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

I absolutely love this store! *Insert Big Hearts* I saw this store when I came into the mall for…read moreother purposes. I decided to go in and check it out. It was worth it. There are some gorgeous pieces of beaded jewelry, artwork, clothing, and more in this store. This is an authentic African collection store so you can find just about anything that you'd like that will relate to your African roots. Mr. Kwame was really pleasant, friendly, he engaged his customers, and he just innately knew what we liked or what he thought would be pretty on us. Blue is my favorite color and he picked out this wonderful dress and I fell in love with it instantly. It fits well, has pockets, and a belt to match. My daughter came into the store and before she could begin to browse, he took one look at her, pulled the mannequin inside, and removed the dress from it. He gave it to her with a humble, rather gorgeous smile, and said, "This was made just for you." She turned to see that it was the dress from the mannequin and once again the words, "I love it!," were squeaked into the air. She went to the fitting room to try it on and it fit very well. So we bought it! She wore the dress right out of the store. I changed into mine later and pinned my hair up with the beaded hair pin. Mrs. Sandy got the orange and yellow dress with a bracelet. She absolutely loved that too. You cannot go wrong in this store. I really thought that he was not going to have anything to fit me because I have such large bosoms, however he did. It surprised me. I highly recommend this establishment. Tell Mr. Kwame that the "Shawn, Lady in Blue" sent you. LoL! 5 Stars.

Stopped by Swahili Village with a group of five after taking a pottery class at Moonlight Studios…read morenearby and it turned out to be the perfect way to end the evening. It's only about a five minute drive away, so the location worked out great. This was everyone's first time trying Kenyan food and we were all blown away. The flavors were rich, comforting, and beautifully balanced. We ordered several appetizers to share and then entrees including the salmon, oxtail, goat, and snapper. Everything at the table was delicious. Our server Diamond was wonderful. She was warm, helpful, and really guided us through the menu since we were new to the cuisine. Her service made the experience even better. Such a great introduction to Kenyan food and a really fun group dinner. We will absolutely be coming back.

Several reviews were mixed for Swahili Village so we decided to give it a try. Stopped in the Rhode…read moreIsland location. Unfortunately, it was disappointing. Started with a Margarita cocktail which was $16.00 and terrible. Low grade tequila and store bought margarita sour mix. Service was very slow and one of the mangers was drinking and having a long conversation with the bartender. We decided to try the Jollof Rice and Suya bites. The rice was very bland. The Suya had some flavor but seemed to be missing something. I decided to take the leftovers home but unfortunately the Suya bites got very hard overnight so were not enjoyable the next day. Since eating out is pricey you may want to choose a different restaurant to try.

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.

Dogon gave my wife and me one of the best dining experiences we've ever had in our lives, and we've…read morebeen to a lot of restaurants. We came yesterday for our anniversary, and from start to finish, everything was exceptional. First, our waiter Rafael was superb. He truly made the entire experience feel top tier. Every recommendation he gave us -- from the dishes to the drinks -- was absolutely on point. His service, attention, and energy took an already amazing meal to another level. We've been to their sister restaurant, Tatiana, and really enjoyed it, but I have to say Dogon completely blew us away. The flavors, the spices, and the textures were all perfect. We had the charbroiled oysters, Benne's Bowl, Mom Dukes Shrimp, the coconut curry branzino, and finished with the rum cake. Every single dish was outstanding. The food tasted so rich, soulful, and layered -- it honestly felt like I was eating in a friend's Caribbean grandmother's home. A huge thank you to Kwame, Michael, and Rafael for making our anniversary dinner so special. We are not DMV locals, but we will absolutely be back this summer.

Celebrated my birthday here earlier this year. The food, service, and music were all fantastic…read more Additionally there was a delay with our oxtail dish in the kitchen, after our greens dish had already been brought out and got cold because we wanted to enjoy the dishes together. I say this to say our server was very attentive and made sure to have the kitchen bring us out another hot greens dish at the same time as our oxtail dish, WITHOUT us asking. Top notch customer service and attention to detail. Definitely a great experience with the ambiance to match.

I liked the vibe of this place, but overall it was just too expensive for the quality/quantity of…read morefood. The wild mushroom gnocchi was tasty, but the presentation was not up to par. The premium ribeye was cooked well, but it cooled very quickly since it was served pre-sliced. I really liked the cauliflower rice side though! The creme brûlée was much too dense, and I felt like the whipped cream on top defeated the purpose of the crust.

3rd year in a row,we have come for my birthday on Christmas Eve. we were 8 people. Took awhile for…read morea server to take our orders as they were very busy. My entree(boneless ribeye with crushed garlic spread) was luke warm,so I sent back for another one. It was cooked the way I like it. Two orders of Onion Strings came and they were luke cool and had to be returned and new ones were sent out. Overall was a pleasant experience and the food was good,everyone in the our party were pretty happy,although we did ask for separate checks,but everything was put on one check.

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.

THERE'S MOLD IN THE ICE. If you get ANYTHING to drink from here do not get ice with it. You've been…read morewarned. There was a black thing in my drink I tried to grab it to show the bartender just to realize it was INSIDE the ice. Frozen into it. The food is NOT good. Best thing here is the egg rolls. I've had everything on their menu between three visits and each time I was disappointed. The oxtails came to the table hot on the outside but COLD towards the center which lets me know they microwave the oxtails before putting them on the plate. The server said there was nothing they could do but put it BACK IN THE MICROWAVE because I ate some. I wasn't asking for a discount just expressed I was unhappy with the inconsistency in temperature. My kids didn't even like the wings and fries so that should tell you something. They're 12 and 10, that's all they eat. The Suya was a finesse. It's not Suya. It's just not. And to not get what you expect, it wasn't cheap either. I was also told on my last visit that they do not pay their staff properly (stealing hours from their checks) but you'll have to ask your bartender or server about that one. He said that the service fee does NOT go to staff at all it only goes to the business and seemed like he was even scared to say anything. Why not just raise your prices Lydia? It's misleading!!! If I ever go back it'll only be to party upstairs after eating elsewhere and I'm only doing shots! No mixed drinks, no ice.

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!

Great environment, DJ on point and the suya was delicious. Would definitely recommend to a friend…read morelooking for a good night out

We walked in from the lake side and step in line. We get told we have to talk to the host. There…read morewas no signage saying as much and inexplicably there's no host at the patio lake side where all the guests walk in but, ok sure.... I walk to the front with my SO. The patio is empty but every table has very clearly been dirty and left for an indiscernible amount of time. The inside also has tables scattered all over that need to be clear but have been sitting for who knows how long. There's maybe 6-8 people TOPS between the 2 tables inside and a couple people at the register,in the whole place. I go to the front, the woman asks if we need a table, I said yes and we would like to sit on the patio. She tells me it's going to be 15-20min. I let her know there's nobody currently on the patio and tables are open. She tells me that not for a wait, that's how long it will take TO CLEAR A TABLE--15-20min to clear and reset a single booth on the patio. Keep in mind, places like Guapos down the way, that are packed to the brim, have 25min wait if you Specifically want patio seating but that's because it's literally full and the inside has a 10-15min wait because it too, is literally full but here we are, in a place that was probably busy 40+ minutes ago, now with just over a half dozen humans in the building, tell me it's gonna take 15+ minutes to walk over with a bus tub, throw everything in, wipe a table and wipe the seats...on a party of 2. I had even offered to clear my own table (hell, I'd have cleared one for the other couple, too) and was told "it's necessary to wait 15-20min" I glance over at the waiting area and there's a single 2 top who I assume was also just told the same thing and they look to be debating on just leaving. We start debating on leaving. I watch the host go back to standing at the podium, no guests in line, she's not getting anyone to clear anything and again, that's abundantly clear that nobody has been clearing tables for at least 30+ minutes, she's not personally going to start helping clear which is standard in restaurants when there's no rush at the door. We decide this is a sh*t show and leave. This is also right up there with 2x I've ordered for pickup, waited the 30-60min, come to pick it up and not a single aspect of the order was done....why?....im told "we ran out of chicken"--no call to see about changing the order or cancelling, nothing. We enjoy nandos food. That isn't the issue at all. The service has gone WAY downhill over the past few years. As someone in the industry,currently in a 1Star fine dining venue in DC, and someone attempting to be a patron, it's disgusting to have a sea of tables left sitting for what is very clearly long periods of time. It's ridiculous that it would take anyone 15+ minutes to clear people's trash and wipe/reset a single table--that wouldn't be acceptable if it was slammed to the gills, so for the place to be empty as it was, it's either incompetence, laziness, lack of leadership leader or any/all of the 3. Extremely unimpressed and further reinforcing why I had avoided nandos since the 2 prior times, my orders were left for me to discover....a chicken place....had no chicken and let me come in at my pickup time to discover I have no food. Last night was my "give another shot" moment. I have literally overseen A "charity diner" comepltely run by kids 12-15 and with 30minutes training and the fact they've been out to eat with their parents, managed to run the diner for ~80 cover without a hiccup at the host stand or the entire FOH and BOH. So why grown people in nandos struggle with this, is perplexing. I think places get way too comfortable resting on their name recognition and in trade, throw anything resembling service out the window. I expect that from monopolistic mega-corporations and banks not a restaurant. The economy is bad, times are weird, people are choosing how to spend their finite time and dollars--if you can't clear the most basic bar that anyone from French Laundry to Waffle House or the random roadside diner all clear, you are failing and need to do better.

Disappointed. It was peak dinner time, around 7pm. They were completely out of whole chickens. They…read more had a very limited selection of menu items left (we were only able to order wings which were the smallest wings I'd ever seen). Additionally, over half of the sides were unavailable- with the only ones available being the heavy carbs - mashed potatoes, bread, Mac and cheese, and fries. This is not ideal for customers with either dietary restrictions or those trying to eat healthier vegetable sides. For the number of people in our party, the table we were seated at was way too small to the point that we had to share plates because they don't all fit on the table.

I came here one day with some friends. I was from out of town and visiting them for a few days. I…read moredid some research, and this place kept on coming up as one of the best spots in town. I don't have a lot of African experience, so I was instantly intrigued. After a morning of exploring the Prince William Forest, we came here for a good lunch. As a guy who's not well versed in the cuisine, I asked for advice, and I was lead in the right direction. I can't seem to find the exact menu item, but I know it the main focal point was that jollof rice. Man, the flavors in that rice were very new to me, and very delicious. Lots of good heat, but not spicy at all. You gotta try it. Also on my place was some sort of meat, some sort of delicious fish on the bone, a nice hard boiled egg, and some sweet plantains. Along with a small salad. Good meat, good sauce. Love eating meat off the bone, adds so much good flavor. Just a really nice meal. I also got some Sweet Plantain Balls (Caclo) as an app. These things were amazing! I usually don't like plantains, But these were very soft, coated in a tangy, umami powder, again a new thing for me. Overall, I very much enjoyed this place. If you're ever in Dumfries, VA, I would highly recommend you stop by, as this was the best food I had the whole time I was in town!

Pros: Love the increasing prevalence of African food in the…read moremainstream. So many new dishes and flavors to try. Because of all the new dishes I don't know about, the guy at the counter was very helpful in making recommendations. The bang for your buck is unreal. Huge app of Kelewele for only $9, very good value, and makes trying the rest of the menu very inviting. The ambiance was warm and inviting and the plaza that the shop is in is very easy to enter. Cons: Can't think of a single con. Tips: Jollof Rice and Stew, and Nii Nii Special. Trust me.