Hawi Ethiopian Cuisine opened in early March on South Cayuga Street, and has been thriving since then.
Upon my arrival at 8:30 p.m. on a Wednesday night, my date and I were confronted with a strong, delicious aroma of spices and the upbeat rhythm of Ethiopian music being played subtly in the background.
We were soon greeted by a host and given the choice of where to sit among about 35 guests in a 50-guest space. Due to the dim light coming from single tea lights on every table, my date and I chose to sit closer to the window for more adequate lighting. After being seated, feelings of claustrophobia began to arise as the tables were only about a foot-and-a-half apart; however, our table was clean and set with menus, napkins, glasses, and a pitcher with water.
Within minutes, our waitress arrived, explaining the confusing menu, the various ways to approach ordering chef’s specials, and different combinations made with meat and vegetables with the option of sharing between guests.
We chose the meat combination that entailed two meats and three vegetables. We planned on lamb marinated in wine, beef seasoned with Ethiopian spices as well as onions and jalapeños, chickpeas stewed with onions, collard greens, and finally mixed vegetables seasoned with garlic and ginger. The lamb dish was too expensive to be included in the combination, but our waitress was very knowledgeable about the different dishes and was able to describe another lamb dish to our liking.
Ten minutes after ordering, our meal arrived on a large platter lined with injera, an Ethiopian bread, with additional injera on a smaller platter. Our waitress explained how to use the injera in the place of utensils by ripping off a piece of bread and using it to scoop up the food with our hands.
The injera was moist with a very sour aftertaste, but in general, the whole meal was the perfect balance of different textures and levels of spice. The amount of food given was able to fully satisfy two people for a very reasonable price; however, the lack of dessert was disappointing.
Overall, I was satisfied with my experience at Hawi Ethiopian Cuisine and would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking to escape into a different culture for an evening.
Hawi Ethiopian Cuisine
12 p.m.–10 p.m., Tu–S
(607) 277-4294
113 S Cayuga St, Ithaca, NY 14850
www.hawiithaca.com