Worst customer service from the greeting at the door to the explanation of my entree that I chose wasn't as stated on the menu I was told I can eat it or not thank goodness there was a waitress working that had some common sense and came over to rectify the situation I was ready to leave but she insisted that I stay so I did my sister and I enjoyed our food but the incompetent server left a bad taste in both of qmouths
(1)
Luke M.
Just tried this place out for lunch- spectacular! They have a $7.95 lunch special with many options, I went for the vegan sampler (four dishes and plenty of injera bread) Each dish was delicious; a mildly spiced yellow lentil, a spicy tomato and jalapeño salad, a cabbage and carrot dish, and a brown lentil dish with a bit of kick! Very filling and flavorful, and priced very affordably. I will be back without a doubt! Oh yea, service was extremely fast and friendly. My food was ready in 10-15 minutes after ordering :)
(5)
Supraja M.
Our party of 6 had a late lunch at Lucy today. We were initially going to have Thai food, but as it turns out several of the Thai restaurants in Silver Spring don't open for lunch on Sundays, so we changed our plans We each ordered a veggie Sambusa, and then we ordered two veggie platters to share among us. The Sambusas were good- clearly freshly fried, hot and flavorful. They were probably among the best sambusas I've had, not that I'm an expert or anything. The veggie platter was a smaller portion than many Ethiopian restaurants in the DC area, but everything was tasty. This had 4 different lentil/bean preparations, beets, cabbage, potato/onion/green bean/carrot preparation, and a creamy horseradish sauce, plus a salad in the center of the platter. We realized towards the end of the meal that there were no collards or other greens, but didn't say anything. This amount of food was slightly less than enough for us, so we added on another order-my brother chose the lentils in the spiced red sauce, I don't remember the name. Service was a bit disappointing- long waits. It was pretty empty when we came in, and filled up with lots of people coming in after church services, so it was pretty busy by the end, but service was slow throughout- appetizers took a long time, water refills were basically nonexistent, the offered injera refills took forever, etc. The menu lists both canned and fountain soda as options, but my brother ordered a fountain soda and was brought a can and told the fountain was flat (I mean, better than bringing him a flat soda, but not the best situation for a restaurant to be in). I knocked off one star for the slow service.
(3)
Roxy S.
This was good solid ethiopian food. I did not give it four stars because the service was not good. We waited a long time just for our appetizers and even longer for the main course. They also didn't get our order right and gave me a meat dish when I ordered lentils. What I ate tasted very good though.
(3)
Miss Maggie C.
Worst service ever. I came in with two other people and we asked about one of the menu items which was a platter of 3 meats and 1 veggie item. First the lady told us one was chicken, one beef, and one lamb. Them she looked confused and asked someone else, and they said it was all beef items. We ended up ordering that. 30 minutes after that, we still hadn't gotten our food even though the people that came in after us did. We Asked about our food and she said it was coming out soon. 10 minutes later, we got our food. The food was good, but nothing special. After we ate, I needed to use the restroom, but there were two sisters in there together. How did I know they were sisters? The man at the table next to us told us after my friend told me two women were in there. I waited, and one woman came out and another went in. Repeat 2x and I gave up. Party in the restroom anyone? All this time, I kept waiting for the check. We alert for it and the lady took her sweet time while chatting it up with someone else while holding my check. I ended up going up there myself to get it. I will never frequent this place again.
(1)
Cathy H.
I had attended the Biz Markie (yes, the "youuu, you got what I need, but you say he's just a friend" artist from the 90s) concert nearby at The Fillmore and was utterly famished. At midnight, not much was still open in downtown Silver Spring, unfortunately. Luckily, Lucy Ethiopian Restaurant was. It was a Friday night and this place was poppin'! Dim lights with a live Ethiopian country singer. I think my party may have been the only non-Ethiopian one there, but it was quite alright because we got dancing tips -- basically bounce them shoulders super fast and side to side. I'm not exactly an Ethiopian food connoisseur, but I do know that I like awaze tibs...like, a lot. I prefer lamb for the protein and Lucy's version did not disappoint. We also got the vegetarian platter, which came with two sauces (one tangy, one spicy). I have a love/hate relationship with injera bread. Why hate? I have trypophobia: fear of holes and pores. I don't think I need to explain further. So, to eat injera, I just don't stare at it for too long. I realize this may be comical to you, but it's actually rather tragic. Food took a while to get to the table and considering no other parties were eating (most drinking and people-watching), I wasn't sure why it had taken so long. Aside from that, the service was good and friendly. Music can get extremely loud on weekend evenings, so if you're trying to have a first date, maybe look elsewhere? If you know your partner well and don't care to talk to them while eating, this is the perfect place. The patrons here are very entertaining as they partake in dance battles -- definitely great entertainment.
(4)
Tayski C.
I placed an order for take out from this restaurant on a Saturday around 6pm. We were in the area and normally we stay faithful to Sheba in Rockville but as I said we were close by and had a taste for some Ethiopian food. The place is kind of small but because I did not actually dine in and I ordered to go I will not comment on the wait service or the atmosphere. I will say that the person who took my order was very kind and attentive. Now to the food. I was so very disappointed in the food it was unbelievable. It was pretty pricey and we thew it all in the garbage. It tasted like it came out of the trash. We ordered Tibbs as we always do and it was so damn tasteless , fatty, greasy and tough that we couldn't even try to eat it we just tossed it. $50 bucks down the drain. This was my first time going there so I can not even compare it to a previous visit. I would not recommend this restaurant and I will not be going back. It seems like they may need a new cook. Very disappointed.
(1)
Empress Miko E.
I really enjoyed the food, entertainment and waitresses...we shared the vegan platter along with the cubed fish. This is my new go to for Ethiopian food and entertainment. Sidebar the honey wine left much to be desired compared to others I've had.
(4)
Carolina R.
the tibs here were the best I've ever had. we also got the vegan platter which was amazing, especially the cabbage and the carrots. the service is attentive and courteous. we got a little table outside and enjoyed a wonderful meal. beats any of the Ethiopian restaurants in dc.
(5)
Lily L.
I've only had Ethiopian a few times but this has been my favorite so far. Silver Spring has quite a fee options for Ethiopian and Lucy is a great one. Be prepared to eat a ton of delicious food. Two of us ordered the five combo. It lasted us two more meals. So much food! Of the places I've tried, Lucy's was the least greasy - and most flavorful. For my Ethiopian cravings, I'll be back here.
(4)
Meta H.
Way too expensive . Called in to go order . Was told by the staff it would be ready in 10 minutes. Had to wait more than 20 minutes while they were making my order. Unacceptable . There is too many competition for them to be lacking. Will not be going back any time soon .
(2)
Denise K.
The place smelled funny when we walked in. We were completely ignored by the staff.
(2)
B. B.
Excellent food. Great service in spite of being full up. Great experience.
(5)
Sarah M.
I will echo the masses. If you're coming here for a great dining experience, customer service included, you are going to the wrong spot. The customer service leaves much to be desired. The waitresses were friendly, yes, but the amount of time it took the two ladies who were working to come check on our table or even refill our waters was absurd. I went to Lucy's with my mom for a late lunch on Saturday. There were two other tables with patrons when we got there. We thought - PERFECT! We will be in and out... Not so much. We ordered the vegan platter with fish (with bones) and the awaze tibs. Although the fish was a bit dry, the food overall was AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS! My advice is, if you have time to spare, check out Lucy's. The cuisine is top notch. But if you're a stickler for good service, this is not the place for you.
(3)
Caroline N.
I went with a group of 7 on a Saturday night at 7:30pm. It was hustling and bustling with a lot of people trying to be seated somewhere (it was a good sign to us). The tables nearby us were pretty close. The fit was pretty tight throughout the side of the room we were at. (There were still people coming in to be seated around 9pm FYI) The food, once it arrived, was DELICIOUS and we ate pretty much everything. However, the service was less than desirable. The main reason for the lack of stars would be the service. (Reasons below) - We were told that we did not order "enough food" for all 7 of us girls - in a degrading way for that matter. This is just bad service, period - to somehow make the customer feel obligated to purchase more dishes than needed. We ordered an extra dish, but no more than that. The waitress left a bit annoyed. - The food took what it felt like was an hour... our water & soda drinks came out really late too. I'm sure the kitchen had a lot of orders (it was a packed house) - but it would be nice for first comers to let their customers know of the long wait. Especially if the wait is over 30-45 minutes (it's etiquette to come swing by and say, "sorry, food will be out shortly," even for a Saturday night). - Water re-fills were not existent. It felt like they were being bothered when we kept asking for water refills. Eventually, I just snatched the pitcher under their speakers, and re-filled for ourselves. The one time they actually came to re-fill was AFTER we got our check (and by that time it becomes a "no thanks" we're leaving-type of time) - The biggest pet peeve after we finally got our check, was that they TOOK OUT THE TIP (20%) from the cash, even after I specified that I "WANT CHANGE." It is never right for waitresses to take their tip until the customer leaves it on the table after receiving the cash change. We kept our mouth shut and let them take their 20% out, even though we were not going to tip that well - due to the pretty meh service that night. Tipping is optional, not a mandatory thing. I hope the waitresses do not do this to other customers; it's simply rude. They're lucky we didn't ask for our "$9 back" that I was owed from the cash. The FOOD WAS DELICIOUS, and that's the only reason I'd come back again. I may not come back on a weekend night, but maybe during lunch or weekday night... I'm sure service can have it's bad days too. But it seems like it gets busy every weekend, which means they should really hire more workers or chefs or something... to help the long waits and poor service.
(3)
Katherine L.
Wow- this place was hopping! On a street with easily a half dozen other Ethiopian restaurants, this was the only one that was so busy on a Thursday night. Sure, it was the New Year celebration, but then all other Ethiopian restaurants should have been so busy! The fact that they weren't so busy just confirms that this place lives up to the reviews! The reason for deducting a star was because I had asked for the Ethiopian injera, all teff, but the bottom layer was still the regular injera. The Ethiopian injera costs $3, so the extra cost had been paid but not the full benefit given. Anyhow, the green lentils were the best green lentils I have had in recent memory at an Ethiopian restaurant!!! The collards were the spiciest preparation I had ever had, and they were delicious! The spicing for the red lentils was good. The tikil gomen was the crispest ever, and I liked that preparation. The tomato salad was fresh, and the yellow split peas had good flavor without too much salt. The potatoes with carrots and green beans were interesting because the potatoes were fried first. All in all, the service was super friendly and the food was satisfying. I loved the Ethiopian injera, gluten free, and the dairy free veg sampler! Awesome!
(4)
Esayas G.
The waiters are not friendly and polite. A waiters came and told us we can't bring any drink from outside, I had a small juice in my hand and she grab it without my permission, I thought she is kidding but she wasn't. She doesn't even return it. We order food and took forever! I asked the waiters nicely if the food is ready yet but she told me to calm down and wait for it. Bad service. Dislike the food too even it took forever. Not clean too. Don't go!!!
(1)
Michael C.
This is a story about two food adventurers who had never eaten Ethiopian before. So if you're new to it like we were, you'll get a little education here; if you are a veteran of Ethiopian cuisine, you'll probably just have a good laugh. Just passing through, we hit the Yelp map looking for dinner on our first night in Silver Spring. We had not even considered Ethiopian until the map came up and there were TEN (not an exaggeration) Ethiopian restaurants within a three-square-block area in the northern half of downtown Silver Spring. We chose Lucy because it was the highest rated sit-down place of the ten. Kind of like you know you're in a good sushi restaurant when you see and hear Japanese-speaking people enjoying their meals, we walked into Lucy at about 6:30 pm on a Sunday and the place was 90% full of East Africans. We were shown to a table and within a half hour the remaining seats were filled. Lucy is a popular place with what must be a huge Ethiopian conclave in the neighborhood, and it appeared that many people go there just for drinks and socializing, instead of a full dinner. Newbies, before you go Ethiopian, you might want to visit Wikipedia for a quick primer on Ethiopian food and eating habits. Here are a few notes: First, you'll see everywhere in the literature that "Ethiopians eat with their right hands." That is probably true back home where, outside of urban areas, both running water and toilet paper are in short supply. People in that region do sanitary things with their right hands, and unsanitary things with their left. Since I'm left handed, the first thing I did upon walking into Lucy was to see if the natives were using their left hand as well as their right, and happily, they were. So forget the crap about eating with only your right hand, unless you're traveling to Ethiopia. Second, there is no silverware. Prepare to eat with your hands by tearing off a piece of crepe/pancake-like "injera" flatbread and wrapping your meat and veggies in it (again, without the aid of silverware to scoop the food into the bread). If you're comfortable eating boneless baby-back ribs with your hands, it's about the same sort of mess. Third -- and this is where we really got taken by surprise -- the portions are huge. Check the pics here on Yelp or Lucy's web site. See what looks like a medium-sized plate of tapas-style small portions of 6 or 8 types of meat and veggies in neat little piles on top of the flatbread? That platter is 18 inches across and would easily feed 2-4 people. See the Girgiro (spiced beef or lamb cubes) in the cute little cup that looks like a wine goblet? That cup is about eight inches across its top, and comes with even more injera rolled up on the plate below the cup. Again, food for 2 to 4. Ignorant of the size of the portions, my wife ordered one of the platters and I ordered the Girgiro. The platter covered so much of our table for two that the waitress had to pull up a second table for the Girgiro. Needless to say we ended up leaving about two-thirds of the food on the plates, a complete waste which made us very uncomfortable. The food itself was good, lots of interesting taste combinations, and most were very spicy. But, after trying a bit of it all, we concluded that Ethiopian isn't high on our list of favorite foods. Like much of the cuisine from India, the spices overpowered what they seasoned, so that even with the lamb Girgiro, it was difficult to taste the meat for the spices. We also got to witness the coffee ceremony, where the beans are fire roasted right there in the eating area, with no extra ventilation. As the place filled with a gray haze, the manager came out to see if the only Caucasians in the place were enjoying their meal, and he politely asked if the smoke bothered us. We were given the last cup of ceremonially-brewed coffee and it was fantastic, a very unique nutty taste that we both enjoyed. Despite discovering that we are not big fans of Ethiopian cuisine in general, we still give Lucy 4 stars because it is clearly favored by so many people who go there for a taste of their homeland. We just wish someone -- like maybe our waitress, although her English seemed limited -- would have clued us in to the fact that the two of us were ordering enough food for four to eight people.
(4)
Amdrea R.
Good food but the service was horrible. We were a party of four and it took us a while to get a waitress's attention. We gave the order with appetizers. It took 35 minutes for the appetizers to come and another 40 mins for the food. They didn't even check on us at all which was very disappointing.
(2)
L H.
Got the veggie/vegan plate. it had like 7-8 different options included for $14. score. tastewise, i don't think it's as flavorful as other options in the area (thinking addis and bete) but hubby thought the ingredients seemed fresher than other places, which I would agree with. i liked their ethiopian tea. it was a spicy flavor and just the right size. atmosphere is very cozy. It's not very fancy, just very comfortable and laidback. my friend and i had a 2 hour dinner and were never rushed or made to feel that we needed to leave so they could turn over the table. the waitress was friendly and helpful in providing suggestions for fish options for my friend. her option was a little spicy with fresh jalapenos. the waitress also brought out some hot sauce which was no kidding, slap yo mama hot. i have a pretty good heat tolerance and just a little dab had some kick. judging solely on flavor, i wouldn't rate the food as high as other reviewers. with the atmosphere factored in, i really liked it.
(4)
Jay F.
If you want to wait an hour for your food and then have to repeat your request to your waitress in multiple occasions, I would say go to this restaurant. Last time I checked, awesome service to the customer is what keeps you open and those same customers coming back. Bathrooms...wow! (Ever heard of a mop and some cleaning products?). For a place where you eat with your fingers, you should have enough hand soap and a clean restroom environment to wash your hands in. I hope the chef or cook washes their hands... Everyone in the restaurant had their glasses empty waiting for refills or drink requests...the food was good, but the overall experience was among my worst in restaurants domestically and internationally. Needless to say, I WILL NOT go back to this place they call a restaurant. Not to worry, in Silver Spring it seems like there is an ethiopian restaurant at every corner. - A VERY dissatisfied customer
(1)
Rachel A.
Amazing service... This is my third time having Ethiopian food and I'm still warming up to everything Lucy has to offer. I wish I could have appreciated the entire experience better but aside from their delicious salad (sliced tomato with jalapeño) and BBQ/grilled lamb, everything else was okay. I had the raw beef cube and it was quite an experience. I didn't like it all that much but it was fresh! I highly recommend this place if you love Ethiopian food!!
(4)
Natasha S.
I ordered the vegetarian combo and the awaze tibbs. Both were just so-so. Frankly, I was disappointed because I heard rave reviews of the Ethiopian food in the D.C. area. The Ethiopian food in L.A. is better tasting to me!
(3)
Sherese ..
After today I will not visit again. First I am told that they don't give out change . Essentially if your bill is 13.64 they keep the change and you receive $6.00 back. It was explained to me that if it is over 50 cents then they keep your money and under you keep a dollar. Typically I don't make a fuss about these things, but this ismy money and I should be able to allot it where I see fit. I work hard and principally this bothers me. Then I receive my food smothered with oil , which is not typical. I frequent this place, so it is a shame that I will have to retract my initial rating for this establishment .
(1)
Andrea L.
Sooo, I came to the restaurant, starving. My food took a little extra time to come out, but I didn't care bc when I got it it was hot, fresh, and delicious. When I was initially looking at the menu I was going to get up and walk out bc I wasn't sure what I wanted. But the kind waitress helped me pick a dish that wasn't on the menu. I told her I wanted rice. And she suggested collard greens as my vegetable. The dish also consisted of onion, potatoes, and some other good stuff. Delicious! I will be coming here again. Oh, and the staff is friendly! Love!
(5)
Ben S.
We came into Lucy about 10:00 on a Thursday night and it was already packed. We got the only table left which was pretty close to the stage and right behind the speaker. We ordered quickly, getting our usual, 1 vegetarian sampler and 1 kitfo raw. I'm only now reading that their specialty seems to be Kurt. Service was friendly, but a little slow. The waitress came out to apologize that our food was taking so long. When our food did come it actually came on two trays, the kitfo on one and the vegetarian sampler on another. This is the first time that this has ever happened to us. We looked around and most of the other tables were eating raw beef that was not served on injera (I'm now assuming that was kurt). Although our kitfo said it would come with gomen neither the vegetarian sampler or the kitfo had any greens. The kitfo was quite tasty. It was a little bit spicy actually, and it came with cheese and red pepper to dip it in as well. This is often, but not always the case. Not the butteries kitfo ever, but definitely a good offering. The vegetarian sampler was kind of different than the norm. Instead of white potatoes they had sweet potatoes, which I welcome. They also had purreed beets and a horse radish tasting yogurt. As mentioned there was no gomen. My partner thought that the split peas were sort of bland but I enjoyed them. The red lentils were a little overspiced but the brown lentils were delicious. The atmosphere was festive without being too loud. There was music with two different singers when we were there. Overall another solid offering in Silver Spring, definitely high on the list.
(4)
Tiffany L.
AMAZING! My first time trying Ethiopian food and I was absolutely blown away. This place is great. The food is incredible, and the service is great too.
(5)
Jethro T.
This is the kind of meal you share with a good friend or two, and leave with a food coma, mild heartburn, and no regrets. My friend and I got the vegetarian platter and braised lamb. Exquisite! If you go between 3-9pm Monday-Friday you can get a bucket of beer for $11. Since my friend didn't want any beer and I was driving I opted for a $5, non-happy-hour Ethiopian beer instead, which was okay, but I think the happy hour special is a better/tastier deal. Our entire meal was a very reasonable $40. I give this place 4 stars and not 5 because the service was a little slow, and the waitress came by and grabbed the tip off the table when we were still putting on our coats to leave, which felt a little pushy.
(4)
Ezra S.
I have been in many Ethiopian restaurant and enjoyed the hospitality and the food. when it comes to the so called Lucy Restaurant, the food is stayed in freeze for long period of time so I got sick it happened to me on several occasion. The owner with unfriendly and rude behavior ripped me off with the price and always came up with untruthful reason why am charged too much. If any one want to enjoy the food go to the next door Langano Restaurant with good hospitality and nice Management. Ezra
(1)
Shellie D.
Didn't eat here so my review is just for the lounge. I really loved the vibe of this place and the live singing was beautiful. I can't wait to come back and potentially try some food next time. But I will most definitely be back for the live singing.
(5)
Tamara J.
I came to visit from New York and I needed something to eat. I'm soooo happy I chose to eat from here. I took the food as take out, but it was sooooo good. I had the vegetarian platter and I ate all of it. Number one sign that the food was good. Anybody who enjoys Ethiopian food, I will definitely recommend this place. Look forward to visiting again.
(5)
George M.
Great food and service as well. Everything was fresh and all of the dishes that I had were delicious.
(4)
MJ B.
Truly a splendid restaurant. We had the lamb, beef and vegan platters. I am vegan, and there are many options. Every dish was delicious and lovingly prepared and presented. Our server, FiFi, was delightful. She could not have been more attentive or eager for us to have a tasty meal and special experience as a family. This is a must-go restaurant. Thank you, Lucy chefs and staff, for providing us with such a wonderful dinner and evening.
(5)
Mariko H.
I came here with my boyfriend and his mom on a Saturday afternoon and was a big fan with one minor exception. The place has great food, reasonable prices, nice ambiance, and friendly service. We asked our waitress for suggestions and she suggested the vegetable platter as well as one of the meat platters. We decided on JUST one of the meat platters since it came with a side vegetable dish. However, when she came back and we ordered, she made the assumption that we also wanted the vegetable platter and brought us (and charged us for) that as well. I don't think this was with malicious intent; I think she just misunderstood us. However, I do think that if a customer orders something, the waiter shouldn't assume that they also want what the waiter has suggested earlier. In the end, though, it worked out, because we definitely needed the extra food!
(4)
Jennifer K.
Average tasting vegan combo. Good tibs. Nice spice condiment. Courteous but slow service. For great flavors on the vegan dishes check Abol and Bête -- in the neighborhood.
(3)
Mark O.
I've eaten at many Ethiopian restaurants over the years, and also traveled in Ethiopia a few years ago. The Tibs I enjoyed at Lucy reminded me so much of the delicious food I had on that first trip to Ethiopia years ago. Best I've had in this area. I will certainly be back to try some of the other dishes.
(5)
Sarah W.
Great food and despite what others have said, very good service, too! If you're looking to get a quick meal and get out, this is not the place. If you're looking for delicious food and a great restaurant vibe, than Lucy's is your place!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Bridgette W.
Worst customer service from the greeting at the door to the explanation of my entree that I chose wasn't as stated on the menu I was told I can eat it or not thank goodness there was a waitress working that had some common sense and came over to rectify the situation I was ready to leave but she insisted that I stay so I did my sister and I enjoyed our food but the incompetent server left a bad taste in both of qmouths
(1)Luke M.
Just tried this place out for lunch- spectacular! They have a $7.95 lunch special with many options, I went for the vegan sampler (four dishes and plenty of injera bread) Each dish was delicious; a mildly spiced yellow lentil, a spicy tomato and jalapeño salad, a cabbage and carrot dish, and a brown lentil dish with a bit of kick! Very filling and flavorful, and priced very affordably. I will be back without a doubt! Oh yea, service was extremely fast and friendly. My food was ready in 10-15 minutes after ordering :)
(5)Supraja M.
Our party of 6 had a late lunch at Lucy today. We were initially going to have Thai food, but as it turns out several of the Thai restaurants in Silver Spring don't open for lunch on Sundays, so we changed our plans We each ordered a veggie Sambusa, and then we ordered two veggie platters to share among us. The Sambusas were good- clearly freshly fried, hot and flavorful. They were probably among the best sambusas I've had, not that I'm an expert or anything. The veggie platter was a smaller portion than many Ethiopian restaurants in the DC area, but everything was tasty. This had 4 different lentil/bean preparations, beets, cabbage, potato/onion/green bean/carrot preparation, and a creamy horseradish sauce, plus a salad in the center of the platter. We realized towards the end of the meal that there were no collards or other greens, but didn't say anything. This amount of food was slightly less than enough for us, so we added on another order-my brother chose the lentils in the spiced red sauce, I don't remember the name. Service was a bit disappointing- long waits. It was pretty empty when we came in, and filled up with lots of people coming in after church services, so it was pretty busy by the end, but service was slow throughout- appetizers took a long time, water refills were basically nonexistent, the offered injera refills took forever, etc. The menu lists both canned and fountain soda as options, but my brother ordered a fountain soda and was brought a can and told the fountain was flat (I mean, better than bringing him a flat soda, but not the best situation for a restaurant to be in). I knocked off one star for the slow service.
(3)Roxy S.
This was good solid ethiopian food. I did not give it four stars because the service was not good. We waited a long time just for our appetizers and even longer for the main course. They also didn't get our order right and gave me a meat dish when I ordered lentils. What I ate tasted very good though.
(3)Miss Maggie C.
Worst service ever. I came in with two other people and we asked about one of the menu items which was a platter of 3 meats and 1 veggie item. First the lady told us one was chicken, one beef, and one lamb. Them she looked confused and asked someone else, and they said it was all beef items. We ended up ordering that. 30 minutes after that, we still hadn't gotten our food even though the people that came in after us did. We Asked about our food and she said it was coming out soon. 10 minutes later, we got our food. The food was good, but nothing special. After we ate, I needed to use the restroom, but there were two sisters in there together. How did I know they were sisters? The man at the table next to us told us after my friend told me two women were in there. I waited, and one woman came out and another went in. Repeat 2x and I gave up. Party in the restroom anyone? All this time, I kept waiting for the check. We alert for it and the lady took her sweet time while chatting it up with someone else while holding my check. I ended up going up there myself to get it. I will never frequent this place again.
(1)Cathy H.
I had attended the Biz Markie (yes, the "youuu, you got what I need, but you say he's just a friend" artist from the 90s) concert nearby at The Fillmore and was utterly famished. At midnight, not much was still open in downtown Silver Spring, unfortunately. Luckily, Lucy Ethiopian Restaurant was. It was a Friday night and this place was poppin'! Dim lights with a live Ethiopian country singer. I think my party may have been the only non-Ethiopian one there, but it was quite alright because we got dancing tips -- basically bounce them shoulders super fast and side to side. I'm not exactly an Ethiopian food connoisseur, but I do know that I like awaze tibs...like, a lot. I prefer lamb for the protein and Lucy's version did not disappoint. We also got the vegetarian platter, which came with two sauces (one tangy, one spicy). I have a love/hate relationship with injera bread. Why hate? I have trypophobia: fear of holes and pores. I don't think I need to explain further. So, to eat injera, I just don't stare at it for too long. I realize this may be comical to you, but it's actually rather tragic. Food took a while to get to the table and considering no other parties were eating (most drinking and people-watching), I wasn't sure why it had taken so long. Aside from that, the service was good and friendly. Music can get extremely loud on weekend evenings, so if you're trying to have a first date, maybe look elsewhere? If you know your partner well and don't care to talk to them while eating, this is the perfect place. The patrons here are very entertaining as they partake in dance battles -- definitely great entertainment.
(4)Tayski C.
I placed an order for take out from this restaurant on a Saturday around 6pm. We were in the area and normally we stay faithful to Sheba in Rockville but as I said we were close by and had a taste for some Ethiopian food. The place is kind of small but because I did not actually dine in and I ordered to go I will not comment on the wait service or the atmosphere. I will say that the person who took my order was very kind and attentive. Now to the food. I was so very disappointed in the food it was unbelievable. It was pretty pricey and we thew it all in the garbage. It tasted like it came out of the trash. We ordered Tibbs as we always do and it was so damn tasteless , fatty, greasy and tough that we couldn't even try to eat it we just tossed it. $50 bucks down the drain. This was my first time going there so I can not even compare it to a previous visit. I would not recommend this restaurant and I will not be going back. It seems like they may need a new cook. Very disappointed.
(1)Empress Miko E.
I really enjoyed the food, entertainment and waitresses...we shared the vegan platter along with the cubed fish. This is my new go to for Ethiopian food and entertainment. Sidebar the honey wine left much to be desired compared to others I've had.
(4)Carolina R.
the tibs here were the best I've ever had. we also got the vegan platter which was amazing, especially the cabbage and the carrots. the service is attentive and courteous. we got a little table outside and enjoyed a wonderful meal. beats any of the Ethiopian restaurants in dc.
(5)Lily L.
I've only had Ethiopian a few times but this has been my favorite so far. Silver Spring has quite a fee options for Ethiopian and Lucy is a great one. Be prepared to eat a ton of delicious food. Two of us ordered the five combo. It lasted us two more meals. So much food! Of the places I've tried, Lucy's was the least greasy - and most flavorful. For my Ethiopian cravings, I'll be back here.
(4)Meta H.
Way too expensive . Called in to go order . Was told by the staff it would be ready in 10 minutes. Had to wait more than 20 minutes while they were making my order. Unacceptable . There is too many competition for them to be lacking. Will not be going back any time soon .
(2)Denise K.
The place smelled funny when we walked in. We were completely ignored by the staff.
(2)B. B.
Excellent food. Great service in spite of being full up. Great experience.
(5)Sarah M.
I will echo the masses. If you're coming here for a great dining experience, customer service included, you are going to the wrong spot. The customer service leaves much to be desired. The waitresses were friendly, yes, but the amount of time it took the two ladies who were working to come check on our table or even refill our waters was absurd. I went to Lucy's with my mom for a late lunch on Saturday. There were two other tables with patrons when we got there. We thought - PERFECT! We will be in and out... Not so much. We ordered the vegan platter with fish (with bones) and the awaze tibs. Although the fish was a bit dry, the food overall was AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS! My advice is, if you have time to spare, check out Lucy's. The cuisine is top notch. But if you're a stickler for good service, this is not the place for you.
(3)Caroline N.
I went with a group of 7 on a Saturday night at 7:30pm. It was hustling and bustling with a lot of people trying to be seated somewhere (it was a good sign to us). The tables nearby us were pretty close. The fit was pretty tight throughout the side of the room we were at. (There were still people coming in to be seated around 9pm FYI) The food, once it arrived, was DELICIOUS and we ate pretty much everything. However, the service was less than desirable. The main reason for the lack of stars would be the service. (Reasons below) - We were told that we did not order "enough food" for all 7 of us girls - in a degrading way for that matter. This is just bad service, period - to somehow make the customer feel obligated to purchase more dishes than needed. We ordered an extra dish, but no more than that. The waitress left a bit annoyed. - The food took what it felt like was an hour... our water & soda drinks came out really late too. I'm sure the kitchen had a lot of orders (it was a packed house) - but it would be nice for first comers to let their customers know of the long wait. Especially if the wait is over 30-45 minutes (it's etiquette to come swing by and say, "sorry, food will be out shortly," even for a Saturday night). - Water re-fills were not existent. It felt like they were being bothered when we kept asking for water refills. Eventually, I just snatched the pitcher under their speakers, and re-filled for ourselves. The one time they actually came to re-fill was AFTER we got our check (and by that time it becomes a "no thanks" we're leaving-type of time) - The biggest pet peeve after we finally got our check, was that they TOOK OUT THE TIP (20%) from the cash, even after I specified that I "WANT CHANGE." It is never right for waitresses to take their tip until the customer leaves it on the table after receiving the cash change. We kept our mouth shut and let them take their 20% out, even though we were not going to tip that well - due to the pretty meh service that night. Tipping is optional, not a mandatory thing. I hope the waitresses do not do this to other customers; it's simply rude. They're lucky we didn't ask for our "$9 back" that I was owed from the cash. The FOOD WAS DELICIOUS, and that's the only reason I'd come back again. I may not come back on a weekend night, but maybe during lunch or weekday night... I'm sure service can have it's bad days too. But it seems like it gets busy every weekend, which means they should really hire more workers or chefs or something... to help the long waits and poor service.
(3)Katherine L.
Wow- this place was hopping! On a street with easily a half dozen other Ethiopian restaurants, this was the only one that was so busy on a Thursday night. Sure, it was the New Year celebration, but then all other Ethiopian restaurants should have been so busy! The fact that they weren't so busy just confirms that this place lives up to the reviews! The reason for deducting a star was because I had asked for the Ethiopian injera, all teff, but the bottom layer was still the regular injera. The Ethiopian injera costs $3, so the extra cost had been paid but not the full benefit given. Anyhow, the green lentils were the best green lentils I have had in recent memory at an Ethiopian restaurant!!! The collards were the spiciest preparation I had ever had, and they were delicious! The spicing for the red lentils was good. The tikil gomen was the crispest ever, and I liked that preparation. The tomato salad was fresh, and the yellow split peas had good flavor without too much salt. The potatoes with carrots and green beans were interesting because the potatoes were fried first. All in all, the service was super friendly and the food was satisfying. I loved the Ethiopian injera, gluten free, and the dairy free veg sampler! Awesome!
(4)Esayas G.
The waiters are not friendly and polite. A waiters came and told us we can't bring any drink from outside, I had a small juice in my hand and she grab it without my permission, I thought she is kidding but she wasn't. She doesn't even return it. We order food and took forever! I asked the waiters nicely if the food is ready yet but she told me to calm down and wait for it. Bad service. Dislike the food too even it took forever. Not clean too. Don't go!!!
(1)Michael C.
This is a story about two food adventurers who had never eaten Ethiopian before. So if you're new to it like we were, you'll get a little education here; if you are a veteran of Ethiopian cuisine, you'll probably just have a good laugh. Just passing through, we hit the Yelp map looking for dinner on our first night in Silver Spring. We had not even considered Ethiopian until the map came up and there were TEN (not an exaggeration) Ethiopian restaurants within a three-square-block area in the northern half of downtown Silver Spring. We chose Lucy because it was the highest rated sit-down place of the ten. Kind of like you know you're in a good sushi restaurant when you see and hear Japanese-speaking people enjoying their meals, we walked into Lucy at about 6:30 pm on a Sunday and the place was 90% full of East Africans. We were shown to a table and within a half hour the remaining seats were filled. Lucy is a popular place with what must be a huge Ethiopian conclave in the neighborhood, and it appeared that many people go there just for drinks and socializing, instead of a full dinner. Newbies, before you go Ethiopian, you might want to visit Wikipedia for a quick primer on Ethiopian food and eating habits. Here are a few notes: First, you'll see everywhere in the literature that "Ethiopians eat with their right hands." That is probably true back home where, outside of urban areas, both running water and toilet paper are in short supply. People in that region do sanitary things with their right hands, and unsanitary things with their left. Since I'm left handed, the first thing I did upon walking into Lucy was to see if the natives were using their left hand as well as their right, and happily, they were. So forget the crap about eating with only your right hand, unless you're traveling to Ethiopia. Second, there is no silverware. Prepare to eat with your hands by tearing off a piece of crepe/pancake-like "injera" flatbread and wrapping your meat and veggies in it (again, without the aid of silverware to scoop the food into the bread). If you're comfortable eating boneless baby-back ribs with your hands, it's about the same sort of mess. Third -- and this is where we really got taken by surprise -- the portions are huge. Check the pics here on Yelp or Lucy's web site. See what looks like a medium-sized plate of tapas-style small portions of 6 or 8 types of meat and veggies in neat little piles on top of the flatbread? That platter is 18 inches across and would easily feed 2-4 people. See the Girgiro (spiced beef or lamb cubes) in the cute little cup that looks like a wine goblet? That cup is about eight inches across its top, and comes with even more injera rolled up on the plate below the cup. Again, food for 2 to 4. Ignorant of the size of the portions, my wife ordered one of the platters and I ordered the Girgiro. The platter covered so much of our table for two that the waitress had to pull up a second table for the Girgiro. Needless to say we ended up leaving about two-thirds of the food on the plates, a complete waste which made us very uncomfortable. The food itself was good, lots of interesting taste combinations, and most were very spicy. But, after trying a bit of it all, we concluded that Ethiopian isn't high on our list of favorite foods. Like much of the cuisine from India, the spices overpowered what they seasoned, so that even with the lamb Girgiro, it was difficult to taste the meat for the spices. We also got to witness the coffee ceremony, where the beans are fire roasted right there in the eating area, with no extra ventilation. As the place filled with a gray haze, the manager came out to see if the only Caucasians in the place were enjoying their meal, and he politely asked if the smoke bothered us. We were given the last cup of ceremonially-brewed coffee and it was fantastic, a very unique nutty taste that we both enjoyed. Despite discovering that we are not big fans of Ethiopian cuisine in general, we still give Lucy 4 stars because it is clearly favored by so many people who go there for a taste of their homeland. We just wish someone -- like maybe our waitress, although her English seemed limited -- would have clued us in to the fact that the two of us were ordering enough food for four to eight people.
(4)Amdrea R.
Good food but the service was horrible. We were a party of four and it took us a while to get a waitress's attention. We gave the order with appetizers. It took 35 minutes for the appetizers to come and another 40 mins for the food. They didn't even check on us at all which was very disappointing.
(2)L H.
Got the veggie/vegan plate. it had like 7-8 different options included for $14. score. tastewise, i don't think it's as flavorful as other options in the area (thinking addis and bete) but hubby thought the ingredients seemed fresher than other places, which I would agree with. i liked their ethiopian tea. it was a spicy flavor and just the right size. atmosphere is very cozy. It's not very fancy, just very comfortable and laidback. my friend and i had a 2 hour dinner and were never rushed or made to feel that we needed to leave so they could turn over the table. the waitress was friendly and helpful in providing suggestions for fish options for my friend. her option was a little spicy with fresh jalapenos. the waitress also brought out some hot sauce which was no kidding, slap yo mama hot. i have a pretty good heat tolerance and just a little dab had some kick. judging solely on flavor, i wouldn't rate the food as high as other reviewers. with the atmosphere factored in, i really liked it.
(4)Jay F.
If you want to wait an hour for your food and then have to repeat your request to your waitress in multiple occasions, I would say go to this restaurant. Last time I checked, awesome service to the customer is what keeps you open and those same customers coming back. Bathrooms...wow! (Ever heard of a mop and some cleaning products?). For a place where you eat with your fingers, you should have enough hand soap and a clean restroom environment to wash your hands in. I hope the chef or cook washes their hands... Everyone in the restaurant had their glasses empty waiting for refills or drink requests...the food was good, but the overall experience was among my worst in restaurants domestically and internationally. Needless to say, I WILL NOT go back to this place they call a restaurant. Not to worry, in Silver Spring it seems like there is an ethiopian restaurant at every corner. - A VERY dissatisfied customer
(1)Rachel A.
Amazing service... This is my third time having Ethiopian food and I'm still warming up to everything Lucy has to offer. I wish I could have appreciated the entire experience better but aside from their delicious salad (sliced tomato with jalapeño) and BBQ/grilled lamb, everything else was okay. I had the raw beef cube and it was quite an experience. I didn't like it all that much but it was fresh! I highly recommend this place if you love Ethiopian food!!
(4)Natasha S.
I ordered the vegetarian combo and the awaze tibbs. Both were just so-so. Frankly, I was disappointed because I heard rave reviews of the Ethiopian food in the D.C. area. The Ethiopian food in L.A. is better tasting to me!
(3)Sherese ..
After today I will not visit again. First I am told that they don't give out change . Essentially if your bill is 13.64 they keep the change and you receive $6.00 back. It was explained to me that if it is over 50 cents then they keep your money and under you keep a dollar. Typically I don't make a fuss about these things, but this ismy money and I should be able to allot it where I see fit. I work hard and principally this bothers me. Then I receive my food smothered with oil , which is not typical. I frequent this place, so it is a shame that I will have to retract my initial rating for this establishment .
(1)Andrea L.
Sooo, I came to the restaurant, starving. My food took a little extra time to come out, but I didn't care bc when I got it it was hot, fresh, and delicious. When I was initially looking at the menu I was going to get up and walk out bc I wasn't sure what I wanted. But the kind waitress helped me pick a dish that wasn't on the menu. I told her I wanted rice. And she suggested collard greens as my vegetable. The dish also consisted of onion, potatoes, and some other good stuff. Delicious! I will be coming here again. Oh, and the staff is friendly! Love!
(5)Ben S.
We came into Lucy about 10:00 on a Thursday night and it was already packed. We got the only table left which was pretty close to the stage and right behind the speaker. We ordered quickly, getting our usual, 1 vegetarian sampler and 1 kitfo raw. I'm only now reading that their specialty seems to be Kurt. Service was friendly, but a little slow. The waitress came out to apologize that our food was taking so long. When our food did come it actually came on two trays, the kitfo on one and the vegetarian sampler on another. This is the first time that this has ever happened to us. We looked around and most of the other tables were eating raw beef that was not served on injera (I'm now assuming that was kurt). Although our kitfo said it would come with gomen neither the vegetarian sampler or the kitfo had any greens. The kitfo was quite tasty. It was a little bit spicy actually, and it came with cheese and red pepper to dip it in as well. This is often, but not always the case. Not the butteries kitfo ever, but definitely a good offering. The vegetarian sampler was kind of different than the norm. Instead of white potatoes they had sweet potatoes, which I welcome. They also had purreed beets and a horse radish tasting yogurt. As mentioned there was no gomen. My partner thought that the split peas were sort of bland but I enjoyed them. The red lentils were a little overspiced but the brown lentils were delicious. The atmosphere was festive without being too loud. There was music with two different singers when we were there. Overall another solid offering in Silver Spring, definitely high on the list.
(4)Tiffany L.
AMAZING! My first time trying Ethiopian food and I was absolutely blown away. This place is great. The food is incredible, and the service is great too.
(5)Jethro T.
This is the kind of meal you share with a good friend or two, and leave with a food coma, mild heartburn, and no regrets. My friend and I got the vegetarian platter and braised lamb. Exquisite! If you go between 3-9pm Monday-Friday you can get a bucket of beer for $11. Since my friend didn't want any beer and I was driving I opted for a $5, non-happy-hour Ethiopian beer instead, which was okay, but I think the happy hour special is a better/tastier deal. Our entire meal was a very reasonable $40. I give this place 4 stars and not 5 because the service was a little slow, and the waitress came by and grabbed the tip off the table when we were still putting on our coats to leave, which felt a little pushy.
(4)Ezra S.
I have been in many Ethiopian restaurant and enjoyed the hospitality and the food. when it comes to the so called Lucy Restaurant, the food is stayed in freeze for long period of time so I got sick it happened to me on several occasion. The owner with unfriendly and rude behavior ripped me off with the price and always came up with untruthful reason why am charged too much. If any one want to enjoy the food go to the next door Langano Restaurant with good hospitality and nice Management. Ezra
(1)Shellie D.
Didn't eat here so my review is just for the lounge. I really loved the vibe of this place and the live singing was beautiful. I can't wait to come back and potentially try some food next time. But I will most definitely be back for the live singing.
(5)Tamara J.
I came to visit from New York and I needed something to eat. I'm soooo happy I chose to eat from here. I took the food as take out, but it was sooooo good. I had the vegetarian platter and I ate all of it. Number one sign that the food was good. Anybody who enjoys Ethiopian food, I will definitely recommend this place. Look forward to visiting again.
(5)George M.
Great food and service as well. Everything was fresh and all of the dishes that I had were delicious.
(4)MJ B.
Truly a splendid restaurant. We had the lamb, beef and vegan platters. I am vegan, and there are many options. Every dish was delicious and lovingly prepared and presented. Our server, FiFi, was delightful. She could not have been more attentive or eager for us to have a tasty meal and special experience as a family. This is a must-go restaurant. Thank you, Lucy chefs and staff, for providing us with such a wonderful dinner and evening.
(5)Mariko H.
I came here with my boyfriend and his mom on a Saturday afternoon and was a big fan with one minor exception. The place has great food, reasonable prices, nice ambiance, and friendly service. We asked our waitress for suggestions and she suggested the vegetable platter as well as one of the meat platters. We decided on JUST one of the meat platters since it came with a side vegetable dish. However, when she came back and we ordered, she made the assumption that we also wanted the vegetable platter and brought us (and charged us for) that as well. I don't think this was with malicious intent; I think she just misunderstood us. However, I do think that if a customer orders something, the waiter shouldn't assume that they also want what the waiter has suggested earlier. In the end, though, it worked out, because we definitely needed the extra food!
(4)Jennifer K.
Average tasting vegan combo. Good tibs. Nice spice condiment. Courteous but slow service. For great flavors on the vegan dishes check Abol and Bête -- in the neighborhood.
(3)Mark O.
I've eaten at many Ethiopian restaurants over the years, and also traveled in Ethiopia a few years ago. The Tibs I enjoyed at Lucy reminded me so much of the delicious food I had on that first trip to Ethiopia years ago. Best I've had in this area. I will certainly be back to try some of the other dishes.
(5)Sarah W.
Great food and despite what others have said, very good service, too! If you're looking to get a quick meal and get out, this is not the place. If you're looking for delicious food and a great restaurant vibe, than Lucy's is your place!
(4)