Sost DC: A Vibe You Need to Experience
Before TikTok went through its whole death and rebirth, I saved a video of this restaurant and lounge that just felt like a vibe. The music, the ambiance, everything looked amazing. But let’s be real, the food was what really caught my eye. So, for a Saturday girls’ night out, we decided to check out SOST. According to the restaurant itself, “SOST is where the Black and African Diaspora thrive—a cultural bridge built on music, flavor, and community.”
Location… I won’t lie—when I saw that SOST. was near the U St. Corridor, right on 9th St., I had mixed feelings. If you’re from the area… you know. We won’t get into all that, though. A quick heads-up: parking is tricky. There’s some street parking, but park at your own risk, and keep in mind that the road gets barricaded after a certain time. My friends and I played it safe—we parked near the last spot of the night and Ubered to the restaurant.
The Vibes… SOST is giving lounge/club with good food—which is a familiar concept in DC. There was a security guard checking IDs at the door. Not sure if that happens only after a certain time or all night, but just be prepared. Our group had a 9 p.m. reservation. We arrived at 9:10 and were told our table was still being prepared. The hostess—who was super friendly—suggested we hang out at one of the bars while we waited. We grabbed drinks at the second-floor bar and were seated about 20 minutes later. The restaurant itself is beautiful—intimate seating, dim lighting, and a great vibe overall. The music set the mood perfectly, and after 11 p.m., a live DJ took over, turning the lounge all the way up.
The Drinks… SOST has two bars—one on the first floor and another on the second, which is more of the lounge area. Before getting seated, I ordered a Ranch Water since they didn’t have Prosecco. At the table, I went with my usual, a Tito’s dirty martini. First one was fine, second one? Picasso. My friends had Lemon Drops, and they loved them. They also gave the espresso martini a 10/10.
The Food… Listen. 5/5. 10/10. Whatever scale you want to use—the food was GOOD. We ordered a spread and shared everything:
SOST Chicken Wings (signature Sweet Tunisian Harissa sauce) – delicious, had a slight sweet chili taste.
House Salad – fresh, no complaints.
Grandma’s Suya Platter – flavorful, tender steak, but not true suya. If you’re expecting that signature suya kick, you might be disappointed. However, it was still good and came with jollof rice, which I really enjoyed. (Disclaimer: I’ve only had jollof once before, so I can’t compare.)
Harissa Creamy Salmon & Tiger Shrimp – loved the sauce, preferred the salmon over the shrimp, but no complaints there.
Garlicky Spinach – basic. If you need a green on your plate, go for it, but nothing special.
Overall, I had a great time and will definitely be back—but here are a few things to note:
We weren’t seated until 35 minutes after our reservation. Not a huge deal for me since the place is still new and working out kinks, but something to keep in mind.
Service was a little chaotic. It took a while for our server to introduce themselves, and we didn’t get silverware until after our food arrived, which was annoying.
Bottle service drama. We were seated at a high-top table near the steps and got our food around 10:20 p.m. Then, a security guard told us we had to leave at 11:00 p.m. because our table was for bottle service customers. Excuse me?! After some back and forth, they realized that wasn’t the case, but still… just something to be aware of.
Would I go back? Absolutely. Should you go? Yes—but manage your service expectations and bring some patience.
Cheers! 🥂
