Desta Reviewed in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
By BOB TOWNSEND
For the Journal-Constitution
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Desta Ethiopian Kitchen is a wonderful little restaurant. Located in a small plaza near the intersection of Briarcliff and Clairmont — in what’s become a burgeoning area for Ethiopian businesses — it’s at once worldly and homey, with attentive service and, best of all, delicious, bargain-priced vegetable, meat and fish dishes.
Of course, knowing that Ethiopian cuisine is centered around injera — the spongy bread that also serves as an eating utensil — may be a bit off-putting, even to some otherwise adventurous eaters. But the kitchen’s elegant and easygoing approach to presenting its food, and the friendly staff’s willingness to provide tableware for the timid, makes it a snap for almost anyone to enjoy a meal here.
Happy place
Desta is the Ethiopian word for happiness. Fittingly, on a recent evening the place exuded a lively sense of communal joy, echoed by a relaxing jazz soundtrack and scattered signs proclaiming positive aphorisms such as “Live, Laugh, Love.” Blithe servers, dressed in black with jaunty red jabots, danced between the two intimate dining areas, where tables and booths were filled with convivial groups eating and drinking together. At the tiny nook of a bar, a small group of men engaged in lighthearted banter while sharing a bottle of wine.