GeBeta Cafe and Restaurant, 1/578 Barkly Street, West Footscray. Phone: 0432 523 921
The word GeBeta, Tamrat Achamyeleh tells us, is about Ethiopian food.
Not just the platters on which the stews and pan-fried goodies are served, nor the injera with which they are accompanied or the gathered hungry folks.
Nay, it is all of the above – a sort of “let’s all eat together” statement of purpose.
We’re totally down with that, especially when it comes to trying a brand new Ethiopian eatery in West Footscray.
That’s right – West Foostcray, rather than the more typically Ethio/African precincts of the singularly named Footscray near the other end of Barkly Street.
After sampling the GeBeta food, we reckon the locals around here will love supporting this colourful addition to their eating palette, one that is otherwise tilted towards Indian food – though not quite as much as is sometimes claimed.
GeBeta is being run by Tamrat Achamyeleh and Tiruzer Ahunem, whose food we enjoyed on many occasions at Ras Dashen on Nicholson Street.
We admire their smarts in moving up the road where there is much less competition of the Ethiopian variety.
None, actually.
The menu – see it at the place’s website here – features a line-up of reliable Ethiopian regulars.
We are in a meaty mood so share a lovely spread of doro w’et – “the national dish of Ethiopia” – and kh’ey tibs at $15 each.
The doro w’et is rich, oily and all delicious, its single chicken drumstick and hard-boiled egg quite sufficient in terms of heft.
The kh’ey tibs is light on the menu-nominated “berbere infused curry”, but is still very good, the just-cooked onions adding welcome crunch and texture.
All is abetted by a nice salad studded with green chilli slices.
GeBeta serves injera made with teff at the weekends, but the regular hybrid version at other times.
Tamrat tells us they hope in the future to have on the menu the beef bone soup we loved at their Footscray establishment.
At the moment, the restaurant is a cash-only proposition.
new ethiopian.yum.i see they are on menulog👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
And Uber!
LikeLike
what is happening next door of mama’s cuisine,some renovation action!
LikeLike
which next door ,hooyo or somalieats!
LikeLike
hooyo
LikeLike
djiboutian community is small in melbourne,hooyos kitchen been quiet a while,
LikeLike
not another somali restaurant!,enough on one strip already!
LikeLike
hope its burger if its somali. hooyo is not mainland somalia.its djiboutian,
LikeLike
they setup differs one to another,people have favourites even if food similar.it also serves somalians in north melbourne/kensington.i wouldn’t mind another somali in hooyo’s pl
LikeLike
not another hipster tho.mamas and somalieats is too similar already
LikeLike
saaxil its not marked
LikeLike
will be good addition
LikeLike
west footscray finally☺
LikeLike
We had lunch here on Thursday, we simply asked for a lamb dish and a vegetarian dish, what came out of the kitchen was a taste sensation. Juicy lamb in a rich spicy sauce with fresh tomato, green chilli and the vegetarian dish had 3 different piles of lentils, pickled beetroot, a splodge of creamy, nutty dip (gotta find out what that was) and sauteed spinach as well as a small fresh green salad that was crunchy with a refreshing dressing. Rolls of fluffy injera were our only tools and away we went. It was tasty, filling and we will be back for more. Finished off with an Ethiopian coffee as suggested by our host which too was great, and not as strong as I was expecting. I urge WEFO residents to get along and support this restaurant, then the rest of the west can have a go at it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Scott! Thanks for posting a great review!
LikeLike
good.too much marked the street.thanks samir
LikeLike
there is new ethiopian cafe in footscray.cafe asmara,it tiny cafe nicholson st!
LikeLike
its called bella asmara cafe to correct you.
LikeLike
its eritrean establishment,a trendy little cafe
LikeLike