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Massawa
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
4 reviews for Massawa
4 reviews in English
-
Review from DineoutGal A.
Winnipeg, MB
4/1/2012
This Ethiopian restaurant is notorious for the long wait time. I've been warned by soooo many people that I have avoided this place for some time. But I am so glad I tried this place - the food is super yum!
Now timing wise, I was distracted as I was chatting intensely with my BFF so I couldn't sense how much time had actually elapsed. Some advice: do not show up super hungry, go there with people that can entertain you and order an appetizer. I think the wait for the actual dinner portion was maybe 30-45 mins - not terrible as I was expecting 1-2 hours.
They have the most yummy drinks - get the Massawa cocktail ($5.95)! You can get mango or guava juice and it's mixed with grenadine with either rum or vodka. Rum goes best with the mango and guava goes best with vodka. The mango/rum is a tad sweeter but still delish but I really enjoyed the guava/vodka.
Get an appy to tie you over before your real dinner and I recommend the sambussa ($1.95 for one). This is an Ethiopian/Somali appetizer that's similar to a samosa. It's a triangular shaped, deep fried flaky dough that's stuffed with lentils, onions, and some spices. No dipping sauce but yummy on it's own. 1 sambussa is good enough for me but if you are really hungry, get two.
I opted for the house specialty B platter ($14.99) which offered up chicken, beef and lamb and two vegetarian items. This is a really good one to try as many items as possible. The items are served on a big piece of injeera (African version of sour dough bread except this is a spongy flat bread) and then there's a few more large pieces of folded injeera around the platter. No utensils so you use the injeera to scoop up your food. You do get a small bowl of very hot water with a wedge of lime to wash/rinse your hands. It feels awkward to not use utensils the first time I had Ethiopian but after that, I find it to be lots of fun. Both the vegetarian and non-vegetarian items are so full of flavour. And the injeera here is probably the best one I've tasted. I took home half the platter so at $14.99, it's a great deal!
Service is pretty good as our server was attentive with refills and such. Word of caution, the women's washroom door is sooo messed up! It doesn't look like it's locked. It's a single washroom unit and the door doesn't seem to shut or lock which is a problem. Supposedly you push the door and lock it at the same time. But don't push too hard or else you can lock yourself in as that has happened to my friend and the server. Please Massawa owners - fix the door! -
Review from A.P. B.
MB
11/20/2011 2 Check-ins Here
An Osborne Village favourite, it's back to basics at Massawa: slow cooked Ethiopian stews (wat) on a traditional flat bread (injeera).
Dishes are typically served family style on beautifully hand painted enamel platters and you will not and can not get utensils. Wat is eaten by tearing pieces of injeera and scooping up chunks of the stew (although finger bowls are provided).
A word to the wise...order an appy as service is notoriously slow. Sambussas are you best bet: a crunchy pastry shell akin to a samosa filled with subtly seasoned lentils. A couple of these will tide you over while you wait, but oh boy is it worth it.
Navigating the menu can be confusing but what you're really looking at is different spice mixes. Whether it's Doro Wat or Lega Tibs, spices are subtle and more about flavour than fire. But if you can't take the heat, be wary of the Awaze Tibs--cubes of beef with jalapenos. Although it's a personal favourite, it delivers way more punch than any other item on the menu, but it's easily managed by extra bread.
Masawa's injeera is without a doubt some of the freshest in the city so order more right from the start (especially if you have a big appetite like me).
I'm an unabashed meat eater, but I actually adore the vegetarian platter. Bursting with flavour it features lentils, chickpeas, potatoes and spinach. It's more than my wife can eat which is why I insist on individual platters rather than the family style. That way I can finish off hers.
There are no desserts to speak of so if you've got a sweet tooth, it's down the road to Baked Expectations.
More news and reviews at http://www.SavourWinni... -
Review from Joél H.
Winnipeg, MB
11/25/2008
Winnipeg has a lot of Ethiopian restaurants, and Massawa is consistently the best. Consistency is key -- it's always good. The wats are all complex and delicious. The atmosphere is polished but comfortable -- it's a great place to have dinner and a bottle of wine with friends, or a date. The prices are reasonable.
Massawa is also known for its slowness of service, and this reputation is earned. Expect to wait 30-60 minutes for your food. Have a small snack before you leave the house! The wait, however, will be well, well worth it. -
Review from Jane S.
Winnipeg, MB
12/5/2011
Really, my rating should be a 5 for food, but a 2 for promptness of service! I haven't been back there for sometime, because I just can't tolerate the wait. Once I went when it was semi-busy and waited about an hour for the food, but thought, "well, it's busy so it can't be helped". The next time I went, there were only two other people there and it still took almost an hour! I guess some people don't mind the wait and will order drinks and appetizers, but I'm just too impatient. Kokeb on Ellice is much faster and the food is still pretty good - but I'm tempted to order take out from Massawa to compare as I can't remember if their food is better than Kokeb's.
