Cafe Merkama is an odd little place on the main restaurant strip of Ballarat that is half shop, half cafe, and all authentic Ethiopian!
Cuisine from such a far flung part of the world is not what you would expect in Ballarat, but, netherless, its there, and has been for a number of years now.
Not just that, but its very popular too!- When I walk past this, its quite rare for me not to see anybody chowing down on delicious Ethiopian curries, Egyptian fool (a bean salad thing) and various other treats, and sopping up the juices with home made sour, fluffy injeera bread- a regional specialty of Ethiopia which is like a fluffy, stretchy, fermented sourdough pancake flatbread that is made from teff flour.
We have visited and dined a couple times now, and by far, the best dish is the chicken red curry. I found the other dishes not being spicy enough for my liking and a bit bland. Its a nice restaurant if you want something different, and exotic, out of the norm however.
Merkama is also BYO, so you can bring a couple beers or wine to your meal.
The injeera bread is definitely something special though, and it is big, fluffy, delicious and sour, just like it should be.
Also a standout is the friendly proprietor, a former refugee, who has spent time living in inhospitable third world places like refugee camps, and Tasmania, before coming to settle in Ballarat.
The name of the Cafe, Merkama, is reportedly the same as that of his young daughter.
The service from this man is excellent, and he is a gracious, and effervescent host, always friendly.
However, the young man who we often get stuck with, whom we presume is his son, is a surly, grumpy and rude by with the manners of a spoilt dictator.
Its all Food, man, just F*n food- just order some and leave me alone, stop asking stupid questions about what its like or tastes like.
The little brat needs a firm kick to the backside. His father’s business would probably perform better if he was not around, and really, if he was not family, i’m sure he would have been sacked long ago.
Anyway, apart from the rude little brat behind the counter who throws plates of food at you when he serves, Merkama is worth a visit for some red curry and injeera.
There are other things on the menu, but talk to the father, not the brat if you want to know more.
Story on cafe Merkama and its owner in the Ballarat courier – 2014