Meaza Restaurant — Restaurant in Bailey's Crossroads

Absolutely terrible experience. I'm never one to really complain about restaurant experiences and have never given a poor review, but there was just nothing good about this place. We got there right around 6:20 before the place filled up for dinner. We were hoping to catch an 8 pm movie so we ordered quickly figuring we would have plenty of time to eat and get there as the theater was only about 10 minutes away. We ordered a couple of appetizers and our meals fairly soon after being seated. That's when everything turned south.

About 30 minutes after we ordered, we noticed that just about everyone who had gotten there well after us was getting their food and our waitress was nowhere to be found. We had to waive over another waitress to ask what was going on and got her to go check on our food in the kitchen. After about another 15 minutes they finally brought us the Sambussas that we ordered which were stone cold. So after being there more than 45 minutes and watching the entire restaurant get their entrees, we had nothing but a few cold appetizers. After about another 15 minutes they finally brought out our food which was cold as well. What’s worse is that they didn't even get the order right. My girlfriend ordered Beef Awaze Tibs and I ordered Lamb Awaze Tibs, but they brought us two Beef Awaze Tibs and tried to convince me that one was lamb. I'm no expert on Ethiopian cuisine but I can tell the difference between beef and lamb. We didn't want to wait any longer so I just told the waitress to make sure that she rang me up for beef instead of lamb. However, the owner was passing by at that moment, heard my complaint, and had her bring me another lamb dish. The gesture was appreciated; however, they still didn't bring me the lamb dish that I ordered. We didn't want to complain anymore and miss our movie, so we just went ahead and ate.

Besides being cold, the food was actually pretty good. We ate as fast as we could and asked for the check, but once again, the service time was ridiculous. She took her time bringing the check and when she did, she had gotten it wrong. We were on a double date and had asked to have two separate checks when we ordered, yet she still put it all on one. We sent her back to split the check but didn't see her for at least another 20 minutes. The owner was doing rounds in the restaurant to see how everyone was doing so when she got to us we asked her what was going on and why our check was taking so long. Her only response was, “She (the waitress) is taking care of it.” We told her that we knew this but she had been gone for 20 minutes. She replied with the exact same statement so we had to insist again that we were in a rush to try and get somewhere for her to actually go check it out. Finally about 5 minutes later she came out with the correct checks and took our cards. Thankfully she brought those back quickly and we finally got out of there around 8:10, nearly 2 hours after arriving.

Overall this was likely one of the worst service experiences that I had ever had in a restaurant. I don’t mind if the server doesn't check on our table much or if the food takes a little while to come out, but this place was just absurd. The waitress didn’t listen to us at all and I’m pretty sure she just took a break without having backup for our table, leaving us with absolutely no service for about half the time we were there. Although the food was OK, the service ruined everything. I'm almost tempted to give this place a second chance, but with the number of Ethiopian places in DC, I'll likely just go...

Meaza is more than just excellent food, it is a delightful adventure. After a 23 year hiatus from Ethiopian food, my wife and two other couples had dinner there a week ago. If you've never eaten Ethiopian food I would suggest you ignore the menu and just ask the waitress for her recommendations. Of course, the menu is worth reading, however, it is very long, which makes decision making difficult. The most important thing to know is that Ethiopian food is a communal eating experience, like sharing Chinese food, only better. The food is presented on a very large platter, and each diner is given a large piece of flat bread called injera. You use the injera to scoop the food off the platter. We had the vegetarian sampler, a traditional chicken and egg dish, and a couple of other dishes recommended by our waitress. All of it was delicious, however, some can be spicy so let the waitress know if that is okay. Of course you can order your own plate of food, but you'd be missing out on much of the experience. Part of the adventure for us was that our waitress's English wasn't the best. However, she was such a wonderful ambassador for her Ethiopian food that we felt completely comfortable putting ourselves in her hands. I could tell she was looking after us when she said that five orders of food would be plenty for the six of us--no unnecessary "ordering up" here.

While the restaurant is located in a lower rent area (more on this below), the interior was very nicely decorated with real table cloths. My only complaint is that they don't have seating on a rug with pillows, which is traditional for Ethiopian food. There was plenty of parking on a Saturday night and we didn't need reservations, though they take them. Our total bill for 6 people, including two drinks, was under $100, which I think is a real bargain. The reason I mention the lower rent area is that I've heard that out of the way restaurants have to work twice as hard on quality food and reasonable prices because that is how they attract their customers. I think Meaza is a good example of this.

The reason we hadn't eaten Ethiopian food for 23 years is that my son is allergic to peanuts, and we had been under the impression that Ethiopian's used peanuts in their cooking. I don't know how we got this impression because after talking with the receptionist on the phone, our waitress, and then the manager/owner they all confirmed that there were no peanuts. Since my son was with us for dinner, and he really like the food, this was a double bonus...

My recent visit to Meaza Restaurant left me with a range of impressions, some of which regrettably detracted from what could have been a more positive dining experience. As I reflect on the nuances of my time at Meaza, certain aspects, notably cleanliness, ambiance, pricing, and service speed, stand out as areas that warrant thoughtful consideration.

One of the most prominent concerns was the cleanliness of the restaurant. The overall tidiness fell significantly short of expectations, impacting the ambiance and overall appeal of the establishment. Lingering odors further contributed to a less-than-optimal atmosphere, raising questions about the maintenance and hygiene standards of Meaza. Cleanliness is a fundamental aspect of any dining experience, and in this case, the visible lapses detracted from the overall impression.

The pricing at Meaza Restaurant was another noteworthy consideration. The costs associated with the dining experience were notably high, potentially creating a misalignment between the perceived value and the actual cost. Patrons, myself included, may find themselves questioning whether the expense is justified, especially when considering the overall quality of the experience.

The speed of service was an additional area of concern. The pace at which orders were taken, prepared, and served seemed notably slow, leading to an extended waiting time that impacted the overall dining experience. Efficient service is integral to a positive impression, and in this regard, Meaza fell short of expectations.

Despite these challenges, it's important to acknowledge the positive aspects. The cuisine, when considering taste alone, was satisfactory, reflecting the unique flavors of Ethiopian cuisine. The variety in the menu offered a diverse range of options, showcasing the culinary diversity of the region.

In conclusion, Meaza Restaurant presented a dining experience marked by cleanliness concerns, pricing considerations, and slow service. Addressing these aspects promptly would be pivotal for the restaurant to enhance its overall appeal and provide a more satisfying experience for patrons. The potential for improvement is evident, and with strategic enhancements, Meaza could position itself more competitively in the...