My partner and I stumbled upon this spot in the very last hours of a whirlwind weekend in Vegas. We were looking for a quick and delicious meal before we made our way to the airport and Axum just happened to be the closest restaurant to the bar we were at - and we are so glad it was! After three days of hotel buffets and bar food, the feast at Axum was a perfect note on which to end the trip.
We walked in to a room shrouded in the heady scent of incense and coffee beans - they had just performed a traditional coffee ceremony - perhaps a daily ritual. It was early still and we were the first patrons of the evening. There were a number of round tables and chairs arranged about the fairly large space that gave the sense of doubling as a spot for community where the furniture could be easily stacked away to accommodate large gatherings.
To say that the staff was friendly would be an understatement. The effusive waitress brought us our menus and bottled waters and took great care to explain the menu to us. We weren't super hungry so decided to get the fitfit and a meat sampler platter to share - and oh boy, the portions could have fed an entire family. The fitfit - warm injera bread with a veggie medley was delicious. The sampler platter came with a basket of injera and a variety of spiced lamb and chicken dishes and veggies including beans and greens - all wonderfully flavored and lip-smacking. The food was spicy, just the way we like it. We ate with our hands, which was the perfect way to enjoy the feast before us. Living in New York, I was definitely familiar with Ethiopian cuisine but there were some flavors on my plate that I had never experienced earlier. In general the ambience and flavors had a certain authenticity to them. And for the amount of food we were served, it was a real steal.
For anyone with an adventurous spirit looking for a unique dining experience in Vegas among a sea of generic joints, this is definitely a place worth checking out. Additionally, you would be supporting what seems to be a business that is owned and operated by immigrants, people of color and members of a vibrant community - one that provides for a great cultural experience.
In brief: Axum - two enthusiastic thumbs up!