I've been here quite a few times and have never been disappointed. The food here is beautifully seasoned and delicious (I highly recommend the vegetarian combination, though meat eaters will easily find things on the menu to make them happy). When it's not too crowded, the softly-lit dining room is very pleasant. I agree that the staff sometimes seem overworked, but they have always been polite and I have never been left wanting anything. The only drawback I can think of is that the dining room is rather small, and when the weather turns cold the restaurant gets very cramped on busy nights with hungry, waiting customers hovering over seated customers and ogling their food--not very conducive to a relaxing meal. On the whole though, Meskel is not fancy, but is a great casual restaurant for a date or a dinner with a small group of friends. It's an excellent place to take someone who loves Ethiopian cuisine, or a wonderful place to introduce someone to it for the first time.
Pros: Food, ambience on a slow night
Cons: hectic atmosphere on busy nights
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