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Restaurant

MESOB

213 High St, Northcote VIC 3070, Australia

Recommended by 54 people

Updated

Find MESOB

213 High St, Northcote VIC 3070, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 9489 6952
HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: 5:30 – 9:30 PM Wednesday: 5:30 – 9:30 PM Thursday: 5:30 – 9:30 PM Friday: 5:30 – 9:30 PM Saturday: 5:30 – 9:30 PM Sunday: Closed

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About MESOB

Northcote regulars head to Mesob for sprawling Ethiopian platters meant to be torn apart and shared by hand. Cutlery stays off the table here—spiced lamb, slow-simmered chicken, and yellow lentils arrive pooled over fermented, tangy injera that doubles as your scoop. First-timers get a quick, warm breakdown of traditional eating rituals from the floor staff, while large tables easily split orders between dedicated Herbivore and Omnivore spreads. Meals settle in over glasses of sweet honey wine and spiced shai tea in a packed, lively dining room on High Street.

  • Traditional hand-scooped dining: Spiced stews, curries, and lentils are served across spongy, fermented injera, designed entirely for tearing and scooping by hand.
  • Balanced share platters: Generous combination platters accommodate plant-based diners, meat lovers, and gluten-free eaters on single shared spreads.
  • Attentive cultural guidance: Welcoming floor staff proactively demonstrate eating rituals and walk newcomers through unfamiliar spice profiles.
RestaurantEthiopianAfricanRestaurant

What's On at MESOB

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Reasons to Choose MESOB

Why diners gather around communal platters at MESOB in Northcote

  • Communal Hand-Eating on Injera

    Dining at Mesob centers on communal platters served on fermented injera bread, encouraging diners to connect tactilely and share rich, spiced dishes without cutlery.

    There’s something about tearing injera with your bare hands, eating the way humans have eaten for thousands of years, that strips out every pretence and just leaves you with the food, your hands, and the person across the table.

    Ronald M

  • Tactile, Shared Feasting Rituals

    The shared platter style brings tables together, turning dinner into a memorable, participatory feast where friends and family can sample varied dishes together.

    There really is something special about eating with your hands!

    Sandra Kontopoulos

  • Guided Cultural Dining Orientation

    Waitstaff take time to orient first-time guests to Ethiopian dining customs, demonstrating how to handle injera and pair it with traditional curries.

    Our waiter was so friendly and took the time to explain the dishes to us as it was our first time and showed us the traditional way they eat it.

    Maria Chong

  • Accessible Cultural Discovery

    Mesob is a welcoming destination to introduce newcomers to Ethiopian culinary traditions thanks to a patient team and an exciting group-friendly format.

    Mesob is one of those restaurants I’ve taken a lot of people to because introducing it to others is exciting and fun.

    Madelyn E

  • Balanced Herbivore and Omnivore Platters

    Structured combination share platters allow plant-based eaters and meat lovers to dine together harmoniously, sampling a diverse spectrum of dishes.

    The diverse menu gave herbivores and carnivores plenty to choose from. We ordered the Herbivore Platter.

    Joanne Lung

  • Effortless Group Dietary Accommodation

    The kitchen accommodates diverse dietary requirements, including reassuring gluten-free options and generous portions that leave entire groups satisfied.

    The team were super friendly and patient and so accommodating to all our dietary needs.

    Anna Nicolson

Signature Ethiopian platters and staples enjoyed communally by hand

  • Omnivore Platter

    We ordered the omnivore platter and every bite was rich, soulful, and deeply satisfying , beautifully spiced dishes served on soft injera that brought everything together perfectly.

    Sayali

  • Herbivore Platter

    Instead of getting only 3 or 4 of the vegetarian dishes, we got to sample a bit of everything. Loved how they laid out the platter so that we could eat together with that community feeling but had our own corner to mess up.

    Joanne Lung

  • Injera

    I fell in love with the lamb based side, as well as how thoroughly I enjoyed how soft and effective the Injera was at moping up exactly what I wanted to eat.

    Alessandro Maciel Pizzorno Bazzo

  • Sambosas

    We ordered the omnivore platter for 2 as well as the sambosas. Both were incredibly delicious and ordering the platter allowed us to try various curries.

    Nicole C

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful, hospitable gestures that elevate traditional communal dining in Northcote

  • Hands-On Eating Orientation

    Servers personally guide first-time guests through traditional dining customs, demonstrating hands-on techniques for tearing injera to scoop curries and dips without cutlery.

  • Personalized Tabletop Celebrations

    Staff create heartfelt celebration moments by presenting complimentary birthday tarts complete with a candle and joining the table in song.

  • Attentive Dietary Reassurance

    Servers provide patient, reassuring guidance for dietary needs, accommodating gluten-free guests with teff-based injera on communal share platters.

  • Thoughtful Table Ambiance & Shai

    Staff offer deliberate, personalized touches to set the room's mood, from hand-lighting table candles to introducing aromatic Ethiopian shai tea.

Before you head over

Essential advice for planning your visit, dining communally, and navigating the menu

  • Book in Advance to Avoid Turnaways

    Even on weeknights and weekends, Mesob frequently books out completely. Reserve a table in advance online to secure your spot rather than risking a walk-in at the door.

  • Embrace Traditional Hand-Eating

    Meals are traditionally served on injera flatbread without cutlery. First-time visitors can rely on the welcoming staff to explain the dishes and demonstrate traditional hand-eating techniques.

  • Navigate Dietary Needs with Share Platters

    Dining groups can split into dedicated Herbivore or Omnivore combination platters, with gluten-free teff injera available upon request for diners with dietary restrictions.

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