This is a nice family owned place, food always comes out hot and fresh but it certainly takes a…read morewhile so cut out at least 90 minutes for your visit. We got the Meat Combo Plater which had 4 different dishes included, all very tasty (see photo for description)! But I was left wanting a little more spice/heat. The menu say this player would feed 2 but I have a smaller appetite so I think it could easily feed 3 or 4. Also when you're ready to pay, you go up to the counter and wait for a person to appear to ring you up (which can be confusing if you've never been there before).

I hate to write this review but the glowing reviews made us drive 20 minutes out of our way to try…read morethis place. Very much not worth it. The food is ok. We had a beef dish and a lamb dish. Both were so greasy it was difficult to wrangle. This was Made doubly difficult by the real problem. We were dining at 6pm on a Sunday evening. No one else was in the restaurant but for some reason we still had terrible service. We got 1 glass of water each, 1 bottled beverage and then were completely ignored. To the point we weren't given any silverware with our entrees. A spoon would have made things easier but really probably not that much better. Yes I know how to eat Ethiopian food and I understand the traditional presentation of serving the food on the bubble bread. Both of our dishes were served in bowls and the grease problem made it difficult to grasp with the bread. This was maybe my least favorite rendition of the bread I've had as well. It was very moist like very very moist and made the whole experience lack luster. It's clearly a family establishment and the kids are nice but they are not servers. All of this might have been ok but for what we got the food was also quite expensive. We've done Ethiopian many times and often seek it out when traveling. This place wasn't it. The restaurant it's self is ok if old and fairly dirty. But the neighborhood is a little off the beaten path. Exactly the hole in the wall kind of place where I'd the food is amazing and the service is great you could expect The kind of reviews we saw. I don't know if this place used to be good or maybe we were just here on an off night but if your traveling and looking for a great place in msp this has potential to disappoint.

I have been going here for over five yeand just realize I never reviewed it. I love this place it's…read morenice to clean, the food is on point, the service is quick and pleasant, very nice place to go and the food, it's authentic

A no-nonsense Ethiopian restaurant in Columbia Heights, near Minneapolis border…read more Service was minimal the night we visited. I ordered the vegetarian combo and it was lovely to look at and super tasty. My companion ordered a meat dish- I did not get the name. She really enjoyed the seasoning but the meat was mixed with injera- almost too much, because it was also sitting on top of injera and has injera on side. If you are in this part of the Twin Cities, I would highly recommend this for getting your Ethiopian fix. As a Saint Paulite, however, we have so many outstanding Ethiopian restaurants I am not sure I would make the trip.

Service was prompt and friendly. Beef samusas were delicious, a perfect afternoon snack!read more

Went to lunch with big group. We got to eat all the variety. The food was all delicious…read more Customer service was great too. They were very friendly and kind. Bought Sanbosa and baklava to go. Price was reasonable. I would for sure go back there again!

Who doesn't love a restaurant that makes their own injera? Ummm, I was delighted that they have…read moreinjera here that is gluten free and you can buy a pack of 10 full size pieces (unlike other places when they say a piece that is NOT a full size piece) for under $15. You might say that's expensive, but it is a steal of a deal and absolutely worth it. The flavor profile was rich and well developed/ fermented. The texture was lovely and the thickness was on point. Ok, so my sister and I also loved this because we ordered a vegetarian combination for 2 people via delivery. Boy oh boy was my fat stomach super happy and my pieplate sized eyes overjoyed when the takeout/delivery container for the 2-person veg combination was a huge aluminum buffet style container that legitimately weighed at least 5 pounds with the 3 pieces of injera in addition to our other on the side 10-pack of gluten free injera. It was insane. So, folks, when people say this is a good deal for your money, that is an understatement. We two folks love Ethiopian food, and we could not finish it at all. The servings were deliciously generous for every one of the veggie dishes. There was the traditional salad that was made with spring greens mix, not just iceberg- very nice. There was also a raw cabbage salad, which I adored. There were all the other traditional dishes like green lentils, kik alicha, gomen, tikil gomen, misir wot, shiro wot, beets and fossolia. A nice addition to round out the 11 items was dinich wot, a lovely potato dish with pieces roughly the size of one-sixth of a potato cooked to tender and gently spiced perfection. We both loved the green beans dish, I loved the gomen and cabbage dishes, and my sister loved the shiro wot. All the flavors were fresh and balanced, with nothing being overly salted or greasy. It actually felt much healthier than some other places that overcook, over-salt and over-oil the dishes. This buffet dish could easily have fed 3 hungry people and 4 normal people (sorry, I do not have a normal appetite for Ethiopian food, I am a glutton for it!!). The food was prepared faster than expected and even with delivery, it was piping hot. Loved this Ethiopian restaurant for the freshness and healthful dishes in the vegan combination that was extremely generous in portion, sure flavorful and complemented by the best gluten-free injera I've ever had. I am sad I do not live next door or even in the same state, even though MN is a very large state... So good!!!!!! Dreaming of when I could go back....

Katar River Ethiopian Restaurant is a true hidden gem tucked away in a quiet corner of town--and it…read moredeserves every bit of praise. From the moment we stepped through the grocery store door, we knew we were in for something special. After walking through the grocery Store, the warm, inviting décor set the stage, but it was the food that stole the show. We began with the combination sampler platter, a colorful array of perfectly seasoned lentil stews, sautéed greens, and creamy split-pea dishes, each piled atop soft, fresh injera. Every bite was bursting with spice flavor. Next came the Doro Wat, rich and tomato-forward, with tender chicken simmers in a luscious red sauce that left us scraping the plate for every last morsel. We also tried the beef tibs, seared to order and tossed with fragrant garlic, fresh jalapeño, and just the right pinch of rosemary. What really elevated the meal, though, was the service. Our server Isaac was patient, kind, and deeply knowledgeable about the menu. When we hesitated over which combo to choose, he guided us toward the perfect balance of mild and spicy dishes--and he was spot on. It felt less like ordering off a menu and more like discovering family recipes. If you're craving authentic Ethiopian cuisine--fresh, artfully seasoned, and cooked exactly to your taste--make a beeline for Katar River. Whether you're a longtime fan or brand-new to these vibrant flavors, this restaurant is not to be missed. Highly recommended!

Owned and run by a family from Djibouti, this has an air of informality melded with friendliness…read morethat is common at many new Sub-Saharan African restaurants. The food was okay, but I give 4 stars because the owner's son, who served me, was so kind. Next time I will arrive earlier before the goat stew disappears.

The staff are very helpful and friendly! The hummus is a great snack! I would like to see more…read morevegetarian options!

Good Ethiopian, but not exceptional. The food came out less than hot and I've had better samosas…read moreelsewhere.

The food is delicious and the service is top notch. I had the gomen besiga and it was wonderful, my…read morefriends shared a large vegetable plate and raved about it. Will definitely be back soon.

Ethiopian cuisine is one of my favorite things to eat, and I was excited to find out that Lucy's…read moremarket conducts lessons in cooking injera as well as traditional Ethiopian dishes. Signups and information is on their Facebook page. In addition to a delicious restaurant and cooking lessons, this is also a market, selling commercially produced packages of injera, as well as lentils, and many other staples. There's a large open kitchen, a small retail market area, and a decent sized dining area. The service was top notch, and I learned a lot about the history or Ethiopian food in Minneapolis, during the checkout process. Whether looking for some food, lessons, or ingredients, you really can't go wrong coming here.

Lucy's is consistently delicious. We have gotten take out many times. We almost always get the…read moreveggie sampler and then a meat dish. The two of us are big eaters and we always have leftovers with this ordering combination. -Have had beef tibs wot, the key wot (a little more spicy/smoky), and the tilapia. All great. Want to try doro wot next! -If you're not sure what you like yet, try the Lucy's combo (meat and veggie sampler). Honestly I have never had anything I didn't love. You can taste the love and care that goes into this food. -Their cottage cheese is a super fresh, tangy, amazing complement to their smoky and spicier meat dishes. -Samosas are yummy especially with spicy green sauce on the side! This place is such a gem and we love it!

Food 5/5 Service and ambience 3/5…read moreGlad we came today at 5. We were the only people eating in, several groups came and went with takeout. Portions are generous! We had lots of food to take home. Partly we didn't read carefully and thought the collard greens and okra were side dishes but they also have meat and are accompanied with rice. We had the Attieke with chicken, the Jollof rice with chicken, and the dry rice with fried fish (croaker). And a sour sop drink to share. The food took about 20 minutes and was very flavorful. I especially liked the okra and the fried plaintains.

If you love African cuisine, THIS is the spot! They are picking up and they are doing great! The…read moreinside is quaint, but coming up. The food is delicious, and the flavor fantastic. Great friendly service with broad smiles. Come on by!