Eat inexpensive, wonderful flavors with your hand
July 18th, 2008 by Cliff Bostock in Restaurants
I had one of the best meals for the money I’ve had in a long time last week at Desta (3086 Briarcliff Rd., 404-929-0011), after hearing my friend Broderick rave about it.
That’s saying something for me. Desta is Ethiopian, which has never been on my list of favorite cuisines, partly because I get tired of picking up every bite with the injera, the sour-dough bread on which the food is typically served. But I expect Desta to become one of my regulars.
The restaurant is located in a shopping center that contains two other Ethiopian restaurants. This one’s chef, Titi, prides herself on depending as much on high-quality meats as the usual spices. I don’t mean that the food doesn’t feature exotic flavors — it does — but you’ll immediately notice the difference in quality if you’ve eaten Ethiopian cuisine before.
Above are two of the restaurant’s most ordered dishes — fish tibs in the foreground and a vegetarian combo platter. Do not fail to order kitfo (raw ground beef), seasoned with hot chiles, served with cooling aiyb (similar to cottage cheese).
It’s a very convivial place with a wonderful staff.
Read more in next week’s Grazing column.
(Photos by Cliff Bostock)
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July 18th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Glad you enjoyed the place, Cliff! I took Broderick on his first visit to Desta so he could try my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Atlanta. Check out my last visit here: http://disposable-income.blogspot.com/2008/07/delicious-destination.html
July 18th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Thanks, Molly. I see you also reviewed Meskerem, another Ethiopian spot in the same shopping center (the one with the Early American architecture) as Desta. Y’all check it out:
http://disposable-income.blogspot.com/2008/07/on-sunday-evening-i-met-some-friends.html
July 18th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Glad you liked it, I actually need to go there myself and get some fish tibs soon
July 19th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
There’s another great place I found on Briarcliff yesterday. The Great Harvest Bread Company, next to Thai Chili. They give you a free, warm, fresh slice of bread when you come in. They also have cinnamon butter and honey almond butter to spread atop the free slice. Dancing goats coffee is a plus. Heard about this place?