Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant 869 Bloor Street W. Tel. 416 535 6615

They say it's the 8th world wonder. A small town in the middle of the Ethiopian highlands. It's surrounded by a rocky and dry area where just in the raining period farmers can grow their crops. One's called Roha and the capital of the Zagwe Dynasty which ruled over Ethiopia from the 10th century to the mid-13th century. It was King Lalibela who build the 13 rock-hewn churches. In it carvings, some of saints other with mystical symbols.

Like more episodes in the long history of this country, there are a lot of legends about this King. One is that his older brother poisoned him and during a three days sleep he was brought to heaven, where he was shown a city of rock-hewn churches which he replicated. Others say that he went into exile to Jerusalem and got a vision to create a new Jerusalem. And so it is. A small gorge is called The River Jordan and there is the tomb of Abraham.

Four are completely free-standing, attached only to the surrounding rock by their bases. These are Beta Medhane Alem, the House of the Savior of the World; Beta Mariam, the House of Mary; Beta Emmanuel, the House of Emanuel; and Beta Ghiorghis, the House of St George. Although their individual dimensions and configurations are extremely different, the churches are all built from great blocks of stone, sculptured to resemble normal buildings and wholly isolated within deep courtyards. They represent, as one authority has put it, the ultimate in rock-church design..... One is amazed at the technical skill the material resources and the continuity of effort which such vast undertakings imply.

Yes, indeed this is a place worth your visit, even the UNESCO underlined the importance of Lalibela for its cultural heritage. So, we named our restaurant after this famous place.