Meske Reviews

Went there with my boyfriend and a friend after a show. Everything was delicious. We had the comboplatter which is great for first timers :)

I like eating Ethiopian as the flavours are exotic and distinct from the usual European and Asian food. We had the vegetarian combo with a glass of Ethiopian sweet white wine. The food was tasty, the service was friendly and the bill reasonable. The only thing to improve is that the restaurant’s interior design is slightly too humble.

It was okay...

I like Ethiopian food and don't often get a chance to have it, so a business trip to NYC and a planned dinner with a local friend gave me such an opportunity. I chose Meskerem for its location (relatively accessible from where I was staying) and the previous reviews. I concur with the judgments of others. The wait staff was very friendly. This is a small, simple place, but the food is good. We had the avocado appetizer (delicious) and the meat-veg combo plate. All the individual dishes were good. The spiciness was less than that I have found in other Ethiopian places; I could have had more heat, but my friend doesn't care much for spice, so the degree of spice worked well for the two of us.

I was thrilled that there was an Ethiopian place near my hotel. The service was quick and everything was downright delicious. The tea they have is also fantastic. I'd go there again in a heartbeat.

Great Ethiopian food and beer! Definitely recommend this place if you are into ethnic food! This is as exotic as you can get! Excellent variety of flavors and portions are large enough to share!!

I'm glad to have introduced my partner to Ethiopian food here. It was understated and the dark street outside could seem a little unnerving to NYC visitors but it was friendly and warn. The service was excellent with patient and knowledgable staff. The decor is worn and tired but most importantly the food was scrumptious and filling.

I love this place! It is my favorite Ethiopian restaurant. Great food and overall experience. I highly recommend a sampler platter to anyone new to Ethiopian food. They can adjust the spice to your liking. Friendly staff. Ethnic atmosphere. If you haven't tried Ethiopian food before but like trying new things, this is the place to go.

Cozy atmosphere and good food. Service reasonable but waiters weren't especially friendly. Injera was a bit too sour for my tastes, but enjoyed the meal overall.

Love eating Ethiopian food because of the unusual flavors and the spongy bead used to scoop up the dishes. I recommend getting the vegetarian or meat sampler so you can sample many different specialities. The service was great and it is located in the theatre district. Try something different you wot be disappointed!

Services was great! Super accommodating waitresses. Comfortable and relaxed environment (not fancy). Food was delicious but I must admit I am a fan of ethiopian food. Beers from ethiopia were alao tasty.

We found this little restaurant for lunch while waiting for a matinee to start. Its quite close to theatres, so makes a nice place for a bite while you're waiting. The restaurant was clean. (The decor wasn't much to write home about.) The smell, when we sat down, nearly put us off. It was something like a wet, stinky dog. But we stayed and ordered and were glad we did. The food was excellent! The service was good. We'll go back again.

Ethiopian is one of our favorite cuisines and we seek it out whenever possible. Went to Meskerem before seeing a ballet on Saturday night. No reservations needed - we were seated and served immediately. Food was very good - exactly what I would expect for an Ethiopian menu. Would definitely return.

great for big groups of close friends! :) dig in!

My wife and I went there before theater on October 24, 2019. As usual it was great. We told them about our spice preferences. My wife and I quite differ on that. They were quite attentive. The menu items went from great to greater.

Food was very good, the service was great, the wine was just "OK," but that happens sometimes. In all, a nice quiet place to eat.

The meal here was probably the best meal I had in New York during a one month visit. I had a veggie appetizer and then a lamb dish, served with a couple of sauces on an injera (flat bread) - all flavours were just perfectly balanced. Highest recommendation !

as most Greenwich village restaurants, this is a quaint little step down restaurant. The staff are gracious, but the menu is not as excellent as the DC Restaurant by the same name, so I was a bit disappointed with the selections offered on the main sampler platter. DC includes robust spices and heartier portions for sharing with your friends and family Ethiopian style. However we enjoyed our meal. The honey wine was delicious.

On an early Saturday evening, took my wife and adult son here on a recommedation of my son's girlfriend (Ari). Ari said if you are open to new eating experience that we would enjoy Meskerem - she was right. We ordered our meal family style - which equated to having several piles of prepared food deposited on a large but thin sponge like 'pancake' placed on a pizza pan. On a separate plate, several warm folded pancakes were provide which we torn into small credit card size pieces to use to scoop up the food piles. It was strange at first but we picked up the technique very quickly and realized this replaced a knife/fork/spoon nicely. Who knew! I'm not a fan of lamb, which was the chief animal protein on the menu, so ordered the chicken which was tasty. Wife and son order a beef dish (can't remember the name) but it was good too. The collard greens which I'm not a big fan were quite good. There were most couples eating here except for a girl about 5 yrs old who was here with her parents. And she looked like she was having a wonderful time too! Would definately come here again.

I ended up at Meske when I was in the mood for Ethiopian food and my friend who lived really close to this place recommended it. They serve really good food--the injera was fluffy, slightly tangy and delicious, and the different stews were flavorful and spicy but not too hot. Prices were reasonable. I wish I had a neighborhood restaurant like Meske to go to several times a week.

I was on my way with the wife to see the Broadway show "Wicked" and I was looking for somewhere to eat. I took a couple of wrong turns and ended up outside this small restaurant. It was about 5pm and there was only a handful of people there so I took a chance and walked in. I had never experienced Ethiopian food before and what a great surprise it was. The staff were very friendly and offered advice as to which dishes were spicy etc etc.. We decided to have a mixed platter for 2 which contained various meat dishes and vegetarian dishes. It was a novelty to have to eat only with hands and wrap all the food in a very large kind of soft pita bread. There was more than enough for 2 people and we were both overfull at the end. The Ethiopian beer was very good and strong! Its definately a place to visit (if you have clean hands) and i have recommended it to friends already. Prices were very reasonable. I suggest to get there early because by the time we left at 7pm...it was full!

I’ve been coming here for the last 18 years. This has always been a Pitt stop for me when in this city. Some years ago I would have rated this place 5 stars. Today I rate it 4. The food was as tasty as every, but today the portion was smaller and the veg were not as moist as usual. The decor is old and a paint job is needed. None of this bothers me though, if the food is good :) . When you slack, you start noticing other details. Still, very worth a visit

Staff helpfully asks if you'd like to split entrees, or if everyone wants their own. We chose to split. Injera is included, and you eat using the injera and your hands. They look like thin tortillas. Food was excellent. Had some heat and full of flavor, and came with sides of veggies. The picture doesn't look like a ton of food, but it was more than two of us could eat. Great honey wine. Worth going to Hell's Kitchen for it.

We eat Ethiopian food when we get the chance which isn't often enough. I found this place in Greenwich Village, saw the TripAdvisor sign, and decided to try it for dinner. It was very crowded and there was a very noisy group right next to us which didn't make the atmosphere very good. My daughters shared a vegetarian platter. The Miser Alech was a bit bland but the rest were very good. My partner and I love lamb tibs, so we had Special Tibs (lamb) and the waiter suggested Tibs Wat (beef). The lamb was very good though the beef average - not a lot of flavour. There was plenty of injera and my partner enjoyed his Ethiopian beer.

Revisited this restaurant while in the neighborhood, and the food tasted good. The decor is still very basic, and the amount of meat (lamb or chicken) wasn't too much in our dishes, but overall I think the restaurant has improved. We had the chicken tibs (chicken pieces with veggies), yebeg alecha (lamb in a tasty sauce), and a coconut pineapple cake which was good too. They were out of a couple of Ethiopian beers, but had another one not on the menu which was decent.

My favorite Ethiopian restaurant in the city. I think the staff is the friendliest...the food is the best and it's very conveniently located in the theatre district/Hell's Kitchen plus it's not too expensive! That's a win-win-win-win in case you weren't counting. If you've never tried Ethiopian before...I have one very simple suggestion...GET THE VEGETARIAN COMBO! Even if you're not a vegetarian. Over the years (and I've been eating here for over 10 years) every new person I've brought here that has not taken my advice has regretted it and when they come back (and they ALWAYS come back) they do get the Vegetarian Combo.

We love Ethiopian food and hate crowds so this was a perfect choice! It's away from the touristy area but an easy walk to Broadway's theater district. We combined two combos and then realized that two of the dishes were on both. However, there wasn't a double helping of those dishes which was disappointing. What we got was very good and plenty for three people. The injera was different from all of the others we've had but it was good. Individual dishes seemed expensive but we didn't ask if they included any sides. If so, they might be a good deal. We'd definitely go back.

Cosy, basement restaurant with absolutely fantastic Ethiopian food. Be warned, you have no chance of finishing most of their mains. The helpings are large. They serve some nice wines and also have a bring your own policy.

I been there several times and the food it’s been always great, the portion and good and you can always ask for milder preparation (normally it’s hot) close to port authority so it’s an easy and affordable option

Love the meats...hate the spongy bread. I know the spongy bread is what is the most authentic but I just wish they would offer other alternatives to non-natives who are not used to the spongyness and sour taste of the bread. However, the meats are amazing, very tasty.

Hubby and I stopped here to try the Honey Wine, which we heard so much about. We also tried the Sambosa, which was really tasty a little kick to it, but great. You must stop by and tried the food. Cute atmosphere and good service. Very tentative.

We went here for dinner and had such a disappointing experience. When we walked in we were struck by how dirty and dingy the restaurant seemed, but we decided to give it a try anyway because we were hungry. There was only one other table of customers when we walked in yet the server ignored us when we stood in the entrance waiting to be seated, and she walked by us several times. We finally sat down and ordered. My companion ordered a beer and when the server brought it out in the bottle she brought a straw but no glass. When we then asked for a glass she brought a glass with ice. (What???) The food then came and it was bland and uninspired. We’ve eaten at other Ethiopian restaurants that have blown us away with how flavorful the food was so this was disappointing. It was like eating baby food. When we asked for the check the server had to ask us what we ordered because she couldn’t remember. In short, dingy place with bland food and poor service.

If you are around and like to eat with your own bare hands, it is worth to give a try. The exterior is not promising but food ia great. Don't waste time on entrees and go for the main dish. It will definetely be a good surprise. Also try ethiopian beers

Delicious and satisfying; recommend either the meat/veggie combo platter or the all veggie platter with some Ethiopian wine.

I was on a business trip and staying in Times Square. This little Ethiopian restaurant is certainly a breath of fresh air, and was exactly what the doctor ordered to counteract the horrible chain restaurants of the Times Square area. The restaurant is in Hell's Kitchen, which is a short walk from Times Square. The service was friendly, The bill was reasonable, and the food was tasty. I asked the waitress to recommend a vegetarian dish and she suggested the chickpeas. They were wonderfully spicy and excellent. Highly recommended. By the way, Trip Advisor has the name of this restaurant wrong. The restaurant on 47th St. is called Meske.

If you have never had Ethiopian food, it is an experience. There are no utensils. You use a soft bread, torn in pieces, to pick up the food. There is food for all peoples, mild and spicy, meat, seafood, poultry and vegetarian. You will not believe the speed of service. Put in your order, and 3 minutes later your food is on the table. And taste? Wonderful! We had an assortment of meat and vegetarian dishes. Each was better than the last. The Hakim Stout is a delicious Ethiopian beer. We will definitely be back. Hope you patronize them as well.

A small long lobby that seems to be set in the 70's, the entrance at one end and the wash basin at the other, fronting the restroom. This is what you see when you locate this restaurant under an equally insignificant board. We had gone up to greenwich village just for Ethiopian food and looking at the place I was hoping it was not a wasted trip. As we opened the door the aroma was inviting and we were seated on the only 2 seats available jammed in the corner. The young lady who was serving was very helpful especially since my friend was a vegan. I ordered a lamb dish and it arrived pretty quickly. The preparation was simply superb and the Injera was certainly the best I have eaten. This was echoed by my friend too. So not just great for meat but good choice for vegetarians and vegans too. Mind you Ethiopian food is served without cutlery so be prepared to eat with your fingers.

An informal restaurant this place has awesome food. The combo platter makes sense if you're alone as I was so that you can sample quite a few dishes without paying a bomb. The individual dishes are a bit pricey. The food is great. All the curries have distinct and delicious flavours and the injera bread is soft and perfect for soaking up the curries. Excellent Ethiopian coffee rounded up the meal wonderfully Do go try it out if you like Ethiopian food.

The food was ok, but i could not mention something that i really enjoyed. There were also side that i just had a bite and avoid it afterwards. It is a interesting experience but not one that i would choose again very soon.

Have not been to many Ethiopian restaurants in my life, but this one is really great. Enjoyed the selection of Ethiopian beers and the staff was courteous. Very quiet for Monday night, but the atmosphere was quaint. Nothing amazing in decor, but it felt homey. The costs were on par with what I normally pay in Tennessee. So I think it's a deal for NYC. If you go, you will not be disappointed.

Great spot in the NYU Washington Square/West Village area. I love Ethiopian food and Meskerem does not disappoint. It is pretty tightly packed once inside but full of ambiance and not too loud. For my last visit, I went with a friend. We shared a vegetarian platter, which was more than enough food. They also have a nice wine list and everything is reasonably priced.

Small. Very casual. Very courteous friendly service. Yummy food. Clean bathroom. Slightly dingy feel to the place, especially when we arrived pre theater and sat at a table that was next to a room deodorizer tucked into the corner. Phew! Moved tables and were much happier. Ethiopian beer a good match for the spicy food. We had one vegetarian mixed dinner and one meat one so we tasted everything. It was my friend's first time eating Ethiopian food, but she took right too it and we had a blast. Food came quickly and we made it to our B'way show with no rushing.

Had never had Ethiopian food before but would have again. The lovely lady who served us helped us order and explained how to eat the food since you don't get a fork or knife. We had gone to another Ethiopian place on 10th Avenue but they could not even be bothered talking to us so we walked around the corner to this place. Great for vegetarians and so much flavour. it would be the first place I would go to next time I am in new York.

If you've never had Ethiopian food you should try it just for the experience. The food is a little on the spicy side but they will tame it down for you if you ask them to. Lots of lentils, ground, chopped and mashed in about a dozen different ways with different vegetables and spices (you won't even know you're eating lentils, we call some of the dishes, "Egg Salad" and "Sloppy Joes"). It's all served together on one large tray that the table shares. No utensils. Everyone just tears off some of the funky (but delicious) bread (the bread reminds me of those sheets of foam rubber that you wrap your glasses in when you move...hey...I said it was an experience!) The thing that surprises everyone I've taken there for over FIFTEEN YEARS now is that everything is SO DELICIOUS! The service is super friendly, like you're part of the family. They will go out of their way with just about any request to make you feel more comfortable. Perfect for before or after theatre. There's a lunch special that even saves you a few bucks!

Visited here for the first time and it was very good. We had the sambosa appetizer, a combo plate and the kwanta firfir. I'd say all of it was good and the price is modest. I would say they could give you a little more food with the combo plate. Washed it down with one of the Ethiopian beers which was excellent.

My wife and I recently visited Manhattan for our anniversary. We were staying in Times Square and wanted to get away from the crowds so we took a walk in to Hell's Kitchen and found this wonderful little restaurant. My wife had never had Ethiopian food before and she instantly fell in love. The two ladies that served us were extremely friendly, and didn't hesitate to make suggestions on our meal. The food was perfectly seasoned, came out quickly, and the portions were more than generous. We washed it all down with a variety of the Ethiopian style beers which wrapped up our well rounded meal. I will definitely be visiting this place again on our next trip to New York.

We had Timatim Fitfit, Kitfo and Tibs. The Timatim was good. But the Kitfo and Tibs had unpleasant taste. Meat tasted not fresh. The butter tasted different and heavy. We didn't eat both of them. Please try to improve the taste and freshness of the foods.

I was kind of blown away by Meske - the portions are MORE than fair, and the prices weren't horrible for a NY restaurant.

My husband and I finished off a long day of sightseeing in NYC with dinner at Meske. I had visited it a year ago, but it was my husband's first time eating Ethiopian food. We both loved the injera (the pancake / bread) which we used to mop up the beef and chicken tibs and the vegetarian combo. Huge portions, eaten with your fingers and washed down with honey wine. The restaurant is small and understated in the Hell's Kitchen area of NYC. Staff are helpful but not intrusive. Would love a return visit if we are in New York again!

I have been coming here for years now and it has gotten better and has been consistent. Tasty food and a good price! Service is pleasant and helpful with providing food suggestions if needed.

We have not had Ethiopian food for a while so we decided to try this restaurant as a pre-theater dinner. We arrived at 6 PM and were the first people to be seated. Tried an Ethiopian beer, Pas Walia, a pale lager that was tasty. We ordered Sambosa for an appetizer which is two tasty pastries filled with beef, very good. For our entree we ordered the Meskerem combo, a combination of tibs wat, yebeg alecha, gomen besaega and miser wat. It was very tasty but small. The beef dish had only one piece of beef. We also ordered yebeg wat, which was supposed to be tender pieces of lamb. It was not even close. They had bones in several pieces and the rest had grizzle which could not be eaten. When we told the waitress, she did nothing. We ordered the African chocolate cake to share, small piece but tasty. Not sure what made it African. We also had the spicy tea latte and cinnamon tea which was very good with the chocolate cake. We have had much better Ethiopian food and the lack of attention to problems will take this restaurant off our list.

Very good ethiopian food and nice employees. The prices are reasonable and compare to other ethiopian resturants we have been to and considering also the location.

Excellent service the waitress are really nice and food is great, ethiopian beers are served here and overall cost was really good

My first Ethiopian meal. Starters were sambosas (same as samosas) tiny but quite enjoyable & the wonderfully named Timatim Fitfit : injera - a huge (15" diameter ?) flat pancake wrapped around various dressed salad - quite refreshing With the main courses, we did not fare so well . Another huge pancake with both main courses arranged on it The special tibs - lamb & peppers was good. The combo was very varied . Some of it extremely unattractive - like someone had placed dollops of vomit or worse around the pancake. (Just as well the restaurant was very dimly lit) Mostly it tasted ok It was served with - you've guessed 2 extra pancakes. Service was friendly & efficient

wonderful food (now it's BYOB)

I will start by confessing that I am no expert in Ethiopian cuisine! We tried this to do something different. By design, Ethiopian food is for sharing and to make it work best, you need a bigger group than just me and my wife. It was nice to get out to Hell's Kitchen and get away from the mid-town bustle. The restaurant is very 'no-nonsense', simple and plain. The two girls who were working on the Wednesday night were friendly enough but could have been a little more informative and helpful. When we walked in there were only a couple of tables taken (another group of three arrived just as we left). There was also a strange (almost seweresque) odour. We did get used to this and it was not powerful enough to make us leave. We ordered one sampler platter and one honeyed lamb dish. Washed down with an Ethiopian amber ale (hmmmm?) and an Ethiopian Pilsner (nice). All of this is served on flat, spongy lemony bread. The bread is lovely and is used in lieu of cutlery to scoop up the food. To a large extent, the cuisine is similar to northern Indian food - a little more peppery. The lentil dishes were nice as was the lamb. The goat was a bit too gamey rich and too fatty for me. In general, it was all a little similar and unspectacular. My wife, who had been to a different NY Ethiopian restaurant, some years prior was a little disappointed as she was hoping to wow me - this did not wow me. The above notwithstanding, it was good to do something different, I discovered a new bread which I loved and it was very good value.

There are few places in Manhattan where you can eat so well for so little. The Ethiopian food is reliably good, but the meat and vegetarian. The decor is simple, but lighting is fine and makes it pleasant. In fact its charm lies in it not being pretentious and 'fancy.' For a while it was BYOB, but they now have beers (including Ethiopian) and wine.

If you like ethiopian, this is the place to go..

This was a great experience. We ordered the vegetarian combo x2 and shared! It was delicious, service was speedy and polite, and the environment was peaceful.

Great neighbourhood feel and fantastic food. Just make sure you wash your hands before you go!

First of all, Meskerem in the Adams Morgan district of DC is the best Ethiopian place I have ever been to. So I had to try Meskerem in NY. They are not owned or managed by the same folks, they only share a name. Too bad, because the NY version could take a lesson or two, or fifteen from the DC version. The food was...not great. I had the Meskerem Tibs (signature lamb dish). The lamb was cut into gumb drop sized pieces and fried until it was as dry as a crouton. The Chicken Aleecha was bland. It all started with a great, fresh avacado salad, but went downhill fast. Too bad.

Good Ethiopian food--large portions, plenty of injera, reasonably priced. A storefront restaurant with big windows onto the street--not fancy but comfortable enough. They do takeout too. Friendly staff.

Very tasty ethiopian food. Atmosphere is so so.

Best Ethiopian in NYC, hands down! I wish they delivered to NJ. Would order everyday! We are Ethiopian buffs and we are so happy to have found this place. Sometimes the food can be not-as-awesome as it could be, as if they reheated the dish at lunch. However, it still outshines every other Ethiopian restaurant on the island! And, possibly the entire NE. There is only one out of dozens that we have visited that had a better track record than this place, even if just "reheated", and this place is a very close second to it. The other place is thousands of miles away. D.C's restaurants and all the other Ethiopian places in NYC can't beat this place! It's the best of the best!

This is my second trip in two weeks to NYC for business and both times have made a point of coming bake to this amazing restaurant. Great food and service. The Tibs Wat and Samosas are outstanding. Try it and enjoy!

Love the special tibs . I have been here three times in the past year and have had a great experience each time. Service is very caring and attentive and the food is flavorful and fun. Don't overdo it on the spongebread (use smaller pieces) or you will get full quickly. Save some space for additional appetizers and dishes instead.

The appetizers were good, but the lamb dish was very disappointing. 4 of us took the boneless lamb, and all agreed that if it was indeed lamb, it must have been a very old lamb indeed, more like mutton. The meat was chewy and the stew blend. The tef wraps were excellent though. To make it worse, there was no air conditioning, which gave all its meaning to the "hot atmosphere" that they promote on their menu.

The Meske Ethiopian restaurant, located on 47th St. between 9th and 10th Aves (closest to 10th) is a treat. The restaurant is small and close, the service is fast and cheerful, and the food is outstanding. My family are big fans of Ethiopian food. We are vegetarian, and Ethiopian cuisine provides quite a range of taste. At this restaurant, try the honey wine!

I have never eaten Ethiopian food, but on a recent trip to NYC, my daughter wanted to try it. We were staying near Hell's Kitchen and enjoyed trying different ethnic cuisine each night to it was time for Meske. We thought the food was absolutely delicious. No cutlery, so tear off bits of the injera bread and scoop up portions of the combo platter, which had about 7 or 8 different samples on it. In the middle, a lovely beef dish which was recommended. Some samples were spicy, some mild, but altogether we loved it and finished every morsel. We went fairly early in the evening and it was quiet. The dining room is small with interesting décor and lighting. Sitting by the window gave us the opportunity to "people watch" the locals. I am returning to the US in October with my husband, and we already have Meske on our list of places to eat. Looking forward to it.

I'd not had Ethiopian food since I land last visited Washington, DC. The cuisine was as I remembered it, tasty and interesting. Service was timely and attentive. Main dishes were generous portions. Honey wine worth a try-- sweet and somewhat tangy, very complimentary to the cuisine. However next time I would stick with the regional beer which was even better matched from my pointer view. Lamb was yummy but collard greens, lentils, and other vegetarian dishes were even better. Stuffed jalapeños were huge, fresh and delicious but spicier than I thought they would be. Decor was nothing special. Major drawback was the lack of heat in the place. It would have been much more enjoyable if my wife and daughter did not have to eat with their winter jackets on. Maybe I'll go back in summer-- though if they don't have heat would they have air conditioning?

Just off 9th on W47th lies a wonderful Ethiopian delight! Friendly service, intimate setting and traditional Ethiopian favorites. Traditional home made Injira bread and multiple options of vegetables and meats. We were greeted by a young woman who's family owns and runs the restaurant. She had a huge smile and was very helpful in helping us choose what was right for us. Eventually chose the multiple options served on injira. Lentels, peas, collards, chickpeas, stringbeans, garlic onions etc. All homemade in the true Ethiopian style. Got the Lamb Tibs too! What a wonderful meal.

I took a friend here to try something different. We were amazed by the flavors, variety and left completely satisfied. If you have never tried Ethiopian cuisine it is a treat that temps all the senses as you eat the meal with a fermented flat bread made from tef flour. We ordered the vegetable combination and some roasted lamb. The various vegetable dishes were displayed around the injera with the lamb in the middle. The flavours ranged form cinnamon laden to spicy to lentils infused with berbera sauce. It is definitely worth a little side trip if you are in Hell's Kitchen.

Terrible place. Have been eating Ethiopian food my whole life and this is one of the worst experience I ever had. Terrible service and the food came in small portions and didn't taste anything. Would definitely not recommend this to anyone seeking an Ethiopian food experience.

My first experience tasting Ethiopian food and it was simply divine! The pancake-style "bread" they serve with the dishes was such a pleasant surprise! The special flour that's gluten free. We were a party of 6, which is a lot for this small space but they accommodated us. My friends did all the ordering so I can't really describe the ingredients but as a vegetarian, I LOVED the veggie combo platter ($15) which was enough for two people. Would def come back if I'm in the area (it's on 10th avenue which is a bit far from any subway). Four and not five stars because we waited a really long time for our food and had to keep requesting for extra bread...

A friend took me here on my first trip to NYC a few years back and I liked it so much that I had to go again on this trip. Its delicious food at a terrific price - in fact I think this was probably the most inexpensive meal I had the entire trip. Service was great and its not to far to walk over before seeing a show. I would definitely visit again the next time I am in NYC!

My wife and I always enjoyed this restaurant when we lived in Manhattan, and we always make a point of going there when we return for a visit. We ate at Meskerem twice while we were in New York this April, and both times it was delicious. The portions are large, and the prices are very reasonable. The food is served on a large platter of injera (a traditional Ethiopian bread), with one platter for the whole table, and everyone sharing. There are no utensils; a second plate of injera comes on the side, and you break off pieces of injera to use to pick up the food. (Note: The restaurant will give you separate plates, as well as utensils, upon request. However, I recommend throwing yourself into the experience, and eating the meal the traditional way.) I highly recommend the combo platters--there's a vegetarian combo platter, and a combo platter that contains both meat and vegetarian dishes. They are a good way to experience a range of Ethiopian dishes. My wife and I usually get two vegetarian combos, which offers great variety and a lot of food, all for under $30 with tax and tip. When the place gets full, the service can sometimes be a bit slow--so it's probably not the best place to go if you have to get somewhere quickly. However, the service is always friendly. Excellent food, and a great value.

I went there this year like early Feb with one of my African buddies, and there food was bangin

I very much enjoyed my time at this restaurant. I found the food fresh (I tried one of the mixed dishes), the service friendly and professional, and the atmosphere clean, modern, and relaxed. This place was much better than other Ethiopian restaurants I have been to. The honey wine was a nice complement to the meal. I highly recommend this restaurant for a relaxed night out for tasty, fresh food in a casual, comfortable atmosphere. It is a quick walk to/from the theater district.

I'm a big fan of Ethiopian food and Meskerem on 47th and on MacDougal are both consistently fabulous. I usually get the veggie lunch combo and meat combo. Just be careful with the lamb--there are bones--bite delicately!

Be prepared to enjoy the entire meal with your hands (breaking off pieces of the Ethiopian bread to scoop up the foods). First timers may want to order the combination platters, both meat and vegetarian are very good. For meat eaters, order a variety of meats (beef, chicken, lamb), supplement with a vegetable dish or two. You don't need to save room for dessert, the restaurant does not offer desserts.

First of all, go to the McDougal St and West 4th St location. Not sure if this location is still open. In a dump of a basement restaurant, they serve up excellent Ethiopian cooking. Great tibs, doro wat and injera. Service is fairly quick and helpful to first timers. I reviewed the Washington DC location as well. This one is the best so far.

Walked in around 12:30pm on a Saturday, the place was empty, which made us a bit nervous but the A rating posted at the door and the aroma enticed us to go in, and we were not disappointed. We shared the vegetable combo which was delicious and full of flavor. Our waitress pointed out the spicier dishes, as my mother does not tolerate spice which she appreciated, the atmosphere was nice, the service was good, and my daughter who requested Ethiopian was super happy. I'll visit again when I'm back in the city! BTW there is no sign posting name of restaurant, so look for address!

What a treat to find a good Ethiopian restaurant!! We went to the Meskerem at 47th St and 10th Avenue. The service is good, and the food is wonderful. We were so pleased to find this place as finding good Ethiopian food is not that easy.

I found this place through Trip Advisor and I had been twice, the decoration its nice and the attention it's excellent. The food came for sharing in a big thick "pancake" so it's perfect if anyone choose different entrees. The price its good because the portions are big.

One if the best around from the injera bread to the savory. Dishes served. Some is the spices are quite potent so beware what you order. Prices are good and service is fine. Pretty authentic and conveniently love cared in a small space

We had an early dinner reservation for six on a Thursday. The restaurant is small but could easily seat the six of us. We ordered the Meskarum combo, the Vegetarian combo, the Meskarum tibs and the Special tibs. Getting our dinner took a bit of time but it was definitely worth it. The injera that came with the dishes was quite good and for six of us we needed to order a second batch. The two lamb tibs we ordered were absolutely delicious. The rest of the selection was also excellent. We all enjoyed finishing up the injera that the various tibs, wats and other items were served on. All the sauces seep into the injera. Our only complaint was the noise level. The crowd noise combined with the loud Ethiopian music made it difficult to converse. We would definitely return for the wonderful food.

Very good food. Wine bar. Single toilet almost in the kitchen. Friendly staff. Reasonable prices. Near to comedy clubs.

There is no longer an Ethiopian restaurant in our home town so we always seek one out when we are on holiday. This restaurant is now called Meske and I gather was re-launched in the Autumn. I don't know why but it is certainly very good now. Our experience of Ethiopian restaurants is that the food is pretty consistent where-ever in the World you eat it (we have had Ethiopian meals in Holland, Spain and England as well as other US cities) and the service is always lovely but just a little bit hopeless. This was an excellent meal, the service was delightful and it was very cheap. It met our expectations absolutely and, to anyone who likes Ethiopian food (or fancies trying it), I would recommend it without hesitation.

We took my 13-yr old niece on a trip to NYC and our mission was to let her try as many different cuisines as possible. My husband and I had eaten Ethiopian food only once before and loved it, so we were keen to try again. I am vegetarian and this little restaurant was perfect, the vegetarian combo was delicious, including both lentil dishes and vegetables. The rest of the party was also very satisfied with their meat combo. We went for the combos as we are not familiar with this cuisine so we wanted to enjoy a variety of flavours, which we did. Every dish in the combo had its own distinctive flavour, each was very very good. The order includes extra injera bread, which we really appreciate, soft and spongy and with a great subtle flavour. The drink choice also includes Ethiopian bee. The price is fair. Now I am on a mission to try more of this cuisine and to find recipes for many of the dishes we tried!

Very friendly staff. The food was good, both in selection and taste. I think the injira was very good, and for fans of Ethiopian food, that's an important part of the meal.

Ethiopian cuisine is a definite find for vegetarians, and some of the vegetarian food actually is better than the meat dishes. I've dined at several Ethiopian restaurants and while I am far from being an expert, I can tell you what I like and don't like. Meskerem serves good food but the portions are not huge and the food is ok. The vegetarian combo is quite good, yet all of the dishes seem to taste the same. I would have liked to have had a greater range of flavor. The injera bread was excellent and the amount served was just right. I've been to Ethiopian restaurants where the bread is clearly stale, that is not the case here. The bottom line is: Meskerem is a good restaurant with great injera.

We love Ethiopian food, but this place was really mediocre. We were the only customers there, I guess with reason. Better than nothing if you're craving Ethiopian - we pretty much finished everything - but if you've never had Ethiopian food before, please know that it can be so much better - taste, texture, ingredients...

I have been eating here for many years when I come to the City. Our dinner 2 days ago did not disappoint. Very tasty and the quality is consistent. If you are looking for a casual, affordable dinner in a place not flooded with tourists, this is a great find. I am not Ethiopian so I would defer to a person from that country, but the dishes are flavorful and there is something for omnivores or vegans or anything in between!

The food here is tasty. The spices and flavors are spot on. From the looks of the staff it seems ethnically Ethiopian operated. The Tibs was very good. There are combo plates available for people who are new to Ethiopian food. Ethiopian food also has a lot of Vegetarian options for mixed groups of Omnivores. The staff was courteous and attentive. Water was routinely filled and food was promptly delivered. The location is clean however I would expect something a little more in the decor department to achieve a full 5 dot rating. Whether exploring new foods or a long time favorite of Ethiopian cuisine this is a good location. This place is located near the theaters and can be a good choice for the night out.

Went to Meske on last night in nyc with my wife and 11-year old as we do not have much choice of Ethiopian where we live. Nice cozy atmosphere. Shared chicken, lamb and vegetarian dishes. I enjoyed the vegetarian combo best but all were quite tasty. Really enjoyable meal.

This is a standard-looking Ethiopian restaurant, clean but plain. The food is delicious, both the vegetarian sampler and the beef. The honey wine is a nice addition. Will definitely go there again.

Mmm... was delicious and such a great vegetarian variety !! Went with my picky 13 year old And we both loved it . The service was also just right - not neglectful nor intrusive. If vegetarian try the platter which allows you to sample a wide variety . We shared one with 2 people and ordered extra injira which worked out great. Would definitely go back on my next trip to The city .

My second time eating at an Ethiopian restaurant - the food here was great. We got a couple of the large platters to share. If you are looking for Ethiopian food, this place is a good bet.

We enjoyed lunch here one a Monday afternoon. It was not crowded and the service was great. Food was very yummy!

"Honey- let's do something different tonight." Why don't you venture a bit further up from Time Square and settled down for some Ethiopian food? The decor is blase, but if ethnic food is what you desire, dig in- with your hands that is. The tibbs are served on a large pan with multiple sauces that you and your party can dip the meats into. And of course, there is much more to explore in their menu. Remember to wash your hands!

My wife and I have been here twice now on excursions to NYC. We both love Ethiopian food because we're vegetarian, and Ethiopian restaurants always seem to have a very nice vegetable platter. Meskerem is no exception. They also have a very good tej (Ethiopian honey wine), which you should definitely try if you're okay with the sweetness. There's nothing special about the ambiance, but it's nice. The service has been very good both times. The location is an easy walk from the theater district and reasonably close to our hotel (New Yorker), which was one of our reasons for choosing it. The cost was very reasonable for NYC.

Great food, great service, and a pleasant atmosphere.

We had not had good Ethiopian in several years and missed it badly. A friend told us about Meske and we tried it for dinner last night. We were VERY disappointed in the portion size versus the prices. We even sent back two mamosas that for the price were WAY under sized. Our entree came and was delicious but again undersized. We will return for the food quality but will order carefully.

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by this place. The atmosphere is nothing to brag about but the food is unbelievable. Plenty of it and the service was great. Very inexpensive, we paid 75 $ for 1 appetizer, 2 entrees and a bottle of wine. Very tasty food!!!

Meskerem (their sign reads "meske") is good quality, authentic tasting food which lacks the zing We would have liked. The vegetarian combo was decent but the white beans and the lamb dish were both a little bit spicier than need be. More discriminating, subtle flavor, less heat would have been appreciated. We'd go again if in that part of town but would prefer Awash anytime.

just can't get enough of this place. terrible decor, but delicious, delicious affordable food. best ethiopian in the city.

I wish it had lived upto my expectations. I am big fan of Ethiopian food, but this did not turn put that good. It was bland. The Anjira was very cold and the beans were extremely soggy. The restaurant was empty during lunch hours. I believe there are people who have like the food here considering the rating on trip advisor and I believe it was one of those unfortunate days where food did not turn out as great.

The restaurant offers a good number of options for both meat eaters, and vegetarians, and this is the reason that we picked this restaurant. The restaurant was cozy, all tables were full of people and the wait staff was friendly. Bathrooms were dingy. We ordered a beef dish, and two lamb dishes. And there were a couple of small sides of lentils and/or chick peas too which came along side. The beef portion was adequate, but the lamb portions were very small. The pancake like bread is what is give to fill you up, and probably to save the restaurant food cost. Overall, I would say this place is not worth the price paid per person, and the food was average compared to other ethnic restaurants we have eaten at. Nothing jumped out at my mouth as being outstanding. They also offer no desert options for those with a sweet tooth. We will not likely return.

soooo fun

I usually order the same thing whenever I visit an Ethiopian restaurant. The vegetarian platter which basically encompasses a sampling of all the veggie dishes. An extra injera bread accompanied the platter. The platter was very good - not the best I've had; but still delicious. The service was efficient if not particularly friendly; but that was OK. A place worth visiting if you are into Ethiopian food. Meske also serves a number of meat dishes. I left feeling very satisfied.

Every time I am in NYC I come to this place because I am fan of Ethiopian Food and since years ago there was no complaints at all. This time I ordered Doro Alecha and this time was absolutely disappointing: the chicken I got was really as little as full of bone and not even 50 grams of it, besides that the sauce was really not as good as the years before. Very sad and bad experience for me, and I will never get back again

If you're looking for something new and love spicy food, you must go there! Good food, attention, portions and atmosphere. You don't eat with cutlery, just your hands and a "tortilla".

In Hell's Kitchen - where any kind of food you want can be had, this place serves basic Ethiopian in a setting that feels like Hell's Kitchen of 10-20 years ago - ie: clean but not updated...almost like an ethnic diner. Good place at the window to watch the parade that is NYC. Oh, and use your hands - eat it the way you are supposed to!

I am not an expert on Ethiopian cuisine - so I will not vouch for its authenticity, but whatever we had tasted really good. The spices used seemed really exotic - and the act of eating by hand and the sourdough bread reminded of of Indian bread (Roti).. particularly Dosa, for those who would know. Overall, very tasty food! - and I would definitely visit again if I am in NY. For 3 of us, we ordered the Veg Combo, and 3 Entrees + a bottle of Ethiopian "Amber Beer" each. The bill came to about $78, plus tip! The service was a little slow, but the wait was well worth it, without a doubt!

Went with my wife, two adult children and one of their wives, a nephew and his girlfriend. Had gone to the neighborhood to eat at Queen of Sheba, another Ethiopian restaurant but they had no room. Asked my Android smart phone what other restaurants were nearby and surprise, surprise it said another Ethiopian one was less than 200 yards away. We walked around the corner to find a very attractive, practically empty place. We ordered a number of combination plates to be served on their bread Ethiopian family style, and it was every bit as good as the Queen's but at a lower price. Service was very, very helpful and the Ethiponian beer was very tasty. Followed it up with a Broadway show (Waiting for Godot with Patrick Stewart). NYC is a great place to visit.

This was my second time eating at an Ethiopian restaurant, and the food was not as spicy as the first time. Meskerem offers plentiful vegetarian options. I am not a vegetarian, so that attests to how well the kitchen prepares legumes. We tried lentils and chickpeas. Neither my friend nor I drink, so we didn't sample the intriguing honey wine, but it's there if you want to try it. The aspect of Meskerem I like best is the atmosphere. It's below street level on Macdougal, so you feel less oppressed by the bustle of the city, being on a quiet, mainly pedestrian thoroughfare and down a flight of stairs. Wait staff is courteous and friendly, and, best of all, they don't rush you. My friend and I lingered over dinner for about two hours and were never pressured to finish up and clear out. It's also inexpensive compared to other restaurants in the neighborhood. I will definitely return, but not if I am in a hurry.

I've been to the one in the west village. Good food.. ambience/decor is so-so