Disclaimer: We try to go here once a week, and couldn't appreciate Sam and Meseret more. We also always order some variation on the same thing (veggie sampler, fish, lamb tibs) but pursuant to the advice of you all, the last time we went we got the beet salad and raw kitfo. Now we're considering going TWICE a week... read more

I'd been meaning to try out this place for a while. I made a reservation in the morning, and they were pretty flexible when we had to change it a few times because of traffic. Eventually, we parked in the residential area south of the restaurant, got there about 30 minutes after our reservation, but they still saved the table for us (it was starting to get crowded). Immediate reaction: the place was well-decorated, but I was kind of taken aback that all of the patrons were... not Ethiopian. I really hoped it wasn't because the food was not up to par or something... Anyways, we ordered: medium rare Ethiopian Signature Kitfo, Ethiopic Signature Tibs (lamb), and Asa Tibs (croaker). Most dishes were around $17, but the asa tibs were $12. Also, the menu was very easy to read and well put-together. They have a pretty good selection of all general Ethiopian fare. The kitfo was very good and spicy. Everything was as expected, though a little more rare than we ordered, but awesome nevertheless. If you've never had kitfo, GET THE KITFO. It came with cottage cheese, which is a great contrast to everything else, and also "greens." The greens were collard greens in paste form. It was a bold, dark matcha-green color with intense collard greens flavor. Again, EVERYTHING ABOUT THE KITFO IS GREAT. I'm not a crazy fan of lamb tibs to begin with, but it was great. Chunks of lamb with some veggies, not very spicy, but delicious. The lamb also didn't have a very strong lamb flavor. The asa tibs were really yummy. The fish was gutted and decapitated, but all the meat was still served on the bones. It was perfectly fried: crisp outer layer (bones crisp enough to chew!) with tender, non-overcooked, white meat. Seasoned perfectly too. Great dish, but wasn't really special or unique. They served the meats in separate bowls. We hastily dumped everything onto our injera platter to get rid of the extra bowls... but then the next day I kinda regretted that, because we had leftovers! And if you keep your meats separate, you won't end up with soggy injera in the morning. Tore the injera into bite-sized chunks, stir-fried with the meats, served over rice. Yum. The food was similar if not better than at other Ethiopian places in the area. The waitstaff was Ethiopian, and our waitress was really nice. This would be a place I take my parents, whereas Dukem I'd go with friends. Ethiopic's a lot more spruced up in appearance, and with slightly higher prices. Also, you get as much injera as you want at Ethiopic. That's fantastic. Also, I loved the sourness of their injera. Didn't have room for desert this time, but I'm mighty curious what Ethiopian's dessert's like. Cheesecake with injera crust? Mmmmm. read more

"So that pan sized platter, that heap of lamb & that extra bread are all for me?" Yes, that is what I asked after ordering the highly recommended Lamb Tibs and I was given 3 separate plates. "Well yea," remarked my waitress. "It is a platter." Delectable taste and everything else the other reviews said EXCEPT I only ate 1/2 of what I ordered, and took the rest home. I could have easily split a meal between two people and each went in for half. So I disagree with others who said this place is overpriced. Quite the contrary. I'll be savoring these leftovers for at least another meal if not two. read more

I just tried Ethiopic's food at the H Street Festival on Saturday. I'm only giving them 4 stars because I only tried one thing and did not see the actual restaurant. The lentils were amazing. I'd have to say they are the best I've had Ethiopian lentils I've had!!! They are opening soon in the H Street corridor. I will definitely give them a try when they open. read more

My experience with Ethiopian is quite limited to Ethiopic and a restaurant in Shaw that has since closed, and while I was pleased with my first experience, I was even more so pleased with Ethiopic! Although it is on H Street, it's at the beginning (if you're coming from Union Station) and is a very short walk so I highly recommend taking the metro to Union Station and either walking or taking the (free) street car if it's in the winter (although walking may beat the street car-I'm not a fan).The atmosphere at Ethiopic is a bit more upscale, just in the realm of ethnic restaurants, but very warm and inviting. The dining room is smaller, but if it is nice weather, they have a beautiful patio that opens up a lot more seating. We had no issue making reservations (which I do recommend) the night before for 7:45pm on a Friday. We were warmly greeted and sat upon entering. While the honey wine did sound enticing, I chose a beer (a nice Ethiopian lager) instead to lessen the spice I was expecting in our meals. Complimentary bread and spiced oil was brought over, and I must say, there was something about the bread that I really loved. It was similar to a cross between whole grain and a flax seed bread-it was quite tasty. The spiced oil was mild but paired nicely with the bread. We chose to forgo appetizers and share two entrees, the Ethiopic signature tibs and the Sega Key Wot. Our meals came very quickly, and it was nice of the server to dish out our first bites on the injera to clear some room on the smaller table. The signature tibs, lamb, were succulent and juicy and tender! I loved the sauteed onions, garlic, tomato, and jalapenos mixed in with the lamb. If you go here, this dish is a MUST order! The Sega Key wot-prime beef sauteed in butter, and simmered in hot berbere sauce seasoned with spices and herbs- was also very good. Although it was labeled spicy, we both felt neither dish had the same spice of our first Ethiopian experience, so possibly the spice level is more "Americanized" since this is a more mainstream establishment. The beef was tender and very flavorful nonetheless. We were brought additional injera in addition to what our meals were placed on but we didn't end up using all of it. The injera had a sourish taste and was comparable to our first experience with Ethiopian food. I like how the injera is very light and non-filling and is clearly more of a vessel to get the food into your mouth(aka utensil) than a filler. I enjoyed everything about our meal, although it could have been spicier, and I found the prices to be quite reasonable considering the portions ($44 for 2 entrees and a beer) so I would absolutely return here again! read more

Ethiopic - Sega key wot (beef) and ethiopic signature ribs (lamb) plated - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This plan had been a year in the making. My love for Ethiopian's not faking - doro wat and injera, this shit's no Panera - and second-rate food I'm not into taking. Finally, Ethiopic plans set! My appetite was more than whet. Chickpea appetizer was great, and the combos could have fed eight, all delicious but a bit hard on the wallet. read more

Stumbled upon them by accident. The bartenders, servers and staff were extremely hospitable. The food was awesome. I got recommendations to order next time! read more

Some of the best food I have had in Washington DC! Had the veggie sample and the lamb tibs. Flavors were all perfect! Rich, bold, spiced, earthy, well rounded! Num! HUGE portions! Honey wine was sweet and complemented the spiced foods perfectly. Service was AMAZING! I have never had such a genuinely caring waitress. One warning, the cocktails are not that great, so stick with the wine, beer, and top knotch food! I was so excited to find this spot. Thank you yelpers! read more

The food here is dangerous. For many reasons: a) You eat it all with your hands which is immensely gratifying but in my case, also incredibly unattractive. b) It's SPICY pepper paradise! Definitely a rumbly firey belly for many hours afterwards. And also the next morning...and c) Despite the stew juices running down my wrists, the burn in my throat, the appalled looks and sideglances I was getting from my date and the waiters, I could NOT stop eating. I mean I generally eat a lot but this was bordering on psychotic, intervention-necessitating ingestion of food. I couldn't help it! The injera was perfectly soft and springy and flavorful (and unlimited!!!!!), the veggie dishes hearty and spicy, and the lamb tibs, oh the LAMB TIBS! Sorry, dining companion mine, the instant those wots touched my tongue I stopped caring that I'm supposed to be trying to win you over with dainty ladylike mannerisms or that we ordered these dishes to share. All your food are belong to me. read more

I went here for the first time recently and was very impressed. It looks like a little art gallery with tables scattered in it--stark white walls are adorned with Ethiopian paintings. It makes for a great ambiance. There is a small, pretty bar at the back. We walked in and were asked if we had a reservation. Sadly, we did not (call ahead!). We were told it would be 30-45 minutes, and my dining companion shook his head at that. But I was devastated to walk away--it smelled incredible in there. After I pouted for a second, we turned around and said we'd like to put our names on the list and wait for a table (he agreed to take my number so we could go a few doors down to Toyland), but then he asked us to wait a minute and pulled out an Ethiopian basket table and two chairs and asked if we were ok with that. Um, yeah! We ordered the dry Ethiopian house wine, which was incredibly light but nice for pairing (they let us sample it and the sweet wine before deciding on a bottle). I ordered the kitfo ($16), which is minced raw beef with delicious spices, with a side of cottage cheese and greens to taper the heat of the dish. You eat it with injera--yum! But huge--waaaay too much for one person. My dining partner was a vegetarian, so ordered the sampler dish for one ($18). I tasted the various veggie dishes (lentils, chickpeas, curried potatoes)--the potatoes were certainly the best. Balancing all our dishes was difficult, especially bc we couldn't put my dish with the veggie dish on the sraw basket-table. Our wine glasses and water glasses went on the floor, and my dish was put on a chair beside me. But believe me, it was worth it. I also managed to sample the lamb tibs at the H St Festival when they had a booth outside. SPICY but delicious--I think I'll order it next time. The service was attentive and the waitress really sweet. We didn't wait all that long to be served, despite the crowd. I will definitely be back. read more

The food was so good, but unfortunately was not halal like I had imagined. I had to stick to the vegetarian and fish dishes, which did not disappoint. The fried fish was by far my favorite and the injera was so good as well. I could eat the timitam(?) all day! read more

Ethiopic - Tomatoes - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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For Christmas, I gave my husband a gift card to the Art of Shaving as a subtle hint for him to shave his beard. He decided this past Sunday that the time had to come to say goodbye to his beard. To celebrate his new, younger look, we decided to grab dinner after his appointment at the Art of Shaving in Union Station. We decided on Ethiopic since it was nearby and I had my mind on Ethiopian food ever since my coworkers got it last week. I was able to get reservations at 6:15 via Open Table. The place is right on H street, so it wasn't too hard to find. We were able to find street parking a block away. The restaurant was a little busy when we got there. I noticed the people there consisted of families and couples. The hostess was able to seat us right away. We sat at one of the tables next to the windows. It's kind of separate from the main dining area, so you kind of feel like you have your own little private area. It's a great spot for couples, or two friends catching up. The only down side is that when the sun is out, it can get a little hot in there. Just cool yourself down with a glass of pinot grigio, like I did. The menu is fairly large compared to other Ethiopian places I have tried. I knew that we would at least order the vegetarian sampler. Now whether we would get the 4-veggie or 7-veggie sampler, was the difficult decision we had to make. We ended up getting the 4-veggie since we decided to get two of our favorite meat dishes, Doro Key Wet and Lamb tibs. I thought the food was a little bland and not spicy at all. When I think of Ethiopian food, I think of bold, spicy flavors. Maybe they tone it down here for the American palate? There were some positives though. I'm not a huge fan of injera (only eat it because there are no utensils), but I liked the injera from Ethiopic. The service was also great. Our server kept the basket full of injera and would add the extra lamb tibs to the platter as we finished the previous portion. The Doro Key Wot also comes with two chicken legs! The place near our house only gives one. Since this Doro Key Wot was not spicy, I ate the hard boiled egg with some of the sauce. It was pretty good. Overall though, I don't think we will be back. We're more likely to try something else in the U street area. read more

I found myself at Ethiopic because my friends think I'm a liar. No, seriously, they thought I was joking when I said "you want to try to go to Toki Underground? On a Saturday? At 7p? We won't eat until 10." And that's when we were quoted a three hour wait and dinner became a scramble. So we went to Ethiopic, because it was there, because they said they'd seat us immediately, because they had a patio, because, because, because. The first thing you will notice about Ethiopic: you'll think you've stumbled into a chic cocktail or sushi lounge instead of an Ethiopian restaurant. Think dim lighting, black and dark wood decor, and Asian decorative elements. The second thing you will notice about Ethiopic: if you're told to wait at the bar, there isn't really one. Sure, there is a piece of wood and stools with alcohol, but nobody staffs the bar. The third thing you will notice about Ethiopic: the prices are incredibly steep. Even the sampler platters only come in "Meat" or "veggie" varieties, so to combine (because I'm not a carnivore. Give me something leafy!) is the equivalent of ordering two dishes. I think it's a lot for what you get - I've had excellent Ethiopian in this town for a lot less. All of these things would point to a severely disappointed Lexie D. It has none of my favorite parts of an Ethiopian restaurant experience (a slightly dingy feel, Meta beer, a little bit of every item on the menu). But in fact, I did NOT hate this experience, for one reason: Ethiopian Dry Red Wine. I ordered a glass at the "bar" and was shocked and wowed. The smells, the taste - nothing about this wine was anything I had ever experienced. It tasted like the earth, to be blunt - not fruity at all. It embodied the element of "dry" to a tee. And I LOVED it. I must have had four or five glasses. I don't know where else to find this wine - I couldn't tell you the varietal if you begged - so I must traipse back to H Street to indulge myself. Come for the wine, stay for the "ambiance", and appreciate that the food hasn't been de-spiced for Western palates like many other places. read more

My husband and I have gone to Ethiopic a number of times. It was my first introduction to Ethiopian in the city, and a great option while I was vegetarian. Ethiopic was one of the first higher end restaurants to come to H Street and now it's a fixture in the area. The vegetarian sampler is delicious and filling. I highly recommend it. The fish "extra" that you can get is literally a whole grilled fish that is quite tasty. It is also only 2 dollars extra on top of an already extremely good deal. The shiro is excellent and worth the extra money. It's basically a pureed chickpea stew that is slightly soupy. You can dip your injera into it and it is delicious! We also ordered a variety of meat dishes, which were good as well. I don't have any specific recommendations here, but generally, if it says that it's a signature dish, it will be worth trying. The service was a bit off, and there was some confusion about what we ordered and such which is partially why it loses one star. Moreover, for Ethiopian food, if you're looking for better food at a much cheaper price, I recommend Zenebech Injera on 9th street. They even have authentic teff injera, which is actually hard to find in DC. Most injera is made with wheat flour now, so if you're celiac, I would recommend clarifying with the waitress. read more

After a protracted new-found affinity for Ethiopian cuisine, I really couldn't wait to try Ethiopic - the charming, sleek and "up-scale" eatery on H street. Here are some highlights of the visit. - I successfully make reservations online for four people. I am highly excited by this. - I find an empty parking spot on the street right in front of Ethiopic. I am most pleased by this. - As we enter and check in with the hostess, we are told that I have two reservations under my name and because of that, they cancel each other out. I am highly confused by this. - We are seated anyway after a few minutes wrangling. I am relieved by this. - The three other diners request dishes that I have no interest in. I am irritated by this. - When I suggested one of the large sampling platters (including Doro Wot Awaze Tibs, Kitfo, and a bonanza of vegetarian options), everyone became highly excited. I am highly joyful of this - We have waited for roughly 30 minutes for our food and it was not a busy day at all. I am baffled by this. - I have discovered that our waiter has disappeared for fear that she might have to give refills on our beverages. I am slightly annoyed by this. - Our food comes out - plentiful and colorful however I notice that I have been applying a lot of salt to accompany the lack of flavor. I am slightly disappointed by this. - Slightly disappointed with the lack of flavors, I still find that I was still glad to satisfy my hankering for Ethiopian. But then our bill comes out: $180.... What.....? I am a little incensed by this. - I think in the back of my mind that Zenebech Restaurant on T street is always there. I am highly delighted by this. 2.5 Stars for Ethiopic. Mediocre. read more

I'm never going back to Ethiopic. The food is incredible, but the customer service was appalling. Halfway through my meal I found a hair buried at the bottom of my food. Instead of handling the situation, the host/manager refused to remove the item from my bill. He then came to our table again and loudly berated my friend and I by insisting that the kitchen and restaurant are clean and that the hair must have come from me or my friend. Even after we paid for the food he came back to the table a third time just to tell us we were wrong. At no point did we get upset about the hair, it's a restaurant and mistakes happen. But to verbally attack customers in front of other patrons is inexcusable. Throughout the course of the meal I had to get up 4 times to check on the status of our food, drinks, water refills, and bill after servers ignored our table repeatedly. Although this is not okay, I understand that Saturday's are busy, but asking for a food item with hair to be removed was not overreaching. Overall, I would recommend this place for takeout only. read more

So it was my first time having Ethiopian food. It was a unique experience with a group of 5 people eating with their hands all from the same plate (hope everyone had washed their hands). The vegetarian sampler was good, didn't look like the most appetizing thing I have ever had, reminded more of baby food to be honest. Everything tasted decent with some of the samples being spicy. We also ordered the fried fish, it was also my first time ever eating a fish that was served in its entirety but it was actually really good, my favortire part of the meal.Everything is served with this spongy light bread which I wasn't the biggest fan of. The service was good, the waitress came by often to refill waters and ask if we needed more bread. Overall I thought it was ok, but that has more to do with me not liking Ethiopian cuisine than it does with this restaurant. I did enjoy my experience but will not be returning. I would recommend it for those who want to try Ethiopian food for the first time. read more

Food was very good and full of flavor. We got the veggie platter and signature tibs. Great seating and professional staff. Would recommend

What a gem in a part of town that is semi-sketchy, though for peace of mind, you will see scattered about, yuppies and their adorable offspring out for a summer stroll during a nice evening. We came to visit our dear friends, Natasha and Jim, and on the first night, we broke bread at Ethiopic. In the past, I have had somewhat positive experiences with this type of cuisine. I have only been to about three or four Ethiopian restaurants (including the pop-up restaurant in BK this one time), and it has always been a hit or miss. I could never tell if Ethiopian food could for me, be a contender for one of my all-time fave, exotic cuisines. Now having dined at this restaurant in DC, I can say that it is now a top choice for me. File under "amazing world cuisine"! The service, ambiance and food are all presented beautifully and elegantly. This a classy and fun restaurant serving you a meal that is flavorful and wholesome. There are a lot of veggies, but for the meat lovers out there, fear not, this restaurant will not disappoint you. We had a mixed veggie platter, as well as a lamb dish and a beef entree. I don't recall the names or descriptions of them, but what I can say about them is that they are very similar in texture to a dry curry dish, and delivers a divine bite of food each time you rip a piece of the injera (bread) to scoop up all of this Ethiopian goodness. Eating with your hands, in a communal setting with your friends is such a special way to dine and draw closer in your friendships. Ethiopic not only provides the setting for such a memorable experience, but the food will also delight your tastebuds in a similar and intimate fashion. read more

Based on my great review of Ethiopic several years ago, two of my friends suggested that we meet there for dinner on a Friday night. This restaurant has been hailed as the best Ethiopian in the city by the critics (including me!) so it seemed like an easy choice. The atmosphere is always nice as they certainly cornered the market in terms of an upscale Ethiopian restaurant. You can sit and watch people on the street as you sip wine in their nice dining room and listen to recorded piano music. Their wine selection isn't bad either -- I mean it is just a few wines, but some are pretty good. I really enjoyed a glass of the Meritage from California. There isn't much choice at an Ethiopian restaurant. You either choose from a few specific dishes or you get a sampler of all of them. Of course, we wanted a sampler of all of them! Since only two of us wanted everything spicy hot, they brought us some berbere spice and sauce, which was truly amazing. Unfortunately, our meal was not. The Gomen was perhaps the most disappointing with its dry collard green leaves in a mild sauce with little flavor. The Fosolia, which no longer has mushrooms, was good and different as it consisted of caramelized green beans, onions, and carrots. The Dinich Wot, curried potato, didn't have much curry spice at all. The Shimbra Asa Wot -- spicy chickpeas with a dumpling were fine as were the Kik Aletcha yellow split peas, Miser Wot split lentils in berbere sauce, and Tikile Gomen -- cabbage and potatoes. Two years ago I was raving about this place so I have to say this was a complete let down. The food wasn't bad, but it certainly wasn't "the best Ethiopian in DC" good. In fact, other Ethiopian restaurants would shine next to this meal that before I would have considered not as good as Ethiopic. Did they lose their chef? I don't know what happened, but I hope they improve. Otherwise, they won't be seeing me and my friends there in the near future. I guess it's back to Dukem for me. read more

Pretty good, but nothing to get crazy over. Food was decent but not impressive. Nice atmosphere and service. My girlfriend and I were here with some friends. We all split the vegetarian sampler, the signature beef dish and the signature lamb dish. Of course, served with Injera, we dove in...hands first. The Veggie sampler had 4 or 5 tasty dishes. The seasoning varied from mild to extremely hot. I like the veggie dishes but I was more interested in the carnivorous options. Signature beef dish: again, well seasoned served with cottage cheese and greens. Our beef was cooked but there is the option to go raw. We were not that adventurous. The beef dish was my favorite, ranking at a 3.5/5. Signature lamb dish: I love lamb, so I thought this would be the knockout. It was the best seasoned of the dishes IMO. My issue with the dish was the quality of the lamb, and it was a bit overcooked. These two things in combination made for some tough meat. The lamb was cut into small cubes, so it was manageable, but there is plenty of room for improvement. We were a party of 5 and had an 8pm reservation for a Friday night. I called the night before, and it was no problem getting in. We were seated right away. Our hostess and server were really pleasant people. Our entire order was based on recommendations from the waitress. Samplers and signature dishes are what I gravitate towards during my first dining experience anyway. Atmosphere: The place was small to medium sized, not spacious but enough room to navigate. On a Friday night, every table was taken. They had a nice little patio that could accommodate 6 - 8 tables. The restaurant was a little loud, but I liked it. It wasn't so loud you couldn't hear one another, but it was loud in the way, a busy, fun restaurant should be. Overall, friendly staff and nice atmosphere with food falling into the OK category. I think we will look for other Ethiopian spots before repeating at Ethiopic. read more

When I noticed that Meskerem and Dukem no longer made my tastebuds sing, I asked my Ethiopian friend, where can I go for food as tasty as your cooking? She said Ethiopic! What an epic place for Ethiopian fare. The thing is, since my friend knows what to order (and could speak to the staff), she recommended all the plates, which included a fried fish (yum) and a wonderful variety of meat/vegetarian dips. Then--they brought out the BEST baklava for us (it was a birthday party), it was the best way to finish off the meal. It's a great place for great food with friends--if you know what to order :) they even have an alternative bread to injera, in the event one of your friends isn't big on injera. By the way, the street is under construction on that side of the street, so you could miss this gem if you avoid that side of the street! Walk, drive, or bus over, however you do it, get there soon, you'll be so happy you did. read more

My colleague and I spent an hour on the train contemplating where to go to dinner near Union Station. We went to Ethiopic based on its YELP page but I am absolutely fascinated by the rave reviews. It's not the best Ethiopian food in DC. The decor and ambiance are exquisite but the food was just ok. The greens didn't knock me out. The yellow split peas were average. The potatoes were undercooked. And the portion sizes? They were ridiculously small. We spent $51.00 on food for two people and we left Ethiopic hungry. My colleague ordered Doro Wot and the boiled egg was larger than the two small pieces of chicken she was given. And my vegetarian platter? Well, the presentation of the dishes made it look like nice but there was so little good served on this $18 platter. We were so disappointed and I regretted not catching a cab across town for a better meal. This place is over-priced. As a foodie and lover of African foods, I felt betrayed. We left that restaurant hungry and disappointed. One of the benefits of gentrification is that it brings new business to an area providing more options, but one of the many downsides is that it often leads to a watered down cultural experience. Next time I'm in DC I won't take any short cuts and I'll go out of my way to get to the Ethiopian restaurants that provide respectable serving sizes and high caliber food. We felt a little weird when we sat there and realized they were playing classical music. We wondered where the Ethiopian music was....that was the first red flag. The staff was kind and friendly. The ambiance was really cool. The decor is great. The food? Well.....I won't go back to Ethiopic. read more

Love it...visiting DC for the first time in years and wanted to introduce my best friend (love of my life :-) to Ethiopian cuisine. Ordered a Vegetarian Sampler II consisting of 7 different dishes (5 mild and two a bit more spicy and a small, completely-fried fish on a separate dish) for the two of us. My friend is an amazing cook, so while I can only go so far as saying that I really liked the food, she kept saying things like "I love how they play the corriander flavors against the lime flavors!" Ok, those may not have been her exact words, being that I was busy "playing" a bottle of Ethiopian honey wine against the Vegetarian dishes! Let me urge you to order the honey wine, it really works well with the spice. Sort of how Thai tea works with spicy Thai food. I would not sit at home with a chilled bottle of honey wine and wax philosophical about it's bouquet, but it really goes well with the Ethiopian cuisine. Best to make reservations being that this is a popular restaurant...but don't worry about it being too stuffy or too loud! read more

This is the best ethiopian place in DC! I always order the kitfo because it is perfectly spiced and has a great texture. The vegetarian sampler has a great variety and it complements the kitfo perfectly. The beer is fantastic here too! I've had a few of them and the Meta is the best. It complements the meal and is served in a frosty glass. Couldn't be better. I honestly crave the food at this place and go back constantly. P.S. They will seat you without your full party and don't harass you to leave, which is a plus. read more

Glad that this was the place to introduce me to Ethiopian food. My favorite is still the lamb tibs. The seasoning of the meat is just right, especially eating with the injera, which just soaks up all the flavor. The service was nice as they were helpful with explaining the dishes and how to eat them. Whenever I'm back in the area, this restaurant always comes up as a place to stop by. read more

I will give this place one more try, because I know Ethiopian food, and I wasn't impressed. I got the veggie sampler, which arrived cold and bland. The tiny table my friend and I sat at by the window barely held the food, and the rest of the platters were put on a chair. Where people put their butts. We had to put our glasses on the windowsill! Price, portion and quality-wise, I'd rather go to Dukem or Etete, but I'll give Ethiopic another try to be fair. Stay tuned. read more

I ordered take-out from Ethiopic a few weeks ago. This was my first time eating here and I wasn't that impressed. I eat a lot of Ethiopian food, and I've definitely had better. It wasn't nasty though. It doesn't compare to Dama's food at all. My boyfriend is Ethiopian and I won't even begin to compare the food that I've eaten from his family gatherings. The restaurant is definitely the best looking Ethiopian restaurant I've been to in the entire DMV area though. The hostest was very friendly as was the person who took care of my order. I liked the atmosphere so wouldn't mind giving it another try. read more

Everyone and their moms have been telling me to try this restaurant for months so I had high hopes for this place walking in the door. I can always tell how good a restaurant is by how it smells as you walk in the door. And I was drooling once I took a whiff in Ethiopic. My friend and I arrived there 5 minutes before closing, which is a crime that is deserving of bad service. But the staff was still super nice and friendly to us. We ordered a Vegetarian combo. As for the food, the portions are huge! You can feed a small family with that much food... or two very hungry Asian girls that eat as much as a small family. When the food came out, my friend and I postponed all conversation and completely made out with the food. Everything was so delicious and flavorful and amazingly garlicky. If you plan to take a date here, you'd have to down a whole can of Altoids and a bottle of Listerine after to get rid of that garlic breath. Prices are very reasonable. I'd talk about the atmosphere but seriously... with food that delicious... who really cares about atmosphere? read more

This place is delicious! I love food that bites me back, so I'm willing to walk from the Capital to H street for their amazing lentils or beet salad, not to mention velvet lamb curry with spicy tomato and spongy injera. There's a loving attention to culture here in dc, and Ethiopic absolutely embodies that by providing us with delicious food. And forks. read more

I am always skeptical of an Ethiopian restaurant far from the density of eateries in Arlington, Silver Spring or the U Street Corridor. This place is adorable and banks on having a location free from competition by other injera-bountiful restaurants. The good: beautifully open feeling of clean ivory-white walls with simple decor graced with classic dark wooden tables and chairs. There is also some classic brick face to add a more grounded ambiance to the experience. The bar in the back is filled with beverages for your ordering. The sleek wood flooring is highlighted by the open layout. The many windows to this narrow style restaurant makes lunchtime and early evening dining quite cheerful. The menu is traditional - order some cold starters like tomato timatim salad or potato beet key sir salad or assize lentil salad. All the vegetarian items are vegan, which makes sense to respect some Ethiopian dietary restrictions as reflected in religious abstinence from dairy and meat. The bad: price. I am spoiled by living in what I feel is the urban area with the highest density of Ethiopian people outside of Ethiopian, and to match, Ethiopian culture and food. Thank goodness! This means tough competition for some ex-pats or injera-loving folks sauntering about without reservations. This place changes my approach because of its location and the pricing. For the vegetarian sampler I or II (4 items or 7 items), it will set you back at a cost more than 50% the cost of the same amount of food at other Ethiopian eateries. So, why go? The experience is pleasant in the ambiance and more polished than other Ethiopian eateries. It reminds me of Das in Georgetown. In addition, I was surprised at the inattentive nature of the service. The laid-back atmosphere is fine, but if there is no more water for us to drink, we should not have to wait and wait and wait. If we have leftovers and we have to ask several times to take it to go, well, that's disappointing too. For those seeking gluten-free injera, they have it here, so you will be happy to eat with others. Gluten-free injera is generally drier, and it will cost you more. Thus, they will serve up the food for you without the injera "blanket" that others receive. I have had gluten-free injera in some places where it is softer and some where it is drier - this gluten-free injera is decent and serves up the dishes pretty well. The veg items in the 7-item sampler include the yellow split peas - none of us were happy with the lack of tenderness to the peas. There is also a potato curry (dinich wot) that had a few potato chunks, which also were undercooked. The miser wot is always a favorite with spicy berbere sauce, but beware it is hot! The fosilia of green beans and carrots appears to be roasted and/or deep fried, as the texture is quite chewy. It's good, though. The tomato salad is fabulous as a way to cleanse your palate between one dish and another. The gomen is decent, but nothing to write home about. The tikile gomen cabbage dish is better than the collard greens, and the veggies that enhanced the cabbage (carrots and potato) were cooked well. Unlike most other veg platters, this one provided chickpea dumplings - yum - in a sauce similar to the berbere of the miser wot. Pretty good, but slightly salty. None of the dishes wowed my tastebuds, but none of them tuned by tastebuds off. I was full and found the meal acceptable. At the finale, I was not impressed, but I was not disappointed. However, given the pricing and the service, I would not go out of my way to dine here when there are plenty of other choices. This is a good choice to introduce someone to Ethiopian food for a fine dining experience, but if it's the real stuff at affordable prices, U Street is still the go to location. read more

WHOA!! Came on a last minute Sunday dinner whim... first of all I feel badly for the poor experiences other people had. I'm sure they're legit and it's just a bummer when I consider that we experienced. Not a Ethiopian food aficionado by any means BUT can tell you the we did the small veg sampler and the meat sampler and flavors were on point, all different, not overly oily or buttery, perfect amount of heat, and all different and original. Server answered all our questions and all though I understand this would be considered high end with the pricing for this type of food, the floors hit so many exciting high notes that we can't wait to go back and take others ! read more

First, let me say, I really, really enjoyed our meal here. We tried every vegetarian dish, the fish, and a lamb and a beef dish. A few of the dishes we had far surpassed anything we've had at other Ethiopian restaurants in DC. A few dishes were good, but not stand outs. So.... ORDER THIS! FOSOLIA (spicy string beans)--amazing. I would eat string beans a lot more often if they were always prepared like this. If you're a carnivore, and you only order one vegetable dish, make sure it is this. MINCHET ABISH ALETCHA WOT--ground beef in a buttery sauce with a hint of spices. They don't tell you on the menu what spices, but I thought I tasted a little cinnamon and maybe some allspice? Delicious. NEED MORE? MAYBE ORDER THIS TOO. SHIMBRA ASA WOT--spicy chickpea dumplings in sauce. I have never had this dish before, but it was like falafel, except better because of all the spices. MISER WOT (spicy lentils) & GOMEN (collard greens)--these two dishes often suffer from a case of the "blands" at other restaurants, but not at Ethiopic! No meat, no problem, there is still plenty of flavor going on here. FISH--this was an add on to the large vegetarian platter, and it only cost $2 more! It was a whole fried croaker fish. The skin was perfectly crispy, and the meat was moist. If you're getting the large vegetarian platter, and think you need a little more food for the group, this is definitely worth it, as long as you don't mind picking the meat off with your hands and watching for bones. A-OK LAMB TIBS--the flavor in this dish was spot on, I loved the fresh jalapenos and tomatoes with the savory meat, and they have to get presentation points for serving the dish in what my friend dubbed a "meat chalice." But, to be honest the meat was pretty tough. ALL THE OTHER VEGETABLES--the cabbage, potatoes, and yellow split peas (ok, not a vegetable, but in the vegetarian section) were all very similar to what I've had elsewhere. They weren't bad, but nothing about the dishes stands out. They're pretty tame, but since one of my friends doesn't share my love for spice, this actually worked out well. Not everyone is a fire-breathing dragon. read more

First time to try Ethiopian food. When the plate was brought to the table, I was so impressed... The plate was huge and I can only finish less than 1/2. I had Ethiopic Signature Tibs, which was rated as top 4% DC dishes at http://www.dishtip.com. It was served in a sizzling pot with red onions, garlic, jalepenos, tomatoes, and rosemary. Very special dish! Personally I like it and will order it next time, but, will bring cumin(it's half Chinese style:P)! The staff is very helpful and explained me typical Ethiopian food. Recommend this place! read more

I recently visited Ethiopic during the last month or two. The restaurant served as my and my wife's introduction to Ethiopian food and nearly everything exceeded my expectations. Patrons to Ethiopic should not expect a very large venue, nor one that is especially fancy, but the intimate setting and the welcoming attitude of the employees are part of this little restaurant's charm. We ordered a vegetarian sampler plate, as well as the fish cooked whole. I also ordered a hot tea, while the others in my party (my wife and two family friends) each tried Ethiopian beer. These were our takeaways from the experience: First, the service was prompt. We had a female server who appeared almost immediately after we sat down and was responsive through the entirety of our time there. Second, my tea was delivered in a medium-sized pot alongside my cup. I have in the past experienced restaurants where the quantity of tea leaves you wanting but that was not the case here, as I was able to drink multiple cups and the quality was excellent. The beer, per my wife and her friends, was also very good, though I cannot personally attest to that. Third and probably most important, the food was absolutely delicious. The fish was very crispy, cut in such a way that my friend and I were able to literally peel away chunks of flesh into the injera (bread), and entirely juicy. The vegetarian foods, presented in small quantities directly on injera, were all exceptionally flavorful. I suppose I would only have a few minor caveats. The first is that we really had no idea what food was which when it arrived (even though we obviously knew at the time we ordered). In fairness, we could have just asked but I don't think of us cared, as we were all very open-minded and hungry. The second is that a couple of the foods we ordered were spicy and others were not, and since we could not tell which was which, we just had to taste it to figure it out. Besides that though, I was very pleased with my visit. Just be careful because injera expands in the stomach and is therefore very filling, so even though the amounts of food you scoop into each piece of injera is very small, you very quickly find yourself stuffed! read more

Passable Ethiopian for quite a bit more than most other places. We ordered the 7 item vegetable combo and beef tibs. The vegetables ranged from ok to odd. The green beans had been roasted till they were dried out and dark brown, and cabbage was a tad underseasoned. The spicy lentils were the spiciest I'd had, and for some reason they just didn't do it for me. The beef was way overcooked and quite dry. All in all, I was disappointed given how much we paid. The atmosphere is nice and service was good. It's a good place to bring folks new to Ethiopian who need an easy transition, but I think there's better in town. read more

Hands down, the best Ethiopian restaurant in DC. Seriously off-the-charts excellent and truly authentic. Must haves: Ethiopian house red wine or traditional beer; spicy lamb tibs; sauteed, spicy prime beef; berbere lentils; yellow peas; and curried potatoes. Aside from the food, the restaurant itself is very serene and classic-clean, the waitstaff is very pleasant, and it's located in the very artsy H-Street corridor. There are a lot of competitors out there, but Ethiopic does it best. read more

It was good. It was clean. It was SPICY. I guess that makes it authentic. I did enjoy my meal at Ethiopic. The atmopshere was lovely, and the restaurant was sparkling clean. I have had better Ethiopian food, and the server definitely told us to order about 3 times as much as necessary. On the plus side, this is a good place to get authentic food with a less authentic atmopshere (which, in this case is pleasant). Most of the great Ethiopian food in the city comes without a nice ambience. Maybe a good starter restaurant for Ethiopian food. read more

Desta Ethiopian Kitchen in Atlanta is 10x better than this concoction. Poor presentation and poor service. I know this is a traditional Ethiopian restaurant, but it would be nice to serve some rice and give a tutorial on how to eat the food especially for first timers. The vibe/decor was simplistic with native motifs and art, but I rate for food before decor hence the 1 star. read more

I should have reviewed this restaurant long ago. One of the BEST dinners I have had in DC. Delicious, amazing food. I dream about it. And the service was phenomenal...a nice hybrid of family-style-restaurant vibe and trendy-restaurant vibe. The wine list could use some expansion but that is a minor issue in the grand scheme of things. Also, when we were there we were two couples and a baby. Our waitress was super kind...when the baby was getting fussy she volunteered to the mom to take the baby and walk around with him so the mom could eat. Lots of bonus points for that. Make the trek out to H Street and enjoy this delicious food. read more