This is the way I view Lagos weekends. Friday is typically turn up night, that’s when the clubs are typically popping. Probably, hit up a pregame spot before ending up at a trendy club where u can enjoy good music, dance a storm and enjoy the best of Lagos nightlife.
On Saturday, there is typically a wedding to go eat small chops at, a food festival or some pop up event. On Sunday after going to church or not, people hit up one of the many Sunday brunch buffets that exist in town. Some others prefer to go out for Sunday dinner and get mentally prepared for the storm to come on Monday. Sprinkle a movie somewhere in there and you got a typical weekend of an out and about Lagosian.
This weekend we opted for Sunday dinner and after peeping a few Instagram pictures a couple of weeks ago, I decided that I would really like to check out The Backyard Bar & Grill Lagos located at 4B Musa Yaradua Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. I knew the restaurant was located at Musa Yaradua street but I didn’t look up the address prior to heading to the restaurant. Driving down the street, we realized the street is littered with restaurants. We spotted an Indian cuisine restaurant, Italian restaurant, a roof top bar and grill and Crust & Cream restaurant all located on the street.
We made our way back to the Backyard grill which we missed as we drove down earlier and I fell in love with the outdoor vibe. There is a chain link porch swing right as you walk towards the outdoor space. This is obviously a favorite photo op spot for many as we witnessed a bridal party huddled up at the swing to take pictures (Pro tip: If your date wants you guys to take a picture on the swing, do it. It will save you a ton of stress, trust me kids).
There is also a big ‘Backyard Bar and Grill’ billboard style sign and a cool graffiti wall adorning the outdoor space. We took our seats indoors which has a combination of picnic style bench seating and a couple of bar table and stools. Unfortunately, we were told that the kitchen closed at 4pm (we got there at 6pm) and all we could get were drinks. Someone should have done a bit of research 👀
We decided to walk down to Crust and Cream for dinner and come back to the Backyard for cocktails. This is No 11 on the same street.
Crust and Creams is a 2 mins walk from the Backyard, No. 11 Musa Yaradua street to be exact. As the name suggests they offer tons of pastries but they are also a full fledged restaurant with a sizeable menu. They offer meals such as English breakfast, pasta, burgers and Mongolian beef to mention a few items.
The restaurant is a cool space that appears to be divided into different nooks and corners not sure intentional or just working with the building space. There is a smoker’s lounge which I didn’t go into but appreciated because I can’t stand the smell of smoke.
We got into the business of ordering our meals. We started with the Calamari suya as a starter and we loved it. The calamari was excellently cooked and not chewy. Calamari is famous for being difficult to cook. Our calamari were tender and the suya pepper just right. I usually don’t give grades for dishes but I got to give this dish an A+, I have no clue of the consistence at this restaurant but give this a try if you visit.
For our main I ordered the roasted chicken with a side of Chinese fried rice and bae ordered Singaporean chili chicken with a side of Chinese fried rice also (you people have shamed her from ordering pasta lol). The menu stated that my chicken would be ready in 40 minutes but immediately we were done with our starter our mains came out. I was impressed.
For first time in a long while, my Chinese fried rice tasted like real Chinese fried rice and not rice just drained in soy sauce. The sautéed vegetables that came with my chicken were fantastic; well-seasoned and still crunchy, not mushy like you get sometimes. There were no issues with the Singaporean chili chicken as well. It was excellent but as all men know she must still eat from your plate no matter how sweet her food is lol.
We ordered some mocktails to go along with our meals. The service was A1, it’s been a while since I experienced good service at an establishment. I wish I got our waiter’s name, I would have shouted her out. Shout out great waiter at Crust and Cream if you are reading this lol.
We skipped all the way back to the Backyard to get some cocktails. The service was awful especially when compared to what we had just experienced but let’s chuck it up to the change in normal routine. We found ourselves seats outdoors and ordered our cocktails from the bar.
We hadn’t noticed earlier that Cîroc vodka was having a promotional event at the venue so I guess it wasn’t a typical night at the Backyard. There were a couple of celebrity fashion bloggers, a famous ex-girlfriend of Banky W and a couple of socialites who I’m told are a big deal. Ask in the comments for the tea if you interested in that kind of gist lol.
Bae ordered a strawberry mojito. I decided to be adventurous and ordered a cocktail called “Get a head.” Sauvignon blanc, vodka and watermelon are some of the base ingredients. The watermelon was bitter so I wasn’t that enamored with my drink. She loved her Mojito so it wasn’t a total disaster.
We sipped our cocktails, laughed, talked and did a bit of people watching. Monday is around the corner but cheers to the freaking weekend.
Hole in Pocket Crust and Cream:
Calamari Suya: N2,800
Roasted Chicken: N4,800
Singaporean Chicken: N4,300
Bahama Mama: N1,800
Virgin Jamaica: N1,800
Hole in Pocket Backyard Bar and Grill:
Strawberry Mojito: N3500
Get a Head: N3500
Note: Vat is not included on the price seen on the menu
Opening times & Contact
The Backyard Lagos
Tues – Sun: 10.30am – 4pm
Tues – Sat: 8am – 9.30pm
09077002000
Crust and Cream Lagos
Mon – Thurs : 8am – 11pm
Fri – Sun: 8am – 12am
+234 1 295 8105, +234 1 295 8106, info@crustandcream.com
Been to either The Backyard or Crust and Cream? Did you hate it or love it? Let us know down below.
*foreign conversion is based on the current rate of the Naira and is subject to change.
*prices written are based on the time the visit was made and is subject to change by the owners.
*Reviews are based on opinions and personal experiences, and may differ from person to person