Breakfast at Cafecito is an Unmemorable Experience

Cafe

May 4

Cafecito

11 Joel Ogunnaike Street, Ikeja GRA | Instagram

It had been some time since I enjoyed breakfast outside of my own kitchen. When an advertisement for Cafecito appeared on my social media feed (isn't this how most of us discover new eateries nowadays?), I saw it as an excellent chance to venture out and sample something different.

Cafecito, a recently opened cafe in GRA Ikeja, is particularly thrilling for me as a Mainland resident, given the need for more exciting hangouts on this side of town. The cafe's ambiance and design remind me of Cafeteria, a place I quite enjoy, which admittedly played a significant role in my decision to visit.

The cafe shares its location with The Classio Hotel, offering a convenient alternative for hotel guests who desire a break from traditional hotel fare. With an appealing exterior, I was eager to explore Cafecito's menu offerings.

I always say that a cafe is only as good as its coffee, so to truly assess Cafecito's quality, I started by ordering a mocha frappuccino. Regrettably, the coffee itself tasted stale (likely not freshly ground, a cardinal sin) and the overall flavor resembled a lackluster chocolate milkshake with a hint of Nescafe. I wouldn't order it again.

Next, I chose the American Breakfast, which included sausages, bacon, a choice of eggs, hash browns, French toast, and a waffle. The mini platter arrived without bacon—despite my indifference towards it, it should have been there—but the presentation was appealing. The wait time was somewhat lengthy (about 30 minutes or more), but since I had eaten a small meal at home beforehand, I wasn't too bothered. However, this could be problematic if you're famished.

It was decent-tasting breakfast food. The eggs were hot and yummy, the French toast was savoury (which I wasn’t expecting, but liked) and the sausages were… sausages, but it was an easily forgettable meal. A few things let it down as well: The waffle was cakey and a little too sweet, and the hash browns (although I quite liked the texture of them) were oily.

I’m a huge breakfast person and this wasn’t bad, but again, it’s not something I’d go home and dream about having again.

Overall, it was a rather average meal, especially since the coffee was quite disappointing. One advantage Cafecito has, however, is their pricing — it's reasonable, and I appreciate that. But I'd prefer to pay a bit more for food I'll genuinely enjoy rather than less for a mid meal.