Reykjavík Grapevine - sep. 2020, Blaðsíða 20

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Reykjavík 2020
20
DINING
Joy And Jollof Rice
Introducing Ogolúgo, 101’s only African restaurant
Words: Poppy Askham Photo: Art Bicnick
Ogolúgo means “welcome” in
Hausa and the name couldn’t
be more fitting for Laugavegur’s
latest culinary arrival. Since its
early July opening, the team be-
hind the restaurant have been
determined to deliver a taste of
Africa to 101 by offering a host of
authentic dishes from attieke to
domuda, all served with a gen-
erous helping of laughter and
hospitality.
Filling a gap in
the market
“I want it to feel like home, that
was the main idea,” explains Alex
Jallow, Ogolúgo’s owner, waiter,
and resident TikTok superstar.
“The taste of the food, the smell
of the spices, the crowds of peo-
ple—when you walk in you feel
like you’re home, like you’re in
Africa.”
Alex hails from the Gambia
and Senegal region of West Af-
rica, but grew up in the U.K. and
has been living in Iceland for
over ten years. “I love Iceland, but
I just felt that that African touch
was missing in this country, so
when I was able to make it hap-
pen, it was a dream come true.”
Before taking up the role
of restaurant frontman, Alex
worked as a chef. “I got my love
for food from my mum. I was
always in the kitchen, running
in and stealing food from her
whilst she was cooking,” he ex-
plains. “When I was 11, I would
always ask to go to the market.
My mum would ask me what I
wanted to buy, but I just wanted
to go to the market so I could get
close to all the different ingredi-
ents. That’s the kind of person
I’ve been ever since I was little.
I’ve always loved food.”
He suddenly jumps up from
the table and disappears into the
kitchen, emerging with a plate
of jollof rice served with crispy
plantain and grilled tilapia. He
also brings the rather reluctant
head chef Dawda in tow. “This is
West Africa’s favourite dish, but
it can be found all across the con-
tinent” Dawda explains. “I have
lots of favorite recipes to make
and I’m always experimenting,
but at the end of the day I’ll al-
ways love jollof rice.”
Service with a smile
Although the food is superb, what
really stands out from a dining
experience at Ogolúgo is the at-
mosphere, largely thanks to the
overbrimming enthusiasm of the
restaurant’s owner. Alex practi-
cally leaps from table to table, fre-
quently breaking out into dance
as he delivers steaming meat pies
and huge bowls of okro soup. It’s
this exuberance that has earnt
him hundreds of thousands of
views on the restaurant’s hit Tik-
Tok account—username ogolu-
go101—where he puts his own vi-
vacious spin on the trends of the
day, attracting a younger crowd of
dedicated diners in the process.
His cheerfulness is infectious;
within moments of entering the
restaurant, you’re grinning along
with him and even agreeing to
make a TikTok cameo.
“Trust me, I don’t even know
where I get my energy from my-
self and I’m in here every single
day,” he laughs. “It’s all about hap-
piness. There’s so much positive
energy in this restaurant. My
customers look forward to com-
ing here, and they love it when
I’m dancing around the place. It
makes me happy to make them
happy so I don’t even notice that
I’m running around and that time
is going by. I can’t complain. I am
happy, very happy.”
And there we find Ogolúgo’s
secret: not only is it 101’s only
African restaurant, it’s also the
postcode’s most joyful dining
spot. I leave the restaurant like
every other diner, with a full
stomach and a smile on my face,
having promised a swift return.
Info: Visit Ogolúgo at Laugavegur 85
and be sure to check out their TikTok
ogolugo101.
Laugarnesvegur 74a, 105 Reykjavik
+354 537 6556
Please follow us on
Facebook: kaffi.laekur
Instagram: kaffi.laekur
Tripadvisor & Google: Kaffi Lækur
Family-run speciality coffee house/bar
and a homey eatery
Healthy drinks and food
Vegan-friendly
Homemade with local ingredients
We run an art gallery and host cultural
events
Located next to Laugardalslaug pool
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