Eat with your hands!
I met up with some old friends from highschool and decided to take them to Meskerem, a small, Ethiopian restaurant in the West Village, right near Washington Square Park. Tons of great restaurants in that area! Meskerem is always a good bet, since it’s not usually crowded and it’s not expensive.
The place is small. Just one narrow room. And the service is not excellent. But it’s got funky, exotic decorations, dim lighting, and a tasty menu. Plenty of vegetarian options.
All the dishes are large, meant to be shared. And, of course, they are also meant to be eaten with your hands. OCD folks might not like it, but I’m a slob and I always think it’s fun. I usually order the Vegetarian combo, which has several delicious veggie options. Some are a bit spicey, so beware. I also always try to order Mead, honey wine, but, alas, they never seem to have it. It makes me sad.
We all still got drunk, anyway, on white wine instead. I got complimented on my restaurant selection by my friend, a former Astorian who’s a fan of Ethiopian food. So if you’re looking for a good place to gather with friends in the West Village, and none of you are OCD, I recommend it.