They have the best food and the nicest owners!!!! They bring very authentic flavor to the Queen…read moreCity and use very fresh ingredients! I would highly recommend checking out this spot!

Was craving Jollof rice and a friend who's raised here told me to go to Mama Gee's. Chef Kobbi…read moreimmediately made us felt like we went to his home, gave us a sample of jollof rice. Excited to return and try their summer Saturday's night specials

I have long been wanting to try East African cuisine, and decided it was high time I pick a…read morerestaurant in the area and go for it. There were a few worthy entrants, but after reading reviews and looking at photos, I decided Red Sea would be the place I go to experience these new flavors. Located along Monroe Rd in a stand-alone building painted green and blue, the restaurant definitely appears a bit dated but to me that adds to the charm. I don't think any everything to be shiny and new, I'll go for tried and true when it comes to local restaurants. I went in on a weekday between lunch and dinner, so it was pretty quiet, but I noticed in addition to a fine looking bar, they have a small stage which suggests they sometimes host musical acts. I'd love to come back during one of their busy periods so I can get a better sense of the vibe, but on this particular day I was there solely for the food. The only thing I knew going into this experience is that Ethiopian food is typically served on a large piece of bread which I've come to learn is called injerna. The bread is a sourdough and has a spongy texture. Now I wanted to try different things so I got a combo platter that came with chicken, lamb, veggies, and a hard boiled egg as well. When they serve it, it comes with another piece of injerna and the idea is that you use the second one to tear away pieces and pick up your food with it. I confess that I tried my best to eat it the authentic way, but eventually I found myself getting frustrated and asked for a fork. Like chopsticks I'm sure it takes practice. The platter is a was massive, an absolute feast that could easily feed two people. I loved it, but eventually had to get a to go box. It was ambitious to take that on by myself. Overall my first experience has me hooked and I want to try more. I can't speak to the authenticity, but people in the city seem to rate this place very highly so I think that speaks for itself.

With apologies to the other Ethiopian restaurants in the area, I picked Red Sea for dinner because…read moretheir Yelp page had the best food pics, and rightly so. Red Sea provided exactly the type of experience I wanted, including decor, atmosphere, friendliness, and of course the food. In the background, behind a door on the side of the restaurant, there was a second area where you could hear people playing snooker. At one point in the evening, the woman who seated and served us also roasted coffee beans at a little station in the corner, then she walked around so that the smell penetrated the entire restaurant like incense. What a cool thing, and something I've never experienced at any other Ethiopian restaurant previously. It's such a simple thing, you'd think it would be more common. The food was, of course, delicious. You could order individual foods or combo platters, and the combo platters were very well explained. This was one of the few Ethiopian restaurants I've visited which included beets on the menu both in the vegetable platter and as a side. Each person gets one gigantic piece of injera, so little worry of running out (there is a charge for extra). Tej is available by the bottle and glass, and several brands of beer are available. I would classify Red Sea as a hidden gem and definitely a place to dine.

So I ended up cheating on ZOWEES (N TRYON)…read more for this "African Kitchen" only because zowees was closed. This is the Cassava Leaves Sauce & Steamed Rice absolutely DISGUSTING. This isn't no real african place. 0/10. SO dry and taste like it's been out all day. DO NOT buy here. Taste like DIRT.

We were at a Nigerian conference and they didn't have Nigerian food so we went looking. Called a…read moreplace about 45 mins before close for pickup. At first the young lady on the phone didn't want to take the order. After a little coaxing, she did. My girlfriend ordered veggie soup with beef, a meat pie and jollof. On the phone, at the end, the girl repeated back the order, but kept saying Egusi soup, which we kept clarifying back to veggie. We showed up, paid the money and got out food. When we checked it, it was egusi soup not veggie. We called that out and the girl stuck her head in the window and said she was the one we talked to and we were wrong, we had in fact ordered egusi soup. We did not. She promised she wouldn't make it right and invited the person who was out front to come back and make it himself. He excused himself and went back there. After not very long, her attitude had changed and she was calm and not so spicy. I think I know why... I have never ever EVER had food so salty. It was the worst food I've had that I can remember. Each dish (except the meat pie) was over salted. I'm pretty sure the young girl did it for revenge. Over salted jollof, over salted chicken, over salted plantains (didn't think that was possible), over salted veggie soup. Meat pie (pre-made) wasn't over salted - but was mostly dough and not much beef. Just terrible. I would hope those flavors are not the norm. If so, please know that good Nigerian food is not that salty. If the young lady did it on purpose, man - reconsider that hire.

First time here and wow I can't wait to go back!! The staff made us feel like family and everything…read morewe tried was delicious. All home made and authentic. A must try in Columbia!

This restaurant brings us delicious food from The Ivory Coast of West Africa. The menu is simple…read morebut looks amazing with plenty of options. Everything is a la cart , but the portions are generous. Today I tried Krako , which isn't on the menu, but you might can ask for it. They said it's when the plantains are over ripe, they are smashed with spices and then fried . It was sooo good, though just a bit oily. Next, I decided to try their stewed goat and their signature spinach rice. The goat was unbelievably tender and the broth was so flavorful. I ended up mixing my rice Into the sauce after I'd eaten all the meat. I will definitely eat here again, I want to try their whole fried red snapper. Prices are affordable. My meal was about $35 with tip, and I have a to go container.

Was really empty and the food was reheated. However the lady was very friendly. I went in with an…read moreopen mind and we decided to dine in. Perhaps due to a lack in customers, I felt the meat could have been more fresh. I had no idea what to expect when I got the egusi stew with the tri meat option. Definitely not for the faint of heart, but edible on my end. I would like to try more and I would be open to trying the cooking pot a second time.

Never had African food until today. I had no clue what to get, so the employee was very helpful in…read morehelping me decide. What I had was delicious, I got the beef. The spices were very flavorful and food piping hot. I will definitely be back.

Food is always good, service is slow at times, but call and order ahead to pick up, the area is…read morevery convenient, the parking lot they're located is not very busy so there should always be parking spaces.

I like the croaker it's seasoned well. I was able to do a custom order with the fish, a side of…read moreplain okra, pepper & Beni. The potatoe leaf was a little over salted but with the rice it's fine. The palace sauce they forgot to pack it so I didn't get to try that. The Okra sauce was good. Overall good foid, wish they had whole meats at that price point, instead of shredded chicken & turkey only. Solid option when in North Carolina for good West African food. Service was ok. Ambiance is straight to the point.

Very good Nigerian food. The servers are very friendly and helpful. The restaurant is cleanread more

The food was less than desirable. My partner was sick, and hoped to enjoy some delicious soup,…read moresimilar to what he grew up with. I should've heeded the warning of the other reviews, but I thought I would give a small business a chance. I was absolutely wrong. My first clue should've been the lack of customers in the restaurant. My second clue should've been that 90 sanitation rating. My third clue should've been the lack of food in the chafing dishes upfront. My fourth clue should've been when I was charged more than the posted price for the soup (which came to $19.47). I ignored all of this just to support a small business. Beware. If I could have given zero stars I would have. I hope this place shuts down soon. It is a real waste of space.

Food was delicious!!!! Service was great! One thing I did not appreciate was the menu stated there…read moreis an automatic 18% gratuity for parties of 4+. We were a party of 2 . I never mind gratuity in fact we left extra but I just appreciate accurate information if you put a policy in place.

We had barely left the restaurant before the experience started going downhill. I ordered a spicy…read moreginger drink, but after bringing some of the drinks, the waitress said she would return with my ginger beer. I corrected her and explained that I ordered spicy ginger, not ginger beer. Two minutes later, she still brought ginger beer. When I reminded her again, she responded with attitude and finally said they didn't even have spicy ginger available. I asked waitress not to add chicken, okra soup came with chicken in it. To make matters worse, my son specifically ordered his steak well done, yet it arrived pink inside. The okra soup was actually good, but the jollof rice was terrible. We spent close to $250 on food, and the only thing that was truly enjoyed was the okra soup. On top of that, there was a $34 service charge added, while tax and gratuity were charged separately as well. Overall, this was a very disappointing experience, and I personally would not recommend this place to anyone. I definitely will not be returning. Visit at your own risk.

I thought East African Cuisine Eritrean and Ethiopian was closed. I stopped on two occasions. I…read morethought welp, that's just one more Ethiopian restaurant closed in Charlotte. My friend wanted me to meet her there and insisted they were open. I had my doubts but rolled in and what did I see???? An illuminated OPEN sign! Yipppeeee! We walked in a little carry out space with a couple of high top tables, looked like take out, the lady had a steam table loaded with 8 dishes, it's kind of like buffet, but Terry fixes your plate. (I used to work with a waiter from NY, when Southerners said, "fixin", he would say, "is it broken?") She loads it up with all the veggie dishes, there were one or two meat options too. I didn't try any, now I'm mad at myself, why didn't I? Plenty of injera and Terry's homemade hot sauce available. The door to the bar is open, so you can sit in the bar with your heaping plate of goodness, there's even a patio if you would like to sit outside, but not a lot of shade so it would have to be the perfect afternoon for al fresco dining. We enjoyed our lunch, barely talking, scarfing down our food, Ethiopian is one thing that I cannot eat fast enough!!! If I'm with people, I have to make myself stop and talk. Be sure to make time for coffee service. Ethiopian coffee is unique. They hand roast the beans, grind them, steep in a tiny, clay pot and serve with warm milk, tiny cups and popcorn. WHAT THE WHAT? My head exploded. I had a most enjoyable lunch, can't wait to return! Lunch is $10 and on Wednesdays it's $9!!!!!!!! CUNW.

Always love the Ethiopian food. This was my first Ethiopian food place in Charlotte. Food is great…read more Service is average! They took a while to get us Seated despite the fact that there were not many customers during that time.only for the good food we visited couple of times!

The food was excellent. The service was very good a little pricey, but worth every dime. I would go…read moreback again over and over.

The only African /Liberian spot i frequent . Service is always cool and pleasant . I absolutely…read morelove the sweet potato greens with chicken , I wish I could eat it daily !