'Mayor of Baltimore Ave.' dies
Daily Pennsylvanian - by Alanna Kaufman
October 5, 2005
Dahlak owner widely renowned as a local community leader and restaurant owner Solomon Amare passed away over the weekend after suffering a heart attack Saturday morning. The owner and operator of Dahlak -- an Ethiopian restaurant with locations on Germantown and Baltimore avenues -- Amare was a beloved figure to many of his patrons.
Rahel Kassa, who has waitressed at the 4708 Baltimore Ave. restaurant for five years, said Amare's kind nature partially accounted for the restaurant's popularity. "Dahlak has been here for 20 years, and it has a loyal customer base," Kassa said. Amare always gave "a hug to every customer that [came] in and out."...
Community members often referred to Amare as the mayor of Baltimore Avenue for the support that he showed to the area. He continually worked to encourage businesses to open along that street.
... Amare also worked as a chef in Penn's 1920 Commons for more than a decade, starting several years after he arrived in the United States from Ethiopia in 1981.
Amare's brother, Bebeket, said he will remember Amare for his ability to bring people together and for his dedication to his work.
Harman has been a patron of Dahlak since it first opened and knew Amare well for 20 years. He said he will remember his friend for the "sparkle in his eye." Customers have expressed deep sadness and sympathy at the news of Amare's death, Kassa said.
Amare is survived by his wife and two children. ..." >>more
AOL CityGuide
West Philly Ethiopian fave comes to Germantown - By
Doree Shafrir
''...
If you have any doubts that Germantown has become the official destination for multiethnic shopping and dining, look no further than the Ethiopian restaurant Dahlak. An expansion of the West Philly original, Dahlak No. 2 is located along Germantown's main drag and features the same delicious food and atmosphere as its sister restaurant, albeit in a more spacious spot (it seats 175). Diners gather around small round straw tables and dine off a communal piece of soft Ethiopian bread called injere. A variety of delicacies can be placed on the bread, which is then torn off and eaten by hand (don't expect to see utensils here). Try the house specialty, tibs, which comes in beef, lamb and vegetarian varieties, or any of the watt dishes, which simmer in berbere sauce. There's also a small Italian menu -- a nod to Ethiopia's short-lived colonial occupation. And unlike many ethnic spots, Dahlak has a full bar with a number of bottled beers..." >>more
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