First things first, if you are looking for more than just a good meal but an experience with food where there is literally a party happening on your pallet, this is your place. When I say, it's an explosion of flavors in every dish and in every bite I truly mean that. The genius of the chef with the un expected pairings of food is masterful. We had Charbroiled Oysters, HoeCrab (phenomenal) BBQ greens(Delish) and the Curry Bronzino (absolutely amazing). For dessert we had the bread pudding which was so good that I recommended it to the table next to us. As for ambiance it's definitely a VIBE! I enjoyed the music but it is LOUD. This may not be your place if you're looking for a quiet chill dinner. My husband thought the lounge style chairs were a bit uncomfortable but I didn't have an issue with them. The wine selection could be enhanced with a broader selection and higher quality wines. Overall, It's a solid 4.6 stars. Highly recommend! read more

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The food was delicious. Service is less to be desired with meals being served almost 1 hour later, waitstaff not bothering to check in on us to provide update of our meal order, plus incorrect bill. The Ambiance had a club feel to it. The music playing in the reception area was loud, so not an ideal dining experience if you are trying to make conversation. read more

Extraordinary flavors. Divine cocktails. Upbeat vibe. Unfortunately we had to wait 45 minutes between our first courses and the main course (curry bronzino), which is kind of inexcusable and was definitely a little frustrating. Our server said that a bunch of tables ordered the same dish at the same time. Whatever. This shouldn't happen at a top restaurant. The manager kindly offered us a dessert, gratis, but we had sat too long and were too full at that point. Highly recommended nonetheless, but on the pricier side. Still, very good food! read more

My My My...Dogon is my new favorite DC restaurant. Chef Kwame did it again! From the moment you walk in it is clear that Dogon is a special experience. After a short wait in their beautiful lounge, we were brought to our seats. We ordered Hoe Crab, Grilled Wagyu Short Rib, and Chicken and Rice. All were excellent! The star of the show is the short rib, which packs bold flavor reminiscent of Korean BBQ selections. Don't sleep on the chicken and rice, this is a delicious berbere roasted chicken and jollof rice. On my next visit, I plan to try the Braised Oxtails. Bens Bowl, BBQ Greens, and Cherries & Cream. RUN to Dogon for your next date night or intimate gathering. read more

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Food: Exceptional. Literally everything we tried was top tier. Service: Abysmal. We arrived on time for our 8:30 PM reservation and were promptly seated. Then we just sat there for 30 mins with no waiter ever coming to greet us or even provide us with water. We finally had to flag down a maitre d' who apologized for the delay and then promptly took our order. We thought things would be good from there on out... but no. Our waiter finally popped up about an hour after our arrival. We received the majority of our food quickly and were awaiting one last entree. We were told it would be out in 5-7 mins; 30 mins later it finally arrived. Same thing for dessert; over 30 mins to receive it. We literally sat and watched nearby tables order the same entree/dessert after we did, get their item and finish it, while we were still there waiting. It took us almost 3 hours to complete the dinner service because we seem to have been constantly forgotten about. To end the night, our waiter then lost our credit cards. We watched in horror as he and other employees searched the restaurant, looking under tables and all trying to find them! They finally located them about 15 mins later. My hope is that this is just growing pains and an isolated incident but it truly soured the whole experience. read more

I had such a great experience at Dōgon! Everything was perfect. Every course was layered with so many flavors. The ambience screams opulence, and the service was impeccable. Still thinking about the bbq greens. Cannot wait to visit again. read more

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I had a really great experience once I was able to secure a reservation; I love that they prioritize Amex members. The food was great -cornbread, Wagyu, and smoked greens (I'm a southern lady and it reminded me of comfort food). The drink was also really good and I especially liked the music and ambience! I'd definitely recommend this place to others. read more

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I visited last night. The food was amazing. I got Ben's Bowl and Chicken and Rice. They give you half a chicken that is moist and seasoned to perfection. Ben's Bowl was so different from anything I've ever had as far as the preparation. It was so delicious. The rum cake blew me away. And that is coming from a home baker that has sold many rum cakes. I have zero complaints about the food or the service. I was 20 minutes late for my reservation and they were able to accommodate me which I appreciate. My waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and very personable. Minor detail-- It was just a little too dark in the restaurant for me. Turn up the lights LOL. My only complaint is I was charged for an appetizer I did not order. I didn't notice that until I was at home took a good look at the receipt. Hopefully that will get sorted out today. I will definitely dine there again and again. read more

Food safety. I got sick. Try and you'll find out too. This is the standard they have. Subpar. FDA should check them out.

I'm so glad I booked a reservation as soon as they opened up because it was worth it. When you walk into the restaurant, it screams elegance. The entire staff was friendly and welcoming, and we were seated shortly after arrival. As for the food, we ordered several items since they are listed as shareable. The problem is the portion sizes, hence my 4 vs. 5 stars. We had a party of 4, and the oyster comes in 3, so we ordered 2 of those. While they were good, they were probably my least favorite thing that I tried. The parmesean cheese was heavy and overtook the flavor of the oyster. The red sauce that was served with it was delicious, and I could have eaten that by itself. It reminded me of a dish my Nigerian FIL would make. You can not afford not to get the Coco bread and the lamb bowl. Both were super delicious. The lamb melts in your mouth. Now the star of the show is the branzino! Chefs kiss! It was cooked to perfection. Moist with crispy skin! The next best was the chicken and jollof. There was a lemon sauce that paired so well with the chicken. And the perfect ending to the night was the rum cake. Delish! We devoured every dish, and I forgot to take pics of most of the dishes. If I can get another reservation, I really want to try the short ribs. It sounds amazing. read more

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I recently dined at Dogon and was impressed with the menu options and details for the overall dining experience. The restaurant boasts a modern, inviting atmosphere with subtle cultural accents that set the perfect mood. The menu features innovative fusion dishes each bite was a delicious mix of flavours and the creative drinks elevated the meal. The cornbread cannot be missed and the charbroiled oysters were amazing. Bens bowl was the only dish I thought could have used more to its presentation, texture and flavour but other than that every other dish was phenomenal. The friendly, attentive staff ensured a seamless dining experience. Highly recommended for anyone seeking quality food and excellent service in Washington, DC. read more

This was my second time at this restaurant and it is consistent with how delicious the food is and how great the service is. The service is amazing. I had Cindy on my most recent visit and Ameer as my server during my previous visit. Trust me when I tell you, this is the "IT" place to be. The ambiance is very welcoming. You have to try the collard greens and Wagyu. You will not be disappointed. read more

Dōgon - Caribbean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The whole place is a vibe from the time you enter the waiting area to the seating and service. It gives black excellence and definitely seems grown and sexy. Fellas keep the blazer on deck and at the least a button shirt. You're sounded by greatness and will see TV stars. We sat right beside the kitchen and seen chef Kwame in his natural habitat. Very welcoming and in his free time he walks by greeting guest and speaking to them. The food is Michelin status and the branzino fish was the star of the show even outshining the wagyu. Make sure to order the BBQ greens!!! read more

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Love love love this place. Dc's best Caribbean African food. Looking forward to to our next visit here.

The food is amazing! The ambience is dark and intimate. Craft drinks are the best around!

This was my second time visiting Dōgon, and it didn't quite stack up to the first, several months ago. The first time, every dish was distinctive and delicious. This time, some of the dishes (branzino) were excellent, but others were lackluster and even a little disappointing (sweet and sour cabbage--felt a little undercooked and bland). And, I think $22-25 for cocktails is frankly too expensive. The drinks are indeed creative with some interesting ingredients that take some prep (sorel, chai, etc.), but I would still expect an $18-21 price range for these cocktails. All in all, the whole meal just felt about 10-20% more expensive than it should be (~$360 with tip for 2, with 2 drinks each and 1 shared dessert). The service this time was still great, although I was a bit frustrated by the "only seating complete parties" policy when I was the first to arrive in a party of 2. I understand why restaurants have this policy, but if you have several 2-tops open on a weeknight, and you don't have any seating in your entryway for guests to wait, I think you should seat the first guest and give them the drink menu vs. have them sit alone in a bustling hotel lobby, especially at this price point. (To be fair, the host offered a seat in the lounge after I asked if I could go ahead and be seated anyway, but I never enjoy sitting down and getting up again with my drink 10 minutes later.) I still think I'll be back, but I'll take my time. read more

This is definitely an overhyped restaurant. Food was good but it wasn't anything special. The entrance looks nice and you think the restaurant will look the same but it just looks plain. Nothing special. Service was ok. It was a forgettable experience. The Ben's bowl was the best imo. The wagyu short rib was like any other short rib. The bill was $300 for two. I felt like it should've been $150. Overpriced for no reason read more

Everything about this restaurant was perfect. Chef Kwame clearly leveraged all of his experience with Tatiana's in NY. But BABY! His food!?!?! Definitely get the cornbread, hoe crab, and branzino. The Wagyu was the showstopper! U must must must get it if you eat meat read more

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As God is my witness, I have never dined at a restaurant where "every single item" on the menu is a masterpiece.Each dish at Dogon Cuisine isn't just delicious....it's distinct, full of character, and thoughtfully crafted to please a grown and seasoned palate. Let's be real: Dogon doesn't just serve food--it seduces your taste buds. It's an experience where every bite surprises you with its complexity, then leaves you utterly satisfied and still craving more. If you come here and somehow don't enjoy this cuisine, do me a favor; contact me personally, because I need to get your taste buds professionally evaluated. Dogon Cuisine has officially claimed its spot at the very top of my list of favorite restaurants..."permanently." Cornell Stone- read more

Appreciated the attentive service and the cocktails were great. The food was pretty good and the dessert was even better. It's a nice vibe in a nice space. read more

Dōgon - Caribbean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Listen if your palette isn't open to new and absolutely delicious food do not visit. If you understand food then run don't walk and make a reservation for Dogon. When I say everything was absolutely delicious I mean everything! Exactly what DC needs in an upscale restaurant. The music was good R&B, the ambiance was elegant, although we thought the restaurant was a little too dark and we had to use the phone light to see the menu. Our waiter Demetrius was the best, his smile vibrated and was contagious. Explained everything thoroughly and answered all of our questions. What we ordered... Coco Bread - 5 pieces Charbroiled Oysters Hoe Crab BBQ Greens Steamed Branzino Chicken and Rice Just ridiculously delicious... A must visit Will I go back - absolutely read more

I was so excited to get into Dogon off of notify!! The menu was really interesting with African twists on more traditional menu items. The seasonings created a through line that made any order work really well together. Must order the coco bread, hoe crab, and chicken!! The cocktail list is also incredibly creative, with non-ABV versions matching each ABV option. Being seated near the open kitchen added to the excitement of eating at Dogon, and I'm already thinking about what else I would order if I went back. read more

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Came in for dinner and it did not disappoint. Showed up early for our reservation so had drinks at the exquisite Salamander hotel bar. Art took care of us with great Old Fashions and the hotel signature drink, The Salamander. Once in the restaurant it was a vibe. Jesse and Lumi both made us feel welcomed. We had a combination of small and large plates but the Bone Marrow, Hamachi Guisado, and Rum Cake stole the show. My compliments the chef. The meals were phenomenal! Looking forward our next visit. read more

Upon arrival, we were seated promptly. The ambience is nice but it's a small venue with limited seats at the bar. For apps, we got the coco bread, cornbread and bbq greens to share. While the coco bread and corn bread were soft, they portions were small for $16 and the bbq greens missed the mark on flavors. Those who are saying they're amazing, need another auntie to make their greens on thanksgiving lol. I got the curry branzino which was tasty but nothing blown away. 2 of my friends got the chicken and rice which they both sent back. The sauce and rice had a weird taste and the texture was off putting. Summary, the prices are way too high for average tasting food. I wouldn't return read more

Visited the newly opened restaurant last night for date night. We really enjoyed Kith/Kin (RIP), so made sure to get reservations here as soon as they opened. Food: Top courses for us were charbroiled oysters, Waygu short rib, and Piri Piri salad. We also ordered the crab hoe cakes, cabbage, and cornbread. All dishes were very tasty, but definitely would reorder the oysters and short rib. I usually stay away from charbroiled oysters unless I'm in NOLA, but these were amazing. There's a red stew condiment that accompanies the oysters that brings the dish to a 10. They came three to an order, but we were offered to add more as a table of 2. The short rib is presented as lettuce wraps and is accompanied with rice. I wasn't expecting it, but enjoyed it. We also received a side of a Trinidadian-style hot sauce for the meal. I didn't try it since we were told it's pretty spicy, but my husband really enjoyed it and used it on many of the dishes. We were very full, but there's a rum cake I would try next time. Drinks: My husband was giddy to see the amount of black-owned liquor companies used in the cocktail list. I went with the Flower Pot Punch, mostly because it featured my former classmate's rum company, Ten to One, and my husband tried the Mango-Basil Smash. Both were ~18% ABV, but it was great to see everything from non-alcoholic to low-ABV offerings. There weren't many in the mid-ABV range and no beer, unfortunately. We did end dinner with glasses of Cab Franc and a Turkish variety that was recommended by our waiter and the sommelier. Service: Travis was *chefs kiss* in regards to service. Very attentive and personable. Offered us his menu recommendations and checked in with the table with the frequency I appreciated. We didn't expect perfection knowing this was the first week and there were a few blips, like drinks coming out separately and slow tableware turnover. None that made us shake our fists and Travis noticed and rectified immediately. Restaurant: We love the original Salamander and visited this hotel back in the day when it was the Mandarin. For this visit, there was an unexpected protest outside that we had to navigate to get into the hotel. There was also a CBC party at the hotel, so the restaurant entrance was blocked. I wouldn't expect this on normal days. Inside, there's dark decor and the restaurant was smaller than I expected. We were seated in the back near the kitchen where it was more intimate, but the dining room was hopping and there was a great R&B playlist. Depending on what you're looking for, you may want to request seating preference. We enjoyed seeing the kitchen and sitting at a high-top, but we overheard another group ask to be reseated when shown to our area. If you're looking for more of a scene or want to be seen, dining room or bar would be your vibe. There was seating at a bar in the kitchen, so there may be kitchen seating offered in the future. Overall, we enjoyed our experience. It exceeded our expectations for a one week-old establishment. Hoping for the best for this place and we would come back again for dinner or to hang out at the bar. read more

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Dōgon is trendy with R&B music and great decor. But they need not rely on the ambiance. The food is outstanding as is the service. It is pricey. This is a place for a special occasion. We had the coco bread (fluffy and nice) and a number of savory items that were absolutely fantastic - oysters, crispy lamb, snapper with rice & peas, chicken with jollof rice and salad. The rum cake was perfect. Highly recommend. read more

The restaurant has a nice ambiance. However, I was very disappointed. It was freezing as we were sitting directly under a vent. A staff member said he would adjust the temperature, but never did. Also, the food and drinks were below average. We were so excited to try the food, but unfortunately it was not as good as I expected. Overall, I did not have a good dining experience and I will not be returning back. read more

The crisp curry branzino might be the best piece of fish I've had in my life! Truly wonderful. Most of the dishes were good. Perhaps one was disappointing: way too much cheese on the chargrilled oysters. Other than that, a delightful time read more

I mean... just absolutely delicious. From the delicious cocktails to the decor, and what a meal. It took forever to finally get a reservation and I am so happy for the wait. I honestly cannot wait to come back. The service, and my server Blake, helped me make a hard choice of what to order. Honestly, if you want a seasoned, herbaceous Michelin style dish. COME HERE, splurge a bit. read more

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The food was beautifully seasoned just like in the Caribbean. There could have been more starchy foods (rice etc.)

Spectacular! From the moment we stepped in, until the time we left, everything was exceptional: energetic vibe without being loud, attentive staff, and wonderful food options. We had an incredible dining experience thanks to all at Dogon, and we especially want to thank Michael and Nyah for their hospitality and attentive service. Dogon deserves all the top reviews it has received. Definitely go! You won't be disappointed! read more

Woah. This place. Incredible. I'm not a fan of crab, but my dining companion really wanted to try the hoe crab. It was sensational. I can't wait until I can dine here again! read more

My family and I were very much so looking forward to trying out this restaurant. It seems to be this exclusive, hard to get a reservation kind of establishment, but unfortunately, the food left much to be desired. The dark sexy atmosphere set the tone for a nice ambiance. It certainly has a nice feel for a date night. The hosts were nice and welcoming. We started with the Ben's Bowl, the Piri Piri salad and the corn bread with a shiro butter. The corn bread was good and fluffy. The lamb in the Ben's Bowl was too salty and the texture was off. The salad was not a salad, just some grapes, cucumbers, tomatoes, half of an avocado with almond butter inside and almonds with an interesting sauce on the bottom. All very blah. We shared the Braised Oxtail, Curry Branzino, and the Chicken and Rice. The oxtail had too much of a sweet taste to it and the sauce was thick and sticky. NO THANKS. It came with rice and peas. The Curry Branzino also came with rice and peas which was not mentioned on the menu or by the waiter. We ordered an extra side of jollof rice unnecessarily. The Branzino was okay due to the sauce. Without the sauce, it was bland. The chicken had a seasoning used in Ethiopian dishes called Berbere. It was different. Don't expect the jollof rice to be anything like what you will find in a proper Ghanaian or Nigerian restaurant because you will be disappointed. All in all, our taste buds were quite underwhelmed. Maybe the other items on the menu are worth it for someone else to try but I can't recommend this place for the food. read more

I haven't had a dish that wasn't short of amazing, priced but amazing nonetheless . The best duck ever

Exceptional restaurant!!! Chef Onwuachi, well done!!! Everything we had on the menu was sooo delicious. The fusion of Caribbean and African food was well executed, and this is coming from a Caribbean person who cooks our authentic dishes almost everyday. The customer service was immaculate. From the time we stepped in the door and the time we left, we always were attended to. I never had to look for a waiter for help. The restaurant is absolute beautiful and you can tell they took time in the details. Special shoutout to the playlist because it definitely set the vibe for us. It was extremely hard to get a reservation but now I see why. We definitely will be coming back. Thanks for a great night Dogon! read more

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I ordered the coco bread, lamb bowl, mom dukes shrimp, bbq greens and rum cake. The rum cake was the star and I would return solely for that delicious creation. Everything else tasted fine, but nothing blew me away. I was expecting more unique flavor profiles and was a bit disappointed, especially for the price point. I also felt the portions did not align with the prices. Our server was very nice and I did enjoy the ambiance, although I felt it was just a tad bit too dark in the area we were seated. read more

We booked a reservation a month in advance for a July trip to DC. We arrived on time for a reservation, the front desk staff, were not particularly friendly, was unremarkable. Eventually, our waiter made his way to our table. His name is Oliver. Oliver was friendly, informative and engaging. Our cocktails the Astronomer and a mocktail were delicious. We also ordered the Piri Piri salad and the Hoe crab small plates, they came promptly and were delicious! We ordered our large dish, the branzino at Nine PM. This is when the evening took a turn. Prior to this moment we were so pleased with the service and the food that we were trying to make reservations at the NYC restaurant by the same chef : TATIANA. On or around 9:40PM, a different server approacehed our table with a menu in his hand and informed us that they had run out of the branzino! This information came 40 minutes after we initially ordered! This information came so late that the people that were seated after us had already ordered and consumed their main dishes. When our waiter approached, we informed him about the actions of his colleague, yet Oliver appeared unaware, uninformed and uninterested. His response was confounding as it belied his earlier demeanor. The issue is not that the restaurant sold out of the dish. The issues are that we 1. Waited 40 minutes for the entree that never came 2. The restaurant did not address the length of time we waited 3. The front and back house seemingly did not communicate 4. And quite frankly, there was no attempt at righting the issue. (Waiting another 20-30 minutes for another plate is not the remedy). Nonetheless, we paid our bill and will not be visiting Dogon again or Tatiana. It was an unfortunate experience. read more

Reservations are hard to come by but we were finally able to get in. The food is dynamic. We had the CoCo Bread, Corn Bread, Piri Piri Salad, Charbroiled Oysters, Mom Dukes Shrimp, Curry Branzino and Rum Cake. All of it was delicious!! read more

My daughter picked this restaurant. Service was fast. Food I give a 7/10 because I had to send part of my dish back.

I went here on my birthday and I was surprised at the Caribbean inspired menu but I do think some items did not live up to the name. Not that they tasted bad it's just not what you expect in the least. I ordered the lobster escovitch which I was excited for. I was happy that they used the typical spiny Caribbean lobster, but the escovitch was not even close to being properly represented. Escovitch usually has a predominant vinegar essence with a slight sweetness and blend of pepper it really pops the flavor of seafood almost as lemon would as used here in the US but just with my flavor, I tasted none of this. It just tasted like a decent grilled lobster topped with fresh herbs, my lobster also felt slightly under done. The charbroiled oyster felt a bit over powered by the strong cheesy flavor more than the oyster, great presentation and everything, I just didn't give me that feeling of actually eating an oyster. The service was EXCELLENT and the ambiance was nice. My only issue was the theme of flavor was somewhat inaccurate. I also was served water in a chipped glass which cut my lip read more

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