rev:text
| - Thoroughly average Ethiopian food. 100% acceptable but not special.
So, I'm a bit of an Ethiopian connoisseur...I've had it in areas with large Ethiopean/Eritrean populations like DC, Oakland, NYC, Seattle, and quite a few more places. This means I'm a little picky.
This restaurant produces a competent version of many of your Ethiopian standards. We had a veggie sampler and a small meat combo. I quite enjoyed the lentils which were well-done here. Most of the veggies, however, lacked some of the complexity of flavor and spiciness (not necessarily hot spiciness) that have come to define good Ethiopian food for me. The injera (the spongy sour-fermented bread) that one uses in lieu of utensils was a bit sweet and light for my taste. I think perhaps they aimed for a more Americanized (I'm not sure if I can say Canadianized) palate.
I like that they have kitfo on the menu, but I was not brave enough to order it in its full, completely raw, glory. It was nice and buttery in its medium rare incarnation; however, it was lacking the spicing and heat that truly make it such an authentic dish. Kudos for including this dish on the menu. [For the curious, the Queen of Sheba on 46th Street/10th Ave in NYC has the best kitfo I've ever had.] They do have a nice awaze (the wine/berbere hot sauce mix)...that helps spice things up.
Service was fine, decor is a bit dated, and paying took forever! I also found portions, especially of the veggies slightly on the small side.
|