Meskerem Ethiopian Cuisine
“The meat had nice unique spices and the injera had a nice sour taste with a fluffy texture.”
“Granted, I only get the vegetarian combo platter because I don't eat meat but that dish is so flavorful and it gets me completely full every time.”
“I'm a huge fan of their avocado and tomato appetizer and everybody I've brought with me to eat here has become a fan of that dish as well.”
Meskerem Ethiopian Cuisine
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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Yummy Ethiopian food at average prices. Come hungry. Order the meat and vegetarian combos to get a good sample of everything
I am always in the West Village area, especially on Macdougall Street, and glance at the restaurants nearby in passing. Having been introduced to Ethiopian cuisine a few years back, the sign for Meskerem caught my eye. It had been about a year since my last dinner at an Ethiopian place, so I suggested it to my gf. The entrance is squeezed between two bigger stores and is awkward to walk into (it's at a basement level with two doors that have barely enough space to open and walk into). Inside, it was dark and there was one smaller table and one bigger group having lunch.
We had just enjoyed ice cream across the street, so we weren't too hungry. We ordered the Meskerem combo (about $17) for the two of us to share. In about 15ish minutes, our food came out with an extra injera bread on the side. The bread itself has a vinegary taste, almost like sourdough. Don't worry, that's perfectly normal. The combo that we ordered came with 5 different sides. I can't recall all of them, but there was a yellow paste that had a mild flavor, collard greens with meat, ground lamb, lentils, and lamb chunks.
I liked all of them, with maybe the lentils being my least favorite. You rip off pieces of the injera bread and scoop the dishes into the bread with your hands (no utensils!). At the end, I rolled up the injera bread that had all the toppings and ate it like a burrito, much to my gf's embarrassment. But hey, I'm not in the business of wasting food, so too bad. I enjoyed the lunch! Very cheap, quick, and hearty!
I came here for dinner with my girlfriend and it was fantastic. The service was a little distant and slow, but the atmosphere and food were both fantastic. You walk downstairs and enter a dimly lit brick room, with minimalist adornment. It's romantic and candles are on every table and around the room. The food is also great. This was the first time I had Ethiopian and I would definitely go back.
I think Ethiopian cuisine is one of the tastiest in the world!I love the depth of flavours,the usage of injera as a utensil and even the intimacy of sharing food from a single plate.Being from India,eating with hands was no big deal for me but doing that while sharing a plate took some getting used to,(especially for the hubs).Remember that "Joey doesnt share food" episode from Friends?!He is like that!
All that being said, Meskerem was definitely not the best Ethiopian I have had.Usually, I am in love with the lentil dishes, the creamy butteriness hits it right on the spot but Meskerem's miser wat and shiro wat were tasty but not life-changing.The poultry dish,the Doro Wat served with a boiled egg was just the right balance of butter and berbere spice and it was melt-in-your-mouth fabulous.The injera bread was soft and served well in mopping up the gravy.The portion sizes seemed pretty small for the price and overall,the meal will leave you satisfied but not full.
They do have a decent wine list(not extensive) and I tried their honey wine which was a lil too sweet for me.The service was courteous and the place itself was a little cramped,(but hey I will have Ethiopian in someone's basement if it comes to that!)Overall,I am gonna be partial here(just coz its Ethiopian) and give it 4 stars even though its more like 3.5 stars(barely).
This place is located on a famous block of the village. The comedy cellar & mamouns are nearby – and this spot is located below street level – so I am unsure how much foot traffic they get. The space itself is pretty small – low ceilings & the tables are a little cramped but all in all not too terrible. When we arrived for lunch they were not too busy & the service was great. Prices are reasonable.
The food was a mix of highs and lows – I got the veg combo lunch special which turned out to be a lot of food – which I appreciate for the price – but not all of it was all that great sadly. The lentils were good – collard greens great. But the weird eggs and cheese thing, at least that's what I thought it was – honestly unsure, terrible! The beans mixture also not flavored well and the cabbage was rather unremarkable.
Overall I'd be willing to try it again, but would stick to the lentils.
Was in the area and the bf suggested coming to this place. I walked in not knowing what to expect being that it was my first time at an Ethiopian restaurant. I went in with an open mind and knowing him I knew that I had nothing to worry about.
The bf was familiar with the cuisine so he did the picking …. we went with the Special Tibs and Shro Wat. Eating by hands and no utensils had caught me off guard, but it was an experience (good experience). The food was interesting, so many flavors … Lived in many countries and tasted food from all over, but nothing quite like this.
Service was minimal and the restaurant was a little cramped, but we were there quite early for dinner so it wasn't really an issue.
Worth a try if you are in the area.
If you've never had Ethiopian food, you haven't lived. That being said, this is not my favorite spot. The food was pretty okay, but its definitely a hole in the way. When you go in, just keep that in mind.
Very good Ethiopian in the West Village very close to Washington Square Park. This is where I first tried this cuisine while in college and been coming here since. Luckily, it hadn't changed since. Delicious doro wett and tibs served with delicious lentils on the side on top of tangy injera bread. Inside is a bit cramped and could use a face lift. Service is friendly and prices are reasonable. It's a great place to come.