A friend of mine lived and worked in Ethiopia for a while so we decided that our next dinner together would be at her favourite Ethiopian restaurant in town – Ensira. I’ve eaten Ethiopian once before, in Edmonton, with a very large group of people. I had a general expectation of what to expect – a large tray in the middle of the table with food piled on top. You use the soft bread (injera) to scoop up the food and eat with your hands. You definitely need to wash your hands both before and after this meal.
I have been to Ensira a few times already and is by far my favourite Ethiopian restaurant in town. The place is nicely renovated, clean and tidy. The ambiance is good, very friendly and warm services too. The food is tasty, fresh and authentic. The only criticism I may have is when the restaurant gets busy, you might be waiting a while to get server’s attention. Servers should come by more frequently and ask for the injera. If you go with a large group, the injera that comes with the order will vanish rather quick and needs to be supplied as needed.
My first taste of Ethiopia at Ensira was delicious! We ordered the Yetsom Beyaynetu (various spices vegetables) and Kikil (seasoned lamb meat), both served with injera. The flavours of each dish were unique and one which I’ve never tried before. The injera is an acquired taste for some, but it was a perfect accompaniment to mop the flavours of the curries. The restaurant is hidden and tucked away along a street mall. It’s quite spacious inside with many tables. Ensira is really clean and modern, with a few decorations on the walls.
Agree 100% with -amanvel's review. We've been to most if not all the Ethiopian restaurants in Calgary (and many others elsewhere, including Ethiopia) and Ensira tops them all in terms of relaxing ambiance, and equals the best in terms of food and service. A radical upgrade from the Ibex that used to occupy this spot, although to be fair, the Ibex had atmosphere in spades. I won't ramble on about the food -- if you're familiar with Ethiopian cuisine you won't be disappointed, and if not, this would be the place to try it. It's unlike anything else you've ever tried. If you like it and want to try it at home, you can get the bread, spices, and other ingredients next door at Ethio-Afrik.
Ensira raises the bar for Ethiopian restaurants in Calgary. A relatively new spot, it is tastefully decorated, clean, with a great ambiance and layout that's fit for a couple (say, a date night) as well as much larger group. Service wise, it is well staffed with attentive, relatively quick service. Good selection of food, succulent vegetable combos, good presentation. The coffee roasting, and the fresh traditional bread that's served as you wait on your food are nice added touches.
The doro wat firfir, the kitfo, the shiro and the vegetable combo will have me going back to Ensira again and again.
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