Nafkot Ethiopian Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in Raleigh

I honestly was so excited to eat here and my God, the food was amazing. I enjoyed the veggie combo platter and the tomato salad so much, I was so happy I had more leftover to take home. One thing I immediately noticed on the menu was that is absolutely no prices listed for anything that they serve. Found that very odd as I’ve never visited a restaurant where not one price is listed on the menu. I did find my dinner to be reasonably priced though. I also am giving Nafkot only 2 stars because of the service I was given. I was so elated to be trying African food for the first time like this, as well as respect the culture by eating with my hands. The young lady who seems to serve everyone there during the day was very rigid and rude towards me from beginning to end. Every encounter I had with her was super rushed, I couldn’t even get out any words and had to keep asking for service. She also wouldn’t come to me or look my way promptly, I was only visited by her every 15-20 minutes or so and the restaurant wasn’t busy by any means. She also kept making snide comments about how things taste better togo (meaning I should leave) and that I MUST be full after she saw how much I had eaten. What she didn’t know is that I was fasting voluntarily for my religion of Islam, and hadn’t eaten yet up until that point. I chose Nafkot to break my fast and felt happy to do so, but she definitely did her best to take my joy. I politely asked for dessert options and seemingly rushing me out again, she told me there was no dessert available at all, that I have to be “so full” from the food I just ate anyway. Her comments, attitude and customer service were atrocious. The only way I’ll come back is if I take food togo, because the food was literally that delicious. I will never dine in here again though. I still tipped her 25% even though I felt she deserved no type of tip at all. As a Muslim woman, I can’t help but think that the only reason she treated me so poorly was because of the way I dress which is modestly and wearing a headscarf. I work in the restaurant business as well and do my best to be the nicest to restaurant workers…. Young lady, I hope you appreciate the kindness I showed you, even though you treated...

Nafkot Ethiopian Restaurant & Bar offers an authentic Ethiopian dining experience but falls short of expectations based on the hype. I visited on a Wednesday evening for dinner and found the ambiance to be one of its stronger points. The interior is beautifully decorated with Ethiopian art and cultural pieces, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The location, while a bit far from the city center, provides a calm and quiet dining environment. There’s ample parking space, which is convenient.

In terms of food, the variety of Ethiopian dishes on the menu is commendable. However, the food itself was just okay – nothing particularly special to justify the high praise it seems to receive. The portions were reasonable, but the lack of pricing on the menu made it difficult to gauge the cost upfront.

The biggest downside was the service. The waiter, though polite, was often busy with other tasks, leaving us stranded for long periods. This negatively impacted the overall experience. The restaurant wasn’t crowded at all, which made the slow service even more disappointing. While the ambiance was relaxing, it didn’t compensate for the lackluster service.

The restaurant offers an atmospheric dining experience with a wide selection of Ethiopian dishes. However, the mediocre food and subpar service detract from the overall experience. It might be worth a visit if you're in the mood for a quiet evening out and Ethiopian cuisine, but manage your expectations when it...

A Pattern of Hostility: The Owner's Contempt for Customers Continues In the hope of finding a redeeming quality in this owner's portfolio, I visited the restaurant adjacent to his already problematic hookah lounge. It is with great disappointment, but little surprise, that I report the same toxic managerial philosophy is fully evident at this establishment as well. The focus is demonstrably not on the culinary experience or guest hospitality, but on aggressive, high-pressure sales tactics. From the moment our party was seated, we were met with a combative and rude attitude from the owner himself, who seemed more interested in enforcing arbitrary spending minimums than in providing service. His desperate and unprofessional approach manifested in pressuring our group to order more than we desired, implying that our patronage was contingent on meeting his undisclosed quota. This tactic, identical to his "one hookah per two people" policy next door, transforms a simple meal into a hostile negotiation. This establishment is not run as a restaurant; it is operated as a high-pressure shakedown. The quality of the food or drink is rendered entirely irrelevant when the proprietor so openly displays contempt for his clientele. Any potential ambiance is poisoned by this desperate grasp for revenue. I cannot recommend any business where the owner treats patrons as adversaries rather...