The Continent DC

Review summary

1. W

   Whitney

   Washington DC

   24 reviews

   3.0

   24 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 2

   The restaurant bills itself as a ‘upscale luxury dining experience’, however we did not have that experience. The welcome from the host station was underwhelming and the entrance door slams closed behind diners when entering the restaurant. The inside is reminiscent of a bar/club/restaurant all in one. It did not feel like we’d entered an upscale luxury dining establishment. After being seated, our server came by to review the menu with us. He was nice, but forgot several items after being reminded few times. The bottle of sparkling water was brought to the table and left there…unopened, and without a proper drying glass. I asked for lime twice and was finally brought lemon slices with a side of fresh basil. The food was very good, but waaaaaaaaay over priced. The three oxtails I had along with jollof rice and plantains was tasty, though a bit overcooked and not a lot of meat on the bones for $45 was a ripoff. The overall dining experience was no where near the advertised, ‘An Unforgettable dining experience: culinary artistry redefined Discover an exquisite fusion of flavors and unparalleled elegance at The Continent DC. Elevate your dining experience with our meticulously curated menu, showcasing the finest ingredients from local and global markets. Prepare to embark on a memorable journey of culinary artistry.’ missed the mark for us. They should train staff in the ways of fine dining if they’re going to advertise the restaurant as such.
   

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2. M

   MS

   Washington DC

   6 reviews

   5.0

   6 reviews

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 5

   Overall the space is quite lovely, beautifully done, good lighting, the most comfiest dining chairs I’ve sat in a while and good seating arrangements. It was Christmas Day and actually busier then I thought it would be but will also give a pass on the service sake of. It wasn’t the best but certainly not the worse, she was seriously multitasking (mindingthe bar) Overall the food was good but lacked the spice that usually comes with native food (I was disappointed in that) it could have come out hotter but the flavors were good. Creamed spinach (no flavor, didn’t like) Jollof rice - Smokey and flavorful but a littler underdone. Continent seasoned wings - yummy and done well Whole snapper - yummy, lightly seasoned, cooked well. The side pepper sauce was mild I’d rather it been spicy (next time I’ll ask if available) Chicken stew - could taste the tomato paste base but was okay. Chicken itself was ok but not very meaty and little hard (I know traditionally many like it as such) Oxtails - it’s like 3-4 large pieces, tender and flavorful Lamb chops - tender and tasty Caesar salad - crisp Suya - tender, flavorful the side pepper is really spicy (does contain peanuts in the spice) French fries - fresh, crisp and the seasoning was really good Plantain - ripe and done well I do feel some items were overpriced but it was well worth the trip and we will definitely be back soon!!
   

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3. C

   Cynthia

   Washington DC

   5 reviews

   4.0

   5 reviews

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 5

   Wish I could give 4.5 stars for overall experience and food. I agree with many of the reviewers who mentioned the slow service. So we set the bar for that and ordered immediately and asked for our drinks and apps to come out first. Luckily our server did his best. The food is tasty. The red snapper was amazing. My husband ordered the red stewed chicken while the sauce was good, the chicken was scraps. (Wing, neckbone?) what restaurant serves neck bones? My husband is not one to send things back. But that should be unacceptable. Two suggestions:They need to hire more servers and the feast dish is $250 for a whole lot of meat and then the seafood up charge is in excess of $70. How about a plant based or pescatarian feast? We’ll be returning with friends and family, but won’t be ordering the red stewed chicken.
   

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4. I

   Isatu

   Washington DC

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 5

   The food was delicious! I loved the decor and ambiance. Service has to be continuously worked on because I find that it is difficult for African Americans to serve others, especially when they have to serve a predominantly Black population. With tip already included, there is no incentive for them to provide exceptional service. Owners should consistently remind them to treat the business as if it were their own.
   

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5. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Washington DC

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 5 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Amazing experience, highly recommend this restaurant. The food was exceptional and the service was attentive, polite and accurate.
   

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6. D

   Dani

   Baltimore

   3 reviews

   4.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on December 19, 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Service, ambiance and drinks were great. Food was tasty but oxtails weren't meaty and veggies were just okay. I would try again especially on a night with live music.
   

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7. L

   Laquita

   Washington DC

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 19, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Quality Service . Our waiter was Excellent she took her time and explained the menu as this was my first time experiencing African Cuisine. Food was Bomb! Drinks were 10 out of 10 Atmosphere was Amazing, very grown and sexy.
   

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8. t

   tahlee

   VIP

   Chicago

   9 reviews

   5.0

   9 reviews

   Dined on December 18, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Food is superb and authentic African cuisine. Staff was wonderful. The ambience is a vibe. Keep it up.
   

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9. D

   Donna

   Washington DC

   6 reviews

   5.0

   6 reviews

   Dined on December 14, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 5

   The food, atmosphere, drinks were amazing. The section of food was priceless. My Fine Dining Group order just about everything on the menu and the food was EPIC along with the cocktails. They need to hire more servers for the customers and for the bar especially for the weekend.
   

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10. A

    Aima

    VIP

    Washington DC

    8 reviews

    4.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on December 14, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 5

    The food here is absolutely amazing! Bronzino was well seasoned and tasty. As we’re the lamb chops and shrimp samosa. The red stew chicken was a little dry but tasty. Server was very nice and knowledgeable but the food was very slow to come out and delayed. The server was overwhelmed with managing the bar as well as tables.
    

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