The exterior of the building would suggest a cuisine less exotic than its name. The generic font displaying “Mannaweenta” sits unassuming next to an oriental goods store. Fortunately, the warm smile of the cashier and spice-filled air beckons you to enter the quaint restaurant.
Mannaweenta, a restaurant specializing in Ethiopian cuisine, offers a concise menu with a step by step process to ordering for those who are new to east African food. At the counter, there is the option to order an entrée in either a large or a small and two vegetable sides with a bed of rice or traditional Ethiopian injera bread. The names on the menu give you a sense of authenticity but encourage you to carefully read through the menu. If you are hoping to make a quick decision, you may want to read the menu online before visiting. After perusing the descriptions of each plate, I ordered a small plate of the Fish Tibbs (an entrée only available on Tuesdays) with Ater Alitcha and Yemsir salad on traditional injera bread.
The Fish Tibbs, as their name suggests, are chunks of tilapia sautéed with onions and green peppers and marinated with garlic, ginger and rosemary. The finishing taste has more of a tangy lemony flavor than ginger or garlic. When paired with the Injera bread, which has a tart flavor akin to sour dough bread, the sharp tastes can be a bit much for the unaccustomed palate. Fortunately, the sides offer a much more basic taste to complement the acidity of the injera and fish. The Ater Alitcha is a mixture of split peas, curry powder, tomatoes and a few other spices. The potato-like texture makes for a filling and hearty side and the curry powder reminded me of Indian cuisine. The second vegetable dish, Yemsir salad, is served cold. The side has cooked lentils mixed with the same mixture of onions and tomatoes seen in the other dishes. The cold mixture carried the same tart flavor that seems to reoccur throughout the menu and the small size of the lentils offer a fun texture in contrast to the fish and Ater Alitcha. Overall, the presentation of the plate was home-style. The foods were squished together on the plate on top of the injera bread, which puts emphasis more on the flavor than the appearance of the food.
Mannaweenta offers a relaxed and cozy atmosphere. If you have time to spare and an appetite for a cuisine unlike any other food served in Athens, then this is your place. As a review by Adrienne Andrews from the Red and Black mentions “Everything that is made inside of Mannaweenta’s laid-back, spice-scented family restaurant feels and tastes like a labor of love” (2015). Like a family, the cooking of the food and serving of the food can be unpredictable. There was almost a 40-minute wait between ordering and receiving the food. Though the wait time could be a deterrent for some, the flavor and quality of the food was well worth the wait.
Mannaweenta 1055 Gaines School Rd #107, Athens, GA 30605
4.8/5 – Google Reviews