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Desta Ethiopian Kitchen
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 9 am - 12 am
Fri-Sun 9 am - 1 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
160 reviews for Desta Ethiopian Kitchen
Review Highlights
"Injera is very filling by itself."
(in 58 reviews)
"We had the Vegetarian Combo and the Tibs FirFir."
(in 17 reviews)
"...sauted in a special blend of house spices, onion, pepper..."
(in 3 reviews)
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160 reviews in English
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Review from Paul S.
1/29/2012 2 Check-ins Here
First time going down Ethiopian lane brought us to Desta. I had heard pretty great reviews and my girlfriend had been talking about it for a while as well.
It's a little out the way from my home in East Atlanta, but well worth the drive. The dining room is small and a feels a bit crowded and it smells heavenly when you enter.
We tried a little bit of everything sharing the lamb and rib eye tibs, a vegetarian platter and the kitfo (very brave) with the other couple we came with.
No forks needed here... The injera works as a both a fork, a glove, and a little rolled up sour accompaniment to your meal.
The price wasn't too harsh on the wallet and there was plenty of food leftover. It's only been a few days since our Ethiopian adventure and we've already talked a few times about going back.
The kitfo was my favorite. It's essentially Steak Tartare served at different levels of raw and tossed in berbere, a spice mixture, that just must have crack inside. I couldn't stop eating the kitfo. Sooooooo goood..... -
Review from Paige N.
Decatur, GA
1/26/2012 2 photos
I finally made it to Desta last night! Finally! I've been trying to find someone adventurous enough to accompany me for a while now into the unknown that is Ethiopian food, but no one was biting - literally.
Last night, however, the moon must have come into retrograde (or something like that) and I found myself seated in a booth at Desta Ethiopian Kitchen, a cup of honey wine in front of me.
And let me tell you, it was well worth the wait. I did my homework on the Ethiopian places in Atlanta and this one won hands down because of all the positive reviews. They were totally true.
We began our dinner with meat sambusas that came with a yummy, spicy chipotle-type sauce on the side, then moved on with two main courses of lamb tibs with the extra awaze spice and red lentils and fish tibs with gomen (collard greens) and lots of injera to scoop it all up, naturally. It was delicious! Everything was hot and fresh and spicy (but not too much that it burned in a bad way). And when our supply of injera started to get low, a waitress came around with a fresh platter of perfectly rolled replacements.
The service was also excellent - an attentive waiter who recommended Ethiopian beers and gave me a taster of the wine before I ordered a full glass to see if I liked the honey overtones of it. He checked on us several times throughout the meal to make sure everything had come out and was to our liking and brought the check promptly when we were finished, yet he never rushed us either.
And the ambiance of the place is very cute. I'd definitely like to come back in the spring / summer when the warm weather will allow me to sit on the patio that has a tree (yes, I wrote that correctly) - a tree growing through the patio deck. But the inside is nice too - tables are close together and it can get a bit noisy with a crowd, but it has more of a 'cozy' feel than an 'I'm-sitting-in-the-person-next-to-me's-lap' feel.
Wonderful experience, excellent food and a place I will absolutely suggest again. I can't wait to try more of their dishes! -
Review from Sara M.
1/18/2012
This was my first foray into Ethiopian cuisine. My SO and I had been wanting to try it and finally got the chance recently. Overall, I really enjoyed the experience. The food, service, and atmosphere were all great.
Inside, the restaurant is small and dimly lit, lending an intimate and cozy feel. They do have outdoor seating, but we came in late December. The patio looks nice, though.
The foooood. YUM. We both got the ribeye tibs with gomen (collard greens) and injera bread, which is also your eating utensil for this meal (you tear off a piece and use it to scoop up food). Okay, the bread. It's flat, spongy, and feels cold and clammy. Not gonna lie, it weirded me out, but I sucked it up and carried on. It tastes okay on its own, but really complements the meat and greens. Just be advised that it's something different. If you're absolutely not feeling it, you can substitute French bread.
The meat was SO good. Very well-seasoned and not spicy except by request. My SO ordered his spicy and I did sample it. Definitely has a kick to it. I don't remember which beers we had, but they were pretty good. We split a cream puff for dessert and had coffee. Neither was out of this world, but I enjoyed them. I'd skip them next time, though.
Our server was very pleasant. When our food came out, he did ask if we wanted utensils, which was a nice offer.
I'd definitely recommend this place. Ethiopian food is different from what I'm used to, and I found that that is a good thing! -
Review from Saira K.
Updated - 2/9/2012
Exceptional food and great service. The fish tibs comes with lots of sliced jalapenos, and lemon and is delicious with the split peas and gomen. Their version of injera is the best I've had. The Napoleon with the unique traditional tea (see my earlier review) was a nice treat. It's interesting that they have the same menu and prices for lunch and for dinner. Portions are less than expected for the price.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/23/2011
The sitting area upstairs has an elegant decor. The tilapia fish tibs is delicious! The fish is… Read more »
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Review from Heather N.
Decatur, GA
Updated - 1/8/2012
I've been here about a half dozen times and always sit on the deck, but they don't heat it in winter, so were forced to sit at a fairly awkward table in the dining room. Noticed servers entering a hallway throughout our meal, turns out that they have a swanky lounge *upstairs*! Will try that next time, and hopefully they have different music up there, because the smooth jazz they were featuring downstairs was painful.
Cheers~Listed in: Ethiopian
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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7/8/2011
They've expanded the outdoor deck, and it was quite a hipster scene on Fri night (Ethiopian hipster,… Read more »
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Review from Mahsa G.
Smyrna, GA
1/18/2012
DELICIOUS! I've been here twice and both times it was great. I've had fish tibs, chicken and the veggie plate. The food here is SO good! I will say that it can be a little salty, but that's just my taste preference. The service is pretty good. Most of the servers I've had were women, who are really pretty :) When it's warm you should sit outside. There's a huge tree in the middle - I have no idea why but it's kinda cool.
A great experience for unique flavors and great food. Ethiopian food is so different from other cuisines and I highly recommend everyone try it! -
Review from Jeff M.
Updated - 1/21/2012 20 Check-ins Here
I pretty much eat here once a week. If I have a bad day, this is my go-to place because anything I order here makes me happy. I have many things off of the menu here but you really cannot go wrong. My current go-to dish is the filet mignon over shiro with ater. This dish is transcendent for me. Service is always phenomenal here. I tell all my friends that this place has one intangible: this place, more so than any other place in Atlanta, feels like home to me. I don't know why. But it does. I'm not Ethiopian and I didn't grow up on Ethiopian food. This is my comfort place in Atlanta.
Listed in: Me Likey Atlanta
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/26/2011
I'd I could start a "FISH TIBS!" chant, I absolutely would. As a born carnivore, I am trained to… Read more »
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Review from Krista M.
Atlanta, GA
1/25/2012
I never write reviews but this place was awesome. Good service, good food. I loved the vegetarian plate, there was a taste of everything. Food was tasty and the spices you can add really take it to the next level if you're into spicy. Portions big and it's pretty affordable.
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Review from Min Y.
12/8/2011
Deliciousness. I love Ethiopian food and this does not disappoint. Prices are not exorbitant... but portions aren't as big. That was a pretty big disappointment.
The waitresses are very helpful, and helped us avoid picking the raw beef dish by accident. She warned, "It's not for first time eaters".
Food was not really spicy at all, even though I enjoy that in Ethiopian food.
Crowd was very mixed between college students and people on dates as well as older couples. Place was crowded on a friday night, but not ass-to-elbows.
I heard there was a Scoutmob for this place. That would have made this a steal. Right now, the price and smaller quantity prevent me from giving this place 4 stars. -
Review from Angela H.
11/12/2011 1 photo
Last night, I had my first taste of Ethiopian food at Desta. I was with a group of 8, and we were seated upstairs. Since I was about 15 minutes late (sorry, guys!), I don't know if my group had to wait long to be seated or whatnot.
I had no idea what to order, but one of my friends who had been here before recommended the tibs. I decided to order the Beef Ribeye Tibs with rice and potato stew. I had no clue what "tibs" were, but here is a description off Desta's website:
"Ribeye Tibs (Beef)
Tender cubed prime ribeye sauted in a special blend of house spices, onion, tomato, pepper, and Ethiopian butter."
Damn. I missed the "onion" part of the description (oops - I hate onions), so when my tibs came, I picked out all of the onions - and there were a lot of them! =P And I guess looks are deceiving, but when I received my food (see attached pic), I thought it wouldn't be enough to fill me up. Boy was I wrong...
I thought the potato stew looked more like two spoonfuls of mashed up red beans (eek!), but it tasted alright. The ribeye was flavored nicely with the spices, and it was good with the rice but even better with the warm pita bread, which I stole from a friend. =) I also tried a tiny piece of the injera - a spongy bread which tasted sour and a bit sweet, but served cold. I did not like neither the texture nor taste of the injera and would never even want to sample it again.
The server hardly came around our table - and I had to stop her on the way to another table to ask for a refill of water, but it was a Friday night and very busy. They tack on a 18% service charge for large groups (I'm guessing for parties of 6+).
Overall, Desta gets 3 stars - for good food and decent service. At $12.50, my first experience with Ethiopian food was good but not great. I'm not sure if I would return - unless it was for a birthday or other special occasion. -
Review from Jeannine D.
Minneapolis, MN
10/23/2011
WARNING - The beautiful fall weather yesterday, patio seating, and wonderful honey wine may contribute unfairly to this review. ;)
I visited Bahel restaurant several months ago for my first Ethiopian cuisine experience. It was good, Desta was great. Aesthetics & ambiance matter to me and Desta was just a comparatively nicer restaurant in all regards. The food was WONDERFUL. MUST TRY's: fish & lamb tibs, collard greens, potato stew. The lamb tibs were a little spicy for my tastebuds, but I pushed the jalapenos off to the side and kept going til I couldn't eat anymore. I'd go back today if it wasn't out of the way from where I have to be...Yay, Desta! You've got a new fan. -
Review from Joel N.
Atlanta, GA
11/7/2011
This is my favorite Ethiopian restaurant a good friend of mine recommended several years ago. Since then, I can't get enough of their food. I take
Their lamb, tenderloin and fish Tibs are amazing. If you are brave to try raw meat their Kitfo is delicious. If you are a vegetarian their vegetarian platter is also really good. They have a type of wrap unique to this cuisine called injera. You tear off pieces of it and grab the food with it. The experience is a lot of fun!
The staff is great and they have done a lot of really nice upgrades and renovations. The have become very popular over the years starting out as just a take-out restaurant. If they continue delivering outstanding food -
Review from Holly S.
Atlanta, GA
12/23/2011
My boyfriend and I haven't had a ton of Ethiopian, but we love Desta for its consistently great food and great ambiance. Most nights you can sit on the porch, with a large tree growing through the middle of it. The service can be a little poor sometimes, but last time we went we had an awesome waiter who was super helpful with picking out great food.
I absolutely love the Shiro. I eat so much that I end up feeling sick afterwards ;) My boyfriend gets the Golden Tibs. This was a special recommendation from our waiter and it was phenomenal.
I would recommend Desta to anyone. -
Review from Eric M.
Atlanta, GA
1/21/2012
Desta is quite a delicious experience if you've never had a chance to dine there. Their staff are very attentive and the food is amazing! I usually get the beef tibs when I go there. I have only been there during lunch time, and if I show up early, my group is usually stead right away. I have tried to stop by in the evenings to but injera bread through their dirve thru, however, and Desta seems to get pretty packed in the evenings. This restaurant is definitely in the top three of Ethiopian restaurants in Atlanta, as far as I'm concerned.
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Review from Jessica A.
Atlanta, GA
8/28/2011
The best Ethiopian food I've ever had!
Friends and I attended a late night concert and we wanted some good food at around 11pm. And boy did we choose a good spot! The menu is easy to read and understand, unlike other Ethiopian restaurants I've been to. And there is a dictionary on the side of the menu. (How cool is that!) I ordered the lamb, injera and gomen (spinach). Tasty and very very filling.
It was a nice breezy night so my friends and I ate outside on the restaurant's patio. Nice, laid, back vibe but could also be suitable for a romantic date. The food is cheap too. My meal came to only $13! -
Review from Bri C.
Tucker, GA
7/12/2011
This is my first experience with Ethiopian food, so I don't have much to compare it with. but it is tasty and fun! We've been here twice and I've loved everything we've ordered.
I think the variety on the vegetarian plate is awesome! The spicy lentils are really good.....
Fish Tibs and Ribeye Tibs and it was excellent. If you have kids, make sure you ask what is spicy or not.
We sat outside the first time, and it was really nice weather so it worked out well. But we sat inside the second time. Inside is loud and cramped. I would recommend sitting outside. -
Review from Valerie N.
Atlanta, GA
8/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
As a professed Ethiopian food hater, the fact I walked in the door here was a miracle. However, it was a beautiful day and sitting on their lovely deck really made for a yummy lunch.
Fish tibs, filet mignon tibs, lamb tibs - you just won't go wrong with any of these! Super garlicky, grilled, flavorful morsels with grilled onions, jalapenos, and tomatoes? Yes, yes, yes! Add some collard greens, yellow lentils, and some of that crazy spongy bread and you've got one happy lady.
We did have some mis-steps with service. Our waitresses were SUPER nice, but when it came to ordering, some of my table mates didn't get what they wanted. We also had trouble splitting the bill, but they were so nice about it, I really didn't mind...
I'd definitely recommend this as an exploration into Ethiopian food! Yum! -
Review from Mary M.
Acworth, GA
11/4/2011
What a lovely little restaurant. We decided to eat on the "patio" which was like a tree house. The room has a large tree moving up through the center, windows on three side and fresh air on the other side. It was really cozy and intimate.
This was our first experience with Ethiopian food and it was a good one. We ordered the lamb tibs layered with Shiro and spiced with awaze; and the rib eye tibs cooked with Goman. Both dishes were wonderful and, as this was our first experience with injera, it was an interesting surprise. Injera is kind of a spongey pancake - or a skinney crumpet dough. You tear off a piece and use it to pick up some of your dinner. Indeed, this is the real-deal of finger food!
Eating with my fingers was a unique experience. I've watched this technique on tv but I gotta tell you, there is more to this than meets the eye. Fortunately, each table comes with its own bottle of purell so I was certain that my fingers were santized. To complete the meal a "wash paper" comes with the bill so you can clean your fingers and your face (in case you missed) before departing for other places.
We will definately be going back . -
Review from Lee L.
4/26/2011
I think that Desta has converted me to like Ethiopian food. I've been here twice now. Both times were phenomenal!
Most recent visit, we ordered:
Fish Tibs with Shiro- I love how they fry up the pieces of tilapia. Flavored just slightly with salt (but just right), sitting in shiro (seasoned chick pea paste with onions, jalapenos, and tomatoes). The shiro was a tad bit tart (maybe too much tomato?), but it was good with the injera bread.
Lamb Tibs- The hubs LOVED this dish. Not being a lamb lover myself, I have to say they did a good job of making the meat not gamey tasting. The texture of the meat was just right (and it's not fried like the fish tibs). It came with a side, and we picked the collards. The collards were cooked perfectly- not sour (like the usual Southern way), but just with garlic & salt. Not too soft, nor too crunchy. Yum!
Meat Sambusa- these were essentially small meat samosas. the wrap reminded me of Chinese spring rolls (the lighter version, not egg rolls), and were fried similarly. tasty, but they're small and disappeared in less than a minute. :)
The food came out really fast, and the service was friendly. It was great we could use a Scoutmob coupon (and we have another one plus a http://restaurant.com coupon sitting at home).
I also like their new outside deck addition. It had windows that opened out so you could get fresh air and enjoy the "view" of the street/parking lot as you ate. We'll be back here again! -
Review from Tanya F.
So pleased was I with Desta Ethiopian Kitchen that my lips curved into a smile reliving the evening's fare through the spicy burps hours later.
The food: Assertive flavors with fresh ingredients. We shared the fish and the beef tenderloin tibs. Ah the tibs. Sautéed spiced meat tossed with garden vegetables, softened red onions and chopped garlic. They serve ample pillows of injera-the rolls of spongy sourdough flatbread that accompany most dishes-just enough to have some left over to sop up the flavorful juices after finishing the tibs.
The feel: Bustling on a Saturday evening with a mishmash of bright bold art crowding the walls and little bouquets of nylon wildflowers on each table. Cozy and dim, yet vibrant with sprinkles of glowing tea candles throughout the dining room.
The findings: Layout and table sizes make it ideal for couples and small groups. Desta's a craveable dinner alternative that successfully helped me climb out of the ethnic food rut I'd tumbled into. Go, your tastebuds will thank you. -
Review from Emily G.
4/12/2011 3 photos
First Scoutmob ever used. Best Scoutmob ever used.
I've been very fortunate to have tasted amaaazing Ethiopian cuisine (mostly in Sacramento and San Diego), but this one is definitely the best in Atlanta.. which is why I had to drive 15mins out for it. Small price to pay for delicious food on a hot Saturday evening.
Extra brownie points for taking 3 Ethiopian-food-virgins, so I got massive props for bringing them there. lol
We ordered the lamb and chicken tibs, the veggie combo and the hummus with ground beef. We originally ordered the fir fir but the waiter told us not to because it would be too spicy for us. We like heat, and did not find any of our dishes spicy in the least amount, so maybe he thought we were whiter than we actually are.
Needles to say, the food was excellent and even though we ordered 4 dishes (For 4 people), we struggled to finish everything, as the portions were definitely bigger than anticipated.
Enter scoutmob for a total of $29.90 for 4 people. Yeah, $7.50 per person (plus tip). Could not get any better.
As the giant ass that I am, I took 1 star off because I love when Ethiopian restaurants place all their dishes in one giant plate covered with injerta.. Its the leftover injerta(that has sucked all the different juices from the food) that is my absolute favorite. They didn't do that here, and I missed it terribly. That + the spicy issue gives it a total of 4 stars... still pretty high on my list.
Yeah. Desta is still the Besta. -
Review from Cherry L.
5/10/2011
OMG, ETHIOPIAN FOOD, IM SUCH A FAN FAN FAN OF YOU!!!
This was my first ethiopian food experience and it was MIGHTY TASTYYYY--thank you scoutmob for making me try new things at 1/2 off!
3 of us ordered an app and 2 combos:
-Kitfo-Wrap: "tortilla" (i think its a tortilla??) filled with Kitfo (which is a minced meat that can be served in any temp that you want), if you top it with cheese and spice, there is a 75c charge or something (i don't know, it was weird)
-vege combo ($10.50): lentils, collards, cabbage, potato cooked in spices, allllll so flavorful
-meat combo ($24): u can pick 3 meats--we got the fish, lamb, and beef tibs (which is referring to how the meat is prepared). the fish was lightly fried and had great flavor and texture--flaky, a bit acidic from tomatoes and onions. the lamb--GREAT flavor, the onions and peppers were super derricious, but a TAD dry. beef--my fave, it was moist and had super flavor!
the meal came with rolls of injera, a sourdough flat bread. so, usually i super dislike this bread, bc its SO sour/tart...but the bread here was SO AMAZZZZZING. not overly sour. soooooo goood!
some other points:
-try a traditional ethiopian tea--it tastes a little like the DragonballZ (or w/e) tea you can get at Teavana at the mall--cinnamony?
-i say skip the desserts, im sure they are delish, but they dont have any traditional ones i dont think--cheesecake, tiramisu, baklava, chocolate cake.
-ask for the HOT SAUCE! there are 3 ethiopian sauces--one thats like a mustard, one darker red sauce, and one spice (similar to an Indian masala of sorts) + your sambal chili sauce
-next time, i want to try ethiopian wine!
can't wait to go back/try other ethiopian restaurants! (there are like 80 of them in a 2 mile radius of this place!) -
Review from Selamawit W.
Atlanta, GA
9/15/2011
Great Great food, it seems like it was a little better when they opened but its still my favorite restaurant in Atl ...Its a diverse crowd and nice vibe...I went the other night by myself and just sat outside for hours listening to the great mellow reggae they was playing...The only reason they dont get 5 stars is cause they got rid of Boksena a cream puff dessert that i still crave:(
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Review from Amrita J.
4/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have to admit, I was pretty disappointed by Desta overall as a whole. I have heard so many people ranting and raving about this place, and so maybe it was just my high expectations that failed me, but yeah it was just alright to me.
The place itself, is nothing much to talk about I don't think, actually looks a bit run down in the middle of the parking lot over there off Clairmont.
I ordered the Lamb Tibs, and it was good, can't complain there, but again nothing extra-ordinary as such!
So needless to say, this place is neither here nor there with me, didn't wow me, but wasn't horrible either. -
Review from B B.
4/5/2011
Oh, yum yum yum.
We love Ethiopian food. I saw the Scoutmob a few days ago and started thinking about it. Today, picking my wife up from work after a long day at my own job, I suggested we dig out that coupon and try the Ethiopian place.
Optimistically, I declared, "I think it's near Piedmont and Cheshire Bridge!" Well, it's not. It's actually at the corner of Clairemont and Briarcliff. Not even in Buckhead! But, oh, so worth the geographical adventure.
We've eaten Ethiopian food before - we are not total noobs at this. We've had it often in a very authentic place with wicker basket table things that serve the honey wine from a gourd. We also tried the DC Ethiopian food scene, which is robust and delicious. Desta is a nicer setting than any of the other places we have tried. It is comfortable, somewhat intimate, and versatile. They have a sun room kind of thing and a darker, cooler sort area full of dark wood. While it is probably not a faithful recreation of a traditional Ethiopian setting, we really enjoyed the space.
A scan of the menu revealed low prices. Cool.
The people were great. Our server was memorably sweet and took excellent care of us. I couldn't remember the names of my favorite things but she made suggestions and pegged everything perfectly.
Which gets us to the food. Wow. This is how Ethiopian food should be. The yummy flat spongy bread stuff, called injera, was moist and perfect. My beef dish was spicy and rich and just wonderful. My wife's dish, made with ground beef, was also much appreciated. The honey wine (it's, like, mandatory to drink the honey wine with Ethiopian food, right?) was just like the stuff we've had in other places, and just as good. Espresso at the end came with two orange slices to clean our palates. Nice!
So, our experience showed Desta to be delicious, inexpensive, and run by thoughtful people who took care of all the details and gave us a really nice experience.
If I had to chose just one national food for the rest of my life, it would be Korean. But, I would grieve for Ethiopian food, and Desta shows why. -
Review from Crystal R.
Atlanta, GA
12/29/2011
While not the best Ethiopian food I've had, I still really enjoy their food. I usually order a vegetarian sampler and a meat dish. If the weather permits, I recommend sitting in the sunroom area.
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Review from George H.
3/28/2011
Desta quickly became somewhere I wanted to visit weekly. Thanks to Scoutmob for introducing me to this wonderful Ethiopian restaurant. I usually get tired of eating with my hands and vow to never return, Desta changed my mind.
Everything we ordered was great. The meat and vegetable sambusas are good, and best when you get to try one of of each. Kitfo Wrap was something I hadn't tried before but tasty and reminiscent of a tartar. It was rare but served warm.
Fish Tibs are light and flavorful. Something you must try and they come out in nice portions. The Ribeye with Collard Greens is my new favorite. The Ribeye is just so flavorful and something that I could not stop eating. I wish I was back there now! -
Review from Lena H.
Atlanta, GA
12/4/2011
This was my very first Ethiopian Food dining experience. Not only that, it was my first time meeting someone there and was very experienced with this type of food. So I had all kinds of random thoughts going through my mind. ..But I digress. Can I tell you this food was amazing??? I had fish and collard greens and it was S-P-I-C-Y! Off da chain!! Oh, and you are supposed to eat with your hands instead of utensils. I was trying to be cute when I was eating so she (the server) gave me a fork since I really didn't know what I was doing. I was totally being modest and asked for a carryout box. But, when I got home...I lost my mind and my manners. In addition, I even contemplated on going back again...like later that evening...or try to make the dish myself by remembering the ingredients that I tasted. ( That was so not going to work.) I am so happy that my friend suggested this place because it is awesome! That is all.
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Review from scott m.
Loganville, GA
7/28/2011
I have never had Ethiopian food before so my wife and I tried it when we were in the area. The patio was busy and very nice and relaxing.
The food was really good. I had the filet TIB
The bread was good, the steak was amazing flavor, the services was great as well. -
Review from Addy C.
I think Desta wins for most upscale ambiance among the Ethiopian restaurants - plus the food is very good, and service is friendly.
We had 5 people in our party, and shared 3 vegetable combos, 1 fish tibs, and 1 ribeye tibs - we had more than enough food. It deceivingly doesn't look like enough food but the effort of grabbing small bites at a time with pieces of injera, and then the injera slowly expanding in your stomach ... you will feel full near the end of your meal. If you're a slow eater, you will feel full sooner.
VEGETABLE COMBO - $10.50
Best sampler dish since it includes 9 different vegetables (e.g., chickpeas, split peas, tomatoes, lentils, collard greens, etc.). We had a vegetarian in our party so we ordered 3 of these. I think when you're eating Ethiopian (esp. for the first time), the vegetarian combo is a good one to get.
FISH TIBS WITH SHIRO - $11.50
We got this dish b/c the reviews were raving about it. It's probably their signature & most popular dish. The sauce was the best part. This dish has tilapia marinated in a special blend of houses spices, onions, tomatoes, and peppers layered over shiro. I loved the garlicky flavor.
RIBEYE TIBS - $12
Everyone else (minus the vegetarian of course) liked this dish - I thought it was just ok. The sauce with the fish tibs was much much better. This dish has prime ribeye sauteed in a special blend of house spices, onions, tomatoes, peppers, and Ethiopian butter, with a house salad.
GOULDER BOL - $24
We also tried a bottle of Ethiopian dry red wine - b/c we were curious. It had a smoky flavor and interesting after-taste. Probably wouldn't get this again.
Overall 4 stars. I'd definitely come back - next time with all-meat eaters just b/c I would like to try more of the non-vegetarian dishes (after all, we did get the same 3 vegetable combos) :)
FYI - I recommend making reservations b/c the place isn't that big, and it was packed when we went.Listed in: My ROTD's!, Ethiopian Food in Atlanta
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Review from Joshua L.
Atlanta, GA
9/16/2011
I remember my fear as kid when my Dad took me to The Blue Nile, an Ethiopian restaurant that was in lil 5. I relunctantly ripped the injira bread and dipped it in something that looked like baby food. The tangy, spicy bolt of flavor hit the spot and at age 12, i was hooked. It has been awhile since I've been to a tasty Ethiopian restaurant in the Atl until my dinner at Desta this week.
The friendliness of the staff was warm and genuinely interested in making the dining experience a good one. The menu was enticing making it hard to decide. My adventurous friend ordered a tartar daredevil style, which made our waiter smile. Seeing my dilemma in choosing he guided me to the vegetarian platter. Plentiful and flavorful are a winning combo anytime. My meal was delicious and far too much for one sitting. My friend enjoyed hers thoroughly, too.
It was so good, all of it, that I will be back soon. -
Review from M S.
Hudson, NJ
7/13/2011
I loved the food here and although I was only there a few hours ago, I am planning to go back asap.
Totally affordable and so delicious. My friend and I split a vegetable plate with injera and got a dish of beef tibs. it was all so good. and you don't need a plate or a fork, if you don't want them. i understand that you can make the food spicier if you want to, so i will try that next time. hope it's soon. -
Review from Vineet K.
Decatur, GA
12/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is one of my favorite places, Ethiopian or otherwise, in Atlanta. The food is awesome (especially the tibs and the platters) with endless injeras to wipe it all up, the service is excellent, and the ambience always wonderful and cozy. Have been here numerous times and the place delights me on every visit. The place has that homely feel to it that others strive hard to achieve. Highly recommended!
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Review from Bindi N.
Atlanta, GA
5/31/2011
I liked the ambiance, and the service was fine. Not great but fine. My mostly, I gave it three stars instead of 4 because I thought the food was tasty as heck...but a little disappointing compared to Ethiopian I've had in DC and Toronto.
Not bad though, maybe just a little too modernized for me. I like real Ethiopian, served on one huge piece of injera for the table to share and dig in with their fingers, with all of the little tasty sides and relishes that just come with it. This was served very American style, with each dish served separately, as if it was not necessarily meant to be shared.
Although I would say, this would be the perfect place for someone who wants to try Ethiopian for the first time, or has tried it before and it was "too much." The flavors here are milder and the serving style make it easier to get used to. -
Review from Haley C.
Atlanta, GA
3/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
In the beginning I was skeptical, because I have never had Ethiopian food, but accompanied with my food muse, Leigh C, I was down to try a new place. Walking up, it looked really cool. They have an outer patio with a tree in the middle of it, like an atrium or dining tree-house.. I don't know really what it is, but I got a little excited...
But then after being sat at a wobble two-top in the middle of a cramped dining area and basically sitting on top of a family of five, and across from screaming babies, my original skepticism about this place was only being confirmed.
After taking a fair amount of time to peruse the menu, we decided on the Fish Tibs and Vegetarian Combo Platter. The first to come out was the Fish and it looked and smelled wonderful, shortly after came the combo platter full of all sorts of treats, and of course the bread. It all looked and smelled unreal, so hungry and eager, we dove in.
Only one word can describe it: phenomenal. The food was full of flavor and spices. We couldn't get enough. We finished off the first set of bread with two thirds of both entrees to go. After the longest 5 minutes of my life, we made eye contact with our server and asked her for more bread and water. After another round of bread we scraped each plate clean, and ended the meal with some delicious hot tea and yummy baklava. Probably one of the best meals I have ever eaten in my entire life.
We got our bill and it was only $31... after promptly using our Scout Mob, that made it $16; we made out like bandits!! (And the food was so good, I still tipped our waitress $10).
So, sure... the seating wasn't exactly ideal and our server didn't pay us much attention, but with food like that... I don't really care. I will definitely be back and I can't wait to try other stuff on the menu.
Highly recommend!! -
Review from Liz H.
Atlanta, GA
4/1/2011
meh. Maybe I got the wrong thing - Fish Tibs with Shiro, right? People raved about it, but I found the fish to be dry and lacking flavor. My favorite part was the sauce - was that the shiro? It had a nice spicy kick in it. The injera filled me up quickly, and I used it to sponge up the sauce, as well as wrap up small portions of the dish.
Service. There was a tree in the middle of the porch that may have hidden my table from their view, so perhaps being forgotten was not their fault. But I like it when I get my lemons before my food come out. zzz
Friend got the Lamb Tibs and added shiro. Lamb was chewy and had little flavor. Maybe it wasn't fresh or had been overcooked. I'm surprised - why would you ruin delish lamb?!
The area was quiet and I liked the orange glow of the sun setting on the porch. I'm glad we sat outside - inside was all dark and looked crowded. Across the street is an Ethiopian restaurant, and in the same lot, about 200 feet away is a 3rd one. Desta is the one with the pretty porch and fancy letters.
I can't think of anything positive besides sitting out on the porch =/ But I've never been to an Ethiopian restaurant before. So maybe this place is pretty good compared to others. At least Scoutmob saved me almost 10 bucks! -
Review from Keisha M.
Jonesboro, GA
6/10/2011
Let me start off saying this was my FIRST but not last experience with Ethiopian food. Thanks to Scout Mob me and my guy decided to meet here after work and we are sure glad we did. Overall the food was delish. I ordered the vegetarian combo and my guy ordered the chicken tibs. Luckily there was enough food for us to share and we even had some extra food left over.
I am happy that I consulted with Yelp prior to going because I knew to ask the waitress to put the food on a family style plate...which made it easier for us to share.
As far as service, the service was actually okay...nothing to rant and rave about. While the food was great, I am not sure if I will be back anytime soon because my guy; who is an Ethiopian food lover, says that the food was okay but wasn't the best. But for me, the food was great!
All in all on a scale of 1 to 10, I will give Desta a 7. -
Review from Cynthia W.
Brooklyn, NY
3/18/2011
I'm a huge fan of Desta, I will warn you that it is in the cut and it seems to be surrounded by Little Ethiopia (not saying there is anything wrong with that, just being honest), so you might miss it the first time you go to see it. TRUST ME, once you taste it you won't ever forget it after that.
Let me put it this way, I will eat at this place without having to use a Scoutmob or discount coupon of any kind, the food is that tasty. I typically order the vegetarian combo (since I'm a veggie lover and all) and it is all quite tasty. There is nothing that I'm afraid of eating, outside of the jalapeno pepper but I still scarf that down; I just make sure to drink a lot of water after.
If you like to imbibe and these days, who doesn't? There is a sweet, S. African red that is really good but being that you have to pay $6 a pop, they don't fill it up enough to make it worth the price or maybe I'm just a lush - who is to say? They also have a nice, lite beer called St. George, it's $5.00 and it is pretty tasty in its own right - if you like lighter beers.
Will be going back fo' sho, fo' sho, fo' sho!!! -
Review from David C.
3/22/2011
Not that I should make judging by appearance a habit, I did in this case, when deciding which Ethiopian restaurant to try out in the vicinity. Desta had this cool, corner cafe feel with yellow trim, reminding me of past wanderings through Brussels and Paris, passing popular bistros, bakeries or quiche restaurants. Desta was on an odd lot, adding all the more to it's charm, and the food did not disappoint.
An impulse decision, like this, which I often make, always works out to my favor. I'll tell you why. I have this curse: 90+ % of planned outings (by me) to restaurants, sometimes to the dismay of my party, turn out to be a bad experience, or no experience at all - due the restaurant's folding, or being unaware of it's day off, it's changed location, or it's changed hours.
This was a first in trying Ethiopian food, so I can only imagine how good it would be in it's native setting. I ordered the Kitfo Dulet with Shiro. The lean beef I more or less pictured to be crispy like the Fish Dulet my friend had, but the texture was OK (seemed to be braised or cooked/simmered right in the sauce), but the rich chickpea coulis it came in was very flavorful. Honestly, I liked Fish Dulet more and could eat that on any sunny day (I'll go with Fish Tibs with Shiro on chilly days). The meat, the seasoning, the spices, all blended together for what is now one of my favorite meals in ATL. Tilapia, I will never look at you the same, or less than salmon, tuna, or hamachi.
Pardon, but I have to make an ode to one of the ingredients I know was used:
Oh butter, humble, yet sublime, you take me away from the daily grind. Magic ingredient, for the everyday, or extraordinary, I thank you for being in these dishes, verily.
I so wrote this at 4am. -
Review from S E.
Decatur, GA
6/1/2011
This was my first experience with Ethiopian food, but being an overall good judge of a restaurant, I just had to give it all the stars I could.
First, MAJOR points for food. Yum-o. Lamb tibs were subtly spicy but so flavorful. Veggie combo was delish, very varied. Fish tibs were spectacular and devoured in seconds by our table.
Second, they really scored in service for me. We brought our ten month old and our server couldn't have been nicer. She offered to bring her a bowl of rice and someone had a highchair at the table moments after we arrived (usually at other restaurants you have to ask, and someone takes their sweet time hauling it from the back). Water glasses and drinks were constantly refilled, atmosphere was lovely and clean. MOST DEFINITELY going back!
