Embarking on a culinary adventure to explore Nigerian cuisine might just be the best-kept secret in the world of food. Fortunately for Nashville residents, Nico’s Lounge Restaurant and Bar in South Nashville has been proudly representing Nigerian flavors for several years. This unassuming restaurant, which is close to the intersection of Haywood Lane and Nolensville Pike, serves a wide variety of Nigerian and West African cuisine.
A Glimpse Inside Nico’s: The Ambiance and Setting
Nico’s interior is surprisingly spacious, featuring a fully stocked bar, large flat-screen televisions, and an open floor plan that can transform into an event space for special occasions. While the restaurant provides plenty of tables, tableside service is limited, as the actual ordering takes place at a small kitchen window towards the back. I suggest opting for takeout, although there is ample space if you can’t resist the allure of dining in and satisfying your jollof cravings.
Delving into Nigerian Cuisine: A Tapestry of Flavors
Nigerian cuisine, like any great culinary tradition, is multifaceted. Attempting to describe it with a single adjective would be an injustice. Similar to the rich diversity found in Indian, Chinese, or Mexican cuisine, Nigerian dishes are best understood by their regional origins. With its vast territory, bustling urban centers, dense forests, and barren deserts, Nigeria is home to numerous ethnocultural groups. But let’s delve deeper into the essence of Nigerian food.
Nico’s Culinary Offerings: A Feast for the Senses
First and foremost, Nigerian cuisine is incredibly diverse. Nico’s menu showcases a range of offerings, from quick and simple items like spicy suya beef kebabs and moi moi—a savory steamed cake made from black-eyed peas and spices—to complex soups and stews. The menu lacks descriptive flair, so it’s advisable to keep your phone handy for some quick Googling when deciding what to order.
The Flavors that Set Nico’s Apart
What sets Nico’s apart is the surprising burst of flavors emerging from its unassuming kitchen. The ideal Nigerian dish boasts a spicy kick (sometimes fiery) and is packed with fresh ingredients, tender meat, and a delightful umami taste. A prime example is egusi, a hearty stew made from ground melon seeds and leafy greens, which Nico’s executes exceptionally well. Other dishes highlight Nigeria’s abundant local flora and fauna, such as ogbono (wild mango seed) soup and okra stew.
The Role of Swallow: Nigeria’s Staple Side Dish
No Nigerian main dish is complete without swallow—a starchy side dish resembling dough, made from tubers or plantains commonly found throughout Africa. Swallow often replaces white rice as the preferred carbohydrate accompaniment in Nigerian cuisine. Its nutty and slightly bitter taste balances the rich and oily elements found in many Nigerian dishes.
Jollof Rice: West Africa’s Culinary Gem
And then there’s the iconic jollof rice, perhaps West Africa’s most renowned culinary export. Nico’s does justice to this fragrant tomato-based party rice by offering it as a plate with a choice of meat. Jollof rice is a cultural staple throughout West Africa, igniting passionate debates over its origins and which country prepares it best.
The Global Influence of Nigerian Cuisine
When you feast your eyes on a plate of jollof rice and chicken, or inhale the aroma of a meticulously prepared stew infused with smoked crawfish and okra, you begin to see the likely origins of Cajun/Creole jambalaya and crawfish étouffée, Jamaican brown stew chicken and rice and peas, and a myriad of other celebrated dishes and cuisines.
Nico’s: A Culinary Destination in Nashville
Nico’s Lounge Restaurant and Bar stands as a gateway to a world of flavors waiting to be explored. So, if you’re ready to embark on a culinary journey through Nigeria and beyond, Nico’s is the perfect destination to satisfy your cravings for exceptional West African cuisine.
