African Restaurants in Washington, DC

“Wow, after everything I have heard and the awards this place has received, I had high expectations. My TLDR is that some of those expectations were met, others were not.

I have been wanting to try Dogon for a while, my boyfriend finally got a res for my birthday dinner. The food was great, some of it was excellent (Ben’s Bowl, ugh that sauce!!), our server was helpful and met expectations, but I cannot look past feeling rushed during my dining experience with Dogon. Especially when the booking says to plan to be there for at least 2 hours, reservations are so hard to get, and the staff KNEW we were there to enjoy an occasion. Plates were being cleared while we were not done with dishes, or we still had food in our mouths. We felt rushed eating, we felt rushed to place an order, and pressured to order everything for the table at once. We were going to order a bottle of wine, but we felt there would not be enough time to enjoy it. In total we were in and out of the restaurant in an hour and 15 minutes for a full birthday dinner. I want to make crystal clear that our server was great, and this issue isn’t on one person. It is on the service team and their communication with the kitchen.

My dad was the head chef at one of the most popular restaurants in NYC for a long time, I know what is a reasonable expectation of a high volume, high end restaurant, and what isn’t. Pacing is something the restaurant is in full control of. Dogon should look into improving here. Even with this issue, I would still go back to try more of the menu.“

“Money well spent, waiters and staff were courteous. Food was delicious!“

“Loved it here. Great staff, lovely atmosphere/vibe, great music, and the food was soooo tasty. We did the tasting menu, and it’s what I recommend for you if you’re visiting for the first time. Once you’ve tried everything you’ll come back knowing exactly what you want. 10/10 Will be back. Duck Jollof was 🔥🔥. Appetizer with roti was 🔥🔥, ginger beer 🔥🔥🔥, scallops were 🔥🔥(not sure if these were on the menu), desserts were all 🔥, and the portions were not skimpy like some other restaurants of a similar caliber.“

“Got the chicken kebab sandwich, jollof, and palm wine. Kebab was really flavorful, juicy, with some chipotle sauce that was delicious. The jollof was good too, spicy and not too dry. Was not a fan of the palm wine but the more you know! Would definitely come back, I want to try the snapper“

“Ambassador Restaurant Review

Ambassador Restaurant offers a diverse menu with a mix of local and international dishes. It’s known for its elegant ambiance and attentive service.

Pros:
- Good variety of flavorful dishes.
- Cozy and classy atmosphere.
- Friendly, professional staff.
- Suitable for family dinners and special occasions.

Cons:
- Prices can be a bit high.
- Some dishes may take longer to arrive.
- Limited parking space.

Overall, Ambassador Restaurant is a great spot for those looking for quality dining with a pleasant environment.

Rating: 4/5“

“tasty food and good service“

“Fantastic food and atmosphere, highly recommended“

“First time in DC had a blast 🙌
Solo night but it never felt like i was alone 🙂
Space was super cozy and inviting and everyone made sure I was comfortable

Special shout out to my amazing bartender Jay 💕❣️ he ensured i was well taken care of will definitely be back 😀“

“Had Disbe for the first time last night at the Chadwick Boseman foundation fundraiser event for HU. It was so good that I was trying to figure out how to get a bowl before I flew back home in the morning. Ngeri made sure I got a bowl and dropped it at my hotel at midnight after the event! The meat is so tender, the flavors are so good and the service is top tier. Thank you! I’m looking forward to the NYC opening.“

“Great Late-Night Find with Excellent Service!
I ordered from Beyond Suya at their kiosk, and I was genuinely impressed. The staff was so nice, patient, and super communicative throughout the entire process. Even though it wasn’t a dine-in experience, they made sure everything went smoothly and made me feel like a valued customer.

The food was absolutely delicious – full of flavor and clearly made with care. What really stood out, aside from the amazing service, is that they’re open late! If you’re looking for something tasty and satisfying to eat late at night, Beyond Suya is a perfect go-to. I’ll definitely be back again soon. Highly recommend!“

“Love this place. Walk in the door and immediately to the right is Lawd Shawarma! A wonderfully warm meal of fish & eggs with vegan bread and Christmas-spiced Sorrel / Hibiscus drink. No matter what they call the next respiratory illness, no matter if you need to starve a flu or feed a cold. Problem solved for me. Lawd! I thank you.“

“Went to order food from another place and saw that they were making fresh puff puff samples for people passing by. I came inside to order Suya and it was worth it. The place is well decorated. They were playing Afro beats. This place is a definite vibe. Will be back to experience the lounge.“

“Saw an amazing story about the food and owners of this restaurant- what a great story - thank you for being such a great role model and giving back to the community“

“friendly staff, great location and good parking“

“We tried 4 different dishes and EVERYTHING was AMAZING! The decor is beautiful. I enjoyed the music and the entire vibe of this restaurant. We got a chance to meet the chef and he was so nice and down to earth.“