ERA

You would not expect an amazing Ethiopian restaurant behind a pretty normal dive bar but that's exactly what ERA is. We came by right as they were closing and they still sat and fed our party of 4, which was just an A+ in my book. They also sat us with a smile and did not rush us to finish our meal.The food itself was amazing, I always have a soft spot for Ethiopian food. Theres just always such a variety of flavors and it goes so well with the soft, slightly sour injera. We got the combo platter and it was enough to feed 4 people well. I can't even recall the specific meats we got but it was all just amazing so I doubt you'd be disappointed with any choices you make!

What an unexpected find for Ethiopian! We've been wanting to try this place out for some time and we finally got around to it for a Friday date night. The place is fairly easy to find, and for us - it was just a short walk over!They had their outdoor seating set up, and the weather was perfect for some al fresco dining. They have a good list of beers (bottles and drafts) along with some pretty decent vegetarian options. We chose to go with the vegetarian platter that came with a little bit of every item of the veggie options. For two of us, the portion was HUGE! It was definitely lunch the next day! The food was well seasoned and came out pretty quickly. I liked eating with my hands and trying different combinations to keep my tastebuds guessing. Our waitress so nice and provided lots of input on the dishes to help us make our decisions and she checked on us plenty. Definitely a culinary adventure all right in our own back yard - enjoy your time!

Tasty Ethiopian spot with a full bar, billiards table, and a few tables for dining. It mostly feels like a bar. Our server was the bartender, and she was friendly and helpful, though service was a tad slow because she was handling everyone's orders and the food took a while to prepare. There were three of us, so we opted for the Era Combination, which comes with three entrees of your choice plus all the sides (the collard greens, yellow lentils, and atakilt wot or cabbage with potato and onion). The waitress recommended the derek tibs, shiro, and doro wot, which I thought were all very yummy. The one thing though: the derek tibs consisted of small chunks of beef that were very dry and tough. My husband didn't like the texture at all and felt like it was burnt. I've never had derek tibs before so I'm not sure what it's supposed to taste like, but I didn't mind the texture. Overall, the injera was soft and tasty, the food was super flavorful, and I'd definitely come back!

Came here today to have dinner with my mom and her husband. I finally realized that you won't get the maximum experience of Era unless you order the family style option. Big is the way to go. Otherwise it's a total waste. Era excels at large portions but individual plates are abysmal...tasty but not worth it. We had beef, lamb and chicken and it was absolutely amazing. The waitress was friendly and helped us decide on the level of spice that suited our palate. I like Era because it's part dive bar, part restaurant. I'll be back but only when I know I'll be with at least 3 people or more.

What a joke! I can't believe they're actually charging money for this "sampler size"! I know Ethiopian food because I travel a lot and it is my #1 go to in bigger cities where you can find it. But I have never been so disappointed in the portion sizes. And, most places will offer a combo platter with 4-5 dishes. I ordered the atakilt wat (on the left) as my main, but it came as a measly side instead. I can't believe they're charging almost $20 for these two tablespoons of food!! The quality of the food almost doesn't even matter here, because there was barely enough to even taste it. That being said, it was lacking in flavor and depth of spices. We had originally ordered this for two people! So, my friend had to order a separate dish and wait while the rest of us in the group ate our measly portions. My friend ordered something with beef and said that the meat was burnt and dry. It looked it. Even the injera (bread) was gummy. The waitress couldn't have cared less when I mentioned the teeny portion sizes. I would never turn down Ethiopian food unless someone mentioned this place again. Stay home and eat Top Ramen instead.

After sitting for an hour in the resturant this past October I double checked on my order with the server who was working behind the bar. She told me the kitchen was backed up, but it should be out soon. She then asked if we wanted to cancel the order. I asked her why, if it was going to be out soon. She then admitted that the order was never placed and we could cancel if we wanted. At that point, we stood up and left the restaurant.

Updated 9/3/22:My earlier review noted I have been coming to Era since they opened - I think their Ethiopian food is very good.But on my prior visit, the bartender forgot to put in my food order and didn't say anything until I asked about it 45 minutes & again an hour later. I left after nearly 90 minutes without being served.But, I like their food so I went back the following week - I ribbed the bartender (same guy), he apologized & put my order in promptly, and I was having dinner a reasonable while later. So, we were both good sports.Yebeg Wot (lamb stew in a red pepper sauce), Atkelt Wot (mixed cabbage, carrots, potatoes in a ginger/garlic sauce), & Miser Wot (spiced yellow lentils) served with Injera (spongy sourdough crepe bread) were all tasty.One thing I like about eating at Ethiopian restaurants is that the food is usually made from scratch/homemade at the restaurant... the reason is simple: in the US you can't buy "pre-made" components for Ethiopian cuisine the way you can for, say, a bag of French fries or an Italian eggplant rollatini, or frozen egg rolls, etc from a store or food distribution center... when's the last time you saw Injera at the supermarket?So, still glad we have Era in the neighborhood,

One of the best meals out we have had in a long time! Get the Lamb Wot! Fantastic! Server/bartender was very polite and very helpful!

portion size was a joke. a huge plate with 3 small scoops for entree and 2 sides. this place is at 28th & poplar. it isn't in ritt square. their portion sizes suggest they are trying for ethiopian fine dining. in what borders the hood. again portion size was terrible.

Huge portions, freshly cooked, wings were wonderful. Service was impeccable and I could see their connection to the community. Please visit