Mulugeta “Mulu” Abate will bring all the training he received from his mother and his mother too to the operation of the new Pan Africa Grill opening Sept. 27 at 5905 California Ave. s.w. near Juneau Street.

It is the next step for Abate who already owns the similar Pan Africa restaurant and bar on 1st Avenue near the Pike Place Market where it has thrived for the past eight years.

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Abate's mother, named for their African nation home, Ethiopia will assist him along with his sister Ruth and at least at first one of the chefs that works downtown, Abraham Enbaye. .

The restaurant has been completely redecorated in warm tones of red, brown gold and black, the bathrooms rebuilt and made modern and tasteful African art from the light fixtures to the art and decor complete the theme. It will have no booths but comfortable tables and chairs with African table runners. Maximum capacity will be 75 people.

It is called Pan Africa because the food served represents a blend of various cuisines from across the African continent. West African food can be very spicy and highly seasoned while food from the East can be sweet. Injera, an African bread comes from the east. Still, Abate's early learning will dominate with "a lot of food from Ethiopia."

Up front in the new business a refrigerated case will hold lamb, chicken, beef and shrimp kebabs (uncooked) to go and be where take out and to go orders will be picked up.

Abate has tried before to establish another restaurant, once in Tacoma and another in the Central area but those efforts did not work. He's more confident about the West Seattle version. "We like the space," Abate said.

They will be serving whole/half and one quarter roasted chicken in a peri peri rub (hot and spicy) or a chermoula rub (flavorful but not hot) and other choices too. Whole Tilapia is their fish of choice, salads, soups, "and a lot of vegan dishes as well, such as the peanut stew which is vegan. At the other location we offer four vegan combinations, one from each region. I know we'll do an east and a west veggie combo here."

The restaurant will have a full bar but not at first, "that's about six weeks out," Abate explained. They will also carry an Ethiopian honey wine and a variety of unique juices.

Abate will, uniquely also offer an African cooking class for between $35 to $50 for a two hour class which includes a book and of course enjoying the food you've learned to prepare. Those will be held Sunday evenings, starting in November.

Abate will be opening with a slightly limited menu for the first few days until the kitchen can get up and running. Here are some of the menu items from the downtown restaurant many of which will be served in West Seattle too though with more space they can offer a different variety of foods:

Veggie Combos
East
Greens, carrots & green beans, red lentils, yellow peas, cabbage & potato served with injera 12.50
West
Veggie groundnut, blackeye peas, cabbage & pineapple salad served with rice 12.50
North
ful, red beets & cilantro, lemon potato & cauliflower served with couscous 12.50
South
tofu massala, curried corn, peanut greens & house salad served with rice 12.50

Tibs
tender morsels of your choice sautéed with onions, peppers, tomatoes & our house seasonings served with injera
chicken 13.25 beef 13.25 lamb13.75 shrimp 14.75 fish 13.25

Sample platter
arrangement of tibs & veggie served with injera. 12.50

Meat platter
beef tibs and chicken tibs served with two vegetable sides on a bed of
injera.13.75

Chicken Yassa
marinated chicken slow cooked with lemon juice, mustard, whole olives & onions served with rice. 13.25

Groundnut
a slow cooked peanut based stew made with chicken or fish , yams, potatoes & carrots served with rice.
chicken 13.25 fish 14

Curry Goat
goat cutlets slow cooked in our house curry sauce with golden potatoes and carrots served with rice. 14

Chicken Apricot & Dates
chicken morsels tossed with dates, almonds, apricots, coconut sauce and served with rice. 13.25

Piri Piri
your choice of chicken, fish or shrimp drowning in piri-piri sauce grilled to perfection served with rice.
chicken 13.25 fish 14 shrimp 14.75

Chicken or Fish with Harissa & Olives
your choice of chicken or fish slow cooked in harissa & whole olives served with rice.
chicken 13.25 fish 14

Tuna Kitfo
rare ahi tuna marinated in ethiopian spices and served with injera 13

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Pan Africa Grill will be open from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm every evening but may stay open until 10:00 on Friday and Saturday (the hours may extend to midnight once the liquor license is in place). On weekends starting the end of October Pan Africa Grill will open for brunch at 9:00 am and run until 3:00 pm.

The restaurant will also offer catering (as they do now downtown).