Nigerian Restaurant Santa Maria is a small family place where fufu is made to order and the jollof rice doesn’t hold back. Authentic Nigerian food, big portions and low prices. Come without rushing, without a menu… and with curiosity.
When you decide to eat without knowing exactly what you’ll get
There are places in Santa Maria where you don’t walk in asking for a menu — you walk in, look around and think: right, let’s see what happens here. Nigerian Restaurant is one of those. Small, simple, not trying to impress, and the message is clear from the start: you’re here to eat, not to pose.
No speeches, no décor designed for Instagram. Just food, time, and people who genuinely seem to care that you don’t leave hungry.
A no-filter Nigerian family place
This isn’t “African fusion” or a softened tourist version. It’s home-style Nigerian food, cooked by the same people who serve it. If you’re tired of pizzas, burgers and copy-paste menus from the Strip, this place makes a lot of sense.
If you need a long menu, European pacing, or to know exactly what you’ll eat before you sit down, it can feel a bit uncomfortable.
Two foundations run the show: rice (especially jollof) and fufu with different soups. Not much else. And oddly enough, that’s part of the charm.
Bold flavours and portions with no shame
The pattern in reviews is consistent: big portions, very tasty food, and surprisingly low prices for what lands on your plate.
The jollof rice with chicken is the crowd favourite: well seasoned, filling, and easy to enjoy even if Nigerian food is new to you. The fufu, always freshly made, usually comes with soups like egusi or bitter-leaf, which split opinions more — some love them, others simply admit they’re not for everyone.
The kitchen doesn’t do rush jobs. If something is made to order, you wait. And most of the time, it’s worth it.
Nobody’s running (and nobody’s trying to)
The vibe is calm, often quiet, with locals and the occasional curious visitor. Service is frequently described as very kind, warm and patient, especially with people who don’t really know what to order.
Waiting time varies: sometimes there’s none, sometimes it’s 10 to 30 minutes, particularly if the fufu is being made from scratch.
It’s not slow. It’s food made when you ask for it.
Poorly calibrated expectations
There are very few negative reviews, but one thing is worth knowing: the sign outside doesn’t always match the name on Google, and there’s an occasional mention of prices changing or dishes not living up to expectations.
There’s also one isolated complaint about food that felt reheated or bland on a specific day. Not the norm, but a useful reminder: this is a very human place — and that means better days and worse days.
How to enjoy it without friction
Come without rushing and without rigid expectations. Asking what they have that day tends to work better than trying to control the experience.
If you’re unsure, jollof with chicken is the safest choice. If you feel like exploring, fufu is worth trying — just knowing not every flavour is universally loved.
Prices usually sit around €8–€10 per dish, and a couple getting out for under 1,800 CVE isn’t unusual.
Good food, no decoration, no excuses
Nigerian Restaurant Santa Maria is one of those places that doesn’t try to win you over — it just does its thing. Honest cooking, generous portions, and a kind of hospitality that feels real, not rehearsed.
It’s not for everyone, but if you want something different, properly cooked, and not overpriced, it often turns into a very pleasant surprise.
Sometimes the best plan is sitting down without knowing exactly what you’ll order… and letting the kitchen decide.
