Restaurant Review: New Year, New Adventures at Uptown’s Demera, an Ethiopian Delight
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025!!
If one of your New Year’s resolutions has been to try different cuisines and explore Chicago’s vast cultural landscape, there is no better way to start 2025 than with a trip to Uptown’s Demera.
The brainchild of Chef/Owner Tigist Reda, opened in 2007, your adventure begins with appetizers like AMBASHA, the traditional skillet baked bread, served with your choice of spicy Ayib Be Mitmita, Ethiopian farmer’s cheeseflavored with mitmita and spiced butter, or mild Ayib Be Gomen, Ethiopian farmer’s cheese flavored with collard greens. Or, try KAY SEER SALATA, a colorful mix of beets with onion, sliced and seeded jalapeño topped with a fresh lime vinaigrette. SAMBUSSAS are fried dumplings filled with your choice of chicken, beef, spinach, cheese or lentil, served with a sweet and spicy honey awaze sauce.
Entrées include a spicy DORO WOT, Amish chicken in berbere sauce served bone-in with a hardboiled egg and ayib (farmer’s cheese), or DORO TIBS, which is a chicken breast, cubed and sautéed with onions, garlic, tomatoes, sliced jalapeño peppers and fresh rosemary. Beef lovers will enjoy SIGA ALICHA, which is tender cubed beef cooked in a savory alicha sauce, or spicy AWAZE TIBS, lean beef sautéed with onions, garlic and jalapeño peppers and a spicy awaze (citrus red chili) sauce. Seafood lovers will enjoy YE-ASA LEB LEB, which are tilapia filets, cubed and cooked with onions, tomatoes, garlic, ginger, and seeded jalapeño peppers. Vegan entrées include tasty combinations like spicy MISIR WOT, split red lentils stewed in a rich berbere sauce. INGUDAI TIBS are sautéed mushrooms with garlic, onions and ginger, while KIK ALICHA pairssplit yellow peas, stewed with onions, garlic and tumeric.
As we often say here, leave room for dessert!! Try their take on ETHIOPIAN STYLE TIRAMISU, which are ladyfinger cookies soaked in homemade Buna and brandy, then layered with mascarpone cheese, and covered in ground chocolate. Their CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE WITH RED CHAI ICE CREAM is a vegan chocolate cheesecake topped with our fresh shaved toasted coconut, served with Pretty Cool Ice Cream’s vegan-based red chai ice cream.
“If you’re looking for fascinating Ethiopian food, this is the place to go to! If you’re looking for vegan food, this is the place to go to! If you’re looking for a place masterfully decorated, this is the place to go to! If you want great service from lovely people who smile at you, this is your place! My only recommendation is: play Ethiopian music in the salon!”
Demera is located at 4801 N. Broadway, and has another location at Timeout Market in the West Loop. Sunday through Thursday, their Broadway location is open 11:30am- 8:30pm, and 11:30am to 9:30pm on Friday and Saturday. For more information and reservations,click here.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
