Finally got an opportunity to dine here. Ive had the food catered before and this time I was able…read moreto try in house. The establishment itself is quite dated. The awning outside needs refurbishment and inside furniture is not updated. It's dark inside, almost like a night club. Perhaps it is sometimes. I did not like the decor, it was a little run down and honestly did not match up to the prices. The service was also disappointing. I felt that staff lacked a bit of professionalism and they rarely checked on us. The plates are huge. That is a plus. My partner ordered the goat and I tried the red snapper. I think one plate is big enough to share. I like the spinach, but everything needed a bit of salt. While the red snapper was coated in a lovely tomato and red pepper gravy, I felt it made the crispyness of the fried fish disappear and it was kind of soggy. Maybe you can ask for the gravy on the side. The food is not bad, but given the physical establishment and the service I wouldn't return.

The sheer ambiance and service of this restaurant pushed this from a 3 to a 4 star. This is…read moredefinitely, more on the fine-dining end- which I was not aware of. Our waiter was so charismatic, helpful, and kind. He even turned up the music in our corner of the restaurant upon request! The food was generally good, just a bit on the drier end. Even the stew wasn't really soupy. So if you were trying to mix some rice with some stew, you basically got cake on your plate. Regardless, everything was seasoned to absolute perfection. Also, don't know if this matters but it may matter to some- though this is an East African Restaurant, the menu is slightly more Kenyan than Ugandan. Something to keep in your expectations when visiting!

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.

Several reviews were mixed for Swahili Village so we decided to give it a try. Stopped in the Rhode…read moreIsland location. Unfortunately, it was disappointing. Started with a Margarita cocktail which was $16.00 and terrible. Low grade tequila and store bought margarita sour mix. Service was very slow and one of the mangers was drinking and having a long conversation with the bartender. We decided to try the Jollof Rice and Suya bites. The rice was very bland. The Suya had some flavor but seemed to be missing something. I decided to take the leftovers home but unfortunately the Suya bites got very hard overnight so were not enjoyable the next day. Since eating out is pricey you may want to choose a different restaurant to try.

Stopped by Swahili Village with a group of five after taking a pottery class at Moonlight Studios…read morenearby and it turned out to be the perfect way to end the evening. It's only about a five minute drive away, so the location worked out great. This was everyone's first time trying Kenyan food and we were all blown away. The flavors were rich, comforting, and beautifully balanced. We ordered several appetizers to share and then entrees including the salmon, oxtail, goat, and snapper. Everything at the table was delicious. Our server Diamond was wonderful. She was warm, helpful, and really guided us through the menu since we were new to the cuisine. Her service made the experience even better. Such a great introduction to Kenyan food and a really fun group dinner. We will absolutely be coming back.

What can I say that hasn't been said? We are big fans of Tatiana so when visiting DC we figured we…read morehad to give Dogon a try. The menu, while different, gives similar vibes to Tatiana. The dining room is much bigger for sure. The service is truly a standout but they do try to upsell you. The pricing is high- $8 per cocktail oxtail patty?- you get 2 for $16. The Octail dish is $95- but they say it's Australian Wagyu oxtail. Who am I to judge? Welp- I gave them my money and they filled my belly with some tasty delights. And guess what? I'd do it again

Dogon remains one of the hardest tables to snag in the city. The luxurious, handsome blue dining…read moreroom within the recently renamed Potomac Hotel feels like a place to see and be seen, with eye poppingly high food and drink prices to match. While the food itself at Dogon is excellent, I found the egregious pricing coupled with rough service made for a very overhyped dining experience. To begin, our party of four was running a hair past the 15 minute grace period for our reservation, and when we called to inform the restaurant of our slight delay the hostess curtly responded with "we will see what we can do." I understand the possibly of not being accommodated, but the wording and tone could have been a bit more professional. Once we were seated, our waiter explained the menu and offered suggestions. There appeared to be a pressure to upsell specific dishes, as the waiter constantly mentioned that we should order the branzino dish, even when we informed him that someone at our table possessed an allergy to a key ingredient in the dish. The cocktails here are mostly priced above $20, and possessed gob standard flavor profiles which did not merit the price nor impress the palate. In contrast, we genuinely enjoyed the majority of the food sampled. The flavor profiles here are spice forward and the restaurant does not shy away from bold seasoning or heat. The dishes are, mostly, technically well executed. The Ben's chili bowl which brought crispy shingles of lamb atop a spicy chickpea curry, ranked among our favorites of the evening. The hoe crab paired fluffy, buttery corn pancakes with a well spiced crock of tender, lump crab meat, making for a light yet flavorful bite. Our pork belly dish had tender meat paired well with a sweet-sour tamarind glaze. The fish fry tasted comforting with a juicy yet crisp fish fillet alongside house-made spicy sauces. The beef tartare possessed a discernible curry flavor, though the bite was marred with a few pieces of gristle. The oxtails brought the requisite meltingly tender texture, though the sauce served alongside ate salty and rich. We ended with the turmeric cheesecake which, while creamy, lacked turmeric flavor and had either some sort of inedible garnish or, worse, a piece of paper on the plate. Note should be mentioned that some of the portions here are appallingly tiny for the price. For example, the hoe crab dish brings four silver dollar pancakes and 3-4 small spoons of crab for $38. The oxtail patties are priced at $16 for two thumb sized pastries. While I am not opposed to paying top dollar for quality cuisine, the lack of polish on the service end creates a disconnect. In addition to the brusque phone interaction and upsell pressure, we also had incorrect plates constantly dropped off at the table. Worst of all, we were abruptly and unapologetically asked to leave our table while finishing our last round of cocktails. Two stars may seem harsh, but restaurants are a hospitality based business and the lack of service warmth was palpable. The food was generally great here, but sky high prices, minute portions, and rough service prevent a return visit.

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.

I liked the vibe of this place, but overall it was just too expensive for the quality/quantity of…read morefood. The wild mushroom gnocchi was tasty, but the presentation was not up to par. The premium ribeye was cooked well, but it cooled very quickly since it was served pre-sliced. I really liked the cauliflower rice side though! The creme brûlée was much too dense, and I felt like the whipped cream on top defeated the purpose of the crust.

3rd year in a row,we have come for my birthday on Christmas Eve. we were 8 people. Took awhile for…read morea server to take our orders as they were very busy. My entree(boneless ribeye with crushed garlic spread) was luke warm,so I sent back for another one. It was cooked the way I like it. Two orders of Onion Strings came and they were luke cool and had to be returned and new ones were sent out. Overall was a pleasant experience and the food was good,everyone in the our party were pretty happy,although we did ask for separate checks,but everything was put on one check.

This was my first visit to Nando's in downtown DC. I ordered the half chicken with no sides, and…read moremedium spicy sauce. The chicken came out with blackened edges because of their preparation method. I don't prefer that taste, but others may. I did not find the sauce to be particularly spicy so I added the 'extra hot' sauce on the side, which helped to add more flavor. Surprisingly, the chicken breast was very moist, along with the thigh. The ambience is casual and relaxed. There are plenty circular or modular seats along with smaller tables along the back end of the restaurant. My biggest complaint was their restrooms. They have gender neutral restrooms; two stalls total. Both restrooms were in great need of cleaning with a LOT of bodily fluids all along the toilets and floors. Also, there was no option for hand towels, only an air blower to dry your hands, which is one of the most disgusting ways to dry freshly washed hands. I recommend either creating one male and one female stall instead of unisex because men and women have very different habits in the restroom. On the positive side, Carolina and Barian were quite helpful and kind. They made the overall experience better.

I visited Nando's PERi-PERi for dinner on July 8, 2026, around 7:00 p.m. with a group of eight. A…read morefew of us were first-time visitors, so after being seated, we waited for someone to take our order. Unfortunately, the hostess never mentioned that we needed to order at the counter. There was a sign, but it wasn't very noticeable when we walked in, so we completely missed it. A quick explanation when we were seated would have made a much better first impression. Once we realized how ordering worked, everyone went to the counter. I ordered last, but my meal was fairly simple: The Wingman (6 wings with PERi Chips and PERi-PERi ranch) plus a side of rice from the kids' menu. Everyone else received their food, ate, and finished before my order ever came out. To the staff's credit, one employee noticed I still hadn't been served and appeared to rush my order. When my food finally arrived, I was disappointed to find one of my six wings was so small and burnt that it wasn't edible (see photo). Some of the other chicken served to our table was also a little over-charred. On the positive side, I really enjoyed the lavender lemonade, and I liked the variety of PERi-PERi sauces available to customize the flavor and heat level. Overall, the experience had some service and food quality issues, but there were enough positives that I'd be willing to give Nando's another try. Hopefully, the next visit will be smoother.

Maydan is amazing. FYI, it's the green door that has their name on it. It's obvious, but for some…read morereason, none of us in our group clocked that and we accidentally ended up confused and in thier event space. XD. Anyway, misadventure aside, our group of 6 was in the upstairs room. For groups of 5 or more they have you do the tasting menu but we asked to do a la carte and they allowed us. We got a lot of food, all of which I can't remember, that included the shakshukah, one of the salads, 3 of the spreads, the veggies and a few others. The cocktails drew rave reviews as did my wife and i's mocktails and we loved how substantive the list was. The fresh, constantly coming bread was amazing. Everything was delightful and incredibly tasty and well seasoned. One note: the bathroom music is REALLY loud (it's the same music as in the restaurant) so if you've got loop earplugs or ones you can easily pop in that don't block out your company, that'll help. Oh and also, the currently on offer bitter orange sorbet isn't actually bitter. It's just the name.

Some restaurants serve an excellent meal. Maydan creates an experience…read more This reservation had been on my wish list for quite some time, and when everything finally aligned, it exceeded every expectation. The restaurant itself is stunning. Walking in, you're immediately greeted by the massive open hearth where much of the cooking happens. Watching the chefs tend the fire throughout the evening adds another layer to the experience and sets the tone before your first bite even arrives. Our server explained the tasting menu ($95 per person) and optional wine pairing ($75 pp), but we decided to order à la carte--and I wouldn't change a thing. We started with the Carrot Havuç spread. It was impossibly light, silky, and beautifully whipped. I'll admit, the bread seemed understated at first, but after the first bite, it became clear that the spread was meant to be the star. Every bite was packed with flavor. The lamb shish kebab was incredibly tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. The Omani shrimp arrived with five enormous shrimp that were cooked flawlessly. Then came the whole roasted chicken. Watching it roast over the fire as we entered made us excited, but nothing prepared us for how incredible it would taste. It was, without question, some of the best chicken I've ever eaten. Moist, deeply flavorful, beautifully seasoned, and delicious completely on its own. It came with an accompanying sauce that was excellent, but honestly, use it sparingly--you don't want anything distracting from the chicken itself. When a dish can stand entirely on its own, that's greatness. Since it was a whole chicken, we happily went home with leftovers (which felt like winning the lottery). The cocktails deserve their own standing ovation. A special thank you to Nancy upstairs-- Great bartenders don't just make drinks--they elevate the entire experience, and she certainly did. The Serpent was beautifully balanced with bright citrus and herbal notes, while the Medina Palmer was refreshing, unique, and one of the most memorable cocktails I've had in a long time. Every drink felt carefully crafted rather than simply mixed. In the beginning of our night they asked if we were celebrating anything and I immediately answered, "my friend graduated from nursing school." Little did we know, they came with glasses of bubbly at the end of our dining experience to celebrate! Such a lovely gesture to end our evening. The word that kept coming up throughout dinner was divine. Service was warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic about guiding us through the menu. A few practical tips: * Reservations book well in advance, so plan ahead. * Street parking is limited. We chose to Uber and were glad we did. This was one of those meals where every course made us look at each other and say, "Wow." I can't wait to return.

Their story is full of the love they have for the food and the service they being to this…read morecustomers. We had the two quarter leg combo with rice and mashed potatoes. The chicken was amazing! Full of flavor already and you can select from additional dipping sauces like garlic, lemon, spicy, etc. Every employee as very friendly and their customer service was second to none. The menu was extensive and everything looked so good.

We've loved Nando's since our first visit in London, so when we stopped in last night after a long…read moretravel day, walking over from our hotel for dinner felt like a no-brainer. Unfortunately, this location didn't hold up. The ordering process was a mess from the start. They were out of boneless chicken, so we pivoted to a half chicken... only to be told they were out of that too. Then it turned out they did have it. We ordered the hummus appetizer and got the side portion instead, which meant another trip to the counter to sort it out. We ordered medium peri peri sauce and got something noticeably spicier. Too tired and hungry to send it back, we just ate it... and the meal just didn't hit the way Nando's usually does. The mushy peas we'd been looking forward to aren't even on the menu anymore, which was its own small disappointment. On the bright side, I ordered a 5 oz glass of wine and got what looked like a double pour. Not complaining... but it does sum up the vibe. The staff seemed indifferent, whether it was end-of-night fatigue or just an off-night, hard to say. We'll probably give Nando's another shot elsewhere, but this DC visit was disappointing enough that I can't really recommend this location.

I was craving something rich, spicy, and flavorful, and African cuisine immediately came to mind. I…read moredecided to stop by for lunch, and it was honestly the best decision! I ordered the jollof rice and oxtail -- both were cooked to absolute perfection. The flavors were bold, rich, and exactly what I was hoping for. There was a bit of a wait for the main course, but it was definitely worth it. No complaints at all -- just delicious food and a satisfying experience. God bless Africa! P.S our waiter was awesome as well!

No one even came out to take our order. Then the worker came outside to offer to take our order…read moreafter we stood at the front for almost 10 minutes. We left and found food somewhere else. Was really hoping it would be a good experience. It looks like the restaurant is still being put together as parts and equipment were spread all over the place.