Keren Cafe & Restaurant — Restaurant in Washington

Keren's has got to be my top 3 eateries in the D.C. area. Be aware, you're always welcome there but the internal size is about as spacious as a two car garage.

Reservations are not accepted as it's first come, first served. They often try to seat guests at the bar to accommodate the many customers. Don't come in here acting all high and mighty as you will be sitting in very close proximity to other diners. If at all possible, don't sit at the table right by the door. You catch the breeze and everyone is standing really close by you as they wait to be seated.

The bathroom could really use a refresh. The decor is dated and in some areas peeling but the ladies who work here are sweet as pie. Admittedly, I drove from Norfolk to D.C. to eat lunch here one day.

I often gravitate toward the spicy fish and veggie platter. The pasta with the fish is divine. The combo plates are limited but if you put one together with items you like, you won't leave disappointed but with a full belly.

Wash your hands before you start as it is food traditionally enjoyed by using your hands. Of course, wash your hands afterwards to avoid the lingering smell of spice on your mitts.

The honey wine is an excellent choice while you wait for your meal. There is a large window perfect for people watching as you pass the time. The after meal drink is the cardamon tea. It may be a little stronger than what you Lipton drinkers are used to but it aids in digestion and is comforting.

There are no desserts here but The Cake Room is right across the street and is the perfect end to a fine meal. Be patient, come hungry and try something you've never had before. I can't wait until I can get back to get my lamb tibs...

Food Poisoning—Went there April 28 off a whim with two other people who invited me and my son. We ordered two number 4–the Karen, one beef for my company and one chicken for me, and spaghetti with chicken for my son. The chicken was extremely bland too with no flavor. The spaghetti too.

Unfortunately, they did not have bottled water so had to order the Pierier water. I asked for Apple juice for my son and they didn’t have so had to order coke. The lady was nice to eventually come back with a bottled apple juice on the house.

The tables weren’t that sturdy and keep going back and forth every time one of us leaned our forearms on table top so I had to put my foot on the base during our entire stay.

Once I started eating the Karen with chicken, I started to become full very really fast which I thought was odd. My son’s chicken was EXTREMELY hard. The chicken breast were the flat ones that you can’t cook long. So either the chicken was cooked too long or it was sitting out for too long.

The bread that came with son’s food was also hard and it appeared it was sitting out.

The number 4 with chicken was good, and I became full fast, however, I also developed a mild case of food poisoning from the food. I hadn’t eaten much but only light snacks before the invite. I developed extreme bloating that evening that eventually turned in to ongoing diarrhea that led to dehydration.

My son eventually ate his spaghetti the next day with no problems. I won’t return...

I know this is called a coffee shop, but it's really a restaurant with minimal decor. Some people think "restaurant" and expect something a little upscale with nice dishes and maybe a little candle on the table. This place is bare bones in that department, and if those sorts of niceties are important to you when you dine out then you might pass Keren by. But you'd be making a BIG mistake. The food here is some of the best Eritrean/Ethiopian I"ve had in a long time. Everything on the platter was delicious. We got a chicken stew and a vegetable entree served atop injera. Accompaniments included several types of lentils (perfectly spiced), green salads, cabbage, potatoes and a huge serving of chicken stewed with tomatoes. They also give you a large piece of injera on the side -- this is your "utensil." My only regret was that we couldn't eat it all...They also serve spaghetti dishes (history links Eritrea with Mussolini I think), but we only had the dishes with injera so can't comment on those other items. The service is friendly and the atmosphere is comfortable, but really unfancy. They don't rush you, so you should expect a leisurely meal. And the price is beyond reasonable for...