“ This restaurant is located inside of the Salamander hotel. Everything was amazing! The service was top tier. I loved how all of the staff were very attentive. The manager on duty came around to everyone’s table to ensure we were satisfied with everything, she was super personable. We laughed and had a great lil conversation. I never heard of this place until my friend invited me months prior to going. Apparently since it’s a new and most talked about place, the reservations are backed up. Every thing we ordered was shareable and the drinks were good. This is the first time, in a very long time where I was satisfied with the FOOD (first), service and atmosphere in that order with the DC restaurant scene. Nowadays the aesthetics seems to be all that matters smh and the food almost always suck and the experience be very costly. I would absolutely go again. Oh! And the playlist was right on point, nice vibe. My college girlfriends and I had a good ole time catching up. My review dates back to January 2 so the reservations might not be as backed up as they were. ”

“ Our party of 2 had an incredible time. We happily sat at the counter with Sarah and her service was exceptional! She had some great advice for us about the menu and was extremely attentive. We shared several small plates and bread and loved the oysters so much that we got a second order of them. Michael was also great at discussing wines with us and the list is very approachable with several excellent values. It's great to be able to order unique and good wines that don't break the bank. All in all it was a wonderful evening. Kwame was there overseeing the entire operation. The only thing you should be aware of is that the music is a bit loud so consider this a great place for a fun night more than a romantic one. ”

“ Incredible from start to finish. I can’t thank the Staff enough for their welcoming spirit and friendliness. The Atmosphere was eclectic along with the clientele. It was a Beautiful establishment with a great vibe. Now to the Food offerings. OMG! EVERYTHING was filled with flavor and complimentary spices. This was one of the BEST DINING EXPERIENCES we have had. EVER! I commend Chef Kwame for his Vision and courage to follow his dreams. We are simply humble recipients. Our server Daniel was knowledgeable and recommended some incredible dishes, along with a few surprises. I can’t say enough about DOGON, so I’ll leave you with the photos. ”

“ I don’t understand why it’s so easy to get a reservation here, but I’m happy it is! The location is off the beaten path but only a few easy blocks from the Smithsonian metro. The food was great but the experience really went up a notch because of our amazing server, Lumi. We were very indecisive because everything sounded good and he helped guide us based on the handful of things we really wanted to try. We tried a couple of the seasonal cocktails to start...the Yoshino Blossom was great, the Foggy Blossom wasn’t my favorite but that’s my fault because I don’t love cherry flavored things and it very clearly is cherry flavored. For the food, the Corn Bread was so good and light, comes with two pieces and it was so good I wish there were more! Next up we got the Peri Peri salad at the recommendation of the ladies at the table next to us and they didn’t steer us wrong. There are so many ingredients but they all work so well. The best was getting a bite of everything together. Very light and refreshing. We also got the Hoe Crab and when I say I would come back for this a million times I’m not kidding. It’s SO GOOD. My only wish was that I had more. It’s a bit spicy but that’s my jam so it is highly recommended. For the main course we did the Branzino and the side of BBQ Greens which paired really well together. The sauce with the Branzino was a highlight for sure. The greens do have beef bacon but they can make a vegan version if needed. Last up, we got the rum cake. Now we were getting pretty full at this point but holy crap it was amazing. So light and fluffy, not dense like I expected and perfectly flavored! ”

“ If you are in the Washington DC area and you desire a fabulous meal consider Dogon by Kwame Onwauchi. Located inside the Salamander Hotel, everything about the location, the restaurant and the menu says superior. Sis and I decided that my vacation to visit her this year would be a time to splurge on ourselves with often desired culinary experiences. We’ve been following Kwame’s career for a while, but this was our first opportunity to experience his culinary genius. And genius it is! We started our meal with small plates to share and we ordered Coco Bread that was served with a sorghum butter. I forgot to ask what kind of flour the buns were made with, but I’m certain it wasn’t wheat,at least not only wheat. Since we like a little spice in our food we decided to also order the Peppa Sauce condiment. It was spicy hot, but we have trained tongues. With that we had Ben’s Bowl which was a shredded lamb patty, glazed with a tamarind sauce atop a chickpea curry. The square patty was lightly breaded and fried crisp, but the lamb was well seasoned, tender and succulent. My taste buds stood at attention immediately! We Also ordered Hoe Crab, which was crabmeat sauteed with herbs and spices that are probably native to the West African cuisine, but unrecognizable by me. It was served with small hoe cakes to pile the crab atop and drizzle with an Aji Verde sauce that came along side. Crispy, tender with the sweet taste of the sea that comes from fresh seafood. Better than good! But the knock out dish for me was the BBQ greens. If you go there and you don’t order anything else, order the (collard) greens. They were melt-in-your-mouth tender in a beefy BBQ broth that contained strips of beef bacon, roasted garlic and capellini onions. I’ve had good greens in my life, (as a matter of fact, sis and I cook really good greens) but I’ve tasted nothing that compares to these. We ordered two large plates that there was no way we could eat so we had them packed to go. Tomorrow for lunch we will have the Branzino with the Callaloo, crispy zucchini and Coconut muscle curry that accompanies it. Along with that we will have the Berbere Roasted Chicken and Jollof Rice that we also ordered. Once we’ve dined on them I will update this review. Sometimes there are things that just can’t wait and I wanted you to have this review just in case you are nearby and can make a reservation for this unique experience before you have to leave town. But, be forewarned, this is not an experience for the budget conscious. Be prepared to treat yourself and know that your wallet will be a bit lighter when you leave. But the experience will be well worth it. Bon Appetit! Part2 - Unfortunately, we had to reheat our mains the next day when we had them for lunch. The integrity was still there for the chicken. The fish suffered a little from the second process, but nothing destroyed the flavor of either. The berbere marinade on the chicken was heavy and ultra flavorful. I’m certain the marinade and low heat owed to the fact that the chicken remained moist and flavorful. The only thing that really did not translate well for the fish was the skin. The flesh was still flaky and moist and the muscle curry sauce made up for the lack of skin. Fabulous! The zucchini strips were no longer crispy, but the coating was mellow with the flavor of coconut (was that flour) and the vegetables were tender. The peas and rice accompaniment tasted as if cooked in coconut milk with a small amount of dessicated coconut added for texture. I’m only guessing here, but that’s what it tasted like to me. I cannot say enough, do not pass up on this experience if you can fit it into your budget. You will not be disappointed. ”

“ Was able to book a last minute reservation here and was pleasantly pleased. From the food to the service, everything was great! The food comes out on a rolling basis so you’re never not eating. Our waitress recommended two small plates and two large plates, which was the perfect amount of food for 2 people. We had the coco bread, charbroiled oysters, hoe crab, mom dukes shrimp, and the branzino. Everything was so delicious. For dessert we tried the rum cake which was the icing on the cake, it was sooooo good. Will definitely be back! ”

“ Imaginative. Inventive. Tasty. Exceptional. So excited to have had the immense opportunity to dine at Chef Kwame’s DC offering, Dogon. The coco bread should not be missed. We also really enjoyed the hoe crab and hoecakes. And the BBQ’d greens are pretty as a picture and Instagram worthy. We opted for the chicken and jollof rice and it was so delicious, I wanted to eat it with my hands. Exquisite food and a bumping’ playlist that keeps the music loud and the vibe hopping, Dogon is definitely worthy of a visit. ”

“ This beautiful restaurant sits in the Salamander Hotel. The space inside is lovely and has the perfect ambiance for date night, a special celebration, or just because. There is limited street parking, valet service, or a parking garage around the corner that closes at 11. We had a reservation for a Wednesday evening but still had to wait 30 minutes for our table. The weird thing is that you have to wait in the hotel lobby but they dont call your name or text you when the table is ready -we went inside to ask about our table after 30 minutes and the hosts simply were like oh your table was ready 10 minutes ago -how are we supposed to know?! That part aside, everything else was flawless. Our server was very knowledgeable and attentive and walked us through their menu. Everything we got was absolutely delicious. I highly recommend ordering the pepper on side the side as garnish for all your courses -but be warned, it's very spicy! Overall, wonderful experience and I'm happy this place is getting the accolades they deserve! ”