How a New, Family-Owned Ethiopian Restaurant in Shaw Survived the Pandemic

Located in D.C.’s “Little Ethiopia,” a couple of homes north of well-established Chercher Ethiopian restaurant, Household is among the many newest of the style to open its doorways within the metropolitan space, which hosts the biggest Ethiopian community of the US.

Don’t be fooled by Household’s youthful fame. This stand-out restaurant serves a solid list of all the go-to Ethiopian staples, from the lamb tibs to doro wot, a spicy rooster dish marinated in mitmita (a mix of scorching chili peppers).

Household chef and proprietor Seferash Yegezaw moved to St. Louis, Missouri from Ethiopia when she was 18. With fairly a small Ethiopian neighborhood in St. Louis, Yegezaw realized to carry the comforting feeling of a home-cooked Ethiopian meal to her new dwelling in America, the place she spent most of these years elevating her daughters.

Two years in the past Yegezaw arrived in D.C. along with her 19-year previous daughter, Yordanose, with the objective of opening Household. She conceived of the concept along with her two brothers, Solomon and Moges, the latter of whom handed away in 2018.

“I opened the restaurant in [Moges’s] reminiscence,” she mentioned.

In D.C., Yegezaw reunited with Solomon and her different daughter, Emebte Atanaw, who had moved to the world to review at Georgetown College.

Regardless of a gaggle effort to maintain the enterprise afloat, opening a restaurant throughout a world pandemic the place the custom is to eat along with your fingers was not with out its challenges.

Household initially had a tender launch in January 2020. After the passing of one other relative, the grand opening obtained pushed again to later within the 12 months.

Then, the pandemic hit. The restaurant needed to shut its doorways till June 2020. When it reopened, enterprise was gradual and paying off payments weighed closely on the household’s minds.

“These had been arduous occasions, we didn’t get any monetary assist,” Yegezaw instructed Eater.

Atanaw obtained the concept to advertise the reopening in a tweet, which shortly obtained hundreds of shares. She posted some images and wrote:

Hey y’all please come by Household Ethiopian Restaurant at 1414 ninth Road NW in DC. We’ve been down dangerous since COVID & had a delay to opening bc of my grandfathers loss of life. A fast RT may go alongside manner! We’ve nice costs for high quality meals.

Their battle actually resonated with the neighborhood in D.C., she mentioned, and in addition as half of a bigger motion to again small, Black-owned companies as protests towards police brutality had been flourishing within the U.S. through the summer season of 2020 following the homicide of George Floyd.

“Individuals had been lined up. Actually after the tweet. It was so loopy,” she mentioned. “Everybody was simply exhibiting help and love.”

The restaurant’s easy and upbeat decor, with uncovered brick partitions and vivid yellow chairs, makes for a handy fast chunk in addition to comfy spot to spend an entire night. Household’s extraordinarily attentive and hospitable workers excel at accommodating these new to Ethiopian meals, sharing menu suggestions and describing the spice stage of every dish.

Family Restaurant/Facebook

These on the lookout for a no-fuss, pretty priced first expertise with one of these delicacies will definitely discover it right here. For instance, Household’s combos ($20.99 for the vegetarian platter, $29 for the meat platter, and $30 for a mixture of each) are the proper strategy to pattern loads of totally different dishes without delay. They’re full of vibrant colours and may feed two to a few eaters simply.

The vegan-friendly veggie combo, whereas very wholesome, is something however boring. Resting on a layer of conventional gluten-free teff injera, contemporary, ruby beets meet a match with lentils, salad, carrots, inexperienced beans, chard, and chickpeas, all flavored with onions, garlic, paprika, ginger, or rosemary.

Yegezaw imports most of her spices and powders from Ethiopia, together with a basic mix of berbere utilized in many dishes, with the assistance of her mom who nonetheless lives within the nation and ships components on to the restaurant.

Household Restaurant

The institution serves imported, gluten-free Ethiopian beer ($5.99) and tej, a fermented honey wine ($10.99 for a beneficiant glass).

Household additionally gives catering providers for teams, in addition to the privatization of its two-floor hookah and lounge bar, conveniently situated proper above the restaurant.

Yegezaw and her daughters welcome diners like their very own household, whether or not they’re there for the primary time or are returning prospects. Household’s soulful dishes have a tendency to move whereas making guests really feel proper at dwelling.

Household is open each day from midday till midnight.

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Family Ethiopian Restaurant [website]