I was still working in Apara Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers state when 12:11 started operation. I carried food to work in those days thus, I had no need to buy food on weekdays. On Saturday, however, I visited the restaurant. I had a church engagement that finished later than anticipated. So, I was hungry. At the restaurant, I learned that food was prepared fresh and it would take them about fifty minutes to prep and serve my order. My home, meanwhile, was fifteen minutes away and I had food that I could heat up and eat once I got home. Guess what I did? You guessed right, I went home. Several months later, hubby and I dined at this restaurant. Due to my previous experience, I pre-ordered our food and this reduced waiting time greatly.
12: 11 is a cozy, elegant restaurant tucked into Apara Road, G.R.A Phase 2. If you have ever been to Apara road or driven past it, you’d know the environment is serene. The restaurant is small. You’ll love the modest decor and the creative use of space. The air conditioning unit is fully functional. If you walk into this restaurant in February or March when the heat is at its most oppressive, you wouldn’t want to leave. There are two sitting options, indoor and outdoor. Outdoor is mainly for smokers but you can sit there if indoors is too cold for you or if you want a bit of fresh air. The music is usually soft during the day. Thus, you can do a bit of office work there. I haven’t visited the restaurant at night but I imagine the music would be louder at that time. Nigerians go for loud after work hours. Anything other than that’ll put them to sleep. Lol.
Sign up for the Connect Nigeria daily newsletter
You’d find both local and continental dishes on the menu at 12: 11. They have an à la carte menu; thus, you can order as many items as you need. You’ll think their soups, especially their Edika Ikong and Native Soups, are straight from mama’s pot. They are mouthwatering; so, kudos to the chef and the entire kitchen staff. Their portions are large too; if you don’t finish your food, they can pack the leftover for you. Their drinks are chilled. I love their cocktails in particular. Let me mention at this point that the food at 12: 11 is pricey. First-time visitors especially those on a budget should either calculate their orders themselves or ask the waiter for their order total before proceeding. This is to avoid indigestion or sweating inside A/C. Lol.
Register to attend the Connect Nigeria Business Mixer
The staff are courteous and helpful. The convenience is clean. The downside for me is the long waiting time for food. It takes approximately forty to sixty minutes for orders to be prepared and served. That length of time is enough for hunger to kill the hungry or for the impatient to create a scene. Their service will be awesome if they can work on their time.
In conclusion, if you’re looking for a serene, classy restaurant for private or group dining, then look the 12:11 way.
Featured Image Source: Hotels.Ng