Ogo Oluwa TBS Restaurant

Ogo Oluwa TBS Restaurant is very good Nigerian buffet restaurant occupying an open, comfortable space in Lincoln Square. The food is excellent and ridiculously inexpensive.

I was directed here by the owner of Makola Groceries, who told me the restaurant had moved here from the strip mall at Sunnyside and Sheridan. Indeed, TBS now occupies a large and sparkling space that might have been a dance club. The wood floors are new, doubtless a result of the rehab.

The owner kindly explained to me each of the items on the buffet --- there were about three dozen of these --- and helped me assemble an assortment that would suit my taste. See the attached pic. Some of these items were: spinach with melon seed, yam, cowpeas, cowpeas with bacon, plantain, goat, beef, tripe, cassava fufu. Other items, which I did not sample (I was way too full), included fish, okra, jollof rice, plain rice, wheat fufu, yam fufu, yam soup, and more.

Food: The food was excellent. There was no dessert, nor was coffee or tea offered or served. On the other hand, the dinner included cans of soda, although that did me no good because I do not drink soft drinks. Since I don't eat dessert I did not miss anything.

Price: The price was $14 including soft drinks, tax and tip.

Ambiance: The TV was off while I was eating but it would be a distraction if it were on. The restaurant was quiet, with no piped in music or radio. The space is large, and the tables are spaced widely apart. This is a comfortable space for dinner. However, the bare wood floors reflect sound so TBS would be noisy if it were crowded.

Service: What can I say? The owner herself escorted me through the buffet and taught me what I was eating and how to eat.

Other: BYOB, suitable for large parties and families. TBS is located near Harvestime Foods, Sarajevo Restaurant, and Nhu Lan and Hellas Bakeries.

To summarize, I think that Ogo Oluwa TBS Restaurant is an excellent Nigerian restaurant that offers good food at dirt-cheap prices in a nice looking, spacious rehabbed space. I highly recommend TBS.

9-27-12
A second visit led me to temper my enthusiasm somewhat. The TBS buffet can be rather oily if you eat a lot of the fried plantain.