Sapodilla’s Caribbean Restaurant and Catering DC — Restaurant in Washington

I stumbled upon Sapodilla DC after spotting it near Grounded and immediately added it to my must-try list. Since my boyfriend is Trinidadian, I’ve been making an effort to explore more Caribbean restaurants, so this spot was perfect for a date night—even if it was totally unplanned.

Ambiance & First Impressions

Sapodilla is modern, stylish, and intimate—definitely giving upscale Caribbean vibes. The space features warm wooden tables, plush green velvet barstools with gold accents, and bold murals with vibrant colors, tropical animals, and lush greenery. Whether you’re seated at the bar or dining in, the ambiance is chic yet inviting.

We were greeted by Karol, an incredibly warm and personable hostess, who made sure we felt welcome from the moment we walked in. She even gave us a little tour of the restaurant’s artwork and pointed out the owner who was talking with family who was seated next to us. That personal touch made the experience even better.

Drinks

Our server Carrie offered sparkling water (we declined and went with lemon water—budgeting for the good stuff), but I knew I had to check out the bar. China, the bartender, took her time recommending drinks based on what I usually order. • Rum Punch ($18) – A classic and well-balanced. • Guyana Daiquiri ($18) – Not your typical frozen daiquiri cause it’s not frozen. This was grown and sexy, served in a martini glass with the perfect balance of citrus and sweetness. Highly recommend!

Appetizer: Jerk Broiled Oysters ($18)

Now, my boyfriend had never tried oysters before, and we all know it’s an acquired taste. The oysters were petite but packed with flavor, seasoned just right with a little spice. I loved them—bae, not so much. He took one bite, made a face, and tapped out. (Respectfully.)

Main Course: Curry Goat Roti ($35)

This was a make-or-break dish because my boyfriend LOVES curry goat. It came in a cast iron pot, steaming hot, topped with fresh scallions, and served with soft, flaky roti. The goat was tender, juicy, and flavorful with just the right amount of heat—you could tell it was slow-cooked to perfection. We devoured it.

For those unfamiliar, roti is used to scoop up the curry, kind of like fufu for stew in West African cuisine or injera for lentils in Ethiopian culture. No forks necessary—just your hands and good vibes.

Dessert: Rum Cake ($8)

The presentation was stunning—a golden mini bundt cake drizzled with glaze, dusted with powdered sugar, and garnished with a fresh orchid. My only critique? I wish the glaze had soaked in a little more, but overall, it was light, fluffy, and delicious.

Service & Extras

After our meal, we checked out the upstairs area, which is available for private events. Be warned—the stairs will give you a little cardio, so pace yourself if you’re indulging in those strong cocktails!

We also chatted with Howard aka HG, who shared the history behind the restaurant. They have another location in Fort Washington, MD, which is more of a carryout spot. His wife is the owner, and I love seeing a power couple building something together.

Final Thoughts

✅ Food: Flavorful, authentic Caribbean dishes made with high-quality ingredients. ✅ Drinks: Crafted to perfection—China is a mixology pro! ✅ Service: Welcoming, friendly, and informative. ✅ Ambiance: A perfect blend of modern elegance and Caribbean warmth.

💰 Final Bill: $103.40 + 18% tip = $122.20

Pro Tip: If you’re unsure what to order, come during happy hour first to try different dishes before committing to a full dinner. Nothing worse than spending money and being disappointed!

We’ll definitely be back for dinner and happy hour. If you’re looking for elevated Caribbean cuisine in DC, this is it....

I was heading to DC over the weekend for July 4th, Saw someone on TikTok making sapodillas look top tier, If not one of the best brunch spots on the app so of course I decided to go check it out. Things were going good but for a split second just like that things just completely went down hill!!!

SERVICE: decided to sit at the bar since the only table they had at the restaurant available was by the speaker where the Dj was playing music, I sat at the bar and waited for almost 25 min just to now finally get asked what am I drinking, the bartender was attentive but seemed focused more on certain tables/ people he never came back till another 15 min to ask what am I going to eat and the only reason he came back was because I had to get his attention to come back to me!! Told him my order got an appetizer, and that took a while to come out the waiter told me he would bring out plates for me to eat the appetizer, the whole entire time I never even got silverware and he never came back with plates so I had to do the usual and get someone’s attention to give me something, took a while for the entrees to come out people were getting there food before me then when I got my food it was Luke warm, and the waiter never came back and ask was the food good. I really just wanted to let the waiter know about the lackluster job they were doing but I decided to just let it go.

FOOD: I got the buss up shut, it was okay it would’ve been good if I got it on time but with almost waiting 1 hour for it and seeing people get there food before me I really wasn’t intrigued by the efforts of the food anymore! On top of that it was lukewarm and barely hot! Then what makes matters worse is that the food was overpriced I just paid a lot of money for some cold food that came out for almost a hour

Vibe: vibe of the restaurant was nice it’s music going people enjoying the sounds, lots of people coming in, and very clean and refreshing. The place has great potential to be a good spot

Unfortunately I will probably never come back here knowing that I took a trip to dc to come here would just stick to my same spot Matt and Tony’s honestly when I come up to...

We waited 30 minutes just to receive our drinks and another 30 minutes before anyone took our food order. After being seated for a full hour, the owner came over to inform us that the restaurant was out of both oxtails and red snapper. The issue is that no other guests arrived after us during that time, which means those items were unavailable from the moment we were seated. This information should have been communicated upfront rather than after such a lengthy delay. However, I suspect they wanted to make some money off of us as they knew we would leave once they told us their most popular dishes were out.

We had friends visiting from Florida, and we were excited to bring them here based on recommendations. Unfortunately, due to the lack of available menu items and the poor service experience, we ultimately decided to leave.

When I attempted to express our concerns, the owner abruptly cut me off and stated that she was not dealing with my “energy.” The response felt dismissive and unprofessional. The entire situation was disappointing and did not reflect the level of hospitality or transparency guests should expect.

Positives: Seated quickly, apps arrived quick, place looks clean and modern. COD fish fritters were good. Drinks were good. Everyone was friendly.

Jerk wings were cold and had a rubbery texture to them as if they were not fresh.

As a fellow business owner, I wish this place a ton of success. However, I will not be returning. You do not wait over an hour to tell your guests that you are out of your most popular dinner options. The information should’ve been communicated when the waitress took our drink orders and explained the menu.

Also, just a recommendation, if a customer orders bottled water, the bottle should be poured at the table. I still have no clue if we received bottled water or tap water because the bottle was never brought...