Alexandria Eatery Named Great Affordable Dining By Post Food Critic

ALEXANDRIA, VA — An Alexandria eatery is on a list of great, affordable restaurants in the D.C. area shared recently by Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema.

"My response to restaurant prices going up, up and away is not to eat out less, but to vary my diet with bargains. They still exist; you just have to keep your eyes open," Sietsma said.

The Alexandria restaurant recommended was:

Feru Bar and Restaurant: 512 S Van Dorn St Unit D, Alexandria, VA

Sietsema describes how his server at the Ethiopian restaurant questioned why he didn't want to take his leftover awaze tibs and kitfo. He later finds out that the server was chef-owner Firehiwot Bireka, who cooks and serves the food.

"No wonder she didn’t want to see her handiwork go to waste. A native of Addis Ababa, the 35-year-old uses her mother’s recipes and her late father’s nickname for her on the door," Sietsema wrote.

Bireka had previous stints at Arlington's Enjera and Dama before opening her own restaurant. The Post's food critic complemented the restaurant's vegetarian kitfo with mushrooms, jalapeños and the mitmita spice blend with bird’s eye chile peppers and cardamom as well as the awaze tibs, stew with beef, onion, tomato, rosemary and sauce with a spicy Ethiopian spice blend. The entree prices start at $18 and go up to $60 for a sharable meat dish.

Other restaurant's on Sietsema's affordable dining list are Steak Frites DC, Peter Chang Gaithersburg, Pho 75 in Arlington and El Chante Comedor y Fritanga Nica in Wheaton.