Koité Grill — Restaurant in Silver Spring

This was my first and definitely the last time ordering from this place.i ordered from the RFK Farmers Market location an HOUR before I got there.they stated online that my food will be ready at 5:10.i arrived at 6:pm.when I got there,they told me it will be ready in 10 mins.i went to my car,waited and came back out after 15 minutes,only to be told that the plaintain was still not ready .so I told the server “I ordered online thinking that I would get my food faster”-he was apologetic and I continued to wait .mind you,i didn’t speak rudely.

Then out of nowhere someone else comes out to tell me that my food was supposed to be ready at 5:10,so I’m like it’s past 5:10 though,and he proceeds to tell me that they don’t want to serve cold food so they prepare the food when you get there -(doesn’t this negate the purpose of online ordering then?).I proceed to tell him that well I see that you guys have warmers in the back so placing online orders in there shouldn’t be a problem.because the purpose of placing an order online is so that my wait time won’t be the same as someone walking in.He then tells me that he will mark my name and next time I order,he will let my food sit out for 40 mins and walked off..HOW unnessarily rude and disrespectful !!The right thing to do was issue a simple apology for the delay like the server was wise enough to do. im definitely never coming back to spend my money at a place that will disrespect me.This is why people don’t like supporting their own.Decorum is severely lacking! NEVER stepping...

The quality of the food and service at Koité Grill has been on a downward trend, and I won’t be returning to this establishment.

While I have been a loyal customer of Koité Grill for years, I’ve noticed—based on my last two catering orders from the restaurant and latest interactions with its management—that the quality of the food and service have markedly declined over the last year.

Most recently, I placed a large catering order (for nearly a thousand dollars) for a party I was hosting, and I was disappointed because:

The restaurant made a mistake in fulfilling my order. I ordered beef fatayas. The restaurant made an error and gave me fish fatayas instead. Most of my guests don’t eat fish; I was consequently forced to discard most of the order I paid for.

The chicken dibi was bitter, unlike how it usually tastes—likely the result of too much coal exposure/over charring.

This was the second time the restaurant gave us the wrong fatayas. And, overall, I have noticed a deterioration in food quality and flavor consistency even through the restaurant has continued to increase catering prices.

When I reached out to one of the owners to share my concerns and explore avenues for compensation, they were dismissive and arrogant. While they apologized for the inconvenience, they refused to provide compensation or a refund. Going forward, I’ll be looking elsewhere for my...

Soo, this is an unconventional review, because I was mentioning to someone how much I was craving some god jollof rice and they recommended this place and another… and imagine my surprise when they were at the Hst festival! I hopped in line, waited (amongst a crowd) for about 10-15 mins… they did have a fluid operation going for an outdoor event, so I can only imagine what a dine in experience is like! Very impressive.

But, can’t compare prices because it was an event… but the 2 items I got were definitely pricey and flavorful! And probably enough for 2 people to have some sides if you chose a meat entree (which I didn’t), just the 2 sides (which would classify as vegetarian, Macn cheese and the jollof ( possibly vegan, not sure if the rice was boiled in a broth?)

The Jollof: The rice was very different, can’t explain the grain used, it’s very small, reminiscent of a tiny couscous… I’m told they use something similar in Hati, but with the other flavors and veggies with the grilled onions on top, it was just right. But I was informed the Senegalese do jollof different.

So yes on the very different, but equally yes on the flavor, though different also, it was hints that are familiar while taking their own spin on it.

Will be on the lookout for them if I’m ever close to that side...