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Cafe Romanat
Category: Restaurants Ethiopian Ethiopian [Edit]
462 Santa Clara AveOakland, CA 94610
Neighborhoods: Grand Lake, Lower Hills
(510) 444-1800
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 11:30 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sun 11:30 am - 10:30 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
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
47 reviews for Cafe Romanat
Review Highlights
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"I had the Veggie Combo and was blown away by how rich the..." In 6 reviews -
"The injera is made to perfection." In 6 reviews
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"My new favorite Ethiopian place." In 4 reviews
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47 reviews in English
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Review from Rebecca M.
Oakland, CA
5/23/2012
Oakland is a paradise for those who live Ethiopian food: there is a great abundance of Ethiopian restaurants here. But now that I have found Cafe Romanat, I don't think I need to try any others. This place has far and away the best Ethiopian food in the city.
We had the Veggie Combo and Mushroom Tibs. The veggie combo had some of te most flavorful Ethiopian food I have eaten. The Yemisir Wot was beautifully spiced, with just a bit of a kick. The collards were divine: cooked just enough, and full of goodness. There was a delicious hummus type thing that was new to me, made from white beans, olive oil, and something that gave it some punch. The mushroom ribs were so good that we couldn't stop eating them, long after we were full. And the injera was simply perfect.
But perhaps one of the best things about Cafe Romanat is the people who work there. The service was warm, friendly and welcoming. Our server took the time to answer all our questions about the food and how it was made. And later, the cook came out and talked to us at great length about how she makes the injera, and the spicing of te Yemisir wot. She clearly took great pride in her craft, as well she should, as she is an artisan. And her warmth and friendliness was so great that we all decided that between that and the food, we would be putting this on our short list of places to come back to again and again. -
Review from Linh L.
5/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
I am a total fan! While on a mission to find the best Ethiopian the bay has to offer, I've had wonderful meals at Ensarro, Cafe Colucci and Cafe Romanat. And I think Cafe Romanat beats out the other two by just a touch.
Just a few notes on this place:
* Anything with 'wot' at the end is really, really, really GOOD. Yemisir wot is the BOMB.
* Combos are a good way to get a sampling of everything. I'm a personal fan of the meat combo.
* Anything with meat cubes seems a bit on the dry side here. The gomen besega would've been completely delicious without the meat in it.
* The food's got a kick to it, but I think it's only spicy if you have a low spicy-tolerance.
* Staff is really nice and accommodating; they were really helpful with offering suggestions for relatively new-Ethiopian food lovers.
ALSO, on Sunday's at 2pm, they do some sort of coffee ceremony? The boy and I were a little disappointed we didn't stay to watch this. Will come back to see what that's all about; it sounded exciting. -
Review from Rebecca R.
Oakland, CA
4/29/2012
I never really liked Ethiopian food all that much until coming here. I was very surprised by how delicious it is!. My husband and I walk by this place all the time, and I always thought that I didn't see many people in the restaurant so it must not be that good- but I was wrong! So good. Seeing as this place is around the corner from our apartment, and extremely well priced, we will definitely be frequenting it often.
My husband and I got the veggie combo and the meat combo. I don't really eat meat out anyway, but he is a big meat eater and said that he almost preferred the veggie dishes. The ones that I had were really great. We ended up with a lot left over, so next time we know that one combo is more than enough for two people. -
Review from Brian K.
Oakland, CA
5/23/2012
An undiscovered treasure. Cafe Romanat's dishes are inspired, fresh, and remarkable, And it's just around the corner from the Grand Lake Theater.
You know how you can eat the same dish at every restaurant, and they're all roughly the same, but then one day you get jolted awake, like you've never tasted it before? The same elements are all there, but somehow it's new? It's the deft spicing maybe, or a spiritual infusion of some sort. I don't know. But that's what the food is like here.
Ask for advice. Try something new: flax seed or sunflower seed juice; or homemade mead; or the creamy chickpea flour dish whose name I can't remember but was a standout.
Prepare for a relaxed experience. The food will arrive when it's ready. The bill won't come until you ask for it. (I would be wary of coming here for a quick bite right before a movie. Get a to-go order if that's the case). -
Review from Mike A.
San Francisco, CA
5/13/2012
The best Ethiopian food we've had yet in the Bay Area. We got the veggie combo, the shouro combo, and the mushroom tibs. All were very flavorful and fresh. The portions are quite generous as well - we got four entrees for five people and had plenty left over. The location isn't some place you'd walk by (it's off the main drag of Grand Ave), but it's definitely worth trying.
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Review from Marc P.
Oakland, CA
5/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Some of the best Ethiopian food in the East Bay! Two thumbs up for the Shouro, Veggie Combo, and Yebeg Tibs. This place is the real deal.
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Review from Jessica A.
Wailuku, HI
4/26/2012
Love love love this place. I had no idea how delicious Ethopian food could be, then I ate here. The injera is absolutely mouthwateringly yummy, and the mushroom tibs are so packed with flavor I find it hard to order anything else when I'm there.
All the plates are super reasonable priced and big enough to share. The waitress (there must only be one because she's been there every time I've gone - probably 5 times) is very helpful and friendly.
I will go back time and time again! -
Review from Jonathan H.
Oakland, CA
3/22/2012
I am an American guy married to an Eritrean so I eat Ethiopian/Eritrean food almost every day. I have also been going to the many Habesha restaurants in the Oakland/Berkeley area for many years, maybe 15. I have different favorite dishes at all the different restaurants: Zil zil at Cafe Eritrea, chicken tibs at Addis, lamb tibs and kitfo sandwich at Colucci, etc...
I have a new favorite:
The veggie combo at Romanat is the best I have ever eaten. The different vegetables and beans are super fresh, super well-spiced and overall excellently prepared and presented. You could just go on and on eating...
My little complaint with Romanat is that so far I have not discovered a really outstanding or interesting meat dish at this place. The chicken and lamb tibs is done "juicy" style, rather than the "dry" style i like. The meat combo is probably the most interesting. Not bad but not what I really like...
However, the place is very clean, the servers are beautiful, and the veggie combo... 5 stars...
Jonathan H -
Review from Anastasia B.
San Francisco, CA
3/20/2012 2 Check-ins Here
My two cents...
1) Order a meat combo AND a veggie combo. It's the best way to sample a bit of everything.
2) Come with a group of friends so you can share. Just try not to gross them out too much by double dipping and licking your fingers.
3) Try a St. George, Harar, homemade Ethiopian mead, or Yeselit (sesame seed) juice with your meal. Yes, sesame seed juice. I know it sounds bizarre, but it does wonders for cooling off your mouth from all of the spiciness. Trust me, you'll need it.
4) Don't let the lack of diners detract you from eating here when you peek through the window! The food is really delicious. If you don't crave it within a week later, then you have no taste buds. You are dead to me. I say good day to you!
5) Please give Café Romanat a try. The food is mouthwatering good. Literally. I just drooled on my shirt thinking about it. It's spicier than Sophia Vergara in a bikini. So if you can't take the heat, my sincere condolences. There's a KFC down the street. But don't eat there! PLEASE don't eat there!!!
6) Don't forget to wash your hands. Your hands are your utensils, along with the Injera. Your dining companions will thank you.
Ok, so that was my six cents. I lied. My bad.Listed in: I Hella Love Oakland!
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Review from Juli C.
San Francisco, CA
3/28/2012
There are only two Ethiopian restaurants i've eaten at that I would give 5 stars to: Cafe Colucci on Telegraph, and now Cafe Romanat.
I called in a pick-up order of 5 items, all vegetarian, for myself and two others. All but one dish stood out at exceptionally good, and the non-standout was solidly delicious. This is the best gomen I've ever had (my dinner companions said the same). The yesimir wot was both delicious and spicier than i remember ever tasting.
I'm thrilled to have an outstanding Ethiopian/Eritrean restaurant in the Lake Merritt neighborhood. There are two others in this area i've tried, and been happy with, but i'll be going here for the foreseeable future. -
Review from Janett R.
Oakland, CA
5/6/2012
Great food. Affordable prices.
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Review from Erica W.
San Francisco, CA
4/16/2012
This might be the best ethiopian food i've ever had. and nice atmosphere, reasonable prices. I need to get back here soon.
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Review from Liz M.
Oakland, CA
1/16/2012
My friend invited me to grab dinner with her and a coworker at this place after a yoga class at the Oakland Bikram studio. I'm so glad that I said yes! We ordered one veggie combo and one meat combo. My friends had tea; I ordered a Harar (my favorite Ethiopian beer).
The decor is very nice, and the restaurant is clean. Our server was friendly and able to answer our questions about the preparation and dishes. The food was amazing. I was really impressed with everything about this place. The bill was about $30, which I felt was a good value (about $10/person). I am looking forward to returning and trying some other dishes! -
Review from Henry Y.
1/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
This was Jenny's first time for Ethiopian and I hadn't eaten any for at least 15 years, so consider us noobies. Plus Jenny doesn't eat anything too spicy, but I managed to coax her in anyways, for which in the end she was super glad I did!
Their staff was helpful in describing the dishes and answering questions. So the Tibs can generally be made less spicy, while the Wots are inherently quite spicy. We decided on a veggie combo and a meat combo. The spiciest of which was the lamb wot which I enjoyed the most.
For drinks we had the honey wine, and the flax seed juice with honey. The juices were unique and delicious, and they also had sesame juice and sunflower juice both of which we'll still have to come back to try.
Everything was great and the portions were large. We weren't used to eating with our fingers and injira, especially the salad, but it was finger lickin' great! We left with some leftovers which we eagerly awaited to warm up the next day. -
Review from Brian S.
Oakland, CA
12/22/2011
Stopped in on a Wednesday night and it was quiet at Romantu with only one other table there. Where are all the folks as this place has great food and very friendly service. The Ethiopian beer Hakim was a stout and very tasty to start out the night. The wine list needs some focus though with some wines that will go with spicy food.
Started with a salad that had a chickpea puree in the middle that was garlicy to say the least but very good. A liitle challenge to eat salad with injera and we made a mess of it but it was good. Then had the veggie combo and the meat combo. The spice on the lamb dish was perfect and our favorite veggie was the collared greens. As others have said the portions are huge so expect to take some home.
The owner, Adey, served us and was very nice. She says she does all the cooking too and her sister helps serve. Reason enough to visit and support a locally owned place that you will leave stuffed and a big smile on your face!!!
Cheers! -
Review from J W.
San Francisco, CA
12/10/2011
My only complaint about this place is that the portions are so big that you can't get away with ordering a bunch of different things if it's just two of you. For most ethiopian places I've been to, two meat and two veggie dishes are more than enough but not ridiculous. We could have fed four people with what we ordered. First time I've ever taken a to go box, though with a heavy heart I left my remaining kitfo :( I'm not sure how much I can trust raw food sitting in my fridge for a day.
They were busy, and our server was doing a pretty good job handling all of the tables. She gave us a raised eyebrow when we ordered everything and I wish she would have warned us how much food we were getting. No matter, because everything was delicious, spicy but not too hot, and the staff was friendly. I would love to come back here but next time I'm bringing more people. -
Review from Cari J.
San Francisco, CA
10/13/2011
I could not stop eating this amazing food!
This newcomer to the emerging Oakland Food Gulch brings African Ethiopia to your table and to your heart. Excellent service starts your dining experience---with a smile and a whole lotta warmth.
The combo platter I ordered came with a heap of salad versus the usual Ethiopian habit of a small bit of size salad. I loved this for three reasons 1) the dressing they make is INSANE! In fact they could make a pretty penny just doing salad with tid bit toppings for Lunch...and dinner! 2) With spicy food, it is so nice to break it up with cool lettuce and cold veggies and 3) it is good for you!
The veggie combo platter I ordered was beautifully arranged with an array of colors and textures to experience. The food was truly a perfect blend of flavors.
One standout highlight is this sort of cold garlic "hummus" like dip they serve over the salad. It is to die for! I eat a lot of Ethiopian food and even visited Ethiopia...this is the first time I have seen this on a menu. SO YUMMY!
I loved that I actually waited for a few minutes to get my food. Usually, in Ethiopian Restaurants, they bring it so fast--it always makes me wonder if they just microwave it? The taste of this food clearly showed that the 10 minutes I waited was worth it! It tasted fresh and truly homemade. The only downside I could find was that I do like my injera warm and this was room temperature. I am sure if I had asked, they would have served it warm. But I was too bust eating!
The vibe is so cool and warm, I am hoping they will begin to do smooth African music in the back by the bar---I think this place is onto something if they can capitalize on all of their strengths and not succumb to the location. Don't get me wrong! The space is perfect--it is just a bit offset form the street and not everyone can notice it---I say they make this work in their favor and start the first "smooth African bar experience" in the Grand Lake area! I know I would go! -
Review from Kelly G.
Oakland, CA
9/14/2011
Excellent customer service and excellent food!!
Just moved to the area and found this hole in the wall as we were walking somewhere else. This was my first experience with Ethiopian food so I really appreciated the welcoming environment and the helpfulness of the server in which plates may best match my palette. Overall, great food with very generous services. My boyfriend and I ordered an appetizer and two entrees. We would have had more than enough with one entree to share and both of us are people with very large appetites.
Check it out and ENJOY! -
Review from Will T.
Oakland, CA
2/21/2012
Suuuper nice staff, gave me some tea and made me comfortable while I was waiting for a takeout order. Good, good food, elastic spongy injera, flavorful veggies. Chicken seemed to have the edge on beef and lamb in the wot category, but all were good. Interior could use a little de-sterilyzing -- they put the work into the food, not the decor.
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Review from Mark O.
Oakland, CA
7/5/2011
Good. God. Do NOT miss this restaurant. Had my first meal here a few days ago. The venue is GORGEOUS; one hell of a renovation job. The wait was a bit long, but when the food arrived, it was clear why. I had the Veggie Combo and was blown away by how rich the flavors were and how impressive the spice mix was. The injera is made to perfection. (To echo Issac S.'s review, it's the right mix between flavor and thickness.)
It's a lot of food for a cheap price, and it's absolutely worth your time. I can't wait to go back! -
Review from Kari C.
7/10/2011
Cafe Romanat has a very welcoming environment and awesome decor featuring Ethiopian artwork. Not sure how authentic it is, but it's a comfortable place to visit with good food. You don't sit on the floor, but do you eat with your hands!
We got the Yeselit Fitfti for our appetizer. It is a "salad" of sorts: red onions, tomatoes, spices, and Ethiopian flat "bread" (injera). The flavors were intense and you just want to keep eating. Reminds me of tahini with the tang of fresh lemon juice and sesame paste. It was plated on extremely fresh green-leaf lettuce and served with injera. BF is a picky eater and he gobbled it up. He's had Ethiopian food before and he liked it. The injera was slightly spongy, with lots of bubbles. Texture was a little chewy and moist. It was about the thickness of a pita bread.
For our main dishes, we got a Veggie Combo and Meat Combo. We actually ordered the Doro Wot, which is a chicken leg stew, but the waitress misunderstood us. There was a bit of a language barrier with some of the wait staff, but they went above and beyond to get our questions answered. Service was very attentive and they stopped by multiple times to check on us.
The Veggie Combo came with Buticha (chickpea stew), Yemisir Wot (lentil stew), Kik Alicha (split pea stew), and Gomen (collard greens). It also came with some salad greens, a little bit of fresh tomato, and carrots/cabbage in a honey-mustard-like sauce. Everything was pretty good, except the chickpea stew tasted more like sweet potato. None of these items felt greasy. Nothing on the plate was too spicy.
The Meat Combo was a different matter. The Doro Wot, chicken leg stew, was flavorful, but our tongues were on fire. Lamb Wot was my favorite, and it still had a bit of a kick. It wasn't gamey and the lamb was very tender. BF liked the Beef Alicha, which is lean beef with a sauce. This one was the least spicy. It also comes with collard greens. Keep in mind that we're spicy wimps. We asked the server if it was spicy and she said no. I'm figuring this is normal for Ethopians.
We also tried a Yeselit (sesame seed) drink. It's quite refreshing. Almost like a horchata or thin soy milk, but with bits of sesame. The flavor is very light and it's not sweet. BF wasn't fond of it because it wasn't sweet. I thought it was okay, but probably wouldn't order it again.
Portion sizes are quite large. We had a lot of food to take home.
This restaurant has only been open for about a month. I hope people find out about them and their business thrives. Eating here was a lot of fun and it brings a bit of adventure to Oak-Town. -
Review from Timm Z.
Oakland, CA
6/21/2011 1 photo
Fresh and tasty! Just finished the veggie combo (with Buticha, Yemisir Wot, Kik Alicha, and Gomen) as take-out.
After eating at most of the Bay Area Ethiopian restaurants, this is right up there at the top! The injera is lighter than most other places, and the spices of the veggie dishes were right on.
Ambiance is nice...space recently expanded with additional seating through a remodel (from the previous "cafe mimosa" space). I'll happily go back again!
9/2011 UPDATE: I was worried that repeat visits may yield inconsistent results. However, I'm happy to report that I've been back MANY times and the food is consistently amazing. What's also delightful is the 'energy' and 'vibe' of the place. The owners and staff are truly welcoming and passionate about their food and culture. You can taste their passion and pride in every bite! -
Review from Kiya B.
Oakland, CA
7/1/2011
One thing I miss about Ethiopia is the coffee after a meal. This place replicated the typical restaurants in Addis, with a cafe and restaurant connected, and only separated by a huge door and ramp. The art on the walls represents various tribes of Ethiopia. It's the epitome of modern meeting culturally classy.
Unlike the other local Ethiopian restaurants, this one has special touches to bring dishes from the motherland all the way to Oakland. The veggie combo has options, which are not only your standard local staples. You can get various types of "firfir" which are classics in Ethiopia. I've been to Cafe Romanat 3 times since it opened and each time I have noticed the menu is growing, andI have ordered different options from the combo dishes, to just doro tibs (spiced chicken cubes) and home made honey wine.
The ambiance is classy, cultural, and still casual. Ethiopian drapes hang down the large windows, and there are cultural touches at every table.
If it's your first time trying Ethiopian food: go for the classic veggie combo with meser wot, gomen and shiro, and a doro tibs dish. If you are an experienced Ethiopian connoisseur, order the various firfir dishes, and ask for recommendations from the staff!
Parking is best on Grand Ave, or in the lot by the farmers market area. And if you live in the lake merritt area, just walk! -
Review from Ann S.
Oakland, CA
4/3/2012
This is a nearby restaurant that we had been meaning to go to, and we finally did. No one else was there when we first arrived, making us somewhat hesitant. However, more patrons gradually arrived. And, the food was awesome. We had our kids with us (two 10 year olds) and while the food was spicier than they were used to, they loved it. Really great food with excellent service!
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Review from Inca L.
Oakland, CA
7/9/2011
we live in the neighborhood and decided to try it out, we were NOT disappointed! the decor is warm and welcoming, the owners are Really nice! We ordered the Veggie plate and it was Yummy! the Fresh mango juice is delicious and the service is awesome! we have a two year old and always feel welcome and comfortable!
I would love to see this place full and busy! they deserve that!
HIGHLY recommended! -
Review from Ana H.
Oakland, CA
3/21/2012
We called in an order to pick up. This was our first time to Cafe Romanat and we got our usually veggie combo and doro wat. Our toddler loved the injera and veggie combo. Both dishes were on the spicy hot side...but that's just the way we like it. I love Ethiopian food, and Cafe Romanat's was really really good. The atmosphere was casual, but not too many people there.
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Review from Merrill G.
Oakland, CA
1/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
The best. Our new favorite restaurant in the Lake Merritt area. The combos give you the most variety for your money. The waitstaff is so sweet.
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Review from Nony M.
Walnut Creek, CA
1/9/2012
I enjoyed a fabulously delicious meal at Cafe Romanat the other night. Ethiopian food is one of my faves and I've eaten in about a half dozen Ethiopian restaurants in Oakland. The meals have been good at all of them but Cafe Romanat is now my favorite.
My friend and I each ordered the Veggie Combo - served family style on a big platter with a basket of injera bread and dark Ethiopian beer. The food presentation was colorful and enticing, and offered with friendly smiles. The ambience was warm and cozy with a small heater nearby - a nice place to be on a chilly evening.
We also ordered one of the 'Fitfit' appetizers with jalapeno peppers because my friend was reminiscing about how hot-spicy the food was when she visited Ethiopia.
The servings are very generous. We stuffed ourselves and had enough take-home for lunch the next day. -
Review from aly e.
Oakland, CA
2/29/2012
I LOVE Ethiopian food. Seriously, I get really giddy at the thought of eating it. It's amazingly delicious and I wish I had a veggie combo right friggin now. This is my 2nd fav Ethiopian spot in the Bay. Advantages to eating at Cafe Romanat? No wait time (hell yeah!), large portions (yay for leftovers for lunch the next day), and very reasonable prices (about $10 a person). The food looked and tasted super fresh. I ordered the veggie combo and my only complaint would be that the vegetables were cut a bit too large. I know, sounds kinda weird, but when you're eating with your hands you don't want to be sitting there wishing you had a knife and a fork to cut your food. Would I go back? Absolutely! Given that it's a little easier on my pockets than my old standby it could definitely become my go to.
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Review from Ryan C.
11/8/2011
My new favorite Ethiopian place. It's too bad it's so hidden away, but the food here is splendid and you don't have to wait forever like some other places *ahem*. A fairly nice setting too, with nice decor, seating, and windows. We went with three people and ordered 2 combos and a fitfit and that was WAY too much food. I really like how they give a big scoop of elibet ( Ethiopian "hummus") because that is my most favorite Ethiopian thing.
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Review from Coopdawg C.
Walnut Creek, CA
7/18/2011
We missed Mimosa when it closed. We had just discovered it a couple months before it was gone. Location was the problem. We regarded it as one of our top 3 Ethipoian restaurants.
So we were going to Enssaro yesterday, and as we got off the Grand exit, I looked to see if by chance Mimosa had re-opened. It didn't, but now there was Cafe Romanat in its place. So heck, we had to try this.
It looked pretty similar to Mimosa, but they did some more decorating, and added a whole lot more seating space in another room. I doubt they need it, as it's not a busy place. we were the only ones there when we arrived Sunday night at about 6:30 or 7.
The hosts were very, very friendly. They asked us to sit where we wanted, so we made it easy on them and sat closer to the kitchen.
The menu seemed to have more appetizers, but didn't have sambusas that almost all the other Etiopian restaurants have.
We usually get a vegetarian platter, but they had a special with more selections, so we got that. It was all very good, and there was enough for us to really have 3 to 4 full meals, so we have leftovers, which we enjoy.
I wouldn't say it's in our top 3, but in the running for 4th place.
I would suggest they put up more decoration on the walls, as it feels a little bare. And I suggest they do a little marketing, as it's not a place you just happen by easily. I'm sure they could do a bang-up job for lunch if they market it correctly, since it's in a very busy lunch area. -
Review from The H.
Oakland, CA
9/5/2011
We were exploring the neighborhood after deciding to rent an apartment down the street and stumbled on this place. I'd never had Ethiopian food before, and this place has turned me into an instant fan. So unique and flavorful! And reasonably priced. I can't wait to come back.
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Review from Patricia E.
Othello, WA
2/17/2012
First visit. Had the TIMATIM FITFIT to start, wonder flavor not too spicy. Then had MEAT COMBINATION plate with Gomen Besega, Doro Wot, Lamb Wot. All three were great, but the lamb wot was the best. Also tried the sesame juice which I didn't care for. The service was good and we were given forks when we requested them. Very pleasant experience.
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Review from A. D.
Oakland, CA
7/3/2011
I was so sad to learn that Mimosa had closed, but just this week I stopped in at Cafe Romanat and found the food to be even better now! The owners are so nice and always willing to go the extra mile, and the veggie-combo looked the closest to ones we'd get in Ethiopia - far more than other places we've been in the neighborhood. We'll be back.
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Review from Juliane T.
Oakland, CA
6/23/2011
Really fabulous - and they have done a wonderful job renovating the place so the ambiance is much better than Mimosa! The service is wonderful and I find myself developing an addiction to this place already (I'm sure the food is to blame)...
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Review from Celeste B.
Oakland, CA
10/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
I am so glad I stopped by this restaurant before my facial next door. It is a wonderful space that is well appointed. I look forward to dining here. I ordered takeout for after my appointment. The staff was friendly, accommodating and had my order ready on time. The dishes were perfectly spiced. I especially liked their chickpea spread. It had a nice kick. The best injera I ever tasted, I usually find it too sour. I can not remember the name of my beef dish but it had tomatoes, onions and was divine. Big portions and even the salad was good. It is new and in an out of the way spot on Santa Clara, do not be deterred if it is not busy. I highly recommend trying this restaurant. A perfect spot to dine before catching a flick at the Grand Lake theater. One of the servers may just be the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life. Iman is not a fluke, what bone structure Ethiopian women have Wow. Just an observation.
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Review from Jacob K.
Emeryville, CA
9/16/2011
Great news! This place has the same chef as the previous restaurant that was here before it- Mimosa (Ethiopian food). I wrote a review of Mimosa after it closed down. It had the best Ethiopian food I have ever had. I have high standards and have eaten at all the well-known Ethiopian places in the East Bay and Mimosa and now Cafe Romanat's chef food is the best! You must try it to believe it!
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Review from Yoli B.
Oakland, CA
9/15/2011
I came here because it was open up late and I was crazing Ethiopian food. Very friendly staff, and excellent customer service. Great food and a lot of it. I will definetly be back!
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Review from Jessi W.
Oakland, CA
11/26/2011
the combination veggie/meat platter is rich, flavorful, and generally fantastic. every time we bring out of town visitors, we get kudos for recommending such a great meal. love this place and the friendly people running it!
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Review from Jon L.
Alameda, CA
11/19/2011 1 photo
My new favorite Ethiopian restaurant. We ordered the spinach and lentil dishes and they both were amazing. Really nice people working here too.
