Tried this place for the first time. I went vegan and got the side platter. Everything was good and flavored well. The lentils were my favorite.I tried the gluten free Teff Ingera bread and quite enjoyed the spongy and lemony taste
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Deedee Rich
Excellent !! The chicken sandwich on wheat was indeed DELICIOUS!!!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
District Yatta
My 1st time having Ethiopian food and it was a great experience. I ended up getting the combo with comes with 3 meats and 3 sides. I tried the lamb, chicken, and beef with red lentils, yellow lentils, and collards. My favorite was the lamb by far! It was cooked amazingly. Such a unique flavor to everything. Savory, earthy with some spice and citrus notes. My God, such amazing food! The injera was really good as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Meat Platter, Injera, Meat Platter Feeds 3 People
Akur Manyuon
Please please DO NOT buy food from this place first of all the food has lost the originality no taste no flavor. They call it Ethiopian food but it actually garbage I ordered TIBS with two sides and it was watery burnt no salt what I just order went straight to the trash. WARNING DO NOT eat from this place.???????? not even Ethiopian cook there no wonder the food lost authenticity
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Classic TIBS, Sambusa
Antonia Singleton
Saw this place pop up on UberEats and I decided to stop by in person to try the food in real time. Best decision ever! I chose the “dine-in” vs the to-go option and got to eat off of the cool Ethiopian-style plates with nice artwork on it. The food was super fresh and delicious! Great proportions and everything was well seasoned. The injera was fresh ?✨ The guy managing the register was also super nice to give me more injera when I ran out in my original order. The service was great! 10 outta 10 I’d recommend this spot if you’re in town and want really good Ethiopian ?? food.Vegetarian options: Cabbage, Carrots, Lentils, etc.Kid-friendliness: The hall itself is kid friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Miser, Awaze TIBS, Injera
Andrew M
1st time trying Ethiopian food and this place delivers some amazing food. Ordered the awaze tibs with lamb, miser stew, after stew and injera. Took the food to go and so some of the food slouched around but it still tasted great.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dug Lebel
Love Enat! They have gluten free injera. I had the vegetarian platter and everything was delicious. The servings are not as plentiful as you typically get at an Ethiopian restaurant, but it’s prepared very nicely. It’s the best I’ve had in Charlotte so far! Optimist Hall is all order at the counter, but plenty of seating.Dietary restrictions: Gluten free injera, plenty of vegan options.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegan Platter
Cody Boren
Great spot for some comfort food. I love this style food. I got the Tibs which includes a protein (I chose lamb) with two sides. I had the carrot and cabbage and some yellow pea stew. The injera is like a tortilla but lighter and amazing. Just take pieces of injera and use it to grab what you like, that is the proper way! Love it.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Carleton Stuecker
Excellent Ethiopian food. My favorite place to eat in optimist hall. Fairly priced and delicious- service at front was very hospitable and made good
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Awaze TIBS
Michael Scarboro
Wanted good food before flight out of Charlotte. So happy we stopped. Got Sambusa and loved all three variations. Wife got vegan platter and it was excellent.
Overhyped, the meat was rubbery and the sauce was gritty, I don't think it's good but it is rare, I won't want it again
Eva T
The food was delicious, very flavorful and it took only about 15/20 min. The green beans were over done/super tender but everything else was delicious. The chicken very tender and the ribs crispy. Will definitely repeat. We ate a table nearby, typical ambience there.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lisa B.
Today was my first visit but it will not be my last! I had a spicy chicken dish, Awaze Tibs. It is so full of flavor. I had lentils, green beans and brown rice with it. There are other meats to choose from. If you don't like spicy food, there are milder options available. Staff was very helpful as this was my first visit and i had questions. Being at Optimist Hall there was also some good music to go with the great food.
Haley Garcia
Food is wonderful!
Philip Brindise
There’ll be no reason to go to this hall if this place ever closes.
Tried this place for the first time. I went vegan and got the side platter. Everything was good and flavored well. The lentils were my favorite.I tried the gluten free Teff Ingera bread and quite enjoyed the spongy and lemony taste
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Excellent !! The chicken sandwich on wheat was indeed DELICIOUS!!!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My 1st time having Ethiopian food and it was a great experience. I ended up getting the combo with comes with 3 meats and 3 sides. I tried the lamb, chicken, and beef with red lentils, yellow lentils, and collards. My favorite was the lamb by far! It was cooked amazingly. Such a unique flavor to everything. Savory, earthy with some spice and citrus notes. My God, such amazing food! The injera was really good as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Meat Platter, Injera, Meat Platter Feeds 3 People
Please please DO NOT buy food from this place first of all the food has lost the originality no taste no flavor. They call it Ethiopian food but it actually garbage I ordered TIBS with two sides and it was watery burnt no salt what I just order went straight to the trash. WARNING DO NOT eat from this place.???????? not even Ethiopian cook there no wonder the food lost authenticity
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Classic TIBS, Sambusa
Saw this place pop up on UberEats and I decided to stop by in person to try the food in real time. Best decision ever! I chose the “dine-in” vs the to-go option and got to eat off of the cool Ethiopian-style plates with nice artwork on it. The food was super fresh and delicious! Great proportions and everything was well seasoned. The injera was fresh ?✨ The guy managing the register was also super nice to give me more injera when I ran out in my original order. The service was great! 10 outta 10 I’d recommend this spot if you’re in town and want really good Ethiopian ?? food.Vegetarian options: Cabbage, Carrots, Lentils, etc.Kid-friendliness: The hall itself is kid friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Miser, Awaze TIBS, Injera
1st time trying Ethiopian food and this place delivers some amazing food. Ordered the awaze tibs with lamb, miser stew, after stew and injera. Took the food to go and so some of the food slouched around but it still tasted great.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Love Enat! They have gluten free injera. I had the vegetarian platter and everything was delicious. The servings are not as plentiful as you typically get at an Ethiopian restaurant, but it’s prepared very nicely. It’s the best I’ve had in Charlotte so far! Optimist Hall is all order at the counter, but plenty of seating.Dietary restrictions: Gluten free injera, plenty of vegan options.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegan Platter
Great spot for some comfort food. I love this style food. I got the Tibs which includes a protein (I chose lamb) with two sides. I had the carrot and cabbage and some yellow pea stew. The injera is like a tortilla but lighter and amazing. Just take pieces of injera and use it to grab what you like, that is the proper way! Love it.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent Ethiopian food. My favorite place to eat in optimist hall. Fairly priced and delicious- service at front was very hospitable and made good
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Awaze TIBS
Wanted good food before flight out of Charlotte. So happy we stopped. Got Sambusa and loved all three variations. Wife got vegan platter and it was excellent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sambusa
Restaurantji Recommends
Overhyped, the meat was rubbery and the sauce was gritty, I don't think it's good but it is rare, I won't want it again
The food was delicious, very flavorful and it took only about 15/20 min. The green beans were over done/super tender but everything else was delicious. The chicken very tender and the ribs crispy. Will definitely repeat. We ate a table nearby, typical ambience there.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Today was my first visit but it will not be my last! I had a spicy chicken dish, Awaze Tibs. It is so full of flavor. I had lentils, green beans and brown rice with it. There are other meats to choose from. If you don't like spicy food, there are milder options available. Staff was very helpful as this was my first visit and i had questions. Being at Optimist Hall there was also some good music to go with the great food.
Food is wonderful!
There’ll be no reason to go to this hall if this place ever closes.