Kwame doesn't miss! This restaurant is a must try. The hype is justified! The flavors in the food were so Rich in every dish! The portions are on the smaller side just an fyi. The service was good my party had to wait an extra 15 minutes to be seated but was provided with complimentary champagne. The ambiance is beautiful in there it's very cozy and chic. I will definitely return read more

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I used to be obsessed with Top Chef so I've been following Chef Kwame since his season, so when I heard he was coming back to DC to open Dogon I was so excited. Unfortunately, I left unimpressed and disappointed in the food. First note, if you're going to say it's African fusion, make sure the African flavors are there..it's not. I went with mainly Africans from different parts of the continent and we all agreed African flavors where?? The good: Hoe Crab and the Curry Branzino. Those are the best dishes on the menu you won't be disappointed. For the hoe crab, just the crab is good. Idk what happened, but the after taste of our plantain hoe cake was burnt. We were puzzled because they didn't look burnt but after the second chew you had this displeasing taste in your mouth, so we just ate the crab by itself. Idk if it's because they're so small and maybe the stovetop wasn't cleaned properly, but it was bad... a major letdown. The wagyu beef would get honorable mention. The beef was cooked well, but the seasoning on the meat was a bit too much, you definitely need to eat it with the greens to cut the flavor. The flavor was also giving more kbqq/Asian inspired than African. If it came with rice or a more substantial side, I could maybee justify the price but just the meat and greens for 110 is overdoing it. The Braised cabbage is alright. After a couple bites it did start to grow on me, but not a dish I would order on my own. However, my vegan friend really liked it, so that's a good vegan or vegetarian option. You can't go wrong with oyster and they were charbroiled, so those were good. It's a safe option but overpriced imo for 3 oysters. The bad and the ugly: Chicken and Rice. Honestly, this dish was shameeefull. The jollof rice is horrendous... utterly bad. He's Nigerian but we don't claim this jollof. I don't know which countries jollof he was trying to imitate but it failed on every level. The chicken was also bland. He needs to go back to the drawing board with this one. I didn't care for the cocobread, I could've done without it. It just tasted like a regular ball of bread. I've never had authentic cocobread, but my friend who has said it doesn't taste like this. We wish we would've ordered the cornbread instead. Overall, unless the taste profile of several dishes are revamped or modified, I don't ever need to come back here. read more

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I had an amazing time at Dogon! Kwame is bringing back true dinning to DC. Where it's more than just vibes/aesthetic and the food is spectacular. We loved every dish! - MomDukes Shrimp 10/10 - Jollof Rice 10/10 - Coco Bread 10/10 - Hoe Cakes 10/10 - Escovitch 8/10 - Pri Pri Salad 10/10 - Chicken and Rice 8/10 - Rum Cake 10/10 Next time we'll try the greens. We left full and didn't have enough room for it. Service is great and our sever was attentive. I highly suggest making a 5pm reservation instead going later in the afternoon. Cannot forget about the atmosphere and setting. The R&B music sets the vibe and the dark setting brings on the sexy and romantic setting. read more

Dōgon - Jollof rice - Caribbean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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20/10 Everything was divine! The Service - Amazing, Food - Out of this world! Flavor Bombs all over the place! Ambiance doesn't disappoint either! I am a foodie and I am impressed! read more

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Do not take anyone here on a first date unless you want them to fall deeply in love with you. The ambiance and experience were phenomenal. The server was so knowledgeable about the menu and patient with all of our questions. I don't really know how to put the way every dish tasted into words. Immaculate is the only thing that comes to mind. The portions were huge and enough for the three of us to enjoy family style. We usually don't order dessert but because we were enjoying our experience so much we decided to try the rum cake, which is one of the best desserts we've ever had. I would give them ten stars if I could. read more

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This is the best find dining restaurant in DC and I'm not sure how anyone can feel differently. Every bite of food I had was amazing, from top to bottom. We were promptly greeted, the restaurant itself is beautiful, and upon being seated the manager noticed we had our coats that were taking up space and he asked if he could take them so he could hang them up for us. I haven't stopped raving about this place since we visited. The kitchen was towards the back, open and clean and reminded me of The Menu haha. I'll definitely be back. read more

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*A moment of silence* as I take a pause to write this review because that's how taken back I was when I took my first bite of EVERY plate. If you have any complaints, you don't know cuisine. This was by far the best meal Ive had all year. I can now understand why Ive see so many reviews with the same response. I almost couldn't believe it. The FLAVOR of each dish just sang its own beautiful tune. The pork belly, the pork bellyyy!!! The burst of flavor from the tomatoes, the sauce the grilled or seared flavor. Idk what they did back there lol but not one complaint. The BUTTERY hoe cake, chefs kiss. The crab..to live for. The coco bread, melts in your mouth. The butter wasn't necessary but blew it out of the park. This ain't Golden Crust, growing up in BK (iykyk) I can truly go on forever. I can't wait for my next visit! read more

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Hands down, my FAVORITE restaurant. This is the type of restaurant where you spend your money and have no remorse or regrets afterwards. Actually, as I'm typing this review I've decided to make a reservation for a return visit! The service was great- our server clearly knew the menu and provided honest suggestions based on our preferences. I will say the drinks could have a larger drink to ice ratio, but I get it. For food we had the coco bread (delicious and comforting) , charbroiled oysters (give me a dozen next time), bbq greens (such a different and unique spin), curry branzino (taste of heaven!) and rice and peas (tasted traditional). That was shared between my friend and I, we had more than enough! For beverages I had the flower pot punch and she had the sorel rickey- both were delicious, strong and had us feeling as if we were on vacation! read more

Every year food writers publish their "lists" taking stock of the best eats DC has to offer. Occasionally I don't understand the hype (or the price tag), but chalk it up to a matter of different palettes and opinion. Dogon is easily the best meal I've had this year, and that's not an exaggeration. Try anything on the menu and I'm convinced it won't miss. And I can forget the playlist! A vibe all around and I'm counting the days until our next visit. read more

Dōgon - Caribbean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I've had Chef Kwame's Dōgon bookmarked for some time and was excited to snag a Resy for Thursday night. Inside is dimly lit, intimate and makes for a good dinner date, as the music isn't too loud. We were served by Jesse, who was great and offered his opinion when it came time to order. We tried the following: Coco Bread 7.5/10 - warm and fluffy, similar taste to agege bread. Ben's Bowl 7.8/10 - different elements complimented each other very well. Hoe Crab 9/10 - sooo flavorful, a must try! Chicken & Rice 7.3/10 - seasoned well but lacked flavor if that makes sense. Chicken was big and juicy, jollof rice was bland. Mom Dukes Shrimp 7/10- creole flavor, shrimp was overcooked. Pepper Sauce 9/10 - nice heat and made everything taste so much better. I appreciate the efforts of Jesse, but overall the experience was just okay for me. I over anticipated this dining experience and left underwhelmed. I did really enjoy the hoe crab and think this dish should be served at a larger portion as a large plate. It was really tasty. I understand the shared plate concept, and the idea that the chefs push out dishes once they're ready, but small plates, or "appetizers" should be brought out 1st, and entrees should be brought out together. We were getting large plates before small plates and waited extended periods of time before getting certain dishes. Then dishes would get cold because we're waiting for each other to receive their own entree. It was a little annoying and caused us to become impatient. The music was good and a mix of r&b and hip hop but there was extended periods of time where there wasn't any music playing. Then randomly one song would come on, and then silence afterwards. It was almost as if the person who was on the aux cord kept forgetting to play the next song. I did want to try the rum cake but was over the dining experience at that point. But maybe I'll go back for that, as well as the hoe crab if it's developed into a large plate. read more

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*chefs kiss* from start to finish. I was looking forward to dining here and finally made way last night. When you arrive to Dōgon there is a lounge area where you can sit and wait before your table. The front entrance staff was friendly, and I love the ambiance inside, perfect for intimate settings. Dim lighting, not loud. We were seated and Travis was our server. He is very personable and made great recommendations. I ordered the coco bread, Piri Piri salad, and branzino. The piri piri salad was sooo delicious! The flavors were so uniquely paired. The branzino was cooked to perfection and the coco bread! This bread melts in your hands before it melts in your mouth. A very delicious dinner and 10/10 would recommend these items. read more

Dōgon - Piri Piri salad - Caribbean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I went to culinary school. Ordered the cornbread, carrot tigua, bbq greens, cabbage and rum cake. Cornbread was good, a slight crunch on the outside and a soft interior. I was surprised that $15 only gets you two slices, given that $15 gets you an entire basket of coco bread. The cabbage was very good, on the sweeter side, and the charred portion wasnt overpowering at all. I loved the fresh mint in it. I just wish there had been a way for us to eat the rest of the sauce. The carrots description is lacking the spices used on them, it was spicy and a little smoky. It is described on the menu as a stew, however nothing about it was stew-like, it was much more akin to a thick, creamy peanut sauce. I didn't pick up on any "crustacean" flavor. The bbq greens were a let down. It's a very oily, onion/garlic forward and intensely earthy dish, and we didn't find any beef bacon. I wonder if they forgot to add it. Rum cake was fantastic. The whipped cream would be amazing if it were more custardy. The cake is already so light, a heavier cream would give an amazing contrast. The golden berries are very sour. read more

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What a fantastic experience! I came here to celebrate my friends birthday, and we had a very early reservation at 5:30 PM, but the ambience inside truly makes you forget the time. Our waiter Tony brought great energy to the table and made sure we were attended to all night. We started off with the mango basil smash can cocktail, and a special margarita cocktail they had for the day. Both of the drinks were good, but nothing extraordinary. We wanted to taste a number of items on the menu so we ordered the cornbread, the crab hoe cake, and the Wagyu beef platter. Tony being extremely kind also surprised us with the collard greens and the rum cake for free for my friends birthday! Everything we tasted was absolutely delicious. The cornbread is an absolute MUST HAVE, the hoe cakes were great though a smaller portion, and the Wagyu beef while expensive had great flavor and texture. Im not a huge fan of collard greens, but I loved that they were not overly salty or rich, and the rum cake was a perfect end to the meal, not too sweet or rich and left me wanting more. Overall, I would love to come back and try a couple of their other items. read more

Dōgon - Caribbean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I was looking forward to this reservation all day. Within the first hour of the meal, I was looking forward to going home. Ambiance - this was arguably the best part of the experience. The restaurant has a nice vibe to it - not too loud, but not stuffy either. It felt like a great place to have a social dinner. Service - While our main server was nice, service on a whole was inconsistent. Depending on who brought out the food (3 different people), we had a different experience each time. One described the food and the sauces and how to eat the dish. Others just dropped off the dish and left. The worst part of the service was the pacing - there were stretches of 15-20 min at a time where we had no food and were wondering when the next serving would come. Food/Concept - The food and concept here left me scratching my head. The team stated that the restaurant leaned into a sharing concept. While the prices reflected larger portions for sharing, the actual dishes were far from that. The "small dishes" were so small that we each had small bites and pretended that we had enough. On to the dishes - the food was overly salty and I found myself drinking water nonstop. None of the flavors were especially inventive and I found everything to be average at best. Price/Value - all of the above would be fine for a mid-tier restaurant. Given the pedigree of the restaurant/chef and the fact that dinner totaled nearly $500, I left beyond disappointed and bordering on angry. This is just my view. From the reviews, clearly some other people seemed to enjoy the food. I'd just recommend that people go in with the right expectations. Unfortunately, this experience has just eliminated Tatiana from my want-to-go list. read more

Update: went back again and some things were better than my last time! Not sure what changed about the oysters it was better! The cheese on top and the sizzle was better than the oysters I ordered opening night. I will say serving three oysters as a small share is wild! Like why not 4? I didn't know an additional oyster was $6 so know that if you do say four it costs/ so if they fail to mention it be warned. Cornbread still amazing, hoe crab still super flavorful. Then got the branzino again and still do not fail! I think they added rice to this dish and yep I love Cocktails are crafted but know they special so 4 drinks can run you 100ish probably more! Our server, TONY, was great! Took fabulous photos of us to start the night off. But was super attentive. Always checked on us, knew the menu and had great mannerisms. Much smoother experience than the first time ! Love when the staff adds to the experience ! Last time opening night probably overwhelmed our server but Tony was relax, calm, entertaining and charismatic! Even sang to homegirl for her birthday! Brought out a little cake and all! Ty the chef is also great! Always speaks so highly of the place and also walked out to see us and he be whipping! Not sure what he was cooking when I went this night but a very talented chef that the city loves! Lovely experience! Romantic grown vibes. Always full! People there just cooling! read more

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We arrived at 7:45 pm and the desert was finally served at 9:55. After being seated waited 10 minutes before any server arrived. I know fresh cooked food takes time but it seemed like we waited 15-25 minutes between them bringing out food It is family style shareable portions. The coco bread was delicious, The greens had to much meat in them and greasy. Bens bowl was horrible, Piri Piri salad dressing was lacking. The 68.00 chicken and rice was minimal the chicken had good flavor and the rice was tasteless. The only good thing was Mom Dukes shrimp and Coco bread. 224.00 for two people for a mediocre meal was robbery. Oh and the music was loud and inappropriate songs with cursing, and vulgarity shouldn't be played. read more

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Second time here and the food and service combined were amazing! This time my group visited the private room and all of the entrees were delicious! We started with the coco bread and corn bread which were both warm and flavorful. Each accompanied by two different butter options. The team also brought us the Ma Dukes shrimp and the oxtail empanadas. Both were incredible. For the entree we had the chicken and the short rib. Both were so tender and flavorful. I love the use of the fresh herb garnish, it took each dish to another level. To end, the rum cake was so rich and flavorful with a crispy bottom. I loved everything we tried. Can't wait to be back! read more

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This has to be the most overpriced restaurant I've ever been to and I choose stellar restaurants to try all over the country. The rolls were $15. They were soft a white rolls with nothing special to them at all. The rum cake was $19 and bitter. Interestingly enough, it was better the next day. The branzino was amazing. I won't argue that. The skin was crispy and the fish tender. The flavor of the curry was perfection. That said, it is not worth $82. I had a tasting menu with more food that tasted way better and has super interesting flavors for the same price as the fish not far from this spot the next night. The space was dark and the music was loud. That may be your vibe but it's not mine. The cocktail was tasty but not spectacular enough to be worth $24. I sat at the bar and the service was great. I won't be coming back here again and won't be recommending it to my friends unless the price decreases significantly. read more

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Good food came out fast and they honored our reservation at the last minute! Food was really tasty I had fried snapper and my wife had the branzino both dishes where very feeling. My only drawback was the music was loud and overwhelming. Also the tables are kinda close which did not give the intimacy that the restaurant vibes give read more

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This place has been on my list for a while and it was well worth the wait. Firstly, you must book far in advance. The calendar is only open one month ahead, so if you're planning for a specific date find out when the next month's calendar is released. I celebrated two birthdays there this weekend and the experience was phenomenal through and through. This restaurant is located in the Salamander Hotel, which was gorgeous. The restaurant itself is tucked away on the left hand side of the lobby. The restaurant aesthetic gave eclectic high-end dining with comfortable couches for larger parties. The service was fantastic and our server was VERY attentive. He suggested we try family style dining in order to try different dishes. Everything was so flavorful and unique! I highly recommend trying as many items in the menu as you can. The only downside was that they were sold out of the main oxtails dish that is very popular. This place is pricey, so I would keep that in mind if you would like to try multiple dishes. Overall, 10/10! read more

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We went to celebrate my friends birthday. It was a group of 6 of us. The decor was super nice and service was great. We tried the cornbread, Ben's bowl, oysters, hoe crab and the curry branzino. All of the dishes had a different unique flavor nothing like anything I've had before. Everything was very good but my favorite was the hoe crab. The flavors in Ben's bowl married well but the texture of the lamb wasn't my favorite. For a group of 6 I would definitely recommend getting 2 large shares with 4 small. It was definitely a positive experience that I enjoyed. Definitely worth a visit! read more

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I had two completely different experiences at Dogōn, both on a Thursday night and both without a reservation--one flawless, the other frustrating. My first experience was incredible from start to finish. I started in the lounge area with a round of drinks and bites, and the wagyu skewers and cocktails were amazing. The music, lighting, decor, and service were all on point. Later, my friend and I moved to the bar, where we enjoyed the Hoe Crab, chargrilled oysters, and branzino--all delicious (though I wasn't a fan of the jollof rice). We ended with the Rum Cake, which was phenomenal. What really made the experience special was the bartender taking time to explain the restaurant's concept, the meaning behind its name, and what inspired it. I left feeling like I had discovered a hidden gem. Unfortunately, my second visit was the complete opposite. I arrived around 7:30 PM and was told the earliest I could be seated was 8:30-9 PM. No problem--I was happy to wait as long as I was seated by 9, considering the restaurant closes at 10 PM. The host walked me to a lounge seat, but it took quite a while for a server to greet me, and I eventually had to flag someone down to order a drink. Once I got my Astronomer cocktail, it was perfect, and I started to relax. Around 8:50 PM, I asked my server if she could check on my bar seat. She returned saying the host told her the bar seat wasn't quite ready. I then went to check in with the same host I originally spoke with, and suddenly, the story changed--now she claimed she never told me the seat would be ready by 9 PM, and instead, the guests at the bar were just getting sat at 9. She even went as far as to say I arrived at 8 PM, which was completely inaccurate. Final Thoughts: If you're going to Dogōn, it seems like reservations are a must. While my first visit was truly exceptional, my second visit was frustrating due to poor communication, long wait times, and disorganization. Instead of waiting any longer, I ended up having dinner at Moonraker instead. I'd love to have the first experience again, but the inconsistency makes me hesitant to return without a reservation. read more

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Big big fan of Tatiana and Chef Kwame overall. So excited to have you back in DC. Atmosphere: swank, velvet, sexy. Perfect for date night, special occasion or friends. Staff: 5/5 excellent - Everyone from host to servers. Daniel had BOMB recommendations. We ordered more b/c of him and we were not disappointed. Service: it's week 3 so there were hiccups (2nd drinks coming at the end of the meal, one small share missing) but didn't ruin the vibe. Drinks: Mango basil smash was beautiful, but the amount of crushed ice muted the flavor a lot. Didn't enjoy. Maybe a block ice instead? RG&T & astronomer: highly recommend Food for our group of 3: Our server helped us match up small shared that complimented entrees. Rather than treating them like "appetizers". Could be a good option for the menu to add "suggested pairings" Oysters: skip, the sauce makes it. Otherwise not great. Cheese too strong. Coco bread: GREAT, shareable -- salted, hint of sweet, diff texture than traditional coco bread tho. Lamb dish: loved, shareable for 2, not 3 -- Hint of sour and creaminess and meat cooked to perfection. Jollof (side): good, but liked better paired with a main rather than alone. Braised greens: great, shareable --- Not too salty or limp. Fully taste the goodness of the greens. (Pairs well w/ branzino) Branzino: loved! Shareable -- perfectly cooked. Flaky. Heads up: if u don't like curry sauce (creamy. Savory w/ Hint of coconut.) , the salt on the fish skin will overwhelm at first. Lobster: great, not shareable --- Tangy, tart slightly sweet. Small portion of meat. Rum cake: loved! Shareable --- Dense like pound cake, w/ firm edges. So much flavor. read more

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A delightful experience from this concept by Chef Kwame. My friend made a reservation, and we came on time -- but our table wasn't quite ready, and they asked us to wait about 15 minutes longer. We grabbed some water at the hotel bar and before we knew it our table was indeed ready! The staff kindly took my friend's coat and we got led to our table. What a layout! It feels upscale and glorious, and hearing the afrobeats and R&B just made it all the better throughout! We decided to split several small plates and coco bread (which was FANTASTIC)... Carrot tigua - ended up being the last thing we got. While it was delicious overall, the peanut crustacean stew is definitely an acquired taste -- I didn't love the fishy notes it added. Hoe crab - the first thing and definitely one of the best. a plantain hoe cake?! Come on. Was devastated when both the cakes and crab were gone. Ben's bowl - flavorful, fantastic lamb... and tamarind and chickpea together and among my favorite Caribbean things! Charbroiled oysters - delicious!!! Felt like I was back down in NOLA. The server talked me into getting the rum cake, which I had zero regrets doing. I have never thought top a rum cake with golden berries before, but it really worked! Now, it wasn't extra boozy like black cake, but even so... the flavor, the texture... WOW. Great way to finish a meal. Now mind you, coming here is definitely an investment. But it is totally worth it and they occasionally have events where you can meet the chef. And sometimes, he's just out and about from what I hear. Do yourself a favor and check them out at least once! read more

Chef Kwame does it again! The newest restaurant from Top Chef alum and celebrity chef, Kwame Onwuachi, is pure perfection. Starting with the decor, the restaurant is gorgeous. I loved the tableware and that it had the glamorous chain curtains that were / are a staple in his other restaurants. For drinks, I had the flower power and it was small but mighty. I only needed one and that's surprising because it's in a tiny glass. For food, I had the Charbroiled Oysters, Lobster Escovitch, BBQ Greens, and the Rum Cake. The Lobster Escovitch was a little too small for the price but still well cooked and seasoned. The BBQ Greens and Rum Cake were also great but there was a standout star dish that had me trying to scrap the plate (really the shell). The Charbroiled Oysters were one of my favorite dishes of this year. I loved everything about the taste from the temperature of them to the sauce that I added on top. I MUST have these whenever I go back. Dōgon is one of the most delicious restaurants I've been to this year and I'm grateful I had the chance to visit. Looking forward to my next trip to DC because this will certainly be my first stop when I'm there. read more

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Everything was a 10000/10 : food, drinks, ambiance, and service! The food literally has me moaning: colossal shrimp, tender lamb, perfectly charbroiled oysters, moist cornbread and cake, flavorful and spicy jollof rice. Topped off with great drinks! Thee best birthday meal! read more

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4.5 really.. only docked b/c of portion- everything is marketed as shareable but seeing the size of most of the dishes - i don't see how. Even my order of oysters was of 3- how do u split that? Lol But this is literally the only "negative". I lined up at 4:35p and was 3rd in line for walk-in. 8 seats available at the bar. The service was warm and knowledgable of the menu.. the space was inviting and chic. Like Tatiana, Chef Kwame shows off his expertise in flavor pairings.. the oysters were excellent with the red stew sauce. And the lobster escovitch was really nice- the onions and peppers were in the classic escovitch style and lobster cooked perfectly.. served split. Finished with the rum cake which was PERFECTION. Gregory the bartender mentioned he doesnt even like rum cake and this one changed his mind. My cocktail the RG&T was refreshing and spritzy. Cant wait to come back and try more of the menu! Welcome back to DC, Chef!! read more

Dōgon - Caribbean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Dogon has to be the best restaurant that we have visited in recent memory! First, the service was fantastic! The staff worked as a cohesive team, made you feel comfortable and welcome, and provided great recommendations on dishes. We really appreciated them adjusting the pacing of our order and dishes to accommodate our schedule. Dogon has a great ambiance nestled in the Salamander Hotel. It offers both a more casual lounge for drinks and small plates and a larger restaurant with a full menu of delicious shared plate options. The restaurant is very trendy and modern with dimly lit decor, light music, and many of DC's local power players dining in. The food was full of flavor, creative, and offers unique dishes that I have not experienced at other restaurants in the area. The Afro-Caribbean fusion is a win with a range of flavors. For a table of 4, we ordered 6 small plates and 2 large dishes, which provided a great sampling and plenty to share. The Branzino is a must and should be getting recognition for best dish in DC. The cocktails were delicious. You cannot go wrong with anything on the menu and we look forward to our return! read more

If I was rating the food and ambience only, I would have given 5 stars. The food at Dogon is something I will think about long after this trip. I am already sad that this restaurant is nowhere near my hometown, because I know I will crave it. The music was exactly my vibe, a mix of R&B and hip hop that stayed chill and soothing throughout the night. The dining rooms were cozy and there were lots of staff bringing food out in record time. I ordered the coco bread, which was fine, but it did not wow me. What did wow me were the hoe cakes, the softest plantain hoe cakes topped with crab. The crab was seasoned deliciously and came with an additional aji verde sauce that took every bite up a level. The brown stew snapper was another standout. It was crispy, glazed in a well seasoned brown sauce, and topped with cilantro. It came with rice and peas that were tender and well seasoned. The portions are generous, especially the fish, so I was already full when I almost skipped dessert. I am very glad I did not. The Cherries and Cream was the surprise of the night. It arrived as shaved cherry granita laced with frozen spiced cherries and bites of frozen pastry cream. It was refreshing, sweet, lightly spiced, and creamy, a dessert that hit every tastebud and lingered in the best way. The only drawback to the meal was that while my server was nice, she was not polished in her appearance or her attentiveness. She even told the table next to me, when they ordered a second iced tea, are you sure, no free refills and I have to go to the hotel to get it. The support staff was great, and the food came out incredibly quickly, which almost made up for her service, but her service certainly did not match or support the food. I loved seeing so many brown faces among the staff and the crowd itself was mixed. This place is a destination. It is a place to embrace African and Caribbean cuisine and a place where all cultures realize just how goddamn good this food is. read more

Aside from the long wait to be seated the service was exquisite. All of the wait staff made us feel very welcome. The food was very unique. You can see it in my pics. Ambiance was amazing. Very nice lighting. I would definitely go here again. Had the coco bread. That was pretty good. The standout of the night was the branzino. But really everything was pretty good. I'd suggest you go there and try something new. You won't be disappointed. read more

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Good experience but a bit overrated. I visited Dogon on a Friday night during the week of Christmas 2024 to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday. We were in town on vacation and given Chef Kwame's success with his Tatyana restaurant in NYC, I was eager to try Dogon. Making a reservation was quite easy via Resy and I booked it about a month in advance. Upon arrival, we were pleased with the beautiful decor, elegant vibe, and kindness of the staff. We arrived within the 15 minute grace period and were seated promptly. Dogon has a great vibe. The decor is modern with a blend of dark and calm hues, along with an open kitchen. The seating was pretty comfortable and as you dine, you'll be entertained by some great R&B music. We were greeted by our server, Daniel, who did a great job of providing an overview of the restaurant along with recommendations. The menu boasts a fusion of African and Caribbean dishes which is what really intrigued me. My boyfriend and I are Jamaican and he has spent time in Ghana, so we had high expectations. We began the meal with the coco bread. It comes with 5 rolls. They were fresh, hot, and soft, and came with a sort of sweet butter. Nothing like a traditional Caribbean coco bread, but it was tasty. Next up, we had the charbroiled oysters. I'm not a seafood fan but I have experienced charbroiled oysters in New Orleans. These were missing something. There was more parmesan cheese than the mix of garlicky butter that I'm familiar with. For entrees' my boyfriend had the lobster escovitch and I had 'Mom Dukes Shrimp' with a side of rice and peas. The shrimp was tasty. They were prepared well and I enjoyed the sauce, which was like a mild cajun blend. This version had pigeon peas in it. In Jamaica, we would call that "rice and gungo peas", traditional rice and peas for us, uses kidney beans. Of course it varies from island to island, so I'm a bit bias. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this version because the rice was prepared well and it had a tasty infusion of coconut. My boyfriend unfortunately, was not impressed by the lobster escovitch. He had anticipated something traditional but he says it lacked flavor and was a little undercooked. On the other hand, it included a side of roti and the portion was a full lobster which he liked. We did not have drinks or dessert. Overall, a good meal and the presentation was top notch. In terms of service, everyone we encountered was pleasant and welcoming. Daniel, our server, was particularly kind as well as attentive, and he checked on us periodically. The crowd is pretty mature and the dress code seems to vary as we saw folks in casual fits (jeans and sneakers) and others in business casual to slight dress-up attire (blazer/button-up and jeans or dress and heels). In terms of pricing, the menu is on the pricier side but I anticipated that. We spent a total of $165 not including tip. Again, we did not have drinks or dessert. I think the experience was a good value but honestly, I don't think the offerings live up to the hype. The food is good but it isn't great or amazing for the price. Moreover, I don't think it lived up to the reviews I've seen. There is so much talk about the flavors being out of this world and I just did not get that. I feel like I have paid the same at other high end restaurants and felt more blown away to the point that I KNEW I had to find a reason to come back very soon. I don't think I'd return if I were in the area however, I'm glad I had the opportunity to try it out and support a Black-owned business. I think Chef Kwame does a great job of curating a menu that honors Black-American, Caribbean, and African culture in a dignified way. It's a nice spot to visit on a special occasion or to impress someone for a date. If you are looking to make a reservation, do so as soon as possible. I did see a couple snag a walk-in but they were placed at the bar. Better than nothing, I suppose. There is also a lounge area for lighter bites and drinks to indulge in. All-in-all a good experience. read more

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Great addition to the Salamander. Awesome customer service. Nice variety of tastes for my palate. Drinks were satisfying. The ambiance was upscale, but not tight or pretentious. I enjoyed it. Seating is very close. I dined alone and preferred my seat at a high top. Otherwise, I would have felt like a third wheel to fellow patrons. This is luxury dining that you should check out at least once for the culture. Limited street parking; garage parking or ride share recommended. read more

Visited for an anniversary dinner late reservation at 9:30 pm. Reservations are highly recommended (through Resy). We checked in for reservation at 9:30 pm and the only reason I cannot give a five star review is that we had to wait an additional thirty minutes to be seated for our reservation. We weren't contacted by text that the table was ready and we had to check on our own for seating. The staff was courteous and prompt in service during dining. We were greeted by the team who apologized for the wait, acknowledged our anniversary, and provided us with a starter and a glass of champagne/non alcoholic champagne. Our server Cheyenne was great at explaining the menu, recommendations to order as well as drinks. The food comes out family style to share and best when ordering different plates to share. Every dish we had was amazing. The food was hearty, soulful, and full of flavor. The portion sizes even for the small plates were filling and the staff is great about removing empty plates, glasses, and refilling water glasses, etc. The playlist creates an amazing atmosphere - the restaurant is a top tier location and just feels like Black excellence and the familiarity of home. I definitely would visit again for the food and atmosphere. There is valet parking at the hotel and nearby paid street parking $$$ read more

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I arrived Friday night for my 9:15 reservation at 9:18 and was told there would be a wait. After waiting for almost 45 minutes by the entrance, I asked the hostess how much longer the wait would be. I had not received a text, call, or any notification from the staff that my table was ready. When I mentioned this to the hostess, she repeatedly insisted that I had been called. She then pulled up the call log, realized she had contacted the wrong number, and simply said, "Oh, it doesn't matter anyway." Eventually, someone escorted us to our table and apologized, but for some reason, we had to return to the front desk to be given a different seat. When we left after dinner, the hostess told me I would be contacted to make a new reservation as a way to rectify their mistake, but now, 24 hours later, I still haven't received any follow-up. I ordered the rum cake dessert, and it wasn't boxed to go, as I had requested. The wait for a waiter and receiving our food was long. I was so excited to finally snag a reservation here. I loved Kith/Kin when it was in D.C. and was looking forward to dining at Dogon. While the food was good once it arrived, everything else about the experience was subpar. The space is beautiful and the music is a combination of r&b, soul and contributes to the vibe. Food ordered: Piri Piri Salad, Hoe Crab, and Mom Duke shrimp Drinks: Cherry cocktail Overall, this was a disappointing dining experience. It fell far below expectations. read more

Oh my goodness!!!! What a treat!! I loved everything! The ambiance , the staff, and most importantly the FOOD!!! Delicious! Amazing! A culinary trip to heaven!! Started with the Coco bread which was warm and melt in your mouth . Moved to small plates that were recommended by our lovely server,Lumi. The BEST chargrilled oysters I've had in a restaurant up north! Delicious! Peri Peri salad was so flavorful! Bbq greens.... Wow!! The branzino was such a large portion and full of flavor. Capped the night off with the rum cake. I'm not stuffed and highly satisfied!! Hats off to the chef!! It was an amazing dining experience!! read more

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We went to Dōgon for my friend's birthday. It was inside the Salamander hotel which is always a nice experience as we got to wait for our table in the lobby and take photos. We ordered from both the small plates and large plates section of the menu. The food had unique flavors which I loved, but some plates were a bit salty which I didn't love. My favorite dish were the BBQ Greens and the Branzino which had a sweet and spiced curry flavor. Our waiter was kind and patient as well. I would go again! read more

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Finally visited the highly anticipated Dōgon because getting a resy here took a bit of patience. First off, I did not see any parking garages as my GPS indicated but there is valet. I found street parking in the roundabout which is very limited to maybe 8 spots at most. The vibes at the salamander hotel were classy & elegant with cream accent chairs all over. Entering Dōgon, it's moody and sexy with a dim ambiance. The hostess' were friendly and welcoming. Though we arrived 15 mins prior to our reservation time, we had to wait to be seated at our reservation time. We decided to put all our orders in at once after being seated since we had a late reservation and didn't want to waste time. We also expected them to come out in sequential order so apps (or in this case "small share") followed by entrees ("large share"); they did no such thing, and it seemed almost disorganized. My shrimp and jollof came out almost immediately, along with our hoe crab, which was odd, while my sister's appetizer and entrée didn't arrive for another 30 minutes or so. This was highly irritating because waiting for her food caused mine to get cold. When I brought this to the attention of our waiter, he replied by stating that how things work at Dōgon is that everything is meant to be shared and he said it in a nice nasty way.... Well that's great but if my dinner date is allergic to shellfish but I want shellfish, we can't share it, or how about we simply ordered different things because we wanted it? I told him I needed a new dish because my food was getting cold, and after he asked the kitchen, they decided to remake the dishes so they can be hot and come out with my sister's entree. We ordered the following: Coco bread- 8/10, the bread was light, airy yet dense, and fluffy. Hoe crab- 9.5/10, tasted like they used palm oil in the crab, the plantain pancakes were almost reminiscent of akara (Nigerian bean cake) definitely my favorite dish. Ben's bowl- 8/10, interesting dish, crispy outer layer and tender inner layer, the chickpea curry paired nicely with it but I added pepper sauce which took this to the next level. Pepper sauce- 10/10, saved some of my dishes and they did not skimp on the pepper, I know scotch bonnet & habanero when I taste it, had a good heat. Mom Dukes Shrimp- 7/10, this dish was just okay, the shrimp was overcooked, no succulence. Jollof rice- 4/10, Jesus wept...as a Nigerian I have to be honest, this was just a no...now presentation wise, the dish looked good, the rice was cooked perfectly and it was juicy, but it was flavorless. I tasted no Maggie or salt or pepper in this dish. It was highly disappointing. Chicken & Rice- 5/10, similarly to the jollof, same issues with the rice, as for the chicken, very moist, very tender, and juicy, but was missing real flavor. I also don't think this was worth the $63 dollar price tag considering this is common chicken. I typically don't even eat meat as I mostly eat seafood so this was blasphemous. Ultimately, I think this menu needs to be expanded or some items need to be replaced. I'd like to see a spicy option for certain dishes as the pepper sauce was just not enough. The jollof rice just needs a little more love. The hoe crab is gold, I'd like to see a hoe crab senior because the dish is pretty small and really a tease. Also, a spinach option would be nice, the simpler, the better. Finally I'd love to see more pescatarian options featuring a west African inspired rice and stew/sauce of some sort. Additionally, I do think the service could be improved as they were slow to clear the dirty/empty dishes in between our meals. It was to the point where I was tempted to take the dishes back to the kitchen myself. I would definitely return if I see a new menu item that piques my interest. read more

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Meet me at Dōgon! I'm so glad my friend and I decided to dine at Dōgon. We had a 5pm reservation which is the time the restaurant opens. There were several groups waiting in the lobby of the Salamander Hotel where the restaurant entrance is located but it wasn't crowded. We shared the following items: - Cornbread - Piri Piri Salad - Mom Duke's Shrimp - Branzino - Barbecue Greens Everything was delicious! By far, our favorites were the branzino and greens. The shrimp was the last item to arrive so I didn't really have room to fully appreciate it. Based on the food alone, I know we'll most definitely be back. A personal pet peeve is when plates are too large to fit on restaurant tables. Especially where sharing is recommended/the advised way to dine, it's annoying to have to play Tetris every time something arrives. We also didn't have the best experience with our server. She seemed disappointed that we didn't order drinks and was pretty absent after our order was put in. I had a specific drink in mind from a menu I found online that was apparently old. She recommended others but when I opted to stick with water she kind of caught an attitude. Very strange. Otherwise, there were several managers walking the restaurant floor so you can really tell they care about your experience. Can't wait to go back! read more

Ambiance (5/5): low light, simple yet beautiful decor Service (5/5): From entry to exit the service is amazing. Everyone cares so much about your experience and shares so much gratitude for you coming in. Food (4/5): - Cornbread -5/5 - the sweet bread and slightly spicy spread was a hit! - Oysters- 4/5 - so good just a bit too much cheese that over powers the flavor of the oyster - Ben's Bowl - 4/5 - curry sauce was meh. The lamb had a great crunch - Greens- 3/5 - missing something (salt?) but decent - Short Rib -10/5 - melts in your mouth! Steals the show! - Shrimp- 5/5 read more

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I have been wanting to try Chef Kwame's restaurant Tatiana in NYC ever since it opened, to no avail. When I heard Dogon was coming to DC I knew I had to get there. The decor and staff were engaging. The engulfing dark and smooth design allowed for focus on the food. Now the food is "upscaled" Caribbean/African "fusion". It reminded me of food from my home that was prettied up for guests. That is not a bad thing! Tried a number of dishes and EVERY ONE HIT, it feels like you could literally not make a bad choice here. I will be back. Still dreaming about it. read more

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