Now he knows running two restaurants in the same location is almost impossible.

For that reason, Okebato has phased out the coffee shop part of the operation, renamed the place Queen of Sheba and now offers Ethiopian food exclusively.

Conversion to an Ethiopian restaurant was always in Okebato's plans, but he admits, "it was a hard decision to make. I should have changed a long time ago, but a lot of people have been coming here in the mornings for a long time. But it was hurting us and we were losing money."

In April, Okebato stopped serving traditional American fare and eliminated breakfast altogether.

It was a change that started months before when he replaced the San Jose Coffee Shop sign with the Queen of Sheba one.

"As soon as we changed the sign the other business dropped 35 to 40 percent," he says. "It's increasing slowly, but it is increasing."

Okebato has gotten positive reviews in local media and his restaurant is listed on several websites devoted to Ethiopian cuisine.

While Okebato is pleased with the boost he gets from reviews, he's not being passive.

In an effort to lure new customers and to get current ones to be more adventuresome, he's started a $7.99 buffet lunch on Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

"People are reluctant to try different dishes," he says. "I thought this might encourage them to try new dishes. We offer one chicken, one lamb, one beef and four vegetarian dishes as well as rice, breads and salads."

Okebato has also expanded into catering, including corporate, private and weddings. Additionally, he is hosting a winemaker dinner with J. Lohr on July 14.

Nicole Saffaie, Northern California sales manager for the winery on Lenzen Avenue, says she had never tried Ethiopian food until Okebato approached her company.

"Ethiopian food has a lot of intense spices," Saffaie says. "I suggested certain reds and whites that would go with his food. I've chosen a Riesling, a Chardonnay and a cabernet.

"It should be a nice evening. A lot of people have not eaten Ethiopian food. It's an entirely different experience. This is a chance to experience something out of the ordinary."

The winemaker dinner will include a variety of dishes, including appetizers, entrees and dessert. The price is $19.95 and includes dinner and wines.

Although Okebato grew up in a restaurant family, when he immigrated to the United States from his native Ethiopia in 1991, he had other plans.

With his electrical engineering degree from San Jose State University in 2000, Okebato went to work for Compaq. The HP takeover 21Ž2 years later left him job hunting.

Friends and family urged him to try a restaurant.

Today his sister Lomi Segni is the main chef. Not wanting her to work the seven-day workweek he does, Okebato closes the restaurant on Tuesdays.

While the menu has made the transition to Ethiopian fare, the décor has not.

Okebato is in the process of expanding the Ethiopian décor into the front of the operation, which one reviewer described as "down-at-the-heels."

The back room that is often used for banquets and larger parties already displays Ethiopian crafts. He's planning to hang curtains in the front room and gradually convert the ambiance.

Queen of Sheba Restaurant, 1860 The Alameda, is open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and closed on Tuesdays. For additional information visit www.queenofshebarestaurant.com or call 408.294.4313.

The Rose Garden area may shortly go from one to three Ethiopian restaurants.

A new restaurant operation is going into the property at 1015 Park Ave. at the corner of Hester Avenue.

It is rumored that it will be Ghion Ethiopian Restaurant; a petition for that fictitious business name has been filed by Yetataeku Ejigu.

The brokerage firm handling the lease for the property confirms that an Ethiopian family is the tenant, and that it plans to open a food operation. The firm could not verify the name or the type of food.

In the past, the building has been the site of a tacqueria and a produce stand.

If it is indeed a new Ethiopian restaurant, it will be welcomed by Sahlu Okebato, owner of Queen of Sheba on The Alameda.

"It's great," Okebato says of the possibility of a second Ethiopian restaurant in the neighborhood. "The more Ethiopian restaurants we have, the more people will know about it. Most Americans don't know about Ethiopian food.

"I see it as the more restaurants there are it is better for all restaurants," Okebato says.

In addition to Queen of Sheba, there is The Lunch Box Ethiopian Restaurant at 1876 W. San Carlos St. near Race Street. A fourth Ethiopian restaurant, Mudai Ethiopian Restaurant at 503 W. San Carlos St., is nearby.