What a phenomenal dining experience! The food was just fantastic and the service was even better. Highly recommend.

My wife and I came here, I had the South African beer which was ok... we started with the spinach and ricotta which was excellent! We had the vegan house special and the meat house special which were both amazing.... read more

I feel bad about giving this place a bad review but, hey, it's my job to give heads-up to Yelpers. Thank me at your leisure. The guilt I feel comes from the fact that the service was nice and the place was clean. Please note: +1 star for hygienic environment and basic human decency. Now for everything else. The prices were outrageous. Overpriced by about 50% would be my guess. They have a weird per-person pricing system that seems to function to make things more expensive. The food was too bland. What was especially noticeable was that the spicy vegetables were not spicy enough. There were two types of injera (the spongy bread) and only the one underneat the food (the "plate") was good. They offer you the option of dining on a western-style table or a more traditional place-setting that resembles a basket. It's a neat trick; it makes you feel like you're making choices from the get-go. Ethiopian food is unique, flavorful, and not frou-frou; the fact that Asmara turned it into something bland and unremarkable is just heart-breaking to me. Here's the most useful piece of advice in this review: The best ethiopian food in the world outside of Ethiopia is, for my money, in Washington DC. There's a HUGE East African population (e.g., Somalis, Eritreans, etc. etc.) They demand good Ethiopian food--and they get it. I know that a lot of Yelpers travel a good bit. You may find yourself in DC sometime soon. Save your Ethiopian adventure for when you're in our nation's capital. (Make sure to visit "the U St. corrider" the neighborhood U between 12th and 9th.) If you get Ethiopian food in DC, you're in for a treat. If you get Ethiopian food at Asmara, you're destined for disappointment. read more

Two years makes all the difference. The injera problem isn't completely solved- there is still the tough, overly sour stuff as the bottom layer, but this time we got sides of honest-to-god-real-life injera made with teff and everything! (not sure if they let it ferment for the obligatory 3 days but it tasted so good I don't care). I've been to Ethiopia. I can attest to the authenticity of good injera and good Ethiopian fare. Asmara? Freakin' aces. The vegetarian dishes were definitely more flavorful than the previous time I dined here. There is no light hand with the berbere- just the way I like it. The flavors were the closest I've come to experiencing what I dined on every day in the Ethiopian highlands. It wasn't perfect- the spice level is a bit turned down and the atakilt was not as fabulous as it could be- but it was darn close. The shiro and meser wots, however, were fabulous little piles of spicy chickpeas and lentils. On this trip Husband and I were the only people in the place so we were able to chat up the owner- an incredible, lovely woman who clearly loves her job and her restaurant. The place isn't perfect, but it's charm outweighs any imperfections. Oh and you poor saps that have to eat gluten free? They'll take care of you at Asmara- they are very attentive to allergies and dietary restrictions. Vegans and allergy sufferers feel free to indulge. read more

I can't for the life of me understand the negative comments people relate to this place. Asmara is exccellent! I used to be a frequent patron of their awesome all you can eat buffet (indeed, it took me a few years to come down from the related weight gain!); they have a great cross section of their dishes and they're still actually quite attentive, despite it being a lunchtime buffet in Central Square. Keep in mind that the recipies differ somewhat from what you find at Addis, because it is Eritrean, and it is just a regional difference from Ethiopian. Some of the dishes are more bitter, but the shuro is more rich and robust than you'll find most other places and truthfully worth the visit on its own. When I did eat meat, the yebeg wot was absolutely wonderous, as were the zilzil tibs and kitfo, which had a beautiful consistency and were positively delectable. In terms of service, the family that runs Asmara are some of the nicest people, business or not, that I met in Boston. I come back into town once every six months to a year, and they always remember me, and even remember the dishes that I like. When my ex girlfriend's mother (who also became a regular patron) died and we had to come back to town to help take care of arrangements, we went there for dinner and the wife who is generally there in the evening inquired about her; when we told her what'd happened she started crying and was genuinely saddened, and even considered closing the next day to come to the funeral (we told her not to). Come on, name me another place where someone actually cares that much. The only thing I will say is that the injera can be a bit on the drier side of things depending on the day. The decor is much more familiar than Addis; Addis may be a better introduction for culinary sissies, but, as far as I'm concerned, Asmara is tops. read more

I came here on a date. the food was good the date was bad and she got progressively worse from the afternoon and all the way through dinner and I almost fell asleep. Thank god it ended and the food was good enough for me to get through the night. Cambridge stills remains a favorite city of mine even though it was very cold when we were there. Ethiopian Injera bread is best described as similar to the south indian dosa. they put a large platter lined on injera bread and serve with 3-4 curries and 3-4 side dishes Ethiopian style in a communal setting. not exactly the best for a bad date but it is what it is. I ate to my hearts content and that was it. You share the same plate and eat from that. its a good concept of sharing and bonding. Get used to eating with your hands. this is not beacon hill. lucky the bill was not too steep, would have made the date even worse, especially since I was paying. Anyway the good news is my dating days are finally over, so no more awkward restaurant choices and I can eat how much I want and how ever I want so in the best of real places. I will come back here if I return to Cambridge soon. I am creating a new yelp list called ' The K bad date restaurants' and this will be on the list not because of the great food, but because of the bad date :) read more

There was one vegetarian in our party of four, and we had two veggie dishes and two meat dishes (the veggie combo, meat combo, veggie stew and a raw beef dish). The food was great, though service was a little lacking. The injera bread gets a bit soggy by the end, but they will give you a fresh plate of it if you ask. The lamb in the meat combo was so tasty, I'll definitely come back again. PS - portions are pretty big, I'd say order one less entree than the number of people present. read more

So, I come from this little, bitty hick town in the South, where the Cracker Barrel is considered fine dining (although who can say no to some yummy apple butter?). What does this mean? It means, the first time I sauntered into the Asmara following an incredibly underwhelming concert at the ICA (I actually fell asleep, and they were NOT quiet), I took one look at the basket tables and was like "Um... hello, how do YOU work?" Luckily, the nice lady who works there saw the fear in my eyes and led my friend and I to one of the tables. She explained how it all worked, and when met with my blank yet trusting eyes, left me to absorb the completely foreign to me menu. After asking her what basically everything on the menu was, we were then handed these deliciously warm and lovely scented towel to clean our hands (and thank God... we just came from the T. Ewwwww plague hands) and, I have no idea what is on those towels, but my hands were softer than a baby's backside. Feeling more relaxed and obsessively rubbing my now clean and insanely soft hands together, I ordered the ahimilti bebaynetu, a veggie dish and my friend ordered the derho fitfit. I should note that this was on a Friday, during Lent, so I was trying desperately hard to be a good little Catholic girl and not eat any meat, but after trying the vinegary, chicken-y goodness of the derho... well, sorry Jesus. That chicken WILL be going in my belly. Also, the injera is my new crack. That business is redonculously good and the texture is just... sorry... I need a moment on my own... Okay, back. Anyway, yeah. It's not cheap but it's food that this deprived little Southern girl had never heard of and DAYUM it was yummy. Also, do what I did on my next trip where I went with my cousin who was on a business trip and was able to charge it to her expense account. Actually, next time, I'll probably take her to Clio or somewhere outrageously expensive. But either way, I'm going to continue my Homer impression. "Yummmmm vinegary chicken in a squidgy pancakeeeeeeeeeeee..." read more

When we walked in at 6pm on a Sat night, we were the only ones there and the hostess/waitress was sleeping on a chair - it took several "Excuse me"s and throat clearings to rouse her. Guess she had a long day. Then my husband spilled the pitcher of water which they place on the stool (aka small table) beside the main wicker table. It made a very impressive splash and I'm sure our sleepy waitress appreciated picking ice cubes off of the carpeted floor. The four of us had a combo plate, honey wine (too sweet), Asmara beer (good), Corona (fine), $5 mango juice, and tea/coffees afterwards. Total came to about $110. I must say, although the food was fair (very similar to Indian), I'm not into the "sour crepes" that serve as utensils. Scoop and Shovel is the way the food gets into the mouth, I'm afraid. Bring a bib and a sense of humor if you're not adept at this method of eating. By the time we were leaving, the place had filled up, so it's definitely a popular joint. read more

Growing up in DC where there is a huge eritrean/ethiopian population, I looooved this spicy food, and was so pleased to live near the BEST source in the boston area. Seriously: I would eat here every day if I could. ASMARA is a no-frills *focus on the SPICY FOOD* kind of place. The sour dough of the delicious Injira cuts through the spiciness and complex seasoning of the dishes ohh soo well. My favorite combo to share is a vegetarian and a meat combo platter -- thats dinner for two plus leftovers for lunch at work the next day. The food keeps well in the fridge the next day because the spongy bread absorbs alll the sauce. A few of the older one star reviews need some response, and since I dont see the family writing back here I will. FIRST, I was surprised that there were 4 one star reviewers who disparaged an "elderly lady" who allegedly refused to serve them.... I've been coming here for 6 years and *never* had a cross word. The staff jokes around with customers, and is incredibly friendly. Then i re-read the reviews and noticed that most were out of towners who had come for the same GRADUATION dinner. Look, we "townies" know how bad it gets around Cambridge esp with Harvard graduation.... - Central and Harvard square businesses are mobbed with well....sorry to sayit but some pretty entitled, drunk, snobby customers. So if you are reading the reviews, please take those vindictive one star reviews that beat upon granny with a grain of salt: I'm sure theres another side to that tale. SECOND,some reviews complain about the "sourness" of the food. The sourness is from the injira bread, which is *sour dough bread*. That sourness and the spicy flavor is what this cuisine is known for -- so if you are eating at ethiopian food places and never get sour injira then, well.... dude, you are doin it wrong. AUGUST 2014: Asmara is going to be closed for several weeks this month due to some plumbing being replaced. I haveto live without my Injira for a whole month,which is whatprompted me to review this restaurant I've come to appreciate esp in its absence. SO If you are reading this in august 2014, do PHONE FIRST if you are considering coming to make sure they are open. read more

As someone who has been to plenty of Ethiopian and Eretrian restaurants (favorite being in Rome--yes Rome, Italy)... this place is mediocre. First off, the waiter told us of some special with a little bit of everything and salmon and blah blah...and when I tried to inquired about other dishes she just tried to sell us the special AGAIN!!! Well, I don't do buffet's and I don't do specials where its the equivalent of a buffet except they put it in a plate for you. I wanted something w/beef done on the rare side and spicy. I was pointing to dish number 13 (or something like that) and she demanded I take dish number 15...OKAY...just make it rare and spicy. Well, it came out on a big dish w/the other four dinners we ordered who did take the special and WAS NOT SPICY nor rare. Then we asked for some spicy sauce which came out 25 minutes after the food along w/the wine bottle. This place is way too expensive and way to bland. I mean come on...if I wanted boiled bland lentils I would just boil some...the food was horrible...and not worth it. I cant believe some of the other reviews, where people gave this place 4/5 stars because they are comparing it to Cracker Barrel and consider sitting at a traditional table the highlight of the restaurant.... well you can come over to my house any time and take a squat in my garden and you can have an authentic experience of any cuisine... This is a pretty bad restaurant and does a disservice to Ethiopian cuisine. read more

Delicious. Amazing. We've been here a few times and every time the food is fresh, hot, spicy, authentic & intoxicating. And the service is very quick and very professional. Couldn't recommend this restaurant more. Five stars! read more

Now, I've only tried Ethiopian food here, but at least from my perspective, it was outstanding. I was brought here on Valentine's Day, and I was sold the moment we were seated. The restaurant is dim, with a soft lighting that could be described as romantic. Soft music. The tables are small, as they bring out the dishes in a free-standing side. My date and I shared honey wine, which is homemade and sweet. We shared a meat and veggie combo; I unfortunately don't remember the specifics. However, needless to say, the meal was amazing. It turns out, I love eating with my hands, and that plus the shared "plate" created a really lovely sense of intimacy. I'll most definitely be returning here. read more

I used to love this restaurant and would try to go every few months - especially since the injera (sour bread) they use is meant to be gluten free (based on older recipes) and sharing food with friends is the best experience. But lately, they've only allowed the person with the allergy to have gluten free injera and would no longer make the communal meals using the gluten free recipe. Therefore I have to order a separate meal on the side, and don't get to share in the experience. Overall the food is good though, and service very friendly. Still, now I always feel bad/awkward when I'm the kid eating a small side meal apart from my friends/family. read more

Huh, funny. This place gets only so-so Yelp reviews, and I actually find it one of the tastiest Ethiopian (though I think this place is actually Eritrean) options in Boston. Definitely tastier than Red Sea, and that place by the Boston Orchestra stop on the Green Line. Even tastier than that one place I went to in Greenwich (useful reviewing, I know). Anyway, I've been here maybe 3-4 times, and every time I've really loved it. I always come here with the boyfriend and some third or fourth person(s) that we want to impress/treat/introduce to Eritrean cuisine. We always get the honey wine, and then banter a bit with the younger lady (waitress who, I think, is the owner's daughter too?), and then we just get a big sampler platter of meat and veg. The injera is lovely - squishy, spongey, with that vinegary tang. The kitfo (raw meat; pretty typical dish of the region) is SO DIVINE. Ugh. I could go crazy about it. And it's fun to wash it all down with honey wine - which resembles muscat dessert wine, if you're into that. Another bonus about this place (though not great for them, I guess) is that it's almost always pretty empty, and so it's easy peasy to find a table for 4-5 on any night of the week. At least, we've never had a problem. read more

We came here on a Tuesday for my friend's birthday. The loudest group of people you could ever imagine - yet the server was unimaginably nice and helpful, she put up with our undecidedness and constant chattering and needing more drinks, bread etc. The food was BY FAR the best ethiopian I've been to in Boston so far, and my friend had one of the best birthday dinners of her life. The atmosphere was so warm and cozy, the music was perfect (I personally love african music so I was sold from the beginning) and my friend even got an amazing ice cream with a candle on the house. Thankfully I live really close to Central and will be coming there again, believe me. Thank you for such a great dinner!! ps: Honey wine. read more

I really like this place. I got spoiled by eating amazing Ethiopian in DC, but Asmara doesn't disappoint. The combos are amazing. I usually get heartburn from the spiciness after eating here, but well worth it! Try the raw meat if you are feeling adventurous. It's one of my favorites. Try the homemade honey wine too. It tastes like mead. read more

I was torn between a 3 and 4 star for this place. All in all, I'd say It's pretty darn good. I am not sure if this is just a characteristic of Ethiopian food in general, but everything tasted the same to me. My friends and I shared the meat combo- you get a chicken, beef, lamb and veggie dish (plus salad). It was all really tasty but had the same basic flavors. Anyway, I liked the food and it's a good value for the price. read more

Oh, how I love this restaurant, let me count the ways! 1) If I call in the morning, they will make gluten-free bread for that day and I can have it when I come in that afternoon or evening. 2) Even when I don't call in - they often have the bread anyway. 3) The atmosphere. It is a quiet, nicely decorated, unassuming, ethnic-without-being-kitchy atmosphere. The chairs are comfortable and I love sitting at the "tables" that are really just big woven furniture and having my food served on a large tray within the basket area. 4) The food! The Asmara tea is quite delightful, and we always end up getting the sampler (the one with meat - although I've done the veggie one too and it's quite lovely). Ask for extra salad - I love their salad and we always run out. There is a wide assortment of flavors to their sampler, so I tend to alternate between the dishes. I think having a full meal of any one of the items might overwhelm my palate, but the sampler allows me to change it up often enough to keep it fresh throughout the meal. And there is a sourness to the beef that I quite enjoy (must be my German heritage) ;-). 5) The wait staff (which is often the owner herself), is always friendly and has a smile on their face. They are happy to see me and always gracious. Really, if you haven't been there - go - they rock! read more

First of all, sit in the traditional style tables. Second of all, order the honey wine (its not too sweet, I promise). Third, don't be intimidated by eating with your hands. Fourth, get dessert! If you follow these simple directions, this place will yield a great dining experience. Overall, very authentic, very delicious, and very welcoming spot. If they lowered their prices, they would get my fifth star. read more

This restaurant is way over priced for the portions and quality of food. I ordered the chicken entree and it was just a small plate of shredded chicken and nothing else for $16.95. It didn't come with any rice or bread, just a side portion size of chicken. A can of coke is $3.95. But what upset me the most was that while I was eating the waitress came over twice to ask how everything was and asked if I was still working on my meal. I told her I was still hungry and eating my meal. She then asked if she can pack it to go and I told her I don't want my food to disappear (as a jokingly way of saying that I am still working on it). This waitress literally said, "it's not going to disappear, I am just going to pack it to go" and then took my plate! Just like that she fregg'n took my plate and walked away! I was super shocked and didn't say anything because I didn't want to make a fuss in front of my friends. But, what she didn't realize was that it was my first and only meal for the whole day. I understand that it was the end of the night and that she wanted to go home, but I was still very hungry when she took my plate away. So I ended up going to 7-Eleven across the street and spent more money for snacks. read more

The worst Ethiopian/Eritrean food I can remember having (out of dozens--even in other countries). More sour than spicy. Missing the richness that can make this food delicious. Overpriced. Addis Red Sea in the South End is better...though neither compares to, say, DC Ethiopian. update: tried it again. I reiterate my previous comments. Yay, I was spot on! A disgrace for the price. read more

Came here after my friend went there a couple days ago, whought the food was good. Modest (but homey) decor. We ate on a mesob (Eritrean/Ethiopian table), which is nice. The server was nice and accommodating. We got lamb, beef, collard greens, and cabbage. The cabbage and beef were my favorites. They served two types of Injera: traditional version and one that was made with Teff, which supposedly has higher nutritional content. Injera was fine...nothing to complain there. read more

This place was great all around. I went for my first Ethiopian experience and the waitress was friendly, sat us at one of the traditional basket tables and walked us through the process without being condescending or overbearing. The food itself was savory and warm and satisfied me fully, even though I was at first worried there wouldn't be enough food. I tasted chicken and beef, and both were mild, not the spicy meal I had been longing for, as my friend put the kibosh on my spicy food proposals. Looking back at the menu now, I'm not sure what I ordered, but the beef came in cubes and was pretty bland, but the quality of the dish was still high. The chicken was tender and juicy and had a yellow curry sauce, definitely the winner of the night. They did have spicy on the menu though, and next time I visit, I will be putting their spicy to the test. I've been to a few Ethiopian places since this initial experience, but this is still my top pick for food. read more

Third time's the charm. On my third time eating ethiopian/eritrean food, I can now honestly say I love it. All the individual flavors stand out. I love that it's always family style. I don't generally see the need to eat with my hands with indian food, but for some reason, there doesn't seem like any other way to eat ethiopian food. Definitely go in a big group if you can. They'll also want to push the big combo platters, but if you have a big enough group you should just order what you want off the menu and save a few dollars. read more

Mixed reviews for this place but I'm going to have to side with the positive people. I found this such a unique and tasty experience. The injera was delicious and it was easy to dig right in with your hands despite some initial hesitation. We had the chicken and the beef and both were well spiced. My only complaint might be that it is a bit pricey (15-20 per entree) and there wasn't a huge amount of meat, though I mainly filled myself on the injera since there was tons of that. Very fun for a group of friends who you are close to but perhaps not the best place for a first date or going with people you don't know since there is the whole sticking your fingers in the communal food thing that some people might be squeamish about. read more

I love injera, the smushy bread that comes with Ethiopian cuisine. I mean I love injera so much that I will regularly hold it softly against my cheek and sigh wistfully before consuming it. The bread at Asmara is fluffy, soft, and just a bit sour from the fermented teff used to make it. It's excellent, I mean really really excellent. Sadly, the food seems to err on the side of bland. My collard greens were well cooked but tasted mainly one-note and the yellow lentils had barely any flavor beyond "This is a lentil." My companion and I wanted to share their vegetarian sampler and were instructed by the waitress that it "served one." Served one person for $16? Well alright. Once ordered, it was obvious that one would have been sufficient when paired with an appetizer, and we felt we had been swindled a bit into over ordering. Why three stars? The food here is authentic and good, but the prices are just a bit crazy. I've been to other Ethiopian restaurants (Addis comes to mind) where the portions were even more plentiful, and more importantly-- flavorful and prices cheaper, and the food quality was just as good if not better. Is their priciness due to location? I couldn't say. But for ho-hum service and not particularly impressive food, I have to say I'd rather go elsewhere for Ethiopian, even if their injera is fabulous. I just wish the rest of their food was as tasty. read more

This was my first time trying Ethiopian food, so I was fairly skeptical after reading most of the reviews. FORTUNATELY, I still went in with an open mind and I actually enjoyed everything I tried. My friend and I ordered a combination of both meat and veggie platters. My only complaint is that it was kind of on the expensive side, BUT the veggie dish and Asmara beef dish were delicious! The injera was actually better than I thought it would be. It was very moist and spongy and a little on the sour side, but tasted wonderful with the food... especially that beef. I'll definitely be going back just for that (and the honey wine!). The atmosphere is OK. We were actually the first ones in there for dinner so we got the table right in the front window, so it was really nice. The waitress/hostess did get pretty busy towards the end but she definitely seemed to be intentionally giving us a lot of time between visits, so don't go there if you are in a hurry. For us, it was perfect. Great experience, and I'll definitely be going back. 5/7/07 Update: I DID end up going back and I still stick with my first review. The food was really good, and you can eat a lot of it and not get that sick, gross full feeling. I love that! Tip: Get the Asmara Tibs...sooooo good, both mild and spicy! read more

I love this place. The food is too good for me to even think about right now without salivating. But make sure that you either a.) are not going anywhere afterward, b.) wear a layer of clothing you can peel off if you are going somewhere afterward, or c.) don't care if you smell very strongly of Ethiopian food (which, by the way, smells great for eating, but isn't very becoming to wear as your "scent"). Make sure you eat here. That's all I need to say about that. read more

I've tried my fair share of Eritrean/Ethiopian restaurants in several cities and can safely say that Asmara has been the worst of all. They throw down some pretty delicious lamb curry, but the collard greens left a lot to be desired. And the injeira was cold and hard - gross! The service was ridiculously slow on a pretty slow night, as well. Addis Red Sea in the South End is definitely the respectable choice for Ethiopian food in Boston. read more

Delicious Ethiopian food! It is a little pricey but worth it once in a while for something fun and new. Definitely try to get one their traditional tables (called messob). They use fermented teff injera (not the cheap stuff) All their vegetarian options are vegan. I recommend getting the vegetarian tasting platter so you can try lotsa of stuff. My favorite part of the restaurant is the video of Ethiopian dancers that they have had on loop every day for YEARS! So hilarious. I'm pretty confident in my abilities to do a traditional Ethiopian dance at this point. read more

How do you describe a color you've never seen, or a musical chord you've never heard? For Sweetie and I, this was a culinary experience like none we'd ever imagined before. Mea culpa for never having experimented with Ethiopian flavors, but this came as close to a gustatory epiphany as we've ever had. We shared the stuffed tomato appetizer, which was so incredibly flavorful that we wondered if the entrees could come close to outshining it. But the highlight of the afternoon (we were enjoying a late afternoon interlude during a long bicycle ride through Cambridge) came via a fortuitous, spontaneous recommendation by our charming server. We agreed to try the Sega Bebaynetu combination for 2, which comprised healthy servings of boneless chicken, spicy lamb, sautéed beef, and mild vegetable stew, mild lentils and a house special salad. The spices were entirely foreign to me, but became instant friends. Don't expect silverware at tableside, although the staff will probably slip a set to those who can't manage the traditional bread-scooping technique that our server taught us in a few moments. The crepe-like injera bread, forming a three-finger scoop, is simple and fun, especially when done at one of the traditional woven-reed Mesob tables near the front of the house. The Ethiopian lager and Ethiopian honey wine showed us just how much we parochial Americans are missing by falling back on Rolling Rock or Falling Leaf for our gentle buzz. Value priced, but unspeakably delectable, Asmara is among the very best International offerings Cambridge boasts. And that's saying a lot. read more

I've gone to Addis Red Sea many times, but had dinner at Asmara for the first time after hearing they are great with both gluten and dairy allergies. (Vegan options are also available.) For those of you who are gluten-free, it's recommended that you call ahead so they can make appropriate preparations with the bread. That said, on slow nights I have also just dropped in without warning and it hasn't been a problem. During my last visit, I ordered a dairy-free, gluten-free variation of the mixed-platter (carnivore version). This came on pleasantly-sour teff injera and had a little salad in the center. All the meat dishes were nicely spiced, as were the lentils, although amping up the flavor differentiation wouldn't hurt. The service was excellent. read more

Heaping portions of qualtiy Ethiopian food in a somewhat authentic atmosphere. I'd recommend you just order the combo things that the waitress recommends. Don't buy individual dishes because it will cost way too much and you'll have to wait. These guys seem to have a set pattern of the meat and vegetarian plates they put out. They're great. Try the rice stuffed tomatoes. read more

Excellent food. Tip: order it spicy. Very pleasant and laid back atmosphere. Ashley happy. They willingly sell their injera (the awesome special bread you'll associate with Ethiopian food) separately. Note to Yelp: How about an Eritrean category? read more

basically: don't bother, try someplace else Went with four people and order the veg/meat combo that sells per person. The food was not that tasty, injera lacking flavor, and the price is exorbitant for the quality/quantity of food. I've had way better in Philly, tucsonArizona and other places in Boston. Won't come here again unless someone else is paying and I'm having a craving for bland ethiopian read more

Awesome if I had a lot of money. I've been here 3 times I think and it just gets better. For vegans this is the best place to go. All their vegetarian entree dishes (including the vegetarian mix for $16) are vegan. YAY! No dairy or eggs in anything. And they even say vegan on their menu now! They even have vegan desserts - I got vegan peach sorbet in a frozen peach and there were a few other possible options. Waitstaff 5++++ stars. After we left we all agreed that our service (a young woman) was by far the best wait staff service we have EVER experienced anywhere in the world. She was funny, put up with my stepdad's not so PC questions, and my vegan questions. Great sport and very attentative. Food quality = 4 Stars. Very good, my only complaint was that some of the dishes were just too spicy, even for some of our super spicy palets. We love spicy foods but some dishes (the 2 meat dishes that my bf and stepdad had and 2 of the veggie dishes) were so spicy that we couldn't eat all them. This was my stepdad's first time eating Ethiopian and i think unfortunately his last because of the spicy food. However the rest of us will be back. Also the desserts were all super frozen (premade) and it would be better to possibly warm them up in the microwave for like 45 secs just to soften them. You really have to work hard for your dessert. The wine + tea were great and we drank every last sip. Price = 3 Stars. It's expensive, I mean it's really expensive. Way more expensive than Fasika (granted much nicer than Fasika for ambience) but I don't know if the food is much better. I think we may still go to Fasika more often because it's more affordable but for special occasions we will go to Asmara. Especially because I do appreciate the vegan labeling on items and great service. One note - technically this restaurant is not Ethiopian, it's actually Eritean. So things like sombosas (fried appetizer) that you typically find in Ethiopian restaurants don't exist here. read more

I sat down sad in my house one day. A friend called and said, "let's go eat!". I said "what a great idea! but where shall we go, your gluten free diet limits our choices". We sat in silence on the phone. "Asmara!", she suddenly yelled. "They use gluten free flour". Confused I replied "Asmara?". I heard a simple reply. "It's Ethiopian". Soon, my sadness was gone. We made our way down to this legendary Asmara and I was not let down. The servers are great. They are speedy are speedy , helpful and friendly. There is not problem explaining what the foods are in detail. Somehow, eating with you hands makes everything taste better. The atmosphere made me smile. It was quiet, but I did not feel like I could not talk. I have since taken people there multiple times, and no one has been let down so far. Vegetarian or meat eater, they have something for you. I have become quite attached to the meat sampler. All the meats on that dish are cooked to the perfect texture. It's like they make their food tailored towards by taste buds. Just thinking about this place makes my mouth water. read more

I got a vegetarian combination and some honey wine and I couldn't have been happier. The food was perfectly spiced and so delicious. I wish I had a bigger stomach so I could have eaten more. read more

Having never had Ethiopian food before I was intrigued by Asmara, and I knew that with Ligaya recommending the place, I'd be ok. The owner is super sweet, and yes she takes her time, so it's best if you go when not in a huge rush. We enjoyed the spinach and ricotta appetizer (mmmm!), some fresh fruit juices (mmm I'm a sucker for mango anything), and a wonderful entree that was half vegetarian and half meat dishes. We had lamb, beef, chicken, lentils, potatoes and a bunch of other things I wasn't exactly sure what they were, but they were tasty. My body is still warming up to spicy food, so what was a real plus about Asmara was that the dishes were full of wonderful flavors but not overwhelmingly spicy. I really loved that we were able to sit at one of the traditional tables and enjoy the food somewhat authentically - minus the neighboring Russian couple constantly on their cell phones. Engage your taste buds! read more