At the Ethiopian restaurant Mesob, owners Naz Mahari and Dawit Kebede bring their traditional cuisine, decor and hospitality to Northcote. There’s also live jazz on weekends.

The menu comprises share platters of spiced lentils and meat stews served on large traditional (and gluten-free) fermented pancakes called injera. Instead of using cutlery, you tear the injera with your hands and use it to scoop the lentils, as if it’s a big edible spoon.

Mesob is Mahari and Kebede’s first restaurant, its name coming from the traditional storage and serving basket for the injera. The low dining tables, ideal for groups of two, are made from these mesobs, while larger groups can dine on the bigger wooden tables.

The bar resembles a typical straw hut you’d find in Ethiopia and the walls are adorned with traditional handicrafts, paintings and statues from Mahari and Kebede’s personal collection as well as other pieces sourced from Ethiopia.

There aren’t many restaurants such as this in Melbourne, where the owners rush to the door to greet you and walk you out at the end to say goodbye.