Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema recently recognized Beteseb Restaurant in downtown Silver Spring as one of the top eight Ethiopian restaurants in the D.C. area, praising it for offering “one of the best vegetable combinations for miles.”
Bon Appétit Magazine previously honored the eatery’s chicken stew, known as doro wat.
Beteseb’s vegetable combo is presented on a platter lined with injera, a spongy and tangy bread serving as a utensil. According to Bethesda Magazine, the platter includes dollops of lentils (misir wot), split peas (kik alicha), spiced vegetables (atkilt wot), spicy collard greens (ye gomen wot), and chickpeas (shiro wot).
For meat lovers, Sietsema recommends kitfo, a spiced steak tartare and one of the many raw meat dishes available in Ethiopian cuisine.
Beteseb Restaurant is located at 8201 Georgia Ave. and online at betesebrestaurant.com.
Shalla Restaurant & Bar was also recognized for its two full-time butchers, who process five cows a week to prepare the restaurant’s bestselling shint tibs, a flavorful beef rib-eye dish cooked with onions and jalapeño peppers.
The restaurant opened in 2021 and was honored in 2022 as one of Sietsema’s “7 Favorite Places to Eat Right Now.”
Sietsema recommends alicha wot, a dish made with chopped beef and sweet onions in a mild curry sauce, for those looking for a less spicy option.
Additionally, a variety of fish and vegetarian dishes are available, as well as spaghetti for diners who prefer pasta.
Shalla Restaurant & Bar is located at 8081 Georgia Ave. and online at shallarestaurant.com.
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