Atmosphere and crowd
My dining companion and I were both warned about the location by a various mix of paranoid suburbanites. However, their fears proved to be unwarranted. While the area may not be the most welcoming or aesthetically pleasing, the convenient parking lot allows you to get in and out without a worry.
Inside we were welcomed by the intense scent of incense and various spices, as well as stares from the only two diners in the venue. The interior is incredibly unique and decorated with African art, maps, photos, tapestries and a giant doll somewhat creepily posed by a curio cabinet filled with knick knacks.
Thatched dining areas and low basket tables and chairs are situated under makeshift huts, but conventional tables are also offered if you want to be completely boring. We took a seat under one of the huts and took in our surroundings—tribal music in the background and a good view into the open kitchen where the Ethiopian women, dressed in their traditional dress, efficiently and happily ran the kitchen.
The restaurant was practically empty when we arrived, but by 8:30 p.m. the place was filling up with an eclectic mix of solo and group diners of the business, grad school and artsy variety.
