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Ethiopian

Sheger Cafe – Cambridge

November 20, 2018 by Rich 7 Comments

[4.21/5] This is part 2 of my quest in search for Boston’s best Ethiopian Restaurant (you can check out my other review of Habesha by going to my profile). Who would have known, a conversation with an Ethiopian Uber Driver got me here. At first, seeing the scarce number of reviews I was a little skeptical but this is what I do to help my fellow restaurant enthusiasts. How did Sheger Cafe do?

Review #055
Restaurant Type: Casual Dining.

Food (65%)
Taste to price 4/5
Quality to price 4/5
Portion to price 4.5/5
Average = 4.17

Service (20%)  
Friendliness 5/5
Promptness 4/5
Average = 4.5

Cleanliness (15%)
Bathroom 4/5
Dining area 4/5
Kitchen area 4/5
Average = 4

Overall Score = [F(.65)]+[S(.20)]+C(.15)]
 = [2.71]+[0.9]+[0.6]
 = 4.21

The Pluses…  
+ GREAT MENU. Easy to read. Simple layout with just enough images to make a sound decision on the order. Good variety for Ethiopian food beginners and authentic cuisine seekers alike.
+ Awesome customer service. I was greeted with a nice smile and the waitress answered my questions and even recommended me her favorites.
+ Feels much like a family business which I always have a soft spot for.
+ For the main entree, I had #18 THE ULTIMATE COMBINATIONS OF SHEGER CAFE and THE KITFO SPECIAL. See attached video. That explains it all.
+ Keep in mind, the KITFO SPECIAL is raw. If you’re going to have Ethiopian food, you have to accept going raw (lol). I thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots of flavor and fresh, red meat. The KITFO SPECIAL has got to be a staple to the order.
+ Great portions. If I’m at an Ethiopian restaurant and I don’t take anything home, then it ain’t an Ethiopian Restaurant.  
+ Great ambiance. Just like Habesha, there is a big screen TV playing contemporary Ethiopian music. Various Paintings/Photos on the wall are cool.  
+ Very CLEAN restaurant and bright atmosphere due to lights and interior colors.

The Negs…
– Not really their fault, but parking in the area can be a little tricky.

The Neutrals…
o They don’t have a real sign outside. It may be a little difficult finding this place since the previous tenant’s sign (Oriental Market)  is still up.
o I had the HONEY WINE. That was my first time having it. My best description is it tastes like a mix of apple cider vinegar and honey. A little too sweet for me as I prefer my drinks on the dryer side. Spoiler alert: there is no alcohol in it.
o When you walk in you’ll see a Traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony Set which was pretty darn cool. Makes me wonder if they hold a ceremony on some days. I’d love to watch and drink it.  

In Conclusion…
They opened about 5 months ago and it’s still a relatively unknown. At less than 20 reviews, I have to say this place is very underrated and a very much a hidden gem. I’m glad I was one of the first to step foot. I owe that Uber driver a glass of Honey Wine and I will gladly come back here. In all, Sheger Cafe is a must visit if you’re into Ethiopian foods.

#ChowYouLater

Filed Under: Restaurant Reviews Tagged With: Cambridge, Ethiopian, Honey Wine

Habesha Ethiopian Restaurant – Malden

November 2, 2018 by Rich 29 Comments

[3.78/5] An Uber conversation brought me here. What started off as the usual Uber ride turned into a discussion of the best places for Ethiopian cuisine in the Boston area. The driver was from Ethiopia and he revealed, I mean mentioned (:P), Habesha along with Addis Red Sea and Shegar Cafe. Now if you know anything about me, then you will know this means I need to go on a mini Ethiopian restaurant tour. First stop, Habesha.

Review #053
Restaurant Type: Casual Dining. Full Service Restaurant.

Food (65%)
Taste to price 4/5
Quality to price 4/5
Portion to price 4/5
Average = 4

Service (20%)  
Friendliness 3/5
Promptness 3.5/5
Average = 3.25

Cleanliness (15%)
Bathroom 3.5/5
Dining area 3.5/5
Kitchen area 3.5/5
Average = 3.5

Overall Score = [F(.65)]+[S(.20)]+C(.15)]
 = [2.6]+[0.65]+[0.53]
 = 3.78

The Pluses…  
+ I enjoyed the presence of the owner. He came to our table and asked us how the food was and whether we needed anything. Much appreciated!
+ We ordered the HABESHA SPECIAL and the GORED GORED.  
+ The HABESHA SPECIAL was cooked to my liking, lots of flavor and spices which were so comforting and earthy. INJERA was warm too!
+ As for the GORED GORED, that was my daredevil move of the day, as (1) it was my first time having it and (2) it’s raw! I’m usually hesitant and finicky when it comes to the unfamiliar and raw, but this one here turned out to be a great decision. Think of a spiced up beef tartare. Lots of turmeric, spice lovers rejoice!
+ They have Ethiopian Beers and HONEY WINE (TEJ)!
+ When I go to an ethnic restaurant, I always enjoy and desire to learn more about the culture and traditions. For that reason, I liked that the wait staff had on traditional clothing and the TV blasting Ethiopian music videos.

The Negs…
– As others mentioned, the wait staff appeared a little disinterested. Service was not slow by any means, but some enthusiasm and a smile could go a long way.
– Menu could have been written clearer. For instance, some of the entrees were for two people. Some language denoting this and pictures would help a lot.
– This is minor, but I wished there were more traditional themes and decor throughout the restaurant.

In Conclusion…
I haven’t been to many Ethiopian restaurants, but I can say I’ve ventured enough to call myself a fan of Ethiopian Cuisine and this is prior to my food tour. The uniques use of spices and food prep always brings me back to the Ethiopian restaurants. Habesha delivers in the food and did not disappoint one bit. Come here for the food. However, if you want ambiance, a place to feel like you’ve escaped to Addis Ababa for a split second, there are better options…

#ChowYouLater

Filed Under: Restaurant Reviews Tagged With: Ethiopian, Gored Gored, Malden, Raw

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Welcome! Pleasure to meet you

My name is Rich. I'm a restaurant consultant, content creator, and recipe developer. I'm here to help you balance the two worlds of eating out and eating in. I've worked in the food industry for over 10 years and along the way I've learned a thing or two about restaurants and developing my own recipes. Read More…

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