Zeni Ethiopian Restaurant

I don't think they even deserve 1 star. My friend and I went recently and had the worst service. We really felt discriminated. The waitress was very rude, no smiles, kept us waiting and would not bring us water after asking a couple of time.

The food was just so-so. We noticed some sort of shell in our vegetarian plate and couldn't figure what it was until we saw a roach crawl on the wall and then another one on the floor...gross! The owner did not care one bit. His comment was, You don't have to eat here".

All I can say is they don't deserve to be in the service business. NEVER AGAIN!

We've tried all sorts of Ehtiopian restaurants from South San Jose to Berkeley. While nothing will pass the Blue Nile, Zeni comes darn close. Their injera is always perfect - not overly sour like some restaurants do it. Some of our favorites: Ye Doro Tibs (chicken), Yemisir Wot (red lentils), and Kik Alitcha (yellow peas). You can choose from traditional US seating, or grab a soft pillow on the ground for what is more likely an Ethiopian-style dinner.

PROS: Killer food; great variety; serves beer and wine
CONS: Service can be S...L...O...W

When we entered the place, the setting seemed really nice.. However, once at the table, it was dirty and the waitress didn't wipe the mess up from the previous guess. Once we received our meal, the food was as horrible as the service. We ordered 3 entrees, one was the lamb that cost about $10 bucks, we got three neck bones with no mean attached. My fiance asked for a re-fill on his ice tea, the waitress never returned with his drink. What kind of service was that? For the price we paid, we didn't even get a smile from the waitress. She acted like we were in a "white only" place.. I will never go here again.. Instead I will travel to San Francisco to get a bite of delicious ethiopian food near me.

PROS: none..
CONS:

i've been all over berkeley for ethiopian, some parts of san francisco, and also oakland. i must say though, the best ethiopian is probalby in berkely, but this place is a close second. i really like their standard sampler platter, but you can of course be adventerous and get kifta (raw beef). i tried both, they are all really tasty.

what separates them from my favorite ethiopian place are small details. the place in berkeley gives sour cream and a special kind of cheese to use with the injera -- this place doesn't. while it's not incredibly important, it does make it taste better. the lentils are slightly better in berkeley too. Either way, this is the absolute best in south bay.

PROS: they have a sample platter, meat or veggie... get both
CONS:

I was enchanted with Zeni the first time I went there. The atmosphere is relaxing. We had the good fortune to be there when they were doing a special coffee ritual, that is really something to see. I really love the flat bread that they put under the meal. When you are sick of the same old thing, try Zeni.

For tasting all their offerings, order a platter! Amazing food!
Took a couple of friends who had never tried this kind of food, and they loved it - order their sweet wine as desert..its great!
Great veggie choices

PROS: Veggie Choices
CONS: