THIRD TIMES THE CHARM!…read more This is my second time dining at Lydia's on H (third visit). My first time was Valentine's Day, and the restaurant, while calm, was chaotic, AKA the full menu was not available. The second attempt to dine there, the staff member (whose name I forgot, please charge it to my head and not my heart!) informed us before we sat down that the evening service was a limited menu. To entice us to return and ensure consistent customer-centric service, the bar manager invited us to return on the first night and asked the staff to inform us when we arrived. Sure enough, the next day, when we arrived, there was a note for the staff informing them that they should be expecting us. The vibe in Lydia's is always chill! The music is always good and at a volume where you and others can still enjoy each other's company with conversation if desired. Overall, the food, service, and ambiance at this establishment should be the standard for many others. Well done, Lydia's. We are excited to come back and try the steak-and-cheese egg rolls next time.

Food looks better than it tastes...just hear me out!…read more We decided to close out Black History Month by supporting a Black-owned establishment, very intentional, very on brand for us. It was also my first time trying Malawian cuisine, so I was genuinely excited to experience something different. I went with a group of friends after an event, which worked out perfectly because we were able to taste a little bit of everything. I ordered the Brussels sprouts as my starter; they were good, nicely seasoned. My only issue? Timing. They didn't come out first. Everyone else had their food, and my "starter" came right before my entrée, which kind of defeated the purpose. For my main, I had the shrimp and salmon rasta pasta. It was good...creamy, flavorful, but definitely spicy. Not unbearable, just be prepared if heat isn't your thing. My mocktail was refreshing and good too... just small. A couple real sips and it was gone. Overall, the service was good. They were accommodating and made sure our group was seated comfortably, even moving tables around so we had a better setup. I appreciated that. The ambiance was very Black eclectic: cool R&B vibes, nice energy, a solid spot to gather and vibe. Checl out my pics! I'll be rating each dish I tried on a 10 point scale. Would I return? Probably not. It wasn't bad; it just didn't wow me. And in the DMV, there are way too many other spots on my list to try.

UberEats review…read more Service: given the distance of the restaurant, the order took a bit long but it was packaged well so nothing spilled and the food was still still fresh and warm. Dish: I ordered the spice wings with a side of jollof rice and spinach Efo-Riro. OMG! So let's start with the wings, the flavor on these wings were the right balance between rich spices and touch of sweetness. There was a hint of honey lingering on my tongue after it was greeted by a strong spicy flavor. Adding to this, the wings were fried to perfection with crispy skin resting on the top and smooth white meat down to the bone. AMAZING! The jollof rice was stellar! And while I do not know much about the perfect preparation for this dish to review if this is the best, I've had a few from various West African countries and can say that this one had that grainy texture with just the right spices mixed in. The spinach efo-riro was SO good. I honestly could have had a plate of this by itself and my taste buds would still be pleased. Overall, this place is very generous with their serving sizes. Well portioned, beautifully prepared, seasoned to perfection, and a sure trip down culture lane! I enjoyed it so much.

I tried the salmon with jollof rice and spinach. I'd always wanted to try it, but I'm not sure I…read moreliked it. The spinach tasted frozen, and the seasoning was way too overpowering. I probably wouldn't go back. Customer service was good. when I called the woman that answered was very nice and attentive to my questions .

Finally got an opportunity to dine here. Ive had the food catered before and this time I was able…read moreto try in house. The establishment itself is quite dated. The awning outside needs refurbishment and inside furniture is not updated. It's dark inside, almost like a night club. Perhaps it is sometimes. I did not like the decor, it was a little run down and honestly did not match up to the prices. The service was also disappointing. I felt that staff lacked a bit of professionalism and they rarely checked on us. The plates are huge. That is a plus. My partner ordered the goat and I tried the red snapper. I think one plate is big enough to share. I like the spinach, but everything needed a bit of salt. While the red snapper was coated in a lovely tomato and red pepper gravy, I felt it made the crispyness of the fried fish disappear and it was kind of soggy. Maybe you can ask for the gravy on the side. The food is not bad, but given the physical establishment and the service I wouldn't return.

First time trying this spot and the food was really good. The suya was tender and you could tell it…read morewas grilled, though I wish it had a bit more seasoning. I ordered the "Mother Land" cocktail--it was very strong but still sweet and enjoyable. Unfortunately, the service was a big letdown. Our server wasn't attentive, barely checked on us, and put our order in incorrectly. I ended up waiting a long time for my partner's food, and by the time it arrived, mine was cold. The space itself is super cute, I loved the afrobeats music and the overall vibe is great. While the food was good, I just wish the service had matched it for a better overall experience.

Great food: from the Fante Fante fish, to the oxtail waakye, to the bofrot donuts for desert,…read moreeverything was heavenly. Excellent service Personable chef and sous-chef. Both came round to chat with us - nice touch.

Came here for a birthday dinner…read more My friend is from Ghana and wanted to try this new fusion Ghana restaurant. It certainly didn't disappoint. The drinks were spot on. We especially enjoyed the plantain chips Because it was our birthdays the waitress did honor that by giving each of us a free glass of champagne on the house. I did like the outdoor patio vibe that they had set up with warmers it was quite comfy and had nice spacing around it. I think it would be a pretty good place to chill in the summer Parking is on the street and might be hard to find but if you try hard enough it's possible. Service was excellent no issues I would be inclined to come back

Drinks were really good but the food could've been better. I understand you have to cater to…read moredifferent clientele... as a Cameroonian I wasn't that impressed. I will come back for dinner, maybe it'll be a different experience... PS. Julio was great, he explained the menu to us and everything came out as we ordered!

Came out for a friends birthday and Julio was great! Food was delicious and service was good!…read moreDefinitely will be back

I got the pleasure of learning about Calabash and experiencing their Ghanian cuisine on a Sunday…read moreafternoon and I thoroughly enjoyed. Calabash African Cuisine is an intimate and cute establishment that offers great customer service. And the food, the food was absolutely delicious! I ordered the Suya and Waakye, which took my tastebuds back to the delicious dishes my second family always cooked for festivities. I also got the opportunity to try my friend's entree, which was the Banku with the Peanut Soup. Needless to say, the food was flavored and cooked perfectly. Whenever, I'm craving some goodT Ghanian food, I'm glad that I now have a go to... Calabash.

Typing this while in emergency room with friend who has a severe peanut allergy. We asked the…read moreserver several times was there any peanuts in the seasoning and he said no. My friend started to react after eating the suya and I had to rush her to the emergency room. The only reason we found out about the peanuts was because I made the server go ask the chef about the peanuts after her reaction . This was something that could be avoided if they took the time to put her health and life first.

Everything was phenomenal. Highly recommend this place. The Jollof with beef skewers knocked my…read moreshoes off. Amazinggggggggggggg. Also, try the Shrimp & Avocado salad best everrrr!!!

I'm a big person on trying different cuisines so when I saw "West African grill", I definitely…read morewanted to try it! I did takeout, which is the bottom part of the building. It's quite a small cozy takeout spot. I got the half chicken - you can choose which side you want so I got the attieke. I never had attieke - it's like a grain. A mixture of couscous and quinoa to me. The dish was great. I liked the onion salad mix that they put to the side with the chicken. The chicken was a bit dry, especially the white meat. But if you add it with some the onion mix, it'll be ok. Quite an interesting place. I could possibly come back and try their subs/sandwiches.

I wish I didn't live so far This was an excellent spot…read moreI loved it The food n music was great

It's only a good place to hang out if you're African . The disrespect for other ethnic groups is…read moreoutrageous. The disrespectful thinking that we are less than is ridiculous

(This review is for a delivery order so does not include any detail on service / ambiance)…read more Delicious Ghanaian food in the heart of U Street! I've been wanting to try Ghanian food for the longest time, so when I saw Appioo on UberEats, I just knew I had to put in an order. I got their grilled red snapper with a side of fufu and banku (two traditional paste-like Ghanian dishes; fufu is a starchy dough made with cassava and plantains, while banku is a slightly sour fermented version made with cornmeal and cassava). The red snapper was perfectly grilled, with a delightful char on the outside and super crispy skin, but flaky, tender flesh. It was served with a light, refreshing tomato sauce, and shito / black pepper sauce. The shito was incredibly rich, with a great spicy, smoky, and umami flavor. The tender fish and flavorful sauces went wonderfully with the two sides, with the fufu serving as more of a blank canvas (and therefore a great way to let the natural flavors of the fish -- or the deep, smoky, spicy flavors of the shito -- shine). The banku was perfectly tangy and just the right amount of funky, and it was great with the fish on its own. Everything from Appioo was incredible! I can't wait to sample a few more of their dishes, hopefully from inside the actual restaurant.

With classic Ghanian dishes included and the vibe friendly enough for a good conversation, this…read moreestablishment had many options for every dish on the menu such as vegan, beef, chicken, fish, goat, and oxtail, ranging from $22 to $25 as standard price points. The food here is very authentic and has been approved by many of my West African friends living in the DMV area. My friends and I decided to order one kind of each dish along with one kind of each side so we can try a bit of each. The okra soup was a bit too spicy for my taste, but it contained a lot of flavor, which could be neutralized a bit by the fufu that I ordered. The peanut butter soup was very creamy and flavorful. The jollof was a bit plain, but since the spinach stew was flavorful, it was all good. The wings seemed like an outlier amongst everything else we had ordered, and they were a bit dry, but with two types of dipping sauces, they worked out just fine. Even though there are so many West African restaurants within the DMV area, I find this establishment to be one of the most authentic ones. Since Ghanian food itself is already fire in general, one can't go wrong with coming here.

I've always seen the food truck down eastern market, but never tried them out. Today that changed…read moreand it was so good! I got the half chicken combo which came with a salad and fries! ended up being more than enough for 2 meals. The service was quick and easy. The space is small, but it does have a couple seats. Looks like there is outside seating for when it gets warmer. Will def check them out again.

I was shopping in the market and ran into this place. What a great sandwich! I got the beef kabobs…read morewith avocado. The bread had a nice crunch on the outside and soft inside, the meat was nice and tender and the spice level of the sauce was just right. It was a good portion so I was able to share the other half my mom.