Restaurants

Mosob was about to close for renovation around the time of publication of this guide, but the sons who run the place (with mum in the kitchen) say it will lose none of its funky charm and family-feel in the process. A modish Eritrean crowd attests to the restaurants authentic menu and incredibly low prices. The house special is tender, garlic-flavoured lamb chops, but there are also a number of vegetarian dishes. These should be mixed and matched with traditional meaty fare such as zigni (a mild lamb stew) and quanta fitfit (dried meat in a spicy sauce). Courses are served on a communal plate of injera, the spongy fermented pancake peculiar to Eritrea and Ethiopia; you eat with your hands. Meiss (home-made honey wine) was off the menu when we visited, but there was plenty of Asmara beer a miracle in itself, as these stumpy brown bottles are like gold dust in London. Fragrant with incense, quietly chic, Mosob is a great place to linger over your food; dont plan for a quick get-away. Service is leisurely, although the boys promise the renovation will slash the time between order and delivery.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2008