Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant

We had a good experience at BN. The food was the best Ethiopian food we've had. We chose the variety of vegetarian options, and most were tasty. There was one or two that we thought was a bit weird tasting, but overall liked it. The staff seem happy to instruct you how to eat the food without utensils and make it less intimidating. It was also reasonably priced. Cons: can't think of any more

This was the first Ethiopian restaurant I ever went to. The waiter was very kind and explained what everything was on the menu. I have only have the vegetarian sampler platter, which is big enough for two. Large bar area and I believe they also have concerts downstairs. This is the ultimate spot to bring your friends to try something new. Just a couple blocks from the light rail on Franklin. I have always had great food and good service here. From what I can remember their soda is flat, and that is the only thing wrong/unusual for this place. Pros: Friendly Staff, Great Food, Blocks from Light Rail Cons: Tacky decor more

My friends and I were looking to try Ethiopian food for the first time. We had all heard of the Blue Nile before, so we decided to give it a try. We were a bit confused by one of our dishes, but the food was great none-the-less. It had a distinct flavor, and the experience was an adventure. The service was friendly, and the ambience was great. Pros: Ambience, adventure Cons: Not for the picky eater more

A friend from out of town and I went to the Blue Nile for a late dinner--I appreciate that they are open until 10 on a Wednesday! This was my first time at this restaurant. They have some very good tap beers available featuring several Surly and Bell beers. My friend is Vegan and was pleased to see that there were 8 vegetarian items on the menu, and our server verified with the kitchen that 6 could be prepared Vegan. Unfortunately, a bit got lost in the translation and her order still came with a dollop of sour cream on the bread, but it was easy enough to remove and set aside and she said the rest of her meal was excellent. I ordered the Qurxummii, which is a shrimp and vegetable stir-fry served with lightly spiced rice. The sauce was very flavorful but mild (if you are hesitant about trying Ethiopian food, this is a fairly innocuous dish). My only complaint was the vegetables were pretty soft--they looked like a mix from the frozen food section rather than fresh. The service could be classified as a bit on the slow side, but I was there to catch up with my friend and we were too busy talking for the slowness to bother me. So if you are looking for a nice relaxing meal, this is a good choice! They had adequate parking in the lot on Franklin and Minnehaha. The booths were a bit shabby, but overall the decor was nice. We were there on Valentine's Day and pretty much everyone else in the place was couples, and the staff had spaced everyone out nicely for privacy. Overall the food was very interesting and quite tasty. There were definitely more items on the menu I want to try, so I'll be back! Pros: Flavorful food and good beer selection Cons: Service was a bit slow but OK more

This restaurant is definitely a place you should visit at least once. This isn't a place for picky eaters, but if you're willing to try something new, this is for you! The bread pudding is one of the best items on the menu, but it depends on what day you get it (Friday is the best day to order this item) Pros: flavor of food, exotic, cheap Cons: service can be slow more

Holy crap. I cant get enough of gosa gosa c platter. This restaraunt is the greatist and we should feel very lucky to have it here. more

Although the service is dreadfully slow and the background music a little loud, the food is well worth the wait and loudness. The hummus starter is the best hummus I've ever had. I suggest getting the HUGE sampler, which has some of each of the meat and vegetable dishes they offer - well worth the price. I've only been there once but am craving a return visit! I just wish the glasses of water were a little bit bigger, as the food can be spicy! :) more