While my friend and I were immensely enjoying our dinner-for-two special at this authentic Ethiopian restaurant, something started annoying the hell out of me. As I took a spoonful of the tasty vegetable soup, a starter for the dinner-for-two special, streams of people walking past the restaurant looked in the window, glanced at the menu and then walked away.

To those people, I say this: Go in! For the love of everything holy and sacred, walk into Mama Desta’s, call a friend, and once that friend arrives, order one of the three dinner-for-two items. Along with the aforementioned vegetable soup, which comes with lentil dip and bread, you’ll get a harmoniously blended main dish (we had a huge plate of spicy chicken and beef surrounded by many dips) and a sweet raspberry and yogurt concoction tinged with honey for dessert. All of this while you admire the simple interior of the restaurant, adorned with artwork and portraits of Ethiopian people. While the dinner-for-two costs about $34, single dishes range between $8-$12. After selecting from the list of vegetable, seafood and meat options, consider the sweet and subtle honey.

Centerstage Reviewer: Jon Graef