Museum-worthy Art, Antiques, and Artifacts Featured at Popular East African Restaurant
A larger-than-life portrait of an African tribal woman holds court in the dining room of Feedel Bistro. Her slender neck is enrobed with strands of vibrant beads; her head is crowned with tropical flowers and golden ears of corn.
“I spent six months researching Ethiopian and Eritrean tribal images. When I saw this photograph, I was filled with gratitude and awe,” explains Tamar Telahun, co-owner of Feedel Bistro (pronounced “feed-ell”) who was born and raised in Ethiopia.
Telahun, who also is an interior designer, and her brother Simon Gebru decorated the restaurant with a tapestry of images, illustrations, and icons of Ethiopian and Eritrean art and culture, many pieces are antiques, art, and artifacts from her personal collection. The dramatic art photo was originally chosen for her home.
Feedel Bistro is not in a tony area of town nestled alongside art galleries and expensive boutique clothing shops. In the same strip, guests will find another Ethiopian restaurant, a hair stylist, a smoke shop, a combo coffee shop and bar, and Napoli’s restaurant.
“The outside is unassuming. It looks like a typical Ethiopian-Eritrean neighborhood restaurant,” Telahun laughs.
Then, more seriously, “I wanted to change the assumption. I wanted guests to walk in and be blown away. Assumptions are misleading.”
She continues, “Design can be complicated. It can take over the space and dining experience. It’s necessary to put in the work, and it has got to be purposeful and thought through.”
Telahun knows the restaurant space. Not only do she and Gebru own multiple businesses together, but she also started her career in the restaurant industry at 15 years old. With determination in her voice she emphasizes, “I hated to ask for an allowance, so I went out and got a job!”
With this same determination and intention, Telahun created a vibrant, modern setting for Feedel Bistro. Sleek hunter-green crocodile print banquets line the stylish but cozy interior. The walls are adorned with bold photography capturing a variety of Ethiopian and Eritrean faces as well as treasured cultural artifacts that are far more than simple décor on a wall.
“Simon and I were born and raised in Ethiopia, and we wanted to represent that heritage as well as that of our parents, who came from Eritrea. Feedel Bistro is an extension of my heart and home.” Laughing she says, “No one enters the restaurant business to become a millionaire. It’s a passion.”
The personal connection is strong at Feedel Bistro. It not only is reflected in the décor but also in the menu with recipes coming straight from their mother’s kitchen. It is this sensibility and a commitment to honoring the rich traditions of the past that sets Telahun’s intention.
“I wanted Feedel Bistro to be organic but not dim,” Telahun says. “I wanted the decor to say Africa with a modern twist. It’s playful with the wallpaper being a barnwood photography that gives the room depth without making it feel heavy. There’s a playfulness to the space, and that was by design.”
Set against this earthy trompe-l’œil is a magnificent collection of antique baskets, jewelry, and museum-worthy artifacts sourced from the Horn of Africa. “People have an assumption, a specific idea of Ethiopian and Eritrean identity. I wanted to represent the diversity within the countries, to share the unexpected,” she says. “People often comment that Ethiopians or Eritreans are beautiful people, but it is the soul of the people that is more beautiful than the outside. We are taught to be great hosts, to be welcoming.”
Sharing food is perhaps one of the most welcoming exchanges between people, especially strangers. With her thoughtful design of Feedel Bistro, Telahun takes the sensory experience even further. By sharing her stunning collection—a thoughtfully curated assemblage of unexpected diversity and pieces she collected over the years in her travels—guests are exposed to pieces they might only ever see behind glass in a museum. It is certainly more than might be expected behind the simple glass door of a strip mall.
“Representation matters to me as a designer, as an African woman who grew up in the U.S.,” she adds. “When I have an opportunity to represent, that is my contribution.”
About Feedel Bistro
Feedel Bistro, the brainchild of siblings Tamar Telahun and Simon Gebru, celebrates the cuisine and the culture of Ethiopia and Eritrea through family recipes passed down by their mother. Feedel Bistro is located at 3125 Briarcliff Road NE and is open Tuesday through Thursday, 4-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. For more information, please call 404-963-2905 or visit feedelbistro.com.
