Just Great!! Great…read moreservice! Great food! Great coffee! So GREAT, I'll/we will be returning and definitely recommend!!!!

Delicious Ethiopian food in a no-frills, converted house! We came in late on a Friday afternoon,…read moreand it wasn't busy at all. Easy to bring our baby, and they offer high chairs if you need one. We started with beef sambusas, which came out freshly fried and crispy with a nice amount of filling. Next came our Abugida feast with vegetables and beef. The beef and red lentils were pretty spicy! So it was nice to have the injera and other veggie dishes to help temper it. I washed it all down with Ethiopian tea, which tasted like it was made with mulling spices. This was a lot of food, so we enjoyed leftovers the next day as well! Service was attentive, and prices seemed reasonable. Recommend!

I was passing through Charlotte Douglas International Airport and wanted something to eat. Since I…read moreenjoy authentic Ethiopian cuisine, I searched for an Ethiopian restaurant nearby and found Nile of Ethiopia. It was my first visit, and it was an amazing experience! The food was absolutely delicious, and every dish was full of rich, authentic flavor. The service was warm, genuine, and attentive, making the entire dining experience even more enjoyable. I truly appreciated the hospitality and will definitely return the next time I'm passing through the area. Highly recommended!

First time trying Kitfo Dulet and it was delicious. I was a bit intimidated ordering because I have…read morelittle experience with Ethiopian cuisine and I wanted to pick the "right thing". The entree was flavorful and well seasoned with Ethiopian butter, onion, jalapeño, and mitmita to give it a kick without being overly spicy. To my surprise, the cabbage was the star of the show. I've never had cabbage prepared in this way, but it was so good!! The best part of my visit was the hospitality. Although I do my best to be intentional about respecting the chef and kitchen, I arrived an hour before close and Tsigay was still polite enough to take my order. She was so kind and sweet, and helped me with my order. The interior is a combination of a small casual dining room and half grocery store. This restaurant had been on my list to try for a while and I'm glad I made it a priority during my trip to Charlotte.

I thought East African Cuisine Eritrean and Ethiopian was closed. I stopped on two occasions. I…read morethought welp, that's just one more Ethiopian restaurant closed in Charlotte. My friend wanted me to meet her there and insisted they were open. I had my doubts but rolled in and what did I see???? An illuminated OPEN sign! Yipppeeee! We walked in a little carry out space with a couple of high top tables, looked like take out, the lady had a steam table loaded with 8 dishes, it's kind of like buffet, but Terry fixes your plate. (I used to work with a waiter from NY, when Southerners said, "fixin", he would say, "is it broken?") She loads it up with all the veggie dishes, there were one or two meat options too. I didn't try any, now I'm mad at myself, why didn't I? Plenty of injera and Terry's homemade hot sauce available. The door to the bar is open, so you can sit in the bar with your heaping plate of goodness, there's even a patio if you would like to sit outside, but not a lot of shade so it would have to be the perfect afternoon for al fresco dining. We enjoyed our lunch, barely talking, scarfing down our food, Ethiopian is one thing that I cannot eat fast enough!!! If I'm with people, I have to make myself stop and talk. Be sure to make time for coffee service. Ethiopian coffee is unique. They hand roast the beans, grind them, steep in a tiny, clay pot and serve with warm milk, tiny cups and popcorn. WHAT THE WHAT? My head exploded. I had a most enjoyable lunch, can't wait to return! Lunch is $10 and on Wednesdays it's $9!!!!!!!! CUNW.

Always love the Ethiopian food. This was my first Ethiopian food place in Charlotte. Food is great…read more Service is average! They took a while to get us Seated despite the fact that there were not many customers during that time.only for the good food we visited couple of times!

I have been a quiet regular from the optimist hall location. And I'm so happy I took the time to go…read moreto their original location off of the plaza. Walking in smells like comfort and home. And I am a Chinese girl so the smells are very different, but I still sense the comfort. My order stays the same of the Derek tibs a wwith lamb. I love the taste of all the herbs and spices with a charred exterior and a flavorful juicey interior. I haven't had a side I didn't like. I've had their pea stews, collards, green beans, and it has all been exceptional. My favorite part is at the end is sopping up all of the juices of the sides and the meats with the injera. If you're interested in trying something that is homey and comforting, Enat... Mother is a great restaurant to try.

Delicious food and service but really hot inside the restaurant so I took off a star for the…read moretemperature inside the restaurant. Otherwise, well lit ambiance. My food was also spicy so that made me feel even hotter, lol. The mushroom Tibs is very good and so was the classic chicken. The sambusa appetizers were pretty good. Well - I liked the chicken the best, and you really need the sauce. I'd prefer a mint chutney sauce or avocado ranch sauce. lol. Also - not a fan of the texture of the injera, so really glad that pita bread was an option. Most of the table enjoyed it though. The staff was great and explained all the menu options, answered our questions and provided our food (party 12-14) pretty fast.

With apologies to the other Ethiopian restaurants in the area, I picked Red Sea for dinner because…read moretheir Yelp page had the best food pics, and rightly so. Red Sea provided exactly the type of experience I wanted, including decor, atmosphere, friendliness, and of course the food. In the background, behind a door on the side of the restaurant, there was a second area where you could hear people playing snooker. At one point in the evening, the woman who seated and served us also roasted coffee beans at a little station in the corner, then she walked around so that the smell penetrated the entire restaurant like incense. What a cool thing, and something I've never experienced at any other Ethiopian restaurant previously. It's such a simple thing, you'd think it would be more common. The food was, of course, delicious. You could order individual foods or combo platters, and the combo platters were very well explained. This was one of the few Ethiopian restaurants I've visited which included beets on the menu both in the vegetable platter and as a side. Each person gets one gigantic piece of injera, so little worry of running out (there is a charge for extra). Tej is available by the bottle and glass, and several brands of beer are available. I would classify Red Sea as a hidden gem and definitely a place to dine.

I have long been wanting to try East African cuisine, and decided it was high time I pick a…read morerestaurant in the area and go for it. There were a few worthy entrants, but after reading reviews and looking at photos, I decided Red Sea would be the place I go to experience these new flavors. Located along Monroe Rd in a stand-alone building painted green and blue, the restaurant definitely appears a bit dated but to me that adds to the charm. I don't think any everything to be shiny and new, I'll go for tried and true when it comes to local restaurants. I went in on a weekday between lunch and dinner, so it was pretty quiet, but I noticed in addition to a fine looking bar, they have a small stage which suggests they sometimes host musical acts. I'd love to come back during one of their busy periods so I can get a better sense of the vibe, but on this particular day I was there solely for the food. The only thing I knew going into this experience is that Ethiopian food is typically served on a large piece of bread which I've come to learn is called injerna. The bread is a sourdough and has a spongy texture. Now I wanted to try different things so I got a combo platter that came with chicken, lamb, veggies, and a hard boiled egg as well. When they serve it, it comes with another piece of injerna and the idea is that you use the second one to tear away pieces and pick up your food with it. I confess that I tried my best to eat it the authentic way, but eventually I found myself getting frustrated and asked for a fork. Like chopsticks I'm sure it takes practice. The platter is a was massive, an absolute feast that could easily feed two people. I loved it, but eventually had to get a to go box. It was ambitious to take that on by myself. Overall my first experience has me hooked and I want to try more. I can't speak to the authenticity, but people in the city seem to rate this place very highly so I think that speaks for itself.

Don't go to this place unless you're okay with being choked or pepper-sprayed. The owner, Noah,…read moreseems to think it's acceptable to assault customers. I went to pick up an order and asked for a specific item. Noah, the owner, responded, "I don't go to the kitchen," and kept repeating the same excuse for about three minutes. Determined not to leave without the item, I finally said, "If you can't get it, just refund me, and I'll leave." Noah had $20 in his hand but never printed a receipt. Eventually, he handed me the $20. As I walked toward the main door to leave, he said, "Don't go through that door." I didn't understand why, as it was the main exit, but I decided to proceed anyway. Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me. Without warning, Noah came up and put me in a chokehold from behind. The hold only lasted a couple of seconds before my instincts kicked in. Having trained in martial arts, I defended myself. In the heat of the moment, I retaliated and landed multiple strikes. At one point, I realized I could have seriously hurt him--I almost choked him out or broken his arm--but I held back. The fight spilled through the door Noah didn't want me to use, and we ended up outside on the street. By the end of the altercation, we were both holding onto each other's shirts. I told him I wouldn't press charges because I felt I had already gotten the upper hand. Soon after, Noah called a security guard from the bar next door. When the guard arrived, I thought it was about to escalate further. Instead, Noah, clearly upset, ordered the guard to pepper spray me at close range. Afterward, the guard and I exchanged a few words. I could tell he felt bad about what happened after hearing the full story. In the end, Noah decided not to press charges, likely to avoid scrutiny over his own actions. Yelp doesn't allow posts with graphic content, so I can't share some of the images. The video shows you glimpses ywim

This was definitely one of the best Ethiopian restaurants I've eaten at in Charlotte, and I already…read morecan't wait to get back. As a vegetarian, I ordered the Queen Sheba Veggie which had a little bit of everything. It was *chef's kiss*. I didn't specify a spice level but it was manageable, yet totally flavorful and delicious. The cabbage dish was absolutely the best I've ever had, the injera was plentiful and perfectly tasty, and the honey wine (tej) was a delight. I arrived hungry and managed to finish most of what was on the platter. I definitely think the portions were generous without going overboard. I really don't have any complaints about this place. I wish they were open for lunchtime, but I guess that just means more Ethiopian food for dinner for me!

The food was less than desirable. My partner was sick, and hoped to enjoy some delicious soup,…read moresimilar to what he grew up with. I should've heeded the warning of the other reviews, but I thought I would give a small business a chance. I was absolutely wrong. My first clue should've been the lack of customers in the restaurant. My second clue should've been that 90 sanitation rating. My third clue should've been the lack of food in the chafing dishes upfront. My fourth clue should've been when I was charged more than the posted price for the soup (which came to $19.47). I ignored all of this just to support a small business. Beware. If I could have given zero stars I would have. I hope this place shuts down soon. It is a real waste of space.

Very good Nigerian food. The servers are very friendly and helpful. The restaurant is cleanread more

Came in on a Friday for lunch and loved that they had plenty of plant based proteins to sub in any…read moretaco. Chofu (tofu chorizo), Black bean and corn, Vegan Beef, Vegan fried chicken, spiced potatoes. Solid price on a lunch special which included any two tacos and a side- I got the fries which were crispy and seasoned well. Bollywood taco sub vegan fried chicken and the 'Mercanized with vegan beef. Bollywood had rice, some chutneys, picked red onion and cilantro. Nice tangy flavor mixed with a little sweet. The 'Mercanized was with standard lettuce tomato and cheese. Tip: Get the house-made hot sauce. More than just heat it had lots of flavor! Service was exceptional and we were given plenty of attention and suggestions. Drinks never made it to the bottom and we were even offered a to-go refill!

Ate there yesterday before the DAVID LEE ROTH show at Tanger Center…read more Flat soda was served,switched to sweet tea and it was good. Mixed drinks were great. Blacks beans are wonderful but the tortilla chips were UNDERCOOKED and stuck together. Salsa was not bad. Let's talk about the beloved taco that are served there. pure trash. No love at all was put into them as they fixed them in the back. Should have went to "THE BELL "! don't even bother going

Food was phenomenal. Insane Spices in the chicken tibs, and almost a nuttiness. Wild combo of…read moreflavors. I definitely will be back!!! Staff was so kind and helped me out as it's been many years since I've had the pleasure of having Ethiopian food. Optimist hall is a great place as well and it has that old mill vibe

Wow I haven't had Ethiopian is such a long time! I'm so glad I came and tried this place. It's…read moreinside a really nice food hall with lots of options! The service was great and there is lots of space for groups or families to sprawl out with a Astro turf area in the middle with games like cornhole available.