In a Melistocratic World…

5700 Columbia Pike Arlington, VA 22204 (703) 820-2870

Just checked this place out on Sunday night and I am glad we did. My boyfriend and I are familiar with Ethiopian food and it is one of our favorite cuisines. While we’ve been to one of the trendy D.C. Ethiopian places, it’s nice sometimes to be able to just head out to a less crowded restaurant in the ‘burbs.

The space is large and very open, with authentic decor on the walls, a large, modern bar and a stage and dance floor. There is live music and Ethiopian dancers every Friday and Sunday night. Coincidentally, we headed there on a Sunday night and i am so glad we did!

The first good sign was the large amount of Ethiopian people dining here. Second, the wait staff was very friendly. We got a table right away. The food was quite good. We ordered some Ethiopian basics since this was our first time to this place: Doro Wat (traditional spicy Chicken dish) and a vegetarian platter. The Doro wat sauce was fantastic…spicy, rich and complex. However, there was one overcooked chicken leg in it! Maybe this is the way that some places prepare it but I have always had a large portion with shredded pieces of chicken in it. The sauce was wonderful for dipping but I was disappointed in the small sinewy piece of chicken we got.

The vegetable platter contained the usual suspects: yellow split peas (slightly bland), collard greens, cabbage, and spicy lentils (delish!). Most of the vegetables were served cold, which again, I have never experienced at an Ethiopian place. They were tasty, but next time I will ask them to heat everything. Included on the vegetarian platter was a delicious cottage cheese, dry and chunky how i like it.

I would definitely recommend this place for a simple date night or for going with a group of friends. It is a very good addition to the NoVa dining scene. Can’t wait to go back and try some of their other dishes.