Ice 'n Slice, a family-owned eatery that’s operated in Petworth since August 2022, takes its name from two of its featured menu items-ice cream and pizza. But walk inside, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a pepperoni in sight. Instead, you’ll find pies topped with ingredients from traditional Ethiopian dishes, including chickpeas, hard-boiled eggs, cabbage, lentils and full chicken wings (bone in).
The “Slice” refers to the restaurant’s five varieties of Ethiopian pizza, which take inspiration from traditional dishes like doro wat, a spicy chicken stew, and tibs, a beef stir-fry. The “Ice” refers to the extensive choice of ice creams, sourced from Philadelphia-based creamery Bassetts.
This unique Ethiopian-Italian fusion has made it a neighborhood favorite in Petworth. Ice 'n Slice credits some of its success to word of mouth.
Ice 'n Slice is located at 3933 Georgia Ave. NW. The order and pickup windows are found on the Shepard Street NW side of the building. A red sign with the Ice N Slice logo, a drawing of an ice cream cone and slices of pizza, is posted above the store. The menu is displayed on yellow banners along the perimeter of the storefront.
The owners, twin sisters Semret and Timni Asfaw from Addis Ababa, also run the popular Heat Da Spot café a few blocks down Georgia Avenue.
Read also: History of Ethiopian Cafes
Signature Ethiopian Pizzas
Ice N Slice offers six 14-inch Ethiopian pizzas to choose from, each topped with traditional meats and vegetables you’d normally find served as entrees. Berbere, a spicy and flavorful spice blend, is frequently used to season their proteins.
While each pie is ordered regularly, the vegetarian takes a slight lead. All pizzas are served with a side of the restaurant’s spicy green sauce, flavor-packed with jalapeno and garlic, and raw honey to use to your liking.
Here are some of the popular Ethiopian pizza options:
- Addis Ababa Vegetarian Pizza: Freshly made ethiopian style Cabbage, lentils, chickpeas, spinach, tomato base, and cheese.
- Doro Wat Pizza: Chicken cooked with onion garlic and special ingredients, with sliced boiled egg, and cheese.
- Letigab Kitfo Pizza: Grass fed ground beef marinated with garlic onion fetta cheese spinach onion special Ethiopian ingredients.
- Lemenor Vegan Fava Pizza: VEGAN FUL No cheese.
- Merkato Pizza: Special Beef tibs Onion green p cheese.
- Yechese Spicy Meat Vegies Pizza: Super spicy veggies and meat blended together with cheese
The hand-tossed pizza crust also deserves some attention. The dough bakes up nice and thick, holding up to the toppings very well. Even with its sturdiness, it was not chewy, and developed a nice crust on the bottom. It also reheats in a toaster oven or air fryer extremely well.
Read also: Ethiopian Cuisine: Philadelphia Guide
They also offer a gluten-free crust.
More Than Just Pizza
The Ethiopian pizzeria serves a handful of sandwich wraps too. Their kitfo, similar to their pizza option, is ground beef marinated with a mitmita spice made of bird’s-eye chili. Cooks saute the beef with fresh spinach, mix it with crumbled feta, then roll it up in a spinach wrap. Every last bite of this wrap melted in my mouth. There was a hint of heat from the mitmita, which added an orange-red color to the meat.
Breakfast All Day
Ice N Slice serves breakfast throughout the day. Sandwiches are served on toasted whole grain and sourdough bread, or on a plain, everything, or cinnamon raisin bagel.
Here's a glimpse at some breakfast options:
- Breakfast Bowl Sausage: Sausage egg cheese onion green p. side toast
- Egg Vegies Cheese: SPINACH ONION GREEN P. TOM EGG CHEESE
- Hash Egg Cheese Sand
- Platter Sausage Egg Cheese Homefries X Toast
- Sardine Eggs Vegi X Toast
The "Ice" in Ice 'n Slice
On to the “Ice” in the restaurant’s name-the ice cream. They offer several ice cream flavors from the Philadelphia-based creamery Bassetts, served as double scoops. Mix and match between flavors like vanilla, chocolate, mint chocolate, strawberry, coffee, cookies and cream, butterscotch, and salted caramel pretzel. Top the scoops with Oreo pieces, M&M’s, Reese’s chunks, gummy bears, or toasted nuts for an additional charge.
Read also: Authentic Ethiopian Cuisine
Customer-Focused Service
Besides the appetizing food, the customer service made me feel like I was visiting a family member’s home. A group of ladies made a pit stop at Ice N Slice to use the restroom, and stuck around to grab dessert because of the welcoming service. Another customer, who recently moved to D.C. proper, was brought to tears with the generosity she received. I completely lost track of time, and was there for almost two hours.
Menu Highlights and Prices
Prices range from $4 for sandwiches to $26 for pizzas. They offer a 10 percent discount for Howard University students that show their school IDs.
Here’s a quick look at some popular items and their prices:
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Sardine Eggs Vegi X Toast | $14.99 |
| Supreme Pizza \ Vegies & Meat | $24.99 |
| 5 Nuggets X Fries | $12.99 |
| Pancake Sausage Egg Cheese | $14.99 |
| Vegan Beyond Bgr X Fries | $18.99 |
| Platter Sausage Egg Cheese Homefries X Toast | $15.99 |
The restaurant’s now-signature patio was originally a response to crime in the neighborhood. The colorful space not only keeps out crime, but has since become a popular hangout spot on sunny days.
