Elmina is an elegant restaurant with small touches of African design and big Ghanaian flavors. The interior is fairly sleek with marble tables and subdued fabrics. The service is friendly and very happy to explain anything on the menu with a genuine enthusiasm. The prix fixe dinner offers a range of dishes which is great if you like to share. You can still enjoy all the courses without everyone having to order the same thing. The only exception can be the main entrée which usually serves two. We had three people so we were able to choose two different dishes (yah!) We really appreciated that every plate had a lot of flavor as did the cocktails. We tried the Black Stars and the Malted Passion Smash. And the non alcoholic squirt. For our first course, we shared the himachi and the corn bisque. Both were beautifully prepared and delicious. The Hamachi was very fresh and the curried corn bisque really satisfied a curry craving. For second, we had the wagyu short ribs and the palm nut shrimp and octopus stew. Both were deep and rich. The meal also comes with several surprise amuse bouche/ intermezzo offerings which were light and palate cleansing. For our third, we opted for the whole fish of the day which was dramatically served. It was very tasty but a little hard to get to all the fish as it was curved around itself and harder to fillet. The duck in the jollop rice pot was also a very generous serving of a hearty and flavorful dish. For dessert, we had the malva pudding cake and the bofrot plus a special cookie gift from the kitchen. We definitely enjoyed our meal at Elmina. It was exciting in its range of flavors while being a relaxing dining experience thanks to the excellent care of the staff read more

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You can truly taste the love and thoughtfulness that goes into Chef Eric's food. Service was attentive and they do the little things that good restaurants do. The curried corn bisque was a star, and I could've eaten an entire bowl of it. The shrimp and octopus stew had the most tender octopus I've ever had. My friend enjoyed the zaalouk dip - only wish the bread was a bit pillowier. Fufu was different than I expected but still tasty. The oyster at the start was 10/10 - so smooth and full of flavor, and I don't even like oysters that much. The jollof duck pot is not to be missed. Sweet, fall of the bone duck over perfectly cooked and seasoned rice. Perfection. The Bofrot was a decent dessert but I wish the donut was a fluffier and not as dense. My donut wasn't hot so I didn't get the temperature contrast. I preferred the mango pudding dessert. I'm sure they will only continue to refine and improve. I'm glad Elmina is in DC! read more

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Excellent food and experience at Elmina. Incredible flavor profile, friendly service, good vibes and music. We opted for the a la carte menu ordering the crispy okra, hamachi crudo, zaalook dip, pork belly, spicy chicken, and jollof rice. Plentiful and delicious with the pork belly, hamachi, and chicken as favorites. Great addition to DC food scene, Looking forward to returning for some favorites and new additions. read more

WOW! Absolutely fantastic! We enjoyed the superb Tasting Experience! Worth every dime. It was an extravagant and tasty experience! Also amazing service from Alex. So many highlights, can't pick just one, I will however say the Jollof Duck Pot is the best Jollof that I've ever had!! Can't wait to return. read more

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Wonderful service and great food! Himachi crudo, beef kabob and bone marrow are almost-gets.

The food is very good but the service is bad. Our server tonight was cold, unhelpful and plain rude. Our server on a previous night was just ok. I really hope they pay attention to quality of service as much as the quality of food. Seating upstairs for tables of two is also too close for comfort making it hard to have private conversations. read more

Everything was amazing from beginning to end - upon entering until exiting. The staff, the ambiance, the FOOD, the drinks, and of course our fraternity brother, Chef Eric Adjepong. We even got to meet him, and take a picture. We are already planning a second dinner, and checking out brunch with a few others. A truly amazing experience. -C.N. read more

BEWARE. Worst service ever!!! We drove 1.5 hrs from Baltimore on 12/15 for a 7:30pm reservation. We arrived on time & then waited for 45 minutes. Observed several other parties experiencing a similar scenario, and one couple left after the long wait. They were clearly overbooked!!! No apologies given & the host appeared overwhelmed & eventually disappeared from the front. We were never seated & finally decided to leave at 8:15pm (they close at 9pm) to go to another restaurant. We wasted $12 on parking, plus the drive. Awful! read more

Elimina is a restaurant by a Top Chef Contestant that does not disappoint. When you walk into the restaurant you see Erick cooking your meals in the open concept kitchen, he walks around and greets each guest, and makes dining accommodations for even his youngest guests. However, the atmosphere is only matched by the food. It. Is. Delicious. (Get the shrimp!!!!). I've been several times now, and I've never had a bad bite of food. Both the tasting menu and à la carte menus are delicious experiences. As a whole, it's one of the best dining experiences I've had in DC. read more

The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, and you can immediately tell this place is all about community and heart. Their Ghanaian Fusion brunch is an absolute standout -- a vibrant, flavorful experience that's both comforting and exciting. Dishes like oxtail jollof hash, shrimp and grits (banana grits), and bean coconut curry was cooked to perfection, each bite bursting with authentic spices and fresh ingredients. The staff is was incredibly friendly and attentive, making sure you feel right at home. Our waiter was knowledgeable of the menu and helped with recommendations. Chef Eric Adjepong made sure each dish that went out was served with perfection. He also walked around the restaurant to make sure everyone was satisfied with their selections. Highly recommend for anyone looking for an unforgettable brunch experience! read more

I went here with a group of friends and we were so excited to try this menu! Unfortunately, it didn't live up to expectations. The good: service was very good, the chef was so kind and came by and said hello, and the interior of the restaurant is absolutely gorgeous. The bad: the food. I hate to say this, but it wasn't just mediocre, it was poorly made. I split the oxtail hash with a friend, and while the egg was poached well, the potatoes were undercooked and hard. The seasoning was lacking. There were hardly more than a few thin strands of oxtail in it. It's one thing to skimp on the meat (though, in a $31 dish, that still raises an eyebrow), but the hard, bland potatoes on top of that? The menu item "lime cardamom cinnamon rollS" - note the plural there - came out as a single roll. We all tried a bite and none could detect any hint of lime. One could taste a faint bit of cardamom, but the rest of us could not. I prefer a fluffier bread, but that's personal preference; including the flavors advertised is not. I'm at a loss as to why they wrote rolls when they only serve 1, and for $12 at that. The friend who ordered shrimp & grits didn't enjoy it enough to finish, and this was a small plate. I didn't mind the sweet banana grits, but I didn't try the shrimp and those who did said they didn't pair well together. My friend who tried the bostock (described to us as French toast with egusi almond frangipane) thought it was all right - a bit like a biscotti. I did think it was a bit like a biscotti, in that it was dry and hard. I so want to have a good thing to say about the food, because I was very excited to go here and wanted to return for the tasting menu. Originally I was going to say "not worth it for the price point," but I'm going to be blunt: I wouldn't eat most of this food for free. It was simply made poorly. Always glad to try a new place, absolutely love West African food, adored the service and interior, and just can't with any honesty recommend anything here. Maybe their dinner menu is better, but this seemed like a genuine issue of technical failures happening in the kitchen; something was simply wrong across the board. I know someone is going to say "raise that with the kitchen in the moment," but how are you going to tell this sweet server that all the food, every plate, is bad? Is there any tactful way? You can't send it all back: we thanked them, paid, and left - in my case to go make lunch at home. I'm just not sure how to handle it. I hesitated to post this because I really hate to write a negative review, and of a new place at that, but I want to be honest as well, and this was our genuine experience. I can't recommend that anyone go here based on this. read more

Elmina - Clockwise from the bottom left: oxtail hash, lime cardamom cinnamon rollS, bostock, shrimp and grits - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place was really good! I'd definitely recommend it. It was 3 of us, so we pretty much had just about everything on the menu. The fish was ehhhh which is why I gave 4 stars and not 5. read more

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Incredible experience from start to finish. This was the best meal we've ever had- everything was impeccable and truly created and cooked with heart and soul. That Fu Fu! Unreal. The servers were attentive, intelligent, and kind. The decor of the restaurant was perfect. read more

Elmina - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My friends and I were really excited to try this restaurant. Unfortunately, we did not have a good experience. We had a 6 p.m. reservation. We were promptly taken to our table. When we sat down, we were informed that each table has a two hour maximum. We opted to do the prefix menu which is $135 per person and consists of four courses. By 7:45 pm we had only received two out of the four courses and only had 15 minutes left at the table. We decided that we were going to leave and try to find food somewhere else because we were starving. The waitress stated that she would talk to the manager. When she came back, she handed us a bill for $291 (discounted from $400 ). The manager came to our table only because we requested to speak to him. He did not come on his own. When we told him about our experience, he provided no explanation. (kitchen is slow, training new staff, etc.) he reduced our check even more which we appreciated, but the lack of customer service, the lack of acknowledging the wait time, and the fact that we did not get to complete our prefix dinner was upsetting. We did like what we were served, but it looks like this restaurant is still going through some growing pains. I hope it gets better because I would love to see them succeed. read more

As a Ghanaian i was so excited to try this and it exceeded my expectations!! And chef Eric was so nice to talk to! read more

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Had a fantastic evening last night at Elmina. Feels like it's rare to enjoy a night of fine dining where I felt so at home. The music was on point. The service was fantastic. I was a little worried bc we could only get a reservation later in the evening so I assumed it would be pretty dead and we likely would be rushed through our meal. Quite the opposite. There was a buzz throughout the restaurant. Upstairs, downstairs, even at the bar areas. And don't even get me started on the decor and artwork. Just beautiful. The food was a culinary journey. Not gonna lie. I'm still full. The portions for the tasting menu were so generous and flavorful. The short rib and jollof duck pot were definitely my favorites. The cocktails could have been a tad stronger, but what they lacked in additional alcohol they made up for in flavor. Overall an amazing experience. With the icing on the cake being that the chef came out to greet everyone at their individual tables close to 11pm! I've never had that happen before, especially with a celebrity chef. Chef Eric and his team clearly put a lot of time and effort into curating an experience that was inviting, approachable, and memorable. Definitely will be back. read more

Elmina - The menu was visually stunning - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Reservations were easy to make. I was greeted with care. Seated by the Chefs so I could watch the food being prepared. The musical vibe was on point. Wine pairing...delish.The food was sooooooooooooo good! I met the Chef and Owner who is lucky he's married! read more

Elmina is, rightfully so, one of DC's hottest new restaurants, and it didn't disappoint me. It's beautiful inside and features a delectable four-course Ghanaian tasting menu. I selected Curried Corn Bisque, Wagyu Short Rib, Jollof Duck Pot, and Mango Pudding. The Duck Pot, served with spicy/savory jollof, was a hit! Our waiter was kind and explained each course before we consumed it. I enjoyed the Elmina experience and will recommend it! read more

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Excellent service, vibe, food and drinks. Our Board attended and he'd nearly everything on the menu without a single complaint. Voted best among the many restaurants we have reserved. All plan to return and highly recommend. read more

We recently came back from Ghana and wanted a dish which included jollof rice. We wanted the spicy chicken but they didn't have this dish available so we settled on Seafood Jollof Pot. Unfortunately, the rice was cold, the shrimp was mushy. This is a dish for 2 for $95. It included 4 shrimp with heads on them, 4 scallops, 4 clams, jollof rice and cucumber slices and tomatoes. We were beyond dissatisfied. It's very difficult to figured out how this dish can cost $95. We also had tasteless plantains and a bottle of water which cost $10.50. With tip we talking over $200. To my surprise this place had good reviews but consistency is the key to restaurants succeeding. read more

The staff was accommodating, and the food was phenomenal. I would recommend skipping the a la cart menu.. and if you do decide to go with it, skip the peanut octopus. The jollof with duck was not what I was expecting, but overall, I enjoyed my meal read more

Had a delicious meal at Elmina. We decided to order a La carte and skip the main meals because there were a bunch of appetizers and kebabs we wanted to try. The okra fries, smoked plantains, oyster mushroom kebabs and (especially) the corn bisque were incredible. Unique, outstanding flavors. Also very much enjoyed the tree of life cocktail. Only thing that was just ok were the "spicy" plantains - not bad but not really spicy at all; could use a dipping sauce of some sort. Service was prompt and ambience was great; very classy but chill vibe. Would go back! read more

We went last night for the first time to Elmina to celebrate daughter's birthday (which went unnoticed even after mentioning that we were there for celebrating birthday). My wife and daughter entered first (as I was still parking and walked behind) and were immediately asked if they were choosing the tasting menu or a le carte. She did mention that we wanted to see both menu's. When I walked in for the same reservation, I got asked again even though it was mentioned we needed to see both menu's since of course a less that 5yrr old is not going to do tasting menu. So after getting seated we did only receive the tasting menu and had to separately ask the waitress for the a la carte menu which is what we opted for with more varying meat options than what the tasting menu offered. Food was OK, but nothing compared to what was touted by others. Chicken chichinga was bone dry and the crab rice barely had any crab for the top dollar you would pay and get substantial amount at Old Ebbitt. Ghana's roti is supposed to be puffy and soft which what we got was burnt and needed a good pull to break. Jollof seafood rice was good but I would have expected some more seafood for ~100$ than just two pieces of shrimp, clam, etc. The service was slow, and when asking the staff after 25mins of waiting between dishes, answer was its still being prepared with an attitude. Finally, we get the bill and there were errors in the prices on the bill vs what we saw in the menu. Of course they had to correct, but stated that they didn't have twice updated menu, with 1. missing items listed on their website and 2. prices changed for items listed. Astonishing that the restaurant which charges top $$ isn't able to update either their website or just print new menus that the guests can get the most up to date information. Not going back. read more

I want to start by saying that my group was very excited to try this restaurant. Unfortunately our experience was very subpar especially given the price point for this establishment. I had email confirmation of a reservation for a group of 5 on July 3rd. When arriving it was clear that the staff made a mistake and lost the reservation. Instead of being apologetic about it they treated us as if we were walk ins. We were placed in a corner that was clearly meant to be a waiting area and not meant for long term seating which was very uncomfortable. We seemed to have been forgotten throughout most of the night as staff barely checked on us. It took almost three hours to receive our main dishes and by the time we got them most of us had lost our appetites. We watched other guests come and and go and receive much better treatment and acknowledgement. I would've preferred the restaurant openly tell us that they would not have been able to comfortable accommodate us, so that I could have given my out of town guests a better dining experience. The nail in the coffin was when I received a call two days later (July 5th) to confirm my reservation despite the email clearly stating July 3rd. Overall a terrible experience. read more

The food was delicious! Haven't had Ghanaian this good since we were in Ghana! Even got to meet Chef Eric and get our cookbook signed! What a great experience! Must try's are the Fufu and the desserts! read more

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Friends and I went here for brunch last weekend, just shy of Elmina hitting 30 days open. I will say that the ambiance is great! There's an outdoor patio upstairs with a bar (not sure why we didn't get seats there ). As well as elevated raised (probably not the best description) seating next to some windows thats offset by a darkened interior. The dining wear was also good and we'd comment on it every time something was brought out. With that being said, the service left a LOT to be desired. I was at the table waiting for my friends to arrive and it was 40 minutes before someone offered me something to drink, not even water! Even longer before we knew who our server was. We ordered the oxtail hash, crabcake Benedict, oysters, and steak and eggs all of which could be described as just ok at best but I will admit my friend really enjoyed her oysters. The highlight was the fries which were made from yams dipped in the homemade hot sauce (they came with ketchup but do yourself a favor and order mama's hot sauce ) and the lemon cardamom cinnamon roll which was not too sweet nor too lemony. I'd recommend really looking over the menu to see what ingredients are in the dishes you order. This is a fusion place so if you're expecting it to be authentically one specific way you'll be disappointed. They need to work out some kinks but I'd go back. read more

Excellent presentation! Felt like the food was taking care of heart. Afro beats playing. Will be returning. Great date night

This spot is great for a date. It has a good food selection at reasonable prices. As well as great service across the board.

Food was ok but not great. Service was good. But a film crew unexpectedly arrived in the middle of dinner to film patrons, apparently at the chef's request. Stunningly intrusive for a $200 meal. read more

Oh I wish the owner would money into proper staff here. Our waiter was lovely and busting her butt but she should not have 6 tables get seated at the same time. The runners and kitchen manager also need to do way better. SUPER long wait for everything, no one had proper silverware and had to ask repeatedly for it while their food sat in front of them getting cold. My husbands food was delivered after an hour wait but mine was not. It was not brought until I sought a manager, Then my food came with half of it burning hot and the rest cold side. The food, however, was AMAZING. and so unique. As a previous restaurant owner, the owner here needs to get good front end and kitchen managers. Also, the waiter didnt know everything on the menu. At a nice place, the wait staff should try everything. That said. maybe they aren't going for super high end. Their prices are reasonable. BUT, with the caliber of the food, it could be. read more

I went to Elmina with a friend and we tried out the four course tasting menu for $135. I'll start by saying that I am so deeply, incredibly, profoundly impressed, the food is the service is and the chef is I had the Curried Corn Bisque to start, the Plantain Fufu with goat meat and peanut stew, we shared the giant fish of the day (Branzino) as the main with fried yam chips and closed out with the Malva Pudding cake for dessert. My friend had the Hamachi Crudo, waagyu short ribs and the Mango sorbet for dinner. PLUS, we had a platter of octopus, prawn and beef skewers (the beef was covered in Nigerian Suya spices). I picked up my phone to start writing this review after my second bite of the beef Suya skewer. Every morsel of every course of our meal was perfect. The texture, the taste, the temperature, every detail was on point. So much so, that my friend and I started to look around to try to understand, "are we the only ones having this experience? Is it just us?" It wasn't. We asked the people at the table next to ours how their dishes were and they started raving about their 'Red red' bean dish and fufu and shared stories about their experience with African cuisine on the continent. Then we looked at the table across from us and noticed how they were connecting with the table next to theirs too... And then the music! while we swooned over the delicious food, we started to sway to the afrobeats music. We were on a journey that only the mind behind the meal could've thought up and put together. From Fela to Wizkid to Asake with Childish Gambino and Jazmine Sullivan sprinkled in between, the vibe was perfection and the energy it created was very, very cool. Our food was so good and the people around us were enjoying it so much, we started to pay attention to the wait staff, and we noted how serious and focused they were. So we asked our waiter Eric about his experience working there. He told us his coworkers had become like family, that they are bonded by the vision shared with them by Chef Eric Adjepong. they see it, believe in it, and are doing their best to bring it to life with and for him. They are happy to be there and happy to serve you and you can tell. On the way out I bumped into a friend from Ghana, who I'd first met in Rwanda, who's based in Dubai, whose son plays for English Champion's League team PSG's under-17 team and was in town visiting schools as he prepares to head to uni before pursuing his professional soccer dreams. I say this to say that even the patrons are a vibe!! I highly, highly recommend. For all the Africans who've been in the DMV and waiting for elevated interpretations of Nigerian and Ghanaian staples it's @ Elmina. For non-Africans who are interested in being taken on a culinary journey and transported to West Africa to taste and feel the vibe, go to Elmina. read more

The best dinner I've had in DC in at least a year. Had the tasting menu and it was so delicious that by the time we got to the entree I asked for a box to take a bit home for my husband to try. Arrived home after ten and even though he'd long since had dinner I insisted he taste everything then and there. Now we have a babysitter booked so we can go back together. read more

Service was REALLY slow. DC is going to make me give up going into the city for food. I have been anxiously anticipating the visit. I never received my drink but I did not mind. I received COLD jollof rice. The restaurant is beautiful. read more

Elegant stylish setting. Grumpy waiter. Good but not excellent taste. Spicy in spite f waiter saying otherwise. Deserts were strange. Very expensive. Hard to find parking. read more

Amazing! This may be one of the best restaurants I've ever been to. The service and food were amazing. Highly recommended the crudo and duck. read more

Tried this new restaurant with a friend and we enjoyed their tasting menu. Everything was good, but just had a bit of a long wait time to get the main course. Our waiter informed us about that and he was friendly. My favorite dishes were the appetizer soup, dessert and the oxtail was delicious. read more

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One of the best dinners I've had! Each dish was equally unique as it was delicious. We've already determined we have to go back to eat the other half of the menu (there are four choices for each course). It's hard to pick favorites but the corn curry bisque and the jollof duck pot have burned themselves into my brain forever. I can't remember our server's name but she was amazing and had the best recommendations. Service was good as the food, cannot recommend this place enough. They even have a Saturday brunch that I can't wait to try! read more

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My husband is from Ghana and was excited to try this place! I took him for his birthday. We had a great dinner! We had the fufu and duck jollof rice. Both very tasty! I can't wait to go back and try brunch. read more

This restaurant indulges in all of your 5 senses, from the stunning plating to the atmosphere to the music to the delicious quality food, Elmina entices everything! A 10/10 memorable experience you won't forget. read more

My husband and I came for the first time and had the tasting menu. It was phenomenal. Not a single bad bite and one of the best meals we've had in ages. The flavors were bold and unique. You can immediately see why the chef did so well on Top Chef. We'll be back and highly recommend!!! read more