Order ERA Takeout or Delivery
ERA Photos
Business Info
ERA Popular Dishes
ERA ATMOSPHERE
You might also consider
More like ERA
Recommended Reviews - ERA
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
True - it is a dive bar, so you know what to expect for ambiance, but every time we've gone it's exceeded our expectations. Staff and clients are friendly, and the food is amazing. Really solid Ethiopian cuisine. The last time we were there we went with lamb and chicken, this time around we tried the beef tips with greens and veggies. Our only complaint was that they happened to be out of eggs- which gives us a reason to return. Looking forward to exploring more of the menu.
You would not expect an amazing Ethiopian restaurant behind a pretty normal dive bar but that's exactly what ERA is. We came by right as they were closing and they still sat and fed our party of 4, which was just an A+ in my book. They also sat us with a smile and did not rush us to finish our meal. The food itself was amazing, I always have a soft spot for Ethiopian food. Theres just always such a variety of flavors and it goes so well with the soft, slightly sour injera. We got the combo platter and it was enough to feed 4 people well. I can't even recall the specific meats we got but it was all just amazing so I doubt you'd be disappointed with any choices you make!
The front part is a bar and back part has seating space for food. The cuisine is unique and the food was excellent. The family style was enjoyable and the server was kind and very friendly. Great option to try Ethiopian flavours.
Tasty Ethiopian spot with a full bar, billiards table, and a few tables for dining. It mostly feels like a bar. Our server was the bartender, and she was friendly and helpful, though service was a tad slow because she was handling everyone's orders and the food took a while to prepare. There were three of us, so we opted for the Era Combination, which comes with three entrees of your choice plus all the sides (the collard greens, yellow lentils, and atakilt wot or cabbage with potato and onion). The waitress recommended the derek tibs, shiro, and doro wot, which I thought were all very yummy. The one thing though: the derek tibs consisted of small chunks of beef that were very dry and tough. My husband didn't like the texture at all and felt like it was burnt. I've never had derek tibs before so I'm not sure what it's supposed to taste like, but I didn't mind the texture. Overall, the injera was soft and tasty, the food was super flavorful, and I'd definitely come back!
Came here today to have dinner with my mom and her husband. I finally realized that you won't get the maximum experience of Era unless you order the family style option. Big is the way to go. Otherwise it's a total waste. Era excels at large portions but individual plates are abysmal...tasty but not worth it. We had beef, lamb and chicken and it was absolutely amazing. The waitress was friendly and helped us decide on the level of spice that suited our palate. I like Era because it's part dive bar, part restaurant. I'll be back but only when I know I'll be with at least 3 people or more.
What a joke! I can't believe they're actually charging money for this "sampler size"! I know Ethiopian food because I travel a lot and it is my #1 go to in bigger cities where you can find it. But I have never been so disappointed in the portion sizes. And, most places will offer a combo platter with 4-5 dishes. I ordered the atakilt wat (on the left) as my main, but it came as a measly side instead. I can't believe they're charging almost $20 for these two tablespoons of food!! The quality of the food almost doesn't even matter here, because there was barely enough to even taste it. That being said, it was lacking in flavor and depth of spices. We had originally ordered this for two people! So, my friend had to order a separate dish and wait while the rest of us in the group ate our measly portions. My friend ordered something with beef and said that the meat was burnt and dry. It looked it. Even the injera (bread) was gummy. The waitress couldn't have cared less when I mentioned the teeny portion sizes. I would never turn down Ethiopian food unless someone mentioned this place again. Stay home and eat Top Ramen instead.
I must admit, I was a bit confused when I walked into the bar. "How is this an Ethiopian restaurant?" "Because they serve Ethiopian food." OK, then. If you are hungry, I would suggest going to the restaurant part of the building (that I didn't see). My friends and I went to the bar, where I think they also serve food. Got it? I took advantage of the Citywide Special and got the Lionshead Pilsner with the shot of Heaven Hill. I recommend taking advantage of this deal. I live in Southern California where this is unheard of. They also had a pretty good draft and bottled beer selection, including Lancaster Milk Stout (I used to be the brewer!) I didn't get to try any of the victuals, but, maybe next time? There were a number of vegetarian options that looked like they would be vegan, but I would ask to be sure. I hope to check out Era again the next time I visit your city. If I get to try the food, this review will be updated.
I've been to just about every Ethio place in the city, and ERA was last on the list. Coming on a Wednesday for Quizzo, a trivia night where you can win a gift card or sometimes small prizes, we ordered a few city wide specials, a few beers, and the meat combo platter. The hefty price of over 40 dollars really threw me, since usually for that price, you can get 4 separate meals at my fave ethio places, but I went for it. We were a group of 3. Platter was impressive. Bar was a little cramped for Quizzo, but we made it work and ate quickly. For three people, we knocked out the whole thing pretty easily. What I first noticed is that they give less than one slice of injera per person. The injera is also a lot less sour than injera is at some places-- a pro or a con, depending on what is your favorite type. The three meats were unique-- the kitfo (raw) was flavored well, and they gave a lot! But the derek tibs, arguably the cheapest to make, were gone in only a few bites. Also the yebeg (lamb) wasn't very saucy. By the end, wish we'd left one person at home. What they lack in giving meat, they try to make up for by giving so many veggies, the bites are endless. Really great lentils, too. Everything else standard. Think the standard for the platter should have been at least one piece of injera per person, though. Don't think I'd eat here again very soon, as the portions don't match the prices, but fun to try out.
So a friend too a few of us here when we were visiting, we walked over from his place and it was worth the walk. I had never had ethiopian food prior and have always wanted to try it. I was curious about what kind of thing would be on the menu. We ended up getting a sampled platter for 4. We got lamb chicken and beef and a few sides. The food was pretty awesome. I liked the idea of using the bread/pancake to scoop food and eat it. I don't remember what everything was name wise, but i really did like the lamb. It was suppose to be spicy but i didn't find it particularly so, but i may have also burned off most of my spicy taste buds. The chicken and beef were also good but not as good as the lamb. The only improvement on the meal specifically the sample platter was that we got 3 sides but they gave us like 6-9 portions total. It would have been nice to get maybe 6 portions and been able to try all the sides or more of them.
I must first admit that I have nothing to compare this to. My husband asked if I wanted to celebrate my last student day with Ethiopian Fios and I said yes. I had to get past the look because I am not a fan of looking at the craters in the bread, but it was quite delicious. I enjoyed it enough that I got it later in the week for takeout. I gave them four stars because the establishment can get quite warm. Please fix the AC.
1 year ago
1 year ago
You're finally fulfilling your dream of eating delicious Ethiopian food in the back room of a Philly neighborhood dive bar, perhaps even while a lively trivia night is simultaneously going on out front. The friendly hipster who takes your order is also tending a busy bar, but she doesn't break a sweat. Ask her for menu advice and she'll steer you right. You're in good hands. read more
True - it is a dive bar, so you know what to expect for ambiance, but every time we've gone it's exceeded our expectations. Staff and clients are friendly, and the food is amazing. Really solid Ethiopian cuisine. The last time we were there we went with lamb and chicken, this time around we tried the beef tips with greens and veggies. Our only complaint was that they happened to be out of eggs- which gives us a reason to return. Looking forward to exploring more of the menu. read more
You would not expect an amazing Ethiopian restaurant behind a pretty normal dive bar but that's exactly what ERA is. We came by right as they were closing and they still sat and fed our party of 4, which was just an A+ in my book. They also sat us with a smile and did not rush us to finish our meal. The food itself was amazing, I always have a soft spot for Ethiopian food. Theres just always such a variety of flavors and it goes so well with the soft, slightly sour injera. We got the combo platter and it was enough to feed 4 people well. I can't even recall the specific meats we got but it was all just amazing so I doubt you'd be disappointed with any choices you make! read more
1 year ago
The front part is a bar and back part has seating space for food. The cuisine is unique and the food was excellent. The family style was enjoyable and the server was kind and very friendly. Great option to try Ethiopian flavours. read more
1 year ago
11 months ago
Tasty Ethiopian spot with a full bar, billiards table, and a few tables for dining. It mostly feels like a bar. Our server was the bartender, and she was friendly and helpful, though service was a tad slow because she was handling everyone's orders and the food took a while to prepare. There were three of us, so we opted for the Era Combination, which comes with three entrees of your choice plus all the sides (the collard greens, yellow lentils, and atakilt wot or cabbage with potato and onion). The waitress recommended the derek tibs, shiro, and doro wot, which I thought were all very yummy. The one thing though: the derek tibs consisted of small chunks of beef that were very dry and tough. My husband didn't like the texture at all and felt like it was burnt. I've never had derek tibs before so I'm not sure what it's supposed to taste like, but I didn't mind the texture. Overall, the injera was soft and tasty, the food was super flavorful, and I'd definitely come back! read more
2 years ago
Came here today to have dinner with my mom and her husband. I finally realized that you won't get the maximum experience of Era unless you order the family style option. Big is the way to go. Otherwise it's a total waste. Era excels at large portions but individual plates are abysmal...tasty but not worth it. We had beef, lamb and chicken and it was absolutely amazing. The waitress was friendly and helped us decide on the level of spice that suited our palate. I like Era because it's part dive bar, part restaurant. I'll be back but only when I know I'll be with at least 3 people or more. read more
3 years ago
What a joke! I can't believe they're actually charging money for this "sampler size"! I know Ethiopian food because I travel a lot and it is my #1 go to in bigger cities where you can find it. But I have never been so disappointed in the portion sizes. And, most places will offer a combo platter with 4-5 dishes. I ordered the atakilt wat (on the left) as my main, but it came as a measly side instead. I can't believe they're charging almost $20 for these two tablespoons of food!! The quality of the food almost doesn't even matter here, because there was barely enough to even taste it. That being said, it was lacking in flavor and depth of spices. We had originally ordered this for two people! So, my friend had to order a separate dish and wait while the rest of us in the group ate our measly portions. My friend ordered something with beef and said that the meat was burnt and dry. It looked it. Even the injera (bread) was gummy. The waitress couldn't have cared less when I mentioned the teeny portion sizes. I would never turn down Ethiopian food unless someone mentioned this place again. Stay home and eat Top Ramen instead. read more
I must admit, I was a bit confused when I walked into the bar. "How is this an Ethiopian restaurant?" "Because they serve Ethiopian food." OK, then. If you are hungry, I would suggest going to the restaurant part of the building (that I didn't see). My friends and I went to the bar, where I think they also serve food. Got it? I took advantage of the Citywide Special and got the Lionshead Pilsner with the shot of Heaven Hill. I recommend taking advantage of this deal. I live in Southern California where this is unheard of. They also had a pretty good draft and bottled beer selection, including Lancaster Milk Stout (I used to be the brewer!) I didn't get to try any of the victuals, but, maybe next time? There were a number of vegetarian options that looked like they would be vegan, but I would ask to be sure. I hope to check out Era again the next time I visit your city. If I get to try the food, this review will be updated. read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
I've been to just about every Ethio place in the city, and ERA was last on the list. Coming on a Wednesday for Quizzo, a trivia night where you can win a gift card or sometimes small prizes, we ordered a few city wide specials, a few beers, and the meat combo platter. The hefty price of over 40 dollars really threw me, since usually for that price, you can get 4 separate meals at my fave ethio places, but I went for it. We were a group of 3. Platter was impressive. Bar was a little cramped for Quizzo, but we made it work and ate quickly. For three people, we knocked out the whole thing pretty easily. What I first noticed is that they give less than one slice of injera per person. The injera is also a lot less sour than injera is at some places-- a pro or a con, depending on what is your favorite type. The three meats were unique-- the kitfo (raw) was flavored well, and they gave a lot! But the derek tibs, arguably the cheapest to make, were gone in only a few bites. Also the yebeg (lamb) wasn't very saucy. By the end, wish we'd left one person at home. What they lack in giving meat, they try to make up for by giving so many veggies, the bites are endless. Really great lentils, too. Everything else standard. Think the standard for the platter should have been at least one piece of injera per person, though. Don't think I'd eat here again very soon, as the portions don't match the prices, but fun to try out. read more
2 years ago
So a friend too a few of us here when we were visiting, we walked over from his place and it was worth the walk. I had never had ethiopian food prior and have always wanted to try it. I was curious about what kind of thing would be on the menu. We ended up getting a sampled platter for 4. We got lamb chicken and beef and a few sides. The food was pretty awesome. I liked the idea of using the bread/pancake to scoop food and eat it. I don't remember what everything was name wise, but i really did like the lamb. It was suppose to be spicy but i didn't find it particularly so, but i may have also burned off most of my spicy taste buds. The chicken and beef were also good but not as good as the lamb. The only improvement on the meal specifically the sample platter was that we got 3 sides but they gave us like 6-9 portions total. It would have been nice to get maybe 6 portions and been able to try all the sides or more of them. read more
5 years ago
I must first admit that I have nothing to compare this to. My husband asked if I wanted to celebrate my last student day with Ethiopian Fios and I said yes. I had to get past the look because I am not a fan of looking at the craters in the bread, but it was quite delicious. I enjoyed it enough that I got it later in the week for takeout. I gave them four stars because the establishment can get quite warm. Please fix the AC. read more
2 years ago
7 years ago
If you've never had Ethiopian food before, then you will be satisfied. But if you have had really good Ethiopian food before, then this doesn't compare. We ordered Yedoro Wat (Chicken and Egg) and Yebeg Tibs (Lamb) and since each came with two vegetable sides, we got one of each: Atkelt Wot (Cabbage and Potatoes), Miser Lentils, Gomen (Collard Greens), and salad. The lamb was a bit dry and the chicken could have used more spice. However, I must admit I like things really flavorful. The cabbage and collards were good, but could have used a bit more flavor. I'm usually not a big lentil fan because of the consistency, but this was the best executed dish in terms of flavor. The service okay. We were the only ones in the dining room on a Saturday night at 7:30 (which I found odd, but could be good news if you are looking for a Saturday night spot without a reservation. After the food came, the waitress came every hour or so. When we needed something, we had to go find the waitress ourselves. This would have bothered me more if anyone else was there, but I found it acceptable since I her attention was more focused on the bar in the front. read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
6 years ago
We went at 5pm last evening for an early dinner. There was outdoor seating and very few people. We got the vegetarian and meat platter. The injera was too sour and sides were not very tasty. Lentils were very bland, greens had no flavor. We got all three chicken sides on their menu. They were all very average. It was hard to eat the sour injeras with the sides. I wasn't happy with their meal. read more
4 years ago
7 years ago
This place is cute and the atmosphere was pretty dope, but flavor-wise, it just wasn't there for me. This was my first Ethiopian food experience so maybe I ordered the wrong thing. I would be willing to try again since my friends RAVE about Ethiopian food. read more
7 years ago
3 years ago
Few weeks ago, I organized a UYE at ERA, and this review is a nod to ERA for the great job they did handling our large group. Rule No.1 of eating an Ethiopian meal, you won't be using any utensil, you'll eat using the Injera bread ( flatbread, ) and with your fingers (unless you asked for a fork, of course - try not to, for the full experience.) According to the Ethiopian culture, which is not far from my Middle Eastern culture, it is customary to eat with the right hand only, and not to rise until all are done, so don't rush and enjoy. Now, one of two things is true if you're reading this: 1) Either you have never tried Ethiopian cuisine before & you are thinking about giving it a try. Or 2) You have tried it, liked it, and you want to know our opinion about ERA, if it worth to try it. Either, or you are thinking of going to ERA, and I say just Go and here's why: - ERA is basically a dive bar, and personally I don't prefer dive bars. ERA was welcoming all comers. Ethiopian food is supposed to be eaten with friends and family, we were more than 30 Yelpers. We were given the back room, which had some African art on its walls. Very simple decor. - As a first timer, it wasn't easy for me to pick a dish, there was many intriguing options, from the conveniently set menu option they offer. I ended up getting the YEDORO WAT ($9.50): An assortment of marinated chicken in spicy stew, Goman- spicy sautéed chopped green, hard-boiled egg simmered in sauce, and Atkelt Wot- splint lentils simmered in Ethiopian spices. And of course, the injera bread. - Taste Wise, wasn't anything special- not very flavorful to my taste. That being said, everyone else loved their food, so if you haven't tried it yet, go and be the judge yourself. - For less than $10. Go. Go. Go! Three and half Yelps. read more
11 years ago
Yelp lists ERA as an Ethiopian Dive Bar. I'd find this description to be on point. While I'm not stranger to dive bars, this was my first foray into Ethiopian dining. I'm impressed by both. I recently dined in the back room with a large group of Yelpers for another fabulous UYE organized by the fabulous Sari A. Since I've never had Ethiopian food before, I can't compare it to anything else, but I definitely enjoyed it. My husband and I went splitsies on two entrees on all of the sides. We tried the Yebeg Wat (#14) and the ERA Special Beef Tibs (#6) with the goman, miser lentils, ye'miser wot and the atkelt wot. After typing all of that I really feel like I'm talking in a foreign language and have no idea what I'm talking about. That's kind of how I felt while eating my meal. Bottom line was that everything was extremely flavorful and extremely enjoyable. Sometimes it's more fun not trying to understand your meal and actually just eating it. They had a nice variety of bottled and draft beers as well. Nothing eclectic but enough that you could have a light beer or a craft beer at dive bar pricing. Speaking of pricing, recent UYEs have been BYOB so adding the bar tab element into group dining could have been a giant nightmare. Our server not only handled our large group with grace, everyone automatically received individual bills. Crisis avoided! My only real complaint was that our food came out very staggered. Some people were totally done by the time some people even got their food. We were a large group so I'm not going to let that hamper my overall opinion. The server did a great job explaining Ethiopian cuisine to newbies such as myself and kept everything else running pretty smoothly. I had ERA bookmarked for a long time. I'm so glad I finally made it and can't wait to go back for another Ethiopian and dive bar experience. read more
3 years ago
19 years ago
I like ERA. It's casual, cheap (a few drafts for $2, and a special of a shot of Heaven Hill and a Lion's Head bottle for $3), and comfy. There's a dude who DJs reggae and ethiopian jazz (which I'm a sucker for) on the weekends (and, as he sees fit, any other night). I haven't tried the food yet, but it looks reasonable. If North Star (just a block away) is busy, go to ERA and relax. Check out the art on the walls, sit at the rectangular bar (seating on all sides, with bartenders in the middle), and enjoy some good music. read more
Era is a wonderful mixture: a beautiful oval shaped bar, drunk life-long neighborhood residents, delicious food, young "edgy" college students, and cheap prices. This is a spot where you can watch baseball, meet weirdos, and play quizzo; all at the same time. After drinking at Era several times, I've finally dined there too. Era is a great spot. The bar is one of my favorites in the city, in terms of construction. It's long, round, and right in the center of the room. A friendly bar tender pops up and down it pouring beers and serving up the ubiquitous city wide special. Familiar craft beers like Yards are on tap, and the keg of SlyFox 113 IPA seems to be endless. With a pool table to boot, Era already has the makings of a decent and interesting bar. But the menu! Delicious Ethiopian food is servered up for lunch and dinner, and the entrees top out at $12. Vegetarian, chicken, beef, and lamb (the only real disappointment here, as it was much too tough) are all represented on the menu with different spices and sauces. When you order, you meal comes out on a huge plate covered in injera, an Ethiopian pancake like bread. You dig in with your hands and make a delicious mess. And it's honestly more food than one person can reasonably eat. Bottom Line: Era is weird, Era is cheap, Era has good food. The service is lax, but the whole experience is unique. I like it. read more
2 years ago
13 years ago
This place is the definition of a dive and I loved every ounce of it. Came here for a friends birthday and did not know what to expect. We started out with the "special" which was a shot of probably the cheapest whiskey made on the planet and a bottle of lion's head beer. If I recall the totally cost was just a few bucks. After a few specials I of course had to indulge in some Ethopian food, which I have never tried before this night. The young lady behind the bar was more than helpful and I informed her that this would be my first Ethopian meal and she helped guide me through the menu selection. I had Yedora Alecha, AInjera, House Salad & Misner Lentils. Obviously I cannot compare this to another Ethopian restaurant since it is my first but it was great nonetheless. Back to the drinks, I drank, I bought others drinks, I ate, I bought others more drinks, I drank some more. We shut the place down! My total bill, $50! This was ridiculous, I've never had such a cheap but great night in my life. I am willing to come back to Philly just to have some fun here again. I can't give it a 5 star cause it's still a dive lol. read more
5 years ago
Page 1 of 6
More info about ERA
2743 Poplar St
Philadelphia, PA 19130
Brewerytown, Fairmount
Directions
(215) 769-7008
Call Now
Order Takeout or Delivery
Start Order
Full menu
Hours
Payment methods
Food & Alcohol
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Other Amenities
From the Business
More Info
Health Score
Ask the Community - ERA
You might also consider
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
17 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
17 years ago
14 years ago
14 years ago
7 years ago
9 years ago
9 years ago
9 years ago
12 years ago
16 years ago
14 years ago
14 years ago
16 years ago
7 years ago
12 years ago
11 years ago
11 years ago
