Meskerem brings STL authentic Ethiopian cuisine

Located across from Cheap Trx tattoo parlor on Grand Boulevard, Meskerem Ethiopian Restaurant offers St. Louis residents authentic cuisine and a friendly, accommodating atmosphere.

Immediately upon entering the restaurant, I was greeted with a friendly smile from one of the staff. After being seated, she asked if this was my first time eating Ethiopian food. I told her it was and she went over the entire menu.

This was very helpful and I was impressed by her enthusiasm and desire to help.

I ordered the lentil sombosas for my appetizer. These were chopped prime beef and lentils mixed with hot green pepper, onions, and garlic stuffed in a homemade thin flat bread.

Served hot and with a spicy dipping sauce, I got two Sombosas for $3. The Sombosas were very delicious and the crust was my favorite part. It was crispy and light. The dipping sauce was not too spicy, which I was thankful for.

Ethiopian food is served on one large tray, and people eat off the same tray. According to an informational section of the menu, patrons should inform their server if they want their meals served on separate plates. As an American, I am accustomed to eating off my own plate, so putting my meal on the same tray as everyone else's did not appeal to me, so I went with my own plate. I was also eating dinner with some very hungry people, and you just can't trust hungry people to only eat their share.

For my entrée, I ordered the lamb meskerem tibs, which cost $10.95. This contained cubes of boneless leg of lamb sautéed in rosemary, onions and green peppers.

When I first got my meal, they brought out this large platter that had a spongy, sour flat bread covering the plate, with two scoops of different lentils on opposite sides. The lentils are a type of bean paste and are very tasty.

As I sat and wondered if this was my meal, the server brought out a bowl of meat or vegetables that I ordered. The contents were then poured onto the middle of our platters and dinner was served.

At first, we wondered if we were going to satisfy our hunger because it did not look like a lot of food, but halfway through, we realized that our eyes were bigger than our stomachs.

Another important aspect of Ethiopian food is that it is meant to be eaten using hands.

Once again, as an American, I am not accustomed to eating a meal without silverware, so I couldn't help but wish for a fork the entire time. On the other hand, eating with your hands makes the meal a little more interesting and definitely more fun.

The trick to eating the meal is by tearing off a small piece of flat bread, dipping it in lentils and then pinching a piece of meat. If the meat is pinched first and then dipped, it tends to falls apart.

The only way to describe the flat bread is that it is very different. It is not like a tortilla and it is not like pita bread.

The flat bread is called injera and it is a spongy round of bread made from fermented tef, a rye-like Ethiopian grain.

If you were just to sit down and eat this bread, you would probably say that it was very sour. The meat and lentils balance out the flavors.Meskerem is a very authentic restaurant. With that being said, options for items like chicken fingers and hamburgers cannot be found on their menu.

If you do not want an authentic Ethiopian meal, this is not the place for you. They have meat options like lamb, beef, and chicken, but also offer vegetarian dishes as well.

This is the fourth Meskerem restaurant in the United States. The first debuted in New York City in the Times Square district. Due to its popularity, it has opened other restaurants in New York and North Carolina. If you love to try different types of food, go to Meskerem. You will have lots of fun and your taste buds will thank you.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

3210 S. Grand Blvd. in St. Louis

314-772-4442