A poor representation of Ethiopian food! The positives were that the owner was very pleasant and the restaurant is the cleanest, nicest Ethiopian restaurant I've been in. My family loves Ethiopian food. We travel a lot and we eat at Ethiopian restaurants all over the country. We also have Ethiopian friends who make amazing tasting Ethiopian food. Of the Ethiopian restaurants we've eaten at, we have virtually always loved the food. Unfortunately our experience at this restaurant was very poor. The best way I could describe the food would be to say it's edible. We ordered two Vegetarian platters for our family of 6 (which we always order) and we were very disappointed at the flavor. Surprisingly only one out of the 6 dishes in the platter was desirable and it was the kernels of corn (which my kids and wife couldn't eat because they are vegan and it had butter). The other big problem was the injera. They only provided 3 half rolls of the injera for each platter and charged us each time we asked for more. Every other Ethiopian restaurant we've been to have been generous with the injera and provided more than enough for you to eat your meal. For those who know Ethiopian food, know that you pick up your food with it and use it to eat the Ethiopian dishes. We had to ask for more injera about 6 times and they ended up charging us each time! Given the high price of the food, we were surprised they would charge us for each extra serving of injera (which were very small). The injera was not soft or fresh either...it was tough and not spongy like most other injera we've had. This is the typical consistency of injera that's been sitting around for a while, not fresh. In addition one of the dishes was a curry spiced potatoes & carrots dish. I've never had Ethiopian food that was spiced with curry. It was more like an Indian dish except not a good curry flavor. It was a slightly spicy bland flavor (not characteristic of Ethiopian food). I've never left such a long review, but it was such a let down for someone like us who regularly frequent Ethiopian restaurants and are accustomed to good Ethiopian food. This will be one establishment that we will not be frequenting. read more

The food is delicious. NOT a place to go if you're in a hurry, but the food is amazing. I had the vegetarian platter and the rice, and it was beautiful. The owner introduced us to imported ice cream, which was also great. Bottom line, the food is great. The staff is attentive, detail oriented, and though all the food is locally sourced (within 7 miles!) and prepared when you order, it's WELL worth the wait. I highly recommend giving this place a try. read more

I was very excited to be checking out this place. Upon arrival the family was a bit skeptic. Inside the place appears to be small. There is a side room but you can not hear the music while seated. I was surprised that no-one was there for happy hour and only one other family was dining. We review the menu, it which was megar in its selections. Their idea of American food was burgers and over priced sides. Which when delivered to your table were cold, tasty BUT cold. My family was quite disappointed with the food portions and the selections. Needless to say, we will not be dining there again. BTW another family did come in to dine as we were departing. read more

People in Haymarket, Gainesville, and Bristow...give the over abundance of chain restaurants break, and go out and support a GREAT local business! My wife, daughter, and I dined at Maaza tonight and left the place not only full, but extremely impressed. This was our first time eating Ethiopian food and we're excited to go back and try more dishes. What was extremely helpful was the fact that the wait staff gave us a plate with sample spices so we would know what was going into many of their dishes. We started with the sambusas, which were to die for. We had beef and potato. They were seasoned perfectly and this was a great start to our dining experience. For our entrees, I had tibs and my wife had awaze tibs (our daughter had chicken fingers). SO good! Emmanuel, the owner, came over and chatted with us for a while and he's not only a good guy, but he's very passionate about the food he's serving. EVERYTHING is made to order in the restaurant. It's refreshing to hear how much time and effort the chefs put in to the food. My only regret is that we didn't have any room for dessert due to being stuffed. Next time, though! Again...what a fantastic restaurant and overall dining experience. read more

I just recently created an yelp account because as a food guy and someone who loves food, i think it would be very helpful to alert people on must eat restaurants and unfortunately the stay away restaurants. Living in the area for 4 years now, i always wanted to try this place. Finally brought my girlfriend and an Ethiopian friend here. Before you go any further, ill just put it out there that i will never go back again. Okay, its not authentic Ethiopian food and rightfully so since its not advertised as authentic Ethiopian. However, the food was horrible. Awaze beef was so dry it was hard to chew. The portion was very little for the price you pay. Did i mention we waited an hour for our food? yes, an hour. We all ate with disgust in our faces feeling like we just been robbed. Im very confused on the positive reviews because the food is not good at all. I can definitely made better at home from scratch. I definitely respect anyone's opinion on the quality of food here, so this is simply my own opinion...oh and my girlfriend's and Ethiopian friend's as well. I give this one star because the atmosphere is not bad and they had NFL football on tv. However, it was FREEZING in there. I looked at the thermostat there and it says 62 or 63. I asked the manager and he tried to tell me its set on 70....it just says 62/63. Really? come on now. TO SUM IT UP, we waited an hour for the food in freezing temp, and when the food came, disappointment did not even came close to describing our experience. Try it out if you want to but take my advise and go somewhere else. You, your date, and your wallet will thank me later. For quality Ethiopian food, go to Manna Bistro & Bakery in Centreville. Ive only been there once but it was everything i could ask for and more. read more

Read about the soft opening in the paper and thought we'd give it a try. We were greeted by a very attentive wait staff and the owner stopped by to greet us. We ordered a salad and a beef tibs meal and they were great. The tibs were seasoned with a balance of spice and heat and came with the traditional Ethiopian bread. We finished off the meal with a cup of fantastic coffee. All in all, a great meal and we look forward to returning. I will recommend this place to our neighbors. read more

I went to Maaza 29 with my husband for lunch and liked it so much I went back with a friend for dinner! For lunch, we had all Ethiopian dishes. The awaze tibs were delicious with a nice smokey flavor in part from the Ethiopian paprika. For dinner, I tried the lasagna, with housemade pasta and shared the appetizer sampler. All very good. I got the roasted chicken to go for my husband and that was by far my favorite so far. So good! They source all their food locally and most everything is organic. Please try this place! I don't want this great, family owned place to close. read more

Went here for a "date night" with my wife. It was a Saturday evening and the place was dead -- HOWEVER, there SHOULD have been more people there --- the place was fantastic. Craft brews, local wines, huge scotch selection and Ethiopian coffee. A small outdoor seating is available. Also, don't let the view from the front door scare you away. there are a bunch of high top tables, but the main dining area is around the corner and out of site from the front door. So, if you're looking for regular seating, you have to go in. The staff is super friendly. The food is Ethiopian, Italian, and American. Which seemed a little "confusing" at first. But come to find out, the owner's mom is Italian and his dad is Ethiopian -- so there you go! The food was great, and it came out quickly. Try it , you won't be disappointed. read more

I was really excited to come here based on other reviews.. but I just left SO disappointed. I really don't know where to start from the horrible seating to waiting 15 minutes to be asked for our drink order. The service here was really lacking. When I asked about two drinks on their menu the waiter replied "I don't know much about alcohol." AND THEN JUST STOOD THERE. Either make something up or go find out? Took maybe 30 minutes for our appetizer, and another 45 minutes for our entrees. We were there almost 2 hours for everything, and it was just two of us. Before our dinner arrived I told my boyfriend we would give the place another chance, as maybe it was an off night. But once we ate and received the check, I had to laugh. Food wasn't worth the money. My steak was tough and chewy, the crab meat so spicy I could barely eat it. Boyfriends was good, but the rest of the experience just left me feeling angry for wasting my money and time on this place. read more

First time in and had never had Ethiopian food before. Glad we made the stop. The sambusa with beef was excellent, not too spicy and great flavor. Had the Awaze Tibs which were spicy, but not really hot spicy - VERY GOOD. The sponge bread was interesting, but it made for a great way of eating the sauce! Overall a great meal. read more

Unassuming small space in a strip mall in Gainesville,VA. Went for brunch on Easter and was shocked to be only customers at Noon. Eclectic, and surprising brunch menu, fantastic coffee and $1.00 mimosas. Exceptional service, and amazing food. Would recommend to anyone, and will definitely be going back soon read more

Website is not updated . I called twice to place an order to go and then drove to their location as website states open on Sunday till 10 pm. And they were closed. They better update it online. read more

Loved it! Had some beef tibs and they were on point. Really liked the samosa's paired with spicy sauce. YUM. The best part is they had something for me to enjoy and something my two year old would like - homemade spaghetti. She tore it up. I might have to try their burgers next time. Its great to see a local restaurant that is also buying their ingredients from local farms. Can't wait to eat here again! read more

Fantastic food! The service was exceptional. The owner greeted us upon arrival and offered a customized taste test for their primary sauces in order to help guide us to the dishes that would be best suited to each of us. Truly a 5 star experience - comp,rely surprised for a 'strip mall' restaurant! Very happy with our whole experience. read more

I have to say, I was really blown away by the quality of this place. My wife and I loved the Sambusa and Lettuce Wrap appetizers. We split the Awaze Tibs for our entree and also really enjoyed it. We will definitely come here again! read more

Great food! Better food than we have found in DC and also really fresh. Ambiance is very pleasant with lots of natural light. Owner friendly and seems to really care about giving the customer a good experience. Our server was also friendly and made helpful suggestions our order. Great food! Better food than we have found in DC and also really fresh. Ambiance is very pleasant with lots of natural light. Owner friendly and seems to really care about giving the customer a good experience. Our server was also friendly and made helpful suggestions our order. read more

So we were driving out to pick up son number 2 from college and we were hungry. We stopped at Maaza 29 for dinner on a Tuesday night. What a great treat. The food was delicious and the hosts were gracious. I had the vegetarian platter and my husband had the chicken awaze. Everything was so tasty. I wish we lived closer as we would be regulars. read more

I have myself a new go-to restaurant! My wife and I came here for an early-ish dinner around 5:30. The inside is neat, not crowded at all. In fact, despite being a Saturday, we were the first ones there and had the restaurant to ourselves for a good 20 minutes. Shocking, given how great this place turned out to be for us. Service was fantastic all-around. Waiter was knowledgeable, chatty, made lots of recommendations and was patient with our questions. The owner came by at least twice during our meal to see how it was going and we could genuinely tell him it was excellent. For the quality of food you get, the prices are very reasonable. We split an appetizer, something with shrimp and a dipping sauce. For $10, splitting 5 shrimp was maybe not the best value for your buck, but it was nicely spiced. Where things really got good was the entrees. My wife and I both had the beef awaze tibs with injera bread--after all it's an Ethiopian restaurant, and that's what you get when you go to Ethiopian restaurants! Although our server made a point to try to convince one of us to get the lamb shanks which everyone raves about. Maybe next time. We get most of our groceries local/organic, so it was a huge plus for us that all their meat is grass-fed, sourced from local farms. Local businesses supporting local businesses--love it! Total for shared appetizer, two entrees, and two glasses of wine was just a tad over $60, and we don't regret a penny of it. We never felt rushed and we never waited long for anything. The atmosphere is good (music was a little loud and club-y at times, but they toned it down at one point), the food is on point, and the price won't break your bank. This place is deserving of all the 5 star reviews you see below. Given that Gainesville seems to have mostly cookie-cutter chain restaurants, a place like this is really something special. Give it a shot! You'll be glad you did, and you'll almost certainly go back. We definitely will. read more

Pros: Delicious food, friendly staff. We came with a group of people with varying tastes, and there was something delicious for everyone, from the most to the least adventurous eaters. Cons: Very, very long wait for food. We came in, explained we had a long drive ahead of us during conversation with the waitress, and proceeded to wait for over an hour and a half for the food to come out. This may have made sense if the restaurant was slammed, however there was only one table of two who came, ate, and left while we were still waiting for our food. We would have appreciated it if the waitress had given us some indication that the wait for our food would be much longer than one would expect from a normal restaurant. read more

Fantastic, reasonably priced food and service. Candlelight atmosphere. First rate!

They really tried to get it right, but just not A $90 meal. Understaffed, so adding staff might help. If the idea is to have an Italian Ethiopian fusion then there should be distinct flavors of both, which I did not find in my ribs or the lasagne and Mesir (?) we tried. Service was extremely slow and appetizers and meals were brought out plate by plate No one was eating together At one point waiter came out to let us know that several of the appetizers were never received by the kitchen due to a computer error and the entrees were coming out before the appetizers. Three stars were for effort and good intentions, but I don't think I will be going back any time soon. read more

Love the warmth and feeling of home this restaurant gives you, food and service is exceptional!

Great food and unique atmosphere. Single malt and cigar night first Tuesday of the month. Have gone three times and the food has been really good. read more

We'd never had Ethiopian before - I think it's the only ethnic food left that I could say that about - and, when the place we were aiming to go to was closed last night, we decided to try out Maaza. We're glad we did. The owner was friendly and welcoming, and one of the regular customers gave us some tips on what to try out. We got the Awaze Tibs (spicy beef) and the Chicken Awaze (spicy chicken), with an order of Sambusa to start (a pastry wrapped around meat with some kick to it). It was exactly what we were looking for. I don't have enough experience to compare it to other Ethiopian food, so I'll just say it was delicious. We had a tiramisu-like dessert. Atmosphere wise, it's wooden tables for four in a small dining room off to the side, or the bar. The dining room had soft lighting. You could see the TVs at the bar from there - somewhat distracting, but I'm sure I could have asked for them to change the channel/turn them off if I'd really cared. It's not Morton's style fancy, nor is it sit-on-the-floor style, but it's also not that expensive. We didn't have a long wait, in sit-down restaurant terms. I wasn't timing it, but it was a date night - we were talking and enjoying being out. I don't think they have the focus on turnover that some restaurants do, and I would not come here if I expected to get in, chow down, and get out. It's a place for a leisurely meal, not a place to inhale a meal and move on. We didn't try the American or Italian food they have listed on their menu. I'm sure it's nice to have something if you have to take a finicky eater here, but I also can't testify to its quality. read more

Wow. This is a great restaurant. The owner clearly cares about the quality of the food. The awaze tibs were super flavorful and tender. The dedication to fresh homemade food shines through. The decor is spartan but the food is the star. This is a must try place. I would give 10 stars if I could. read more

My wife and I were in Gainesville and were highly recommended this restaurant. Don't let the strip mall location fool you. This is amazing food and equally perfect service. Brandon, our server, gave us a docent level of detail on the menu and made perfect recommendations (Duck, . Emmanuel, the owner, is exactly the type you'd to own the entire processing. Nicest guy ever, but even better food. Thank you! read more

Since my wife and daughter are gluten-free, I suggested we try Ethiopian for the injera bread. I had only tried Ethiopian food at a buffet one time once before and no one else in my family had ever had it. I'm not an expert on Ethiopian, but I am picky about food, and we enjoyed everything. The shrimp appetizer was very good a very nice seasoning and the dipping sauce with Awaze spice was spicy and good. My son and I had Awaze Tibs, which were very good with a decent amount of spice. My daughter had the lettuce wraps, which were delicious with very flavorful sausage (mild spice) and a unique sweetness from raisins. My wife had the Gored Gored with the collard greens, which was also very good. We all shared an order of french fries, which were fresh and delicious. read more

Consistently great. Really. We've been going here since it opened & have never been served anything we didn't like. The traditional Ethiopian parts of the menu are just that--traditional & delicious. But there's way more to this restaurant than the traditional Ethiopian. The chef/owner likes to play with Ethiopian spins on French. My latest favorites are the lamb lollipops & the duck confit. Soooooo good. I mean duck confit over polenta w herbed duck fat - what is not to love!!!! The lamb shank & beef shortrib are also particular favs. Call ahead & the chef will save an order for you-which is a good idea b/c they often sell out. Additionally, although lasagna is not my thing, if it is your thing, based upon comments overheard at neighboring tables it's well worth a go. And if by some virtually inconceivable chance you don't care for something Emanuel will trip over himself to fix it. The bar also boasts a good selection & some signature cocktails. read more

Maaza 29 - Duck confit over polenta-YUM!!! - Ethiopian Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia

This place is my favorite restaurant in Gainesville. If you like fresh great tasting food that is farm to table you have got to try this place out. My wife and I have come here twice and both times we were super impressed with the food and super impressed with the service. We had two appetizers, the Shiro and Sambusa. My favorite was the Sambusa with its delicious dipping sauces. I got the Beef Tibs and my wife got the Lamb Tibs for our entrees and each were amazing. The owner came to our table and introduced himself to us. He was very friendly and knowledgeable. When he found out was my wife's birthday he gave her a free dessert. Please try this hidden gem out. read more

Exceptional, exceptional, exceptional. A unique menu of delicious options, all with a creative twist. Beautiful decor and a delightful ambience you wouldn't expect in a strip mall. The owner spoke to my date and I extensively about his culinary mission, and is incredibly passionate about his food. Go see for yourself why he's been so successful! read more

Attentive staff. We have lots of food intolerances and they were very knowledgable about the ingredients and suggested how they could change their recipes just for us! read more

Met some friends here for dinner on a Sunday evening. Place is in a strip mall with some other restaurants. We ordered sambusas and Ethiopian spiced shrimp as appetizers- they did not disappoint! Could have made a whole meal of this with no problems! My wife ordered the daily special lamb shank, one of the friends had short ribs, and the others of us got the beef ribs awaze. Everything was well prepared and presented, and all except the ribs were served with enjera (or rice if you wanted that). There were clean plates all around- no left overs tonight! The staff were helpful and friendly, and were informative when we asked questions about things. Highly recommended! read more

Excellent selection of freshly made food. Authentic and very very tasty. The wine list is extensive and thorough. Service is fast and attentive. read more

Been here 1x. Food was very good. Get the lamb lollipops! Delish!

This was the best dinner we've had in a very long time! The scallop appetizer was simply amazing. I had the lasagna and my husband had the crab cake, which was really more of all lump crab in a ramekin. Both were equally delicious! The owner spent a lot of time with us and made us some very unique and quite delicious drinks. The lemoncello dessert was refreshing and amazing! I highly recommend you give this restaurant a try. We are sorry that we haven't been here before. Support your local businesses! This is a MUST for anyone wanting a great dining experience! Thank you Emmanuel! read more

This place is amazing!!! We had no idea there was delicious Ethiopian food right around the corner. The beef tibs were the best I've ever eaten. The Ethiopian wine was delicious as was the coffee. We had the pleasure of talking to the owner Emmanuel who customized my husband's chicken tibs. This place was lively and fun and the service excellent. We'll definitely be back again :) read more

I've tried Ethiopian food at a few other places. Maaza 29 has, far and away, they freshest ingredients, the most authentic flavors, and the best owners. They are happy to share their heritage and history. They take extrordinary measures to make sure the food is prepared with great care. The Italian dishes are as good as the Ethiopian!! A MUST TRY if you like good food and great service!! read more

I bought a groupon for this restaurant and went last night for the first time. It's pretty hard to find Ethiopian restaurants this far out of D.C., so I was pleasantly surprised to find one nearby! The menu had quite a variety of foods, but I can only vouch for the Ethiopian items on their menu because it's all we tried. However this would make it a great option for a group of people who aren't 100% sold on Ethiopian food as it can meet a variety of needs. In general, the food was absolutely delicious - the perfect amount of spice to give it that wonderful flavor, well-cooked, and enough variety to satisfy all our wants! The presentation of the food was also excellent. For drinks, I asked them about honey wine (it wasn't listed on their wine menu), a traditional Ethiopian wine, and the one they served me was absolutely delicious! We had the lentil sambusa appetizer and it was incredible. Then we ordered the Awaze tibs and Veggie platter to share, and all of the food was delicious. I especially loved the tibs, collard greens, green beans/carrots, and cottage cheese that came with the tibs. We were there around 8pm on a Thursday night, so the place was pretty empty. Given that fact, the service was satisfactory -- we never got a refill on our waters, but it seemed there was only one server working the entire restaurant (although there were only 3 tables). All in all a wonderful experience, and I'd definitely call this place a hidden gem way out in the 'burbs that you wouldn't necessarily stumble across from the outside -- it's hidden away in a strip mall. Definitely worth a visit!! read more

Delicious!! Their lasagna is quite possibly the best I have ever had! It is made fresh in house per order.

The absolute best dinner out around Gainesville VA. Possibly the best in Northern Virginia.