Addis Red Sea

[lillibet]

Addis Red Sea has opened a new location at 1755 Mass Ave in Cambridge. I gave up eating Ethiopian food several years ago, because it really set off my IBS. But things digestive have been very different post-partum, so it seemed like a good time to give it a try. We had the Ayib Begomen--cottage cheese mixed with collard greens and spices--to start and it was a lovely blend of creaminess with redolent spice. Then we shared the Atakilt (fairly bland mix of potatoes, carrots and green beans), Yebeg Wot (lamb simmered in red pepper sauce, seasoned with ginger root, garlic and cardamom--that was delicious, but spicy enough that I didn't eat very much of it), and--my favorite--Gored Gored (cubed beef simmered in a blend of berbere and onions, ginger roots and a warm herbal butter). These were served on injera (traditional spongy bread sheets) with two different kinds of lentils, of which I preferred the green to the yellow. Everything was just fine, without being really spectacular, but it didn't make me sick at all. I think I'll have to try Asmara sometime, now that Ethiopian seems to be back on the menu. I would go back to Addis Red Sea if someone else wanted to go there, but I don't think I would choose it unless I were having a real craving.

Comments

[hammercock.livejournal.com]

I'm really looking forward to trying the new Addis location...hadn't realized that they'd already opened. Cool! I always liked Addis better than Asmara, which is actually Eritrean. You wouldn't necessarily think it would make that much of a difference, but I find the food there unpleasantly sour. YMMV, though.

[chanaleh.livejournal.com]

Don't forget, also, that Fasika is now open in Somerville!

(And yeah, Asmara's main selling point for me was always "three blocks from my house" in Central...)

[trowa-barton.livejournal.com]

If it's the same Asmara in Central Square, I stress caution, unless you prefer your food on the sour side.

[vanguardcdk.livejournal.com]

Oddly enough I had walked by Addis Red Sea last Wednesday and was thinking that I need to have Ethiopian agian sometime. :)
(dangit, now I'm hungry...)

[pekmez.livejournal.com]

once again, you are on my eating wavelength; I've been meaning to try the addis red sea location in Porter Square soon!

Since opinions seem to vary about Addis Red Sea in the south end vs Asmara, I'll likely still try it even though it didn't excite you.

[johnromkey.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear it didn't make you ill... and that they have a new restaurant! I really liked the original Addis Red Sea but they were inconvenient enough to get to that I rarely went.

The time I tried it, I didn't like Asmara at all though.

[quietann.livejournal.com]

I will second chanaleh's recommendation of Fasika as the most "authentic" Ethiopian food in the Boston area. (I have heard that their new location is as much of a dive as the old one, which adds to the ambience :) Asmara is actually Eritrean-owned, which accounts for the difference in spicing. I like it, too.

[journeystar.livejournal.com]

I've always wanted to try Ethiopian food. Perhaps this place would be a good introduction for me. Thanks for the review!