Lisa H.
Yelp
A hidden treat unearthed thanks to Scoutmob and Yelp...I'd probably never find this place otherwise as it's tucked into an unassuming strip mall.
When we first walked into Piassa (you have to enter through the mart), I was a touch skeptical since a heavy cloud of incense permeated the place, and strong smells aren't okay in my book. However, I decided to give Piassa a chance, and luckily for me, the intense incense subsided.
The waitresses were just so warm and friendly. From my seat in our booth, I could read the words "Feel Like Home" above the private table. Very homey indeed.
Like it's been mentioned, the menu doesn't have any appetizers listed and basically is just mains and drinks. We ended up ordering three entrees which was too much for two people, but or does it mean that the portions are just that big? Hmm, something to ponder.
We ended up sharing the veggie combo, yebeg tibs (lamb), and kitfo normal which they kindly cooked completely for us. The veggies reminded me of a clock, as there were practically twelve treats to try, laid out on a huge circle of injera. Everything was delicious. Lamb was a tad dry but the taste made up for that. And they kept the injera coming as needed.
You can tell that the restaurant and adjoining mart cater to an Ethiopian clientele. In the mart, the spices and lentils were not labeled, and the butcher sign had nary a word of English.
It's not too far from the Dekalb Farmers Market, so you could swing by Piassa either before of after your food shopping needs.