I have never had Ethiopian food before and talking the group with me into stepping out of their comfort zone and into something new was a little hard, but WOW was it worth it! All of us are still raving about it and telling people about the amazing food and service. The food was excellent, the seasoning was perfect and so so full of flavour! Since we had a larger group we did both the vegetarian and the meat dishes so we got to try pretty much everything and nothing was disappointing. Have to say it was my first time eating with my hands, and using this "bread" to pick up the meats and veggies. The food just kept coming, any time we finished something they were there ready to bring us more. It was so much fun! I was only in the area for work for the week, but you better believe I have a new outlook on Ethiopian food and have been looking for one in my local area, hopefully it will be as good. And if I am ever in Ann Arbor again, This is on my list of must stop and haves while in town!
(5)
Pallavi R.
Love the decor - very classy & tasteful. Food & Service are excellent. Food is flavorful & spicy cooked in a unique 'Blue Nile' way. They make the best Ethiopian Tea of any Ethiopian place we've been to. The original location is in Greek Town in downtown Detroit. Used to come here a lot before I moved out of the area. Must try this place if you are in Ann Arbor or Detroit.
(5)
Lindsey S.
I recently have decided to be a vegetarian - and the vegetarian feast here makes my decision well worth it ! not only is the whole meal DAIRY FREE !! but Nut FREE too !! the waitress brought a hot hand towel at the beginning and end of the meal - it was lovely. as you are about to eat with your hands - an interesting experience to eat with the classic Injero - white spongy bread - as your utensil - ! ( you can also ask for a fork) . the variety of lentils, vegetables and spices is unmatched ! you get unlimited refills of any and all of the components of your platter. i think it is fun to mix up different combos of items in your injero roll up - the tea is not to be missed ! it warms your soul and belly i think 16$ is a reasonable price for the unlimited amounts of food you can stuff yourself with
(5)
Tom S.
I've been here 5 or 6 times over the years and it's always the same, very good. I always go with the Ethiopian feast and leave stuffed and happy.
(4)
Julia R.
When I visit Ann Arbor, this is a restaurant I always try to go to. I love this food, and it's never too crowded. The price is ridiculously high, as others have noted. Since I only get this when I visit town, it's not too bad to pay a few times a year.
(4)
Prashant P.
Love Ethiopian food. Love the tradition of sharing from one big plate. Food here is delicious. Although the cocktails were not good. They had live music, mellow and sweet. Nice ambiance. However, found this place way too over priced!!!
(3)
Beth H.
Still the crave-inducing Ethiopian feast we have come to love. Blue Nile gets five stars for quality, consistency and service. Customer service is excellent, and food quality has been consistently outstanding for the 10+ years we have been coming to Blue Nile. We always get a booth or a table, as the basket tables aren't for everyone but can be fun if you're up for it. We just don't think they are very comfortable. They do take reservations and I would recommend making one if you plan to go at dinner hours, however, we have never waited more than 30 minutes as walk-ins on a weekend evening. Meat-feast is always our choice. I do add the lamb, as it's too good to go without. When we visit, we usually plan ahead and make sure we are hungry enough to make the most of it. There are a lot of tastes to sample and filling up is easy. Great place to take teenagers, for sure! Meat-feast comes with: Cabbage, Potatoes/carrots/jalapenos, green lentils, yellow peas, red lentil, spicy peas, collard greens, spicy beef, spicy chicken legs and regular chicken legs. If you don't like dark meat, I don't believe there is a white meat option. You may have to order something a la carte. If an all you can eat feast isn't for you - there are other options, however, perhaps a lunch visit is more your speed. Choose a meat and two veggies options for a nice lunch plate. You won't get stuffed but you get your favorites. On a recent lunch visit, they had a creamy lobster bisque that I hope to catch on the special board again soon. It was really good - to rival the lobster bisque at Le Dog - and that is saying a lot. The Tej - honey wine - is a popular wine pairing for the feast. It's affordable and they recork if you don't finish it. Personally, I love their tea. Herbal, no sugar or caffeine. Hot or cold, it doesn't matter, it's fabulous. You can order it by the can or pouch to brew at home too. I love it. We have never tried an appetizer or dessert. Just no room for it.
(5)
Priya P.
We had lunch here over the weekend for the first time and the food was delicious! To start we ordered the trio of dips. All three were delicious especially paired with the inerja bread. I highly recommend this appetizer. I high recommend going for the traditional Ethiopian entrees over the other non-trad lunch options. My boyfriend opted for the former and his lunch was much tastier than mine. He chose the yellow split peas and the lentils as his sides and both were amazingly fragment and flavorful. His meat choice was the beef which was similarly tasty. I ordered the sirloin with a vegetable medley and rice. While my dish was tasty, it definitely lacked the strong flavors of a traditional meal. My only complaint and reason for taking off a star was service was very slow because there was only one person waiting tables it seemed. Regardless I would definitely go back because the food was so good!
(4)
Leslie T.
Came here for the first time on a busy night, so the service was a bit slow. It did take a while to get seated, but we waited at a bar (the mudslide is highly recommended). However, the server was very nice and took the time to explain the food. The food was delicious. You have to eat it with your hands, so expect your hands to smell like the spices. The meats were all flavorful and tender, and some spicier than others. The vegetables were also rich and hearty. The ambience was lively, and there was live music playing.
(4)
Mia K.
Coming from LA and having experienced all the Ethiopian restaurants on Fairfax, the bar had been set pretty darn high when it came to Ethiopian food. We arrived on a Saturday night and ordered 2 Ethiopian feasts. First off, I was surprised that they only had combo selections which were approximately $18 per person. Granted, it may be all-you-can-eat, but that's definitely a rip off considering 1 shared combo meal in LA would be less than $18. As far as the food quality, this was a huge disappointment considering the price tag. Although the 3 meat dishes were good, the lentils tasted undercooked and odd. The injera lacked the typical sour taste and was pale in appearance. They do gain one star for the ambiance and wait-staff. The restaurant is fairly large and I believe there was a live band playing at the time as well. Our waiter was very attentive and he brought over warm wet towels before and after the meal. It doesn't seem like there's another Ethiopian restaurant in A2 so I can't say I wouldn't try this place again. But if I do, I'll probably wait for a coupon to pop up; $40 for 2 people for Ethiopian food is pretty unheard of in my neck of the woods.
(3)
Grace N.
What's better than berbere? Ethiopian food is one of my favorites and aside from the rich flavors, I love the communal aspect of the meal. The spiciness of the berbere (perfect amount, in my opinion), along with the mild flavored vegetables (cabbage, potatoes and greens, which are included as veggie sides), make for a wonderful palette of flavor and texture. Also, it gives me childish satisfaction to eat with my bare hands. So bring a good friend or loved one who you don't mind knocking injera with (it's just bread, people!), and come hungry, because the meat and veggie "feasts" are all-you-can eat. We ordered the Ethiopian feast and enjoyed it. As for prices, I think they're reasonable for those who want to enjoy a slow cooked, flavorful meal in a warm setting and friendly servers. And don't forget the Ethiopian tea.
(4)
Priya R.
I'm going to start off by saying I love Ethiopian food. If you are feeling adventurous, and if you've never had it, the Blue Nile is a great place to try it for the first time. I used to go with my family almost every year and it's a very nice atmosphere. I love the seating and the ambiance is very different and cultural. The food is really divine. If you don't like it, you probably just don't like Ethiopian food. Come hungry because it is a never-ending portion type deal.
(4)
D B.
I had a craving for Ethiopian food, and this definitely hit the spot. I've had some excellent Ethiopian in other cities around the country, so I didn't except much from the lone restaurant in Ann Arbor. But, I was pleasantly surprised. I particularly liked the lentils, yellow peas, and beef. I would definitely come back the next time that I have a craving.
(4)
Ahmad H.
Your restaurant provided me and my family with the worst dining experience I have ever had, before we even sat down. We waited for 5 min at the front desk waiting for someone to welcome us, and nobody bothered to stop and seat us. It's like we didn't exist. When I went to an employee of yours to ask to be helped, he rudely brushed me off and told me to sit at the bar (even though I don't drink). You treated me, my mother and sister with such disrespect. I advise all restaurant goers not to waste their time with this filthy establishment.
(1)
Alexandra K.
Walking into this colorful restaurant, you are either drawn in by the murals on the wall, or the neat small tables lining the middle of the restaurant. We were seated next to the piano player by the window so that one of us could get a great view of Washington St., and the other a view of the restaurant. It's actually quite massive with 3 different rooms. The wait staff is nice and accommodating and the feasts provide unlimited food. Although in the Ethiopian culture everything is supposed to be eaten just with your hands, they do provide forks to help you scoop food onto the inerja chips, bread or your mouth. Drinks -Tej Honey Wine: to be honest, there are days when I enjoy alcohol, and days when it tastes purely acidic and like the equivalent to rubbing alcohol. I think I was having one of my rubbing alcohol days so the waiter was kind enough to just give me a sample instead of a whole glass. As I expected, the wine would be overly sweet for my taste, very much like a Riesling. -Ethiopian Tea (probably made with cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, and fresh ginger): this tea is sweet! My, oh my but it's good. It mixes very well with the savory dishes. Appetizers -Spiced humus with injera chips: The chips are very crunchy and have a bit of a baked taste. Very mild/bland. The hummus is wonderfully spiced and spicy--almost chipotle style. -Azifa Lentil Salad (legume salad including green lentils, red onions, jalapenos, herbs, and spices blended with a lemon Dijon dressing): Mmm the salad is extremely refreshing. The lentils are mashed and smooth and the dish itself tastes a bit like guacamole. Blue Nile Feast (includes Vegetarian Feast) +Homemade Ayib Cheese: tastes like a very mild feta +Doro Wat (spicy chicken): it falls off the bone and man is it spicy!! +Zilzil Wat (spicy tender beef): this is almost too spicy. Water, please! But unfortunately it's a tad bit dry so it doesn't taste as good as it should. And quite honestly it's weird that the beef is dry as it has been marinating in a sauce. +Doro Alecha (mild chicken): it's buttered perfectly, juicy, and tender. -Rolled Injera Bread: I don't know how many people have gone to Communion at a Catholic mass, but if you have, it tastes exactly like the Host--there's no other way to describe it. A bit bland, yet earthy. Vegetarian Feast +Yellow Split Peas: quite creamy and something you can actually chew on for a bit. It's a tad bit mild. +Spicy Peas: the peas are a bit mashed in a spice that lingers in your mouth for a while thereafter. It's not so spicy though that you need a gallon of water. +Timatim Salad: very lemony with a hint of Dijon. Delicious! +Potatoes: mmm these have so much flavor and are nicely mushy, yet, hard enough to bite into. +Green Lentils: mmm I like these--the perfect mix of spicy, mild and creamy. +Cabbage: Nicely sweet, crunchy, and wet. +Collard Greens: cooked wonderfully these greens have lots of flavor and are great roughage. +Red Lentils: tastes like chili. Yum Dessert -Carrot Cake (with caramel sauce): not your typical carrot cake, it's still wonderfully moist and flavorful. I was a bit overwhelmed by nutmeg but it made for a well-spiced moist carrot bread-ish-cake that had a flavorful thin layer of cream cheese frosting and caramel sauce. FINAL VERDICT: I would say this is not the restaurant to go to if you are on a date as the food is essentially all fiber (yep, you will have the stomach giggles), and you will smell like garlic and onions. But it was certainly enjoyable. I would love to sit at one of the tables which are meant to hold the platters for a more authentic experience. But you can definitely put this restaurant on the pricey list.
(4)
Emily M.
I feel like the people who rate Blue Nile highly haven't been to other Ethiopian restaurants. While even the worst Ethiopian is complex and richly spiced, I've definitely had better. One thing that irritates me from the get-go is that you can't order entrees by themselves-you can only get the 'feasts,' a sampling of everything on the meal. As a result, you end up paying way more for food than you should for the amount you end up eating (since it is all you can eat, no take out boxes either). And, since everyone gets essentially the same thing, you can tell that they just take a scoop out of stews that have been sitting around ready-made for a long time and plop them down on the injera. Most of the stews did not taste very fresh, and the seasoning was a little more bland than I've had at other places. My favorite stew I was served was the cabbage, but even then I found it a little too sweet and in need of some salt to balance it out. Perhaps the worst is the injera though. I don't think they let theirs ferment, as it's not in any way sour like most places make it. To add insult to injury, the injera I was served wasn't even warm-in fact, it was pretty stale around the edges and was dry and crumbly rather than soft and pliable. Yuck. When you get a craving for Ethiopian, it can hit hard. But if this is the only Ethiopian place in the area, I may sit it out for a while until I go somewhere with better restaurants (Altu's in Lansing is my favorite). On the whole, I found Blue Nile overpriced and underwhelming-I don't think I'll be going back.
(2)
Tony L.
Came here for lunch, ordered coffee and a traditional entree of a meat + 2 veggies, served with injera bread. For meat, the spicy chicken (2 thighs) was tender and flavorful. The mild split yellow peas were also pretty good, but the collard greens were nothing special. As many other Yelpers have posted in photos, these are served on top of injera bread; in addition to that, there are additional rolls of injera served in a bread basket on the side. First time I've had this kind of bread; it's very fluffy/spongy with mild flavor, and soaks up the flavors from the excess "juices". Moist towels are provided before and after the food is served, as traditionally Ethiopian cuisine is eaten using your hands, but utensils were also provided. There was only one waitress around noon on Saturday. Shortly after I had been seated, a very large party arrived, which required extra attention. The sole waitress was understandably overwhelmed, but I was still rather miffed that the coffee (teacup-sized serving) did not arrive until I was just about done eating; no water refills during my visit either. The waitress did apologize for the delay and did not put the coffee on my bill. About $10 for a filling and reasonably tasty lunch is a pretty good deal, although the service this visit was a bit disappointing. If I returned in the future, it would most likely be as part of a group to try one of the feasts.
(3)
Brian K.
Excellent service and food. We had 6 people in our party on a Tuesday night. Not crowded, but parking around the area can be tricky. I like how this is family style buffet. Traditionally, this is not the case at other Ethiopian places I've been to across the country. So $18 a person for all you can eat is a bargain. Everything was flavorful, fresh, and the desserts are just as good.
(5)
Linda T.
Meh... We went to Blue Nile because I was curious, but I'll likely never go back. Overall, the experience was just okay... The Good: I liked the communal aspect of their dinner set up. They have different meats and vegetables in separate heaps on a gigantic flat pan that's lined with injera. I definitely enjoyed their injera a lot... so fluffy!! Their dinner is all you can eat, so the heaps replenish to your heart's desire. The atmosphere is kind of cool too -- colorful yet cozy. I can imagine it being a fun date spot. The Not So Good: The food was pretty bland. I wasn't very full at the end of our meal, but wasn't inclined to eat more, even though it's all-you-can eat. This in itself is the reason why I wouldn't go back.
(3)
Nikhil K.
Good food overall, very tasty! Not as good as other Ethiopian places I've been to. Their Injera bread was good, but should be a little more sour in my opinion. Overall it's a good place to go, will for sure visit again!
(3)
Jim G.
OK, I said I wouldn't go back, but I was having a craving for Ethiopian food today. It's Good Friday and the parking meters were free starting at noon. I figured I stood a better chance of finding a spot. I was right and found one very close to the entrance. The lunch menu offered a choice of one meat dish with two vegetarian dishes. I chose the spicy beef (Zilzil Wat) with the lentils (Yemisir Kik Wat) and split peas (Metin Shiro Wat). It was good, but I wish it was just a bit spicier. I also ordered their Spiced Ethiopian Tea which is fantastic. I like Ethiopian food and wish I could find a place closer to me with better parking. I would go there fairly often.
(3)
Naveen N.
Great tasting food. Nice setting with polite wait staff who are quick to help.
(4)
Kount K.
Not terrible, but not good either. The pros were definitely the ambiance and the service. The wait staff was on the ball and coming by often to see if we needed more food. Great interior as well. I believe this is the only Ethiopian place in A2. I live in a city that has many Ethiopian food options and Blue Nile's quality is well below all of them. The injera bread that was delivered to the table was soft but did not taste anything like injera. It lacked that spongy texture and flavor. The injera that was under the food on the platter was stale and crusty. We got the all you can eat meat plate which comes with veggies too. All the veggie dishes were tasteless. The meats were ok but the all you can eat plate does not include the lamb which is weak. And for $19/pp it was way overpriced. I cannot recommend this place.
(2)
Jacqueline S.
Honestly how often do you get to try Ethiopian food?! The food is amazing- usually we get the large platter to share, that way you get to try everything. The eating experience is the best part- sitting around a large table on stools picking up your food with warm spongy bread- definitely an easy place to overindulge...a bit pricier than expected but I'd say it's worth the experience. A great place for those who love to try new things!
(4)
Jola B.
Just had dinner here with a group of friends. One friend had made a reservation but a bunch more of us showed up. The owner was awesome and accommodated us anyway in the conference room off to the side. I guess it's Restaurant Week and we didn't know? So there was only one menu. I chose the Green Pea Soup appetizer (green peas, carrots, celery, onion, ginger roots, green peppers and vegetable stock) and enjoyed it. Main course is served family style. I didn't try the meat. But my favorite vegetables were the mixed veggies and especially the collard greens. My friend who was with us and is Ethiopian said the injera (which tasted fine to me) wasn't as sour as it should be? But that may be an item edited towards an American palette. For dessert, I chose the Raspberry Sorbet which was fine as well. $28 (plus added gratuity for our large party of 10). Not terribly expensive but not some place I'll be eating often. Good to check out an try....especially when it's not Restaurant Week and the full menu is available a la carte....
(3)
Scott F.
Incredibly disappointing, I'm sorry to say. Admittedly, we were both used to quality Ethiopian food from cities like Washington, DC, which have large Ethiopian communities and hence many first-rate restaurants. We knew immediately that something was wrong when the injera (the traditional bread with which you eat the food) came out looking sickly white and feeling pasty and dry to the touch, not moist and spongy. Injera should be made with teff flour--healthy for you, btw--but this was clearly made with white flour. And it wasn't fermented either, as it should be. The result was the worst injera I've had in my life. When the injera is bad, the meal is by default bad, because that's how you spoon up the food--with the bread. We had a vegetarian sampler and were underwhelmed by pretty much everything on the plate. (I won't comment on the service, which was sub-par as well, but I'm of the mind that food comes before service: I'll wait forever if the food is delicious. This wasn't.) This restaurant really needs to overhaul its menu. It's a shame, because the space itself--the whole atmosphere--is very attractive. Hope they do so, because I miss this cuisine desperately.
(1)
Liz P.
I had been here only once before, back in 2006 for an end-of-the-year banquet, and it was good. My friends and I decided to check it out today for Restaurant Week, $15 fix prix lunch. I had a salad with olive oil dressing, an injera bowl with spicy chicken, and rice pudding with raisins for dessert. My friend who got the vegetarian dish said the portions were a little small, but I was stuffed after mine. Rice pudding had what tasted like rum-soaked raisins and was delicious. Service was great as well, water and tea glasses were filled quickly. I would definitely come back to Blue Nile and apparently they have a Ferndale location too, which is closer for me.
(5)
Nancy C.
The bread is so fluffy! It's fun to eat. Kinda like eating a cloud...The communal dining concept of eating off one ginormous plate is also pretty entertaining. Could be a worthwhile experience if you've never had Ethiopian cuisine. Flavor-wise, everything was alright. Nothing stood out as particularly good or bad. My friend says lunch is better than dinner prices here. I was here for dinner and definitely did not feel as though I ate my money's worth--paying for the experience more than the food I suppose.
(2)
Hunter Y.
I came here for the restaurant week 3-course menu: The appetizer, timatim salad, was much like any other salad - greens, onions, large strips of jalapeno, lemon juice, and a faint hit of spiciness. The entree, zilzil alecha, or beef, collard greens, and cabbage, were dull-tasting. I am not a heavy-palated person, but this bland dish left me wanting more salt. Or more spices. Or more of any taste. The injera also tasted very bland. Injera is a thin, soft, pita-like bread made from teff flour. It should taste similar to sourdough, but not as sour. I think the injera here is just made with plain bleached flour. The whole wheat injera was equally tasteless. The desert, rice pudding, was just okay. I am not a big fan of sweets, so I appreciated the fact that it was not ridiculously sweet. The service was great. However, no one dines for services. Good service is what elevates a four star restaurant to five. It does not make unimaginative, uninspired, and dreary-tasting food enjoyable.
(1)
Artist B.
Great food!!!! Very tasty and reasonable prices. Wait staff very helpful and efficient. I would go there again.
(4)
Andrea E.
I love the hot towels. I love the cinnamon tea. I love eating with my hands and getting to try a variety of things. All of the food was incredibly delicious. The service was excellent. I just don't think there's any way that I ate 20 dollars worth of food though - we split the Ethiopian feast between three people and we couldn't finish the whole thing. Plus most of it is lentils which probably cost them all of 40 cents. If it weren't for the prices I'd give it 5 stars for sure.
(4)
Kayla F.
I don't know anything about Ethiopian food, and I won't begin to act as though I do. I've come here twice, about 6 months apart. Both times were equal in quality of service and food. Most of the dishes are good, and the great thing is that if you don't enjoy one, there are always many others to choose from. Cons? I don't think there really are any. It's not very expensive for the amount of food. Their chicken is literally the best chicken I've ever had in my life. And their tea is a MUST try, hot or iced it's awesome (you can also buy it loose leaf to go). I'd highly recommend it for someone wanting to try something new.
(5)
Jennifer P.
I thought it was very good but pricey. 16$ for vegetable feast and $18 for meat, yes they are never ending portions but for people who don't eat a ton it kind of stinks. Plus even if you never get any refills on any of it you can't take it home.
(4)
Suki K.
It was my first time dining at Ethiopian restaurant, so I cannot tell if the food served here is truly Ethiopian. To my taste, I give 3.5 stars for food. I had vegetarian option and all dishes were well seasoned, some of them might be a bit spicy for someone, but I enjoyed them all. I will come back here and try out there meat plates to see how I like.
(4)
Smita R.
I had the Vegetarian Feast and I definitely think that Ferndale restaurant has better quality food. This place is average and I would not think of visiting it again. P.S. I am a huge fan of the Blue Nile @ Fernadale! Go there at least once a month with my husband.
(3)
Elizabeth M.
Blue Nile is a solid dinner choice. I ate here tonight with my boyfriend, and we ordered the vegetarian feast. This is easily the least controversial menu you will ever deal with: two options, basically asking if you want meat with your meal or not. The food was extremely tasty--very well-prepared and arranged--and I enjoyed the relative novelty of eating with my hands. That said, I thought the atmosphere in the restaurant was stilted and strange. After all, how uptight can the general attitude be in a place where you're eating utensils-free and "all you care to eat"? There was also no delight, no surprise that might make me really excited about Blue Nile. My review likely would have been different if the meal would have been cheaper. It was $16.50 per person for the vegetarian feast; even though this is "all you care to eat," I really can't imagine a person wanting more than just the first serving. It's massive, it's carb-y. Bottom line: taste was great to the point that I would make this a regular stop if it weren't so expensive.
(3)
Shannon A.
Awesome environment, love the cinnamon-based hot tea. If you like Ethiopian food, there is nothing to complain about. If, like me, you find out that you're indifferent toward it... It's something to try once and leave alone. Feasts are all-you-can-eat and I barely finished one platter with my friends. The managers were so nice in that they charged all three of us for the price of one meal to comp us for the small appetites. That made a huge difference to my experience.
(4)
Julie L.
Went here for restaurant week. Very easy to get seated, didn't have to wait at all. The food was fast and hot when we got it. I enjoyed the lentil soup, but really liked the hummus with injera chips better. The hummus was delicious, but I wish the injera chips weren't so hard to bite. We got the Blue Nile Feast and it was very tasty, all you can eat style. We got full pretty fast since I love injera. Not as good as Ethiopian food in LA, but I'm very glad we have something like this here in Ann Arbor. The server was very attentive and polite. I enjoyed the hot towels before and after our meal. Would definitely come back with a larger group of people so we can eat more.
(4)
Kris E.
Friend and I ate lunch here (A2) on Tuesday. Food was GREAT! Service was so-so. Was concerned with many dishes containing onion and jalapenos. Food was (good) spicy and great. We were one of 4 tables in restaurant. First time visit. Told waitress this. She seemed indifferent. Ordered hummus appetizer. Friend and I stared at injeria bread not knowing exactly what to do. We asked waitress on her next pass and she gave us the, "however u want to eat it" answer. Part of the experience of trying something new, especially ethnic, is the experience. After telling the waitress this was our first experience, I would have liked an overview of the eating experience and what to expect. Wait staff was attentive and tea cups and water glasses were kept full. Food served quickly. Food was very good. Hot spiced tea was wonderful. I think if we return, we will try the Ferndale location.
(3)
Vishnu V.
I think this is a good place.. Really good food. Couple of times we went before the closing hours and found that the bread wasn't warm and service wasn't that great. Do plan on going atleast an hour before closing time. Food is definitely pricey. Dinner for one costs about 19$. I really don't think it is worth that much.
(4)
Bill B.
Long ago, I made many trips to the old Blue Nile in Detroit's Greektown. It was novel, fresh and delicious. Since then, I have tried other Ethopian restaurants in Southeastern Michigan and other cities. Thus, I was curious about how my more educated palate would feel on my first trip to a Blue Nile in years. It was OK. The collard greens (gomen) still rock in that special tangy way. The cabbage, though not as sublime as I remember, was gentle. Red lentil dishes retain a pretty good bite. However, I was disappointed in the blandness of the potato, carrot and green bean and yellow dal dishes. Green lentils, which once were served cold, seemed to lose something with the heat. Salad, which used to come with the veggie feast, is now an extra charge (really?). The is not to say that the Blue Nile was bad. It's still a kick to scoop these dishes into the spongy injera bread. The food doesn't crackle as it once did, though. I don't know whether it is my taste or the restaurant that has changed but the meal wasn't as magical as I hoped that it would be.
(3)
Shawna S.
Interesting place to try Ethiopian food - they attempt to bring in the cultural feel, but at times it is a bit forced. The basket tables and servers running around in their "uniforms" is not all that appreciated. It is nice that the servers bring the hand cloths to wash up before you eat dinner with your hands. The food was good - i had the vegetarian feast. it was nice that you had an opportunity to try many different things. The spicy lentils were very good, just the right level of spice. The Injera is excellent. There is a nice sour flavor to it. Prices are VERY high here. I left that evening feeling so full because i felt as though i had to keep eating to get my money worth (injera has a tendency to expand after you eat it....). I then decided to try my own hand at making the same dishes that I enjoyed. To my surprise, it is CHEAP to make these dishes. I can create a similar feast for 3 people (and have leftovers for at least 3 days) for under $15.00. the spices and lentils are available locally and you can find easy to follow recipes online. So the markup is pretty crazy - $16.90 (excludes tip) for a dinner.... I think they should reevaluate! I have not mastered true injera at this point in my cooking escapades. I tried to get injera to go from the Blue Nile - each time i do this, they are VERY confused and rarely get the order correct. For the same order, one can expect anywhere from 3-12 pieces of injera. In spite of ordering ahead for take-out, they are always very confused and it takes a long time to get what we ordered. I would say, try this place once. Take note of what you enjoyed and then try making it at home!
(2)
Nicholas M.
Went to Blue Nile for dinner, we were feeling adventurous, and have always wanted to try it. Needless to say I wasn't really impressed. The atmosphere was overly rigid for the food. At its core, the Blue Nile is an all you can eat Ethiopian place with basically two menu options where you eat with your hands. It should be fun and relaxing. Instead, there was an oddly placed old timey two piece jazz band, all the wait staff was overly formal, and they were overly attentive, even though we only had waters, to the point of making us awkward. The food was ok. Can't really think of much more to say than that. My greatest thrill was playing around with that spongy bread. At one point I was jovially flopping it around and then I made eye contact with our waiter.... whoops.
(2)
Liz D.
One of my all time favorite restaurants to dine at. Me and my boyfriend get the feast which is all you can eat. The ethiopean coffee is to die for. Next to the fact it is pretty fun to be able to eat with your hands and have it be socially acceptable, Everything on the menu is delicious. The spicy peas go great with everything and are my personal favorite next to the cabbage. The atmosphere is very relaxing and enjoyable. Ive been coming here for years and make it a point to take anyone visiting to try this exotic cuisine!
(5)
Xavier A.
Have to be careful not to overdo it here. The food is very good, but the subsequent gas will make you hate yourself. Pace yourself and watch the cabbage and beans!
(3)
Kelly S.
The cuisine here is really delicious. Very intense flavors, mixed with a nice amount of heat. The service was great..everyone genuinely wanted us to enjoy our experience. At one point, a busser stopped what he was doing and came to our table because he said it looked like we needed something. The Ethiopian Feast comes with a lot of food, so come hungry and wear your stretchy pants. Don't go home without some tea.
(5)
Andres B.
Super unique and culturally interesting dining experience and I'm very glad I went. However, you will certainly overeat and you might feel sick afterwards. Tea was also fantastic and service was excellent. With that being said, the food is probably not worth the price, because when you break it down what you are eating is fairly basic, even if it is very tasty. For that reason, I will probably only come back when I have friends/family visiting who are looking for something different. If you haven't been at all, I'd definitely recommend trying it out at least once though -- FUN TIME.
(4)
Shelia D.
It really wasn't that great. I have always been excited to try this restaurant but wasn't impressed by the food or the atmosphere. For the price it is not worth it!
(2)
Mike P.
I've eaten better Ethiopian food while living in St. Louis and South Florida. However, the Blue Nile is certainly not bad, and, if you have never eaten Ethiopian before, this is a good place to start. I can't really comment on any specific dish, but everything we tried was quite good and was as well presented as you can get on a Mesob. In general I'd recommend trying one of the sampler platters; I'm not entirely sure, but I think they are "all you can eat." The initial service was a little on the slow side, but the waitress was very helpful and was pretty quick to bring us more injera, PRN. If you don't like other people "touching" your food, I suppose you could ask for a fork and spoon.
(4)
Amy C.
I came here for restaurant week, and I suppose this is one of the first few restaurants I've experienced so far in the area! The Restaurant week menu offered an appetizer, either vegetarian or meat main course, and dessert. I had the lentil appetizer, which was served with what appeared to be dried chips made of Injera, which were quite good. My only complaint was that there weren't enough chips to dip into the lentils! Since I was with a large group, I got to try both the vegetarian and meat options. Overall, the food was not bad, though I feel I've had better Ethiopian food in other cities. I was surprised that they offered endless refills of meat/vegetables, which was interesting. However, even after one plate, I was entirely too full, so I did not take up the offer for refills! Dessert for me was bread pudding, which was a nice sweet ending to the meal. The waitstaff were attentive and answered all of our questions, as some people in my group were new to Ethiopian dining. Overall, dinner was good, albeit a bit on the expensive side.
(3)
Stephen C.
I was in Ann Arbor for a short time and thought I'd check out this Ethiopian restaurant. I am used to Ethiopian food in Los Angeles, and Blue Nile of Ann Arbor compares well. Granted it's a little more Americanized than what I'm used to, but I had a tasty meal. Unlike other reviewers I found the service to be attentive -- I went at the tail end of the lunch service so there weren't a lot of other customers in the restaurant. Lentils were good. Chicken could have been flavored a bit more. Injera was plentiful. All in all a good experience.
(4)
N P.
I revisited Blue Nile again recently and it's really a tricky restaurant to review. I will stand by my four star rating but I read some of the amazing more recent reviews by my fellow Yelpers and I agree with many of the points they brought up. The cost is crazy, way too high. Still the atmosphere is nice (love the murals on the wall too) and it does have a certain air to it (even though you are sitting on the floor ;)). The food for vegetarians also is a bit bland as noted by another reviewer but I think that the choice to be limited in spicing may be intentional. Next time I will ask for some type of hot sauce or to see if they may be able to modify my order by adding more spices. I have a feeling they may do that if we ask. Also I did forget to mention that I love the tea as well. Service still is average (we all expected a little more attention after we ordered and then again after our food was brought to us). There are so many excellent dining options in Ann Arbor so I do think Blue Nile needs to improve a bit. Still it's worth a visit and I will revisit again to see if my opinion changes.
(4)
Josh W.
I think the most important fact about Blue Nile is that it is a special occasion or once in a while restaurant. The food is good but the important part is the experience. It is a fun place to bring people who are adventurous and have never eaten Ethiopian with their hand's before. Unless you like eating hunched over a small table, make sure you ask for a boot or real table as opposed to the traditional small circle tables. This restaurant is great for veggies because there is a great variety of things to eat with very different flavor profiles.
(4)
Margaret T.
I came here during my first visit to MI about a year ago and it immediately became one of my favorite restaurants! Every time I visit I have to go here! Blue Nile has a really nice ambiance, great service, and - most importantly - wonderful food. I've always gotten the vegetarian feast, and as someone who frequently finds myself having trouble choosing between menu options, I love that you get a bit of each dish. There is also live (jazz) music some nights, which is always a fun touch to going here.
(5)
Daniel L.
We went to The Blue Nile after a movie while in Ann Arbor and my thoughts are that the food was good, it was cool but the service was clumsy at best and overall for what you get it's very pricey !! Not to mention that we all ordered coffee with dinner and they didn't want to make another pot for us after only receiving 1 very small cup each..(They had 2 more hours to be open and no more coffee) That pissed us off....really? We all saw the beans....they could have made another pot, it would not have killed them. Also, the place went from music to dead silence ... It was not at the top of my list.
(2)
Daron D.
I recently went here for the first time a couple of days, and i must say i left feeling good and full. When i went, i had the Ethiopian feast with my girlfriend, and it was good. The greens and cabbage as good as i have ever had and the spicy lentils was good and so was the yellow split peas (and i don't even like peas). The meat was OK, not great, and the bread used with the meal compliment it pretty well. So would i go again, yes, but i wouldn't go on a consistent basis, just as a "special location place", but it is somewhere you should experience at least once in your life.
(3)
Angela S.
This place is an experience. More like a taste of culture than just a restaurant. I really liked that aspect. I went for dinner with my boyfriend who has been wanting to take me here for months. I was a little skeptical the menu looked a little boring. My boyfriend had never been here either but thought I would like it since I like vegan, more ethnic food. I had no idea what to expect going into this. I have had Ethiopian food before but the whole hand towels before and after a meal, eating with your hands, the uncooked no refrigeration thing was very unique. I ordered the vegetarian feast and it was overall very good. I loved the cabbage the best. A few dishes were a little too salty and bland but the greens and yellow peas were so good as well. I've had better bread like this but it was still good. Only downfalls were the price almost $17 per person for this all you can eat. Which is steep seeing its just lentils, peas, and green. I would rather have one serving for a smaller price or something. Than we asked if we could take our leftovers home and that isn't allowed. That really made me mad because I hate wasting things and this food could have been eaten later instead of being thrown away!!! There are many starving children in Ethiopia! Still good food and service by me!
(4)
Joseph B.
Very clean and inviting. Food was great. Excellent for lunch, dinner, and large parties.
(5)
Code M.
Don't expect prompt or attentive service at the Blue Nile during lunch. Small portions on the vegetarian plates.
(2)
Beck E.
I really love the food and service here and wish I could afford to eat here more often. (Alas... the grad student budget.) The (super-friendly) owner often stops by my table to make sure everything is going all right and sometimes to offer wine. When I'm in a group, some of us will order the vegetarian feast and others the meat. They are always very accommodating and don't force us to go with one or the other (so that some of us with the vegetarian order can mooch off of the meat plate). I always thought that was nice. :) Haven't tried any of the desserts, though they always look so. very. good. But I never have any room left at the end of an all-you-can-eat meal!
(5)
Jill S.
The food was so good! I've had bad experiences with Ethiopian restaurants, but the food here was delicious. Since it was a nice day we were able to eat outside, and there is a corner with fence around it where, while my daughter and I could enjoy our food, my grandson was safely confined. The tea was fabulous! I would have loved to take a gallon of it home!
(4)
Jenna I.
I was amazed they even had Ethiopian food in Michigan to be honest, and I had really hoped it would surprise me... but alas, their food is just strictly OK. I found the injera to be especially bland (more like just a plain old crepe) and the food to be lacking in spice. While none of it is bad by any means, the prices are just painfully high, which just sort of burns after tasting the second rate food. Lets also be honest- Ethiopian food is so filling, it's ridiculous being forced to pay for All You Can Eat when all you can eat is one serving! However it's not all bad at the Blue Nile- their honey wine is made in house and it's really great (you can buy it in bottles at Whole Foods too). The place itself looks nice, a lot of decorations and a nice large space. The service is very good as well. They have everything you'd expect on the menu, and again, seeing as it's basically all there is around, it's certainly not BAD. What it comes down to is this- If you've never had the food before, it's a good introduction- kind of like Ethiopian 101. But if you've been around the Ethiopian restaurant circuit, maybe just wait it out until you're back in a city with better choices.
(3)
Brian W.
A family favorite, including our 2 middle school aged girls, we went here for our 4th wedding anniversary dinner. First off- while it is a bit costly, the food is top notch and the service as always was excellent. We always get the Ethiopian Feast, and add on the lamb. Something for everyone to choose from. Parking can be challenging. There is a public garage near about 2 blocks away unless you luck out with street parking close by. We prefer this location over the Ferndale location. They also have a private dining area for larger groups if needed.
(3)
Whitney G.
Mentioning quality authentic Ethiopian food, I used to go to the Blue Nile in Downtown Detroit as a little girl. Since it's moved to Ann Arbor, the food, the service and the decor is still the same... Excellent!
(5)
Jason C.
Best ethiopian I've had outside the country itself.
(5)
Michael T.
Atmosphere is wonderful! I like the colors, layout, noise level, painted lights, and the guy on the keyboard is great! The owners and hosts are great! Very pleasant and want you to feel welcomed. The food is good - not great. Some of the items seemed bland and others seemed to spicy. I thought the food could have been warmer too. There was not alot depth of flavor, but the tastes were pure - not remarkable by any means, but good. The "feast" with meat was $18.90 and $5 more if you wanted lamb. Tea or soda is $2.50. Food is priced 30-40% more than it should be. The tea had a very strong cinnamon taste that was undrinkable to me after a few sips as the flavor intensified and I wanted to taste the flavor of the veggies, so I switched to soda. The service was definitely grade C as there was too few staff. My waitress brought towels to start and clean up, but I don't think I saw her throughout the meal. Another girl was running around, refilling drinks, and putting out the dishes every so often. Small drink jars emptied quickly and wouldn't be refilled. I asked the waitress helper for a refill, she said sure and then 10-15 minutes later another small jar of drink would show up. This doesn't work when you want to drink in between different dishes. Again - not the staffs fault - there just isn't enough of them. The restaurant was half filled on Saturday night, so I would have expected better service. They brought out the dessert tray before asking us if we were done, which is not what I would have expected with the all you can eat feast. We had great company, so had a great time. I would say this place is way over priced for the quality of food and short staff, so I only give it 3 stars. I would come back and give this place another chance, but only if I get a killer coupon though.
(3)
Ashly C.
Ethiopian food is one of my favorite cuisines and this place does it amazingly! Definitely my favorite of all the Ethiopian restaurants in Southeast Michigan (and believe me I've tried several: The Blue Nile in Ferndale, Taste of Ethiopia in Southfield, Addis Ababa in Downtown Plymouth). I love the authentic decor and woven basket tables. Every time I've been here I always order the Ethiopian Feast (with meat and vegetables) and everything is full of flavor and not too spicy, I also love the Ethiopian Spiced Iced Tea. Just make sure to arrive very hungry because the feast is "all you can eat" and once you start eating you won't want to stop :)
(5)
Honest R.
I think the ratings for this place are lower than they should be. If you like Ethiopian food, this place will not disappoint you. It is a little bit expensive, but the quality is there and I really like the atmosphere of the restaurant. It's a good place to go on a date. Some of the food is a little bit spicy, but it tastes pretty darn good, too. It'd be nice if the staff paid a bit more attention to the customers. I think the owner is one of the first people to greet you at the door, and he seems like a pretty nice guy. Both times I've been there, I've needed things like more bread or water and they tend to overlook that stuff. Don't let the ratings steer you away from trying this unique ethnic experience. It's a pretty cool place to check out while you're in the A....
(4)
Jason C.
I was introduced to Blue Niles by a friend of mine. So one day, we decided to go after our class project to celebrate. I was told, we will eat with our hands, so I was thinking about taking my own chopsticks with me, just in case :) We ordered the meat buffet. The chairs are low to the ground, so you are even with the table. The wait staff brings brought the food out and the bread and showed us how to eat the food. As for the meat went, there were two types of chicken, lamb and beef. Lots of bean based vegetable sides, but they were good. So you take some of the bread, pick up the food and eat it. If you want to try something new and outside of the norm, this is a place worth visiting. It's been some time since I have been there, so it's time to revisit and see if things have changed.
(3)
Craig Z.
Very good, but not as good as it used to be, and more expensive. At the same time, they have cut out at least one meat from the feast, which was disappointng. I'd still recommend it though, just not as frequently as I once did.
(4)
Nissa N.
My introduction to Ethiopian food was on a first date in LA several years ago at a restaurant called Nyala on Fairfax in Mid-Wilshire, an area that's known as Little Ethiopia with plenty of great Ethiopian restaurants around. So started my obsession with Ethiopian food. I've had it many times since then and Blue Nile is yet another great place to add to the list. My husband and I love it for special occasions when we can fit it into the budget because It is on the pricier side. We ordered the Ethiopian feast, which costs close to $20 per person, and two of the Ethiopian spiced teas. The platter included all the lentil and meat dishes except the lamb. The meat in the curries is tender and so tasty and each of the lentil dishes is perfectly spiced. The food is served on top of a huge sheet of the Ethiopian spongy bread called Injera and they give you a few rolls of the bread on the side as well. It's the kind of place you'll want to go when you are pretty hungry because they keep refilling each dish on your platter as soon as they notice it's finishing. Obviously, just as with a buffet, you can't take the leftovers home, so be prepared to eat until bursting to get your money's worth. The only reason this place loses a star is because of how pricey it is. None of the Ethiopian places I've been to, even in LA, were as pricey per head as Blue Nile for the same combination of food. Blue Nile has pretty good food and nice ambience though, so we will still be going here whenever we can.
(5)
Roland C.
I'll give Blue Nile a 3, but that is being a little generous. The food is okay, not impressive but it is fine and will do if you aren't well versed in Ethiopian food or limited in options. I had the Ethiopian Feast on two occasions and booth times wished it could have been better. I'm no expert but I've had several Ethiopian dishes at various restaurants across the US and this just doesn't stand out. Another issue is the price. Paying for delicious food is never a problem, but the prices are rather high for the quality. The service was also not spectacular. On both occasions I went in on weekdays, once right after the lunch crowd and once before dinner. The restaurant had a few tables full... not dead but by no means crowded. The staff seemed disinterested and preferred to stand in the corner and chat rather than wait on the tables. Overall it's fine if you are really in the mood for Ethiopian food or want to try something new.
(3)
Nicole P.
Stopped in here a couple of months back during a low-traffic time of day for late lunch/early dinner with a friend. We got the Vegetarian Feast and a couple of beverages. This was my first experience with Ethiopian food. Maybe I was just hungry or maybe I was just having a great time, but either way I thought everything was amazing! -- the service was great, the ambiance was great, and I couldn't stop eating. Normally, I don't like lentils and I'm not a big fan of collard greens, but I ate both like they were going out of style. I ordered the Spiced Ethiopian tea and my friend had the Ethiopian coffee. Both were perfect the way they were served. Not once did I try to locate condiments for anything I ate. In fact, the injera (bread) was so good that if someone had wrapped my hand in it, I would've eaten that too. For dessert, we enjoyed tiramisu. I'm no connoisseur, but I thought it was fantastic as well. I will definitely return to this restaurant as much as possible.
(4)
Julia D.
I went here with my mom and my sister and I LOVED it. I haven't eaten a ton of Ethiopian food, but I thought this was pretty delicious. We stuck to vegetarian and I was quite satisfied with flavorful lentils and split peas.
(5)
Aaron J.
Very decent food but some glaring problems with this place. There are literally only two options on the menu and each is over 16 dollars for a 'feast'. This does not include any drinks or dessert. They also have a strict policy that you cannot take home leftovers, so any extra food is simply thrown out. I love Ethiopian food but there is no way I will be back to the blue Nile any time soon.
(2)
Andy Z.
I've been here many times and it's definitely a favorite for me to take out visitors and guests. Come hungry for the dinner feast.
(5)
Mandy F.
Yum! Better than the Ethiopian food I have found so far in New York. Amazing flavors, good price, excellent portions!
(5)
Janani S.
I love this place, I have been here 6 times and I like the way we eat :) You need to share a plate ( 4 share a plate) and eat, more like a community atmoshphere :)... Food is simple yet taste good, you end up talking a lot which i like to do. So if you are a person who likes to share a plate and talk a lot, eat simple food. Go here :). I wouldn't recommend this place for "First few Dates"
(4)
Chris K.
I've never had Ethiopian food before, and I have to say it is now one of my favorites! Fantastic atmosphere, just enough lighting to be cozy but enough to easily see what I was eating. We were greeted immediately upon entering, and our food was at the table in 5 minutes flat. Everything we had was incredibly tasty! We will definitely be coming back :)
(5)
Anne I.
Finally getting around to writing a review of this place . . . I'd never had Ethiopian food before, so I don't know how this might compare to other places in terms of authenticity but I can tell you one thing, the food here is really good! I love the service here. The staff is friendly, and they even explain all of the dishes to you and how to eat them, so fear not if you've never had Ethiopian before. The waiters also bring around hot towels at the beginning and end so you can clean your hands before you eat . . . and after since you eat the meal with your hands. Regular utensils are available too for those of you who don't care to get down and dirty. Personally, I think eating with your hands makes the food taste much better. When you walk in, you can opt for conventional table seating, or the more traditional basket table seating. I think if you are going in a large group and sharing the buffet, the regular table seating may be easier to work with. However, the basket table is a pretty fun experience. Whenever I come here, I always order the same thing: the meat buffet. I love that there are so many dishes that come with it, and they are all you can eat. Don't let your eyes deceive you--it may not look like much, i.e. little mounds of food on a tray, but typically one or two refills of a few dishes will be enough to leave me happily full and satisfied. The buffet is great in that you get to try a little bit of everything. My favorite of the buffet dishes are the lamb and the mixed vegetables. I can't get enough of them. I also love the soft, white bread--happy, heavenly, starchy goodness. I haven't tried any of the desserts here, but I have to admit, they all look really delicious. The problem is, I usually fill up with too much buffet and don't leave enough room for the after party. Either way, it's a win-win situation, and one happy student walks out of this place for the night.
(4)
Hakeem J.
I will be going back. My buddy and I both ordered the Ethiopian Feast with meat, which was quite good. The bread was warm, the vegetables and meat were delicious, and the service was great. This place is a great place to go with friends or family as the traditional serving of the meal, notably the Ethiopian Feast, allows you to share the entire experience with others. I haven't had Ethiopian food before going to Blue Nile, but will certainly be having more in the future. By the way, you can get quite full off the vegetables and bread. Thinking back, I could have done without the meat.
(3)
Shon C.
Fair warning - my review is based on lunch, I didn't have the all-you-can-eat feast, which is probably the more popular thing to do at Blue Nile. I came for lunch yesterday and actually had a pretty nice meal - Doro Wat w/ cabbage and lentils as a side. Strangely enough, the soup du jour was French Onion (?) - not super traditional. It was actually decent, especially considering there was no crouton or cheese topping... Lunch was good, but I wouldn't quite put it at the level of Red Sea in Ypsilanti. Bread was fresh, meat (chicken on the bone) was spicy; I actually found the veggie sides to be a little on the bland side. Pros: great ambiance, nice lunch menu, excellent service, hot towels before and after meal Cons: expensive (especially compared to Red Sea), perhaps a bit on the non-traditional side
(3)
Sara G.
Ah, I remember when the Blue Nile was a small joint in downtown Detroit. It's been a few years since I've visited the one here in the 'Deuce, and then only for dinner. Yesterday I went for lunch and was not disappointed. After ordering we were given hot towels and steaming cups of spice tea. Luxurious way to start the midday meal on a brisk autumnal day! Their lunch menu is pretty basic, you get to choose a meat item accompanied by two veg items, or just three veg items. Everything comes with unlimited injera. It's still a LOT of food for basically the same price as any Indian buffet around town. I can't resist the chicken. I ordered it mild because I also ordered the spicy red lentils. That way I could wrap a morsel of chicken in injera, dip it into the lentils and savor all the flavors. I don't usually order dessert, but being the chocolate fiend that I am, I couldn't allay the temptation to try their DARK chocolate mousse. Kind of like a mousse version of Zingerman's chocolate gelato (another weakness of mine) where the ratio of chocolate to sugar is much higher than normal--exactly how it should be! Twas a very good meal and I left rather full and satisfied and unable to eat for the rest of the day.
(4)
Amy Y.
This place is definitely a different experience. This is the most expensive finger food I ever had. Well, it is Ethiopian food and you do eat with your hands. The breading is like a pancake and you eat it with the shredded meat or puree like veggies. I like it and its mushy good. You can bring your kids here and they might think its a cool place. The food filled me up and you feel that Ethiopian belly coming along. No food coma here. So you do kinda get your moneys worth. This is a unique place and different style for me.
(4)
Brendan F.
My favorite restaurant on earth. I personally love the spicy lentils. If you don't get the feast then look at the ingredients and order anything with berbere sauce (hope I spelled that right)
(5)
Evan M.
Definitely one of my favorite restaurants, love the coffee and food, especially the injera, which might not be considered authentic, but I think it tastes better than the somewhat sour bread you usually get at Ethiopian places.
(5)
Red G.
It's simply overpriced. There's only so much you can eat because all the starch from the lentils and spongy bread (which I didn't mind unlike some other people, though my friend wasn't crazy about it), and it's $15+ for vegetarian feast and $17+ with three extra meat dish. The spicy dishes had a lot more flavor, and while I enjoyed some of the food from the all-you-can-eat dinner, it's simply overpriced in terms of quality and quantity. The service, on the other hand, was great. Our server was kind and later on a guy who seemed to be either the owner or the manager came by to ask how everything was going. They give you warm towels before and after the meal, but you might want to ask for a fork for some of the spicy meat dishes unless you want the tip of your fingers smelling like what you ate. It lasts. I can't speak for lunch because I don't know how much food they give you, but I'm thinking paying 10-11 bucks for a meat dish and two vegetable sides for lunch is a much better deal. I might try that another time. I will come back here if somebody's buying me dinner but I won't be shelling out my 20+ bucks here.
(3)
dan s.
OK, so I haven't been to Ann Arbor in over 15 years, so this is a slightly dated review. So why the review? Well, my Yelp profile only shows review flags on both coasts, so I feel bad for the middle of the country. Once upon a time I worked for a company that had offices in AA, and I flew out for a visit. I intended to go visit a German restaurant (I forget the name) that was recommended to me, but en route I passed Blue Nile. I chuckled to myself and thought of the old joke: "What do they serve in an Ethiopian restaurant?" "Glass of water and a toothpick". Then I noticed the place was BUSY. Looked at the menu - all you can eat for $13. I was on an expense account, but heck, value always does it for me. Let's try it. This was my first time eating Ethiopian food, but I was pleasantly surprised by the flavors, and shocked at how dense the food was. One round of whatever was in my basket stuffed me completely, so I paid my bill, bought a jar of their tea (sweetened with rose hips) and went out into the frigid Michigan night. I thought the food rocked. Recent reviews are pretty bad, so perhaps it's gone downhill. Or, it could be that the food was never that good, and I just didn't know any better?
(3)
Lori C.
I have only been here one, but have eaten Ethiopian food a few other times at other restaurants. We had a pretty large group, and although I thought the service was a little slow, they were good and pretty attentive. The food was good, but not any better that the food we have had at other places. We were in a side room, and it was pretty hard to hear others talk, even if they were just across the table.
(3)
Guillermo K.
Lukewarm food, inconsistent service, oddly sized portions. Maybe it was because of Restaurant Week. But if you can't hang with the program, why participate?
(1)
CrapulentMoose ..
Two stars just for the food by itself. It's tasty, but paying $15 to $20 is ridiculous. The first and only time I ate here, I was naive enough to think that the $20 family style was for two people, because it was just too damn much to charge one person for potatoes, lentils, and greens with a little meat. I was annoyed by the waitress who demonstrated how to eat the food by eating off our communal trough with her hands and by how low the table was relative to my seat, so that I had to lean over and compress my stomach while eating (a restaurant ploy?). Seeing a $40+ tab for two people to eat peasant food told me I was never coming back.
(2)
Bradley S.
I had the Beef Tibs with Mushroom Cabernet from the seasonal lunch menu for $9.25--very nicely prepared and elegantly served in an atmosphere with class. I finished my meal with a delicious bread pudding dessert. This meal had little to do with Ethiopian cuisine which I also enjoy, but it had everything to do with fine dining.
(5)
Tyler B.
First, the caveats: 1.) I am not an ehiopian food connoisseur 2.) I attended this restaurant as part of a group dinner, thus not part of a 'normal' dining experience. That being said... I give the decor, service and overall setting top marks. Its colorful, welcoming, and feels slightly upscale without pretension. The food was tasty. I didn't pay the bill so I'm guessing those doing cost benefit analysis are correct, but the spicy beef was something I'd go back for. The only truly subpar portion of my experience was the musak being pumped in. Sweet baby james it was like a casio keyboard from 1985 on the demo setting. Seriously, minimum one star tagged off because of it. So had I paid $20 for what I ate, I think i'd probably give the requisite 2 star to this place, but I had fun, my food was good, and the unique qualities of the experience make this an A-OK in my book.
(3)
Emily O.
This restaurant offers two all you can eat options: meat or veggies. We tried the meat tray (which includes the veggies) and then got seconds of the parts we liked! It was unique to eat a meal entirely with your hands, but also fun. I would recommend this to anyone who likes to try ethnic foods.
(5)
Tina W.
Ethiopian food sounded so exotic so I couldn't resist stopping here. The pro? The food was delicious! I went for dinner and ordered the Vegetarian feast. I love the Injera bread and the system of using it to pick up the different types of veggies and lentils. Everything was so flavorful and rich. The con? The pricing is way above me, college student that I am. I suppose their 'early dinner special' which ends at 6pm may have been better for me, but after 6pm everything is essentially around the $20 range. Eep. Also, the waiters were a little negligent of us. They did not introduce themselves and took forever to come and refill our food even though it was all-you-can-eat.
(3)
Theresa F.
Since by husband is 6'4", we walked in and definitely opted for a booth. The more traditional style Ethopian dining experience involves a low-lying communal table. It hit below Steve's knees...I knew if we didn't move, the poor guy would be miserable all night. The food was tasty -- I have to say though, for $19 a person I was expecting a little more depth to the food... layers of flavor and complexity to more of the vegetarian dishes. The lentils and collard greens were my favorites. There was a beef dish on our plate that tasted pretty good as well (albeit slightly overcooked). You eat on a communal lazy susan, sopping up meats, veggies, and juices with your sponge-like translucent bread and your hands. You best like the people you are dining with! As a daily tea drinker, I had to try their version. Not my favorite at all -- very minty, reminded me of chewed gum.
(3)
sri n.
Would give 3.5 stars. Four stars more for the ambience and service. I had the vegetarian feast. I was just too happy that there were so many things to eat for a veggie! I am no Ethiopian food connoisseur, but the food tasted fine for me. Of course there are a couple of bland items on the list. The coffee was great as well. Overall a very enjoyable experience. Yes, the downside is that it is somewhat pricey.
(4)
Andrew L.
All of the reviews that give this place a 2 out of 5 are exactly right. And yes, Randall B., my DC brethren, being from the District gives us a less forgiving palate when it comes to Ethiopian food. For me, I can neither forgive or forget. This place makes me cringe. I went here thinking I was going to get some baller Ethiopian food and I left feeling like I wanted to catch the next plane to DC. The food is sub par, and dear god I hate paying a lot for unsatisfying food. The only reason I went here more than once was because my ignorant friends had never had REAL Ethiopian food and thought Blue Nile was the shit. I'm sorry, some shit is more like it. So yeah, more than once means I gave this place another chance (although it was an unwilling venture) and it was still awful. If you've never had real Ethiopian food, by all means stuff you face to your heart's content. For those who have had a taste of the real thing, don't waste your time.
(1)
J C.
I got the vegetarian platter here and liked maybe one dish out of the 5 or so. The service was very slow too.
(3)
Mae S.
The atmosphere is appealing (despite the gripes of some of the other reviewers). Everyone I've eaten with wishes that there was more variety of spicy food -- not just hot or not hot. If you come with enough people, you can sample all the little dollops and then selectively re-order favorites, which comes close to ordering what you like. I kind of like the challenge of eating by hand from a large shared plate and solving the problem of where to put the chicken and lamb bones when you are done with them, especially if you are with people you don't know well. Ok -- maybe it's only exotic for AnnArbor. However, I have eaten in Ethiopian restaurants in other US cities, and the flavors varied more but the overall experience was comparable. I too would like to taste real teff.
(3)
Amy A.
Yum!!! I'm so sad I live in California and probably won't be back in Ann Arbor for...years! I'm vegan, and I went here with my sister and brother-in-law, who are not. Fortunately, they are the type of omnivores who feel totally fine about skipping meat in their meal, so we all shared a plate of Gomen (greens), spicy red lentils (can't remember the name), and mild, yellow split peas (also something in Ethiopian). Everything was delicious! The injera was fresh and perfect--not too sour. The red lentils were pretty spicy, but with great flavor! I left stuffed and satisfied. They also appear to have a pretty extensive alcohol menu, which is always a plus. The waitress was cool and kinda sassy, which I like. Also, hot towels at the beginning and end of the meal! I wish all restaurants did that. It feels so pamper-y!
(5)
April J.
I've heard this is the best Ethiopian food in the AA area - and indeed, it might be. However, I've just had so much better. I was excited to get some good Ethiopian when I came, and it just fell short. Good quality but very little flavor. I ordered a spicy dish and there was really very little spice at all. Disappointing all around.
(2)
G B.
I've enjoyed the Blue Nile for several years when I was in school. Now, more than 15 years later, I return to Ann Arbor and head immediately to rekindle my affection. After eating in significant Ethiopian restaurants around the country (Meskerem in DC, Awash in NYC, Mudai in San Jose, and more), I think I've decided that the Blue Nile is back on top! My family (wife, daughter [5 yrs], son [3 yrs]) recently spent 2 weeks in Michigan, and we dined at BN twice. Each time was excellent (meat and veggie combos) -- ingredients were fresh and preparation was healthy. Wait staff was Anglo but seemingly well-versed in the dishes and preparations. Can't say I've had a better meal in the last couple years . . . and I travel more than 100 days/year. So, I clearly appreciate what Blue Nile offers and delivers. Haven't had a even a slightly bad experience yet. Bon appetit!
(5)
Brittany A.
Coming from DC where there are Ethiopian restaurants everywhere, I was a little weary of one in Ann Arbor by itself. BUT I was very impressed by the taste, quality and service. My only disappointed was that they didn't have the lamb wot and the lamb they had was pretty bland. Luckily that is an upcharge for the meat platter any way so I would just not add it. The spicy beef and chicken were my favorite, also the spicy peas and spicey lentils. They even brought us more when we finished what they gave us. If you've never had Ethiopian before beware a salad is tomatoes and jalapenos only. Delicious!
(4)
LovesGoodFood B.
Ethiopian is my favorite cuisine. For a long time, I ate it at least once a week (my hometown of Chicago has wonderful Ethiopian restaurants). The primary veg option is the all-you-can-eat Vegetarian Feast for apx $17. The waiters will bring you more of whatever you want until you're stuffed (no taking leftovers home). I thought the food was good, but the flavors seem toned down compared what I like. Normally the spices are more robust and the injera a bit more sour. I'd recommend this place for first timers. We went on a Friday and there was live music. The overall noise level was perfect for a conversation. Being the only Ethiopian restaurant in Ann Arbor, I'll probably be back, but I wouldn't put it in my top 10 list.
(3)
Christina D.
Definitely an experience! Got the Ethiopian feast with the family and everything was tasty and very filling. Love the spongy bread and all the lentils!
(4)
Chad C.
When I'm searching for a place with a little bit of novelty for an out-of-town guest, this is one of the places I suggest, but always paired with somewhere to go either before or afterward for a drink or dessert. It's a little too subdued to stand by itself.
(4)
emeril l.
big disappointment....we had the meat buffet....crapulent moose's review is spot on. overpriced, bland food. Just skip it and go across the street to Mahek. btw - who are the people giving this place the award for best buffet in ann arbor? -- clearly, they are mistaken. also, the service---subpar, at best.
(1)
Alex Z.
The food here is pretty good, but not outstanding. The reason my review is so low is the inflexibility of this restaurant, and the high prices relative to the quality of the food. There are only essentially two options on the menu: the vegetarian and meat option, which are about 15 and 20 dollars, respectively. It's all-you-can-eat, but in practice, you typically won't be able to eat more than they serve on the first round. Furthermore, they refuse to let you take the food home (this is the first restaurant I have ever eaten at that has done this), which struck me as outright bizarre. Is the food good? Of course. It's flavorful, and not too heavy, and there's a fair amount of variety. However, I do have some complaints: the "spicy" food is not really that spicy, and also, the injera bread is made out of white grains, not whole grains, as it traditionally is and as it is in most restaurants. The white injera bread, in my opinion, is not nearly as tasty...it is very bland and a bit pasty. Service was good...but I still feel a little shortchanged in that there is no flexibility. Don't like one or two of the dishes? Tough, you have to pay for it anyway. Want to come here for a light meal? Tough, you're out of luck. My biggest complaint, still, is the price. $20 per head is too much, especially when there is NO variety. Combining this with not letting you take food home (even from your first place), it's pretty absurd. Ann Arbor is not a particularly expensive or pricey place to eat--there is much better food in town. I've also had much better (and much cheaper) Ethiopian in other restaurants in many other cities across the U.S. If you DO come here, I would recommend the vegetarian plate. The vegetarian stuff here, in my opinion, is significantly better than the meat stuff...and do yourself a favor and save yourself a few dollars--it's not like you are getting any extra value out of the extra money spent anyway.
(2)
David M.
I'm surprised this place has such a low rating. I went for the restaurant week lunch special, got the chicken, which was nothing special but tried the beef dish which was quite good. Kind of reminds me of the only other Ethiopian place I've been to, which I guess makes sense. But I'm looking forward to going back sometime for an all-you-can-eat slaughter. Also, there's apparently some Red Sea place that I should try...
(4)
Jay Rand B.
I agree, in principal with the other reviews posted here. I was expecting more than what I got, having fond memories of Red Sea in Adams Morgan district of D.C. The food is so-so and is overpriced for the quality of food served. I would save your taste buds for another location in another city for decent Ethiopian food.
(2)
Joshua R.
To pithly review Blue Nile from an outsider and out-of-towner's perspective: I like it! I'd go if I were visiting again, and to the rest of the details, I'll step aside to allow the other reviews sort out. Cheers, Blue Nile has this man's endorsement.
(4)
Parisa K.
Overall, I know a lot of people who aren't a fan of this place. I've only eaten here twice, both times I only got the vegetarian plate, and I've never had anything close to Ethiopian food aside from this place. With that being said, I liked Blue Nile. It's not a place I would rush to go back to, but I would go back. I know one thing that turns a lot of people is the spongy, not quite bread, not quite a pancake "bread" you eat with your food. I didn't mind it. Definitely not my favorite, but it was interesting and different. I though the experience was pretty fun. It was something different. The way the food is presented and the way you eat it is not at all anything typical. The inside of the place is entertaining, too. I don't know if it's authentically Ethiopian, but the decor appears to be so. Like I said, I only tried the vegetarian plate. It had a variety of small piles of vegetables in sauce, like lentils, legumes, etc. I don't remember the food being bad. I don't remember it being spicy, which I guess it should be. Honestly, if you don't know what to expect, then you could actually enjoy yourself like I did. I liked the whole experience enough to want to go back with a friend who I knew would like to try it out. Reading the other reviews, I'd definitely like to try a "better" place, but I do recommend this place to any unfamiliar and open-minded eater.
(3)
Nadi T.
This restaurant was highly recommended by one of my professors. Usually I would ignore anything a teacher says unless its related to work; however this one professor seemed to know a thing or two about food. I was rather shocked to see the restaurant filled with customers. That was a good sign to start off the night. The service and wait staff was perfect. They explained everything in detail and made sure you weren't lost. I did not adore the menu selection, especially considering you're limited to the vegetables feast or meat feast. Also the lighting was awful. The seating concept is great. I love to see traditional ideas as it can always educate us. Was it the most comfortable? No. Maybe lower the chairs a bit, but i'm not going to complain too much over this minute detail. The food is impressive. I loved the way everything was set up on the plate. It looks odd, however trust me it is very practical. The outer ring covers the vegetables, and all the meats get placed in the middle. I was impressed with the flavor of the vegetables. I thought the lentils, greens, and potatoes were wiked! The Lamb was outstanding, it was so good my gf and I asked for seconds four times! Everything works well on the plate. Combine as much as you can in one bite, and don't limit yourself to just chicken or beef. I also loved eating with my hands! The bread of course is an important player in the meal. Its best described as a sponge bread, and like all sponges eventually they wear out. Near the end of my meal I was dreading the taste and texture of the bread. I would have preferred Arabic bread or even "Tamees" which is found in Ethiopia. Overall I paid $45 for two. Thats a hefty sum for a college student. Was it overpriced? I would argue that, but it was a great experience and some of the vegetables and meats were terrific.
(3)
Julia S.
I happen to like me some Ethiopian food. I think dinner's a tad over-priced, but it is all-you-can-eat and I like almost all that's on offer.
(4)
Christopher F.
Talk about pretentious this place should be in the dictionary next to the word. As someone who has experienced Ethiopian cuisine in various places I was really excited to try this place. The decor is nice the staff friendly, and parking is not that terrible since they are right next to the Washington street parking structure, however, the food very mediocre, the price terrible, and the menu horrible. You have two choices thats it one is a vegetable buffet $13.99 and the other is a meat buffet for $17.99. They start out by bringing you one option of everything they have, of course you do not know what that is unless you ask the waiter or waitt to your food arrives. The waiter will then check with you periodically to ask what more they can bring you until you have reached your limit. The food comes served on traditional Ethiopian Injera and is eaten with the hands and shared with everyone. The food is mediocre at best, just because Ethiopian cuisine may be humble in nature does not mean the food has to lack spices and flavor. The menu is arrogant, and implies that we do not know how to properly order so we are just going to give you two choices meat or veggies. Description of the food on the menu is terrible at best. Never going to eat there again wouldn't recommend it to anybody unless they like bland grilled meat and bland steamed vegetables. There stew not that much better.
(1)
Akilah W.
Ugh This food is gross. But I'm biased since I'm from Los Angeles, where food is good. Injera was white, food did not have a touch of spice or flavor, and it's way too overpriced for what it is. This place totally waters down Ethiopian cuisine to make it suitable for Ann Arborites. Definitely do not go here if you're used to REAL Ethiopian.
(1)
David R.
For an Ethiopia restaurant without an Ethiopia staff, its not bad. However if you have ever been to an actual Ethiopia restaurant (especially if you're from the DC area), don't waste your time.
(2)
Stephanie H.
Meh.... Is the best way to describe this place. The host, who I assume was also the manager/ owner was just out of it. No clue at all what was going on. Aloof and uninterested in some guests and broke his neck to get to others. Very odd. The service was okay until it was time for dessert. If you have been to the Ferndale location you will definitely be disappointed. This location is not nearly as cozy. The food not as hot and the servers not as attentive. All in all I would not go back. The food is the same at both locations but not the service. Like I previously mentioned the host/ manager/ owner was no help we could not find our server, who obviously forgot our desserts, (which by the way were terrible and grossly overpriced) and he just stood there. I don't think he moved at all. After our server finally came out with our desserts she disappeared again. Again we enlisted his help. Rather than moving he actually went to talk in depth with the table next to us asking about the food and the service, joking about the weather.... not sure what that was about but it seals the deal on me never returning. If you have never been here don't go. It is a little pricey to not get out of it what you want and unless you want lukewarm food, inattentive servers and a clueless host you should dine elsewhere.
(2)
Margot L.
Agreeing with my fellow AA Margot, this place is very overpriced and does emit the air of pretentiousness that AA seems to don so naturally. The bad news is that you HAVE to order a huge meal with lots of dishes, and cannot order a la carte. There are two options: vegetarian, or not. Personally, I don't like being strong-armed into eating a lot, or meat or veggie, or spending my remaining arm and my leg for a meal in downtown AA. Just my thoughts. Another downside (at least when I was there last year) was that there was some terrible god-awful music playing - imagine a guy with a synthesizer, with programmed chords and drum beats and bad singing. Ouch. Remembering it just hurts my ears.
(1)
Robin Z.
More of a mainstream intro into Ethiopian than really good Ethiopian. The atmosphere and service is quite good, and the decorations are very nice (loved the woven tables!!). The dinner menu is basically just all-you-can-eat, which is nice if you're hungry, but the food itself isn't amazing.
(3)
Haroun K.
It really isn't so bad. It isn't great, though. When I went to the Blue Nile, I got the vegetarian plate. There was plenty of food, but it was pretty bland. By far, the best part of the meal was the tea, which is heavenly. The ambiance is also quite pleasant. This helped comfort me when I got the bill - really expensive. I wonder if things are similar at the Ferndale location.
(3)
Coco C.
Um, I was going to review this but Margot L. already wrote it for me. The only thing I'll add is save your pennies and go to an actual city to eat better Ethiopian food than this stuff (I recommend West Philadelphia - Baltimore/48th streets, or Chicago in a pinch...)
(2)
Emily A.
This is my favorite restaurant in Michigan. I'm from Michigan but now live in NYC, and travel often. But when I come visit family in Michigan, a trip to Blue Nile is always in the plan. The food is amazing, and the spiced tea is so good I always make sure I have some at home (they sell the loose tea). Blue Nile was the first Ethiopian experience I had, and when I'm in a new city I always want to try the local Ethiopian spots. None have compared. I don't like sour dough, so I appreciate that unlike a lot of other places, Blue Nile doesn't use sour dough in their injera. The food is so good that, after getting several rounds of refills, I happily gobble up the bottom injera that has soaked up the spices. I know that any trip to the Blue Nile will be followed by a food coma. I see they are now serving lunch. Too bad they weren't doing that back when I worked in downtown Ann Arbor. Then again, for the sake of my wallet and my waistline, maybe that was a good thing!
(5)
Trina S.
I've been here several times with groups of people. Each time I've been, the Ethiopian feast ended up being ordered at my table. It's a bit pricey, but it's a great way to sample a bunch of the dishes at one time, and all of the dishes are refilled if you want to refill it, including the "bread". The service is pretty good, and I like that they give you warm moist towels with which to wash your hands before the meal (especially since the Ethiopian feast is an eat-with-your-hands-only sort of meal). The spice tea is really tasty, and it's a fun and delicious experience. Everyone is bound to enjoy at least one dish in the Ethiopian feast.
(4)
Professional Eater S.
If you are going here for Ethiopian food you are throwing away your money. The best place for Ethiopian is Red Sea, which is way down Washtenaw in the land of Ypsilanti, but oh is it worth the drive. Red Sea cannot possibly compete on atmosphere, where Blue Nile really wins, but the service, food, and prices leave you with an infinitely better feeling when you leave. The best part about Red Sea is that the more people you bring, the cheaper it is for everyone. Anyway, enough about Red Sea, Blue Nile is pretty OK Ethiopian food, nice atmosphere, and they have nice tea and wine. You won't be disappointed. It's just that they charge unconscionably high prices for what you get, and that just won't do. Drive the extra 10 minutes and go to Red Sea.
(2)
Keillan E.
Yummmm! The number of different flavors is just phenomenal. I loved the spicy beef, spicy chicken, red lentils, and cabbage. Its a bit pricey for the feast plate, but I will definitely be coming back!
(4)
Parvati P.
High points for food and decor. Negative points for service. Let me add that I went for lunch during the Ann Arbor restaurant week ( annarborrestaurantweek.c… ), so there could have been high traffic...but that's no reason for making customers wait. This was my first time eating Ethiopian food so I cannot comment on its authenticity. To me, the food was delicious.
(3)
LJ J.
I have been searching for Ethiopian food in my home state ever since I moved back to Michigan from Washington, DC. I finally found this place in Ann Arbor and I'm so glad I went! The food was amazing, the tea was great, and the portions were just right (if not too generous). My boyfriend and I didn't even come close to eating it all. The staff was very friendly and answered all of our questions kindly and patiently. They serve you with hot towels for your hands before and after meals which, even in the fancier, more expensive place in DC I was used to, they did not do. The decor is beautiful. I expect to be back time and time again.
(5)
Carrie B.
The blue nile is fantastic. I've been to quite a few ethiopian restaurants in various parts of the US and nowhere else really compares. I can only speak for the vegetarian dishes but they all have distinct flavors and are perfectly seasoned. $15 may be a little expensive for regular visits but it's all you can eat and is worth the price in my book.
(5)
Chris S.
Like the others have said, the food is respectable but there is much better Ethiopian to be had outside of the A2. The fact that you have to order set courses and can't pick and choose means you're in for a huge meal that you won't finish and that will end up costing you more than you probably want to spend. Don't be fooled by the "all you can eat" as you'll likely not get past the first serving.
(2)
A. T.
I'm not about to join in the griping about the lack of a la carte, but I don't like how there are only two options ('vegetarian only' and 'vegetarian plus meat') -- and no 'meat only' option. The meat dishes are delicious, but the vegetarian dishes are kind of bland. Attentive waitstaff, and overall a great dining experience.
(4)
Joseph D.
Always excellent. Friendly, good food.
(5)
Margot F.
The Blue Nile is a fantastic example of Ann Arbor's weird collective delusion about itself. I adore Ethiopian food, and there's nothing wrong with the injera (buckwheat, not tef flour) or the vegetable alecha or the wat or any of the other flavorful dollops primarily composed of lentils and potatoes, although the heat has clearly been turned down for Midwestern tongues. Some of the Nile's attempts to deny its location in middle America are even endearing: servers deliver warm towels for pre-meal handwashing (pouring water over guests hands probably proved too messy), the bar offers a random selection of imported beer and wine rather than serving everyone the traditional Tej, bright murals and low mesab (those wicker hourglass-shaped tables with concave tops) offer an "exotic' dining experience for "adventurous" midwesterners but standard booths are also available. These are all reasonable adaptations to serving a cuisine that's typically prepared and eaten in a family setting in Africa at a restaurant in Ann Arbor. But they stubbornly refuse to offer individual menu items or even offer a mixed array for any dining party that might not be able to reconcile individual dining preferences to the all-meat or meatless options. Of course, they've happily adopted the standard restaurant practice of charging guests for food ($18/head, which is way out of line for mass-prepared lentils, all-you-can-eat policy notwithstanding). Overpriced, overrated, and that's really when the Blue Nile reminds you that Ann Arbor, Michigan is in fact in the middle of fly-over country, whatever delusions anyone else might harbor: you can get almost anything in this town, but you can't rely on multiple options should one disappoint. This restaurant would never survive in a real city.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Chloe F.
I have never had Ethiopian food before and talking the group with me into stepping out of their comfort zone and into something new was a little hard, but WOW was it worth it! All of us are still raving about it and telling people about the amazing food and service. The food was excellent, the seasoning was perfect and so so full of flavour! Since we had a larger group we did both the vegetarian and the meat dishes so we got to try pretty much everything and nothing was disappointing. Have to say it was my first time eating with my hands, and using this "bread" to pick up the meats and veggies. The food just kept coming, any time we finished something they were there ready to bring us more. It was so much fun! I was only in the area for work for the week, but you better believe I have a new outlook on Ethiopian food and have been looking for one in my local area, hopefully it will be as good. And if I am ever in Ann Arbor again, This is on my list of must stop and haves while in town!
(5)Pallavi R.
Love the decor - very classy & tasteful. Food & Service are excellent. Food is flavorful & spicy cooked in a unique 'Blue Nile' way. They make the best Ethiopian Tea of any Ethiopian place we've been to. The original location is in Greek Town in downtown Detroit. Used to come here a lot before I moved out of the area. Must try this place if you are in Ann Arbor or Detroit.
(5)Lindsey S.
I recently have decided to be a vegetarian - and the vegetarian feast here makes my decision well worth it ! not only is the whole meal DAIRY FREE !! but Nut FREE too !! the waitress brought a hot hand towel at the beginning and end of the meal - it was lovely. as you are about to eat with your hands - an interesting experience to eat with the classic Injero - white spongy bread - as your utensil - ! ( you can also ask for a fork) . the variety of lentils, vegetables and spices is unmatched ! you get unlimited refills of any and all of the components of your platter. i think it is fun to mix up different combos of items in your injero roll up - the tea is not to be missed ! it warms your soul and belly i think 16$ is a reasonable price for the unlimited amounts of food you can stuff yourself with
(5)Tom S.
I've been here 5 or 6 times over the years and it's always the same, very good. I always go with the Ethiopian feast and leave stuffed and happy.
(4)Julia R.
When I visit Ann Arbor, this is a restaurant I always try to go to. I love this food, and it's never too crowded. The price is ridiculously high, as others have noted. Since I only get this when I visit town, it's not too bad to pay a few times a year.
(4)Prashant P.
Love Ethiopian food. Love the tradition of sharing from one big plate. Food here is delicious. Although the cocktails were not good. They had live music, mellow and sweet. Nice ambiance. However, found this place way too over priced!!!
(3)Beth H.
Still the crave-inducing Ethiopian feast we have come to love. Blue Nile gets five stars for quality, consistency and service. Customer service is excellent, and food quality has been consistently outstanding for the 10+ years we have been coming to Blue Nile. We always get a booth or a table, as the basket tables aren't for everyone but can be fun if you're up for it. We just don't think they are very comfortable. They do take reservations and I would recommend making one if you plan to go at dinner hours, however, we have never waited more than 30 minutes as walk-ins on a weekend evening. Meat-feast is always our choice. I do add the lamb, as it's too good to go without. When we visit, we usually plan ahead and make sure we are hungry enough to make the most of it. There are a lot of tastes to sample and filling up is easy. Great place to take teenagers, for sure! Meat-feast comes with: Cabbage, Potatoes/carrots/jalapenos, green lentils, yellow peas, red lentil, spicy peas, collard greens, spicy beef, spicy chicken legs and regular chicken legs. If you don't like dark meat, I don't believe there is a white meat option. You may have to order something a la carte. If an all you can eat feast isn't for you - there are other options, however, perhaps a lunch visit is more your speed. Choose a meat and two veggies options for a nice lunch plate. You won't get stuffed but you get your favorites. On a recent lunch visit, they had a creamy lobster bisque that I hope to catch on the special board again soon. It was really good - to rival the lobster bisque at Le Dog - and that is saying a lot. The Tej - honey wine - is a popular wine pairing for the feast. It's affordable and they recork if you don't finish it. Personally, I love their tea. Herbal, no sugar or caffeine. Hot or cold, it doesn't matter, it's fabulous. You can order it by the can or pouch to brew at home too. I love it. We have never tried an appetizer or dessert. Just no room for it.
(5)Priya P.
We had lunch here over the weekend for the first time and the food was delicious! To start we ordered the trio of dips. All three were delicious especially paired with the inerja bread. I highly recommend this appetizer. I high recommend going for the traditional Ethiopian entrees over the other non-trad lunch options. My boyfriend opted for the former and his lunch was much tastier than mine. He chose the yellow split peas and the lentils as his sides and both were amazingly fragment and flavorful. His meat choice was the beef which was similarly tasty. I ordered the sirloin with a vegetable medley and rice. While my dish was tasty, it definitely lacked the strong flavors of a traditional meal. My only complaint and reason for taking off a star was service was very slow because there was only one person waiting tables it seemed. Regardless I would definitely go back because the food was so good!
(4)Leslie T.
Came here for the first time on a busy night, so the service was a bit slow. It did take a while to get seated, but we waited at a bar (the mudslide is highly recommended). However, the server was very nice and took the time to explain the food. The food was delicious. You have to eat it with your hands, so expect your hands to smell like the spices. The meats were all flavorful and tender, and some spicier than others. The vegetables were also rich and hearty. The ambience was lively, and there was live music playing.
(4)Mia K.
Coming from LA and having experienced all the Ethiopian restaurants on Fairfax, the bar had been set pretty darn high when it came to Ethiopian food. We arrived on a Saturday night and ordered 2 Ethiopian feasts. First off, I was surprised that they only had combo selections which were approximately $18 per person. Granted, it may be all-you-can-eat, but that's definitely a rip off considering 1 shared combo meal in LA would be less than $18. As far as the food quality, this was a huge disappointment considering the price tag. Although the 3 meat dishes were good, the lentils tasted undercooked and odd. The injera lacked the typical sour taste and was pale in appearance. They do gain one star for the ambiance and wait-staff. The restaurant is fairly large and I believe there was a live band playing at the time as well. Our waiter was very attentive and he brought over warm wet towels before and after the meal. It doesn't seem like there's another Ethiopian restaurant in A2 so I can't say I wouldn't try this place again. But if I do, I'll probably wait for a coupon to pop up; $40 for 2 people for Ethiopian food is pretty unheard of in my neck of the woods.
(3)Grace N.
What's better than berbere? Ethiopian food is one of my favorites and aside from the rich flavors, I love the communal aspect of the meal. The spiciness of the berbere (perfect amount, in my opinion), along with the mild flavored vegetables (cabbage, potatoes and greens, which are included as veggie sides), make for a wonderful palette of flavor and texture. Also, it gives me childish satisfaction to eat with my bare hands. So bring a good friend or loved one who you don't mind knocking injera with (it's just bread, people!), and come hungry, because the meat and veggie "feasts" are all-you-can eat. We ordered the Ethiopian feast and enjoyed it. As for prices, I think they're reasonable for those who want to enjoy a slow cooked, flavorful meal in a warm setting and friendly servers. And don't forget the Ethiopian tea.
(4)Priya R.
I'm going to start off by saying I love Ethiopian food. If you are feeling adventurous, and if you've never had it, the Blue Nile is a great place to try it for the first time. I used to go with my family almost every year and it's a very nice atmosphere. I love the seating and the ambiance is very different and cultural. The food is really divine. If you don't like it, you probably just don't like Ethiopian food. Come hungry because it is a never-ending portion type deal.
(4)D B.
I had a craving for Ethiopian food, and this definitely hit the spot. I've had some excellent Ethiopian in other cities around the country, so I didn't except much from the lone restaurant in Ann Arbor. But, I was pleasantly surprised. I particularly liked the lentils, yellow peas, and beef. I would definitely come back the next time that I have a craving.
(4)Ahmad H.
Your restaurant provided me and my family with the worst dining experience I have ever had, before we even sat down. We waited for 5 min at the front desk waiting for someone to welcome us, and nobody bothered to stop and seat us. It's like we didn't exist. When I went to an employee of yours to ask to be helped, he rudely brushed me off and told me to sit at the bar (even though I don't drink). You treated me, my mother and sister with such disrespect. I advise all restaurant goers not to waste their time with this filthy establishment.
(1)Alexandra K.
Walking into this colorful restaurant, you are either drawn in by the murals on the wall, or the neat small tables lining the middle of the restaurant. We were seated next to the piano player by the window so that one of us could get a great view of Washington St., and the other a view of the restaurant. It's actually quite massive with 3 different rooms. The wait staff is nice and accommodating and the feasts provide unlimited food. Although in the Ethiopian culture everything is supposed to be eaten just with your hands, they do provide forks to help you scoop food onto the inerja chips, bread or your mouth. Drinks -Tej Honey Wine: to be honest, there are days when I enjoy alcohol, and days when it tastes purely acidic and like the equivalent to rubbing alcohol. I think I was having one of my rubbing alcohol days so the waiter was kind enough to just give me a sample instead of a whole glass. As I expected, the wine would be overly sweet for my taste, very much like a Riesling. -Ethiopian Tea (probably made with cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, and fresh ginger): this tea is sweet! My, oh my but it's good. It mixes very well with the savory dishes. Appetizers -Spiced humus with injera chips: The chips are very crunchy and have a bit of a baked taste. Very mild/bland. The hummus is wonderfully spiced and spicy--almost chipotle style. -Azifa Lentil Salad (legume salad including green lentils, red onions, jalapenos, herbs, and spices blended with a lemon Dijon dressing): Mmm the salad is extremely refreshing. The lentils are mashed and smooth and the dish itself tastes a bit like guacamole. Blue Nile Feast (includes Vegetarian Feast) +Homemade Ayib Cheese: tastes like a very mild feta +Doro Wat (spicy chicken): it falls off the bone and man is it spicy!! +Zilzil Wat (spicy tender beef): this is almost too spicy. Water, please! But unfortunately it's a tad bit dry so it doesn't taste as good as it should. And quite honestly it's weird that the beef is dry as it has been marinating in a sauce. +Doro Alecha (mild chicken): it's buttered perfectly, juicy, and tender. -Rolled Injera Bread: I don't know how many people have gone to Communion at a Catholic mass, but if you have, it tastes exactly like the Host--there's no other way to describe it. A bit bland, yet earthy. Vegetarian Feast +Yellow Split Peas: quite creamy and something you can actually chew on for a bit. It's a tad bit mild. +Spicy Peas: the peas are a bit mashed in a spice that lingers in your mouth for a while thereafter. It's not so spicy though that you need a gallon of water. +Timatim Salad: very lemony with a hint of Dijon. Delicious! +Potatoes: mmm these have so much flavor and are nicely mushy, yet, hard enough to bite into. +Green Lentils: mmm I like these--the perfect mix of spicy, mild and creamy. +Cabbage: Nicely sweet, crunchy, and wet. +Collard Greens: cooked wonderfully these greens have lots of flavor and are great roughage. +Red Lentils: tastes like chili. Yum Dessert -Carrot Cake (with caramel sauce): not your typical carrot cake, it's still wonderfully moist and flavorful. I was a bit overwhelmed by nutmeg but it made for a well-spiced moist carrot bread-ish-cake that had a flavorful thin layer of cream cheese frosting and caramel sauce. FINAL VERDICT: I would say this is not the restaurant to go to if you are on a date as the food is essentially all fiber (yep, you will have the stomach giggles), and you will smell like garlic and onions. But it was certainly enjoyable. I would love to sit at one of the tables which are meant to hold the platters for a more authentic experience. But you can definitely put this restaurant on the pricey list.
(4)Emily M.
I feel like the people who rate Blue Nile highly haven't been to other Ethiopian restaurants. While even the worst Ethiopian is complex and richly spiced, I've definitely had better. One thing that irritates me from the get-go is that you can't order entrees by themselves-you can only get the 'feasts,' a sampling of everything on the meal. As a result, you end up paying way more for food than you should for the amount you end up eating (since it is all you can eat, no take out boxes either). And, since everyone gets essentially the same thing, you can tell that they just take a scoop out of stews that have been sitting around ready-made for a long time and plop them down on the injera. Most of the stews did not taste very fresh, and the seasoning was a little more bland than I've had at other places. My favorite stew I was served was the cabbage, but even then I found it a little too sweet and in need of some salt to balance it out. Perhaps the worst is the injera though. I don't think they let theirs ferment, as it's not in any way sour like most places make it. To add insult to injury, the injera I was served wasn't even warm-in fact, it was pretty stale around the edges and was dry and crumbly rather than soft and pliable. Yuck. When you get a craving for Ethiopian, it can hit hard. But if this is the only Ethiopian place in the area, I may sit it out for a while until I go somewhere with better restaurants (Altu's in Lansing is my favorite). On the whole, I found Blue Nile overpriced and underwhelming-I don't think I'll be going back.
(2)Tony L.
Came here for lunch, ordered coffee and a traditional entree of a meat + 2 veggies, served with injera bread. For meat, the spicy chicken (2 thighs) was tender and flavorful. The mild split yellow peas were also pretty good, but the collard greens were nothing special. As many other Yelpers have posted in photos, these are served on top of injera bread; in addition to that, there are additional rolls of injera served in a bread basket on the side. First time I've had this kind of bread; it's very fluffy/spongy with mild flavor, and soaks up the flavors from the excess "juices". Moist towels are provided before and after the food is served, as traditionally Ethiopian cuisine is eaten using your hands, but utensils were also provided. There was only one waitress around noon on Saturday. Shortly after I had been seated, a very large party arrived, which required extra attention. The sole waitress was understandably overwhelmed, but I was still rather miffed that the coffee (teacup-sized serving) did not arrive until I was just about done eating; no water refills during my visit either. The waitress did apologize for the delay and did not put the coffee on my bill. About $10 for a filling and reasonably tasty lunch is a pretty good deal, although the service this visit was a bit disappointing. If I returned in the future, it would most likely be as part of a group to try one of the feasts.
(3)Brian K.
Excellent service and food. We had 6 people in our party on a Tuesday night. Not crowded, but parking around the area can be tricky. I like how this is family style buffet. Traditionally, this is not the case at other Ethiopian places I've been to across the country. So $18 a person for all you can eat is a bargain. Everything was flavorful, fresh, and the desserts are just as good.
(5)Linda T.
Meh... We went to Blue Nile because I was curious, but I'll likely never go back. Overall, the experience was just okay... The Good: I liked the communal aspect of their dinner set up. They have different meats and vegetables in separate heaps on a gigantic flat pan that's lined with injera. I definitely enjoyed their injera a lot... so fluffy!! Their dinner is all you can eat, so the heaps replenish to your heart's desire. The atmosphere is kind of cool too -- colorful yet cozy. I can imagine it being a fun date spot. The Not So Good: The food was pretty bland. I wasn't very full at the end of our meal, but wasn't inclined to eat more, even though it's all-you-can eat. This in itself is the reason why I wouldn't go back.
(3)Nikhil K.
Good food overall, very tasty! Not as good as other Ethiopian places I've been to. Their Injera bread was good, but should be a little more sour in my opinion. Overall it's a good place to go, will for sure visit again!
(3)Jim G.
OK, I said I wouldn't go back, but I was having a craving for Ethiopian food today. It's Good Friday and the parking meters were free starting at noon. I figured I stood a better chance of finding a spot. I was right and found one very close to the entrance. The lunch menu offered a choice of one meat dish with two vegetarian dishes. I chose the spicy beef (Zilzil Wat) with the lentils (Yemisir Kik Wat) and split peas (Metin Shiro Wat). It was good, but I wish it was just a bit spicier. I also ordered their Spiced Ethiopian Tea which is fantastic. I like Ethiopian food and wish I could find a place closer to me with better parking. I would go there fairly often.
(3)Naveen N.
Great tasting food. Nice setting with polite wait staff who are quick to help.
(4)Kount K.
Not terrible, but not good either. The pros were definitely the ambiance and the service. The wait staff was on the ball and coming by often to see if we needed more food. Great interior as well. I believe this is the only Ethiopian place in A2. I live in a city that has many Ethiopian food options and Blue Nile's quality is well below all of them. The injera bread that was delivered to the table was soft but did not taste anything like injera. It lacked that spongy texture and flavor. The injera that was under the food on the platter was stale and crusty. We got the all you can eat meat plate which comes with veggies too. All the veggie dishes were tasteless. The meats were ok but the all you can eat plate does not include the lamb which is weak. And for $19/pp it was way overpriced. I cannot recommend this place.
(2)Jacqueline S.
Honestly how often do you get to try Ethiopian food?! The food is amazing- usually we get the large platter to share, that way you get to try everything. The eating experience is the best part- sitting around a large table on stools picking up your food with warm spongy bread- definitely an easy place to overindulge...a bit pricier than expected but I'd say it's worth the experience. A great place for those who love to try new things!
(4)Jola B.
Just had dinner here with a group of friends. One friend had made a reservation but a bunch more of us showed up. The owner was awesome and accommodated us anyway in the conference room off to the side. I guess it's Restaurant Week and we didn't know? So there was only one menu. I chose the Green Pea Soup appetizer (green peas, carrots, celery, onion, ginger roots, green peppers and vegetable stock) and enjoyed it. Main course is served family style. I didn't try the meat. But my favorite vegetables were the mixed veggies and especially the collard greens. My friend who was with us and is Ethiopian said the injera (which tasted fine to me) wasn't as sour as it should be? But that may be an item edited towards an American palette. For dessert, I chose the Raspberry Sorbet which was fine as well. $28 (plus added gratuity for our large party of 10). Not terribly expensive but not some place I'll be eating often. Good to check out an try....especially when it's not Restaurant Week and the full menu is available a la carte....
(3)Scott F.
Incredibly disappointing, I'm sorry to say. Admittedly, we were both used to quality Ethiopian food from cities like Washington, DC, which have large Ethiopian communities and hence many first-rate restaurants. We knew immediately that something was wrong when the injera (the traditional bread with which you eat the food) came out looking sickly white and feeling pasty and dry to the touch, not moist and spongy. Injera should be made with teff flour--healthy for you, btw--but this was clearly made with white flour. And it wasn't fermented either, as it should be. The result was the worst injera I've had in my life. When the injera is bad, the meal is by default bad, because that's how you spoon up the food--with the bread. We had a vegetarian sampler and were underwhelmed by pretty much everything on the plate. (I won't comment on the service, which was sub-par as well, but I'm of the mind that food comes before service: I'll wait forever if the food is delicious. This wasn't.) This restaurant really needs to overhaul its menu. It's a shame, because the space itself--the whole atmosphere--is very attractive. Hope they do so, because I miss this cuisine desperately.
(1)Liz P.
I had been here only once before, back in 2006 for an end-of-the-year banquet, and it was good. My friends and I decided to check it out today for Restaurant Week, $15 fix prix lunch. I had a salad with olive oil dressing, an injera bowl with spicy chicken, and rice pudding with raisins for dessert. My friend who got the vegetarian dish said the portions were a little small, but I was stuffed after mine. Rice pudding had what tasted like rum-soaked raisins and was delicious. Service was great as well, water and tea glasses were filled quickly. I would definitely come back to Blue Nile and apparently they have a Ferndale location too, which is closer for me.
(5)Nancy C.
The bread is so fluffy! It's fun to eat. Kinda like eating a cloud...The communal dining concept of eating off one ginormous plate is also pretty entertaining. Could be a worthwhile experience if you've never had Ethiopian cuisine. Flavor-wise, everything was alright. Nothing stood out as particularly good or bad. My friend says lunch is better than dinner prices here. I was here for dinner and definitely did not feel as though I ate my money's worth--paying for the experience more than the food I suppose.
(2)Hunter Y.
I came here for the restaurant week 3-course menu: The appetizer, timatim salad, was much like any other salad - greens, onions, large strips of jalapeno, lemon juice, and a faint hit of spiciness. The entree, zilzil alecha, or beef, collard greens, and cabbage, were dull-tasting. I am not a heavy-palated person, but this bland dish left me wanting more salt. Or more spices. Or more of any taste. The injera also tasted very bland. Injera is a thin, soft, pita-like bread made from teff flour. It should taste similar to sourdough, but not as sour. I think the injera here is just made with plain bleached flour. The whole wheat injera was equally tasteless. The desert, rice pudding, was just okay. I am not a big fan of sweets, so I appreciated the fact that it was not ridiculously sweet. The service was great. However, no one dines for services. Good service is what elevates a four star restaurant to five. It does not make unimaginative, uninspired, and dreary-tasting food enjoyable.
(1)Artist B.
Great food!!!! Very tasty and reasonable prices. Wait staff very helpful and efficient. I would go there again.
(4)Andrea E.
I love the hot towels. I love the cinnamon tea. I love eating with my hands and getting to try a variety of things. All of the food was incredibly delicious. The service was excellent. I just don't think there's any way that I ate 20 dollars worth of food though - we split the Ethiopian feast between three people and we couldn't finish the whole thing. Plus most of it is lentils which probably cost them all of 40 cents. If it weren't for the prices I'd give it 5 stars for sure.
(4)Kayla F.
I don't know anything about Ethiopian food, and I won't begin to act as though I do. I've come here twice, about 6 months apart. Both times were equal in quality of service and food. Most of the dishes are good, and the great thing is that if you don't enjoy one, there are always many others to choose from. Cons? I don't think there really are any. It's not very expensive for the amount of food. Their chicken is literally the best chicken I've ever had in my life. And their tea is a MUST try, hot or iced it's awesome (you can also buy it loose leaf to go). I'd highly recommend it for someone wanting to try something new.
(5)Jennifer P.
I thought it was very good but pricey. 16$ for vegetable feast and $18 for meat, yes they are never ending portions but for people who don't eat a ton it kind of stinks. Plus even if you never get any refills on any of it you can't take it home.
(4)Suki K.
It was my first time dining at Ethiopian restaurant, so I cannot tell if the food served here is truly Ethiopian. To my taste, I give 3.5 stars for food. I had vegetarian option and all dishes were well seasoned, some of them might be a bit spicy for someone, but I enjoyed them all. I will come back here and try out there meat plates to see how I like.
(4)Smita R.
I had the Vegetarian Feast and I definitely think that Ferndale restaurant has better quality food. This place is average and I would not think of visiting it again. P.S. I am a huge fan of the Blue Nile @ Fernadale! Go there at least once a month with my husband.
(3)Elizabeth M.
Blue Nile is a solid dinner choice. I ate here tonight with my boyfriend, and we ordered the vegetarian feast. This is easily the least controversial menu you will ever deal with: two options, basically asking if you want meat with your meal or not. The food was extremely tasty--very well-prepared and arranged--and I enjoyed the relative novelty of eating with my hands. That said, I thought the atmosphere in the restaurant was stilted and strange. After all, how uptight can the general attitude be in a place where you're eating utensils-free and "all you care to eat"? There was also no delight, no surprise that might make me really excited about Blue Nile. My review likely would have been different if the meal would have been cheaper. It was $16.50 per person for the vegetarian feast; even though this is "all you care to eat," I really can't imagine a person wanting more than just the first serving. It's massive, it's carb-y. Bottom line: taste was great to the point that I would make this a regular stop if it weren't so expensive.
(3)Shannon A.
Awesome environment, love the cinnamon-based hot tea. If you like Ethiopian food, there is nothing to complain about. If, like me, you find out that you're indifferent toward it... It's something to try once and leave alone. Feasts are all-you-can-eat and I barely finished one platter with my friends. The managers were so nice in that they charged all three of us for the price of one meal to comp us for the small appetites. That made a huge difference to my experience.
(4)Julie L.
Went here for restaurant week. Very easy to get seated, didn't have to wait at all. The food was fast and hot when we got it. I enjoyed the lentil soup, but really liked the hummus with injera chips better. The hummus was delicious, but I wish the injera chips weren't so hard to bite. We got the Blue Nile Feast and it was very tasty, all you can eat style. We got full pretty fast since I love injera. Not as good as Ethiopian food in LA, but I'm very glad we have something like this here in Ann Arbor. The server was very attentive and polite. I enjoyed the hot towels before and after our meal. Would definitely come back with a larger group of people so we can eat more.
(4)Kris E.
Friend and I ate lunch here (A2) on Tuesday. Food was GREAT! Service was so-so. Was concerned with many dishes containing onion and jalapenos. Food was (good) spicy and great. We were one of 4 tables in restaurant. First time visit. Told waitress this. She seemed indifferent. Ordered hummus appetizer. Friend and I stared at injeria bread not knowing exactly what to do. We asked waitress on her next pass and she gave us the, "however u want to eat it" answer. Part of the experience of trying something new, especially ethnic, is the experience. After telling the waitress this was our first experience, I would have liked an overview of the eating experience and what to expect. Wait staff was attentive and tea cups and water glasses were kept full. Food served quickly. Food was very good. Hot spiced tea was wonderful. I think if we return, we will try the Ferndale location.
(3)Vishnu V.
I think this is a good place.. Really good food. Couple of times we went before the closing hours and found that the bread wasn't warm and service wasn't that great. Do plan on going atleast an hour before closing time. Food is definitely pricey. Dinner for one costs about 19$. I really don't think it is worth that much.
(4)Bill B.
Long ago, I made many trips to the old Blue Nile in Detroit's Greektown. It was novel, fresh and delicious. Since then, I have tried other Ethopian restaurants in Southeastern Michigan and other cities. Thus, I was curious about how my more educated palate would feel on my first trip to a Blue Nile in years. It was OK. The collard greens (gomen) still rock in that special tangy way. The cabbage, though not as sublime as I remember, was gentle. Red lentil dishes retain a pretty good bite. However, I was disappointed in the blandness of the potato, carrot and green bean and yellow dal dishes. Green lentils, which once were served cold, seemed to lose something with the heat. Salad, which used to come with the veggie feast, is now an extra charge (really?). The is not to say that the Blue Nile was bad. It's still a kick to scoop these dishes into the spongy injera bread. The food doesn't crackle as it once did, though. I don't know whether it is my taste or the restaurant that has changed but the meal wasn't as magical as I hoped that it would be.
(3)Shawna S.
Interesting place to try Ethiopian food - they attempt to bring in the cultural feel, but at times it is a bit forced. The basket tables and servers running around in their "uniforms" is not all that appreciated. It is nice that the servers bring the hand cloths to wash up before you eat dinner with your hands. The food was good - i had the vegetarian feast. it was nice that you had an opportunity to try many different things. The spicy lentils were very good, just the right level of spice. The Injera is excellent. There is a nice sour flavor to it. Prices are VERY high here. I left that evening feeling so full because i felt as though i had to keep eating to get my money worth (injera has a tendency to expand after you eat it....). I then decided to try my own hand at making the same dishes that I enjoyed. To my surprise, it is CHEAP to make these dishes. I can create a similar feast for 3 people (and have leftovers for at least 3 days) for under $15.00. the spices and lentils are available locally and you can find easy to follow recipes online. So the markup is pretty crazy - $16.90 (excludes tip) for a dinner.... I think they should reevaluate! I have not mastered true injera at this point in my cooking escapades. I tried to get injera to go from the Blue Nile - each time i do this, they are VERY confused and rarely get the order correct. For the same order, one can expect anywhere from 3-12 pieces of injera. In spite of ordering ahead for take-out, they are always very confused and it takes a long time to get what we ordered. I would say, try this place once. Take note of what you enjoyed and then try making it at home!
(2)Nicholas M.
Went to Blue Nile for dinner, we were feeling adventurous, and have always wanted to try it. Needless to say I wasn't really impressed. The atmosphere was overly rigid for the food. At its core, the Blue Nile is an all you can eat Ethiopian place with basically two menu options where you eat with your hands. It should be fun and relaxing. Instead, there was an oddly placed old timey two piece jazz band, all the wait staff was overly formal, and they were overly attentive, even though we only had waters, to the point of making us awkward. The food was ok. Can't really think of much more to say than that. My greatest thrill was playing around with that spongy bread. At one point I was jovially flopping it around and then I made eye contact with our waiter.... whoops.
(2)Liz D.
One of my all time favorite restaurants to dine at. Me and my boyfriend get the feast which is all you can eat. The ethiopean coffee is to die for. Next to the fact it is pretty fun to be able to eat with your hands and have it be socially acceptable, Everything on the menu is delicious. The spicy peas go great with everything and are my personal favorite next to the cabbage. The atmosphere is very relaxing and enjoyable. Ive been coming here for years and make it a point to take anyone visiting to try this exotic cuisine!
(5)Xavier A.
Have to be careful not to overdo it here. The food is very good, but the subsequent gas will make you hate yourself. Pace yourself and watch the cabbage and beans!
(3)Kelly S.
The cuisine here is really delicious. Very intense flavors, mixed with a nice amount of heat. The service was great..everyone genuinely wanted us to enjoy our experience. At one point, a busser stopped what he was doing and came to our table because he said it looked like we needed something. The Ethiopian Feast comes with a lot of food, so come hungry and wear your stretchy pants. Don't go home without some tea.
(5)Andres B.
Super unique and culturally interesting dining experience and I'm very glad I went. However, you will certainly overeat and you might feel sick afterwards. Tea was also fantastic and service was excellent. With that being said, the food is probably not worth the price, because when you break it down what you are eating is fairly basic, even if it is very tasty. For that reason, I will probably only come back when I have friends/family visiting who are looking for something different. If you haven't been at all, I'd definitely recommend trying it out at least once though -- FUN TIME.
(4)Shelia D.
It really wasn't that great. I have always been excited to try this restaurant but wasn't impressed by the food or the atmosphere. For the price it is not worth it!
(2)Mike P.
I've eaten better Ethiopian food while living in St. Louis and South Florida. However, the Blue Nile is certainly not bad, and, if you have never eaten Ethiopian before, this is a good place to start. I can't really comment on any specific dish, but everything we tried was quite good and was as well presented as you can get on a Mesob. In general I'd recommend trying one of the sampler platters; I'm not entirely sure, but I think they are "all you can eat." The initial service was a little on the slow side, but the waitress was very helpful and was pretty quick to bring us more injera, PRN. If you don't like other people "touching" your food, I suppose you could ask for a fork and spoon.
(4)Amy C.
I came here for restaurant week, and I suppose this is one of the first few restaurants I've experienced so far in the area! The Restaurant week menu offered an appetizer, either vegetarian or meat main course, and dessert. I had the lentil appetizer, which was served with what appeared to be dried chips made of Injera, which were quite good. My only complaint was that there weren't enough chips to dip into the lentils! Since I was with a large group, I got to try both the vegetarian and meat options. Overall, the food was not bad, though I feel I've had better Ethiopian food in other cities. I was surprised that they offered endless refills of meat/vegetables, which was interesting. However, even after one plate, I was entirely too full, so I did not take up the offer for refills! Dessert for me was bread pudding, which was a nice sweet ending to the meal. The waitstaff were attentive and answered all of our questions, as some people in my group were new to Ethiopian dining. Overall, dinner was good, albeit a bit on the expensive side.
(3)Stephen C.
I was in Ann Arbor for a short time and thought I'd check out this Ethiopian restaurant. I am used to Ethiopian food in Los Angeles, and Blue Nile of Ann Arbor compares well. Granted it's a little more Americanized than what I'm used to, but I had a tasty meal. Unlike other reviewers I found the service to be attentive -- I went at the tail end of the lunch service so there weren't a lot of other customers in the restaurant. Lentils were good. Chicken could have been flavored a bit more. Injera was plentiful. All in all a good experience.
(4)N P.
I revisited Blue Nile again recently and it's really a tricky restaurant to review. I will stand by my four star rating but I read some of the amazing more recent reviews by my fellow Yelpers and I agree with many of the points they brought up. The cost is crazy, way too high. Still the atmosphere is nice (love the murals on the wall too) and it does have a certain air to it (even though you are sitting on the floor ;)). The food for vegetarians also is a bit bland as noted by another reviewer but I think that the choice to be limited in spicing may be intentional. Next time I will ask for some type of hot sauce or to see if they may be able to modify my order by adding more spices. I have a feeling they may do that if we ask. Also I did forget to mention that I love the tea as well. Service still is average (we all expected a little more attention after we ordered and then again after our food was brought to us). There are so many excellent dining options in Ann Arbor so I do think Blue Nile needs to improve a bit. Still it's worth a visit and I will revisit again to see if my opinion changes.
(4)Josh W.
I think the most important fact about Blue Nile is that it is a special occasion or once in a while restaurant. The food is good but the important part is the experience. It is a fun place to bring people who are adventurous and have never eaten Ethiopian with their hand's before. Unless you like eating hunched over a small table, make sure you ask for a boot or real table as opposed to the traditional small circle tables. This restaurant is great for veggies because there is a great variety of things to eat with very different flavor profiles.
(4)Margaret T.
I came here during my first visit to MI about a year ago and it immediately became one of my favorite restaurants! Every time I visit I have to go here! Blue Nile has a really nice ambiance, great service, and - most importantly - wonderful food. I've always gotten the vegetarian feast, and as someone who frequently finds myself having trouble choosing between menu options, I love that you get a bit of each dish. There is also live (jazz) music some nights, which is always a fun touch to going here.
(5)Daniel L.
We went to The Blue Nile after a movie while in Ann Arbor and my thoughts are that the food was good, it was cool but the service was clumsy at best and overall for what you get it's very pricey !! Not to mention that we all ordered coffee with dinner and they didn't want to make another pot for us after only receiving 1 very small cup each..(They had 2 more hours to be open and no more coffee) That pissed us off....really? We all saw the beans....they could have made another pot, it would not have killed them. Also, the place went from music to dead silence ... It was not at the top of my list.
(2)Daron D.
I recently went here for the first time a couple of days, and i must say i left feeling good and full. When i went, i had the Ethiopian feast with my girlfriend, and it was good. The greens and cabbage as good as i have ever had and the spicy lentils was good and so was the yellow split peas (and i don't even like peas). The meat was OK, not great, and the bread used with the meal compliment it pretty well. So would i go again, yes, but i wouldn't go on a consistent basis, just as a "special location place", but it is somewhere you should experience at least once in your life.
(3)Angela S.
This place is an experience. More like a taste of culture than just a restaurant. I really liked that aspect. I went for dinner with my boyfriend who has been wanting to take me here for months. I was a little skeptical the menu looked a little boring. My boyfriend had never been here either but thought I would like it since I like vegan, more ethnic food. I had no idea what to expect going into this. I have had Ethiopian food before but the whole hand towels before and after a meal, eating with your hands, the uncooked no refrigeration thing was very unique. I ordered the vegetarian feast and it was overall very good. I loved the cabbage the best. A few dishes were a little too salty and bland but the greens and yellow peas were so good as well. I've had better bread like this but it was still good. Only downfalls were the price almost $17 per person for this all you can eat. Which is steep seeing its just lentils, peas, and green. I would rather have one serving for a smaller price or something. Than we asked if we could take our leftovers home and that isn't allowed. That really made me mad because I hate wasting things and this food could have been eaten later instead of being thrown away!!! There are many starving children in Ethiopia! Still good food and service by me!
(4)Joseph B.
Very clean and inviting. Food was great. Excellent for lunch, dinner, and large parties.
(5)Code M.
Don't expect prompt or attentive service at the Blue Nile during lunch. Small portions on the vegetarian plates.
(2)Beck E.
I really love the food and service here and wish I could afford to eat here more often. (Alas... the grad student budget.) The (super-friendly) owner often stops by my table to make sure everything is going all right and sometimes to offer wine. When I'm in a group, some of us will order the vegetarian feast and others the meat. They are always very accommodating and don't force us to go with one or the other (so that some of us with the vegetarian order can mooch off of the meat plate). I always thought that was nice. :) Haven't tried any of the desserts, though they always look so. very. good. But I never have any room left at the end of an all-you-can-eat meal!
(5)Jill S.
The food was so good! I've had bad experiences with Ethiopian restaurants, but the food here was delicious. Since it was a nice day we were able to eat outside, and there is a corner with fence around it where, while my daughter and I could enjoy our food, my grandson was safely confined. The tea was fabulous! I would have loved to take a gallon of it home!
(4)Jenna I.
I was amazed they even had Ethiopian food in Michigan to be honest, and I had really hoped it would surprise me... but alas, their food is just strictly OK. I found the injera to be especially bland (more like just a plain old crepe) and the food to be lacking in spice. While none of it is bad by any means, the prices are just painfully high, which just sort of burns after tasting the second rate food. Lets also be honest- Ethiopian food is so filling, it's ridiculous being forced to pay for All You Can Eat when all you can eat is one serving! However it's not all bad at the Blue Nile- their honey wine is made in house and it's really great (you can buy it in bottles at Whole Foods too). The place itself looks nice, a lot of decorations and a nice large space. The service is very good as well. They have everything you'd expect on the menu, and again, seeing as it's basically all there is around, it's certainly not BAD. What it comes down to is this- If you've never had the food before, it's a good introduction- kind of like Ethiopian 101. But if you've been around the Ethiopian restaurant circuit, maybe just wait it out until you're back in a city with better choices.
(3)Brian W.
A family favorite, including our 2 middle school aged girls, we went here for our 4th wedding anniversary dinner. First off- while it is a bit costly, the food is top notch and the service as always was excellent. We always get the Ethiopian Feast, and add on the lamb. Something for everyone to choose from. Parking can be challenging. There is a public garage near about 2 blocks away unless you luck out with street parking close by. We prefer this location over the Ferndale location. They also have a private dining area for larger groups if needed.
(3)Whitney G.
Mentioning quality authentic Ethiopian food, I used to go to the Blue Nile in Downtown Detroit as a little girl. Since it's moved to Ann Arbor, the food, the service and the decor is still the same... Excellent!
(5)Jason C.
Best ethiopian I've had outside the country itself.
(5)Michael T.
Atmosphere is wonderful! I like the colors, layout, noise level, painted lights, and the guy on the keyboard is great! The owners and hosts are great! Very pleasant and want you to feel welcomed. The food is good - not great. Some of the items seemed bland and others seemed to spicy. I thought the food could have been warmer too. There was not alot depth of flavor, but the tastes were pure - not remarkable by any means, but good. The "feast" with meat was $18.90 and $5 more if you wanted lamb. Tea or soda is $2.50. Food is priced 30-40% more than it should be. The tea had a very strong cinnamon taste that was undrinkable to me after a few sips as the flavor intensified and I wanted to taste the flavor of the veggies, so I switched to soda. The service was definitely grade C as there was too few staff. My waitress brought towels to start and clean up, but I don't think I saw her throughout the meal. Another girl was running around, refilling drinks, and putting out the dishes every so often. Small drink jars emptied quickly and wouldn't be refilled. I asked the waitress helper for a refill, she said sure and then 10-15 minutes later another small jar of drink would show up. This doesn't work when you want to drink in between different dishes. Again - not the staffs fault - there just isn't enough of them. The restaurant was half filled on Saturday night, so I would have expected better service. They brought out the dessert tray before asking us if we were done, which is not what I would have expected with the all you can eat feast. We had great company, so had a great time. I would say this place is way over priced for the quality of food and short staff, so I only give it 3 stars. I would come back and give this place another chance, but only if I get a killer coupon though.
(3)Ashly C.
Ethiopian food is one of my favorite cuisines and this place does it amazingly! Definitely my favorite of all the Ethiopian restaurants in Southeast Michigan (and believe me I've tried several: The Blue Nile in Ferndale, Taste of Ethiopia in Southfield, Addis Ababa in Downtown Plymouth). I love the authentic decor and woven basket tables. Every time I've been here I always order the Ethiopian Feast (with meat and vegetables) and everything is full of flavor and not too spicy, I also love the Ethiopian Spiced Iced Tea. Just make sure to arrive very hungry because the feast is "all you can eat" and once you start eating you won't want to stop :)
(5)Honest R.
I think the ratings for this place are lower than they should be. If you like Ethiopian food, this place will not disappoint you. It is a little bit expensive, but the quality is there and I really like the atmosphere of the restaurant. It's a good place to go on a date. Some of the food is a little bit spicy, but it tastes pretty darn good, too. It'd be nice if the staff paid a bit more attention to the customers. I think the owner is one of the first people to greet you at the door, and he seems like a pretty nice guy. Both times I've been there, I've needed things like more bread or water and they tend to overlook that stuff. Don't let the ratings steer you away from trying this unique ethnic experience. It's a pretty cool place to check out while you're in the A....
(4)Jason C.
I was introduced to Blue Niles by a friend of mine. So one day, we decided to go after our class project to celebrate. I was told, we will eat with our hands, so I was thinking about taking my own chopsticks with me, just in case :) We ordered the meat buffet. The chairs are low to the ground, so you are even with the table. The wait staff brings brought the food out and the bread and showed us how to eat the food. As for the meat went, there were two types of chicken, lamb and beef. Lots of bean based vegetable sides, but they were good. So you take some of the bread, pick up the food and eat it. If you want to try something new and outside of the norm, this is a place worth visiting. It's been some time since I have been there, so it's time to revisit and see if things have changed.
(3)Craig Z.
Very good, but not as good as it used to be, and more expensive. At the same time, they have cut out at least one meat from the feast, which was disappointng. I'd still recommend it though, just not as frequently as I once did.
(4)Nissa N.
My introduction to Ethiopian food was on a first date in LA several years ago at a restaurant called Nyala on Fairfax in Mid-Wilshire, an area that's known as Little Ethiopia with plenty of great Ethiopian restaurants around. So started my obsession with Ethiopian food. I've had it many times since then and Blue Nile is yet another great place to add to the list. My husband and I love it for special occasions when we can fit it into the budget because It is on the pricier side. We ordered the Ethiopian feast, which costs close to $20 per person, and two of the Ethiopian spiced teas. The platter included all the lentil and meat dishes except the lamb. The meat in the curries is tender and so tasty and each of the lentil dishes is perfectly spiced. The food is served on top of a huge sheet of the Ethiopian spongy bread called Injera and they give you a few rolls of the bread on the side as well. It's the kind of place you'll want to go when you are pretty hungry because they keep refilling each dish on your platter as soon as they notice it's finishing. Obviously, just as with a buffet, you can't take the leftovers home, so be prepared to eat until bursting to get your money's worth. The only reason this place loses a star is because of how pricey it is. None of the Ethiopian places I've been to, even in LA, were as pricey per head as Blue Nile for the same combination of food. Blue Nile has pretty good food and nice ambience though, so we will still be going here whenever we can.
(5)Roland C.
I'll give Blue Nile a 3, but that is being a little generous. The food is okay, not impressive but it is fine and will do if you aren't well versed in Ethiopian food or limited in options. I had the Ethiopian Feast on two occasions and booth times wished it could have been better. I'm no expert but I've had several Ethiopian dishes at various restaurants across the US and this just doesn't stand out. Another issue is the price. Paying for delicious food is never a problem, but the prices are rather high for the quality. The service was also not spectacular. On both occasions I went in on weekdays, once right after the lunch crowd and once before dinner. The restaurant had a few tables full... not dead but by no means crowded. The staff seemed disinterested and preferred to stand in the corner and chat rather than wait on the tables. Overall it's fine if you are really in the mood for Ethiopian food or want to try something new.
(3)Nicole P.
Stopped in here a couple of months back during a low-traffic time of day for late lunch/early dinner with a friend. We got the Vegetarian Feast and a couple of beverages. This was my first experience with Ethiopian food. Maybe I was just hungry or maybe I was just having a great time, but either way I thought everything was amazing! -- the service was great, the ambiance was great, and I couldn't stop eating. Normally, I don't like lentils and I'm not a big fan of collard greens, but I ate both like they were going out of style. I ordered the Spiced Ethiopian tea and my friend had the Ethiopian coffee. Both were perfect the way they were served. Not once did I try to locate condiments for anything I ate. In fact, the injera (bread) was so good that if someone had wrapped my hand in it, I would've eaten that too. For dessert, we enjoyed tiramisu. I'm no connoisseur, but I thought it was fantastic as well. I will definitely return to this restaurant as much as possible.
(4)Julia D.
I went here with my mom and my sister and I LOVED it. I haven't eaten a ton of Ethiopian food, but I thought this was pretty delicious. We stuck to vegetarian and I was quite satisfied with flavorful lentils and split peas.
(5)Aaron J.
Very decent food but some glaring problems with this place. There are literally only two options on the menu and each is over 16 dollars for a 'feast'. This does not include any drinks or dessert. They also have a strict policy that you cannot take home leftovers, so any extra food is simply thrown out. I love Ethiopian food but there is no way I will be back to the blue Nile any time soon.
(2)Andy Z.
I've been here many times and it's definitely a favorite for me to take out visitors and guests. Come hungry for the dinner feast.
(5)Mandy F.
Yum! Better than the Ethiopian food I have found so far in New York. Amazing flavors, good price, excellent portions!
(5)Janani S.
I love this place, I have been here 6 times and I like the way we eat :) You need to share a plate ( 4 share a plate) and eat, more like a community atmoshphere :)... Food is simple yet taste good, you end up talking a lot which i like to do. So if you are a person who likes to share a plate and talk a lot, eat simple food. Go here :). I wouldn't recommend this place for "First few Dates"
(4)Chris K.
I've never had Ethiopian food before, and I have to say it is now one of my favorites! Fantastic atmosphere, just enough lighting to be cozy but enough to easily see what I was eating. We were greeted immediately upon entering, and our food was at the table in 5 minutes flat. Everything we had was incredibly tasty! We will definitely be coming back :)
(5)Anne I.
Finally getting around to writing a review of this place . . . I'd never had Ethiopian food before, so I don't know how this might compare to other places in terms of authenticity but I can tell you one thing, the food here is really good! I love the service here. The staff is friendly, and they even explain all of the dishes to you and how to eat them, so fear not if you've never had Ethiopian before. The waiters also bring around hot towels at the beginning and end so you can clean your hands before you eat . . . and after since you eat the meal with your hands. Regular utensils are available too for those of you who don't care to get down and dirty. Personally, I think eating with your hands makes the food taste much better. When you walk in, you can opt for conventional table seating, or the more traditional basket table seating. I think if you are going in a large group and sharing the buffet, the regular table seating may be easier to work with. However, the basket table is a pretty fun experience. Whenever I come here, I always order the same thing: the meat buffet. I love that there are so many dishes that come with it, and they are all you can eat. Don't let your eyes deceive you--it may not look like much, i.e. little mounds of food on a tray, but typically one or two refills of a few dishes will be enough to leave me happily full and satisfied. The buffet is great in that you get to try a little bit of everything. My favorite of the buffet dishes are the lamb and the mixed vegetables. I can't get enough of them. I also love the soft, white bread--happy, heavenly, starchy goodness. I haven't tried any of the desserts here, but I have to admit, they all look really delicious. The problem is, I usually fill up with too much buffet and don't leave enough room for the after party. Either way, it's a win-win situation, and one happy student walks out of this place for the night.
(4)Hakeem J.
I will be going back. My buddy and I both ordered the Ethiopian Feast with meat, which was quite good. The bread was warm, the vegetables and meat were delicious, and the service was great. This place is a great place to go with friends or family as the traditional serving of the meal, notably the Ethiopian Feast, allows you to share the entire experience with others. I haven't had Ethiopian food before going to Blue Nile, but will certainly be having more in the future. By the way, you can get quite full off the vegetables and bread. Thinking back, I could have done without the meat.
(3)Shon C.
Fair warning - my review is based on lunch, I didn't have the all-you-can-eat feast, which is probably the more popular thing to do at Blue Nile. I came for lunch yesterday and actually had a pretty nice meal - Doro Wat w/ cabbage and lentils as a side. Strangely enough, the soup du jour was French Onion (?) - not super traditional. It was actually decent, especially considering there was no crouton or cheese topping... Lunch was good, but I wouldn't quite put it at the level of Red Sea in Ypsilanti. Bread was fresh, meat (chicken on the bone) was spicy; I actually found the veggie sides to be a little on the bland side. Pros: great ambiance, nice lunch menu, excellent service, hot towels before and after meal Cons: expensive (especially compared to Red Sea), perhaps a bit on the non-traditional side
(3)Sara G.
Ah, I remember when the Blue Nile was a small joint in downtown Detroit. It's been a few years since I've visited the one here in the 'Deuce, and then only for dinner. Yesterday I went for lunch and was not disappointed. After ordering we were given hot towels and steaming cups of spice tea. Luxurious way to start the midday meal on a brisk autumnal day! Their lunch menu is pretty basic, you get to choose a meat item accompanied by two veg items, or just three veg items. Everything comes with unlimited injera. It's still a LOT of food for basically the same price as any Indian buffet around town. I can't resist the chicken. I ordered it mild because I also ordered the spicy red lentils. That way I could wrap a morsel of chicken in injera, dip it into the lentils and savor all the flavors. I don't usually order dessert, but being the chocolate fiend that I am, I couldn't allay the temptation to try their DARK chocolate mousse. Kind of like a mousse version of Zingerman's chocolate gelato (another weakness of mine) where the ratio of chocolate to sugar is much higher than normal--exactly how it should be! Twas a very good meal and I left rather full and satisfied and unable to eat for the rest of the day.
(4)Amy Y.
This place is definitely a different experience. This is the most expensive finger food I ever had. Well, it is Ethiopian food and you do eat with your hands. The breading is like a pancake and you eat it with the shredded meat or puree like veggies. I like it and its mushy good. You can bring your kids here and they might think its a cool place. The food filled me up and you feel that Ethiopian belly coming along. No food coma here. So you do kinda get your moneys worth. This is a unique place and different style for me.
(4)Brendan F.
My favorite restaurant on earth. I personally love the spicy lentils. If you don't get the feast then look at the ingredients and order anything with berbere sauce (hope I spelled that right)
(5)Evan M.
Definitely one of my favorite restaurants, love the coffee and food, especially the injera, which might not be considered authentic, but I think it tastes better than the somewhat sour bread you usually get at Ethiopian places.
(5)Red G.
It's simply overpriced. There's only so much you can eat because all the starch from the lentils and spongy bread (which I didn't mind unlike some other people, though my friend wasn't crazy about it), and it's $15+ for vegetarian feast and $17+ with three extra meat dish. The spicy dishes had a lot more flavor, and while I enjoyed some of the food from the all-you-can-eat dinner, it's simply overpriced in terms of quality and quantity. The service, on the other hand, was great. Our server was kind and later on a guy who seemed to be either the owner or the manager came by to ask how everything was going. They give you warm towels before and after the meal, but you might want to ask for a fork for some of the spicy meat dishes unless you want the tip of your fingers smelling like what you ate. It lasts. I can't speak for lunch because I don't know how much food they give you, but I'm thinking paying 10-11 bucks for a meat dish and two vegetable sides for lunch is a much better deal. I might try that another time. I will come back here if somebody's buying me dinner but I won't be shelling out my 20+ bucks here.
(3)dan s.
OK, so I haven't been to Ann Arbor in over 15 years, so this is a slightly dated review. So why the review? Well, my Yelp profile only shows review flags on both coasts, so I feel bad for the middle of the country. Once upon a time I worked for a company that had offices in AA, and I flew out for a visit. I intended to go visit a German restaurant (I forget the name) that was recommended to me, but en route I passed Blue Nile. I chuckled to myself and thought of the old joke: "What do they serve in an Ethiopian restaurant?" "Glass of water and a toothpick". Then I noticed the place was BUSY. Looked at the menu - all you can eat for $13. I was on an expense account, but heck, value always does it for me. Let's try it. This was my first time eating Ethiopian food, but I was pleasantly surprised by the flavors, and shocked at how dense the food was. One round of whatever was in my basket stuffed me completely, so I paid my bill, bought a jar of their tea (sweetened with rose hips) and went out into the frigid Michigan night. I thought the food rocked. Recent reviews are pretty bad, so perhaps it's gone downhill. Or, it could be that the food was never that good, and I just didn't know any better?
(3)Lori C.
I have only been here one, but have eaten Ethiopian food a few other times at other restaurants. We had a pretty large group, and although I thought the service was a little slow, they were good and pretty attentive. The food was good, but not any better that the food we have had at other places. We were in a side room, and it was pretty hard to hear others talk, even if they were just across the table.
(3)Guillermo K.
Lukewarm food, inconsistent service, oddly sized portions. Maybe it was because of Restaurant Week. But if you can't hang with the program, why participate?
(1)CrapulentMoose ..
Two stars just for the food by itself. It's tasty, but paying $15 to $20 is ridiculous. The first and only time I ate here, I was naive enough to think that the $20 family style was for two people, because it was just too damn much to charge one person for potatoes, lentils, and greens with a little meat. I was annoyed by the waitress who demonstrated how to eat the food by eating off our communal trough with her hands and by how low the table was relative to my seat, so that I had to lean over and compress my stomach while eating (a restaurant ploy?). Seeing a $40+ tab for two people to eat peasant food told me I was never coming back.
(2)Bradley S.
I had the Beef Tibs with Mushroom Cabernet from the seasonal lunch menu for $9.25--very nicely prepared and elegantly served in an atmosphere with class. I finished my meal with a delicious bread pudding dessert. This meal had little to do with Ethiopian cuisine which I also enjoy, but it had everything to do with fine dining.
(5)Tyler B.
First, the caveats: 1.) I am not an ehiopian food connoisseur 2.) I attended this restaurant as part of a group dinner, thus not part of a 'normal' dining experience. That being said... I give the decor, service and overall setting top marks. Its colorful, welcoming, and feels slightly upscale without pretension. The food was tasty. I didn't pay the bill so I'm guessing those doing cost benefit analysis are correct, but the spicy beef was something I'd go back for. The only truly subpar portion of my experience was the musak being pumped in. Sweet baby james it was like a casio keyboard from 1985 on the demo setting. Seriously, minimum one star tagged off because of it. So had I paid $20 for what I ate, I think i'd probably give the requisite 2 star to this place, but I had fun, my food was good, and the unique qualities of the experience make this an A-OK in my book.
(3)Emily O.
This restaurant offers two all you can eat options: meat or veggies. We tried the meat tray (which includes the veggies) and then got seconds of the parts we liked! It was unique to eat a meal entirely with your hands, but also fun. I would recommend this to anyone who likes to try ethnic foods.
(5)Tina W.
Ethiopian food sounded so exotic so I couldn't resist stopping here. The pro? The food was delicious! I went for dinner and ordered the Vegetarian feast. I love the Injera bread and the system of using it to pick up the different types of veggies and lentils. Everything was so flavorful and rich. The con? The pricing is way above me, college student that I am. I suppose their 'early dinner special' which ends at 6pm may have been better for me, but after 6pm everything is essentially around the $20 range. Eep. Also, the waiters were a little negligent of us. They did not introduce themselves and took forever to come and refill our food even though it was all-you-can-eat.
(3)Theresa F.
Since by husband is 6'4", we walked in and definitely opted for a booth. The more traditional style Ethopian dining experience involves a low-lying communal table. It hit below Steve's knees...I knew if we didn't move, the poor guy would be miserable all night. The food was tasty -- I have to say though, for $19 a person I was expecting a little more depth to the food... layers of flavor and complexity to more of the vegetarian dishes. The lentils and collard greens were my favorites. There was a beef dish on our plate that tasted pretty good as well (albeit slightly overcooked). You eat on a communal lazy susan, sopping up meats, veggies, and juices with your sponge-like translucent bread and your hands. You best like the people you are dining with! As a daily tea drinker, I had to try their version. Not my favorite at all -- very minty, reminded me of chewed gum.
(3)sri n.
Would give 3.5 stars. Four stars more for the ambience and service. I had the vegetarian feast. I was just too happy that there were so many things to eat for a veggie! I am no Ethiopian food connoisseur, but the food tasted fine for me. Of course there are a couple of bland items on the list. The coffee was great as well. Overall a very enjoyable experience. Yes, the downside is that it is somewhat pricey.
(4)Andrew L.
All of the reviews that give this place a 2 out of 5 are exactly right. And yes, Randall B., my DC brethren, being from the District gives us a less forgiving palate when it comes to Ethiopian food. For me, I can neither forgive or forget. This place makes me cringe. I went here thinking I was going to get some baller Ethiopian food and I left feeling like I wanted to catch the next plane to DC. The food is sub par, and dear god I hate paying a lot for unsatisfying food. The only reason I went here more than once was because my ignorant friends had never had REAL Ethiopian food and thought Blue Nile was the shit. I'm sorry, some shit is more like it. So yeah, more than once means I gave this place another chance (although it was an unwilling venture) and it was still awful. If you've never had real Ethiopian food, by all means stuff you face to your heart's content. For those who have had a taste of the real thing, don't waste your time.
(1)J C.
I got the vegetarian platter here and liked maybe one dish out of the 5 or so. The service was very slow too.
(3)Mae S.
The atmosphere is appealing (despite the gripes of some of the other reviewers). Everyone I've eaten with wishes that there was more variety of spicy food -- not just hot or not hot. If you come with enough people, you can sample all the little dollops and then selectively re-order favorites, which comes close to ordering what you like. I kind of like the challenge of eating by hand from a large shared plate and solving the problem of where to put the chicken and lamb bones when you are done with them, especially if you are with people you don't know well. Ok -- maybe it's only exotic for AnnArbor. However, I have eaten in Ethiopian restaurants in other US cities, and the flavors varied more but the overall experience was comparable. I too would like to taste real teff.
(3)Amy A.
Yum!!! I'm so sad I live in California and probably won't be back in Ann Arbor for...years! I'm vegan, and I went here with my sister and brother-in-law, who are not. Fortunately, they are the type of omnivores who feel totally fine about skipping meat in their meal, so we all shared a plate of Gomen (greens), spicy red lentils (can't remember the name), and mild, yellow split peas (also something in Ethiopian). Everything was delicious! The injera was fresh and perfect--not too sour. The red lentils were pretty spicy, but with great flavor! I left stuffed and satisfied. They also appear to have a pretty extensive alcohol menu, which is always a plus. The waitress was cool and kinda sassy, which I like. Also, hot towels at the beginning and end of the meal! I wish all restaurants did that. It feels so pamper-y!
(5)April J.
I've heard this is the best Ethiopian food in the AA area - and indeed, it might be. However, I've just had so much better. I was excited to get some good Ethiopian when I came, and it just fell short. Good quality but very little flavor. I ordered a spicy dish and there was really very little spice at all. Disappointing all around.
(2)G B.
I've enjoyed the Blue Nile for several years when I was in school. Now, more than 15 years later, I return to Ann Arbor and head immediately to rekindle my affection. After eating in significant Ethiopian restaurants around the country (Meskerem in DC, Awash in NYC, Mudai in San Jose, and more), I think I've decided that the Blue Nile is back on top! My family (wife, daughter [5 yrs], son [3 yrs]) recently spent 2 weeks in Michigan, and we dined at BN twice. Each time was excellent (meat and veggie combos) -- ingredients were fresh and preparation was healthy. Wait staff was Anglo but seemingly well-versed in the dishes and preparations. Can't say I've had a better meal in the last couple years . . . and I travel more than 100 days/year. So, I clearly appreciate what Blue Nile offers and delivers. Haven't had a even a slightly bad experience yet. Bon appetit!
(5)Brittany A.
Coming from DC where there are Ethiopian restaurants everywhere, I was a little weary of one in Ann Arbor by itself. BUT I was very impressed by the taste, quality and service. My only disappointed was that they didn't have the lamb wot and the lamb they had was pretty bland. Luckily that is an upcharge for the meat platter any way so I would just not add it. The spicy beef and chicken were my favorite, also the spicy peas and spicey lentils. They even brought us more when we finished what they gave us. If you've never had Ethiopian before beware a salad is tomatoes and jalapenos only. Delicious!
(4)LovesGoodFood B.
Ethiopian is my favorite cuisine. For a long time, I ate it at least once a week (my hometown of Chicago has wonderful Ethiopian restaurants). The primary veg option is the all-you-can-eat Vegetarian Feast for apx $17. The waiters will bring you more of whatever you want until you're stuffed (no taking leftovers home). I thought the food was good, but the flavors seem toned down compared what I like. Normally the spices are more robust and the injera a bit more sour. I'd recommend this place for first timers. We went on a Friday and there was live music. The overall noise level was perfect for a conversation. Being the only Ethiopian restaurant in Ann Arbor, I'll probably be back, but I wouldn't put it in my top 10 list.
(3)Christina D.
Definitely an experience! Got the Ethiopian feast with the family and everything was tasty and very filling. Love the spongy bread and all the lentils!
(4)Chad C.
When I'm searching for a place with a little bit of novelty for an out-of-town guest, this is one of the places I suggest, but always paired with somewhere to go either before or afterward for a drink or dessert. It's a little too subdued to stand by itself.
(4)emeril l.
big disappointment....we had the meat buffet....crapulent moose's review is spot on. overpriced, bland food. Just skip it and go across the street to Mahek. btw - who are the people giving this place the award for best buffet in ann arbor? -- clearly, they are mistaken. also, the service---subpar, at best.
(1)Alex Z.
The food here is pretty good, but not outstanding. The reason my review is so low is the inflexibility of this restaurant, and the high prices relative to the quality of the food. There are only essentially two options on the menu: the vegetarian and meat option, which are about 15 and 20 dollars, respectively. It's all-you-can-eat, but in practice, you typically won't be able to eat more than they serve on the first round. Furthermore, they refuse to let you take the food home (this is the first restaurant I have ever eaten at that has done this), which struck me as outright bizarre. Is the food good? Of course. It's flavorful, and not too heavy, and there's a fair amount of variety. However, I do have some complaints: the "spicy" food is not really that spicy, and also, the injera bread is made out of white grains, not whole grains, as it traditionally is and as it is in most restaurants. The white injera bread, in my opinion, is not nearly as tasty...it is very bland and a bit pasty. Service was good...but I still feel a little shortchanged in that there is no flexibility. Don't like one or two of the dishes? Tough, you have to pay for it anyway. Want to come here for a light meal? Tough, you're out of luck. My biggest complaint, still, is the price. $20 per head is too much, especially when there is NO variety. Combining this with not letting you take food home (even from your first place), it's pretty absurd. Ann Arbor is not a particularly expensive or pricey place to eat--there is much better food in town. I've also had much better (and much cheaper) Ethiopian in other restaurants in many other cities across the U.S. If you DO come here, I would recommend the vegetarian plate. The vegetarian stuff here, in my opinion, is significantly better than the meat stuff...and do yourself a favor and save yourself a few dollars--it's not like you are getting any extra value out of the extra money spent anyway.
(2)David M.
I'm surprised this place has such a low rating. I went for the restaurant week lunch special, got the chicken, which was nothing special but tried the beef dish which was quite good. Kind of reminds me of the only other Ethiopian place I've been to, which I guess makes sense. But I'm looking forward to going back sometime for an all-you-can-eat slaughter. Also, there's apparently some Red Sea place that I should try...
(4)Jay Rand B.
I agree, in principal with the other reviews posted here. I was expecting more than what I got, having fond memories of Red Sea in Adams Morgan district of D.C. The food is so-so and is overpriced for the quality of food served. I would save your taste buds for another location in another city for decent Ethiopian food.
(2)Joshua R.
To pithly review Blue Nile from an outsider and out-of-towner's perspective: I like it! I'd go if I were visiting again, and to the rest of the details, I'll step aside to allow the other reviews sort out. Cheers, Blue Nile has this man's endorsement.
(4)Parisa K.
Overall, I know a lot of people who aren't a fan of this place. I've only eaten here twice, both times I only got the vegetarian plate, and I've never had anything close to Ethiopian food aside from this place. With that being said, I liked Blue Nile. It's not a place I would rush to go back to, but I would go back. I know one thing that turns a lot of people is the spongy, not quite bread, not quite a pancake "bread" you eat with your food. I didn't mind it. Definitely not my favorite, but it was interesting and different. I though the experience was pretty fun. It was something different. The way the food is presented and the way you eat it is not at all anything typical. The inside of the place is entertaining, too. I don't know if it's authentically Ethiopian, but the decor appears to be so. Like I said, I only tried the vegetarian plate. It had a variety of small piles of vegetables in sauce, like lentils, legumes, etc. I don't remember the food being bad. I don't remember it being spicy, which I guess it should be. Honestly, if you don't know what to expect, then you could actually enjoy yourself like I did. I liked the whole experience enough to want to go back with a friend who I knew would like to try it out. Reading the other reviews, I'd definitely like to try a "better" place, but I do recommend this place to any unfamiliar and open-minded eater.
(3)Nadi T.
This restaurant was highly recommended by one of my professors. Usually I would ignore anything a teacher says unless its related to work; however this one professor seemed to know a thing or two about food. I was rather shocked to see the restaurant filled with customers. That was a good sign to start off the night. The service and wait staff was perfect. They explained everything in detail and made sure you weren't lost. I did not adore the menu selection, especially considering you're limited to the vegetables feast or meat feast. Also the lighting was awful. The seating concept is great. I love to see traditional ideas as it can always educate us. Was it the most comfortable? No. Maybe lower the chairs a bit, but i'm not going to complain too much over this minute detail. The food is impressive. I loved the way everything was set up on the plate. It looks odd, however trust me it is very practical. The outer ring covers the vegetables, and all the meats get placed in the middle. I was impressed with the flavor of the vegetables. I thought the lentils, greens, and potatoes were wiked! The Lamb was outstanding, it was so good my gf and I asked for seconds four times! Everything works well on the plate. Combine as much as you can in one bite, and don't limit yourself to just chicken or beef. I also loved eating with my hands! The bread of course is an important player in the meal. Its best described as a sponge bread, and like all sponges eventually they wear out. Near the end of my meal I was dreading the taste and texture of the bread. I would have preferred Arabic bread or even "Tamees" which is found in Ethiopia. Overall I paid $45 for two. Thats a hefty sum for a college student. Was it overpriced? I would argue that, but it was a great experience and some of the vegetables and meats were terrific.
(3)Julia S.
I happen to like me some Ethiopian food. I think dinner's a tad over-priced, but it is all-you-can-eat and I like almost all that's on offer.
(4)Christopher F.
Talk about pretentious this place should be in the dictionary next to the word. As someone who has experienced Ethiopian cuisine in various places I was really excited to try this place. The decor is nice the staff friendly, and parking is not that terrible since they are right next to the Washington street parking structure, however, the food very mediocre, the price terrible, and the menu horrible. You have two choices thats it one is a vegetable buffet $13.99 and the other is a meat buffet for $17.99. They start out by bringing you one option of everything they have, of course you do not know what that is unless you ask the waiter or waitt to your food arrives. The waiter will then check with you periodically to ask what more they can bring you until you have reached your limit. The food comes served on traditional Ethiopian Injera and is eaten with the hands and shared with everyone. The food is mediocre at best, just because Ethiopian cuisine may be humble in nature does not mean the food has to lack spices and flavor. The menu is arrogant, and implies that we do not know how to properly order so we are just going to give you two choices meat or veggies. Description of the food on the menu is terrible at best. Never going to eat there again wouldn't recommend it to anybody unless they like bland grilled meat and bland steamed vegetables. There stew not that much better.
(1)Akilah W.
Ugh This food is gross. But I'm biased since I'm from Los Angeles, where food is good. Injera was white, food did not have a touch of spice or flavor, and it's way too overpriced for what it is. This place totally waters down Ethiopian cuisine to make it suitable for Ann Arborites. Definitely do not go here if you're used to REAL Ethiopian.
(1)David R.
For an Ethiopia restaurant without an Ethiopia staff, its not bad. However if you have ever been to an actual Ethiopia restaurant (especially if you're from the DC area), don't waste your time.
(2)Stephanie H.
Meh.... Is the best way to describe this place. The host, who I assume was also the manager/ owner was just out of it. No clue at all what was going on. Aloof and uninterested in some guests and broke his neck to get to others. Very odd. The service was okay until it was time for dessert. If you have been to the Ferndale location you will definitely be disappointed. This location is not nearly as cozy. The food not as hot and the servers not as attentive. All in all I would not go back. The food is the same at both locations but not the service. Like I previously mentioned the host/ manager/ owner was no help we could not find our server, who obviously forgot our desserts, (which by the way were terrible and grossly overpriced) and he just stood there. I don't think he moved at all. After our server finally came out with our desserts she disappeared again. Again we enlisted his help. Rather than moving he actually went to talk in depth with the table next to us asking about the food and the service, joking about the weather.... not sure what that was about but it seals the deal on me never returning. If you have never been here don't go. It is a little pricey to not get out of it what you want and unless you want lukewarm food, inattentive servers and a clueless host you should dine elsewhere.
(2)Margot L.
Agreeing with my fellow AA Margot, this place is very overpriced and does emit the air of pretentiousness that AA seems to don so naturally. The bad news is that you HAVE to order a huge meal with lots of dishes, and cannot order a la carte. There are two options: vegetarian, or not. Personally, I don't like being strong-armed into eating a lot, or meat or veggie, or spending my remaining arm and my leg for a meal in downtown AA. Just my thoughts. Another downside (at least when I was there last year) was that there was some terrible god-awful music playing - imagine a guy with a synthesizer, with programmed chords and drum beats and bad singing. Ouch. Remembering it just hurts my ears.
(1)Robin Z.
More of a mainstream intro into Ethiopian than really good Ethiopian. The atmosphere and service is quite good, and the decorations are very nice (loved the woven tables!!). The dinner menu is basically just all-you-can-eat, which is nice if you're hungry, but the food itself isn't amazing.
(3)Haroun K.
It really isn't so bad. It isn't great, though. When I went to the Blue Nile, I got the vegetarian plate. There was plenty of food, but it was pretty bland. By far, the best part of the meal was the tea, which is heavenly. The ambiance is also quite pleasant. This helped comfort me when I got the bill - really expensive. I wonder if things are similar at the Ferndale location.
(3)Coco C.
Um, I was going to review this but Margot L. already wrote it for me. The only thing I'll add is save your pennies and go to an actual city to eat better Ethiopian food than this stuff (I recommend West Philadelphia - Baltimore/48th streets, or Chicago in a pinch...)
(2)Emily A.
This is my favorite restaurant in Michigan. I'm from Michigan but now live in NYC, and travel often. But when I come visit family in Michigan, a trip to Blue Nile is always in the plan. The food is amazing, and the spiced tea is so good I always make sure I have some at home (they sell the loose tea). Blue Nile was the first Ethiopian experience I had, and when I'm in a new city I always want to try the local Ethiopian spots. None have compared. I don't like sour dough, so I appreciate that unlike a lot of other places, Blue Nile doesn't use sour dough in their injera. The food is so good that, after getting several rounds of refills, I happily gobble up the bottom injera that has soaked up the spices. I know that any trip to the Blue Nile will be followed by a food coma. I see they are now serving lunch. Too bad they weren't doing that back when I worked in downtown Ann Arbor. Then again, for the sake of my wallet and my waistline, maybe that was a good thing!
(5)Trina S.
I've been here several times with groups of people. Each time I've been, the Ethiopian feast ended up being ordered at my table. It's a bit pricey, but it's a great way to sample a bunch of the dishes at one time, and all of the dishes are refilled if you want to refill it, including the "bread". The service is pretty good, and I like that they give you warm moist towels with which to wash your hands before the meal (especially since the Ethiopian feast is an eat-with-your-hands-only sort of meal). The spice tea is really tasty, and it's a fun and delicious experience. Everyone is bound to enjoy at least one dish in the Ethiopian feast.
(4)Professional Eater S.
If you are going here for Ethiopian food you are throwing away your money. The best place for Ethiopian is Red Sea, which is way down Washtenaw in the land of Ypsilanti, but oh is it worth the drive. Red Sea cannot possibly compete on atmosphere, where Blue Nile really wins, but the service, food, and prices leave you with an infinitely better feeling when you leave. The best part about Red Sea is that the more people you bring, the cheaper it is for everyone. Anyway, enough about Red Sea, Blue Nile is pretty OK Ethiopian food, nice atmosphere, and they have nice tea and wine. You won't be disappointed. It's just that they charge unconscionably high prices for what you get, and that just won't do. Drive the extra 10 minutes and go to Red Sea.
(2)Keillan E.
Yummmm! The number of different flavors is just phenomenal. I loved the spicy beef, spicy chicken, red lentils, and cabbage. Its a bit pricey for the feast plate, but I will definitely be coming back!
(4)Parvati P.
High points for food and decor. Negative points for service. Let me add that I went for lunch during the Ann Arbor restaurant week ( annarborrestaurantweek.c… ), so there could have been high traffic...but that's no reason for making customers wait. This was my first time eating Ethiopian food so I cannot comment on its authenticity. To me, the food was delicious.
(3)LJ J.
I have been searching for Ethiopian food in my home state ever since I moved back to Michigan from Washington, DC. I finally found this place in Ann Arbor and I'm so glad I went! The food was amazing, the tea was great, and the portions were just right (if not too generous). My boyfriend and I didn't even come close to eating it all. The staff was very friendly and answered all of our questions kindly and patiently. They serve you with hot towels for your hands before and after meals which, even in the fancier, more expensive place in DC I was used to, they did not do. The decor is beautiful. I expect to be back time and time again.
(5)Carrie B.
The blue nile is fantastic. I've been to quite a few ethiopian restaurants in various parts of the US and nowhere else really compares. I can only speak for the vegetarian dishes but they all have distinct flavors and are perfectly seasoned. $15 may be a little expensive for regular visits but it's all you can eat and is worth the price in my book.
(5)Chris S.
Like the others have said, the food is respectable but there is much better Ethiopian to be had outside of the A2. The fact that you have to order set courses and can't pick and choose means you're in for a huge meal that you won't finish and that will end up costing you more than you probably want to spend. Don't be fooled by the "all you can eat" as you'll likely not get past the first serving.
(2)A. T.
I'm not about to join in the griping about the lack of a la carte, but I don't like how there are only two options ('vegetarian only' and 'vegetarian plus meat') -- and no 'meat only' option. The meat dishes are delicious, but the vegetarian dishes are kind of bland. Attentive waitstaff, and overall a great dining experience.
(4)Joseph D.
Always excellent. Friendly, good food.
(5)Margot F.
The Blue Nile is a fantastic example of Ann Arbor's weird collective delusion about itself. I adore Ethiopian food, and there's nothing wrong with the injera (buckwheat, not tef flour) or the vegetable alecha or the wat or any of the other flavorful dollops primarily composed of lentils and potatoes, although the heat has clearly been turned down for Midwestern tongues. Some of the Nile's attempts to deny its location in middle America are even endearing: servers deliver warm towels for pre-meal handwashing (pouring water over guests hands probably proved too messy), the bar offers a random selection of imported beer and wine rather than serving everyone the traditional Tej, bright murals and low mesab (those wicker hourglass-shaped tables with concave tops) offer an "exotic' dining experience for "adventurous" midwesterners but standard booths are also available. These are all reasonable adaptations to serving a cuisine that's typically prepared and eaten in a family setting in Africa at a restaurant in Ann Arbor. But they stubbornly refuse to offer individual menu items or even offer a mixed array for any dining party that might not be able to reconcile individual dining preferences to the all-meat or meatless options. Of course, they've happily adopted the standard restaurant practice of charging guests for food ($18/head, which is way out of line for mass-prepared lentils, all-you-can-eat policy notwithstanding). Overpriced, overrated, and that's really when the Blue Nile reminds you that Ann Arbor, Michigan is in fact in the middle of fly-over country, whatever delusions anyone else might harbor: you can get almost anything in this town, but you can't rely on multiple options should one disappoint. This restaurant would never survive in a real city.
(2)