My husband and I have been a fan of this place since it opened. Back then it wasn't as busy and service was nop notch. The food is still great, but the service has slipped a little. read more

First of all, you can't walk past this restaurant without the scent of Ethiopian food slipping out the door like a cartoon hand and waving you inside. And in my experience, if it smells great, it tastes even better. The dishes at Demera don't disappoint. It's best to go with a friend (or several) and order family style, so you can sample as many dishes as possible. Be prepared to get messy. You use the spongy injera to pinch from the well-spiced piles of meat or vegetables that come served on a large platter. The less adventurous or the germaphobes in the crowd can order single entrees and use utensils, but you'd be missing out on a crucial part of the dining experience! Go, stuff your face, and leave happy. Just don't expect the service to match the food. I've rarely had a server who so much as smiled at me, and the staff often appears put out by having to do their jobs. read more

This place had great food. Staff was friendly. Skip the honey wine, its too sweet.

I was tempted to give this establishment five stars, however I'm deducting a star for one reason: I called ahead to reserve a table for right when they opened, as I was having a very early lunch with some friends, though when we arrived they were all locked up and said they weren't open yet. We had to wait nearly an hour for them to open before being seated! That was hard to forget. Otherwise, the food was great, though Ras Dashen about ten blocks north of Demera on Broadway still puts them to shame, if not by atmosphere, most certainly by cuisine. Their drinks selection was fantastic, their food delicious, and their servers, (aside from the punctuality issue) were delightful. Just don't count on them being open at the time their answering machine claims... read more

Yummy food, great service. We tried the homemade honey wine -- it was very good. Highly recommend!

We used a Groupon there tonight and had a wonderful time. Delicious food, and really pleasant service. There were some reviews about how the service was slow, so we had prepared ourselves for a leisurely evening, but we were actually out of there in just over one hour, even after having dessert. Really delicious food. Thanks for the Groupon, Demera! We'll be back! read more

a great place to have a party and an experience. I've tried many dishes there and loved all of them.

I was so excited to try Demera for I have had Ethiopian at a couple of other places, this was closest to my home. I want to start of by stating that the service was good, but I cannot say the same for the food. We ordered the mixed tomatoes to start, with their homemade bread. The tomatoes were frozen and the bread was moldy, as in green mold, very evident. The couple that we were with ordered the beef cubes. They were stringy and raw in the center and I had to spit it out in my napkin. Needless to say it tainted the rest our evening even though the other entrees were not bad. They offered to buy us dessert but we declined, a nice gesture but will never return, so disappointing. read more

Loved it! I never had Ethiopian food before this and it was a very different experience but I enjoyed every second of it!

Great Food, the waitresses took the time to explained each section of the menu. The food was great. My suggestion for anyone who dines at Demera is to try the Honey Wine:) read more

Everything was delicious! Both times we asked the server to pick for us (we are adventurous!) and loved it! The Beet salata and all the lamb we tried were delicious. read more

Very fine Ethiopian cuisine; the homemade tej (honey wine) is a nice touch. The best of the Ethiopian places on Broadway, for my money. The menu's a little complicated, but once you figure out how the combinations work, the food's top-notch. read more

Lousy Food! Friday night we ordered the Vegetarian and Meat Messob for two with a combination of lamb, chicken, beef, chick peas, potatoes, lentils. The portions were extremely small for two, and believe me I am not a big eater. We were served only one tiny piece of lamb on the bone for 2, so I did not get to eat that. But wait! we were also served one chicken leg for 2, which had barely any meat on it, so my husband did not get to eat that either; But wait again! for the beef: the waitress asked us how well cooked we wanted it to be, so we assumed it would come as sliced pieces, but no! it turned out that it was only little pieces of ground beef barely surfacing the sauce. Very weird! Same for the veggies, all drowned in liquid sauces (not even appetizing!) and little pieces of potatoes floating here and there; we are not even sure we ate lentils. Wait again, because the bread: it was served very cold and it was sticky and tasteless. Can't understand why people give 4 stars to that restaurant! We usually love ethnic food, but this kind? non merci! Needless to say we were still very hungry, but all we wanted was to get out of that restaurant, so we did not order a dessert. Service was poor, we had a hard time to get the attention of any waitresses around because they were always chatting with each other (there was some kind of commotion going on, but this is not our problem, right?). When the tab came they overcharged our meal by $3. The messob for two was supposed to have been $30.95 but they charged us $33.95 for it. Why? dunno! We were not going to argue for just $3 but we felt completely cheated that night. That tray was worth $12 at most. Save you money and go to a decent restaurant! read more

Wonderful experience at Demera on 2/22/2014. Although we arrived without reservations at 7:40 on a Saturday night, the two of us were seated within 20 minutes. This was my first time eating Ethiopian food, and I was absolutely not disappointed! We ordered the Vegetable Messob for two and Sambussa turnover for dessert. The waitstaff was professional and friendly, and the food came quickly. The curries were all excellently seasoned, the injera was great, and the greens were not slimy or undercooked- just perfect. Huge portions (we ate leftovers for breakfast, they were even delicious cold). Plus, we just about died from excessive mouth-happiness while eating the sambussa. The rosewater wasn't overpowering and balanced well with the raspberry sauce. The pastry was flaky and crisp, even on the bottom where it touched the sauce. The check came out to about $40 (tip included), which I felt was fair for the quality of food and the service we received. An additional bonus was getting to watch the crowds line up in front of the Riviera Theater from the window. I can't wait to come back! read more

I recently went back to Demera and very happy to report that the issues I described in my original review are all fixed. The chicken dish that used to come with one small drumstick now comes with two, and other dishes also came as generous portions, and all the food tasted wonderful. The service was great as well. I will be definitely coming back for more. read more

(This review is only about service) I was very excited about going to this restaurant... It's too bad my mom and I got ignored when we walked in. The host wasn't there, so we waited. Almost all the tables were empty (it was 5) and there were about for parties that were making the line behind us. When the host arrived, he asked if anyone had reservations. I didn't, but the party behind me did. We kept waiting. Then he came again and asked if anyone else had a reservation. And again another party did behind me did. I understand that if you don't have a reservation you have to wait IF THERE ARE NO EMPTY TABLES. The host was very rude by ignoring parties that didn't have a reservation. After five-ten minutes waiting in line and being completely ignored by the host we decided to leave the place. He didn't even told us "we are working on it" "give me some minutes please" or anything. This is the way many restaurants can lose potential clients. This has never happened to me at the Ethiopian Diamond which is another awesome restaurant on Broadway. I may not give a second chance to this place after this experience. read more

Winner winner Ethiopian dinner! We went for restaurant week with their great 3 course dinner. Having never had Ethiopian food I told the manager to order us dinner. And oh, my did we have a great dinner. Ethiopian food is all about sharing which makes for a fun experience. Don't be intimidated and let the manager guide your way. Make sure to have the basil-lime sorbet for dessert....wonderful! read more

Excellent sampler menu. If you prefer to have some leftovers, I would order +1. Lamb and chicken are particularly tasty.

I just love coming here for a nice vegetarian feast! The food is prepared very well and is full of flavor. You leave feeling full, but not bloated. My wife and I have been there a few times and we can't wait to return! read more

Best kitfo in the city. Exceptional vegetatian dishes as well. Very inviting atmosphere. Friendly and accommodating staff. I visit and bring friends as often as possible! read more

The food was good. Just stay away from this cocktail addis abeba, maybe the bartender was having an off night, but it was undrinkable the night I went. Hibiscus, ginger, cardamom combine like a symphony to my palate usually. read more

We were here for lunch today. Nov 2nd, 2015. The food was delicious as was the Ethiopian coffee. The waitress was so polite and friendly. Also noticed how clean everything was. Highly recommend! The two of us shared a platter with the injera bread and 3 veg/3meats. Every thing was wonderful! p.s., we used a Groupon and price was so reasonable...and they really treated us well! read more

I've been here twice in the past week. Once with a groupon for 2 and the other for a friend's birthday. The food was great, and I liked the honey wine. However, the service was not great. I'm sure it's because they are understaffed. The first time we waited forever to be served and couldn't really get started with the menu because we had questions. Then we were rushed to order because we didn't know when she would return. The second time was similar, and our waitress rushed and gave us the check without giving the option for coffee( which we really looked forward to) and never brought me an item requested. Kind of disappointing because of read great things. read more

Let me be clear: This rating is NOT because of Demera's food, which is excellent. It's a commentary on the service provided by a Demera waiter last month when I took a group of 16 to Demera for lunch. Although the waiter had a lot to do by himself, in the end the service was so-so. As a result I left a 15% tip and then departed a few minutes before the rest of my guests, who were then approached by the waiter who rudely pointed out that 15% was not enough for a group and literally demanded that they add to the tip I had left for him. Will not be returning with guests anytime soon. read more

Great food and huge portions! The honey wine was not as great as other people have stated but that may be a personal preference. Very sweet and one glass was more than enough for me. Great place for groups because you can share everything and try out lots on the menu. read more

Our only prior experience with Ethiopian food was in Washington DC and we very much enjoyed it. After reading all of the positive reviews on Yelp, we decided to check this place out and we were not disappointed. The food was delicious and the portions are very filling! We got the Appetizer Messob which was the sambussa sampler and ambasha which was awesome. For dinner, we got the mesob platter, with 3 meats and 3 vegetables and we enjoyed all of them. Of particular note was the beet vegetable option and the tilapia seafood option, but all were very good. The honey wine sangria was delicious, and I was happy that they serve Pinotage - a South African wine! read more

The food was great. We had the sampler platter with 3 meats and 3 veggies. The collard greens are awesome and the spicy lamb was good.

Excellent meal! The waiter was very courteous and willing to give helpful guidance with the menu. Prices are reasonable.

Good food but they had like 2 waitresses for like 50 tables! Literally waited 30 min to put in our order! They were all nice just don't go on a Friday night . read more

I've read the other reviews (thanks Yelp) and just had to go and check it our for myself, so my wife and I went for Valentine's day and we both loved it! First of all I am glad I made reservations for 7p- it was packed at 7:30 and a line was out the door. If you do not mind eating with your hands, enjoy spicy (think Indian) food, and have an open mind when it comes to table settings, then I think you may enjoy Demera. First off there are two types of tables here: the normal table that you will find at any other restaurant as well as the traditional Ethiopian tables and chairs that look like something you would find in a hookah lounge. They are low to the ground, informal and dare I say it- fun. We were seated in the traditional setting with the low table for drinks etc, and the second hand woven table in which the food was placed on a LARGE round plate, the food is eaten with your hands by picking up with pieces of bread that resemble a large thin pancake. I know it sounds odd and it was but it was also fun! And it made for a great date. Be sure to check out their web page as there are pictures of this. I think all we talked about the entire time we were there was how good the food was- oh and the beer! You have to have the beer...very very good and it complimented the spicy food. Living in Uptown I enjoy having another choice besides Chinese or pizza. Check out Demera, it's not very expensive, it's a unique night out and you'll have lots to talk about. read more

i really like everything about Demera !! as an Indian i can say the food is sooooooooooooo...... there was a skinny waitress before which she used to be my serever since they started i didn't see her for the past weekends anyway the service also good but not like before i prefer the skinny old waitress . the food was so tasty. so please go and try it . you will love it. and the place is .........of course so beautiful. read more

We tried this place on Valentine's Day, which obviously is one of the worst nights to go anywhere. Surprisingly, we only had to wait like 20 minutes, even though the place was packed. We were seated at a table for two, right next to a 2' by 2' vent, which was absolutely filthy and covered with dust. It was a turnoff, but I'd give the food a chance. We ordered drinks and our food, and got our drinks right away. I knew it was busy, so after an hour wait I decided to flag down our server. She asked if we were ready for dessert! I told her we never got our food, and her face went blank. We got our food about 5 minutes later and it was actually pretty good! Still, I couldn't give this place more than two stars considering how dirty it was. I'd like it better if I lived closer and went on a normal weeknight I suppose. read more

the food is 5 stars hands down. the service is a bit slow - but super-friendly. the atmosphere is great. the decor is tasteful. we tried 3 vegetarian, 1 lamb, and 2 seafood dishes -- this is culinary heaven! go & enjoy :) read more

OMG, I could cry! I just found out tonight that my fav ethiopian rest closed and so I went to Demera instead for take out and it was HORRID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Honestly the worst food I've had in ages! We spent $30 on two entrees and only one was edible, and I'm using the term loosley. The other was the worst zil zil tibs I've ever seen. I knew, even before I dared to taste it, that it was going to be the toughest, worst beef EVER and I was SOOOOOOOOOOOO right. Wah! This was a MAJOR let down and total waste of money! BOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! read more

This was one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had. We went on a Friday evening and it was not very busy at all. There was staff standing around talking, and yet it was very difficult to get any service. We wanted the honey wine and were told that it was no longer offered with the coupon deal we bought. When we asked for help in selecting items, we were directed to read the menu, which was fairly vague in description (we wanted more description on the sauces that were used on the meats). Our fried appetizer came out still cold in the middle, and the entree portion of the meal was barely above room temperature. When we asked the server she simply replied "it's supposed to be that way". Since all of the items we ordered were meat, health safety-wise I would guess that it should have been hot. This was a huge disappointment and an addition to my stay-away list. read more

My wife and I have been coming to Demera for about three years and it's always a fantastic place to dine. They can tame down the spices or kick them up anytime you ask. The best Ethiopian food in Chicago and one of the best places to eat in Uptown. read more

I'm Ethiopian and the owner of the restaurant has known me for a long time. When I tell you the food is good i mean it. It is very vegetarian friendly and the atmosphere makes you feel like your in Ethiopia. read more

My wife and I visited on a weekend and were glad that we had reserved a table in advance, considering that we are usually very slack in that aspect. The place was packed, but had a nice, happy vibe going, which I loved. If you are someone who prefers quiet conversation as part of your dining experience, I would say this place is probably not for you. Coming to the food, we ordered chicken sambussa for the appetizer, which came with a tangy sauce, that was absolutely divine. The Demera messob for two that we had comes with injera bread, and choice of 3 vegetarian (we went for spinach and two kinds of legumes) and 3 non-vegetarian(lamb, chicken and shrimp) sampler portions. For someone who was new to ethiopian cuisine, I really enjoyed this option as it allowed me to find my way around the myriad options on offer. The food, in terms of the spicyness is very close to what I am used to with Indian cuisine. So, if you have a low threshold for handling spicy food, you might want to let your server know your preference. No complaints about the service which was attentive, yet not obstrusive. All in all, we had a great time, and I am sure i will visit this place again to explore the cuisine in a little more detail. read more

This was the first time that we had Ethiopian food and it was a very unique eating experience. I love bread and injera (used to scoop up the food) was no exception. It has a sponge "crepe" feel and tastes mildly sour. We ordered demera massob which allows you to select 3 vegetable and 3 meat samples. There's plenty of food...more than we could finish. We ordered a mix of spicy and mild, that included ye-shimbra assa (spicy chickpeas), kik alicha (mild split yellow peas), ye-beg kikill fitfit (mild lamb), and ye-doro tibs (lemony and hot chicken, although you can order mild too). The waitress was from Ethiopia (at least that's what she implied), very helpful, and provided great service. The visual ambiance appears to be simply authentic to ethnic roots. The jazz musician (who was very good by the way) threw in a bit of an ironic twist. All and all a great evening. I would definitely go back when I have a craving for Ethiopian food! read more

yum, the best ethiopian restaurant in town. and a great space--wall to wall windows for watching a fun intersection of town. here for ethiopian first and then drinks at the green mill=beautiful night read more