Ottawa Foodies

Wrote comments; cat decided to unplug computer just as I was finishing.

In scattershot mode:

-- cheap
-- not at all bad
-- nicely seasoned
-- still, a more interesting mix of flavours and textures was wanting

The picture is of a vegetarian platter for one, with a meat dish thrown on the side at the rear of the photo. The entirety of that veg platter -- and it's a very large plate -- was $7.50. The place is nothing great; extremely dusty plastic flowers, etc. But, so much good for so little I'm thinking a tag for "cheap" is called for.

Too much emphasis on lentils, beans; starchy. (I had been hoping for collard greens or similar, which have been in every other Ethiopian place outside of Ottawa I've been to.) The multicoloured veg assortment pictured on the plate was excellent, though, and the salad I ordered (on the side, not pictured) was good but completely superfluous.

Salad: great. Romaine fresh and crisp and good. Tomatoes not bad for December in Ottawa, and not stingy. Onions not of the cooking variety -- it suffered none of the usual disappointments of salads in cheap places.

Beer: cold. No glass provided. Service slow; friendly slow, though -- very casual rather than indifferent or rude.

We sat near a table of pleasant teen-agers, who reminded me no end of myself some years back. Exactly the sort of place I loved at 15!

I pride myself on having a stomach of steel but I must say the food did not quite jive with my system. Service was good though.

I also enjoy the Horn, but it is the only Ethiopian I have tried. I love the platters, so good. And eating with your hands is always fun when socially acceptable! The service has been slow for me, but I don't mind sitting and enjoying being out. I hate restaurants that rush you. Only thing I find strange is the hard boiled egg....

When I ate here I hadn't tried much Ethiopian or East African food. As I had little to compare it to, I can't give the most useful objective perspective.

I was, however, impressed with the flavourful spiciness of the beef curry. The spongy sourdough flatbread (injera) was also a pleasant surprise.

I do remember the service to be very friendly, polite and demure - African ladies in traditional dress.

The decor is kind of trippy with low lighting and fish tanks. A couple of tables at the back seemed to be a hangout for young (Somali?) men who were either keeping an eye on their girlfriend servers, or trying to score with their compatriots. Regardless of their intentions, they were eating the food!