The other day I was driving to work on the North Newport Highway, when a small banner tied to a sandwich board caught my eye. It read “Ethiopian Cuisine.” I was immediately intrigued.
The next day I made a point to drive back to that location at the HiCo station at the intersection of Highway 2 and Nevada, and what I found was very surprising. There is a small paper sign taped to the entrance to the gas station that reads “One Love Ethiopian Cuisine.” Once you enter you see a normal looking gas station with a white divider to your right. That is where the restaurant sits! The entrance is a beaded curtain, beyond which one will find walls covered in Ethiopian posters, tables adorned with red tablecloth and hearts, and a traditional Ethiopian coffee set in the center of the dining area. Everything about this restaurant is quirky and designed to make you feel welcome. The owners of One Love greet you with a smile and invite you to try the amazing Ethiopian coffee. If you are hungry they are eager to tell you all about the wonderful traditional Ethiopian dishes that they offer and will offer you suggestions on what they enjoy the most.
The dining experience is delightful from beginning to end. The Ethiopian coffee is made from genuine Ethiopian coffee beans and made right in front of you in an elaborate and fun ceremony. As she brews the coffee she presents it to you for your approval — you breathe in the deep rich smell and smile as she continues to make the elaborate brew. It is transferred into an iron pot and then later poured from two feet above the tiny porcelain cups for you to enjoy. The coffee is served with either bread or plain popcorn as is traditional in Ethiopia.
If you plan on eating there I recommend the Doro wot which is a chicken dish served on traditional “injera” bread with an amazing spiced sauce. Before your meal is served they bring you warm water in a silver pitcher to wash your hands by the table in the traditional matter. The food is presented to you on a large silver platter without utensils for you to eat with your hands as the Ethiopians do. They will, of course, provide you with utensils if you wish, but I suggest that you at least try eating with your hands. It is a very enriching experience. Everything about One Love is traditional and homemade. As I ate there I got the sense that I was eating in someone’s home with their family. If it is not busy there the family that owns the restaurant will come out and tell you all about Ethiopia and the food that you are eating. It is a delightful and quirky place and I recommend it to anyone that is looking to expand their culinary horizons.
