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| - For a taste of the exotic, the allure of eating without utensils, and a journey to Ethiopia...Lalibela is your dining destination.
Although this cozy restaurant is located in a strip mall in Tempe, the African art, woven baskets, and boxes of Harar in the hall (Ehtiopian Lager, which is delicious!) give you a small sense that you have stepped into another world.
This illusion stays well preserved as you peruse the menu and realize you have never seen anything like it, starting with your inability to pronounce "Yekik Alicha" (split peas).
But do not be daunted by this new territory. Start your adventure to Ethiopia with the "Yekemem Shai," a black tea with cinnamon, cardamom & cloves. If you are new to Ethiopian, and not sure what to get, the Lalibela Exclusive is the most fantastic combination of dishes you can sample. Here, you will have a smattering of meat and vegetarian dishes ranging from "Yebeg Alicha Sega Wat" (lamb cubes simmered in kibae, onion, turmeric and herbs) to my personal fave, the "Yekik Alicha" (split peas cooked with onion, turmeric and herbs).
Once the food arrives, the basket of "injera" (bread closely resembling a crepe) will become your eating utensils. Don't be shy, tear off a piece, and use it to scoop the delicious morsels off the plate and into your expectant mouth. You will not be disappointed. In fact, you may feel as though you have just stepped off University and into a traveling caravan in the Ethiopian desert.
Whether you are a carniverous adventurer, or a vegetarian swashbuckler - you will enjoy the richness and flavors of this unique cuisine. Bring a large appetite, as the food is quite filling. Dominant meats are beef, chicken and lamb. Savory veggies to be enjoyed are lentils, peas, cabbages, and collard greens.
For a lovely gustative to finish your meal, order a glass of the traditional Ethiopian sweet wine made from honey.
Overall, from the service to the food, to the ambiance, an excellent place to bring friends, or a date ;)
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