Meskerem Ethiopian Cuisine

(212) 777-8111

124 Macdougal St
New York, NY 10012 40.7301 -74.0003

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Neighborhoods: Greenwich Village, Downtown

Price:

$

Last updated 8.06.11

Category:

Restaurants, Catering

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Quiet, Family Style Dining, Lunch Spot, Group Dining, Food Delivery

General Info:

Open 7 Days

Cuisine:

Ethiopian

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Meskerem Ethiopian Cuisine

Featured Review

Justin Hartung

Contributor

In Short – One of three Meskerem restaurants in the city, this location features more modest decor than its uptown peers. A few steep steps descend into a dark basement space whose embellishment is limited to a mirror that runs along one wall. The menu, fortunately, matches the other locations, covering the basics of Ethiopian cooking, and includes sambosas, kifto (chopped beef often served raw), tibs (lamb sauteed with rosemary), and, of course, injera, the spongy bread that doubles as a utensil.

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
Check out the restaurant's two uptown locations.
Save Money:
Monday to Friday, from noon to 3:30pm, lunch portions are available, ranging from $6 to $12.95.
ambiance
91.66999816894531% positive
  1. “It's too bad the ambiance isn't a bit better, but honestly, the food is so good I'd eat it on the sidewalk in the rain if I had to!”
  2. “The space is small and cozy, and a perfect dinner spot if you”
  3. “dark, cozy basement restaurant in the heat of the Village.”
  4. “am a regular at the 47th Street Meskerem so I thought the downtown location will be just as good.”
  5. “Great food, good prices, great fun.”
  6. “We love the atmosphere and the location, and it's quickly becoming a tradition for us.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “it's byob but there's a great wine store up the street.”
food quality
96.00000381469727% positive
  1. “Great food, good prices, great fun.”
  2. “staff is friendly and the food is fresher.”
  3. “Meskerem is one of my absolute favorite campus stops for a delicious dinner.”
  4. “Each dish is flavorful and distinctive, which is something I can't say for other Ethiopian placed I've tried.”
  5. “My friends and I from Long Island never had Ethiopian cuisine and it was a very interesting experiance!”
  6. “love the food at this place and used to go fairly regularly.”
  7. “The food is pretty standard Ethiopian, and this is an affordable place to start for the uninitiated.”
  8. “If you like Ethiopian food, this is not the place to go.”
  9. “The food here is incredible.”
  10. “If you like canned cat food, this might be for you.”
  11. “The food seemed pretty good at first, but the overwhelmingly sour taste of the injera (the crepes with which you eat the food) soon left me longing for a fork, so that I could taste something other than the bitter, vinegary flavor in the crepe.”
  12. “the food is delicious here, but the servers sometimes have a very nonchalant attitude toward customers.”
  13. “The food here is excellent, and I get my fix regularly.”
  14. “personally think this is some of the best Ethiopian food around.”
  15. “Terrific food, horrendous service”
  16. “Ethnic flair, good energy and deliciously unique Senegalese cuisine, This place you must try.”
  17. “the food is here NOT fresh.”
  18. “like i said, the food is great.”
  19. “this is a small stuffy place where the food isnt even that good.”
  20. “Which is probably a good thing or I would order delivery every single night from them, and probably eventually (after 5 years) get tired of their food.”
  21. “The food is off the chain the service is great.”
  22. “Perfect place for a some great food and great conversation.”
  23. “It's too bad the ambiance isn't a bit better, but honestly, the food is so good I'd eat it on the sidewalk in the rain if I had to!”
  24. “The food here is amazing.”
  25. “awesome dishes for those who enjoy spicy food too!”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “it's byob but there's a great wine store up the street.”
  2. “Ethnic flair, good energy and deliciously unique Senegalese cuisine, This place you must try.”
  3. “this is a good place to take a first date.”
service
85.0% positive
  1. “I've always had good service here, and my friends and I try to visit every few months.”
  2. “Excellent, though slightly standoffish, service.”
  3. “do love Meskerem and would like to continue dining there, but that waitress has got to go.”
  4. “the food is delicious here, but the servers sometimes have a very nonchalant attitude toward customers.”
  5. “the service is a little slow but totally worth it!”
  6. “Terrific food, horrendous service”
  7. “poor service”
  8. “The food is off the chain the service is great.”
  9. “Two times I have been in a party of three and was told that 3 people cannot split the vegetarian sampler - we needed to order 2 samplers.”
  10. “staff is friendly and the food is fresher.”
value
90.0% positive
  1. “It's also a great value -- the $13.50 combo is perfect for two!”
  2. “the service is a little slow but totally worth it!”
  3. “Great food, good prices, great fun.”
  4. “quiet, affordable little heaven”
  5. “The food is pretty standard Ethiopian, and this is an affordable place to start for the uninitiated.”
wait time
50.0% positive
  1. “the service is a little slow but totally worth it!”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/14/08

Only one critique ...

by Lollyloo at Citysearch

They don't deliver! Which is probably a good thing or I would order delivery every single night from them, and probably eventually (after 5 years) get tired of their food. I personally think this is some of the best Ethiopian food around. I've eaten at 5 different Ethiopian restaurants in my life and this one really keeps me coming back for more. It's too bad the ambiance isn't a bit better, but honestly, the food is so good I'd eat it on the sidewalk in the rain if I had to!!!

  • Pros: Incredible cuisine!!!!
  • Cons: No ambiance at the restaurant (feels like a take-out joint)
1 Star Rating: Poor

07/31/08

Worst Ethiopian food

by chad1209 at Citysearch

I met a friend here last weekend. I am a regular at the 47th Street Meskerem so I thought the downtown location will be just as good. I couldn't have been more wrong. The injera was dry and yellow. I have never seen injera so yellow---there is NO way that was fresh. We ordered the Veggie combo and the Miser wat. Well whatever they gave me, it wasn't miser wat. It was tasteless, dry, and did not have the unique berbere flavour. We had to beg the server for water (isn't she supposed to check our glasses regularly? we were the only customers there). I liked the artwork on the walls, but that's about the only positive thing about this place.

I'm so confused as to why the 47th street location is so superior both in decor, service, and food. Aren't they owned by the same people? How is this place still in business?

  • Pros: beautiful paintings on wall
  • Cons: awful food, inconsistent service
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

07/09/08

SOOO good!!

by minnetonka627 at Citysearch

The food here is incredible. I went with a small group of friends, most of us trying Ethiopian for the first time. There's a ton of food to pick from. I highly recomment the Vegetarian Combo. My friends and I can't stop talking about it! The restaurant is very small, so I would avoid going there with a large group. But if you're in the mood for Ethiopian, this is a must.

  • Pros: Delicious Food
  • Cons: none!
3 Star Rating: Average

05/27/08

better to go elsewhere

by tinky1981 at Citysearch

the food is here NOT fresh. whoever I have recommended this place too has felt ill after eating there. the 47th street one is MUCH better. the food is yummier and fresher. this is a small stuffy place where the food isnt even that good.

  • Pros: if you are desperate and there is no other place nearby.
  • Cons: stale food, taste not that great
1 Star Rating: Poor

05/25/08

poor service

by disha at Citysearch

I was reminded again why i have not been to this place in 3 years.. i was there earlier today with my friends (4 of us) and we ordered 2 appetizers and instead of getting the small entrees we aked for 2 combo... the server argued with us for 10 mins on why we have to get 3 entrees min. between 4 people (i tried explaining to her that the 2 combos is exactly the same cost as 3 small entrees... which she was not happy with) - finally we got our 2 combos and assured her we'll get anpther entree after we figure what more we'd want. she finally agreed adn we did order the 3rd entree later. I was just mad with the attitude and the faces she was making,,, and finally when she got the check - she had the nerve to add 20% gratuity...

i'd stick to the Meskerem in Hell's kitchen.. staff is friendly and the food is fresher..

  • Pros: one of the few places in city serving ethiopian cuisine
  • Cons: service, attitude and cold food

The Details on Meskerem Ethiopian Cuisine

Place Categories:

  • great canned cat food
  • terrific horrendous service
  • affordable place
  • distinctive dish
  • love downtown location
  • poor service
  • like ethiopian food
  • delicious dinner
  • yellow injera
  • liked artwork
  • good energy
  • friendly staff
  • cozy basement restaurant
  • great conversation
  • perfect combo
  • very interesting experiance
  • not unique berbere flavor
  • favorite campus stops
  • pretty standard ethiopian
  • order samplers
  • great value
  • love atmosphere
  • good sooo
  • affordable little heaven
  • inviting neighborhood