Meskel Ethiopian Restaurant

If you are truly an adventurous couple, try Ethiopian food. Although there are quite a few scattered around the Central District/First Hill areas, the one I recommend the most is Meskel. I go and am always treated fabulously, and the place seems to be the most authentic -- they have a bar downstairs that always seems to be filled with local Ethiopians. The food is all really good -- try everything, but make sure to get some injeera (sp?) and homemade cheese! :) more

i took a friend to Meskel's a few months ago for lunch. we've never had Ethiopian food before so we decided to check the place out. Meskel's looks like a house from the outside and when you walk in, it seems like you've trespassed at somebody's property because it oh-so feels and looks like home. the one and only waitress of the place was sincerely over-worked but she had such such great attitude and respect for her customers. about the food. the only way to describe it is it's a bit strange. it's not bad or weird but it's not your typical entrees you see in resturants all the time, nevertheless Ethiopian food is very good for vegetarians and vegans. my friend ate his food pretty quickly. i ordered the vegetarian combo plate and it was enormous. it had different types of vegetables and it was very tasty. oh yeah, you have to eat with your hands. don't make the same mistake i did by asking for silverware (never a good thing when your waitress gives you a disgusted-amused look....) more

I had driven by the place often and marveled at the large, outdoor dining patio on the corner of the lot. When I finally made it in for dinner (the first try we called, they said they were open till 10, we showed up at 9:30 and they had closed) we found the inside (enter around the back) very nice, much nicer than Mesob, a nearby Ethiopian place (good food). The food was par for the course, with the tangy, spongy Inerja bread much more filling than you think, and a variety of tasty stewed veggies and meats. We stuck with the veggie sample and chicken, so I can't speak to the beef or lamb. Good food and good service, and when the weather gets nicer, a GREAT outdoor area. more