Hours

Tue.-Sat. 11:30AM-2:30PM, 5-10PM
Sun. 11:30AM-2:30PM, 5-9PM
closed Mon.

Parking

Pay lot close
Street parking

Pricing

Medium ($$)

Directions

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Abay Ethiopian Cuisine

130 S Highland Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
412-661-9736
www.abayrestaurant.com

(4 Ratings) Read Reviews (4) Rate and Write a Review

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In Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia, "Abay" means "Blue Nile," the chief headstream feeding the Nile River proper. The restaurant's owners hope that name will grow to represent nourishment for Pittsburghers, as well. Sharing food is an Ethiopian custom. It's also part of Ethiopian dining in the United States, which makes Abay a great choice for a romantic date or an evening out with friends. The warmly lit dining space offers a low-key vibe, and is tastefully decorated with original Ethiopian art and artifacts. Spicy dishes such as doro wat (chicken drumstick) and minchet abish (ground beef) are simmered in traditional berbere and other flavorful seasonings; for maximum authenticity, dig in by scooping with injera (flatbread with a sourdough-style taste) rather than with standard utensils. If you can't settle on one dish, try the popular sampler platter for a taste of four. The cuisine, prepared by Ethiopian chefs, has drawn regulars from African nations -- always a good sign. For an even more traditional Ethiopian experience, grab a wooden stool and settle in at the mesob, a low, basketlike table woven with a colorful pattern. You can ask for a fork and knife, but why would you want to?

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Reviews 1 - 4 of 4

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4 Ratings and Reviews

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great place

By leon2025 on 02/09/2007

love the food

By chevytau on 10/19/2004

living in dc for two years i grew to love this style of food an im gald to see it suceeding in this city, lets just see if people can open thier eyes to the culture and taste of this wonderful nation and their great food

very good overall

By joannerch7 on 08/21/2004

I've been to Abay for both dinner and lunch, and liked it very much both times. The atmosphere was very mod and casual- a little funky; a little businesslike. I would agree with the previous post that the service was a bit slow, but was also very friendly and knowledgeable, which means more to me than speed. The food was quite tasty and unique, and I love the communal style of dining, but it all tasted vaguely similar. I think Abay is a great concept, and I really hope that it does well.

Good Food, Fun Atmosphere, BAD service

By davidmoser77 on 07/15/2004

My wife and I went here for the first time tonight and had mixed feelings about it.

The food was great- soft bread, spicy beef, smooth rice.

And it was a very fun and lively atmosphere.

However, the service was terrible. They were horribly understaffed for the time of day (Thur. around 7:00 pm). Once we were seated, after a reasonable 5-minute wait, our waitess did not come to take our order for 15 minutes. After ordering, our appetizers and beverages were delivered promptly. But then there was a 20-minute gap between when we were finished with our appetizers and when our entrees arrived. Then after we were done eating, it took another 15 minutes just to get the check and pay it.

The service wasn't so much bad as it was slow. In fairness, perhaps the slow service was a result of having only been open for a month. Maybe they do not have an efficient service system in place yet.

The food was good, so we'll give them one more chance.