Dahlak

Welcoming atmosphere. awesome lighting, music 🎶 vibes were there, outside patio area a must. order everything was bombbb

We stopped by when the place was packed, which we completely understood. We placed and paid for our order, then waited patiently. About 30 minutes in, we checked with the employee at the bar, who told us our food was still being “made.” That sounded reasonable given how busy it was, so we continued to wait. An hour after placing our order, a different server came over and told us they couldn’t find our ticket—so our order hadn’t even been started. To make matters worse, we were then told they couldn’t make the food we originally ordered because they had run out of ingredients. We were issued a refund without any problem, which we appreciated. However, the whole experience left us feeling very confused and disappointed. We weren’t expecting a big apology, but at the very least, someone could have acknowledged that the kitchen lost our order and that they had run out of items. A little communication would’ve gone a long way

Food was bland, especially the okra. Service took a long time and made mistakes (we didn't get any of the appetizers). We were accosted by a homeless person in the restaurant.

I really want to love this but I just can’t. At least not yet. The good: friendly staff, love the location, the bar next store kills the vibe with their loud music but that’s not their fault. Really nice atmosphere and decor. Could easily be my regular spot. Food is really good! No complaints there. Only bad thing is the portion size for the price. I got the mesob which is a meat and two vegan sides for $20. I got like 4 nibs of meat and a small amount of sides. Whole thing took me 5 mins to finish. It was more the size of an appetizer not an entree. They servings were thin and spread out to make it look like a lot. Should easily be 2x to 2.5x what I got. Bill came to $22. Left. A $4 tip. Total $26 for an appetizer sized meal and I’m still hungry. The review is not intended to be a hate post but to offer constructive criticism.

Top spot for food and nightlife in West Philadelphia! Very grateful for the late night menu and happy hour, as it’s super difficult to have an amazing meal at night in the city. Special shoutout to the performers and DJs that keep the atmosphere lively at Dahlak.

LOVED Dahlak! The staff was extremely hospitable and the atmosphere was 10/10. Cocktails were unique and delicious with fair prices. We only had drinks but I Cannot wait to go back 💯💯

I’ve tried to order from here via delivery apps three times. The first time they just told me it was an issue with Uber eats. The next two times, no explanation, just order canceled as the driver got there. They should not let themselves be on these apps if they do not accept orders from them. Don’t bother trying to order online.

I ordered one shot and one corona, the very short light skinned bartender woman got my drinks for me. I was told the drinks were $16 when I got my receipt I noticed it said $16.50 almost a red flag, but I let it go. So I used my card and paid for my drinks and then I tipped her $2 in cash, not on my card but in cash. Fast forward to 1pm today when I wake up to a text message saying that my payment from dahlak was updated from $16.50 to $18.50 for tip🤬🤬🤬 I am pissed off that this girl must have assumed that I'm not from the neighborhood and she could steal from me. Not cool on any level to steal from anyone. This is no way a mistake I waited to make sure she seen I left her the cash tip. I mean honestly at this point I could get the police involved in press charges on her for writing her own tip in on my receipt!!!🤬🤬🤬🤬

The restaurant is divided into two sections really three if you count the back patio. Upfront is a Restaurant. It has pretty good Ethiopian food. The dining area will offer live music and such and even kareoke. The back is a dive bar. Just beyond that is the back patio. Which is really nice in the summertime. This place is definitely the neighborhood watering hole. Can you see people from all walks of life and it's such a chill vibe everyone just gets along. I really love that about this place. Drinks are generally cheap and they have specials going on. Don't expect anything fancy or not on the drink menu. There are a few house drinks the bartenders know how to make otherwise they can be kind of lost. It's best to get some thing on top or in a bottle or can. There was a different bartender every night because they were working one day a week each. Unsure if that's still the case now. Service isn't always terrific and can run slow. I've had a few bartenders over the years be less then cordial. Overall, they have been few and far between and the unpleasant ones aren't around for very long. The family that owns this place gives back to the community and even helped with a personal fundraiser that I had. I've met a good amount of my friends in the neighborhood here as well. So if you are newer to the area, it's a good place to make friends, especially on a kareoke night with Dr Thunder or Pebs

I visited with my friends on a weekday night. There was a DJ and a rising artist who was performing a debut single. The DJ played all the best songs and the ambiance was great. Customer service is average, not sure how the food, but looks like most were here for drinks. I had the house chardonnay and despite not really being a fan of chardonnay, it was delicious. Buttery smooth and balanced characteristics.

This food was horrible it's not "Ethiopian" it's a 5 dollar corner store cheese steak, the fries were freezer burned they followed no directions. very dissatisfied. Do not order food unless you're drunk or have covid I want a refund but can't get one bc Uber doesn't have a refund for lying and serving freezer burnt fries. AWFUL.

So first off, kudos for actually respecting my "no utensils" request. Half the time when I call to place a takeout order from a local restaurant I forget to say "no utensils please" but the other half the time, my request is almost always ignored. But at Dahlkak they will respect your requests, so I had to give them a star just for that! As far as the local Ethiopian dining options, however, while I got good vibes from the service, the food was relatively unexceptional. A few items of note: the injera was probably thinner than any I've had, and had a more delicate flavor. The sambusas were REALLY good, a total vegetarian flavor party in a packet of fried dough. But the vegetarian combo entree was kind of a disappointment. Gomen wot is usually my favorite Ethiopian dish, but these greens were nothing to write home about. The spicy lentils of the yemisir wot were probably the best of the three options, a faint smoky flavor suggested paprika, but the shiro wot (pureed chickpeas) were completely bland. For the price the portion was also a lot less than I expected- it came with three sheets of injera, but relatively small scoops of the vegetables. I would consider coming back for a happy hour drink (if that ever becomes a thing for me again) and a sambusa, but for dinner I know to stick with my tried and true.

This place is solely for drinks. The drinks I got were flavorful. The staff was friendly and very accommodating. The thing is though the food and drinks I wanted were all sold out. So I order other things for my platter but it was very okay tasting . The injera was really thin and a bit hard around the edges. The sambusa was again just okay.

Came here with a party of six. We ordered ourselves a satisfying Ethiopian feast, consisting of Beef Tibs, Vegetarian Plate, Achila (Lamb Stew), and Chicken Stew. Everything was delightful. My personal favorites were the Achila and the Beef Tids. Both stews were flavorful and the meat was cooked until tender. I specifically found the Beef Tids to be milky in flavor, a good and delicious surprise. Dahlak has a cozy space for meals with family and friends. The place also have a dive bar with cool design at the back. With its friendly service and heartwarming food, Dahlak is a solid place for a good time.

Spicy Lentils, Shuro, Zigene (beef stew) Spinach Ye'doro Tibs So good. I'll be here again soon

We dropped in after sitting in the plastic seats at Lincoln Financial Field watching the NCAA lacrosse finals all day. My wife and I hadn't had Ethiopian food in easily 20 years. In the accursed suburbs we have some excellent Indian food, which is the closest thing we could tell our 14 year the food is not completely unlike... He loves Indian so we figured he'd be happy surprised. He dove in like he had never eaten before and I thought I'd have to fight him to get any of the lamb. What a place. Our server was a former lacrosse player when she was in college so we were pretty chatty with her. I have a couple friends who live near there and I saw one of them had liked the Facebook page so now there's a great reason to go back. Great food, great people, great food.

Fun little hole-in-the wall spot on Baltimore Avenue with solid live music and a food menu that's available late-night. The atmosphere's low-key, the crowd is diverse and eclectic, and the beers are cheap. The only downside is the food itself - in a neighborhood that's known for their Ethiopian food, I don't think I'd come to Dahlak for dinner with so many options nearby. Not terrible by any means - but definitely not a stand-out spot for the West Philly neighborhood.

So we are here now and the black girl behind the bar looks at us more then once and didn't even bother to ask if we need anything do we want a drink or did anyone talk to us yet. I've been here many times and it's not like this she only talked to the white people that came in and not the black. They are not like that but I guess now they are. I will not come back

Awesome bar tenders. Awesome food. I love the inside. I know most people that like this place love the outside. I don't. I brought my dog and there was some broken glass and trash everywhere. So I didn't really want him in there. For humans it's perfect! It's a staple out west.

I'm way overdue on this review, but I was scrolling through businesses and was reminded of a really great day last summer that included Dahlak. My husband and I spent a beautiful summer day bouncing around the city with family, then we all went our separate ways and he and I ended up at Dahlak to smoke some shisha. We'd never been to the restaurant before, so it took some directions from the friendly staff for us to find our way past the dining room to the back bar area. We posted up at the bar and I had a fresh juice while my husband had a beer. And some shisha, of course. There was an electronic jukebox and we quickly bonded with another couple over our music selections. It was just one of those perfect summer Sundays. Dahlak is closed for renovations at the moment and I'm looking forward to checking those out once we can all get out to enjoy restaurants again.

I usually come here often, last time I came in October. M friends & I were celebrating our friends Birthday. We wanted to smoke hookah it was Freezing Outside & the staff was trying to place us outside with no heaters on. The service was very slow, the music This wasn't the Old Dahlak Feel we were used to. The server Chy was there last time we came she was Quick, Proficient, always pleasant, & played Great Music. The latino female didn't know how to properly light the hookah which could have damage our lungs. My friends & I will only come back when we know Chy will be there. You Should Consider a Hookah Coal Warmer & how to Properly pack Shisha in the Holder, & Hire More Servers, & have a line for Food & a line for Drinks/Hookah.

This place has gone WAY downhill. It used to be full of life and people. It's now empty and I can see why. I tried to eat here recently, but after waiting an hour and a half for my food to be served, I decided to dine elsewhere.

I love Dahlak. I go for the night life so can't speak to the food but it is such a vibe. At night, you walk in through the back. There's a gated in patio area that's guaranteed to always be full. You walk inside to the bar area and there's such an extensive bar! In this area there's a jukebox so you can pick your own music. As you walk down the mirrored hallway there's a bathroom which always has uplifting messages on the wall (in my opinion, people just come in with a sharpie and write). In the back which I guess is the front/restaurant during the day you may be greeted with live music/open bar or a dj. Either way it's sure to be a good time. There are plenty of tables back here if you can't find a seat in the bar area. I enjoy coming to Dahlak, the drinks are well priced the hookah is well priced.

Great hookah, great vibes, and great drinks. Maryum is one of the best bartenders there!

Interesting little spot for Ethiopian food. We ate outdoors in the backyard. Very laid back an comfortable. You had to go in and place your order at the bar, but that wasn't bad. Had the veggie combo plate, which filled us up.

I have tried their injera rolls a few times, and I think they might be a good way to try their food and determine which things you like the best. After a few late night rolls, I've found that their milk lentils are usually undercooked, their key wet (kay wat) is always well seasoned, their collard greens are good and their spicy lentils are usually creamy and good.

I went to this place a few years ago and it was awesome but the quality has really gone downhill. First of all, 16 dollars per person is very overpriced considering there are many other Ethiopian spots in the area and the portions are very small. Most Ethiopian places in the area are 12-13 dollars and can easily be split between two people. It was more than double what I usually pay for Ethiopian food and the quality wasn't good enough to make up for the price. Also, the bread they use is not injera bread. It is not spongy and fluffy or the typical grayish color. It is very thin like a French crepe and isn't able to soak up the sauces like injera does because it's too thin. I also do not like the use of plastic cups and styrofoam plates, it's very environmentally wasteful and not very aesthetically nice considering how pricey this place is.

The injera was as thin as paper and wasn't the normal color of injera. It makes me wonder if they even use teff flour, it tastes like it's made with all purpose flour and tasted old. The combo dish was $18 but was in total less than a cup of food. The shiro was bland, the gomen alright but the yemisir wat was really good. Overall, not worth it for the price at all, and was the most disappointing experience I've ever had at an Ethiopian restaurant -- and Ethiopian food is my favorite cuisine

Food was great. Service was good. I miss the previous decor where you could sit on a more traditional stool and a squat round table, but everything else was as I recalled years ago.

Perspective from a tipsyfirst timer at Dahlak. So my gf raved about this place atmosphere wise;live music, trap and whatnot so heck yeah, I was hooked!‍ anyways, got here 10ish after few drinks at Louie Louie. We (8ppl) sat at the very entrance wen you walked in. Took about 30-45mins for our food to arrive. I was tipsy, wasn't expecting the food to be top notch, and it didn't surpassed my expectations. I ordered fish, white rice, and Sambusa. Fish comes broken into pieces in a sauce. It was okay, seasoned a bit. The service was okay in the beginning, then went downhill from there where we had to request waters, then utensils, then 2 people foods were lukewarm so yeah‍. It's definitely a late night after drinking food kinda place for now, until I experience it daytime, better service, and hot food. There's hookah as well. The crowd is definitely mixed, a bit of everything

I've never been to this establishment, but I called in advance to see what event was going on that evening. Also to verify if there was a cover charge since I would driving a long way if I came. The person who answered the phone was rude, unwilling to assist, and didn't have any information. Furthermore didn't even try to find someone else who could answer my questions. I don't want to support an establishment where the Customer service is bad before I even arrive. No thank you! Do better!

I don't know what happened! I love this restaurant but I got takeout today and there was hardly any food. I ordered the lentils in Berber sauce and collard greens in the vegetable mesob and they were very small portions and usually there's a salad. Nope no salad and very small portions and the lentils were not fully cooked. It was not a great $18 spent. I don't know what happened because normally they give a lot of food and it's cooked perfectly. I'm very disappointed.

This place used to be my go to when I lived in West Philly. Not only is their Ethiopian food great but their dive bar in the back is the place to be! It brings in all walks of life. They're hookah is spot on and drinks at a price ya can't complain about. Wishing they'd go ahead and spruce up the place. It needs a nice remodel and/or cleaning spree. Their patio in the back has seating for larger groups! Bring ya friends and some games and have y'all selves a good time!

Seems like i ate here 50 yrs ago even though I'm not that old. There's been no upgrade, it just looks uncared for in there like it did back when. Had the asa in berbere sauce which tasted like expired cat food from a rusty tin can. The mushy, bland samosa should have been a warning of horrible tasting food to come. Immediately asked for check and expressed dissatisfaction, to which she said, "I can't do anything about the food, but I didn't charge for the juice". Well my juice was fine! Decided to give to homeless and as if on cue, there was a homeless gentleman outside who begged for $ for food as I exited. I handed him the food. Walking away, I almost thought I saw him reluctantly pass the fish dish off to a stray cat. Real horrible food and service dahlaks, real poor. Forgive me Gojjo, I'll be back for my usual fish tibs...pls don't disappoint, or I'll have to write you up too.

When you walk into Dahlak restaurant in University City, the powerful aroma of many spices flood your nose and breath with a tidal wave of flavor. I admit, it's like a high....... I came here over the late summer to grap a bite to eat. Dahlak is one of the first Ethiopian/Eritrean restaurants in the area. I asked to be seated in the rear because it was a nice summer night and they have a nice garden area that I could look out at. I ordered a beer and I think it was African, but I don't remember the name. It was smooth and cold and that's what mattered most. My server was so nice and pretty, I wanted to ask her to join me! Back to business, I ordered the 2 Sambussa's which is like a empanada filled with lentils and veggies and a order of Ethiopian potato salad. Both were delicious and filling, but I was still hungry so I ordered the Dahlak Mesob which is a hefty meal of chicken and lamb along with vegetables and Ethiopian bread,. Most of the foods are eaten by hand and the spongy bread is the perfect vessel for the job. The lamb and chicken were very tender and the meal left me wanting to do the happy dance. I ended the night with a piece of honey drizzled baklava and a strong cup of Ethiopian coffee. There was plenty going on in the room I was seated, good music, people talking and laughing, a real pleasurable place to be, I'm glad I chose Dahlak for dinner.

Great hole in the wall place and the food is decent but not the best value for Ethiopian cuisine in the neighborhood. The drinks are great prices and the wait is a little on some nights but amazing live music is the best reason to come here

Love the ribs, cheap drinks, love it alllll I go to the jazz nights and the karaoke nights, all fun stuff and the owner is super sweet

It was somehow my first time at Dahlak, after living in the neighborhood for 5+ years, but it was worth my wait! On a quiet Wednesday night, my partner and a friend and I shared a wonderful meal. We shared a variety of meats & veggies via the platter set up (meat = 1 meat + 2 sides, veggie = 3 sides). We had: Ye'Doro Tibs, Ye'Mesir Wat, Tikil Gomen, Shiro, Gomen Wat, Beets. Everything was phenomenal, but my personal favorites were the succulent Ye'Doro Tibs and the Beets. Service was casual and friendly. Can't wait to return to this gem!

So spot on. Great food and cultural experience. Amazing staff. Been around forever and it's worth the visit.

You know when you reach that point where you're SO SO hungry that basically anything you eat tastes absolutely amazing? That was not the case with Dahlak. Arrived here hungry and ready to eat... but had play the waiting game. Waited to get our drinks, waited for our server to take our orders... waited for the food.... it was a neverending wait period. Waited and waited and waited... As one table finished their meal, another tabIe would finally received their meal. I would understand if the restaurant was crowded, but it was only 4 tables! 4!!!!!! So the whole time you're waiting, you can't help but stare at the ONE table that is eating... all annoyed and salivating. By the time my food came out, I wasn't even hungry anymore. I was beyond that point but decided to eat the food anyways. So how was the food itself? Ummm, not worth the wait that's for sure! Ahk, never again.

I really do prefer the ambiance of Dahlak's restaurant over the bar (at least in the winter). But it is a great spot to to take in some cool regulars and have some colorful conversations. The bar is even better during the spring and summer time, because that's when the outdoor area really shines. it's the best place to order a drink, lounge around, and take in some beautiful weather. I prefer Fiume just because I love the pool tables, and the Bluegrass night is one of the best things ever. I also think it has a better beer selection and tend to prefer their bartenders. But in West Philly you usually like one or the other best. But you manage to find a great time regardless.

So good! Family style and way more filling than you'd expect, Eritrean food will have you leaving happily fed. We tried the beets, vegetarian tibs (spicy!) and yedoro okra. Was surprised that the injera was cold, but I don't eat Eritrean often enough to know if this is normal (?). I'm not usually one to complain about slow service, but we went on a wednesday night at 7pm, with one other party there, and it took FOREVER to place our order. Friendly service, but sloooooow. The bathrooms need some TLC (toilet paper, lightbulbs and cleaning)!! All things considered, it's quite good food. Just bring your hand sanitizer!

We got two delivery meals from this place and it was extremely disappointing. Possibly the worst Ethiopian I've ever had. First and worst, the portions were criminal. Each plate was nearly $20 and there was barely enough food to finish one piece of injera. They were child-sized portions. The lentils appeared to have been mixed in a blender. All of the dishes were bland and flavorless. Did the restaurant run out of seasoning and spices? This food is made for people who've never tasted Ethiopian food or who've lost their sense of taste altogether. Will not eat here again.

Love this place! Great for drinks and hookah and the Ethiopian food is great! They could do a little more for the ambience and cleanliness but it is a great spot to have a few drinks and eats in West Philly!

My favorites restaurants are the ones that feel like my grandmothers recipes in my mother's kitchen. The unexpected ventures that leave you licking your finger tips trying to find more space in you stomach for food. This was that kind of place. I had the lamb which was seasoned well. I gave it 4 stars because it wasn't as spicy as I'd hoped. There was less meat and more sauce.

I am posting this real time. It is Friday night. We asked for hookah... we were told it'll be 45min-1 hour.. we said "okay fine, we will eat while we wait"... we were then told food will be another 45 min - 1 hour. At this point we asked to speak to a manager. 15 minutes has gone by and no manager. This is POOR customer service. Don't come here on a weekend. They obviously need better management. The bartender's excuse was "we are understaffed".... Again no manager has came to talk to us. We are sitting here waiting to be served a drink, and can't even get that. Unfortunately it is already late and there aren't too many places to go at this hour. We would of been left. UPDATE: The MANAGER CAME OUT... RUDE! HE WAS NOT APOLOGETIC AT ALL. I TOLD HIM MANAGER's should not behave like this... he said "I AM OVERWHELMED. YOU DONT HAVE TO BE HERE. YOU CAN GO." My boyfriend was so offended that he almost came across the bar and hit him. Young manager who needs to grow up. UPDATE: manager came to his senses and made our hookah and apologized to us. I guess he was stressed... no excuse but at least he apoligized to us. It shows maturity. I will update the stars for this mature action. We are happier... hookah still took long, therefore I give it 3 stars instead of 1. We've been here on the weekday and it's much better service. Just not a good weekend spot. I hope they get more staff.

I went here about a year ago but just recently joined Yelp, so I'm writing the review now. I'd been looking forward to dining here after this was recommended by a friend. Unfortunately, the food was bland & lacked all the spicy flavours I love about Ethiopian cuisine. One dish tasted like the (tomato) sauce came from a can. Hugely disappointing.

I never had Ethiopian food but it's been on my list for a LONNNGGG while to try. Well it was a lovely day, I had no plans so I figured why not leave my house and go get a meal 40mins away? why not? Got here and I thought the sign outside would be flashier but it wasn't. Went into and it was pretty darn empty. I hate that. I mean there were total of 3 grps patrons inside (one was leaving/paying their bill). I was by myself so I decided to seat by the window and enjoy the view of those walking by. It was going well until 3 flies decided to make themselves my company. I don't know about you but I HATE flies. I mean HATE THEM!!!! I moved my table and I think one followed me. The waitress came to take my order and I was in the mood for lamb but apparently they only had TWO of the lamb selections handy that night. I ordered the small pastry like appetizer that was stuffed with potatoes and spices (like a samosa). You see I hate to see an empty restaurant on night when they should be busy (weekend night) because it just SCREAMS the food will not be fresh. So ofcourse my appetizer arrived FRESH outta the MICROWAVE! You know how fried pastry has a crispy crust? U know how when u try to microwave the same pastry later on, the crust is now soft/soggy..not crispy? Well that's what I got. ARGH I was sorta mad. I mean seriously? Seriously? ARGH WA'eva dude! So I got my meal and I already made up my mind that it was also microwaved. With 4 customers in store I DOUBT the stove was lit for anyone. The lamb dish i got was tasty and even though it may have been microwaved, it had the luck of not tasty that way too much. I couldn't finish the meal because I don't know...I just wanted to get outta there. My fly company was annoying me and since he/she wasn't paying for the meal it was trying to enjoy, I figure I best go eat alone at home. SO I took my leftovers home. I'm actually gonna eat the leftovers now...maybe it'll be more appealing without a fly in my face. The decor was also disappointing. On the website, the place looked so bright but when I got there it was just dingy and dark. Damn flies!

The best Ethiopian restaurant in the area. No question.

The food here is okay but there's better available nearby. The dining area is a little too dark for me, but overall comfortable. The bar area is ok when not crowded, but can get pretty tight during peak times. The beers are pretty basic, nothing exciting. The best part of Dahlak in my opinion is the outdoor space. Super chill. Actually, a pretty chill place overall, which is enough to make up for much of its mediocrity.

I met my friend here for her birthday with a few friends. We were seated by 9:20pm, our order didn't get taken until 9:35ish and by 10:25 we still hadn't gotten our food. The place wasn't crowded when we got there and was semi-empty. I got a salad but it was DRIPPING in dressing so much that the lettuce was soggy and gross. I left early cause I had a schedule to keep and my friends asked for their food boxed up and they STILL didn't get their food until 10:50pm. They received a bit of attitude as they got their food and still had to pay for everything! Even after I had left! My friend and I have decided never to go back there as the service was so bad. I have never walked out of a restaurant until now but there is no reason a meal should take longer than 30 minutes AT THE LATEST.

If you want to bring a friend or three to a Dirty Frank's version of an Ethiopian restaurant, you go to Dahlak. The atmosphere is indie cinematic, you can have a quiet chat in a quiet dim nook near the front door or delve deeper into a lively bar, and apparently there's more--a patio even further back and a bar downstairs, neither of which I've even seen or had any inkling of! The bathroom is painted floor to ceiling with a mural of a man in a forest and is one of the finest dive bar art pieces I've ever seen. The food is great; I love the injera rolls and the gored gored. It's generally agreed that Abyssinia is the best Ethiopian restaurant in Philadelphia, but if Abyssinia is too noisy, or you want your food a bit faster with a delicious tropical (or viciously spicy, they have both!) cocktail to wash it down, Dahlak is a great choice.

I personally love this spot. I like the dim light and the vibe. People are nice there. The food was amazing. Downstairs is a hookah bar.

DISCLAIMER: this is NOT a review for Dr. Thunder Karaoke. I REALLY wanted to love Dahlak; believe me, I did. Many of my friends raved about their weekly Tuesday night karaoke. While I'd been in the neighborhood for around 2 1/2 years at that point in time, I hadn't gotten around to checking it out until I heard that particular night's karaoke theme was both Disney and "Weird Al" Yankovic (both have a special place in my heart) so that made for a perfect reason to finally see what the hype was all about. I arrived fairly early and had some time to spare before karaoke commenced, so I figured I'd get some food and a drink while I was waiting. I walked in and there was no one at the door to greet customers, so I was a bit disoriented. When someone finally did come up front, they did not take it upon themselves to direct me or show any semblance of hospitality. I managed to find my way to the bar in the back and due to the humidity, I had no desire to hang out on the patio. I squeezed myself into a seat at the bar, ordered an Angry Orchard cider and a lamb dish off the menu. It was very busy that night so it took my food a bit long to arrive. By the time karaoke was about to start, I hadn't finished eating yet so I closed my tab and headed into the main area where I set my plate down on a table before going to select my songs. Unfortunately, when I returned to the table, my plate was gone and I did not want to make a fuss about it. At the very least, the bar service was decent and karaoke was enjoyable. As far as the overall atmosphere, the decor, while authentically Ethiopian, seemed a bit worn out, and the bathroom was small and cramped but clean enough. The moral of this experience? I'll go anywhere else Dr. Thunder does karaoke, but I won't be returning to Dahlak.

I've actually never eaten here. I usually come for the very cool Friday jam sessions and live music. I love how diverse the crowd is. The bar recently expanded the hall passage way from the front to the back end of the bar which is a BIG DEAL if you hang here frequently. The bar can be notoriously slow but it's a small bar. Maybe one day I will try the food but for now this is definitely my Friday or Saturday night pre party or after party chill spot.

Great Ethiopian food, a bit lighter than at the NYC places I usually frequent (why doesn't NYC have better Ethiopian food?? Could ask same question about Mexican or Thai...Philly, DC, and Boston all have better options). Can consume massive amounts of injera without the belly expansion discomfort. Very affordable, including the drinks. Convenient municipal parking lot nextdoor. Will come back for a hookah sometime!

Still one of my favorite restaurants anywhere even though some days are better than others and there are often long waiting times (which after 30+ years of Dahlak addiction I have learned to avert to some degree by calling ahead and letting them know when I will arrive to eat) In any event the Eretrean Entrees are all yummy but there are a few standalone dishes that you must try if you eat there: Shrimp Alicha- is so tasty I dream about it at night- buttery, oniony, garlicky with a hint of sweet (ask for extra sauce) Shrimp Wat - the shrimp in berebere is also delicious and is a great contrast to the Alicha Yeungudia Wat used to be my favorite but in recent years they have added tomato sauce- so I simply ask for berebere spice on the side to give it the kick I miss) Tomato and Potato salad (influenced by Italian salads but with jalepeno in the raw) IF you like spice try the Senig Karia stuffed pepper (used to be stuffed with marinated onions but more recently stuffed with tomato as well and is delish either way) The spiced tea is yummy, but the coffee is mediocre (if you want amazing coffee go to Almaz cafe in town) There are a few menu week spots, however these things have allowed me to take foreign food phobic kids here to eat, otherwise I would avoid the spaghetti. Forget about coffee, go to a coffee shop after if you need to kickstart after literally stuffing your face. But the specialties here far outweigh the weekspots so definitely indulge yourself and simply avoid whatever you don't love.