I've driven past this place numerous times and had no idea there was a Somalian restaurant in the back, off the street. Thanks to the Levine Museum of the New South and plancharlotte.org for putting on a "Munching Tour" along Central Avenue and exposing about 20 people to new food.
For $10, we received a plate called "chicken suqar". The chicken came with bread that was like crepes. You tear off a piece and then pick up some marinated chicken and some greens with the bread and pop it in your mouth. Really really good.
It was also served with a banana. Well, I did some research and apparently this is very often served as a side dish with meal. Knock knock. Who's there? Banana. Banana who?
I also didn't know the extent of Italian influence on Somalia and Somalian food. I knew Italy had fought Ethiopia and lost (Italian military might has not quite been the same since the Roman empire days). But I was completely ignorant about the Italy-Somalia history.
The woman who runs the restaurant told us that she came to the US about 15 years ago and couldn't speak English. She always loved to cook and when you have her food, you'll realize that's a good thing for the rest of us.
There's also a little shop next to the restaurant and they sell all sorts of things like beautiful Somalian clothing, jars of dates, and toothbrushes made out of bark. Seriously.
What a great find - check it out.