Swahili Village - The Consulate DC Washington Yelp Reviews - Swahili Village - The Consulate DC Washington - Buy Reservations
Getting a Reservation at Swahili Village - The Consulate DC Washington for Today or Tomorrow is Easy!
Buy a verified reservation at Swahili Village - The Consulate DC Washington from someone who doesn't need theirs anymore.
If there is nothing that fits your schedule, you can bid on your preferred time.
We only list verified Reservations!
All listed Reservations are reviewed by our team before appearing in the calendar or being allowed to answer a bid you place. That's why AppointmentTrader comes with a included Money Back Guarantee for each transaction.
Washington's Best Restaurants that are most frequently booked by customers of Swahili Village - The Consulate DC Washington
Swahili Village - The Consulate DC Washington Yelp Reviews
Latest Reviews On Yelp
35 Reviews
0 Replys |
Went to Swahili Village last night with my girls.
Beautiful ambiance. Music was on point. You should go if you like African food, but even if you dont...the salmon dinner was on point.Collard greens were not. Lol Salmon, flatbread, and plantains were a great meal...flavor and portions were on point. Now...dinner was pretty pricey. The drinks tasted good, but were juicey juices. Lol not strong at all. I still give 5 stars because the music was nice, service was perfect, and I'm definitely going back.
Be the first to ReplyAs the kids say, the food is b*ssin'.
Amazing introduction to Swahili cuisine. My friend and I shared their Swahili basket appetiser with one samosa, one Kenyan sausage, and 4 fried potato slices with a sweet chili sauce. Kenyan sausage had great quality meat, but it was very mild. It's probably better for breakfast. The potatoes were like an elevated hash brown or home fries. It was nicely seasoned with turmeric and other spices but it was not too special. However that samosa was banging.So juicy and filled with tender ground beef, spices, and onions. 10/10. Best samosas in the area. For the mains, we ordered lamb chops with collard greens and plantains and a beef stew with corn fufu and kachumbari (similar to a Greek tomato salad or an Ethiopian timatim tomato salad).Every main course was out of this world. Very flavourful, perfectly cooked, and balanced seasoning. My one gripe is that the kachumbari was supposed to come with fresh habanero but I did not see one slice and I LOVE spicy food. However service was fast and overall the food was an amazing experience . I will say their fufu was different than expected. I've seen cooking videos of Nigerian fufu made of cassava root, which looks stickier, like mochi. However this fufu was a tad drier, more like a bao consistency. I was told that there are two types of cassava root, so maybe Swahili Village uses the starchier version rather than the root, squishy version? Regardless, the fufu went well with the beef stew and could soak up all the goodness. For drinks, we got the tropical splash (black rum, maraschino cherry, mango purée) and a flaming margarita. The drinks were not too sweet and just had the right amount of booze. Perfect with the meal. Service was decent, and they do automatically charge 20%, so you don't need to tip further unless you want to. Ambiance wise, very beautiful restaurant with a mix of interesting decor/architecture and colourful paintings. A very modern take on African culture.I can't wait to come back for more stew and fufu, along with samosa. Don't sleep on this place. Too amazing!
Be the first to Replyi wish i could give this place zero stars! my friends and i
i wish i could give this place zero stars! my friends and i were regulars, but about a week ago we grabbed some food and the experience was rushed. we were not given a second to breath or finish our food or drink(alcoholic) we were told to leave because there was other people waiting for seats. there was about three other parties that came after us and the same message was not told to them. we have have literally spent thousands of dollars overtime and we feel we were kicked out because we were undesirable and not fitting to the "vibe" the manger came to speak to us and him and the waitress giggled to each other... we will never be back!!!! and am very dissatisfied in there lack there of humility and humbleness!!
Be the first to ReplyBad service and food.
Waited 2hrs for to go order and then the manager charged me full price with 20% tip. I asked to have the server remove from bill.
Be the first to ReplyNice, authentic and truly a Kenyan experience! It helped
Nice, authentic and truly a Kenyan experience! It helped that I dined with a native who could guide me on the typical and most popular dishes. It was worth a visit. Weekdays are not as busy.
Be the first to ReplyThe food is really good.
It's definitely around $50/person including tax and tip. There's a mandatory 20% tip which is good because the staff deserve it. Grace served us, and she was a breath of fresh air as a waiter. She gave us genuine recommendations. We ordered the flaming margarita which showed up on fire. You have to make a wish and then flip the flaming lemon over.Every entree comes with 2 sides of your choice.We ordered the curry chicken kuku curry which was amazing. For the sides, I recommend the jollof rice and the flatbread. The flatbread reminded me of chewy roti. We also ordered the suya nyama choma (beef cubes) which was also well cooked. The sides we go were spinach and fufu. If you've never had fufu, it's worth trying, but I will probably pass on the fufu in the future.
Be the first to ReplyCame here for my sister's birthday, and it's 10/10 for us.
The food here is amazing and unique. African food is just so good. We all got different items that tasted amazingly delicious. Stands out were the tilapia and lamb chops. YUM! I also like the drinks, especially flaming margarita. I love that they are not stingy with portion sizes here. You definitely get your money's worth.Now as for the jollof rice, we all know who got the best jollof theirs wasn't too bad though. Good try!
Be the first to ReplyCulture, creativity, and pure fun! Those are the 3 words to
Culture, creativity, and pure fun! Those are the 3 words to best express the experience that I had at Swahili Village. Let's take a trip down memory lane and hopefully I can convince you to book reservations for date night, girls night out, or simply a good time! First, this place isn't somewhere you would go at evenings to hear a serious conversation. The music and vibes calls for pure enjoyment and the only thing you'll end up talking about was how amazing the food was, how delicious the drinks were and how much fun you had!!!!!! So, with that in mind, is it first date material? SURE! If you wish to conduct a vibes check and see how the other person performs outside of normal settings lol Service: the service from the front door to our waiter-very good service!!!! Our waiter was excellent at explaining the menu and providing details on suggestions for meal pairings and even drink selections. I truly enjoyed that and sad that I can't remember his name. We visit for my pre-birthday dinner on March 4th so hopefully the manager reading this can credit the amazing waiter who served a large party (after 8pm) in the private room area. HE WAS AMAZING! 10/10 for his service. Drinks: Honey, listen to me well...lean in...no, seriously, lean in! You do NOT want to select any drinks if you aren't ready for a good time! These drinks are very generous with alcohol servings and it is guaranteed to leave you smiling from ear to ear. Pictured here: the flaming margarita (passion fruit) This drink contained real passion fruit juice along with liquor (I believe it was tequila) Nonetheless, the drink was amazing and my entire party can attest to each of them raving about their drinks.Appetizers: I started with samosas, paired with a side of chili sauce. This was the BEST selection to make. The samosas were wrapped in a buttery soft pastry which had just the right balance of flakiness and flavor. Inside the samosas were a delicious and well seasoned ground beef goodness lol and everything I needed to know that any other dinner selection was going to be flavorful. 10/10 for this amazing appetizer! Add it to your pick! Food: Hear me when I say this "NONE of my party complained about their food" everyone, from my vegetarian friends to the meat lovers, absolutely enjoyed their food selections and all raved about the variation and perfect balance of flavor. It is also safe to say that the portions are huge! So you can possibly enjoy some as leftovers. My selection, the red snapper, was a perfect choice! Served with Jollof rice and plantains, this whole red snapper was covered in a medley of vegetables and topped with a red stew of some sort. 20/20 for the taste this dish brought to my mouth and the satisfaction it gave to my tummy. I was thoroughly pleased from start to finish! This was SO goooooooood!!!!!!!! I can probably go on and on about how amazing this place is and how urgently you need to book. But let me add this, for the quantity and quality, it is worth paying the prices associated with each selection. The price per person may vary in amounts of $60 and up (if considering your selections) the entrees were around $30 and up...but hey, that's the cost of some dining. Would I visit again? ABSOLUTELY! I'm probably going to visit soooooon. Thank you, Swahili Village, for making my birthday enjoyable and keeping my tummy-pleased!
Be the first to ReplyTraveling for work and eating in places like this, make me
Traveling for work and eating in places like this, make me jealous. I wish we had a Swahili Village in Memphis. I walked in not knowing what to expect. We went downstairs to the basement and it is just beautiful in there. It's a very upscale restaurant. Our server was extremely nice and was able to explain the menu very well. I'm the type of person that loves good descriptions that can help me to make a decision. Both my friends ordered the snapper and I ordered the goat. No one at the table had a complaint. EVERYONE should experience this place. I'm definitely going back every time I visit DC.
Be the first to ReplyVday at Swahili village was .
Everything about it was excellent. The atmosphere and the vibes were A1. And the food was the best part. Everything was delicious. We had the suya, the goat , wings , jollof rice, spinach and plantains.
Be the first to ReplyThis is my second time at Swahili Village and they get it
This is my second time at Swahili Village and they get it right every time. The service is phenomenal. The manager, Ada, made it a point to check in on us and make sure everything was going well. My only complaint is that my goat was a bit on the fatty side, but it's goat, you kinda have to take it how you get it. I definitely enjoyed every thing and know I'll be back again and again and again.
Be the first to ReplyNice little restraunt.
I had the red beans, spinach, and riice. The rice was excellent. The spinach was flavorful. I had high expectations for the red beans and it fell just a bit short of my expectations. Overall I'm still happy with the food. I'll be back again to try more.
Be the first to ReplyWe loved Swahili Village! We walked by this business about
We loved Swahili Village! We walked by this business about 100 times and were always saying how we need to try it out. We had never had Kenyan food and were excited to have something new. The inside of the restaurant is very spacious. They have bumpin' music and a lively atmosphere. The waiters are well-dressed. This was all serving upscale vibes. The menu is like a giant leather-bound book. The prices on the menu shocked us a little. Even by DC standards, this place is expensive. Drinks: Expensive!! If I am going to pay $18 for a cocktail, it needs to be top notch. The mango mojito was good but nothing special. The Tropic Infusion rainbow drink was so pretty but so strong that it was hard to drink. The Tusker Lager was very light and watery. The waiter kept the waters full, so that was nice. Food: Amazing!! We loved everything we tried. We had the Swahili basket to sample the appetizers. The bhajia was my favorite. The food is also expensive but at least the portions are huge and the food is delicious. I had the Kuku Curry chicken dish with coconut creamed spinach and mokimo (potato and pea mash) for sides. I loved everything about my order. The flavors were great. The food was savory and rich. My fiancé ordered the Goat Stew (Mbuzi Mchuzi). He thought it was good but was lacking enough meat. He said there were a lot of bones. I tried it and thought the flavor was great. He also enjoyed the corn Fufu and the Jollof rice. Overall we had a great time. The food was wonderful. We loved the atmosphere. We felt the prices were high. But we will be back!Please note: 20% gratuity is already included on your check.
Be the first to ReplyLOVE SWAHILI VILLAGE .
. great food and family vibe BUT but I think Covid has changed things. Food 5/5 Food is still amazing! SERVICE 3/5Could be an off night but it took 40 mins for a togo order ( samaki ku nazi) and they weren't crowded. I sat at bar and got a tusker and when the bill came they charged 20% on the entire order. I understand 20% to help servers during Covid but the service has to match. And the 20% shouldn't be included togo orders. Luckily the manager took off 20% due to long wait. PRICES 2/5 Over priced -Tusker beer is $9 . .. a case is $15 in store- samaki ku nazi $35 PRE COVID 5/5 POST COVID 3/5Overall great food and chill vibe but prices and service has to improve.
Be the first to ReplyFirst time going there and I had an amazing experience!!
First time going there and I had an amazing experience!! The ambience was great, food was amazing and the service; top notch! our server Mubanga did such a great job in making us feel at home and recommending great options- definitely ask for him when you visit, 10/10 would recommend :)
Be the first to ReplyFood was delicious (red snapper, cabbage, plantains, jollof
Food was delicious (red snapper, cabbage, plantains, jollof rice, mango moose all exceptional!). Wait staff awesome and super friendly. Cant wait to return
Be the first to ReplyI've just now exploring with African food and this place
I've just now exploring with African food and this place has made me more interested in trying more African food. It was delicious and I loved the ambience
Be the first to ReplyThis place was awesome, good drinks and the food was
This place was awesome, good drinks and the food was delicious! Super big portions unfortunately my sisters drink wasn't as good and she had it remade and it tasted the same. How disappointing! Loved the pepper sauce, I ordered the deep fried tilapia with coconut sauce, plantains and jollof rice. Can't wait to go back
Be the first to ReplyWhere to begin? For starters, they tried to pass off lamb
Where to begin? For starters, they tried to pass off lamb as goat. Newsflash- mbuzi choma is not the same as lamb choma. The deception did not end there. The sausages taste like they have more filler than they do meat. The samosas are flat in taste. I expected a hint of spices but alas, there was none! Don't even get me started on the bhajia which was missing a key ingredient, a masala of sorts to add some flavor. The chapatis were nice though. As was the kachumbari. On to the tea. The tea masala blend is heavy on the cloves and light on everything else, leaving you with a bitter aftertaste. As for the maandazi? Can we even call them that? Those round deepfried balls tastes nothing like the maandazis I grew up with. To quote Aretha Franklin, this place is "beautiful gowns". Nice looking but not much substance and nothing is as advertised. If you don't have goat, then say that!! I've been told that they've also tried passing off tilapia as red snapper at their New Jersey location. I will say though, our waiter was amazing and gave A+++ service.I will not be back any time soon.
Be the first to ReplyService good.
Went for lunch. Mbouzi bites, homeland, samosas, collard greens, sukuma, chapati, fraied sweet plantains, ugali. Food hot. Spicey. Will revisit.
Be the first to ReplyThe food is on point! I love the grilled goat with jollof
The food is on point! I love the grilled goat with jollof rice. If you have room for dessert, the mango cake is also delicious!
Be the first to ReplyFirst time here after I've seen many of my associates
First time here after I've seen many of my associates posting about it on Instagram. I decided to go out of my comfort zone and try goat for the first time and it was delicious. It was a bit salty though. 4/5We also tried the flaming margaritas which were delicious and reasonably priced. 5/5The decor and music was very nice. We also loved the fact they had outlets near the tables. 5/5Our waitress could have been a bit more attentive. Water should be given as soon as you're seated. We asked her for water more than once and didn't get it until 30 minutes after being seated. Her service did get better towards the end. 4/5The manager was also very friendly. We told him we had been waiting for our starters for a long time and he apologized and comped them for us. 5/5I'd definitely go back though. We visited on a Monday in the early afternoon. I want to come back when they have DJ's and it is a bit more crowded to get the true experience.
Be the first to ReplyI've been going to Swahili Village for years (usually the
I've been going to Swahili Village for years (usually the Beltsville location) but this is my second visit to The Consulate DC location and I continue to be impressed. The food, drinks, and vibes never disappoint. Our server, Bable, kindly went through the menu with my friend who had never visited and was attentive throughout. I usually order a beef or goat dish but this was my first time ordering the salmon. It was perfect! The plantains are always cooked to perfection...ALWAYS. I also ordered the Tropic Infusion, which was great. While I opted not to get appetizers this time, you can't go wrong with the samosas and wings (my usual go to). This restaurant is the perfect choice for anyone looking for amazing food, good service, and chill vibes ^_^!
Be the first to ReplyI first discovered this place by accident in Baltimore! 6
I first discovered this place by accident in Baltimore! 6 years later, it's still my favorite East African-Kenyan Restaurant now in the heart of of the District(DC). Ramsey is just an amazing server! He and DJ Tee CEE made my 8 years Marriage Anniversary a memorable one! Let's go to the food and service! Excellent, delicious! Shout to hospitable, diverse staff! Keep rocking! Asante sana!
Be the first to ReplyA Kenyan friend requested this restaurant for his birthday.
Our group split a tray of appetizers (samosas, sausage, and bhajia). The samosas were excellent: crispy and hot, filled with seasoned beef. The other two appetizers were decent, but I probably wouldn't order them again. Our waiter was polite and generally helpful, but seemed new; he often fumbled some basic things like forgetting to bring us silverware with our food and not knowing the menu extremely well. We did have some other staff come check on us during the night, which was nice.We shared the group platter, which had some delicious grilled meats and sides and was enough for five guys. The grilled beef (nyama choma) was probably the star of the entrees. Well-seasoned and cooked. Some additional chapati would have been nice. Several of us had tea after dinner, which was milky and loaded with ginger and quite good. We sat outside, which some preferred because the weather was nice, but the music was so loud we had to shout to be heard, and it wasn't nearly as classy as the interior decor. Dinner and appetizers was approaching $55/person, which was a good bit more than I was expecting. I might return for a special occasion, but my experience wasn't five stars for that price point. It definitely had an authentic Kenyan vibe (I'm told), delicious food, and a dance party feel.
Be the first to Reply