Awash

Awash is ideal for a hot date. Everything is sharable, and everything is finger food—so you can lick your digits and get down and dirty at the table. Even better, you can request to do so at one of the romantic alfresco two-tops at the East Village branch. The catch: Ethiopian food is richly spiced, butter based and, although thoroughly delicious here, not exactly stomach soothing. (The sour, spongy injera tends to expand after consumption.) Better to enjoy this joint with friends rather than with dates, and stuff yourselves on smooth shiro, a chickpea puree, and fantastically tender doro wat, a slow-simmered spicy chicken stew served with a boiled egg.