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Abyssinian Ethiopian Cuisine
Categories: Restaurants Ethiopian Restaurants Gluten-Free Restaurants Vegetarian Ethiopian, Gluten-Free, Vegetarian [Edit]
533 Farmington AveHartford, CT 06105
(860) 218-2231
- Hours:
Tue-Sat 11:30 am - 3 pm
Tue-Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
32 reviews for Abyssinian Ethiopian Cuisine
Review Highlights
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"...even brought out extra of that flat bread), i'm giving it 4..." In 3 reviews -
"We sampled lamb, beef and vegetarian dishes." In 6 reviews -
"The Yebeg Wott was pretty good, very tender lamb." In 2 reviews
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32 reviews in English
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Review from Kristina L.
South Windsor, CT
Updated - 5/12/2012
Took my parents here and the food was delicious as usual! A little bummed that service was so slow, since I was trying to impress my parents. Our waters were never refilled, and we waited 25 minutes for our coffees to show up. My parents thought the waiter had forgotten about us. Also, we pretty much had to flag someone down for our check at the end of the night.
My finger is hovering over the "3 star rating" but I'll play nice and keep it at 4 stars. The service may have been painfully slow, but hey, I'm thrilled that the place was packed! I want Abyssinian to stay around for a long, long time.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/1/2012
This past weekend, I visited Abyssinian for my first time with fellow Yelper Emily C. and it turned… Read more »
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Review from Emily K.
West Hartford, CT
4/1/2012
This was my first time having Ethiopian food and I was not disappointed. The decor is not anything special, vinyl chairs and minimal wall decor, but the music is fantastic! It really puts you in the right frame of mind for the culinary experience you are about to embark on. My boyfriend and I ordered the vegetarian and meat combos. We thought it would be a good amount of food, but we were wrong. In a good way. The portions may look small but you are eating everything with injera (an Ethiopian flat bread that is slightly spongy with a touch of acidity). The meat is served at a temperature slightly above room temperature but is fully cooked and flavorful. I preferred the vegetarian combo. I loved the split peas and lentils, and the potatoes had a really nice flavor. The food is not overly spiced so it will not blow out your palate, but you are so full after your meal that you need to be rolled out the door. The prices for the combos were between $15.95-$16.95, but for the amount of food you're getting it's worth it. Plus they bring out extra injera.
The waitstaff is fantastic too. The gentleman who was our waiter recommended we try an Ethiopian beer. We both had the St. George beer and it was very nice. And the woman who helps is very sweet and kind. Overall, a great dining experience that we will most definitely be enjoying again. -
Review from Anh V.
Middletown, CT
3/3/2012
First- one star off for terrible waiting times and service. I think there is only one man serving, though. We had to wait over an hour between coming in and eating.
However, what we had was good. The samosas are great! Huge, three in a serving, and fresh. Perfectly spiced.
The meat platter, a la my boyfriend, was very good according to him but heavy. He's Bengali, so this type of food is very similar to what he has at home. Next time, he would get the vegetarian dishes or only one meat dish.
I got the vegetarian platter, and the thing htat stood out the most was the lentils. Oh my goodness, I can't figure out what spices are in it but it is absolutely transcendent. Mild but not bland, spiced but not spicy, and so fragrant... The injera complimented it perfectly.
We split my vegetarian dish because there was so much of it; a great place for groups or communal eating!
Know what you want and have patience; a good meal is assured. -
Review from Maggie K.
2/14/2012
Saw couple of good reviews here on yelp and decided to visit this restaurant for dinner one of these friday nights. I called in for a reservation and none picked up the call. So my husband, 2 other friends and I decided to just drop in for dinner. Unfortunately these guys were full and told us we cannot have dinner today. So, we guys had to push our dinner plans to sunday. So please please call these guys before you drop in!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As scheduled this time we dropped in on sunday for dinner. The staff is a little slow at things however this restaurant is simply amazing. The food is so much close to typical Indian food (South Indian). We guys loved it. We tried the vegetable samosa pastry for the appetizers and ordered Beye Ayinetu(A veggie combo) for the main course. Ordered Baklava for the dessert.
The food is simply superb! We got 3 samosas in 1 portion, taste was good. Then the veggie combo was seriously delicious. These are huge traditional pancakes served with a variety of lentils and veggies. I would recommend to go for the combo's, you get to taste every bit of it. Oh yeah one portion is definitely to be shared by two people. And the dessert was beyond the world. This was a warm pastry kinda, stuffed with nuts and this too to be shared :)
I call this Cuisine another version of Indian food ;) Definitely with its own flavors. Guys if you like Indian food then you will love this place. Give a try and enjoy!
Cheers!!! -
Review from Astra G.
2/14/2012
This is 1 of only 2 Ethiopian places in the whole state of CT, so if you're new to the area and love Ethiopian, sorry.
Compared to other Ethiopian joints, the food is not bad. The waiter (and owner?) is super nice. The beer selection is limited and he often doesn't have beers in stock. The servings are slightly smaller than other Ethiopian joints i've been to (in MA, NY & NJ) but it seemed like every dish i've ever ordered came with a small salad on the side and some lentils which is nice and makes up for it.
I think the people who gave them the really bad reviews below just really don't know Ethiopian food. -
Review from Tiff J.
Hartford, CT
12/3/2011 ROTD 12/8/2011
My review for Abyssinian is long overdue! Which is shameful on my part as I sit here wishing I had some delicious Ethiopian food. Abyssinian (located on Farmington Avenue between a pizza shop and equally as awesome Mexican restaurant) is a great and highly underrated gem in Hartford. The only Ethiopian restaurant in Hartford that *I'm* aware of, each time I go I'm never disappointed with my dining experience which is why I'm always flummoxed that it's never been near packed, whenever I've gone (Perhaps they get more traffic during the lunch-hour rush or later during the evening?).
The staff is very friendly and helpful to anyone experiencing that sort of food for the first time, which is usually served with a spongy, crepe-like flat bread that patrons are supposed to break off with their hands to scoop up, and gradually finish their meal with... which is indeed the *fun* (if a little messy) part!
The food is spicy and flavorful with noticeable hints of cumin, garlic, turmeric and spices of the like used on meals made with poultry, vegetables, and red meats. Abyssinian's menu offers a delicious variety of entrees made with chicken (the Doro Wot is my fave), fish (Try the Yassa Tibs!), beef, and lamb and they do cater to vegetarians.
I also love the Sambusa, which is a triangular pastry filled with lentils (or beef), green peppers and spices. There is also a vegetarian version filled with potatoes, cabbage, green beans, and spices... And it was delicious!
Definitely give this little spot a try if you're in Hartford or happen to be traipsing around on the west end. -
Review from Jason M.
1/16/2012
Looks like I'll be bucking the trend here...
We sat outside on a lovely summer evening. The waitress was very nice, and I do appreciate the very unique eating style of Ethiopian cuisine, but two very critical things happened that kinda ruined it for us.
#1: One of the meat dishes we ordered, while flavorful, was just not cooked right. It was a beef dish, and it was clear that it was just thrown in a pot and cooked for a few mintues... The result was too chewy, and just kinda gross...
#2: We had big time issues with the bill. The waitress said my girlfriend's credit card wasn't working, and we were forced to pay cash. Then, the next day, the charge shows up on my girlfriend's statement! My girlfriend had to spend a LONG time on the phone, during the meal, AND the next day to get it resolved!
I'm sure this doesn't happen often, but that doesn't negate the fact that it DID happen to us. Just be careful, and you may wanna bring cash, just in case. -
Review from Emily C.
Updated - 2/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
A tasty meal as always! I love Abyssinian and today's lunch was a total treat. The Ayib Be Gomen (cottage cheese mixed with mitmita and chopped collard greens) was garlicky with a hint of spice and the service was decent. I have to deduct a star, unfortunately, for my dish-- Doro Alcha, chicken (on the bone) simmered in a mild sauce of butter, onions, ginger and turmeric and a hard-boiled egg. I've gotten this dish several times and this time there was very little meat on the bone-- and what was there was fairly tough. Since everything else was so remarkable, it didn't bother me too much, just figured it was worth mentioning. Abyssinian is still a favorite and four stars is still pretty darn good.
Listed in: Internationals Eats, The 5 Star Culinary Experience, Time for Takeout, A Perfect Day in Hartford, Gluten Free Options
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/31/2011
One of the tastiest meals in recent memory. I stopped into Abyssinian with some Hartford friends for… Read more »
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Review from Yush K.
Terryville, CT
1/27/2012
Just had Abyssinian! My husband and I went on food adventure.. and We liked it!
Customer Service : GREAT! So nice and very helpful with the menue since it was our first trying Ethiopian.
Atmosphere...it was okay like not a romantic place or anything. Just good for couple friends.
Drinks, didnt have big selection
Food: WELL DONE! The portions are decent size, very good if you like curry. My husband had the chicken Doro which was great and I had Lamb Tibs. Excellent.
The bread ijra is kinda soft pancake... but its truely an experience. You have to eat with your hands so its fun... and different...
LOVED the chicken sumbosa... the appetizers... VERY GOOD! -
Review from Audrey F.
Southington, CT
3/27/2011
We came in here a week before to grab a menu. It was sad to see a pretty place with dressed tables with table cloths and no patrons on a Wednesday evening in warm September weather.
We returned the following week and it was still pretty dead for a Wed.
All the more food for us! Service was a bit slow even though there was only one other table there, but we did not mind.
We dined on spicy but not over the top food like:
ayib be gomen (farmers cheese with collard greens- ok appetizer), yemiser salad (spicy lentil stew with bebere), doro wot (chicken in red pepper paste), yebeg wot (spicy lamb stew), zilzil tibs (sauteed tender beef), denish (potatoes) wot with injera (a spongy pancake-llike bread which came on the side and also under the wot and you just rip a piece off and wrap it around the meat and dip in sauce), and drank Stella Artois beer.
Here is a website for eating Ethiopean food ettiquette: http://breadchick.blog...
My husband was really impressed because he had no idea what to expect for Ethiopian food. I last ate Ethiopian food at a place called the Blue Nile in NYC maybe 20 years ago where you sat at low tables and have been dreaming about eating Ethiopean food since then.
The owners are actually Eritrean, but Ethopian food is basically the same. They must slave in the kitchen all day cooking the meats til they are tender and juicy. Thank you because I couldn't make such awesome stuff at home! I wished Southington would have more choices for ethnic restaurants like this....(sigh) -
Review from Alex J.
Newington, CT
9/27/2011
This is the only place in Connecticut I've been able to find decent Ethiopian food. Their Beef was tender, and they spongy bread (the name escapes me) was perfect for soaking up the spices left over from the meal. It's nestled in downtown hartford, bordering on west hartford. I parked across the street at the bank, and would recommend this to anyone looking for decent Ethiopian.
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Review from Allie H.
Narragansett, RI
2/12/2010
Coming from living in NYC metro for the last 10 years, this place is very, very good. (My favorite ever was Mesob in Montclair, NJ, if you are ever in that area, WOW.) I only eat the vegetarian dishes and they are all delicious. My boyfriend and I totally love this place!
Parking does suck, how can they have that many restaurants and stores there and have almost no parking? This is another reason why Hartford sucks in general and just can't quite "get it", oh well.
The food is delicious and if you eat vegetarian you'll be happy and satisfied! -
Review from Edwin P.
Norwich, CT
3/20/2011 8 photos
My family and I (a high schooler) went to this restaurant primarily because we have never tried Ethiopian before. LOVED IT. The wait is long, but the wait is worth it. WE ordered samosas, a lamb dish, a chicken dish and a lentil dish. THe long wait time is excusable, since there is only 1 waiter, whose name is pronounced like "Getch" (he said you say it like gotcha but with an e). Getch was very kind and I chatted with him. He taught us how to eat our entrees with the injera bread. I, being a pescetarian, personally did not eat the meat dishes, but the other memebers of my family thought they were delicious. My little brother, who is incredibly wary of trying new foods, unknowingly ate lamb. Everyone thought he would puke, but he ended up loving it. The bread was very good, slightly sour, but nonetheless delicious. THe best part of eating here is the experience.
After we ate, I talked with Getch. HE showed me the flour they used to make this wonderful bread, teff flour. He also explained the numerous health benefits teff entailed.
I highly erecommend this place to others, especially if you have lots of spare time to share. Tell Getch that Edwin says hi!!! -
Review from Anthony P.
West Hartford, CT
6/18/2011
It's such a different experience of eating there. The food tastes good. And the bread they give you has a wonderful taste! Good place to show off to someone that you are culturally savvy!
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Review from Paul S.
2/29/2008
I don't know why I waited so long to try this place. I already knew and liked Ethiopian food. Abyssinian is terrific. I can take this off my list of reasons to move back to Washington - now there's great Ethiopian food right here.
The food was very nicely prepared and the proprietor very helpful in making suggestions and providing descriptions for menu items. We sampled lamb, beef and vegetarian dishes. Of course I didn't make notes and can't remember names, but I think this is a place that won't disappoint on any count.
The space is pleasant and very clean. The menu's comprehensive and the "hands-on" style of communally served dishes eaten with Injera bread rather than utensils is a fun way to dine with friends. I really enjoy the process of having the different dishes set out and explained and love to go with people who have never eaten Ethiopian before; they really get into the bread scooping technique! -
Review from Michele T.
Hartford, CT
4/19/2009
I would like to thank Ms. Robin Quivers and her GNO organization for bringing the plight of Eritrea to my attention.
This was first time eating Ethiopian and the jury is still out on how I feel about the cuisine We enjoyed the experience, and I would go back to try a number of other dishes.
The vegetable sambusas were similar to an egg roll and the spicy sauce was similar to a masala gravy.
The bread was nothing that I expected. I would describe it as a thick crepe but not a pancake. Some of the lentil puree was bland and passable. One chicken dish was not so good while the chicken drumstick was quite tasty. The lamb was great but oily and was certainly felt 24hrs later.
Because of the bread and sharing it was a fun dinner. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a nontraditional dining experience. -
Review from Kimberlee M.
Burlington, VT
8/22/2010
What a great surprise! As someone who loves Ethiopian food this place was a great surprise and worth an extra day in the not so amazing city of Hartford.
If you have never had Ethiopian give this place a chance! Grab at least 2 friends and go....Ethiopian food is for sharing, keep that in mind! -
Review from Margot W.
Hartford, CT
12/30/2011
Very tasty, authentic Ethiopian food in the West End of Hartford. The restaurant is quiet and the service is very friendly. The vegetarian combo was excellent, especially the split peas, lentils, and potatoes (Yemeser Wot, Shuro Wot, and Alicha). Yummy!
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Review from Liz B.
2/25/2009
I've always been interested in trying Ethiopian food, especially when a good friend recommended it to me. I was excited to find out that Hartford (of all places!) had a small Ethiopian restaurant right on Farmington Ave.
The restaurant itself is small and cozy. Every time I've been there (mostly for lunch on the weekend, a few times for dinner) the same host/server has been working. He's friendly and incredibly helpful when it comes to recommending various items off of the menu, which is extensive and complex. All the meals are served family-style with large pieces of injera, a traditional Ethiopian flatbread that is to DIE for! No utensils here, either, but who doesn't love to eat with their hands? I highly recommend the vegetarian dishes (the yemeser wot and the shuro wot are delicious!). The doro tibs (a slightly spicy chicken dish) is equally wonderful and flavorful. If you're looking for a place with great spice, great ambiance (gotta love Ethiopian jazz) and large portions, I highly recommend Abyssinian. -
Review from High F.
Alexandria, VA
6/27/2008
ate here for the first time with some friends. the food was authentic as well as the feel. The owner was very nice, and service was good. The food was good as well. some minor problems were the parking was scant and the place had no AC and on a humid day can be annoying. all we had were an open door and a ceiling fan.
overall i'm glad i ate here, and given the very reasonable prices and good service (he even brought out extra of that flat bread), i'm giving it 4 stars. -
Review from Zaher H.
Seattle, WA
2/16/2009
Since moving from Seattle, I have struggled to find a decent Ethiopian restaurant between Boston and New Haven. No such luck so far! The food was mediocre, and so was the service. The Shoro Watt was excessively buttery, and had very little flavor. The Lentils in the lentil sambosa were perfectly cooked but lacked flavor. The little nick nacks on the plate were luke warm and also lacked in flavor. The Yebeg Wott was pretty good, very tender lamb.
From reading the reviews, I expected something better. I am not sure if they were having an off night, but either way the flavor profile need major improvement. -
Review from Harold L.
West Hartford, CT
2/24/2010
The great thing about Farmington Avenue is you can go from trendy West Hartford Center restaurants to authentic Ethiopian food simply by driving two miles. This gem located next to another, Monte Alban, is a place that everyone should go simply for the experience, nevermind the quality food the kitchen cooks up.
Went there recently and had an assortment of dishes with friends and was impressed by all of them. Everything was fresh and more importantly authentic. Ethiopian food is traditionally eaten by hand with a spongy type bread that takes the place of silverware. The bread takes some getting used to but like I said the experience is the best part about this place. Get a couple friends together, order 4 or 5 different dishes and share, literally. Each person is served a bowl of food, but everyone puts a couple spoonfuls onto a larger serving pan which is layered with this bread. More bread is served on the side to use as you're "scooper". Each person shares his/her meal with the others and you get to try an variety of dishes which are authentically cooked and seasoned. The service was welcoming and overall excellent. I cannot wait to introduce more people to this place. -
Review from Danie R.
ALLSTON, MA
6/6/2010
Maybe I'm just spoiled with the amazing Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine I've eaten while working in West Philadelphia over the last few years, but I was disappointed with Abyssinian. I was excited to treat Peter on a little weekend getaway in Hartford and have him try Ethiopian. I really wanted to like this place.
Alas, I did not.
Well, let me change that. I really loved the atmosphere. It was a Friday night and basically no one was there. We sat at a table off to the side and ordered a few dishes and a bottle of wine. The restaurant was dark and quiet, with some faint music in the background. It was really romantic, and they let us sit there forever. The service was wonderful, once we finally found someone to serve us. I also liked the injera (Peter, not so much, but I believe that was a general thing, as it was his first time trying it, and not specific to this restaurant.)
If not for those above things, I would probably have given this place 2 stars. We got a couple of vegetarian items that were pretty boring. Almost instantly forgettable... I can't even remember what we got and it hasn't been too long since we went.. I'm usually the girl that remembers 3 years later the exact dish she got at the restaurant and when she goes back to that given city, goes back to that restaurant and gets the same item again (i.e. see chicken run ranch at native foods. I haven't been there since April 2007 and I still recalled that dish when I wrote that review February 2010). One of the dishes probably had chickpeas in it. I don't know. Maybe we got some tibs.
I'm not sure what constitutes authentic here, as I've never been to Ethiopia (Africa, yes, but not yet to Ethiopia), and I'm not sure if these other reviewers have been either, but I've eaten at my fair share of West Philadelphia Ethiopian spots that had way more flavor. Maybe they are not authentic, but it tasted better. -
Review from Jason B.
Hartford, CT
7/3/2007
A great place for interesting summer fare. We dined outside; they have a nice selection of whites, reds and a few beers. The cuisine selection presents just enough to be interesting and different, but not so much selection that you're baffled by the menu. The potatoes, lamb, chicken and beef dishes we all tried were excellent and they will tailor the spiciness of any dish to your liking. It was all served family style on the Ethiopian flat bread which you roll up and use to eat your meal. Afterwards they bring hot towels to your table to clean your hands. GREAT CHOICE for vegetarians; they even offered to serve the vegetarian dishes separately. It was really good food and I would definitely return again to try new dishes.
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Review from J. T.
West Hartford, CT
2/2/2011
So very, very torn in assigning a rating to this place. I decided to give them a higher rating based on the awesomeness of the food. Be warned, the service is terribly slow! If you are in a rush, this is not the place for you. There is usually only one male waiter, who seems to disappear to the kitchen more than he is ever out on the floor. The waiter is always friendly, just slow, which also makes it more difficult to be angry about the low quality service. Upon entering, you should just seat yourselves, as you'll be waiting for awhile. It's also kind of chilly in there (during the winter months), so I would suggest not to sit near the front windows. Despite the water glasses on the table, it has been my experience that you must ask for water, or it will never come. They also tend to forget about drinks you order so don't be afraid to offer a reminder; If you don't ask again, it will never come.
That being said, the food is absolutely delicious and there are a lot of vegetarian options-- I just wish the service was better. If you have never had Ethiopian food, are a bit adventurous and have time to kill, you should definitely check this place out.
Note: There's not really a ton of parking on the street. You can park for free in the complex behind where the BOA is located, but in the way back of the lot. There is a sign on the door of the restaurant that explains where you can park. -
Review from Omar E.
Philadelphia, PA
10/8/2007
I spent several years living in Philadelphia and in West Philly you can't swing a dead cat around and not hit an Ethiopian/Eritrean joint, so I viewed this place with some snobbery until I actually tried the food which is as good as anything I've had in Philly. Not the ambiance of some of the fancier Ethiopian dining areas I've seen in Philly or D.C., but it's a small restaurant in Hartford, they do the best they can. The guy who I always see there who is presumably the owner is friendly as hell. Definitely recommend this place.
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Review from Josh F.
East Greenville, PA
6/18/2009
Great food, awesome staff...and fresh made injera! Just go. Only drawback, and to no fault of the resturaunt, no tej mead.
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Review from Stephanie H.
Mansfield Depot, CT
12/22/2009
I had Ethiopian food for the first time here. This is where I fell in love with Ethiopian cuisine. I have then ventured out and tried it at some other restaurants that were better mainly because I got more bang for my buck. Anyways, this is great for a wonderful communial experience. I am now craving this place!
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Review from S L.
San Francisco, CA
2/9/2009
Wow. Amazing Ethiopian food. Wide menu, friendly service, reasonable prices. I crave this food like no other. Somehow it's comforting in the winter and cooling in the summer. Never a wait, but parking is an issue.
If you have never tried Ethiopian, this is a great place to start. -
Review from S L.
West Hartford, CT
Updated - 12/8/2008
This is a small family-run Ethiopian restaurant in the West End of Hartford which never fails to provide a great meal. The lack of an Ethiopian restaurant in Hartford was sorely missed until this gem of a place opened 18 months ago. Abyssinian's food can hold its own with the best of the Ethiopian restaurants in D.C. or NYC, but has a more personalzed, warm feel owing to its size. The food is quite consistent in its quality and the injera (the flat sourdough bread used to scoop up the stewed entrees) is uniformly fresh-tasting and excellent. Those new to Ethiopian need not be intimidated about finding food to suit their taste, as the owner and manager are extremely kind and accessible. They do not hesitate to provide friendly guidance and recommendations when asked. I've never brought anyone to this restaurant or recommended it to anyone who hasn't liked it and wanted to go back. Whenever I want a quiet, relaxed meal with friends, this is the place.
The only downside of this restauarant used to be limited parking, but this has been remedied by the fact that they now have off-street parking spots behind Kinko's (the yellow-lined ones indicated by signs).1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/18/2006 First to Review
After moving to the Hartford area from New York, I had been missing having good Ethiopian food… Read more »
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Review from Peter G.
Hartford, CT
12/15/2009
I was always hesitant towards trying Ethiopian cuisine. I received a recommendation from a friend to try this place. I finally decided to go and was completely blown away. The food is prepared well. I got a beef dish that was cooked perfectly: melt in your mouth with the perfect amount of spice. The one thing I wish was in this experience was an authentic Ethiopian beverage. Other than that, I can't complain. I went home full and satisfied.
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Review from Brandt B.
Groton, MA
1/27/2010
Ok. Good food. Small portions. Decent room.
