigerian equivalent of Ponderosa Steakhouse in America can be found at the Mama Cass restaurants scattered around Lagos. Food here is Nigerian, cheap and decent, the atmosphere is droll and completing a meal will leave you nourished but slightly sadder.
The draw of Mama Cass is really the convenience, cost and quality. Several of the restaurants line the main streets of Victoria Island, where many visitors to Lagos will spend the majority of their time. For the volume, food is incredibly inexpensive as well – two types of rice, a coke and an order of stewed chicken only cost N 1720. My fried rice (a local Nigerian specialty) was tasty and warm, the chicken was slightly dry and the coconut rice was too spicy but still delicious. Beyond my selection, the restaurant also had pounded yam, stewed goat meat, snails, prawns and a handful of other Nigerian staples.
I chose to take my meal in the restaurant, a mildly lit, low-ceilinged establishment with a half dozen booths and a smattering of tables scattered throughout the dining room. The staff were responsive if not a bit dejected, and though a bit dilapidated, the atmosphere was fairly laid back.
Needless to say, eating at Mama Cass isn’t necessarily the height of epicurean fare, but it’s authentic, local and inexpensive. It’s also a few steps above eating the grilled meat on the street and generally easy to locate. If you’re in a hurry on a budget, you can do much worse.
Expert Review
The Nigerian equivalent of Ponderosa Steakhouse in America can be found at the Mama Cass restaurants scattered around Lagos. Food...
The Nigerian equivalent of Ponderosa Steakhouse in America can be found at the Mama Cass restaurants scattered around Lagos. Food here is Nigerian, cheap and decent, the atmosphere is droll and completing a meal will leave you nourished but slightly sadder.
The draw of Mama Cass is really the convenience, cost and quality. Several of the restaurants line the main streets of Victoria Island, where many visitors to Lagos will spend the majority of their time. For the volume, food is incredibly inexpensive as well – two types of rice, a coke and an order of stewed chicken only cost N 1720. My fried rice (a local Nigerian specialty) was tasty and warm, the chicken was slightly dry and the coconut rice was too spicy but still delicious. Beyond my selection, the restaurant also had pounded yam, stewed goat meat, snails, prawns and a handful of other Nigerian staples.
I chose to take my meal in the restaurant, a mildly lit, low-ceilinged establishment with a half dozen booths and a smattering of tables scattered throughout the dining room. The staff were responsive if not a bit dejected, and though a bit dilapidated, the atmosphere was fairly laid back.
Needless to say, eating at Mama Cass isn’t necessarily the height of epicurean fare, but it’s authentic, local and inexpensive. It’s also a few steps above eating the grilled meat on the street and generally easy to locate. If you’re in a hurry on a budget, you can do much worse.