Mingles, Jericho

So Mingles opened sometime this year. I noticed it one day passing by Magazine road. It's actually Mingles Sports Bar and Lounge. I wanted to go there and had kept it in mind for a while. I was going to go with Vodka sometime later but a friend called me up and mentioned we should hang there. (It was heaven paving a way for me.) I was going to review the place and well my money would be safe in my purse.

We got to Mingles. It's just by the roadside so it's easier to locate than Chrysalis. We went on a weekday evening. It's a bar, people go to bars after work not only on the weekends.

First thing I noticed was the large parking space (Just in case the park were full on a given day, the road is wide enough with a hard shoulder. It shouldn't be too hard to find a space to park.) Next thing was the sit-out for those who prefer alfresco. It's shaded so I think one should be relatively safe if it were to rain.

We walked in and the waiters let us pick our seats. It's an impressive space  I picked a table for two in the corner. The waiter was prompt to offer us a menu. (One of those laminated papers. Feel free to spill your drinks. The menu has got your back 😏) I asked for a pina colada and my friend asked for a beer.

The space (More screens were to the left of the photo and from the angle the photo was taken)

They have beers and cocktails and mocktails (smoothies and chapman). They have spirits too. So, our waiter came back and said there were no cocktails available except the Long Island which I find to be strong for me. It turns out the bartender was not around. (For a place called a bar and lounge????) I had to switch to a chapman. My friend's drink came before mine. The beer was cold...super cold. Mine came not too long after and there were no coasters so the table was messed up afterwards.

Beers go for about #500, Cocktails #(1500-2000)

Chapman #1000

We asked for snails and 'asun' but snails were not available so we had to go for chicken and while that was being prepared, (A lot on the menu is not available 😖😖) I had time to look around.

'Asun' #500

Peppered Chicken Wings #1000 (four pieces formerly)

There are lots of screens. It would be perfect to see football matches. Also, there's no art on the wall but it looks like there are canvasses waiting to be unveiled. The music: it was playing from one of those music channels. It wasn't so great. I think they need a dj even if only to mix and burn some songs onto cds for them. Plus there was sports on the screen and lots of female tushes from the music videos on some screens.

The food came in about 15 minutes. The service is prompt and efficient. The asun was good but a little oily. The chicken was also good and moist on the inside. The food tastes like all those restaurant prepared foods where everything was measured in the exact quantities and would taste exactly the same the next time you visit. (I hope I communicated that well)

The patronage is really low for such a large space and I think they need to work on their promotion. It feels like if you had to bring your friends, you'd need to bring your own fun. Also, you may think I should not judge a place by its weekday vibe. Well, I've had friends go there on weekends and from their photos and what they say, it's still not so full. So go with your friend who is the life of the party and have a blast.

The Bar

We asked for our bill and left. By the way, there's a VIP section.

Location: Magazine Road, Jericho, Ibadan
Telephone: 07057141698

Rating: 3.5/5.0

Do let me know if you visit or have visited and your experience. 😉

Twist

Cafe Chrysalis, Bodija

I went out on Sunday with my friend Vodka. We had planned this outing for a while. The spot was not decided but I knew I wanted somewhere nice for the first hangout. So, when we eventually met, we settled on Cafe Chrysalis. Now I've been to Cafe Chrysalis before but every time is a different experience. I'll tell you about Sunday's outing.

Neither Vodka nor I have a car. We had a decision to make. It was: be cheap and have enough money for your meal or call a cab and do the dishes after your meal. It won't have been that bad though 😳but we went with the former. So, we each took a bike to the gated estate in Bodija where Cafe Chrysalis is. We then had to walk in through the gate to Ilaro Street which is the first street to the right once you've gone through the gate and Cafe Chrysalis is at the end of that street. I felt it wasn't such a long walk but Vodka felt otherwise apparently.
So, if you're headed to Cafe Chrysalis Bodija, it's preferable you get a car, or a cab preferably non-painted unless you don't mind the walk before and after your meal.

Now you need to know that there is no sign outside the gates saying 'Cafe Chrysalis' so don't look out for that. Just follow the numbers of the houses. We got to the gate and the security opened and directed us to the restaurant entrance. I'm sorry I don't have photos but it's a little walkway through a garden. The entrance is to the right of the gate and the left is probably the main house.

We go in and the waiters are taking orders but welcome us so cheerfully. It was good. Vodka selected the table. It was for two and in one of the corners. A waiter came to us and left us with the menu. We made our decision on drinks and the meal. It was to be pina coladas (one alcoholic and the other non-alcoholic) and i was going to have a Croaker Yamarita which is acclaimed to be a Nigerian Favourite Dish in the Restaurant and Vodka was to have Chicken Curry.

(I need to apologise for not having pictures again cos the dishes were lovely and a photo would be the best summary. I took my spare camera battery as that was fully charged and it turns out it doesn't last for long. So while we were taking test shots and Vodka was experimenting with a professional camera for the first time *rme* the battery ran out of juice. I promise to keep my eyes on the prize next time.)

The waiter returned for our orders and came back to inform us that there was no pina coladas. (I feel restaurants can do better to inform waiters of what they would be able to make each day to avoid the embarrassment of taking an order and going back to say the order cannot be done.) We had to choose an easier drink. Chapman: one alcoholic and the other non-alcoholic. (Oh and might I mention, remember it's not my first time going to Cafe Chrysalis, be open minded cos some things are on the menu but are not available). Vodka asked how long we'd need to wait for our food and was told thirty minutes. We were so going to hold them to their word.

In the mean time, we took terrible shots which as it turns out can't be used in this post cos it's that bad. We admired the art. They have lots of wall art and a quote in particular

"Sometimes the dreams that come true are the dreams that you never even knew that you had." 

Also there was a cute couple in the corner so Vodka and I made up stories about them...what else do you do when you've got time to kill. The drinks came about 15minutes later. (Oh by the way, Cafe Chrysalis has those rich walls you could pose in front of if you're very arty to take great Instagram photos. Their colours are blue and yellow so expect lots of that.)  The lighting is mainly tungsten giving the room a warm atmosphere. Take a girl you love there if you're a guy. I know it's a public space but it feels private as it doesn't have so much crowd (A well kept Ibadan secret 😉). I remember the first time I went there, it was with my family and a married couple (friends to the family), the wife whispered to me (how did you find out about this place with a wink that says I know a guy brought you here...alas it was my first time.)

Vodka's Chapman

Oh yeah, the music gets you too. It's just soft and in the background. There's no jukebox. It feels like just preloaded cds. It's oldies mainly but ohhhhhh the music is good.  I give that to them. It gets me everytime. Vodka is so into rating them. Thirty minutes later our food is not out and Vodka rings the call bell and the waiter is prompt to respond. A different waiter though cos the one attending to us went into the kitchen. Vodka was impressed by the promptness. I ask about the food and she has to ask what we ordered and is apologetic but apparently Chicken Curry takes a while to get done.

Both bells work just fine 😊😊 we tried them

There's no television. So guys who promised their girlfriends an outing on EPL Sundays or on Champion's League night whatever it is, Cafe Chrysalis is way past that. I love that I didn't notice a television which means you actually have to talk to whom you're with. Get to know each other.

The food came about an hour later and the Croaker Yamarita is great. A plate goes for #2500. It was a piece of fried salted croaker with tomatoes spread over it, two spoons of yam porridge, some vegetables, a little beef and diced fried plantains. It was yummy. 😋
The Chicken Curry (#2000 per plate) was basmati rice, boiled Irish potatoes, two pieces of chicken and a boiled egg.
Vodka and I tried each others food and he wanted more of mine even though his was equally great. He felt the fish was a little too salty, I felt it was perfect and he felt the porridge needed to be more fluid. (I think that's the term) It was fine to me.

There's a bar there too so order your bottles of wine or some spirits. The collection is nothing extra fancy just the regular.

While we were there, a table was being set for a party and they came in and the drinks didn't take too long. I feel they called before hand.

Before we left, I absolutely had to check out the conveniences. It's a door with a sign just to the left of the bar if you happen to be facing the bar. Cafe Chrysalis is a converted house so it still has those traditional Old Bodija buildings type feel. I grew up in Old Bodija and had quite a number of friends I visited. It's an old type water cistern, white with all those old type square white tiles on the walls. There's a lot of blue and yellow there too. There's a basket in the corner beside the wash hand basin with rolled white towels for mopping your hands dry when you're done and a space under to throw the used ones. There's a bottle of hand lotion too. The scent is great. It's got mirrors too so go in and check yourself when you're done with your meal for any stray vegetables or meat. Also, retouch your makeup. It's got enough space for a girl to go in with her friend to help her adjust anything or gossip ☻. You need to know though that if you're looking for perfect bathroom lighting for a mirror selfie, i don't feel it's that great for that.

Overall, the ambience is 100. The waiters; courteous and prompt. I feel though that since Cafe Chrysalis looks like the 'Wear a Jacket' type of restaurant we see in Hollywood movies, (I didn't dress up cos I was going to walk) the waiters did not live up to that; appearance-wise. The hairs were unkempt and the tops seem like bar wear not formal restaurant type wear.

The food is great....really good. I mean the fish was just the right amount of moist inside and what not. The vegetables not too soggy and all served in a white dish.  The food is equally very filling and moderately priced.

It's a great place and I'd recommend it to anyone planning a birthday party or a formal dinner or just looking for good food.

There's another at Ring-Road if you stay far from Bodija. I've been there too and the quality is the same. Also, at Agodi Gardens, I have had a plate of rice and a cocktail from their stand there. That one offers a limited menu and food is served from a warmer but heated before being offered. It's been a while and I'm not sure if they are still there but if they are, you should try the food.

LOCATIONS

Cafe Chrysalis -     23 Ilaro Street, Old Bodija, Ibadan
Jazz by Chrysalis - 4 Mogaji Are Street, beside Leadway Assurance (I hear there's a Live Band on                                      Sundays)
Call in advance    - 08055235477
They're open 8:00am - 10:00pm all days of the week except Sundays when it's 12:00noon - 10:00pm.

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Make sure to let me know your opinion of the place.

Twist