Merkato serves homely ethiopian cuisine at reasonable prices. The restaurant doesn’t try to impress with frills or exotic looking decor. It’s just good dining, plain and simple.

For those who have not experienced this type of cuisine, they will find the lack of silverware disconcerting. The food is served family style, usually on top of the traditional flat bread (injera). More injera is served, and diners are supposed to use it to pick up the food. The dishes are generally pastes / stewed vegetables or meats that are mildly spiced—in contrast with Indian food, which traditionally shares the manual mode of consumption but is generally spicier. The vegetable sampler (platter?) is a must, which will compliment more veggies, or meat.

This is a very good everyday kind of place, and I would dine here frequently if I were living in the area.