Elba Adriana C.

Elimina is a Ghanian restaurant that either has a Michelin star or is on the Michelin guide. We decided to try it out at first because it was one of the handful of restaurants we could use our chase open door credit for! I'm glad we came and tried it. Although I don't think it blew us away unfortunately. Overall the food was good and the flavor profile was different - a good different - it just missed that extra - subjective - umph in a Michelin recommended place. We tried their multi-course menu and also ordered a few things a la carte and our favorite dishes octopus skewers and the lamb. The courses that let us down were mainly two: the plantain in our opinion needed to be softer, it was between sweet and savory and maybe that is the point, but we didn't enjoy it that much. The crudo was bland and lacked flavor. I think for $500 (we ordered a lot and had leftovers!) we didn't leave feeling as WOW as we expected. Still happy to have tried it!

Sabrina G.

My wife and I came here for our anniversary, and the space is beautifully decorated--from the outside to the inside. The mix of colors and the different rooms all flow together perfectly without feeling overwhelming. The service was amazing. We were greeted warmly and even wished a Happy Anniversary. We sat upstairs and were treated to a glass of champagne, along with a mocktail for me, which was a nice touch. We ended up ordering just appetizers, and surprisingly, that was more than enough to fill us up. The grilled octopus was so good I had to order it twice! My wife had the grilled oyster mushrooms and really enjoyed them. The jollof was okay, but that smashed avocado dip with the homemade plantain chips--OMG, absolutely amazing. Overall, it was a great experience. I'll definitely be back because I still need to try the fish!

JANELLE W.

What a perfect way to spend a Friday night. The space had a smooth neo-soul and R&B vibe--warm, intentional, and effortlessly welcoming. It struck that rare balance of being both stylish and comfortable. I started with the smoked bone marrow, which was outstanding. The crispy goat added a satisfying texture, while the dish itself still felt surprisingly light. I found myself alternating bites with and without the pickle, and honestly, it worked beautifully both ways. The octopus skewers had a perfect char, and the caramelized onions truly elevated the dish. The onion reminded me of the rich, tangy flavors of Yassa from Senegal and The Gambia--something I absolutely love--so this was a clear standout for me. The Waakye was absolutely delicious. Rice and egg is an underrated combination, and the soft-boiled eggs added that perfect creamy richness from the yolk. I especially appreciated that the shito sauce was served on top, allowing me to control the heat level. The balance of spice and flavor was spot on. And the oxtail... incredibly tender and deeply flavorful. A true comfort dish, but still right at home within the restaurant's chic atmosphere. The portion was generous--I had plenty of leftovers, which I was more than happy about. The service was great. This place has definitely earned a spot in my regular rotation whenever I'm in DC, and it's one I'll be recommending without hesitation.

Lucia B.

Had a reservation to celebrate my birthday and unfortunately we had to wait 30-40 min to be seated. The place wasn't super busy so that was disappointing, they weren't apologetic either. Our server was very nice but service was not good, very slow and we had to ask for water refills a couple of times. We sat upstairs, the space is small. Food was very good, my husband and I like spicy food and were surprised as to how spicy some of the items were. We ordered the smoked sweet plantain which was absolutely amazing, beef kebab, delicious too and the Elmira spicy chicken, this was good but borderline too spicy. For dessert we had the Choux Au Solei which was good but not memorable. Overall it was a good experience but not great given the service and wait time.

Hanay W.

Got a reservation for a Friday evening & it did not disappoint. Upon arrival, I immediately noticed the warmth orangey and red tones that I absolutely loved. It somehow felt warm, cozy, but elevated & romantic at the same time. It is also a much larger space than I imagined. Came in a party of 3 who have never eaten here and our waitress was excellent in explaining the menu and giving her recommendations. Our food came quick & all at the same time which I appreciate since we were sharing! *One downside for me is that some items on the tasting menu you cannot order à la carte and vice versa * I ordered the Pineapples are Berries Mocktail which I loved! I always appreciate when restaurants put effort into the aesthetic of a mocktail. As a group we ordered the Spicy Chicken with a side of Jollof Rice, Fried Plantains, and Waakye (Oxtail). Hands down the oxtail was my absolute favorite dish, I am still dreaming about it. So flavorful, such a nice portion, & extremely tender. I also love the addition of the jammy egg! The spicy chicken was also good, with the best part being the sauce it sits in, in my opinion. We ended off with the Malva Pudding dessert which was gorgeous and the perfect thing to wrap up our dinner Overall, I had a really good time & food experience. I reallyyyy want to try the Duck Jollof Pot, so I will need to come back for the tasting menu!!

Mila F.

This was an amazing five stars experience. We did the tasting menu and despite the cold having an effect on the wait time, once we got seated everything went so smoothly. We put all our orders in at once and they timed perfectly and brought out each dish one after the other. Depending on your tastes preference, you'll have different favorites, but I could not get over the Hamachi Crudo, how fluffy the fufu was and the Malva pudding cake! And if I'm being honest, nothing fell short of amazing. I really enjoyed getting little surprises that were not specified on the menu like the amuse bouche and the palette cleanser. These bites were delicious in and of themselves. It's an upscale design, with casual energy. They seem to have enough space to accommodate large parties is with reservation or small parties at short notice. Theres also limited seating at the bars.

Jessica A.

I'm so glad I finally got to visit Elmina! Once I found out that Chef Eric was making an upscale Ghanaian restaurant in DC, I knew I had to make my way there. I've heard great things from others who've visited, so I came expecting great things. It's a three story restaurant with plenty of seating and beautiful art work all around. My friend and I sat at the bar and started with some drinks. I got the sobolo fizz, which is a hibiscus and ginger beer drink, and had a hint of pineapple and clove. It's a sweeter drink and of course very tasty. We also ordered to chicken and prawn chichinga, which is what us Ghanaians call kebabs. Both were very good, but I definitely have to go with the prawns since I'm a seafood girlie. We also ordered kelewele, which is seasoned plantains, and sides of jollof rice. Everything was delicious, and the food met my expectations. I will most definitely be back to do the full dinner tasting experience!

Andrew K.

I'm a fan of this Ghanian restaurant. I ordered the tasting menu which came with 5 courses, 1 being a surprise. I started off with the zaalouk dip which came with roti and that was pretty good. The Hamachi crudo was also really god. For the second, the Palm nut shrimp and Octopus stew was spicy and delicious while the braised lamb shoulder was pretty good. I really enjoyed the Jollof duck pot for the third and the duck breast was cooked perfectly and came with duck egg and roasted tomato salad. For the Fourth, the bofrot dessert was delicious and came with milo gelato, sticky toffee sauce. Service was excellent and I would come back here again to try their a la cart menu next time.

DeMario M.

I went to Elmina for my birthday with a reservation and unfortunately had a very disappointing experience. We waited over an hour past our reservation time to be seated, and no one acknowledged or apologized for the delay. As much as I love West African food, I also expect to be acknowledged and respected as a paying customer. I reached out to the restaurant's GM, Cameron, afterward and never received a response. The customer service alone would prevent me from returning. The food also did not impress. We ordered the tasting menu, which felt more like a hodgepodge of different cuisines rather than a cohesive representation of African cuisine. PS: Don't let the pictures I'm posting fool you!!! I'm just a really good photographer. The only bright spot was an Asian waitress who was not even our assigned server--she went out of her way to try to make things right, and I appreciate her effort. Unfortunately, one person's kindness could not make up for the overall experience. I would not return.

Kai M.

I've decided to celebrate Black History Month by supporting Black-owned businesses! Join me! Up first, Elmina. The soulful restaurant which brings the flavors of Ghana straight to DC. Owned by Chef Eric Adjepong, my Food Network fav! This restaurant gave me insight to his cultural background but also his unique cooking style. Ambiance: this place exemplifies Black excellence through its food, services, and eye catching decor. A very modern-sleek layout, adorned with some unique art pieces, a beautiful open kitchen concept, a sexy bar, and intimate top and lower level seating. This place is perfect for date night, conversation with friends, coworkers, and family members. I would say keep the kids at home because it's an adult experience which welcomes conversation through each bite. Service: the hostess was warm and friendly and that showed through her immediate smile and cheerful greetings. Our waitress, Jen, was a superstar! Not the average waitress who simply reads off the menu, no, she sold the dishes by spotlighting key ingredients-I'm a foodie so I appreciated that. Drinks: Put aside the love for wine for a night and embark on a rum journey through the unique rums offered here. Their cocktails were fabulous! To my non-drinkers, you aren't excluded, there were unique nonalcoholic cocktails specifically prepared for you. For my drink, I ordered the Benjamin's G&T. A sexy twist on gin and tonic, as this drink featured cardamom. Why'd I love it? Well, cardamom adds a bit of sweet, spicy, and citrusy flavors which complimented the gin. The right amount of tonic was added, making this drink a fabulous option for anyone desiring a non-sweet, refreshing drink. I can see myself drinking these during the summer on a rooftop somewhere lol-my FAV! 'A La Carte Review: Snacks: we started the night with Kelewele. Now, this isn't your traditional fried plantain and I loved it. The plantains were perfectly fried on the outside with a soft and sweet surprise on the inside. Great to snack on while you wait for your meal, or, perfect to add alongside your meal. Appetizers: next, we ordered the Zaalouk Dip. Honey, this is the one! This is the dip that opens up your palate and stirs up conversation after each bite. My boyfriend and I absolutely loved it because it took us down memory lane of our Caribbean home and a similar dish. The chef took regular eggplants and added the right spices and love to create this masterpiece. Although mashed, I tasted the charred flavor on the roasted eggplants and its bold flavors. Scooped up by pieces of hot, flavorful roti...SCRUMPTIOUS! Mains: now on to the mains! I ordered the Fante Fante Fish and my boyfriend ordered the Bambara bean Coconut Curry. Fante Fante Fish was an experienceeeeeee (see the video) have you ever had buttery soft fish? And yes, it was cooked to the bones but the meat was so buttery soft and the Fisherman's stew sent my taste buds crazy. And if that wasn't enough, it came with a side of Pikliz salad, a moment of silent for this. It's a perfect spicy break which amplified the savoriness of the fish. I also had Yam chips which I couldn't stop dipping in the delicious Green shito. This dish represented rich African culture and if you're not opened to various spices and flavors, I recommend trying something else. My boyfriend ate all of his dish and raved at how delicious the curry, charred cabbage, and added shrimps were. To conclude the best night, we ordered the Malva Pudding Cake...lean in....the description does not fully capture how AMAZING this cake is! Seriously, it's not too sweet, but it's something in there that makes you keep going even after saying "I'm stuffed" lol you won't want to leave a crumb of this behind. Although the cake and sauces drizzled throughout, made a bold statement, the vanilla gelato was amazing! At the end of the night we met Chef Adjepong. I appreciated how warm and friendly he was but also the insight that he provided on next steps for this amazing restaurant. If you haven't tried this place, give it a try! And before you do, remember that culture plays a huge role on the way dishes are presented, be opened minded to asking about the flavors and exploring something you may not have tried before. It's worth it!

Arthur C.

The Zaalouk Dip is the star item on the Elmina menu, and one of the best appetizers I've ever had. It's like an eggplant dip with tomato, goat cheese, red onion and coriander oil. Paired with the roti, it almost feels like a global fusion in a taco and one of the best bites you can find in D.C I also ate the chofi (turkey tails) and the tuna tartare, which were also amazing appetizers. The Fante Fante fish was our entree, which was good, although I probably wouldn't pay the market price ($105) for it. If you're looking for a nice dinner and a modern take on Ghanaian food, Elmina is a great choice on 14th St.

Kelly P.

4.5/5 stars TLDR: I would recommend this spot for a fun date night, if you've never had West African cuisine, if you like big flavors. Get the Tasting Menu to ensure you don't miss the sleeper favorites! The four of us arrived with big appetites and opted for the tasting menu. For each of the courses, we worked together to order one of nearly everything offered. My absolute favorites: Zaalouk Dip - I love goat cheese. DAMN each bite was delicious. This is even more impressive when you consider that I've never been a fan of eggplant. Fufu with braised goat - deep rich flavor, served in the coolest dishware of the night. Bofrot - all the desserts were tasty but this had an edge over the others for me overall due to texture and flavor. I also enjoyed two mocktails (Sundays with Lennox; Pineapples are Berries), as they offered a sweet balance to the bold - and often spicy - dishes. If I had to do it all again, I would've asked for them to omit the seafood from the Jollof Duck Pot. One of the desserts was unavailable (Choux de Soleil), which was disappointing because it was the most intriguing for me but I truly didn't even have room for more food anyhow. Service was on point: very attentive while not hovering. Our water glasses were kept full, and the pacing of the meal felt spot on. The atmosphere was cozy and a bit loud, and aesthetically pleasing. The music was fun. I enjoy the fact that we could see/hear some bustle from the kitchen. Accessibility note: there is a ramp to enter but the restrooms were downstairs and the tables were quite close together.

There was stone unturned in this fine dining establishment. Food 100, Environment 100, Service 100 and 100 for coming to my city.... :-)