This restaurant has such a homely feel. It was our first time trying Ethiopian food and based on this experience we’re all looking at eating at more Ethiopian restaurants. Our server explained the menu and made great suggestions for us and the kids. The food was served hot and it was delicious. It’s not fancy and I’m not sure if that’s just how restaurants in Cleveland are since this was our first time there but I loved how it felt like we were outside of the country and perhaps in Ethiopia. Would definitely go back again.
Made reservations as per website suggestion and was glad I did. They were packed! But we didn't have to wait for our table.
Being a Saturday night and apparently short staffed, the food was a little slow coming out. The wait staff were super friendly and apologetic and gave us a discount for the wait.
The food was super flavorful and filling and everything was very tasty. You can't go wrong with the combination plates- especially if you're a newbie to the cuisine as we were. You get to try a little bit of everything!
Some people have said that the food is too pricy- to them, I say you get what you pay for.
Would go back again, and hopefully soon!
Tried Ethiopian Cuisine for the first time and I must say I am mighty impressed. Picked a place with a 4.5 rating and that had plenty of Vegetarian and Vegan options to choose from. The ambiance at Empress Taytu was perfect for date, the service was very good and the food was pretty awesome. We tried the Veggie Combination Starter : 4 lentil sambusas, Ayib, Gomen and ambasha bread and then for main course we had a Vegetable Combination Entree a combination of five vegetable dishes: kik (yellow split pea), misir (lentils), gomen (collards), tikil gomen,(cabbage), and kai’sir (beets & potatoes). Finally for Dessert we tried the Taytu Cake : Homemade cupcake served warm with ice cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce #DateNight #Dinner #EthiopianCuisine #EmpressTaytu #YummyInMyTummy
I am from out of town, so I can only visit once a year, but this is absolutely a necessary visit when I'm in town. From the moment you open the door, you're welcomed by tantalizing smells. The staff is very friendly and courteous. The cooks are absolutely amazing! I would recommend everything on the menu, but be sure to complete your meal with the coffee ceremony for a treat for all senses.
The experience is unlike anything you can get anywhere else! The style of eating is communal. Everyone shares of the same big plate and what's really special, is the coffee ceremony. They bring out the beans as they're roasting them and let you smell them before they take them back to brew. It's worth the visit.
Edit: Went back last night with two friends, still fantastic. Our friends have never been and they could not stop raving about the experience and flavors.
I am glad to see this place make it through the pandemic 😊
Very homey feel, lots of regulars with kids. But the prices get expensive if you don't try the usual combos. Also the coffee experience picture was misleading. I got this very dense bread instead of popcorn. I would have really liked the popcorn. Love the decor but don't sit in corners, I got bit by mosquitoes.
Always love this place! There are great options for both meat-eaters and vegetarians and you can request gluten-free as well. The service is friendly, and the food is always flavor-full and delicious. It's a great place for a date as well. Be sure to ask for a basket table if you do! I don't live in Cleveland anymore, but when I visit, I always want to come here.
The food was delicious and service was friendly and prompt. The injera was delicious and they give you plenty of it. I also got the honey and peanut butter injera for dessert. Would definitely recommend. 😋
I have been doing this regular since couple of years if I am in the city. Food is always good and feels authentic as the people. But not worth for the price since the same cost you can go for a fine dine and similar food with best of place and service. Our food was terribly delayed without any reason. If you are in the city can do this but check your budget if you are a big group. It’s time for them to give a change to the furniture 😀
Empress Tatyu is one of my top favorite restaurants in Cleveland! Entrance is in the back, and as soon as you enter, you pass a bustling kitchen, into a main room that has been so carefully crafted. The decor and furniture make you forget that you're in Cleveland, and the customer service is warm and welcoming. The dorowat is my favorite (not as spicy as I've seen other people mention), it falls right off the bone! If you're not sure what to order, get a veggie or meat and veggie combo-- you're able to taste a little bit of everything!
If I could give Empress Taytu an infinite amount of stars I would! This is my absolute favorite resturant. We are vegan, so me and my bff ordered 2 of the vegetable combination plate, and it is so delicious! My friend said he has had injera (the bread made of teff that they serve the platter on) and this was by FAR the best he has ever had. It is the most fluffy bread ever and they give you a BUNCH of it. We took it home and it even kept in the refrigerator just fine! They give you alot of food too which is awesome. It is so fun to be in there too they have a lot to look at while you wait for your food, and the servers do an excellent job at making sure you are takin care of. It should really be called Temptress Taytu cuz it's 9am and I already want to go back!!! 😅
Very cool restaurant … sega wat was my favorite meat side. Tear off a nice size piece of enjira and scoop on some lentils or yellow split peas then plop on some sega wat … delicious!
Always an enjoyable experience, this was my families second time dining here and we all enjoyed the meal and ambiance yet again. My wife is a fan of all the informational and educational literature posted around the establishment. I am a fan of the music and videos playing on the t.v., the service once again was spot on and the food amount and quality has not faltered. I had another mixed drink this time the Sevastopol I think it was called nice drink with a kick. This is a nice date night spot or hang with friends spot. If you happen to be in the area or even if you aren't you should give this spot a go. The prices are not bad at all for what you get.
So delicious, everything that we ordered was great. Server was awesome, great vibes all around. I didn't know lentils could taste that good. 10/10 will be back again.
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I LOVE this place! So close to my house and soooo freaking good. My favorite thing is trying food from different cultures and this place is amazing. The actual set up of the restaurant is very cozy + warm and me being a freeze baby I loved it. I sat at the bar and I ordered my entree to go but drank honey wine while I waited for my food....let me tell yall, this wine is the best I've had. I'm not a wine drinker(whiskey drinker over here!) but this wine tastes like no other. Unfortunately, I did not get a picture of my to go food but trust me, it was flavorful. I ordered #19, Dorowat Chicken and it was indeed spicy as the menu says but I liked it so 🤷🏾♀️ two chicken legs with a thick (spicy) sauce covering it, boiled egg , cottage cheese, and (ethiopian) bread. I enjoyed everything except the cottage cheese. I just don't like it. Theres nothing any restaurant can do that will make me like it lol. However, the food was great and I will definitely be going back again and again.** I loved the wine so much I wanted to get another bottle the next day but they were closed sadly. Seriously considering just keeping a bottle at my house at all times it's that good!!!!
Loved this restaurant! A tiny corner of Ethiopia plopped into a Cleveland neighborhood. Do sit in hut mockup & eat in
the traditional family manner. Food was DELICIOUS! Will return.
Amazing food, and great service. From the Appetizer Combo (seriously... get this!) to the coffee ceremony, it was a delicious and truly memorable experience. My singular regret is that I live 7 hours away... at some point in my life I'll go back, but it's a rough round trip commute for dinner!
Took family members and out-of-town guests... Delicious, authentic food, with excellent service. We had a variety of vegetable and meat dishes, all were served family style. Delicious flavors :-) Nice atmosphere. We will definitely be coming back here!!
Loved it! We ordered one of the combination dinners - it was enough to easily feed 3 people. Service was wonderful - quick and professional! If we are in Cleveland again, we would definitely come back!
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