Avant Garde by Soul Chow

1 Polo Road, Ikoyi | Instagram | 0809 041 5471

This space makes me think of the club set for a Nollywood movie. I half expected Genevieve and Omotola to come out of a corner with flipped spiky bobs, black liner on their lips and start grooving to Plantashun Boyz. Don’t ask me questions, just go there and see for yourself 😂

I understand that Avant Garde by Soul Chow was going for a super Nigerian vibe and honestly they hit it. It was very Nigerian, from the golden “bronze” mask on the walls. to the somehow new but already chipped furniture. They also had lyrics from the National Anthem cemented in gold letters on the wall, which I thought was a cool touch.

Ngl, I did not have the greatest hopes for this spot. Maybe it had a little something to do with the fact that as I tried to enter the restaurant, the security asked me “What are you looking for here?” 

Sir?! I’m here looking for crack. Are you not a restaurant??? 🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️

Having convinced him that I was indeed here to eat and not procure human remains, he allowed me in and fortunately, the rest of the staff were delightful. 

As soon as I walked in they were super attentive, possibly because I was the only person in the restaurant, but still. I got the New London to start, basically a gin and tonic with grapefruit and elderflower syrup. If you know me, that’s my go-to drink and, to their credit, it was delightful! The gin came through, just enough tartness from the grapefruit and a perfect amount of elderflower, enough to be noticed but not enough to be sickly sweet. 

My guest arrived and got a Porn Star martini, which was also fantastic and well-balanced. I’ve found that when Lagos bartenders make Porn Star martinis, they are usually way too heavy-handed with the passionfruit syrup, but whoever the bartender at Avant Garde is knows how to balance a cocktail. Someone should steal him, *cough* *cough* Atmosphere *cough* 👀

Our server was super knowledgeable about the menu (a big PLUS) and managed to upsell us on the Lemon Coriander Mixed Root Medley. She insisted that we would love it. We told her if we didn’t, she would have to give us her hoop earrings and ladies, gentlemen and all others, this lady still has her earrings. 

It was essentially sweet and Irish potatoes and I believe yam, boiled and fried to perfection. There was nary a lemon flavour to be tasted but damn were these some perfectly cooked root vegetables. They were very more-ish. I would serve these as bar snacks and just add small pepper, so people keep ordering drinks. If you go here, get these.

We got the Gidi Green Chili Prawns. They were prawns. I really tried to write something about them but, honestly, they were just cooked prawns; nothing stood out about the seasoning or preparation. Although, worthy of note: They weren’t overcooked, so that’s a plus.

We actually chose this spot because they posted a Soul Chow Whole Smoked Guinea Fowl on their Instagram and we were like “GIVE IT TO ME!!” So, obviously, it was the first thing we ordered.

*Insert hot bitter tears*

It was so tough, it was inedible. I managed to get a bite of the breast in my mouth and spent five minutes chewing and damn near died swallowing it. I gave up and graciously let my guest take the rest home for her cook to boil again. I cannot speak to the flavour, because it genuinely had none. Maybe a vague peppered quality? But I was too busy trying not to choke to take note.

Off the success of her root medley, we let the server suggest one more item and she offered the Spicy Beef Meatballs. BELOVED!!! I mean meatballs are meatballs, right? No one ever craves meatballs, aside from blond-haired white boys in American feem right? When I tell you I have thought about these meatballs once a week since I had them, I tell zero lies! They were soft, perfectly seasoned and spicy enough to make the Yoruba babe in me sing for joy… and did I mention they were soft? Like biting into spicy meat clouds. 

Of course, we let the servers pick our last drinks. My guest got Between the Soul Sheets and I got The Pager. Like I said earlier, someone needs to steal this bartender cause both drinks were so good!

It was when the bill came that I realised their cocktails are N7000 - N8500. How won’t they be good?! At N8500 for a cocktail, I would have fought somebody if they were bad. But they were so good, I didn’t even cry (on the outside anyway, I drank garri for the rest of the week).

P.S. I don’t like the name of the place sha (do you??). Just thought I’d mention it in case they care to change it 🤷🏾‍♀️

postscript

All in all, would I go back? For drinks, those meatballs and that root medley? Hell yes!

verdict

damage

Soul Chow Whole Smoked Guinea Fowl — N14000

Spicy Beef Meatballs — N9000

Gidi Green Chili Prawns — N14000

Lemon Coriander Mixed Root Medley — N2500

Between the Soul Sheets — N7000

Porn Star Martini — N8500

New London — N8500

The Pager — N8500

Cordon Bleu trained chef, Chef Imoteda is the founder of Heels in the Kitchen and co-owner of Eko Street Eat, a company that specialises in bringing innovative twists to Nigerian street food. She is currently the head chef at SK COOKKS, a Nigerian restaurant in downtown Toronto