• Lucy Ethiopian Cafe

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  • White Veg-options
Vegan-friendly
Organic
Ethiopian
Non-veg

Serves meat, vegan options available. Small, predominantly vegan, Ethiopian cafe close to the Symphony Hall which also acts as a gallery for Ethiopian art. Has vegetarian section on menu, with only two appetizers that are not vegan. All combo meals are vegan. Organic produce is used when possible. Has Ethiopian language lesson on one of the walls. Open Mon-Sat 12:00pm-8:00pm, Sun 12:00pm-7:00pm.


Venue map for Lucy Ethiopian Cafe
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22 Reviews

First Review by sglcklch

VeganJD

Points +71

Vegan
30 May 2024

Tasty lunch!

Great little spot right near the BSO. Lots of veggie options and quick service.

suikunkun

Points +789

Vegan
20 May 2024

Amazing Ethiopian fare

This place is awesome! I often get the four veggie combo to share with a friend, along with some Ethiopian tea. A variety of flavors and colors tied together by the delicious bread. Always excellent.

Pros: Lots of vegetables, BREAD!!

abaker2019

Points +34

Vegan
20 Jan 2024

Delicious

We got the veggie combo because we couldn’t decide — no regrets!

phytophile

Points +1108

Vegan
10 Jan 2024

Vegan Ethiopian

There are many vegan options and they’re delicious. Will bum you out that they serve animal flesh because there’s obviously no need because the vegan is so good.

Pros: Vegan meals, Authentic , Flavorful

Cons: Lamb, cow, chicken, dairy , Expensive , Bad music

VeganPhishPhan

Points +184

Vegan
17 Dec 2023

Authentic Ethiopian

Very cool little spot. The food was delicious and the portions were adequate. Bonus for getting to watch an Ethiopian soap opera while we ate.

Pros: Low-key

Cons: Staff weren't very personable

sprocket41

Points +150

Vegan
15 Dec 2022

Delicious lunch

Delicious! A few vegan main options to choose from. I think there are also vegan appetizers but I didn't get any. The lentils, peas, and spinach with potatoes were so good. Not spicy but very flavourful.

KerryAnn

Points +475

Vegan
07 Mar 2022

Delicious

Menu is clear and explains everything. Had a vegan combo for lunch and it was delicious and very filling. Also loved that I could get mango juice!

GJaen1

Points +209

Vegan
18 Jan 2022

Tasty Ethiopian

Love the vegan options here. I’ve only ordered delivery but everything has been delicious. The injera is always amazing and all the lentil based dishes have distinct flavors despite similar bases. Would double check spice level if you are sensitive to spice some of these pack a punch.

Pros: Many vegan options, Well priced

paypar

Points +770

Vegan
22 Aug 2021

Delicious, low key spot

I stopped in here after visiting the Mapparium and was so pleased with the taste of the food and service. Inside is small and perfect for someone dining alone as I was!

Pros: Clearly marked vegan options, Good value, Clean

Cons: Not for big groups

JerryZuraw

Points +15

Vegetarian
16 Sep 2020

Great food, friendly staff!

Delicious injera based vegan options. Spinach, lentils, potato, carrots, awesome sauces. The staff was really friendly to me!

Pros: Great food!, Great service!

Cons: Not fully veg

CassandraHalm

Points +304

Vegan
19 Nov 2019

Delicious!

My yellow combo was delicious! So busy eating I forgot to take a picture.😄Very mild but flavorful. The injera was delicious!! Great service! This was my first time eating Ethiopian & I will definitely look for it again.

Pros: Lots of vegan options (entire front of menu), Tasty!

Cordell

Points +16

Vegan
13 Oct 2019

Restaurant has no food

After waiting 20 min for a table we were sent away by the host saying that they “ran out of food”... My brother then asked to use the restroom but wasn’t allowed to because we hadn’t purchased any food.😓

Cons: Sometimes they run out of food

amitsch

Points +141

Vegan
29 Sep 2019

Great food, vegan friendly!

A simple place but the food is good and easy to get vegan dishes. Prices were pretty good!

Pros: Good vegan options , Flavorful , Reasonably priced

Tamy

Points +3274

Vegan
09 Apr 2019

Tasty but could be more flavorful

I absolutely love Ethiopian food and this place definitely did not disappoint. I went with two friends--a vegetarian and an omni--and we shared their vegetarian (it's actually vegan) platter for three and it was both a lot of fun and very tasty.
The shared plates come in this big round plate with an injera (fluffy Ethiopian pancake/bread) base and their different cooked entrees neatly arranged on top. Visually it looked very appealing and the big plate was great to ensure we didn't make the table a huge mess as we each grabbed some injera and began to quite literally dig in.
All of their dishes were tasty and enjoyable. However, I wish they had a bit more spices and flavor. Perhaps they mild it down because people in the area are not a big fan of spices, but I felt like some of their lentils were just too tasteless--the yellow ones in particular. Their cooked vegetable dishes could also have used more seasoning. However, the lack of spices did make it easier on the stomach and everything was still quite tasty.
Overall, I really enjoyed my meal here and would certainly recommend stopping by if you're in the mood for reasonably authentic Ethiopian food. The veggie platter for three is a great option and could actually be reasonably shared between two people instead, so if you're hungry, don't plan on sharing it between three.

Pros: Good food, Friendly staff, Fun shared meals

Cons: Lacks spicing/flavor, Slow service

Philhower

Points +246

Vegetarian
09 Sep 2018

Tasty Ethiopian food

We’re big fans of Ethiopian cuisine and we’re excited to find this when visiting Boston. We ordered the veggie combo for two. Plenty of food and well spiced. There was a fun “reveal” at the table. Service was friendly and helpful.

Pros: Lots of vegetarian and vegan options, Vegan options featured. , Delicious.

AnnieShutt

Points +166

Vegan
26 May 2018

Nice place

This was my first time at an Ethiopian restaurant and it exceeded expectations! So many options, very fun style for eating with a group of people, definitely worth trying. Also the staff was so nice

Pros: Plenty of options, Affordable

foodfirst

Points +776

Vegan
07 Mar 2018

Great Ethiopian food

Very good Ethiopian food in a pleasant atmosphere. I visited once and enjoyed my combo platter very much. The wait staff, signs, and menu were very helpful with explanations of the offerings and how best to enjoy them--including information for vegans.

Pros: interestingly spiced dishes, atmosphere and service

Tbredfilly

Points +22

Vegan
30 Jan 2018

Delicious and friendly

I came here for lunch on a business trip. Walking distance from Sheraton and Hilton Back Bay. Friendly staff, delicious food, great selection. They are willing to veganize things as needed if they can. I would highly recommend.

Pros: delicious food , great vegan options, awesome staff

KalArts

Points +34

Vegan
18 Jun 2017

Solid casual dining!

It doesn't look like much from the outside, but the atmosphere here is actually very nice, clean and quiet. You're surrounded by various art pieces by artists of African descent, and the food is wonderful. There's a small list of dedicated vegan combos, but a number of different vegetable dishes (that are all vegan) that you can mix and match to your liking if you want to create your own platter. Definitely worth stopping in a few times to try different things. My favorite was the Addis Combo. This would also be a solid option if you're dining with omni friends.

Pros: Unique atmosphere, Easily labeled vegan items

amwhite91

Points +513

Vegan
12 Feb 2017

Satisfying Food

I came here off of the cold street and was welcomed by tremendous warmth. I enjoyed the food. I got the yellow platter. I got the peanut tea at the suggestion of a reviewer here. I would not do it again. It tasted basically like I was drinking peanut butter. If that's your thing, go for it, but I did not like it.

Updated from previous review on 2017-02-12

Pros: Good food, Filling meal

Cons: Clearer description on peanut tea is needed

Alliz

Points +51

Vegan
28 Dec 2013

Peanut Soy Tea & Peaceful City Retreat

3 stars for food variety but 4 stars for being an awesome cafe!
4 stars for quality (Ethiopian delicacies)
5 stars for customer service

Really friendly and warm place to grab a light bite or drink teas (especially in the winter). The traditional dining is simple and very specific in taste, but a pallet I enjoy nevertheless.

The veggie combo is vegan friendly, and the peanut tea made with soy milk (ASK for it), is addictive. The traditional ginger tea always clears me up if I have the sniffles or am looking for a energy pick-me-up in the day.

This is the most peaceful cafe environment in Boston. Perfect alone or for an intimate moment with a friend, walk into their calm world for a second.

Pros: Value for quality drink selection, Genuinly friendly staff, Private and not busy

Cons: Afew tasty choices for vegans, Pricy for basic food

sglcklch

Points +2969

Vegan
01 Sep 2012

Was alright

It's been a couple of months since my boyfriend and I had lunch here, so this review might not be the most up-to-date. I remember the food was pretty decent, but definitely not as good as a lot of other reviews I had read elsewhere suggested. Also I didn't like that they served the food on plates instead of on a big piece of injera like every other Ethiopian restaurant I have been to did. The whole meal was fairly cheap though, and the ethnic decor was kinda nice. Location was convenient, right by the symphony hall. However we drove here and had a tough time finding parking.

I wouldn't go out of my way to come here for the food as there are IMO better Ethiopian options in Boston area. But if you happen to be around and want something vegan, tasty and affordable, you can't go wrong with this place.

Pros: location, value




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