Loved it, small spot, so very chill vibes! The food, however, you can share with your date or partner and get full with the family
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Laura H. DeBello
Arrived at 9p, Saturday, March 2, and were told they were closed. Fix ya hours or stop lying. ?
Service: 1
Debbie Shultz
Still very good. Seems like they have new ownership recently, and are pivoting towards being a.... wine bar? Menu items are a bit different, they no longer serve any hot tea at all, including the spiced black tea which was one of the highlights -- and service took a huge dip downwards. But still, very solid and the best in the neighborhood!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 2
Michele Cortese
I have been going to Meskerem for years. Best Ethiopian food around! The music is lovely, and the space is calm. ❤️Vegetarian options: The Vegetarian Combo is SOOOOO Good!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Injera, Vegetarian Combo
Jodie Wilson
Arrived on a Saturday at 12pm and they were closed. Very disappointed daughter excited to try Ethiopian food. Please update your hours.
D G
Ignore old bad reviews! This restaurant is worth checking out!Love the food, especially the vegetarian combo. Service was superb, and it was not super crowded on a Friday night.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
NIA NYREE (Nia)
Food is amazing. Its my favorite restaurant for over 20 years.
Most of the few Ethiopian spots were lucky to have open in the evenings. You can descend into the delicious underground corridor that is Meskerem at Noon.First time? Ok with just a smidgen of heat? Get the Tibs Wat. It's tender chunks of beef in a berebere sauce that is incredibly delicious. You'll tear off pieces of injera to scoop up and devour. Injera is sort of like a sourdough crepe. It's great (and impossible for me to make at home).I also like the avocado or tomato salads as an appetizer. A bit pricey for what they are - but I am thankful every visit that this restaurant is still here.Staff were polite but seemed disinterested on my last visit. Maybe something else was going on for em.It is admittedly not my number one Ethiopian spot - but it's easy to get to and reliably delicious.
Meskerem Ethiopian Cuisine has been in the West Village for over two decades. I first visited over fifteen years ago but due to life being busy I have not had time to go back until recently. Meskerem is a few steps down into a building on MacDougal Street. I would describe the restaurant setting as no frills. There are a good number of seats (I'm guessing for about 20-30ish people) and the decor is nice, but the restaurant is oddly shaped and there are some bits of the walls and ceilings that could use a bit of work. It's not dirty, but it definitely is due for a light renovation.I will give the staff kudos for greeting, seating and taking initial orders very quickly. However, the night I went (in December 2023) once the food arrived there was very little checking in. My water glass remained empty for most of my meal so the service could be better.Most of the stars in this review are for the food, which is still excellent! The Lentil Sambosas were wonderful. Crispy, tasty and freshly fried. My friend and I wound up getting a combination dishes including Tibs Wat (Prime beef cooked in a pan, the sautéed with berbere), Minchet Abish Wat (Ground beef cooked with butter, garlic and finished with curry) and Fresh cabbage, potatoes and carrots sautéed with garlic, ginger and curry. All this is served on Injira bread, a spongy, sour bread that absorbs the sauces and flavors of what is put on it with delicious, savory results!I really enjoyed the food at Meskerem. The service could be better for sure but I would definitely go back.
Loved it, small spot, so very chill vibes! The food, however, you can share with your date or partner and get full with the family
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Arrived at 9p, Saturday, March 2, and were told they were closed. Fix ya hours or stop lying. ?
Service: 1
Still very good. Seems like they have new ownership recently, and are pivoting towards being a.... wine bar? Menu items are a bit different, they no longer serve any hot tea at all, including the spiced black tea which was one of the highlights -- and service took a huge dip downwards. But still, very solid and the best in the neighborhood!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 2
I have been going to Meskerem for years. Best Ethiopian food around! The music is lovely, and the space is calm. ❤️Vegetarian options: The Vegetarian Combo is SOOOOO Good!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Injera, Vegetarian Combo
Arrived on a Saturday at 12pm and they were closed. Very disappointed daughter excited to try Ethiopian food. Please update your hours.
Ignore old bad reviews! This restaurant is worth checking out!Love the food, especially the vegetarian combo. Service was superb, and it was not super crowded on a Friday night.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food is amazing. Its my favorite restaurant for over 20 years.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Injera, Doro Wat, Special TIBS, Vegetarian Combo, TIBS Wat, Meskerem TIBS
Came here on a Saturday at 12pm. Posted hours are incorrect. Waited half an hour for them to open and they never did. Left hungry and disappointed.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Lovely place. Great food and service!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Thank you. Great testy food ? the enjera was so fresh it just took me back my childhood.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Special TIBS
Restaurantji Recommends
Most of the few Ethiopian spots were lucky to have open in the evenings. You can descend into the delicious underground corridor that is Meskerem at Noon.First time? Ok with just a smidgen of heat? Get the Tibs Wat. It's tender chunks of beef in a berebere sauce that is incredibly delicious. You'll tear off pieces of injera to scoop up and devour. Injera is sort of like a sourdough crepe. It's great (and impossible for me to make at home).I also like the avocado or tomato salads as an appetizer. A bit pricey for what they are - but I am thankful every visit that this restaurant is still here.Staff were polite but seemed disinterested on my last visit. Maybe something else was going on for em.It is admittedly not my number one Ethiopian spot - but it's easy to get to and reliably delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Injera, TIBS Wat, Timatim Fitfit
Meskerem Ethiopian Cuisine has been in the West Village for over two decades. I first visited over fifteen years ago but due to life being busy I have not had time to go back until recently. Meskerem is a few steps down into a building on MacDougal Street. I would describe the restaurant setting as no frills. There are a good number of seats (I'm guessing for about 20-30ish people) and the decor is nice, but the restaurant is oddly shaped and there are some bits of the walls and ceilings that could use a bit of work. It's not dirty, but it definitely is due for a light renovation.I will give the staff kudos for greeting, seating and taking initial orders very quickly. However, the night I went (in December 2023) once the food arrived there was very little checking in. My water glass remained empty for most of my meal so the service could be better.Most of the stars in this review are for the food, which is still excellent! The Lentil Sambosas were wonderful. Crispy, tasty and freshly fried. My friend and I wound up getting a combination dishes including Tibs Wat (Prime beef cooked in a pan, the sautéed with berbere), Minchet Abish Wat (Ground beef cooked with butter, garlic and finished with curry) and Fresh cabbage, potatoes and carrots sautéed with garlic, ginger and curry. All this is served on Injira bread, a spongy, sour bread that absorbs the sauces and flavors of what is put on it with delicious, savory results!I really enjoyed the food at Meskerem. The service could be better for sure but I would definitely go back.
Amazing food, very
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegetarian Combo, Timatim Fitfit
Delicious food and great service. I've been here many times and it never disappoints. Hidden gem in the Village.
Excellent experience with great host, food in a good location and for a very reasonable price!!!Will come here again whenever am in the area.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5