Beyond the Coat of Many Colours: 10 Lessons from Joseph the Dreamer

This is another hotel restaurant, albeit a boutique one. Scarlett Lodge is barely six months into the hospitality and lifestyle industry but in my book, it’s made quite a mark. The first thing that grabs your attention is the name and just as you’re still considering this, you get to the entrance and there’s a man in a scarlet-coloured waistcoat with a smile welcoming you in. It could come across as cheesy and overkill but it does not. It’s elegantly done. The layout of the hotel is impressive with a narrow hallway leading to the restaurant.

The restaurant itself probably has the best ambience in Lagos, period and this is what I like most about it. It is tastefully outfitted from the choice of lights, to the table design, off white furniture, the bar which looks like a glittery island of liquor and bottles in a sea of brown space, polished wood floors, a vintage library bookshelf. Its waiters are also very well dressed, an attention to detail most restaurateurs miss. God forbid the‘help’looks good..

Lovers Choice?

I would say yes. For now but maybe not much longer after this article is read, Scarlett is still a bit of a hidden gem. The two times I’ve been there, I’ve never found it to be packed with people. It’s quite warming to feel like you almost have a place to yourself and that’s really romantic in my book. The hotel does tout itself to be only for discerning guests with the pay off line,‘secretly amazing’Indeed it is!

My Menu Verdict

Another thing I really liked about Scarlet Lodge was the food presentation. Once the food is laid on the table, I dare you not to whip out your phone and capture the moment before you dig in. I would recommend though,

- The Basmati Rice & Balsamic Beef Sauce or the King Prawns dish, for the main course

- The Sizzling Brownie, for desserts.

The restaurant also has a memorable cocktail menu with the drinks bearing hilarious names although I’m not sure if that was the point. There was a cocktail named Bolanle which I found so ridiculous, I laughed for a good few minutes. It just didn’t fit to my eyes. Wasn’t Impressed By…

- Timekeeping Both times I’ve been there the food and drinks arrived later than promised although they were delicious enough to make me momentarily forget but it is something I find unforgivable with restaurants. A stated time is a promise. If a waiter tells me a dish will take 40 minutes at 8pm, I do not expect my meal to arrive at 8.41pm. It is just bad form.

79 Younis Bashorun off Ajose Adeogun, Victoria Island Lagos