The 11th edition of the Awari Restaurant Week culminated in an awards ceremony on December 3, 2025, celebrating outstanding culinary talent across Lagos and Abuja.
The event marked the finale of the three-week programme, which ran from November 3 to 23 and featured 82 participating restaurants.
Among the winners were Z Kitchen, which secured the award for ‘Best Menu’, and Mr Panther, which claimed the ‘People’s Choice’ award. Lala’s Bistro was honoured as the ‘Top Performing Restaurant’.
In her address, Tannaz Bahnam, founder of Awari, reflected on the initiative’s evolution and its role in strengthening the local dining community.
She expressed gratitude to the chefs, restaurants, and partners who contributed to this year’s success, noting that Awari is “just getting started” and that the future looks bright.
She described the awards night as a celebration of the “passion, creativity, and resilience” that define Lagos’ vibrant food scene.
Bahnam highlighted the journey of Restaurant Week over the past 11 years—from its beginnings as Lost in Lagos to its current identity as Awari — while reaffirming its core mission to showcase the city’s best culinary offerings.
“Awari Restaurant Week is more than an event. It is a reminder that when we celebrate local talent, when we spotlight our culinary innovators, when we bring people together around food and culture — we strengthen the fabric of our city,” she said.
“To every restaurant that participated, to every chef who poured their heart into their dishes, to every partner and supporter who believes in this vision: thank you. Your commitment is what makes this platform meaningful.
”Awari is just getting started. And with your creativity and your excellence, the future we’re building together is bright.
“Tonight has been a celebration of the passion, creativity, and resilience that define Lagos’ food scene. Our chefs, our restaurateurs, our teams — you are the heartbeat of this city, and it has been an honour to recognise your excellence.
”As we close, I want to acknowledge how far we’ve come, 11 years of Restaurant Week! From the early days of Lost in Lagos to the evolution into Awari, our mission has always remained the same: to showcase the best of our city and to empower the businesses that make Lagos unforgettable.
“What began as a simple guide has transformed into a platform, a community, and now a movement — one that continues to grow because of all of you.”
Bahnam concluded by congratulating all nominees and winners and looking ahead to an “even bigger and bolder year” for the Awari community.
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