Culinary Negligence: The Decline of Addis Abeba's Dining Scene

Dec 7 , 2024
By Eden Sahle

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My Husband Mike and I enjoy exploring restaurants in Addis Abeba, frequently visiting both new and established eateries. However, like many food lovers, we have noticed a troubling trend: restaurants often start with high standards but fail to maintain them as they grow popular.

This decline goes beyond disappointing meals. It affects customer trust, public health, and the city’s dining culture. Spoiled food, poor hygiene, and indifference to customer satisfaction turn what should be pleasurable experiences into frustrations, or, worse, hospital visits.

The pattern is familiar. New restaurants begin with fresh, high-quality dishes, efficient service, and a commitment to excellence. They quickly gain a loyal following, but success brings challenges. As the customer base grows, standards begin to decline. Portions shrink, flavours fade, and key ingredients disappear. Staff who were once attentive become indifferent, and wait times increase.

Takeout is often the first to suffer. Recently, a restaurant in the Atlas area sold us  spoiled oats bread, likely baked days before. A chicken sandwich from the same establishment left us unwell for days. Ironically, we have enjoyed the same sandwich consistently for months when the restaurant first opened.

Such negligence not only tarnishes a restaurant’s reputation but also poses serious health risks. Over the past month, I have suffered foodborne illness from popular restaurants around Atlas and Arat Kilo. One weekend, we visited a friend hospitalized due to food poisoning from another local restaurant.

The decline stems from poor management and misplaced priorities. Restaurants prioritize profit over quality. Once popular, many restaurants prioritize profits over reinvesting in quality. Owners suffer from complacency assuming that early success guarantees long-term loyalty, neglecting oversight and customer feedback. Additionally, rapid growth strains infrastructure and staffing, making it difficult to maintain standards.

Eateries often ignore feedback from customers. At one Atlas area restaurant, a dissatisfied customer was handed a bill for food they couldn’t eat, showing the owner’s disregard for feedback.

This issue affects more than individual customers. Restaurants that fail to maintain standards lose business, close down, and contribute to job losses. Customers lose trust in the dining industry, becoming hesitant to try new establishments or revisit old favorites.

Few restaurants outside five-star hotels in Addis Abeba have consistently thrived for decades. Their success lies in maintaining quality, respecting customers, and building legacies rather than chasing short-term gains.

At its core, this problem reflects a lack of respect for customers and the craft of preparing and serving food. A successful restaurant is not just a profit-generating entity; it’s a space for celebration, connection, and creating memories.

When restaurants sell substandard food, they betray their patrons’ trust and undermine the entire industry. Owners must remember that their success depends on loyal customers who are willing to pay for consistent quality.

While the primary responsibility lies with restaurant owners, customers also have a role to play. By voicing concerns, supporting establishments that prioritize quality, and holding businesses accountable, we can foster a culture of excellence in Addis Abeba’s dining scene.

Owners must embrace their responsibility as custodians of the culinary reputation they sell. Maintaining consistent quality requires a shift in approach. Success is not just about attracting customers; it is about keeping them through unwavering quality, safety, and respect.

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PUBLISHED ON Dec 07,2024 [ VOL 25 , NO 1284]

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