Queen of Sheba's
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Phone: (919) 960-6799
- Price:
- $
- Hours:
- Tue-Sat 11am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-10pm
Editorial Review for Queen of Sheba's – by Kelly Ferguson
The Scene
Although it's located only a side street away from the heart of Chapel Hill, Queen of Sheba feels remote. Lamp posts outline the covered patio, illuminating several outdoor tables. Inside, the dining room is small and filled with traditional round tables and aqua-colored vinyl seats. African music and Ethiopian folk art sets the restaurant's exotic tone. Service is low-key but sincere, and usually includes a tableside visit by the owner.
The Food
Spices range from mild to intense, and the overall quality of the dishes varies as well. A delicious appetizer is the iyb begomen, a pungent mix of collards, peppers and Ethiopian cheese. The Ethiopian potato salad is also refreshing and tangy with green chili. The berbere sauce works wonderfully with the yesmisir kay watt (red lentils), but fairs less well in the minchetabesh, where the beef lacks flavor. Although a bit tough, the yedoro tibbs (chicken) has a delightful sauce of ginger, garlic and honey wine.
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Insider Tips
Know Before You GoEthiopian food is best shared, so bring a friend or two and sit at one of the round tables designed to hold the injera (the flat bread all food is served upon).
User Reviews for Queen of Sheba's
01/08/2009 Posted by Erically96
Please note that the restaurant is actually located at Timberlyne Plaza on Weaver Dairy Road now. I am a huge fan of Ethiopian food after visiting Blue Nile in Durham a few years ago. The ambience, the injera, the amazing appetizers, the variety of flavors is astounding! I took my 4 yo for the first time and now he wants to eat all his food by picking off bits of bread! We usually get the vegetarian sampler here because it is just so darn good. I had the meat dishes a few years ago, which were pretty good as well, but I still tend to favor the veggies there. 100% recommended if you've never tried Ethiopian or are a connoisseur already! For a more authentic experience, sit at a basket instead of the table.
Pros: Amazingly unique food
Cons: When the meal is over ;)
12/14/2008 Posted by luckylucas
I love Ethiopian food, and was thrilled to find Queen of Sheba re-opened! My first time in the new location was a little unsettling, but only from the service not the food. The waiter seemed lost in a sea of ineptness. We held on, and finally received water after waiting 30 min. He then proceeded to take another table's order that had just sat down. We had to wait 20 more min. until we could order food. I was happy once my food arrived because it was delicious!! I felt about offering to wait tables in exchange for food to help the owner out. Seriously! She is so gracious and welcoming, I feel like it is a disservice to have such a unorganized waiter. The second time I came in, it was for lunch and again wonderful food, but that same waiter. He was much more focused that day, and actually was attentive and nice. I have to remember sometimes that one can have an off day, and sometimes that day is our busiest day ever. I also wish they were open on Sat. afternoons!
Pros: Home cooked food by gracious owner, new great location
Cons: improperly trained waitstaff
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