Dōgon DC Restaurant Review (2025)
Dōgon came highly recommended on TikTok, especially from other Black women. After finally going, I get the hype. Located inside the Salamander Washington DC Hotel, this is one of those spots where everything feels like an experience.
The restaurant serves vibrant, beautifully plated dishes rooted in Afro-Caribbean cuisine, shaped by Chef Kwame Onwuachi’s Nigerian, Jamaican, Trinidadian, and Creole heritage. The cultural mix really comes through in each dish, but more on that in a second.
Dōgon is about a 15-minute walk from the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, which makes it a convenient dinner option if you're exploring the Tidal Basin area. Just a heads-up if you’re walking from that direction: the GPS will take you to the back of the hotel, but you’ll need to enter through the hotel’s main entrance in the front. Be sure to walk around the building to get to the front instead of trying to open the back doors (like us!)
Does Dōgon require reservations?
They’re not required, but HIGHLY recommended because you probably won’t be able to get a seat without one, especially on a busy night. Reservations open about a month in advance on Resy and fill up quickly. I booked mine the day they became available, and within 24 hours, Friday night was fully booked. Whether it’s your first visit or a return trip, this is one of those fine dining DC restaurants where booking early makes all the difference.
Bottom line: Make a reservation, and make it as soon as you can.
What is the ambiance like at Dōgon?
If you’re looking for a date night restaurant in DC, this one sets the mood. It’s dimly lit and stylish, with a lively weekend crowd and a soundtrack of 90s and contemporary R&B playing at full volume, so it’s not the kind of place for quiet conversation. However, I’d say it’s also a great spot for birthdays and any other special occasion. I actually went on my birthday, as did the table next to ours.
Is there a dress code at Dōgon?
There’s no explicitly stated dress code at Dōgon. The vibe leans toward dressy or cocktail lounge attire, but I saw plenty of people wearing shirts and jeans. I myself wore a plain summer maxi dress and felt right at home. Like I mentioned before, a lot of people come here for birthday dinners and date nights, so you will see some folks dressed to the nines, but others will look much more casual.
How was the service at Dōgon?
The service was great! Our server was very friendly and attentive, and even bonded with my mom and I over how much we love our new Meta Glasses.
The food also came out within reasonable time frames. When you order food at Dōgon, you order everything at once, including your bread, small plates, and large plates. Our server also explained that most people order bread with two small plates and one large plate. But I’ve also seen plenty of people order a whole bunch of items.
If you want to order more food, you’re more than welcome any time. After you do the mass initial order, the servers will slowly bring out each dish, staggering the arrival of the items so that you don’t get everything all at once.
This setup works especially well at a restaurant like Dōgon, where each dish feels intentional and thought-out. It’s also a welcome contrast to the typical rush you get at some popular DC restaurants.
What we ordered at Dōgon:
Drinks
Cocktail: The Astronomer (2x)
Chardonnay: Diatom by Greg Brewer (2x)
Appetizer: Corn bread with malted sorghum butter
Small Plate: Hoe Crab
Large Plate: Curry Bronzino
Dessert: Rum Cake
There wasn’t a single dish or drink I had that I didn’t like. The Curry Bronzino was full of flavor—rich, savory, and unlike anything I’ve had before. The Hoe Crab, paired with plantain cake and aji verde sauce, was another standout. You could definitely taste the mix of cultural cuisines and it all blended beautifully together.
Rum cake dessert
But I have to say, by far my favorite dish was the dessert—I still think about that rum cake months later and would return to Dōgon solely for that. I’ll admit, I’ve never had rum cake before, but it was as good an introduction as it gets.
Other dishes I see a lot of people order that I’d love to try next time include the Coco Bread and the Charbroiled Oysters. Both seem to be Dogon DC menu favorites, especially among repeat diners.
What we spent at Dōgon:
With drinks, dinner, and a 20% tip, the total came to $300 for two people. At many DC restaurants, the tip is included as a service charge, but at Dōgon, just be mindful that you’ll need to add the tip separately.
Overall, I’d say the price was fair for a fine dining restaurant in Washington DC.
Is Dogōn restaurant in DC worth it?
Yes, Dōgon is worth visiting! Between the location, the ambiance, and the depth of flavor in every dish, it’s easy to see why this has become one of the most talked-about Afro-Caribbean restaurants in DC.
I’d go back in a heartbeat. Hopefully, to try some new dishes (and for sure to have that rum cake again)!
