Im Herzen Afrikas in Mainz

Delicious! Prices fair, service great. We'd love to come back

Very authentic cuisine and super friendly staff! Gladly again :)

The things on the plate were A+, but the injera wasn't my cup of tea, next time I'll take the bread. Ambience was great, I felt very comfortable there. Cocktails good. Service great.

The seating was very comfortable and the waiters were all very friendly. At around 17 euros per person, the food wasn't cheap, but it wasn't in the upper price range either. Here, with a drink plus a tip, the cost is around 25 euros per person. The food itself was spicy, but lightly seasoned, so other than a slight burning sensation, the food didn't taste strongly seasoned. If you fancy African cuisine you can go there with a clear conscience. However, I wouldn't directly recommend it.

Hallo Momo, liebes Team, zurück in Koblenz hallt der Besuch "Im Herzen Afrikas" immer noch nach. Viiiiiiiiiiiiiielen Dank für einen wunderschönen Abend auf allen Ebenen und für alle Sinne. Ein unvergessliches Rund-umErlebnis für Körper, Geist und Seele, einfach nur wundervoll. Wir haben die Zeit sehr genossen und freuen uns jetzt schon auf ein Wiedersehen. Es macht einfach nur Spaß bei euch zu verweilen, zu schlemmen, zu trinken, zu schauen, zu erleben, Seele baumeln lassen, netten Menschen zu begegnen, Neues zu entdecken, die Gastfreundschaft zu erleben............herzlichen Dank, bis baaaaaaald, Sabine & Volker .......liebe Grüße aus Koblenz und natürlich auch vom "Rest" aus Aachen & Mainz :-D PS: Wie wäre es mit einem "Ableger" in Koblenz :-)))))))

Great food, great service, funny and nice boss. Not our last visit 🫶🤩🍀🙏👍

the staff, especially the boss, was super nice, the food was very, very tasty. Also perfect for vegetarians and vegans. I recommend a visit to everyone.

We always enjoy coming here... This afternoon we had a young, very nice man on duty 👍

Nice staff and nice atmosphere. Personally, I didn't like the spices in the individual dishes or the flatbreads, but that's a matter of personal taste :) Otherwise, the prices are a bit higher; The plate costs €18 per person. We took this for 2 people.

Great restaurant with very friendly service and delicious food. The perfect change from the usual cuisine.

Absolute recommendation. The atmosphere and service are outstanding, “in the heart of Africa” is really lived here. You feel completely comfortable, which is primarily ensured by the owner and his people. The in-house beer is also highly recommended, again at any time!

The Dorho dish is always very tasty. Be sure to try the banana cream too. Employees and boss are very friendly.

The waitresses were nice, but not very attentive. Map significantly slimmed down compared to before. As usual, the food was great and the cocktails were great!

AWESOME SHIT with outstanding 🍺 👍👍👍

Ich liebe das Afrikanische Essen und die Platte mit Injera schmeckt nur hier und in Frankfurt so lecker kein anderer ( habe schon viele in der Umgebung probiert ) kommt an sie heran. Ist einfach so! Ich muss zu beiden (Frankfurt oder Mainz) über 1:20h einfache Fahrt in Kauf nehmen aber es lohnt sich. Ihr seid einfach die Besten!

We had a pathetic experience there, both for service and food. First service - Even when our food was not finished, they waiter came and asked to pay and leave because other people are waiting. Second Food - There are only 2-3 options available for main course. Most of It was tasteless and simply boiled food. For what we get, it is unnecessarily expensive.

Overrated restaurant in Mainz. Has nothing to go with good Ethiopian cusine

Nothing bad in itself but the food is generally disappointing. No discoveries, recipes whose flavors could be highlighted much more, the injeras fall apart and are made with white flour. In short, not bad but really a shame. Finally a restaurant that surely pleases German palates, bland and not very spicy cuisine. Fast and rather cordial service.

Incredibly delicious and friendly!

The food was nice and spicy. The friendly and attentive waiters/service should be highlighted positively. Also vegetarian/vegan selection. Price/performance is good. Only the drinks are a little more expensive (but still within reason).

Mega delicious food! I've never eaten African food before but I can only say it tastes fantastic.

Fantastic African restaurant with authentic dishes and a warm atmosphere! The service was friendly and attentive. The food was delicious and the portions were large. Absolute recommendation!

"In the heart of Africa" ​​is an absolute insider tip for lovers of African cuisine! The food was delicious, authentic and prepared with love. The selection of dishes offered a great insight into African cuisine. We were particularly impressed by the friendliness of the team. The waitresses were very attentive and warm. A highlight was that we were able to get to know the owner personally. He was extremely friendly and took the time to tell us something about Mainz and the wine festivals. We'll definitely be back! Absolute recommendation for anyone looking for a special culinary experience.

It's unbelievable that you're being coldly lied to about the meat being healthy. After repeated follow-up, it was admitted that no Helal meat was offered. I don't want to know what else is being kept secret and lied to the guests!! What a shame!!

Guys, you have to go there, really cool location, very friendly staff and tasteful food for the first time with hands, it's simply a taste explosion. In the mouth I can only recommend it.

A place with a lot of ❤️ - an incredibly warm welcome - Food and drinks selected with heart and mind - food cooked with love that you can't get enough of - Service that comes from the heart - a way home with a lot of warmth in your heart We look forward to coming back soon ❤️

We've been there several times now and it's always great. Whether outside or inside, upstairs or downstairs, on the roof terrace or on the low sofas: the entire ambience shows attention to detail. The food tastes excellent, and even if the menu is rather "small", it is different every time because of the different possible combinations. The dessert is also a dream, we especially liked the banana cream ;) All in all, we always enjoy coming to Momo's restaurant and are already looking forward to the next time.

We have been guests again and again for years. The food is terrific. The main courses with the injera are especially incredibly good! The hummus and banana cream are also a must (never had better hummus!). The service is always super nice and attentive. We look forward to the next time! 🧡

It was a very special experience! As a larger group, we ended up there by chance and were immediately given a very warm welcome. The open, funny and warm nature of the boss made you feel comfortable from the first second. The waiters were also super friendly and accommodating and gave us perfect advice. The store is beautifully decorated with details that will put a smile on your face! The food tasted fantastic! The way of eating was definitely new for us but made it a real experience. If I didn't live 200km away I would definitely be there regularly, but even so I will definitely come back! Thank you for this lovely evening 🫶

====Update in July 2024===== We've been here again in the meantime and the food still tastes excellent. It is often very crowded and you wait a long time for service. You can now have cutlery brought to you, which I like to do as the bottom flatbread is often very soggy and mushy. But it has also happened to me that the owner (or chef? Or both?) made fun of me because I didn't like his food. I always thought taste buds were on the tongue and not on the fingertips :D Since the food tastes good, I overlooked it. However, I would like to deduct 5 stars for the latest service: We reserved a table by phone a few weeks ago for the coming weekend and just by chance saw on the website today that it was a company holiday. A pity! I would have at least expected a call/cancellation. We tried calling, hoping that maybe they weren't on vacation yet, but of course no one was available. If we hadn't happened to check today, we would have looked into the tube with our group tomorrow, very embarrassing. This is no service and very customer unfriendly! Therefore I will revise my review. Overall: 3/5 stars Food 5/5 stars Service 2/5 stars Ambience 3/5 stars =====Previous 5 star review===== Overall: 5/5 stars Food 5/5 stars Service 5/5 stars Ambiance 4/5 stars We were in the restaurant for the first time since the pandemic in October 2022 and were curious to see whether the quality had remained the same. It was great! There were 4 of us and we were able to order the mixed platter with all the dishes. This was perfect because we had a friend with us who was here for the first time. Eating with your fingers is unusual and you have to like it or at least tolerate it (I personally don't like having sticky fingers) but it's worth it. It's just something completely different and new in terms of taste. The spice range is great. The spicy meat is very spicy, we like that. I just thought it was a shame that they obviously removed the okra from the beef. That's extremely unfortunate. Although the plate has become more expensive per person, I mean by 2 euros if I remember correctly, the price-performance level is still not top. The cocktails are comparatively expensive, which is why we usually stick to one per meal, but they are delicious and just something different. Attention: The entrance is now through the Momo a little further up the street. I stood in front of the old locked door very irritated and was lost like a cow at the gate for a few seconds 😉 Like many things in Mainz, it is not easy to reach by car unless you use the parking garage. With public transport this is no problem. Clear recommendation and gladly again!!

Everything worked out for us. The atmosphere and hospitality are great. The food tastes very good and is beautifully prepared.

Wow! The Hummus and bread were out of the world! Excellent food. Very Tasty!

Very good food from East African (Eritrea) cuisine. Efficient and very friendly staff in an African atmosphere. This restaurant is a must for all lovers of East African cuisine.

Yesterday we spontaneously stopped by “In the Heart of Africa” without knowing what to expect. The service and dining experience was tremendous. It was fun to try the different dishes. Thanks for the yogurt at this point;) The service was very friendly and brought us closer to “Africa”. Thank you for the lovely evening.

Did I accidentally stumble into Til Schweiger's restaurant or why did I pay €8 for water?

Great food and experience, the owner is a super funny and correct guy, we felt very welcome!

Great staff and of course the food is also super good :)

The food is very tasty...but it's definitely too spicy for some people. The hummus was very good. Recommended with pita 👍 The ambience is really great. Small recommendation: definitely try a Springbok. The staff was super friendly. The only downside was the high volume.

The offer specializes in platters with several dishes. Traditional flat cakes or rice are available as side dishes. If you are still hungry, there is a wide range of cakes and ice cream. The taste was great, but I found the tea to be too expensive at just under €7. However, it was loose tea.

Super nice service, great ambience and exceptionally good food

Was here today with my sisters. We made a reservation for 5 p.m. and were greeted in a very friendly manner by every single employee. Even the manager of the house entertained us for a good 10 minutes, it was super funny and we immediately felt at home. It was our first time eating African food and we chose the mixed platter. The drinks came very quickly and the food was there after about 30 minutes. The waitress explained to us how to approach the food and also offered us cutlery if eating with our hands wasn't for us. Of course we tried it with our hands and found it to be good. The food was really delicious and the dessert - Momos Brownie - was also a dream. We came here on a recommendation and I am happy to pass on the recommendation. Delicious food, very nice service - simply top!!! See you next time.

Unfortunately I spent 10 min on the phone to make sure we are actually reserving a table on the terrace, but when I arrive with my dog, the other staff said it’s closed because it’s too hot. 20:00 on Friday May 10 was not hot at all. I was wearing a long sleeve and pants. I friendly explained that I have communicated on the phone about the terrace but they told me the “outside” is the terrace. I had no choice but to sit there. Because I didn’t want to ask my friends to switch to another place spontaneously at 20:00. I was constantly worried that some bikers will run over my dog in the dark because nowadays people drive like maniac. On the other side of the table is the tram track. The friendly guy told me on the phone that there would be 2 bottles of sparkling water and humus on the table upon our arrival but I waited till 20:07 and finally had to ask the waiter to bring me those pre-ordered things. What a nightmare. I still left tip, because they brought water for my dog. Have been there many times. But would never return again… plz don’t even try to call me. This stays in my head and I don’t want to remember it during the week. Ppl spend money to relax, not to be disappointed. You failed.

The hummus is great, unfortunately the rest was absolutely not my cup of tea :/

Dies war mein zweiter Besuch. Beim ersten hatte ich die vegetarische Platte mit dem Brot (Injera), was nicht so mein Fall war. Dieses Mal bestellte ich eine gemischte Platte auch mit Fleisch und entdeckte die Option, diese auch mit Reis zu bestellen. Es war so unglaublich lecker!! Toll, dass es diese Optionen gibt, so kann sich jeder alles zusammenstellen, damit es passt.

Like a vacation day in Africa. Not a long menu, but particularly delicious dishes. Great ambience. Highly recommended

Super delicious food from Eritrea 😀 You can eat authentically in a group (without cutlery). You should be aware of the spiciness, just order bread and potatoes with it. 👍🔥

Unfortunately no pictures were taken. It was too delicious to wait!! Best atmosphere and great team. The boss is always present and is fun with everyone. It's a great experience and not just food!! With pleasure again at any time, dear IN THE HEART OF AFRICA team♡

The taste of the food was okay, the rice was unfortunately a bit overcooked and the dishes weren't 100% seasoned for my taste. The portions were sufficiently large. Both vegetarian and vegan dishes are offered. In between we would have liked to be asked if we would like something else to drink, otherwise the service was good.

Lots of vegan options nice people delicious food and a very cool experience. I can only recommend it 😃.

Very nice service, very tasty food. It was something different, including eating without cutlery. For the long wait, we got the best banana cream we've ever eaten for free. Absolute recommendation.

Best African restaurant in the Rhine Main area. Nice personel. Great vegan food, the best hummus and delicious cakes. I love you

The staff was super friendly, but the food was far too seasoned for me. Overall the restaurant is quite expensive.

Highly recommended. Absolutely worth a visit! The food was a taste explosion. But nothing for people who don't like spicy food. I can recommend home-brewed beer to every beer lover. The ice cream wasn't a bad decision either, very natural taste, fantastic!

Nice atmosphere. Food disappointing.

We had a mixed vegan platter. Really very long waiting time. The various preparations were really tasty. But I think the price is too high for a few different porridges, some salad in the middle and the typical sour "bread".

Excellent food with honest prices and friendly, fast service

A very nice experience. Food was good and more than plentiful. Eating with your hands is an experience and somehow special. We'd love to come back

I've been living in Mainz for a few years now and have always wanted to eat at "In the Heart of Africa". Today I finally managed it spontaneously with my girlfriend. We were warmly welcomed and even without a reservation we were given a nice table. The service was very attentive and prompt. Orders were taken quickly and friendly and the waiters were there for you at any time during our stay. The food was simply great and a big MMMMHHHH 🤗 would describe it best. Conclusion: Great service! Very nice location! Great food! And a team that has the heart (of Africa) in it 🫶 Thank you for this great evening with you, we will definitely be back soon.

Excellent, delicious food and drinks, large portions, fair prices, top service! Also highly recommended for vegetarians/vegans

Very tasty vegan dishes. The price-performance ratio is right, you get large portions here. The employee Ellen gave us very good advice and service. Gladly again :)!

We always enjoy coming here. Great atmosphere, super nice service, delicious food.

Very nice service. The food was good, although unfortunately not to our taste. The hummus was sensational!!! We felt good. Be sure to try the African beer.

Great ambience, great beer and very good service. When choosing, you should pay attention to the level of spiciness

We were there yesterday. At the beginning the atmosphere was okay. We waited exactly 2 hours and 19 minutes for our ordered food. Unfortunately, it was very rarely cleared away or not at all. I had to ask 10 times when at least the three children's food would come, unfortunately it came after our meal! The ambience is very tight, it was only important to accommodate as many people as possible! Finally the food came, we were finished and ordered some dessert, which unfortunately only came when we were fed up and wanted to go with the kids. Here too we asked 10 times and were always told that the kitchen would know. We had planned a stay of max 3 hours! Through all the waiting and begging we were there from 5pm to 10pm! So 5 hours!!! Just one plate to eat!! I can't understand the stars here for the food! It wasn't even anything special! You should try other African restaurants! The waitress Vivi! Made an effort! But that's it! And for the Vivi I give it one star! 🌟

Nice atmosphere, in the heart of Africa, you can, but don't have to, eat with your hands. Manageable menu, but super tasty...we'll be back.

Unfortunately, the service was a bit chaotic and overwhelmed, the food was rather average.

In summary, for me it is more of an overpriced hipster shop. When you come into the restaurant it smells incredibly delicious of different spices, the place is also very pretty and comfortably furnished. Small tables, isolated places on the floor so that you can eat together in a cozy atmosphere. Of course it's not for everyone, but that's the culture and I personally think it's beautiful. Although we had reserved beforehand, unfortunately they had to look for a free place for us. The menu options were a bit confusing (we were all there for the first time), but the waitress was friendly and explained it to us. We then had to wait 50 minutes for the food to arrive cold. Of course it shouldn't be boiling hot, after all you eat it with your hands, but it was room temperature at max and so you quickly lost your appetite because the fridge-cold salad cooled down even more. The food was very tasty, but in my opinion it wasn't worth the price at all. Almost 19€ for a main course that consists of the cheapest vegetables... and is just porridge... 😅 I had the impression that for most guests the vegetarian/vegan offer was the reason for eating there, but you can also do that at home for €3... The way of eating and being together was a nice experience but I wouldn't pay that much money for that again.

A beautiful restaurant with friendly staff and tasty food. Felt a little expensive for what you got, but the food is far more filling than it first appears. Overall a delightful experience.

Super nice people. Simple menu with delicious variations. We recommend! I'd love to come back.

I really enjoyed the visit to the heart of Africa. We tried almost all of the main courses. Also 3 different desserts. We found everything good. Eating with your hands is unusual but certainly an experience. We will be back

Food great. Everyone is super friendly and a great atmosphere ❤️👌 Anytime and gladly again 👍

Great food and great atmosphere! Thank you

Super nicely decorated, you feel like you're in a living room. We opted for the mixed platter, which was beautifully presented and left us all very full. The employees were all super friendly and explained the concept to us very well. There is a sink in the main seating area where you can wash your hands after eating. It's really cool to be able to order ice cream with toppings for dessert - there's a great ice cream counter right at the entrance where you can see the different types straight away. It was a great evening!

Very nice and cozy atmosphere. Service was very friendly and the food was really delicious

I had the pleasure of dining at this unique African cuisine restaurant. The vibrant decor and lively music created a great atmosphere. The restaurant staff were not only proficient in English but also friendly. However, my experience was slightly marred when I felt a bit rushed while placing my order. I inadvertently selected only four items instead of the intended five, and unfortunately, the waiter didn't provide a heads-up. To my disappointment, the missing item was then replaced with the least expensive potatoes side dish available.

Ein tolles Restaurant bei dem man merkt das es mit Herzblut geführt wird! Super netter Besitzer,herzlich, freundlich und unglaublich sympatisch. Das Essen war geschmacklich sehr sehr gut. Tolle kleine Speisekarte . Ein sehr schönes, gemütliches Ambiente mit tollem Service. Vielen Dank! Eine absolute Empfehlung.

Das Essen war sehr lecker, nur eine Sosse war etwa scharf. Portion ist groß, deswegen für Desert hatte ich nicht mehr Platz.

Das Essen ist sehr lecker (insbesondere die gemischte Vegetarische Platte), das Preis-Leistungsverhältnis ebenfalls fair. Die Stühle sind leider etwas unbequem aber für das gute Essen komme ich dennoch gerne! Der Service kann definitiv noch verbessert werden. Eine Aussage der Kellnerin bei der Frage ob es naturtrüben Apfelsaft gibt: „keine Ahnung, das ist der von Lidl“…naja wir haben es mit Humor genommen, sehr professionell ist es natürlich nicht ☺️

Einfach immer wieder schön dort zu speisen. Das junge Team überzeugt, die Speisen gewohnt lecker. Inzwischen war ich sicher 6x hier. Und ich komme wieder und bringe Leute mit. ✊🏼💚

Nice location, not impressed by the food quality which is definitely overpriced. Good beer.

Gemütliches Ambiente. Das Essen ist lecker, allerdings wird traditionell mit den Fingern gegessen. Im Gastraum gibt es die Möglichkeit sich die Hände zu waschen. Für mich absolut ok, muss man aber mögen. Danke für einen tollen Abend.

Was man wissen muss...die Bedingungen haben den unbedingten Drang jeden beim Vornamen anzusprechen und zu duzen. Das ist nicht meins. Deswegen ein Stern weg beim Service. Ansonsten passt alles, freundlich und zuvorkommend. Das Essen...das Fleisch ist sehr gut, aber Vorsicht! Scharf ist wirklich Scharf. Mir schmeckt dass, meine Familie ist nicht so gut damit klar gekommen. Der Reis war vollkommen verkocht, keinerlei Konsistenz mehr. Der Würzspinat war überwürzt, vom Spinat war nicht viel zu schmecken. Insgesamt aber gut. Mein Essen wurde auf einem Plastikteller serviert, der zwar einen hübschen Aufdruck hatte, aber dad Essen war dann auch recht schnell kalt. Deswegen ein Stern Abzug beim Essen. Originalität, keine Ahnung ob in Afrika vom Plaste Teller gegessen wird, hat auch ihre Grenzen. Auch trinke ich mein Bier nicht gerne aus einer Blechtasse...aber gut. Ansonsten sehr gemütlich.

Meine Lebensgefährtin und ich hatten am 16.12.24 einen Tisch für 20 Uhr reserviert. Wir wurden sehr freundlich begrüßt, und zu unserem Tisch gebracht. Danach warteten wir 30(!) Minuten ohne eine Karte zu erhalten, und haben daraufhin das Restaurant wieder verlassen. Das Restaurant war gut besucht, aber es war auch nicht die “Hölle” los, weswegen es mir ein Rätsel ist wie das passieren konnte. Wir hatten uns sehr auf den Abend gefreut, das Ambiente des Restaurants stimmte, das Essen wäre mit Sicherheit auch sehr lecker gewesen. Sehr schade, es wird wohl eine Weile dauern bis wir dem Herzen Afrikas wieder eine Chance geben.

Leckeres Essen, superfreundliche Bedienung, sehr gemütlich

Super nettes Personal!, Essen war gut. Leider kostet 1 Liter, selbstgesprudeltes Leitungswasser 8 Euro, fanden wir deutlich zu viel!

Super lecker gegessen und getrunken, sehr nettes Personal und schöne Atmosphäre 😋

Ein sehr schönes Lokal. Service, Ambiente, Essen...mega. Wir kommen wieder.

Ein absolutes Highlight. Ich genoss das Essen dort. Ambiente,Service,Speisen alles 1a. Sehr empfehlenswert,aber man sollte nicht spontan dorthin gehen. Voranmeldung,ansonsten bekommt man keinen Platz. Beim nächsten Besuch in Mainz, geht's wieder dorthin.

Very delicious food, good beer too, especially the dark beer. Superbly friendly staff.

Das Essen ist super lecker, das Ambiente ist gemütlich und total schön und die Bedienung ist sehr sehr freundlich! Rundum wirklich empfehlenswert :)

Sehr tolles Ambiente und ein super Essen. Der Service ist spitze.

Leckeres Essen und freundliche Bedienung

Ich muss sagen, dass ich ostafrikanische Küche sehr gerne mag. Hier war es etwas enttäuschend. Das Essen hätte definitiv besser sein können, viele Soßen haben sehr ähnlich geschmeckt/waren nicht so, wie ich sie sonst kenne. Injera war komplett ohne Teffmehl und hat somit wenig mit echter Injera zu tun. (Okay, es muss nicht hundert Prozent aus Teffmehl zubereitet werden aber 50% wäre schon wichtig) Ich war insgesamt fünf mal in äthiopischen bzw. eritreischen Restaurants, ich muss leider sagen, dass es mir hier am wenigsten geschmeckt hat. Zwei Sterne gebe ich, da die Bedienung schnell und aufmerksam war und ich jede Bestellung (auch den Tee) ziemlich schnell auf dem Tisch hatte. Ich würde aber nicht nochmal hingehen.

Sehr leckeres Essen und nette Bedienungen

Sehr netter Service und tolles Essen. Stilecht mit dem Fingern zu essen. (Wer möchte bekommt aber auch Besteck 😜)

Leckeres Essen. Ambiente hat uns sehr gut gefallen. Angestellte sind sehr nett.

Mega liebe Menschen, man kann sich hier nur wohlfühlen! Leider war mir das Essen zu scharf.

Sehr leckere und interessante Speisen. Toll fände ich es mit den Händen zu essen aber wer das nicht mag, kann auch nach Besteck fragen 😉

Essen eher mittelmäßig, Besitzer bittet einen schon bei Zeiten das Restaurant zu verlassen, da die Tische für nachfolgende Gäste reserviert sind (wirkte eher wie ein Rausschmiss, etwas diplomatischer und freundlicher gesagt würde es weniger unfreundlich wirken). Personal ansonsten sehr zuvorkommend und freundlich.

Tolles Ambiente, sehr nette Bedienung. Geschmacklich war das Essen leider nur mittelmäßig. Für afrikanisch relativ mau gewürzt. Schade war, dass die Hülsenfrüchte auch alle püriert waren. Leider gibt es kein glutenfreies Injera, auch nicht auf Vorbestellung. Dafür gibt es Reis als Alternative. Für Veganer:innen und Vegetarier:innen super geeignet, gibt auch vegane Nachspeisen.