After all, Ethiopia is the land of the Queen of Sheba. Though I don't know what to expect of the food, I am wonderfully surprised. After I enter the restaurant and my eyes adjust to the dim light, a collection of tribal masks begins to take shape on the wall near my table. A stage for weekend musical performances punctuates the other end of the room. Different levels of seating create a spaciousness that is very intriguing.
Ethiopian food is influenced by Arabic, Indian, and African cooking.
The spicing is subtle and the textures soothing. Foods are served in communal dishes from which diners help themselves using pieces of injera, a soft, flat bread. Forks are provided with the appetizers, and the waiter delivers hot, wet cloths for cleansing your hands. Service here is casual but pleasant. The small wine list includes several South African selections.