Tsion Cafe Reviews

Most restaurants disappoint me as I feel I can do better in my own kitchen. Not this place. The food is unusual and combines two of my favorite types of cuisine--Mediterranean and Ethiopian. The ingredients are unbelievably fresh and the spicing is both unusual and perfect. Each dish is a delightful surprise. The restaurant is also immaculately clean and has a wonderful atmosphere. It is relaxing and understated. As a vegetarian I found more than enough options on this menu and hope to be back many more times.

One of the nicest place in uptown. Clean and welcoming environment. Excellent place to work. Also live music from time to time. Ethiopian food.

Went to this hidden restaurant with another couple choices nearby. The service was excellent and friendly. The decor spare and uninspired...super casual. The food was very tasty, well presented and fun to eat with the soecial bread and sauces for dipping. A bonus a "cool" jazz trio who played with confidence and flair...Can't remember their name..but that made the evening.

Awesome ethiope food, great experience... Lovely staff and really good natural juices! Try their secret hot sauce! Definetly worths spending money here!

I really enjoyed my dinner here with friends. The food was different, delicious and healthy. The staff was friendly and helpful. I’m looking forward to going back.

Excellent food in a very pleasant place. The owner is a young and very kind woman that explains anythin you need to know about ethyopian food. If you never have tried this kind of food yo will be pleasantly surprised, if you are used to it, you will be very satisfied, because is very good. Let the owner advise you if you don't know what to eat You won't regret eating there.

Tsion cafe is a lovely little place, tastefully decorated, a quiet place to have a meal, coffee or pastry. We had the shakshuka, savory and served piping hot Its an ideal meal for one or to share. Also, the spiced French toast is fantastic, crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, not too sweet, a perfect way to start a day. If you're in central Harlem and looking for a breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner place, try Tsion. You won't be disappointed.

My friend took me to Tsion Cafe for my birthday dinner. It was the first time there for both of us. Everything from the regional decor and casual atmosphere of the cafe to the delicious vegetarian food and courteous service was impeccable. It was such a treat to eat Ethiopian food (we shared the Lovers Delight), as well as explore a new neighborhood and restaurant in upper Manhattan.

We enjoyed the authentic Ethiopian cuisine, veggie platter, wat and tibs. And they offer other foods to please those unsure about Ethiopian- we tried the burger which was delicious. Comfortable restaurant (outside courtyard not in season yet), good drink choices and friendly service.

Excellently prepared Ethiopian food in a charming atmosphere. The patio is small and comfortable, the inside is comfortable. The owner is almost always there and the service is excellent. Good espresso. If you're with someone who doesn't want to try Ethiopian food there are some other selections.

What I really liked about this spot is the outdoor courtyard in the back. Sitting there was very relaxing. The veggie combo for two was tasty, not too heavy, and very pretty with vibrant veggie colors. Our friend who is less of an adventurous eater went for a burger with sweet potato fries. The homemade ginger ale was more of a ginger tea, and we weren't sure what to make of it. Still, very good, and would return.

I was somewhat reluctant to eat here because of my lack of familiarity with Ethiopian food; however, a friend convinced me and I found the Doro Tibs with Jollof Rice and the Shakshura were both excellent. Eating in the courtyard was pleasant even on a very hot day. I would eat here often if I lived in the area.

this place totally lost its luster. The food was mediocre and I used to love it, the service was arrogant and did not listen.. proof the restaurant was empty

We loved our visit to Tsion Cafe which we stumbled across about 50ft from where we were staying. All the servers were so friendly and genuinely interested in what we thought about our meal. The Ethiopian menu was really different from the usual New York choices and we shared the Veggie Combo and Tibs, both eaten with Injera. Try the honey pancakes for dessert. Even if you are full. Delicious! If we had been in the area longer we'd definitely have gone back.

I take my granddaughter to lunch about every 6 weeks or so - just she and I. This time I told her that I would not veto any selection she makes. My daughter (her aunt) took her for Ethiopian food about a year ago and every time it came to a lunch date, Ethiopian was her pick and I vetoed it. This time I didn't and told her to find and pick a place. She surfed the web and found Tsion. I was a little antsy as I've never had Ethiopian food so I placed myself in her very capable hands and to put it succinctly - enjoyed the meal immensely. The vegetable plate for two and we took about a third of it home. The flavors were unexpected and quite nice. If you've never had Ethiopian food and want to try it or if you are a fan of the cuisine, take a trip to 148th and St. Nick and enjoy.

Cool café in the heart of harlem. Great ethiopian food and very friendly. Also like the environment, harlem is so Nice!

We ate here our final evening during our stay. So glad we did. First time for Ethiopian food and loved it. I have always believed that food tastes best off the fingers. No silverware is used. Service was good and helpful for first timers.

Nice ambiance. Friendly staff. Authentic food, including the ingéra. Ethiopian beer. An overall enjoyable experience.

During this trip to the USA, we have tried Ethiopian cuisine several times, in both DC and NYC..Tsion Cafe is by far the best.. great food and pleasant service with live music a force multiplier in value addition..a great finale to our week's trip to NYC

Much anticipated meal at Tsion Cafe in Harlem with a group of colleagues and it lived up to expectations and more! The food was delicious and the service was warm and attentive. The dishes at Tsion are flavorful and the combination of traditional Ethiopian and Mediterranean cuisine (amazing hummus and fava!) is unique. They provided gluten free injera (Ethiopian bread) for one of our diners, which was delicious. The setting is beautiful (loved the art) and comfortable. Our guests left feeling happy and full. Thank you!

My friends and I were visiting Hamilton's Grange and the Morris-Jumel house and walking between the two. Not a lot of sit-down dining options, until we found the Tsion Cafe. Is is very attractive inside with lots of original artwork, and the staff are welcoming and helpful. The Ethiopian food was DELICIOUS and not too expensive. They also have non-Ethiopian items like burgers and quiche, but we had the Ethiopian specialties and highly recommend the fir-fir especially. Also, they had beer and wine. If you are looking for lunch in this area of Harlem, try Tsion Cafe!

A marvelous discovery late on a sunny spring Sunday. The ethiopian food was delicious and well prepared and the staff was lovely, welcoming and friendly. The decor was simple, clean and soothing. Dining here is a fine counterpoint to the bustling city.

We need gluten fee options and they definitely have it here. We had the Mediterranean salad with a lemon vinaigrette and Tibs which is actually filet mignon. They were both outstanding. The salad had quiona, avocados, carrots, cumcumbers, feta cheese, and more with organic spring greens. We also had a cappuccino and cafe mocha. We are coffee snobs, but they use quality coffee and know how to make it. The place is beautifully decorated and it's a breath of fresh air when you walk in on a cold winter day. It has a very warm welcoming atmosphere. It's mostly decorated with recycled, refurbished furniture. It even uses some padded church pews as chairs. Really comfy and cozy. The service, attention to detail, and quality of their food really shines through. It's definitely a place we would recommend and will return to.

We have never been to an Ethiopian restaurant before but, whilst staying in Harlem, I thought we would try it - bit of a risk but wow did it pay off. It is small and we were lucky to get a table. Loved the food and the atmosphere - very friendly service. I rarely give a restaurant a five but this would have got one had it not been for the fact that the sweet potato fries my husband had with his meal were rather cold and had to be returned - which was dealt with with no problem but had obviously been waiting around just a little too long. Would certainly return if in Harlem again.

I waited far too long but finally made it to Tsion Cafe. Tsion Cafe is a truly special restaurant serving Ethiopian Kosher cuisine. It is perfect for vegetarians, vegans and all. This jewel of a restaurant is on St. Nicholas Avenue in the heart of Sugar Hill. I visited with a friend, celebrating her birthday but one need not visit only for a special occasion. We shared the Fikre (Lover’s ) Combo which is a great way to discover many dishes and came with delicious injera. I will be certain to return soon.

My brother was showing me around Manhattan and it was starting to drizzle a little so we decided to stop for a bite. Both of us love Ethiopian food so we figured we would give Tsion Cafe a try since we had never eaten there before. The atmosphere is very pleasant with lovely artwork hung up around the establishment. They even have a small area outside to eat if you so choose. It was brunch time but we ordered the vegetarian platter for 2 off the dinner menu and it was absolutely delicious. The service was great. The price is comparable with other Ethiopian restaurants however, I will say that the portions were slightly smaller than I'm use to. But with that being said it was plenty of food for the two of us. I will most certainly be returning because Ethiopian is one of my favorite foods and this place was a great find.

A lovely restaurant with excellent food. The shakshuka and Ethiopian vegetable plate were delicious, as was the dessert, a crisp, flaky dough with honey and coconut on top. I have had shakshuka in a number of NYC restaurants; so far Tsion's is my favorite. The staff was friendly and the space is very attractive. An addd bonus is the outdoor dining area in the back of the restaurant, as well as the small library of interesting books to look at while you wait for your food. Tsion is easily accessible from downtown via the C train. The neighborhood has some beautiful streets and homes, and if you are there on the weekend, be sure to take a tour of Alexander Hamilton's home.