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    DC Capitol Square Bar & Grill

    3.7 (86 reviews)
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    DC CAPITOL SQUARE BAR & GRILL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Happy hour specials
    Good for groups

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    Lamb chops@ DC Capitol Square Bar and Grill!
    Spencer H.

    Full disclosure, the owner has been a friend over 25yrs, however, this review will be fair and honest. I love neighborhood restaurants and this one definitely gives off CHEERS vibes for sure. The name is long so I'll try and shortened it up.. Lol. DC Cap. Square Bar and Grill, is small but packs a powerful punch. This two level gem boasts a large bar on the lower level and a movie screen size TV if you want to check out a great game. The upper level also has an enormous TV and several tables which is definitely necessary because downstairs only has 4-5. We chose to sit at the bar and check out what's most important.. THE FOOD! Here we go.. Crab mac and cheese.. Must get 5/5 Bang Bang Shrimp..Must get 5/5 Delicious house made specialty drinks.. Must get 5/5 Lamb chops with spinach.. Lamb has great flavor but was a little fatty. The spinach was great 3/5 Cheese steak Panini..great flavor but also a little fatty 3/5 The staff was amazing and could not have been friendlier. This restaurant has all the potential in the world and even has a cool VIP Lounge on the upper level for private events! I'm super proud of my boy for doing his thing! Please come and support!!!

    Saturday with this handsome guy!
    Nessa R.

    DC Capitol Square Bar & Grill, it's under new management. Parking: YIKES, I can see how this could be a problem and if you don't live around the area where you could walk here, this could be a HUGE pain point. We got LUCKY and found a 2 hour residential spot. Ambiance: Small, quaint, and posh! Giving small bougie vibes! Really cute! Met the owner, he's very nice. Service was AWESOME! Let's Get Into It! Appetizer: Bang Bang Shrimp, YES PLEASE! More more more! Main Entree's: I picked a recommendation from the owner, Steak and Cheese. I didn't like the fatty parts of the sandwich. I would have preferred no fat and lean meat, definitely think they should ask customers preference. It is not a menu item but if they decided to add it, I would either cut the fat out or use a leaner meat option. I'd personally pay for a better quality of meat. It was good, but wouldn't order it again. Lamb Chops: My honeys lamb was also fatty, he's used to fat for the flavor but it had a lot for his liking. He usually cleans the bone but it was left with fat. Drinks were great! Overall, I'd definitely come again if in the area! Comfy restaurant! Come try this out! More like a 3.5ish 4....

    CAPITOLSQUARE BURGER
    Dee A.

    My daughter loved it! I had to grab my 9 year old out of school early for an appointment but I happened to get her before her lunch at school. We stopped by this location on the way to the appointment. The venue is very small, but very quaint and cute. The menu is not kid friendly. The gorgeous waitress (?) or greeter was not very friendly- but the cook was more than nice. I ordered my girl a cheddar burger to go which came with fries. She says that "it was the best burger ever!" I'd come back to this location on my own or with adult friends as the restaurant and vibe seemed nice! Very decent place to watch games.

    STEAK & EGGS
    Ashley W.

    I had an awesome brunch with friends here Sunday. Despite being short staffed the wait wasn't long and the food was amazing. We sat on the patio and the staff didn't mind if we moved with the sun got too intense. Steak and eggs: everything was seasoned perfectly. The mix of potatoes and peppers added the spice I needed. The Mama Africa drink is a must if you like frozen drinks! Mimosas are also a good option, just $5 each.

    GOAT PEPPER SOUP and Jollof Rice
    Eunice I.

    I've been here twice. Once when I first moved to DC, and then yesterday. I like the fact it appears to be a neighborhood restaurant. They had a special going on yesterday for teacher appreciation, so I decided to treat myself after work. It was a little cloudy outside, but not particularly raining. I wanted to sit outside. I was told to wait for a server to come out, and maybe 10 minutes went by before a server came out and asked if anyone had served me. I said no, and she told me to come inside and she'd take care of me. I went inside and there were a few patrons. The music inside is exceptionally loud, so it's kind of hard to have a conversation or even take an order over the music. They had happy hour going on while I was there and they had some good options. I got a cup of pepper soup, jerk wings, and a side of jollof rice. Everything I had was very tasty. The pepper soup was very spicy, so I'd proceed with caution if you can't handle spice. I've had their jollof before and it was just as good as I remember. The chicken was also pretty good too. What is a little annoying is they have white table cloth which can stain easily. I'd prefer if they didn't have that, just because if you make a mess you are looking at it while eating. They seemed to be prepping for an event while I was there, so a lot of people running around and shifting seats. I felt like I should rush too, so I can be out of their way, lol. Overall, decent spot. I'd frequent here more if I lived in the neighborhood.

    Salmon sliders
    Private B.

    Food was good. I ordered the salmon sliders and crab mac n cheese. Small space, but there is outdoor seating, tiny bar with 2 or 3 areas to sit and an upstairs area. The upstairs area was very warm. We kept asking for the air to be turned up and for the fans to be turned on, but it never happened. The staff seemed nice, but staff is limited. Parking could be a nightmare, but on the weekend it was great. Looks clean inside and outside. Black owned business

    Jeremy Wings (app)
    Doug B.

    Another 5* experience. Myasia behind the bar was super helpful in deciding between the fettuccine and the burger. I think both would have been great. I ended up w the fettuccine. She was 5* for sure. Monday Night Football, Lakers, and Elf were on 3 of the 4 amazing, amazing bar TVs. This is a great place to watch any game. So, the fettuccine...wow. I loved the chopped up peppers. There was a lot of chicken, very generous portion. It was so flavorful. Very tasty. I'd recommend it to anyone. I really enjoyed my visit. I might come back soon for Saturday or Sunday football or anytime, really!

    Upstairs dining area.
    Antwan W.

    The food was ok. The corned beef hash was delicious and cooked from scratch. My family had salmon, chicken, a burger, waffles, pancakes, shrimp and grits, and oxtails. We tried absolutely everything that this restaurant had to offer. We weren't that impressed, several people in our group were mentioning that their food was not seasoned well. A party of seven spent $400.00 on this food. We most likely won't be back but I'm glad we experienced the establishment and what they had to offer.

    Tania A.

    I had such high hopes and I wanted to love it - but, unfortunately I was super disappointed and a lot of things fell flat. Perhaps it's still growing pains, since the restaurant had its grand reopening in May 2023... Maybe not. For starters our server mixed up and/or forgot each of our orders. She forgot we had ordered two starters & mixed up both of our sides that we chose for the entrées. There was a lot of inconsistency with how the food was being plated... My Red Snapper came out looking like it had just been plopped on the plate vs. another table that had theirs come out beautifully plated We had to ask for water 3 times before we got a top up. And when you consider it was a scorching hot summer day... We should have had a carafe for the table. Known for its African-Caribbean cuisine, I was shocked at the $2 charge for a side of hot sauce . Needless to say it tasted more like gravy than anything spicy. Could I have gone on an off day? Maybe, will I go again to find out? Highly doubt it.

    Mother Africa cocktail
    Rashidah J.

    This place has SUCH good food. Recently I stopped by for a drink and some wings. I got the house wings and they were SO flavorful and crispy. My drink was sweet but not too sweet and very strong. I sat outside with my dog and the manager brought out water for my dog right away! My server was knowledgeable about the menu and very sweet. The inside looks awesome but I haven't sat inside yet. Looks like a great place to watch sports and also looks pretty classy!

    Teressa B.

    The waiter was vey accommodating and personable. Host dressed well and I can appreciate that! we enjoyed our food although it took a little while; this is a newer restaurant and I believe on the day we went they were training new staff so we understood that there would be a few hiccups in service. Overall it is a great place for indoor and outdoor dining . They also host themed nights and kareoke. We especially enjoyed the photo wall and the outdoor decor. I would highly recommend. Amazing drinks are an added bonus.

    Lamb chops
    Omara R.

    The lamb chops were delicious it was seasoned perfectly i just wished all of them were cooked to same temperature. There were three chops: one was overcooked, one a bit under; and one was cooked as requested (price was bit high for those kind of mistakes). But everything were very flavorful the chops, spinach, and mashed potates. The service was excellent, the settimg not so much (i didn't like it at all): it was by the front door, the bar took up most of tbe space, there were only three tables, and we could hear everyone conservations.

    Natasha Y.

    We originally came in for the 8-9 PM Mixology class they listed on Eventbrite and boy did that turn out to be a bust. We arrived a few minutes early and were told by a host that the 7-8 pm course was still going on and wrapping up shortly so we should have a seat at one of the tables (note: some of the group had JUST been seated at the bar and had yet to start making drinks) Around 8:22 PM, a server came over and told us along with a few other parties that the 7 PM class should be wrapping up no later than 8:30 and he brought us some waters and we started our food orders. At 8:50 PM, the previous class had still yet to wrap and the server came to tell us the oxtail spring rolls we order were not available. He then came back about 2 minutes later to tell us that now the beef suya was not available either. We then asked how the beef suya wasn't available but the beef suya sliders we had ordered were. He thought about it and then told us that we were right, those wouldn't be available either so this completely scrapped 2 people's orders. They brought out the crab fries pictured below which were interestingly presented and after a few bites, we realized the crab was ICE COLD and sent it back. The chicken suya sliders came on king Hawaiian rolls but the amount of chicken on there was literally bite size (sorry for the half eaten picture but I'm not exaggerating). The brussel sprouts were average at best. If you're still reading this, it's past 10 pm and we never got to do the mixology course. Would not recommend coming for the food as it was mediocre or the mixology experience as it was poorly planned. We were also still charged for the crab fries and had to tell the server to ask the manager to reverse the payment and charge us accordingly.

    You can't miss the bold orange exterior during the day and blue at night!

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    3 years ago

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    Thank you for your review, we hope to serve you again, soon!

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    Great meal on the patio recently. Curry chicken was excellent. Quiet corner spot w attentive and friendly staff.

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    we appreciate your kind words, please visit us again

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    4 years ago

    Looking for good food and great service? This is the place to come to. The ambiance, staff and food is second to none.

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    3 years ago

    Undisclosed up charge (menu marked $12, charged $16 for some eggs) IN ADDITION to mandatory 20% autograt. Ridiculous prices, mediocre food.

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    The service the food , over all great place to eat the food is wonderful great date night great customer service

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    Lydia On H - Jerk wings

    Lydia On H

    3.6(151 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    I was in town for the weekend Looking for live…read moreentertainment and stumbled upon Lydia's. Its a small cozy environment. 2nd Saturday is live music. FutureBandDC played and killed it. We sat directly in front of the band and speakers. Id suggest pushing tables back a bit. We ordered from the late night menu. Pls note after 10pm the menu is limited. We ordered the honey hot wing and fries as well as the jerk wings. I assumed the jerk was grilled and it wasn't. They were very spicy if you like spice. We didn't order cocktails. The jerk chicken sandwich was kinda small and Chicken thighs are used. The overall vibe was decent and the price wasn't bad at all. I would visit again

    Lydia on H is a cozy Afro-Caribbean restaurant in Washington, D.C., offering a unique fusion of…read moreMalawian and Caribbean flavors. It's a small but quaint spot with a mix of booth and table seating, making it a nice place for a relaxed dinner with friends. As a picky eater visiting for the first time, I kept my order simple with wings and rice. The wings were the highlight of the meal--crispy, flavorful, and well-seasoned. The rice, however, was disappointing. It was dry and lacked seasoning, and I found myself wishing it had at least a little butter and salt to enhance the flavor. The mocktails were delicious and complemented the meal well. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. The music was at the perfect volume--easy to enjoy while still being able to carry on a conversation without shouting, which made for a pleasant evening with friends. Our server was attentive, friendly, and made us feel welcome throughout the meal. One small note: the ladies' restroom was clean but very small and narrow. It had a hook-and-latch style door but no place to hang a purse, which would be a nice addition. Parking on H Street is always a hit or miss, so plan accordingly if you're driving. Ratings: * Food: (3/5) * Atmosphere: (3/5) * Service: (4/5) * Dinner with Friends: (5/5) Overall, Lydia on H is a pleasant neighborhood spot with friendly service, tasty wings, and excellent mocktails. While the rice missed the mark for me, I enjoyed the company, the conversation, and the relaxed atmosphere. I would consider returning to try other menu items.

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    Lydia On H - Facing the kitchen

    Facing the kitchen

    Lydia On H - Drums and fries

    Drums and fries

    Lydia On H - Rum punch and Margaritas

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    Rum punch and Margaritas

    Sunbim African American Caribbean Cuisine

    Sunbim African American Caribbean Cuisine

    3.5(37 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    Food was nicely presented. I only got side dishes to add to what I was preparing at home…read more Mr. Sunday was in the shop alone and went the back to prepare my order. It was ready in less than 10 minutes. The TV was on low so the ambience was quiet and pleasant while I waited.

    Sumbim African Restaurant is my go-to spot when I'm craving bold, flavorful food that hits the spot…read moreand is easy on the wallet. It's a small, humble place--what some might call a hole-in-the-wall--but it's packed with heart, hospitality, and seriously satisfying portions. On this visit, I went with my usual favorite: Egusi with goat and jollof rice. The flavors were rich, deep, and comforting--the kind of meal that feels like a warm hug from home. The egusi was perfectly seasoned, the goat tender and well-spiced, and the jollof rice full of that signature smoky goodness that's hard to find just anywhere. Yes, the service can be a little slow--but trust me, it's worth the wait. Everything is cooked with care, and you can taste the love in every bite. The staff is warm and welcoming, making the whole experience feel personal and genuine. If you're looking for delicious, authentic African food that fills your plate and your soul, Sumbim never disappoints. Just come hungry--and maybe bring a to-go box, because you'll probably need it! Forgot to take pictures because I devoured the food!

    Photos
    Sunbim African American Caribbean Cuisine - Not busy at 4:30 in late afternoon.

    Not busy at 4:30 in late afternoon.

    Sunbim African American Caribbean Cuisine - Egusi with pounded yam

    Egusi with pounded yam

    Sunbim African American Caribbean Cuisine - Jollof Rice

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    Jollof Rice

    Elmina - Shrimp & Grits

    Elmina

    4.2(171 reviews)
    3.3 mi

    A date night promise and a bucket list reservation finally came together at Elmina. I visited when…read morethey first opened and was eager to return. An 8:45pm reservation turned 9pm and the restaurant was gracious enough to accommodate. The door was a short distance from the inviting bar so I found my date rather quickly. Social and engaging by nature he had already made himself at home with the host and bartenders. The Elmina staff are exactly the kind that make even the most outgoing person feel right at home. Only a quick negotiation of his return needed, especially since I was tardy, and we were whisked upstairs to our table. Upstairs we found a dining room with dark walls and dark blue velvet that set a completely different mood from the bar and open kitchen below. A larger party was seated nearby but far enough away for our own conversation. Later a two person party was seated in between. Word of advice, you will want to remember to keep your Netflix password to yourself. We were not trying to listen but when the tables are that intimate the conversation finds you. Z was our waiter and he set the tone immediately. Attentive, knowledgeable, and full of recommendations that came in right on time even for two foodies who already knew what they wanted. Drinks first. My Gold Coast Margarita and his Tree of Life arrived and both were excellent. Both drinks landing exactly where they needed to. The Tree of Life arriving in a clear ribbed glass with a gold dusted rim, deep red and stunning, was almost too beautiful to drink....Almost is the operative word! Then the starters:Fried okra and Beef Suya. The okra arrived first, batter fried to a golden crisp with a tender bite. The burnt leek and onion ranch dip took it somewhere magical. The Suya beef skewers were smoky, spiced, and finished with mojo onions that balanced every bite without competing with it. One thing every foodie needs to know. If you have a shellfish allergy Elmina will accommodate. Even the dishes that mention shellfish can be adjusted and you will not miss a thing. At a Michelin recognized restaurant that is music to a shellfish allergy sufferer's ears. For the main we ordered the Elmina Spicy Chicken and Jollof rice. A short wine debate while we waited landed us on the Rabble Red Blend. Then the plates arrived and everything made sense. The chicken and pepper sauce had spice that had layers and the Jollof rice served alongside made it unforgettable. My date did not finish it but made sure I knew how great it was. A few notes worth sharing. The bathroom is on the bottom floor so if you are seated upstairs make the trip before the drinks start flowing. The red wine will elevate the spiciness of the chicken so if you are sensitive to heat proceed with caution. We skipped dessert intentionally so Z brought our plates back in a to go bag filled with all the goodness before we left. Tap to pay from the bar tab to the final bill kept the night flowing. I will note our waiter brought it directly to my sharply dressed date but since I was treating I immediately took it back. Loved that energy. Elmina is Black owned excellence at its finest, an intimate setting filled with beautifully dressed patrons and food that will have you recommending this place for sure. Even the small things are handled, with ample street parking and a welcoming entrance, and a staff that turns a typical reservation into something you will talk about after. Whether it is a date night or a group, the tables here are ready for both. A table worth gathering at for any occasion that deserves something exceptional. We closed the night at Kuro Listening Bar, another black owned gem, a short distance away. The pairing of the two made for a night worth remembering.

    This was my second visit, and this time I brought my family. Unfortunately, the experience wasn't…read morenearly as good as my first. The restaurant was extremely hot and muggy, and it seemed like they were trying to seat everyone downstairs despite the uncomfortable temperature. The food also felt rushed and wasn't prepared with the same level of care I remembered. The okra fries were overdone on the outside, and the okra immediately slipped out of the batter when you picked them up. The Elmina chicken was flavorful, but the presentation was sloppy. The drinks were just okay. I ordered a spicy margarita, and both rounds came only about half full, which was disappointing. Overall, this visit didn't live up to my first experience. I know the restaurant is capable of much better, which made this visit especially disappointing.

    Photos
    Elmina - Interior

    Interior

    Elmina - Oysters

    Oysters

    Elmina - Amuse-bouche: chopped scallop ceviche

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    Amuse-bouche: chopped scallop ceviche

    The Continent DC

    The Continent DC

    4.2(226 reviews)
    2.8 miDowntown
    $$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Discounts available

    Beautiful decor & fun layout for events or people watching. I tried Nigerian staples and was my…read morefirst for these. The suya here might've looked tough but it was so juicy, tender, and not salty. The red stew with oxtail and jollof were nice but salty. I've had better jollof. The Nigerian fruit mocktail was great it has a unique flavor. The bathroom was so pretty as well I enjoyed snapping pictures in the mirror. The service was great. We were served quicker than they expected given I requested a seat in a different area. Go check it out!

    3/5 stars My…read moreboyfriend is Cameroonian and we love trying different African restaurants around the DC area. I'd heard great things about The Continent, so it felt like a must-try especially since Swahili Village is one of our go-to favorites for comparison. The space itself was great, nice interior, well-decorated, and service was solid throughout. They also had two distinct vibes going: one side had a bit of a DJ/lounge energy, while the other was more elegant and laid-back, better for actual dinner conversation. We sat on the calmer side. Drinks were good. We had a sangria and a tequila-based cocktail, both solid. For appetizers, we got the shrimp and the beef samosas. Unfortunately, the beef samosas just didn't hold up compared to Swahili Village's. I've had Swahili Village's beef samosas multiple times and they always come out hot, crispy, and consistent. These didn't quite match up, and that was strike one for me. The shrimp appetizer was nice, good sauce, though it could've used a bit more depth of flavor. I also ordered the pepper soup, which was excellent and genuinely spicy (more than I could really handle, but I still finished it). For entrées, my boyfriend got the Suya with jollof rice, and I got the red snapper with jollof rice as well. He really enjoyed his. The beef was cooked well and flavorful, and the jollof rice was good. My fish was also cooked nicely, though the sauce needed a bit more flavor. The bigger issue: they were out of plantains. That was strike two, and it stung more because it was my boyfriend's birthday dinner and plantains are his favorite. It's rare for an African or Caribbean restaurant to run out of them entirely. Overall, a decent experience, but with the high expectations going in, a couple of misses kept it from fully living up to the hype for us. I'd go back for the pepper soup and give it another shot, but I'm hoping for hotter, fresher samosas and actual plantains next time.

    Photos
    The Continent DC - The Oasis of Africa. Specially made this for you!

    The Oasis of Africa. Specially made this for you!

    The Continent DC - Just a simple Beef tomato stew and white rice.

    Just a simple Beef tomato stew and white rice.

    The Continent DC - The Continent Margarita

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    The Continent Margarita

    Spice Kitchen West African Grill - Spice Wing Plate

    Spice Kitchen West African Grill

    4.4(245 reviews)
    4.3 mi
    $$

    If you are wanting to make your taste buds come alive then you must try the Spice Kitchen... the…read morearoma when you walk inside is Heavenly and to top it off Angel is there with her exceptional customer service skills to offer up suggestions when you need to make a choice! What to try? Well I WILL try it all... because Will will also help you out... your biggest decision is the spice level because all of the dishes so far have not disappointed! My favorites are the rice plantain and stew... but those Wings are definitely AMAZING!!

    After a long day of getting my locs retwisted nearby, I decided to stop here for dinner on my way…read morehome. I didn't realize where the restaurant was located beforehand, so I was a little surprised when I arrived. It's in a very urban area, which may or may not matter depending on your comfort level. There was a decent amount of seating inside if you choose to dine in. The restaurant was okay in terms of cleanliness, but personally, I'd opt for takeout. I originally planned to eat inside but changed my mind once I got there. Unfortunately, the customer service wasn't the best. I wasn't greeted when I walked in, and when I received my order, the takeout container wasn't fully closed and was placed halfway into the bag. I'm not sure if it was just an oversight, but it didn't leave the best first impression. Now, the food, that's where they won me over. Everything was well-seasoned, and the suya had just the right amount of spice. They were out of the vegetable I originally wanted, but I'm actually glad I tried the corn because it was absolutely delicious. And that suya butter sauce? It was the star of the meal! Overall, while the location and customer service weren't my favorite, the food was flavorful enough that I'd come back if I were in the area and craving suya.

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    Spice Kitchen West African Grill
    Spice Kitchen West African Grill - Salmon Suya Plate

    Salmon Suya Plate

    Spice Kitchen West African Grill - Salmon Suya Plate

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    Salmon Suya Plate

    Lapaz African Cuisine - Jollof rice with other items

    Lapaz African Cuisine

    4.6(43 reviews)
    26.2 mi

    Not bad! The food was pretty good. We don't have many options in NOVA so for what is, it was good…read more I normally drive out to MD and DC for West African food. This restaurant is Ghanaian. We came here on a Thursday night so maybe that's why everything didn't slap as much as I would've liked. The jollof didn't have a ton of flavor or spice, but they have tomato based pepper sauce a medium and an extra hot that adds flavor and spice to the rice. The meat and chicken was a bit dry and hard. The fish wasn't seasoned much. The portions are big and customer service was kind. They had a fairly big menu. We ordered: Suya rice 8/10 (best thing here to me) Attike w/fish 6/10 Jollof rice with chicken and beef 6/10

    Overall the food is good. My wife and I really wanted west African food last week and we were in…read moreManassas so we stopped by here. The food is Ghanaian so you'll find a lot of west African staples here. I ordered their Suya rice with chicken and beef. My wife ordered the acheke with fried fish and ordered a plate of jollof to take home. The suya fried rice was my favorite dish. It's one of their own creations but it's a fried rice with suya spice in it. It's not as spicy as I personally like, but I'm a huge fan of spice so I imagine it's a good level for most people. The jollof was also pretty good. I'll say that the chicken and beef in both the jollof and suya fried rice were a little dry, but they had good flavor to them so it can be overlooked. The acheke was standard for what I expect from it. The fried fish could have used a little bit of seasoning but was fine to go with it. Food took about 20 mins to be cooked but I appreciate that it's done fresh. The service was great! Kevin was the one who took our order and helped us with any additional requests while we ate. Definitely love the soul he adds to the restaurant. The ambiance is pretty casual. The one thing to note is that the parking lot can be a bit small so parking may take more than one try if you have a bigger car.

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    Lapaz African Cuisine
    Lapaz African Cuisine - Very dry meat

    Very dry meat

    Lapaz African Cuisine - Attieke with croaker

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    Attieke with croaker

    DC Capitol Square Bar & Grill - comfortfood - Updated August 2026

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