“Adot” means mother in Gurage, the language spoken by a southern Ethiopian tribe. The meaning extends beyond a sense of a biological mother: it is a homage to all the women who were significant in raising us. A “mother”, therefore, can be a friend, an aunt, a sister or a daughter to someone. It’s fitting that Adot Kitchen, the restaurant run by Rahel Teklehaymanot and Eskinder Mamo, takes on this name. The space is hospitable, with a warm and welcoming atmosphere akin to a loving home. This Ethiopian restaurant occupies the first level of arts and culture center Oyoun and extends onto the back terrace, providing plenty of seating for warmer days. Adot started as a pop-up and grew into a full restaurant in June 2023. Every dish on the brunch menu has something special worth mentioning, so it’s hard here to be succinct.
A key highlight is the injera breads. As one of the few places that uses pure teff flour, Adot’s breads are flavorful, soft, sour and gluten-free. Using the bread and your hands, you can sample the likes of spicy scrambled egg or delicious and smooth Ful (fava bean stew). The honey wine is sweet and refreshing, and can be enjoyed in alcoholic or non-alcoholic versions. A must-try is the coffee – Adot uses their own arabica single origin beans and, while you can order your usual cappuccino or flat white, they’re best enjoyed in a traditional-style coffee ceremony. Here, they come served in a round, clay coffee pot called a “Jebena”, next to aromatic whirls of burning frankincense. While the traditional ceremony usually takes hours (and starts over again as more friends and family arrive) you can enjoy it as part of your brunch. During our visit, we were tempted not to leave after our meal – the space is roomy with plenty of seating and, after such a tender dining experience, anything feels as though it might disturb the welcoming feeling of this second home.
Text & Photos: Savannah van der Niet
Adot Kitchen, Lucy-Lameck-Str. 32, 12049 Berlin–Neukölln; map
Tue–Sun 10–22h
@adotkitchen
