Meskerem Ethiopian Cuisine
Category: Restaurants [Edit]
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Greenwich Village124 MacDougal St
New York, NY 10012 (212) 777-8111
- Nearest Transit:
W 4th St (A, C, E, B, D, F, V)
Christopher St (1)
9th Street (PATH)
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: None
38 reviews
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Midtown East
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24 Reviews for Meskerem Ethiopian Cuisine
Decent Ethiopian food.
We had the veggies. Decent food.
Kind of empty and felt a tad unkept. The wait-staff was often absent.
If you are ever in Chicago try the Ethiopian Diamond Restaurant. I think it is the gold standard.
2 stars for solid food.
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I love injera.
I love Ethiopian because, as I mentioned in another review of an Ethiopian restaurant, it reminds me of food from the motherland.
I like coming to Meskerem here on MacDougal because you always know what you're going to get:
- great vegetarian options
- good, filling food
- random a$$ service
- cramped quarters
- bang for your buck
I've been coming here for the past 5 years or so, I'll keep coming back.
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Every time I think of Ethiopian food the image of Ben Stiller in Along Came Polly creeps into my mind. Besides the point, I decided to be adventurous and come here for a double date and was pleasantly pleased.
When we walked in, the smell of the food made me so hungry. We ordered two order of sambosas (like samosas, bread with meat or lentils inside) of beef and lentils. They were nice and crisp, the beef had the texture of ground beef and complemented the bread nicely. Although I'm not a fan of lentils, they were tasty and the whole table enjoyed them
For the main course we ordered meskerem tibs (lamb), chicken tibs, 2 different types of lentils and beef. Everything is served together in a big bowl on top of some sourish bread. The waitress then poured two helpings of each course onto different parts of the bowl and brought us a generous helping of the sourish bread. Note, if you are vegetarian or don't like your food touching other orders, you can get your food on a separate plate.
The lamb tasted phenomenal, it brought me back to the food I ate when I was in Mongolia. The lentils were seasoned perfectly and the chicken very satisfying. There was also some green veggies that complemented the meats that was good. I didn't try the beef.
I got the Ethiopian coffee which was similar to Turkish coffee but not as strong. We left here happy and full with the bill coming to 18$, per person. Strongly recommended!
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If I go anywhere for Ethiopian, it is Meskerem. The Vegetarian sampler with lentils, cabbage, green beans, etc. is perfect. Lots of variety, not too spicy (the potato salad was the only one I couldn't eat - too hot).
The spongy bread is great, they give you plenty, and for the sweet experience of all this, I have to give them 5 stars.
Plus they let me in at 3:30 when the Lunch hour ends and no one else was in the restaurant. Good service. $8 for the veg platter.
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After resisting for years, appauled at the thought of paying for ethiopian "food" (yes, i am a jackass) - i must admit it was a great experience to have finally tried it...
Had the avocado to start, and the vegetarian combo. Great food. Not too spicy, certainly not bland. It was surprisingly filling also! I just assumed that since I was eating essentially a pancake with little piles of food, I'd be hungry. No sooner than I had finished, the post-prandial coma set in and I almost had to be carried home.
Good times.
It was very reasonably priced too at around $9 for the veg entrees, or $13 for the combo.
We went at around 7pm on MLK day, and had no problem finding a table.
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I think I was spoiled by the first place I got Ethiopian food because this place was a disappointment.
Firstly, it was incredibly cramped and uncomfortable.
Secondly, the food was not spicy at all. It was decent but definitely didn't have the zing of other places I've eaten. I agree with other reviewers, it was oily and way to much bland sauce.
Lastly, the service was a bit of a disappointment. We had vegetarians at our table and we asked if their food could be combined on a different platter but they put their food right next to the meaty Tibs Wat and Kitfo.
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Sorry. Nope. Not working. It isn't that the food here is bad, but that it just doesn't have the kick. You know. The one that makes me mouth sing! The food here is typical of what I don't like to see in Ethiopian food: Oily and lacking the right flavor punch. Oh yeah. Drowning in sauce too in order to save it, which doesn't work.
As far as the space goes, it is pretty tight and it was fairly packed when I went so we had to take the table by the door (which I don't mind at all). Decor is okay.
Oh how I miss Zeni and Assab. Next!
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*great food
*BYOB
*"damp basement" atmosphere does not prevent this place from being full every night.
*Open for lunch, but not a popular lunch spot (i guess no one wants to go back to work with meat-sticky fingers)
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I have a hard time winning people over with Ethiopian food, and this place didn't help. We were actually running away from another place that was listed as shabu shabu but turned out to be a place we hated once before. As we sat down, my gf claimed that an aroma similar to vomit was presenting itself before us. I did not concur, and professed it more akin to stinky tofu to which she was not amused. I was willing to overlook that nuance, but then the service was slow, the injera (the bread) was a little stale and synthetic tasting, and the whole environment just felt dank and dingy. The meal itself was cheap, but I'm not convinced I want to repeat the experience.
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Meskerem is not so good. I have been to 7 out of the 10 Ethiopian places in the city (out of the three I haven't been to, I've been to their downtown locations, Meskerem and Awash as an example).
Why not good?
1. Portion sizes are incredibly small
2. Dungeon like downstairs in a basement
3. Food is not as tasty as other places
Save your money and walk over to the east side, to Meskel. Definitely ten times better.
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Who Eithiopian food is not for: 1) the gastrointestinally challenged (read my lips: lots of lentils & fiber) 2) those afraid to ruin their manicure or too proper to eat with their hands and 3) anyone who doesn't like the taste of sourdough bread. With that said it's great for everyone else. Okay sure, it all looks like mutli-colored mounds of (*insert whatever visual you would like here*) but the blend of spiciness, savoriness and happiness are unbelievable. Though I would normally tell you to close your eyes if you don't like the appearance, scooping up all these delicious eats with your hands and sourdough "injera" flatbread could get tricky. The veggie dishes are perfect, and the boneless meat dishes are as well. The ones with bones get a little tricky and a lot messy.
In the words of my friend, the ambience at Meskerem is pure "old-school-NYU-Greenwich Village" and the service is S.........L...........O........... (so slow I could not even finish that word.) It is BYO with a $7 corkage fee (huh?) but you can eat like a king/queen for less than $15 per person.... provided that kings and queens eat with their hands, I guess.
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This place is great for cheap, reliable Ethiopian food. There is nothing better than the avocado salad, which seems so simple, yet I can't figure out the marinade/dressing. It's excellent. The dishes are solid and there's good variety.
The service, however, is spotty. Not always attentive or reliable and not terrible.
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I just had dinner at Meskerem in Greenwich Village last night, and I'm not sure why there are so many bad reviews re: service. I had a perfectly attentive, pleasant, efficient server and our food was served up fast.
PLUS: the woman sitting at the table next to mine was absolutely horrible: demanding, entitled, weighed down with an obese ego. She talked down to no less than two different servers--loudly--and while I was ready to feign a spasm that might just smack her upside the noggin', the staff was polite, patient, and long-suffering.
Okay: so the food was so-so. Portions were fine. My friend and I split the vegetarian platter with a side of chicken tibs and we were satisfied. Everything tasted good, but there was only one spicy item and I wished for a little more flavor from the spinach. Regardless, a nice night out and the BYOB (with a fair corkage fee) makes the night even nicer (read: cheaper).
I used to like this place, but they've really started to skimp on the portion sizes. Plus the atmosphere/location kindof gives me the hebbie jebbies - a dark basement restaurant on MacDougal St?...
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That weird, sour, puckering, citrus taste is the bread. No, it is. Try it by itself. I told you.
If you don't mind the slow service, cramped space, shitty bathroom (no pun intended) and sometimes furious staff, you're being too kind. Because all of those things are bad.
But the food is reliably tasty, cheap, and vegetarian friendly. Share your non-meat dishes (which are also less spicy) with compatriots, but make absolutely positive that your friends ordering the kitfo or similar beef dishes get their own damn bread plate. There's nothing more disheartening and offensive than the waitress pouring a pile of steaming beef in the midst of your meek vegetarian meal. Make sure you scrub your hands with soap before you eat, (because you'll be using every single nub and pad) and after if you don't like them to smell like lemons and lentil. Eat here at an off-hour, either early or late, otherwise brave the wait.
Some of the gravy-like concoctions we had were better than others (some a bit over seasoned), but in general they were good and you can't go wrong with that bread! It's very unique and handy for grabbing food with, plus the texture is almost entirely uniform so it has a slightly odd appearance.
Despite what others say, I found the portions to be more than large enough. And the service wasn't too bad either.
I was originally terrified of trying Ethiopian food, but once forced to, I loved it. Basically, it's differenet meats and vegetables with tasty sauces that you pick up with special Ethiopian bread and eat with your hands. You should give it a shot.
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I love new and exciting cuisines. If you enjoy culinary adventure, check out Meskerem Ethiopian Cuisine in Greenwich Village. The food is extremely flavorful, a laid-back atmosphere with attentive service. I dine out frequently with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian associates, so this restaurant has a menu equally suited to herbivores and carnivores. Feeling carnivorous? Try the Kitfo: a bit like steak tartare cooked to your liking with delicious spices. Feeling herbivorous? Try the collard greens and lentil dishes! The best part about this dining experience is enjoying your meal with injera bread, a buckwheat-based flat bread used to pick up your food. That's right, Virginia. You eat with your hands. Be sure to wash them well before digging in and remember that eating with your hands is half the fun! Highly recommended!
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after randomnly walking around and starving after a 5 hour flight then taking random subways, i ended up here. got a combo which a mix of lentils and lamb dishes. the waitstaff could care less if you're there though. i seriously felt like i was eating inside a janitor's storage room though as the place is a dump. the good food made up for it and there was plenty of injera handy despite my flat soda tasted like it had expired.
Great Ethiopian food. They used to have beer and wine...I enjoyed getting the honeywine with my meal...but the beer and wine are no longer there...hmmm. Anyway, I recommend any of the salads, vegetarian dishes. My favorite meat dish is the Doro Wat...which is and an amazing spicy chicken dish with egg. All served with Injera- ethiopian bread to scoop up your food with.
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Edit 2007: At some point in the last couple of years, they lost their liquor license and now charge a corking fee. And the food wasn't as good last time I went...
Ethiopian is probably my favorite type of food. I love this stuff so much. The combination of spicy food and sweet honey wine is something that can't fully be explained. The Injera bread is something that you most likely must develop a taste for- I didn't like it at first, but love it now. The food here is delicious, the place is cute. Prices are totally reasonable. Go for some special tibs and a lovely cup of honey wine.
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Fun to eat with your hands and the fish is excellent. Service can be a bit slow on a Friday night though. So just carve out a good chunk of time to enjoy your meal here.
This is the first time we visited this place. Ambience is poor (crowded and noisy), with poor service. We had to wait at least 15min for a glass of water. The food was alright. If you wish to be there for a romantic evening this is not the place...
The food is good. Injera tastes like a sponge...
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