Ghana Cafe is relocating. We are no longer on 18th Street, Northwest side
of Washington, DC. There are two floors. Upstairs is a dance floor for people
to shimmy and shake to Afropop, Reggae, Soukous, Zouk frequent by a mixed
nationality crowd. They come from all corners of the world ---Africa, Caribbean,
Europe, Asia & North & South America. This is an international scene
that will thrill you.
The high ceilings and uncluttered furnishing of the first-floor restaurant
area allows for an open, relaxed atmosphere in the refreshingly well-lit space.
There is a bar off to the side, where you can sit down and drink a beer, whether
one of Ghana Cafe's more exotic brands, such as Club Beer, Star Beer and Gulder
Beer, or other African Beer Tusker (from Kenya), or the now-discontinued Zambezi
(from Zimbabwe) or a more commonplace brands. For the people who don't care
for beer, there is the house punch, which mixes the flavors of pink lemonade
and cranberry juice with light liquors. The service is swift and courteous,
with the proprietor himself running out to fetch ingredients to make the house
punch when it is requested.
But
there is no reason to crowd around the bar when the new location has a lot
of table space. Relax, drink lager and watch the happenings on 18th street
through Ghana Cafe's glass-windowed front, or sit further back in the restaurant
and talk with friends. While there, you can sample East African cuisine at
fairly reasonable prices. The portions are generous, the food is spicy and
there is almost a one-to-one ratio of carnivore to vegetarian dishes. If you
come in a group you get a buffet! Wonderful!
Many of Ghana Cafe's finer qualities come from the small crowd. There are many new people to meet, and people seep into the background to just people-watch the activities inside the bar. If you are out with a group of people and would like to shanghai an establishment, this is one of better places to do it.
A Ghanaian couple runs the establishment..
Tony Opare serving a glass of Champagne.
Abigail Opare writing down an order from a patron.
