If you consider yourself an adventurous eater and want to try a variety of new tastes and textures, look no further than Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant, a family-owned, vegetarian-friendly establishment on the west side of Indianapolis. Abyssinia’s meals are cooked from scratch by Ethiopian chefs, allowing visitors an opportunity to sample food from the other side of the globe without ever packing their bags.
When I stepped into Abyssinia, I was welcomed by a wonderful aroma. The scent of incense used during the traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony was mixing nicely with the smells of roasted coffee beans and warm meals being prepared.
Making customers feel comfortable is important to the staff of Abyssinia. The friendly waiters, welcoming environment and calming music made the experience of dining at Abyssinia feel like having dinner at a friend’s house. Diners typically share food from a large family-style platter while eating with a large piece of spongy bread called injera, but utensils can be requested.
Ethiopian cuisine consists of mild to spicy meat dishes and steamed vegetables. The vegetables that they served included tomatoes, carrots, onions and eggplant. For my meat I had lamb, but they also offer goat, beef and chicken.
The restaurant’s atmosphere goes out of its way to make you feel at home while also keeping true to its inspirational roots. Among the exotic yet homey decor, diners have the opportunity to watch Ethiopian music videos, offering a glimpse into the country that inspires the chefs.
After my main course, I had the opportunity to witness the coffee ceremony firsthand. In Ethiopian culture, to invite someone to a coffee ceremony is a sign of friendship and a way to show hospitality. The table was filled with a heavenly aroma as coffee was brewed by roasting fresh green coffee beans until they turned brown. The ceremony also includes the burning of incense. Sweetened popcorn was served alongside the coffee, which offered something light to end the delicious and filling meal.
If unique, mouth-watering meals served with home-style hospitality are what you are after, then I hope you will consider visiting Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant.
