Abay Ethiopian Restaurant, Seattle

Forgoing silverware often indicates bad manners or a brutish disposition. That isn't the case at Abay Ethiopian Restaurant, where eating with you hands is not only customary, but required. That's because they serve their cuisine in the traditional Ethiopian fashion—on giant communal platters accompanied by heaps of Ethiopian injera bread instead of forks. Diners use the spongy flatbread to scoop up portions of meats, lentils, stews, and spiced vegetables from the shared platter, partaking in a dining experience firmly rooted in community and fellowship. On select nights, though, this traditional Ethiopian experience gives way to a party, replete with tune-spinning DJs and a fully-stocked bar illuminated by fuchsia and turquoise lights.