I have only tried the other Ethiopian restaurant in Nashville and this came up on my Foursquare so I thought I would try it. I showed up at 3pm which is an odd hour for lunch. I asked them if I could still eat lunch and they said yes. I got the Yeater kik Alicha we't - on the menu it said it was "Yellow split peas cooked in mildly flavoured sauce, seasoned with garlic, ginger and turmeric. it was $8.99 I got Injera with it. LOTS of it. Because that was a concern, I always think I won't have enough. But they accommodated me in a big way. Holy crap. Let the face stuffing begin. Good god. Delicious as Ethiopian food is. I was well satisfied. The ONLY drawback is they did not refresh my water and I am a drinker -so. Other than that I have zero complaints. read more

See all

Visited this place for the first time with a large group. It was very, very good and I'll be back. The atmosphere is just fine. What do you want? It's a strip mall. But I have no idea why there were two different rooms with pool tables... The veggie sampler of four items was tasty. It came with a lentil dish, spicy and red and good, a split pea dish that was a lot like a dal, beets and a cabbage and carrots dish. The rest of the group seemed pleased with their meat dishes as well. Recommend you try this place. read more

Here is a little known fact about why I chose to settle in Nashville: They had an Ethiopian restaurant. When I was making my way across the country visiting grad schools I would take myself out on a "date night" to see if I could live in whatever city I happened to be in. My night in Nashville consisted of dinner at an Ethiopian place close to campus (which is no longer in business) and visiting the Frist museum. Culture and ethnic food in the south? I was so ready for Nashville. Since I moved here more Ethiopian restaurants have opened (or they're just new to me). My favorite will always be Addis Red Sea in Boston, but Mesob in Nashville comes fairly close! Located a little out of the way from my usual dining circle in a tiny strip mall, Mesob is a no-fuss type of place. The decor consists of what appears to be old banquet dining tables and chairs mixed in with cheery paintings and artifacts from Ethiopia. I was hoping that a restaurant named Mesob (after the traditional Ethiopian table) would actually have them for seating. But they didn't, and that was tad bit disappointing. We had the beef Sambusa, the vegetarian tasting plate and the Qey Wot. I was so happy with our choices. Everything tasted so good! My favorite was probably the Yemisir Kike We't (red lentils in a spicy berbere sauce). Overall, I really liked Mesob. The service was great and we got our food rather quickly. I was really impressed by this because a HUGE group (maybe 30 people, 75% of which were kids under 10) arrived at the same time we did. Our waiters didn't overlook us to take care of the big table, a problem I have often. The owner was sweet and even stopped by to say hello and introduce himself. I highly recommend Mesob for your next Ethiopian food adventure. read more

This was my first time trying Ethiopian, and my "uneducated" opinion is that Mesob is fantastic! As soon as you walk through the door, you're hit with a plethora of fantastic smells. Had I been blindfolded, I would have guessed that I had been led into a spice market. If you're a fan of Indian, Moroccan, or any other heavily-spiced cuisine, your mouth will be watering before you even take your seat. As an appetizer, my coworker and I ordered the chicken sambusas. They were wonderfully flaky, crispy, and delicious. I could probably make a meal out of those things alone. Since this was my first time trying such food, for my entree I ordered the "meat combo for one", since I figured it would a good way to try a wide array of things all at once. Everything I tried was amazing! Wonderfully spiced, perfectly tender, and a nice spectrum from mild to semi-hot. Take note though; even though the menu item I ordered says "for one", it could easily feed two people, even three if they're small eaters. The staff was very friendly and happy to answer any questions we had about the menu items. I definitely plan on returning here regularly! read more

Sometimes, when I have a spare 3-4 hours in my day, I like to enjoy Ethiopian food. Don't get me wrong; I always enjoy Ethiopian. However, the time investment involved in going to any of the Ethiopian food restaurants does not allow for a quick dine and dash. If you want to hold your date hostage for a while so you can wow him or her with the philosophy you picked up in that intro college course, Ethiopian is definitely the way to go, time-wise. This is not because you are being served a particularly elaborate or time-intensive meal, but rather because the servers seem to frequently forget that they are actually supposed to provide service to the people sitting in the restaurant; they often seem confused by the fact that anyone is sitting there. But now, on to the incredible part, which is the food. Mesob is the best Ethiopian I have had in Nashville, and everything I have tried on the menu has been uniformly delicious. I recommend the meat and veggie combo platter, which is more than enough to feed two people, and comes with a sampling of pretty much everything. Injera, the spongy Ethiopian bread on which the spiced meats and veggies are served, allows you to eat with your hands without your tablemates acting as if you are insane. If you have time, this place is a wonderful culinary experience that provides consistently good food. read more

Waited 45 minutes food that never came out. There were only two other people in the restaurant. They also received their food about 10 minutes after sitting down. When I went to pay for our water, I asked for the reason we never received our food. We were told "the chicken causes an issue." The problem is....we ordered vegetarian dishes not chicken! I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. No greeting when you enter, you could only order select items on the menu, and service here is no service at all read more

The food is great and servers are nice (once they notice you) but the two times I've been it's been very slow: slow to get the ordering started, slow to get food. The last time we went someone in my party ended up refilling waters and handing out utensils to our table. It's worth a trip as long as you're not in a hurry. read more

We visited Mesob with a groupon/LivingSocial/something of the sort. My main interest was the food. The sambusas were a nice start to the meal, and the vegetarian sampler was pretty good. One of the seven items was an injera "salad" served alongside other vegetarian items atop injera, so that kind of seemed like a shortcut. Meat dishes were greasier than in other restaurants, but several flavors were represented. I would have liked more spicy options, as there was a heavy emphasis on sweet marinades reminiscent of St. Louis BBQ. I wasn't expecting exemplary service, but we waited for a few minutes for anyone to greet us, then waited again for water. We waited for our order to be taken, and then for the food to come. I might bring a snack next time :) It took a while for me to get used to the combined sounds of the TV and music playing in the background; otherwise, the restaurant had a comfortable noise level. P.S. The Baklava was HUMONGOUS. I think I liked it. read more

Great food. Friendly service. I haven't had Ethopian food this good since the last time I visited California. Sure, it's kind of a social hang out for local Ethopians to shoot pool and drink tea, but that makes all the more legit in my book. My only complaint is that they don't have a license to serve wine yet--only beer. Red wine goes superbly with Doro Wot (chicken in spicy tomato-based sauce) which I highly recommend combined with a veggie platter. The bartender barely spoke English, but he was friendly and I dug the Ethopian tunes he was playing over the restaurant speakers straight off of his laptop. read more

Let's be clear: the food is fantastic. If you like Ethiopian cuisine, or if you've never had it, the food is wonderful. Deliciously spiced and cooked meats and veggies over injara - what's not to like? Fantastic for sharing, or not, if you're not so inclined. That said, our experience here left more than a little to be desired. Slow is one thing. I can deal with slow. Especially at a small restaurant like this, and especially given the size of our group. If that was the only problem, this review would be 4 stars. However, we also encountered the following: "we don't have any appetizers tonight"... huh?? How do you not have any appetizers? Also, the ice machine was broken, so all water was lukewarm. Speaking of water, ask for 3-4 cups at the beginning of the meal, then you won't have to worry about the fact that they NEVER come to refill, even when you ask them to. Regardless, I will be back for the food and hope that the overall experience improves. read more

I was very hesitant to try Ethiopian food because I had never had it and wasn't really sure what it was like. I'm so glad my friend convinced me to go! This food is super savory, well seasoned...you really just have to come try it and see for yourself. We ordered a veggie tray and a meat tray so I could try everything and it was all amazing! Really good service here, too - everyone was very nice and service was prompt. I'm completely stuffed but I can't stop myself from eating more!! read more

Mesob Ethiopian Restaurant - Veggie plate and meat plate - Lounges Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

We were the only customers when we arrived so the service was fine and the food came out super quick. We ordered both the 7 item vegetarian sampler for 1 and the meat sampler for 1 and shared. Everything was very tasty. The meats were a little oily, but I still liked it. There was so much food we had a big box of leftovers. Don't order the Ethiopian coffee. I'm usually a fan, but this stuff tasted burnt. The traditional tea was good. Delicious food, friendly staff, okay atmosphere (I'm not a fan of TVs). read more

Went with some friends using a groupon. I can't say that the service initially was that great, but once the waitress came out it seemed to speed up. You definitely get your food faster if you're actually Ethiopian. The food was all very incredible, out of about the five different things we each got all of them were great. I would say that maybe one entree / two people is a better ratio though. We had the coffee and liked it, so maybe that's just a roll of the dice. Either way, food was great, service was good, and the overall experience made this a definite repeat visit. read more

Friendly owner, food was complex and spicy. I will come back again! I went during lunch amd the food took 45 minutes to prepare, it was well worth the wait, but if you are at lunch during work, I would call before hand. read more

Mesob Ethiopian Restaurant - Chicken Dish - Lounges Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

I write this review while putting aside my personal thoughts on Ethipoian food (glad I tried it but this will probably be my first and last Ethiopian restaurant). I wasn't sure why the waitress wanted to talk me out of getting my dish with chicken as opposed to beef, and it took too long for our table to receive our drinks since at the time we were the only patrons in the restaurant, but overall the restaurant itself was clean and the staff was friendly. One thing that will forever stick out in my mind was the smell when we walked in - it wasn't overpowering spice or anything food-related, which would have been expected and forgiven - but a stinging and pungent incense-like smell that clouded the lungs and actually made a couple of us cough. Mesob, I think you're doing a good job, but I won't be coming back. read more

Traditional great Ethiopian. If you haven't had Ethiopian you have to try it because its quite the experience. You choose what you want then they bring you a bread like material that you use to grab your food and eat it. It usually is one large dish made for sharing. lot of fun and very yummy read more

Went there initially after I purchased a Groupon and have since been back two more separate time without a Groupon to pay gladly pay full price as the food here is DELICIOUS!!! I have been to one other Ethiopian restaurant in town which was very good also, but this one took the cake! The spices of the food are just so delicious. I went with a few people and we got the veggie 7 sampler and also the meat sampler and both were superb. The decor was very nice, and the owner even came over to introduce himself to us. I highly recommend this place :) read more

Visited for the first time last weekend. The ambience inside was nice, but casual. There were TVs on, but it wasn't loud. The service was friendly, although not especially organized or fast. The dish I ordered was tasty. I have to say that I've been to a number of Ethiopian restaurants, and this one was by far the greasiest. The prices were good, although my chicken dish only came with two very small pieces of chicken (smaller than the size of wings). They didn't have Ethiopian beer, which I found disappointing. Long story short, I would eat there again if I found myself there for some reason, but I'm not planning on eating there again any time soon. read more

Mesob Ethiopian Restaurant - Lounges Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

See all

I loved the 7-item vegetarian sampler plate, but the bread it comes with is spongy in texture and has little taste. Maybe it's an acquired taste. I had never eaten Ethiopian food before. read more

Not the best one anymore! AWASH Ethiopian restaurant has better flavors. https://www.yelp.com/biz/awash-ethiopian-restaurant-nashville read more

Visited for a sat night dinner, our 3rd time here, ordered veggie combo for 2, quantity was good, but the service was avg, quality has dropped since our first visit. My biggest concern is location of this rest, plus random ppl in the rest, not customers. Looks like the place is more of a social joint for fellow ethiopians and less of a restaurant. read more

Best Ethiopian food in Nashville. Now if they delivered, they would make so much more money and I would buy so much more of their food. read more

The place seems a little quiet/slow paced and more of a close friends hangout place than a restaurant. We ordered the veggie platter with injera and a chicken dish and it was good while the service was average. Hope their business will pick up. read more

See all

4 adults and 2 children. We started with the Ethiopian coffee for 4 served in the traditional clay pot. Smooth and dark. We ordered the seven vegetable platter and the meat platter for two. the meat platter for two had five different meat dishes. chicken and lamb and beef. the vegetable platter had cabbage potatoes carrots and beans, two types of lentils, greens and seasoned beets. Including the coffee the total bill was $45 and they bring you a huge stack of Injera- the tef pancakes. read more

Mesob Ethiopian Restaurant - The vegetable dish platter-7 wonderful items served of course, with the fabulous giant tef flatbread pancakes - Lounges Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

See all

After trying three Ethiopian restaurants in Nashville, this is the best I've tried so far. It is on par with Ethiopian restaurants in larger cities in terms of quality, flavor and ambiance. I absolutely adore all of the dishes in the 7-dish veggie combo. All of the veggie dishes are great, but my absolute favorites are the spicy lentils, the cabbage and carrots, the green beans, and the salad. The service is pleasant and the ambiance is fine on the interior, though it is in a strip mall. But overall, I would absolutely recommend this as the best option for Ethiopian in Nashville. read more

If you like Ethiopian food or want to try it for the first time, go to Mesob! The staff is super-friendly and accommodating. We were guided through the menu and steered to items that both my wife and I -- and our kids -- could enjoy. We parents had been to Ethiopian before, but it was the first time for our kids, so we were hoping "it would take." And it did! The food was so yummy and the atmosphere friendly and inviting. We got the chicken sambussas (small fried pockets) for appetizers, and the kids fought over them! Then with the traditional injera bread, we got the lentil entree, the doro wat (chicken), the lamb, and the minced beef --- all spectacular!! We all left very satisfied. My advice (if you are budget-conscious like we are) would be to order one fewer entree than you were originally thinking, because the injera will add MUCH bulk to your meal. Don't expect to see any utensils, but then again, don't be afraid to ask for some. But the cultural experience of eating fork-less can be a great time! read more

Food was good but the wait time (almost 45 mins for the food to arrive) and the service is horrible. There seems to be only one person and a lot of guys out in the back room. It used to be good but there are way better ones in terms of service. read more

I am very familiar with the Ethiopian cuisine and have had my fair share in the states, and visiting the country of Ethiopia a few times. My experience at Mesob was pleasant, but it was not my favorite. I ordered the seven veggie combo and it seemed like all the vegetables tasted the same. All were very sweet and none were spicy, making me request a side of awaze. The interior was clean and tastefully decorated in ethiopian decor, and the service was ok. As far as Ethiopian restaurants go in Nashville, Gojo Ethiopian Restaurant on Thompson lane is the place to go! read more

Mesob Ethiopian Restaurant - This is the meat and veggie combo at Mesob Ethiopian Restaurant. - Lounges Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

See all

Came here because it was closest Ethiopian restaurant. When we entered the place there was not the traditional smell of cooked spicy stews in the air. There was 2 other tables of guests waiting for menus and to be greeted. Finally someone who worked there showed up with an arm load of injera. She asked if we only wanted vegetarian stews. We got a bad feeling about this place and bailed and went to another place down the road. read more

My first experience with Ethiopian food, so I make no claims of being an expert, but i liked this place very much. I got the 7 veggie sampler, and could not eat it all. I recommend you consider the 4! Place is very clean, people very nice. Only complaint is there were 2 tv's with differing channels, and music going! It was hard to tell what to listen to or talk easily. Expect to pay around $10. read more

Delicious! Heads up to those of you who are gluten intolerant: the injera is made traditionally (gf) & no need to order it separate. It's all Gf! So feast & enjoy! read more

New to Ethiopian food? Give it a shot. Try the meat combo if you're a carnivore. It gives you a great sampling of what the place has to offer. You get a lot of food for a small cost. Plus, you eat with your hands here, which is fun. read more

Good, reasonably priced, hearty food. Definitely worth checking out if you know nothing about Ethiopian food.

Early dinner at on a Friday night and it was not crowded. We shared a veggie/meat sampler platter at a very reasonable price of $14.99 and we couldn't eat it all. It was a nice selection of seasonal vegetables and the meat included two lamb choices, beef and chicken. The atmosphere is nice and the staff is very friendly. The location is not my favorite but we will make the treck again the next time we want Ethiopian fare. read more

Overpriced for lunch! I had beef tips with tomatoe fit fit! Good flavor but the beef was a little tough! I've had better!

I had lunch with a friend. The food and service were excellent. If you like Ethiopian food you owe it to yourself to try this.

Visited this place again, this time we got a meat and veggie combination platter and sambusa. It was much easier on the stomach, still delicious. They had already set up the platter when they brought it out which was much better. Service is still pretty lacking (we constantly had to flag our waitress down, the language/cultural barrier presented a bit of an issue when asking about a food allergen, we ordered coffee for 5 people and were brought 4 cups, etc.), but since Abay closed it looks like this is the most conveniently located Ethiopian food for me, still prefer some other places in town but this one isn't bad. read more

Warning for those gluten-intolerant: another reviewer said that there was no wheat in their bread, but our waitress confirmed that is not the case, so they might have changed their recipe. Went there on a Sunday and half the things on the menu were unavailable. The only meat they had was beef, so my wife and I decided to get the 4 vegetable sample platter (they have a 9 sample one, but they were out of the other five, we had no choice in the matter). As others stated, service is pretty sparse. It took a while to get seated, and once she takes your order you won't ever see your waitress again. The food was okay. The bathrooms were kind of gross, and, more importantly, my wife later saw our waitress use the bathroom without washing her hands afterward. Yuck! read more

I've eaten here once. It was good, I have nothing to complain about. Service is good too. It was almost empty when I was there (during a day on Wednesday). read more

Take a trip around the world!!! PSA: there are no utensils! None so mani pre meal okay. Your hands and the spongy unleavened bread will be your fork. Dig in! The food is close to the equator; flavor that packs a punch of intense aroma your sure to not forget! Served family style sharing is everything. We had the beef, chicken, tips and veggies. My favorite by far the veggies total soul food. The lentils, carrots and cabbage absolutely amazing. Decor humble. Plain, and simple. It's in a strip mall so a great lunch option, many locals who stare a bit I would not go alone. It's not "welcoming" to all, a little why are you here vibe. I chalked it up to cultural difference. This vibe (staring from groups of men) docked two stars and a pass on a return. read more