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I guess we succeeded. We really didn't know what to expect. All in all, it wasn't that bad, as long as you don't mind eating with your hands. They deny you the use of any silverware, I guess that's keeping it in the Ethiopian tradition. If you want a good appetizer, try the avocado salad. The wait staff seemed disinterested, but they got our orders right, and we didn't have to wait that long. One suggestion...Please, please, keep your cans of soda refrigerated! Nothing like a warm soda on a warm summer night!

The food here is great, love the avocado appetizer and the veggie combo dish. Also, the value is great for the amount of food that you get. You definitely won't leave this place hungry! The atmosphere could definitely use some help. Very basic hole in the wall type look. My main complaint is the service. The waitresses don't come to your table until you ask them to. You have to ask for refills, etc and don't expect them to come check on you...they don't. If service is a priority then this is not the place for you! If you're just looking for some great food then it comes highly recommended.

Loved the food! The place is small, cozy and nice! The only negative thing was the service. Very slow. but I think the food take care of that

I have been to Meskerem many times, both on MacDougal and in Hell's Kitchen, and have always enjoyed the food. I don't think there's anything on the menu that I've tried and didn't like, including the Kitfo (raw beef), which I tried recently and thought was excellent. I also love the Injera (bread) and the whole eating with your fingers part of the meal, which may not appeal to everyone. I have always found the service to be decent and think it's good value for money.

I was eager to try Ethiopian food and love to explore the Village for it's unusual choices, so when I plan a trip I chose carefully after all money is tight! But I was a little let down by several things, first I think the place could use some ambiance and the one person wait staff acts like she couldn't care less if you eat or leave. One or two words and a slight smile is all you get in this place. Second the food itself was good, but not the great taste sensation I had hoped for especially considering the prices are a little high. I had the Avocado appetizer which was very nice and will now be added to my home menu no complaints there, and I also chose to have the Meskerem Combo which I thought was the best way to taste a few dishes at once. The plate was large but the portions were small and the food was only luke warm as if it had sat around waiting to be picked up, and the soda I ordered because there is no beverage that they serve that is exotic, was also a warm unrefrigerated soda served with a glass of ice, not very cold I'm afraid. The two kinds of lentils, Miser Alech and Miser Wat were good but being a little cold hid some of the flavor and the Gomen Basega, a dish of beef with collard greens and garlic was low on meat but tasty enough to make me wish for more. The Yebeg Alecha, a lamb dish sauteed in butter and garlic was tough and boney and two small pieces was stingy I thought. The dish I really thought was good was the Tibs Wat, a dish of prime ribs cooked in a pan and then sauteed with Berbere spices I could have eaten a whole plate of that! I guess overall I would like another go at Ethiopian food at Meskerem but I would be inclined to order just one dish and see if they treat you better a second time around, when your ordering a serious dish of food instead of a tourists sample platter maybe thats the key, or maybe I should go to one of the other Ethiopean places in NYC instead. But I will say that the experience has made me more interested in the cuisine of that country where so many have starved.... now we have thier food here for us to enjoy, strange world isn't it?

On going, I forgot that the lunch deal is only available mon-fri. I decided to stay though and get some lentils. $10. It was more than enough to eat what with all the extra injera and I honestly couldn't finish it all...though that was partly just because I don't think I'm going to be a big fan of Ethiopian food. It's a bit too sour for me. I am afraid too I can't compare it, this being the first time I've tried it. Anyways. I really didn't have any service probs except for a period with no water refills when the server....vanished. ....somewhere. She was okay otherwise. Of course, I was also quite literally the only one in there. ...at lunch on Sunday. ...but then with no lunch special the prices shoot up to $10+ Frankly the lentils were the cheapest thing on the menu. Oh well. It's definitely something to try.

I've had a lot of good Ethiopian in DC, so New York restaurants are mostly disappointing. Meskerem is no exception. Their food is too salty and not very spicy, and the injera is all wrong. At least it's cheaper than Ghenet and Awash.