Located in the heart of downtown, our restaurant serves
authentic Ethiopian cuisine in a casual bistro setting.
Our carefully crafted menu, wonderful traditional coffee ceremony, impeccable service, and elegant, yet cozy, atmosphere brings the best of Ethiopia to your dining experience.
Owners: Alexander Semaw and Nebiat Ghebre
PRESS & REVIEWS
Ottawa Xpress
East African Restaurant
Cuisine unjustly ignored - by
Aaron Shaw
East African Restaurant an outstanding Success
It's eureka when you discover a hidden culinary gem. Sometimes its off-the-beaten-path location keeps it incognito, but even one in plain view can fail to draw the crowds. The East African Restaurant is in the latter category, midway along busy Rideau Street but far too ignored. So it was on a summery night that I was walking by and on a whim decided to try it. Though another Ethiopian eatery is only a few steps away and drawing a large share of the dining populace, it is proffering simply good food, while the edibles at East African Restaurant are outstanding.
The ownership changed just under a year ago and with it the name of the restaurant, although you wouldn't know it by the sign that still proclaims "African Palace." The new owners also forgot to apply for a new liquor licence, but their carefree attitude ends there. The interior is decorated with animal skins, Ethiopian musical instruments and African works of art. Waterfalls on the rear wall shimmer as water glides down two mirrors flanked by large plants. Two large grass-hut roofs hang from the light fixtures adding intimacy to the high ceilings.
Menu items can be ordered individually or combined with others for two dollars more. As is typical of Ethiopian cuisine, most foods are types of spicy stews served on and eaten with injera, a flat spongy bread fermented to give it a sourdough-like taste. Once you get beyond the sticky fingers, there is something satisfyingly tactile about eating with your hands.... >> more
