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• Amazing Ethiopian food with many vegan options

We've been to Hawi twice since it opened on 3/11/15 and are so excited that there is finally an Ethiopian restaurant in Ithaca! The food is amazing! We've had wonderful Ethiopian in Philadelphia and Washington D.C. and this is just as good, if not better. We had the veggie combo platter both times and were blown away with all of the flavors. The beets were an interesting addition and bring another dimension of color and taste to the meal. We had the vegetable sambusa as an appetizer and it was crispy, delicious, and had a nice, slightly spicy sauce. The restaurant is BYOB with a $5 corking fee per bottle. Gluten-free injera is available upon request with advance notice. Hawi is one of the most vegan-friendly restaurants in town currently. There are easily over a dozen vegan options on the menu. The location is great: right on the Commons near shopping, the theater, and nightlife. Since the restaurant is still relatively new, they have been swamped and are still hiring help. Be prepared for a long wait and slow, but friendly service. We plan on being regular customers now that there is this much needed cuisine downtown.