Ras Dashen Ethiopian Restaurant — Restaurant in Melbourne

We went to this restaurant as we saw the really good reviews. Upon walking in the owner seemed very friendly. As this was our 1st time we asked if they was an option for a buffet so we could try all the food. We were a group of 5 and thought it would be nice to share a few meals. The owner was very enthusiastic to make a buffet for us. When the buffet came, at first we thought this looks great and the smell was divine and the flavours were amazing. Food flavour did not disappoint. But for 5 people, the portions were seriously deceptive. The food was served to us in dip bowls. The chicken meal had 2 drumsticks. And we were 5. One of us ended up not trying the chicken at all because you can't split a chicken drum in 3. The lamb dish looked like it was served in a deep pot because of the height of the pot, but then again it was deceptive and the pot was actually shallow. The lamb had more bones that meat. Some pieces even had no meat at all. The only thing that we had plenty of was the bread. It felt like we were served appetisers and we were left quite hungry. We then spoke to the owner to express out feelings. And the nice friendly attitude quickly turned to cold and rude. He just told us that the kitchen was closed and that this is how they serve their dishes. Not apologising at all. We then went to pay expecting a low bill since we were served appetisers sized meals. And then again we were shocked. We were charged almost $90 for everything. The 2 chicken drumsticks cost $17. I go to other places and pay this amount for more chicken with rice and salad. Every "dip" that were served cost between $14 and $17. We then argued with the owner explaining that this was really overpriced for the quantities we were served. Then again all we got is this is how we served the food and other places do the same as us. Not an apology once. Customer service definitely lacking there. It's really a shame that the portions were small because the food was actually delicious. And have we received decent size portions I would have given this a 5 star. The portions were perfect for 2 people, but definitely not for 5. And also has the owner responded differently to our criticism, I would have probably given it a second chance and gone back and order a single meal to see what portion is a single meal. But his attitude was really arrogant and lacking empathy and unfortunately I would not go back...

----- ORDERED ----- • Doro Wot • Special Clay Tibs • Shiro Wot • Misir Misto • Buna

----- FOOD -----

Doro Wot The doro wot slapped, it was spiced well and the chicken was tender. Definitely worth getting when dining here.

Special Clay Tibs The special clay tibs tasted really good - a good mix of spicy, savory and smoky. However, I feel like we got more bones than actual meat.

Shiro Wot I liked the taste of the shiro wot as I generally like the taste of creamy chickpea dishes but I'm not the biggest fan of the texture of powdered chickpeas.

Misir Misto Honestly a sleeper pick, I usually wouldn't go for vegetarian dishes but these two lentil dishes tasted really good with the injera - the sourness of the injera complimented the spicy and rich flavours of the lentils really well.

Buna Traditional Ethiopian coffee. I really liked it because I'm a black coffee snob and it reminds me a little bit of Turkish coffee, but if you're the type of person to add milk and 4 spoons of sugar to your coffees, then I'd tell you to give this one a miss. The presentation was really good.

----- SERVICE ----- Exceptional service. We got greeted by a lovely older gentleman and the guy who was serving us was very attentive and knowledgeable with recommendations on what to get.

----- PRICE:PORTION ----- I'd say it's slightly on the more expensive side (probably due to the location) but this isn't to say you won't leave full, that's what the injera is for.

----- CONSENSUS...

Such a friendly and welcoming space! A truly amazing Ethiopian food joint.

As soon as you walk in, the gentleman will greet you with the sweetest smile and say “thank you for coming” while showing you to the table. He will also explain any questions you have in detail about the menu. Who said good customer service is a thing of the past?

And for the food, I’ve been here twice and absolutely love the injera, both white and brown verity (to any south Asian reading this review, injera is very similar in taste to Sri Lankan hoppers). The beef and chicken are well cooked and flavourful. The veg options on the side are amazing too.

Also worth mentioning, the food is good enough for me to drive 30 minutes to get there.

Thank you again for a consistently...