Eatopia Eatery

We came on a romantic Saturday evening. The welcome was perfect: friendly, attentive, and welcoming. We didn't have a reservation and the restaurant was almost full, but we were offered a table immediately. The restaurant's atmosphere is a little subdued; the decor is pleasant; unfortunately, people talk loudly, which detracts from the calm atmosphere. After serving us a glass of water and taking our refreshment order, our hostess asked us if we had any food intolerances. This detail is important, especially for those with gluten intolerance, as there's a lot of it in the flatbreads. She then explained the dishes to us, which we appreciated, having never eaten in an Ethiopian restaurant. We ordered samosas as a starter, then a platter to share. We were served in less than 15 minutes. Please note that we eat with our hands (you can request cutlery if this makes you uncomfortable). Small rolled buckwheat pancakes are arranged around the dish. They are cut to scoop out portions of the food, vegetables, meat, etc. It's a bit surprising at first, but it's traditional. Buckwheat pancakes are very filling; I recommend ordering a small amount of pancake and a large amount of meat or vegetables, otherwise you'll have trouble finishing your meal. The cuisine wasn't "refined," but it was very well prepared. The dishes are colorful, beautiful, and flavorful. We'll be back, especially to try more samosas. Among the specialties, you should also try the honey wine, a kind of low-alcohol mead.

What a great Ethiopian restaurant! We ordered the Digis Communal Platter which was about 17 small dishes on top of Injera (could have fed 3-4 people!) Everything was delicious and even my 13 year old daughter loved it. I would highly recommend if you want to eat Ethiopian food while in DC. The service was great too- didn’t rush us out the door the moment we finished. A real find! They do have gluten-free injera too (on request)- I learned it is naturally gluten free but does need to be requested.