Excellent food and atmosphere, the service was a little slow, but the good music made up for it. The spicy fries weren't seasoned well, not spicy at all.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Lentil Sambusa, Vegetarian Sampler Also Known as Beyaynetu
Nikita Khurana
Avoid Sheba Jazz Lounge at All Costs – A Birthday Disaster
I rarely write reviews, but after my experience at Sheba Jazz Lounge, I feel obligated to warn others. We dined there on October 5th to celebrate a birthday, and what should have been a joyful evening turned into a health nightmare.
The birthday girl, who ordered the vegetarian platter sampler (no meat), ended up with severe food poisoning. For over 48 hours, she suffered from relentless vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. This wasn’t a matter of spice tolerance—she's accustomed to spicy food. According to her doctors, the likely cause was either cross-contamination or a failure to adhere to proper food safety standards.
I immediately contacted the restaurant to inform them of the incident. For nearly a week, I called daily, only to be ignored. When I finally got through to someone, they assured me a manager would call back—but no one ever did. Their utter lack of accountability and professionalism is appalling.
I ultimately reported Sheba Jazz Lounge to the health department, and that investigation is still ongoing. I held off on writing this review in the hopes that the restaurant would take responsibility or at least acknowledge the issue. Unfortunately, they’ve proven that they don’t value their customers' health or concerns.
This incident happened on a hot day, which makes proper food storage and handling even more critical. The fact that such negligence could occur—and then be completely dismissed—should be a red flag for anyone considering dining here.
I would strongly advise against visiting Sheba Jazz Lounge. No meal is worth risking your health, and their dismissive attitude toward such a serious matter is unforgivable.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Nadia Boldrini
Interesting place. Live jazz music is beautiful. Good choice of wines and cocktails. advised!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Sienna
Amazing spot for Ethiopian food! So spicy and good. The staff is also very friendly and helpful.
Food: 5
Jerry Wong
Overview: dark and cosy speakeasy with a full bar and good sound system. Perfect for an intimate gathering.
Meal/Time: Dinner Sunday 541 PM/ Party of 3 Seated: 541 PM Ordered:548 PM First ordered item arrived: 604
Decor/Atmosphere: Really comfortable seatings. The atmosphere feels warm. Staff is friendly. The only downside is the lighting is a bit on the dim side... hard to read the menu.
Parking is a bit hard. Took us a bit of time. The neighborhood is bit on the rough side.
Service/ Front of the House: Felt welcome and greeted as we walked in.
Service/Serving Staff: wait staff is friendly and personable. She gave us a big smile when she came up to the table, she came back a couple of times refilling water and making sure we had enough Injera. Per the receipt her name is Yewibensh.
Food: if you order from the "Out of Africa" menu, it's more of a family style so large shareable portions. You get a plate of Injera, like a spongy flat bread that you tear into small pieces to pickup the food. No real flavor to add or to interfere with the entree.
Beg Alecha ($28) Tender pieces of lamb braised slowly in green pepper, with yellow onions, Ethiopian herb sauce, ginger, rosemary, turmeric and jalapeno pepper. A little bit spicy. The sauce is just pure awesome... If I had a bowl of white rice that sauce is going right on top of it. Really goes well with the slight gaminess of lamb.
Vegetarian Sampler ($29) sample of the 4 vegetarian entrees on the menu.
GOMEN - Fresh collard greens & spinach w/ green onions, garlic, oregano, ginger & tomatoes. Really good, my actual favorite item. I just love collard greens. The greens were tender, it will go well with the lamb.
KIK ALICHA - Yellow split peas cooked & flavored w/ turmeric, onion & Ethiopian herbs. Not really a big pea fan, but I could not tell it was peas. But not as bland and the English mushy peas.
MESIR WAT - Lentils cooked w/ chopped onions, garlic, olive & mild Berbere sauce. Really good flavor, could not taste any olives for those that might be adverse to olives.
ATAKILT KILIKIL - Fresh cabbage, carrots, green peppers & onions sautéed w/ garlic, ginger, turmeric and tomatoes. This was actually the most boring item I had tonight. The cabbage was the star and all the other veggies played supporting roles.
Yasa Tibs ($28) Sautéed catfish marinated in white wine and cooked with garlic, onions, bell peppers, scallions and tomatoes. Large chunks of catfish, juicy and tender. Seasoning hid that "catfish" flavor, it could have been any other type of firm white fish. Excellent dish.
Tibs Wat ($28) Sautéed prime beef simmered in Berbere sauce, a touch of Nit’ir Kibe (Ethiopian purified butter) & cardamom. The beef is really shredded. This makes it easy to pickup with the Injera. Really flavorful, not a bit spicy at all.
Value: At about $28 a plate, the value for the quality of the food is good. For those who want to venture into Ethiopian cuisine, this is a good entry point.
Restroom: single Men's Room at the back of the dining area, to the right of the bar Clean, well stocked and very roomy.
Will I come back?: Yes I would come back... I would like to try the sea bass on the "regular" menu.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Aponte Visuals
Ordered some slider burgers and chicken wings. We had a large group, so I was able to try a little bit of everything from the appetizer menu. I was impressed by everything. It was the most delicious food I've had in a while. Freindly staff and musicians. They had a wide variety of whisky to choose from. The mixed drinks with lemon were a hit with my group.
Parking: I parked in the safeway parking lot with no consequence. There paid parking down the block at Japan town.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sliders, Sauce on the Side, Shaking Beef, Mushroom Sambussa
Sameera I
The only good thing about this place was the music. Worst Ethiopian food i’ve had in a while. We ordered most of the veggie dishes on the menu, and except the salad, all of them were consistently bad. Some of the curries were stale with lots of spice added to mask the staleness. Some were dripping with bad smelling oil, others were just inedible. Service was pretentious, but you could sense the underlying unprofessionalism. Don’t understand the high ratings, but people perhaps go here for the music and don’t realize how bad the food and service is. We’re never going back.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Baklava, Vegetarian Sampler Also Known as Beyaynetu, Samosa, Vegetarian Sampler Platter, Injera, Mushroom Sambussa, Vegetarian Plate
Tony D'Antonio
Delicious food. Nicest people. Terrific live music.
Chris Valle
Great food and vibe. Live music was awesome ?
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Hana Steinbronn
So much to love about this place. The service was amazing, the food was delicious, and the live band was sooo good!
Recommended dishes: Vegetarian Sampler Also Known as Beyaynetu, Injera
Leo Robustelli
Visited this establishment when I was there for the Fillmore jazz fest. Awesome place. Awesome atmosphere! We're highly recommend stopping in for a drink and some food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jerry Gordinier
Tasty Ethiopian in intimate settings, this place has been here forever. Get the vegetarian combo.
Vegetarian options: Tasty eats for the veg inclined.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegetarian Sampler Also Known as Beyaynetu
Andrew Allen
I recently had the pleasure of dining at Sheba Jazz Lounge and I must say, it was a fantastic experience overall. The Ethiopian-style food they serve is absolutely delicious, with rich flavors and an authentic touch that is hard to find elsewhere. Every dish we tried was a culinary delight.
The service was impeccable. The staff was attentive, friendly, and made sure we were well taken care of throughout our visit. It's clear they prioritize customer satisfaction.
The atmosphere at Sheba Jazz Lounge is another highlight. The cozy, inviting ambiance is perfect for a night out. The décor is stylish and enhances the overall dining experience.
One of the main reasons we chose Sheba Jazz Lounge was for the live music. On the night we were there, the place was alive with the sound of a live band. While I was hoping for some eclectic jazz, we ended up with a somewhat mediocre blues band instead. This was a bit of a letdown, as I was expecting the vibrant, diverse sounds of jazz that the lounge is known for.
Despite this minor disappointment, our evening at Sheba Jazz Lounge was still very enjoyable. The excellent food, superb service, and great atmosphere more than made up for the musical mismatch. I highly recommend Sheba Jazz Lounge to anyone looking for a unique dining experience with great Ethiopian cuisine and a lively ambiance. I look forward to visiting again, hopefully catching a jazz performance next time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Andrew S
Great jazz and Ethiopian. Lovely experience every time I’m there. A touch pricy but worth it, food is so good!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegetarian Sampler Also Known as Beyaynetu, Wat, Injera
Excellent food and atmosphere, the service was a little slow, but the good music made up for it. The spicy fries weren't seasoned well, not spicy at all.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Lentil Sambusa, Vegetarian Sampler Also Known as Beyaynetu
Avoid Sheba Jazz Lounge at All Costs – A Birthday Disaster
I rarely write reviews, but after my experience at Sheba Jazz Lounge, I feel obligated to warn others. We dined there on October 5th to celebrate a birthday, and what should have been a joyful evening turned into a health nightmare.
The birthday girl, who ordered the vegetarian platter sampler (no meat), ended up with severe food poisoning. For over 48 hours, she suffered from relentless vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. This wasn’t a matter of spice tolerance—she's accustomed to spicy food. According to her doctors, the likely cause was either cross-contamination or a failure to adhere to proper food safety standards.
I immediately contacted the restaurant to inform them of the incident. For nearly a week, I called daily, only to be ignored. When I finally got through to someone, they assured me a manager would call back—but no one ever did. Their utter lack of accountability and professionalism is appalling.
I ultimately reported Sheba Jazz Lounge to the health department, and that investigation is still ongoing. I held off on writing this review in the hopes that the restaurant would take responsibility or at least acknowledge the issue. Unfortunately, they’ve proven that they don’t value their customers' health or concerns.
This incident happened on a hot day, which makes proper food storage and handling even more critical. The fact that such negligence could occur—and then be completely dismissed—should be a red flag for anyone considering dining here.
I would strongly advise against visiting Sheba Jazz Lounge. No meal is worth risking your health, and their dismissive attitude toward such a serious matter is unforgivable.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Interesting place. Live jazz music is beautiful. Good choice of wines and cocktails. advised!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Amazing spot for Ethiopian food! So spicy and good. The staff is also very friendly and helpful.
Food: 5
Overview: dark and cosy speakeasy with a full bar and good sound system. Perfect for an intimate gathering.
Meal/Time: Dinner Sunday 541 PM/ Party of 3
Seated: 541 PM
Ordered:548 PM
First ordered item arrived: 604
Decor/Atmosphere: Really comfortable seatings. The atmosphere feels warm. Staff is friendly. The only downside is the lighting is a bit on the dim side... hard to read the menu.
Parking is a bit hard. Took us a bit of time. The neighborhood is bit on the rough side.
Service/ Front of the House: Felt welcome and greeted as we walked in.
Service/Serving Staff: wait staff is friendly and personable. She gave us a big smile when she came up to the table, she came back a couple of times refilling water and making sure we had enough Injera. Per the receipt her name is Yewibensh.
Food: if you order from the "Out of Africa" menu, it's more of a family style so large shareable portions. You get a plate of Injera, like a spongy flat bread that you tear into small pieces to pickup the food. No real flavor to add or to interfere with the entree.
Beg Alecha ($28) Tender pieces of lamb braised slowly in green pepper, with yellow onions, Ethiopian herb sauce, ginger, rosemary, turmeric and jalapeno pepper. A little bit spicy. The sauce is just pure awesome... If I had a bowl of white rice that sauce is going right on top of it. Really goes well with the slight gaminess of lamb.
Vegetarian Sampler ($29) sample of the 4 vegetarian entrees on the menu.
GOMEN - Fresh collard greens & spinach w/ green onions, garlic, oregano, ginger & tomatoes. Really good, my actual favorite item. I just love collard greens. The greens were tender, it will go well with the lamb.
KIK ALICHA - Yellow split peas cooked & flavored w/ turmeric, onion & Ethiopian herbs. Not really a big pea fan, but I could not tell it was peas. But not as bland and the English mushy peas.
MESIR WAT - Lentils cooked w/ chopped onions, garlic, olive & mild Berbere sauce. Really good flavor, could not taste any olives for those that might be adverse to olives.
ATAKILT KILIKIL - Fresh cabbage, carrots, green peppers & onions sautéed w/ garlic, ginger, turmeric and tomatoes. This was actually the most boring item I had tonight. The cabbage was the star and all the other veggies played supporting roles.
Yasa Tibs ($28) Sautéed catfish marinated in white wine and cooked with garlic, onions, bell peppers, scallions and tomatoes. Large chunks of catfish, juicy and tender. Seasoning hid that "catfish" flavor, it could have been any other type of firm white fish. Excellent dish.
Tibs Wat ($28) Sautéed prime beef simmered in Berbere sauce, a touch of Nit’ir Kibe (Ethiopian purified butter) & cardamom. The beef is really shredded. This makes it easy to pickup with the Injera. Really flavorful, not a bit spicy at all.
Value: At about $28 a plate, the value for the quality of the food is good. For those who want to venture into Ethiopian cuisine, this is a good entry point.
Restroom: single Men's Room at the back of the dining area, to the right of the bar Clean, well stocked and very roomy.
Will I come back?: Yes I would come back... I would like to try the sea bass on the "regular" menu.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ordered some slider burgers and chicken wings. We had a large group, so I was able to try a little bit of everything from the appetizer menu. I was impressed by everything. It was the most delicious food I've had in a while. Freindly staff and musicians. They had a wide variety of whisky to choose from. The mixed drinks with lemon were a hit with my group.
Parking: I parked in the safeway parking lot with no consequence. There paid parking down the block at Japan town.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sliders, Sauce on the Side, Shaking Beef, Mushroom Sambussa
The only good thing about this place was the music. Worst Ethiopian food i’ve had in a while. We ordered most of the veggie dishes on the menu, and except the salad, all of them were consistently bad. Some of the curries were stale with lots of spice added to mask the staleness. Some were dripping with bad smelling oil, others were just inedible. Service was pretentious, but you could sense the underlying unprofessionalism. Don’t understand the high ratings, but people perhaps go here for the music and don’t realize how bad the food and service is. We’re never going back.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Baklava, Vegetarian Sampler Also Known as Beyaynetu, Samosa, Vegetarian Sampler Platter, Injera, Mushroom Sambussa, Vegetarian Plate
Delicious food. Nicest people. Terrific live music.
Great food and vibe. Live music was awesome ?
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
So much to love about this place. The service was amazing, the food was delicious, and the live band was sooo good!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: TIBS, Injera
Restaurantji Recommends
Really nice bar with Ethopifood and live music
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegetarian Sampler Also Known as Beyaynetu, Injera
Visited this establishment when I was there for the Fillmore jazz fest. Awesome place. Awesome atmosphere! We're highly recommend stopping in for a drink and some food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tasty Ethiopian in intimate settings, this place has been here forever. Get the vegetarian combo.
Vegetarian options: Tasty eats for the veg inclined.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegetarian Sampler Also Known as Beyaynetu
I recently had the pleasure of dining at Sheba Jazz Lounge and I must say, it was a fantastic experience overall. The Ethiopian-style food they serve is absolutely delicious, with rich flavors and an authentic touch that is hard to find elsewhere. Every dish we tried was a culinary delight.
The service was impeccable. The staff was attentive, friendly, and made sure we were well taken care of throughout our visit. It's clear they prioritize customer satisfaction.
The atmosphere at Sheba Jazz Lounge is another highlight. The cozy, inviting ambiance is perfect for a night out. The décor is stylish and enhances the overall dining experience.
One of the main reasons we chose Sheba Jazz Lounge was for the live music. On the night we were there, the place was alive with the sound of a live band. While I was hoping for some eclectic jazz, we ended up with a somewhat mediocre blues band instead. This was a bit of a letdown, as I was expecting the vibrant, diverse sounds of jazz that the lounge is known for.
Despite this minor disappointment, our evening at Sheba Jazz Lounge was still very enjoyable. The excellent food, superb service, and great atmosphere more than made up for the musical mismatch. I highly recommend Sheba Jazz Lounge to anyone looking for a unique dining experience with great Ethiopian cuisine and a lively ambiance. I look forward to visiting again, hopefully catching a jazz performance next time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great jazz and Ethiopian. Lovely experience every time I’m there. A touch pricy but worth it, food is so good!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegetarian Sampler Also Known as Beyaynetu, Wat, Injera
Loading...