It was a nice sunny and warm evening. My girlfriend was wanting to go somewhere to eat with outside seating. After some digging and looking around we decided to go to Provost. She said she had it on her list of places to eat. It was a Friday and we were surprised when we scored some parking right out front. We didnt not know it at the time but owner Nina quickly came up to greet us and asked us if we wanted to sit outside. Which we did. She took us up stairs and took our drink order. After a few minutes she came back and asked if we were ready to order. She suggested a drink for my girlfriend and some of her favorite items on the menu to eat. We end up settling on some cornbread, some home fries, potato fries, some stuffed shrimp, and a burger. I liked that I had a choice of beef turkey or chicken burger. The food came out pretty quickly. The stuffed shrimp was delicious but my favorite was the cornbread. The potatoes were flavorful and my burger was good. The price was very reasonable. I like supporting local businesses. Especially when the food and service was top notch. I will be going back. Side not the have all day happy hour and brunch specials. Oh and they have games you can play too. Thank you Nina for making such a cool vibe to eat at. read more

See all

The ambiance and overall vibe at Provost were definitely the highlight of the experience. The restaurant has a beautiful atmosphere, and the food presentation was impressive and thoughtfully done. The food itself was good, but not amazing -- a few dishes could have used a bit more seasoning and flavor depth. The biggest challenge was the service speed. It took over an hour for our food to arrive, which we could see was due to staffing shortages. I will say our waitress/bartender/busser was doing her absolute best and remained friendly, attentive, and professional throughout. She was clearly wearing multiple hats, and the restaurant could really benefit from additional staff support. Overall, I'd come back for the ambiance and drinks, but I hope they improve staffing and tighten up the kitchen seasoning. read more

Provost - Snapper and Grits - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

First time visiting Provost after reading good reviews, but the experience was disappointing. The place is smaller than expected, but we sat at the bar and were greeted by CC, who was pleasant and made great drinks. Unfortunately, the rest of the service wasn't great. Another employee, Nina, was standoffish and rude. She walked away mid-conversation while we were asking a question, which felt very dismissive. The food was also disappointing. The salmon was dry and tasted like vacuum-sealed bag salmon. The French toast was just okay, and the scrambled eggs were watery and bland. My brother waited 30 minutes for his order and when he asked about it, the response was simply, "It will be out when it's ready." That's not acceptable customer service. I also ordered Lollipop Chicken Wings, which took 45 minutes to come out and were very underwhelming. No, they were never touched this was the presentation when received (see photos). No one checked back to see if we needed anything. Drinks were good, thanks to CC, but overall the service and food quality were disappointing. I wouldn't recommend. read more

Provost - Paloma - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Incredible experience! Highly recommend checking out Provost. It's Black woman-owned, and everything about this place feels special. The food is amazing, the cocktails are creative and unique, and the service is top-tier. Nina, the owner, was so warm and welcoming, which made the experience even better. The ambiance is super cozy with old-school R&B playing in the background, and I loved that there are games on every table it makes the whole vibe feel fun and relaxed. One thing to note: the food does take a little while to come out, but that's because everything is made fresh to order, and you can absolutely taste the difference. My favorites were the Jerk Salmon Pasta spicy, rich, and packed with flavor. The shrimp deviled eggs were perfectly done, and the bread pudding is an absolute must have to finish your meal. Definitely a spot I'll be coming back to! read more

Provost - Spritz - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Black women owned biz. Loveeee this place. So glad I found it a little over a year ago. The fried snapper is my fav dish. Reasonably priced and always fresh & hot. I haven't had the chance to do brunch but the owner has said several times I could order off the menu if I wanted during dinner hours. service is great and rooftop seating is a plus. Ambience is indoors is very intimate with great music playing. Limited days of operation currently (Friday-Sunday) read more

Provost - Snapper, cabbage and rice - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Officially obsessed with this spot! Provost is that cute, cozy D.C. dinner spot you come to unwind and end up staying longer than planned. The dim lighting, a fire R&B playlist setting the mood, and little games to keep you entertained while you wait. It's a small space so there may be a bit of a wait, but honestly the games help you kill time and add to the charm. The drinks are strong, the staff is super friendly, and the food was so flavorful. The crab-stuffed shrimp were amazing on their own, but that sauce took it to another level. And the surf & turf was beautifully plated and seasoned just right. I loved my experience here I have no complaints at all. Honestly shocked this place wasn't packed out because it was amazing read more

See all

Provost is literally a skip and walk from home, unsure why I haven't been sooner. The better half and I tried to do Wednesday date night here and were surprised that hours are limited. Because of the great reviews and amazing pictures of the food, we made it a point to come back Saturday for brunch. This beautiful waitress immediately gave us eye contact and a smile when we walked in, we opted for their rooftop and headed upstairs. The restaurant is small but it's cute! The rooftop is doing big things in a small space. Love the big T.V. Outside. I'm somewhat of a sports junkie so for me this adds a perfect touch! Let's get into it! Shrimp Topped Deviled Eggs - SOOOOOOO Good! Chicken and Waffle - My waffle had egg shells so I didn't eat it. I'm not a fan of flat waffles so between that and the egg shells, or whatever crunchy stuff I ate, I wasn't a fan. The chicken could have used a little more salt. Red Snapper - My honey ate that fish with his hands and sucked the bones clean. I was jealous of that fish. Gave him a big ole side eye, making yummy noises out side of the bedroom. It was that good! I had to ask the waitress who actually was the owner how they seasoned the fish. I know if I would have said something about the waffle the owner would have made it again but I don't complain because of knowing this industry is already suffering. I could feel the love and dedication to the restaurant that I'd definitely come back to support and would order other things from the menu. Definitely a must try in D.C. read more

See all

I really wanted to love Provost, but unfortunately, the food just did not live up to the price tag. The Good: The saving grace of the night was the bar. The drinks were excellent, and our bartender, Don, was absolutely awesome--great service and great energy. It's a fantastic spot if you are just looking to grab happy hour drinks. The Not-So-Good: The food severely fell flat. I ordered the superfood salad, which felt like a bag of mixed greens tossed in a light vinaigrette where the actual toppings were a total afterthought. It only came with two slices of sweet potato, a very sparse sprinkle of berries, nuts, and cranberries, and a random quarter-cup of white rice thrown on top. We asked for more sweet potato and were "generously" given 2 extra slices for the entire salad. We also tried the crab quesadilla, which was $20 for only three slices and unfortunately , it was mostly cheese with very little crab. Summary: Great place for a drink, but I was deeply disappointed by the kitchen. I won't be back to eat anytime soon. read more

See all

Located across the street from my favorite urban sportswear clothing store (The Museum), Provost has been on my radar for a while. The inherent issue is their operating hours. I don't know of another full service restaurant that's only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A couple months ago, we came on a Thursday, only to find out the head scratching operating hours. In our quest to knock off at least one bookmark a week, we decided to do Saturday brunch at Provost. This black female owned restaurant is too nice to only be open three days! Although it was overcast, we attempted to dine on the super cool rooftop that has two outdoor tv's and speakers playing mellow tunes. Unfortunately, as soon as our food arrived, it started raining and we had to take the party inside..smh..lol! She liked her chicken and waffle entree while I devoured my whole Red Snapper. I literally was eating it like a chicken leg it was so da*m good! She wasn't that hungry and didn't partake in the shrimp topped deviled eggs, but I did and those things are a straight up HIT! Again, this cozy neighborhood gem is only 10 minutes from my job and if it were open during the week, I'd be a regular. The owner informed us that she's opening a beer garden to the rear in the very near future, maybe then she'll add a couple more days for us to enjoy!! read more

See all

I took my bestie out to dinner to celebrate her birthday. We started off with a celebratory sangria that was juicy not too sweet made just right. Then I ordered my favorite appetizer- the crab quesadilla. It never disappoints. My bestie ordered the seafood soup. It was tasty but a bit salty. For dinner I had shrimp and grits. She had crab cakes with cabbage. The Friday night atmosphere was lively. Light music was playing in the background. There were card games on the table. The service was excellent. Nina was cheerful and helpful. I'll be back. read more

Provost - Sangria with lots of fruit - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Felt really good to support a black-woman owned restaurant in DC. The service was impeccable down to helping us with parking and giving us a heads-up upon arrival. The food was delicious. We started with the deviled eggs topped with shrimp and the corn muffin. Both were delicious. For entrees, we tried the fried whole snapper with fried cabbage and the Chilean sea bass stuffed with crab with sautéed spinach. The sea bass could've had a little less sauce and the spinach was gritty, but overall it didn't take away from the dish. It was still good. We ordered a Caesar salad to go for my son. He didn't like the taste of the dressing or the capers in the salad, but he ate it nonetheless. The restaurant had low lighting and a very quaint atmosphere. It was nice especially when adding in the playlist and the card games on each table. The music playlist was superb. I drank a hibiscus pineapple juice. The presentation was pretty. The drink was ok. Everything would've been perfect if it wasn't so cold. The warmest part of the restaurant was the restroom. The dining area was very chilly. I blame it on the weather perhaps (it was the night before an expected snow storm and the temperatures dropped drastically). We had to dine with our coats on. Overall, I'd return with a group of friends when it's a little warmer and we can try the rooftop. read more

See all

Came out to Provost to support my cousin's very first DJ set since officially stepping into the DJ world--yes, I'm biased, but the set was absolute fire. This was my second visit, and clearly they keep the talent consistent because the previous DJ was also smooth on the 1s and 2s. The vibe here is reliably good. Provost looks small at first glance, but don't let the street-level view fool you. They've got a downstairs area and a rooftop. I'm not sure if the roof was open because DC decided to drop the temperature like it was part of the playlist, and the bar area upstairs was packed enough that I couldn't tell if the music made it downstairs. Food-wise, I was torn between the portobello sandwich and the shrimp fried rice--yes, very different lanes, but both felt like solid light-fare options. I ultimately went with the shrimp fried rice and WOW. It came with four of the largest shrimp I've ever been served outside of my own kitchen. Fresh, flavorful, and honestly? I'd return for this dish alone. I'm not much of a drinker, so I kept it classic with water--good old DC tap. Yum (lol). For dessert, I tried the bread pudding. It was tasty and definitely hit the sweet tooth, but personally I prefer my bread pudding a bit firmer. Still enjoyable. Service was cool, no complaints. Overall, Provost continues to deliver good vibes, good music, and some seriously impressive shrimp. I'll definitely be back to explore more of the menu read more

So I already have plans on what to order for next time. Everything was soooo good! Thankfully I went with a group of four so we were able to try the chicken and waffles, jerk salmon pasta, crab cake, calamari, cauliflower hash and the grits. The grits were the star of the show but everything was truly very delicious and the service was great. Didn't take a peek upstairs but downstairs is very cozy and feels like a great neighborhood bar. Like I said we will absolutely be back for more...very soon! read more

See all

Went here today because wanted a brunch with good food and no grass walls lol. Food was amazing: I had the jerk salmon, wife had crab cake and we order the Mac and cheese balls for appetizer. All the food was delicious. Had honey bourbon drink and she had this refreshing strawberry lemonade. Friends had the chicken and waffles, these delicious grits and the calamari. The vibes were great with old school Rnb playing the whole time and great decor. Waitress was nice and knowledgeable on the menu. Surely will be back read more

See all

I had an amazing time at Provost. I randomly went on a Saturday and did not have reservations. My guest and I probably waited 10 minutes to make sure that the reserve seat was available and when the reserve party did not come, we were able to be seated immediately. I like the fact that they had a scannable menu and I love the fact that brunch was available all day. I believe we went around 4 PM so the dinner menu was available as well but I wanted brunch food. I got the shrimp and grits and the grits were so creamy with the sauce and the shrimp were fried perfectly. I like the crisp on the potatoes but wish they would've just been cut a little smaller. The music and the restaurant was great. I love all of the song choices and it wasn't too loud so I could still have conversation with my guest and overall, I just enjoyed my time and would go back if I'm ever in Northeast. If you're reading this in February, make sure that you go support this Black woman owned business. read more

See all

Earlier this month, I decided to try out their Sunday brunch and Im so glad I did! The rooftop is semi-covered, creating the perfect laid-back vibe. Drinks included mimosas, an espresso martini, and a lemon drop, while we started our meal with a fruit plate, calamari, BBQ lollipop chicken wings, and cauliflower bites. For entrées, we enjoyed French toast, chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, snapper with grits, and fried cabbage, with bread pudding topped with vanilla ice cream as the perfect dessert to finish. The owner Nina is truly a gem! Her team ensured we were well taken care. I cannot wait to go back. They are only open Friday Sunday. read more

See all

Wanted some good fish, cool vibes and from a black owned business during my recent visit to DC. Found this gem on YELP and liked what I saw and read. The food was cooked to perfection, served with a smile and delicious! So, here I am... read more

See all

My cousin had her birthday here 2 weeks ago and we had a good time. It was raining this Saturday so she had the whole downstairs for her gathering. We met the lovely owner Nina who was super friendly and has an amazing staff. One person in particular who stood out was the bartender Don. He was quite hilarious and made some great cocktails. The food was amazing. My friends and I had the stuffed mushrooms, the crab quesadilla, bang bang shrimp, the shrimp deviled eggs and the Mac and cheese balls. Everyone cleared their plate. I didn't capture any pics because the music was flowing while we were dining. Will definitely come back to check out the rooftop. We lucked up on parking less then a block away so arrive early if you can. Great time and happy to support a female, black owned business. read more

I wouldn't say AMAZING, but it was good. I wish the upstairs rooftop was open, but it had rained earlier and they were cleaning and drying that area. It's in a great location. We went on a Sunday for brunch so there was enough parking. The place is smaller than I had expected, very cozy like with quaint furnishings etc...our service was great and very attentive. Our waiter provided recommendations and overall the food was good. Not exceptional, but good. read more

See all

My friend and I went here for brunch. It is definitely a cozy place though it is a bit out of the way of the main business area. The waiter was nice though a bit absent minded. The food was very good and was well presented. I had the fried shrimp and grits and a French toast and my friend had the crab cake omelet. I am torn about whether the crab cake should have been fried before being put in the omelet, but I think it would have been better if it wasn't. The grits were rich and cheesy, but while I normally love fried shrimp I would probably get it grilled the next time. They were accommodating for our request for a custom mocktail. This is definitely a great place for pairs to hang out and catch up or watch a game at the bar. I hope to try the rooftop when the weather is better! read more

Outstanding service, solid and creative, vibe is tight and relaxing. I must go back for the cornbread muffins.

We waited a decent amount of time for our food. Then there was a full 20 minutes between the first and last entrees arriving (with no warning and no apology), so some in our party were done eating before others' food arrived. We then ordered dessert -- which was from a prix fixe and should have been ready to go-- and it took a full 15 minutes to arrive. The bread pudding was not warm. The rest of the food tasted good but, especially with the bad service, was overpriced. Inattentive servers. Music way too loud for brunch-- took roughly 8 minutes for them to turn it down after we asked. They seated us on rooftop without warning and it was so hot -- fans were not on. Took them about 10 minutes to bring an extra umbrella so some of us had to bake in the sun during that time. They had bar games out (plastic ax throwing) but wouldn't let our children play with them. No real paper menus - just QR code read more

Tonight's my first visit to Provost. Great food, cozy ambiance and engaging events. Will definitely be back!

What can I say about this place? We're visiting family and on a whim, decided to take a walk to this local spot. We ordered shrimp and grits, crab cake, home fries, shrimp deviled eggs, and based on previous reviewer, Nina's tea. OMG!!! If you ever have a chance to go, do not miss on out visiting Provost. Everything was a hit, from the beginning to the end - service A+, food A+, drinks, A+. We will definitely be back. read more

See all

The vibe here was on point. The food was excellent along with the service. This venue did not disappoint. read more

See all

Overall I enjoyed my experience. It had a laid back feel on a Sunday early eve. The tables on the ground floor each had "board games". My partner got the fried red snapper which may have been in the fryer a bit too long. The fish was a bit tough. Didn't care for the accompanying sauce. I took an extra order home. That one was cooked perfectly. The spinach was strong in garlic flavor, which I liked. The salmon/crab was delicious. Service was standard (no complaints). read more

See all

our family went after mass for Easter Sunday. Everything was excellent. Food was perfect Not good food but excellent! Staff attentive and fun. First time there not the last! read more

Scale of 1-10 I would give 8.5 on the quality of food. Today's dine in experience was Very flavorful the chef prepared their passion for the craft. Shrimp and grits surely hit the spot love the portion of sauce. The bread pudding definitely served its purpose satisfying my serious sweet tooth. The one take away was the wings sweet chili Thai not the best I've had it was just okay. Service was superb the suggestions were thoughtful. The location like a lot of Dc staples in very small so call ahead to not have to be turn back read more

Provost - Bread pudding - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

5 stars across the board!!! Food, ambience service was all amazing. I had the snapper and grits and both were so freaking delicious. My son had a fresh hot waffle, so good! My husband had the stuffed shrimp. Everything was wonderful. Wish I had found this spot sooner. Definitely coming back! read more

Came here as a group of 6 for a delicious brunch. I got the - crab cake eggs Benny (4/5), on the smaller side but we'll balanced and a great hollandaise. - I also tried the shrimp n grits (4/5) I don't eat meat but my sister got the chicken and waffles and said it was one of the best she's had! And we got both the Oreo cheesecake and banana pudding for dessert. That Oreo cheesecake was so smooth and delicious. The service was so friendly and attentive. Loved the decorations too. The seating high top itself was a bit awkward as the chairs were all different heights. read more

See all

My Shrimp and Grits was tasty and warm. I love the Happy Hour specials and rooftop. TWO THUMBS NORTH!

If you want to support a black-owned restaurant and get ridiculous food too, come here. We decided to try this place out since we're trying to do a family brunch once a month now. We're glad we visited this place. Atmosphere - I loved the exposed brick. There is also a rooftop area to enjoy your food during the warm weather months. I also loved the art around the restaurant. Customer Service - Very good and attentive. They answered all the questions we had about the menu. Food - Yes, yes, yes! My husband had lobster omelet. Yes, LOBSTER! I had the shrimp and grits. Both were fantastic! I don't think you'll be disappointed by anything you get here. Overall, try this place if you want really good food for brunch. Come back when it's warm to see what upgrades they've done to the rooftop deck. read more

See all

We made a reservation but ended up coming in earlier than expected. The place was not crowded at all and we were easily accommodated. I had their stuffed mushroom, shrimp and grits, breakfast potatoes and a mock Bellini. I recommend brunch on a Saturday and trying the stuffed mushroom. read more

Provost - Breakfast potatoes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

I showed up at this spot yesterday actually for an open mic event. This was my first time ever visiting this place. The happy hour prices were great. The service was great and the food was immaculate. I had the opportunity to try the Jerk Salmon Pasta, Shrimp Deviled Eggs and the Calamari. All 3 were simply scrumptious, and to top it off I got to see some amazing artist performing. I definitely will be back - BNB King read more

The venue is more of a bar that serves restaurant food. The staff is friendly. We had the red snapper meal which was pretty good. The included gratuity was a bit high for this style venue which has similar bar service. Parking is limited in the area. read more

Ambiance is nice cute rooftop. They need more umbrellas or some sort of covering for those who don't want the full exposure. I did enjoy the sun. I'm going to chalk this experience up a short staffed. I came here two years about. It was really nice. Food came out piece by piece. Our server Brian was very apologetic. The Manager I'm assuming she short and dismissive. And I'm sure due to the circumstances. Another table had a far worse experience. They left very unhappy. read more

Provost - Cute rooftop. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I never understood how people can have "regular"spots until I came here. I visited during late lunch, early dinner on a Saturday & it was one of those places where you can really unwind and unplug from the hustle and bustle of most restaurants in dc. Who would've known that in 2025, you can find a place with delicious food, reasonable prices, & a rooftop. All of my drinks were good & pleasantly strong. You can tell they prioritize quality in everything. Re: parking - street parking but spots are easy to find. read more

I've been to Provost a few years back precovid. Anyways, I saw them on my TikTok page and told my homegirl let's go check them out. Always want to support Black Businesses when we can. I ordered the Chilean Sea Bass, which was around 33 dollars for the price I didn't expect a big piece, but also didn't expect a thinly sliced sea bass like turkey lunch meat. I'm not sure if Provost is trying to save money but what they served me shouldn't have been served. I did tell the male waiter, but he was rather passive about it. Overall the food was good but they really shouldn't be serving that. My friend had the snapper, which was a whole fish for 35 dollars. I've attached the photo of the said sea bass. SMH read more

Provost - This is the Chilean Sea Bass... - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I had a good time at this super chill spot on Rhode Island Avenue! I've driven by so many times but never noticed it. Had dinner here last night. During the day it was much warmer so the rooftop would have been perfect. They have heating lamps, but we still ended up sitting inside on the first floor. They don't have physical menus or QR code scannable ones. I had looked it up ahead of time as any good Yelper would do! I had my heart set on the burger. Although there was a bit of a wait, it was worth it! It was huge and very tasty! Bartender/server Keith was great! I saw how busy he was juggling multiple roles and yet still provided good service. I will be back for brunch! read more

A nice brunch spot with a chill ambience and nice environment for brunch. First of all parking can be rough. It is metered parking directly outside of the restaurant. Luckily, we were able to get a spot right outside of the place and had no issues on this Saturday Morning. Service: Excellent. The place was not packed. It was relatively empty for brunchtime. The servers were able to be very attentive and polite. On our way out, we did hear that a party of 40 were on their way so it appeared we had arrived just in time. Nevertheless, our food was fresh, hot and delicious. Food and drinks: We ordered the Provost Lemonade to start which had an interesting and unexpected taste. It tasted more lie it belonged in a hot tea rather than an iced tea. The server informed us that the tea is made fresh so it may taste a little different each time it is made. It is also a tea that is not meant to be a sweet tea. We also ordered a Blue Hawaiian which was mixed with jut the right amount of rum and flavors. The Peach Bellini was the typical Peach Champagne but was also good but nothing special. For food: The chicken and waffles were hot and good. The syrup they use is lite but still flavorful. The two chicken thighs are larger than the waffles you get and the waffles are of the thin version. The French toast was also very flavorful. It has a vanilla taste but is very very good. I also ordered the chicken sausage which was very tasty. Overall the experience was very nice and maybe next time we come back we might even get a seat on the patio upstairs! read more

Provost - Chicken and waffles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all