Carnivore Addis

I rarely consume meat in Ethiopia. I don't cook it at home because it's too complicated to manage storing and cooking meat in my miniscule kitchen. In addition, I don't have hot water and antibacterial soap...so cleanup would make me feel a bit wary. I also rarely eat it out since it is often chewy (i.e. the cows are actual adults when butchered) and there are a lot of veggie options. :) This has resulted in a bit of meat withdrawal, especially a processed meat withdrawal (I love me some deli turkey). You can buy processed meats here but they are so expensive that I have so far gone without (except for one splurge on frozen viennas this past weekend...don't judge me...they are 100% beef and were the most economical processed meat option).

Thus, when making last night's dinner location selection with a friend, Carnivore Addis seemed like a great selection. Ultimately I ate more bread/vegetables than meat, but I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. I feel like I have discovered a gem in the heart of Addis. These are the reasons that I will definitely go back to this restaurant (and I should note that this is the first time I have felt this way about a restaurant in Addis).                                                                             

1. It's relatively close to my house -- on the second floor of a large building on one of the main streets in the center of town, just south of the UN compound. 
2. It has a great atmosphere and the interior is warm and cozy.
3. The bread is moist and delicious.
4. The croutons are AMAZING.
5. They have a free salad/soup bar.
6. They put as much bread as you want in a take away container...for free.

So, while I ordered beef gordon bleu with mashed potatoes which was good but not amazing, the other features of this restaurant definitely make it worth a second visit. My meal last night cost 69 birr ($4), but I would pay that much just for the bread/croutons/soup/salad. Finally, I have found both an enjoyable and affordable restaurant.