Trying some Ethiopian eats in Des Moines, Iowa

Gursha Ethiopian Grill in Des Moines, Iowa had its grand opening on Jan. 18 and has garnered over 2,100 Facebook followers so far.

The menu is simple: There are five vegetarian options and five beef or chicken options. The service is super fast.

I had noticed that it looked busy, and decided to go try it last weekend. I was enticed by a few factors:

• Owner Salah Salah and his family have a great track record, operating the Hilal Groceries specialty store for about two decades.
• Much of the cooking is within view of the counter.

You can try two entrees for $9.95. My choices were:

• Gomen: Fresh collard greens sautéed in onion, ginger and garlic.
• Missir wot: Split lentil sauce cooked with berbere, onions, ginger and garlic.

The verdict: A rich combination of spices and herbs created delightful aromatics. The greens were flavorful and the lentils were hearty.

This story first appeared in the Axios Des Moines newsletter, designed to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news unfolding in their own backyard.

• Sign up here.