Serving fresh and uniquely prepared Nigerian dishes that evoke a rare dining experience
By Amadin Ogbewe
The restaurant is set on a hill and continues on a wide field of grass and futuristic ornamentation. The bright lights, which decorate the main building, spelling the name of the restaurant, are rather engaging at night.
Coco Loco has three seating areas: on the field, simple wooden tables and seats are laid out, another level of the building – a makeshift circular balcony – also has seats and tables for customers, and the final level is a cozy spot at the top of the stairs, half-open to the sky. The light bulbs are ensconced in woven baskets which give off an ethereal aura. That is the spot I chose!
The service is great as I’m warmly welcomed by two attractive ladies, Blessing, and Joy at the door. The menu follows immediately. As I nod my head along to the music, which blasts across the field and into the building, I opt for the yam porridge with fish. Chef Chris tells me he learned to cook the dish in Rivers State.
It takes about 35 to 40 minutes for my meal to be ready. It is accompanied by a fruit smoothie, which contains a variety of fruits, ranging from banana, apple, pineapple, to watermelon and strawberry. You would think these wouldn’t blend, but they excellently did. I go from sipping my smoothie to taking a bite of the sweet-smelling porridge. It tastes like glorious heritage. The aftertaste is gentle. The Ugwu (pumpkin) vegetables I spot in the meal lend truth to the chef’s words that Coco Loco is all about natural and freshly made meals. The yam is soft and tasty. The Titus is fried just right.
I reminisce on my first time at Coco Loco, which was during its opening night in 2021. Live performances of high-life music and cultural dances spruced up the affair. I’m told those are now done on special occasions. Coco Loco also has on its menu Nigerian dishes such as Ofada rice and sauce, and spaghetti, among others. Most of the meals are about ₦2,500 a plate and the portions are large.
Coco loco, one of Abuja’s leading local restaurants with excellent customer service, appears on ride-hailing apps and can be reached that way. It’s located at Rockville, Life camp, Abuja which is accessible from places such as Kubwa, Lugbe, Jabi, Katampe, and others through a series of cabs that should cost about ₦500 to ₦700. Check out Coco Loco if the mix of indoors and nature in addition to good food is your thing.
Amadin Ogbewe, who hails from Benin City, Edo State, is a writer and journalist based in Abuja
Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.
