Papiee’s Meatro

18b Moore Road, Yaba | Instagram | 0901 514 9920

When it comes to hanging out on the Mainland, Yaba has premium stand-out spots. From Beeriga at the Bariga Waterfront Jetty, to Soul Food and Purple Bistro, Yaba doesn’t disappoint when you need to unwind, with good grub in tow. But, for some reason, I found that Yaba and UNILAG people just won’t stop gushing over Papiee’s Meatro. So, the time came to verify if this was mere hype or if there was actually something to the place.

Long and short of the story: They weren’t capping, it’s a 👌🏾 spot and here’s why.

THE IDEAL CHILL SPOT

What I expected and what my friends and I got at Papiee’s Meatro were very different. We walked into a lively space, with nice aesthetics and good music. It was about 2pm when we got there, so there were only a handful of people, but just a couple of hours later, the atmosphere was buzzing and packed with people. It’s a great place for after-work drinks and suya or a casual celebration like a birthday or promotion.

If you don’t like noise however, consider going before their peak evening hours.

P.S: With the setup, watching football here would be a ‘match' made in heaven (sorry 😪).

The VIP EXPERIENCE

The VIP Lounge at PM is a decent option if you just can’t deal with noise. They have an exclusive-type lounge for people who prefer indoor dining or want a little privacy their guests. As expected, the prices get slightly higher the minute you sit your bum down in this section, but I guess the exclusiveness makes it worth it? It’s comfy, there’s less noise and disturbance, and the option of great music if you want.

Definitely worth noting that the VIP lounge isn’t the widest of spaces and can only take a handful of people at a time (I guess that sort of adds to its exclusivity). Another thing is I advise you to make a reservation for this area beforehand, so they don’t fall your hand.

VALUE FOR ₦₦₦

One thing my friends were always on about whenever it came to PM is how affordable the food here is. They always talked about how they’d never been able to finish their meals, especially the platter, and now I get why. It has nothing to do with the quality of the food, because it stays correct, it’s about quantity.

We ordered a medium platter that had grilled ram, gizzard, BBQ wings, beef and an option of three sides of your choice. And, yes, the food was well-seasoned and prepared, but, believe it or not, the three of us still couldn’t finish what was on the platter. That’s not at all a bad deal, if you ask me — especially in these times.

THE NOT-SO-GREAT PARTS…

Although the outdoor area is quite spacious, the ventilation is subpar — no cross ventilation, with limited fans. I remember how sweaty I got and it wasn’t because of the weather. The VIP lounge has air conditioning, but really, you shouldn’t have to pay extra to enjoy cool air. A couple more fans would do the trick.

As for the food, keep in mind that although it’s good, PM isn’t the place to ‘eat different.’ Their menu just about covers the basics you would expect and it might not be your jam if you looking for adventure.

The wait time here is also something they need to work on, but the food is worth the wait — at least, the ones we ordered were.

When Israel isn’t at a desk w̶r̶i̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ having fun, he’s outside having some more fun. He loves Lagos, simply because it’s Lagos and the buzz never stops, and he could never turn down an opportunity to write about the city’s wonders.