So glad St. James is now open for lunch -- this is seriously the best thing that could've happened…read moreby my job! My brother/friend and I went yesterday for lunch and got the oxtail bowl and the pepper shrimp bowl. We were full for the rest of the day, and mind you, this was around 2:30 The service was amazing. The bar manager gave us great conversation while also letting us know about their happy hour and dinner hours. We even talked about possibly hosting a teacher happy hour there, and he pointed us in the right direction on who to contact. Now let's get into the food... 1000/10! The flavors from the coconut rice down to the pepper shrimp sauce -- OMG! As I'm typing this, I can taste the flavors all over again Lunch is Wednesday-Friday from 12:00 PM-4:00 PM. Definitely check them out!

It was booming with music, it is a cozy spot so tables are pretty close…read more Chicken & plantain Waffles Chicken was delish well seasoned Poinsettia delish drink, light refreshing, effervescent not sweet. Trini Breakfast Plate Mashed Pumpkin with fried bake and salt fish. I was forewarned by my server that if you're not familiar with the dish it can appear very salty, they added alot of lime to balance it. fried bake was a Generous portion. PI made a sandwich. It was tasty.

Had some impressive meals in this Michelin restaurant during my visit to DC…read more The first time was for lunch. Ordered the Oxtail bowl. By default it came with two pieces of oxtails but that was too much meat for me so I asked for just one piece and more veggies. My server was kind enough to do such modification for me. The oxtail was fork-tender, had lots of collagen, beefy, and had a distinct sourness. The pickled veggies (cucumber slaw & bell peppers) provided a different type of sourness and a hint of heat. Overall very good, though the flavors from the meat and veggies were so strong that I could not have a clear idea of the flavor of the coconut rice. Also, I wish there could be more jus because it went soooooo well with the rice! The second time was for dinner. Tried the Pepperpot, Crispy Kale and Hops. The Pepperpot was a stew of oxtails, cowheels and beef chucks. Very beefy and spicy, a little bit sour/tangy, and very earthy. The sauce was heavenly. It was served with a small bowl of coconut rice and 2 pieces of hops. The rice was a little bit sweet and salty. The hops were similar to dinner rolls, except that they were more dense and firmer. I thought the Crispy Kale was like fried cabbage in soul food but it was literally fried -- so it was very crispy. Too oily for me. I like the mango chutney, though. Service was good and quick. While the restaurant is very small, reservation does not seem to be difficult, especially for lunch. There were, however, lots of online orders.

Love this place for so many reasons! First off- the food and flavors alone will have me back. I…read moreloved the jerk chicken and the sauce that came with it and need to come back for the rum punch. Cane is cozy and welcoming with Caribbean music playing lightly. Service was fast and friendly and prices were very reasonable for the portions and mix of flavors.

Listen... Seta Oasis did not come to play! I had the oxtails, and baby, they were EVERYTHING…read more Tender, seasoned to perfection, falling off the bone like they knew their assignment. The rice and peas were on point, the cabbage was hitting, and the plantains? Sweet, caramelized, and cooked just right. The food was fire, the service felt like love, and the ambiance gave that laid-back "come sit down and eat good" energy. My plate looked good, tasted good, and had me already planning my next visit. If you want real flavor, real comfort, and real good vibes, pull up. Five stars, easy.

Celebrate Black History month by supporting Black owned businesses…read more I attended a fun cigar event held in the VIP room on the second floor of SETA Oasis, which featured an open bar. We ordered a variety of chicken wings, along with french fries and some light fare. The VIP room has a lively ambiance, equipped with four large-screen TVs, seating for 60 people, making it perfect for events. From the outside, the building appears smaller than it actually is, as it's a multi-level venue that can host various events simultaneously. The restaurant downstairs offers a Caribbean menu that has received positive reviews, particularly for its brunch. It's also heartwarming to note that the restaurant is named in honor of the owner's late mother, Seta, adding a personal touch to the experience. I plan to return and explore more of their offerings in the future.

THIRD TIMES THE CHARM!…read more This is my second time dining at Lydia's on H (third visit). My first time was Valentine's Day, and the restaurant, while calm, was chaotic, AKA the full menu was not available. The second attempt to dine there, the staff member (whose name I forgot, please charge it to my head and not my heart!) informed us before we sat down that the evening service was a limited menu. To entice us to return and ensure consistent customer-centric service, the bar manager invited us to return on the first night and asked the staff to inform us when we arrived. Sure enough, the next day, when we arrived, there was a note for the staff informing them that they should be expecting us. The vibe in Lydia's is always chill! The music is always good and at a volume where you and others can still enjoy each other's company with conversation if desired. Overall, the food, service, and ambiance at this establishment should be the standard for many others. Well done, Lydia's. We are excited to come back and try the steak-and-cheese egg rolls next time.

THERE'S MOLD IN THE ICE. If you get ANYTHING to drink from here do not get ice with it. You've been…read morewarned. There was a black thing in my drink I tried to grab it to show the bartender just to realize it was INSIDE the ice. Frozen into it. The food is NOT good. Best thing here is the egg rolls. I've had everything on their menu between three visits and each time I was disappointed. The oxtails came to the table hot on the outside but COLD towards the center which lets me know they microwave the oxtails before putting them on the plate. The server said there was nothing they could do but put it BACK IN THE MICROWAVE because I ate some. I wasn't asking for a discount just expressed I was unhappy with the inconsistency in temperature. My kids didn't even like the wings and fries so that should tell you something. They're 12 and 10, that's all they eat. The Suya was a finesse. It's not Suya. It's just not. And to not get what you expect, it wasn't cheap either. I was also told on my last visit that they do not pay their staff properly (stealing hours from their checks) but you'll have to ask your bartender or server about that one. He said that the service fee does NOT go to staff at all it only goes to the business and seemed like he was even scared to say anything. Why not just raise your prices Lydia? It's misleading!!! If I ever go back it'll only be to party upstairs after eating elsewhere and I'm only doing shots! No mixed drinks, no ice.

The angry jerk is definitely the Jamaican version of chipotle, but better…read more Jerk chicken: check Brown stewed chicken: check Plantains, tropical coleslaw, Jamaican mac & cheese, rice and peas: check You can build your own bowl for a quick lunch option, or order a 1/2 jerk chicken to take home and make your own sides. Long story short, the angry jerk is definitely giving a 10/10.

Food had great flavors. Quite similar to Chipotle where you select your protein, base and sides…read more Menu takes a few minutes to read and figure out which way to proceed. I was going to order 1/2 Jerk Chicken and 2 sides, however they explained that they did not have a chef on hand, so there were only build your own bowls available. That was sort of a bummer. I ordered a Jerk Chicken bowl with Lo Mein noodles, and a few veggie toppings. The plantain was too overcooked on the outside, and slightly undercooked on the inside. So whomever cooked it, the heat was up too high because it blackened the plantain too fast. They should be golden, not charred. The Mac and cheese was absolutely phenomenal. I think they make it with smoked gouda?? I don't know, but whatever the secret ingredient is, it was amazing. The lady that made my bowl was friendly. If I'm around DuPont Circle again, and don't feel like cooking, I will return.

Dogon gave my wife and me one of the best dining experiences we've ever had in our lives, and we've…read morebeen 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.

Celebrated my birthday here earlier this year. The food, service, and music were all fantastic…read more 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.

So I honestly wavered between 4 and 5 stars, but it was the friendliness of the staff that pushed…read moreme to a 5. The food was great though! Jerk Chicken - very tender and delicious! The heat doesn't hit you right away, kinda sneaks up on you at the end, but not too hot at all. Great flavor though! Black Beans - A little on the salty side, but, holy delicious! Greens - Best greens I've ever had with no meat. Again, a little salty, but absolutely would get again. Potato salad - A+! So good! Sweet potatoes- like the candied yams style. These were more like a desert than a side. They were good though. Lemonade- the lemonade is made with dark sugar, so it almost resembles an Arnold Palmer, but it was great! The place was very clean, but the staff was A++! Almost went somewhere else, so happy I decided to come here instead!

This review is coming to you from an actual JAMAICAN. This…read moreis NOT authentic Jamaican cuisine. The menu selection was a hint: what kind of Jamaican restaurant doesn't serve plantain? In addition, there were a number of items that aren't even considered ethnic staples. I was not a fan of how the curry or brown stew looked. With that being said, not only was I disappointed with the food, I was also disappointed with the service. The things I initially ordered were not available but rather than tell me that they disappeared into the back without telling me if or when they would be ready. After playing the waiting game, I decided to order something that was already out. The oxtail was pretty good (8/10) but nothing else on my plate was worth eating, including the rice. The callaloo wasn't nasty it just wasn't right (6/10), but the cabbage was the worst (4/10). It was too much ginger? And it didn't seem cooked down all the way. I would only recommend this spot to Americans (who've never had Jamaican food).

This place kicks out some bona fide Jamaican and American cooking…read more Their jerk is just how I like it. It's got the right balance of the bazillion ingredients that go into jerk, and also, it's been rested properly, making a deeply flavorful marinade rather than one which is overly peppery. There are 2 types of jerk chicken platters offered: dark meat and white meat, a nice option for customers. Their mac n' cheese is what really surprised me. It's top notch-- creamy, cheesy, crusty. It makes me want to call home and talk to mom. The cabbage side is very tasty and I'm certainly not a cooked cabbage person at all, so it's got to be exceptional for me to write that. For dessert, butter rum cake is right on the money and red velvet cake is scrumptious as well.

It had years since I had last ordered from Jam Doung, so I was so happy to see they were still in…read morebusiness. Since my mom is Jamaican, I usually just stick to getting my fix from her kitchen or family and friends' that cook Jamaican food as well. But on Juneteenth, I was being extra intentional to support Black-owned businesses that I may not always frequent and Jam Doung was a great option! First, I was so impressed by their portions. I ordered the snapper entree which was brimming with fish, mac and rice and pea. All of the food was delicious, although the rice and pea was on the dry side.But there was so much food, I was able to stretch this one entree into two meals - dinner and lunch the day! I'm glad I ordered because I'll be sure to keep Jam Doung on the radar and not wait so long again before the next time that I support this business.

I guess this place is just now reopening because the restaurant was empty. Although we were the…read moreonly patrons in there, the DJ was rockingggggggg!!! Every song he played was a bop. The food was . This was my first time trying Doubles and It was so good. If you're a fan of chickpeas and curry, it's a great starter. I had the mixed platter with curry chicken, curry shrimp and oxtail with basmati rice and spinach. It was sooooooo delicious. A healthy portion so I was able to take half home. Parking is horrible so brace yourself. I'm going back for sure!

So I have actually tasted this before and thought it was so amazing I need to go to the new…read morerestaurant! For me the service was excellent. I mean there was only another couple at the time I visited but also the food came out quickly so huge plus! And the restaurant is spacious and casual so enough space for large parties. Overall I enjoyed it but there are a couple things that fell short! I ordered the chicken roti platter. 1.The roti! It's a very small portion served in a small coconut shaped bowl compared to the amount of food you got on the platter. I thought more was coming and unfortunately it was balled up in shredded little pieces that were kind of dry and i couldn't eat it properly with my sides. I thought maybe I had a bad batch but my friend had the same portion and complaint. Unfortunately no pic of that. 2: Honestly the plating is meant to be aesthetically pleasing but it was very hard to eat bone-in chicken out of a bowl on a saucer full of more bowls with a knife and fork. It was better when I took it to go and had a plate at home. Please reconsider this for the diners experience. 3. The doubles was my fave! It's a small app but very delicious and had a slight kick to it.

Food and cocktails with a KICK!!…read more I went on a slow night when it was raining. Outside seating was closed for obvious reasons and it was seated immediately inside. Decor was simple nice and neat. They're sitting at the bar and the tables. I noticed the bar seats have those little purse hooks under the table, which are nice for those so inclined. Jamaican music playing at nice volume that permitted conversation while keeping a bouncy vibe. Service was quick and friendly. I ask for recommendation between two drinks and he recommended the purple dolphin. GREAT choice, I mix a bourbon elderflower and Plum infused syrup. Headed nice flavor profile of sweet with still the bourbon kick. Jerk chicken rasta pasta was OUTSTANDING with plenty of creamy, peppery KICK. It was honestly more spicy than other rasta pastas I have had but in an excellent way. EXCELLENT experience. Will add to heavy rotation when in the Navy Yard.

Glad they served us close to closing time BUT better service practices need to be displayed…read more Greeting hostess was friendly. Bartender said he was the manager as well but did not act as so. Left the bar for several minutes while fetching "free" food for friend. Meanwhile my guest and I were still waiting on to-go boxes we requested. I did order a second drink but never got it. Ordered to go food as well was told "rice & peas" would take 25min to make I agreed to take to go along with cabbage and coco bread. Oh I also witnessed an off duty worker come in to assemble his marijuana at an open view table. Worker from the back noticed and told "manager/bartender" he was busy with other customers. That worker who noticed was able to get him to leave but he did return and left again. It was just a lot of unprofessional behavior going on. Even had to ask for my check amongst all the nonsense. Now concerning my food I ordered chicken Rasta pasta.....spicy dish. No flavor just spice. Update 13hrs later: my stomach hurtssss!! But let's talk about the side dishes to got to go: the rice was stiff. Cabbage has an overpowering vinegar taste (kinda like pickled peppers) I threw it away. First and last time for me.