Small and sleek Etete raises the standard for vegetarian dishes, but offers plenty of meat options.
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The food was quite tasty. However, unfortunately, we received the most atrocious service I've ever had at a restaurant. Our server actually downsized our table, with no explanation or apology, in the middle of our meal!!! She crammed the 3 of us adults and a big silver platter onto one small table. She moved the other small table we'd been using to another table. She placed a "reserved" sign on that larger table, so we thought there must be some huge party coming that they forgot about. A few minutes later two adults and a baby were seated at this larger table. It was surreal. Sadly, that was our first and last experience at Etete.
Although we had a reservation for four, there were no tables open and we were seated at the mesob table and then asked if we preferred to be outside. The comfort of the stools at the mesob table was questionable so we chose outside and were led to the deck on the second floor at the back of the restaurant. It was a pleasant night but the smell of the garbage bins around the deck was unpleasant. There was little help with ordering because of the language barrier. The food was room temperature, the injera cold, and the vegetable dishes were meager. Interestingly, the two beef dishes were generous and the ribs especially good. We do not expect to return.
I was excited to try Etete because I had read some good reviews. Unfortunately, the service is clueless, the portions were small, and all the food stone cold. I will not be beating a path back.
I visit DC a couple of times a year and I make it my duty to sample three or four Ethiopian eateries before I head back to my hometown, where there are no Ethiopian restaurants. I find Etete's food very delicious and the servings quite adequate. The service and the decor was also very appealing. One issue I have had the last couple of times is parking but, I guess it is like this all over DC, eh?
I fail to see the value proposition of a few shredded bits of lamb with sauce on bread as worthy of $14. Very disappointing.
I've been to Etete a number of times, and feel it has gone downhill. The prices are up , the portion sizes are down, and most importantly the quality of the food isn't what it used to be,.
I tried Etete with 3 others last night - one was new to Ethiopian food, all of us were new to Etete. It was the best Ethiopian food we've had, and the lovely dining room was nicer than we expected. We had one wheat intolerant vegetarian with us, and they were able to accommodate her quite easily without blinking an eye. The rest of us dined as usual with injera at the one traditional mesob table in front. We will definitely be back, it was really great.
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