Zemeta Ethiopian - Rochester

Came with my wife for dinner on a Tuesday around 5 pm. We got dinner for two and basically asked the server (owner? to give us a little of everything. I'm glad we did, because everything was good. Nice mix of vegetables and meats, with an array of flavors that led us to go from one to the other. The only thing we declined was rice, which was also a good decision because the spongy injera bread was the perfect accompaniment. And unlike some experiences I've had at Ethiopian restaurants, the dishes were not overly oily, just nicely sauced and seasoned. I'm not a big tea drinker, but our hot tea was also very good, like black tea with a spicy/herbal kick. Service was friendly and helpful as well, and we felt welcomed to be there. Definitely a keeper.

I strongly recommend eating here when you can and would recommend trying them out when you have a chance.

Owned by a wonderful Ethiopian woman whom the restaurant is named after, this place is cozy, delicious, and a great value. There are plenty of vegetarian/vegan options including the vegetarian platter which is less than $10 and could feed two! Give it a whirl you won’t be disappointed.

I have enjoyed several Ethiopian restaurants in Rochester, but if I had to choose one, it would probably be Zemeta. The staff is so friendly and the restaurant is cozy. The food is wonderful and the portions are huge. The Vege Platter comes on a big platter with plenty of extra injera and some tasty selections ranging form regular salad to spicy lentils and tasty chickpeas. Also yellow lentils, potatoes and more. {For those of you who do not like injera, just stop thinking of it as clammy bread . It is not supposed to be bread. If you think of it as a cool sourdough pancake to be used to scoop up deliciousness, you will be much happier. Lets get with the program, folks! As with any ethnic restaurant, you can tell it is authentic by looking around the room. If so many Ethiopians like it, they must be doing something right. They have a vege buffet on Friday nights. Better call to make sure. Check them out on Facebook at [hidden link]

I love the veggie plate from Zemeta! It’s a lot of food and it’s always delicious!