The deep red facade of the Peacock Cafe & Restaurant differentiates it from other bland storefronts in the neighborhood, but it's the fresh, home-cooked Eritrean cuisine (very similar to Ethiopian food) that really distinguishes this family-run spot. All members of the Mezengi family (save for Dad) serve up dishes that, while small in size, pack in tons of flavor.
Wooden beads hanging on the door clack against one another as visitors walk in. Paintings of Eritrean people sorting coffee beans and tending to food-related matters adorn the walls, and woven baskets are scattered throughout, adding yet another authentic, homespun touch. You won't think about the decor, however, once you have a bite of your food. A generous serving of tibsi derho, white boneless chicken stir-fried up with hot peppers and spicy onions, sets hungry taste buds on fire and come with milder beans, spinach and a carrot-and-cauliflower concoction. If you want a truly authentic Eritrean meal, eat your entree with injera, spongy bread that's used to pick up every tasty morsel (those not into eating with their hands can substitute rice). Most dishes cost about $9.50.
Looking for something more "Western"? Try the al dente spaghetti with meat sauce. Why's Italian on the menu? Italy colonized Eritrea back in the late 1800's and, well, the food stuck around. Finish off the meal with a cup of coffee made the old-fashioned way: beans roasted in a pan, ground up and brewed in a clay pot over the stove, all for a reasonable price.
Centerstage Reviewer: Alicia Eler
