Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine Review - Uptown - Chicago - The Infatuation
"Tesfa’s entrance is a tiny room with a take-out window, cramped with delivery drivers and people picking up dinner. But hiding behind a curtained doorway is a room full of people chatting while tearing injera, scooping up tibs, and popping open bottles of wine. That buzz and great food make this BYOB Uptown Ethiopian spot ideal for a fun, family-style meal. The dining room is sparse, decorated with drawings and a TV streaming music videos, filling the space with Ethiopian pop. That seemingly endless playlist is rivaled by a long menu of stewed meats and vegetables. But don’t commit to a single dish: Get a sampler plate. It’s the perfect way to try a bunch of stuff and get everyone involved: friends, family, and the occasional part-time lover. These platters are like a painter’s palette, with a choice of six to eight dishes laid out on spongy injera. But one should be front and center: the doro wot. Each bite of berbere sauce-covered chicken blankets you in warmth. The asa leb leb is also fantastic—the catfish is the ideal canvas for jalapeños, garlic, onions, and ginger. And vegetarian options like ater kik alicha, with cumin and turmeric-seasoned split peas, deserve a seat at the table (or spot on the injera), too. Tesfa doesn’t force you to make compromises. Want to sample almost everything without over-ordering? Trying to have drinks with dinner without paying $16 for a glass of garbage wine? Need a spot for meat lovers, vegetarians, and someone who wants a sundae that's a cross between a funnel cake and a Dutch baby? A.k.a the B-Tesfa? All roads lead here. " - John Ringor
