Ethiopian Diamond Restaurant

It's difficult to review Ethiopian Diamond, because just doing so is making me hungry.

I've been coming here for about 10 years (at least I think so). I am vegetarian, but I often go with meat eaters. The food is fabulous. I love Ethiopian food, but Ethiopian Diamond has spoiled me for other restaurants. I find myself comparing all other places to here. My four favorite dishes are the cabbage, the red lentils (spicy!), the yellow split peas, and the chickpea wat. I highly recommend you get either the veggie combo or the Taste of Ethiopia (also available with meat). These combos offer you a ton more food than ordering individual dishes.

I will say I don't love the sambusas. It's not that they are bad, just that they aren't my thing. The tej (honey wine) is homemade and is amazing. I'm not a drinker, but it is truly fabulous. I also like the beet salad with the light lemon juice dressing.

I have had to wait a while to get in on weekends, but it is worth it. Now I need to figure out how I can get there this week....

This was the 2nd time I had gone to Ethiopian Diamond in 5 years and I went with 2 other people-- one who had a discount restaurant card from Chicago Public Radio (2 dinners for 1 deal).  Our experience was great-- our server was attentive and sweet, our food was really good. We order 2 sampler dishes because (1) they can easily feed 3 people and (2) we would get one for free because of the CPR discount card.  

Their food was really good (as I had remembered it) and their honey wine is awesome (I had 2 glasses of it).  

Our only issue was that the host of the restaurant was really rude and curt towards us.  We told our server (who was really cool) that we had a discount card in advance and she took the card to ring up our tab.  The host came back and said that they would charge us a "$7 sharing fee" since we only ordered 2 sampler plates (which are huge btw) and there were 3 people at the table.  We were not told in the beginning of that fee.  We were kinda ticked because the fee defeats of the whole purpose of having a Chicago Public Radio discount card.

I've noticed in the last 2 years that many restaurants are catching up to how people are trying to save money in a lousy economy. Many restaurants will not accommodate large parties of people (this is my ranting of diners and restaurants in general) and they will no longer seat you unless your entire party arrives.  My boyfriend, who came 5 minutes early, was rushed to the bar by the rude host and he just waited for us.   A lot of places charge ridiculous fees and really just want you to "eat and leave".  They charge fees for ridiculous things and many places will not honor Groupon or other coupon deals.  Irksome.  

The food at E.D. was excellent but the host was just really crass towards us.  Their food gets 5 stars but the host was just a turn off. I would only go back if I have another  coupon or deal (or if someone else wanted to pay lol....)

The best Ethiopian food in he city.  Fast service and great food. I've been here several times and disappointed.