Drink Lagos: The Junction
The Junction has been around for a while and has a particular following with specific dishes and drinks tailored to the Eastern part of Nigeria. On the menu, you’d see native Igbo dishes like nsala, ofe onugbu, nkwobi, as well as drinks made from palm wine, uziza and so on. The restaurant has a very modern vibe with glass exteriors, green plants, decor made from raffia, alongside a fire traditional playlist – yup, totally eastern.
To accompany our dishes, my friends Lubabetu and Ifiemi ordered the Mai Tai, The Junction Pecker, while I ordered the Mmanya Junction.
Lubee’s mai tai came in a well-sized glass but unlike the mai tai at Zenbah that came in a very ceremonial cup, this one didn’t. Usually served in gothic mugs, Tiki cocktails are usually packaged to give the impression that you’re having a healthy drink with an appropriate amount of liquor to complement its fruity flavours. I’m not sure Lubee cared for this, although she appreciated that her drink came in a big-enough glass.
Mai tai: white rum, pineapple juice, orgreat syrup, lime juice, dark rum
“It had a sweet fruity taste with a hint of alcohol which is exactly what I wanted at the time; the fruity flavor tastes like passionfruit but it was passionfruit perfectly blended with ice and liquor. The glass was enough to last before and during my meal. My drink had a happy ending so that must mean the alcohol was just right!”
I think the mai tai was good, but I’ve had way better. It wasn’t until this experience that I remembered the appeal of the drink is how it’s usually packaged, as it comes in a shot glass filled with rum that is set on fire. The deal is, you can drink anything and be happy about the drink, however, what makes a spectacular drink is an experience you haven’t quite had and can’t exactly recreate anywhere else. And as I write this line all I can think of is Zenbah.
The Junction Pecker: pineapple juice, ginger, lemon juice, orange liqueur, roselle flower-infused sx, vodka
Ifiemi who recommended my drink opted for The Junction Pecker, which came in a nice tall glass as expected, given the number of drinks that had to be mixed for this cocktail.
“On the first sip, I could only taste pineapple. You want to give this drink a good mix in order to blend all of the fruits with the alcohol. It’s a nice fruity cocktail, although you don’t get to taste much of the alcohol. But please, do not be deceived as it a strong one. I’d rate it a solid 8/10.”
The Junction Pecker was my favourite drink of the night. Maybe because it reminds me of an adult 5Alive. Ifiemi wished the Roselle flower liqueur was enough to mask a bit of the fruitiness with potent floral notes.
My drink promised a lot of palm wine as it was the first listed ingredient but what I got was a fruity mess that started off fantastic because I needed all the sugar from a hard day of work. But halfway through my glass, it became tedious for various sugary reasons. The strawberry syrup was way too much. My first glass came with hair and although I hated to see that, I think my second drink wasn’t mixed as good as the first one. However, as Lubee said, I’m glad it came in a big-enough glass that lasted throughout my meal.
Mmanya Junction: palm wine, tequila, lemon juice, strawberry syrup
I really like how simple The Junction is, it doesn’t promise too much, and that’s enough to not have high expectations. I’m not sure this is the place you’d want to go for drinks unless you maybe just want just a beer. I think it's one of those places you go to eat, and then check the drink menu because I don’t think drinks are quite frankly their forte. However, I am def going back to pair nsala with the Uziza Collins, you should too!
TL:DR
Good for: Group drinking, late-night and pre-drinks.
Food: Full Kitchen
Happy Hour: No | Bottle Service: Yes | Wine: Yes | Beer: Yes
DAMAGE
Mai Tai - N3300
The Junction Pecker - N3850
Mmanya Junction - N3850
