Red Sea Restaurant — Restaurant in Portland

Ethiopian is probably my favorite kind of food, so I try it wherever I go. I like to support Ethiopian restaurants, and I'm reluctant to write negative reviews. But this was probably the most disappointing experience I've had at an Ethiopian restaurant.

On the plus size, the food was... decent. The injera was fine, a bit on the dry side. The lamb was pretty good. The rest of the dishes (we had the meat sampler) were not great -- a binary between bland and bluntly spicy (and I love spicy). I notice that the other reviewers seem to disagree. We might just have different tastes, but it's also possible that they haven't tried that many other Ethiopian restaurants.

The rest of the dining experience was very poor. The atmosphere is nonexistent. The menu is not at all clear -- one of the more confusing menus I've ever encountered -- the service was slow, and the waiter / owner was kind of rude. All of these things could be improved easily, and I hope they are.

I should note that this place has a hole-in-the-wall vibe, but the prices are not...

Until today, the best Ethiopian/Eritrean food I had eaten was prepared by a hospital cafeteria in the Cure hospital in Addis Ababa. In a way, that could make sense, but then again, it's a hospital cafeteria, and I could never understand why one of the popular restaurants I tried in places like D.C. or Philly couldn't do as well or better.

Well now I can finally recommend an Ethiopian restaurant in the States! My wife and I just shared a vegetarian sampler platter from Red Sea in Portland Maine of all places (take out so we could put a baby to bed, no less), and this is all the texture, spice, and plain heat I've been missing! So many restaurants in the U.S. serve bland mush on soft, weak, and excessively tangy injera that I have some reservation about even trying new places anymore. Red Sea has reversed the trend and will keep me searching again when I leave town.

If you're in Portland, do yourself a favor and try what I suspect may be the best Ethiopian food in a couple...

Really good food.

This place has so much soul.

In a city where every dining experience has become about the design of the menu, the shape of the table and the lettering on the walls, The Red Sea is a breath of fresh air.

Inside is no frills. It's a scrappy eatery that could use some updates, the menu was a simple printed inkjet page. But who cares when the smells from the kitchen are so intoxicating.

We ordered tea and split an entree, the lamb was mouth watering.

After our meal I was overcome with an immense feeling of joy, I sat with a huge smile for a few minutes. So much that my partner took my photo to commemorate the expression.

The Red Sea is a really special neighborhood spot. If you live in the area or are visiting from out of town do yourself a favor and taste the flavor. This is a local gem and you should be proud of it.

It is also highly affordable, particularly when compared to other...