Dogon gave my wife and me one of the best dining experiences we've ever had in our lives, and we've been to a lot of restaurants. We came yesterday for our anniversary, and from start to finish, everything was exceptional. First, our waiter Rafael was superb. He truly made the entire experience feel top tier. Every recommendation he gave us -- from the dishes to the drinks -- was absolutely on point. His service, attention, and energy took an already amazing meal to another level. We've been to their sister restaurant, Tatiana, and really enjoyed it, but I have to say Dogon completely blew us away. The flavors, the spices, and the textures were all perfect. We had the charbroiled oysters, Benne's Bowl, Mom Dukes Shrimp, the coconut curry branzino, and finished with the rum cake. Every single dish was outstanding. The food tasted so rich, soulful, and layered -- it honestly felt like I was eating in a friend's Caribbean grandmother's home. A huge thank you to Kwame, Michael, and Rafael for making our anniversary dinner so special. We are not DMV locals, but we will absolutely be back this summer. read more

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Celebrated my birthday here earlier this year. The food, service, and music were all fantastic. Additionally there was a delay with our oxtail dish in the kitchen, after our greens dish had already been brought out and got cold because we wanted to enjoy the dishes together. I say this to say our server was very attentive and made sure to have the kitchen bring us out another hot greens dish at the same time as our oxtail dish, WITHOUT us asking. Top notch customer service and attention to detail. Definitely a great experience with the ambiance to match. read more

Every dish here was a spectacular dance of flavor profiles dancing and twirling over my tastebuds. Dare I say that the corn bread with spiced shiro butter was my favorite. I have never...ever...tasted such a sublimely simple and delectable dish. Mom Dukes Shrimp was perfectly cooked with a nice spice that didn't overpower the freshness of the shrimp. Suya Pork Belly bursted with flavor and the accompanying greens were perfectly matched...only wish was that the pork belly was slightly more crispy. Braised Wagyu Oxtails were so tender and flavorful...my favorite of the entrees...however... The Island Squash...I could seriously eat this every single day. The vegetables were crisp, yet tender and the sauce was perfectly balanced. Service was impeccable with staff attentive and friendly. The restaurant was clean and nicely decorated with tables nicely spaced to allow for easy conversations. Definitely on the pricier side, but the experience was fantastic. read more

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I've been meaning to visit Dōgon for a while and finally got the chance to in April. The restaurant itself is gorgeous. We went for a birthday dinner, but honestly the vibe felt more intimate like a date spot, at least in the section we were in. The service is great. The food is good, but not mind blowing. As someone with two Jamaican parents and tons of West African friends, I've been surrounded by both types of cuisine my entire life. So I'll admit, I may be a bit biased compared to the average person who may frequent the restaurant. The shrimp, the jollof, and rice and peas all needed more love, and I say that as someone who doesn't even like spicy food. It just needed a bit more depth in the flavors. The snapper was really good along with the chicken. They were both the best things we all ordered. The coco bread rolls didn't stand out from what you'd find at any other fine dining spot. Not sure what makes them "coco bread" here but they were good! Lastly when it comes to food, by the time it was brought to us, it wasn't as hot as it could be. It was just warm. But our party did check in late so I'm not sure if that had anything to do with it. Overall a 7/10. The ambiance carries it far, but the kitchen has a tiny tiny bit of catching up to do. And I say that having come back almost a week later on a whim. Still good, just not great. And last thing, which may sound nit-picky, but for a place that starts at $100 minimum per person for a full meal, don't ask me if I want tap water lol. "Still, sparkling or tap" was not something I expected to hear. I'll probably visit ONE more time to see if my experience changes (when it comes to the food) but that's it. read more

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Finally made it to Dogon! The vibe of this place was great. They had a great playlist playing but it wasn't loud or disruptive in anyway. It was a nice addition to the atmosphere. Jesse was our waiter and he was so great! Always checked up on us and had great recommendations and answers to our questions. Nothing in the cocktails list was speaking to me. So I got a glass of bubbly which I loved. I think it was the Cremante. My brother got the mango basil smash and my sister in law got the coco con leche. They said they were okay. Nothing special. We decided to get 4 small plates and 2 large plates. Might have been too much but there were too many things we wanted to try. We started off with the Ben's bowl. The lamb was soft and the sauce was so flavorful. This was a great start but at the end this ended up being low on the list compared to the other dishes. Then we got the hoe crab. This is such a unique dish. The pancakes were perfect. The sauce packed a punch. The crab was soft tasty. This was my favorite dish. Then the steak tartar which was good but nothing special. Then we had the tuna. The sauce on this was so good but the tuna and avocado was just okay. Then we had the curry branzino. The skin was so crispy and the fish was so soft. Amazing how they did that. The braised oxtail was probably the most disappointing. We got a lot of fatty pieces and thought the meat would be softer. Flavor also wasn't on par with the other dishes. For the price we expected more. Overall very happy with our experience. Will definitely be back. read more

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To date this was the best dining experience I have ever had in DC. From arrival to exit the customer service was a positive experience! The music and lighting was perfect, almost like it was curated for me. The restroom was extremely clean and properly stocked with all necessities. (Great quality tissue) Everything we tried was stunning and perfectly balanced with flavor. I can't wait to try more items so I will definitely be back. I recommend the mango basil mixed drink 10x over! read more

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The hubby and I went to Dōgon for dinner today (3/14/2026); we had a reservation and as a result we were seated immediately upon arrival. Food: The food was delicious! We got the coco bread which was soft, buttery, warm and a GREAT way to start our meal. We also got Ben's Bowl which was a crispy lamb dish with a tamarind glaze in a chickpea curry, the flavors on this were perfection. I also got the hoe crab which my hubby couldn't eat due to a shellfish allergy, this was another standout meal. Lastly, we got the Braised Wagyu Oxtails, the oxtails were perfectly meaty, fatty and flavorful. All of our food was excellent. Service: This is what brought my review down, our server was fine, he didn't do a good job reviewing the menu with us, nor discussing the standout dishes; unfortunately, he left something to be desired with service. We were jealous of the experience the people next to us had as their server was excellent, we tried to eavesdrop when he reviewed the specials, gave recommendations and overall engaged with his tables. We definitely got the short end of the stick here. Atmosphere: Fantastic! It's a sexy and vibey restaurant with a hit list of R&B and hip hop playing in the background, how do I get a copy of the playlist?! Overall, highly recommend and we will be back! read more

They were very busy on a Saturday night. We showed up a few minutes early but had to wait 10 minutes outside the restaurant before we were seated. Not a big deal, except for the fact that 4 different restaurant employees came to ask us the name on our reservation. We eventually got a text message telling us the table is ready. Once we got seated, I let the waitress know about my gluten intolerance. She asked the chef to highlight the gluten free options. This made it very easy to order. We started with the piri piri salad. This was honestly the highlight of the meal. I shamelessly scraped every last drop of the sauce with a spoon. Then we got ben's bowl. 4 pieces of lamb, well seasoned and cooked to a nice medium rare. For main, we shared the chicken and rice. It's essentially half a chicken (dark and white meat) served on jollof rice. It had a nice kick and heavy on the sauce. It's a very tasty dish but not as impressive as the appetizers. I was expecting more out of it for that price point. read more

Didn't expect anything less than perfection from Dōgon. If you been to Chef Kwame's Tatiana in NY, this is right up the same alley; bold flavors, hella spice, and creative combinations that make no sense coming together the way they do! Shanti our server had great energy. Made wonderful recommendations and paced out our meals perfectly. The decoration is sleek and modern, low lit so if you didn't come properly dressed then only your server will notice LOL. The restaurant is actually quite spacious. The kitchen is in the back so to keep noise levels quite low, but somehow still in open view. Kinda crazy how that works. The bathrooms are single rooms, women only and gender neutral available. A few full length mirrors so you cut get a good fit check before returning to your date. Parking is valet only. THE FOOD: Jerk Wings- fire! Very well seasoned, dry rub medium spicy. The white sauce was something delicious. Peri Peri Salad - super surprisingly delicious! I was expecting a "salad" with lettuce, but nah, it's legit veggies and fruit toast in a mild peri peri dressing. I was flabbergasted how damn good it was. I ate the whole thing myself! Hoe Crab - uh! Absolutely delicious. The little site size hoe cakes were perfect amount of sweetness due to the plantain. The crab meat was seasoned nicely. Hella good. Mom Dukes Shrimp - very good, medium spicy. The sauce could easily be poured over rice and enjoyed. The shrimp heads are not attached, but placed in the bowl if you like them. Coco Bread - perfect fluffy. Not greasy or too sweet Curry Branzino - you have got to be kidding me! The was absolutely amazing. Fish cooked perfectly, sauce good and spicy. The was a surprise of veggies hidden under the fish. BBQ Greens - hella good! The cornbread was next level. The cocktails weren't doing it for me. Creative and nice presentation but not exciting to drink. The wine selection looks nice, probably should have just had that. read more

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I was finally able to visit Dogon, and the experience lives up to the hype. A friend who has been several times secured an early reservation on a Tuesday night, so we were able to beat the dinner crowd. The service was amazing, and ambiance was impeccable. We sat near the back of the restaurant closest to the kitchen, so we could see the team preparing the food. Every single dish was delicious. I loved the warm Coco Bread, Curry Branzino, and Rum Cake. The Jerk Wings and Hoe Crab were also delicious. I definitely plan to visit again, so that I can try the Red Snapper and a few other dishes that peaked my interest. A wonderful place for a date night and/or a great catchup with friends at the lovely Salamander Hotel. read more

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Some of the best dining I've experienced in the DMV but that was expected when going to any restaurant that chef kwame is a part of. You're experiencing black excellence on a plate. As soon as you walk through the entrance you already know the vibes are immaculate. We had the oxtail, peri peri salad, rumcake and brazino fish. My mouth is watering writing this review 2 days later. Also the staff was great. read more

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Nearly two months later, and I still think about the amazing experience I had here. I had been dying to dine here and an early December work trip allowed me to do just that. I'd reserved a table for two, but my colleague couldn't make it. They asked if I was okay with sitting at the bar and I'm so glad I did. Ivory, the bartender, was so attentive and knowledgeable. Because I live in Florida, I seized this opportunity to try as many dishes as I desired, including: Coco Bread, Charbroiled Oysters, Hoe Crab, Suya Pork Belly, and Cherries & Cream. When I say EVERYTHING was delicious, I mean it. The standout was the Hoe Crab. The sweet plantain complemented the savory aji verde and shitto crab SO WELL. It was truly the perfect pairing. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful. Before you get to the dimly lot hostess area, you notice a huge tasseled structure hanging from the ceiling, which sets expectations for the rest of the interior design and ambiance. Dōgon has such an intimate, sultry energy. I'm making it my mission to visit his other restaurants! read more

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This dinner was a celebration and we enjoyed every minute of it. Seating was nice and close , but also well spaced from other tables. There was five of us so we got to try a little of a lot. The chicken was probably my favorite. Nice spice and well done jollof rice. The coco bread was also great and the piri piri salad was so good we ordered a second one. They were able to accommodate my no red meat diet by offering the greens without bacon. We did a few cocktails because all the wines I wanted to try were no longer in stock. So I'm hoping next time I come out for dinner, I'll be able to try at least one. Get the rum cake and another to take home, because it's honestly the best! I had a hard time not ordering another one, but we had stayed so late the kitchen closed. Staff was lovely, kind and helpful and go above and beyond to help you find the right wine or cocktail to pair with your meal. Will definitely be back. read more

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Dogon participated in winter restaurant week, and I am so glad they did. The meal I had is probably the best meal I have had in DC. I got the sorel Rickey to drink. I love sorel, but it can be hard to find so I had to get it. The drink was so good, the flavor was exactly what I wanted. We each got a piece of coco bread with truffle butter. The bread was perfect and the truffle butter was a wonderful add on. For a small plate, I got the tuna shito. The tuna tasted so fresh and the sauce it was in was delicious. For the large plate, I got the chicken and rice. The chicken was spiced really nicely and had so much flavor. For a sweet, I got the rum cake. The cake was so moist and you could really taste the rum. I would get the exact same dishes again. The restaurant itself has a sexy, cool vibe. The music also made the restaurant feel very cool, though it did get a bit loud by the end of our dinner. read more

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To start, the hostess was wonderful , we were initially not excited about our seats, which were located right by the bar. As far as the food, we loved everything! Pro Tip: Visit with your foodie that loves to share! read more

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LOVED everything about my experience. Was able to get a last minute reservation and treated myself to a lovely evening! Things I loved: - service was spectacular! No notes. - the food was INCREDIBLE! Everything I tried was delicious! I had the Charbroiled Oysters, the Hoe Crab, Jollof Rice, Rice & Peas, Rum Cake, and the braised oxtail. I absolutely ordered too much food but I wanted to try it all! - there's this scotch bonnet / super spicy sauce that came with the oysters that was divine! My waiter gave me a little extra to take home. - beautiful beautiful restaurant! - I love that they have cocktails with black owned spirits! While it is on the pricier side it is so worth it! Can't wait to stop back in to try more of the menu! read more

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Dōgon is, without a doubt, a culinary supernova! From the moment we stepped into the beautifully designed, indigo-and-gold glowing space, the dining experience felt like a truly special occasion. Chef Kwame Onwuachi and his team have created a menu that tells a vibrant story through Afro-Caribbean and West African flavors, and the execution is flawless. Signature Dishes: A Star-Studded Lineup We began with the iconic Hoe Crab, and it was spectacular. Tender blue crab is elegantly served back in the shell, topped with a spicy, pungent shito chili crunch, and meant to be scooped up with the tiny, fluffy Plantain Hoe Cakes and a drizzle of the bright Aji Verde sauce, a brilliant nod to D.C.'s culinary scene. For our main, the Chicken and Rice was perfection. The roasted half-chicken, deeply seasoned with Berbere spice, atop flavorful Jollof Rice, was a celebration of Nigerian and Ethiopian influences. Cocktails: Creatively Crafted The cocktail program by Derek Brown is just as intentional as the food. I enjoyed the Flower Pot Punch, a creative take on a pre-Prohibition D.C. classic featuring rum, fresh citrus, spiced pineapple syrup, and Cajun Grenadine. I also had The Astronomer, and it was perfectly balanced and refreshing, a true standout. They truly complement the bold spices of the menu. Service: Attentive and Warm The service was impeccable. Our server was knowledgeable, guiding us through the menu's stories and offering thoughtful suggestions without being intrusive. The pacing of the meal was relaxed, making the entire evening feel like an event. Dessert: Steals the Show You must save room for the Rum Cake. Served with a delicate Vanilla Whip and Charred Fruit (charred gooseberries when we visited), it was the perfect finale, moist, rich, and not overly sweet. It's the kind of dessert you'll think about for weeks. Dōgon is more than just a restaurant; it's a cultural experience and a masterpiece of flavor. Worth every star, every penny, and every moment. Book your table now weeks in advance, you won't regret this journey! read more

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4 stars. It was a really good experience, save for a few things that keep this from being a 5-star review. We were greeted promptly and taken to our table - no wait. Food: Frankly, IMHO, the food was exceptional. We had the piri piri salad, pork belly, and hoe crab for appetizers, and the branzino and oxtail (special) for dinner. The flavors...the sauces...just magical. I honestly asked my husband if I could bathe in more than one of the sauces. The piri piri salad was fresh, the pork belly was incredible (great sear and that SAUCE) and I really enjoyed the hoe crab. The oxtail was excellent - another AMAZING sauce - and the branzino was very good too (again, another wonderful sauce). However, while the server deboned the branzino, my husband got a ton of bones, and I got a few, which did detract from the experience. Service: We had an excellent server. He took the time to explain everything to us and made a few recommendations. Ambiance: I was actually worried about the music/noise level reading the other reviews. I will say that maybe because we went the weekend after the New Year - perhaps it wasn't as crowded/loud (although it still seemed pretty crowded)? We got a table for 2 by a pillar, which may have helped with the noise level. We didn't have to shout at all, which, honestly, I expected. The music...I'd call it present. I wouldn't call it loud. They are definitely going for a specific vibe, and actually, it's a cool one. Other: We ordered glasses of sparkling wine to start. Reading the other reviews, I assumed this would be a long dining (2-3 hours) experience. However, our appetizers came out really quickly - not enough time for us to finish our sparkling wine and order more wine to go with the apps. Then, there was a long(er) period between apps and mains, where we felt we had to savor our wine as to not run out. Maybe that was our fault - perhaps we shouldn't have ordered the apps until we were done with our bubbles if we wanted to attempt to pace things a bit. Oh well - lesson learned for next time (and yes, there will be a next time). A great addition to DC. read more

It's good music and lighting along with great service. Nice addition to the Salamander and love the cuisine type being of Caribbean descent! My wife and I sat at the bar, which was not a bad option at all. We started with drinks and got two Manhattans. The bar tender (Gregory) was amazing. He was extremely knowledgeable and offered a variation of the Manhattan, which was great. We split the snapper fish and coco bread meal. The cocoa bread was soft! The butter was real creamy. Our goal was to have it paired with the snapper but we couldn't wait that long. The snapper was great. It was fried with a sauce on it that enhanced the taste. The fish came with a peas and rice dish that was fluffy and so soft. There was also a pepper sauce that was HOT. I normally like spicy, but that one got me. The only challenge really was that it was just expensive. I think you have to expect to drop at least $80-$90 a person. I like nice, but even I was like dang. Lollll It's worth at least going once. There is not much around the hotel, so I would bank on this being your evening. It is definitely worth a visit if you are doing things at the hotel (I.e. spa, night stay, etc) read more

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Everything was all I expected. Great service Waiter very attentive A/C was on high (a lil too cold for me) Overall experience "10" read more

I've been to this restaurant a few times now and have tried a some of their dishes multiple times. The food is consistently good. The service is always great and the ambiance is lively. Piri Piri Salad: 10/10 - the gooseberries were a nice touch! Hoe Crab: 9.5/10 - I think this is a creative dish. I would never think to put stew with crab but it works! Ben's Bowl: 8.5/10 Charbroiled Oysters: 8.5/10 - Adding stew to an oyster dish is creative. Other than that these are just regular grilled oysters. They're definitely good. Corn Bread: 10/10 - The bread is soft. The butter is immaculate. No notes! Branzini: 8/10 - This is a solid dish. I'd definitely get it again. Mom Dukes Shrimp: 7.5/10 The dish was good but I've had better shrimp. Rice & Chicken: 10/10 - Very flavorful! Rum Cake: 10/10 - Soooo good! Cherries & Cream: 8/10 - it's good but the rum cake is better. read more

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Omg this place is definitely a great dining experienxe. From the moment we entered in, we were well-treated from the hosting stand to our water. The waiter gave some wonderful suggestions, which we ended up taking. He suggested we get the collared greens and branzjno, which were great. My friend and I also agree the carrots and lamb. The food came as it was being made and paired with the appropriate dishes. Everything was so wonderful. I would definitely come back, perhaps getting the bread also. Note because this is a dining experience, it does take a minute for all the food to come. They are preparing it as fresh as possible. We stayed for the full 2-3 hours for our experience. Just enjoy your dining company and enjoying the ambiance. The music in the background is also great! read more

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Chef Kwame does it again! I was a fan of Kith/Kin at the Wharf, and Dogon brings a cool vibe here with the same flavorful food. Our server, Lumi (not sure of spelling), was awesome! Very attentive and gave great food recs. Loved the Coco bread, bbq greens, curry fish, and rum cake. Valet parking was a little steep at $30, but wouldn't deter me from visiting again. read more

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Food was AMAZING!!! Especially enjoyed the BBQ greens...outstanding and unique flavors in a large portion size!!! Blackberry Smash was STELLAR!!!! read more

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

First, I have to say (get your wallet prepared) --when I stepped into the restaurant, the atmosphere was completely different from the hotel (Salamander). It felt like walking into a chic, seductive space (def the perf date night spot). The lighting was dim, everyone was speaking at a respectful tone and even though we arrived 30 minutes past our reservation time (thank you, DC traffic), they still accommodated us! We were seated in the bar area (which we LOVED) since our original table was given away. However, that ended up working out because we were greeted by the lovely Ms. Ivory, She made one of the best drinks I've had in a while--my taste buds were dancing. I ordered the Flower Pot Punch and my friend had a mango-based NA drink (name slipped my mind), and both were well-balanced, flavorful, and the liquor DID NOT get lost in the mix lol. Her service was outstanding; she checked on us consistently and clearly knew the menu and dishes very well. Now on to the food. The cocoa bread was a 10/10. The oysters, unfortunately, were disappointing--they tasted reheated & was not fresh, so 2/10. The wagyu was incredibly tender and moist, practically melting in my mouth--9/10. The hoe crab dish? I could eat that every day. It had the perfect kick (I love spice), and they were generous with the crab--10/10. As for the chicken and Jollof rice--the chicken was moist but could've benefited from a longer marinade to deepen the flavor (ironically, it tasted better the next day). The Jollof rice was cooked in a shrimp broth, which I wasn't expecting, and the flavor threw me off. I disliked it, and the guest seated next to me agreed. I was anticipating a more traditional Naija-style Jollof--so that's a 6/10. And the rum cake? Make sure you order two--one to enjoy there and one to take home. It absolutely broke the scale. PS: whoever was in charge of the playlist, tell them I need it expeditiously! read more

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LOVE LOVE LOVE! The food, service, and ambience was all 5 stars. I wish I lived closer to DC so I can eat here everyday. We ordered a variety of dishes after discussion with our waitress. Such a kind soul (sorry I don't recall their name). We had fired fish, corn bread, jollof rice (least favorite), greens ( favorite, favorite). I wish I can each meal in detail. The culinary experience of all items except the jollof rice was magical. A bit of a heads up: nothing is like what you think it will be. The corn bread was nothing I've ever tasted. The jollof rice will not taste like how your mom would cook it. So don't walk in with tastebud expectations. Though we didn't try everything on the menu, I don't think you will be disappointed with any of their options. Note: I am writing this review months after so skimpy on the details. Go try this place for yourself. Please! read more

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Made a resy since I would be in town for a race that weekend. First off, the Salamander Hotel is beautiful. As I approached I was taken aback by how grand the building was from the outside. Once inside it's easy to see that Dogon and Tatiana are sister restaurants. They share similar vibes, color schemes, etc. As for the food, the dishes are made to share so if you're dining alone (like me) you're going to have a bit of an issue ordering. I decided to get two Small Share plates and a side of cornbread. The cornbread had this spiced butter which added the perfect kick to the cornbread. For my small shares I ordered the BBQ Greens and the Hoe Crab. Both were flavorful and because I ate them by myself, they were VERY filling. read more

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As someone who's been to Dogon a couple of times I can definitely say that I've experienced a few hits and misses. Let's start off with the interior which is dimmed slightly beyond perfection and is sure to have a more seasoned crowd reaching for their phone light. The spacing of the tables also needs a bit work as they're far too close for comfort and forces one to whisper during intimate conversations or fear that all will know that your cousin Sara ran off with the milk man lol. Despite the interior I can definitely say that the service is solid. All of my servers have been great, however something was missing 4/5. Now the piece de resistance: the food. I can appreciate it when restaurants revamp not only their food but their drink menu as well. However, their new cocktail menu dulls in comparison to their summer option which was filled with several martini options. I asked for the server to see if they could recreate the P Star martini (sans vanilla as they apparently didn't have any in house). They gave it their best shot, but it was mediocre and they apparently topped it off in the back with sparkling wine as well. Yikes! Don't they realize one of the best parts is when you can top it off yourself. Some of my favorite bites were the bbq greens, Ben's bowl, the curry branzino (per a friend) and the rum cake. Some misses were the coco bread ( I know don't shoot me), sweet and sour cabbage, bone marrow with shredded lamb (no longer on the menu). Long story short, I may stop by if they have an early resy. However, I don't think that I'll be back for a celebratory occasion 3.8/5. read more

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Us 4 were seated within 10 min of arriving. Your evening is accompanied by smooth jams at a volume that doesn't requiring hollering across the table at your dining partners. It's a dark, moody space. You can dress all the way up or wear something fancy casual. Two of us had mocktails, and lemme tell you something... they cost just as much as the cocktails eg ~$20. It costs just as much to be sober as it does to get boozy, boo. Also, our waiter mixed up the drinks and gave the alcoholic one to a pregnant person. He quickly corrected when we told him. We were told to get 4-6 smalls and at least 2 large plates for the 4 of us. It turned out fitting and became somewhat like a tasting since we shared everything. They ask that you order everything all at once. Yes, you can add more dishes later. We enjoyed every single thing that came out. I couldn't wrap my head around the concept of bbq greens but it was very good and tasted like traditional black American holiday greens, yanno the kind where you wanna drink the soup/base lol. My top faves were that, the pork belly, and tuna. We did feel that at least 2 of the dishes had very similar flavor profiles and weren't as distinct as we'd hope for but it didn't take away from a well done meal. We look forward to returning! read more

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I was blown away by the food, service, and ambience at Dōgon. Had dinner here on a Friday evening to celebrate a friend's birthday. This restaurant is located in the Salamander hotel in DC. As for the hotel, I would suggest valet parking as the area is a bit congested with construction and other parking options are not close enough. Reservations must be made way ahead of time because this place fills up. I'm talking months. Especially with a party as big as ours. Most of us at the table ordered the Branzino and a few ordered the fried snapper. I was not disappointed! The flavor was unreal! It was served in a spicy sauce over a bit of greens and squash with a side of rice and peas. It was delicious! I ordered the rum cake as a dessert. It's a decent size and is served with a crème fraîche and gooseberry topping. Presentation of everything was on point. The food, the drinks, the dessert, and the service were all A plus. I also love the decor and playlist of this restaurant. This restaurant is a little pricey, but worth it in my opinion. This was an overall great time. read more

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When I mean I wanted to kiss Chef Kwame Onwuachi in real time I wish I could've !! The food was too die for! I loved and enjoyed every single piece of food on my Plate ! I scrapped the plate. The reservations are super serious ! You miss your time frame that's $100 but trust me food so good you don't want to miss it. The Decor was nice and dark . Music was a vibe !! Everything was a vibe . Chef please invite me to a one on one dinner ! I would love to try all of your food read more

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We went to Dogon for a friend's birthday, and it was amazing--my new favorite upscale restaurant in the area! The food, service, music, and overall ambience were all perfect. We tried lots of different dishes, and I especially loved the branzino and the mussels. I really appreciated how thoughtfully the West African and Caribbean flavors were curated. It's hard to find good Caribbean fusion spots in this area, and they absolutely hit the mark. I'll definitely be coming back! read more

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Took my boyfriend here for his birthday Ambiance: very minimal with black and white interior. Seating is a bit too close for me, we literally could hear both tables next us conversations. I was not expecting the type of music to be playing, mostly hip hop and r&b. Felt like it was those brunches that get turnt up but people were chill and dressed up. It's located in a beautiful hotel. Service: Raphael was really nice and attentive. He explained the menu and how it was restaurant week even gave some recommendations. Food: we started off with cocoa bread which was very soft and warm. The tuna was good but not enough for me. I wish they did it in like some of kind of mini stack. Next was the Ben's bowl and that reminded me of a crunchy crab cake but with lamb. It wasn't my favorite but the sauces were really good and flavorful. For the entree, we ordered the oxtails and curry branzino. I lovedddddddddd the branzino literally chefs kiss. Perfect serving size for me and the rice was such a good paring. The oxtails were a bit of a sweet taste for me but my boyfriend enjoyed it. We ended dinner with rum cake, I'm not a dessert person but it was good. For drinks we had white wine, I forgot the name but it was a semi dry with a fruity taste at the end. They gave a complimentary drink I think it was a sparkling wine. Definitely go for the experience of trying different foods. read more

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We had a 7:15 reservation on a Saturday and were disappointed to find they were already out of the Ben's Bowl. Started with the Mama Dukes shrimp, which was flavorful. The cornbread was just okay. The curry branzino was well cooked but had barely any vegetables (just topped with a lot of garnish). The chicken was less flavorful than in the past but still good. The jollof rice lacked some flavor. Overall, you can tell the spices are high quality, though the execution felt a bit off. Still love the vibe here as this is visit #4 and the cherries and cream dessert was a refreshing and tasty finish. read more

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Hands down my favorite meal during my work trip to DC. The vibe is elevated trendy, yet intimate. The place was packed so it felt like THE place to be at night. Make sure to book your reservation far in advance though. THE FOOD: For 5 people, my table ordered: coco bread, corn bread, hoe crab, pork belly, piri piri salad, bbq greens, mom dukes shrimp, chicken and rice, & rum cake. We also got multiple cocktails. Our server told us that everyone was going to want their own corn bread and she did not lie. We had to get double order since it was so good. My table liked the shrimp but I found it too fishy, though the sauce was awesome. The chicken and rice was ok but everything else was wow. I loved the mix of bold flavors & nothing felt too heavy. We could have ordered 1 less small plate since we were very full, but we still had to get something sweet. The rum cake was a perfect way to end. THE SERVICE: Our server was top-notch with all the dish descriptions and attentiveness. We felt very well taken care of. One bummer was that the pork belly came out wayyyy after all the other food. The service staff did a great job constantly taking away dishes & switching out clean plates. I love that this was family style. Go here if you want everyone in your group to feel special! It's spendy, but unique and is sure to impress all out-of-towners!- says this out-of-towner ;) read more

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Dogon, nestled in the DC Salamander is the perfect spot for a date night, celebration or dinner out with your girls. During my recent visit my friend was able to book a table for 4 about a month out from the reservation. Not sure what the parking situation is because I Ubered to the hotel however upon arrival I was delighted to hear that our table was almost ready and we'd only have to wait a couple of minutes. The restaurant itself is kind of small and features a chain design with mood lighting once you arrive in. Here's everything I loved and didn't love so much while I was here. LOVED + portion sizes were shareable so despite the prices being a bit high it was nice to enjoy a decent portion from each dish + because everything is served family style I highly recommend going with 3-4 people. + CURRY BRANZINO *snapps* sooo soo good. The sauce and the delicate fish are a star + Coco bread -- I could eat these everyday all day. Although it's more of a roll than the sweet coco bread I'm used to it was still a hit! + oysters-- delicious + greens --- delicious, wish the portion was a little bigger + rum cake-- it's like a warm hug on a cold night. Mhmm mmhm mmm it hit my soul that's how good it was + plates were cleared from the table quickly + they were really good with making sure that our friend with a shellfish allergy was taken care of DIDN'T LOVE AS MUCH + Our server started out providing the best service. Then midway through she disappeared and didn't seem to be in the best mood. So much that another server ended up jumping in to provide us with some prosecco while we waited for our dessert. Very much appreciated this! + dessert took like 30 minutes to come out. Felt like forever + their shrimp tasted over cooked and fishy + For a fine dining restaurant I wouldn't have expected to be packing up my own food into cardboard boxes. After spending so much I would at least love if the team asked if you'd like them to box it or if you're ok boxing it yourself. It was odd to have to lift the heavy plates and risk getting sauces all over your clothes. Overall I'll be back. I didn't try any cocktails because I wasn't in the drinking mood but my friends who dined in with me this day loved them. Thank you to the Dogon team! You will absolutely be seeing me again for that curry branzino :) read more

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I had very high hopes for Dogon, so much so that I chose this place for our anniversary dinner. The ambiance is really beautiful with the dim lighting and everything. However, what really fell short for me was the food and wait time between dishes. The ben's bowl was extremely disappointing for me. It was almost inedibly salty to me. My husband who has a very high tolerance for salt even said the dish was way too salty. If it wasn't for the sauce that it came with (which felt cut down the saltiness a bit) I would have had to send it back, which I very very rarely do. This is what we started the meal with so I was disappointed from the get-go. The hoe crab came next, and truly was the best thing we tried there. It was phenomenal and an extremely well balanced dish. So good that I wish it came with a couple more blinis. The last dish we tried was the Curry Branzino and this was also pretty good in terms of flavor. The rice and peas it came with perfectly complimented the dish. However, they filleted it not so great. There was tons of bones in this fish, almost in every bite. I was surprised a restaurant like this would serve fish this way. I was able to dig out the bones from my mouth but can't say this for everyone--it can definitely get stuck in someone's throat. We got a few cocktails which were quite enjoyable, although on the pricy side. Got the rum cake for dessert which was pretty good, you could definitely taste the rum, however little too big for two people to share. The service itself was pretty good, however we sat for 25+ minutes simply waiting for our Branzino to come out. We were done with our other dishes but that dish took so long to come out that we were running late to our next plans. We told our waiter we were in a rush to he thankfully sped up the dessert and check. Also I've been to hundreds of nice dinners in DC and have rarely felt that the food was overpriced, but that's exactly how I felt at Dogon. Paying $72 dollars for essentially a chicken and rice dish felt pretty insane (so we didn't get that dish). But truly many items on the menu were so costly it deterred me from trying and ordering a bunch of dishes. Unfortunately I don't think I would go back. I'm glad I got to try it though and very happy to see a successful high-end African restaurant in DC! read more

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Had such a wonderful time at Dogon! The whole experience felt personal and special from the moment we walked into the Salamander Hotel and were guided right to the restaurant. Huge shoutout to our waiter, Travis. He was amazing. He remembered our names, gave great recommendations, and made the night feel extra memorable. We tried the hoe crab, charbroiled oysters, the chicken and rice and the rum cake. Everything was delicious and perfectly seasoned. The ambiance is stunning, modern yet cozy, with beautiful lighting and great energy. It's the perfect spot for a nice dinner in D.C. with amazing service and great food. read more

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My 500th review goes to none other than the place I enjoyed my BEST MEAL OF 2025. Dōgon's ambiance felt so upscale, intentional, and sexy. It took me back to the energy of 90's hip hop and R&B with the perfect soundtrack loud enough to hear Jodeci, Babyface, and some of my other timeless faves playing in the background. Dark woodworking wrapped the space in warmth, while dim, moody lighting set the tone for intimacy and indulgence. Plush navy velvet lounge seating invited you to linger, sip slowly, and sink into the rhythm of the room. This place was such a vibe... a big mood, a whole experience, not to be missed. There wasn't a single bite I didn't love or plate we didn't devour. The Coco Bread was nice and warm with the most pillowy soft inside and came with a yummy sorghum butter. The Charbroiled Oysters arrived smoldering, drenched in Croatian butter, topped with Parmigiano, and a bold red sauce, merging a light smokey flavor with the perfect amount of brine. They were so decadent that we almost ordered a second round but we wanted to try more of the menu selections. The carrot Tigua was delicious, rich in flavor, and presented beautifully as were the Mom Duke's shrimp and that utterly divine, crispy lamb plate. The Hoe Crab was phenomenal and like nothing I'd ever had before.... Pricey but worth every penny. The Curry Branzino was my favorite dish I tried and made me roll my eyes back in my head and sing in my seat, LOL... The most perfectly cooked fish nestled in a velvety coconut mussel curry, with zucchini and callaloo, I have been dreaming about having again, since the moment we left. The lobster escovitch also did not disappoint and had just the right amount of kick to it. Lastly, that rum cake wasn't anything I expected to "wow" me, but I ended up loving it and cleaning the dessert plate. Special shout out to Chef Kwame and manager Caro for coming over throughout the night to engage us and our (then) infant daughter, so warm and kindly. They made us feel like family and invited us back with the sweetest affirmations and compliments extended about our mini and us as new parents. This was genuinely the best date night of our year and we can't wait to check them out again for another epic date night in 2026. read more

Came here for an anniversary dinner, and wow! Food, drinks, service, and ambience were all incredible! Staff were extremely attentive and gave great recommendations, even received a congratulatory sparkling wine for our anniversary. For starters, got the Jerk Mushroom, Hoe Crab, Pork Belly, and Mom Duke's Shrimp. The Hoe Crab and Shrimp were by far my favorite of the night - the hoe crab was EXCEPTIONAL, and came with these delightfully fluffy plantain cakes. I don't normally enjoy crab, but the crab was delicious, served with this chili oil type sauce and creamy sauce that paired so well with the subtly sweet and fluffy plantain cake. Also, the Mom Duke's Shrimp was AMAZING!! The shrimp head in particular was so flavorful, and we made sure to use the bread to soak up all of the delicious sauce. The jerk mushroom and pork belly I honestly could have done without though, the charring was uneven on the mushrooms and the pork belly, while still good, didn't seem particularly special and was a little dry. For our main, we ordered the Curry Branzino which was also exceptional. It was served in a curry sauce which was reminiscent of massaman or red Thai curry, but the jollof rice that it came with was also one of my favorites! Seasoned very well and paired well. I loved all the drinks I got as well, all of which well balanced. (astronomer, flower pot punch, and mango basil) For dessert, got an absolutely scrumptious rum cake that had gooseberries on top, which was SO unique and did such a great job cutting the richness of the cake! Would love to come back to try more items, was sad the oxtail patties were out. read more

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