College Park Eats: Living Well Cafe and Restaurant

The combination restaurant is a tough act to pull off, but that doesn't seem to keep restaurateurs from trying. From Asian fusion to the sinister Chinese/fish/subs/pizza/fried chicken joints, these dissimilar eateries have one thing in common: they don't tend to excel with their menu items.

Whether Living Well Café and Restaurant owner Roman Seyoum was unaware of this trend, or simply didn't care, is irrelevant. The eatery, which opened at 7313 E Baltimore Ave. on July 17 and specializes in dishes from Ethiopia and the Caribbean and will expand to serve sandwiches and gelato, has defied the curse of the combination restaurant with aplomb.

Opening a restaurant that serves both tasty and nutritious food has long been a dream of Seyoum's. Having emigrated to the United States from Ethiopia when she was 16, she went on to study nutrition, eventually becoming a natural health consultant.

Over the years, Seyoum couldn't help but notice the excess of fatty, processed foods that plagued the public elementary schools attended by her children, which is one reason she chose College Park for her restaurant's location. Amid a sea of fast food restaurants and bars, she wants to provide students an affordable dining option that doesn't come straight from a deep fryer or fast food window.

And as for the unlikely combination? No problem there. Spicy vegetables wrapped in strips of Ethiopian bread, called injera, mingle on the same table as Caribbean specialties like jerk chicken and curried beef. For now, it's just Seyoum and her Caribbean chef, but more employees will be hired as the menu expands.

The real twist in the plot here is the plan for the restaurant's sandwich offerings, which boasts health foodie favorites like tomato and mozzarella paninis, along with the more eclectic Bon Appetit, a sandwich that combines a chicken breast with Swiss cheese, carmelized onions, tomatoes and hummus.

Though the sandwich portion of the menu was not available as of the writing of this profile, it probably doesn't matter. With jerk chicken so tender it falls from the bone with a mere nudge from the fork, and rice soaked in seasoned drippings from the meat, it is impossible to imagine ordering a sandwich anyway, especially considering that a full plate of chicken, rice and veggies will only set you back $9 anyway.

Food can be ordered for delivery or takeout, but Seyoum and her staff offer a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere. With vibrant green walls, free wireless Internet and a sizeable selection of coffee drinks, Living Well fits the bill of the local, independent establishment that wants its patrons to feel more at home.

Though currently only open until 7 p.m., fall hours will be 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday, giving students and workaholic journalists alike an option for quality late-night food.