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.

Incredible Ethiopian cuisine in the East Village. It's a below street level step to get through the…read morefront door. Once through the door, you're greeted with a smile and a table to sit at. The service at Awash is amazing. They're there to do their job, helpful with menu questions and speedy with any orders. Awash is a low lit restaurant with comfortable seating perfect for hearty conversations. The food is great. The flavors are there. The portions are pretty good for what you pay. Don't shy away from trying new items on the menu, you won't regret it.

Fantastic Ethiopian spot in alphabet city. Great stylish interior. Is located downstairs. Service…read morewas excellent. Quick attentive and friendly. Food was amazing. Tasty and just like I'm used to back in DC spots like Dukem. Highly encourage to try this spot.

My friend and I got a late weekday night meal here. This spot has a cozy vibe without feeling…read morestuffy. We ordered off an iPad. The one person working in the front of the restaurant was gentle and attentive. We ultimately opted for the two samplers - veggie and meat - and we couldn't have been more pleased. Everything was excellent, and we easily got extra injera. I'd definitely recommend this spot if you're in the area and looking for something special.

Get the honey wine, skip the lamb awaze tibs. I love Ethiopian food, and was excited to try this…read morespot as it was highly recommended. First off, the honey wine was delicious. I love awaze sauce, but the lamb unfortunately was very tough to chew. The injera tasted great though, so I might give this place another shot if I'm in the area!

Food was fine, but not hot. Especially the Injera. It was a relatively quiet evening with not many…read morecustomers and still the wait was significant. The flavor was good, but I would probably look elsewhere when I want Ethiopian food.

Yum yum yum! The food was sooooo good! Were ordered a variety of options in our platter and…read moreeverything was excellent! The drinks were also good. Would definitely recommend if you're looking for good Ethiopian food!

I've been a customer since they opened in 1988. I hadn't been back since the 90s…read more Well they've expanded but the food is even better than I remembered. This was the first experience for my bestie having Ethiopian food. My son is a long time love of it. The service was excellent but it took an hour on a Saturday night for food to come as they caught up with the take out orders and a fresh seating. Just the same, they were apologetic and it was well worth the wait. The samosas were perfect and the vegetarian dishes and beef & lamb (according to my son and bestie) were fantastic and again, better than when they first opened - as one might expect. Very fresh, very fun, great Columbia atmosphere and proving you CAN go home again! Highly Recommended (and be prepared for a wait on busy nights!)

Playing tourist and stopped to look at Columbia between the net Cloisters and the Met. Massawa…read morecaught our eye on Yelp and we gave it a try. We got the sampler platter (1 veggie and one meat) to share. OMG... so good! The flavors were wonderful and just a little spice. If you haven't been, I highly recommend it. Also got the lemon/ginger mocktail which was so good. The hostess/wItress was also very nice. 5/5 for sure.

Came here with a few friends to try out vegan food and this food was very tasty! All of our dishes…read morefelt substantial had great seasoning and great flavor. I felt healthy also after leaving this restaurant :) I think my favorite bite was the bolo bowl. I will definitely be back with more friends. The waiter was super nice and fast service . Also this place has a hescher which was nice

This is a great vegan Ethiopian spot…read more Ambiance: I really liked the decor here. It feels very Brooklyn. The seating arrangement is comfortable. You can bring a big or small group and it makes for an enjoyable experience. You could also have date night here as they have some really nice corner tables that feel intimate. Food: the food felt very authentic and seemed to match the flavor palate of Ethiopian food. Some of the food can be on the spicy side but I love spicy food so I really enjoyed it. The portions are good sized and as much as you want to order everything on the menu it's just not possible unless you have a bit group. My favorite dish was the nachos. I loved the spongy fried chips with all the nachos ingredients. The chips are also thick so they can hold more. The tangy flavor went really well with the nacho cheese and beans. The bowls are also really amazing. All the seasonings were on point. Price: we got big portions so I feel the prices of the dishes were reasonable. Service: they were all very friendly and helped answer our questions if we were unfamiliar with something. Food came out quickly and on time.

Going out for a late lunch and decided on trying Lalibela, a near by Ethiopian restaurant. So happy…read moreI did! It was a delicious meal. I had the Goman Besiga, a beef and collard green dish, peas and seasoned string beans all served on wonderful spongy Ethiopian Injera bread. It was so flavorful and filling, I had enough to take home for another meal! It's a beautiful room and the staff was friendly. Would highly recommend Lalibela!

Great spot for Ethiopian food. Conveniently located just a few short blocks from the C or central…read morepark's northwest corner. The injera plates are large and the side of injera that comes with the entree is generous. Tried the Lega Tibs (lamb) and the Lali Assa (tilapia). Lamb was tender and finely cubed while the talapia had a good amount of spice, dry rubbed, and well seasoned throughout. Wish the injera on the plate was warm but the rolls of injera were heated. Slightly dry but very absorbent and not overly filling. Both protein portions were huge and very filling. Food was prepared in about ~15 minutes and service was overall efficient. Would recommend!

Ras Plant Based is absolutely spectacular! I just finished volunteering at the Brooklyn Half…read moreMarathon and was looking for a vegan restaurant to eat at while visiting this neighborhood and I feel like I hit gold! This 100% plant based restaurant serves Ethiopian food and has some of the best unique flavor profiles I have ever tried. Food Ordered - Mercato Platter --This plate came with a lentil stew, ground chick peas, collard greens, and a pepper/carrot veggie medley. Everything in the platter was amazing - super flavorful and hearty. - Spiced Mac and Cheese --If you told me this Mac and Cheese was dairy free I would think you are trying to pull a fast one. The sauce was super creamy and light and had that amazing cheesy flavor. - Chefs Special --The Chefs Special was the star of the show for me! This dish was Kitfo covered in collar greens and avocado with the most amazing smoky sauce. All of the ingredients went together amazing to create a perfect bite.

If you've never tried Ethiopian food this is your sign to go!…read moreRas has an all vegan menu with the most incredible variety of plants that will be the most flavorful and healthy meal ever! The food is so appealing that it's always on our list whenever we are in town. The staff is friendly and we've always had a great experience. They had an outdoor seating area but city rules made them put it away and apply for a permit. They are waiting for approval and plan to put outdoor seating again.