Nile Ethiopian Restaurant
1951 S Havana St, Aurora, CO, 80014
Nile Ethiopian Restaurant Menu
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Address :
1951 S Havana St
Aurora, CO, 80014 - Phone (720) 748-0239
- Website https://www.nileethiorestaurant.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Justin M.
I was in town for business and decided to give this place a try. The restaurant is huge. They have a full bar and an area for singers and bands. The service was great. Super nice girls. I ordered the combo platter (not the veggie) but the one that has all the items on the menu. Great way to try everything they have. And in top of that it was only $13.99. Food came out in 10 mins
(4)Barbara G.
Our family loves The Nile. We have 2 children from Ethiopia and the authentic food and environment is special for them. The food is delicious and reasonably priced - we always have leftovers In response to some critical comments: First: yes, the time it takes to prep and serve our order typically takes 20ish min; however that is part of the culture - expect it, then take advantage of the opportunity to have meaningful conversation with whoever you are sitting with. When you go, write down your favorite meal so the next time you can call b4 hand and it will be ready for your arrival in about 20min. We order ahead and carry out all the time. Second, yes, some of their servers don't speak the best English; but to me that is not a bad thing. They have menus with pictures English descriptions and #s. If you aren't willing humble yourself and work with them, they typically have a more fluent English speaker in the back. It is such a self centered American perspective to expect non-American's to constantly cater to us. Working in a restaurant setting provides Ethiopians a chance to learn and practice their English. Learning English is a challenging & long process - So I hope people will see the opportunity to support and encourage them and the opportunity to learn something themselves. Peace
(4)Sarah H.
It's so nice to have found an Ethiopian restaurant that doesn't require a trek to East Colfax. Also, Nile had the nicest décor of any Ethiopian restaurant I have visited. I did not have the issues with slow service that other Yelpers have complained about, though there was a bit of a language barrier between myself and my server. I did a mix of Kitfo (beef tartar) and another beef dish whose name escapes me (Fried beef jerky). It was very good, and I had tons of injera to take home to my pups. I'll be back.
(4)Cielo G.
Great all around in flavor, atmosphere, and service. Among the top 3 Ethiopian in Denver. Vegetarian combo was plentiful, although flavors could have been kicked up a notch. Chicken wot only came with one lonely drumstick. If you're advertising chicken, please include more than ONE piece! The sauce was tasty but too much grease. Injera is superb. Will be back, as I don't have to drive north to Colfax.
(4)Mariko A.
First, let me start by saying this was my first time having Ethiopian food. Second, I am a very adventurous eater. Third, this place was recommended to me by an Native Ethiopian as the most authentic restaurant in the Denver Metro Area. We ordered to dishes: 11.Lamb Tibs Awaze $11 99 Cubed tender lamb sauteed with onion, rosemary, tomato, jalapeno pepper, mixed with awaze sauce served with salad 26. Nile Combination $11 99 A combination of all the items on the menu The Lamb was tender, cut into very small pieces, and the sauce was delicious. As far as the Nile Combination, we are fairly sure we were served the Quanta Firfir (Beef jerky fried with enjera, mixed with berbere sauce, onions, red peppers, and spices sauteed in butter) instead. As we were not familiar with the food, we didn't question it. We liked the beef dish very well, it came in a cast iron sizzling bowl, and was very reminiscent of beef fajitas. Because the beef was dry, blackened, and in strips, we assume it was the jerky bu have no idea. Nothing was explained to us when we told our waitress we've never had Ethiopian food before, she just asked if we liked spicy food, We said yes, very much, and would love our dishes to be made spicy. Our food was not spicy, We tasted no spiciness. I understand it differs form place to place, but being Korean, and my Husband being from Laos, we eat a LOT of Thai chiles and other extremely spicy dishes. Also we came in on a late Friday evening, the places was nearly empty, and it took over 60 minutes just to receive our food. I also understand that fresh from scratch quality food takes time, but, come on. Our waitress was short with us, friendly enough, but offered no pleasurable banter even when asking about menu items. I left my purse on the chair when I left and didn't realize until the next day. I called to ask if they had a purse in the lost and found or if anyone found one, they said no. Pressing my luck I went in myself in person. Guess what? My purse was there exactly where I left it. Not really sure what that says about the cleaning during the closing or opening times. Makes me nervous about the kitchen. I would love to try Ethiopian food again, but, at another restaurant.
(2)Sue F.
We were there last night with friends. Great food.... we all shared the veggie combo. Everyone loved the tea. I had a St. George beer - delicious! It speaks to authenticity when you see the place full of Ethiopians! The only drawback was language. Our server was sweet and nice but didn't understand much English (minor issue).
(4)Natalie D.
You know it's good Ethiopian food when 90% of the diners were actually...Ethiopian. Really good flavors. The injera was super fresh. My only gripe was that it took too long for my food to come out. It was just me and I think it took 15m to actually order (slight communication barrier w/ original server) then another 30m for food to arrive. Thank goodness the NBA playoff game was on and I could distract my stomach. Good food. Good prices. Variety of Ethiopian beers.
(4)Raj N.
Amazing flavorful food very authentic Ethiopian cuisine open longer for lunch. Wait is a bit long but, definitely worth the wait.
(5)Max C.
Still great! The menu sized down a little bit over the years but still offers a great variety of dishes and combinations. Our favorite is still the Nile Sampler or if you'd like to skip the meat, the Vegetarian Sampler. Out of appetizers, try the delicious Sambusas! Ethiopean bottled beer and wine is available at a reasonable price. When we want to splurge on something very filling, this is definitely the place to go!
(5)John G.
Excellent food and very friendly staff. I would certainly return if I come back to the Denver area.
(5)Ant B.
Excellent Ethiopian restaurant! The service was outstanding. All of our waitresses recommendations were stellar. It was great to see the owner come over to check on our experience. She went to another table and helped some young children pick out something they would enjoy.
(4)Kaycee E.
We visited Nile twice while visiting Denver. My father ordered beef and said it was oily and stringy, We had sambusa, which were also oily, and thick, without a lot of lentil in the middle. The vegetarian platter was delicious the first night, but lackluster the second visit - and on a Thursday night they were out of everything: lamb, spinach sambusa, and condiments?!? The service also left much to be desired - we had to chase our waiter around to get anything.
(2)Sarah S.
The food is good and the portions are fantastic but the service is so terrible. We had to refill our water and waited an hour for the check. It is disappointing enough that we will drive to some of the other restaurants further away to receive better treatment.
(2)Carly B.
If you are looking for a quick, in and out type of lunch, Nile is not for you. If you're looking for a unique meal where you can communally "break bread" with your coworkers, then Nile is a great place. There were only one or two other groups at any given time so pretty empty for a lunch. The air inside is fragrant with incense. The exterior is a bit more unassuming. I love Ethiopian food, but I'm not going to pretend that I can name all of dishes. Injera is the bread upon which the entrees are served as well as what you pick your food up with, but that's as much as I can tell you. If you like lentils, you will probably love Ethiopian food too. I ordered the vegetarian combo and there were about four piles of lentils of varying spice and heat levels. A pile of cabbage stewing with safron or maybe turmeric. A little stew of squash. Some turmeric/saffron laden potatoes and carrots. Homemade cottage cheese. Our service was slow, but great. Along with our waitress, a guy (maybe the owner) came out and greeted us and told us about the various beers (Meta is delish, by the way) and assisted with the order taking and then checked on us again. They also give you a ton of injera. Big, soft, blankety grey folds of it. No plates, so we sort of set it on our napkins while we tore pieces off. Prices are standard for this type of food ranging from about $8 to $15 per entree depending on what you get. I think the vegetarian combo was $11 and came with a ton of little tastes....enough to be quite full but still have leftovers. I've barely broken the Ethiopian mold in Denver/Aurora, but Nile definitely did not disappoint.
(4)Ryan G.
We love Ethiopian food, and Nile had been recommended to us by locals repeatedly. The service was very good. The location is in a strip mall, and the restaurant itself seemed a bit dated. We ordered a vegetarian sampler and a beef dish. The injera was outstanding, though the other dishes were a bit greasier than to which we were accustomed. Overall, it was a good experience, but we are more likely to try the other Ethiopian restaurants that are closer to where we live.
(3)Courtney P.
This place was great and super cheap! Definitely love that I can get good ethiopian without going all the way downtown.
(5)Yohana G.
This place was very interesting as I could feel the culture just being in there. Then the food came, oh my.. Had the late night menu and we tried the vegetarian sampler. It consists of cabbage, lentils, sautéed spinach, salad, and a few different deliciousness. Go there!
(5)Veka K.
Interesting experience, prepare to eat with hand and mouth. The server was very genuine in making suggestions, service was a little slow but felt like part of Ethiopean food ceremony. Tea was really good too, they spice the water up with some spices and make it quite delicious!
(4)r g.
I am not sure if there are different dish preparations for Ethiopians and one for non-Ethiopians, or if there is an issue with takeout (which is how we ordered), but... This place came highly recommended by an Ethiopian friend. We were sorely disappointed. We are huge Ethiopian fans and I can think of two places on Colfax that put what we had (vegetarian combination and zilzil wat) to shame. There are too many good places on this stretch of street to justify trying a repeat of something so mediocre, so it's unlikely we'll ever give Nile a second chance.
(2)Etana D.
The only reason I won't give Nile 5 stars is for their customer care. They need some help on training the waitresses and help on getting the food out in anything less than 30-45mins; cause that has been the case. I eat here at least three times in a month time. And I call to order over the phone to cut the waiting time at least by 20min. As an Ethiopian, I guarantee you the taste you get here is very close to what you would in Ethiopia. Furthermore, Nile is by far the best in delivering a true Ethiopian taste; trust me, I have tried many in Denver, Boulder and Aurora.
(4)Amy L.
Best Ethiopian in town. Food will never disappoint. I think the main complaint would be how long it can take to get your meal but the ambiance is nice and I always go with the mindset that this will be a long meal. I love this place. I recommend the combination platter for your first go so you can taste a little of everything. The sampler platter options does vary from time time but it's always fabulous. I think the lamb dishes are my favs though. Give this place a try. It's best to go with a group as the portions are huge.
(5)April S.
The food here is good but not so good that it's worth the hour wait for your order. I've been here several times and the service is painfully slow. If you come in with a big group, you will enjoy the slow experience (unless you have kids in your party-they will go crazy with boredom), but don't come here for a quick bite. It's too bad because they really do have tasty cuisine.
(3)Marjorie K.
My husband kids and I went to this restaurant not too long ago. The food was FABULOUS! I have read some of the other reviews and seen that there was not good service, however, I have to say that we received good service. The food was a little slow to come out, but when it did it was AMAZING! You can tell that everything is prepared to order. My husband and I LOVE to find Authentic Ethnic places to take our kids to and enjoy and this one hits the mark. It's like walking into another country. You walk in and a good 95% of the Clientele is Ethiopian. I also like that they have the option of sitting at the Mesob tables, which my husband and I enjoyed prior to having kids as well as having regular chairs and tables. Before we left a very nice older lady came out to inquire how our food had been, I am assuming she was the owner or manager. Very easy to tell her how excellent it was. We will definitely be going back!
(5)Conway B.
Best Ethiopian food I have found in the Denver area. Open dining room and all dinners served with extra injera. The traditional honey wine is great. Highly recommend the combination platters for a group - get one Nile Combination and one veggie combination to enjoy a sample of everything.
(5)May L.
So a friend was visiting from out of town and decided to show me some Ethiopian food. We decided to order a few things for takeout and phoned in an order. The lady taking the phone order was really unclear on if the bread came with the meal or not. She said the vegetarian combo came with one extra piece of bread and nile combo didn't. We ordered one of each and an extra order of bread in case we ran out. When we got there, they did not order the nile combo for us so we asked if we can add it to our order. The waitress had a really unprofessional attitude and was constantly rolling her eyes telling us we did not order the combo over the phone. Then she said it would take 25 minutes. We asked if there's anything fast like 15 min we could order she said nile combo (didn't you just said it would take 25?) Anyway she finally decided to "allow" us to add the entree. When we got the order, there were WAY too much bread that already came with the meal (one piece really?). They were also too lazy to put the salad on the side for us so it was dumped on top of the entrees. Meh. Food was ok. Sambusa was delicious.
(2)Ria K.
Veg plate was awesome.. Similar to indian or srilankan food.. Love the soft bread or roti.. Dont know what they call .. Nice place... Its open at night.. My biyfriend and i was really late from airport but this wonderful place was open... Wow.. Should try place
(5)Shankar R.
This is my first visit to Ethiopian restaurant. We were here for dinner on Saturday. At 7 pm there were only few tables left and most of them are being served. We requested the waitress to change the seating where we have a light hanging over the table (so that I can see what else I am eating). The restaurant is little bit dark and only lights are exactly above the table. We were little bit confused with the menu and asked the waitress to explain the dishes. She was explaining what the order consists and after few minutes later we heard about the Injari bread from her and that's we want to hear from her. We ordered chicken wot, Nile combo and veg combo. The order took little bit time and I speculate that they took longer to make injari bread. They serve the injari bread with every dish and can order as many as you want. The veg combo comes with four different formats of lentil with different spices, cabbage and carrot, potatoes and salad along with cottage cheese. Coming to chicken wot , the dish is made of chicken leg cooked with red pepper sauce, onions and garlic and little bit of spices. I wish there was more chicken than the sauce. In Nile combo, in addition to chicken we had also the lamb dish. The dishes are delicious and awful. The dishes are not so spicy and I added some sort of spicy powder and it perfectly goes with the Injari. (Will find the exact name of spicy powder). It will be a little challenging task to eat with fork and spoon, so be prepared to eat with your hands. Prices are fair and reasonable for what they serve. Lastly I can tell one thing that if you are from Asia sub continent you will definitely like the Ethiopian food as the food seems to be of the same style!!
(4)Penny L.
One of the best Ethiopian places I have been to and my favorite in Denver. It looks sketchy on the outside but the the atmosphere is great inside. I love the vege platter and lamb tibs are to die for. Their pasteries are good too. Live music on Sundays.
(5)Court Z.
Far and away the best Ethiopian food I have had. Truly great food. And we always receive friendly service too. We try to make it here once a month at least, and it is a pretty far drive for us. Well worth it though.
(5)Nathalie H.
I had some disappointing Ethiopian food in Denver and this one is very good. I have two favorites and this is my top choice. I recommend ordering the meat and veggie combo. $12.95 So much food for one, enough for two. Great with St George Ethiopian beer. This dish is so good with such a variety of foods that I haven't gotten a chance to order anything else every time I go. The waitress showed me how to mix the hot mustard with the hot sauce...I had never seen that before. One disappointment is the bottled Italian dressing on the salad but some how the bottled vinegar flavor works with the intense and stewed flavors of all the variety of choices on the plate. I have had Ethiopian food in many NYC and Washington DC restaurants and this was excellent. Great for a large group of people, very big place. Live DJ on Sunday nights starting at 10pm! Haven't caught that yet but I am told the kitchen stays open to Midnight for that night. An Ethiopian cab driver recommended this place and I am extra glad I tipped him well. Don't be daunted by the mirror glass making it impossible to see in when you first arrive... just open the doors to a nice casual room of clothed tables. Full bar in back but still very homey. A few Ethiopian decorative touches with traditional basket tables and Ethiopian pictures. One visit there was an Ethiopian New Years Altar with coffee cups and popcorn in the corner of the dance floor. An authentic warm atmosphere with very good food.
(5)Julia W.
I love ethiopian food and this place was really great! We came here because we read a great review in the paper and it was well worth the trip. It's farther than other ethiopian restaurants from our house but one of the best so worth the drive. They also will teach you how to eat ethiopian food if you never have although we had. The owner was really personable and visited every table. The service was very attentive. We had the veggie combo and it was awesome and there's leftovers for lunch tomorrow. If you like ethiopian food or have never had it you should go here!
(5)e s.
I had a wonderful experience at Nile this week. It was my first time there and I was one of two white folk in the restaurant (my dining companion being the other). I take it as a good sign when I don't hear English spoken at the other tables in ethnic restaurants. The food was delicious and plentiful. The chef came out and greeted tables and was excited to have us. She informed us that she is the only chef and it's evident she cooks with pride and love. All the staff was attentive. I wish I lived closer because I love Ethiopian and would certainly give Nile the pleasure of feeding me. P.S.: This was recommended to me by an Eritrean who said "it's the best" in town!
(5)Keala B.
Great place to eat! The food was amazing. We came in for lunch. The place was packed. We got our food pretty fast . Love this place.
(5)Mark T.
Gather round, folks, and I will regale you with a magical, mystical story. Once upon a time, years ago, there was a restaurant called Nile, which offered the metro area's only (at the time) Ethiopian buffet lunch. As exciting as this development was, the powers that be felt that it was lacking a little oomph. So, the place became the recipient of not only a makeover, but also a new name (Artist Inyie) thereby also squelching the fabled buffet. But no, the throngs were still not coming en masse (despite much praise from the Aurora Sun-Sentinel). Therefore, it was decided to go back to basics. Inyie would once again become Nile, although the buffet was still not revived. Gentle readers, that brings us to the present day, and the focus of this review. Nile Ethiopian Restaurant is probably the best-known of the five Abyssinian ambassadors which line Havana Street. Part gathering-place, part nightclub (with live music from Washington DC [the Ethiopian capital of the US] and even further afield), and part chow-hall, it entices, excites and energizes. For appetizers, why not try a Sambusa (crispy, flaky, meat or lentil pastries). Their Ayib be-Mitmita (spiced homemade cottage cheese) is also the biziggity-bomb, if I do say so myself. But don't stuff yourself too silly just yet! The main course is coming up, and you don't want to miss this. The menu offers so many choices! There's Yedoro We't - chicken stewed in aromatic Berbere sauce with a hardboiled egg, to symbolize the union of parent and child. Or maybe Yebeg Tibs - lamb and rosemary stirfry served sizzling on a hotplate - Ethiopia's answer to fajitas. Go on, splurge a little. Be daring and try the Kitfo - ground beef served raw (customarily), Lebleb (cooked just a little), or, if you must, thoroughly cooked (but don't be surprised if everyone around you goes "BOOOOOOOOOO!" if you order it this way. Oh, of course they wouldn't really do that). As Coptic Christians, the most reverent Ethiopians refrain from eating meat for 200 or more days out of the year (don't forget that Ethiopia uses the Julian calendar and is on a 13-month system). Is it any wonder, then, that there are so many dazzling vegetarian dishes on the menu? Why, there's Yemisir We't (perky red lentil puree), Ye-Kik Alicha (buttery yellow split peas), Gomen (knockout greens)... or why not do a Combination? Remember, around here food is served with only one utensil, the fermented crepelike bread called Injera, properly made from teeny-tiny grains of Teff. Tear off a piece (right hand only please!) and soak, dip and grab your way to culinary Nirvana. Why not treat your dining partners to Gursha, and feed them by hand (a great honor)? If Fate is smiling on you, you may visit during a coffee ceremony, where the beans will be roasted and brewed (thrice!) right in front of you as the scent of frankincense wafts through the air. Enjoy the rich brew the traditional way, with freshly popped corn. Nile Ethiopian Restaurant brings to you a little taste of the Horn of Africa, right in Aurora! And don't forget - after (or better yet, before) you stuff yourself you can pop into the Bukharian grocery in the same stripmall called Solomon's (see review), and check out their tasty treats.
(3)Yonne D.
Never coming again. I came with my family on a slow Sunday and the food took over an hour. We order all the simplest food you could possibly make like veggies yet it took that long. The family we knew came 30 mins after us and they got their meals within 30 mins. They had no possible excuse for such shitty slow service. And this is probably the last time I come here. There are far better Ethiopian restaurants that serve on time and do not treat their customers like garbage for no reason. Only reason I gave them a one star is because their food decent otherwise I would give them 0.
(1)Tricia K.
Delicious, delicious Ethiopian food. I've only been here a few times (over the course of years) but every time the service has been the same: friendly (with or without my Ethiopian friends) and slow! Haha, that part is very true. In fact you would do better going in expecting a wait. Definitely sit in one of the traditional tables for the best experience. I like the Zilzil Tibs (strips of beef in Berbere spice) and Yemesir Wat (it looks like yellow split peas but I am told these are lentils). Both are pretty friendly for people who are not used to spiced foods. If you feel adventurous, you can get the Nile and/or Vegetarian Combinations, which I think is the best deal actually and gives you a little bit of everything on the menu. If you've had authentic Ethiopian food before, I'd say this is milder than what I've tried in East Africa and not quite as spicy but still flavorful. * Vegetarians, Vegans and Gluten-Free people: There are good vegetarian and vegan dishes here but the delicious, delicious injera bread is either made of teff, wheat or a mixture of both. It is not gluten-free. A friend who came here said they were great though and brought her rice (without charging her) so kudos to them!
(4)Benjamin M.
It's official. I love Ethiopian food. I fell in love with Ethiopian in Tampa, so I was so pleased to see that my new city offers several Ethiopian options. This particular restaurant is near my office, so I checked it out with a buddy for lunch. At 11:30am on a Friday there were maybe two or three other tables being served; it wasn't very busy. Our server did have some trouble communicating with us in English, but we were able to place our order without too much difficulty. We ordered the Nile Combination (#26 on the menu) which was advertised as including everything on the menu. My friend and I both laughed at this, but we were pleasantly surprised to see that our giant platter of food did--in fact--include just about everything on the menu. The foods were served on a huge piece of injera and our server also kept a good supply of injera on our table. I must say that I was very impressed by the quality of the injera. It was perfect! Even though my buddy ordered coffee, our total was like $16--so it was less than eight bucks each! This is a fantastic price for a huge Ethiopian lunch. Great deal. I'll certainly be returning.
(5)Juliette P.
The Nile Combo is pretty amazing - you truly get a little bit of EVERYTHING on the menu. However, sometimes the meat dishes are not the best - several times they've been kind of grisly. Overall, excellent value for your money. And the atmosphere of the restaurant is great - people clearly come here regularly, and I love seeing tables with families (including younger children) enjoying such deliciousness!
(3)Marie R.
The food was very, very good. The service was slow but nearly all Ethiopian restaurants I have been to, the food has always come out slow. 3 stars because although the chicken doro wat was delicious, I wish there was more chicken, more meat than sauce and seasoning. I got very little meat, but plenty of sauce and seasoning and injera. Also, the service wasn't very personable. Didn't get checked on to see if everything was ok. Oh well. Things can be improved. I will definitely pay a visit again however I won't order the doro wat again.
(3)Princess L.
I love Aurora! So many ethnic restaurants. Now, I'm hooked at the Nile. The sauce they use is so good! The servers are starting to learn English, but they won't hesitate to bring out the Chef (Asther). She speaks fluent English and is delighted to speak with you. The service is slow, I imagine because the food is made from scratch. It is so worth the wait. The Injera bread is so addicting. I always tell myself I'm only going to eat one and eat like 3. Ugh! We took our grandson and he loves it (you get to eat with your hands and he says the beef is very good). It is very authentic, many Ethiopians eat there with their families and I find it delightful to see them all communicating in their language. I'm addicted so I have to go at least once a month. It is truly yummy.
(5)Julie L.
It was one of those nightmares where you're paralyzed. And all you can do is scream loudly for help yet nobody hears you as they quietly walk away. So you scream louder and more frantically and still no response from the multitude of passerby's. As I sat at the table desperately attempting to relay to the server that I am here for the International Restaurant Week on Havana Street, and that I wanted to order their special which was Lamb Alicha, I was rewarded with a blank stare and a slight nod. The universal sign for "I don't know what the hell you are talking about". Okay, plan B. We show her the flyer and I think that may have worked. So we wait...and we wait.... and we wait some more before the meal comes out. In the meantime we nibble on Injera bread and Iab, a type of cottage cheese. We get our salad. A basic bowl of iceberg lettuce, some thinly sliced tomatoes and dressing on the side. Finally the lamb alicha comes out in a hot pot and they ladle it onto a large Injera bread that covers the entire platter. I couldn't believe they expected two people to fill up on this. The portion size was enough for less than one. Trying not to be deterred we attempt to consume the Injera bread but it was difficult. It has the texture of a sponge, looks like a sheet of tripe and wiggles in a most disturbing jello like way. However, it has a very good sour bread flavor to it. The lamb alicha itself was very tender and flavorful but it was consisted of a huge bone and some meat. The hot pot that it came in was left at the table so I lifted off the lid and all that was left in there is some broth and onions. No more lamb. What did they expect me to do with left over broth? Luckily our friend had ordered the sampler meal and we helped her with the plate. Everything was either a flavor explosion or muted and flavorless. When we finally decided we've had enough we ask for the bill. I couldn't believe it. They charged me for a regular lamb alicha (9.99) and a salad (6.99) when the special was both for two persons for $20. At this point the idea of trying to communicate this to the server was more painful than it was worth. That would explain the skimpy portions. I left unhappy, unsatisfied and very disturbed by the whole dining experience. Given I've grown up dining on dishes that Americans only see on horror movies, I was not impressed or even stimulated by this cuisine. How can a restaurant be part of a week long event and not even know it by the flyer? The communication barrier was beyond anything I've ever experienced. This is the first and only time I would have liked an option for zero stars as this was by far the worst dining experience I've ever had. Word to the wise. Don't come here unless you have tremendous patience and don't mind repeating yourself with the possibility of never getting one word through. Not is it a Eek? Methinks not. It's a Me thinks never again!
(1)Adele R.
Agreements with all the others who rated this place so low b/c of their absolutely abysmal customer service. I don't care how good the food is (and it was ok, not great, I would never, ever go back here. We waited for our food for TWO HOURS!!! Two hours!!! The only reason we didn't leave is we were there w/a friend who was dying to try Ethiopian food and had heard this place was good. It was ok, but certainly not worth a two hour wait. The servers are rude and slow. It was awful. Plus, their bathrooms are DISGUSTING. I didn't go use it until after we ate, and I almost lost my dinner. Blech. You could not pay me all the money in the world to eat here again.
(1)Steven P.
I am not sure what authentic Ethiopian is suppose to taste like, not being Ethiopian. I loved the mix of spices, not always sure what I was eating but I LOVED it. The place is very dark and wide open like a university cafeteria. The staff was very helpful, they understood basic English and I could understand what they were saying. May be if the other reviewer would stop being the Ugly American she would have enjoyed the experience.
(4)Michele B.
I've given this place three tries in the hopes of it getting better since it is the closest Ethiopian restaurant to me. No more. The waitress here is rude and will ignore you as much as possible if you are not Ethiopian nor speak the language. She appears to be as happy and cordial as ever with those tables that are, but I've had to constantly flag her down for simple water refills every time I've dined here. The food is good, but not good enough to make up for the service and atmosphere (it's always very dark with loud music). If you want better food with friendly service, go the extra distance to the string of Ethiopian restaurants on Colfax (Africana Cafe has been the best one I've tried so far!).
(2)Lisette M.
I haven't been here in over a year because it's farther away from me than the downtown stretch of Ethiopian places, so I'm not sure if things are the same. I have been to about a dozen Ethiopian places in the Denver area, always getting the veggie combo, and this place still stands out in my memory as being the best. The flavors are intense and amazing, and they have the best variety of blobs. Aside from the usual lentil and split pea blobs, there is always one or two seasonal veggie blobs. Once, I had one with squash. Another time, I had one with eggplant. Both were very yummy, and it's nice to have variety. Sure, the service is slow, and, yes, they pay more attention to their friends and/or regulars. I don't much care. I go here when I have plenty of time and plenty of good company. The honey wine is good, but my favorite is still the homemade stuff from Abyssinia.
(5)bobrob m.
If I ever went to an Ethiopian Restaurant that had me and out under an hour, I would be suspect of it. I've been to at least 30 different Ethiopian eateries around the country and the slow wait is always the same. My wife and I always get the veggie dish and this one exceeded our expectations with the flavors and variety. The enjera was typical. The beef dish (forgot the name) was flavorless and tough, expect to give your jaw a workout...it is what you might think of unseasoned and overcooked carne asada...best avoided. The service was friendly but slow. With any sort of African establishment, if you want something you have to ask for it; in other words don't expect your water glass to be filled automatically. You want more H20, wave over the server...a concept most Americans have trouble adapting to. The setting is more in tune for an evening experience, it is dark and the likes of Kenny G is pumping out of the speakers. A full bar with Fat Tire and Heineken on draft plus a bottle of Johnny Walker Black. Better yet keep it real, then go for the Ethiopian beer and wine.
(3)Mel G.
I love this place!!! The service can be slow, but every bite is worth the wait. I have had many of the things on the menu, and everything is outstanding!! You should try this place!
(4)Hollie W.
The inside of this place is really fun. They played some awesome music video's on a huge screen too! Shared a vegetarian platter with a couple of friends, everything was delicious, and our server was nice. The veg platter was not lined with injera on the bottom but it was not too bad, i just missed the injera that soaks up the various flavors. Definitely will be back :)
(3)Ben B.
I've always wanted to try an Ethiopian restaurant. Luckily at the school I'm at, there's an Ethiopian lady who recommended Nile restaurant as her favorite (besides home cooking of course). My class is fairly unadventurous group, so I headed over w/a few friends I knew from college. It was around 11:30 a.m. on a Friday and we were the only people there. The place was fairly dark and there is a stage/dance floor section (I'm guessing for parties). Anyways, we all ordered some type of poultry dish - me, the lamb tibs awaze. When the dishes first came out, they put a huge plate w/this spongy type bread (Injera). It is like sourdough, only waaaayyy more sour/tangy. The lamb came in a pot as a stew and since none of us had any idea how to eat Ethiopian food, we put a bit of food on the Injera and proceeded to eat the bread like a taco. Luckily, our waitress saw us and we had a little laugh over our lack of experience. You take pieces of the injera, break it off, and then use it as a scoop to pick up the food and eat it that way. Everything was great, however, it may take some time getting used to the sourness of the injera. Afterwards, we had a little coffee and watched Ghana vs. Uruguay while conversing w/some folks that strolled in into the bar. All in all, I highly recommend it!!
(4)Bryan M.
Let me start with a disclaimer (or two): 1. I am NOT an expert in Ethiopian food; the first time I went here I asked for a fork because I did not know you eat with your hands 2. If you are looking to get in and out, choose another place. Speedy service is NOT their forte. With that being said, they still get 5 stars in my book (take away a star if you are counting for service as well). As I said above, I am no expert in Ethiopian food and half the time don't know what I am eating. Regardless, it all tastes magnificent. The portions are huge and you will certainly leave satisfied. Also, I tried this place because EVERY cab driver I have spoken to has recommended this place. Now I know why. The wait staff was great, too. Very responsive and fast (it just takes a lot of time for your food to come out). But my waitress spoke English very well and took the time to go over the menu with me and even made some recommendations, clearly because I looked like I had no idea what I was doing :)
(5)Laurie W.
I just had the most delicious takeout from the Nile. I have been here before, but was never very impressed with the food, until tonight. Now, I think I'll be quite a regular. The place was busy tonight. Quite a few people were dining in. But I love going home and getting in my pajamas and nibbling at Ethiopian food all evening. And believe me, I got enough to nibble ALL evening. I asked for the vegetarian combo. It took about 20 minutes to get my order. While I was waiting, I was offered free tea or coffee by the very friendly staff. When I got to my car, I took a look into my takeout container. It was filled to the brim and smelled wonderful. I'd been a little worried, because only after I ordered the combo did I notice that the fish dish (Fish Tibs Derek) was listed under the vegetarian dishes, and I'm really not a seafood fan. No fish on this combo (YES!). I may have nibbled a little Injera (Enjera? Pick your favorite spelling) on the way home. When I got home, I started eating. The combo had not only their dishes listed on the menu, lentils (Yemisir Wat) and chickpeas (Shiro Wat), but several other stews of potatoes and carrots and other combinations of lentils and such. There were at least 7 different stews in my combination. It didn't stop there, through. There were four different salads on top of the Injera covering the hot dishes. A green salad with no dressing, a cabbage salad with no dressing, a cucumber and tomato salad in a vinegar dressing and Injera salad called Yetimatim Fitfit, which I adore. I made it through about half of the takeout box with the help of my medium sized mutt, who thinks Ethiopian food is about the best thing on the planet. Seriously, she'd beg, borrow or steal for Injera. She actually did beg, but she knows better than to steal and I think dogs have no concept of borrowing, really. But I digress. I still have half of my plate for a midnight snack, and tomorrow I have a date with the treadmill. So good! Oh, and one tip for everyone new to Ethiopian food: those aren't green bell peppers in your salad. Just sayin'.
(4)Chelsea A.
Want an adventure in food? Then this is your place! I personally love different kinds of food and cultural experiences and well this place gives a true Ethiopian experience, even the smell reminded me of the time I spent in Ethiopia and Uganda, Africa last year. Just be prepared that you eat with your hands, so it is not a place to be "neat and clean" in. However the food was good and definitely ethnic!
(3)Cleopatra F.
The food itself was pretty decent ... but the customer service.................... I went with a friend of mine that is orginally from Ethiopia/Eritrea area, he usually doesn't eat Ethiopian food, but I had been asking him to either make some Ethiopian food for me, or accompany me to a restaurant. So he chose this restaurant.... When we arrived we waited to be seated, and when the waitress approached, my friend started speaking to her in Amharic and she seemed please that he spoke their language. They discussed where we could sit and we followed them to the table. The waitress seemed pretty friendly at first, but once I started to place my drink order and obviously I spoke English with and American/Coloradan accent, she got upset. I asked if they had lemonade or Ice Tea and sucked her teeth at me and said no. I asked her what type of sodas they had and she said, "mountain dew." So that's what I ordered. When she returned she brought me a Sprite and slammed the can down on the table and walked away. She came back a few minutes later and my friend started to order in Amharic, I told her I would like to order the number 8, she, again, sucked her teeth and walked away. When she returned 20 minutes later with our dishes, she purposely dropped mine on the table and then gently placed the dish for my friend. I could tell my friend was getting upset with her and he snapped at her in Amharic, and she prepped my dish (I guess, the way it was supposed to be.) then left, and she never returned. There were a few customers that walked in after us, and was promptly served and given their check before they even returned to see how our meal was. My friend had to flag her down, he ordered tea and asked her to clear away our dishes because we were finished. At this point, he was frustrated and was speaking to her in English. He asked her to bring me some water. After another 20 minutes, he again had to ask her for water and tea, by the time she brought the tea, he was so upset. He then had to ask her for the check three times in 35 minutes. We left a few moments later, and he vowed to never go back there again! I told him that the food was actually good, it was just hard to eat with the right hand the whole time, when they had only given us each one napkin (in restaurant with no utensils). And his response was, "You can eat authentic Ethiopian food that tastes like that from any of these restaurants in Denver, I am so upset at the way they treated you." I think that he may have over heard them saying things about me, when I got up to go wash my hands in the bathroom before we ate... I will never go back to this restaurant!! I am not sure if they were upset with the fact that he was with an American, or if they are just that rude!! Good Luck!!
(1)Art M.
I will give this place a 5 Star ! This is the absolute best Ethiopian Restaurant in Denver.. The Lamb dish is excellent for... the best thing on the menu.. I Tried the combo dish.. each a delectable delight on it's own, which included almost all the items on the menu. Everything was fantastic, my wife ordered the Lamb, the Lamb was roasted to perfection with garlic and just the right spice, it was heavenly yummmmm! The prices are fair and you get your moneys worth! The Atmosphere is quaint as well as a very friendly wait staff. If you and your significant other want to escape to another country right in the Mile High City and experience a great food experience you will want to try The Nile Ethiopian Restaurant it will not disappoint! I'm Dreaming of that Lamb Dish. Can't wait to get back there and have some more!!
(5)Joyce M.
The doro wot is delicious, chunky and spicy along with our regular "veggie combo" ... YUM. We moved to Denver 5 months ago and this is hands down the best Ethiopian we've had. I love that the veggie combo is different every time and there's a taste of everything.
(4)Sasha J.
there was no sense of urgency at this restaurant, wait staff was down right unprofessional, this was my first experence with ethiopian food and based on this restaurant i wont be choosing to spend my money at any other ethiopoian restaurant
(1)Mark F.
This was my first experience with Ethiopian cuisine. I must say I loved it! Although I was in a bit of a hurry, next time I won't be. Some of the reviews here display a decidedly "American" bias, but don't let them stop you from dropping by. I found the food and atmosphere delightful. We got all the help we needed from the lovely waitresses. Did I mention that the food was fabulous? Grab a few friends and go spend a couple hours enjoying this wonderful restaurant.
(4)Blake H.
We've eaten here a couple times. We realt enjoy the generous portions of tradional ethiopian food. The prices are relatively cheap. The bar selection is quite good for an ethiopian restaurant. Sometimes the service is a bit slow, but I think that's due to custom and not any other reason. The ladies who wait on you are quite nice and patient with those of us who don'e speak their language.
(4)Marco B.
Great and authentic !! I also think they have good pricing for their food, but you just have to be a little patient with their service (they're nice, but the place is packed for dinner)
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