There aren’t many restaurants in New Jersey where patrons can experience homestyle Nigerian dishes. But that’s exactly what is on the menu at Olaide’s Kitchen in Sayreville. The spot serves authentic African cuisine with a modern flair infused by Chef Olaide Tella.
The cozy, 30-seat Olaide’s Kitchen serves Nigerian staples like Jollof Rice. This signature dish contains slightly smoky rice cooked in a zesty tomato sauce with vibrant herbs and spices. Not surprisingly, this is one of the most popular items on the menu. “Jollof Rice is something you’re likely to see on almost every table on a Saturday night,” says Chef Olaide. “It’s a dish that pairs well with different proteins.”
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A Unique Nigerian Menu
Other favorites at Olaide’s Kitchen include the Grilled Tilapia. This whole fish includes a choice of either “dodo” (plantains) or “dundun” (fried yam sticks), with sliced tomatoes and onions. For the more adventurous eaters, Chef Olaide also prepares Peppered Snails. This small plate features sauteed snails in a spicy tomato sauce.
Another crowd pleaser is the Goat Meat Pepper Soup. This dish combines spicy goat meat in a thin broth simmered with Nigerian herbs and spices. Chef Olaide realizes goats and snails are not typical menu items at other area restaurants. But she is eager for customers to experience new dishes and hopefully come away with a love for Nigerian recipes. Recipes that, in her case, have been passed down for generations.
About Olaide’s Kitchen
Cooking is in Chef Olaide’s blood, as she grew up in Nigeria working at her mother’s “buka,” or street-side restaurant. She also attended a vocational culinary school there, before immigrating to New Jersey in 1998. First, she worked as a certified nurse aide while also starting her own catering company. After 15 successful years in the catering business, she pursued her ultimate dream of opening her own restaurant, Olaide’s Kitchen.
A true family business, Chef Olaide’s daughter Abigail Lemo is the director of operations for Olaide’s Kitchen. “‘Feed every person as if they were your family,’ my grandmother used to say. We take that seriously,” Abigail says. “Our customers say they feel it, and new customers feel called to try us.”
Future plans include the opening of a second Olaide’s Kitchen in Jersey City in late 2024 or early 2025. “We’re very excited about the new restaurant which will have a similar lively and modern African aesthetic,” Abigail explains. “The restaurant will be streamlined and sleek, both visually and operationally. It will emphasize take-out and catering, since there will be fewer tables.”
Visit Olaide’s Kitchen at 499 Ernston Rd in Sayreville. Look for them online to learn more.
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All Photos: © Olaide’s Kitchen
