Review Savanna African Restaurant & Cafe - Collingwood

It was a unique and pleasant meal. Interesting style. Good flavours and group oriented. It was nice to eat with my hands and get a bit messy. You don’t have to eat with your hands, they provide knives and forks. It was a personal choice for our group to embrace the African style of eating. Overall: Food is pretty good, serving size is decent. Not enough meat on the meat focused banquet plates. Rating: 7.5 for food. One lamb dish was exceptional.

Got the feast for two and it was heaps of food. Enjoyable experience getting to try a mix of flavours. Would have preferred injera on the side to prevent it getting soggy from having the dishes on top.

So delicious as always. This place is amazing, great value and wonderful service. First time back in two years and just as good as we remembered.

One of the best meals I’ve had! Shared a meat and veg platter for 2 with my mum and there was tons of food. All delicious. Definitely will be back next time!

The woman who runs this place remembers us from the very first time we went years ago and although we don't get over that way too often she's delightful. We asked if she sold take home because it's the most satisfying vegetarian option I've ever had and she said not really because she only serves it fresh and she is in the business to see the faces of her customers when they eat her food. A real gem. Don't doubt it and don't be put off by possible racists who complain about her. They're impatient, disrespectful, and unkind.

Great food. The share plate for 3 was great value and good way to try many of the dishes. Nice flavours, would recommend !

Five star for the all delicious and slowly made food on the platter, if you are a food adventurous and after exciting flavours this is going to be the right place for you. Highly recommendable

The shiro is the best you'll ever get outside Ethiopia, and the owner is amazing. It's also one of the few places in Melbourne where you can get really good goat curry, and proper Ethiopian coffee. It's a fantastic experience, and cheap enough to come regularly if you live close by.

This is the best ethiopian northside of the river (been to heaps & prev went Westside for this cuisine)! I've been a loyal customer for a while now & I continuously introduce friends to this amazing place in Collingwood. Everytime I go, I'm always greeted with welcoming smiles & hugs from the owner. The food is just sensational. I had the vege platter for two. The presentation is so colourful and taste is top notch, so many earthy delicious flavours. I even asked the lovely owner (and this is one lady who takes care of everything) if I could have extras for lunch... And yes, I get to relive this delicious experience all over again. Yummo. Top place�����

Had the share platter for two with my partner, we enjoyed every single bite! Great service, great food. Highly recommend this great little find.

This place is a 'secret' gem! Had a group of 13 and they fed us with a plethora of fantastic dishes. Personally loved the shared platters for two which was a veritable taste sensation. The wine/drinks list though small was good and very reasonably priced. Recommend this place and will go back anytime!

I love this place! The service is friendly, the food is not only beautifully presented but incredibly delicious and satisfying. I look forward to eating here all the time and each time I have to be rolled out because I can't stop eating until the plate is clean. If you've never tried Misrak's Ethiopian cuisine, you're totally missing out. As a gift from me to you, book yourself a table TODAY!

Amazing. Feast for two was really delicious. Red wine options wsre fabulous. The wait staff were really attentive as well.

Unique experience in Melbourne.

Relaxing, authentic & delicious dining experience! Great selection of organic wine & very vegan friendly! Yum!

This place is great, I've been coming here for ages, and the food is always amazing. I get the Feast, vegi or meat are both great. And the woman who runs it is lovely! I often recommend it to friends, and I recommend it to you as well.

Very confused, not sure if this was perhaps a one off due to a potentially busy night? My friends and I were very excited to try the food here, and on arriving at 8pm we’re told they didn’t have enough food for us due to other bookings, however the restaurant was empty. With all these great reviews we had to wonder is this the norm here, are bookings essential or had we come at a particularly unlucky time? <br/>Disappointed we didn’t get the same experience as everyone else here 😕

My favourite Ethiopian in Melbourne!!! The vegan platter is so delicious, and filled with so much flavour and love. Serving size is always generous, the wine is great and the staff are amazing. I love this place.

We loved our experience at Savanna! We ordered the Vegan Platter to share and it was so vibrant, colourful and tasty! It was satisfying and filling too! We also had some of the house wine - quite tasty!<br/><br/>We were looked after really well, the team is so kind and accommodating. Love the feel of this place. <br/><br/>Definitely keen to go back and try some more vegan options.

What a beautiful restaurant with astounding food. The veg/vegan ideal buffet for two was so delicious and so huge that we're still eating it the next day. (take a container for leftovers - this wonderful place doesn't do plastic). I love this restaurant.

Lovely cozy restaurant that resembles a home. Serves great, interesting food that tastes like home cooking. Warm, hearty meats and vegetables that are full of spice and flavor.<br/><br/>Do get the platter if you're not alone. They also feature a decent list of Ethiopian beer and wine, in which the beer is surprisingly good.<br/><br/>Definitely certified delishh!

We live around the corner and go here once a week. The food is incredible! And the service is lovely. It’s like being welcomed into their home

This lovely restaurant never EVER fails. It is a regular for birthday dinners amongst our family and friends - we always leave with full bellies, massive smiles, and still plenty of money in the wallet! It's a true experience where the food is made with love!

Cute little spot off Brunswick Street. We were here on a weeknight and got the place to ourselves. Friendly service and we got a mix of everything. Love the hands-on style and we did not leave hungry! BYO makes it a super chilled and fairly cheap night out.

I first went to Savanna in 2014 and it's now become my number one go-to restaurant. A perfect place to bring a group of friends, or someone you want to impress, as the food is always outstanding and the service super friendly, welcoming and quick. Couldn't recommend more highly!

One of my favourite restaurants! The food is incredible, the platters are enormous and Mishrak always goes above and beyond with her service and hospitality.

This place is all kinds of delish. Something different (for me before my taste buds experienced this treat), carefully prepared delivered with a smile. Every single time. Love love LOVE

Love this place, great flavours, great food. Make sure to get the Savanna Special so you can try some of everything. <br/><br/>P.S. no cutlery allowed, have some fun and eat with your hands 🤙

Very friendly service. The food was absolutely delicious. The vegetarian share plate for two was a feast. A wonderful experience, we cannot wait to return.

From the time you walk in till the time you’re served to you’re done with ur food and leave this restaurant, you feel like you’ve visited a very friendly South African home! <br/><br/>It’s more homely than commercial. The food is lovely and tasteful. Pretty close to the authentic South African taste though modified to suite an Aussie pallet. <br/><br/> Make sure you’re booked in and reserved much in advance as this restaurant prepares food only for expected guests so it’s all fresh while serving! <br/><br/>Feast plate, veg or non veg options is a must try for dinner.

This is the best African restaurant in the area - the food is so delicious! Highly recommend the meat platter for 2. You get a few of the meats and every vegetarian dish from the menu as well as the bread. It’s super filling. I take all of my visitors there and they love it. <br/>It’s also BYO which is great, and the owner is so lovely.

<br/>Delicious platter of meat and heaps of veggies with great personal service. Very affordable for great food! Highly recommend the share platter as you get to try a variety of dishes<br/>

My favourite African restaurant. The service and decor is beautiful and there are great vegan options. Always have an amazing time with delicious food every time I go. The bread is so beautiful and fluffy. Would recommend to everyone.

Incredible food, and very sweet service. It's hard to fault this place, run by one lady who serves customers and prepares the food! It's clear she's got a lot of pride in her lovely restaurant, and truly cares about the food she serves. I haven't had one single veg option I didn't love, and the injera is absolutely TO DIE FOR! Ethiopian is a really interesting cuisine to eat, and one where you need to get your hands involved. The servings are pretty big, but you can take away anything you don't eat.

Amazing food for my first African eating experience! Lots of vegetarian options and lovely service. Refused to give me a fork, very authentic.

We had the Beyaynetu feast for three which gave us a range of all the vege and some of the meat dishes. All three of us went home full, and very satisfied - the tibs (goat sauteed with chilies) were particularly nice.

Could not fault the food, atmosphere or service. Definitely recommend the platter with meat, everything was bursting with flavour and so much fun to eat.

Best Ethiopian in town. The woman who operates the restaurant is lovely and told me once that she wants to make food with flavours that represent her interpretation of the cuisine, rather than adjusted to the whims of local taste buds. Works for me. Loyal customer here.

Savanna is a must! We constantly bring new people that would never have tried Ethiopian food, sharing the platters, gorgeous tastes of braised spiced meats, veg and lentils. The food has been consistently amazing. We feel at home coming here and Savanna will continue to be a regular haunt. Do yourself a favour and go!

Food was incredible! Sharing plates are the way to go, sample everything and eat with your hands using injera bread to lap up all the delicious flavours! Good price, byo and convenient location!

Eating spicy vegetables with my hands while drinking exotic beers is my idea of a good time but i'm a messy vegetarian who might have had too many beers before arriving at this destination. I do know this restaurant deserves a far larger clientele. Only downside: tumeric staining of the fingernails for the next day.

Fast and friendly service. Wonderful atmosphere and incredible food. Vegetarian banquet for 2 was more than enough for a couple. Thank you! Highly recommended.<br/><br/>

Amazing food, fantastic service. A+++ thank you so much for such a wonderful meal :) <br/>The wait was very short, the food was hot an the injeera unlimited. I could not speak highly enough of the staff

I looooved that place... the atmosphere with ethiopian music and the lovely waitress .. that was awesome! And the food was so good and really special. I fell like i was in africa for one hour !

I have been here a few times and never left dissapointed, so I am surprise about some of the low reviews. That said, we always order the combination dish to share, you can't go wrong with that. My favorite part is the spicy slow cook goat in the middle, delicious and full of flavour! This is the best Ethiopian restaurant we have tried in Melbourne.

Delicious food with exceptional service .We visited Savannah on Sunday and it was truly a remarkable experience.  Misrak , the lovely lady who runs this place is extremely friendly and welcoming . We had the Veggie platter and the food was very tasty with a unique blend of flavours and everything was cooked to perfection. Food was customised according to our needs and the Injera tasted heavenly with the red lentils. Very filling too.<br/><br/>Highly recommend this place and we will definitely go back again :)

Love love LOVE this place. Been here twice, and the wonderful woman who runs the place is incredibly friendly and accommodating. The food is phenomenal, reasonably priced and the portions are enormous. Can't beat it!

Really enjoyed my meal here. My friend and I had the vegetarian feast for two and it was more than enough food, we struggled to finish it. Everything was delicious and it was nice to be able to try all the vegetarian curries. Highly recommend.

This place was fantastic! I usually have Ethiopian food when I go to Footscray, but finally, I've found a place closer to my house!<br/><br/>We ordered a beyaynetu and doro wat to share. They didn't disappoint. The service was really good too - friendly, attentive and genuine. We felt very comfortable here :)

WOW!  Incredible flavours and variety.  Really finger licking good, because everyone uses their fingers.  We had a mixed meat platter ... very filling ... and also some fish ... good place to take vegetarians.  Finishing with coffee that had a note of cinnamon!  After all, the Ethiopians invented coffee!

I love Ethiopian food and this place did not disappoint. The Feast for Two was generous, hot and delicious. The injera was delightful and extra was brought our fresh off the pan when we were starting to struggle. The beer options were really tasty. The service was friendly and quick. Couldn't ask for anything more and will be coming back to this little gem many times.

I think it's a place where you either really like or don't like...My partner didn't like it, didn't get the injera with the soury taste and slight sogginess to go with the meat and vegies. Been here twice myself and have found it delightful, plentiful and very clean eating. The owner is just lovely and always friendly to talk to.

One of our faves. We just moved to Abbotsford a few months back, and we find ourselves here at least once-a-week. We always leave full and happy.

I'm starting to think that Zomato reviews are not real... After the second time with big delusional results after a high rated restaurant I will not use it anymore.<br/>The restaurant is dirt as hell, floor, tables etc must be cleaned sometimes!!!<br/>Food: small dimensions for the price paid, I took a combo of vegetarian and goat meat. Vegetarian was good, meat was really awful.<br/>Wifi is not available, as described in Zomato.

We had a beautiful experience here! I absolutely loved every dish in our vegan platter and wanted to go again the next night. One of my favourite restaurants in Melbourne in my two years here. <br/><br/>Thank you to the wonderful, kind, warm woman in Charge. Can't wait to be back!

Service is so friendly and the food is really tasty and delicious. Wasn't sure if it was going to be enough food but I was so full it was more than enough. I got the vegetarian platter. Will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu.

i love it here! we used to always go to the horn across the road but we come here instead now. better vegan selection and it's byob! bonus! the mixed vegetarian platter can be all vegan if you mention it and the waitress here is so lovely and helpful. really cheap too. make sure you order shiro!

fantastic authetic food in a lovely warm and welcoming environment. waitress couldn't have been any nicer. its byob which is a bonus! we ended up getting a second serving of a few of the dishes - they were that good!! the coffee afterwards was the perfect end to the meal

Categorically the best Ethiopian I have ever had. Go here. The End.<br/><br/>All the vegan options coupled with the tastiest injera portioned into the most generous servings at the most modest prices caused a serious spike in serotonin levels.<br/><br/>(The lady that runs the place bless her, I just wanted to squeeze her cheeks she is so nice)<br/><br/>Bronimal - this one is thanks to you x <br/><br/><br/>

This place is spot on every single time. Whether you're having a dinner for two or a party of up to twenty, Savanna always delivers. Food is always fantastic and the owner is so lovely and attentive. Would recommend to everyone!

Shared the vego feast with a friend & the other three shared the meat feast. Food was amazing, service was great & we all can't wait to get back there!

Overall experience was wonderful. The meat dishes were cooked to tenderness and were very juicy and soft to eat. The flavours were stunning, especially in the lentils and vegetables. The portions definitely leave you feeling full and for the amount and quality of food, the prices are great. The culture is very vibrant and rich. It's a great way to experience it through the food and the friendly staff who are happy to tell you about it. Locals eat with the hands sharing so there is a nice feeling of togetherness (which we felt with the platters) although you're able to use knives and forks as well. The place itself is really nice to chat amongst a big group or even between just two. I'm sure I'll be going again in the future and would recommend others to try this place out!

Satisfactory meal , with variety of meat and veggies screaming the concept of sharing and eating ! Flavourful goat meat accompanied with simple lentils and vegetables work beautifully without going over the top. Absolutely loved this place.<br/>Shared platter ( meal of 2 , 3 or 4) is highly recommended. Order the Ethiopian wine - it all goes wonderfully together. Don't leave without giving your all 5 senses an experience of Ethiopian caffeine. I could hear and smell beans being freshly toasted and after a good waiting time -finally small shots of coffee arrived - divine. If you don't like sugar in your coffee like me - tell them beforehand or that coffee would be your dessert ! <br/>My special shout out to the lovely smiling lady who served us. <br/>Will I come back? Absolutely yes and highly recommended <br/>

Dinner for family of four last night - had the shared platter - it was absolutely sensational.   Our children are Ethiopian and they ate and ate and ate - they were incredibly happy with the food.   The share platter was absolutely full, and had so many dishes on it - such generous servings - utterly surprising.   The injera was raved about by my family, and we also had rice, for me which was so tasty.    The service was warm and welcoming, and what we couldn't eat we got to take home.   Sensational Ethiopian/Eritrean food - get yourself there - you won't regret it.

Amazing food!! We had the platter for two and we loved it! Honest price and huge portions! People are friendly, Definitely will be back with some friends

Fantastic dining experience! Authentic tastes, injera, wots (stews), coffee.<br/>Gobez Anchi!!<br/>Try the Fiyel Wot (goat stew), tibs, gomen...lots of vegetarian options<br/>Highly recommended!

This was our first experience with Ethiopian cuisine. We didn't know what to expect, but everything turned out great. Since we were first timers they served us the savanna special platter, which included many different kinds of food on it and being hungry, we devoured the whole thing. So come here on an empty stomach since there is a lot of food. Our waitress was quite friendly and handled our service pretty well. We recommend the savanna special  platter especially for first timers because you can try many different kinds of food. The platter includes different types of vegetables and meat served on a large piece of injera (bread). Just so you know you eat with your hands but do not be afraid to ask the waitress for a fork if you're having trouble. In all the service was great and so was the food.

Savana Restaurant is the perfect destination for those unacquainted with the joys of Ethioeritrean cuisine,the smiley,friendly owner will happly take you through the menu ,and if necessery gives you an advice on how to eat with ''Engera'' (light spongy lokal bread) that comes with every meal.I have been very lucky to be there with few friends so have had the option to order many different dishes and share.Bothe meat and vegi dishes are finger liking,and the portions are anquestionably generous i love the amount and variety.The experience was very gratifying.would recommend to every one for a perfect dining experience.

The last 20 minutes of today, were meant to be spent grabbing a coffee and going back to the studio, convulsing over deadlines and this vivacious Melbourne heat, but instead, I noticed this place! And yessssss but, oh how so no. If there is one absolute thing I love, it's eating all kinds of tribal meats, with gravies and delicious interesting breads to grab it all and soak everything up with, whilst potentially taking my shoes off and sipping muddy coffee, hand made in a tin can over smokey coals. With flavour. Flavour. You know. Flavour? Disappointed with the Goat Tibs, Azifa Misir Wot and Greens beans. Although the lady who tends my table is thee most precious treasure of all the lands combined, each dish boasts about as much flavour as a brown boot in a shallow dam. And damn. I'd love so much to love this place. She is so lovely. <br/><br/>I'm waiting for my Ethiopian coffee. Normally this is a (for lack of a better word) trending, vice of mine. Especially served super fresh from the bosom of the most adorable walking smile the world has ever seen. <br/><br/>I can hear the fire crackling out the back now and I wish I could see her make it.<br/><br/>And yes, here we go it's a yes. And a splendor. So if you're not too worried about decor, and a little Ethiopian slash Casio Keyboard Samba Fusion, come for the coffee. It's delightful. But maybe go to Horn across the road for a good Injera.

Incredible service (the owner is delightful and very happy to cater for different eating requirements). Been multiple times and will continue going back for the amazing food.

Savanna has a very warm vibe. We booked a table for a group of over 10 people and we were so well looked after. It was my first introduction to Ethiopian food, and I am so glad we ordered the large share platter that allows you to try various meat and vegetarian dishes. Big ups for having so many great vegan and vegetarian options. And to top it all, we ended our meal with freshly roasted and brewed Ethiopian coffee! Will definitely keep returning. :)

What a lovely place for some authentic Ethiopian food! Received a very warm welcome and looked after really well by the lovely owner herself. The food was finger licking delicious with very generous portions.. We all tried really hard, but the serving was so royal that none of us could finish it all off. And finally, their delicate sweet Ethiopian coffee (roasted right in front of us) topped off a great meal! Definitely coming back with more family and friends!!

Absolutely fantastic Ethiopian food! Delicious and gigantic portions - would seriously recommend the banquet option to share so you can try multiple dishes!

I frequent this restaurant a lot. The food never fails to delight with deliciousness! And Misrak is always so hospitable, she knows my favourite dishes. She has such a passion for and commitment to local and organic produce. And is able to cater for various dietary needs (for me, dairy and gluten free). I highly recommend Savanna!! Once you go, you will become a regular customer too!!

“Excellent Ethiopian & Good Value”<br/>We came here for diner with friends, none of us had tried Ethiopian or Eritrean food before. The waitress was very welcoming and we enjoyed a St George beer & Organic Ethiopian wine while perusing the menu. We had the savanna special platter for 3 between four of us and add fish dish which was a great choice! There was a variety of lamb,goat, chicken and veggie dishes which were very tasty and it was a good way to find your favourite dishes. The platter comes with injera bread which you use to pick up the food and the platter was incredibly filling.<br/>Great value, good choice of dishes. Friendly service. Highly recommend, especially if you are looking for the real thing, the only thing to worry about is over-eating!

YUM! YUM! YUMMY!!!. I went to savanna African restaurant for dinner with friends last night,The food was tasty,fresh and of good quality with generous portion. I like the mixed vegetarian platter.It was delicious, tasty and fresh with a warm welcoming and friendly staff. The Ethiopian beer was great.I will definitely go back to savanna and strongly recommend it.

A hidden gem. Love it, i have been there before with friends and it has always been an excellent restaurant - my this time visit being no exception! Friendly staff,lovely atmosphere and excellent food. There is a variety of food for every one vegetarian , vegan ,meat lover, romantic meals to share. Who ever you took for a meal it is a place it will never disappoint. My favourite meal is savanna special , it is a variety of meat and vegetable platter to share . you just get to experience a variety of Ethiopian/ Eritrean tasty food in one go. My last visit i tried the assa tibs it is a sizzling hot fish meal , love it again and my highlight of the evening is a freshly roasted and brewed coffee . Definitley go back to that place again and again!

Highly recommend. If you're looking for a fix of Eritrean/Ethiopian cuisine in Melbourne, you should add Savanna Restaurant to your list. <br/> Whenever I have been with my friends, we've ordered the sharing platters, the portions are big enough to share between 2 people. The food is consistently tasty, and the service is always good. There may be considerable wait times depending on how busy the restaurant is, but it's all worth it in the end. I have recommended this place to many friends looking for a new food/ restaurant experience.

This week cuisine is Ethiopian, and the place to try out is Savanna in Collingwood, Fitzory. Combination Platter for three... Savanna is the only few places that sell Ethiopian food ...The waitress told us that between the four of us, is best to go for platter to share between three, and order the lamb sizzling plate. And we agree!

“Fantastic ”. We ate here as we were looking for somewhere to eat near collingwood. Thought we would give this place a try as had never had Ethiopian food before. We got a selection of meat and veggie dishes and they were delicious. Really enjoyed the experience of eating with our hands and will definitely come back if we are in the area.<br/>Another plus was the lovely helpful staff and we were served so quickly too

I don't understand what the fuss is all about.<br/>We have ordered 4 individual dishes, all of which were supposed to come with 2 serves of veggies, the sour bread and a salad.<br/>We did not order sharing platters (which were recommended by the waitress several times) as some of us have food allergies which would have meant restricting the options of the whole table down to chicken and veggies.<br/>First the service is incredibly slow. We've been waiting for our food for about 30min.<br/>Three plates made their way to the table. For the forth, well, that's the moment the waitress choose to let us know that they had run out of the shiro wot, so if my partner could make another choice now, it would be greatly appreciated.<br/>This time, his dish was out in less than 5min. Which makes me wonder why we have been waiting for half an hour in the first place.<br/>Then, my dish arrived without the serve of veggies.<br/>My partners order came out with the wrong order of veggies.<br/>And well... None of us actually saw the salad.<br/>Portions are quite small. I could have done with less injera and more veggies (2 table spoon a serve looks really cheap).<br/>For good value and tasteful Ethiopian food, make your way to Footscray.

Food here was great, full of flavour with generous portions. I will definitely come back here on my next trip to Melbourne. Definitely worth a try.

One of my favourite East African restaurants. The injera here is the best.

Fabulous environment and food!. Savanna African restaurant is a very friendly restaurant with a variety of delicious foods of all sorts including vegan dishes, special organic wine from Ethiopia. I have enjoyed the hospitable environment delicious vegetarian meal and a glass of organic wine. I recommend this lovely experience .....

Amazing Food. We had been to Savanna many 2 times it nice tasty Eritrean\Ethiopian Food i love Zigney ( lamb sauce with hot chilli) as well as the vegan is also nice with beautiful atmosphere and amazing service.I love the coffee ceremony and aroma it gives i it is an amazing worth of trying . we will keep coming !!

"Amazing"!!!. I had a very nice meal at Savanna African Restaurant last night. Excellent food and good wine list( not expensive) amazing service, and beautiful atmosphere. No complaints since there are so many choices in Melbourne. I will definitely go back and enjoy their tasty food.

Great food, share platter is spot on for first timers. Will be back

Amazing!!!. This place is not just the best African restaurant in town, but one of the top restaurants I've been to in Melbourne period. All of the food is incredible, but if you only try one dish go for the fish. I have already been back twice in one week. Highly, highly recommended.

Great food and great service. What a delight this restaurant is. The hostess is just lovely and made us feel very welcome. We will certainly go there again! Also close to some funky art gallery.

Home away from home. Since I left home (Eritrea) about 7 years ago, I have been searching for an Eritrean/Ethiopian restaurant that can satisfy my cravings for authentic traditional food. Along the way, across three continents, I have tried many and found only a handful that make it "as good as my mum used to make it". Savanna is one of them and I am lucky I only live 5 minutes drive away. Since I accidentally discovered it a few months ago, I have given up all my attempts at cooking my traditional food, and have started going there every time I crave the food. I have introduced many of my divers friends to the food via this restaurant and they love it! If you are looking for an authentic Eritrean/Ethiopian(Habesha) food served with a genuine good-natured smile, specially if it is your first experience, I highly recommend this restaurant!

Great Service. Had the share platter for three with the lamb and fish as extras. Everything was delicious, with the fish being a standout, and so reasonably priced. The service was amazing. Everything was explained to us and we had our coffee beans freshly toasted in front of us on coals which was such a treat. Coffee was subtle in flavour and delicious. Such a great experience. We will definitely be back.

An overdue rave-review!. I visited Savanna for the first time in May, when I used it as the location for a fundraising dinner for the Hamlin Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia. Misrak has done a great job establishing her business, and she was very helpful and accommodating with our group and supporting a great cause. And most importantly, the food was amazing! We had a group of people with a varying experience of eating Ethiopian food, and everyone loved it! Some have already gone back to eat there again. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.

I will be back... again and again!. Great service, great for people looking to try something new and unique. Waitresses very helpful explaining everything, wonderful experience

In a class of it's own !. In a class of its own, We had the pleasure of celebrating our friends birthday at Savana. It was a great experience and it was our first experience in Ethiopian/Eriterean food and what a great experience! The Food was really tasty and flavourful and cooked to perfection by the owner and Chef, one of the best restaurant managers I have met in a long time. She remembers almost every single customer’s preference by heart which is not an easy feat considering the number of guest they cater for. Nothing was too much trouble and everything arrived hot and on time. Waiting staff was polite and cautious and I will call it a 10/10 experience.

Staff were lovely - food cold as the room.. The staff were friendly and polite - gorgeous! The room up stairs was absolutely freezing. We asked for the ducted heating to be turned on - nothing. We asked for the large fireplace to be lit, as it had the logs there, all they did was light a tiny candle and sat it on the wood!! Maybe they didn't know how to light a fire, even though the one downstairs was lit. Or maybe it was a fake fireplace? No communication so I'm left guessing. As for the food, it was all cold! Tried to order hot drinks as part of their menu but was told "there is no hot water" - I had to bite my tongue to stop myself blurting out "oh, no heat, just like the room and this food". Perhaps being downstairs is where all the attention lies. A very unfortunate experience as I was looking forward to some exotic food. Won't be going back, sorry.

Too cold even for Melbourne. We went to this place for a group booking upstairs. The room was so cold I could not feel my legs when we left. The food was only lukewarm (which is not a safe temperature to eat food at) and when I asked for a cup of tea (in the hope of raising my body temperature before hypothermia set in) I was told there was no hot water... get a pan and heat some then!!<br/><br/>Not recommended<br/><br/>Thank goodness for the warmth of great company and good friends

Larger Group Bookings. Visited here the other night as part of a larger group. Dined upstairs rather than in the restaurant. All I can say is do not book here as a larger group or for a special occasion. When booking was told we could only have a banquet at $40 per head, sounded ok, looking at the pics of the food here was looking forward to being able to taste lots of different dishes. What we got was a bain marie with 1 meat dish - chicken, lentils, split peas and lots of small veg dishes and condiments, plus bread. Felt completely dudded. $89 for my partner and I (included $9 corkage) for 2 plates of pretty ordinary food which, if we were in the restaurant downstairs, would have cost considerably less. Will not return, felt we were completely taken for a ride.

Food was superb, staff very friendly and helpful. First time I've had Ethiopian food and will definately be coming back. Beautiful!!

Authentic Eritrean food, ladies made us feel at home with all their attention & warm smiles;) definately coming back for a taste of home... Just like my mother used to cook!

Keep going back for more----. I would say this is the best Ethiopian restaurant in Melbourne.Our host was simply amazing. She made us feel welcome and helped us to decide what to eat.This was my first time in an Ethiopian restaurant and I enjoyed very much the Injera and the fact that you eat without cutlery. The food was very tasty,For those who want to taste a variety of dishes,I recommand savana restourant.

We're enjoying the vegetarian platter for two right now and it's delicious. Should give this place a try.<br/>Cheap and cheerful

Came here after reading the great reviews. Very interesting meal and not like anything I've ever had before. The Injera is more like a pancake texture and was lovely to soak up all of the flavours. We shared the platter for two and everything was super tasty! Great value too. Definitely worth a try for something different.

This place is great! Me and my friend really had a great time in a very authentic atmosphere! The food is healthy, tasty, simple and cheap! Try the Ethiopian coffe!!! Will def return

LOVE IT!. Get ready for some serious enthusing, folks, because this is probably my favorite Melbourne restaurant at the moment.<br/>Great flavors, huge portions, friendly service, you get to eat with your hands. What else can you ask for? And for $30 for the two person platter, you're stuffed at the end of the meal.<br/>I can't understand why this place isn't being swamped, maybe it's the unobtrusive location? We've been here a few times and have sometimes been the only patrons, it's criminal.

Absolutely awesome. There are few restaurants you can describe how good they are, you need to go there and taste it to understand, the vegetarian plate for two is a must to try.<br/>Meat sections are awesome as well.<br/>A plus point is the great service and the sweetheart lady working there, Mishra.

Delicious and authentic. I first went to Savanna using vouchers but I keep coming back since. Absolutely delicious dishes, injera bread is to die for. What I like is that they don't tone down flavour and spices to suit Western taste. I always have friendly and genuine greeting from the owner/cook. I've been to a couple of Ethiopian restaurants in Melbourne but this is the best. Must try the beef dish (cant remember what it's called)

Excellent restaurant and great value for money. The banquet is a must have. BYO means this is a great and reasonable house for dinner. A welcome addition to the neighbourhood.

This place has completely devoured me by the look, feel and taste of it. The food was simply an awesome treat. I ordered the plate you share for two. It had lamb, chicken and veggies. With injera of course. The spice, texture and variety was delicious and filling. To top it all out dear cook served us cinnamon tea which completed our fabulous meal. It is definitely a well thought out and an affordable buy. This place is a must try for African food.

Delicious, African and Caters for Vegans!. I really love this place. The service is fantastic with lots of smiles, the food is very affordable and they are vegan friendly. But most importantly, its absolutely delicious! Great vibe too, go check it out!

Great cheap eat, lovely service

Ele. Incredible, cheap food - large serves, very fresh, tastes brilliant. Misrak is friendly, helpful and thoughtful. I have gone back four times in two months taking plenty of friends and family - she recognised me and gave me a free takeaway meal for two! It does just seem to be her running it, so service can be a little slow. But it is well worth the wait. Go! Take everyone you know!

Best Ethiopian in Melbourne. 2nd visit to Savanna at have not been disappointed.<br/>Tried both the vegetarian and mixed platters - both delicious.<br/>Still operating on single person service so wait times can be slow but the food is worth the wait!

Yum!!! Best authentic ethiopian restaurant I've been to. Make sure you ask for freshly roasted green coffee, will take your coffee addiction to the next level.

Amazing flavours!!. Whilst dining in a pleasant and warm environment, from the very first taste I was incredibly impressed. We had the feast for two which included a combination of dishes, beef, chicken and lamb - all outstanding in flavour. Each of the dishes were wrapped in the authentic Ethiopian Injera bread. Misrak is a very talented chef. We will be returning to enjoy the flavours that she creates. I have told my friends and family and they have been invited to join me to dine here again in the near future. Thank you Misrak for a wonderful dining experience.

This restaurant is the real deal. Authentic Ethiopian cuisine served with warmth and care by Misrak. Incredible taste sensations wrapped in Injera bread that is made with millet and rice flour. Yum! We will tell all our friends. Oh and Saturday nights is special with roasted coffee with cinnamon and spices.

YUM!. Really tasty food - we had a lovely combination of lamb, chicken, vegetarian dishes - some spicy, some not - all delicious. Service was very good, staff very friendly. Highly recommended

I shared a set of vegetarian dishes with some injera- it was delicious. The service was excellent and the food was fantastic.

Great spicy food... awesome atmosphere.... warm feeling to restaurant... great coffee...

I’d been craving injera for a couple of weeks before I finally got my act together to find a place to satisfy this hankering.  The last time I had injera was about four years ago at the home of my Eritrean friends following a coffee ceremony that left me shaking with the large amount of caffeine I consumed (absolutely delicious though). The injera was dipped into an orange coloured curry, I forget what was in it but I can still taste the light, fiery sauce and the addictive sourness of the injera.   Savanna has only been open four months and on the night we visited we were only one of three tables.  I wouldn’t take this as a sign of the quality of their offerings however, just that word has yet to spread about the soul satisfying food that comes from their kitchen.  Choosing from the menu was easy. The Feast for Two at $37.90 was a bargain considering it came with lamb tibs, injera, salad, doro and a taste of all the vegetarian dishes on the menu.  Misrak, acting as waitress and chef t