GRILLER'S CAFE 99 - Not So Strongly Worded Letter

AkanmuAbuja@gmail.com

Rating: 8/10

January, 2013

"Griller’s Café 99" – Bar/Hoohah/Snacks

Back Entrance of the Silverbird Mall

Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, Nigeria.

Please see the bottom of this letter in the Highlights/Review section, as well as the bold sentences for the brief version of this letter/review.

Letter to Griller's Café 99 Management

Dear Griller’s Café Management,

This is a not so strongly worded letter to express my opinions following my experience at your establishment. I should inform you that this letter is being made available to the public through the internet, primarily for the purpose of empowering or entertaining other consumers curious about your establishment.

Congratulations on creating something that in its simplicity manages to be brilliant. There is nothing individually exceptional about this place, and yet there are many things that as a whole make this a great spot to chill. Most importantly of all, the café serves its purpose.

Before I continue though, may I ask, what’s with the name? You don’t seem to grill much of anything (unless shawarmas and escalopes allow one to rise to the justification of being called a grill) and your name suggests that you are some Abuja classic landmark that has been around since 1999, when I am fairly certain that in 1999, the land you occupy was sand and ruble. Nonetheless, a name is just a name in this case since your locate is such that your customers need not remember your name. It literally does not hurt your bottom-line because even after I myself have spent over 4 hours at this “café” on more than 3 different occasions, I had to drive over and check which name to use for this letter I am now writing.

Moving off the odd name, I want to commend you on having waiters and staff who have positive attitudes and overall good intentions. Yes, the service is still lacking to some degree in that the waiters seem a little awkward at times but for the most part, the waiters are mostly attentive, willing to help, and do not give customers a negative vibe. Similarly, the atmosphere here is relaxing and easy to spend a long amount of time in, especially given the fact that although a customer feels exposed by being outdoors near the entrance of one of the busiest buildings in Abuja, there are railings and a veranda roof that makes it feel like the exposure is limited. Also, thank you for not ruining this place with loud obnoxious music. In fact, this is the only reason why I will allow you to call yourself a “café” and not a bar (which is actually more of what you are).

The next thing I want to praise you on is your menu, which has quite a number of snacks and even some food like rice. Initially, the rice threw me off because this place does not evoke restaurant-esque vibes. But then, I guess considering that the Silverbird Galleria is so excluded from much else, if one were craving some rice, why not get it from you? Furthermore, most of your menu items are things that are easy to prepare and can hardly be messed up and so rice falls in with the group. Rice being adequately (more like excessively) discussed, great job with the Shawarma. Priced at the fairly standard 1,000 Naira, your chicken shawarma is yummy, well-wrapped (nothing more annoying than a shawarma that falls apart as you eat it in public), and has a decent amount of chicken in it. Furthermore, you have shawarma and cheese for 1,200 Naira that tastes amazing for anyone who loves cheese (although the quality of cheese isn’t anything to go wild about but hey, it’s shawarma).

When a hookah is placed in front of me, the first three things I worry about is if I can get a pick to move the coals around myself, if there would be enough coal available consistently throughout my smoking it, and if it is well-prepared (flavors in the right quantity and such). That being sad, you get an A for covering the essential bases for sheesha smokers. Furthermore, you have mouth pieces and so an entire table can share without giving each other mono (or laziness as the disease is known in Nigeria…..what? Ever hear of a Nigerian being diagnosed with mono?) There are other details like what type of coal is used, which variety of flavors are available, and how many pipes the hookah has that take away from my experience, but most other places in Abuja that provide sheesha suffer from similar problems.

All in all, I think this is a great place to visit for a drink or snack if one is at the Silverbird Galleria and they want a beverage or snack but like me hate the crowds inside the galleria itself. You have done a great job in creating a positive environment and most of all, I commend you for not being a greedy capitalist like most other businesses at the Galleria by keeping your prices reasonable (I know I would have much higher prices than you do were I running this place). This café is certainly worth the experience.

                                                                                                                             

Please feel free to contact AkanmuAbuja@gmail.com if you represent Griller’s Café 99 and would like to respond.

Warm Regards,

Akanmu

Highlights/Review

1.     This is a positive (and thus, not so ‘strongly’) worded letter.

2.     This is a great place to hang and get a drink, a snack, or some hookah if you’re waiting for your movie to begin or if you have some other business at the Silverbird Galleria and want to relax in between, before, or after.

3.     This is an amazing spot for groups of 1-8. You can easily join tables together to make long tables and there is some form of refreshment for everyone. You can also just chill here alone and watch some soccer with a beer without feeling awkward.

4.     The prices here are reasonable, especially given the location and how much traffic management could and does get. That being said, the place is hardly ever at capacity, except during major soccer games and so it is still worth going to in the hopes of finding a spot.

5.     They only have three sheesha flavors but it seems like a lot of places in Abuja have those same three: Grape, Watermelon, and Double Apple (oh and Mint but I believe Mint should be mixed with other flavors and isn’t a flavor worth mentioning on its own).

6.     The waiters here appear to be stumbling a little at times but are so positive, attentive, and eager to please that you have to take the awkwardness as a sign of eagerness, which is good.

7.     The menu has a lot of edibles. It is arguably pricey from a ‘simple rice and meat costing around 1,000 Naira for why naaa’ perspective. However, given the location and the fact that other menu items are reasonably priced, it is fine.

8.     They have badass shawarma and cheese for about 1,200 naira. As far as shawarma and cheese, this is the best I’ve had in Abuja so far because they aren’t stingy with the cheese or the chicken.

9.     Drinks are reasonably priced.

10. Hookah is very reasonably priced. A whole 1,000 Naira less than hookah at Bamboo.

11. If you don’t like being stared at or watched by people as you spend time chilling, eating, and hanging with friends, this place isn’t really for you. Especially on weekends.

12. If you have a hard time finding seating here, I recommend you walk up to the bar and talk to the waiters and they usually try and find something for you.