If you crave something off the beaten path yet still affordable and tasty, try the exotic flavors of Ethiopia available at Ibex Ethiopian Restaurant. One of only a handful of Ethiopian spots in the area, Ibex serves the spicy, hearty and simple dishes of a cuisine little known to Southern diners. This is a place of the exotic smells and customs of another culture, where diners can attend a coffee service ceremony where beans are roasted, then paraded through the dining room before being ground. Ethiopian dishes are simple, strongly spiced (though not always spicy-hot), and served in a communal style where all diners partake from the same plate. Diners share a spongy piece of 'injera,' the Ethiopian flat bread made from teff, an African grain. Into the middle of the injera your server pours your meal -- stews, curries, ragouts or meats that you can eat with torn-off chunks of bread. -- Jennifer Saylor (Photo: Bryan Gupton) AOL Cityguide
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Charlotte's Creative Loafing
Red Sea Restaurant and Bar , 206 E. Independence Blvd., 704-375-4999. Small, bare bones restaurant serving flavorful Ethiopian food. L, D $$
Charlotte.com
African adventure
Red Sea Restaurant and Bar | Offer your palate a trip to Ethiopia with an incredibly sensual experience. Picture yourself in a dimly lit room, bluesy music in the background, while you feed your mate. Try sharing a couple of the combination plates and they'll bring you bread to tear off to use as your utensils.
