Queen of Sheba

Time Out says

Tue Oct 16 2012

The Queen of Sheba is one of two Ethiopian restaurants on Fortess Road, and at first glance you might be tempted to pass it by for the bells and whistles of Lalibela, up the street. But the small, spicily scented café serves consistently good food to devoted locals and curious tourists. Service is cheerful and attentive, with plenty of advice for baffled newcomers and a squirt of sanitiser to prepare you for hands-on eating. Each dish is spooned lovingly on to your plate at the table. Vast helpings of sour, spongy injera come with every meal, used to parcel up the rich stews and transport each bite to your mouth. There’s a well-chosen range of the traditional we’ts and t’ibs (sautéed meat or vegetables), with fiery and milder dishes to suit most palates. Two delicious versions of kitfo (Ethiopia’s signature steak tartare) are available, and everything from the stews to the side dishes of potatoes, spinach and cottage cheese is richly buttered and beautifully fragranced. Drinks include wine or Ethiopian beer. Forget dessert and instead revel in the heady spiced coffee.