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Categories: Ethiopian, Jazz & Blues
Neighborhood: Western Addition/NOPAHappy Hour
10pm -close Sunday thru Thursday
11pm - close Friday & Saturday
Mon-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.
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LOVE LOVE LOVE this spot...
Did I say LOVE IT!! OMG! I enjoy really good Ethiopian food. I used to go to a spot in Bekeley years ago and when I moved to Campbell I made it to a few spots and just never hit my pallet right.
Well looked this place up hear on YELP... Went Sat night for my friends B-Day and this palce is soo chill. We sat in lounge chairs and where erved out food and drinks while the Jazz musicians played to us..
BTW we where facing dorectly to them so I felt they where playing for her B-day !! A litttle fantasy never hurts
Any hew the food was soo freakin delish. . We ordered a Vegetarian Platter with Doro Tibbs on top
IT was do fliipin goodthat y friend is is very picky in ehat she eats, who I though wouldnt even make it through the course of them meal wanted me to order a second round of Doro tibbs...
I always take her places I enjoy to widen her spectrum AND SHE LOVED IT
You have to go once to make you decision but man I will be back even if I have to drive from Campbell
went tonight with a party of two.
pros: food was not as spicy as other places, the limited menu was very tasty. Got two dishes off the veggie section and it was tasty, yum! good appetizer as well. there is a long list of creative cocktails.
owner came around to thank us for eating here.
blues or jazz piano 4 piece band adds to the ambiance.
Beautiful decor with exotic colors, drapes that looks a lot more expensive than the actual price tag. in my humble opinion, really deserves more traffic than what it's getting on a sunday night, would recommend definitely.
Who would think that the Fillmore's premiere Ethiopian restaurant would be called the SHEBA PIANO LOUNGE?
LOL
Although the food at SHEBA's is well made, the Ethiopian entrees tend to lack the "spicy kick" of other well known Ethiopian restaurants in the Bay (most notable Addis and others). However, the chill decor and excellent service will quickly make you forget the blandness of the food.
In addition, unlike other restaurants, SHEBA LOUNGE will actually encourage your group NOT to sit at one of the FEW dinner tables, but inside eat dinner with your group on one of the many couches located throughout the joint.
One word of warning. SHEBA LOUNGE is small... So I would highly recommend reservations if you plan to come with a large group anytime after six pm.
My fam was in town last weekend, and whaddya know??? They'd never tried Ethiopian food. It's never too late to learn something new about your loved ones :) Sheba Lounge was a natural choice for the mature ambiance and live music.
I'd been several times before and it's a great choice for Ethiopian food and / or cocktails on the low-key tip. I sense that they're going for a sophisticated atmosphere.
I have to be real though, in comparison to the restaurant scene in San Francisco, I'd offer Sheba a 3.5 (I'm being nice rounding up to 4). The service is seriously spotty. We were seated with no menus for about 10 minutes. They served our appetizers and entrees (which included pasta) without silverware. Aside from the mystique--and veggie friendliness--of Ethiopian food, the food itself really doesn't stand out. Desserts are just ok.
Besides all of that, Sheba Lounge really keeps me coming back for the music. Good eats with background music is always a treat!
Great place to have a drink and listen to some excellent music. The night we were here there was a great blues band and they were rocking out. The wine list was ok--nothing great, but I suppose that's not their speciality. They do have a full bar, but I was in wine mode.
It can be quite loud at times and difficult to hear one another if you want to have an extended conversation. Also, it's a small place, so the seating can be tight and even a bit difficult to find.
Haven't tried the food--will have to go back.
I actually found this place randomly while walking around with my girlfriend looking for some food. The food was decent. I had never had Ethiopian food before and can't say I'm a huge fan, but they have several options.
I must say though that this was a perfect date place. We bought a bottle of wine and listened to the fantastic jazz band playing that Thursday night. I highly recommend checking this place out and having a relaxing evening of jazz.
Good food. Doesn't look like a lot but pretty filling. Can always get more of the bread stuff if needed.
5 of us had a Vegetarian Sampler, Beef Sirloin, and a beef tartar. sirloin was really good. a bit too much tartar. In vege sampler, the vege with potato stuff was good, and so were the lentils.
The Ethiopian beer was also good. wouldn't recommend you get the cocktails to go with the food. My friends who got it didn't think it went well with the food.
As the live musicians came on, it got more difficult to have conversation, and as it got later, it was harder to get our waitress, but overall it was good. Gets pretty packed later on. Good thing we got there around 7ish on a Friday night.
Went here for the first time last night just to grab some drinks and lounge/converse. GREAT atmosphere and GREAT live music. There was a blues band playing and the intimate scene made the place very cozy. We only got drinks, but the people sitting near us got Ethiopian food, and my entire crowd looked at each other with enlarged eyes saying 'We've GOT to GET THAT next time!'.
Seriously, I didn't catch the name of the band that was playing, but they rocked it and the dim lights in the place definitely set the mood.
Very excited for this find, and can't wait to go back soon!
PS- I would say good for small groups but not a very large place, so if you want seats, recommend to go in packs of groups (no larger than 6 or so)
I went on a Friday night to hear some good jazz and have a few drinks. RIght away, I loved the vibe. The lighting is dim, but too dim. The decor is good and there is plenty of seating, including some soft chairs and couches.
The drinks seemed over-priced to me ($8 makers+coke).
The band playing was pretty mediocre, so, if you're going more for the music than the hang, I'd try a night other than Friday.
I would still go back sometime.
Extra star cuz dey got liquor.. ahh, yeah.
The food was very, very tasty. I had the Mesir Wat- it was very delicious, but I would have liked a little more spice to the dish.
The atmosphere was fantastic- my friend and I were there early and there were some people playing guitar in the lounge just chillin and it was pretty cool.
I also had a Sheba Cosmo which was fantastic.
I felt sorry for our server, she was the only one serving and got our tabs confused and it took us a good 10 minutes to sort it all out.
Honestly, I don't think Sheba Lounge can hold a candle to Demara in Oakland, but if you can't- or don't- go across the bay, Sheba is a great spot to go...
Very cute restaurant with flavorful food and good drinks.
Their version of a Dark and Stormy was excellent. The ginger flavors were very refreshing. The Pineapple Har Har my friend ordered was a little too sweet for my taste (and my signature drink is a Midori Sour) so unless you like syrupy sweet drinks, maybe you should try something else. I think the Har Har needed a balance to the sweetness, like maybe some crushed basil.
For food, we tried the crab samusas, boneless chicken, and collard greens. However, don't make the mistake we did, which was to ask that the chicken be spicy. It was very, very spicy. Good, but after a few bites, my mouth was on fire.
The servers are friendly but a little slow with refilling water (which is especially important when you're eating spicy food).
The seating area is fairly small so unless you're eating early, it's not a good place for a group larger than four.
So I went back, as I had planned, to give Sheba a second try by ordering some of the Ethiopian food.
Well I happy to say that the Tibs Wat was AWESOME, and I had no complaints whatsoever.
It was a friday night, the place was packed, a nice atmosphere, all kinds of different people in there.
The waitress discovered that I was the guy who wrote the review on the WTF Cheeseplate (see my previous review) and she assured me it was an honest mistake by a junior food prepper. They were very nice, and I am glad I went back.
I will be back again!!!
We walked into this place last night, and I was pleasantly surprised with how nice and quaint of a… Read more »
A great spot for dinner before heading to a show at the Fillmore. Four people, 2 drinks each and plenty of food was just about $100. Not bad. The food is flavorful and unique and that spongy bread is so cool!
I went here with a friend for dinner, and i have to say that I really like this place not only for the atmosphere, but the food was very good (try the sampler platter), and the owner came to each table to check on diners personally. They have a piano player on some nights, and the low lighting and intimate bar are nice for a date or small private dinner. A very pleasurable dining experience.
what a bizarre juxtaposition : ethiopian food + leather couches + live piano music. we actually arrived and finished before the music started but even the decor of the place clashed with the food in a weird way. i have a feeling if a piano player sat down to play "misty" we'd have gotten sucked into a black hole.
so the vibe was just a little too goofy, the place ties too many personalities together and thus ends with almost none... i wonder if zelig ever eats here...
all that aside, the food is really excellent as are the drinks. the seating is comfy and the ambient music very cool.
I went to Sheba's to celebrate my sixth 18th birthday, and I am so glad I chose this spot. My main reason for subtracting a star was the music. The live music was supposed to start at 9 (according to the hostess), but I didn't get going until late 9ish-10. So my party and I only got to enjoy about 15 minutes of the piano. I was so disappointed when we were walking out, because they sounded so good.
The atmosphere is really nice and loungy--BUT the mood lighting made reading the menu a little more straining than usual. The food was okay. I order the tri-tip dish off of the Ethiopian menu. It was overcooked and not as tender as I would've liked. I paired it with the honey wine, which was oh-so tasty.
tips: Come for a late dinner to enjoy the live music. Consider sitting at the couches rather than the tables. Also, the place looked pretty packed when I left, so plan ahead and make reservations.
My buddy took me to Sheba for my birthday the other night, and it was awesome.
He'd never had Ethiopian and he's a nut for new experiences, so it seemed like a natural fit. I, on the other hand, have always loved all things Ethiopian, and some times have a tough time getting anyone else excited for it.
The set up of the restaurant is intriguing and we sat at a couple of those lounge-ish chairs in the front of the place. Really comfortable. We ordered the normal shared type plate and it was delicious. To we had lentil sambusa, which is the kind of thing I'd like to learn how to make at home.
My only knock on the place is no Ethiopian beer...what's up with that?
The sign outside is kinda cheesy and I said, "THIS is the place we are going to?!?!?" I was assured that the food was delicious and it was delicious. I've never had Ethiopian food before and I was told you eat everything with your hands, they have bread that is sorta sour and like the inside of a french roll and it tastes delicious. Interesting...
We walked in and it was a piano bar night...actually really good entertainment. They have table seating or seats at loungey chairs. I wanted to sit at the table. I highly recommend using the bathroom to wash your hands. The sink outside in between the mens and ladies room didn't appear to have soap or paper towels and that confused me. So I waited for the bathroom, which by the way, has the heaviest door. I had a hard time opening it when I was done!
We had the veggie sampler and an order of chicken for 3 people. The food took a bit of time and it smelled and looked delicious. You tear off a bit of the bread and use it to grab your food. I liked the collard greens and chicken the most. Actually all of it was good, even their salad. It had a very distinct but delicious dressing on it.
The service was slow, 2 stars worth. We were kind of forgotten and ran out of breads to eat with for awhile. It also took forever to pay our bill. But the food is good enough to go back. It's a great place for a date or with a group.
This place was great. Very good service, great food, and the music is good for eating.
I had reservations here for my birthday dinner the other night for about 11 people.
Great vibe - loved the semi low lighting with a lounge area on one side of the place and tables for dinner on the other side. They had actual authentic Ethiopian food, which was delicious as well.
We enjoyed listening to the live jazz band play, and they played Happy Birthday for me as I was blowing out the candles.
Service was kind of slow but that was because they only had like 2 servers out on the floor.
I had such a great time here - I don't know why I dismissed this place for so long before stepping foot inside! Now that I know, I plan on coming here way more often.
xoxo
Thank the good Lord for this little gem of a restaurant!!!
I can't believe that I was never exposed to Ethiopian cuisine until Valentine's Day 2009, when the bf had the awesome foresight to have us try something new together - and boy, are we glad we did. Upon entering Sheba, we were greeted by a festively dressed server. Since it was V-Day, she had a pink hearts theme going on, and it was really quite cute. Typically this kind of thing is cheesy, but for some reason, it set an appropriate tone for the rest of the evening.
One note on the service here - our server was really nice and made sure our first time was enjoyable, and the owner even stopped by to chat us up. I love when restaurants do this because it really makes you feel like they care about your dining experience. The owner even went so far as to ask all the patrons whether they made sure they parked legally because she said she saw some cars getting ticketed outside. What a sweet woman!
On to the meal: It being our first time dining a la Ethiopian, we asked for recommendations, and ended up ordering the pita crisps with spicy lentil dip ($5) to start [which was actually sort of lacking in flavor]. Oh, but those entrees!!! So delicious were the Doro Tibs - boneless pieces of chicken sauteed and seasoned with some type of Ethiopian herb, Awaze sauce, hot peppers and onions (an absolute STEAL at $12.50), and the Beg Alecha - tender pieces of lamb braised slowly in green pepper, flavored with that Ethiopian herb sauce, ginger, rosemary, and a little jalapeno pepper for spice (also at a very inexpensive $12, for sheer portion size). This place is definitely for those who like to try exotic, spicy foods, and aren't afraid to get their hands a little dirty.
I LOVE that it's heresy to eat the above listed dishes with silverware - it's SO much fun and a little bit primal. You use the Injera, or flat sponge bread that can be likened to a sourdough tortilla, to pick up the food. All of the dishes we tried were scrumptious and literally finger-lickin' good!! Also, I really appreciated the portion sizes -- I'm a big eater and I was perfectly STUFFED by the end of the meal. I would recommend this place over and over again for its great service, reasonable price points, and very sexy ambiance. Sure, it looks a little sketch from the outside, what with the neon sign and all, but I guarantee a very pleasant surprise waiting behind Sheba's welcoming doors.
The purpose of this place was to provide a less-crowded, laid-back alternative to Rassela's. In that regard, it's certainly succeeded.
But unlike Rassela's, the portions here are extremely small. While the food is good, a bunch of us went and ordered a few appetizers to split, but we barely got any food. Drinks were pretty good though, piano player was all right.
Also, the happy hour is not on all days.
First time for Ethiopian food. It was very good, although I was with an beautiful girl from Eritrea (next to Ethiopia) who said that the injera wasn't quite right.
I liked it. They also have a sweet Ethiopian wine that is very good.
Went to Sheba Lounge last night (Saturday)...
We made a reservation at 8pm, but got there a little late, the hostess had no problem accomodating us. We were seated on some comfy couches by the fireplace when the lead singer of the jazz band started singing. Hello?! Wow, that lady has a soulful, sexy, and smooth voice.
Dammit! Love the coziness of the fireplace, but we can't see the band from where we are sitting, furthermore, the vocalist's mike was not turned up enough...I wasn't able to hear the lyrics clearly enough. So I got up to stand in a more ideal location for a bit while we were waiting for the food so I could watch the band and the action. They were really great.
We ordered family style and the Ethiopian entrees were quite good. (I could have done without the appetizers, the teriyaki meatballs and french fries aren't very Ethiopian style). After dinner we were full, warm and comfy, chilling by the fire and relaxing to the music. Good times.
Then we had a cruise ship moment...This super old couple got up to dance and mack to the music, uh, thanks but no thanks. That was the one wack moment of the nite.
All in all, the food was pretty good, but the atmosphere and music were tops! A must visit if you want to have a chill and enjoyable evening, the Ethiopian food was a cherry on top. We'll be back.
Stil love the food here...just wish there was a real waitstaff or people around who gave the appearance of caring about you and your table.
Really enjoyed the food here, but the restaurant had problems accomodating our party of 15. And not… Read more »
I love love this place. The food is amazing!
Dishes ordered:
1. Dora Tibs - Chicken
2. Vegetarian Sampler - it included the collard greens, lentils, cabbage and all sorts of veggies! LOVED it!
The music was also great, but it can get a little loud.. so if you are going here on a first-date basis.. no luck there getting info out! hihihihii!
Service is great. The owners are pretty hands-on. They make their little rounds and check if everything is alright! .. that is nice to know..
Return visit: Hell yeah!!!!
Sheba Piano Lounge stole my heart. In addition now they have opened up their doors to great new events.
http://myspace.com/sou...
COME CHECK US OUT!
Posh!
Far more fanciful than I expected upon hearing "jazz lounge", though I was told to dress it up a bit for the evening (... I've been told I clean up well... which alludes that I'm rather scrub-tastic otherwise?).
Sheba is an unassuming little location, comfortably seating/dining 50(ish), but roomy enough, with standing room for mingling and cocktails, to entertain large, casual groups...
The decor is warm and organic, modern in its accouterments of sleek black leather chairs, darkly tanned leather couches and Avant-Garde cocktail tables assembled in view of a glass-front fireplace. Another lounge area is flanked by a centerpiece/dividing wall of architectural flourish reminiscent of 15th or 16th century Islamic influence. Dining tables for small dining parties (2-6 people) occupy the remainder of the restaurant, with a full featured bar at one end, and a [Baby Grand?] piano at the other.
Gathering for a casual meet-and-greet, we indulged in a few appetizers and drinks while a pianist and a soprano saxophonist exhuberantly riff'd free form jazz in the corner...
- Spicy Lentil Sambussa w/ Tangy Dip - $ 6.00 - delicate pastry filled with lentils, scallions, ginger, garlic & fresh chili
- Spicy Meatballs - $ 7.00 - coated w/ blue cheese
- Spicy Pomegranate Chicken Drummettes - $ 8.00 - seasoned with an Ethiopian herb, Awaze sauce
The food was enticing and ventures into atypical/uncommon flavors (at least from my usual tasting experiences) and leaves a lasting/remarkable impression. The "spicyness" of our appetizers was subtle and potent without being obnoxious or deriding from the tastes. Quite a palate broadening experience...
The bar (...who,me? drink?...) is fairly stocked and fairly priced, offering a wide array of wines, beers, and liquors. I also had a chance to purvey a glass or two of Ethiopian Honey Wine... very nice finish.
All in all, Sheba is a great option as a jumping off point to start a weekend night roaming about Fillmore.
__________________________________________
The tall, slinky waitress with the undeniable switch and sway in her walk... yum!
Run by a sweet middle-aged woman from Ethiopia. Very warm with Jazz at a level you can enjoy and talk to your date. The food is interesting, sometimes eating, (always with your right hand only) from a thin chewy dough under the food you wrap the light flexible crust abound meat, like a soft taco and eat. I love the place, the bartender will remember you and always has a smile on his face. The place has warm fire places and tables to talk to your dining companion around a small, but friendly. I went to a Jazz bar in Pleasanton and they played so loud, you can't even hear any conversation, which is why I love Sheba.
Wow! I REALLY enjoyed my meal here. Good starter before heading to Yoshi's. I've come several times to watch my friend's jazz band play--ECQ--they're great, contact me for bookings! Also catch them @ Bubble Lounge every Friday.
FOOD:~The vegetarian platter was so tasty & not too heavy. Each & everything was yummy, especially the salad (the dressing really wowed my mouth), with the bread rolls.
~The steak tartare is so yummy & unique & different--I'm drooling just thinking of it.
DECOR: Uh...a little too faux for me. I guess one wall is a replica of the owner's church in Ethiopia, which is cool.
SERVICE: Ok.
BATHROOM: Ok. Cute funky sink in the hallway.
OVERALL: I will definitely be back for that steak tartare & veg platter.
If there's ever a time to realize that being a stupid white person doesn't always have it's advantages, it's when you learn that rather than eating each item on your Ethiopian veggie combo plate individually your dumb ass could have mixed them together for about ten times the deliciousness. Now that's an argument for mixing if I ever heard one, and my dumb Euro ass proved what a whitey mic white pants it was. Fortunately our server at Sheba lounge informed me that the red lentils and the 'omg' green collard greens actually go great together. Soon I was also combining the two with some yellow lentils. Who would have thought!?
Sheba gets extra credit for debunking this tendency of mine. Surly my future Ethiopian eating experiences will never be the same, and I may also carry over this lesson onto my Indian dining experiences - I'll sagg up YOUR chicken tikka marsala bitch! The food, however, was a little dry and gave me heart burn (wait, what doesn't anymore?). The injera was also pretty dry, and was not spongy enough. My Mr. had not had Ethiopian food at some of my other spots, and I kinda wish he had. It is also far more expensive than the other establishments I usually go to, BUT it's Ethiopian food AND more than anything apparently it's fighting racism. HOORAY!
Had the veggie sampler, which was standard yummy, not mind blowing Ethiopian great. The injera was OK. They didn't have honey wine the night I was there, maybe they do other times. The lounge atmosphere and jazz that started later on in the meal is what saved it from 3 to 4 stars. Nice wait staff too.
A taxi driver told us about this place. I think the evening we spent at Sheba Lounge might have been our best evening on our honeymoon. Steve, the piano player, was so awesome and funny and friendly too. The food was great, wine was awesome, service friendly and welcoming. I'll go back for sure next time I'm in town.
In the middle of this coziest and most beautiful of lounges is a re-creation of the wall of the Church of Lalibela in Ethiopia. Many people might not even quite notice that or take it in - there's a lot of other comfy, beautiful things going on in Sheba.
Lalibela Church came up just short of making it onto the list of Seven World Wonders, but its magnificence is due to the fact that it was sculpted out of one rock - a major engineering feat in the 12th century.
And the Sheba Lounge has the essence of that special place. WIth its fireplace, sunken couches, fabulous cocktails, it is THE place to relax on a Friday night after work. And you can't beat the great tri-continental cuisine.
But the most wonderful thing about the Sheba Lounge is its owner - Netsanet - a queen herself! Netsanet lives to entertain and offer people a warm, relaxing, good time. I held my spouse's graduation party here and - if you want to be treated like royalty, have Netsanet cater your party. She is eminently talented and so generous!
The Sheba Lounge is a special place. I only wish I lived closer so I could make it over there more often.
Good music and food but lost one star because wait staff not very knowledgeable of what is gluten free on the menu. Caused lots of post-prandial grief with my friend. Otherwise, good place to go for good eats and tunes.
I found this place randomly on a Saturday night-- Good find! The bartenders were super friendly and the drinks were delicious. There was a great live jazz band. Not too packed, good prices. Very nice!
I looooovvvvved this place.
J'adore Ethiopian food, and my standard is quite high. I don't like just any Ethiopian restaurants.
Just like anything.. if the decor(or the looks, the appearance) of a restaurant(or a person) is nice and fancy, one gets to be skeptical of the food(the personality) .
But, this place. I loved not only the outside (the decor and the atmosphere) but also the inside (the food).
Food was spicy and fierce in that exciting way. We had the lamb tibs and veggie combo. All the veggie was excellent. Lamb tibs was a teensy bit on the watery side, but I say it was still great. The Injera(the bread) could be more moist, spongy, and sour.I want to be there right now and finish off whatever they have left for tonight.. but I should go to sleep for work tomorrow. This place is not afraid to use spice and I love that boldness about this place. Other places.. I could sense that other places were holding back on the spice.
Oh, also, the people there are super friendly.. and I'll be a regular soon enough to know all their names. Ah.. i love this eating life.
This place is awesome. As simple as that. It's slightly different from the Ethiopian food I'm used to from Los Angeles. The spice was there but it wasn't as saucy. Either way, it was different but GOOD. The one thing I don't like about restaurants in LA is the cleasiness. I go in and feel like I need my dose of Purell. But Sheba Lounge was sooo clean and the style of the restaurant was quaint, comfy and chic. I was taken surprised and looking forward to trying the food. The service was great and quick! I was starving, so my friend and I stuffed the food down the minute it came. Delicious! The owner even came by to ask how we were enjoying the food. I like it when the owners ask and make sure their customers are happy. It shows some sense that they care about their business. So all and all, definitely a 4 stars. Maybe I'll up it to a 5 the second time I go and have more time to sample more dishes and experience the lounge.
Great little chill spot. Little on the pricey side, but well worth it for the atmosphere. Went on a Tuesday and had some of the signature cocktails along with the vegetarian plate and it was a nice time.
Neighborhood: Western Addition/NOPA
Category: Music Venues
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