Queen of Sheba -SRQ Reviews

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March 17, 2016

Sarasota’s Ethnic Dining Corridor

Beginning on the North Trail at Ringling College and continuing north, Sarasota’s ethnic dining corridor continues to evolve and flourish. A primary contributor to this ethnic restaurant mecca is Queen of Sheba, an Ethiopian inspired cuisine. A simple, very casual, earth toned interior, the restaurant may be sparsely adorned, but it is warm and inviting. Do not let the austere decor negatively influence your opinion.

Ethiopian food is served atop a spongy pancake like bread named injera. Additional injera is served with the meal and is used to pick up food from the plate or platter. Traditionally, no utensils are used in the dining process. The menu is broad offering beef, chicken, lamb, seafood, and vegetarian options. The food can range from very mild to spicy and can be adjusted when ordered.

For our meals we chose the following:

Ana-babro:  Layers of injera filled with fresh jalapeno and Ethiopian spices and leebe.  $3.50
Soft layers of injera offering a smoky flavor, spicy but not overly so, a very nice after taste.
Ethiopian Tomato Salad:  Diced tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, olive oil and lemon juice.  $3.50
A delightful starter, very fresh, very colorful, very refreshing.
Veggie Sambussa:  Homemade thin flat bread hand-wrapped and stuffed with a combination of whole lentil stew made from fresh garlic, onions, peppers and herbs.  $3.50
This is a very interesting combination of ingredients. The lentils were creamy, offering good texture, crunchy outside.
Beef Sambussa:  Homemade thin flat bread hand-wrapped and stuffed with ground beef made fresh with garlic, onions, peppers and herbs.  $3.50
Lightly fried not oily, crunchy outside.
Azifa:  Crushed whole lentils seasoned with mustard seed and olive oil.  $3.50
A creamy and course spread…perfect for dipping injera.
Buticha:  Crushed chickpeas, seasoned with garlic, lemon juice and olive oil.  $3.50
Ethiopian hummus minus the tahini…delicious.
Tibs Wot:  Beef sautéed in a rich red pepper stew made with minced onion, garlic, and seasoned with berbere and Ethiopian spices.  $13.00
A rich beefy stew with layers of flavor and a finishing kick.
Dor Wot:  A free range chicken and hardboiled egg stew, seasoned with Ethiopian spices and berbere. This is the national dish of Ethiopia.  $14.00
Chicken is moist, fall off the bone tender with very deep layers of flavors and a nice finishing spicy kick.
Chicken Tibs:  Free range chicken sautéed with onions, jalapeno peppers, turmeric, Ethiopian spices, and rosemary in a mild sauce.  $13.00
Although the chicken was a tad dry, it was tender, offering a nice color, and very good flavor.
Miser Wot:  Red split lentils simmered with finely chopped onions, garlic, ginger, and seasoned in turmeric.  $10.00
Rich, creamy, smoky and spicy…very satisfying.
Ye Kik Alecha:  Yellow split peas, simmered with finely chopped onions, garlic, ginger, and seasoned in turmeric.  $10.00
Deliciously creamy and sweet.
Tikikl Gomen:  Chopped cabbage, carrots and other vegetables in a mild sauce.  $10.00
Spicy, tender, soft, no bitterness, slightly sour.
Atkilit Alecha:  Carrots, potatoes and string beans in mild sauce.  $10.00
Soft, creamy, little bit of starchiness, nicely spiced with good color.
Mushroom Wot:  Sautéed mushrooms in a berbere stew.  $10.00
A great combination of flavors, rich and spicy.
Keiy Sir:  Sliced beets sautéed with onions, tomato sauce and olive oil.  $10.00
If you like beets, you will enjoy this, sweet and flavorful.
Ye Timatim Fitfi:  Chopped tomatoes, onion, jalapeno, and lemon juice mixed with pieces of injera. $9.00
The Ethiopian version of a Panzanella salad…very refreshing with a kick of spice.
Queen Lamb Tibs:  Chunks of lamb sautéed with onions and rosemary. $15.00
A lamb lovers delight, full of flavor.

Queen of Sheba offers a limited but adequate selection of beer, wine, and soft drinks. As one might expect with unfamiliar cuisine, the knowledge and assistance of the wait staffs are important in making menu choices. Their suggestions and descriptions were invaluable in making our dining experience enjoyable.

Sarasota’s ethnic dining corridor is the perfect place to try something out of the ordinary. So why not take a walk on the “wild side?” I think your palate will be pleasantly surprised.

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