Black Garlic Restaurant & Rum Bar

Tried this place for restaurant week. They were obviously not prepared for restaurant week. To me it seemed that they overbooked everything. They had a $65 4 course dinner menu. Horrible service. Had a reservation for 7:30 but did not sit at a table until 8:30. Sat at the table for 30 minutes before we even ordered our food. Our waiter said to us as we sat down that she was going to handle our drinks due to us waiting for such a long time but when we got the bill she had included the drinks. She then tried to say that she did not say that but then remembered what she said and took the drinks off. The portions were horrible for the price we paid. Food was cold at times and took forever to come out. The butternut squash bisque was cold. My friend had to reorder and all they did was warm it up. All the way around not a good experience. I would not recommend to try this place. Update: it's 1:25pm 01/14 the next day after. I just got off the phone with the restaurant. I was calling to complain about my night and how the service was. I spoke with a manager by the name of Mary. At least that's what she told me her name was. She told me basically it was my fault the restaurant was busy and they had nowhere to sit me. She didn't want to hear about my complaint and rushed me off the phone. All in all they were not prepared for restaurant week. Service was horrible and when speaking with a manager(Mary) the next day I was still disappointed with her response. Horrible horrible experience

This is the 2nd time I’ve went to this restaurant, and I could tell how they felt about me (an American black woman) versus the white customers. My first experience was prior to the name change and it was just like last nights experience. I went again on my bday after the change and it was awesome. TikTok my whole experience and gave them a shout out. So I thought I was safe. Last night I went during restaurant week literally on a humbug. I normally would get an appetizer, cocktail and leave. I had to order all of my food at once, the $65, 4 course meal. I sat at the bar which means the staff was constantly in my face but overlooking me. I had to order and wait for 4 items. Restaurant week my ass!!! Everything took forever and I don’t understand, why my shit was on back order, when it’s only 4 options on the entre list. My first was a small crab cake I ate rather fast cause it was small. I was never offered explained or told about the rum and I was literally sitting at the rum bar. I finally asked for the rest to go. That’s 3 items, they come bk with 1 to go box. I watched them damn near run to patronize everyone else as I waited forever for everything. Idc how many times you change your name if the service is always bad. The food was cool but the cake was hard and old so I didn’t eat it

The way the staff immediately greeted us with warm smiling faces was an instant treat. Especially our server, Terri! As an appetizer, we had the jerk chicken bao. I cannot stress this enough, you have to try it. The combination of flavors are absolutely explosive! My wife ordered the shrimp tibs with the red lentils, and I ordered the shekla tibs with collard greens. My wife loved her lentils, and they spices with her shrimp tibs! I thought the collard greens were done to perfection, and could not love my choice of the shekla tibs any more. If you are in or visiting the Kansas City area, this place is a must try!!

Out of this world food. My wife and I started with the jerk chicken bao buns. That sauce with the crispy onions with the Jerk chicken was a flavor bomb to the palate. It was divine. For my main I ordered the beef tibs. The Injera topped with the beef tenderloin and the spices took my mouth on a ride of deliciousness. My wife ordered the coconut curry shrimp dish. Amazing! So much flavor. For dessert we shared the mango cheesecake. Again another flavor explosion. The chef is a genius and I can’t urge you enough to visit this restaurant. The waitress was very sweet and gave great recommendations. I will be coming back to try more of this heavenly food.

Pur whole evening exceeded expectations. We brought a group and reswrved a table for my husbands birthday. I had to adjusy b our party size also and had no issues. We had a great experience! The employee that took care of us, Teri (unsure of spelling so apologies if it is way off) truly made our evening memorable and brought a ton of great energy and recommendations from the menu. From their vegan choices to meat entrée there was not a single thing that wasn't exquisite. Get the passion fruit cheesecake! We made some of their signature drinks mocktails also!

The coconut curry shrimp was soupy and I really didn't taste the curry. The caribbean fritters were delicious. The casa poloma drink was on point.

First time trying Ethiopian food and it was a delight! The menu and waitstaff made everything feel friendly and accessible. The food was spicy and wonderful! Would definitely return to try more plates.

We went there after 9 pm. We were seated at once. The server was very friendly, efficient & courteous. The food was fantastic. The chef pays attention to presentation. The Fried conch appetizer was delish --tender yet crispy. The 2 sauces, Chipotle & Cilantro made sharp contrasts, yet, fused together. The Jamaican style goat curry stew was tender & full of flavor. The Ethiopian lamb wth injera was yummy as well. My only reservation would be the lump of yellow lentils. The Purple Yam Cheese Cake was amazing + we had couple glasses of S African wines (Chenin Blanc & Malbec) to complement the food. Overall, a great dining experience. 👍🏽👍🏽

Three of us went following a performance, so our reservation was for 8:00 and the restaurant was not crowded. Service was prompt and friendly. I love the upholstered and comfortable, warm seating! For starters, a friend ordered an Old Fashion, smoked and made with Rum. As a faithful and unwavering wine drinker, even I was converted to sip the Caribbean cocktail! We enjoyed chicken, salmon, and vegetarian entrees, savory and spicy, all delicious, complex, and so very flavorful! To top off the dinners, we shared an upside down pineapple, chocolate, rum cake. It was warm, gooey, and complemented by ice cream, just fabulous. And that's pretty much the one word description! Fabulous!

First off, I've NEVER seen a restaurant with both Ethiopian and Caribbean - how unique! The menu is split into two sections, so we decided to order a main dish from each. Started out with the jerk chicken bao, which was sweet and spicy, topped with pickled and fried onions. The sauce had a nice kick and the chicken was very tender. For our mains, we chose the salmon tibs (side of cabbage and red lentils, served with injera), and grilled red snapper (which came with fried plantains and black rice). The portions were huge! We all loved the snapper the most and thought the accompanying rice was incredible - it had a vaguely coconut-y aroma and was super fluffy. I personally thought the red lentils were one of the best parts of the whole meal (kinda "warm" spices, so perfect for fall). The restaurant is pretty big and could use a little renovation/update, but we were comfy in our booth and thought the decor was cute. Our server was super sweet and gave great recommendations. All around great experience!

The Food is good. Ambiance is nice. The favorite staples were not available and that kind of make you unsure what to order.

This was definitely one of the poorest restaurant experiences for us in Kansas City. We (2 adults and 2 small kids) were there on a Saturday evening and it was complete chaos, starting with the host all the way down to every waitress. We waited over 20 minutes after being seated to get some water. About 15 minutes in, I flagged down a waitress and she literally said "your waitress will be here soon" and walked away. Our waitress came and dropped off water and ran away without even giving me a chance to order anything. When she came back 10 minutes later (30 min after seating), we put in our drinks, apps and dinner together cause by then I had enough time to study the menu, I could have gotten a PhD in it. I got my rum cocktail (apparently their specialty) 45 minutes after being seated by the hostess. That is straight up ridiculous. Another 20 minutes later the food came. No sign of appetizer though! But these food items were hastily dropped off by random server, who left faster than the time it took my brain to process what was happening. My wife's fish tasted worse than the worst frozen dinner I have had. My beef dish was okay, but nothing to write home about. My daughter ordered a side Mac & Cheese and that was the best item of the evening. Still no appetizer. We were all done eating in 10 minutes as none of us really wanted to finish our food. By this point, my 2 year old had enough of sitting there and I just wanted to leave. It had been 1hr and 45min and still no sign of appetizer. I managed to flag our waitress down once more and she acted surprised apps weren't here. I told her to cancel it and I don't want it and just get me the receipt. Then 5 min later, another waitress dropped off the appetizer and our waitress dropped off the bill, INCLUDING the app charge. I was so done at this point, I gave a 10% tip (9% too much) and left. To the restaurant: please don't take that many reservations if you can't handle that many people. Also, please train your waitresses to be more pleasant and attentive. Your price points are not low. So folks expect that level of service.

The food here is phenomenal! The menu is very different and full of flavorful options. Our server was a delight. She was very knowledgeable about the menu and full of suggestions and her true opinions. I felt sorry for her however, because the restaurant filled up and I don't think they had the wait staff to handle the large number of customers. This made service slow, but we weren't in a hurry so it was fine. The only downside of our evening at this delightful restaurant came from the bar. One of the beers ordered at our table was pretty warm. The other beers that came out of the bar were only 2/3 full. Domestic drafts are $7, so getting only 2/3 is pretty disappointing. All in all we enjoyed our evening and will be back. We will likely just avoid the draft beer and make sure to come at a less busy time.

Great local spot. Fantastic service and atmosphere. Had the chicken jambalaya and the beef tibs; both were very flavorful and seasoned well. My only knock would be that it's a little on the pricy side, but definitely worth it while supporting a local/authentic restaurant.

We had a group of 25 people from my company and we had relatively a last minute dinner here. This established was one of the few places that took our party size with a short notice so we were pretty happy about it. We were in the area for a national convention and booked ~2-3 hours prior. We arrived to a very pleasant and welcoming staff. The food and drink menu options were great with both Caribbean and Ethiopian dishes. It took us a while to choose but we had almost all the appetizer options and we each had a good representation ordered from the menu. Everyone commented on how happy they were with their meals and drinks. I had run punch and fried snapper. Yum!

Was looking forward to eating here and it truly did not disappoint. I'm from Florida so it's hard to find good quality seafood places in KC but I was very impressed here. To start I had to go with the "Lambi" which was another word for conch fritters and it was sensational. I have yet to find another place that serves conch fritters and these were fresh, the breading had great flavor and crunch, and to tie everything together an amazing pesto sauce on one side and a chipotle mayo on the other 9/10. We also did the jerk chicken bao buns which had great flavor and presentation I love spicy foods but make sure you like spice because jerk seasoning does kick. The buns weren't as good or soft as other asian eateries I've been too but still good nonetheless 8/10. Then for entrees we had the shrimp and grits which was fantastic. The gravy and shrimp was really good and the grits were cooked perfectly 8.5/10. Lastly the star of the show was the whole fried red snapper creole style which comes with plantains and mushroom rice. This was fresh, juicy and had the most amazing sauce when you order it creole style. 9.5/10. Only downside was the service as I'm still not sure who my waiter was, our waters were empty most of the time, and they never came by when we finished our drinks to ask if we wanted another round but whenever someone came to the table they were very friendly and responsive if not for that 5 stars. Will definitely be back to try the oxtail and more next time!

We took a take out meal with these items: Chicken Jambalaya - chicken, smoked beef sausage and veggies in a Cajun broth with a rice pilaf -- phenomenal!!! Shrimp & Grits - blackened shrimp, creamy smoked gouda in the grits with veggies and a creole sauce -- I don't know if another S&G could ever compare to this one! Broadway Chicken - roasted halved chicken, mashed potatoes, greens beans, sweet peppers, brussel sprouts, with a delicious reduction -- delicious!! Chef Bites appetizer - fried chicken bites tossed in house ginger rum glaze and plantain shoestrings. So good!! We ordered easily through their online ordering platform. We were wondering why a normal menu item wasn't available to order, but as it turns out, they were out of that item for that day, and their online ordering platform had been updated! We thought that was great that they were that current. Our meal was ready within 10 to 15 minutes, very speedy! Everything was absolutely amazing! Quite the celebration we had!

Tried this place on my recent trip to Kansas city. If you are tired of eating all the bbq this place is good for some light tasty meals. We tried their vege and beef options. All servings are good for sharing too. The decor of place and ambiance was really nice. Plenty of parking in the back of building. Staff is very helpful and friendly.

Mmm the food is so tasty here! Everything I tried was extremely flavorful and rich, you really can't go wrong ordering anything off the menu. I got the oxtails and they were super savory. The mushroom rice is lovely, and I tried some fried plantains off my friend's plate - absolutely divine. I'll be dreaming of those for a while! Sadly it seems like they're a little understaffed at the moment because things took just a bit longer to get going than they should. I also think the options are a little overpriced, but at least I enjoyed the food. I'd eat here again though to try something off the Ethiopian side of the menu!

Location: Uptown. Across the street from the theater. Ambiance: indoor seating. Fancy place. You can bring a date. Food: The food here is delicious, ethiopian, and Caribbean options. We tried the ethiopian sample and was delicious. This place is slightly pricier than Elsa's or blue Nile. Injera was good, but I personally liked it more from the other ethiopian restaurants. Service: Excellent.

sooo it's a rum bar that's already a win! I might be biased because i worked here but the food has really opened doors for my palate, i was very grateful to work here for that reason. some of the best shrimp and grits in KC hands down! amazing ethiopian food packed with flavor all around. low light restaurant with music which is great to set a vibe. service can be a hit or miss as it is anywhere.

Super good whole fried flounder dish! The best in KC! Service was ok, friendly but slow. Maybe it's because there was couple of birthday gathering. Other than that it was good.

The low key, run down very unassuming exterior hides the restaurant that's waiting inside. I expected a beer and food joint, not that's that bad, but I got a an upscale restaurant with some very interesting menu items. We stopped here when we went to see the Ringo concert. The cocktails were inventive and excellent. The food was great. We had Plantain boat, spicy chicken, and Oreo bread pudding to name a few. It was very good. Service was excellent. Decor was great and the place was well kept. Prices were on the high side, but you did get a decent serving and some unique full flavored food. We really enjoyed this experience.

Mesob has been on my radar for a long time. I first experienced their cuisine at a Yelp event a couple of years ago & it was absolutely delicious.

I came for a fun and unique large group dinner of 18+ people to celebrate a joint one of a kind food experience Bachelorette party. Mesob is Carribean and Ethiopian cuisine within walking distance of Westport. The restaurant had far in advance notice of this large party but the seating arrangement seemed a tad bit awkward but overall service, food, and atmosphere experience was delightful. Our waitress was on top of everything by being very attentive to our large group's wants/ needs. She took our drink orders without any issues and there never seemed to be confusion which I've experienced in the past when dining with at least 10+ppl. The food was family style served and pre-picked by both of the brides-to-be. I loved everything and felt everyone was able to enjoy at least multiple things even with dietary restrictions among some of the guests. Below are the family style food items, - Avocado Salad with baby arugula tossed in mango vinaigrette dressing with cherries tomatoes, fresh avocado slices, candied walnuts, seasonal berries, and feta cheese - Vegetarian Platter of a combination of red lentils, yellow lentils, collard greens, and potato cabbage - Chicken Jambalaya - blackened chicken breast | smoked beef sausage | bell peppers | celery | onions | tomatoes| cajun-spices broth | rice pilaf - Vegan Paella - arborio rice | saffron broth | squash | baby spinach | brussel sprouts sweet peas | sun-dried tomatoes | green beans | fennels | sofrito - Lamb Tibs - boneless lamb sautéed in a blend of house spices, clarified herb butter, onions, garlic, jalapenos, and tomatoes

This is my second time trying Mesob, and the food is ok overall. We started with the Caribbean fritters, which were well cooked and tasty. I had the Vegetarian Platter while my husband had the beef tibbs. The vegetarian platter which boasts an array of vegetarian Ethiopian staples was plentiful but not tasty. The flavors were bland with little complexity. I've gone to every Ethiopian restaurant in KC and I'd say Mesob lands higher than Albo's but lower than Blue Nile. Our server was pleasant, but painfully slow. We had to keep prompting her to notice issues to resolve at our table: More water, missing silverware and the clearing of plates. The ambiance is unique and lovely.

Being 100% transparent, this was my first experience with Ethiopian cuisine. I wasn't sure what to expect and I have nothing to compare my experience to, so my opinions could change in the future but for now we're going with five stars. They have lots of rum and rum cocktails and they all sounded delicious. I went with the rum punch. It's Bacardi Gold rum, orange, pineapple and lime juices, Grenadine, Angostura Bitters. It was really good and that cherry garnish was chefs kiss. My dining companions ordered the painkiller- Appleton Estate Signature, Bacardi Gold, pineapple, orange juices, Coco Real. Nutmeg, and I was able to try a sip. It reminded me of a pina colada and was also a good choice. We started with the Avocado salad-Baby arugula tossed in mango vinaigrette dressing with cherries tomatoes, fresh avocado slices, candied walnuts, blueberries, and feta cheese. It was a really good salad, everything was fresh and tasty but the description and what we received didn't quite match up. There were exactly 2 cherry tomatoes in the entire salad but there was at least a half an avocado so that evens out. The candied walnuts were actually almonds and the blueberries were dried cranberries. The substitute ingredients didn't throw off the salad and I didn't feel like it was a huge deal. Mesob is actually a Caribbean fusion restaurant and they do offer Caribbean entrees but we decided to go the Ethiopian route. We ordered the lamb tibs-Boneless lamb sautéed in a blend of house spices, clarified herb butter, onions, garlic, jalapenos, and tomatoes and paired it with red lentils and collard greens. It comes with Injeri bread to eat and soak up the juices. The lamb was tender and delicious. The spices were perfectly balanced and reminded me of Indian cuisine. The red lentils were also good and a little spicy. I'm not a huge fan of collard greens but my dining companion said they were good. The bread is different but it served it's purpose. It did get a bit soggy from the greens so in the future I would order extra bread to make up for any soggy bits. Our table also ordered the coconut curry shrimp but I was not able to try it. It looked good though. Overall it was the perfect introduction into Ethiopian cuisine and I can't wait to go back to try more food!

Visited this restaurant during Restaurant Week and it was my first venture into Ethiopian cuisine. Opted for the four-course meal - the initial two courses were delightful, but the latter two didn't quite win me over to Ethiopian flavors. The staff was friendly, the atmosphere was pleasant, but the service was notably slow, understandable given the Restaurant Week rush.

So good! Make sure you grab a reservation before you jaunt to Mesob. There's a reason they're popular. We stopped in for 2023 restaurant week and got to try a little bit of a lot of things. Snagged some photos of our favorites: Chicken Jambalaya and Vegetarian Platter. The misor wat at just the right spice and the jamba was Huge! Ethiopian cuisine is in my top 5 craves and this food really hit the spot!

This place is great. They recently moved into the old Crabs On Broadway building but it's super nice in here. We tried the restaurant week menu and it's very good. The Shrimp & Grits were better, but the beef tibs were really great as well. The drinks are definitely delicious and I highly recommend the Rhum Punch and the Pain Killers are tasty.

OMG -- they served pork tacos tonight that were outstanding and I think the hit of the party I can't wait to go back and try everything they have on their menu for restaurant week and beyond !!! Just attended the VIP kickoff for Kansas City restaurant week. what a great event hosted our local J Rieger & Monogram = beautiful location -- in addition the restaurants that were showcased were fabulous I love the new KC Cajun restaurant Mesop's tacos were fantastic!! I loved chatting with chef Andrew from Loews, can't wait to try more of his creations. Bamboo Penny . Kudos to too Sysco great chow!!!

We have eaten there twice, and both times had really good food and service. We started our meals with the lambi, which is a fried conch and it was delicious! My husband absolutely loves their chicken jambalaya! He claims it is the best he has ever had, anywhere and he ordered it both times! I have had both the house chicken and the coconut curry shrimp. You can't go wrong with either choice, but I think I liked the coconut curry shrimp best. On our second visit there, we took a friend and she had the beef tibs. That was interesting since none of us had had tibs before. We both wanted to sample from her plate, and she was nice enough to let us. The beef tenderloin strips were very tasty but I am not a fan of the Ethiopian flatbread. Overall, both of our visits were great! It is a bit pricey, which is the only reason we do not go there more often.

Was craving a quick Caribbean vibe. This time was a treat! The atmosphere is upscale with bar seating and reservations are suggested. The service is professional. The fusion of Ethiopian and Haitian "Caribbean" is a plus. Our order consisted of 2(Pork Griyo) 1(Grilled Snapper) & 2(Rum Punches). The portions are decent, for the price of the items I would (Prefer MORE RICE & Sauce). The food is Made to order, so if you don't mind waiting (Wait). While waiting on the food I used the restroom and the cleanness is top tier. Check Them Out

So I've been really looking forward to trying this place because it had come really recommended from friends - - and it didn't disappoint! Service was great and the food was also fantastic. Two friends and I went to Mesob on a Friday, so we made reservations easily online--I never got a confirmation email but I called and they had me on the list. While it wasn't super busy on this particular Friday, it's not a huge place so maybe better safe than sorry! We decided to split a few things so that we all could get some tastes of a bunch of items! We got a couple of cocktails--I got the mojito on the menu, and it was great and super flavorful! For dinner, we split one Caribbean entrée (salmon, shrimp, and potatoes dish) and one Ethiopian dish (vegetarian combination platter). Both entrées were fantastic, and I especially loved the flavors of the Ethiopian platter. Even with three of us, we had some leftovers, so while it wasn't a huge amount of food, it was a good size for sharing if you're up for that! Our server was amazing, and she was super helpful with recommendations since none of us had been there. She was also super patient as it took us some time to figure out what to get! After ordering, she was the right amount of attentive and I really appreciate when people strike that balance. Overall - - I'm looking forward to going back for a nice occasion!

Love love love this place! Ever since it's opening this place has put out good food, drinks and service. The wait staff here is always impressive and welcoming. The food is exceptional! The menu consists of Ethiopian and Caribbean fare. The Meat Combo, Shrimp Tibs, Rum Selection, and Doro Tibs are must haves. This evening I had the Jerk Rib Plate that comes with Parmesan fries and spicy slaw. If you are in to potent flavors with a little bit of kick you will enjoy this masterpiece. You get a half slab of smoked flavorful ribs with crispy fries sprinkled generously with a simple seasoning and Parmesan mix. A spicy vinaigrette slaw joins the mix on this platter as well. Try a Rum flight from their notable rum bar you won't be disappointed. This place has space for large and small parties. Make a reservation now, they book up fast.

Wow I was so impressed by this place!!! So delicious. Wow. On the pricy side but definitely worth it. We got the lamb i appetizer, which is conch, I've never had that before. It's pretty chewy, seemed similar to calamari. It was delicious. Omg. The green sauce was soooo good. Wow. Great way to start. Then I got the oxtail main dish. Holy moly. That was so amazing. Wow. And huge portion as well. Oxtail does have a big bone in it but it's fun sucking that bone clean haha. And wow the taste was just *chefs kiss*. Delicious place!!!

Amazing appetizer and the sauce it came with was light and full of so much flavor! We had the Doro Tibs and Oxtail. Both meals came out beautifully, plenty of food to leave full, with possible leftovers! Our waitress was very patient with it being our first time, and took time to genuinely suggest drink options. Although very good yet a tad over priced in our opinion. The place was very clean and nicely laid out plenty of space to comfortably enjoy your time there.

This place is great! We went early and brought our young kid. She really liked the plantains. Our food was great and the rum flights were even better!

Relaxing background music. Beautiful table settings. Excellent service. We had the Oxtail entree ( hard to find anywhere in KC) with rice, peas and potatoes with a rich broth which was absolutely rich and delicious!!

The red snapper was So good! I've never heard it prepared that way! The plantains were on the harder side (i personally prefer them soft), but they were still yummy! I cannot remember what the rounds were but they were really good , perfect appetizer! I didn't like the sauce, not because it wasnt good but because I'm not a fan of cilantro, but this would be amazing to cilantro lovers! Will be trying it again

If you are Muslim or vegan do not eat here. Anything fried is cooked in the same oil as the griot (pork). I was working here and was fired because the food made me sick not once but twice, after expressing my religious preference and that I did not eat pork numerous times. The owner Chevron said to me "that was not why you're sick." And the wife majirah stated that they only cbange the oil once or twice a week. Besides this the other food is great, but the owners are rude to customers and employees.

Exquisitely delicious vegan food! We loved every bite and the mocktails, too! I am definitely going back.

H50 2nd Annual Girls Weekend last day before the airport! We ALL were more than pleasantly surprised by the cuisine! Best way to end a fabulous weekend!

We just had the best service and meal! The house chicken and mashed sweet potatoes was amazing!

The food is delicious. I've had the beef tibs, Cajun seafood pasta, bread pudding, etc. and it's always amazing. Flavorful and fresh, flavors that aren't common elsewhere in the Kansas City area. However, I have experienced rudeness from the main server on several occasions. If the server was better then it would be 5 stars!

If you haven't had Ethiopian food, you've got to try it! My wife and I had a very nice date night here and really want to come back for their Taco Tuesday sometime soon. The food is flavorful and has a home-cooked feel and the service was excellent. I think I might enjoy the dishes I've had at Elsa's Ethiopian slightly more, but Mesob has more varied options, so both places are worth trying!

Great food. Very chill atmosphere with great staff. Reminded me of the Caribbean fare I had while in Trinidad. Will definitely be back.

Very unique with international cuisines. The food was fresh and made to order. Friendly service and nice quiet restaurant.

I'm a full-time Uber driver and have dropped a bunch of people off here, all saying the same things. I went a month ago or so but there was a long line at the door and opted for the Caribbean restaurant a few doors down. Everything about this place is amazing. The FOOD I'd never had lentils before so I was a little afraid, but I would've eaten a whole plate! I didn't care for the cabbage but it's not that it wasn't made right. I'm sure, to the right person, it is delicious. I was feeling safe enough and opted for medium level risk side dish. The FEELING I moved to Kansas City a couple of months ago after living in the suburbs for most of my adult life. It made me realize how burnout I was on all the non-creative standardized white people food. Here's a little rum bar with excellent staff and a sweet and savory vibe. It's the same restaurant your grandparents would have crashed for a 25-year anniversary celebration. It's just the right amount of conversation. No hushed tones, but also nothing outlandish. Bartender was super cool and you should tip him well #Minnesota One small critique... You lovely people, please put yellow and black highlighted safety strip at the little janky half-step leading to the restroom. I wasn't drunk and I'm not a drinker, but I would imagine a few people have tripped up and down, maybe in the same evening. Never leave. I'll be back with friends!

SO GOOD! My husband and I got the jerk shrimp appetizer, seafood jambalaya, and the tibs sampler with lamb, chicken, beef and the greens and red lentils. First - definitely get something from the Caribbean side and the Ethiopian side - so fun to try such different food. Second - be prepared for the most flavorful food of your LIFE! The staff were wonderful, and the waitress actually made the recommendation for our meal. When in doubt - ask the staff! We will definitely be back. Sorry for the lack of pictures - as soon as the food was set down it was on our forks :)

Tried Mesob for the first time last night and overall had a great time - the space is nicely done and the menu large and varied. Our server was friendly and generally on top of things. The majority of our group enjoyed their food, although there were some inconsistencies. Our chicken bites appetizer was a big hit with all six of us, great flavor. Then I started with the butternut squash bisque which was completely fantastic, so it was disappointing to follow it up with crabcakes that seemed largely free of crab (and flavor). My husband loved his seafood paella and my son enjoyed his beef tibs. But the pacing was weirdly off. There were six in our party and one person got their meal easily 15 minutes ahead of everybody else, and another quite a bit later than the rest of us, which always throws off the vibe a bit? I would be completely willing to try Mesob again and order a different entree, may have just been an off night on the timing - and it would be nice to see something survive in this location too.

This place is really nice! Excellent service, huge bar selection, and the food is incredible! I had the Beef tibs with the red lentils and the potatoes and cabbage.. loved it! My friend got the shrimp coconut curry and I tried it, really great as well!! Can't wait to come back!

Terrific dinner and comfortable dining room. We enjoyed entrees from both sides of the menu, carribean and Ethiopean. The pork shoulder, tilapia, and Shiro all were delicious and well portioned. We also enjoyed a pleasant spiced rum to cap our meal. We look forward to returning.

Every time I go back it's even better. We've dialed in our favorites -- the Ingudai Mushroom Tibbs with red lentil miser wot and yellow chick pea SHIRO and the fried pork Griyo (nooom). Then we take our vegan family and they let us try the vegan paella, and it's delicious! The rice alone with whatever the sauce is... Just fantastic. A surprisingly vegan friendly spot and a nice place for dinner out. Love the decor and service that makes it seem upscale but not snobby.

This is technically a 4.5 rating on this Caribbean-Ethiopian restaurant. I subtracted 1/2 star due to the length of time it took for our server's arrival. But once she arrived, service was attentive. We were seated right away. I went straight to my entrée on the Ethiopian menu: shrimp tibs. Shrimp sautéed in berbere, herb butter, onions, garlic, tomatoes and jalapeños. Jalapeños? Didn't expect that. Sides were the salad and collard greens. NO complaints about the food. Awesome flavors. Presented on injera. Highly recommended. I will return.

MESOB WAS EXCELLENT! The food presentation was 10/10 spiced to perfection, hot AND tasty. I got the oxtail, with a side of cabbage and potatoes and yellow lentils. I also had the TEJ wine, there's was definitely homemade in comparisons to the others that I've had which were more sweet than savory. The service was quick, however I did go on a slower night. The ambiance was beautiful. Would definitely recommend this restaurant for the Caribbean and Ethiopian food lovers. Needless to say the plates didn't stand a chance. They were scraped clean!

The food was amazing! For starters we got the jerk shrimp and it was really good! I ordered dinner off the Ethiopian side and got the lamb tibs. My husband got the Cajun seafood pasta and he ate it all! We both really liked our food. The drinks were strong and good! I think our server was new but some of the other staff members helped out and we had a great dinner.