D-Line Restaurant

Halal! How are ya? I’d say ‘pretty good’ (4*) and a great value! D-​line Restaurant, as the name implies, is conveniently located at the end of the D line at 30^th & Downing on the border of the up and coming Whittier/​Five Points neighborhoods. Characteristic of the neighborhood, the building and its interior are nothing fancy and sport a new bright green/​orange paint job and a quaint interior with dated furnishing; however, let this be a lesson in not judging a book by it’s cover. Inside you’re sure to be met with a warm welcome, big smiles and excellent service. It’s clear the family owned/​run establishment prides itself on offering authentic African cuisine from Ethiopia. In addition, it offers some staple soul food, like chicken and waffles, and some standard café fare (burgers, sandwiches, etc.). On my first visit, I opted for the special platter with a combination of flavorful chicken, rice and vegetables. My favorite was the chicken, which was moist and nicely spiced with a middle eastern barbecue style sauce. My second favorite was a cabbage side and green curried rice, which were both good. White rice and chick pea/​potatoes sides were ok too. If I weren’t so stuffed from the huge portion (for only $ 10), I would have ordered the samosas, which smelled absolutely terrific. Overall, D-​line offers great service, good authentic halal, and contributes to the diverse and eclectic array of cuisines available in the neighborhood. I’ll definitely be back to try those samosas and so much more! As a side note — take some time to swing through the adjoining convenience store, as they have a surprising selection of middle eastern ingredients and spices.