- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Dukem Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Ethiopian Ethiopian [Edit]
950 Danforth AveToronto, ON M4J 1L9
Neighbourhood: The Danforth
(416) 406-6342
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 4 pm - 12 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
10 reviews for Dukem Restaurant
10 reviews in English
-
Review from anjali d.
Toronto, ON
1/3/2012
My fav ethiopian place
-
Review from Lauren M.
11/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Dukem is definitely not the cheapest Ethiopian fare to be found in Toronto (go to Nazareth for that) but nor is it super pricey.
What really stood out for me about the food at Dukem was that it was not overly greasy whatsoever...it fact it wasn't greasy at all. Even the injera bread underneath both our veg and meat options did not become too saturated with oils (as is the norm for Ethiopian food I've had at 4-5 other places in Toronto).
My Yelp buddy and I shared 1 vegetarian plate ($12) and added a lamb dish ($14). Note that the prices on the menu INCLUDE tax (bonus!) So $26 for two people is not too bad. Food portion was large and they brought plenty of injera bread so we didn't have to ask for more.
Another thing I liked about Dukem is the service was good and the food came out within a reasonable time - another surprise for an Ethiopian place. I'm usually left agonizing over why the food is taking so long.
Decor was OK. The place has only 7-8 tables. Waitress was very friendly. -
Review from Hoa N.
8/4/2011
No coffee ceremony for us. Our evening-of-disaster ended with my husband waiting 25 minutes for a check while Aggressively Smug Self-righteous Manager Owner (referred to henceforth as ASSMO) patently ignored him. No check arrived. No check arrived. My guy finally had to tally and approximate the total and leave, unceremoniously placing cash on the table. ASSMO kept his back to him from his seat at the bar all the while.
Really?!
Rewind: we were excited to eat some good Ethiopian food in our new neighborhood. On our walk to Dukem, we reminisced about the little joint we frequented when we were first dating, sweet Axum in SF's Lower Haight. I waxed nostalgic for the many excellent Ethiopian restaurants in the Adams Morgan area of my youth. When my husband and our two sons reached Dukem, we thought we had found a new cozy place to enjoy one of our favorite cuisines, the food of our courtship.
It started off innocous enough: language-challenged and/or confused waitress took our drink order. ASSMO had to be called over to tell us offererings for my guys' whiskey request. We got Stellas and set to order. Confused/language-challenged waitress could not take our order so ASSMO was brought over yet again.
The menu is in a spiral bound booklet format: it has a vegetarian page with a selection of veg offerings with a combination veg platter listed at the bottom. On the *next* page are the meat selections that also ends in a meat combo platter offering. We had the veg page open.
[IMPORTANT NOTE: we would have never EVER ordered from the meat page.]
We pointed to the veg combo. ASSMO assured us that this was a good choice.
Do you have Tej [an Ethiopian honey wine]?, I asked. No, says ASSMO.
OK.
Wait, wait, wait. We talk. Our boys entertain themselves even as our water glasses remained empty. As did my Stella glass.
Thirsty, I approached our English challenged/confused waitress; she was perched at the bar with her back to us. Apologies, she said, and brought us more water and me another beer.
While we waited for our food, I cried -- cue disaster-evening foreshadowing music: nerves, hunger and moving stress culminated in an embarrassing show of tears over life-matters. I was looking forward to the meal even more-- Ethiopian food to comfort me in a homey setting with kind, rooting-for-you service.
Cue the this-thought-shall-be-so-ironic music.
Wait, wait, wait. Where the heck was our food?
It arrives: half of the platter contained stews of meat chunks with a dog food looking pile of meat in the center.
Noooooo!
We ask for the waitress who gets ASSMO. My guy explains, gesturing to the meat, that we ordered the vegetarian platter. ASSMO says No, his jaw set and frowning, You did not--look, he says opening to the meat page and pointing to the meat combo--You ordered this.
My guy says, No, we ordered the veg combination--then says, Well, it seems there was a mistake-- and then generously adds, We can pay for this, just please bring us the veg combo.
ASSMO refuses this offer but continues to insist (trying to make a point ?) that we ordered the meat combo--and then, in a big show of fake generosity, says You can eat the veg half while you wait for us to replace the order.
Crazed with hunger, my boys and I fall on the veg food. My guy declines on principle, waits for the correct order.
The veg dishes were tasty and rank with the good Ethiopian I have known in DC and SF--not the best, but good. I like that it came with a green salad in the center, though the signature lemony dressing I was accustomed to was lacking and the red onions were absent.
The correct order comes and we all, finally, eat. The boys and I finish; restless, we decide to wait on the sidewalk for the check to arrive. We wait and wait. My guy comes out 10 minutes later and says, Don't wait for it any longer--go ahead, I'll wait for the check.
But the check never came. ASSMO sat with his back to our table a short distance away, icing my husband in this tiny restaurant --he waited and waited for a check that would never be delivered.
Because the customer isn't right? Because we had to be proven a lesson? What the hell???
We are decent, ready to oblige, generous people. We did not deserve this treatment.
Worst. restaurant. experience. ever. -
Review from Priya B.
4/20/2011
Great little Ethiopian place right by Donlands station. The decor is warm and inviting and it smells amazing inside. Don't make the same mistake I made and show up extremely hungry, because those 20 minutes until your food arrives will go by very slowly when you can smell all the delicious food people around you are eating.
Our server was very friendly and great about helping us decide what to order. We got the beef tibs with vegetables platter and I was a much bigger fan of the vegetables than I was of the beef. Although the tibs' sauce was probably my favorite part of the meal, the meat itself was a little tough and chewy. The vegetables on the other hand were all very good. I would recommend the lentils in berbere sauce, and the collard greens were delicious as well.
We also did the coffee ceremony at the end, which is worth trying if you have never done it before. The coffee was really interesting, it was strong and had this cinnamon-y flavor that I haven't experienced elsewhere. Also the popcorn they served with it was addicting.
The entire meal came to about $35 for two, including tip, which felt pretty inexpensive for the amount of food we got. -
Review from Jennifer M.
Toronto, ON
10/23/2010
Now that I am on an Ethiopian Reviewing kick, I figure it is only fair that I review Dukem. A long Time favorite of alot of east enders, I can certainly appreciate Dukem. I do not eat meat, and that is (I think) where Duken loses some points from me. My meat eating dining companion was more thrilled than I was with our meal. I also found it a little bland and a little expensive. But note, Im comparing this to "mixed veggie platter" everywhere.
As for my opinion of the Messir Wat.. It was decent. Not particularly special and definitely not spicy enough.
This place really excels in service and atmosphere. The (owner?) actually visits tables saying hello and asking how your meal is. Its comfy, cozy and feels welcoming when you enter. Everyone is friendly and smiling and the server was suer attentive. This would be a good choice for an introduction to Ethiopian.
There is a teeny patio out front with two tables for summer dining.
Dukem is the kind of place I would visit again in a heartbeat if anyone invited me, and I may even give it another shot on my own. The food didn't blow my mind, but it really didn't offend me either.Listed in: Ethiopian Wat Wat.
-
Review from Denise M.
Toronto, ON
11/23/2009
Toronto is blessed with a large number of Ethiopian restaurants, many of which I have patronized. Dukem with it's cozy atmosphere, friendly service, reasonable prices and delicious flavours ranks as the best to me.
Every time me and Dallas H. go together the server always gives a little chuckle when she comes to refill our water glasses and realizes that the entire platter is empty save for a small clump of injera in the middle.
In the near future, I'm planning to make a list of top meals in Toronto for two under $30. Dukem will be on it. -
Review from Amy S.
Toronto, ON
1/30/2010
I had never had Ethiopian food before...was a nice introduction. Wait staff was friendly and created a nice melange for me and my friends, one of which was vegetarian.
I'm not a great big fan of the injera..but maybe it will grow on me.
Really inexpensive, and a fabulous atmosphere. Our bill came to $50 for three including a glass of wine and a soda. -
Review from Rahim M.
Toronto, ON
4/29/2009
Service with a smile! :-)
There's no need to leave the country to have an authentic Ethiopian dining experience. By walking in the door of Dukem, you immediately feel like you've stepped into a hidden enclave. The slight scent of burning incense and sound of cool Ethiopian music in the background make the experience even more appealing and genuine. Don't be afraid to ask for recommendations from the menu if you've never eaten Ethiopian cuisine. The warm hospitality that the staff provide is plentiful, and so too are the portion sizes for the price!
Our favourite dish is the spicy Beef tibs. Combine the tibs with a vegetarian assortment, and you have a winning combination of a succulent, juicy and flavourful meat dish with a large spectrum of tasteful variety in curried vegetables and lentils. All dishes come with Injera (a spongy bread) that you use to scoop your meal with.
After dinner, I recommend ordering the Ethiopian spiced tea infused with cardamom and ginger to balance your palette and soothe your senses. Mmmm! -
Review from Crandall C.
East York, ON
5/30/2009
Went to eat at this restaurant last night based upon earlier review. The reviews were spot on! The food was great, atmosphere was very chill, pleasant service and dinner for 2 with tea, capps and desert was $35.00. Pretty reasonable. Highly recommended.
-
Review from Dallas H.
4/12/2009
Solid Ethiopian spot. Great kitfo, with chiles and goat cheese, friendly service, handy location.
