221 Restaurant — Restaurant in Cincinnati

I recently ordered from this restaurant over the phone and decided to pick up my meal in person. Unfortunately, my experience was extremely disappointing and frankly, quite frustrating. When I arrived, I found that the "Maafe" or "Peanut Sauce" bucket I received was only half full—despite what I expected based on previous experiences at other restaurants. The menu clearly states that these buckets are supposed to be filled generously with sauce, especially for dishes like Maafe, which rely heavily on sauce for flavor and authenticity. Instead, I was handed a container that was noticeably lacking in volume. It felt like a bait-and-switch, as if they were trying to cut corners or scam customers by giving them less than what they paid for. This kind of dishonesty is unacceptable. It’s not just about the quantity; it’s about the integrity of the restaurant and respect for customers. The quality of the food itself was also subpar—lacking flavor, and the sauce was thin and oily , not the rich, hearty peanut sauce I was expecting. Overall, this experience left a sour taste, and I strongly advise anyone considering this place to think twice. There are many other restaurants that serve authentic, generous portions with honesty and professionalism. Don’t waste your money here—you're likely to be disappointed just like I was. Brothers and sisters, Avoid...

I went there with my father and they were doing remodeling and still open. Not even 5 minutes in there. I had sawdust in my mouth, had a child behind the counter coughing and looked disgusting, especially if you go to the bathrooms got the food and left. Went home and tried it. Father took a few bites and It was disgusting The couscous fell flat The lamb was actually mutton and it was overcooked and burnt on the outside and slimy on the inside The onions were Cold My father went and put Listerine in his mouth to get the taste out and that didn't even work completely. Not to mention The smell reeks everywhere My dad had to wash his hands five times to get the smell out and when driving to pick up my brother we could still smell in the car even though it wasn't even a 5-minute drive back to the house and total. This restaurant is disgusting and probably needs to have a health code brought...

After having a rather unpleasant experience at a different African restaurant earlier in the day, 221 turned my frown upside down! The service was impeccable. The chef came out to speak to us and let my man taste the rice. I’m vegetarian and he was able to make mixed veggie fried rice that was out of this world. You could see the passion in his eyes as he spoke about the food. And it did not disappoint. My fiancé loved the red snapper entree and fish fitaya as well. The price was reasonable and the portions were large enough to last for two meals. We also ordered bissop and ginger drink. We got the last 2 gingers but when an employee came with a cart of fresh drinks, he exchanged them for the fresh drinks! If I could give more than 5 stars I would....