Review: Vendome (Victoria Island)
Vendome
5 Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island | Instagram | 0702 500 8520
I planned a much-needed get-together with my friends and we decided Vendome was the place to try. It was going to be our first time going here, so this was, pretty much, a blind date 😂
We met up in the evening, so the vibe was quite bar-ish, but pleasant. You know the drill: We got in and got comfy at our table, but what’s really important to mention is that the waiter who served us was the most polite and well-informed waiter we’ve come across in Lagos. Serious kudos to them for that 👏🏾
For starters, I ordered the flame-kissed octopus (disclaimer loading) and chicken tenders. Now, if you’re not very experimental with food, I’d advise you to steer clear of the octopus or anything like it. When it comes to how it actually tasted, the best way to describe it is: daunting. The sauce it was served with also had a weird taste. The whole thing basically just didn’t work. On the other hand, the chicken tenders were a hit. Imagine a group of adults fighting to get more than one each.
For my main, I got the Cacio e Pepe — which literally translates to “cheese and pepper” — and paid extra for the meal to be made in front of us, where we would watch the pasta being ‘sauced up’ inside a massive parmesan wheel. The live show was cool tbh, but the meal itself was hmmm. When you have to ask yourself if you really enjoyed eating something, you probably didn’t. It was average and the shrimps used as toppings could have been spiced way better.
My friends got the African grilled chicken, which came with plantain and Singapore rice, and this meal was the definition of a banger 🔥 We all feasted on it. And let’s take a moment to honour the plantain, WHICH WAS SALTED. Don’t argue with me, this is how plantain should be eaten always. The chicken nicely fell off the bone and the rice, although a bit soggy, somehow worked? I dunno, it was weird.
After this, we moved on to the rib eye steak we all ordered, which wasn’t fantastic but tasted okay.
One thing we all agreed on was just how generous Vendome’s portions were. The food might have fallen hand in some areas, but you can’t fault the size of the meals. If you’re going to eat here, make sure to go with an empty stomach; you’re going to need it, dear.
Can’t forget the drinks! One of the highlights of my evening was my Pinky’s Smoothie — just. delicious. 😍
PostScript
I’d go to Vendome again, but more for the ambience than the food 👀
verdict
Damage
Flame-kissed Octopus — N7100
Chicken Tenders — N6000
Cacio e Pepe — N12000
Live Cooking — N3500
African Grilled Chicken — N9600
Rib Eye Steak — N18000
Pinky’s Smoothie — N4500
Parking
Car park will take 10 cars comfortably