Oakland's Pill Hill has a new way to start the day, with Nardi now serving a breakfast-centered spread of Ethiopian and Eritrean dishes on Telegraph Avenue. Owner and chef Nardos Alemu has built a morning menu that sticks close to traditional Horn of Africa flavors, from enkulal firfir to genfo, and stretches into bolder territory with dulet. Diners can also go big with the Nardi special, a shareable sampler of meats and vegetables with injera, and pair their plates with Ethiopian beers.
Owner and opening
According to The Mercury News, Nardi opened in February and is led by owner-chef Nardos Alemu. The outlet notes that the menu highlights enkulal firfir, a scrambled egg dish with injera and spiced sauce, along with ful, genfo and dulet. The Nardi special is described as a heaping sampler of meats and vegetables served with injera, and the restaurant pours Ethiopian beers such as Meta and Habesha.
Hours and contact
Business directories list Nardi's hours as 8 AM to 10 PM daily and give a contact number of (510) 607-8743, information shown on Yahoo Local. State business records compiled by BizProfile show Nardi Restaurant LLC registered at the Telegraph Avenue address, which matches the restaurant's listing.
Where Nardi fits
Oakland's Ethiopian and Eritrean dining scene has long been anchored by family-run spots and newer arrivals along Telegraph Avenue and beyond. Coverage of long-running favorites such as Cafe Colucci helps explain why a breakfast-focused Ethiopian option feels right at home in the neighborhood, while local roundups by Oaklandside and others point to a steady rhythm of East Bay openings in recent years.
With its early menu and all-day hours, Nardi adds another reason to stop along Telegraph Avenue for an offbeat, shareable morning meal. The restaurant's arrival underscores the East Bay's appetite for more Horn of Africa options beyond the usual dinner rotation.
