Review: 355 Marina (Lagos Island)
355 Marina | 63 Campbell street, Campbell Center, Marina | 0818 029 3882 | Instagram | Reisty Link
Before now, I had no idea that there were restaurants in Marina. Call it ignorance, but most of the restaurants I’ve been to are on the island or a boujee mainland location. So when I found 355 Marina on Reisty, I was excited to try it out, especially when I saw that 355 Restaurants & Lounges owned a bunch of locations in Lagos and even Abuja. Clearly they weren’t amateurs… Or so I thought.
The restaurant was on the rooftop and I had a hard time finding the elevator. They should really consider putting directions in the underground parking lot.
On entry, I immediately wasn’t a fan of the hallway aesthetic and lighting. The green walls were faded and had cracks. There was an abandoned receptionist table that seemed old and jaded. But I liked the paintings and sculptures although the faded hallway lessened the aesthetic effect.
The restaurant had an in-house bar, a vintage jukebox that looked abandoned (it was dusty and old), and a games room. It was a big space, and the major colors highlighted in the restaurant were green and black. Big ups to the interior decorator who used mirrors, lights, and pretty artwork to their advantage, it felt homely. It was obvious that much work went into giving the restaurant a retro vibe, but that work was not being maintained, unfortunately.
It was hot, so I requested they turn on their air conditioner. A waiter directed me to sit near an AC, which was hardly working. I thought perhaps they were saving electricity since customers weren’t available, but what about me?
Their menu (a QR code one) was basic. I like experimenting at new restaurants, but 355 barely had anything new. I thought I’d try the Mai Tai cocktail because it contained both dark and white rum but the waitress said it wasn’t available. I ended up ordering Sex on the Beach since I loved cranberries.
Sex on the Beach
It was sweet, thanks to the peach schnapps but the fruit base was nonexistent. The cranberry juice that was supposed to balance the sweetness wasn’t there either, although I liked that the vodka gave a nice alcoholic taste without adding much of its own flavor. I think the problem stemmed from dilution, as the drink was overly diluted, giving the ingredients no space to shine.
I had better luck with the Kiwi Fizz. The taste profile was well-defined. It was fresh and tangy from the kiwi fruit, and I liked the sweetness and lightness.
Kiwi Fizz
I could also taste the orange, pineapple, and lemon flavors all at once. The vodka base did not overpower the kiwi flavor and the green color made me feel like I was drinking something healthy.
For starters, I sampled their spring rolls and 355 signature chicken wings. I really enjoyed the sweet spring rolls. The vegetables added to the crispiness of the wrapper, browned—not to perfection. It came with sweet chili sauce, although I would have preferred a more savoury sauce to balance the sweetness.
Spring Rolls
I did not like the presentation, the plate was garnished with what appeared to be dried, shredded vegetables. The veggies seemed like an afterthought and to my distaste, they were present in all my meals. I imagine it's a standard addition kept handy for every dish, and unfortunately, it wasn't complimentary.
355 Signature Chicken Wings
The chicken wings were juicy. The meat was well-fried and moist although slightly hard. They were also seasoned rightly for people who like pepper; thankfully, I like pepper. It had a pleasant taste overall, but I expected better from a signature meal. The menu said it contained a choice of Asian zing, but I didn’t get any Asian zing, even though I asked the friendly waitress.
I reached the main meals, expecting to be wowed but again, I was disappointed by the blandness. Maybe their mojo is regular Nigerian meals for average Nigerians, so they should be great at it, right? I decided to try their signature selection: designer jollof rice containing smoky jollof basmati rice with shredded chicken, and shrimp topped with prawns. For protein, I chose croaker fish because I’m honestly tired of chicken and beef. When are they inventing more animals?
Designer Jollof Rice
For one, the smoky flavor was not present. The presentation was not great either. You know how you know whether jollof rice slaps from how it looks? The vibrant, reddish-orange hue, the slightly charred grains, and the enticing aroma? In this case, the appearance hinted at the disappointment that was to follow. It wasn’t spicy, there were no herbal undertones, and there were also those afterthought vegetables sliced across again. I didn’t enjoy it.
Thankfully, the croaker fish mildly saved the day. The flavor was delicate, and while flaky, it had a bit of firmness to the bite. It took on the taste of the seasonings and sauces but it had a subtle bitter aftertaste.
My second main dish, Singapore noodles, was naturally golden in color, and the texture was soft. But there were excess vegetables thrown carelessly on the plate, that wasn’t at all aesthetically pleasing. It was an alright savoury dish.
Singapore Noodles
I didn’t bother getting another protein alongside my noodles because nothing interested me. I just think it could have been done better, like many other things in this restaurant.
Postscript
I wouldn't blame them for too many things, given Nigeria’s current economic state, but the jollof rice?? I blame them o.
The entire menu needs to be jazzed up, and signature meals should actually represent the restaurant’s authenticity, which is currently sorely lacking.
I saw about 3 cockroaches, two on my table and one on the floor. I got really uncomfortable at some point and was just happy to leave.
The air did not smell fresh, and there was no music playing. For sound, the waiters were watching football on the TV, and yelling as their clubs scored.
I liked the game room segment, it was more arranged and it had better lighting.
I will not be coming back.
VERDICT
Damage
Sex On The Beach - 6,500
Kiwi Fizz - 6,500
Spring rolls - 4,200
355 signature chicken wings - 5,200
Designer jollof rice - 10,000
Croaker Fish - 4,000
Singapore noodles - 6,300
Water - 1,000
Take Away- 1,000