Dama Restaurant and Pastry: Arlington, VA's Ethiopian and European Bakery Destination

Dama Restaurant and Pastry Introduce

Introduction / Overview

For residents across Northern Virginia seeking a destination that seamlessly blends robust international cuisine with sophisticated European-style baking, Dama Restaurant and Pastry stands as a true culinary complex right in the heart of Arlington, VA. Located conveniently on Columbia Pike, Dama is not just one establishment, but three interconnected experiences: an authentic Ethiopian restaurant, a specialized bakery and cafe, and a market offering imported and prepared goods. This combination creates a unique and comprehensive offering for the local community, catering to a wide range of needs from a quick coffee and pastry to a substantial, flavorful dinner.

Dama has established a strong reputation among Virginia diners for its commitment to authentic Ethiopian flavors. Guests can expect a rich menu featuring traditional dishes such as savory stews—the 'Wot'—and tender meat cubes—the 'Tibs'—all served with the staple Injera. The dining experience is noted for its friendly service and the palpable infusion of cultural history in its modest yet welcoming ambiance. As several local patrons can attest, the host and staff are gracious in guiding diners, whether they are newcomers or seasoned enthusiasts, through the menu’s cultural nomenclature.

Crucially for the local bakery enthusiast, the Pastry and Cafe section is a standout feature. It’s a dedicated space specializing in beautifully crafted, European-style cakes and pastries. This distinct focus is led by a master pastry chef with a background that includes training under renowned experts, bringing a high level of skill to Arlington’s dessert scene. This section is particularly celebrated for offering numerous specialty items, including an impressive array of vegan cakes and cookies, ensuring that celebratory moments are accessible to all dietary preferences in the Virginia area. The bakery is a perfect stop for those near the Pentagon or Fort Myer area looking for a high-quality treat or custom cake for any occasion.

Serving the community for decades, Dama provides an essential cultural and culinary resource. It’s a place where one can gather ingredients from the market, enjoy a hearty Ethiopian meal in the restaurant, or pick up a gorgeous, custom-ordered Italian Rum or Tiramisu cake from the bakery, making it a highly valued multi-service gem on Columbia Pike.

Location and Accessibility

Dama Restaurant and Pastry is ideally situated at 1505 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204, USA. This location makes it highly accessible for residents throughout Arlington County and those traveling from nearby areas like Falls Church and Alexandria. The complex sits near the corner of South Oak Street, making it easily identifiable along the busy Columbia Pike corridor.

Accessibility is a key priority for the establishment, ensuring a welcoming environment for all patrons. The available public data confirms that Dama offers both a Wheelchair Accessible Entrance and a Wheelchair Accessible Parking Lot, making it convenient for guests with mobility needs. For those arriving by car, the venue offers a Free Parking Lot, with several spots located in the front and on the side of the building, which is an important amenity in this dense Northern Virginia commercial area. The proximity to large local landmarks, such as the Pentagon and the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel, makes it a prime dining and takeout option for both local residents and visitors to the region.

Services Offered

Dama operates as a three-in-one culinary destination, providing a comprehensive range of services across its restaurant, bakery, and market divisions.

Full-Service Dining: The restaurant section offers authentic Ethiopian cuisine with a variety of traditional dishes, including a wide selection of Main, Seafood, and Vegi (Vegetarian/Vegan) entrees. Guests can enjoy Dine-in service in a modest, welcoming atmosphere.
Specialty Bakery and Pastry Shop: The dedicated bakery section provides an extensive menu of European-style cakes and pastries, including famous items like Italian Rum, Tiramisu, Milifolle, and Fruit Bavarian cakes, along with an assortment of cookies and small treats.
Vegan and Vegetarian Options: A strong focus is placed on accommodating plant-based diets, offering full vegan Ethiopian dishes such as Vegan Tibs, Vegan Kitfo, and Vegan Dulet, alongside an impressive selection of vegan cakes and cookies.
Takeout and Delivery: The establishment facilitates modern customer convenience by offering Delivery, Takeout, and In-store Pickup options for both restaurant meals and bakery orders.
Ethiopian Market: The market area provides an essential resource for the community by selling staple Ethiopian ingredients, including pre-made Injera (both American and Ethiopian varieties) and Injera Crisps, for customers to use in their own kitchens.
Breakfast and Coffee Service: Dama offers Breakfast options and a full range of coffee service, including specialized coffee drinks, making it a popular spot for morning commuters and quick visits.
Onsite Services and Catering: The availability of Onsite Services suggests the capacity for private dining or larger group accommodations, with catering services also offered for special functions.

Features / Highlights

Dama Restaurant and Pastry is distinguished in the Northern Virginia culinary landscape by several unique features that appeal directly to the local audience:

Exceptional Culinary Diversity: Dama uniquely combines authentic Ethiopian restaurant dining with a full-service European-style bakery and a market, catering to an incredibly broad spectrum of dining and shopping needs in one location.
Premier Vegan Dessert Destination: The bakery is renowned for its specialization in vegan cakes and desserts, offering traditionally dairy-based favorites like Vegan Tiramisu, Italian Rum, and Milifolle cakes, which is a rare and highly valued offering in the area.
Authentic Ethiopian Specialties: The restaurant is celebrated for its mastery of traditional, flavorful dishes like the spicy Awaze Tibs, raw or cooked Kitfo, and the comprehensive Meat Combo and Vegetarian Combo platters, which are perfect for sharing the experience with friends and family.
Family-Owned Heritage: With a history dating back over two decades in the Arlington area, Dama is a deeply established family-owned business, providing a consistent and personalized experience that has earned high praise from the local community.
Customer-Focused Amenities: Offering a free parking lot, wheelchair accessibility, and a variety of service options (dine-in, takeout, delivery), Dama prioritizes a convenient and accessible experience for all Virginia patrons.
Three-in-One Convenience: The structure of the business—restaurant, bakery, and market—allows customers to satisfy diverse needs, such as picking up dinner, ordering a birthday cake, and buying staple ingredients (like Injera), all in a single quick visit.

Contact Information

To place a reservation, inquire about custom cake orders, or arrange for catering services, Virginia residents can contact Dama Restaurant and Pastry using the following information:

Address: 1505 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204, USA

Phone: (703) 920-5620

Mobile Phone: +1 703-920-5620

What is Worth Choosing

Choosing Dama Restaurant and Pastry is an excellent decision for Virginia diners who seek both authentic, high-quality international cuisine and specialized baked goods in one convenient location. The primary reason Dama is worth a visit is the sheer quality and depth of its Ethiopian menu. As noted by patrons, dishes like the Awaze Tibs, described as a "beautiful symphony" of spice and aroma, provide a deeply satisfying and authentic culinary experience. The option to share massive platters, such as the Meat Combo or Vegetarian Combo, makes it an ideal spot for family dinners or gatherings with friends where a communal, flavorful meal is desired.

For those with specific dietary requirements, Dama is a standout choice in Northern Virginia. The bakery's commitment to providing a large selection of vegan cakes—including sought-after European styles like Vegan Tiramisu and Italian Rum Cake—is a game-changer for plant-based diets. This dedicated focus means that no one in the Virginia community has to compromise on celebratory desserts. The quality of the pastries, often described as "unforgettable" and made with a high level of expertise, elevates the experience beyond a simple takeout transaction.

Finally, the comprehensive nature of the Dama complex adds immense value. Where else can you enjoy a hearty, traditional Ethiopian breakfast, purchase a homemade pack of Injera for your home cooking, and pick up a specialty birthday cake, all within a few steps? This efficiency, combined with accessible amenities like a free parking lot and the highly praised attentive and gracious staff, makes Dama Restaurant and Pastry a uniquely compelling and highly recommended culinary destination on Columbia Pike for all Northern Virginia residents.

Dama Restaurant and Pastry Menu

Market
Pack Of American Injera $10.00
Made in the U.S.
Pack Of Ethiopian Injera $13.00
Exported from Ethiopia.
Injera Crisps $7.15

Seafood
Fish Dulet $28.95
Chopped fish cooked with sautéed onions spices and jalapeño.
Fish Goulash $28.95
Cube cut and deep-fried tilapia with tomato sauce and jalapeño.

Main
Special Kitfo $32.45
Kitfo with the addition of gomen kitfo, kekel kitfo, and assorted ayib (homemade Ethiopian cheeses) available rare, medium, or well done.
Doro Wot $30.45
Chicken stew simmered with spices and hot chili sauce with hard boiled eggs.
Gored Gored $31.45
Cubed beef mixed with awaze (hot chili pepper served rare or medium rare).
Dama Special Shiro $29.45
Ground roasted split peas simmered in red pepper sauce and flavored with spices with a generous portion of sautéed cheese and chopped collard greens.
Tibs Wot $30.45
Berbere stew simmered in Ethiopian spices and butter served with a generous portion of tibs.
Gomen Besiga $30.45
Cubed beef simmered with collard greens and spices.
Meat Combo $41.49
For two people: doro, alicha, tibs (lamb or beef) gomen besiga with 3 kind of veggies.
Dama Special Mitad Tibs $31.45
Cubed beef or lamb or beef cooked with sautéed onions, jalapeño, and Ethiopian spices awaze (hot chili paste).
Dama Special Yeshint Tibs $31.45
Beef tenderloin cooked with onions, jalapeño, and Ethiopian spices.
Shiffin $41.49
Kitfo, shiro, cheese, and tibs firfir.
Awaze Tibs $31.45
Cubed beef or lamb or beef cooked with sautéed onions, jalapeño, and Ethiopian spices amaze (hot chili paste).
Dulet $31.45
Chopped tripe and beef cooked with sautéed onions spiced and jalapeño. Available rare, medium, and well done.
Kitfo $31.45
Finely chopped beef tartare cooked in spiced butter served with ayib (homemade Ethiopian cheese) available rare, medium or well done.
Quanta Firfir $30.45
Dried beef, spiced butter, and bebere marinated in pieces of injera. (Meatless option available).
Lamb Alicha $30.45
Lamb stew simmered in spices and turmeric.
Bozena Shiro $29.45
Ground roasted split peas simmered in red pepper sauce flavored with spices with a generous portion of seasoned sautéed beef.
Plain Firfir $28.45
Plain with spiced butter or no butter.
Tibs (Medium Juicy Or Well Done) $28.45
Cubed beef or lamb or beef cooked with sautéed onions, and jalapeño.

Vegi
Misir Wot $28.95
Hearty red lentil stirred with hot chili sauce blended with garlic.
Vegan Tibs $26.95
Cubed homemade vegan meat cooked in spices onion and jalapeños
Vegan Kitfo $26.95
Finely chopped vegan meat cooked in Ethiopian spices.
Vegetarian Combo $26.95
The combination of vegetarian dishes (all the above dishes).
Gomen Wot $28.95
A delicious blend of cabbage, potatoes, carrots, and onion sautéed in a blend of exotic herbs and turmeric.
Vegan Dulet $26.95
Finely chopped homemade vegan meat cooked in spices onion and jalapeño.
Kik Alicha $28.95
Yellow split peas cooked with onions, garlic, and turmeric.
House Salad $16.95
Fresh tomato, romaine lettuce mixed with jalapeño and onion.
Shiro Wot $28.95
Ground roasted split peas simmered in red chili sauce and flavored with spices.
Timatim Fitfit $28.95
Fresh injera mixture of tomato, onion, and jalapeño pepper.
Atkilt Wot $28.95
A delicious blend of cabbage, potatoes, carrots, and onion sautéed in a blend of exotic herbs and turmeric.

Beverages
Perrier Sparkling Water $3.25
Diet-Coke $2.60
A crisp, refreshing taste you know and love with zero calories.
Sunkist Orange Soda $2.60
Ginger-Ale $2.60
Sprite $2.60
The cold, refreshing flavors of lemon and lime, perfectly blended.
Bottled Water $2.60
Mango Juice $3.25
Coca-Cola $2.60
The cold, refreshing, sparkling classic that America loves.

Dama Restaurant and Pastry Details

Service options
Delivery
In-store pickup
In-store shopping
Onsite services
Takeout
Dine-in

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Offerings
Coffee

Dining options
Breakfast

Amenities
Restroom

Planning
Quick visit

Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards

Parking
Free parking lot

Dama Restaurant and Pastry Photos

Dama Restaurant and Pastry Location

Dama Restaurant and Pastry

Virginia Arlington County Arlington Foxcroft Heights Columbia Pike

1505 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204, USA

Dama Restaurant and Pastry Reviews

An average rating of ★4.5 from 1106 user reviews.

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★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

What a spectacular restaurant set in the Arlington-Fort Myer, and Pentagon footprint! I was incredibly fortunate to have stumbled upon Dama Pastry and Restaurant while I was in town for work and want to share my experience here with other inquisitive diners wishing to experience something novel.From the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel, Dama Pastry and Restaurant was no more than a stone-throw a way which made it an ideal dining choice for me. After arriving to town that day and settling in at the lodging accommodation, I soon found myself rather famished. Not the one to simply settle for the dining options and venues at the hotel, I wanted to explore the local cuisine. Almost immediately, Dama grabbed my attention when I did a quick search using Google maps.The restaurant sits off of Columbia Pike (Rte 244) at the corner of South Oak Street. The parking situation at the establishment is limited, with 4 spots in the front of the restaurant, while the side of the restaurant has several spots (definitely consider this if you're coming here with a large party). Dama Bakery and Restaurant has 3 distinct sections. There is the bakery (left; make sure you don't walk into the extreme left of the building as it is a salon), the market (in the middle), and the restaurant (right); you can also walk freely from one section to another as they are all connected on the inside.I happened to enter through the bakery from which the staff happily guided me to the restaurant section. Here, I was met with a welcoming host. The setting and ambiance were fairly modest with some portrait hangings that shed light on the history and culture of the establishment and cuisine. This along with the plain-straight forward menu was a refreshing change to the colorful, extravagant decor and menu pamphlets that can sometimes be overstimulating.Although not my first time having Ethiopian food, I still required some assistance and recommendations from the host. Again, the menu descriptions were straight forward and to the point however it contained culturally named items that I was not familiar with. The host was more than gracious and patient to explain these items and make her recommendations based on my preferences. After relatively quick deliberation, I submitted my choices and eagerly awaited the entree. The dish I ended up ordering was the Awaze Tibs.As I waited, I reflected and attempted to recall my previous experience with Ethiopian cuisine. Whilst I remembered the occasion and venue, I did not specifically have any take aways from the meal other than the fact that I simply enjoyed it.When the meal was delivered, my eyes were the first to feast on the platter. While simple in plating and presentation, the notion that the meal was infused with flavor was immediately apparent from the colorful notes that coated the beef cubes and slides while chopped green jalapenos added another splash of color. On the side was a freshly prepared house salad. All of this sat over the injera that met with the circumference of the aluminum plate like a perfectly sized placemat. The meal was paired with more injera that was carefully folded like a crepe ready to be unfurled for enjoyment.Followed by my taste buds, I could have not asked for anything more exhilarating to kick off my work-visit. The spice and aroma paired perfectly to provide a beautiful symphony that played out in my mouth. Eating with just my hands (this is the way), I enjoyed every bite of the beef as it paired with the delightfully sour-y injera. Having some bites with the fresh jalapeno, and some with the house salad, I ate until my belly could no longer - and even then I craved more. I continued to eat the injera that soaked up the juices and stew of the Awaze.Finally, after I was physically and spiritually satisfied, I surveyed the completed platter in a victorious gaze. What a wonderful experience. I would highly recommend to anyone staying at the Sheraton to give this place a try - there is no reason not to - as well as anyone in the Arlington area. It is a 100% must!
September 23 · Dennis C
Amazing food! This was my first time trying Ethiopian cuisine. The service was great—our waitress was very attentive and helped us choose dishes based on our preferences. We ended up sharing a meat and vegetable combo, as you can see here. The bread, paired with the hearty meat and vegetables, was very satisfying. We were only able to finish about half of it between the two of us! This is a great restaurant, and I’d most certainly come again.
June 20 · Lead sKeptron
We had the meat combo with lentils, yellow peas, and cabbage as our veggie options, and it was perfect for sharing between two people. The food is delicious and authentically Ethiopian, and the service was great! Our waitress was attentive and happy to help, especially if you're new to Ethiopian cuisine.The restaurant has a casual vibe, making it a great spot to enjoy a relaxed meal. We were missing Ethiopian food, and Dama definitely hit the spot.After our meal, we stopped by the bakery for a slice of double chocolate cake, but I would pass on it next time. The cake was a bit dry, and the chocolate flavor didn’t quite hit the mark for me.Overall, I highly recommend Dama Restaurant for anyone craving authentic Ethiopian food!
July 24 · Hao Weinmann
This was near my hotel, so I walked over. I was greeted by a delightful woman. She explained some of the menu items. I decided to try the vegetarian buffet. It was very good. In retrospect, I'd probably try one of the meat entrées, but the buffet was good! I also had the tiramisu and hot tea. The tiramisu was really good!
April 08 · Jonathan C
Mulushewa Grill and Bar in downtown Silver Spring offers a lively atmosphere, convenient location, delicious Ethiopian cuisine, great service, and good music. Highly recommended! The service was great 👍 thank you.
September 14 · Ephrem G