Abay
$ - inexpensive
Ethiopian/Eritrean
Ethiopian Cuisine
Abay is Pittsburgh's only Ethiopian restaurant. It serves about 10 traditional vegan Ethiopian dishes, as well as some soups and a few appetizers, served on (or with) injera - spongy Ethiopian flatbread which also functions as the eating utensil.
Abay is a large restaurant with many tables, and also has 3 mesobs, traditional hand-woven, basket-like tables for those who want a more authentic Ethiopian dining experience.
Abay Ethiopian Restaurant is located in the East End on the border of Shadyside and East Liberty, within walking distance from the Whole Foods Market.
The 71C and 500 busses will take your right there. The 77B can let you off at Penn and Highland, less than 2 blocks away.
- Large Group-Friendly
- Quiet
Added by Michael knight on Apr 30 05 (updated Sep 14 06)
Reviews
I really like this place a lot. The food is really good and relatively healthy. The wait staff is friendly and knowledgeable and the decor is nice.
I've never had Ethiopian food before, so I have no comparison, but I think their food is really good. If it's your first time, I recommend getting the vegetarian combo platter. You can sample 3 or 4 dishes, plus their bread (which has an interesting "spongy" type of texture).
Having eaten Ethiopian from Germany to San Francicso, it would be hard for a Pgh eatery to live up to the best (Meskerem, in Adams Morgan / DC). Not the worst, though!
Not huge portions, and not inexpensive, but a good introduction to this interesting cuisine.
Not bad food - although they get away with prices being a little high since they're the only Ethiopian place in town.
I recommend the Misir Wat for somebody who likes spicy food (like Indian) but has never tried Ethiopian. Shiro Wat is also good, although Abay's has somewhat of a strange after taste.
Warm & cozy atmosphere, with great food & friendly staff. The best Ethiopian food I've had. It is a BYOB establishment with a corkage fee of $2.50 per bottle.
This is the first experience I have had with Ethiopean food and I was very impressed. Such a great atmosphere, too. A very cool dining experience.