Global Cafe is a new little player up next to the Kremlin Bar on Northbourne Avenue.
As an Ethiopian Cafe one imagines the coffee could be worth a try, but this is a lunch review series.
The world is roughly divided into those who’ve tried Ethiopian cuisine and like it, and those who’re still making jokes based on a 30 year gone famine.
If you’re in the latter camp then it really is time to get with the program.
For $8 Global Cafe will fill up a tub for you with either rice or injera and a choice of stews or vegetables.
They do amazing things with lentils so that’s highly recommended. I also went with the vegetables and a beef wat.
Filling, very tasty, and very fast.
(For more sub $10 lunches in Civic check the tag, if you’ve got recommendations let me know.)
UPDATE: The Global Cafe folk have been in touch to let us know they now have a website.
A vegetable and beef what?
I am sure it is good but if I was them I wouldn’t use that photo for advertising purposes. Looks like they dropped the table swab in the pot.
The photo looks scary, but I will take you word for it and give it ago
It’s not an advertising photo, it’s a photo of my lunch.
Once you get to know Injera you’ll think that photo looks like delicious!
There was a very good episode of that Maeve O’Mara food show on SBS a while back, where they went through Ethiopian and region food, and that Injera was very interesting. It’s often used as the plate the food is served on, and then you eat the food by tearing off bits of the plate to grab it with, and you eat the lot.
Nut allergics need to be very careful of food from this region though, as Groundnut (peanut) is the staple thickener in many foods.
I’m a bit gunshy about Ethiopian cuisine after average experiences at two other Canberra restaurants. Might give this one a wide berth.
JB. Did the injera have that acidic vinegary taste that it is supposed to? I had some recently that lacked that aspect and it was disappointing.
Keijidosha said :
Why? Seems a pointless attitude. There’s nothing to indicate this place would have any unwanted effects on you. Still, each to their own. You might be the type who won’t allow sunlight to fall upon any part of your skin because you believe the latest crop of skin cancer ads, if so there’s a cotton wool factory somewhere waiting for your business. 🙂
bigfeet said :
Yep it was lemony
johnboy said :
Sounds good. Another one to add to the lunchtime repertoire.
Loving the “$10 Lunch” series. Sounds as if you are too!
Are they still doing the $7 lunch at the Magpies City Club? They used to do quite a decent Lambs Fry and Bacon. Although having to become a member might push it over the budget.
Global Cafe is great! It’s run by a lovely young Ethiopian woman, and I started going there after buying her food at the Multicultural festival a couple of years ago – I think that was soon after she opened and I thought the food so good that I made a point of finding the cafe. I have never been there at lunchtime since I don’t work in Civic, but it’s on my circuit of regular Friday night dinner places. It is usually open till around 8pm on Fridays. You can get individual dishes with injera or rice, or a meat/vegetarian platter, where you get some of all the dishes arranged on a large piece of injera (as Evan James described in #5), with some extra injera on the side. This is my favourite Ethiopian restaurant in Canberra. Food preparation tends to take a while on Friday nights, so we just don’t go there when we’re in a hurry.
bigfeet: yes, the injera is really good.
That sounds pretty good – I didn’t realise there was a new place open on Northbourne. Will have to try it out.
Another under $10 suggestion for you – the Blue Olive on Alinga St (next to PJ O’Malleys). Huge menu for sandwiches, a big choice of bread, and delicious to boot. Not too sure they do takeaway, but I have eaten in and enjoyed some nice sandwiches there.
johnboy said :
*opens mouth to speak* … errr nevermind 😛
Mickle said :
I second this – the food was very nice. Not sure if it was under $10 though?
Davo111 said :
It most definitely was under $10 for a fancy sandwich.
troll-sniffer said :
Who said anything about “unwanted effects”. My average experiences pertained to the flavours, which after trying two seperate restaurants I still did not find appealing. I’m pretty open minded about food, but Ethiopian hit well wide of setting my tastebuds alight.
Thanks for the free psychoanalysis though, you’ve saved me a trip to the therapist.
I’m still waiting to see you try something for under $10 and report that it was crap.
Mysteryman said :
And I keep answering, why would I eat a crap lunch?
johnboy said :
In the interests of research? Providing a service to the rest of us? Taking one for the team?
more useful to seek and out and praise the good.