Addis Red Sea

(617) 426-8727

544 Tremont St
Boston, MA 02116 42.344149 -71.071293

Get Map & Directions »

Neighborhoods: South End, Shawmut

addisredsea.com

Hours:

Monday To Friday From 05:00 AM To 11:00 PM Saturday To Sunday From 12:00 PM To 11:00 PM

Price:

$$

Last updated 6.23.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Diners Club, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Family Style Dining, Group Dining

Cuisine:

Vegan, African, Ethiopian, Vegetarian, Seafood

Smoking Permitted:

No

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Addis Red Sea

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – The city's most popular Ethiopian restaurant, Addis offers a menu of highly seasoned stews and fried meats, served atop an edible platter of injera (a spongy, pancake-like flatbread). Diners sit on tiny stools around intricately woven basket tables and enjoy a large selection of vegetarian dishes, including butecha (a mash of chickpeas, lemon juice and green pepper). Honey wine and cardamom-flavored coffee are among the drink options.

Editor's Tips

On the Menu:
One of the more veggie-friendly restaurants in the city, Addis ensures that all of its vegetarian items are vegan.
ambiance
94.73999977111816% positive
  1. “This place is a fun, casual night out.”
  2. “This has quickly become my fall back place for a romantic evening with my BF because we both know we'll always have a wonderful, romantic night.”
  3. “This is a cute restaurant with a great atmosphere, and eating with your hands is definitely an experience worth trying.”
  4. “The atmosphere was interesting, but the service left a lot to be desired.”
  5. “The food is great, there are plenty of options for both meat-eaters and vegetarians, the staff are very friendly, and the atmosphere is very inviting.”
  6. “This place has a great atmosphere.”
  7. “It was very authentic in atmosphere and the food was tasty!”
  8. “While the ambiance was nice and service perfectly adequate, this was by far and away the most bland Ethiopian food I've ever had.”
  9. “I've been to Addis twice in the past month and have enjoyed the great food, atmosphere and waitstaff more and more.”
  10. “really love this place and having a dinner party was really fun!”
  11. “It's a great place to go with friends because the way the food is served, it's easy to try other peoples and it's fun.”
  12. “(Awesome for romantic evenings, especially for the adventurous foodie!)”
  13. “The only good thing about it was that it was an interesting atmosphere and novel experience.”
  14. “The ambiance was great, and the food even better.”
  15. “Food was not really too unique at all I thought but the atmosphere was with all the stuff on the walls.”
  16. “The atmosphere was really nice, and we enjoyed our time.”
  17. “The food was good and the atmosphere was relaxing.”
  18. “And excellent ambience.”
  19. “The atmosphere upstairs is especially great.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “Bhaklava & Coffee are great for desert”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “The sweet wine was terrific.”
  2. “They have a honey wine which is authentic and delicious, which I love.”
  3. “it was a great experience overall and the only unfortunate part was that they ran out of their ethiopian wine which i was looking forward to trying.”
food quality
90.15999794006348% positive
  1. “The food wasn't that great, and was certainly nothing compared to Dahlak.”
  2. “While the ambiance was nice and service perfectly adequate, this was by far and away the most bland Ethiopian food I've ever had.”
  3. “The food that Addis Red Sea provides is also clean, and fresh.”
  4. “Their bread was just awesome and I also recommend the combo plate for 2, get variety and enough food to probably feed another person.”
  5. “My friends ordered a appetizer that was wayyyy too over priced and it was 2 pieces of crispy ground beef pastry smaller than your thumb that couldn't even fill up a baby.”
  6. “It was very authentic in atmosphere and the food was tasty!”
  7. “The food was wonderful, the staff was warm and friendly, and the all around experience was one we will not soon forget!”
  8. “The food was great and the staff was very helpful (a giant plus when dealing with food ones not accustom to).”
  9. “The food was absolutely wonderful.”
  10. “The food is great if you're open to ethnic foods.”
  11. “Well the food in Addis Red Sea is really great and I really love their Goden Tibs.”
  12. “Good food overshadowed by subpar service”
  13. “Best Culture food in Boston”
  14. “really enjoyed my first experience with Ethiopian food in Addis Red Sea and i was not disappointed!”
  15. “The food is really good, but its”
  16. “The food is great, there are plenty of options for both meat-eaters and vegetarians, the staff are very friendly, and the atmosphere is very inviting.”
  17. “The food was good and the atmosphere was relaxing.”
  18. “The seating is rather intimate, the food is interesting (and mostly tasty, though I'm not a fan of t.”
  19. “I'm not a huge fan of ethnic food, but I've always enjoyed Ethiopian.”
  20. “The food is fantastic and price is reasonable.”
  21. “All the food came out on a big platter that everyone shared and ate off.”
  22. “When I went, I was open minded and the place seemed quite busy on a saturday night and I was expecting "good" service and pretty good food.”
  23. “Tonight, my friends asked to go to Addis because they told me it was a unique place and the food was good.”
  24. “The steak tartar, Kitfo was amazing.”
  25. “I've been to Addis twice in the past month and have enjoyed the great food, atmosphere and waitstaff more and more.”
  26. “Later as we were ordering, I wanted to order an appetizer instead of a meal since there were so many of us we could all just share and try different things on the menu.”
  27. “The spongy bread (Injera) made a perfect palette for the variety of vegetable stews and mixes we ordered for the table, some spicy, some with hints of sweetness, and all very rich and satisfying.”
  28. “but make sure you get a good size so that you can grab the food that's less than solid.”
  29. “It is exquisite Ethiopian food that I can rarely find.”
  30. “Who knew that Ethiopian food was so yummy and filling?”
  31. “but like my friend's friend said, one might feel bad eating ethiopian food knowing that most ethiopians these days don't have this much food to eat--w/ or w/o their hands.”
  32. “am always a huge fan for ethnic food, and it is my first time to try Ethiopian food in Addis Red Sea.”
  33. “the service was amazing and the food was delicious.”
  34. “They have a honey wine which is authentic and delicious, which I love.”
  35. “It's a great place to go with friends because the way the food is served, it's easy to try other peoples and it's fun.”
  36. “The food is ok, but the service is truly awful.”
  37. “Boston/Cambridge. Great for vegatarians or meat lovers, the food and great and the service attentive.”
  38. “The food is excellent, right down to the bread "plates.”
  39. “This place had great ethiopian food and its not hard to see why this place gets so easily packed.”
  40. “Both the meat and vegetarians dishes are very tasty and the experience as a whole was thrilling.”
  41. “The food is great and the bread is really nice.”
  42. “am ethnic cuisine lover, I have tried so many different styles of food, and I still love this Ethiopian food most.”
  43. “Great for groups and those new to Ethiopian -- plenty of fish and chicken available if goat or lamb is too weird.”
  44. “The staff is incredibly helpful and informative about the various food options.”
  45. “It was a great experience with great food.”
  46. “Chicken and beef dishes are very tasty.”
  47. “The ambiance was great, and the food even better.”
  48. “The collard greens dish is my favorite.”
  49. “Addis Red Sea is really fine quality food with good service.”
  50. “It's the only place I've ever had Ethiopian food, so I can't compare it, but I can state for the record that everything I've had there has been delicious.”
  51. “While the food was good and I would enjoy eating Ethiopian again, I will avoid this restaurant as this place is just too average.”
  52. “Injera is very nice with vegitable / meat side dishes.”
  53. “wonderful ethiopian food”
  54. “My girl friend and I visited this restaurant because we love ethnic food and the review was so great.”
  55. “Really good food; completely”
  56. “It is the best Ethiopian food I know of in Boston, though it might not hold up as well next to top Ethiopian restaurants in other cities.”
  57. “Be prepared to eat with your hands, the bread they give you to eat with is awesome, kind of crepe-like.”
  58. “The food was fantastic, with a very homely feel to it.”
  59. “Great food.”
  60. “Love the flat bread.”
  61. “have actually been 3 times (because I love the food) and everytime I promise myself I won't go back because the service is so damn slow (even when the restaurant is half empty).”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “Combination option at the end of the menu is highly recommended.”
  2. “The food is great, there are plenty of options for both meat-eaters and vegetarians, the staff are very friendly, and the atmosphere is very inviting.”
  3. “Later as we were ordering, I wanted to order an appetizer instead of a meal since there were so many of us we could all just share and try different things on the menu.”
  4. “The staff is incredibly helpful and informative about the various food options.”
  5. “The spongy bread (Injera) made a perfect palette for the variety of vegetable stews and mixes we ordered for the table, some spicy, some with hints of sweetness, and all very rich and satisfying.”
  6. “Their bread was just awesome and I also recommend the combo plate for 2, get variety and enough food to probably feed another person.”
overall
90.90999603271484% positive
  1. “If you're looking for a great place to eat without breaking the bank, this the place to do.”
  2. “This place had great ethiopian food and its not hard to see why this place gets so easily packed.”
  3. “believe Addis Red Sea is not only the great restaurant for date, but also the best spot to hang out with friends.”
  4. “think the best of this restaurant is the experience.”
  5. “good place for experiental dining”
  6. “have always had great experiences at this restaurant and never a problem.”
  7. “Service is good but can get slow when the place gets crowded.”
  8. “it was a great place for 2-4 people.”
  9. “While the food was good and I would enjoy eating Ethiopian again, I will avoid this restaurant as this place is just too average.”
  10. “It's a great place to go with friends because the way the food is served, it's easy to try other peoples and it's fun.”
  11. “Overall I did not have a great experience but I would recommend it to people who are curious to see what the place is like.”
return potential
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “have actually been 3 times (because I love the food) and everytime I promise myself I won't go back because the service is so damn slow (even when the restaurant is half empty).”
  2. “As a result, that was an interesting experience but I won't go back to that restaurant again.”
  3. “definitely will go back because this restaurant is already become one of my favorite spot in City.”
service
66.0699987411499% positive
  1. “it was a great place for 2-4 people.”
  2. “The food was wonderful, the staff was warm and friendly, and the all around experience was one we will not soon forget!”
  3. “REally friendly staff and someone constantly refilling our water glasses which I have to say never happens at any Newbury St restuarant.”
  4. “Overall: A unique dining experience for open-minded people, and great for a group setting.”
  5. “The staff is incredibly helpful and informative about the various food options.”
  6. “When I went, I was open minded and the place seemed quite busy on a saturday night and I was expecting "good" service and pretty good food.”
  7. “Addis Red Sea is really fine quality food with good service.”
  8. “And our waitress was very nice and informative.”
  9. “The service was slow, but since we were enjoying ourselves it didn't matter.”
  10. “Food ok, bad service”
  11. “The wait staff, when they acknowledged us at all, was not helpful.”
  12. “The food was great and the staff was very helpful (a giant plus when dealing with food ones not accustom to).”
  13. “Good food overshadowed by subpar service”
  14. “While the ambiance was nice and service perfectly adequate, this was by far and away the most bland Ethiopian food I've ever had.”
  15. “The food is ok, but the service is truly awful.”
  16. “had a horrible time, their service was unbelievably bad.”
  17. “The atmosphere was interesting, but the service left a lot to be desired.”
  18. “The food is great, there are plenty of options for both meat-eaters and vegetarians, the staff are very friendly, and the atmosphere is very inviting.”
  19. “the service was amazing and the food was delicious.”
  20. “went to the 1 on tremont street and I have to say, the manager there is not too friendly and rude.”
  21. “The staff was nice, but inattentive.”
  22. “The service was pretty decent.”
  23. “have actually been 3 times (because I love the food) and everytime I promise myself I won't go back because the service is so damn slow (even when the restaurant is half empty).”
  24. “Boston/Cambridge. Great for vegatarians or meat lovers, the food and great and the service attentive.”
  25. “Slow service.”
  26. “At this point, we spoke to the hostess to inform her of the exorbitantly slow service that we were receiving, to which we received a reply of "you haven't been here for an hour" in a rude voice.”
  27. “Overall I did not have a great experience but I would recommend it to people who are curious to see what the place is like.”
  28. “had heard from several people about Addis and the unique dining experience there, so my gf and one of our favorite other couples decided to give it a try.”
value
85.71000099182129% positive
  1. “The food is fantastic and price is reasonable.”
  2. “Great price.”
  3. “am always a huge fan for ethnic food, and it is my first time to try Ethiopian food in Addis Red Sea.”
  4. “Great price for the quality and quantity.”
  5. “My friends ordered a appetizer that was wayyyy too over priced and it was 2 pieces of crispy ground beef pastry smaller than your thumb that couldn't even fill up a baby.”
  6. “I'm not a huge fan of ethnic food, but I've always enjoyed Ethiopian.”
  7. “This is a cute restaurant with a great atmosphere, and eating with your hands is definitely an experience worth trying.”
wait time
45.2400016784668% positive
  1. “Just like others comment the services are somehow slow, but the place is beautiful, and if you are looking for unique dining experience, Addis Red Sea is definitely your best choice”
  2. “Try to go sometime during the week- Friday and Saturday nights tend to have a good 45 minute wait.”
  3. “Services was slow, but they were nice overall.”
  4. “The service was slow, but since we were enjoying ourselves it didn't matter.”
  5. “At this point, we spoke to the hostess to inform her of the exorbitantly slow service that we were receiving, to which we received a reply of "you haven't been here for an hour" in a rude voice.”
  6. “Service is good but can get slow when the place gets crowded.”
  7. “have actually been 3 times (because I love the food) and everytime I promise myself I won't go back because the service is so damn slow (even when the restaurant is half empty).”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

07/01/10

Good for first timers, not so much for Ethiopian regulars

by vbpablo at Citysearch

The comments here really reflect my feelings about the place. The most favourable comments are generally from people who have enjoyed their first experience with Ethiopian food. If you have never had Ethiopian food, then this place is as good as any to start. It is a delightful, unique experience that everyone should try, if not here, then somewhere else. My wife and I love Ethiopian food, and seek out Ethiopian restaurants when we travel. I always consider them better than 90% of the alternatives, and hence give this 5 stars.

However, those who have had Ethiopian before are rating this place lower, and that is because they are rating it compared to other Ethiopian places. I would agree. The big thing this has going for it is the atmosphere. This is exactly what I expect for an Ethiopian restaurant. All basket seating, with no tables. I love it. On the other hand, I agree with those who note that the food is lacking flavour. The doro wot was by far the worst I have had, and lacked the zing that you would expect. Similarly, the injera was really bland, and didn't have any sourdough flavour at all. Then again, the beef tibs were really good, and among the best I have had, and there was a good veggie dish with green beans, potatos, and carrots. So it is a mixed bag.

But if you've never had Ethiopian before, these things should not stop you from trying it out. If I were in Boston again, I would probably check out another place, just to compare, but given the option of this place and most of the other restaurants in town, I'd choose Addis.

  • Pros: Atmosphere, beef tibs!
  • Cons: Doro wot (chicken), injera (bread)
4 Star Rating: Recommended

05/18/10

The red sea is tastey

by MattPliet at Citysearch

The food was great and the staff was very helpful (a giant plus when dealing with food ones not accustom to). It was a great experience with great food.

  • Pros: authentic good food
  • Cons: The authentic seats while cool are uncomfy
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

04/21/10

Partying the red sea

by heymermaid , Citysearch Contributor at Citysearch

Addis Red Sea is an amazing spot for dinner with friends, especially if your friends happen to be vegetarians. It's the only place I've ever had Ethiopian food, so I can't compare it, but I can state for the record that everything I've had there has been delicious. If you're thinking of going, but not sure--don't be intimidated! The spongy bread (Injera) made a perfect palette for the variety of vegetable stews and mixes we ordered for the table, some spicy, some with hints of sweetness, and all very rich and satisfying. The staff is courteous both on the phone and in person, and patiently answer questions even if there's a full house. The atmosphere upstairs is especially great. We were once seated in a cramped corner downstairs, but that was just so we could get some drinks started and our orders in sooner--they moved us to a more open table as soon as they could.

I'd recommend trying the honey wine as well. It's not to everyone's taste, but I thought it was pretty good and definitely unique.

  • Pros: great vegetarian options, filling, adventurous
  • Cons: a few uncomfy tables
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/15/10

Wonderful experiance

by SandraLALA at Citysearch

Me and my friends love ethnic food and this place was totally a place we love. It was very authentic in atmosphere and the food was tasty!

  • Pros: Great atmosphear
  • Cons: Chairs were authentic but a bit uncomfy
2 Star Rating: Below Average

02/06/10

Not What I expected

by multicruisine at Citysearch

Tonight, my friends asked to go to Addis because they told me it was a unique place and the food was good.

When I went, I was open minded and the place seemed quite busy on a saturday night and I was expecting "good" service and pretty good food. After waiting to be seated, the waitress came by quickly and was very cordial. My friends ordered a appetizer that was wayyyy too over priced and it was 2 pieces of crispy ground beef pastry smaller than your thumb that couldn't even fill up a baby.($6.95) It took 40 minutes to cook 2 mini hotpockets which was ridiculous. The appetizer was luke warm so they made a comment to the waitress and she said they were suppose to be like (luke warm food...are you serious?)that which was untrue because they had it before when it was hot and the most upsetting was that it was clearly fried and and she told us it was "pan cooked" which was impossible with that texture. We ordered together and got 5 dishes. By the way it was more than 50 minutes before the food was on the table. Food was not really too unique at all I thought but the atmosphere was with all the stuff on the walls. Food was sort of like a stew type but just seasoned heavily with herbs and spices. I truthfully had pretty high expectations after reading a bunch of reviews and afterwards, i do not think im going back again. I went to the 1 on tremont street and I have to say, the manager there is not too friendly and rude. Overall I did not have a great experience but I would recommend it to people who are curious to see what the place is like. Prepare to wait a long time for the food and they do not take reservations for less than 6 people.

  • Pros: Unique spongy bread
  • Cons: Slow/less than par service

The Details on Addis Red Sea

Place Categories:

  • great ethiopian food
  • slow service
  • great place
  • great first experience
  • friendly staff
  • great atmosphere
  • great price
  • worst eating ethiopian food
  • nice ambiance
  • just awesome flat bread
  • romantic evening
  • favorite spot
  • amazing cottagecheese like appetizer
  • great environment
  • big party
  • authentic honey wine
  • not helpful wait staff
  • rude manager
  • not great experience
  • attentive great
  • great restaurant
  • very tasty vegetarians dishes
  • very nice waitress
  • unique dining experience
  • great waitstaff
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