08/08/09

Good food, but...

by juliebpdx

I've been to Jarra's several times. I always get the vegetarian combination and it's always good which is what keeps me coming back. I've heard the meat dishes are very good but very rich. You definitely need to be prepared to spend a long time there though. The owner is the only waiter and is in no rush to serve anyone. He can be very talkative which is sometimes interesting and sometimes offensive or excessive. Because there is often not enough injera and there's only so much bread I want to eat in one sitting, I often ask for a fork (i know, i know...) and extra napkins and they're reluctant to get me either.

• Pros: the food
• Cons: the service

01/18/09

Highly recommend with a caviat

by 4Oregonians

Ethiopian is not for everyone. It is spicey, exotic and often gruel-like and meant to be eaten without utensils. With that said, this is one of my family's favorite restaurants. Our 9 year old loves the mild lentils and chicken, while the rest of us like it as hot as possible. We have enjoyed Jarra's since before their present location on Hawthorne. Over the years the food has been consistant and delicious. It has been a small, family run business since the beginning. If you are looking for fancy surroundings, efficient, speedy service, this is not the place for you. If you can slow down enough to appreciate the food as it should be appreciated, you will not be disappointed. Many of the things said in other postings do not fit our experience there (shortage of napkins, injera, rudeness from the owner or charging exhorbitantly). Ethiopian food requires much preparation and the prices they charge seem very fair for the dinners they serve. In our opinion, Jarra's is the best Ethiopian in Portland and we often leave the restaurant feeling like we ate the food of the gods.

• Pros: The food is superb.
• Cons: Service is akin to the caribbean; slow, but sure.

01/14/09

insulting!

by Gilsa

Really insulting and worst service ever! The owner/server came up to our table to take our order and basically said my friend and I had big noses, which was really a dig on our ethnicity. He then tried to guess where our families were from -- all with a smile. I thought it was rude, and I don't believe he was asking purely out of curiosity. I should have left, but stayed and really regret that because the food was luke warm and watery. I've had ethiopian food tons of times and I thought the bread was thin and tasteless.

• Pros: insuling
• Cons: near my house

12/03/08

love!

by untoherselfalone

OMG!! I love this place and the owner are so sweet. This was the first place I ever had ethiopian food and I was instantly intrigued. I recommend going for lunch and keep in mind they are closed btw lunch and dinner which something like 3-5 i think. check it out.

• Pros: yum!

07/20/08

amazing food

by eeme

This restaurant made me fall in love with Ethiopian food. To this day, it is the best Ethiopian food I have had. My job requires that I move every few months, and I have yet to find another place I love as much as this one in any other city. The portions are generous, the food flavorful and spicy.

The service was always great, and the restaurant quiet, but it is all about the food.

Note: I am vegetarian, so I can't say anything about the meaty menu items, though I know that everyone else I dragged to Jarra's loved it as well.

07/11/08

Enjoy like your in Ethiopia!

by PortlandRunner2

Wow, we had never had Ethiopian food before and had a great experience. Though it was a quiet place, the waiter and proprietor, Petros, and his wife and children were great hosts. We felt like guests in their home. Fully enjoyed the meal (prepare to get a bit messy, -get over it clean freaks) and the stories about Ethiopian culture, traditions, government, and history from Petros. Ask him a few questions, and you will feel like you were transported to his native country.

• Pros: Food, Easy Parking, Very interesting and friendly waiter (owner)
• Cons: Ambience

05/21/08

Food not so great but the lounge is way cool

by rakkyshu

This is a secret little gem of Portland. Hardly anyone seems to go to the lounge underneath Jarra's. It's like a little cave with nice, soft lighting, and comfortable seating. It'd be a great place to go alone to read or to go with friends and not have to shout at each other. Every time I go there I just want to hang out longer.

I wasnt crazy about the food the one time I tried it. The bread seemed all wrong, which, after reading the reviews, makes sense, and the food was just so-so. However, the servers in the lounge are always super friendly AND hip.

• Pros: Best secret underground lounge in Portland! Don't go there! I like it being my secret hideaway!
• Cons: Food, eh.

05/01/08

There is better Ethiopian food in Portland

by hungryvegangirl

I've been eating Ethiopian food for years, and have been to many different restaurants around the country that serve this kind of food. I would highly recommend checking out other Ethiopian restaurants if you live in Portland. There are so many others here to choose from, and they are ALL better than Jarra's. The service was good enough, and they seemed to be very attentive and happy to have us there. The problem I had was strictly with the food. Wow, was this stuff ever overpriced!! Over $13 for a vegetarian platter that was the size of a small dinner plate. It had, literally, 1 tablespoon of collards, and the rest was a messy, run-together mess of watery lentils and peas. To top it all off, the injera is not even made with teff flour!! 100% self-rising, white flour here. I couldn't believe it. If you want sub-par, watered-down, small portions go to Jarra's. If you want a filling, satisfying, well-prepared meal, go somewhere else.

• Pros: Nice, friendly service
• Cons: Watery, bland food, injera not made from teff

04/13/08

Bad experience, bad service, unsatisfied customer....

by rima101

I see some good reviews here but my comment concurs with many others here. The service was terrible. We were served our food with 3 pieces of bread (3 people), when we asked for more, the waitress looked at our plates as to say what did you use your bread for.... When she came back she brought only one piece of bread for all 3 of us. We were very disappointed. she didn't even come back for more water or to ask if we needed anything else. No hospitality, seems like the owners want to make a quick buck. Overpriced food.

• Pros: Location
• Cons: Bad service, rude owners, way overpriced, rationed food

03/10/08

Amazing

by XRey

I have been coming to Jarra's since I was in my mom's belly.

There is nothing that tastes better than a nice homemade Ethiopian dinner from Jarra's.

Even thought the service can be slow, you forget all about it once you food is delivered to your table.

The owners are both extremely kind and never hesitate to great you and try to strike up a conversation now and then.

The flavors of the food goes together so amazingly, there is nothing bad on the menu at all so it is very hard to decide what to get.

After reading some of these other reviews I would have to say that I don't agree. Although, like I said the service can be slow, the owners are never rude; maybe sometimes stressed-out, but not rude.

Jarra's is an amazing family owned restaurant that I would recommend to anyone and everyone. I hope it is around for years to come!

(I think I am going to go tonight!) : ]

• Pros: EVERYTHINNG!
• Cons: the WEEL WORTH IT wait.