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Demera Ethiopian Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Ethiopian Ethiopian [Edit]
4801 N Broadway St(between Lawrence Ave & Racine Ave)
Chicago, IL 60640
Neighborhood: Uptown
(773) 334-8787
- Nearest Transit:
-
Lawrence (Red Line)
Argyle (Red Line)
Wilson (Red Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 2 am
Sun 11:30 am - 1 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
The popularity of Iguana Cafe has driven it to be one of the great Chicago city hot spots, bringing the celebrated European atmosphere, flavor and… read more »
393 reviews for Demera Ethiopian Restaurant
Review Highlights
"Food was delicious and honey wine was soooo good."
(in 57 reviews)
"I now have a great place to get my injera fix."
(in 94 reviews)
"Ye-Misir Wot (spicy) was definitely the best and most..."
(in 10 reviews)
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393 reviews in English
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Review from Rebekah H.
Chicago, IL
2/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
We are always impressed with the atmosphere and wonderful service at Demera, the staff are always warm and accomodating and helpful with making choices for our dinner. The decor is beautiful and the bathrooms are gorgeous and hygiene conscious!
We had a dinner for 2 Groupon that was an excellent value, tons of food and variety of flavors.
The fried pastry appetizers are awesome, the best is the chicken, it is chock full of flavor!
We love the vegetarian main dishes here too, the red lentils are excellent!
My only complaint is the bones in the lamb dishes, some were very small and could easily be accidentally swallowed and cause injury.Comment from Tigist R. of Demera Ethiopian Restaurant 2/6/2012
Thank you Rebekah for your kinds words. I'm glad you enjoyed… More » -
Review from Iona B.
Chicago, IL
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
I will definitely visit Demera again! I never knew Ethiopian food could taste so good, exotic, and ethnic, lol.
We did not have a reservation, but we were able to get bar seats. The service and the women were both beautiful.
I had the kik alicha (split peas), gomen (collard greens), and salad with my ye-doro tibs (chicken breast). I felt as if I were in entirely different world. Each bite was better took my taste buds to a different level. I am a very picky eater, so if I like---it's a winner, lol.Comment from Tigist R. of Demera Ethiopian Restaurant 1/30/2012
Great to hear you enjoyed your first experience with… More » -
Review from J. M.
Evanston, IL
1/29/2012
Nice cultural diversity among the crowd, and despite being under tons of stress (it was Saturday nite plus the last day to redeem Groupons), the staff were the friendliest I've ever had anywhere. We noticed from Demera's online menu that GF injera was an option, which meant that my wife didn't have to sit on her hands and watch me down the whole thing myself. If anything, the GF version (made from teff, I'm thinking) was superior to all others, especially in its rich brown color.
And the honey wine? Wow! That was tastier than any mead I've ever had. Hell, it was the only wine I've ever thoroughly enjoyed. E and I have never, ever before finished a bottle of wine in one sitting.
All in all, a fabulous feast--we staggered out of there, seams ready to burst.Comment from Tigist R. of Demera Ethiopian Restaurant 1/30/2012
Thank yor for the great words J.M.! I'm glad you and your… More » -
Review from Ishmal R.
Chicago, IL
1/29/2012
The service was great, the place was clean........... but I guess I just don't really like Ethiopian cuisine. Ive tried it from several restaurants now and to me I just have to say no thanks.
Also not so big on eating with my hands.
And I always feel a little bit ill after I have had it.Comment from Tigist R. of Demera Ethiopian Restaurant 1/30/2012
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.… More » -
Review from Inna B.
Chicago, IL
2/8/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Coming here was a huge Groupon win! The food was delicious (get the lamb), the service was amazing & the wine was plentiful. This is now my go-to Ethopian place.
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Review from Amanda G.
1/26/2012
I am so glad to live close to this Ethiopian spot.
The servers are helpful, professional, and possess a dash of humor. The space is open, so it is a great spot for groups. There is live entertainment on the weekend. They updated there wine list and have tastier choices. The sambussas (and spicy dipping sauce) are super tasty. There are several vegetarian meal options to share that are fantastic. Bottomless injera (Indian bread). Steps from the red line.
Yes, please!Comment from Tigist R. of Demera Ethiopian Restaurant 1/27/2012
Thank you for the great words Amanda! We greatly appreciate… More » -
Review from Kaitlin M.
Chicago, IL
1/17/2012
Not good authentic Ethiopian food at all! I must say the first disappointment was that their website and yelp say they are open at 11:30 am during the week but they really don't let anyone come in and sit down for lunch until after noon.
I ordered their vegetarian lunch special which was 4 tastings of different dishes and injera. My first complaint is that their injera has almost no sour flavor too it like really injera should. I was very disappointed in this because that taste is what I crave about Ethiopian food... and is the only thing I can not replicate at home.
The second issue with my food was that every mini dish I tried was full of oil. So much oil that is broke down the injera so that I couldn't use the bread underneath it as a utensil like you are supposed to. It is also not a good feeling to have to eat really oily food with your hands.
Lastly, I was extremely disappointed in the service. I was the only person in the entire restaurant and no one checked on me even once throughout my meal. My water glass what empty about half-way through my lunch and never got re-filled. This is how NOT to run a mom and pop food business.
Don't go here... check out Lalibela. They are a bit more expensive but better in every other way and they are BYOB.Comment from Tigist R. of Demera Ethiopian Restaurant 1/23/2012
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. We do… More » -
Review from Jack P.
1/6/2012
I took advantage of a Groupon deal here recently with a friend. The first thing I need to say is Ethiopian food is just not photogenic. While I usually like to see pictures of my food, this stuff always looks more like an art project brought to me by my cat. That said, the food is really delicious! And the one close up here of the Injera reminds me of rolled up carpet padding. I like to describe it to the uninitiated as "Spandex Crepes."
Now for the details:
Ambience - This is probably he nicest Ethiopian place I've been to. It's spacious with lot's of room between tables, and there is a nice panoramic view of the bustling Lawrence Avenue/Broadway. intersection. It's clean, nicely lit and there are cloth linens and napkins.
Service - Our service was excellent. Seated by one young lady and served by another, both were gracious, accessible and helpful. There was some "splaining" to do relative to the Groupon deal and how to choose from the menu, and they were patient with us as we went through all the choices. The food arrived quickly after we ordered. We never felt rushed.
Food - The deal was a good one. Samosa or "Sambussa" appetizers. Spinach, beef and beans. Then we chose the combo platter which had 3 veggie and 3 meat entrees. A bottle of wine was included along with dessert. The appetizers were hot and not so greasy. The variety of vegetables, meat and beans very pleasing. The entrees included a very flavorful beet dish/salad, Shiro,a legume mixture, Gomen, a collard green mix, Lamb stewed in Berbere Sauce, Beef with onions, garlic ginger, and turmeric, and Doro Wat, a chicken drumstick in a spicy sauce with a hard-boiled egg. These items were all bursting with flavor and healthy spices. And with the Injera they were quite filling, inspite of really being small amounts of food.
So I love the food, the variety and the spices, but the only downside from my perspective is while I could come here solo, I probably never would. And the Groupon deal was a good value but I think I might also make alternative dining choices if I were paying the full value of the meal for two ($66.00 w/o tip.) It would be nice if there were the Ethiopian casual equivalent of, say, The Pita Inn. But i will save my Ethiopian experiences for times when I have a Group and a Groupon. Solid 3 1/2 stars for me, all things considered.Listed in: Come Together, The Vegan Continuum
Comment from Tigist R. of Demera Ethiopian Restaurant 1/6/2012
Thank you so much for your great words Jack. I appreciate… More » -
Review from Katherine L.
Chicago, IL
1/26/2012
Demera is the second Ethiopian restaurant that I've tried in Chicago and it's the one I prefer. The service has always been stunningly nice and very helpful. I sometimes still need help navigating the menu and they always explain what each dish is and make great recommendations.
I too cashed in on the Groupon and took a friend who had never eaten Ethiopian food before. She was a little hesitant, but immediately liked the honey wine and the lentil appetizer that we got. I will agree with a couple reviewers that the lamb dishes had some stealthy bones, but we chewed slowly. I tend to be more of a meat eater, but the lentil and chickpea dishes at Demera are probably my favorites.
The food has great, bold flavors and eating it with the bread is fun. I give Demera two thumbs up!Comment from Tigist R. of Demera Ethiopian Restaurant 1/27/2012
Great to hear Katherine! I'm happy you enjoy dining with us… More » -
Review from Tiara Lynn A.
Brookfield, IL
1/9/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Demera was my second try at Ethiopian food and I enjoyed this meal much more than my first. The four of us ordered a total of 12 vegetarian and meat dishes and every single thing was tasty! Sadly, I couldn't begin to tell you what the favorites were, but the cabbage and carrots vegetarian dish made the biggest impression for me, as did a sauceless lamb dish. The honey wine was divine and our service was great.
Next time, though, we'll skip the seafood dishes and dessert. While everything was good, the salmon was dull and overcooked, and the tuna sambusa on our sampler platter was nothing special. The fresh fruit dessert was a little on the overripe side for me.
Overall, though, definitely worth a return and the price is right for a date night out or a meal with friends.Comment from Tigist R. of Demera Ethiopian Restaurant 1/10/2012
Hi Tiara, I appreciate you letting me know what you enjoyed… More » -
Review from Jordan R.
Chicago, IL
1/23/2012
Great food and fast service despite the place being absolutely packed this past Saturday night. They were turning walk-ins away left and right.
Would have been five stars but they should warn of bones in some of the meat... I went after a piece of lamb that I thought was all meat with fervor and a sharp piece of bone almost went through my cheek. With a chicken drumstick and other things like that it's obvious, but with some pieces not so much.Comment from Tigist R. of Demera Ethiopian Restaurant 1/23/2012
I appreciate you letting me know what went well with your… More » -
Review from Kwadjo G.
Chicago, IL
2/8/2012
Best Ethiopian food I have had in Chicago. Ive been to Ras Dashen and Ethiopian Diamond and neither were as flavorful as Demera. Ras Dashen had some nice vegan/vegetarian options but their food was bland. Ethiopian Diamond was a little on the bland side as well. The mystery to me was that both Ras Dashen and Ethiopian Diamond had more customers and Ethiopian Diamond was packed. Go figure. That saying a line out the door means the food is good in the kitchen doesn't apply as much in this case. If you want flavor, go to Demera. The manager was also really nice. However, be careful when parking on the streets. I got a ticket for parking in a taxi cab stand and honestly never saw the sign.
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Review from Elise K.
Chicago, IL
1/21/2012
Oy! So much food! We had a Groupon - great price for such a good meal! This was my first time having Ethiopian and it was fantastic!
We first tried to sit outside, but the busy street made it too loud despite the quaint garden. There is a firehouse nearby. When we arrived it was empty but a few other people showed up throughout the meal.
We started with a bottle of the home made honey wine. We actually weren't able to finish the bottle despite it being flavorful. We had sambosas - very similar to a samosa for the appetizer and then a fruit sambosa for desert. All of the mains comes served on and with Ethiopian lemon bread. We tried several meats and veggies too - I was a big fan of the lentils!
I had a great meal and will return!Comment from Tigist R. of Demera Ethiopian Restaurant 1/23/2012
Thanks for giving us a try Elise! I'm glad your first… More » -
Review from Cheryl S.
Chicago, IL
2/6/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
I have to admit, I was timid about trying Ethiopian food. But what's life without trying new things?! I bought a Yelp deal for Demera and finally decided to go with my husband and sister. Our server was pretty quiet and looked confused by some of our questions but we finally decided to order the combo platter, with half veggies and the other half chicken, beef, and lamb. I was pleasantly surprised by all of the different flavors and the huge portions. I especially liked the spinach and the chicken. What I wasn't crazy about was the texture of the bread-I compensated by using as little as possible and using mostly just my fingers to pick up the veggies and meat (kinda gross but also kinda fun at the same time!). We also had a turnover-like spinach appetizer that was amazing! While I really enjoyed the food, I wish the service had been better. Our server wasn't the most helpful or friendly when helping us choose our food and we had to ask her to refill our water. I enjoyed the food and trying something new but I can't say I'll be back.
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Review from Janet W.
Chicago, IL
12/17/2011
I came here twice with Groupon deals. First time, my friend and I had no idea what to order so we asked our server for a messob plate of whatever she recommended. Our server brought out a good variety and it turned out well so we decided to do the same for our second visit.
The different meats and vegetables come laid out on a huge plate along with some sourdough bread, which from observing the people eating by us, is torn by hand and used to scoop up the richly spiced stews. The sourness in the bread took a bit of getting used to though my vegetarian friends all love it. My favorite meats were the fish, beef, and lamb. I liked quite a few of the vegetarian items too but can't remember what they're called. Many of their items were too spicy for me but I did like the ones that I could eat.
Other than that, wine good, desert good. I'm not a big fan of the sambussa appetizers because they were too spicy and too dry. -
Review from Angel L.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 12/16/2011
UGH! This place just keeps getting worse...
Normally my biggest complaint about Demera is their poor service. This time the service was actually okay---but still not good.
Now I have something even worse to add...
THEIR FOOD IS HORRIBLE.
Yeah, you heard me right. I've NEVER come across an Ethiopian restaurant with just horrid food---but WOW.
I'm vegan, so I ordered the vegetarian tray with Kik Alicha (seasoned yellow lentils), Shiro (powdered chickpeas with berbere sauce), and Shimbera Assa Wat (chickpea dumplings with berbere sauce). I've had these same dishes at multiple Ethiopian establishments including this one, so I didn't expect anything less than awesome.
WRONG. My Kik Alicha & Shiro were flavorless, and my Shimbera Assa tasted like-----well Charlie Sheen's face. I couldn't even finish, it tasted so much like a combination between road kill and feet! GAH!
I've definitely also had at least two other friends go here in the past month and say they hated it...
*Martin voice* "Damn, Damn, DAAAAAAAAMN!"Listed in: Rub-a-dub-dub, Vegan Grub!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/31/2011
Oh Demera! How you confuse me so!
You are so beautiful with your warm, but modern decor of browns… Read more »
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Review from Cecilia T.
San Mateo, CA
12/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
My friends and I were having a Gals night out with four of us. It was a blast at Demeras! Its a VERY good idea to do shared plates as the food is plenty and huge at a great price.
We ordered the family style option under the Specials. This is where the chef selects several options for us to try. The platter served was HUGE and we barely made a dent in the meal. In retrospect, we could have had 5 or 6 chicks sharing our 1 dish, judging by the leftovers.
Other thoughts - service is nice and helpful. The drinks such as the honey wine are too weird for me - reallllyy sweet. And the beer is too light for my preference.Comment from Tigist R. of Demera Ethiopian Restaurant 12/27/2011
Thank you so much for the kind words. We greatly appreciate… More » -
Review from Kymia J.
Chicago, IL
12/29/2011
A Groupon deal brought me here as I normally travel slightly further north to Ras Dashen get my Ethiopian fix and the experience was just OK.
Perhaps my expectations were too high, but the food was a definite letdown. Service was slow and the restaurant was virtually empty. Wasn't at all pleased with the wine suggested by our waitress.
Eh...Comment from Tigist R. of Demera Ethiopian Restaurant 1/2/2012
I'm sorry you did not enjoy your meal with us. I will… More » -
Review from G S.
Chicago, IL
12/5/2011
This wasn't what I expected after reading the reviews and hearing what a terrific place it was.
The service was not great. Our waitress was far from helpful and when I asked her for a straw, she instead pointed me to where the straws were and asked that I get one myself.
Additionally, she seemed irritated when we kindly asked her to refill our water, a simple thing that should be done without asking.. in my opinion.
The food itself was just a little less than okay for me. The chicken was flavorful, but the lamb was full of bones and there was barely anything more than bones and curry in the actual entree.
Overall, I wasn't impressed and wouldn't repeat again at all -
Review from Kate W.
Chicago, IL
I really feel like this would be a good place to take (well behaved, adventurous eater) kids because, dude, EATING WITH YOUR HANDS.
The big kid in me very much enjoyed this.
The adult in me very much enjoyed a nice date spot, great food and alcohol (byob at $8 per corkage or full bar onsite). -
Review from Ada M.
Chicago, IL
11/26/2011
I purchased a Groupon a while back and finally use it tonight. The Groupon was for an appetizer, entree, dessert and bottle of wine for two people.
I've never had Ethiopian before, so it was a great time to try it. Also with that being said, since it was our first time, we can't really compare it to other Ethiopian restaurants... at least not yet anyways.
The food in general was good. We had a meat and veggie sampler for appetizers and a meat and veggie platter, which was filling. We also chose a vanilla ice cream with mango for dessert, which was ok good.. nothing special. I do wish they have more wine selections for the Groupon deal though. My cousin ordered a non-alcoholic mango drink which she was not a fan of.
The service was friendly and helpful, very pleasant.
Overall, we had a good experience.Comment from Tigist R. of Demera Ethiopian Restaurant 11/29/2011
Hi Ada, Thank you so much for the kind words. We greatly… More » -
Review from Jessica M.
Chicago, IL
11/14/2011
We had a party of 9 and truly enjoyed ourselves and the experience that is eating Ethiopian - a first for all of us. We did family style platters, meat, fish and veggie, asking for an emphasis on vegetarian for two that were in the group. We also did the sambusas for appetizers, all of them and the dipping sauce were amazing! Because the food had such great flavors and there was plenty of it, I want to give 4 stars. However, I think the experience was good 1) because of the compnay 2) because it was new to us and 3) the variety in the platters allowed us to try a ton of different flavors. I don't know that it was the restaurant or atmosphere itself that made it so memormable, as other areas lacked, and are what made me give 3 stars.
The service was slow and the waitresses need to smile more! Also, their corkage fee was high - almost to the point that they should just not even say that you can BYOB, especially when they do have their own drinks anyway. $8 per bottle of wine, and $2 per bottle of beer. Which tacked on $32 to the bill. Ouch. Not really worth it, unless you are a wine/beer snob and have to have your particular brand :)
All in all, I think we will give them another try - or at least Ethiopian food another try, if there is another place to go. It was a fun, delicious adventure. Next time though, we'll keep the party size down and not bring our own. -
Review from Aimee M.
10/24/2011
A great place for a late lunch! I don't know if it's the norm, but we visited here one Saturday at 1pm, probably only 3 tables occupied other than ours. Service never slacked and we weren't rushed at the end for our check.
I loved the food here at Demera. We started with Spinach Sambusas and I could have just ordered a few more and would have left a stellar review just by that. Crispy, flaky dough, warm, fresh spinach and this hot sauce that was divine!
The bro and I shared lunch opting for the veggie and meat messob platter. It was a great deal coming out to $15 per person and we both ate well and left very satisfied (no leftovers!)
For those not familiar--The food is brought out on a platter of Injera bread--soft, spongy sourdough-like bread. you break off a piece of injera, scoop up some of the delicious stew with it and enjoy!
The veggies:
Ye-misir wot: Red lentils with onions, garlic and ginger stewed in Berbere sauce
Ye-shimbra assa: ground chickpeas shaped into dough in berbere sauce
Gomen: Collard Greens sauteed with onions, garlic, ginger with sliced jalapenos.
The meats:
Ye-beg Wot: Lamb pieces stewed in berbere sauce
Doro alicha wot: chicken stewed in mild sauce with onion, garlic, ginger
Ye-siga alicha: Beef cooked in mild sauce of onions, garlic, ginger and tumeric
Everything was so very flavorful. My favorite being the Lamb--very tender pieces of lamb cooked so well--the sauce kind of tangy, a bit spicy, just delicious. For the veggies, the Gomen was my favorite--I love collard greens and this dish was very tasty, not bitter at all.
And as always, I love the injera bread left underneath stews, almost like a leftover of your current meal--it sits there soaking up the sauce so it's especially flavorful.
I hardly comment about the bathrooms in my reviews, but it's worth mentioning--no changing table for junior, so just plan your visit accordingly if you must bring the baby. But it's still the coolest Hands-free bathroom I've ever seen! Auto soap (that works!) Dyson hand dryer, and no need to hold the door handle, thanks to a special hook that you can grab with your forearm! -
Review from Angela J.
Chicago, IL
1/7/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Delicious food, attentive staff, BYOB. Doesn't get much better than this!
Comment from Tigist R. of Demera Ethiopian Restaurant 1/9/2012
Thank you! I appreciate your great words! Best, Tigist Reda… More » -
Review from Liz M.
Chicago, IL
1/31/2012 Seated via OpenTable
The servers were very helpful and friendly, We had a little trouble navigating the menu but our waitress heped walk us through it as well as gave great recommendations. The atmosphere is comfortable and cozy feeling, a nice diverse group of people at the restaurant. The food is delicious! I nice selection of meat and vegetarian options, delicious!!
Comment from Tigist R. of Demera Ethiopian Restaurant 2/6/2012
Thank you for the great words Liz! I appreciate your… More » -
Review from Helena B.
10/5/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Demera was my the site of my first foray into Ethiopian food and oh-emm-gee-I-LOVE-IT.
To start: Chicken Sambussas. Demera has three kinds of sambussas (chicken, beef, and veggie) and we always do one. What are they? Your chosen innard wrapped in thin, flaky dough. Kind of like an Indian Samosa (which, hello, has such a similar name. There's some fodder for a lengthy Wikipedia search on the origins of food).
Next, we always do the messob platter. Here, you have many options. The idea is that the items you pick (usually six - veggie, meat, or a mixture of both) are served on a large, round platter. It's easy to try new things and fairly simple to accommodate people with food restrictions (e.g., vegetarians).
So, no utensils. No worries - you eat by ripping off small pieces of the soft, tortilla-like dough and pinching the food off the platter. Don't be shy, dig right in.
We did dessert once, but it was underwhelming. Given our fond love of everything else they serve, it's easy enough to fill up on real food and abandon this final course. -
Review from Jackie P.
Chicago, IL
1/30/2012
I highly recommend it for large groups because of its tapas style dishes. Great food!! Service was good!
Comment from Tigist R. of Demera Ethiopian Restaurant 2/6/2012
Thanks Jackie! Best, Tigist Reda, Owner More » -
Review from Brad C.
Chicago, IL
I've only had Ethiopian food a couple times and really have no idea what I'm even eating but I usually like it. So when friends who love Demera and Ethiopian food wanted to go for a birthday dinner, I was totally down. Figured I could get a crash course in some of the dishes.
Unless you know what you're doing when it comes to Ethiopian food, the sampler options are the way to go. For the appetizer I recommend the sambussa sampler. I didn't get to try the spinach but someone who did try it said it was the best. We had a big group of people so for the main meal, we ordered the chef's sampler. I'm not sure what was included in the sampler but I think it was a good amount of the menu. Everything was tasty, but I couldn't necessarily tell what any of it was.
Go with a group and dive in! You might not love everything you try but it makes for a great evening out with friends or family. -
Review from Charles P.
Chicago, IL
1/11/2012
This is a really good place. I would say 3.5.
The food tasted great, although the bread was served cold and I've been to places where it was served warm and it really does make a difference. The main dishes were served just above room temperature, I'd like it to be much hotter. We ordered the sharing plate which was fun. Also the fountain drinks are hit and miss: a few of my refills were just seltzer water.
The service was great and attentive.
The atmosphere was very clean and orderly and the music not overly loud, a perfect blend. I didn't know what to expect from the restaurant considering the neighborhood near the red line stop looked rundown and sketchy but the place was safe, brightly lit and easy to find.
Would definitely go back.Comment from Tigist R. of Demera Ethiopian Restaurant 1/11/2012
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. I… More » -
Review from Rebecca K.
Peoria, IL
10/31/2011
Yum! Now, Demera is the only Ethiopian food I've ever had, so I can't speak to its authenticity or compare it to other restaurants, but I can say this: I freakin' love this place. There are a few dishes I don't care much for (I think the michetabish is just gross, and I'd recommend you skip the tuna sambussas), but I've really enjoyed almost everything I've eaten here. The sambussa turnover was a pretty lame dessert, though, and I wouldn't recommend it. Didn't seem likely to be even remotely authentic, especially given that it's served with a fork. I'm not in love with the honey wine, but I'm glad I tried it.
The first time I visited, it was right after a Groupon came out, the restaurant was slammed, and service was really, really slow. Last time, though, everything came out really quickly - but not quicker than it should have! The servers here are really friendly and chatty, and can easily answer any question you have about the food. I wish we lived in Chicago and could come here more often than once a year!
Oh, and I love that the bathrooms are set up with "eating with your hands" in mind. Touchless faucets, air blade hand dryers, and a no-hands door handle means you can take your clean hands all the way to the table with you. It would be cool if they did a hot towel service or something at the table, though. -
Review from K K.
Chicago, IL
11/19/2011
After passing by Demera frequently, a friend of mine scored a Groupon and we finally checked it out. Everything was perfect!
With the Groupon, we got an appetizer (sambussa sampler, excellent), wine, a messob platter and a dessert. Everything was excellent! We also had the strong, intoxicating coffee. Our desert included two nut-filled pastries on a plate of raspberry sauce, which we ended up devouring - it was difficult to refrain from licking the plate! And the staff was very helpful and friendly.
Yes to everything -
Review from rebecca s.
Chicago, IL
11/23/2011
Came here on one of those coupon deals. This was my second time experiencing Ethiopian cuisine. I thought the restaurant looked good and the food was easy to follow. All of the food I had was plenty and flavorful, and their wines were delicious.
The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the service. The waitresses were attentive in the beginning of the meal but after awhile they stopped coming over. We waited a long time to get someone to refill on drinks and to bring over the bill..Comment from Tigist R. of Demera Ethiopian Restaurant 11/29/2011
Hi Rebecca, I appreciate you letting me know what went well… More » -
Review from Lia V.
10/19/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Yummy yum yum in my tum tum.
I went with my cousins and we had a great time. Got some wine, ate some delicious grub, sat around and just enjoyed our time. The service was great - very nice people.
The food was delicious.
The wine was ... well.. fine.
It was a good experience.
Really open lay out though which for an ethiopian place I like something a little more intimate.
Good though - I'd check it out if I were you. I also hear they have music on the weekends which would be a nice plus. But that area has the green mill right by it so you can go catch some jazz after dinner if you want! -
Review from Ben T.
Chicago, IL
10/2/2011
Five stars for the flavors, the value, honey wine, no silverware, and being late for a reservation and still having a table waiting for us.
I have been here a couple of times now and I enjoy every aspect of the dining experience. I am no expert on African cuisine (having only eaten it twice... at Demera) but I do consider myself an adventurous eater and Demera is a treat. The food is flavorful and spiced in a way similar to Indian dishes, the injera is very unique, and it is fun to eat with your hands.
The staff was kind and helpful in choosing our 6 options for the meat/vegetable messob combo. The spicy dishes I would consider to be upper-medium amount of spicy, which was just right for me but too much for my friend. The dishes we tried (from best to worst):
+ Spicy beef
+ Spicy lentils
+ Chick pea cakes
+ Medium chicken with drumstick and hard boiled egg
+ Carrots and potatoes
- Lamb (small, tough, fatty pieces)
Total came to $45 including one glass of honey wine, with leftovers to take home. I hope to come back and try out some other options! -
Review from Jeannine H.
Chicago, IL
10/28/2011 Seated via OpenTable
I am a huge fan of Ethiopian food and have my favorite spot but thanks to Groupon I thought I would try this spot out. While the service was a bit leisurely (which I didn't mind since I was on a date and enjoying the company) the food was excellent!
the trio of samosas was wonderful...I liked all three, flavorful, flaky and tasty.
We got the meat veggie combo which was wonderful...great choices of all my usual dishes...I particiuarly enjoyed the zilil tibs and the lentils. and the injera was good as well
Their honey wine was the best I have had...not too sweet with an awesome kick.
Even enjoyed the mango ice cream for dessert!
Plan to go back and place this one in my usual rotation of Ethiopian restaurants -
Review from Max L.
Chicago, IL
Came here with a Groupon, which turned out to be a very good deal!
I've had Ethiopian a few times before, but this was definitely the best I've had so far! The sambosa's rival any Indian samosa I've ever had, and the Honey wine was unique and not too sweet. The main dishes were all very well seasoned and properly cooked.
Despite other reviews, our service was very quick, although the restaurant was basically empty at 5pm on a Saturday.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone, especially those hesitant to try African cuisine.
The only warning I would give, (and the reason for 1 less star) would be the possible after effects on one's stomach. -
Review from Chuck K.
Chicago, IL
8/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
3.5 Stars
This place would be amazing, if only the service was better. The food is like nothing I've ever had.
Was here a couple weeks ago on a Monday evening. We waited for the server to come by to get our drinks, we waited for silverware, we basically waited the whole evening.
Get the Messob. You'll get to pick a group of items that you can share and try. Everything we had was full of flavor, spicy, prepared just perfectly. Lamb and Beef selections are your best bet.
But honestly, be prepared for a LONG meal. We were there for 3.5 hours. Just unacceptable! -
Review from Alex B.
Chicago, IL
9/8/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
I've been here three or four times and have enjoyed every meal. Several times the restaurant was super-busy and the servers were having a hard time keeping up with the orders, but it wasn't slow enough to make for a bad dining experience.
I've ordered the vegetarian messob platter several times, which is a sampler of six veggie items that are served communal style with injera bread. We basically chose our six things from the menu at random, and everything was great--very flavorful, and each of the dishes had its own unique taste. The platter that is meant for two people was plenty for four, so I think it's a great value for the price.
This place is great for vegetarians (and from the menu, it appears that it's great for meat-eaters as well, though I wouldn't know). Be warned that you shouldn't go here if it's busy and you're in a hurry.
Oh, and one last important thing! The waiter told us that injera bread is a great stomach-insulator and hangover-preventer before a heavy night of drinking. Just sayin'. -
Review from Holly L.
9/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
So I'm your everyday meat-and-potatoes type of gal, so when a friend suggested Ethiopian, I was a little frightened, not gonna lie. But, I figured what the heck, I'll give it a shot.
My friend who was driving is a bit of a worrywart about being late, so we ended up getting there quite early. There was a sign in the window that said they didn't open until 6:30, and it was about 6:15 when we got there. As we stared at the sign in stunned confusion, the sign was removed and we were let in. There were about 2 other tables at this point.
We decided we would have some pre-dinner drinks. Unfortunately, it took about 15 minutes for a server to approach us, at which point we were beginning to get hungry.
I had a Groupon, and none of us had a clue what to get, so we asked the server to basically order for us - mixing up spicy and mild, meat and veggies. The server did a great job of choosing for us, that was well-appreciated.
We had the housemade honeywine. It was very sweet and very yummy. I would have preferred it cold though, rather than room-temperature as it was served. The appetizer was my favorite part of the meal. Little fried pieces of heaven. We had a mix of beef, chicken, tuna, spincach and lentils, mixed and spiced and wrapped in a phyllo-like pastry. Yum!
I should add that by this point, it had gone from just us and 1 or 2 other tables, to a packed house with a line.
When the main dish came, I was a little more nervous. They brought a basket of bread (looked like a basket of towels to me...that's how white-bread I am). The bread is large pancake-like, but sourdough-y tasting pieces of flatbread. You are supposed to rip off pieces of this bread and kind of "pinch-grab" the main dish. No forks here. The main dish was served on a HUGE platter (about the size of a trash can lid) with 12 different choices from beets to lamb to chicken legs and lots in between. Some of the dishes I liked, some I didn't. I think they were prepared well, it was just my personal preference. It did make for a fun experience.
Lastly, dessert. We shared two desserts. One was fruit over an oatmeal cakey thing drizzled with honey. This was good. Not outstanding, but good. The other dessert was a shortbread-y berry-y concoction that was DELISH.
Overall, to me, the experience was better than the food. I'm glad I went. I'm glad I experienced it. I would go again if someone else wanted to go. But I probably wouldn't choose it. -
Review from Mikey B.
Chicago, IL
12/16/2011
Three and a half stars:
Food was very, very overpriced for Ethiopian and *especially* for Uptown. I mean, you're basically getting shot at coming to this restaurant and shouldn't expect to pay $13 minimum for anything with meat.
Service was very, very good. (The restaurant was nearly empty late Thursday night.)
The food was very good but the portions of our lamb dish were quite small (and included two large hunks of bone). The salmon was good, and had more with the portion. The vegetables that accompanied our dishes were allright.
Overall, I wouldn't go back unless I had, like, a half-off Internet deal or something.Comment from Tigist R. of Demera Ethiopian Restaurant 12/16/2011
I appreciate you letting me know what went well with your… More »
