07/22/09

Ok food. Bad service

by aarthiasdad

Ok. Dont eat here unless you have about two hours to waste. Seriously, it was a little more than two hours that this place took to serve us (2 people). Only one waitress who keeps going into the kitchen all the time and hides herself there and no refill of water. Our orders were taken 20 minutes after we arrived. Drinks were served about 30 minutes after that and the food arrived 50 minutes after the drinks! My husband and I were starving by the time it came. The food did not taste great for the amount of time taken! Waste of time and money!

• Pros: None
• Cons: Service, Parking, Food in that order

04/04/09

Not recommended

by IndianFoodLover75

Not enough vegetarian menu items as compared to other Ethiopian places. Food was just okay - mostly bland. The cabbage was undercooked. They had NO Ethiopian coffee even though it was boldly advertised outside. No parking in Capitol hill is another draw back. Ambiance was so so. I wouldn't go there again.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Very little selection for vegetarians

02/23/09

HORRIBLE SERVICE, NOT A GOOD CHOICE FOR AUTHENTIC ETHIOPIAN FOOD!!!

by saway

BRIDE 2 BE IS FROM ETHIOPIA. GROUP OUTING: WE MOVED 2 THE FLOOR AREA. THE WAITER DID NOT HELP W/MOVING DRINKS, NAPKINS, ECT OVER. WAITER KEPT LEAVING THE DINING RM 2 GO IN BACK. WE HAD FORMED A LINE TO MOVE OUR DRINKS, & AGAIN, WAITER NEVER ASKED TO HELP EVEN AFTER SHE CAME BACK TOWARDS US. MY ETHIOPIAN FRIEND WAS TRYING TO GET HER ATTENTION, BUT IT GOT TO THE POINT IT WAS GETTING RIDICULOUSLY FUNNY. IT WAS NOT BUSY WHICH IRRITATED ME. FINALLY, WE ORDERED. MENUS ARE MOSTLY STANDARD IN ETHIOPIAN REST. BUT THE RECIPES IS WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO GRAB YOUR APPETITE. "DOE DOE WET", HAD VERY SMALL PIECES CHICKEN, ONE EGG IN IT, YOU THINK IF YOU ORDERED BIG PORTIONS THERE WOULD BE MORE MEAT, "KITFO" DISH WAS NOT BAD, BUT VEGETABLE DISHES WAS NOT WELL SEASONED THE WAY YOU CAN TASTE THE BERA BERA (BUTTER) & CAYENNE BLEND THAT GIVES IT THAT MMMNNN TASTE. NOT ONCE AFTER THE FOOD WAS BROUGHT, DID WE GET MORE WATER. OUR TEA & NAPKINS NEVER MADE IT TO OUR TABLE EITHER. YOUR SUPPOSED TO EAT WITH YOUR HANDS!!! I HAD TO GO FIND SOME FROM THE BAR AREA. WE PAID FOR OUR BILL, DAMAGE WAS ALMOST $100. LEFT TIPS, (DOUBLE AMOUNT OF TAXES). EVEN AFTER NOT RECEIVING ANY ATTENTION, NO 2ND ROUND OF WATER, NO TEA, NO NAPKINS!!! NEXT DAY CHECK MY BANK ACCOUNT, WAITER CHARGED $16 EXTRA ON TOP OUR BILL FOR TIPS, BUT SHE HAD RECEIVED $14 TIPS IN CASH AS WE LEFT SAME DAY, EVEN AFTER OUR EXPERIENCE. THE BRIDE TO BE WAS SO EMBARRASSED FOR THE SERVICE, NOT ONLY THAT, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ALL TRADITIONAL STYLE. WE HAD NO INTERACTION B/C THE SERVICE NEVER CAME AROUND, EXCEPT TO GIVE US OUR BILL. IF YOU DONT EAT ETHIOPIAN FOOD OFTEN , YOU WONT KNOW DIFFERENCE IN AUTHENTIC TASTING DISHES & CULTURE OF SERVICE. THIS PLACE WAS NOT. IT WAS A SAD EXPERIENCE FOR THE MONEY WE PAID AND THE EXTRA TIPS THAT WAS CHARGED ON TOP OF ALREADY GETTING CASH TIPS AT TIME OF SERVICE. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS PLACE UNLESS YOU LIKE TO SETTLE FOR THIS KIND OF SERVICE.

10/21/08

No longer a great place

by savvydoc1

I have frequented this place for years, even when it had another name that I can't recall. The food and service have always been excellent. However, the past 3 times have been a disappointment. Many of the items listed on the menu are not available & the waitress never bothers to tell you until you have selected that particular one. Last week the substitution she suggested for my beef selection was horrible. It was tough with no flavor. And you are really on your own in terms of service. Even if you want more water, you must go back into the kitchen to try to find someone to help. I'm afraid this place is going down the tubes & in our current economic milieu, it will not survive long.

10/20/08

Good food but slipping seriously

by buzzwheeler

This has always been one of my favorite restaurants, however, the last couple of times that I have been there I have been very disappointed. The last couple of times there were several menu items not available. The service can vary widely - from very good and attentive to almost non-existent. My last visit was Sunday, October 19th - again, menu items were not available and the service was virtually non-existent. The server was more interested in socializing in another part of the restaurant than on helping us. Every time we needed something, we had to physically track her down. It has been very disappointing given the quality of food which this place can serve.

08/01/08

Great Food, Great Atmosphere

by Malanna

This is one of our favorite places to have a fun and engaging meal. The food is fantastic and the wait staff is polite and willing to give out reccomendations. The vegi rolls are an amazing starter and the Sheba's spicy chicken and vegi combo are a great pair. This is a great date place with little nooks with tables to stare into eachother's eyes (altho you dont' always see that) and also cool for a large group of friends with the back area that has little traditional style tables the food is put on.

08/01/08

Great Food, Great Atmosphere

by Malanna

This is one of our favorite places to have a fun and engaging meal. The food is fantastic and the wait staff is polite and willing to give out reccomendations. The vegi rolls are an amazing starter and the Sheba's spicy chicken and vegi combo are a great pair. This is a great date place with little nooks with tables to stare into eachother's eyes (altho you dont' always see that) and also cool for a large group of friends with the back area that has little traditional style tables the food is put on.

• Pros: vegi options, good service, nice ambience

03/29/08

Queen Sheeba - Bomb Beer and Food

by belltowngirl

Rating 1-5 5 being the best

Service: 3 courtious but not attentive as they were understaffed.

Food: 5 - great spice and seasoning and fun to eat :) And if you are like my roommate who is toothless, it's perfect!!

Ambience: 2.5 - has a homestyle feel but not enough authentic decor or music

Bathrooms: 1 - come on! Let's get creative Oh yeah, one cool thing, doorknob in middle of the door. Who would have thought?

Drinks: 4 - would be cool to have authentic specialty drinks but the beer is bomb!

This place has definitely become popular. too bad the service can't keep up. Because of the beer and food, i will return soon.

• Pros: Food and beer
• Cons: bathrooms, service, decor or the lack thereof

Editorial Review by Elizabeth Mortenson

by Contributor

Use your hands to eat traditional Ethiopian food in this small converted house on Capitol Hill.

02/21/07

Good African grubs

by wellcraft19

This place is not as bad. It is on the cheap side (price wise) and therefor one cannot expect impeccable service, but overall we were very happy. You almost get the feeling of these guys/girls just having started and they are stappling a bit, but that is also part of the charm.

Rating gets this high because of their low prices and "happy" amateursim (in its best sense).