ERA

Picture a neighborhood dive bar with folks watching baseball and a huge beer list! Then an auntie in the back making delicious Ethiopian food. Does that sound good to you because it sounds good to me! A delightful place to hang out, grab food and drink!

I love coming here for an early dinner and a beer. I get the beef and rice or the bigger plate with injera if I'm starving. I've been here at least five times and I've found the food pretty consistent and delicious, although I love food and am easy to please. I love that its unpretentious and reliable and something other than fries and wings.

Great spot! It is a dive bar first and foremost. It has some beers on tap, but based on what people are ordering, Citywide is their thing! We had Magic hat, which was one of the beers on tap. They also serve Ethiopian food and it was delicious. We got the combo platter, so was able to order a bunch of different stuff. It was so flavorful and exactly as described on the menu. Looking forward to returning!

A great local dive bar and Ethiopian restaurant! The ambiance in the bar area is on point, and they even have a pool table to play with friends or others in the bar (bring quarters!). The food is top notch, we tried the siga wot and gored gored (beef), and doro alicha (chicken) as part of the Era Combination platter. The siga wot was def the best, but all of it was very tasty. Definitely recommend if in the area or somewhere to swing by if in the city!

Cozy warm local spot with a family feel. Good for drinks and unique food, as opposed to boring bar food. Owners are great. Gets packed on Wed for quizzo. Karoke on Sundays as of my visit last week

Food here is good, we would come every week or so and the bartender was really nice to us. Tonight the new bartender said she got fired, and we received rude service the whole time. She kept looking at me weird and questioning me when I was ordering drinks, and kept giving judgmental looks. Any time we ordered anything she would over complicate it or make us confused. My friend ordered a bottled drink they sell and she said “do you actually like that?” Like really? Can your customer service possibly get any worse?

I made a reservation for 4:45 on Saturday a day before, the website said kitchen opens at 4, lady I spoke to said they could accommodate us. When we got there, we were informed that their kitchen wouldn't open until 5, but from what I could tell the singular chef didn't show up until 5:30. All-in-all we waited about 1:45 hrs for our food. We were reassured as we were waiting that the food would be out "soon" multiple times. If we had been informed at any point that our food would take that long, we would've left since we had an event later that evening. No accommodations were made at any point. The food was pretty good, all things considered, but a far cry from what you can get from West Philly. The picture is of a mural on the wall of our dining room wall which reflected how we felt.

Era provides delicious traditional Ethiopian food in a relaxed atmosphere. With a large menu and fun family-style presentation, the perfectly-spiced dishes satisfy vegetarians and carnivores alike. The spacious outdoor seating area is adorned with lights and plants, creating a cozy, private dining experience. The indoor area hosts a large bar and pool tables, perfect for late night fun. Era is a family-owned restaurant, and the care and pride of the owner is apparent. We had a delicious meal and a fun experience visiting Era!

For sure a basic dive - practically no ambiance other than iconic wood paneling. But the food!!! It's amazing. I had the doro wot. It was out of this world. Service was very friendly and good.

The front part is a bar and back part has seating space for food. The cuisine is unique and the food was excellent. The family style was enjoyable and the server was kind and very friendly. Great option to try Ethiopian flavours.

True - it is a dive bar, so you know what to expect for ambiance, but every time we've gone it's exceeded our expectations. Staff and clients are friendly, and the food is amazing. Really solid Ethiopian cuisine. The last time we were there we went with lamb and chicken, this time around we tried the beef tips with greens and veggies. Our only complaint was that they happened to be out of eggs- which gives us a reason to return. Looking forward to exploring more of the menu.

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!

Tastiest food on (basically) Girard. Service was great and the ambience is also. Will definitely go again

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!

We've lived in Fairmount nearly 20 years and somehow never made our way here until just recently. Food was delicious. Dive bar atmosphere was fun. We'd definitely return!

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.

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.

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!

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,

I must admit, I was a bit confused when I walked into the bar. "How is this an Ethiopian restaurant?" "Because they serve Ethiopian food." OK, then. If you are hungry, I would suggest going to the restaurant part of the building (that I didn't see). My friends and I went to the bar, where I think they also serve food. Got it? I took advantage of the Citywide Special and got the Lionshead Pilsner with the shot of Heaven Hill. I recommend taking advantage of this deal. I live in Southern California where this is unheard of. They also had a pretty good draft and bottled beer selection, including Lancaster Milk Stout (I used to be the brewer!) I didn't get to try any of the victuals, but, maybe next time? There were a number of vegetarian options that looked like they would be vegan, but I would ask to be sure. I hope to check out Era again the next time I visit your city. If I get to try the food, this review will be updated.

I've been to just about every Ethio place in the city, and ERA was last on the list. Coming on a Wednesday for Quizzo, a trivia night where you can win a gift card or sometimes small prizes, we ordered a few city wide specials, a few beers, and the meat combo platter. The hefty price of over 40 dollars really threw me, since usually for that price, you can get 4 separate meals at my fave ethio places, but I went for it. We were a group of 3. Platter was impressive. Bar was a little cramped for Quizzo, but we made it work and ate quickly. For three people, we knocked out the whole thing pretty easily. What I first noticed is that they give less than one slice of injera per person. The injera is also a lot less sour than injera is at some places-- a pro or a con, depending on what is your favorite type. The three meats were unique-- the kitfo (raw) was flavored well, and they gave a lot! But the derek tibs, arguably the cheapest to make, were gone in only a few bites. Also the yebeg (lamb) wasn't very saucy. By the end, wish we'd left one person at home. What they lack in giving meat, they try to make up for by giving so many veggies, the bites are endless. Really great lentils, too. Everything else standard. Think the standard for the platter should have been at least one piece of injera per person, though. Don't think I'd eat here again very soon, as the portions don't match the prices, but fun to try out.

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.

A neighborhood bar with fantastic food. Bar offers a wide variety of beers and bartenders are always friendly. The space has more of a dive atmosphere (this is a compliment) but serves Michelin star quality food.

So a friend too a few of us here when we were visiting, we walked over from his place and it was worth the walk. I had never had ethiopian food prior and have always wanted to try it. I was curious about what kind of thing would be on the menu. We ended up getting a sampled platter for 4. We got lamb chicken and beef and a few sides. The food was pretty awesome. I liked the idea of using the bread/pancake to scoop food and eat it. I don't remember what everything was name wise, but i really did like the lamb. It was suppose to be spicy but i didn't find it particularly so, but i may have also burned off most of my spicy taste buds. The chicken and beef were also good but not as good as the lamb. The only improvement on the meal specifically the sample platter was that we got 3 sides but they gave us like 6-9 portions total. It would have been nice to get maybe 6 portions and been able to try all the sides or more of them.

I must first admit that I have nothing to compare this to. My husband asked if I wanted to celebrate my last student day with Ethiopian Fios and I said yes. I had to get past the look because I am not a fan of looking at the craters in the bread, but it was quite delicious. I enjoyed it enough that I got it later in the week for takeout. I gave them four stars because the establishment can get quite warm. Please fix the AC.

Food was amazing!!! My first time having Ethiopian, so simple and so standout. The server was also thoughtful & attentive. Gluten free options!

If you've never had Ethiopian food before, then you will be satisfied. But if you have had really good Ethiopian food before, then this doesn't compare. We ordered Yedoro Wat (Chicken and Egg) and Yebeg Tibs (Lamb) and since each came with two vegetable sides, we got one of each: Atkelt Wot (Cabbage and Potatoes), Miser Lentils, Gomen (Collard Greens), and salad. The lamb was a bit dry and the chicken could have used more spice. However, I must admit I like things really flavorful. The cabbage and collards were good, but could have used a bit more flavor. I'm usually not a big lentil fan because of the consistency, but this was the best executed dish in terms of flavor. The service okay. We were the only ones in the dining room on a Saturday night at 7:30 (which I found odd, but could be good news if you are looking for a Saturday night spot without a reservation. After the food came, the waitress came every hour or so. When we needed something, we had to go find the waitress ourselves. This would have bothered me more if anyone else was there, but I found it acceptable since I her attention was more focused on the bar in the front.

Food here isn't good. Honestly the Ethiopian food is unseasoned. I've had way better. All of the positive reviews are probably from white people who aren't used to seasoning in their food. Also, they have a pool table there that just......doesn't make sense. It's so close to the wall that you just can play. Waste of time and money.

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

It was a great experience. Fantastic food. The server, I think Laura, was helpful and gave great recommendations. She was nice and took care of our friend group. Price/quality is above the roof. Highly recommend.

A billion stars. Great food, excellent tap list, good service. I don't know what else to say or what else anyone could ask for. It's a wonderful dive bar with amazing food. Go here, spend your money, try the Beg Wot.

We went at 5pm last evening for an early dinner. There was outdoor seating and very few people. We got the vegetarian and meat platter. The injera was too sour and sides were not very tasty. Lentils were very bland, greens had no flavor. We got all three chicken sides on their menu. They were all very average. It was hard to eat the sour injeras with the sides. I wasn't happy with their meal.

This place is cute and the atmosphere was pretty dope, but flavor-wise, it just wasn't there for me. This was my first Ethiopian food experience so maybe I ordered the wrong thing. I would be willing to try again since my friends RAVE about Ethiopian food.

Where cozy, wood-paneled, dimly lit dive bar meets warm and welcoming East African cuisine. This is probably my favorite place to eat in Philadelphia. You can sit watching sports around the bar or choose to sit in the small but inviting dining area (5ish tables) in the back. Either way, you'll love it here and will want to bring back friends.

The food was okay. We got the lamb and beef. Not very flavorful- definitely need the sides it comes with. I would suggest getting the crispy lamb because it gave it more texture and better flavor. The restaurant is in the back of the bar. There are two entrances (front and side). Large bar area in the front. The bartender was working as the waitress too so she was doing a lot of back and forth to serve both areas. Food took about 30+ minutes to come out. There was one other table before us. Very casual location. Street parking. Can be difficult to find parking since the restaurant/bar is located in a residential area.

Great food, reasonable prices, horrible service. I'm not usually one to complain about service, but when it takes 20 min to get a beer I've asked for twice and I only get it after going to the bar and asking for it a third time, I feel that's worth a review. The issue was not the employees - they were clearly understaffed. The bar was nearly full and there was one waitress serving ~30 people, counting those outside. Eventually another waiter joined, but the two of them were still not enough to provide reasonable service. With that said, the food is great, and I strongly recommended them if you can catch them on a slow night.

A delightful, no-frills, delicious bar/restaurant that has come highly recommended from a few friends. I've tried a number of the spots in West Philly, so I have to compare my experiences to that, but overall, I really enjoyed my dinner at ERA. The bar is huge and was sparsely occupied, allowing folks to actually talk and have a conversation. In the back dining room (where the 4 of us were), the vibe is low-key and friendly. I ordered the Special Beef Tibs (with Goman, the chopped greens and the Ye'Miser Wot, the hot simmered lentils) - which was all super flavorful, spicy, and delicious. I loved how soaked in flavor the injera was by the end of my dinner. What I liked about my experience at ERA was the personal-sized entree (compared to the combination/sharing platters at some West Philly places), and thought the food was all really tasty. Service was incredibly friendly and super helpful (our server suggested the Special Beef Tibs for me, and I really enjoyed them.) Great spot!

Tasty Ethiopian food! Plain and simple. I was on the look out for a good Ethiopian place to go to and to take friends (after I burnt my bridges with Abyssinia) tried a few and they all bombed. But I think I've found what I was looking for. Went for dinner on a Sunday with my roommate and the place was empty, so we were kind of skeptical at first. But we shared a plate of yedoro wat, a tasty chicken dish and it came with the staple injera bread and two sides and we chose the greens and lentils. They were all really really yummy and I cannot fault them and we finished the whole thing and they gave the right amount of bread. So, NO WASTE! That makes me so happy. And the hostess was super nice and I would bring any friends who wanted Ethiopian food here. All in all great meal, happy tummy and happy me.

First time ever coming here, and I think I found my favorite place to get Ethiopian food in Philly! A very low key restaurant, I was surprised when I walked in and saw a bar. I ordered two gin and tonics, which were small but incredibly strong! For my meal, I ordered a vegetarian dish with chickpeas, a salad, and a side of greens. The plate was huge and since I.T was a special, I.T came with a side of injury. Everything was amazing, and i left very satisfie

It just doesn't get much better than a dive bar with a pool table meeting an Ethiopian restaurant. The food is so good - the spicy lamb is our favorite and the collard greens are a must-have. This is a quintessential Philadelphia spot for people looking for off-the-beaten-path gems.

First time trying Ethiopian food! There was definitely a learning curve to feel comfortable eating without utensils. I thought the food was pretty good, different. Reminded me of a mix of African soul food and Indian food. It's worth a try!

Went here super late for dinner 9:30pm after a flight from Chgo. Solid Ethiopian food. Had all the vegetarian options. In the back of a dive bar.

Few weeks ago, I organized a UYE at ERA, and this review is a nod to ERA for the great job they did handling our large group. Rule No.1 of eating an Ethiopian meal, you won't be using any utensil, you'll eat using the Injera bread ( flatbread, ) and with your fingers (unless you asked for a fork, of course - try not to, for the full experience.) According to the Ethiopian culture, which is not far from my Middle Eastern culture, it is customary to eat with the right hand only, and not to rise until all are done, so don't rush and enjoy. Now, one of two things is true if you're reading this: 1) Either you have never tried Ethiopian cuisine before & you are thinking about giving it a try. Or 2) You have tried it, liked it, and you want to know our opinion about ERA, if it worth to try it. Either, or you are thinking of going to ERA, and I say just Go and here's why: - ERA is basically a dive bar, and personally I don't prefer dive bars. ERA was welcoming all comers. Ethiopian food is supposed to be eaten with friends and family, we were more than 30 Yelpers. We were given the back room, which had some African art on its walls. Very simple decor. - As a first timer, it wasn't easy for me to pick a dish, there was many intriguing options, from the conveniently set menu option they offer. I ended up getting the YEDORO WAT ($9.50): An assortment of marinated chicken in spicy stew, Goman- spicy sautéed chopped green, hard-boiled egg simmered in sauce, and Atkelt Wot- splint lentils simmered in Ethiopian spices. And of course, the injera bread. - Taste Wise, wasn't anything special- not very flavorful to my taste. That being said, everyone else loved their food, so if you haven't tried it yet, go and be the judge yourself. - For less than $10. Go. Go. Go! Three and half Yelps.

Yelp lists ERA as an Ethiopian Dive Bar. I'd find this description to be on point. While I'm not stranger to dive bars, this was my first foray into Ethiopian dining. I'm impressed by both. I recently dined in the back room with a large group of Yelpers for another fabulous UYE organized by the fabulous Sari A. Since I've never had Ethiopian food before, I can't compare it to anything else, but I definitely enjoyed it. My husband and I went splitsies on two entrees on all of the sides. We tried the Yebeg Wat (#14) and the ERA Special Beef Tibs (#6) with the goman, miser lentils, ye'miser wot and the atkelt wot. After typing all of that I really feel like I'm talking in a foreign language and have no idea what I'm talking about. That's kind of how I felt while eating my meal. Bottom line was that everything was extremely flavorful and extremely enjoyable. Sometimes it's more fun not trying to understand your meal and actually just eating it. They had a nice variety of bottled and draft beers as well. Nothing eclectic but enough that you could have a light beer or a craft beer at dive bar pricing. Speaking of pricing, recent UYEs have been BYOB so adding the bar tab element into group dining could have been a giant nightmare. Our server not only handled our large group with grace, everyone automatically received individual bills. Crisis avoided! My only real complaint was that our food came out very staggered. Some people were totally done by the time some people even got their food. We were a large group so I'm not going to let that hamper my overall opinion. The server did a great job explaining Ethiopian cuisine to newbies such as myself and kept everything else running pretty smoothly. I had ERA bookmarked for a long time. I'm so glad I finally made it and can't wait to go back for another Ethiopian and dive bar experience.

Such a great spot for authentic Ethiopian food! The bar in front is comfortable (and they have Quizzo every week) and drinks are reasonable, but continue back for a great sit down meal. One of my fave spots in Philly by far.

Meredith already beat me to the summation of my Era update since I'm a bona fide slacker sometimes. But I figured that I'd put it up anyway since Era's worth it. And if anything it reminds Aaron that he still needs to report back on the likelihood of doing a UYE here. After another successful record club I was feeling the itch to get back to West Philth, but since Aaron's constant praise had it etched into the back of my skull by then, it took little convincing to get me to head down to Era for some Ethiopian goodness. In my last reviewed I praised it for being an unassuming neighborhood bar that doubled over as an Ethiopian food hunt. But I didn't have the chance to try the food and fully engage in the camaraderie. But once I did with the wonderful group of people that I was with it didn't disappoint. Since Meredith already put the exclamation point on the fact that the Sly Fox on tap was cheaper than what it went for at the brewery, you know that the great dive spirit was very strong with in it. But it also had cheaper drafts, and hooked up a shot of hell whiskey and a bottle of Lionshead for $3, making theirs the best City Wide Special variation ever! I wish the main bartenders name didn't escape me now (I'm going with Leon) because he was very engaging and hilarious to talk too. Since Aaron already covered the long wait for food, and Meredith vividly explained how her stomach nearly ate itself, I'll only add in that if it took any longer I would surely taken a chomp out of the bar with epic fervor. But at least it had a touch of home cooking when it arrived and was mighty tasty. I had stewed lamb that was mixed in with peppers and onions. And for sides (you get 2 of them added on with your entree!) I went with cabbage and lentils. So yeah, I'm not really contributing anything new to the table. But at least I'm vouching for the good of Era. and maybe it will lead to finding out about another epic event. So score!

I like ERA. It's casual, cheap (a few drafts for $2, and a special of a shot of Heaven Hill and a Lion's Head bottle for $3), and comfy. There's a dude who DJs reggae and ethiopian jazz (which I'm a sucker for) on the weekends (and, as he sees fit, any other night). I haven't tried the food yet, but it looks reasonable. If North Star (just a block away) is busy, go to ERA and relax. Check out the art on the walls, sit at the rectangular bar (seating on all sides, with bartenders in the middle), and enjoy some good music.

Era is a wonderful mixture: a beautiful oval shaped bar, drunk life-long neighborhood residents, delicious food, young "edgy" college students, and cheap prices. This is a spot where you can watch baseball, meet weirdos, and play quizzo; all at the same time. After drinking at Era several times, I've finally dined there too. Era is a great spot. The bar is one of my favorites in the city, in terms of construction. It's long, round, and right in the center of the room. A friendly bar tender pops up and down it pouring beers and serving up the ubiquitous city wide special. Familiar craft beers like Yards are on tap, and the keg of SlyFox 113 IPA seems to be endless. With a pool table to boot, Era already has the makings of a decent and interesting bar. But the menu! Delicious Ethiopian food is servered up for lunch and dinner, and the entrees top out at $12. Vegetarian, chicken, beef, and lamb (the only real disappointment here, as it was much too tough) are all represented on the menu with different spices and sauces. When you order, you meal comes out on a huge plate covered in injera, an Ethiopian pancake like bread. You dig in with your hands and make a delicious mess. And it's honestly more food than one person can reasonably eat. Bottom Line: Era is weird, Era is cheap, Era has good food. The service is lax, but the whole experience is unique. I like it.

This place is the definition of a dive and I loved every ounce of it. Came here for a friends birthday and did not know what to expect. We started out with the "special" which was a shot of probably the cheapest whiskey made on the planet and a bottle of lion's head beer. If I recall the totally cost was just a few bucks. After a few specials I of course had to indulge in some Ethopian food, which I have never tried before this night. The young lady behind the bar was more than helpful and I informed her that this would be my first Ethopian meal and she helped guide me through the menu selection. I had Yedora Alecha, AInjera, House Salad & Misner Lentils. Obviously I cannot compare this to another Ethopian restaurant since it is my first but it was great nonetheless. Back to the drinks, I drank, I bought others drinks, I ate, I bought others more drinks, I drank some more. We shut the place down! My total bill, $50! This was ridiculous, I've never had such a cheap but great night in my life. I am willing to come back to Philly just to have some fun here again. I can't give it a 5 star cause it's still a dive lol.

I did get to enjoy Ethiopian food for the first time. It was a group event. I came late and was greeted by another late comer. He said "does anyone want to do The combination with me." I didn't really view the menu and let him order for the both of us. Yedora Alecha is a slow simmered chicken dish. For me this dish was dry and lacked flavor. Gored-gored is a beef dish season in exotic Ethiopian spices. The beef was such a large chunk that it was hard to chew. It was also very rare and was bland in flavor. Yebeg Tibs is a lamb dish cooked with onions, peppers and Ethiopian spices. I hate lamb. Maybe because it smells gamie or taste funny. But I loved this dish. I didn't know this was lamb and kept on eating and found out it was lamb. It was delicious. The lentils were perfectly spiced and good. The house salad was ok. We did order the combination and it was a little confusing. The injera is made of some sourdough bread that is spongy and served to pick-up the different types of meat ad veggies. It's pretty cool. The alcohol situation: it's a dive bar with quizzo on Wednesday night. I had Hoegard. It was good. Parking is tight but you can find parking on Girard Avenue.

Absolutely delicious and perfect Ethiopian experience in the neighborhood. Eating with only your hands and taking injera (an Ethiopian "tortilla") and wrapping each bite makes for a great and exciting meal. I really can't wait to order again! For sides, I've had the lentils (hot) and a potato/onion dish. They are both excellent and worth a try. For me, the lentils are a must. I'll be sure to order them with every meal. The lamb in the Yebeg Wat dish is cut into succulent little pieces and stirred in a red pepper sauce with spices. It's the first dish I've had thus far and I'm in love. Eating Ethiopian is an experience! Eating at Era is must!

What do you get when you take the dive bar of all dive bars and mix great Ethiopian food to go along with it? You get here. Now, don't let the ascetics of the place fool you. It might look like your grandparents party basement. But there's always an eclectic mix of locals and people from other areas of the city who frequent here, a lot just for the reasonable priced drinks. Now, the food, nothing short of great. Bring back your childhood dreams of wanting to eat with your hands (no utensils). The food is flavorful and the spongy thing that comes with the dishes, I love as well. The bartender is very friendly, but not exactly attentive. But, it is a Gem in the Fairmount/Brewerytown neighborhood.

It was my first time eating Ethiopian food and i had a good experience. There were a few places in the city but I decided to pick this spot because they had great reviews and a bar. They serve you one big platter (family style), you choose your sides/proteins and dig in with your hands. Will be back soon!

Do you like decent Ethiopian food with a wide variety of beer in a chill, relaxed atmosphere? Then Era is for you. Check it out and you won't be disappointed.

We've been coming here for a year and order Duvel Belgium beer every time for $5. Today, my husband and I come and order 5 Duvel's with the expectation that it will be $5 and find out that they are now $10, double the charge, 100% mark up without notice. When I addressed the manager he said he could not change the bill without the owner; when I ask for the owners number they cannot give me the number. The manager was rude, unaccommodating and told us that they now have other beers in the $10 range. (Good for you.)He needed training on customer service. What's the point of a manager if he cannot make simple accommodations to loyal customers? And what kind of dive bar charges $10 for any beer? Last time we will come here.