queen of sheba

i've been to the queen of sheba on a few occasions for both lunch and dinner and have always enjoyed the food. the lunch buffet is affordable at $10 a person, and the food is delicious. there are many differentdishesto try, and there's even enough vegan foods to satisfy vegan friend. it is my understanding that the non-meatdishesare all vegan.

the items from the kitchen are good, in particular i enjoyed the queens lamb tibs and the queen's eight platter.

the service is friendly and the interior is nicely decorated.

haile selassie, eat your heart out!. the thursday night crowd was sparse as i entered. the decor is pleasant and authentic and the tables were neat, clean, and not crowded together. my waitress quickly showed me to my seat and was very pleasant while taking my order and explaining the menu to me. i ordered the queen's meal of eight or something like that - a sampler platter with 6 or so differentdishes(3 vegetarian and 3 with meat). i asked for spicydishesand two of the 3 meatdisheswere spiced to normal american standards. for those who like heat, you'll have to ask for extra spicy. the meal was served quickly. the injera bread was fresh and neatly rolled in a bread basket. the food was very tasty and i everything, even the injera used to line the plate. the owner, his wife and daughter (i presume) were very pleasant and made the place feel at home. i would like to visit queen of sheba on a friday night or a ethiopian coptic feast day to see how the place moves when the crowd is larger. when i'm in tampa again, i'll be at queen of sheba.

tasty with options!. lunch buffet has several options for your tastebuds (see my photo) ! the meat is very tender and flavorful and the rice and sides of beans is healthy and yummy ! good prices, and good service. ask the staff to explain all thedisheson the buffet, makes for a fun and interesting lunch. will be back.

not so bad this side of the atlantic. after living in ethiopia, i have high expectations. i would not recommend ordering of the pre-prepared menus since they cater to the american palate. however, if you know what ethiopiadishesyou like just ask for them by name and you'll get a great treat! the food was quite good and some of the best i've found in the us thus far.

i could see myself returning here, but probably just to eat healthier vegetarian food during the week when i feel like neither cooking nor cheating. an exception to that would be to try kitfo, which is ethiopian steak tartare seasoned with clarified butter and spices. i have always wanted to try that dish (although i did get to try marcus samuelsson's version of it), but i passed this time in order to try a large variety ofdisheson the combination platter instead. next time i guess.

the atmosphere was fun and lively but the service was a bit slacking. they have a huge menu for you to look at and here's what i love! the menu is also available online on their website (i love when i can look at menus and have a idea what i would like to order before i sit down). now here's something to keep in mind, thedishesare meant to be eaten with your fingers and hands and are shared within the table. i love sharing food and love when we can all eat happily together so i wasn't freaked out by it but i know some would think it's weird. it's a really fun experience so i would really advise you guys to get out there and share your food!

an explosion of flavor. this was our first time eating ethiopian, so our waitress suggested the queen's eight. four meat dishes, four veggiedishesand a whole lot of flavor! everything was excellent, but the lamb dish and the red lentils really stood out. our waitress was a sweet as could be. we loved our experience and will be back for more. oh, and it was fun to eat with your hands!

first experience w ethiopian food. i though the food was good but the hospitality was better. we ordered an appetizer of fire shrimp for $10 per for 2 large shrimp on a bed of finely chopped fresh vegetables in a vinaigrette which was very spicy and delicious albeit pricey. then we had the queen of eight for two which was nicely served and good but not delicious. i thought the beef was burnt but the otherdisheson the platter were well prepared. my partner who i will call tia tortilla was in heaven with the injera to sop up and roll up the food in! injera is as big as a roti but has a more spongy texture from the fermentation of the batter. they can easily make them gluten free, too. the wine and beer from s. africa were a nice compliment. we will return as it is a novel eating with the fingers and will be the go to place for our vegetarian friends. it has a very homey atmosphere and the waitress/hostess and cook are just delightful, warm spirits that make you want to return again and again. it is not inexpensive food but i am willing to support such graciousness and hope their business is successful!

so good. the food is so good. they have all vegandishesthat are delicious. this is one of the best restaruants in the bay area. the people were so friendly and the atmosphere was comfortable. it was like i was in their house having lunch. you get so much food. i had enough to take home and eat the next day!!

healthy and delicious. thank goodness for this delightful addition to the bay area! the platters are the way to go! my faves are the red lentils and cabage with carrots. go with friends and share a filling all-you-can-eat platter with everyone! and the best part is that they will refill which ever particulardishesyou liked the most. i recomend this place to the adventurous and those familiar with southern soul food. you will be pleasantly pleased!