I got a hankering for Ethiopian food after getting a Groupon/Living Social email for another restaurant but I ended up choosing this place instead after I read a Yelper preferring Mesob over the other one. A roundabout way of choosing Mesob over their competition (I assume), I know, but my fix was satisfied and so was ma belly!! My friend and I came here on Father's Day for an early dinner, and I had made reservations anyway just in case. And good thing I did, because not long after we were seated, the place started filling up. Upon the recommendation of our waiter, we started off with Ingudai Tibs, which are portabello mushrooms sauteed with onions, garlic and fresh tomatoes, and served with what I've been craving for: Injera. I probably would've been satisfied with the Injera alone which, I guess, I was after we ravished those mushrooms. For dinner, we shared Lega Tibs--cubed boneless leg of lamb marinated & sauteed with onions, garlic, jalapenos (we ordered the dish mild), fresh tomato, herbs and spices--with a side of Gomen (collard greens) and Dinich Wat (potatoes simmered in a spicy sauce seasoned with herbs and spices). I just salivated. So yes, everything was delicious! Sadly, we were too full to peruse the dessert menu but that's OK because we will be back! We ended our meal with Kemem Shai instead, which is East African tea with dried ginger, cardamom cloves and cinnamon. It was a wonderful experience, overall. We absolutely recommend. read more

We had been meaning to try Mesob out for a while - but never got around to it. So finally, on my wife's birthday - we went out - and have loved it ever since! We had never had Ethiopian food before - and were surprised to find how much we loved it! The service was amazing, and the food had such a great distinct taste. We literally can't wait to go again! Oh, and the owner contacted me on Facebook after I'd mentioned Mesob - and invited me back themselves - with a free coffee! If you give this restaurant credit - they will reciprocate! read more

Just a wonderful place in every way. A full page of their menu is vegan, and you won't be able to resist the veg sampler which comes with 6 choices which they customize in serving size depending on the number of people. Some vegetarian Ethiopian is made with butter, so we were so happy to see how well they understood vegan. Because you will be eating with your hands (which is romantic and fun), you are given hot wet washcloths at the beginning of your meal, oh how nice on a cold night. At the end, you get wet wipes to clean up. Probably all restaurants should do this. Don't miss the chickpea cakes. Our server also suggested a tomato salad appetizer which was fresh tomatoes mixed with dressing and chopped injera. When our (giant) plate came with our choices scooped onto the bread in front of us, we felt there was no way we could consume all that fluffy blanket-like injera, but we found ourselves asking for seconds and um, even a bit more after that. Injera is made from fermented lentil flour and is gluten-free. It seemed way less filling than other kinds of bread. I am sad that we did not get to try the wonderful geometric chocolates that look like works of art. Those are vegan, by the way. The space is warm and inviting due to exposed brick, pumpkin-colored walls, and soft light, and they handle your wine quickly. It is BYOB. We got a free Yelp check-in appetizer, so our meal was well under $50. How I wish we lived closer. read more

Last night was our first time there. The staff is welcoming and friendly. They have a vast and delicious vegetarian selection. Family style eating experience is also great! The only downside was that the Service was a bit slow. Will definitely try again !! read more

Our waitress was the reason we had such a great time at this place. We were unsure of what to order since it was the first time trying Ethiopian food. She recommended we do a platter with chicken, lamb, beef, and vegetables sides. The platter seemed very small when it came out (for a group of 5) but by the time we began eating we realized we were not finishing everything. My favorite was the lamb. Very delectable. Next time, I really want to try the shrimp. I couldn't this time because my friend was allergic. The restaurant is BYOB, very cozy atmosphere! read more

Mesob is an amazing restaurant. I have celiac's disease, and the gluten free injera bread is the best. Just make sure to call 4 hours ahead to make sure they can make you gluten free bread in time! I have just popped by without calling, and they've had some gluten free injera, but I defintely advise calling ahead to be sure. It's a very special place with Ethiopian flavors, not what most Americans are used to; it's delicious! They'll make it less spicy for you if you're not into the heat. You basically use the injera sponge-like bread to pick up different tasty stewed meats and vegetables; no utensils necessary! It's all fresh and many dishes made to order; very special! The coffee is also very special because they make it fresh for you. They once had vegan gluten free cookies on the dessert menu, and my first thought was "those are going to suck"...but they were absolutely delicious! I always have a happy time and delicious meal at Mesob :) Only complaint: sometimes service can be a bit slow read more

Good place -- nice, warm (I was there in January on a very cold day!), nice decor. Food was ok, good but a few disappointments. I had the ye'misir sambussa appetizer which was very nice. Spicier than I expected but quite tasty. I had the doro aletcha for an entree. Nice injera served with it. VERY tasty but the only disappointment was that there was only one chicken drumstick served. I was expecting quite a bit more chicken, perhaps a whole thigh. For the price, there could have been more meat in it. read more

Absolutely the best restaurant in Montclair and the best Ethiopian food I've had to date. The staff is friendly and accomodating, the food is authentic and the energy is infectious. I was going to give four stars due to the level of noise in the restaurant; it get's very loud and crowded, making conversation sometimes difficult. But this place deserves rave reviews and is a great place to start someone on their culinary journey to new and exciting places. A must try! read more

Im always up to try something new and this place was definitely it haha. I have never ate soft food with my hands before so that was a first. It was bad but for the price I paid it was pretty much an expensive glob. People are nice but it took awhile for our order to come out which sucked. Overall okay place read more

We invited my family here to announce our engagement. Unfortunately the engagement took a back seat to the amazing food. 7 of us split samplers for 6 people. The waiter was helpful in describing the dishes and spiciness. Everything was great although I was a tiny bit disappointed with the chick pea biscuits (I had imagined something else). We rotated the dishes twice throughout the meal to keep the variety on each side of the table "fair". Decor was nice and intimate. If you byob from the liquor store around the corner, don't get the honey wine that they suggest. It was entirely too sweet and ended up being wasted. I saw some fancy looking coffee coming out towards the end of the meal and will have to try it next time. We will definitely be back. read more

Do yourself a favor, and drive 5 miles over to Lalibela in South Orange. You won't get the same atmosphere, but you will get food that is much more authentic and affordable than at Mesob. That's not to say that the food at Mesob is bad - it's fine. But a little overrated. You can even ask my friend who is from Ethiopia - he didn't know authentic Ethiopian food existed in Jersey till we went to Lalibela. We plan on going back shortly. Mesob is your typical "date" restaurant in Montclair. Aesthetically, the restaurant is pretty upscale and decorated nicely, and the waiters are helpful in explaining how to eat the cuisine if you're a novice. And the location is nice too - right smack in the downtown area, so there's plenty to do and see once you've finished your meal. But again, I feel there's way too much hype about this place. read more

Ironically, given the name of the restaurant, there isn't a single mesob in the dining area. Nonetheless, it was a delightful dining experience and well worth the pilgrimage to Montclair. The food is delicious. The menu is vegan-friendly, and if you call ahead to alert them, gluten-free-friendly too. One person in our large party avoids gluten, and even though she hadn't called ahead, they easily accommodated her. The only item she couldn't have was injera, which they'll prepare differently if they have advance notice. She had rice instead. By the way, carnivorous diners needn't fear. There are plenty of delectable meat dishes to devour on the menu too. If it's your first time eating Ethiopian food, I would recommend getting either the meat or vegetarian sampler with tibs as one of your choices. The collard greens are tasty as are the red lentils. Those were my personal favorites, but pretty much everything we ordered was great. Service is attentive and the staff, who are Eritrean, were all very pleasant and helpful. Ambience is good. The bathroom was clean and tastefully decorated. They are conveniently located on a busy street. If you can't find street parking, there's a garage around the corner. read more

I thought I reviewed this place ages ago. This is my go-to Ethiopian place in Jersey. Overall, their service is friendly and very helpful, the food is good, it's just a little pricey. We got 2 meat entrees and 1 vegetable one and then each entree came with 2 vegetable side dishes. Between 3 people, all of the food was gone with some injera to spare. They also came around and refilled the injera twice without us having to ask. Definitely go if you've never tried Ethiopian. The servers are all very welcoming and will explain everything if you have questions. And if you love Ethiopian, well this is the place to go within miles of the area. :) read more

How the mighty have fallen. Mesob used to be the center of a great Ethiopian restaurant empire, its dominion unquestioned and unchallenged as a Montclair restaurant linchpin. And yea, as the gluten-free craze (yes, I mean the people who believe a gluten-free diet is a good thing even if you don't have celiac or one of the other severe gluten allergies or intolerances) has spread, Mesob has rode it and thrown on the vegan angle that is such a big deal. (Homo sapiens is an omnivore, people, and there's a reason iron is hard to come by in vegan diets - enjoy meat, you're meant to eat it by evolution!) Well, we went after going to Lalibela in South Orange, and you know what? Mesob is not that good anymore. Okay, the quality of the food is still good, but the portions have shrunk to fine-dining proportions. It used to be at Mesob that you just ordered whatever dishes you want, but now they do veggie sides with entrees. What they don't say is that the veggie sides are done by about 1/4-1/2 cup. We ordered the brown lentils, collard greens, mashed yellow peas, and green beans/carrots as sides. They were just a few bites worth of each. The mains were normal sized, sure, but it was a pretty dang visible stinginess. I get it. In Today's Economy (damn, I can't wait to read the history books on this period when we get into the 2030s) they need to find some way to keep prices down to keep customers happy while maintaining the business. But dammit, there's no reason to go to Mesob anymore unless you live in Montclair and it's easy for you to walk or park. Lalibela, for around the same price, stuffed us like pigs and had a bit broader menu, too. I guess Mesob is now a date-night place for relationships that aren't yet firmly at the steady-dating phase. "Hey, listen, there's this great place. Really nice atmosphere. We should check it out. It's really cool, you feed each other using spongy tart flat bread. And since we're both pseudo-globalist hipsters with a foodie bent, it's right up our alley." The dessert menu is pretty forgettable - basic stuff and a nifty halwah, but nothing you can't get in South Paterson for better price. If you want really, really good Ethiopian food, Mesob is okay as your first place - but Lalibela could, and SHOULD, be your new go-to. Don't let the terrible website fool you. read more

My boyfriend and I just adore Ethiopian cuisine. So, we have a few favorite spots - locally, Harrar Cafe in South Orange is our go-to. But I had read reviews of this place and wanted to give it a try. Service was warm, prompt, and welcoming, contrary to what many Yelpers say...the food was our issue. It's not bad food, but certainly not the best. The entire time we talked about how other places have better injera and tastier veggies. Also, their spicy tea tasted like Lipton's. I would recommend this place though if you find yourself in Montclair craving Ethiopian. Otherwise, go to South Orange or NYC. read more

What an experience!! The food was delicious, the variety in spices were very interesting to say the least. I wish I could remember exactly what I had. I'm a newbie at Mesob so my expert friend ordered everything. No forks were provided only the Injera which is a spongy bread, I believe it's a sourdough. Not my cup of tea at all. The different stewed meats and vegetables were very good! The lamb and shrimp were especially AMAZING, the different kinds of lentils were yummy but definitely an acquired taste. Toward the completion of my meal I couldn't take it anymore I had to ask for a fork because I just couldn't bear another bite of that sponge like bread. Once I asked for a fork my "expert" friend and I literally looked at each other in complete awe! The forks should have been asked for at the beginning of our meal. I say this because the different stewed meats and veggies tasted completely different when eaten with forks. My palate was able to taste every spice individually. Scooping the meats and veggies with the injera was an interruption not allowing all those sharp spices to shine:) Oh yeah, be sure after dinner your going straight home because you'll smell like a walking spice rack.Yuck! read more

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We are Ethiopian food connoisseurs and it ranks as our favorite cuisine. It all started by Katie being the first person to eat at a small place in Bayonne that since closed. Since then, no matter where we are traveling (We even had Ethiopian food in Amsterdam!!), we always seek out Ethiopian food. We lived in Denver and that got us to understand the difference between good and bad food, injara (the bread used to eat) etc. Now we live in the shadow of NYC which has some sick places all over from downtown to Harlem Out of every Ethiopian restaurant we have eaten at Mesob is our favorite. It is by far the cleanest and healthiest. All of their vegetarian dishes are prepared vegan without the use of any animal products. Their bread is what every other bread gets compared to. The sour smell, the texture....nothing beats it. We always get the vegetarian sampler for 2. Our staples are Misir Wat, Kik Alecha, Bucha and the Y'sembra Asha. When we introduce people to this type of food, we always go to Mesob. We like it so much that it is hard to try out other places in Montclair because we gravitate towards them. Staff is all family related and super nice. Stay for coffee or Kemem Chai....they even have Vegan desserts. Cant wait to 'go to here' this weekend. *I wanted to add that Denver has a large population of Ethiopians and Ethiopian restaurants..hence the reason for mentioning it..... read more

Living in NYC, I have enjoyed Ethiopian food since 1986 when I was in college and we went to Zulu on upper Amsterdam near Columbia University. Zulu is sadly gone, but now I live in NJ and am thrilled to have found Mesob. The food is delicious, the prices are good (not as dirt cheap as Zulu was, but I'm not a student anymore either). I usually stick to the vegetarian options . .Shiro, spicy lentils, etc, but have also tried some of the meat options, and they are excellent as well. The vegetarian sampler option is a good way to go, but I have also ordered the various vegetarian entrees and each of those comes with 2 sides. So if there is a vegetarian option you just want to try, you can do it with a side. I found that worked out really well for me. Also when I ordered the individual entrees I was sure to get enough of the yummy shiro!! Park in the lot right behind Mesob since street parking can be hard to find. read more

A delightful, different dining experience. Excellent vegetarian sampler - the four of us had virtually every vegetable dish - and each was wonderful. Collards, three types of lentils (red was my favorite), potatoes, etc ., all with a lovely spice, but not crazy-hot. The "bread" (think spongy crepe) takes getting used to, but eating without utensils is fun (you can use a fork, but when in Rome...) Staff was friendly, helpful, and attentive. Atmosphere was stylish and comfortable. Well worth a visit for a different experience. read more

First time eating here and first time I had Ethiopian food. Establishment was clean and wait staff friendly and attentive. We made reservations and our table was ready for us when we arrived. Our party of 4 ordered the meat sampler for three and ordered the shrimp dish as well. Food comes out served family style which is good because everyone can try a little bit if everything. You can order the food to be mild, medium, or hot. We chose medium. I thought the food was good but then again I never had Ethiopian food before. No utensils are used as everyone eats with their hands. I'm not a big fan of Ethiopian cuisine but overall the food was good and atmosphere excellent. Oh and its BYOB! Glad I went and tried it for the first time! read more

We've had dinner here a few times and have loved it every time. We usually get the meat platter which comes with 5 different kinds of meat and 3 vegetarian dishes. I recommend the collard greens and portobello mushrooms - they cost extra but are really good. The service here is a little too laid-back but they are very friendly. It's a nice spot to go with a group of people. Definitely one of my favorite spots in Montclair. read more

To put it simply; I love Mesob. If you seek fine dining with a plethora of Vegan/vegetarian and any other selections, along with great service and a relaxing atmosphere, then look no more. But be sure to leave your fork and knife at home because they don't use utensils! Fun, right?!! Oh, and bring a bottle since they don't serve alcohol. As a Montclair resident, I've eaten at Mesob many times and always enjoy myself. The food is presented beautifully, the atmosphere embodies the Ethiopian vibe, and the service is wonderful. Everything tastes fresh and each time I go, I learn more about Ethiopian cuisine and how much I love it. I love that you can customize your dishes and share with your friends via a sampler. I always opt for the Vegan dishes and I'm never disappointed. Any of the lentil dishes are fantastic along with the chickpea and potato dish and the chickpea biscuits are delightful! Eating this delicious food with my hands hasn't been this fun since childhood. I feel the sharing and the picking of food with friends really enhances the "dining together" experience. The waiters are also very helpful when you have questions about anything but they're never overbearing. The teas are wonderful and there is a wide selection of them as well as coffee, which they dedicate half of the dessert menu page to telling its history (very cool). I highly recommend the ginger and mint tea blends. They also have Vegan chocolates and cookies!! At Mesob, food is an art. If you haven't experienced it, definitely give it a try. You will be very pleased.Thw weekends can be very busy, so it's best to make a reservation. However, their usually very laid-back and happy to accomodate walk-ins with a minor wait time. read more

This was my first time enjoying Ethiopian cuisine and I thoroughly enjoyed my meal @ Mesob. My buddy and I each got the Doro Tips Chicken entree. Highly recommend! read more

I've tried a few Ethiopian restaurants--maybe not enough to *really* know what best-of-class is for this cuisine, but I know what I like--and Mesob is good stuff! On my first visit, I went with the Kitfo (Ethiopian steak tartare) and sides of the Atkilt Wat (seasoned green beans and carrots) and Miser Wat (spicy lentils). The food was delicious and the Injera (bread) was superb. I also tried the cardamom-spiced African black tea, also good. The place was a bit cold (being a winter afternoon with few customers and high ceilings) but the staff was warm & friendly. I definitely plan to go back! read more

The food was delicious. If you're intimidated by the menu just let the waitress make recommendations. I got to try 6 items from a communal plate and they were all great. We brought our own beer and the food went well with brown ale type beers. I will definitely be back. read more

I ate here once a few months ago and it took a really long time to get our food. While we waited, we started to smell smoke and I even saw smoke coming from the back near the kitchen. I joked around saying that I hoped it wasn't our food. 45 minutes later we finally got our food and guess what, my food was burned. I don't remember what I ordered but I ordered it because it was something I had not seen at any other ethiopian restaurant... so of course I wanted to try it because I love Ethiopian food. It was something like chickpea cakes or chickpea squares something similar. Basically my dish turned out to be really thick, hard, and burned squares of chickpeas. It did not taste good. There were one or two pieces that were not black and burned that also didn't taste bad so I knew it was burned. WTF. If i were them I would of apologized for the long wait and not of served customers burnt food. I wanted to complain but by that time I was so sick of sitting in the restaurant that I just wanted to eat what was edible and leave. The rest of our food was okay though... too bad that dish and the super long wait ruined my experience. read more

Ethiopian food is so, so yummy. Another wonderful outlet for vegetarians to bask in some seriously uplifting food, aside from the usual eggplant-pasta-o-rama that is most other places. The best part about Mesob & other Ethiopian places is the communal, fun feeling of the meal. I went with my boyfriend and two other friends and had a lot of fun diving in to a giant platter sized plate of injera bread covered in all our dishes. We shared, and gushed over most the food together. It was different, new, exciting, something to do as a night out. We also got a free appetizer via checking in at Yelp and showing our server, which was great & convenient. I ordered the dish that consisted of carrots and green beans which was good. With all the entrees, you get two more side dishes so I also got some potatoes & cabbage (my favorite) and chickpea fritters. Another dish I enjoyed was some sort of lentils my friend ordered. While my review on the food leads to what was mostly a good experience, it was both the service & a price communication that leaves me with a bit of disappointment. First, very slow service - we were there at least two hours. Further, I wasn't warned about a $3 charge for certain side dishes - such as the chickpea fritters. When my server asked for my sides I chose the dish and then she didn't even mention this difference in price to me, as I was under the impression it was inclusive... I know it was stated on the menu, but at that moment, I believe it would be good for her to point these aspects out rather than simply ask me, "what side dishes do you choose?" then walk away. I think it's a joint fault, but I still felt somewhat bummed by this. Overall, a fun experience but at a steep price. I think it's definitely a one-time deal. read more

I found that Ethiopian food has a wide arc of styles, flavors and presentations. Mesob falls somewhere in the middle for me, but that's for me, others my feel it suites their tastes perfectly. The service was not stellar, having to flag down our server several times. In short, meh, I would go again, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. read more

GREAT PLACE. I have to admit, the first time I came here...I was nervous. I had never had Ethiopian food but my friends assured me that it was great. Boy were they right. I usually get the vegetarian sampler and it has been yummy every single time. I've even been able to convince some friends to give it a try and have had nothing but great feedback. Service has always been good. Very attentive staff and happy to answer any questions for first time diners. Can't wait to introduce more people to this wonderful restaurant. read more

My lady and I love this place. Aside from the beautifully decorated restaurant the food is completely authentic. We always order and share a meat sampler for two and have developed a slight addiction to the food here. We love how they utilize social media and the service is always first rate. A must for any Montclair dining excursion. read more

As soon as you enter in this restaurant, you just get this cozy/cultural feeling. Our waitress was extremely patient with us even though some of my friends have never tried Ethiopian food before. So, she explained us everything in detail about the menu. Also, she might have overheard it was my birthday so gave us a FREE DESSERT without even asking for it! exceptional customer service! I had ordered veggie sampler with 6 different vegetables - every single item that I ordered was way beyond my expectation! I will def come here again & again! Highly recommend this place! :) read more

Mesobrestaurant.Com - Veggie sampler + lamb/chicken platter (entree) - Ethiopian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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With many reviews citing the bold and spicy flavors I was expecting something along the lines of Indian.....do not go in here thinking Indian you will be disappointed. We ordered: The Starter Sampler (for two), Meat Sampler (for two), two coffees, and the Mesob Vegan Dark Chocolates sampler. The highlight of the Starter Sampler was the mushrooms. There was nothing exceptional about them they simply had the best flavor. The farmers cheese was good but there was no hint of chili powder. The lentils were okay but you never got the "jalapeno" hit. Chickpeas were the most disappointing as they lacked any real flavor. My girlfriend and I were torn on the Timatim Fitfit (which is chopped Injera). I get her point which was why do you want to fill up on Injera that your dipping into ground up Injera...but I thought it was the third best app (behind the farmers cheese). The Meat Sampler was fine. I remember we had two beef dishes that were the consistency of ground taco beef. One was supposed to be spicy the other not. One was darker then the other...I assume that was the spicier one we couldn't taste a difference. The lamb was very lamby (if you know what I mean). I probably enjoyed this the most my girlfriend was not a fan due to the gaminess. The chicken was okay. My girlfriend enjoyed the third beef dish the best (my 2nd fav) probably due to texture is was more chunky and not ground (however still not much different in overall flavor). I don't recall our vegetarian options other than the collard greens which were very bland. Chocolate sampler is a sampling of four (VERY TINY) vegan chocolates was okay, in flavor, but certainly not worth the $8.00 price tag esp. since the differences in the candies are so subtle. We also had two cups of Ethiopian coffee. Due to the length of service (and it does take a long time) we decided to just order cups and not the Bunna (a pot for your table which takes 20 minutes to brew). The coffee was very tasty but (again) not worth the price ($3.50 for a espresso shot sized "cup"). All in all in was a good experience. Others have commented negatively about people calling out the price due to the experience....and I'm torn. I will say for a meal with no drinks (alcohol; they're BYOB) ordered this was pricy. I'll also say the quantity (and quality) of food for the price is also lacking...however, we did leave quite full.... I hope that makes sense. The restaurant is quite nice. Good ambiance. Yes, it is a decent/different experience and yes the service is slow. Servers ranged from nice to impersonable. I would come back but I'd be interested in trying a different Ethiopian restaurant for comparison purposes first. read more

I mentioned Mesob in my review of Zoma in NYC, so I figured I owe it to them to come and write a review for this place too... I cannot believe it's true, but it is. Mesob is the best Ethiopian restaurant in the entire Greater New York City area. I know that's quite a claim, but I've tried them all now, and hands down Mesob wins. The food here is fantastic. Great ingredients, plenty of fresh, fluffy injera, and wonderful spices in the stews. The service is friendly, to the point where you actually feel like the place is run by a group of friends. The atmosphere and decor is pretty typically ethnic Ethiopian, which I have to admit is a little nicer than the nouveau-wallpaper magazine Zoma. Plus, it's in Montclair, which means: - It's easy for NJ'ers to get to - easy / free parking - BYOB with friendly provision of corkscrew & glasses If you live in the city, then you'll probably scoff at the idea of going to Montclair for a great meal. But... if you live in NJ, Mesob is proof that you don't have to go into the city to have a fantastic meal. read more

Reading other reviews, I was very worried about the level of service we would receive and was waiting for it to be slow. Well they must have listened to people's comments here. The service was outstanding and we went on a busy Saturday night without reservations (90 min wait). Food was also excellent. This was our first visit and went for a vegetarian and a meat sampler and asked for recommendations from our server. He steered us in the right direction and I would recommend the samplers for first timers. The food was a nice mix of spice and heat with more than enough for 2 of us. We also "checked in" using the iPhone Yelp Ap and got a free appetizer ($6 value). We will be headed back in the near future with reservations next time. read more

When I think about a good night out at a restaurant, I think about this place. The staff is super friendly and the food is so delicious! We got a vegetarian sampler split between the three of us and it was plenty of food. The bread is SO GOOD and delicious. This place should stick around for a LONG time! BYOB, too!!!!! the pictures you'll see on the internet are not helpful at all. just go to this place and try it if you've never had ethiopian food. it's a lot like eating Indian food. who needs silverware when you've got hands and fingers? read more

The food is really exceptional. It is great if you are not in a rush. Most of the staff is very friendly. There is a special on the menu that is a two person sampler, "Taste of Mesob", that lets you do a nice amount of picking and choosing. It was definitely enough food and it was tasty. I originally left a very negative review about the service at this place, but was pleased when I received a direct response from the owner. They have since improved greatly in terms of service and hospitality. It was a 360 degree turnaround when we came in and they made sure to bring wine glasses and even a scotch glass with ice on the side. This was excellent and shows that the management took the criticism and directly made the needed improvements in response. If there is one thing that still bothers me, it is that no one is ever there to welcome you when you walk in. You almost always need to get their attention. The reception should be set up right near the door and tended to. Even a sign telling you where to wait would be a decent improvement. read more

This is my favorite Ethiopian restaurant ever (so far). The staff here is very friendly and welcoming, and the ambience is casual and intimate. Their injera is not overly sour; I've been to a few places where it was just too sour and it tasted gross. Their food is bursting with flavor and so so so good. The Ethiopian meal for two on their menu is a really good deal; definitely go for that if it's your first time there. Don't be afraid to try Ethiopian if you've never been, unless you like really bland, boring food. If you're into big flavors and fun experiences, you will definitely LOVE it. read more

I recommend the meat sampler if it's your first time. Everything we ordered was flavorful and quite an experience. Now, i know you don't go to a restaurant just for their coffee...but it was the best coffee I ever had!!!! read more

I came here to celebrate a birthday with my family, and we had a great time! We ordered the taste of Mesob for 4. There were 5 of us, but it was more than enough food! The food was great, and with the sampler meal we were able to taste pretty much everything. The meat was extremely tender and flavorful, and the vegetable dishes were just as good as the meat dishes. The service is extremely friendly and helpful - our waitress pointed out her favorite dishes to help us decide. Mesob is BYOB, and as soon as we arrived they brought out wine glasses and an ice bucket for us, and sent someone over to open up the bottles. Now that's what I call having your priorities in order! Be warned that the space can get very loud. When we first arrived there were a lot of families with small children, and by the time we left the restaurant had filled up with a more adult crowd, but at all times it was rather hard to talk across table due to the noise. The waitress even had a hard time hearing us because of the noise. read more

Come one, come all - a great place for two and even better for groups. Delicious, fresh meats and vegetables cooked to perfection in a wide range of sauces (ranging from mild to spicy). If you're new to Ethiopian food, this is a great place to start. A warning, though - you will be hooked and be a regular in no time. Beef, chicken, lamb, and seafood are available; and a range of vegetable dishes including chickpea, lentil, potato, greens, and more. Newcomers to Mesob will be surprised that you eat with your hands - sort of! You're given delicious Ethiopian style bread called Injera (made of teff flour) to pick the food up with (and the food is served on the same bread - save room to eat the Injera left at the end because it's soaked up the delicious sauce). The restaurant is family owned and they could not make you more welcome. People is what makes a good restaurant great and they have this to spare! So come - and bring your friends - and get ready for a unique, fun, and delicious experience!!!! PS: Ethiopia is where coffee was discovered and is still home to the world's best coffee. Let Mesob make you a pot of coffee - they hand roast the beans to order and will let you smell it first. It's to die for! read more