Meskerem

Since under new management/​owners, the place doesn’t have the quality or the class that I previously received. I ordered the veggie combo, and all it came with was two types of lentils, yellow split peas, and a bland potato concoction. There were no collard greens as the waiter promised. A wilted side salad was included, but it desperately needed help.
Queen of Sheba still rules in my book.

I was very pleased with my visit. From the very start the restaurant ambience is rich in being different and immersion in Ethiopian culture. The server was very kind and explained me even how people eat this food. Got two plates, was a lot of good food and very interesting side spices. I’m glad I came here.

Great food and great service. The new manager Haile was really friendly and helpful, recommending some great dishes and wine. Try the Ethiopian wine, they’re very good, especially the honey wine. Do yourself a favor and ask for the spicy sauces on the side, cuz damn they’re just crazy hot.

Loved the beer, it was awesome, but there was a slight difference of opinion when it came to the food. It isn’t that I don’t appreciate food from different cultures, it just isn’t my cup o’ tea, if that makes sense. Loved the atmosphere and the service and look forward to the new renovations in the basement.

A quiet place. Owner/​operator, Liah, is friendly and helpful. The ketfo is excellent. Make sure you ask for the traditional, uncooked of the beef. Will come here again.

The problem with this place is not the service, it’s the food. One word, microwaves. All the food had similar texture and heat except the injera, it was decent. I have only dined there once and that was enough. I’ll seek out Ethiopian food elsewhere in the future.

Ah another favorite Ethiopian place to now contend for my time when I visit Denver! The staff was very friendly and the food was incredible! Each dish had depth of flavor, rich spices and was freshly made. The beef tibs w/​jalapenos was INCREDIBLE! My only complaint is they only had one type of Ethiopian beer, which if you have the opportunity to try the Hakim Stout, it’s pretty amazing too.

Was here tonight for the second time. Went with a large group of 10. Besides my wife and I, none had had Ethiopian food before. Some were a little hesitant, fearing it would be too exotic or too spicy. You can get spicy dishes but many are not. The food is superb and not at all unusual, just really good!
Very pleasant atmosphere, faster service than other Ethiopian restaurants we’ve been to and the food is excellent. This is our go-​to place for excellent and authentic Ethiopian food in Denver!

The food was amazing! The place had lovely furnishings, comfortable seating and friendly atmosphere. I have been to about 3 or 4 other Ethiopian restaurants were I was disappointed either with the atmosphere or the service or just too cramped or odd seating. This one had great everything!
The only thing I wished was that I’d brought more friends with me to enjoy the experience! The food was flavorful and just spicy enough. We were served with a smile and quickly. The honey wine was nice and chilled. The veggie combo was fantastic! And the lamb was juicy and delicious!
Easy to find on Peoria and Mississippi. I was there on a Friday around 8:30pm with a few friends and was shocked that there weren’t more people there! It should be found! Find it! Go there! Eat there!

Selam! And say hello to Aurora’s newest culinary hotspot, Meskerem. Conveniently located on the southwest corner of Peoria and Mississippi, this fabulous find will soon become your go-​to place for edibles from the East African nation of Eritrea!
(Now, before you ask — no, this place is no relation to the long-​closed café on East Colfax with the same name. That was Ethiopian, and Meskerem is a very popular woman’s name in both countries).
Plop yourself down at a table — yes they even have the circular wicker-​topped ones known as Mesob if you’d like to eat in a more traditional fashion (stop slouching!) — and have a look at the menu. To start, you could try a couple slices of the soft, lightly-​spiced bread known as Hambasha, sided with the zesty sauce called Awaze (usually made by combining the multi-​purpose spice paste Berbere with honey wine, known in Tigrinya as Mies). Then again, the lentil salad Azifa, rich with ginger and Senafitch [native mustard] is always a palate-​pleaser.
As tempting as it might be to fill up on starters, don’t forget about main courses either! The meat/​tomato/​onion stirfry called Tibse is one of Eritrea’s national dishes, and perhaps unsurprisingly, Meskerem offers several versions, like Goden (with beef shortribs) and Zilzil (with strips of steak) just to name a couple. But perhaps you’d like to try the combination called Misto which, true to its name (a nod to Eritrea’s Italian heritage) offers you a beef dish, then ups the ante with a lamb one, giving you even more delicious choices. Vegetarians and vegans, don’t fret! They’ve got you covered too, with dishes like ‘Ater Alicha, made with creamy yellow split peas, and Hamli, with soft, earthy collard greens.
And if you’re an early bird, you’ll just love the breakfast menu, with outstanding offerings such as Quanta Firfir (dried beef stewed in tomato sauce, then mixed with the fermented flatbread variously known as Taita or Injera), and Kinche (cracked wheat liberally dappled with spiced clarified butter). In another homage to Italy, there’s even a frittata available.
So embark on an East African excursion at Meskerem. I can pretty much guarantee that your first visit won’t be your last.