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Winniegirl
Citizen
Username: Winniegirl
Post Number: 29
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 6:49 pm: | 
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I've driven by it many times but never stopped in to give it a try. I've kind of exhausted the choices nearby for cheap and quick food so yesterday I finally stopped in. I've been there twice in two days now. Love it! It's on So. Valley road in West Orange a quick trip on Ridgewood Road or Scotland Road to W. Orange will take you there (maybe a 10 minute drive). So good... and good choices if you don't eat meat. They also serve non-Ethiopian food, but I haven't tried it.
http://www.harrarcafe.com/
The ambiance isn't as nice as Mesob in Montclair, but it's closer and cheaper and just as good if not better. I had misor wat (lentils) with injera a little salad and spiced iced tea for $7.86! |
finnegan
Supporter
Username: Finnegan
Post Number: 302
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 8:04 pm: |
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Oh! Good to know - I miss the Ethiopian restaurants of my old Morningside Heights neighborhood.
Thanks, Winniegirl. |
LibraryLady(ncjanow)
Supporter
Username: Librarylady
Post Number: 3099
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 9:13 pm: |
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Glad that they are still there. It's been a while since I've gone. The food was excellent, the prices sooo cheap and the diners mostly natives. Plus it is only 10 minutes away. Terrific! |
ina
Citizen
Username: Ina
Post Number: 316
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 3:28 pm: |
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We've taken our now 4-year-old there for years. She can tell you the name of the special bread - njeera! |
drewdix
Citizen
Username: Drewdix
Post Number: 1150
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 9:46 am: |
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I believe it's "injera" but who cares
yes another thumbs up for Harrar.
Tiny but very good and inexpensive. |
IShep
Citizen
Username: Twinsmom
Post Number: 158
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 12:40 pm: |
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I loved it when I went...a couple of years back. Since my first taste of Ethiopian food in college I've become a real fan. However, when I was there it took close to an hour to get our food and with the kids (around 4 at that time) that was no good. But to be fair, I think they had just opened and probably didn't have timing issues down....good food though!
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kevin
Supporter
Username: Kevin
Post Number: 640
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 10:56 pm: |
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Had takeout from Harrar tonight. It was ready in 15 minutes.
I've never eaten Ethiopian before, so I didn't know what to expect. The proprietors were friendly and helpful with explaining the menu choices.
Had Yebeg Tibs with Missir Wot and Sambousas. All very tasty. They will accomodate your requests for changing the spice/heat level of the entrées, but I felt that they didn't need adjustment.
I've never seen anything like the injera bread before. I looked like a huge, round, flat, rubbery sponge. It worked well with the entrées.
Will go back again and try other menu items.
They were advertising a Friday Night Fish Fry and also that the owner also does full service catering.
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Purplebug
Citizen
Username: Purplebug
Post Number: 132
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 8:53 am: |
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Winniegirl I am both happy and angry with you. Thanks for the great info about the cafe. I went there this weekend and the food was excellent. The owners (I think) were very nice. It is a rare occasion that the food smells good while being prepared ( I was salavating) and then tasting it, was just as good if not better. Now I have to double my will power so I don't mess up my diet.  |
Two Senses
Citizen
Username: Twosense
Post Number: 417
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 12:02 pm: |
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Had another delicious meal (this time with my kids) at Harrar Friday evening, prompted/reminded by this thread. My kids also loved it, and loved eating without utensils. Harrar is a charming, inexpensive, family restaurant/cafe that also serves breakfast. |
kevin
Supporter
Username: Kevin
Post Number: 644
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 1:30 pm: |
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Two: How are you supposed to eat the food? I used a fork when I got home with my Yebeg Tibs and Missir Wot . It would have been messy otherwise. |
I'm Only Sleeping
Citizen
Username: Imonlysleeping
Post Number: 138
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 1:40 pm: |
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You use the bread, which serves as the plate, fork, and napkin. When you're done, you eat the "plate" with all of the yummy juices soaked in. |
kmk
Supporter
Username: Kmk
Post Number: 1090
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 1:42 pm: |
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My husband took our 2 older kids there on Sunday evening and opted for takeout instead. He brought home 6 entrees! He chose some unusual stuff because the owner had literally run out of food...MOL is pumping up their business- at least for now!
It was good food BTW. The spinach dish and the split peas were a bit bland but all the meat dishes were fabulous.
Kevin - you rip off a piece of stretchy bread and then pinch the food with it. No forks needed! |
Purplebug
Citizen
Username: Purplebug
Post Number: 143
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 1:54 pm: |
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Or you can eat it like pizza. I pulled the top part off to eat later. The other piece, I just broke off with the food on top an put in my mouth. The only thing missing was a mug of mead. |
kevin
Supporter
Username: Kevin
Post Number: 646
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 2:08 pm: |
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It probably would have been much easier to eat if I dumped everything out of the styrofoam take-out container...I'll try that next time.
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Winniegirl
Citizen
Username: Winniegirl
Post Number: 31
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 2:16 pm: |
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I'm glad that people are giving it a try! And purplebug, believe me I feel your pain. Eating it the way they present it in the styrofoam container should be fine. The bread should be though of as a condiment. Take a piece maybe 2x2 inches and pinch a bite size piece of food. If it's the lentils, you kind of pinch and sweep. Your fingers should not touch your mouth as, traditionally there is a single plate that everyone eats from -- and you shouldn't use your left hand, but let's work our way up to that  . If your eating it from the container, just work from the outside in -- tear off a piece of bread and eat from one side to the other -- clearing off more bread as you go. |
Two Senses
Citizen
Username: Twosense
Post Number: 418
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 4:40 pm: |
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As I'm Only Sleeping pointed out, the injera serves as the plate and "utensils" -- although, I still use a real napkin. Just don't make the mistake I first made (at another Ethopian restaurant). When the waiter brings a platter lined with injera, then scoops your cooked food onto your injera platter, wait for your second plate of injera to use as edible utensils. In my first embarassing experience, I start eating our injera plate liner, which really should be saved for the end of the meal -- if you're not stuffed from all of the other injera you've eaten, which feels like it expands exponentially in your stomach.
[If you get take-out, devote one injera to line a platter, dump your prepared dish(es) onto it, and use the remaining injera as your utensils.]
Good luck. |
Purplebug
Citizen
Username: Purplebug
Post Number: 147
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 5:01 pm: |
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Who says that is the correct way to eat it? I am not trying to pick a fight, I sincerely want to know. I had takeout...and I'll admit, I eat in a very unladylike manner when I am alone. But when I take people there (which I will) I want to make sure that I don't commit a faux pas.
I think it is just like sushi. Some people use the chopsticks, others just pick it up and eat it. Although I do agree when you are sharing a plate about the finger thing. Unless of course you are going to be sharing other things later, then who cares. |
I'm Only Sleeping
Citizen
Username: Imonlysleeping
Post Number: 139
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 5:13 pm: |
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That's the way it's done at every Ethiopian restaurant I've ever been to, and I've been eating the stuff for the past 25 years or so. I haven't been to Harrar, but most Ethiopian restaurants don't even have forks. |
Winniegirl
Citizen
Username: Winniegirl
Post Number: 32
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 6:44 pm: |
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Eat however you like, but if you want to confirm, go ahead and ask the people at the restaurant. And about sushi, people do eat it with chopsticks -- but you're not supposed to ;). |
Two Senses
Citizen
Username: Twosense
Post Number: 419
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 7:21 pm: |
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Why make it, when you can look it up.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_food
Cuisine of Ethiopia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ethiopian cuisine consists of various vegetable or meat side dishes and entrees, usually a wat or thick stew, served atop injera, a large sourdough flatbread, which is 50 cm (20 inches) in diameter and made out of fermented teff flour. One does not eat with utensils, but instead uses injera (always with the right hand) to scoop up the entrees and side dishes.
This meal, consisting of injera and several kinds of wat (stew), is typical of Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine.
Traditional Ethiopian cuisine employs no pork of any kind, as most Ethiopians are either Muslims or Ethiopian Orthodox Christians, and are thus prohibited from eating pork. Furthermore, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church prescribes a number of fasting (tsom) periods, including Wednesdays, Fridays, and the entire Lenten season, so Ethiopian cuisine contains many vegetarian (ye'tsom) dishes. Ethiopian restaurants are a popular choice for vegetarians living in Western countries.
Berbere, a combination of powdered chile pepper and other spices (somewhat analogous to Indian curry), is an important ingredient used in many dishes. Also essential is niter kebbeh, a clarified butter infused with ginger, garlic, and several spices.
Wat stews all begin with a large amount of chopped red onions, which the cook simmers in a pot. Once the onions have softened, the cook adds niter kebbeh (or, in the case of vegetarian dishes, vegetable oil). Following this, the cook adds berbere to make a spicy kai (red) wat, or may omit the berbere for a milder aletcha wat. (In the event that the berbere is particularly spicy, the cook may elect to add it before the kibbeh or oil so the berbere will cook longer and become milder.) Finally, the cook adds meat such as beef (siga), chicken (doro), or lamb (beg); legumes such as split peas (kek) or lentils (misr); or vegetables such as potatoes (dinich).
Alternatively, rather than being prepared as a stew, meat or vegetables may be sautéed to make tebs.
Another distinctive Ethiopian dish is ketfo (frequently listed as kitfo), which consists of raw (or rare) ground beef marinated in mitmita (very spicy chili powder) and niter kibbeh. Gored gored is very similar to ketfo, but uses cubed, rather than ground, beef.
firfir made from shredded injera with spices (injera b injera) is the typical breakfast food. Also dulet is popular for breakfast, a spicy mixture of beef parts with injera. Fatira consists of a large fried pancake made with flour often with a layer of egg, eaten with honey. Chechebsa is a very good food too, it is made pieces of pancake, with spices and honey, and it can be eaten with a spoon.
Gurage cuisine additionally makes use of the false banana plant (enset), a type of ensete. The plant is pulverized and fermented to make a bread-like food called kocho, which is eaten with ketfo. The root of this plant may be powderized and prepared as a hot drink called bula, which is often given to those who are tired or ill. Another typical Gurage cuisine is coffee with butter (kebbeh).
Tej is a honey wine, similar to mead, that is frequently drunk in bars (in particular, in a tejbeit). Katikal and Araki are inexpensive local spirits that are very strong.
Ethiopian cuisine is virtually the same as the Cuisine of Eritrea, given the shared history of the two countries.
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Purplebug
Citizen
Username: Purplebug
Post Number: 148
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 7:52 pm: |
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I didn't disagree about the injera being used as utensils, I just didn't know you had to wait until the extra injera came and use that. Next time I eat in, I shall be the perfect guest. |
Mtam
Citizen
Username: Mtam
Post Number: 67
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 10:01 pm: |
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By the way, this may just be a rumor, but I heard that they were thinking about looking at spaces here in Maplewood! |
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