KitchenCray - Alexandria

Permanently Closed

KitchenCray - Alexandria

Permanently Closed

Modern soul food with Caribbean & Southern influences

Information

6909 Metro Park Dr Suite 150, Alexandria, VA 22310 Get directions

@eater

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KitchenCray Brings Its Caribbean-Spiced Soul Food to Alexandria - Eater DC

"Caribbean-leaning soul food spot KitchenCray opened its first Virginia location over the weekend, taking over the former Walker’s Grille space at 6909 Metro Park Drive in Alexandria, Virginia. Chef James “JR” Robinson and business partner Sudon Williams have built a following at two other locations, the original in Lanham, Maryland, and an offshoot that opened on H Street NE last November. This year, KitchenCray also added two concession stands at FedEx Field, home of the Washington Football Team, where fans can snack on best-sellers like a crabcake BLT, mumbo wings, and lobster macaroni and cheese. In addition to crabcake or oxtail Benedicts, Northern Virginia customers will find new dishes exclusive to the latest location and an outdoor dining space that just got an upgrade with additional seating and a floral arrangement. Appetizers at KitchenCray’s new location include croquettes stuffed with lobster mac and cheese. Chunks of lobster, marinara sauce, and cheesy macaroni are coated in breading seasoned with paprika, cumin, garlic powder, and other Cajun spices before hitting the deep fryer for a couple of minutes. A $12 platter of fried frog legs tossed in a house made Thai chili sauce also join the ranks. Lobster also plays a starring role in an escovitch entree. In the popular Jamaican preparation, pickled vegetables sit atop a whole lobster placed on a bed of fried rice and beans with a side of garlic green beans. KitchenCray added a fried catfish and grits instead of shrimp and grits, and expanded its lineup of sandwiches to include a salmon BLT and chicken sandwich. Robinson brought along his popular banana pudding and a vanilla bundt cake that gets doused in a rum glaze and served with fruit and whipped cream. Claiming A-list fans such as Stevie Wonder, Wale, and Pusha T, KitchenCray expects to continue expanding. For now, Virginians can visit the latest installment from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday with an 8 p.m. closing on Friday. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m until midnight Sunday." - Vinciane Ngomsi

https://dc.eater.com/2021/10/13/22696020/kitchencray-soul-food-opening-alexandria-virginia

KitchenCray - Alexandria

Koely M.

Google

My husband and I visited Kitchen Kray for the first time this past Saturday. Let me tell you it was amazing. Service was amazing and everyone was very attentive. The music was great, there was even someone walking around taking pictures of your party. Now let me get to the food, 10/10. I got the catfish and garlic mashed potatoes. It was so good. The fish was not dry and cooked perfectly. It came had crab and shrimp as well. My husband ordered the shrimp and grits w/ sausage, also 10/10. I normally don’t like grits but these grits were amazing. Overall WONDERFUL first time experience. We will absolutely visit again.

Shymeia L.

Google

I dined here on Mother’s Day and it was my first time ever hearing about the restaurant and we were greeted and seated quickly. We sat outdoors and there was a Live DJ indoors that kept the vibe on point. Everything was delicious! I had the deviled eggs, hot honey shrimp, crab fries and the catfish and crab grits. The wait was a bit but that was to be expected on a holiday. Our waiter Jasmine was delightful and attentive. I’ll definitely be returning.

Nicole

Google

My friend was in town visiting and we decided to visit Alexandria for the day. I noticed kitchen kray in a video, and we made a reservation to visit. Upon entering the building, there's a spacious, shaded patio in the front. After being seated, I immediately ordered the deviled eggs with chicken drizzled with mambo sauce. I've never had mambo sauce before, but it was quite tangy. My friend ordered the chicken and French toast, and I decided on the lamb chops with mashed potatoes. Although all the food took a while to be delivered, everything was so delicious. The bar manager was also assisted as our server that day. Whenever we had an issue, he was sure to fix it in a timely manner. Before we left for the day, we were given complimentary tequila shots for completing a review. Overall, I'd return again when in the area.

Ranna G.

Google

My girl friends and I went to KitchenCray in Alexandria and it was literally some of the best Southern Cuisine!! They have a beautiful patio, live music events, and hookah available which is perfect for the beautiful summer nights. Our lovely server Jasmin was attentive and knew the menu well which is always appreciated. Our Recommendations: 🔥 Chicken & French Toast 🔥 Wings with Mumbo Sauce 🔥 Shrimp & Grits 🔥 Mumbo Shrimp 🔥 Blackened Salmon 🔥 Lamb Surf We will be back to try the hookah next time.

Curvaceous B.

Google

After a disappointing dining experience elsewhere, we were uplifted by Kitchen Cray's exceptional quality. We were warmly greeted by RON, who graciously accommodated us despite a fully booked reservation. The food and customer service truly excelled. Kudos to Ron. Love from Va Beach, Va

L. Hershyz W.

Google

This is a gem of a place worth stopping by and enjoying a good meal. First off the bartender was amazing and very knowledgeable of menu. I asked her to make me a drink with ciroc apple vodka and was amazing. We definitely will be back the fried catchfish with crab and cheddar grits where delicious and cooked to perfection. I sampled the blacked salmon with mashed potatoes and spinach. I definitely should have picked that dish as my main dish. It's not a big place but the staff was welcoming and the place is a vibe.

Faith

Google

Celebrated my birthday here with my friends. Ron is our server. He’s very welcoming and has excellent customer service. Made sure that our food came out good 💯 Food is amazing! And came on time. I got the surf and turf. Would go back to this location.

Kindrahh

Google

We went out for a quick bite to eat. The food came out quickly, it was hot and delicious. We had: Chicken devil eggs Shrimp devil eggs Lamb chops Cheeseburger Mac & Cheese It was a little pricey but definitely good, will most likely return.

Seven K B.

Yelp

best service we had we definitely enjoy our office lunch event here. i definitely want to thank Chef Rita for doing a amazing job on the food taking her time making sure everything was prefect. i also want to thank the Bartender Valentino for making the best drinks and bring great vibes to our table. 10/10 experience thank you sooo much

Burt W.

Yelp

Prompt and friendly service. The rum punch is FANTASTIC. The food, though, was touch and go. The fried shrimp were crispy outside and tender inside, and I enjoyed the mambo sauce in which they were served. The shrimp & grits, though, did not impress me. The grits were rigid, as opposed to creamy. And both the shrimp and sausage served atop the grits were quite overcooked.

Carla B.

Yelp

I visited this location for a birthday brunch. I've visited the Lanham location several times so I expected the food to be good and of the same quality. Now, the food I ate was good but I had other issues during my experience. I ordered the chicken and French toast with a side of crab grits. All was well until I found a long piece of hair in my plate. This was minutes after another guest found a piece of hair in their food. Needless to say, that was a turnoff. They did fix the issue and brought out a new plate of food. I would've preferred the money back though because I wasn't really interested in eating anything else after that. They also don't serve hot drinks like tea and coffee which we found off for a breakfast. The music was on point at first. It was mostly 90s and 2000s. After a while it switched to more recent music and the vibe of the brunch changed. The music wasn't edited so there was a lot of cussing. It didn't bother me but it was too much for the children and elders there. This restaurant has a lot of potential to be great but there's a lot of room for improvement.

Christi J.

Yelp

Went for a birthday brunch. The restaurant was extremely hot (and I'm anemic so I'm usually always cold). The servers were nice and punctual however there was poor communication when items were no longer in stock and our party didn't find out until their food came out. We got the sangria carafe and it was tasty! The dishes looked bland but at least the shrimp and grits tasted good. However the French toast deluxe consisted of precooked bacon that resembled the Beggin strips you give dogs as treats. The bathroom was even hotter than the dining room and there was no actual button to press the flush the toilet so you had to stick your finger in the wall and hope you didn't get electrocuted in the process. Not sure I would return to this location. Might try another location before I rule this restaurant out!

Kimber V.

Yelp

We came here for brunch. When we arrived there was plenty of parking. We were promptly seated, near the DJ, to the left of the entryway. The booth seating was dusty and the blinds near the window we sat next to were damaged. And the table was wobbly. Some additional cleaning, maintenance, and attention to detail is definitely needed. We ordered food and drinks. Everyone was satisfied with their food choices. We ordered lamb chops, the salmon (I replaced the crab cake with salmon) BLT, and the showtime omelette. When time came to pay our checks, things got tricky. Each check included an 18% gratuity and a credit card fee. I'm okay with these charges if informed in advance. I shared with the server that I wanted to pay in cash. She says I have to go ask. Huh? At any rate me and one other person in my party paid in cash. I gave the server $100 bill for a $38 check. When she looked at what I gave her, she then asked me if I wanted any change back. Really? Yes, I want my $62. The server walked away with our checks and cash only to return to say that they didn't have enough cash on hand to provide change to both of us. Huh? We asked to speak to the manager who took my friend's money and came back with cash change. She also shared that she is not sure why the server would tell us they didn't have change. Crazy. It seems some additional staff training is needed. I got cash from my friends to paid my bill in exact change minus the credit card fee. The food experience was amazing. The service was lackluster.

Krys W.

Yelp

Jordan is a GREAT bartender! Drinks are great, and the food is crispy, hot and yummy!! The margarita is what you want here... oh and maybe the lamb chops and the Crabbie BLT. Great spot after work Wed-Friday and weekends to chill TF out and eat some GOOD BRUNCH!

Shannon S.

Yelp

I had high hopes but I was disappointed. I came to celebrate my birthday and listen to some live music. The service was extremely slow, the cocktails were absolutely horrible. I have never had a Long Island taste nasty. I ordered some hot honey wings that left a lot to be desired, they did not taste like hot honey and they were too big for me. The chicken and French toast was good, it was a good combination of sweet and savory.

Tamika J.

Yelp

The service is horrible....they are NOT ATTENTIVE at all ...the waitresses and servers act like you don't exist. They walk past you and and don't even ask do need anything. I waited an hour to receive my drink, they acted like they didn't know what you ordered when they have a QR code for ordering. I don't recommend this place at all.

Shan S.

Yelp

We were in our way to a different restaurant and upon arriving noticed it didn't open for another 15 minutes. We did not want to wait so we figured we would go to KitchenCray which we passed on our way to the other restaurant. We ordered the wings, fried chIcken sandwich, and shrimp and grits. The shrimp were super rubbery and dried out. I ate a few then I feared I may get sick and didn't finish them. They had to have been old. The consistency and texture made it evident the shrimp was old. The sausage was also dried out and hard. The sauce and grits were alright however it tasted like they used a kraft American cheese square in it... The chicken sandwich was also dry. Despite the food coming out pretty quickly neither dishes were that warm. The wings were good however this was definitely some Virginia style mumbo sauce not true mumbo sauce you would get at a take out in Dc. After we received our food a man with a camera aka club promoter came by and asked to take pictures and a table near us ordered a hookah. We soon realized this is more of a club than restaurant. The music was bumpin as well. This would probably be a great nightlife spot but I would not go there for food. I bet the drinks and night time vibes are great for the area.

Mike M.

Yelp

Good environment. Manager/Bartender, Mariam was great. Great customer service, very friendly and welcoming. Wasn't many people when I arrived at 3pm but you couldn't tell, she treated us like royalty! Drinks were good and food was nice and hot. Will def be back!

Dani F.

Yelp

I dont even know what to say about this place. Why on earth are places charging $30+ for a plate and serving drinks in plastic cups and utensils are plastic? What is happening? Arrived at this spot for a friend's birthday brunch and upon arrival, we were made to wait about 30 minutes for the table to clear. Bad start. After we were sat at our table, the waiting continued as we waited about 10 mins for our server to come and greet us. She came with a pitcher of water and plastic cups. The grits and catfish I ordered was tasty but not served hot and topped with cold crab. SMH Something else went wrong and the overwhelmed manager tried to make it right with a round of shots but this place is a big no! I cannot begin to express how disappointed this spot is. Please do better...

Shernell H.

Yelp

So, upon arrival, I was very positive. I eagerly looked forward to the experience and the food. The place gives cute, kickback spot with good vibes and goodt music. Then the HH loudly says, it is a WIN (it was $8 per item on the HH [5-7pm]menu)! But, unfortunately, I was quickly disappointed. The service was TRASH! So, we ordered from the HH menu. We got the $8 wings, $8 catfish bites, $8 salmon bites, $8 French 75, and some other $8 drink (I repeat, the price is a win lol). Usually, HH items are quick but, it took over 40minutes to get our food, which is utterly ridiculous. We had to ask for our food at least two times. Then, when the food came out, it didn't even come with all of its sauces. To add injury, our wings were dry, the salmon bites were salty, and the catfish bites didn't leave an impression but I was hungry, so I cleaned up shop lol. I also asked for a copy of my check, which never came, smh. Just an absolute disappointment. The only positives were that parking allows you to come in stress FREE lol ie parking is good. The music was great, the people I was with were cool, and that French 75 did a little something something lol. Sad to say, I more than likely will not be back.

cindi l.

Yelp

Some friends suggested going here for brunch on Memorial Day. There wasn't a lot of people but the service was terribly slow. My friend ordered salmon bites before I arrived and we waited another 30 minutes after I arrived for them to come out. I asked about the different mimosas listed, the waitress/bartender said she didn't know because she's filling in as bartender. Once the food order was put in, it didn't take as long as the appetizer thankfully. One of my friends thought his tots were over cooked but he didn't want to bother trying to get the waitress attention. No one came by after the food was brought out to see if we needed anything. I got the catfish & grits. It was seasoned well, pretty tasty. Now the $7 I was charged for the side of spinach and was disrespectful. I've never seen that small of spinach served at a restaurant. I went to the restroom prior to leaving and the women's side needs some serious work. I hope they take the time to make improvements here.

Starr S.

Yelp

I absolutely enjoyed my visit to Kitchen Cray Va. GiGi is the best at what she does. The food was delicious; the staff were friendly and accommodating. I recommend this spot for a chill night out with the crew. Gigi is entertaining while being a true professional. I absolutely adore her.

Talika B.

Yelp

My swine time her but first time at this location for Brunch. Our waiter was awesome. I think he said his name was Jaylen. I forgot. Lol. We told him what we were looking for and he delivered. Outside of food being missing or coming out late it was good.

Jimmie P.

Yelp

Family there's some places you come across and they're hidden gems, this is one of them. I'm always looking for good vibe spots without the extra (food good, people friendly, and the place is chill). This odds the spot. They always have special drinks for the occasion and the DJ is always popping. The food two thumbs up. You not be disappointed with the crab fries ( a meal in itself), wings and the jerk / hot honey lamb chops. Definitely have to come back and try some other items from the menu.

Kwame B.

Yelp

Good times and the chef made us custom dishes! Recommend the garlic wings, and the oxtail pasta.

Diana K.

Yelp

I typically give restaurants a couple of chances before determining if I'd recommend or not. That's what I did with KtchenCray. I'm going to keep this short and as sweet as possible. KitchenCray needs help. Plain and simple. There is absolutely no management and other than the flavorful food (I'll give them that) everything else is a complete disaster. My first experience was on a Sunday for brunch. The place was busy, which is great, but the service was nonexistent. You couldn't tell who worked there, and the bathrooms were a complete disaster. Same situation happened when there just recently for my girlfriend's b-day. We were seated and then after that the night went completely downhill. Placed order for drinks, half table got theirs the other didn't. Took almost 20 mins to get first round. Water...none of that. We finally were able to get water for the table 30 mins later. Forget about the time it took to place our food order. It had to have been at least 45 mins. Food comes out, some plates were lukewarm others were the wrong order. Just a mess. It seemed like they had only one official server working the floor, as that was the only person who could be identified as a worker. No one who was serving had any type of uniform on, workers were all in street clothes. Lastly, at the end of the night it seems like the staff has their own little party, as there were at least 10 employees at the bar, smoking hookah, drinking and not caring anything about closing down the restaurant appropriately. Our table was still full of dirty plates, cups etc...the final straw was my last visit to the restroom, that almost made me lose my dinner. Absolutely disgusting and quite honestly unacceptable. It's not ok to just serve good food and play good music it has to be matched with service. Not sure how this place stays open. I will never be back unless they get their act together. Where's Robert Irvine when you need him.

Jazlyn G.

Yelp

This is my second time coming here and I'm honestly not sure why it has bad reviews. The food is AMAZING , we love eating here. Their mumbo sauce is delicious! We got a mimosa carafe which gave us about 4 mimosas each (a great deal). Our server was nice and attentive. The music was R&B and the restaurant was clean and inviting.

Yasmine B.

Yelp

My siblings and I dined here for brunch today. The service was good and the food was delicious! We came as soon as it opened so we wouldn't have a long wait. We were immediately seated once it was our turn. The server was very kind and checked on us throughout the time we were there. She answered any questions we had and was responsive when we placed additional orders. The food itself is sooooo yummy. We had the mumbo deviled eggs as a start and omg. The mumbo chicken and deviled egg pair so well together! I could eat these all day. The French toast and chicken was sooooo tasty. I was worried the chicken would taste like old grease since it was so dark, but it didn't. It tasted well seasoned and it was nice and juicy. The French toast was delightful and had so much flavor. I highly recommend the French toast with the chicken or without. It can stand all on its own. The only reason why I deducted a star was because I asked if gratuity was included and I was told no. I don't know if the server didn't hear me or if she intentionally told me no due to semantics (gratuity vs. Service charge). I ended up tipping additionally when 18% was already included in the total bill. On the electronic screen, she confirmed each item I ordered but I didn't see the final breakdown at the bottom. It wasn't until I got the receipt to my email that I notice I double tipped -_-. I guess they needed it more than me. Despite the paragraph above, I would return. I'll just make sure I look at their electronic device closer to see the full breakdown before paying.

Shirley F.

Yelp

I would say it's more 3.5 stars vs 3 When we went it was a party of 25+ people and the bar was occupied so we had a table near the kitchen. Our server did her best as the bartender was backed up and was the only one mixing drinks for everyone so we did have to ask for our drinks a few times. When we did get our drinks they came out in plastic cups so we weren't thrilled. They ran out of glasses but still felt weird drinking a lemon drop out a plastic cup and for $16 at that. Drinks to me are overpriced. I got the punch and it was ok. The food is the star. The oxtail egg rolls were amazing and fulfilling. The crab and shrimp fried didn't miss. Lots of lump crab meat and shrimp. These fries had us licking our fingers and the portion was huge. Hookah was around $60 and it was good, not amazing but the girl was nice and checked on us. She even mixed us a nice flavor. When we did call earlier to inquire about the price we were told $40-50 but she explained this is the price before grAtuity and service charge so whoever gives out the information should make note of that.

Spencer H.

Yelp

This is an absolute winner! I've been a few times now and it's time to review. This Kitchen Cray is located in an obscure area of Alexandria so don't worry about the poparazzi finding you, you're good to go.. Lol! The most popular dish in the DMV has to be Shrimp and Grits and lately Fish and Grits has been given it a run for its money. Well, Kitchen Cray has perfected Fish and Grits because the grits are loaded with lump crab meat! Absolutely delicious!! Honestly, all the food is great, from the old bay wings, crab topped fries, to the mambo chicken topped deviled eggs! With this Kitchen Cray, you will soon learn that it's not just for breakfast anymore. They offer live music and Dj's weekly and the covered outdoor patio is cigar friendly... My kinda place for sure!! If you're looking for a change of pace for DINNER, come across the bridge to nearby Alexandria and give this minority owed business some love, you will be more than pleased that you did!!

Benard C.

Yelp

Service was slow. The food was ok. There is a service charge and card fee added to your bill so, review your bill prior to tipping. The cocktails are VERY weak and expensive ($40 for 2-cocktails).

Paris B.

Yelp

Went here last Sunday with my boyfriend and son around 1:30pm. It was fairly empty for a Sunday. Sent my my boyfriend in first to check out the establishment and wait time. To our surprise it was no wait and we were seated immediately. He called me to advise it was no wait time and I came in shortly with my son. We were seated at two top by the kitchen. I requested to be moved to a 4 top but was advised they couldn't move us because they were expecting a large party of 12. Shortly after the hostess brought us a high chair and our server stop by to say she would be with us shortly. When she returned she asked if we had visited any other KitchenCray and I said I had been to the Lanham, Md one but it was boyfriend first time so she said would give us a minute to go over the menu. In the meantime she offered us another two top to put together with our table and some fruit for my son which I appreciated and thought that was a kind gesture. Later when she returned we ordered brunch cocktails. I ordered the house French 75 and he ordered the whiskey sour which came out fairly quickly. For entrees I ordered blackened salmon with mashed potatoes topped with jerk seasoning, tater tots for my son and my bf ordered lamb chops honey lemon pepper flavor fried. The food took what seemed like entirety to come out. Approximately 25-30 minutes. The salmon with the jerk seasoning was delicious. The mashed potatoes tasted like boxed mashed potatoes but that didn't stop me from eating all my food. My boyfriend fried lamb chop disappointed us so none the last he ended up requesting what I ordered which took forever to come out. The fried seasoning was lacking in flavor missing the drizzle of honey. Our server was amazing but baby why did the food take that long to come out when it wasn't that crowded. Not impressed enough to come back.

Sabrea W.

Yelp

I love this place, the music, good, atmosphere is just amazing all the servers are amazing and they always right there for any needs I have they anticipate what I might need and they are the friendliest people I have ever met. The food was amazing I had the mumbo deviled eggs and they were to die for just a really good place all around. I highly recommend this spot if u looking for good food, music, and mimosas along with other good drinks lol.

Jennifer W.

Yelp

So, kudos to opening a Black owned restaurant in Fairfax County. I went last Wednesday after work and was pleasantly surprised. I loved the top 5 band playing and the patio vibes. I was a little disappointed as the Alexandria menu was very different than the H street location. They seemed to be out of everything. I ordered the catfish nuggets and they were out . So, we ordered the salmon bites. I wanted crab fries and they were out. The mambo shrimp was good !!! So, we ordered the tater tot fries. We also ordered sautéed spinach and that was decent. Although, the serving was small. It's a cool vibe. Especially, smoking cigars on the patio. I'll be back soon to taste more

Molly S.

Yelp

I ordered the catfish and grits and it was served warm (not hot) but it was okay. I liked the atmosphere: the color scheme was nice and the R&B music was good but it was played very loudly so it was difficult having a conversation at the table. The service fee was a bit outrageous in my opinion, with an additional credit card fee. At least they include that information in the menu, I guess.

Hayley P.

Yelp

The food was amazing. My boyfriend had the lamb chops and mash and i had the egg and bacon breakfast sandwich. The service was great! Ron was a great bartender and very attentive. I love the vibe and atmosphere. I live a good music, food, & drink combo ‼

Yolanda T.

Yelp

It was an ok experience. Took my husband here for Father's Day and the food was ok. The music was good and our server was fine. I probably would try again but not running to do it.

Deirdre G.

Yelp

KitchenCray is generally hit or miss for me. I've visited this location a few times, always for the Friday happy hour. The first time I went we had to ask about HH because it wasn't listed anywhere on the menu and the waitress had to use her mobile device to show us the options. It was strange and meant we couldn't really see the prices or have time to decide privately. Why do the QR codes not include HH? Nonetheless our food was actually really good. The catfish bites and crab tater tots (not on HH) were amazing. 5 stars for taste, 3ish stars for service (our waitress wasn't really attentive resulting in us constantly flagging her down despite it being fairly empty). The second time I visited I opted for outdoor seating and arrived closer to 8 pm. It was a vibe!! There was a DJ, hookah, dancing, etc. It felt like more of a lounge than a restaurant at that point. This time I ordered the deviled eggs but wasn't impressed. But now I have an idea of a few things I do and don't like. Service was a bit improved this time, and we appreciated the waitresses suggestions and energy. I will say I love this location. There certainly aren't a lot of places like this in NOVA and I appreciate that it's nearby with a good amount of parking. And a bonus, even if it's raining the patio is FULLY covered. I will continue to keep this on my list of friday night spots but am looking forward to sampling the brunch in the future.

Dee P.

Yelp

This review is overdue especially since the last time I went was Valentine's Day. I've been trying to get back to the DC location to combine my reviews. So far I haven't had the chance to attend yet. I was overly extremely excited to try this location. The location is super cute and the service is wonderful. I went on Valentine's Day due to the advertisement that Chef JR was the cook. Ive been to the lanham location and DC and had a better food experience. This is a newer location and with anything new there's room for improvement. Pros: -I love the theme and the burlesque dancers. This was a nice touch. 3 different dancers -The oxtail spring rolls were delicious -Beautiful outside patio. -Drinks were good -nice vibe, music ambience Cons: -Unfortunately Chef JR did not cook that night. -Limited menu -French toast was soggy -the lobster pasta was just "ok" Resulting in a 3 out of 5. However I will try the DC location for ladies night and Brunch. I will definitely give this location another shot.

Tawanna E.

Yelp

The food is really good at this place. The ambiance is nice, but the service is very lackluster. Everything is so "automated", the human experience is missing. When we were seated at our table, a "server" walked over to politely explain how we are to scan the QR code to access the menu. I was just a little surprised that this was how we were to place our order as well. Choosing our items at adding them to the cart just seemed very impersonal. So the staff is just standing around and wandering around with nothing really to do, I guess, yet I have to track down someone to refill my plastic cup of water and bring a to-go box. If this is how you want to run your business, by all means, do that. But my biggest surprise was the 18% gratuity that was automatically included on my bill, when I in fact, received literally no service from the staff.

Demoni D.

Yelp

The food was amazing ordered fish and grits. Make sure you ask for Kilo she was the best server I ever experienced.

Ahmed S.

Yelp

A very bad experience, brought family from out of town & got treated with nothing but disrespect. I was charged additional fees that didn't make sense. And when I asked about it they threatened to call the police. The food is also not worth the price that was listed at all. Overall the worst experience I've had at any restaurant. One of the workers started to take pictures & record as we were leaving, which was very uncomforting. If you want a good experience at a restaurant, DO NOT come to this establishment. Response to Mariam: We tried to make a reservation through the phone. We called twice & no one picked up the phone. I also did not receive complementary French toast. You guys did not give me the full amount of French toast that i ordered. It was supposed to come with 4 & I only received 2 slices. We did not refuse to tip or pay. We payed the amount we were supposed to online & you came in to tell us that we had to pay additional fees that doubled our orders. Overall a horrible experience. The reviews on google are also inaccurate & deceiving. There are many other reviews that are similar to mine which means that this is common thing for this establishment. There are more one star reviews than five yet it's says that this is a 4 star establishment, which is clearly not.

Jae S.

Yelp

Maybe it was a bad day. The customer service from all the employees was good, but the food was mid. I ate it though because I was hungry. It wasn't bad and it wasn't great. The presentation needed more work. The deviled mumbo sauce eggs were.. eh!

Kendra G.

Yelp

The food came out very fast. The mumbo chicken deviled eggs were on point! My drinks were very fulfilling and bomb. I felt them leaving. Mariam made me feel very comfortable and I was happy with my overall experience i including food and drinks!

Toya T.

Yelp

Highly disappointed in my visit today. I've only been to the original H street location which is now closed. The quality of the food has gone way down but the prices have not. No real silverware in a dining establishment, everything was plastic. They can do better. I use to rave about the food but this was my last visit to this restaurant.

Troy M.

Yelp

I ordered a salad online. There were several bugs (dead and alive!) in my salad. I was hesitant to post a review as I like to give a business an opportunity to address a situation first. I called them three times yesterday. No answer. I called again today. No answer. So, I'm here on Yelp sharing that this restaurant's kitchen isn't clean and they have bugs. Don't eat here.

Jevon O.

Yelp

You know the jerk chicken marinade in a jar that they sell at Walmart? They certainly dumped a gallon of it over a Caesar Salad....If you enjoy loud music and sketchy atmosphere, run here

Altona B.

Yelp

My friends & I said we're only going to come if Jordan is working. He was wonderful & it was his first day! Food was amazing. We got the catfish & grits & jerk lamb chops with mashed potatoes/spinach. Shout out to Dj Jo Iyce! He kept the vibes going. He made sure we were taken care of and asked what we wanted to hear. We had a great time at this location.

Sierra J.

Yelp

My best friend and I saw they opened a location in Alexandria and we we're very excited as we do not get to frequent the DC location as often as we'd like. Customer service was really good. Our server was very nice and attentive. My daughter and I spilt the French toast and chicken which she said really enjoyed. My best friend got the salmon pasta. Only reason I gave it 4 stars was because there was a little issue with the kitchen forgetting the shrimp on the pasta and they accidentally threw away an item of mines left on the table. However they correct both issues and found my item. Overall I would definitely go back. And saves me the commute to NE DC

Will B.

Yelp

Traveling back home & stopped here with a group of friends on their recommendation. It was amazing! Our server got everything right, & remembered things even when we thought he had forgotten, & there was 8 of us & we were all over the place with the orders. Check says Sentara was our server. Had Mimosas, very good. Now for the food itself. EVERYTHING was amazing. We all shared a bit of everything from our individual meals, so I can definitely say that everything was sooooo good. Mumbo Shrimp- So very good with a sweet and savory sauce. Recommend getting these. Mumbo Wings- Well done, had the same sauce. Showtime Omelette- A seafood loaded omelette w/a side of home fries. Very good. Blackened Salmon- Made to perfection, & the sauce on it was excellent. Loaded Salmon w/Lobster Tail- The special of the day. Very VERY good. Enough for two to actually share in my opinion. Lobster Mac Croquettes- These were so good. They're Mac & Cheese deep fried balls w/lobster meat on the side in a red sauce. Soooo good! Shrimp/Catfish & Grits- We had both Shrimp & grits, and Catfish & grits at the table. Both were excellent. The catfish and grits was my meal. The catfish was done to perfection, the shrimp (alternate option) was Cajun style. The grits themselves were EXCELLENT!!!! A nice aioli cheesy cream sauce. I highly recommend it. Truffle Fries- The truffle fries were the weakest link. I was very saddened by this. They looked amazing, they were well seasoned, but the preparation was an epic fail. The fries were WAY TOO over cooked. They were ALL crunchy. They were THAT overcooked. Sounded like we were eating cookies or something. Overall, I am so glad that my friends recommended this place. I look forward to my next opportunity to come here.

Chanel G.

Yelp

If you're looking for your next place to Wine Down on a Wednesday after work, Kitchen Cray is your place! They host a live Band + DJ every week. The vibes & the food were both immaculate! My only disappointment was that I was told there was no Happy Hour. After I made it a point of going based on an Instagram post that the establishment made specifically regarding their Happy Hour. It would be helpful for their information to remain consistent. Don't get me wrong, I will be making a return for this food! I love that this is a Black establishment and business is thriving! The music for me is everything! I ordered my signature favorite drink - an old Fashioned. Whew! That sh*t was STRONG!! For food, I ordered the stuffed seafood catfish with potatoes. Please believe me when I say it was Fire. I was right, this sh*t was SOOO GOOD. The food came out hot too! The catfish sat on a bed of sautéed spinach, with garlic shrimp swimming in potatoes. The crab didn't have a speck of soft shell in it. Here's my Pro tip: have the menu screenshot & saved. The internet connection was not the best to pull up the QR Menu.

Christine B.

Yelp

I looked forward to trying this location, particularly for brunch, but I was not impressed. I was happy that we had a reservation and we were seated right away, but the table was rocky-I saw that instead of repairing the table, menus were ere placed under the feet in an attempt to themed the issue, but it didn't. Our drinks were spilling as a result. The cutlery bags provided were what I would expect if I ordered carry out. We ordered a couple orders of deviled eggs, but didn't have small plates to share them. When the plates did arrive, they were dripping wet. It seems like the kitchen doesn't have enough utensils or plates for the patrons who were eating in. Onto the food experience! So, the fact that this establishment doesn't carry orange juice means to me that you don't have "mimosas" but "Bellinis". The Bellinis were great! They have lots of options for juice. We got a Peach carafe. As previously stated. We ordered the Deviled Eggs. I would say that the chicken was flavorful but we all ate the chicken separate from the egg. It seemed to be too many different flavors to eat them together. We got Shrimp & Grits, Blacken Salmon and Catfish and French Toast. Everyone said their food was delicious, but not spectacular considering our overall experience. I do want to note that the management tried their best to accommodate the patrons despite appearing to be short staffed and that should be acknowledged. All in All, I would visit again and do carryout or go for Happy Hour.

Nicole T.

Yelp

You cannot serve plastic utensils and cups when you are charging almost $30 for a plate!! C'mon now! Also, please tell me this... why on earth everytime I go to place an order online everything is Out of Stock. I call in, and the hostess says "yep, its out of stock". There is barely anything left to get.

Peyton C.

Yelp

The catfish and cheese grits were amazing! Served piping hot and very flavorful. It also included a bit of crab meat on top of the fish. I will say they're a bit pricey, dropped almost $40 on this item and just water, but the taste is worth it, if you're looking to treat yourself. The restaurant was packed (weekend morning), but we still got our food pretty quick. They had a cute flower decor, with seating outdoors or indoors. Music was also very loud, but it fit the vibe. Would definitely go again for the catfish and grits! They also had some other seafood dishes that sounded very good.

Rachele M.

Yelp

Didn't even get the food service was horrible. It took 30 minutes before a server came to us. It was not even busy. They attended to a party of 15 that sat down 10 minutes after us. It was cold as hell. Everyone had coats on.

Donna A.

Yelp

Truly enjoyed our food. Every entree was well seasoned and made fresh. The staff was very friendly. My only dislike is the poor ventilation. The restaurant smells like fried food and grease and the staff should clean the tables before opening the doors. There was no excuse since we along with other guests were there as soon as they opened the doors. The tables should have been cleaned. For those issues, I removed one star.

Kristine B.

Yelp

What an amazing lunch..... APD greatly appreciated your service! Valentino your drinks are amazing ans chef Rita 10/10 babe, service is bomb.com!!!!! 10/10

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KitchenCray Brings Its Caribbean-Spiced Soul Food to Alexandria - Eater DC

https://dc.eater.com/2021/10/13/22696020/kitchencray-soul-food-opening-alexandria-virginia

KitchenCray - Alexandria

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Seven K B.

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Kimber V.

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Krys W.

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Shannon S.

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Tamika J.

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Shan S.

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Mike M.

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Dani F.

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Shernell H.

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cindi l.

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Starr S.

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Talika B.

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Jimmie P.

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Kwame B.

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Good times and the chef made us custom dishes! Recommend the garlic wings, and the oxtail pasta.

Diana K.

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Jazlyn G.

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Yasmine B.

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Shirley F.

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Spencer H.

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Benard C.

Yelp

Service was slow. The food was ok. There is a service charge and card fee added to your bill so, review your bill prior to tipping. The cocktails are VERY weak and expensive ($40 for 2-cocktails).

Paris B.

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Sabrea W.

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Jennifer W.

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Molly S.

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Hayley P.

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Yolanda T.

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It was an ok experience. Took my husband here for Father's Day and the food was ok. The music was good and our server was fine. I probably would try again but not running to do it.

Deirdre G.

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Dee P.

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Tawanna E.

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Demoni D.

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The food was amazing ordered fish and grits. Make sure you ask for Kilo she was the best server I ever experienced.

Ahmed S.

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Jae S.

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Kendra G.

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Toya T.

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Troy M.

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Jevon O.

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You know the jerk chicken marinade in a jar that they sell at Walmart? They certainly dumped a gallon of it over a Caesar Salad....If you enjoy loud music and sketchy atmosphere, run here

Altona B.

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Sierra J.

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Will B.

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Chanel G.

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Christine B.

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Nicole T.

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Peyton C.

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Rachele M.

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Donna A.

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Kristine B.

Yelp

What an amazing lunch..... APD greatly appreciated your service! Valentino your drinks are amazing ans chef Rita 10/10 babe, service is bomb.com!!!!! 10/10

KitchenCray - Alexandria

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