Addis?
Next stop Addis Ababa. Any recommendations? There is surprisingly little written out there, apart from guidebooks. If you posted already, trust that I already read your post. Mostly interested in Ethiopian food, maybe Yemeni and Armenian too, mostly eating alone. Thanks.
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Mary-
For Ethiopian, dining alone is a bit odd because of the communal nature of the food. That being said, if you're by yourself and want to sample a bunch of dishes, order a "fasting" assortment- it will come with lots of little dabs of vegetarian dishes on the injera.My favorite restaurants in Addis:
Ethiopian- Fasika (Bole Road near the Sunshine building); Habesha (also on Bole but closer to the airport); Ambassador Park (near Ambassador Theater, outdoor seating, very "local" atmosphere).
Armenian/Lebanese/Greek- Aladdin (Bole/Japan); Greek Club (not limited to just members- near the Greek Embassy)
Indian- Ajanta (Bole/Rwanda); Shaheen (Sheraton- very expensive); Sangam (Bole)
Italian- Castelli's (Piazza- very expensive); Pizzeria Italia (across from the National Museum); Metro Pizza (Old Airport); the Italian Club (behind Meskal Square)
Coffee- Kaldi's (several locations)
A great source for information on Addis restaurants and other goingson is What's Up Addis: www.whatsupaddis.com
Enjoy Ethiopia
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re: CarrotStick
Thanks. Got this just after returning!
On my trip by myself, I ended up staying in the Piazza area and being really busy at night, so often just grabbed food at my hotel, the Taitu. It was actually quite good, especially the doro wat.
Just around the corner from the Taitu (on the big steep road that leadsfrom teh Piazza) I found really great kitfo. The place didn't have a sign on the door, but was the door next to a bar with a porch. All done up and packed to the gills, and good meat.
On a return trip with others, I also did really like Habesha. Folks had recommended Villa Verde, which I thought was quite tamed down (maybe finding it had me losing my appetite). We also ate at Yod Abyssinia, out in Lideta, one night, and that was quite good too, esp the fasting dishes.
Really, it seemed like the few random wats I got out in the countryside were much better than any of these, though. One great one in a strange place--Buffet d'Aouache in Awash Arba (I think? I'm forgetting the towns... the big military one right before the T junction). That was one of the strangest haunts I've ever found, a complete throwback.
You're right that Metro Pizza was quite good.
I tried going to the Armenian sporting club but it just didn't work out--nobody understood what I wanted (everyone was gone so it was just the security guard). Too bad I missed the Greek--that would have been fun too .
I also had coffee most mornings at Tomoca, near the Piazza, and was compltely in love with the place and the coffee.
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