Review: Carnival (Victoria Island)
Carnival
131B Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island | Instagram | 0704 414 2199
My relationship with Carnival started with a promise of a low-priced lunch — specifically, a N15000 deal for 4 courses. It's not in these economic times that you'll catch me overlooking such blessings, right? After stalling for months, my sister and I finally went over on a Sunday. And guess what? This deal runs 7 days a week, between 12pm and 4pm.
Large and quite colourful, Carnival is hard to miss. But you might easily dismiss it as just another club on the streets of VI. My sister had, but it’s a restaurant as well (the club bit is upstairs). You'll spot it with ease, trust me.
As for a welcoming reception? Nah, wasn't much of that going on, even with security guards right at the entrance. The outdoor seating area was basic, so the inside seemed more promising. Thankfully, it did look and feel better, with soft background music playing in the background and décor that really popped.
P.S: Reservations aren’t required, but are encouraged. Just a tip.
We had to confirm that we were there specifically for the lunch menu, as the waiter had already handed us a plaque with the main menu QR code.
The menu? A slightly narrow selection of salads, starters, main courses and desserts. I ordered the Caesar Salad, Chicken Cigar Rolls, Grilled Chicken with Mash and Grilled Vegetables, and Chocolate Mousse. My sister had the Greek Salad, Chicken Crostini, Chicken Teriyaki Bowl with Rice, and Strawberry Mousse. So, yeah, we meant business.
Drinks? Cocktails, of course — a Passion Fruit Mojito and the Black Magic signature cocktail.
Our salads, starters, and drinks arrived within 30 minutes. Fair enough, but serving the drinks and salads earlier would have been nice, right?
Caesar Salad
Greek Salad
Chicken Cigar Rolls (L) and Chicken Crostini (R)
The Caesar Salad was a miss for me, but the Chicken Cigar Rolls were a bomb taste explosion. Even my sister agreed Carnival's cigar rolls were the best she’d had. And she has had quite a few at other restaurants. The salad was an assortment of hard, bland croutons, a dressing that was a tad too sour for my liking, and crunchy veggies — at least, they got that part right.
The Greek Salad was also much better. It was good enough, fresh, crunchy, and properly dressed. My sister’s starter was another hit — the crostini were topped with tasty, creamy chicken cold cuts 👌🏾
Passion Fruit Mojito (L) and Black Magic (R)
The Passion Fruit Mojito was sweet but well-balanced and not too boozy, though the actual passionfruit-flavour was just a slice slapped on top. A bit of a downer there.
My sister’s Black Magic cocktail? The real star. The waiter had recommended it, but when I heard that there was both Hennessy and rum in there, I steered clear. Masterfully blended, fruity, and all-round delicious. I even asked the server for a list of the ingredients.
Grilled Chicken with Mash and Grilled Vegetables
Chicken Teriyaki Bowl with Rice
Our main courses followed, with proper pacing. My mashed potato was a hit, super smooth, velvety, and tasty. It came with a cheesy, creamy gravy, but I didn’t end up having it with the mash, since it was good all on its own. Maybe a missed opportunity? I think it would have been a bit of a cream-overload situation. Instead, the gravy went really well with the grilled chicken. The grilled chicken was succulent and properly spiced. The vegetables — bell peppers, green beans and carrots — were yum and fresh.
As for my sister’s main course? The Teriyaki sauce was standard, and the rice was rice.
Chocolate Mousse and Strawberry Mousse
Dessert? My chocolate mousse was decadent and rich. The strawberry mousse was lacking in flavour. Even my sister, who loves strawberries, was a bit underwhelmed by it; for her, the strawberry mousse was a bit lacking in flavour. But hey, that's what you get for believing in anything other than the cocoa.
POSTSCRIPT
Carnival has my stamp of approval. A couple of misses, but the hits make it worth a return visit. The cost is fair, but be warned, parking might be a hassle on a busy day.
verdict
DAMAGE
Lunch Package – N15000 (pp)
10% service charge
PARKING
For such a big building, it’s pretty inadequate. On a busy day, might have to opt for street parking
