THE newest restaurant to come to Wellington offers a taste of authentic Nigerian food in the south west of England.

And the Wellington Weekly News went along to see what was cooking, writes Lulu Goad.

Our Embassy officially opened its doors on December 25 promising delicious home style West African meals in the heart of Somerset.

Although not a chef by trade, owner Adebiyi Aderinoye said he had always loved cooking for his family and friends and that establishing the Wellington restaurant felt like a natural transition.

We joined Our Embassy on a cold February night and were welcomed with the famous Nigerian Fanta, aka ‘Orobo’ with its iconic glass bottle. Still shivering from the outside chill, the sugary drink worked wonders to re-energise us for the meal ahead.

A bowl of Suya was presented to start; a nutty, spicy beef dish, traditionally threaded onto skewers. Ours was served with cocktail sticks which were hard to use but we stepped up to the challenge and enjoyed what was a delectable, if ever so slightly chewy, starter.

On Adebiyi’s recommendation, we both chose to try the Nigerian jollof with chicken with plantain on the side. The rice dish was hearty, and the spicy meat and sweet plantain complemented each other well. The generous portions were quickly devoured.

While we opted for meat-based dishes, the menu also offered several vegetarian alternatives, including the much-loved Nigerian spinach stew, Efo Riro. For those on the fence, the key is not to over order. Come hungry or come decisive.

The staff were attentive but not overbearing, and we felt well looked after throughout our meal. As for the atmosphere, it was as good as one would expect a new restaurant in a small town to have, but Our Embassy certainly promises an exciting future.

Our Embassy is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 6-10.30pm with takeaway and delivery available from 4pm.