LYDIA ON H
African restaurant · Near Northeast ·
Afro-Caribbean dishes, hookah, DJs & live jazz upstairs lounge
Afro-Caribbean dishes, hookah, DJs & live jazz upstairs lounge
"Head to Kitchen Cray on H Street for a meal where you can twerk between bites without judgment—the Black-owned American restaurant has a DJ on weekends who will play everything from Luther Vandross to Megan Thee Stallion. It’s a multigenerational party, so it’s fine for your grandmama and your little cousin (but maybe leave alluv’em home if you’re planning to drop it low). The food lives up to its name, so some of the menu items will have you tilting your head in both confusion and curiosity (like the burger topped with shrimp). Everything tastes almost as good as it smells, and the portions are huge so you’ll likely have some to take home with you—helpful if you go a little too hard." - tristiana hinton
"Kitchen Cray on H Street is a multigenerational hot spot where you can woo your partner, get wild with your friends, or chill with momma—all in the same place, which makes up for the aight food. The American restaurant lives up to its name, so some of the menu items will have you tilting your head in both confusion and curiosity (like the burger topped with shrimp). Your eyes will follow every plate that passes the table and the buffalo sauce on the KC chicken sandwich assaults your nose in the best way. Unfortunately, the food doesn’t taste quite as good as it looks or smells, but it’s decent and the portions are huge. Quick warning: if the DJ is playing, be prepared to yell, but the jams are solid and everybody (including the DJ) is usually having a good time." - tristiana hinton, omnia saed
"H Street’s lively destination for Afro-Caribbean cuisine hosts industry karaoke night every Monday, inviting hospitality friends to kick back and belt it out on their night off. Festivities kick off at 7:30 p.m. with food and drink specials and hookah." - Adele Chapin
"H Street’s lively Afro-Caribbean restaurant rolls out a Motown-themed pop-up bar for the holidays from November 25 to December 29. A festive set of drinks come from Lydia’s Malawian owner Victor Chizinga." - Vinciane Ngomsi
"On the eastern edge of H Street NE I discovered a lively two-level spot that opened in January serving spicy jerk chicken, juicy rum cake, and well-made daiquiris. Lydia on H is run by Malawian chef-owner Victor Chizinga (formerly of U Street NW’s Bin 1301) and occupies the former Halftime Sports Bar at 1427 H Street NE; the first floor features a bamboo-lined bar riffing on rum punch alongside fragrant Afro-Caribbean fare from an open kitchen, with hookah service and rotating DJs contributing to a laid-back, come-as-you-are vibe. Chizinga pays homage to his late mother, Lydia, with dishes like a curry chicken with potatoes, carrots, cabbage and rice, and Malawian masamba (kale, spinach, collards, peanut powder, onions, and tomatoes); made-to-order heaps of curried cabbage regularly sell out. The menu also channels Caribbean and West African influences with jerk chicken wings and sandwiches, salmon fritters, four-hour braised oxtail with jollof rice, grilled or fried whole snapper, spicy Alfredo penne with sweet peppers and salmon, and beef or chicken suya skewers. The second-floor lounge debuted for sit-down dinner and a late Sunday brunch (1–6 p.m.) with a stage for live jazz, and an upstairs speakeasy hidden behind a wall of books will open with classic cocktails made using Black-owned spirits (a six-month membership with lockers is planned). Outdoor plans include a fenced patio called Lake Malawi Beach—sand, faux grass, colorful chairs, frozen cocktails and taco Tuesdays—and the cocktail program already features the Warm Heart of Africa (Equiano rum, coconut, grenadine, mango, guava and pineapple); the first-floor bar also offers mixology classes. An opening party was scheduled for Feb. 4 with bottle service options, and Chizinga says this H Street location is just the start of multiple Lydia outposts to come." - Tierney Plumb
Miracle R.
Kyle S.
Chante L.
Matt W.
Khumbo S.
KinTre J.
Jamaica L.
Jasmine S.
Cameron B.
Nisha B.
Mike M.
Tra S.
Shameeka B.
LaKisha B.
Elle H.
Cici H.
Brittany H.
Dona P.
Eunice I.
Sheila F.
Larry M.
Chavonte H.
Family F.
Tessie E.
Peroline L.
Sunni P.
Charles S.
Joshua K.
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Hazel C.
Andrew P.
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Leroy W.
Eri O.
Jessica C.
Tabitha C.
Joshua P.
Candice H.
Talika B.
Janay J.
Porsche T.
Sharlene S.
Courtney L.
Tori A.
Robert R.
Dollie P.
Aerionna M.
Lauren L.
Andrew C.
Trevon H.
Keon A.
La Tonya M.
Chauntay L.
Eboni R.
Rico D.
Ab A.
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