Went with a large group and my friend ordered. I will be honest- there was so much on the big platters, I really don't know everything I ate- but every bite was delicious. I remember the potatoes, the beef tips or something, and the fish was delicious and I really liked the beets!!!! There were some lintels that were yummy too. Like I said- everything was really flavorful. And they kept bringing out more enjera bread if we needed it. We ordered wine bottles and a few of us ordered a signature cocktail-- those were pretty and they all said they were good. Very attentive staff and placed was quite busy so they did a good job managing everyone. read more

I got delivery from this restaurant this evening for the first time. I saw that they had almost a 5 star rating and they were in my delivery area so I said let's give it a shot. I ordered the spinach sambusas and I got the Gomen with two sides: the red lentils and the yellow lentils. The sambusas were served as a trio and they are a good size, with hefty portions of spinach inside. The problems was that they were heavily overly seasoned. And they were served with a minuscule pink colored dipping sauce which did not pair well with the flavor of these appetizers at all. The njera came wrapped in plastic wrap, which I thought was an interesting choice since plastic doesn't hold heat well. Then I opened my main course and half of the plate is greens. Huge portion. And in the two side dish cups are what appear to look like red soup and yellow soup. The red lentils were very spicy. I'm used to a flavorful spice from Ethiopian red lentils, but these were not enjoyable. The yellow lentils had very little seasoning and the texture was like mashed potatoes. I did not enjoy this meal at all unfortunately. read more

Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine - Gomen - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was really impressed by this place. The ambiance is really nice to start. Service was a tad slow, but the food was totally worth the wait. Me and a friend got the platter to share, and it was completely delicious and actually a bit much for two. I wasn't crazy about the beef tibs, but absolutely loved the doro wot and the chickpeas. I was a big fan of the yellow split peas as well. I would totally come back here! Might be the best ethiopian place I've tried in chicago so far. read more

Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine - platter to share (yellow split peas, chickpeas, tomatoes, beef tibs, doro wot) - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here for dinner to celebrate our niece, and overall it was a great experience. The ambiance was nice, and we were greeted and seated as soon as we arrived. This was our first time dining here. My niece and I started with the Ethiopian margarita, which was refreshing with just the right balance of sweetness and spice, and my husband ordered a classic rum and Coke. I don't remember our waitress's name, but she was wonderful--friendly, attentive, and very helpful with recommendations. We ordered the Family Style Platter, which allows you to choose four meats and four vegetables. For the vegetables, we selected shiro (rich and comforting), gomen (well-seasoned and earthy), yatakilt alicha (mild, savory, and hearty), and ater kik alicha (smooth, subtly spiced, and satisfying). For the meats, we chose zil-zil tibs (tender with bold, savory spices), yebeg tibs (flavorful and perfectly seasoned), asa be-shiro (delicate fish with a nicely spiced sauce), and doro tibs (rich, aromatic, and full of depth). Everything was really delicious, and we truly enjoyed the entire experience. The only reason for four stars instead of five is that the restaurant was a bit cold. read more

Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine - Family Style Platter - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I just love Tesfa and I was reminded of that tonight. I missed them being in uptown because it was so convenient. We've always had an amazing time when we dine here in uptown- you can feel the home cooking and family vibes. There new location is beautiful, spacious, modern and has a full bar. We ordered sambusas for appetizers and it's so fire!! And for our entree- we did the platter for 2, with two meats and 3 veggies: zil zil tibs, doro wot, red lentils, gomen, and beets = everything was cooked to perfection and fresh. It was a lot of food and DELICIOUS You'll have to wait for a bit for your entree because I suspect they're making things to order. It's worth the wait Our waitress was meh- she wasn't attentive, a bit aloof & she barely came to our table. The two brothers who run the place are the best and welcoming! read more

Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine - Inside - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A group of us showed up on a quiet Tuesday evening and had no problem getting a large table or food promptly. It is quiet and relaxing, with music videos on several TV screens. They feature a selection of beers and cocktails which includes Ethiopian beers and Ethiopian influenced cocktails, but we were content and satisfied to order several bottles of their tej. For a larger group, we found it convenient to order multiple combination platters. But we forgot to specify a level of spiciness, so everything came out somewhat spicy. Most dishes contained some amount of fresh jalapeno slices, which I appreciated. As others have mentioned, some of the meat dishes will have bones, so be very careful scooping and eating those. Among the foods we ordered, my favorites were all of the chicken dishes, and the beets. We did not order appetizers, which consisted mostly of sambosas. Everything came out quickly, with excellent presentation. Here, they separate each item on the platter with a roll of injera. While I liked that, it does mean the outer edge of the rolls will have some sauces on them already. Dinner for 7 of us, with tej, tax, and tip, came to less than $40 per person, a reasonable price for an enjoyable evening. read more

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I feel that the northeast side of Chicago has a concentrated number of Ethiopian restaurants, but Tesfa is now my go-to and the one I'll recommend to anyone. The space is large, and the staff was incredibly attentive. They welcomed us with some house tea and checked in to see if we needed anything else--like extra injera, which they happily provided. We came as a party of three and ordered the 3-meat, 3-vegetable combo, which was more than enough food--we ended up packing some to take home. The portions were generous, and the flavor profiles were fantastic. Everything had great spice, and the lamb was especially tender! A standout for me was the kitfo, a type of Ethiopian tartare. I was curious to try it, since I usually get tired of tartare after a few bites, but the seasoning here made it hard to stop going back for more. Everything was balanced--I've had Ethiopian food before that leaned too sour or too spicy, but here, every dish was thoughtfully prepared. Tesfa is truly a gem in the Uptown/Argyle area. read more

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Came here on a Saturday at 2:00. Planned to go at an off time so not to deal with waiting. Walked right in. Seated and enjoyed the wood beams and painted brick. Sweet Christmas tree inside made it festive and fun. Both men who we spoke with were super easy going and friendly. We ordered the family meal for $85 for four people. Fish, chicken and beef. The platter is huge. Way more than enough for four people. Love this place. So happy we came. Such a fun place to come with your friends or family. Go support this gem! read more

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Absolutely 5 stars every time!! Delicious and healthy food. Moses even gave us additional items on the house to try as loyal customers. Tesfa is not only "hope"; Tesfa family! Can't thank you enough, Moses & Samual! read more

The food was great, cocktails are very expensive though, and the service was good. The venue is nice, the only issue was that when we visited on Saturday Jan 24, their heating system must have been defective because the interior of the restaurant was freezing! Even though they had tiny electric heaters throughout the interior, it didn't help. We had to eat with our winter coats on. Regardless, friendly service and very delicious meal. read more

Pretty average Ethiopian cuisine over all, the injera is very nice and the salad is delicious. Service can be a little slow to get to you and it feels like sometimes they don't quite understand what you're telling them which is concerning. Really delicious food though read more

Loved the Ethiopian food here! We had a platter and tried various meat and vegetarian options along with so much bread

Had an amazing night out with my new friends, parents of children at my daughter's new school. We're looking to get some delicious Ethiopian food that would take it to the next level with flavor, and they did not disappoint. Very authentic ambience and vibes, and tremendous service. They had a very unique and delicious honey wine, which ended up getting a second portion of, while scarfing down any remnants of our large family platter. Whether you're going vegetarian or meat options, you can't go wrong. However, just be aware that many of these are much spicier than they may let on, which I do enjoy, but I would first confirm with the servers depending on your tolerance. Also, for those new to the Ethiopian scene, it's definitely a eat with your hands type of meal, don't expect any fancy silverware or plates to accompany it. Truly authentic. Can't wait to come back. read more

Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine - Ethiopian honey wine - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First time having Ethiopian cuisine and Tesfa was incredible. I got the combination platter with two chicken dishes and three vegetarian options. All of them were great but my favorites were Ater Kik Alicha (lentils) Doro Tibs (chicken) Everything else was amazing though and I'd prob just get this same exact platter again. Staff was super nice. The place was impressively spotless and clean. Already planning to come back with friends! read more

I don't have much to say other than this restaurant has continued to improve and the food and staff are excellent. The room is a cozy bistro that is often packed and hard to get into on the prime times. Their cooking has gotten even better, no doubt related to the attention to details and making small changes. Their cooking presentation is notably artful and pleasing. The staff encourage the enjoyment of both bread and circus. Very pleasing, great to take a first timer of the cuisine so they get the best impression. read more

Absolutely love their new location. While entering we were welcomed by all the delicious spices and meats cooking. It felt like entering a warm home knowing we were about to enjoy a comforting and delicious meal. The food was made with love and very filling. I tried something new this time and had one of the fish dishes. It wasn't as seasoned as everything else but eaten with the other dishes it was amazing, especially with the beets and tomatoes. The regular platters can easily serve 2-3 people with a hearty meal. My only concern was the speed of service, it was only 3 tables of people and 2 servers but it took longer than normal for everything but the main platters. We ordered appetizers that came after our platters and I had to give reminder for additional napkins and a straw. This was our 1st visit back since they've reopened and it is such a different feeling from the previous location. The food even tastes better, I didn't think that was possible. We will happily drive here from far south anytime if they continue to have this delicious food available. read more

Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine - 14. Gomen 16. Ater Kik Alicha 24. Doro Wot 26. Asa Leb-Leb 15. Yatakilt Alicha - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I came here with a friend on a weekend evening and it was a lot of fun! The place was really busy and lively. We made reservations in advance. They had some good cocktails which we both enjoyed. The food was quite good. My friend is vegetarian and so we ordered the veggie platter which has lots of good variety. I would come back to try the meat one too. read more

Came here on a weeknight with a friend who wanted to try Tesfa out since they've moved locations. Have had Ethiopian before, but never at Tesfa so was excited to check this place out. Came in around 6 and it was pretty empty. Did pick up a bit by the time we left. We ordered the combo with two meats and three veges. We opted for Asa Leb-Leb (tilapia), Yemisir Wot (lentils), Gomen (collard greens), Yetimatim Wot (tomatoes), and Doro Wot (chicken). Also ordered a chicken rice dish. The combo was great. The injera was nice and fluffy/absorbent of all the food. My favorite was probably the Asa Leb-Leb. Found the fish super tender. The Gomen was probably my favorite of the vegetables. But all of it was really delicious. The chicken rice was also solid in terms of flavor, but I found the chicken to be quite dry. Service was kind of meh. It took quite a while (almost 30min) to get our combo and another 15 to get the chicken rice. Was only given one piece of silverware and when we asked for more water and napkins we were ignored. Also took a while to flag them down for the check. Overall, this place is a nice casual weeknight lunch or dinner spot. Definitely not super fancy by any means. And service is a bit slow. But food definitely really good so worth checking out! read more

Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine - Combo (starting from bottom, clockwise): Asa Leb-Leb, Yemisir Wot, Gomen, fresh veges, Yetimatim Wot, and Doro Wot (center) - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Tefsa new location is even better than the original. Restaurant can hold about twice the number of people it could at the Wilson location. Can't wait to check out the roof top this summer. Food was great as usual and as expected. Prices went significantly up since their move to this location but continue to be fair for such a quality meal ( and now in a much more inviting and lovelier setting ). Service is on the slow side so don't go if you are in a hurry. If you are looking for Ethiopian food in Chicago this is the place to go. read more

Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine - Serves 4-5 - 4 meat, 4 veggie . 80$ . Delish - all of it - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Tesfa has moved to its new location at 5352 N Broadway and love the new modern and cool vibes ambiance it has now. We had a nice time dining in the restaurant today and looks like they have a bar now. While the menu has changed slightly, I am happy that their food tastes the same. Take a peak into their menu on their website. read more

Such a welcoming warm restaurant. The food was excellent and there was so much of it we couldn't finish it. We ordered one of the platters with two means and three vegetables and it was cooked to perfection. The staff is kind and welcoming and checked in often to make sure we were enjoying our food and if we needed anything. We'll definitely be back! read more

The food service and ambiance were great the first time I went there. Whereas the second time I got it I door dashed it and it was very very mild. So maybe this is a restaurant to go to in person rather than DoorDash. read more

Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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SOOOO Delicious! Order more than you'd regularly eat- it's all delicious and you'll wind up eating it all (and then some), I promise! You MUST TRY the lamb (key wot)! Absolutely delicious. We ordered one, and then ordered a second. I also loved all of the vegetarian options, especially the yellow lentils! read more

We were a group of 7 and all had a delicious time. The ambiance, service, and selections were wonderful. We have been to Demera often, and will now add this authentic place in our rotation. read more

This was my first time eating at an Ethiopian restaurant. I may have ruined it for all other Ethiopian restaurants. The food was soooo good. The service was amazing as well. It felt like eating with family. We started with complementary hot tea that was refilled throughout our meal. It was so good that I didn't even add sugar to it. While it was my first time there, the family I was dining with were regulars. They ordered a variety of dishes. We started with a variety of Sambusas. I had a vegetarian one that was delicious. I didn't even need to try the sauce that came with it. We also had a variety of dishes for the main meal. Everything I tasted was phenomenal! The injira was so flavorful on its own. While we were dining, they mentioned they would be moving to a new location. If I'm ever back in town, I definitely plan to check them out! read more

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Finally got the chance to try Tesfa for the first time in their new location on Broadway and was blown away. They took the old space occupied by Pearl's and made it their own, it was comfortable and the decor was nice, and the subtle incense they use was a nice addition to ambiance. We were a group of 3 coming in on the very early side of dinner, but service was good and we didn't wait to long for our food. We got the 3 Meat 3 Veg combo with Yemisir Wot (Lentils), Key Sir Alicha (Beets), and Yatakilt Alicha (Cabbage), Siga Wot (Spicy Beef), Yebeg Alicha (Lamb Stew - beware of bones!) and Zil-Zil Tibs (Broiled Beef). As expected it was served on Injera and we got 6 generous pieces of Injera to eat with, as well as a small lettuce, tomato, onion salad. I also got the Momma Tea. Everything was tasty, especially worth calling out were the Yemisir Wot and Siga Wot, both were excellent and things we alll agreed we would order again. One of our group was new to Ethiopian and a little surprised by the bones in the Yebeg Alicha, but it wasn't difficult to eat around them and quite delicious. I personally really enjoyed the Yatakilt Alicha, and the last person in our group really enjoyed the Zil-Zil Tibs and said it was some of the best Tibs they had had. The Momma Tea was really delightful, kind of spicy, and nice for a cold rainy day. I enjoy Ethiopian a lot and in town had been to Demera and Ethiopian Diamond. Personally, I think each place has their charms and specialties, but this was really good and would probably be my go-to over the others unless I was specifically in the mood for something they had. Worth going out of your way for, a short walk north of the Argyle stop, and close to a few other places of interest on the Edgewater Broadway corridor - check it out! read more

Amazing! The north side of Chicago has a few great Ethiopian restaurants and Tesfa is one of my favorites. I felt like I was back in Addis Ababa the moment I took the first bite of my meal. Kind, attentive staff and a great selection of delicious Ethiopian cuisine. read more

The food was really really good. Ordered for 2-3 people and it was the right amount. The tea was great with the food. Service was very polite and welcoming but very inattentive on refills and checking in which is great if you are looking for something with an exceptionally slow pace or a little romantic. The air driers in the bathroom are notable... They are like jet engines and possibly the only air driers that have ever dried my hands completely. Get the sauteed chicken #28 and beats. They aren't the most authentic things on the menu but they are absolutely delicious! read more

Unfortunately, a lot has changed since Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine opened their new location. We tried the new location 4 times now, and the food is totally different from the last location. Despite the space being a major upgrade, the food is less flavorful than it used to be, and we are back on the search. read more

We visit Chicago every year or two, and when we do, we try to check out as many new-to-us restaurants as we can. One of the few that we visited more than once, though, was Ras Dashen, which was a few blocks up Broadway from Tesfa and which had probably the best Ethiopian food we'd ever had in our relatively limited experience with the cuisine. Ras Dashen unfortunately closed, but we read good things about Tesfa ahead of this latest trip and made a reservation. If Ras Dashen remains the best Ethiopian we've ever had, Tesfa was still plenty solid. When it's just the wife and I out for Ethiopian, we usually order a veggie combo and a protein (often beg tibs). But Ras Dashen had an asa wat (tilapia in a berbere sauce) dish that more memorably delicious than about 99.5% of the food I've had in restaurants. (And better than about any tilapia prep--not the most exciting fish, after all--I'd ever had.). Tesfa's similar dish, yeasa wat, fell a bit short of that standard: The fish was chopped up into little cubes--not the most satisfying fish prep--and the sauce had nowhere near the depth or complexity of flavor that Ras Dashen's had. Still, quite good. The non-meat dishes were pretty great, though, including a couple I've never had before in Ethiopian restaurants: Key sir alicha, a beet-based one, and shiro, which is chickpea flour cooked in a robust berbere sauce. We're big on the lentils, and both red and yellow were distinct and flavorful. Gomen (collard greens) are really good at Tesfa, too, as was the yatakilt alicha (cabbage and potatoes). Damn, that's just about everything on that plate, I guess. One thing our order didn't generate was a single plate of food for us to share. We had to awkwardly reach all the across the table to each other's plates to sample everything. Also, the injera was plated in a manner that permitted a good portion of it to get soggy before you could make good use of it. (This plating is the main reason this experience fell a couple of minor notches short of five stars for me.) Servers, all of whom were male (and most of whom didn't seem to be Ethiopian), were welcoming, friendly, and helpful. Excellent work by those guys on this evening. Looks like this Tesfa location is quite new: it's warm, woody, and lowlit and gives off a comfortable, calming vibe. Nice variety of Ethiopian music, too. They've done a really nice job the decor and ambience. read more

One of the best Ethiopian restaurants I've been at. I was worried when we were not greeted on arrival and we seated ourselves, but the service we received when dining made up for it. The service was provided by several men, with one in particular being very helpful and nice. We ordered the lamb stew, the chicken stew and three vegetarian dishes. The meat was very spicy and flavorful. This is one of the few Ethiopian places i did not have to ask for additional injera. Everything we ordered was delicious. I thought the decor was lovely. The ceilings are high and beautiful and I can't wait for the summer patio (but the stairs may kill me!) read more

Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine - Dining room and bar - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Looking for a good authentic Ethiopian spot? Then, this is the spot! Located at Uptown. The sambusa was hot and crispy. We ordered the lentils filling as we like that texture and the taste. The injera with the veggies & meat was so flavourful!!! Definitely fills up your stomach real well. These items were ordered are good for 2 people. Usually, it gets pretty packed in the evenings especially Friday, Saturday and Sunday. So make sure you arrive there early to avoid a long wait time. Will definitely visit again when we are craving for this cuisine!!! Go and give them a try !! read more

Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine - Sambusa- 3 pieces - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great service, waiters were super friendly. We had the veggie platter. It was delicious. Love the decor. Best injera I've ever had read more

Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine - Veggie Sampler - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Four of us, all novices to Ethiopian food, enjoyed a delicious family-style meal of generous portions of beef, lamb, catfish, corn, lentils, chickpeas and collard greens. Some of us used forks but it was way more fun to scoop bites with injera! Our server was delightful. BYO! read more

Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine - The Works! - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Excellent food. Nice and helpful waitstaff. Attentive without being annoying. If you've never had Ethiopian food, go for the combo tray. You get to try a bit of everything. read more

Good Ethiopian food and seems authentic and almost everything was a bit spicy. The food comes out on a huge platter on top of injera bread and there are rolls of fresh injera bread in between each meat or vegetable or salad entree you order. It's great for family style eating and the portions are good. The inside is okay and like a mom and pop storefront that is not embellished. The focus is on the food. We ordered 2 lamb dishes and about 30-40% of the meat dishes were bone. There were 3 bathrooms and they were all gender bathrooms and I had wished they were cleaner because it really wasn't. But the wait staff were really nice and patient and sweet and we enjoyed the eating experience with the injera bread and eating w our fingers as is custom. read more

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We stumbled upon this place after driving 30 minutes up North to find that our originally chosen restaurant was closed! This was a blessing in disguise because Tesfa not only felt authentic but the food was phenomenal. When we first walked in i was prepared to be disappointed because it appeared to be a carry out establishment but behind a curtain was a lovely dining area. We were welcomed with a delicious hot Clove tea which I absolutely loved. Our original waitress was polite and to the point but a waiter later came in to fill in and we felt very welcomed with his upbeat personality and hospitality. I'll gladly come back for a date night or my next girls night out here. read more

Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine - Lamb, beef cubes, catfish special, cabbage, collards, chickpea flour,a fresh salad, and injera. - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm updating my review since the restaurant moved to a larger location in Edgewater. This is one of my favorite restaurants in the entire city. The food is always excellent, the service is always kind. If there is a crowd expect a 20 minute wait for the food, if fewer people, a bit less. My favorite is the yetimatim wot, yatkilt alicha and the asa lebleb (actually all the fish dishes) read more

Two weeks ago, out party of ten comes through on a Saturday and sit down for a meal. Half of the party have had Ethiopian Food and love it. It's the first time for the other half. Upon walking in, the vibes were right AKA: The one TV playing music videos in the background. The hot tea was on point, and service was attentive and purposefully slow. Check, check, check. On to the food. The portions are huge. Some of the dishes are a tad too salty. This might be coming from a coastal elite (not really but roll with the reference for now) in LA where there are some amazing restaurants that serve Ethiopian food. read more

If you have never tried Ethiopian food before, the smells upon walking in should tantalize. Whenever I smell Indian food that reminds me of Ma's cooking, my nose begins to sweat with anticipation of spice and flavor. That's what happened the other night as we entered. A Friday night reservation a bit later for dinner, 8ish. The night was starting to wind down and tables were being freed. If you're looking for reservations, once 730 p rolls around, chances are you'll find many tables available. Just note, they close quite early (on weekends) and that can hamper your evening. This space they took over since Pearl's closed is a gem when you think of the interior decor. Ceiling, walls, bar, etc. There are enough reviews for the play by play. I'm just adding my two cents. The meal was tasty and I suggest doing anyone of their different platter options. The cost for sharing will not break the bank and after devouring that meal you should feel sufficiently satisfied. While the food and drink were good. The drop-off for us was in service. The waiter wasn't helpful. Not much banter regarding their food or in the form of suggestions. After being seated I had to flag down their waitstaff just to input orders so that food could come out in a timely manner. (In our seats by 8p and they close at 9p, we shouldn't have to flag them down to get orders placed.) It shouldn't be hard for staff to notice you. I get it. Wait staff not quite sure where to be, so they llama around the register. Instead, walk around with a hot pot of that Mama's spiced tea and make sure everyone has a cup. While it's still cold out, the patron's will remember and be thankful for a hot pour. Refill those water glasses or inquire whether they would like a glass of honey wine, etc. There should be some attention paid by differing staff to ensure a great experience for all. There were requests that were forgotten and the Mama's tea which is supposed to never go empty was. One refill in the span of 90 minutes is lacking. A waiter that is paying attention to a table can easily increase their spend so that the tip only gets better. For instance, once you realize children are done eating, simply ask if anyone is looking for dessert. Once wine or cocktail glasses start to go empty, ask if anyone is looking for another. I enjoyed the honey wine and we could have had more! We didn't because nobody asked. I would recommend this Ethiopian restaurant to be tried though for me & mine, I'm good. read more