Yes. It is true. When I was first told that there is a restaurant in Akure, the capital of Ondo State where one could eat freshly prepared meal within 10 minutes in a homely ambience saturated with warmth and perfect customers relations, I did not believe it.Being a regular visitor to Akure which is being turned to the best destination in South-West by Governor Olusegun Mimko who has been dazzling the electorate with political goodies and his phenomenal urban renewal projects, I have been a regular patron of restaurants as I take good care of what goes into my bowel.In my search for good foods and sumptuous meals in Akure, I frequent four notable restaurants, one located in Oke Eda, one which is not so touched up but also not so bad a place is located around one of the dead old bank. The other one is etched along the Arcade when heading for the House of Assembly while the last one has a name of a popular state in Nigeria.I have this belief that there could never be another restaurant in Akure that could beat the services of these four.However, as nice as these four are, I was dazed when necessity forced me to ventured into the Golden Crown Restaurant located in a plaza opposite the gate of Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure.Terribly famished after a good flight from Abuja ' Akure by Associated Airlines, I needed a new place to eat and have a change of taste. Just then I remembered the Golden Crown Restaurant story told by a friend.The drive to Oyemekun through the town that Friday 6 April to Oyemekun Grammar School was smooth as the dualization and beautification of Akure township roads by the government of Dr Mimko have helped to put at bay the road rage which was hitherto the case in Akure.The first impression you get as you enter the restaurant is this feeling that you are not only wanted there but you are made to feel so important and cherished as one Pelumi Omotayo ushers you in with an infectious and warm smile as if you are a lady to be toasted.Locating a table and sitting down, the menu request was done by one Precious, a petite lady who flashed smiles at you displaying her gap teeth to announce the food of the day.Despite the nice environment, the full air-conditioning, the lovely sitting arrangement, the warm reception, I started having problem with my request !I settled for Eba but with a condition, 'Can I get yesterday or three days left over' The petite girl said 'Here Sir, we don't sell dead food. All our food is served fresh. Just give me 10 minutes and your order will be ready.'I thought she was joking .I spent the minutes moving around the restaurant. I peeped into the kitchen, I was able to catch the hygienic cooking room and the neat chef. I love the portraits of great African musicians which are hung on the wall with their brief biographies ' Bob Marley, Marian Makeba and others. I saw the plaque of excellence which is the testimony of being the 'Best Restaurant 'in Ondo State-an award given by Community Link Newspaper.Before I could finish a tour of the restaurant, my order was ready at the dot of 9 minutes!Behold before me, on the table, a big mode of yellow. Eba parceled inside a cellophane, with three ' in- one soup (egunsi, vegetable and okro) graced with a robust and thick ponmo.With fervent enthusiasm and concentration, I rolled down the eba as the three 'in-one delicious soup facilitated its smooth passage into my bowel.'This is classical and homely, 'was what came out of my mouth.And it was tactile region too recognised that there was a big difference between the one which it has been accustomed to in Akure and the real meals being dished out freshly from the kitchen of Golden Crown Restaurant, opposite Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure.To crown it all, the bill was surprising. Yes. I was expecting a bill that would task me asking for the nearest cash or ATM point in the city only to be told that all what I had consumed with two bottles of soft drink was not up to one thousand naira! One thousand what' With the two flat screen TVs, air-conditioned environment, functional WC with imported hand washing lotion,well honed customers relations, efficient service! I quickly compared what I would have paid for the same though not so sumptuous meal in those places which I was used to which offer less value in terms of service and delivery. Realizing the amazement on my face, Pelumi Omotayo, the Manager, a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, came close and said 'Sir, Golden Crown restaurant is to offer the best food , the best service at the best customer friendly price.'Just a few minutes of interaction with Pelumi, I could noticed the effect of education and his grand understanding of the need of a typical customer who wants the attention and the need of serving him right. I also noticed the passion with which this young man sells the virtue of Golden Crown Restaurant to you with style as if he owns the outfit.As I got out of the restaurant enroute Ibadan, I took a mental review of the encounter of Golden Crown Restaurant, the ambience, the facilities, the rapport, the fresh food, the taste, the prompt service, the attention to details, the manner with which the manager rubbed minds with and engaged customers and I concurred with Community Link Newspapers which bestowed the Best Restaurant in Akure on Golden Crown Restaurant.And in deeds and service, Golden Crown Restaurant, is the best. Just confirm this. I did and find it so.
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