I cannot believe how many years it has been since I have updated my review for Walia. Since my…read moreoriginal review five years ago, I have gone back to Walia repeatedly and over the years it has become my absolute favorite Ethiopian restaurant within a respectable driving distance of where I live (which I define as about 30 minutes). I am happy to say that almost everything I said in my last review still rings true. The decor has changed a bit, with new paintings hanging and the seats getting rearranged now and then as reservations demand, but for the most part the restaurant still looks and feels the same as before. It is a comforting, welcoming yet elegant restaurant in its own way. It isn't super fancy, which is great because it makes it appropriate for everything from a casual date night to a birthday party. The service at Walia continues to be fantastic. Their staff is always friendly, accommodating and willing to answer questions. They are also very nice about getting you extra Injira bread (as I do every time I'm there). The food at Walia is amazing. Everything is flavorful and the spices are wonderful (I generally keep the heat at medium level). The Alicha Watt (pumpkin) remains one of my favorite dishes and I often take an order of it to go whenever I eat here. Walia is a wonderful business and I highly encourage everyone to support it!

Dang. If you have to…read morebe trapped in suburban NJ, you could do a lot, LOT worse than Walia. I'm still a little floored at how NOT compromised the flavors here were--how I ate some of the most complex, deeply seasoned Ethiopian dishes I've ever had here. But you know what IS just like NYC able Walia? The prices. I nearly had sticker shock from the $33+/entree pricing that dominated the menu. Ahhhh, the pain in my wallet felt just like home. Anywho, at least the food was delicious and plentiful. The standout for me was Kitfo--always my favorite Ethiopian dish--which was beautifully seasoned, incredibly tasty and blissfully abundant. We also ordered the Lega Tibs, which was nicely tender and completely devoid of gamey lamb flavor. To balance out the all the carne, we practically ordered a garden of fiber. All our vegetarian dishes were well cooked, especially the Fasolia (mildly simmered string beans and carrots), Tkile Gomen (the classic mix of cabbage, carrots and potatoes), and both Watts (lentil stews, baby!). We also splurged on the Kayser Watt, a unique combination of beets and potatoes that I don't see often at Ethiopian joints--however, while it was expertly made, I didn't think it was worth the extra spend. The same goes for the Ethiopian Chai; not particularly interesting or complex, and I certainly wouldn't pay extra to order it a second time unless I just really needed a warm mug to hold. Service was warm and friendly, and the decor is cute without being kitschy. Bottom line: Enjoy a more unique cuisine in a rather mundane part of the state, but don't be surprised if you stretch your credit card limit just as badly as you would in the Big Apple.

What a fun experience exploring Ethiopian cuisine! The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the…read moreservice was excellent. Our waitress kindly guided us through the menu and helped us choose the perfect dishes to try. The portions were generous, and every bite was packed with delicious, vibrant flavors.

I had never had Ethiopian food before. So my friend suggested, we try this restaurant out that she…read morehad been to several times before. Cozy spot with great service, attentive and helpful with suggestions and explanations I like that the food had the authentic names to each dish.Even though it was hard to decipher what exactly each dish was, it stayed true to the culture which I can appreciate. I have to admit the food is not very photogenic, but it did taste good. I feel like we got to try a little of everything by getting the sampler options. I would highly recommend taking that option when trying for the first time. I also ordered the mint tea, which was a great choice because it was so warm and comforting, especially with the cold rainy day we visited. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who's never tried Ethiopian food before.

Great vegetarian selection, good service, food is tasty and healthy! They sell beer and wine, but I…read morewish it was BYOB

I ordered the veggie combo for 2; the food was good. I was not a fan of the plating. Instead of…read moreeach item placed on the plate twice (one for each person) it was 1 large serving of each item. The honey wine is served in a traditional berele which I liked, but I did not like the wine at all. Tasted house-made and under fermented. I recommend if you're into liquid sugar. They played Spanish music in the Ethiopian restaurant The waitress either checked too frequently or barely, no in between. This is the worst ethiopian spot I've ever been to, but it's decent for take-out/uber eats. Ideas for improvement: Better plating Actual East African staff Training wait-staff to be appropriately attentive (do they have clean napkins?) Giving wet-wipes with the check (customary with finger-food dining) Play Ethiopian music.

SERVICE - located in greenpoint about 10 minutes walk from…read morethe subway station - spacious yet small interior with seating for small or larger groups - no reservation required - coffee set up in one corner adds an element of cultural decor - server was quick to take our order yet took a while to bring us the check after we finished eating - food served relatively quickly - ambiance good for a semi casual meal MENU - Ethiopian mains and brunch specials - all vegan/vegetarian - average price FOOD - vegetable combo (9/10): I got the combo that lets you choose five dishes and is served with injera. I chose the misir wor (red lentils), shiro (ground chickpeas), gomen (collard greens), tofu tibs, and cabbage carrot dish. The mixture was a good blend of heartier lentils with fresher greens. Each dish had a unique flavor even though they use similar spices. My favorites were the shiro and the tofu tibs. The gomen felt undercooked and could have used more flavor. The portion felt adequate for one person. WOULD I GO BACK? Yes. I liked the flavors and the casual ambiance

I was excited to try this place despite the trek but was sadly disappointed. Definitely not as good…read moreas my go-to Ethiopian spots (like Abyssinia), or even as the mediocre spots in midtown (like Queen of Sheba and Meskerem). Everything tasted a little drier than usual. Also it's vegan so you won't get your usual meat options. The wine was also disappointing though to be fair I didn't expect too much. Finally, reservations are a pain to make - no one answers the phone or responds to emails and you can't make them online. Fortunately it turns out you don't need one (the place was empty when we arrived for a 12:30pm lunch on a summer Friday). Sadly won't be returning.

Amazing service very attentive, and the food was delicious! The food came out very quick and the…read moretamarind juice is delicious.

There should be long lines to eat here... although part of me wants to keep this gem a secret!…read moreAbsolutely delicious from start to finish, with an explosion of flavors in every bite. You can truly taste the freshness and care in every dish and sauce, all made in-house. The owner is incredibly kind and welcoming, greeting everyone with the warmest smile and making the whole experience feel special from the moment you walk in. We chose to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful weather, but the spacious indoor dining room was just as inviting, filled with incredible aromas that instantly set the stage for a memorable meal. We started with Dominican appetizers and fresh juices, then shared Ethiopian platters that were packed with flavor and perfect for the table. Everything was outstanding, unique, and clearly made with love. We're already looking forward to coming back!

The food was so tasty! We ate it all. I am quite pleased with my choice of an Ethiopian spot to…read morecatch up with a friend. It was quiet enough to have a conversation. The service was cheerful. It was overall a great experience!

Given all the positive reviews, we had been excited to try Benyam for some time. Our go-to…read moreLucille's across the street was recently closed for a private event, so it seemed like a great opportunity to finally give it a shot. The misir wot and creamy lentil dishes were all generally very tasty. Along with the potatoes and fasulye, these were probably our favorite items. The gomen and cabbage were fairly standard. I have to say that we left here still very hungry, after sharing the vegetarian sampler for two. The portions of both the vegetable dishes and the injera on the side were quite small, and we wished we had been advised to order more.

Thank goodness for Teff. Traveling with food sensitivities as a foodie doesn't always go hand in…read morehand, but Teff proved they absolutely can. If you're in Stamford, do yourself a favor and stop by Teff for authentic Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine. Everything is fresh, naturally gluten free, and there are plenty of delicious vegan options. Dining there felt less like eating at a restaurant and more like being welcomed to the family table. And whatever you do, don't skip the Sambusas!

Another Happy Hour Spot worth visiting. A beautiful location and well crafted drinks. It was a…read moregreat choice. The restaurant was immaculate and the mixologist was on point. This was a great last minute choice for drinks and food.