The only complaint I have, and I can't dock a star for it, is that I was in the restroom when chef Eric went around and checked in on guests. I love the decor in the space as it's very comfortable and sleek. The blues and the architecture of the inside are stunning. We were seated upstairs in between the back room and the loft area. Peter, our server, was nice and gave great recommendations for drinks and food choices. It was a set menu for a 4 course meal and the third round is shared between 2 people. We didn't do the wine pairing with the meal but next time we will. A scallop crudo was bright to us as a surprise amuse-bouche. It was fantastic! My partner wasn't a huge fan because of the texture with the crispy quinoa. Out course choices were: 1st - Ghana Salad and Zaalouk Dip. I picked the dip and the journey I was taken on with this eggplant dip and the different flavors was so good. The goat cheese and the vine tomatoes complimented the eggplant well. I do with the bread had been a bit thicker. He said the salad was very good. I didn't finish the dip and the packed it up for us to take home luckily because I was in love. 2nd: Wagyu Short Rib and Fufu They will bring you a bowl to wash your hands in prep for you to eat the Fufu because you're supposed to eat it with your hands. It was nice to have that even though I wash my hands before I eat dinner always. The fufu was a nice compliment to the goat and the sauce that came with it. I tried a bit of the short rib and it was very tasty. 3rd: Jollof Duck Pot This is the shared course and I understand why because there's so much of it. Confirm duck with duck breast and a veggie salad over the jollof. I wasn't a big fan of the skin on the confit but that's because I don't like sweet sauces too much. My partner loved it. The duck breast was cooked very well. I enjoyed the jollof rice but we didn't finish all of it. The smokey flavor with everything was nice and the egg on top helped break things up along with the salad. 4th: Bofrot and Malva Pudding Cake We got a nice story from Peter when this was served as we didn't know that Chef Eric pushed a Bufrot cart around when he was growing up in Ghana for the first few years of his life. The pudding cake was so creamy and not dense. The ice cream it came with and the pickled apricots definitely made it one of my favorite desserts. The spices in the cake with the contrast of the pickling made me want to keep eating it. The Bofrot had too much chocolate for me but my partner devoured it. It also was nice and fluffy. We didn't leave full at all. For drinks we ordered the Tree of Life and the Elmina Clarified Punch to start. I liked the mezcal in the Tree of Life and I was surprised to see that the punch was clear. My partner was skeptical at the mention of yogurt but he loved it. The second round, I ordered the Gold Coast Margarita and he ordered the Daddy Bofa. The bee pollen salt in my margarita was different but good. We will definitely be back as we'd like to try the lobster next time. Come give it a shot! You might even get a glimpse of Chef Eric or get to meet him like my husband did while I was not at our table lol. read more

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I traveled to DC specifically to try Elmina. The experience did not disappoint. I ordered the tasting experience and absolutely every dish was phenomenal. The ambience was incredible and the service was amazing. Every course was timed perfectly. My favorite dishes were the ribeye and the corn bisque. The malva cake was also a highlight. I'll definitely be back the next time I visit DC. read more

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TLDR: The food was incredible and the service was abysmal. We went on a Friday evening for the tasting menu and while the food was flavorful and delicious, the service was so terrible that I couldn't wait to leave. First course: An amuse-bouche of scallop ceviche in coconut milk and every bite was divine. Second course: We choose the Hamachi Crudo and the Zaalouk Dip. My friend said that she could eat 100 bites of the Hamachi Crudo and I am right there with her. It was the best bite of the night -- tender, citrusy, crunchy, spicy. The Zaalouk Dip was great as well, especially with the roti. Third course: We choose the Fufu and the Braised Lamb Shoulder. My friend liked the goat in the Fufu but didn't vibe with the texture of the FuFu (I don't love goat so I tasted the sauce only). The Lamb Shoulder was very, very tender with great flavor though it did have a lot of fat on it. Fourth course: A cold, ginger ice cream palette cleanser. Fifth course: We choose the Jollof Duck Pot and it did not disappoint. Tender, so much flavor, every bite was absolutely delicious. And so much of it! Sixth course: We choose the Bofrot and the Corn Pudding. The Bofrot had such good flavor but the baked portion was very dense and hard to cut into with your spoon making it a bit sloppy. My friend enjoyed the Corn Pudding but my brain couldn't understand what I was eating and it just wasn't for me, though the blackberry ice cream was very good. If you're still with me, let's talk service: * Slooooooooooooooow. We were there for 3 hours and every course came out SO slowly. Our server also didn't seem to know where we were in the process and kept asking us what course we had just been served. * We had to ask to have our water refilled at least 10x throughout dinner and it took forever for a refill. * No one offered us the wine pairing that goes with the tasting menu. We each had a glass of wine and then no one asked if we wanted more drinks or another round. My friend ordered another glass of wine and after I declined, my empty glass sat on the table for the rest of the meal. * We spilled a little bite from the Hamachi on the table (the true first course) and it wasn't wiped up until right before dessert. * We repeatedly had to ask for cutlery. When we were served the jollof we only had spoons and that dish needed a knife and fork. * Three different times dishes were brought over to us that were not ours by different servers. There just seemed to be a lot of confusion. * The bathrooms were a mess. * We waited over 20 minutes for the dessert alone to come out. Our server asked us if we were ready for it (weird for a tasting) and when we checked in on it, 10 minutes after he asked us, he said he had just put the order in. * Most of the "hot" dishes we received were pretty cool and it was clear they had been sitting and waiting for awhile before they were served to us. Again, the flavor of the food was outstanding and had so much depth but overall everything felt chaotic, clunky and messy. EDIT: I also wanted to add that is was an expensive night, and yes, I know that we did the tasting. When we asked for the bill, we were never presented with an itemized bill but just asked if it was going to be 1 card or 2. When I said 2, he handed me the credit card machine (which I do love the convenience of) and with a 20% tip (yes, we gave 20%) it was $211/per person and I was a little shocked by that. read more

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Great place for special occasions. The staff was super nice about a birthday celebration, giving us a free toast and candle in our dessert. The eggplant dish and fish dish were both superb, great mixes of flavor and definitely its own flavor profile. We got both the fried plantains and okra fries and I think next time we would just one of them (they were both good and big portions, just a lot of fried food at once). We dined over 3+ hours and left extremely full. Great portions and flavors! read more

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I have a credit card that gives me credit for going to select restaurants, so I picked Elmina since it looked the most unique. I tried the tasting menu and got the following four dishes: an eggplant dish with roti (flatbread), the braised lamb shoulder, the duck jollof, and a mango pastry. Overall, everything tasted excellent. The eggplant was similar to baba ganoush but had a different unique flavor. It came with a flatbread which is very reminiscent of paratha (South Asian flatbread). The lamb was so tender that it was falling apart, and it came in a gravy that was extremely flavorful. The duck jollof came with duck breast cooked medium rare, and a duck leg cooked well done. It was glazed in a tamarind sauce and overall tasted amazing. The rice was good too, and it also came with a duck egg. The dessert was simple but tasty. It was a pastry filled with mango flavor. The service was great, and the restaurant had a nice vibe. They were playing hip hop and other cultural music. I would recommend for anyone who's a fan of fine dining. read more

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Where do I even start?From the fresh and quality prepared food to the warming welcome as we entered the restaurant from the host this date night was great! I recommend any one looking for good eats, vibes, a clean and bright environment alongside quality service to visit Elmina in DC. My wife and I partook in a couple cocktails (The Black Stars and Elmina Clarified Punch) to get the evening rolling where then our waiter, who was very helpful and knowledgeable of the menu, brought out a Scallop crudo dish to open our pallets. We then followed that up with the Tasting experience, a great value for the portions which allowed my wife and I to try each others selections. We indulged in the Hamachi Crudo (that touch of heat was on point), Zaalouk Dip (savory and delicious, one of our favorite menu items). For second course we experienced the Braised lamb shoulder and Fufu, both very flavorful and filling, loved the presentation. For the third course we shared the Jollof Duck Pot, it was so good and savory, the crispy duck skin and glaze gave powerful bite and it was tender, we loved mixing in the runny Duck egg with the rice. We will definitely be back to order that again À la carte! We closed the night with the Malva Pudding Cake and Mango Pudding both delicious and perfect sweet treat to end the night. Looking forward to coming back to experience more of the menu offerings and cocktail bar. read more

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Just an awesome experience. From the elegant but approachable decor, to the flavor packed food and very shareable dishes our trip to Elmina was excellent. Menu highlights for our group: spicy chicken, hamachi crisp, duck jollof. Everything was so unique with incredible depth of flavor. We even had the pleasure of a visit from Chef Eric to round out the night. read more

KenScale: 8.0/10 Visits: May 2025 Throughout my culinary journey with my wife Jun, visiting a restaurant helmed by a celebrity chef has always been a tricky affair, the biggest variable being how much the chef spends their time at the kitchen instead of promoting their brand in TV and other media. Chef Eric Adjepong, who was a finalist in the Top Chef show and a cookbook author, joined the DC dining scene earlier this year with a new project showcasing modern Ghana cuisines from his roots from the Western African country. Another celebrity chef, Kwame Onwuachi, already staked his territory in the city with the much-hyped Dōgon restaurant, and I was intrigued to see what chef Adjepong can bring to the table. Overall, it was a solid dinner, especially with some really delicious dishes on the front end of the four-course tasting menu (currently priced at $135 per person). The tasting menu at Elmina allows each diner to choose one dish each from the first two savory courses and the dessert course (while the main dish menu allows a choice of one dish per two diners). There were some pretty special dishes at the beginning of our meal, starting with the amuse bouche of scallop crudo in coconut gazpacho that Jun enjoyed very much. My favorite dish from our dinner was the curried corn bisque; the flavor of the bisque was quite aromatic and delicious, made even better by the textural combination of cockle clams and pork lardons. Another starter not to miss at Elmina is the zaalouk dip of roasted eggplant spread; dip a piece of spiced buttered flatbread to the spread with surprisingly spicy kick and you have West Africa's confident answer to hummus from Middle East. Fufu, a staple food from the region made with pounded cassava and plantains, also shines brightly at the restaurant, and I was quite fond of Elmina's version with braised goat, as well as the wagyu short rib with sauce made from prekese (a type of fruit from Africa). Unfortunately, compared to all the standout dishes from the early part of our meal, the main dish and dessert we ordered were a slight let-down. While Jun acknowledged she has perhaps an overly unrealistic expectation when it comes to duck dishes, I had to agree with her that the jollof duck pot didn't quite land the impact from the earlier dishes. The rustic flavor from the smoked jollof was there; it was more the texture of the duck that could be perfected (Jun preferred the confit leg to the breast). Same goes for the dessert; while traveling in Namibia for our anniversary earlier this year, Jun and I had a life-changing malva pudding cake, which we missed even more after the version from Elmina didn't quite live up to our expectations (it didn't quite have the same moistness to texture from what we had encountered in Namibia). Getting a reservation isn't too challenging but I would still plan ahead for prime time booking during the weekend. If you are interested in exploring how African ingredients are incorporated into cocktails, Elmina has a solid line-up to complement your meal; there is also a concise wine list with a decent number of South African wines. The sleek dining room in the former Seven Reasons space over two stories makes the restaurant a good spot for date night as well as casual dinners with friends and family. Toward the end of our meal, chef Adjepong did come over to our table to check on us. From our brief chat, I saw a chef who seems genuinely nice and eager to show the beauty and richness of the Western African cuisine. While not everything was perfect, there was plenty to like about the dining experience at Elmina. I would certainly be curious to see how the menu evolves over time and check out a few new dishes. read more

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First time trying Elmina and would definitely go back! Food - we tried the tuna tartare as our appetizer and this was so delicious! I wouldn't recommend the octopus kabob - the flavor was there but they were overcooked and rubbery. We split the oxtail entree and it was HUGE, filling, and flavorful, 10/10 would get that again. Drinks - both drinks were boozy and tasty! Vibes - Cute restaurant with 3 different floors/sections. Dark and cozy vibes. Service - I've read some reviews about slow service and I can see that, it wasn't overly crowded but service was a bit slow, nothing crazy though. We did get our app before drinks. read more

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Great space in the middle of DC. Close to everything. The decor inside was amazing and the food tasted great. Would highly recommend if you're in the City read more

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

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Hands down, this was one of the most flavorful and incredible dining experiences I've ever had. From the very first bite to the last, everything we tasted was a celebration of bold, authentic, and deeply satisfying flavors. We ordered a variety of dishes: fried okra, spicy plantain, fish of the day (which, I must say, was the best fish I have ever tasted), suya, jollof rice, a vibrant tomato and peach salad, tomahawk steak, and finished with the most decadent malva pudding. Every single dish was executed to perfection--beautifully presented, thoughtfully spiced, and absolutely delicious. Chef Eric showed up and truly showed out. His passion and creativity are clearly reflected in the menu, which is a rich and dynamic fusion of tradition, innovation, and soul. It's rare to find such attention to detail--not just in the food, but in the entire experience. The ambience was flawless. Every element of the space felt intentional and immersive. It transported me straight back to my time in Ghana--warm, lively, and full of joy. This place is a must for anyone who appreciates great food, culture, and atmosphere. I'll absolutely be returning--again and again. Also, Chef Eric is from the BoogieDown Bronx, so . read more

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I recently visited Elmina with a friend and had mixed feelings about the overall experience. The short version is that the food was absolutely delicious, but there were enough service and operational issues that I'm not sure the overall experience matched the price point. We ordered the Hamachi Crudo, Beef Chichinga, Prawn Chichinga, Jollof Duck Pot, Elmina Spicy Chicken, Kelewele, a side of jollof rice, a Sobolo Fizz, and a sangria. The food was the star of the evening. Every single dish we ordered was genuinely delicious. My favorites were the Jollof Duck Pot and the Kelewele. The duck was beautifully cooked and the dish had a wonderful balance of savory and sweet flavors. I especially loved the jammy egg and the accompanying pickled vegetables. The portion size was also quite generous. The Kelewele was outstanding--perfectly ripe plantains with a crispy exterior and soft interior. I would happily order both dishes again. The Prawn Chichinga was also excellent, though I wished the portion had been a bit larger. The Beef Chichinga was flavorful and I particularly enjoyed the onion accompaniment, which worked very well. The Hamachi Crudo was bright, and beautifully presented. Unfortunately, there were several aspects of the experience that detracted from the meal. Upon arrival, we were asked to wait to be seated, while a couple who arrived behind us appeared to be seated immediately. There may have been an explanation, but none was provided and it created a confusing first impression. I also think the reservation system could be improved. OpenTable did not provide any indication of the different seating areas available, and the various spaces within the restaurant have very different atmospheres. We were seated in what appeared to be a converted enclosed deck area. Some guests may prefer that setting, while others may prefer the main dining room, so it would be helpful if seating preferences could be selected during booking. Another issue was that OpenTable still listed a tasting menu option, but our server informed us that the restaurant no longer offers it. The online information should be updated to avoid confusion. More concerning was that by 6:15 p.m., the restaurant was already out of both the fish and the tomahawk steak. Given that the menu is relatively concise, running out of multiple items so early in dinner service felt disappointing. The drinks were also underwhelming. Both the Sobolo Fizz and the sangria contained a significant amount of ice and tasted diluted by the time we received them. Finally, our table had not been fully cleaned before we were seated. There were small dried food crumbs on the table underneath my napkin, which was surprising at this price point. Overall, Elmina serves some truly outstanding food. However, restaurants in this price range are typically expected to deliver not only excellent food but also polished service, strong attention to detail, and a seamless guest experience. Elmina excels in the kitchen, but there is still room for improvement in the front-of-house experience and overall value proposition. read more

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My friend suggested me try this new place and I was immediately sold--conveniently located Ghanian tasting menu? Sign me up! The vibes are great, with an intimate dining room (although the tables are perhaps a bit too close together) with a view of the open kitchen. Service was generally excellent, although we occasionally went a bit too long without water or a utensil here or there. But nothing so egregious to truly detract from a wonderful experience with a kind and informed waitstaff who provided helpful suggestions and descriptions of the dishes. The four-course tasting menu allows for each person to pick one dish from three of the four categories, with the entree being shared among two people. There was a vegetarian option in each category, though it's the same price regardless of which dishes you order (and extra if you want to add on an additional entree). Everything I had was delicious and plentiful, with hearty portions. The scallop amuse bouche was amazing, and I love a little surprise extra (there was a also amazing sorbet pallet cleanser later). The hamachi crudo I ordered was great, as was my friend's zaalouk dip. For the second course, I ordered the waygu short rib, but my friend's fufu was actually better and what I would pick next time. We shared the duck entree, which was delicious and large. I think I would try the fish, next time, however, as it just looked so good. Both desserts we had, the bofrot and Malva pudding cake, were equally amazing. For drinks, I cannot recommend enough the two I ordered--the Elmina Clarified Punch and their take on espresso martini. Both were twists on classics and I was glad to have ordered both. The Clarified Punch was especially unique (in a good way) but my friend maintained it was the best espresso martini she had ever had, so that goes a long way! I could see myself coming back here for dinner, which I don't say a lot about tasting menu establishments, but because the menu had enough delicious-sounding options, I could order different things. I also see online they have brunch, which has me intrigued. Overall, a great experience. read more

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When was the last time a restaurant took you through a journey of discovery? This is Elmina. Every dish was a new twist, new taste, an exciting journey of delicious food. I can't wait to go back! Pro tip: you can do a tasting menu or order a la carte. Uber there, no parking. Best things we tried: dip, fufu, jollof rice (omg!) with duck, the snapper (wow!) and the malva. read more

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The ambiance of this place is top notch with low lighting and nice decor. We were seated right away and offered refreshments right away. Staff was very attentive to our group, ensuring that our questions were answered about the food and drinks. The palette cleanser was actually really good; my favorite dish was the Hamachi Crudo and the oxtail. We also ordered the fish and duck jollof. Both dishes were okay, not enough spice in my opinion. Overall, nice place for dinner with friends or date night. read more

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There was stone unturned in this fine dining establishment. Food 100, Environment 100, Service 100 and 100 for coming to my city.... :-) read more

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

WOW!! this meal was absolutely incredible. We did the tasting menu which was plenty of food for two people. Started with the corn bisque and the zaalouk dip. Both are great-you can't go wrong with either of these. I had the fufu next which was absolutely delicious-I'm seriously still thinking about it. Split the jollof duck pot which was super filling for us two. My favorite of the desserts was definitely the pudding cake. Super sweet and tasty. Service here is amazing and everything I tried was so so good. Definitely check this place out read more

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I was able to go opening week and wanted to let my experience digest before putting it down. The one drawback was service. I had high or maybe different expectations for this restaurant and particularly the chef, so I expected service to be on point from the start. It was just a bit clunky, unsure and the tasting menu dish timing was off. I did the tasting menu and the timing was way off. However, I forgive the service because the food was delicious. The duck and rice dish was great! I would go back just for that or order it to-go if able. I wish them success. Worth a try! read more

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10 out of 10! We knew we were about to embark on a delicious journey when a Ghanaian colleague recommended Elmina. My only disappointment is that we didn't try it sooner. We opted for the tasting menu for a curated culinary experience and it's hard to articulate just how much we enjoyed every single course - including the palate cleansers! I HATE eggplant and yet the zaalouk dip, which includes roasted eggplant, was one of my favorite dishes. Shout out to the staff for being so welcoming and making it feel like we were dining among old friends. read more

Had the pleasure of dining at chef Eric Adjepong's restaurant ELMINA in D.C. recently and let me tell you 10/10. From the decor, service, of course the food ALL phenomenal. I definitely recommend, we went with the tasting menu and were blown away by the flavors and dishes. Will definitely be back! read more

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I've heard of this place finally got to visit for brunch. Food was delicious, ambiance on point as well as music and decor. Our server was attentive without doing to much. Had the Breakfast duck jollof good flavor fresh veggies. Johnny cakes were delicious by themselves paired with the syrup or apple butter even better. Grabbed the oysters as well some of the best I had around mainly due to the hot sauce and hibiscus they add to it. Drinks were all good and the loved the names they had for them. Will definitely go back to check out dinner. read more

Elmina - Breakfast duck Jollof and Johnny cakes. - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This was our second visit to Elmina, and we were seriously impressed. The food, which was already great the first time, was somehow even better. Standouts for us were the corn chowder (so flavorful!), the fufu with eggplant, and the short rib -- everything was rich, balanced, and beautifully plated. We also really appreciated the improvements since our first visit. Last time, we had some issues with service and food timing, and as someone with a crustacean allergy, navigating the menu was a little stressful -- there was even a close call with a shrimp dish. This time, though, all major allergens were clearly marked, and our server was super informed and careful. It made a huge difference. And of course, Chef Eric stopped by again -- he's a total gem and makes the whole experience feel extra personal. Can't wait to come back. read more

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As a long time Top Chef fan, I was visiting the area and had to check out chef Eric's spot - he made me crave his West African dishes - and wow it did not disappoint! I sat in the bar area and Dae the bartender was so nice and accommodating! I even met chef Eric and he was so welcoming and sweet. The vibe is spectacular, the drinks are delicious and the food was divine!! I've never had fufu and it was epic. The hamachi crudo? Best I've ever had. If you are in DC you must go!!! 15/10 recommend!!!! read more

Elmina - Fufu on top of braised goat in a peanut butter type curry - amazing!! - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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My colleagues and I (4 of us) grabbed a reservation for dinner here and it was SUPERB! We ordered the entire Chef's Tasting Experience. Everything that came out was absolutely delicious! Every single thing. Our waiter was the sweetest and he walked us through each dish! The music was great and added a fun touch to the ambiance. Can't wait to return! read more

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Welcome to DC, Elmina! If you're a TC fan, you would have been eagerly waiting for Chef Eric Adjepong's contemporary Ghanaian restaurant to open! We made advance reservations and came here as a group for dinner; we all had the 4-course tasting menu - For the first course, we tried: +the Curried Corn Bisque - prepared with cockle clams, pork lardons, and palm oil +Hamachi Crudo - prepared with passion fruit, peri-peri oil, herbs, serrano, radish, and corn nuts +Ghana Salad - with baby gem, ahi tuna, house salad cream, crispy red onions, tomatoes, and a quail egg +Zaalouk Dip - prepared with roasted eggplant, coriander oil, roasted vine tomatoes, crumbled goat cheese, and crispy red onions, served with a spiced buttered flatbread For the second course, we had: +Fufu - pounded plantain and cassava with braised goat and nkati nkwan +Red Red - stewed black peas with crispy plantains, avocado, gari, and parsley +Wagyu Short Rib - with prekese and onion steak sauce, crispy cassava, and pickled fresno +Palm Nut Shrimp & Octopus Stew For the third course, our party had: +Jollof Duck Pot - smoked jollof, tamarind-glazed confit duck leg, duck breast, duck egg, shito, and a roasted tomato salad +Bambara Bean Coconut Curry - with charred cabbage, sweet plantains, and lime +Fante Fante Lobster - a whole grilled lobster, Fisherman's stew, puna yam chips, green shito, and pikliz salad +Waakye - oxtail, gari, shito, and egg For dessert, there was a Malva Pudding Cake (with sweet pickled apricots, vanilla, and gelato), Bofrot (with nutmeg chantilly, sticky toffee sauce, Heath bar crunch, and Milo gelato), and Mango Pudding (pomegranate granita, mango caviar, pavlova, and hazelnut crumble). Staff were friendly and attentive, and the vibe was laid-back and casual. Metered parking can be found in the area. +friendly service +reservations accepted +metered street parking in the area read more

Worth a visit! Is it pricey? Yes! Is it delicious and vibey? Also yes! There of my friends and I went for a late dinner. As part of the tasting menu, we each had three individual courses (including dessert) and one shared course of two family-style entrees. We also shared Black Elephant, MCC Brut, which paired nicely with our meal. Everything was so fresh and delicious and the service was great! The vibe and music were also lively and beautiful, highlighting the modern African cultures that inspire the cuisine. I definitely recommend a visit, especially for a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary. read more

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I give Elmina a strong 4 stars! Bear in mind, we ordered a la carte (vs the tasting menu) My favorite items on the menu were the beef and prawn skewers, choofi and side of jollof, and surprisingly the okra fries (these are not slimy)!!. All of these were bursting with intense (in an extremely good way) flavor! There were only three concerns with my visit to Elmina: - the food took forever to come out. I'd say we waited for about an hour to get our apps so don't come extremely hungry - I was surprised the food came out lukewarm considering how long we waited as well - the crab fried rice was EXTREMELY salty (pretty much inedible) Apart from that, I loved the ambiance, the music was good - they played some old school Ghanaian music if you're into that Chef Eric was also sooo nice and came to our table to check in on us! 4/5 overall!! read more

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Met Chef Eric Adjepong last night at his wonderful new Ghanaian restaurant, Elmina. Absolute gentleman, very good food, and excellent service. Red red, fufu, curried corn bisque with cockle clams, hamachi crudo (unexpected but very well executed), jollof duck pot (phenomenal). Highly recommend. Cozy ambiance upstairs. Downstairs it looked a shade too bright and open, but I didn't sit there. Really looking forward to this place becoming a mainstay in DC. read more

So elevated dinning experiences are typically not my cup of tea, especially when it even comes to Ghanaian food, but I digress. I was pleasantly surprised, met friends and did the tasting menu. Kelewele- solid job on that not on tasting menu Choofi- meh they should take that off, I have had better. Ghana salad- they nailed it and the taste was there I enjoyed that. Red red-,they nailed that too Jollof and duck- Smokey, hint of sweetness and the duck was phenomenal Bofrot dessert- was ok , I won't call that Bofrot tho. Tasted some fish from a friends dish that was good. All in all solid spot, do I quite think it's worth the price point no. Since I can get all that minus the duck in the jolllof in a billion places around the dmv. Would I go back maybe if someone i know wants to try it, but glad I did. read more

The food was good. What prevented us from giving the place 5 stars was the service was not what we expected from a place with this price point and a tasting menu. The restaurant had a sexy vibe upstairs and downstairs is more an open kitchen concept. 4 for food but 3 for service. While the staff was nice - they seem short staffed or untrained properly for a restaurant that is supposed to be upscale. 1. We did a la carte but the gentleman made us decide at the front check in. Usually they bring both menus and explain and then table decides. We ordered drinks, some apps and the spicy chicken and seafood rice which they indicated would take 40 minutes so we placed order first. 2. Appetizers were good but very small portions for the price. We ordered the hamachi and octopus skewers and both had good flavor but very small. (3 pieces of hamachi.) the eggplant dip we ordered was tasty and reasonably sized. 3. No one came to clean the table or take dishes or gives us new plates. Entrees came and then they started cleaning the table because it didn't fit and awkwardly trying to give us new plates or silverware. At that point we just said we were fine with our old plates since it was awkward. 4. Entrees were great tasting. For $95 three scallops, three prawns and two small clams seems excessive. The rice was not hot but lukewarm. Spicy chicken was tasty: 5. We had to ask and chase down server to order more drinks- no one came to ask us. 6. After our dessert- the pudding case was great, we got the bill and the oddest thing happened. We were given the bill along with the credit card machine just being placed at the table and waiter left. No explaination nothing. We had to figure out how to use the machine and split it between two couples. I have never had that happen at any restaurant let alone one that ones to be fine dining. To me that type of service was not worth coming back: We frequent many fine dining and Michelin star restaurants along with casual places around dc. The food is excellent here and has potential but if their service does not improve, this place will not last as no one will pay those prices for that type of service. read more

Super amazing experience and probably top 1 or 2 of the last 12 months. The food was different and delicious. The space was beautiful, I remember going there when it was Seven Reasons and the new look is even better. Sat upstairs in the patio area early and my only complaint is that the sun was beaming in through the windows between the roof and the walls on one side of the table making it uncomfortable for like 15-20 mins. Other than that everything was excellent from the cocktails to the food! Definitely going back and need that Duck Paella Dish! read more

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My wife and I got the chance to stop by this new Ghanaian restaurant located in NW DC. I'll be honest, it's been on my list since they opened so I was extremely excited that we got a reservation. Loved the lighting tone in the restaurant. We were warmly greeted by the head chef himself which was a treat. We started off with drinks and went right to their tasting experience. I started with the Ghanaian salad and my wife got the Zaalouk Dip. Both fantastic. It would not be Ghanaian salad without an egg. For our next course she got the red red and I got the Wagyu short rib. The fried Casava crisp on top was the perfect balance with the soft short rib. We then shared the jollof fried which reminded me of home. As a Nigerian American there are very few dishes that reminded me of home. This dish did just that. It was an amazing experience from beginning to end. read more

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My overall experience at this restaurant was good. The main thing that bothered me is I couldn't get in contact with the restaurant. There was no reply to email and there was no contact number to get help or ask questions. A lot of the dishes were very mild in flavors and had a good spice level. The duck jollof rice was our favorite. I loved the dessert so much. I wanted to come here because of social media but I probably wouldn't return. They didn't do anything wrong I just had higher expectations. They were really nice and professional. The establishment decor was gorgeous and it was clean. read more

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I've been here twice now, and it's easily a personal favorite. The ambiance is beautiful and the food is amazing. I've been fortunate to try both the tasting menu and a la carte dinner. Loved every bite, especially the hamachi crudo and pork belly kabobs. I could come back for the cocktails alone, which were thoughtfully crafted with intentional ingredients. The service was fantastic and I got to say "hi" Chef Eric both times! I am really impressed how Elmina merges community, culinary excellence, and upscale dining into one package. I cannot wait to return! read more

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YES, Chef Eric! Elmina is a winner. Beautiful well-lit space. A four-course tasting menu where the challenge is deciding between 3-4 options per course, so go with your SO or BFF and share. Best dishes were the fufu and goat (spicy!), jollof duck pot (rice was perfectly cooked and the duck had a great spicy-sour glaze), and the bofrot for dessert (a sugary donut with gelato and toffee crunchies). Tasty cocktails as well, though took awhile to get to us; I'll chalk it up to the place still being new. Extra bonus was when Chef Eric came to shake hands and ask everyone how they were doing. Very well, Chef, thanks to you! read more

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My experience at Elmina in DC, was a 10/10 drama, flavor, a small portioned Ghanaian-Afro Fusion experience. First off, it's $135 per person; so yes, my wallet flinched, but my taste buds threw a party. It's a four-course situation. Course one? "Zaalouk Dip" a pita bread and stew duo that had me questioning if I was secretly vegan, it slapped. Course two "FuFu" rolled in with vibes, visuals, and flavor... just wish it came with a heater because baby, it was lukewarm. But hey, they prepped it ahead, so I get it. Now for the shared portion the Jollof Rice and Duck. And let me say this loud for the people in the back: Nigeria still has the best jollof rice, but I digress. Dessert was giving elegance, decadence, main character energy. And the drink? The Elixir of Life. Yes, Three Spirits; finally a restaurant that gets it. IYKYK. Final rating? 4.5 stars. read more

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Was so excited to try this restaurant and it delivered on all fronts. The traditional flavors with a modern take were tasty. I liked the turkey tails, eggplant, and Crudo were some faves but the kabob was great and the jollof rice hit with a kick of spice. Great service and creative dishes and Chef Eric is the nicest person who deserves all the success he has earned read more

Great music, fabulous decor, and wonderful service! My beets were fantastic and everything else I saw looked delicious! read more

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This space is really aesthetically pleasing, albeit downstairs is kind of cramped, my hair was getting hit all night. They just opened so I'm extending grace on the service, but a lot of missteps during my visit. They had 2 mocktails on the menu but when I asked for one the waiter came back and said they ran out, it was only 6pm. I asked for the other one and then the waiter came back and said that one was also out. He then came back to the table with a random drink the bar made on the fly which I did not ask for but he was going to add it to the final bill. Weird. The timing of bringing out the food also missed the mark, we just got our second course and they brought out the third, we asked them to take it back but they should have been aware of the timing. Now for the food. Ok, so the food is really good. We enjoyed everything we got and we both tried different things. I'm only highlighting what I ate. They provided an amuse bouche of oyster. Tasty. 5/5 1st course- eggplant dip, the eggplant was roasted so well and I loved the bread that came with it. 5/5 2nd course- I got the red red, since I grew up on this type of food, I enjoyed it, especially the sprinkle of gari. 5/5 3rd course- lobster tail with yam fries. The yam fries were sooooo good. In the future might have to get my own lobster tail instead of splitting it, there wasn't enough meat for me to only have 1. 5/5 4th course- I got the pudding cake, really delicate and sweet dessert. 5/5 read more

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I went to Elmina for a solo birthday dinner and treated myself to the tasting menu -- and it was one of the best dining experiences I've had in DC. The service was impeccable (from the host, to the excellent server, to the kitchen), the team made me feel celebrated and completely at ease dining solo. The food was extraordinary, each course thoughtfully prepared and bursting with flavor. The Jollof duck pot was my absolute favorite dish -- rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. The ambiance was relaxing and elegant, making it the perfect spot to unwind and savor every bite. Five stars all around, and I will definitely go back. read more

Elmina - Jollof Duck Pot - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia