Addis Red Sea: An Ethiopian Adventure

I was excited to discover such an interesting and unique restaurant for my first visit to the South End. Walking down the cobbled roads of Clarendon Street toward Tremont, I fully enjoyed the brisk evening and lack of crowds that usually swarm Copley and Downtown on Saturday night. My two roommates and I had read about Addis Red Sea in a Boston calendar and were enthusiastic to try it out! I think we expected the place to be a hole-in-the-wall with few customers, but once we went down the stairs to the underground building, we put in our names with the kind host, and waited about 90 minutes. That said, I would recommend reservations for the weekend or just going out for a late dinner (they serve until 11pm). The hallway was claustrophobic with so many servers rushing to and from tables with plates and plates of food. However, to distract from the busy-ness, one could appreciate the walls lined with intriguing paintings of Ethiopian warriors, weddings, and landscapes. Or, you could glare at the customers lingering over their meals, hoping they'll take a hint and leave.
Once we sat, we were fully aware of the cozy dim lighting, the basket tables, the absence of silverware, and the aroma of fresh lentils, bread, and honey wine. Every server and employee of Addis is Ethiopian and the restaurant appeals to many of the country's locals. Our server was kind and informative, letting us know the restaurant had been open for twenty years and was still (obviously) very successful. She brought us warm, damp cloths to wipe our hands and face and recommended specific plates on the menu. For appetizers, we ordered a Vegetarian Sambusa (similar to the Indian samosa) which was two fried pastries with carrots, potatoes, and green beans, and Ayib Begomen (cottage cheese mixed with mitmita and gomen - spicy). Both were delicious and small enough to whet our appetites. The most fascinating part of the meal was eating everything with the special Ethiopian bread - a flat, moist, almost dough textured circle made of barley, wheat and water (yum!). No silverware must mean easy clean-up!
For the entree, we all shared the Vegetarian Combo Platter (very cheap for the amount of food). This included three different dishes from the vegetarian section of the menu: Tikle Gomen (a cabbage dish with garlic and ginger - tastes like potatoes), Butecha (chickpea paste blended with lemon and spices - does not taste like your average hummus), and Yesmsir Alcha (lentils with tumeric and spices - my favorite of the three). Don't worry about pronouncing or misinterpreting what you want - the staff is understanding and speak English perfectly.
The three of us enjoyed sampling each dish because the flavors of the fresh vegetables and new spices were all so different compared to the bland and eternally buttered dishes of BC.
Despite our fullness, we had to try dessert - and we were neither disappointed nor astounded. The baklava was not extraordinary compared to others. The honey, pastry, and nuts were all well balanced and not too sticky. Our second dish, the chocolate mousse cake was rich and smooth. More mousse than cake with a thin raspberry sauce underneath.
Overall, a fun, new find which may seem superficially rustic to some, but which helped introduce me and my roommates to a completely different culture of Africa. Call for reservations or takeout and visit their website! www.addisredsea.com

Location: 544 Tremont Street (Off of Back Bay Station)
Entrees - $8.00 - $16.00
Dress - Casual

Write comments to let me know if their non-vegetarian dishes are delicious or suspicious!

- Meg