Bersi Ethiopian Restaurant — Restaurant in New York

I’ve opened my third eye drinking their coffee for the first time. My first time eating Ethiopian food, and I’ve ALWAYS wanted to try it. I saw this place advertised to me on my reels on social media and loved the unique culture. My ‘tism senses tingled and wanted to try something neat and new, learn extensively about their culture and visit the cute little cafe. They light and incense when brining over their authentic coffee, making it more of a ritual than an actual drink. To me, this changed my whole perspective on coffee. I love coffee, have worked as a barista for a while, and spend a lot of free time learning how to perfect coffee. Meanwhile, the simplicity triumphs over chemistry. I’ve been drinking coffee wrong my whole life, and this was actually jaw dropping- it wasn’t sweet, but it was a meal, delicious, spicy, earthy, and reminded me a lot of a potent black smoked tea. There are way too many people promoting European coffee culture when the beautiful people of Ethiopia have mastered their craft.

I also ordered their food for the first time, all of it was vegan, which was a nice little surprise that I am not too mad about. While I am not typically vegan I think that the level of spices that they added to their foods permit perfection, and the way they eat it with their sponge-bread is profoundly brilliant. In the west, using metal utensils takes away half the flavor and fun of enjoying a food culture, and that was one thing that’s always intrigued me about Ethiopian cuisine. I’m already in love with this culture and it makes me want to visit the breathtaking culture one day to experience what it’s like to immerse myself in one of the oldest and most stunning food and cultures...

Warm, Homely, and Delicious – A Beautiful Ethiopian Spot in NYC

Bersa is a very clean and welcoming Ethiopian restaurant that lives up to its “A” food inspection rating. It has the typical, cozy Ethiopian feel—very homely and rich in culture. As soon as you walk in, you’re greeted by the calming scent of incense, setting a peaceful and grounded tone for your meal.

There’s usually just one waitress managing the floor, and she was incredibly patient and friendly. I noticed her engaging warmly with other tables as well. She let us sample the Ethiopian spicy tea, which was delicious. We also appreciated that they allowed us to purchase some injera bread to go—even though they don’t typically sell it in bulk. That small gesture meant a lot.

We ordered the Zanach combo platter, and it was very good. My favorite dish is always Shiro wot, which they didn’t have this time—surprising, but not a dealbreaker. The combo we got was still flavorful and satisfying. The portion fed three of us: two adults and a child who eats like an adult, all for about $40. That’s a bit on the pricier side compared to Ethiopian spots in other states, but it’s New York—so it felt fair.

All in all, we enjoyed the food and experience and would absolutely return for...

Ethiopian cuisine is one of my favorite cuisines but the challenge is in that there aren't too many options to chose from in and around the NYC area. For LIC residents though, Bersi is a no-brainer. A quick 10 mins subway ride gets you to this amazing place which has enough tables to seat about 50 people at any given point.

Service is excellent, noise levels on the lower end, and a very clean setup is how I'd describe their setup.

We ordered their Ethiopian Spice Tea ($4) which was flavorful, and got the Bersi Combo ($60) which was a perfect portion to share for four adults. Timatim Fitfit which was included in our combo is something I'd highly recommend if you want to order appetizers and if you enjoy tangy/sour taste! We ordered Kategna ($6) which had a decent spice kick, and was pretty good.

Service was quick and our delicious food was on our table within 10 minutes of ordering.

Highly recommend this place if you have appreciation for good flavors, excellent food, and good service. Will definitely...