This place is off to a brilliant and courageous start!! We decided to come here on a whim after a day filled with celebrations for my good friend's opening photography exhibit. She specifically wanted to support Black/African owned businesses during this weekend, to honor her roots and inspirations behind her art-and I suggested that we try out The Continent DC, though this would've been our first time dining here. Let me say-Its a whole upscale, artful, culturally immersive vibe, with very delicious food and attentive service. The place is also very large and spacious. This for sure blew our expectations, especially for a restaurant still in its soft opening phase. And the food is very tasty-I admit I was a bit surprised by how good the food tasted because it's very rare to find a place where the food and the decor is on the same level of excellence. The food was so good that I forgot to take pics before we devoured our appetizers and entrees!! Here are a few things to come: Brunch will now be offered; and you know DC loves their brunch spots! The restaurant will eventually convert into a restaurant/lounge in the late evenings, and will continue to stay open until 3am on the weekends. The food is mostly West African cuisine with a few items from all over the African continent (i.e. Morocco, South Africa, and Kenya), and some other inclusive dishes such as braised short rib, mediterranean lentil salad, and couscous (to name a few). So there's something for everyone...but don't sleep on West African cooking!! They also offer a variety of specialty cocktails and mocktails, and will be offering a happy hour featuring top shelf liquor for half-off pricing as a limited time promotion. Overall, this is a passion and dream for Chef Tony and his business partner to bring forth this vision of upscale African dining to the Washington DC area. Highly recommend! And ya'll better get here before the reservations become booked out. There's also street parking and a garage nearby, but just plan accordingly since its downtown dc and in a prime location. read more

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I love quality and they serve nothing but high quality drinks, meals and service. I loved the vibes, it's perfect for a birthday or dinner date. The music was a bonus, there was a live DJ spinning all hits. We had no reservation so i'm not sure if they are required but if you don't have one I would say weekdays would be your best bet. read more

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Continent DC is truly a gem! Every time I step into Continent, the vibe is always on point--positive energy and amazing ambiance that just makes you feel good! They never miss! I started off with the Suya, which used to be an appetizer but is now offered as an entree. It's super tasty, but please bring it back as an appetizer! It's so good, but I don't want to get full off of it because I need room for the rest of the deliciousness. For my entree, I had the Branzino, and let me tell you--it was everything! Tender, crispy, and bursting with flavor. If I lived in DC, I'd be there right now ordering it again. If you're looking for a spot that's moderately priced but delivers incredible food for the price, Continent DC is it. This place is a must-visit! read more

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Absolutely Horrible Experience - Discriminated and Humiliated From the very beginning, this was one of the most humiliating and heartbreaking experiences I've ever had. My wife and I were excited for a long overdue date night--dressed confidently, feeling beautiful, and ready to enjoy our evening. I wore black denim knee-length shorts paired with a tasteful black top that showed minimal cleavage. Nothing inappropriate. Nothing outrageous. But the moment we arrived, our night took a dark turn. A large Black man working security stopped us at the door and coldly denied us entry, claiming "management had changed the rules." Apparently, my outfit--though perfectly respectable--was now considered "unacceptable." What made it worse? As we stood there embarrassed and confused, we watched countless women walk right in--some in ripped jeans, some in mini skirts, and even one in near booty shorts. They were allowed in without question. The only difference between us and them? Their size. Their body type. It was painfully clear: my wife and I, as beautiful plus-size Black women, were being judged, body-shamed, and excluded. And as we tried to ask questions--just trying to understand why--we were met with mockery. The manager didn't just ignore us. He laughed. Laughed at our pain, our confusion, our humanity. This wasn't just about a dress code. This was blatant discrimination. This was body-shaming at its most cruel and ugly. To be treated this way by our own community, by people who should know better--it was beyond disappointing. It was disgusting. To every plus-size woman who's ever felt unseen or unworthy--this is why we speak up. We deserved better. We still do. read more

We had a fantastic experience at the recently opened restaurant. The space was large and beautifully decorated with a chic Afrocentric boho theme. The restaurant had a vibrant and busy atmosphere with live music playing. They even had a red carpet where guests could take photos. From the moment we arrived, the hostess was welcoming and friendly. Our waiters, Chioma and Ester, provided exceptional service throughout our meal. We tried a variety of dishes including tiger shrimp, red snapper, jollof rice, plantains, samosas, and spinach, all of which were delicious and well-seasoned. The portion sizes were generous and the prices on the menu were reasonable. The drink menu was also impressive. While it would be nice for the managers to personally greet guests, since they recently opened. There's an outdoor patio for people to smoke cigars. We had a wonderful time and can't wait to return for another visit. read more

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I'm always in the search to see who has the best African food in the DMV area. Quite frankly I just enjoy trying the different varieties of the same dish from various regions of Africa. I enjoyed my experience at this rare gem...the establishment itself is very nice and the customer service is very attentive. Albeit the food was decent but not the best in the area but very serviceable given the atmosphere. Certainly on the pricey side as are most high end DC establishments but indeed a rare occasion type of place. Top 5 indeed for aesthetics but they will indeed need to perfect some of their food items if they want to surpass Swahili Village. read more

Stopped in for the first time for Happy Hour with a friend and was immediately impressed by the absolutely gorgeous decor! The staff were very warm and welcoming, especially Jordan, the bartender who made certain every need we had was met. We tried numerous items, including the wings, beef suya bites, jollof rice, cassava fries and the Caesar salad. Everything was delicious! The star for me was the Continent Sour, made with bourbon, lemon juice and simple syrup, topped with red wine. It was delicious. I will definitely return! read more

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What a good vibe! & a great location in the city. There was a live band which set the tone for a good Friday night out. Our food & drinks were pretty good as well. I'll definitely visit again. read more

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Came here for a group dinner, and we were treated very well! The staff was very fun and friendly! The food was delicious, and the drinks were strong! It was a little loud, but that's my only complaint. read more

Heard about The Continent DC on TikTok and quickly scheduled a reservation for 3 days later and was so glad I did. Restaurant has been open for 3 weeks and I can't wait to see how this place continues to evolve. Things I thoroughly enjoyed: - the service was top notch. From the hostess, to our waiter and a few management folks who stopped in to check on us. Not a single complaint. - most of our food items were delicious. We loved the beef suya bites with both the west African and East African dipping sauce. Perfext blend of spice and flavor and the beef was cooked perfectly! The braised oxtail was so well cooked and seasoned and the mixed veggie and plantain sides were so good. - loved that there were two options of jollof rice (I tried both). I used to think I favored Nigerian jollof but the Senegalese jollof was definitely more my speed. Also heard they may consider bringing a Liberian jollof to the menu so you can really get into a jollof war right at the table. - there's a mix of food from all over the continent which means I will be back to try more of the menu. - the space is so well designed and decorated. Music is great and tons of space for small to large groups. - I personally enjoy the gratuity being added (I don't have to think about it) but I know this can be controversial Overall, great new restaurant with a parking garage right next door. Great service and really flavorful food options from the appetizers to the deserts. Excited to come back for the hard launch in a few weeks! read more

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WOW ! What an amazing experience at The Continent! Customer service was on point the atmosphere was giving 5star experience with a vibe! Let's get to the food! WoW everything tasted so good loved it so much didn't want to leave lol. I absolutely recommend The continent felt like home in nigeria love it ! Coming back for sure. Thank you for the amazing experience! read more

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Julio was a great server and the food was amazing. Would recommend to friends and family. Amazing ambiance and atmosphere

Great environment, DJ on point and the suya was delicious. Would definitely recommend to a friend looking for a good night out

This place is kind of over rated in my opinion. You can tell the prices are so high because of the location. I'm guessing the rent is high. The ambiance was great. The service was below average. Took a while to get a bar tenders attention. The main ones that were there were barely paying attention to the customers. My main complaint was the food not being hot enough. It definitely came room temperature. I like my food piping hot. You can tell most of the dishes are prepared in mass in the back and they give it to you as you order. Not getting hot food fresh off the stove is a deal breaker for me, especially at the prices they are charging. If you want to go it's cool to go once but I'm not dying to go back unless one of my friends are having an event there. read more

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We had the goat, the giant prawn, jollof rice and the beef suya. The giant prawn, the jollof and suya was chef's kiss. The waiter was very good. We definitely want to go back to try the fish. The decor was sophisticated and a beautiful nod to West African decor. read more

Located downtown, and the ambiance is very mature. Great customer service, as the bartenders are very attentive. food is also great. If you are even looking to chill and watch a sports game. I recommend coming here. read more

The Continent DC - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This was my first time here and I came with family. We enjoyed the atmosphere and the vibe. Our server Julio gave us great service! The food was amazing and I'll definitely be coming back! read more

I was actually in the city on a Saturday night, so we decided to try out a nice restaurant. To my surprise, we were actually able to get a table because this place was packed but the vibe was very nice. It definitely gives grown and sexy, so don't forget to dress to impress. Parking is as expected, non existent so be prepared to Uber/Lyft or pay for parking. I am still very new to trying out African cuisine and am currently trying out the same dish, so I will know my go to spots for particular foods items. Our entree dish was the Suya and it was perfection!...I think about that Suya often. Lol The beef was obviously great quality beef, cooked to perfection, maybe medium well. I would definitely recommend and suggest that as a main course. I decided to try Suya wings and Jollof Rice since I wasn't that hungry. The wings had a dry rub on them, same as the beef and it was delicious. I was not fond of the Jollof Rice because there was a smoky flavor that was a bit overpowering for me but there was potential. My company ordered the fried whole fish and it looked amazing, so I will be returning to try all the other menu items! read more

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Service for reveling and food was slow. Giving 5/5 because Gg was attentive and honest about the wait time i suggest the restaurant get more cooks and bartenders. It was a slow day but still the wait till was long. I am not turned off by The Contient but I wish they do better. SHOUT OUT to Gg and James! read more

Visiting for business so I took a chance on this spot. The red snapper surprised me, cooked to perfection. I like the ambiance & the staff was welcoming. Kudos to GG on all her knowledge of the menu and great suggestions she was a great host. I will recommend this spot to my colleagues. read more

Egris and Julio were great wait staff. The manager was super accommodating and even comped part of our meal. 10/10 recommend

Lovely place and amazing patient service. Jody was patient with us as we asked a ton of questions about the food. My friend is a vegetarian & wanted to make sure no animal products are incorporated in her meal. We had the samosas, hers vegetarian, min shrimp and beef. All excellent! If you love hot spicy sauce, they have one that will set your head on fire. My friend had these balls made of plantain, she said they were delicious. Definitely a go back to on my next visit to DC. read more

This was hands down one of the worst service experiences I've ever had. From the moment I walked in, it was disappointing. The hostess didn't even walk me to my table--just pointed in the general direction and walked away. I waited over 30 minutes before anyone offered me water or took my order. When the food finally arrived, it was cold. I didn't bother sending it back because I didn't want to wait all over again. And to top it off, I ordered lamb and wasn't even given a knife to cut it. While the food was seasoned well, the service was chaotic and disorganized. Some people might have great culinary ideas, but running a restaurant requires more than just good seasoning--it takes professionalism, attention to detail, and respect for the customer's time. Sadly, this place missed the mark in all those areas. I won't be returning read more

I've seen this place on social media and thought let me give it a try, I was not disappointed. The food and ambiance are worth bragging about. I also would like to give a shout out to my server Julio, he was wonderful. I look forward to coming back. read more

Food was delicious we had the suya, jollof and Egusi with pounded yam. Absolutely loved it! read more

The Continent DC - Egusi, Jollof, and suya - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Came in during happy hour I'm traveling for my job with some co workers. Gigi was great very attentive and patient during a busy time. I appreciate her attention to detail and making sure our food was HOT I hate cold food. Parking could be better though and my co-worker said her snapper was a little dry other than that it was a great experience. read more

The food was really good. Nice ambience. The service was excellent. Julio, what's very attentive flower needs, I would definitely recommend this. It will be a great date night spot all dinner with the girls! read more

This is a new spot so my review is with some understanding. They posted on IG a New Years Event...and honestly, there was none. No 3 or 4 course meal, no NYE hats or noise makers, no champagne toast, nothing that would make you want to come here for a special event. We waited almost 1 hr for the normal menu, but they appear too New to really pull off the event. We arrived at 830pm, ordered by 915pm (food, we did bottles the night) and food came by 1030pm after my friend called the manager) The workers and their family seemed to have NYE glasses, hats etc. Regular costumers...not a thing We ordered the Contiental Platter, it was good but alot for NYE (cause again they noted a course meal on IG and when I called Sierra the hostess stated the meal was all inclusive). None of the food was hot. Our last side came out about 20 mins after everything else and was cold. We sent it back to get warmed and the flavors were great! That's why food is served warm and/or hot. I will say, my rating is higher because I expected this. I called several days before to clarify their IG post and no one could explain what their NYE event was (again not the Eve of NYE event that was also noted on IG) Ill also note the IG post said formal dress and as others mentioned, people came in with jeans, pajamas, t shirts and again this was NYE. The sax was great. The DJ not so much..never got the party going to want to be on the dance floor. Go here for a regular night..save special nights for read more

The Continent DC - False advertisement - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Some of the food was great and some not so much. Hits: The cassava leaf was delicious and on par in terms of flavor to what I've had from people's houses- the only thing the chicken was broken up and only had a few pieces of fish and it came with some tomato stew or something. The pepper sauce from the apps would have fit better. The samosas were hot and tasty. Missed: Suya chicken just was off in terms of flavor and the egusi was a complete miss- like it should have cooked longer and for some reason the color was off. Had to add the side of stew from the other dish to give it some color and flavor. Drinks were good. Chapman was very tasty. The service was great and very attentive. I expected a bit more upscale but folks had on the spectrum of attire-causal street clothes to fill gowns. The price is high so I'd really have to think long and hard about returning on my own. read more

Absolutely the finest in West-African cuisine. This restaurant boasts an elevated design and layout. A truly upscale dining experience with the most friendly and professional staff I've seen in a long time. Everyone is extremely knowledgeable and takes the time to ensure your experience is nothing short of perfection. It was fun to be able to drink African beer. We had an African Guinness that's bottled in Africa. It tastes like Guinness but different. It's really good. Star was another African pour that was light and refreshing. The food was authentic and unparalleled to anything I've had in the states. Nothing I've had comes close to the goodness at The Continent. The samosas were some of the flakiest ever. Light and buttery. The filling...wow! We had two type, vegetarian and beef. I could have eaten the beef samosas all night. The veg were really good too. We also started with the suya (grilled chicken with West African spices)...so good and flavorful. The chicken was tender and melted in my mouth. The grilled beef suya entree is literally everything! I had it with a side of rice and a salad. The way the meat is marinated and then seasoned with African spice is just incredibly flavor packed. There are so many other things on the menu that I can't wait to try the next time I'm in DC. I wish I could give ten stars. read more

It's a beautiful space with delicious food. They have a super welcoming staff, the chef went around the floor greeting guests at some point which definitely added to the experience. The cocktails however have been disappointing both times I went. The presentation is great but doesn't hit the mark in terms of taste. The food and drinks also take quite a long time to arrive even when the restaurant isn't overly busy. They do have great music playing, sometimes even a DJ so that makes the wait bearable. Will come back for the food and vibe. read more

The Continent DC - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Went here for brunch and it was great service and DELICIOUS food. Everything I had was great and the vibe was super fun. Would recommend for everyone for an upscale brunch or dinner experience. Julio was our service and he was 10/10 read more

The food, service and atmosphere all very good. The music was lively and fun, too! I'd write more but I'm too tired and full from all the delicious food I ate. read more

Came with the bros because we wanted some good African food. We thought we could get hookah but it isn't available during the day. No problem because Gg (idk if it's Gg or Gigi) was always checking in on us. She kept us laughing so the wait on drinks and food was okay. It was visably not crowded so we were confused on the wait but Ggs honesty about the long wait time made it okay. communication is key and Gigi (maybe Gg) made it okay! She recommen coming for brunch the next week although she is unsure if she will work. We will return. If the service is bad, we will know it's because Gg isn't there! read more

GG!!!!!! 10/10! So funny and helpful that the wait didn't matter. Good vibes and drinks

I don't really leave reviews but I had to shoutout my girl Gg! We sat in the upstairs part and tried to order happy hour but was told it was only available at the bar. We moved to the bar and was blessed with Gg as our server. It was noticeable busy so we didn't mind the wait for food and drink because she kept checking on me and my bro. We wish hookah was served during the day because we would have stayed longer. Still service 10/10. Only putting 4 stars cause the wait til! read more

Beverly was our server and she was fantastic! Her recommendations were spot on and her service very attentive. All of our selections were delicious. The decor is beautiful and the vibes...amazing. read more

Went to The Continent back in August for a dinner date on a Friday evening. It was a vibe! There was a DJ playing Afrobeats. I have seen mixed reviews about service, but our server Charldine was exceptional. From the start she made recommendations for us to try without even asking and she was spot on! She was a true gem. We started off with the beef suya appetizer. It was prepared a little differently than what I have had in the past, but it was very flavorful, enough to order a second plate! I had the oxtail which was plentiful and delicious. I had sides of jollof and spinach. For dessert, we shared the pineapple upside cake which was so good! I would definitely make a trip back here for another date night. read more

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Great ambience and delicious food. I came here for a night out with my girlfriends for the first time. It was a wonderful experience. The staff was nice and the food was very delicious. We all split the platter and had a great time. read more

The Continent DC - Feast Platter - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Here's the deal- I will be back. The vibe / music / interior / staff - were wonderful. Sunday evening date night for us- and they even had a live jazz player walking around accompanying the best afrobeats!! On to the food, the jollof rice was flavorful and fluffy- the wings = awesome, cocktails, on point. But I was so disappointed in the flavor of the goat. I know it tends to be gamey- but this was pretty intense with just the meat being pungent. Then we ordered the whole fish- asked for it grilled / asked twice to make sure it was grilled - and im pretty sure it came out fried :(. We didnt want to say anything, but it was also interesting that the fish wasn't flavored at all, but came with side sauces that were delish! It felt like they were slightly understaffed as we were checked on maybe twice during a two hour dinner. However the politeness and kindness was very much felt. We'll be back to try some other items and enjoy the energy ! read more

The Continent DC - fish and goat - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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