LYDIA ON H

I was in the mood for Caribbean food and I’m so glad I went to Lydia On H. I got the oxtails. So good! So much food I couldn’t even finish. I loved the atmosphere. The music was 90s and early 2000s R&B which is my fave. The decor is beautiful Black art. Our server, Tameka was awesome. I will definitely be back.

The food was absolutely amazing, I had the Oxtails with Cabbage and Jollof rice and Mac and Cheese. The oxtails were slow cooked to perfection and the Cabbage was well seasoned , the Jollof rice was a little spicy (I’m not too big on spice) the Mac and cheese was okay, not the best but not the worst either. I enjoyed our waitress who was super nice and professional, it seems like it turns into and late night happy hour, this place was definitely a vibe.

I came to Lydia's for my birthday brunch. I was immediately helped as soon as I walked in and sat at a table. I ordered the chicken (jerk) and waffles. The chicken was very tender and flavorful. The waffle was also tasty though maybe waffle could have been a little warmer. The dish i still was happy with. A friend had the pasta. I had a taste and it was sooooo good! That is what a pasta should taste like!! We also got the bottomless mimosas (rum punch and the regular) both were really good. For dessert I got the fried oreo and icecream. While there i met the owner which was really cool and he wished me a happy bday and made the day fun! Atmosphere was laid back, music was playing. Definitely would go back.

Loved it!! This was a true, genuine, Afro-Carribean experience. The food was authentic, the drinks were absolutely superb 👌🏾 & the music had you wanting to dance all night! We met the owner, and told him we were here in town on a girls trip. He gave us 2 complimentary shots, and allowed the server to give us a tour of the restaurant. It offers indoor dining, a patio area, & a "speakeasy" style area upstairs. We had 4 drinks each, so our tab ended up being pricey, however, don't drink as much as us to solve that problem!😂🤷🏾‍♀️ it was affordable and delicious🍸😋 This is definitely the perfect spot for a date night or a night out with the girls/fellas. Make this a spot you visit if you're ever in the DC area!

Let me start by saying the food was delicious. My friends and I gathered for brunch and we were eating off each other’s plate so bad that we all ordered to go meals. The jerk chicken and plantain waffles were the exact combo of sweet and spicy that my pallet needed. What is not pictured here was the oxtail Rasta pasta….whooweee. Chefs kiss!!! Service and atmosphere was amazing. My waiter was so sweet, the entire staff was very nice. I got to enjoy my food, sing and bop to some great music. The vibe here was everything and more. Definitely will be retuning.

Simone is the most amazing bartender ever. We came as a deaf community and the attention to detail was amazing. The willingness to provide access and accommodate us was superb. Thank you so much for having her as an absolute wonderful asset to this business. We appreciate her and she has made us become frequent customers. 🤟🏾🤟🏾🤟🏾🤟🏾🤟🏾🤟🏾🤟🏾 Thanks Simone

I made reservations for 2 because I didn’t know what to expect. Once we arrived we noticed that there was no wait, actually we were the only customers for most of our dining experience. We chose to sit at the bar and was greeted with a young lady who seemed to not want to be bothered. We selected the oxtail Rasta pasta and wings as the appetizer. The pasta came first which was a great selection, the wings came last and they were both VERY GOOD. My wife ordered her drink while we waited for our food and the server didn’t ask me what did I want as I sat undecided. She was very inattentive. Before leaving we noticed the green wall and took advantage of it after being disappointed by the bathroom. Be mindful this location looks like a carry out from the front so it’s easy to miss while walking.

I enjoy myself everytime I come here. The food is delicious, drinks are perfectly crafted, and the atmosphere is upbeat yet not overwhelmingly “lit”. Go see Tamica at the bar. The staff are warm and welcoming as well.

I recently stopped by Lydia's on a Saturday afternoon for weekend happy hour; they had specials on food and drink from until about 7 pm on a weekend which was fantastic. The vibes were on point -- they had a live DJ playing classic hip hop and RnB. The interior is decorated with lots of colors, patterns, and textures, it's a really vibrant and energizing design. There is a bar that seats about 6-8, a set of 2-4 high top tables, and another set of about 8 four top low tables. There is also an upstairs area (that was closed the day we went for a private event) - but nice to know on most days there's even more seating. The food was DELICIOUS - we stuck with the happy hour specials. The catfish bites, the seasoned fries, the jallof rice, and the suya fried wings were all delicious. If I were to go back, I'd have to get the suya wings again....I'd never have that spice flavor on crispy wings before. (Though beware, they only serve you 5 wings for $16 which is awful). The drinks were great too; $10 for all sorts of happy hour cokctails. We had the rum punch, a tequila flight, and a margarita. We were all happy with our choices! Overall a great experience and a new favorite on H st - looking forward to my next visit!

Came for a Saturday 90's & RnB brunch with friends. Get here by 2pm to get a seat. Otherwise, you will have to wait - even with a 3pm reservation Well the brunch spots were at 1 and 3pm. At this time, the upstairs is under renovation. Outside "backyard" was not open. I got the White Fish & Grits $17. This is a NO! Waitress told me the fish was either Whiting or Talapia. The bowl I received was nothing but grits! And it seemed like the grits were prepared in the bowl in a microwave. The Fish was for certain frozen, like the kind you get from the grocery store. No flavor, no seasoning. Just 3 pieces of fish. I asked for hot sauce and really only dipped the fish just to have something to eat I also had a ginger beer mocktail. I had to fight to get ginger beer because apparently it's scarce and only used for moscow mules. They do not have any non alcoholic beer Guest ordered the Burger. His fries were undercooked. They tasted like they were frozen and heated up in an oven. He waited 20 mins to get a new basket of fries. Another friend also got Chicken & Waffles. The chicken wings came out 20 mins before the Waffle. I initially thought he only got wings lol I ASSUMED the DJ's were guest DJs that traveled with the Brunch Event hosts. They kept talking over the music too much and played about 40 seconds of songs that people were really into before changing BEWARE - if you get hookah, it is placed on a seperate bill!! We did get hookah and for over an hour never once had our coal refilled or were checked on. Blueberry Mint was good but STRONG Even water refills took a long time. I think they were understaffed for the event, not sure but our waitress was in there hustling among all the tables and requests BATHROOM!! Only 1 for Men/Women each. There is a water leak from the ceiling/pipes in the women's bathroom where the toilet paper roll was DAMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gross. Street parking, may be hard to come by. Eat before you come here to vibe out to the music/bar

Service was great. Bartender was a crowd favorite. Mondays they do karaoke at 8pm and happy hour was all night until 11pm when I went, not sure if that's every Monday or for a limited time. I had the jerk Chicken sandwich ($12) and garlic fries ($10). Sandwich was good, but they had American cheese which made it not as good as it could've been and some parts of the bread were burnt and had a bad taste, Fries were okay and great portion. The tequila flight for $10 is the steal! Love the atmosphere. Around 8:30 it started to really get some foot traffic. Will be back.

I recently stopped by Lydia's to indulge with a friend and I must say that I wasn't disappointed. Don't let the very dim lighting, and the cool kid vibes deter you from coming. Lydia's is homey especially when you arrive before 8pm. This is my second time coming and it was definitely just as good as the first time. I opted for the oxtail with cabbage and nsima. The oxtail was bursting with flavor and very tender, as was the cabbage. I would definitely come back for this alone. However, I would definitely come back for the gentleman who provided me with a ride pen after spilling a bit of oxtail jus (which they will sell you if you ask) on my white shirt. In fact expect to see me again before the summer is over.

Guess we came on a bad day, because the service was not good at all; we were there a little over 1hr (no lie) before we received water & place an order. It was two other parties as well that were complaining as well. The chicken was good, but my waffle was drenched in hot honey sauce. Due to long wait, I didn't even send it back because I was over it. Also, the menu is overpriced IMO; $25.99 for chicken and waffles is excessive. Another thing, they charge $2 for flavored mimosa. They did have a DJ that did have a nice rotation.

My girlies and I decided to have NYE dinner here last night. The event was called "The R&B New Year's Eve Dinner Party". They had a three course dinner meal which consisted of some really good options. For my appetizer, I ordered the jerk wings. They were very flavorful and the meat was falling off the bone. For my entree, I ordered the oxtails (two large pieces) with jollof and cabbage. Talk about bomb.com! The food was very savory and portion size was really good. I was hesitant on ordering the oxtails because you know sometimes the meat be missing (lol) but I would say the two pieces that I had enough meat. For dessert, I ordered the carrot cheesecake (to go). I haven't eaten it yet but I'm sure it will be good! Our server Melody was awesomeee! She gave good recommendations and kept us laughing. The place itself was a vibe. The decor was nice and they do have upstairs seating (the first floor has space but I can get right). I would def visit this place again!

Stumbled upon this restaurant while looking for a place to eat on Sunday (memorial day weekend). They were advertising a Memorial Day weekend brunch / party. It took a while for someone to greet us at the check-in but once they did we were told that they did not have any tables available in the main dining room (we did not have reservations) but they could accommodate us upstairs in their lounge area. It took a while to get our order in and the staff seemed overwhelmed but once the food came out and drinks started flowing it was a good time! Food was delicious, good DJ and bottomless drinks were tasty.

I had high hopes for this place based on the reviews. My friends and I were visiting the area, very excited to patronize this place only to end up leaving. We booked and reservation for dinner. Upon arrival, we were seated and given water. No menus were provided and we sat for 15 minutes before inquiring about ordering food. We never saw our waitress after she brought water to the table. The other staff were engaging with patrons, eating and drinking. After 10 minutes we got up and left. I was disappointed and do not intend to return. Zero stars for poor customer service.

Came here on a Sundays afternoon after the brunch crowd on purpose. I like that they have a late happy hour even on a Sunday. The slushie drink was even but one get one. The food was not good though. We all got wings and fries. The wings were all drums. 3 orders of wings were drums. And to top it off, the drum looked like it was broken in half on all of them. It was the strangest thing. They also had too much breading on them. I think the food quality has gone down. I hope they improve.

Super fun ambiance and incredible DJ spinning fun songs and afrobeats during our dinner reservation Saturday 8pm - we did need to move our seats closer together as it was a tad loud but just be prepared for that. Service was awesome, despite only 2 servers, they were bustling around making sure everyone was being taken care of. They even apologized for our drinks taking so long as the bar was backed up- BUT- I got the sense the cocktails are not prebatched and for that I will ALWAYS have patience!! The wings were awesome, oxtails on point, cabbage fresh and tasty, plantains crispy on the outside and tender on the inside- the grilled fish was excellent. No fishy smell, and with 2 sides. It's expensive at $80 but again it had two sides and was very flavorful and fresh. I wanted to drink the hot sauce it came with lol. What also surprised me with the Mac and cheese. If you reach my reviews you know I'm a gluten free - attempt to be dairy free person.... But when I saw the crisped up pieces, and the fact there were some kind of herbs in it- I tried and bite and WOW !! Better than Hells Kitchen Mac and cheese by Gordon Ramsey honestly- which was the last time I cheated and had some! We're excited to go back!

I got a recommendation to try Lydia's on H, so I made reservations. My friend and I actually missed the reservation, but we were able to get seated fairly quickly because it wasn't very crowded on a Friday night. Our server was very nice and attentive, and she gave recommendations that their most popular items on the menu was the oxtails and Rasta pasta. My friend got the oxtails with jolloff and I got goat stew with jollof. Now their version of Jollof rice is from Malawi. I've never tried food from Malawi. I thought their jollof was ok, but needed some spices in my opinion. We both thought our dishes were average. They weren't the best foods we've eaten. I think for the price point we expected to try better tasting food. My friend's oxtail bowl was mostly full of bones, carrots and potatoes. Our waitress was nice enough to give her another bowl after she brought this up. What I liked most on my plate was the goat meat. I thought that was cooked well and it tasted good. I also really liked the greens too. What I didn't like was that our waitress took an additional tip and wasn't honest about that. In DC, most places add 20% tip, so you have to be careful not to add more on top of it unless you wish too. I gave her cash and she didn't offer to break it and return my change. I think she assumed I was giving her additional money, but I wasn't. I didn't want to push it because she had been so gracious. She also didn't let my friend know that the tip was already included on the card reader so my friend tipped her extra money so we both ended up paying $50+ dollars for a $35 meal which should have been no more than $25. I would not go back there for food.

Celebrated a friend at the Sunday brunch, I'm not big on Caribbean food so I opted for the chicken and waffles for $25.99. First it comes covered in powdered sugar and parsley Wings (5) were seasoned (maybe too much for some), but they had flavor. The waffle on the other hand was not edible. There was NOTHING fluffy about it. Seems as if it was premade then microwave. Couldn't even cut it. Two of us had ordered it and both were inedible. There was nothing else I wanted so I opted to just pay for the chicken. They took $7.80 off of my meal, so I paid $18.19 for 5 Wingettes Their wing order with 6 wings is not even that much. But hey, lesson learned!! Don't go to a Caribbean fusion restaurant for brunch!!

The other day I had the opportunity to hit Lydia On H Street's Brunch. I was at this spot up until dinner time. Dinner? WHY NOT!! I did something slight, but let's see what it's hittin ON!! Pt.2!! . Where I am: @lydiaonhst . Location Reviewed: 1427 H St., N.E. Washington D.C. . Menu Includes: *Dinner* Fried Shrimp, Jerk Chicken, Braised Lamb, Rasta Pasta, Wings, Oxtail, Goat Stew, Fried Okra, Cabbage, Mac n Cheese, Cocktails, Wine, & MORE!! . Items Reviewed: Their Oxtail Flatbread (with marinated oxtail, arugula, special sauce, & parmesan $25). STAMP!! Plenty of well seasoned oxtail with a mildly spicy chipotle aioli!! Their Warm Heart of Africa Cocktail (with a spiced rum, coconut, mango, & guava $14). LIKE THAT!! Sweet with heat!! Their Yokazinga Entree (with a whole fried Red Snapper, Jollof rice, greens, plantains, & Boom Boom sauce $42). STAMP!! The Snapper was fried to perfection, tender inside, spiced up & crispy on the outside!! I already STAMPED their Jollof, & Plantains last review. The greens...somebody put their foot in those jonts!! Not overly salted, & peppery!! . Online Navigation: Easy . Parking: Rough . Recommendations: EVERYTHING . Music: YouTube-BYB Big G Freestyle #Bigschlimsreviews

I had a great time. The vibes were great with the DJ and the atmosphere. The food were so great as well. I recommend the jerk wings and steak egg rolls. As far as service, it was a little slow and could have been better. The wait staff was personable and had great attitudes. Lydia's is a great place and you will definitely have a good time.

We arrived at Lydia On H for Saturday brunch. The outside of this place looked like a hole in the wall. I would not have ever picked this type of place to dine, but one of the people in my group selected this spot. I was definitely not a fan of Lydia On H. As soon as we entered I ran smack into the man that stands near the entrance and take you to your seats. We had a 1:30 pm reservation and seated at a high makeshift table. I was so confused while I struggled to get comfortable. Later we were moved to a table. The tables were too close that if I moved one inch I would've been sharing seats with the lady sitting at the next table. This restaurant was too cramped for my liking. The chairs and tables was an eye sore. The place was also too hot. Felt like someone turned on the heat instead of the air conditioner. The manager had to bring us a fan. Yeah a fan! This was definitely not okay. I ordered a Snapper, which cost $80. The fish was too hard and tasted horrible! The Snapper wasn't worth the $80. One of the people in my group ordered chicken wings. The chicken wings was a fail as well. The food was suppose to be Jamican inspired. My husband is Jamaica, which I visited Jamaica frequently and tasted authentic Jamaican food. Lydia On H's food tasted nothing like Jamaican food not even close. The brunch mimosas was super hot and the DJ was lit! Our bill totaled to $500, which was a waste of money. I could've picked out plenty of restaurants in NW that would've been worth $500 and more. I gave one star for our super nice waitress and awesome DJ. If you like sitting in the heat, eating below average food, and drinking hot drinks that should be cold then this is the place for you. I will not be going back to this restaurant. Through this experience, I learned if a DC restaurant looks like a hole in the wall keep walking. If you know you know.

My friend invited me for an Afroween party. We were in the upstairs space. The music was amazing! Different djs spinning live Afro beats. The service was quick. The jerk chicken falls right off the bones. The filling in the egg rolls is spices to perfection. And the drinks were nicely mixed.

I got 2 meat pies, the "suya" chicken wings which were 6 in the box, and cabbage which cost me $45 (I know, INSANE). Literally the best meat pies I have ever had and I have had meat pies in Jamaica. However, the rest of the food was horrendous. The cabbage tasted.. weird? The chicken wings tasted nothing like suya; they didn't taste like much actually except for salt. Loads of it, and they looked and tasted old.

Lydia's on H has been on my foodie list since February. This past weekend, I finally had the opportunity to try their red snapper. Full disclosure this review is based on a carry-out order. Before I get to the food part of my review, I will say Lydia's has a day-party vibe. During my visit, they were playing afro-beats. And the guy at the door, the hostess and the server who took my order were friendly enough that when my schedule permits, I will come back for the full dining experience. As far as the food, the red snapper and rice were okay (3.5 out 5), I did not enjoy the cabbage .... It was too overcooked for my taste. Overall, my food had more heat than spice

I'm going keep this review real. The food at Lydia's on H was tasty . The portion sizes could've been bigger for the price. The drinks were not strong for the unlimited rum punch and margaritas. Also, they charge a service fee along with gratuities. We came here for brunch at ended up paying over $200 simply not worth it.

I went here recently on an uncrowded Tuesday night with a friend as I was intrigued by the unique cuisine. The ambiance was OK, although they played music way too loudly and it detracted from the experience. Our service was fine at the beginning but tailed off over the course of the meal. As it was Taco Tuesday, my friend and I split the jerk chicken tacos. The chicken was delicious-moist and well-seasoned. However, I wish there were more of it, and there was a poor toppings-to-meat ratio. Additionally, the lettuce, cheese, and house crema were mediocre. I ordered Mbuzi Ndi Masamba (goat stew) with a side of kale and nsima. However, I received the jollof rice instead (which was good). While the meat was well-cooked and had decent flavor, most of the goat was bone. For $36, I expected more meat and less rice. The kale was good but could have used more seasoning. My friend and I believe we were also overcharged on our final bill by $10, as our server must have added another taco order. We chose not to contest it, but it was still disappointing. I'm glad I tried this restaurant with unique cuisine, but I don't need to return.

This cozy spot is good for a spontaneous drink and good music. Whether it's bustling or calm, the service remains consistently good. The friendly bartenders and accommodating host make for a good experience. They often have sports games on the TV, making it an ideal spot to catch them. However, the hookah is a bit pricey, and it's not somewhere that I'd ideally go for a good meal.

I'd recommend dining here for the jerk wings at least once. They were perfectly spicy and tender! Like perfect. I live two minutes from a great jerk spot but will travel 20 mins for these wings. I also had cabbage and jollof rice. Both were very tasty. Come here and enjoy the chill vibes. They played great R&B all night primarily from the 2000s era so sing along and enjoy the nostalgia. At the bottom level there are high tables suitable for groups and also a few tables to serve two people. Bar seating is available if you want to watch a game! They had a few tailored drinks. I had the H Street Trolly it was a smoked old fashion. Pretty cool to watch them light it up though it took a while for them to find the torch and the drink certainly had smoky notes. They also serve hookah. Upstairs take a gallery walk and enjoy Black art! Service was okay but I can tell it will only get better. I think a few of the workers just need more experience. The manager and doormen (we went when it was sooo cold outside) were so nice! I'd definitely dine here again. Grab you picture on the lit up green wall before you go!

I've been here for a couple occasions, but the most extensive one was my first time for happy hour. I was impressed by the vibe of the place when I stepped in. There's something about those turfy backdrops that I really like, and they have one near their DJ booth. Anyways, my friend and I sat at one of many open tables. People were mainly only sitting at the bar when we arrived. We were given menus and it didn't take me long to make choices. I got the red sangria which was tasty and fruity, but the real highlight was the Warm Heart of Africa cocktail. It's flavorful, it's strong, and it looks nice! For food, I got the hush puppies and jerk chicken leg. Sauce with the hush puppies was bangin', and it wasn't my favorite jerk, but it was still tasty. There's an upstairs too that has another bar and more space. There's even a hidden speakeasy that you have to subscribe to have access to (unless that's changed now)... It's pretty expensive, but cool concept! I haven't been back in a while, but it's definitely worth stopping at if you're in the area.

Closed and shutdown by the city --- no Motown Christmas. Very disappointed that there's no soup for me, nor was there a Motown Christmas. I trek all the way from Bethesda in a car to the train, in a train and then a trolley. My dear friend made the trip from Clarksburg, MD. We were looking forward to experiencing a cultural celebration of Christmas of old. When what did we see and spy out of our lil eye, a yellow sticker of doom, that said the place had been shutdown by the city. I had to get tickets for the Motown Christmas. The owners could have updated the reservation website to send a message, the restaurant website or even a simple note on the door. All we saw was the sticker of doom. All wasn't lost, we found a Asian fusion place close by, but that's another story.

Food is torch. Everything was great. I love this place. The African vibe is the best in the DMV!!!

We went on a Friday night at 10PM and it was PACKED! The music and vibes were so good instantly. The servers were so nice and fun. The drinks were small but tasted great. The hookah was pricy ($70) but it was A LOT, you really get your $$ worth so the price was worth it. The food was 10/10; some of the BEST wings I have ever had to date. I got the hot honey wings, garlic shrimp flat bread and a strawberry lemon drop. Overall great experience I will definitely become a regular here!!

I absolutely love this place. The staff is super friendly and attentive. I love the decor and how they decorate it differently for some of the seasons. So many picture worthy opportunities. The food is amazing and I'm obsessed with the ox tail stew with cabbage and jollof rice. Ooooo and get the hot honey wings. Thank me later!! I will definitely be going back l!!

Lydia on H St is the place to be for quality food and services all around! Grab a plate of their signature oxtail dinners or a quick fix with salmon bites! I love their curry cabbage as well! If you're into hookahs, I promise you, you will not be disappointed! The renovations are a must see! Thank you so much for creating an environment to bring my family and friends out just to hung out and celebrate life. Definitely will be back!

I'm all about a nice hidden jewel. The staff was so nice and the ambiance was perfect. I love dark walls because it makes the space feel so cozy and intimate. They had all the things me my friends wanted. Good drinks, food and hookah. The music was a plus. The tacos were good and my wings were fantastic. I will definitely be back.

This was my first time at Lydia's. I found the venue to be very intimate, somewhere cute for a date. I was there for an event so the top floor was reserved. The menu looked yummy and the restaurant offered a deal for $25 to get a meat and sides. Everyone raved about it. Due to the event being a bit crowded I think the venue was overwhelmed so my service was a bit slow. I'd try them again.

Very unique establishment. Went to brunch and a day party. The food was set up buffet style. A good variety of food. Mixing the Caribbean and African culture. The food was good. The owner and chef kept the food replenished which I loved. The bottomless mimosas and rum punch were on point. The music was popping. They even have hookah. Got a chance to chat with the owner about the establishment. He was very very nice. Me and my line sister will definitely return. Especially for dinner. Rui they are doing a black history month pop up. And I can't wait to see it. I missed the Motown Christmas one.

This is my favorite place to get jerk chicken in DC! The vibes are always cool whether it's packed or chill. Love the music. I've had the jerk tacos, the jerk chicken flatbread, of course the wings, and the Rasta Pasta (it's a heavy dish that tastes great, but you will have the itis after eating all of it lol). I 10/10 recommend especially if you love authentic jerk flavor because you'll have a variety of options to choose from.

I've had the opportunity to check out Lydia's on H .... Twice . I don't need to return. My first experience, they were closing early on a Friday due to lack of crowd but yet didn't honor the website hours. In addition, the bar wasn't stocked and I couldn't order what I usually drink . The second visit, it was a bare crowd. My friend and I wanted to sit on the patio and smoke a hookah. Two of the women waitress were accommodating and good customer service . They made sure we were comfortable. The male manager did not want us to enjoy ourselves and closed the patio and rudely forced us to move with several sarcastic remarks. Moving forward, people started walking in to order based on the hours on the website and yet was turned away . The hookah was way to expensive . The only thing that saved us was a conversation at the bar but besides that, Lydia on H doesn't have anything to offer .

Went for happy hour and a friends birthday. The vibe and food were on point. They had a DJ on a Wednesday y'all. Service- Everyone we interacted with was friendly, helpful, and attentive to our needs. Cocktails- creative names and flavor combinations. Try the warm heart of Africa. My glass of red wine was good too. Food- was the star! We got jollof rice, fries, beef Pattie's, fish fingers, steak and cheese sandwich, Mac and cheese. Everything was well seasoned and enough to share. Vibe- upstairs has a loungey feel and downstairs restaurant style setup. Great music and atmosphere. They have hookah too. It's a feel good spot with tasty food and drinks!

I visited Lydia'a on a Friday with a few friends. From what we were told, this restaurant cuisine was a blend of African and traditional American dishes. Overall...I wasn't impressed to be honest. We sent a lot of food back to the kitchen. A friend sent back the mac-n-cheese (it didn't taste good), the jollof rice tasted bland (someone said it tasted like rice with tomato sauce only l), and the suya was dry and over cooked. My African friends were not impressed to say the least. I did try the plantains and they came out completely black. They were burned. I ate one and that was it. On the bright side, the wings, fries, and brussell sprouts were good. No complaints with those. As for drinks, my old fashioned was mediocre. I also tried the Lady Lydia and it was just okay. The mules were good. They did have hookah and my friends said it was very good. The hookah staff was definitely on point. I think I would try this place again but maybe for brunch instead.

I love the ambiance! Very cute subtle Afrocentric decor. The food was also delicious. I had the goat stew with jollof rice and my friend had the salmon and shrimp Rasta pasta. The portions were a good size and very fulfilling. We also got a cocktail, our server recommended the warm heart of africa, which is suppose to be a rum punch. It's their popular drink. But it wasn't good. Both my friend and I agreed, that if only the drinks were as good as the food it would have really been our new favorite spot. As a bartender myself, I always look forward to the cocktail menu, and the drink tasted watered down, not as strong as a rum punch. It discouraged us from getting another one. Hopefully that's not all of their drink but overall, nice spot!

This was a real treat. I came here on a Friday night during restaurant week. Service was outstanding, and they were very accommodating. HANDS DOWN the best dining experience I've ever had while being on H St. The food was out of this world. (African and West-Indian inspired dishes with just a touch of soul) Black Chef, AWESOME food, great music, lovely ambiance, best service. Food was very flavorful, perfectly seasoned, and the right amount of spice 10 stars

Sunday brunch. There were 2 of us. No more bottomless buffet style food anymore. Service great for me! Refilled mimosas on time. Dj started playing louder closer to end of brunch..strategic. food great even though my eyes were bigger than my stomach. Best of all the hookah!!! Seats by the window if your 2 hours for brunch have ended. 11/27/2022 there's a holiday pop up shop upstairs and Amapiano day party downstairs. Good time, service, and drinks!

Great place to come hang with a small group or your significant other. I recommend coming during the happy hour or late night menu.

Had really wanted to check this spot out after I read the cook was Malawian. Walked in at 10 PM on a Saturday night to eat. They put us [oddly] upstairs at the bar where it was completely empty. The mbuzi and nsima were delicious. By the time we finished eating, it turned into a club with decent music but a gremlin DJ who refused to play burna boy. why?? The cocktail called 'the warm heart of africa' made me nostalgic for Malawi. I'll be back for the whole fish soon.

The wings were delicious. The bartender JC recommended the hot honey and they were the best wings I have ever had. JC gave amazing service while being busy.

On a chill Sunday, this place was disappointing to not only myself, but my four other friends. Our server was too busy to tend to us, as she doubled as a bartender. The food is only buffet style and was COLD. Literally, no type of heat coming from any of the items. This is at a $30 fixed cost. Mimosas were not impressive, as the champagne was weak. That's $32, bottomless. My bro ate about two bites of his food, disliked it, and immediately stopped. After requesting to not have to pay for the food, he was denied that benefit., from a manager. Again, the food is wack and the mimosas are bare minimum. $78 for what, again?! Nice staff and ambiance, though.

I tried Lydia On H for the first time on a Thursday evening and honestly, I was a bit disappointed. Each Thursday, Lydia On H hosts a live a band so this is really what drew me in. The live performance and food were great but the service unfortunately was not. My friend and I did not have a reservation but was able to walk in and be seated on the first floor (the live performance was upstairs on the second floor and it was a bit crowded so we opted for downstairs so we could eat comfortably). Anywho, upon being seated by the hostess and her bringing us waters, no one else came to our table to take our drink or food order or to simply see how we were doing or if we had any questions. After water for some time, we eventually flagged down the hostess to see if she could find our server to take our orders and to our surprise, the hostess took on the responsibility. After putting in our food orders, we waited for about 45 minutes before the food actually came out. In between time, we could hear the live band performing upstairs, which was great, but for some odd reason the music downstairs was turned on to the highest notch and we could barely hear ourselves think. I actually asked the bartender if the music could be turned down because it had become annoying and he agreed that it was too loud and adjusted the volume. Once we got our food the hostess was apologetic for us having to wait for so long. I got the Hot Honey Wings and the jerk cabbage and my friend got the Lamb Flatbread with a side of the jerk cabbage. Both of our meals were really good but I wouldn't say they were worth the wait. If I was to go back to Lydia On H, it would only be to watch the live performance. Due to the slow and inattentive service, I don't care to dine there again.

This place is everything. Great food, drinks, music, it's a whole vibe.The bartenders are very talented. I requested a mocktail and was presented with a well crafted flavorful beverage. I definitely be back.

I always have a great experience every time I come to this venue. The staff is friendly and warm, I always feel welcomed. I really enjoy the Saturday brunch bc the food is great, the atmosphere is energetic and the music is eclectic! I've dined at Lydia during the week as well, either for date night with my husband or just a solo dinner and I've had a delightful time for each scenario. I highly recommend this hidden jewel and I will continue do frequent. I can't wait to go back!

I finally got to try Lydia on H on a Friday night with some friends! The food was delicious. So delicious that I forgot to take a picture before eating it all. I highly recommend the salmon bites and macaroni & cheese. My friend got Brussels sprouts and she loved them as well. There is also an upper level with lounge seating, bar and a DJ as well. Hookah is available here too.

The food was amazing, especially the stewed goat. Our server Day was extremely attentive and provided some of the best service I have had in a while. Would strongly recommend this restaurant for a weekend chill vibe.

I came here randomly one night and yesterday made my 5th visit. The oxtails are AMAZING!!!! Ive ventured away from them to try more options on the menu but I always get an order of oxtails to go still lol. I love the jerk chicken and salmon bites also. I've never tried anything on this menu that wasn't great. I'm excited to wake up early enough on the weekends to try their brunch

I was having a hard day I needed a place to go for taco Tuesday. I heard good reviews from this place and wanted to try for myself. When I walked in I first noticed the atmosphere was relaxing and also very colorful. I sat down at the bar and was greeted by the bartender who handed me a taco Tuesday happy hour menu. I was about five minutes late for happy hour, however the bartender allowed me to order the happy hour specials. I had steak tacos which were seasoned and cooked to my liking. They were also very filling. The bartender recommended a drink, which was exactly what I needed. It was delicious. There was great music playing in the background and the other customers seemed happy with their experience as well. I would definitely recommend heading to this place not just for happy hour but any time you need a pick me up.

Great food, drinks, and overall fun chill atmosphere. Staff was great and made the experience more fun. Had the oxtails which were amazing! Definitely will be going back when in DC.