Get served: Empress Taytu

Food

The menu, while filled with various illustrations and cultural narrations about Ethiopian culture, is a bit confusing, especially if you’re not familiar with the cuisine. With a geniune smile, our server pleasantly and randomly told us what to pick without much explanation.

We ended up with a meat and vegetable combo filled with exotic names like kik-alicha, misir and tikil gomen, which bascially is yellow split peas, red lentils and collard greens. This choice didn’t really translate favorably to our taste buds, but we liked our other entrée, tibs—beef sautéed in spiced butter, green peppers and rosemary.

All of the entrées are served on large round trays covered with injera, a moist flatbread that is also presented on the side and intended to be used as your silverware. Eating without utensils is a lot easier than expected, but the bread with its spongy and cold texture is not for everyone. Most diners will be able to find something on the menu suited for their taste as North African beef, chicken, lamb and vegetarian dishes are all offered.