From the whimsical depictions of East Africa that protrude like museum exhibits from its walls to the mismatched chairs, to the plastic tablecloths, Zehabesha Traditional Ethiopian Restaurant's esthetic is resolutely cheap and cheerful.

Then you taste the food and you're transported to a palace of fine dining.

The menu features dishes such as kitfo, an aromatic platter that includes raw, minced beef blended with a delicious variety of spices; doro wot, a delicious platter of aromatic chicken stew served with tomato, garlic, peppers, egg and spices; yetsom beyayantu, a vegetarian platter served with beans, lentils, shiro, spinach and injera and the signature curried goat.

Some of the more ambitious dishes require spice blends that are unique to Ethiopian cuisine such as mitmita and berbere, and then there's the homemade butter.

SA国际影视传媒淚t's different yeah,SA国际影视传媒� said Eline Baye, who churns out the butter using a recipe perfected by her mother and grandmother. SA国际影视传媒淚 put spices. I make at home. Everything I make at home.SA国际影视传媒�

Her work has paid off. Zehabesha has been awarded a prestigious certificate of excellence by international social travel and tourism website TripAdvisor. The downtown eatery picked up the coveted prize for the fourth year in succession last week.

The award is given to establishments that maintain an overall TripAdvisor rating of four or higher, out of a possible five stars, as reviewed by travellers. Additional criteria includes the volume of reviews received within a 12-month period.

Only about 10 per cent of accommodations listed on the travel website are recognized with the certificate of excellence, explained TripAdvisor spokesperson Casey Brogan.

In addition, Zehabesha is currently ranked No. 1 out of 47 restaurants in Yellowknife, based on TripAdvisor reviews, SA国际影视传媒渁 true testament to how travellersSA国际影视传媒� feel about this restaurant,SA国际影视传媒� said Brogan.

Of the 206 reviews Zehabesha has received, 130 of them are rated excellent, and zero are rated terrible.

Baye and her husband Dinku Tadesse have been running the restaurant since it opened in November 2014.

They arrived in Canada from Ethiopia. He came in 2010 and she followed two years later. The going was hard at first as the pair faced a severe labour shortage and high costs.

SA国际影视传媒淭he first six months, we almost gave up, we struggled,SA国际影视传媒� said Tadesse. SA国际影视传媒淓verything was expensive, especially still the rent but my wife said we don't have to give up, we have to continue. She pushed me to do that. She told me we have to do it. When I gave up, she encouraged me, 'You will see one day, we're going to achieve our goal. We're going to get our money back one day. Good things are coming.'SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淪he is saying all the time, not me, I'm telling the truth,SA国际影视传媒� he continued.

Facing a severe labour shortage, they tried virtually everything to recruit cooks and dishwashers, from offering bonuses to providing training but they failed. During the first few months the pair worked punishing hours as a result. Sometimes 15 or 16 hours per day, said Tadesse.

They went six or seven months without collecting a salary. Despite the difficulties they persisted, leaning on their Ethiopian Orthodox Christian faith.

SA国际影视传媒淪he is praying all the time, me not that much, I don't care,SA国际影视传媒� said Tadesse of his wife. SA国际影视传媒淪he prays most of the time. She say 'one day God will give us a good thing.' And it's happen. And we are very happy.SA国际影视传媒�

Though providence may have played a part in their success, it was no substitute for hard work and culinary skill.

Baye has no formal culinary training but growing up in a family of 12 brothers and sisters in Addis Ababa, EthiopiaSA国际影视传媒檚 sprawling capital city, gave Baye plenty of time to hone her craft.

After school she would watch and help her mother and grandmother prepare food for their large family, she said.

SA国际影视传媒淪ince I was young I liked to cook,SA国际影视传媒� said Baye. SA国际影视传媒淢y grandma, her recipes SA国际影视传媒� my mom too, everything traditional.SA国际影视传媒�

It also didn't hurt that her family owns a five-star restaurant back in Ethiopia, where Baye learned to prepare food at a very high level, she said.

Baye said theySA国际影视传媒檒l be continuing with their venture despite the challenges. In fact, Baye said she could double the size of their four-page menu if should find sufficient help.

But for now sheSA国际影视传媒檚 cooking solo.

SA国际影视传媒淛ust me I work all the day, cooking all the day,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 working, still no give up.SA国际影视传媒�