DIAMOND RESTAURANT

Dining in Ethiopia is characterized by the ritual of breaking "injera" and sharing food from a common plate, signifying the bonds of loyalty and friendship. The traditional way of eating is with the fingers. "Injera" is placed on the plate with a variety of dishes decoratively arranged around it. A small portion of "Injera" is torn off and wrapped around a mouthful of the selected dish. >>more

CENTERSTAGE - CHICAGO
The Original City Guide - By Jenny Seay

'' Some of the best Ethiopian food in the city! Fresh vegetable dishes. Fresh injera. Lots of meats to chose from..." >>more

'' Fragrant and colorful, Ethiopian Diamond offers an extensive menu of meat and vegetarian stew dishes, all served on a platter of injera, a pancake-like bread, with a tomato salad at the center. Eating is a communal activity, with diners tearing off pieces of injera and dipping them in the stews. Entrees range from gomen watt, collard greens simmered in a garlic and ginger sauce, to kitfo, seasoned steak tartar that is very popular in Ethiopia. Appetizers include sambusas, dough shells stuffed with vegetables or meat that are similar to Indian samosas. Owner Sisay Abebe commissioned the series of five paintings tracing the history of Ethiopia over the last 3,000 years. Each painting presents a scene from a different part of the country, ending with an urban scene in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's present-day capital..." >>more

10 Best - Chicago - International Restaurants

'' Not sure if you like Ethiopian cuisine? There's no better place to try it out than at Ethiopian Diamond, where you're sure to get a good meal each time. The menu includes a host of vegetarian dishes as well as breads and meat entrees. Try the vegetarian stew and a basket of injera (pancake-like bread). The steak tartar will satisfy even the hungriest meat eater. The walls are painted with murals depicting the history of Ethiopia, and live music is played on Saturday nights. Casual dress. Reservations accepted..." >>more

I GO U GO .com

'Firey Ethiopian dishes, tempered with deliciously smooth honey wine. Romantic setting, great service. This is located in one of Chicago's trendiest neighborhoods, you can shop or check out local nightlife after you eat. >>more

If you've never enjoyed an Ethiopian meal complete with its famous injera , you are really missing out. Injera is the foundation on which Ethiopian entrées are served. Sisay Abebe, the owner of the Ethiopian Diamond, says that it is made of flour, water and time. In Ethiopian cuisine, it functions as a plate and utensils.

This spongy, sourdough pancake-like bread is layered underneath scoops of delightfully spicy, slow-cooked foods. More injera is served on the side. Diners break off pieces of the bread with their fingers and use it to scoop up and eat the meal. At the end, they can eat the bottom injera , which is infused with the taste of everything that has been on it.

This type of dining is very intimate, especially when it is employed in the form of gursha , in which diners place bites of food in each other's mouths.

Try this delicious bread at this immaculate restaurant where there are fresh flowers on every table and colorful hand-woven tablecloths. Vivid paintings adorn the walls, including one of the Fasilides castle in Northern Ethiopia. Everything in this restaurant is prepared with care.

"You are not just eating for the sake of it; you are being honored by the person who has invited you to eat. You are creating a bond," says Abebe. >>more