On Saturday, April 6th, my family and I enjoyed a meal at Rendez-Vous; an Ethiopian restaurant located on the vibrant Danforth Avenue. Established 17 years ago, Rendez-Vous is one of Toronto’s oldest Ethiopian restaurants. Upon arrival, I noticed the restaurant’s calm and nonchalant environment. The walls were covered in bright red paint, and people were gathered around a stacked bar watching football. I immediately understood that Rendez-Vous is the type of restaurant people go to, to enjoy good food and the company of others.

After being seated, I glanced through the menu. The restaurant offers a variety of options suitable for people of all dietary needs. We order both the vegetarian and meat platters, each comes with Injera, a spongy-flatbread popular in the Horn of Africa. While waiting for our meal to arrive, I noticed that the restaurant was filled with light-hearted conversations and laughter.

After approximately 30-minutes, our platters arrived. They were served in a Mesob, a colorful basket used for bread. Ethiopians meals are typically enjoyed utensil-free. We ripped apart pieces of injera and used it to scooped up the veggies and meats. Our platter includes a fantastic combination of beets, chickpea puree, lentils, spinach, lamb and other ingredients! The pace of our meal was slower; it’s apparent that meal-time in Ethiopian culture is for enjoying the company of friends and family over shared food and drinks.

This dish was packed with interesting, contrasting flavors. The mixture of sweet, savoury and salty flavors made every bite feel new and exciting. Additionally, the plain taste of the injera bread served as an excellent palette cleanser and prevented the dish from feeling overwhelming. I loved how the meal was presented; the variety of colors on the plate made it look very visually appealing.

I would definitely recommend enjoying a meal at Rendez-Vous! The restaurant serves authentic Ethiopian cuisine and offers a comfortable, fun environment.