Review: Kaanubaru (Gbagada)

Restaurants

Jan 11

Kaanubaru

20 Fola Jinadu Crescent, Gbagada Phase I | Instagram | 0814 969 2257

The way I can describe Kaanubaru is… it’s where you go to eat art — literally — without having to break the bank. Kaanubaru is a Mainland treasure that serves artfully presented and delicious dishes at modest prices, a refreshing departure from the overpriced and pretentious restaurants on the Island.

At Kaanubaru, not only does the food look good -- and it really does -- it also delivers on taste.

On my first visit, I had a long day of meetings and needed to grab something to eat before heading back to my hotel. This was my first time in Gbagada, and I was determined to find some good restaurants. It didn't take me long to find Kaanubaru; maybe I was tired and just jumped at the first good option I saw, but either way, I'm glad I found this place.

The outside has everything I like in an outdoor restaurant space: lots of greenery, a breezy atmosphere, and a relaxed vibe. Inside, I immediately liked the vintage artwork on the walls, the tastefully arranged tables and seats, and the plants and flowers scattered around the space. Although I would have preferred the outdoor experience at Kaanubaru, the indoor area was also neat.

Even though it was my first time at this restaurant, the ambiance made me feel like a regular. I sat at the bar, drank a glass of Watermelon Bling (which is just watermelon and lime juice), and ordered a bowl of the appetizer that caught my eye on the menu: Spicy Drunken Rice Noodles with fresh veggies and aromatic basil in a garlic chili sauce. I know what you're thinking: is that a starter? But yes, it was.

It was perfect. The bowl of drunken noodles was neither too light nor soggy, and it had a good balance of flavors. It couldn't have been better prepared, and the presentation was great, except that it was a little too spicy for me (I'm not a fan of pepper). Overall, it was a good value for the money.

For my main, I had the Fisherman's Brunch (didn't get a photo 😭) and a bottle of wine. The dish was a delightful medley of Jollof rice, fish fillets, calamari, corn on the cob, fried plantains, jumbo prawns, and seasonal greens, all expertly crafted and bursting with flavor. From the complementary flavors to the little details in the presentation, Kaanubaru handled this one artfully. The wine, served in a decanter rather than simply brought over in the bottle, added a touch of elegance to the occasion.

However, there are a few areas in which the restaurant could improve. The service was somewhat slow, leading to a longer than desirable wait time. Also, in my opinion, the servers here need some retraining on how to relate well with customers -- they could have been a lot more pleasant. Overall, though, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise excellent dining experience at Kaanubaru.

When Israel isn’t at a desk w̶r̶i̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ having fun, he’s outside having some more fun. He loves Lagos, simply because it’s Lagos and the buzz never stops, and he could never turn down an opportunity to write about the city’s wonders.