THIS RESTAURANT HAS CLOSED.
When you poke your head in the doorway of Sheba Cafe and look around, you'll wonder if you've encountered a dive bar, an occult emporium or a restaurant. The tables inside indicate that it's a restaurant, but the rest of the interior suggests that you're in someone's finished basement.

By the end of your meal, you'll be congratulating yourself for finding the place. This small gem of an Ethiopian restaurant offers pleasant service, a relaxed atmosphere and excellent food. The menu offers what you would expect of Ethiopian cuisine: spicy wats (stews) of chicken, beef and lamb; tibs with cubes of meat sauteed in nit'ir qibe, or purified herb butter; and a host of vegetable dishes that feature lentils, peas and greens. Entrees are accompanied by injera, spongy pancakes of teff flour that serve as both plates and utensils. It's like eating soup in a bread bowl, with bread spoons. Diners can order everything from raw steak tartare to strictly vegan dishes like misir wat (lentils stewed in brebera, a hot pepper sauce).

Centerstage Reviewer: Alan Simmons