Barcote Ethiopian Restaurant — Restaurant in Oakland

The experience from start to finish was simply wonderful in every way. We were greeted by a group of beautiful women in the front courtyard that were enjoying coffee and an afternoon chat, they immediately welcomed us and also asked if we wanted to join them for coffee. I will assume one of these ladies was the owner, and how kind a gesture, to invite patrons to have an intimate cup with you and your friends. Though we declined because we had our own celebration to enjoy, the generosity did not go unnoticed and warmed our hearts.

This restaurant is a lot larger than it appears from the outside, and there is lots of room inside, as well as a very large back patio that is perfect for the mild sunny summer months in the Bay Area. After you study the menu and decide what to eat, you need to wash your hands thoroughly, no hand sanitizer, soap and water, because unless you simply aren’t any fun and will ask for utensils, you will be eating with your hands!

Start with the Ethiopian Spiced Tea, it comes with an extra tea bag that is caffeinated, but you don’t need it, this tea is full of the flavors of clove and other spices and opens your appetite. Wine lovers, order a glass of the Honey Wine, but don’t expect Pinot, it is very sweet and has a fermented taste that has you expecting carbonation, though it was very different to any wine I have ever tasted, I enjoyed it and it paired well with the meal. Now let’s get into this food!

Appetizers are a must and I couldn’t get enough of the Meat Samosa, phyllo-dough filled with sauteed beef, garlic, jalapeno and onion. The phyllo is delicate and fried to crispy perfection, the meat is ground fine and has the perfect blend of seasoning and spice, the flavors marry happily. The dipping sauce is not needed, but has a mild spicy kick and a unique taste that reminded me of a peppered roucou (annatto seeds). These samosas made me feel as if I was walking down the streets of a bustling city in Ethiopia buying street food and laughing with locals! If you see them on a menu, try them!

Now bring on the Injera, a staple flatbread of the dining experience in Ethiopia! I was surprised at the springy light texture, and the slightly sour taste. Expecting a more dense bread, but now I understand why, it’s the spoon needed to grab your portion of food. What I noticed at the end of the meal was how light I felt even with a full stomach, no bloating, and that has sold me on Injera!

We ordered the Meat & Veggie Ultimate Combo, I would suggest this as a main if you would like to experience a bit of everything without ordering everything on the menu. Filled with samples of Misir Wot (split lentils in berbere sauce), Ater Kik Alicha (split peas in a tumeric sauce) , Gomen (fried collard greens with onions and garlic) Buticha (pureed chickpeas seasoned with onions, garlic, oil and jalapenos) , Atalkilt (cabbage, potatoes, carrots, sautéed with garlic, onions and turmeric).

The meats included Doro Wot (spicy chicken cooked delicately with spiced berbere sauce served with hard boiled egg) , Siga Alicha (beef cooked in onions, garlic, ginger and tumeric), and Siga Wot (cubes of beef simmered in a blend of berbere and herbed butter).

While this meal is filling, you will not feel stuffed, and I highly encourage you to have a cup of Ethiopian Coffee and a piece of Baklava! A word of advice though, this coffee is very strong, and I was only able to drink a few sips, it had me spinning, so remember your tolerance for caffeine before you drown that full cup! The flavor is deep, and it’s really delicious, it’s just much too strong for me, but I couldn’t say I had a proper visit without trying at least one cup!

The service was superb, and every accommodation was made to assist and ensure the comfort of a family member who requires the use of a wheelchair and oxygen. The staff was attentive and also concerned about her wellness and shared loving words and prayers for her recovery. What else can be said, this was a 5 star experience!...

4:05 I enter a largely empty restaurant on a late Sunday afternoon. Promptly seated jn the outside patio. A couple shares a veg and meta combo. A party of eight is ready to leave. I find a sunny table and glance over the menu .

4:10 the hostess who seated me takes my order. I ask for the meat combo. It’s been two years since I had Ethiopian food. She understands.

4:17 a large plate featuring the best of the animal kingdom arrives, collard greens and a spring salad liven up the on plat flairs. A basket of Injira follows. I begin.

4:33 a day of hiking the East Bay hills on just a chai filled stomach inspired the speed at which the food disappears. Alas, age has its limits, and a small morsel remains on the plate. I acquiesce.

4:51 The waitress returns, surprised yet pleased of my accomplishment. Her obligatory “how was it?” Is polite yet unnecessary. She has her answer. A half muted smile betrays her - I know she knows, she knows I know. I nod slowly, expressing my satisfaction with gravitas.

I ask her if she speaks Italian. She doesn’t, but has heard of many Ethiopians who do. “Anything else?” Is her next query. Perhaps. The desert section feature a baklava. Not here for that - the Levant can wait.

I contemplate a cup of Ethiopian coffee, or rather, coffee from one of its prized origin countries. The stomach forbids such an indulgence. I...

Barcote, Ethiopia Restaurants!!!

I'm actually relieved to have eaten at Barcote, Restaurant, because I've eaten so many extraordinarily perfect dinners at Ethiopian and Eritrean restaurants in Oakland and Berkeley that I was struggling trying to determine, "which is your favorite?" "Which one would you recommend above the rest?" "How would you rank them?"

I have procrastinated on writing reviews for five different Ethiopian restaurants because they were all so good that, I've finally found one that is a notch below the rest in excellence.

BARCOTE has many positives:

Great customer service. Very welcoming, attentive, inviting, and genuinely warm.

+Attractive restaurant along Telegraph Ave. Very clean and great place for a date or dinner with friends.

The Awaze Tibs were generous, nice cuts of meat, and well-cooked.

The Miser Wot was tasty

I would recommend going Barcote Ethiopia Restaurant!! for the food and the atmosphere, I highly recommend. The people in this restaurant are so sweet and kind, easy-going, helpful and really make the place stand out. The restaurant is centrally locates on Telegraph Ave and easy to get to; well appointed, spacious and welcoming. The food was delicious, we enjoyed everything they put in front of us A...