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Blue Nile Cafe
Categories: Restaurants Ethiopian Restaurants Vegan Ethiopian, Vegan [Edit]
933 E University DrSte 112
Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 377-1113
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Paid
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
JC G. said: "Very charming restaurant in the courtyard of the Borgata. The inside is modern and clean. The server we had was very friendly. Food is very fresh and flavorful. Lots of gluten, nut, and dairy free options. We started with the…" read more »
89 reviews for Blue Nile Cafe
Review Highlights
"We haven't tried the raw food menu much, but hope to in the..."
(in 5 reviews)
"I love their house iced tea and their vegetarian messob..."
(in 3 reviews)
"We fell in love with the Shuro and the Misir Watt."
(in 4 reviews)
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89 reviews in English
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Review from Scott B.
Chandler, AZ
10/14/2011
Blue Nile has great raw food. This is important,, because there aren't too many places available to get raw food now. Although it is bit pricey, having raw food available is important, due to the role the enzyme plays in the human body. Raw food will cure cancer and make all other degenerative diseases go away. It is true. Read about it.....
Since Rawsome Cafe of Tempe, which used to be in the old Coop on University, just west of Mill, I have had to go to Pomegranite which is all the way in Ahwatukee.
Thank you Blue Nile. Your Ethiopian food is good too, but I'd love to see that raw food menu expand..... -
Review from Leslie F.
Tempe, AZ
1/15/2012
This was the worst Ethiopian food I have ever had combined with slow and inattentive service. A friend and I went on a Sunday afternoon and there was only one other couple there and it still took a very long time to get our food and even longer to get the food we actually ordered. The servers were nice (there were two trying to help us), but they kept miscommunicating with each other about what we ordered. My friend sat for 30+ minutes with an empty water glass and finally had to flag down the waitress who was just standing at the counter gazing around. And the actual food was really disappointing. The potato salad was one of the saltiest dishes I have ever eaten. I know some ethiopian dishes can be a little salty, but this was way over the top and we could barely eat it. The collared greens were bland and the squash had way too much ginger. The kik mesir wat (red lentils) was the only good dish, so if you go I would recommend it.
As for the raw food - first they told us they didn't have any and then they had to go print out a menu for us to look at but only offered a few of the items. We just stuck to the regular menu.
If you are looking for Ethiopian food, I highly recommend Cafe Lalibela for prompt and attentive service, excellent food, and a friendly atmosphere. -
Review from Ashley M.
Camp Verde, AZ
11/22/2011
Blue Nile has amazing raw food! I love going there to grab a bite on Sundays and Mondays! It is fresh and healthy. Also, the normal menu has great vegan options! I took my grandparents here last month and they both agreed that the food was among the best they have had!
I recommend EVERYONE try their strawberry and orange vegan coffee cake, it is AMAZING. -
Review from Mostashley S.
Phoenix, AZ
12/17/2011 4 Check-ins Here
We visit this place almost every weekend. The food is delicious and the staff is friendly. Some really great dishes to try are the lentil sambusa appetizer (the sambusa's are STUFFED with lentils and they are served with a yummy dipping sauce), the curried chicken (it's a pretty mild but very tasty curry), and all the legume-based wats. The injera is the real thing, made with teff (supernutritious)! A filling, healthful, and fun way to share a meal. :)
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Review from Tasia T.
Scottsdale, AZ
9/15/2011
Blue Nile offers something for everyone. They offer Raw foods during Mondays while the entire week they offer dishes for Vegan, Vegetarian, and Carnivores. The staff is very friendly, but some days the service can be a little slow which is quickly forgotten once you have your food in front of you. Their house ice tea is delicious with all its spices (reminds me of chai tea). As a omnivore, I always find myself ordering and devouring the Strictly Vegan Combo. The shuro watt (chickpeas), kik alitcha (yellow split peas), and inguday (mushrooms) are a must try. I love Ethiopian food and eating with my hands...the restaurant is heaven!
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Review from Xuankieu T.
Phoenix, AZ
3/18/2011
This is my first time trying Ethiopian food and i can't say my taste buds agree with the food. Can't give a true rating on the food since am not sure how their food suppose to taste like. I was surprise that all our orders are put together in one plate over a sour-like bread. I didn't even know which one is mine. We are suppose to eat the food with the sour roll bread with our fingers, which i don't mind. I love finger food! However, I didn't like the sour taste in the bread therefore it kinds of ruin my taste. Also, i thought the soup that comes along with it was salty.
And if you're use to Vietnamese coffee, their coffee is not very aromatic and has a somewhat tart taste.
As for the price, very small portion for a high price!
Aside from that, I love the traditional setting. It's a very intimate setting good for a group of friends to chit chat. There are low basket seats with a low woven basket table. Also having all the foods order being on one huge plate and eating with your fingers giving you a sense of intimacy with your guests, being that they don't mind the germ. -
Review from Frances L.
Los Angeles, CA
12/3/2010
When I first started exploring Tempe about 5 years ago, I was sort of taken aback by the fact that there were two Ethiopian places less than one mile from each other in a town where I never actually saw any Ethiopian people at all. Growing up in Los Angeles, I was accustomed to the Little Ethiopia neighborhood near Fairfax, but just couldn't make
sense of this particular scenario. I went to Blue Nile a few times and for the most part, I enjoyed it. My heart however, got stolen by Cafe Lalibela down the road, so I have not been back. One thing that's kind of cool about Blue Nile though, is that the larger dining room is traditional seating (low basket seats or pillows on the ground with a low woven
basket table). However, the dining room alone does not make up for the fact that they're food isn't as flavorful as Lalibela and the service can be hit or miss. -
Review from Krystal C.
Tempe, AZ
5/23/2011
I love Blue Nile! I have read the reviews saying it's not as flavorful as Cafe Lalibella down the road; however, I find them both to be extremely delightful and delicious. I love the veggie/vegan/raw options that are available. As a person with many veggie friends, this is always an easy and healthy choice to pick. They also have tea and amazing coffee.
The only thing that is usually not impressive about Blue Nile is the service. Although there are a couple of nice people on the waitstaff, it's overall not up to par. If you go at a slow time, though, no worries. -
Review from Nicole S.
Los Angeles, CA
10/23/2010
I tried this place last night for the first time, and I really enjoyed it. I've had better Ethiopian food (try Cafe Lalibela) but, kudos on adding more vegan-friendly restaurants, Phoenix!
It seems like the vast majority of items on the menu are vegan... why don't they just bite the bullet and make them all vegan? That's my only question.
I very much enjoyed the Ethiopian hot tea which came in a large pot to serve two people. I also loved the vegan combo sampler, which (if you order two of them, plenty of food for three people) allows you to try one of everything! The injera is especially delicious.
While I wouldn't quite say that this is my favorite Ethiopian food restaurant in Phoenix, it's certainly growing on me. Next time... I'll try dessert. :-) -
Review from Tierra W.
Phoenix, AZ
11/6/2010 3 photos
I must be the only person not giving this place a 5. I went here because of the reviews and I'm going to be honest, I'm not sure if this is because my taste buds are different or I went on a bad day?
I went here for my birthday in April of this year and the food was disgusting....to me. I tried something from "raw food" menu and my husband tried an Ethiopian meal.
This was the worst food I ever had in my life. If I could give this place a zero I would. Again, I was going to try something new, and I think that maybe, I'm just not into Ethiopian or raw food? I'm going to try another Ethiopian restaurant in the future and see if its just me or if it was The Blue Nile.
But yeah....ill never go here again. After a few bites of everything, we didn't touch our food and basically wasted money. We ended up canceling desert, tipping really good because the waiter was amazing...but leaving without a to-go box. -
Review from Brittany T.
Tempe, AZ
8/26/2011
Blue Nile is one of my favorite places in Tempe! I get something different almost every time I go and I have been happy with everything I've eaten. I especially like their vegetarian dishes (more than the meat ones, which is surprising because I'm a big meat eater) and I LOVE their sambussas. So good. Also, their lunch special is great because for around 10 dollars you can get a vegetarian entree, a meat entree, and two sambussas.
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Review from Katrina D.
Tempe, AZ
8/25/2011 6 Check-ins Here
I really enjoyed the set-up of the restaurant. The side room looks very authentic. The staff are nice enough, although the service isn't exactly prompt and polite. Great food!
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Review from Dan C.
9/26/2010
First of all I hate those damn people who come into places like this and before they sit down they're harping on how it's "so different" and ask if it will "taste weird." Yes you bitches, it will taste weird and be different, but it's also digestible food, get over it! Thank you waitress, for taking it all in stride as I'm sure you do every day.
I got the chicken drumstick which was divine, as were the rest of my sides. The cabbage and lentils and all that were delicious and very well seasoned. Their injera was tasty, but not the best I've had.
The most appreciable part of this meal was that almost all of their dishes without meat were vegan. This was wonderful when I wanted something sweet and cool to add to my palate, as they had ice cream made from cashews. CASHEWS. Why did no one tell me about this?! I'm lactose intolerant so this was a wonderful way to indulge after a relaxing meal. -
Review from Misha B.
Tempe, AZ
6/30/2011 3 Check-ins Here
This place is a serious no brainer for vegans! Lots of options to choose from considering they have a vegan section on their menu. I got the vegan combo to go and everything was delicious. The portion sizes are large and I got over 2 meals out of my take out! I wish it was a bit spicier since siracha flows like ketchup in my house, but it was all very flavorful non the less. Tried the vegan raw strawberry shortcake dessert from new raw and organic menu and it was ok. I wasn't crazy about the frozen strawberry portion as it tasted like Italian ice, but the creamy filling and crust under that satisfied my sweet tooth!
Listed in: Vegan Friendly Restaurants
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Review from Haley C.
Tempe, AZ
7/1/2011
I was disappointed with Blue Nile. I normally go to Cafe Lalibela right down the street when I want Ethiopian, but I thought I'd give this place a try. Most of the food tasted like it had been cooked yesterday or was made with canned vegetables. Their salads are good, but the entrees were a waste of my money and I definitely won't be going back.
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Review from Tanner P.
Mesa, AZ
6/25/2010 1 Check-in Here
by far my favorite restaurant right now. I've been at least 10 times in the last 6 months. I love taking new people for Ethiopian food.
The injera is really good and a nice change of pace from the normal breads or fries you get in other restaurant types.
The healthy eater is delicious and has some great spices.
The curry chicken is a very mild curry and is packed with flavor. A little difficult to eat with the injera, but they'll give you a fork if you ask.
The Gored gored is pretty good too. Most people's stomachs churn when they think of eating raw beef but it's actually pretty good. I think it would be a bit better if they used a higher quality cut of beef, but it was still pretty good. Covered with some great spices and you don't even notice that it's raw.
For vegetable sides, i prefer the split lentils, the chickpeas and the carrots and potatoes. The lentils have a cinnamon type spice in them that makes them great.
Some nights the service is a little slow, but for the most part they do a good job. They are very helpful will explain anything if you have questions.
They also serve raw dishes on a daily basis. Last time we tried the raw cinnamon roll. Not sure why it's called a cinnamon roll. I guess it did have cinnamon in it, but it didn't look or taste like a cinnamon roll. One of my friends said it tasted like a Clif Bar, which it totally did. It was pretty good, not sure if its worth the $5-7 for it, but it was something nice to try once. -
Review from Danica W.
Boise, ID
8/29/2010 3 photos
We went to this place for my birthday, wanting to try out something new. We'd never had Ethiopian food and we were very adventurous. Be warned, we had a GPS and we had a very hard time finding it, it's tucked away in a little corner!
Once we found it and stepped inside, we were definitely wow'd! The waiter answered our questions about the food, and suggested that if we really want the Ethiopian experience, to try out the Strictly Vegan combo. We ordered Tikil Gomen, Misir Watt, Kik Misir Watt, Gomen Watt, Shuro Watt, and the Dubba. We fell in love with the Shuro and the Misir Watt. The Shuro is chickpeas in a cinnamon/spicy sauce, and the Misir is spiced lentils. Soooo tasty! Even non-vegetarians will enjoy this place, and they do have meat dishes. -
Review from Jill C.
8/26/2010
After letting J know I was taking him out to dinner for his birthday last night, I had to decide on a place to go. He wanted Indian. I wanted...something different. I told him, "We're getting Ethiopian." His reaction and response, "Umm, I'm trusting you on this one!" LOL He'll try anything, as long as "animal flesh" is to be consumed. So, off we went to Blue Nile for dinner!
The plaza where its located should have the "Its a Small World" song playing, because there is everything from Pizza to Thai in that plaza!
We walk inside, and being the only ones there, we pick out what i think is the best table in the place (in the traditional seating area, in the corner). We sit down and Amir, our server, is extremely helpful! He suggests we try the Meat Lover's Combo for J, and the Vegan Combo for myself. We also order some Chicken Sambussa.
The Sambussa's come out about 10 minutes later, nice and hot. J bites into one and says, "This is awesome!" Whew! Dodged a bullet there! I try one and it reminds us a little of an egg-roll. Tasty! NEXT!
Our dinner comes out a few minutes later, and Amir points out all the different dishes we ordered - Which one was which. We tear into the injera and dig in! Wonderful!!! We sampled each others dishes, and the results are as follows :
J's favorites in order - Zegeney, Inguday, Lamb Tebbs, and Misir Watt
J's least favorite - Chicken Tebbs (J said the chicken was a little dry)
My favorites in order - Shrimp Watt/Misir Watt (TIE), Zegeney, Begerdan, and Tikil Gomen/Atkilt Watt (TIE).
My least favorite - Kik Alitcha (we got to try it for free, thank goodness)
They were out of the Gomen Watt, which was unfortunate. Oh well! Next Time!! Cause we'll be back!! :) -
Review from Sarah W.
Mesa, AZ
7/31/2011
I am an adventurous eater and I love ethnic food...this was a new experience. The waitress was extremely helpful in picking out the dish that would allow my friend and me to try many different things. I loved eating with my fingers, well using the bread to scoop up each of the dishes. This is a place worth trying.
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Review from AMber W.
1/14/2010
I began my love affair with Ethiopian food last year when I went to visit a friend in New York and he opened my eyes to the delights of this interesting, yet amazing food.
I'm not sure if I can actually classify it a "love affair" being that I have only been three times now, but it is what it feels like. With my recent gluten allergy, it has been terrible finding carbs and luckily the Injera bread is 100% gluten free (it is made with teff) so I can eat to my hearts desire!
Another really neat thing about Blue Nile is that they serve a small raw menu every day, and a full blown raw menu on Sunday and Monday. I don't know of anywhere else in the valley that does this, so definitely a great thing to see! I cannot wait to come back and try their raw creations. That is, if you can pull me away from the injera :-)
Now, the one drawback that ALMOST turns this place from a 5 to a 4 is that they have the scariest parking lot I have ever seen. I made Dallas G. watch me walk back to the car, in broad daylight, just to ensure I was not accosted. Well, that, and I have a great ass ;-)
Oooo and they have this magical tea that has such a unique flavor. I absolutely love it!
Extremely affordable, very tasty, great service... WINNER!!!!!Listed in: Get your Veg on, The Most Annoying Eater…
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Review from Amanda B.
Tucson, AZ
3/5/2009
A bamillionzillionjillion times better (think food/service/vibe) than Lalibela, which I happen to also adore. I seriously haven't returned to Lalibela since my first visit to Blue Nile last autumn, though I'm far from a connoisseur and tend to play it safe.
Blue Nile works wonderfully whether you're dining alone with a book or eating dinner with a friend or six. There's something for all of the picky eaters in the bunch: The vegans and raw food folk can leave just as happily as the omnivores. Since I'm indecisive, I always take the Create Your Own Messob route, even if I'm eating alone. That allows me to avoid making decisions, and I'm always excited with that option.
The service here is fabulous, and I far prefer the slightly tangy injera at this location. Don't forget to finish it off with some Ethiopian coffee; someday at the end of the meal I'll be able to try the coffee cake, but thus far I can't quite make myself eat another morsel.
In short: Blue Nile. Go. Yesplz. -
Review from Ayesha S.
1/26/2009
I was dragged here by Pierre this past Saturday when all I wanted was a giant pizza. I'm glad I gave into his Ethiopian craving because I was quite delighted!
You just have to walk across a shady parking lot to get to this place from the light rail, which makes it quite accessible and easy to get to for us Central Phoenix folk.
I ordered the "Healthy Eater" plate which had two delicious chicken options, as well as two vegetable options- I had the lentil and mushroom vegetables. I also ordered some brown rice because I prefer rice to bread, any day! Everything was tasty, and I'd totally go back and order the exact same thing.
Our waiter was awesome (and hot... much to Pierre's chagrin). He was attentive and checked back on us often. He also fielded my questions with a smile, which had to amount to something like fifteen questions.
I was a bit weary about Ethiopian but found it similar to Indian food- which I love. So, if you're into Indian food and have never tried Ethiopian, I'd give Blue Nile a shot. -
Review from ben h.
6/3/2009
What the fuck? Seriously, why do people think jokes about starving Ethiopians are funny? Should we start off reviews about Jewish bakeries with Holocaust jokes, or Chinese places with the Rape of Nanking? "Hey, I really enjoyed this Japanese restaurant! I thought everything would be MICROWAVED though, GET IT? BECAUSE EVERYONE DIED IN AN ATOMIC EXPLOSION!"
Anyway. Classic Tempe debate: Lalibella vs. Blue Nile. I like Blue Nile more - relaxing atmosphere, slow food, and the raw nights are really cool.
I've only tried the raw chef's food once - we had the sushi - and it was really out of this world. I used to scoff at the idea of raw restaurants, but now I can see the appeal.
The food does seem to have gotten a little less flavorful over the past couple years - it's still good, just more subtle. I have a feeling if you ask for things spicier, they'll accomodate you.
Don't be afraid to chat up your waiters/waitresses if you have any questions, or are a fan of Ethiopian food who doesn't see what you want on the menu. When I lived in Tempe, I was here enough to be something of a regular, and the wait staff would ask if we wanted to try out new dishes, which were always fantastic. -
Review from Sarah G.
4/20/2009
This place is in a strip mall, so that already seemed kind of out of place to me, but then I saw the greek place and the indian place two doors down, interspersed with a barber shop and nail salon.....yes, still seemed out of place. I always want to get my nails done and then go eat with my hands at ethiopian food!
That aside, inside this place it is actually pretty decently decorated and they even have half of the place set up where you can eat on those little chairs and basket tables for a more authentic time.
Our waiter was really white, and when he brought us our sambusas he gave the vegetarians in our group the beef ones and said they were lentils!!! You would think that a vegetarian friendly place wouldn't do that!! That aside the sambusas were a little smaller than usual, but they were pretty tasty. Their vegan lentil plate did not really do ethiopian food justice here, but their other veggie curry and bean options were pretty good and flavorful. We had to ask for extra ingera (ethiopian naan basically) and water too, but the meat lovers liked their meat plate and veggies liked their veggie plate, after they spit out the beef from before!!!
So Blue Nile watch out for beef posing as lentils! -
Review from Pierre Trudeau I.
Phoenix, AZ
1/10/2009
Blue Nile is a continuation of the Phoenix lesson to never judge a restaurant by its strip mall exterior. As part of my rediscovery of Tempe thanks to the light rail, I decided to give this second of only two Ethiopian restaurants in Phoenix a try for lunch one weekend, and I can't believe what I've been missing.
Yes, I admit, the first time I ever tried Ethiopian food years ago, all kinds of juvenile thoughts ran through my head. I even discretely (I hope) chuckled to the friend I came with, "What are they going to do... serve our food by air drops?" But I quickly got over my cruel, immature stereotypes and have been hooked on this cuisine for a long time, in Phoenix always satisfying my craving at Lalibela. Blue Nile offers a slight variation from the Lalibela experience but still delivering the same core of delicious, filling, interesting food that isn't really possible to describe to you without your actually trying it.
Again, the moment you walk inside Blue Nile you'll realize how different the interior is from the strip mall exterior. It's warm, cozy, daintily decorated with Ethiopian knick-knacks, extremely clean, neat and tidy throughout. I decided to order a combo plate of misir wat (lentils) and creamy curried chicken, which of course came on a bed of hot injera (a "bread" that has the consistency and taste of a crepe) with extra injera on the side. Yum! I also had a bowl of soup, which was delicious although not quite as mind-blowingly yummy as Lalibela's shorba, I must say.
Blue Nile offers both meat dishes and several vegetarian options that meet strict vegan standards, which I find impressive. Despite being a carnivore I did order one of the vegan dishes, the misir wat, and it was excellent. My entire meal, including two entrees with injera and a bowl of soup but just water to drink, was about 10 bucks. I will be back here often, as it's just across the street from the University/Rural train stop. -
Review from Lindsay J.
Phoenix, AZ
5/30/2011
I love Ethiopian cuisine...I first tried it in San Francisco because my uncle knew someone that knew how to make it! It was amazing and then a really good family friend is from Ethiopia and he has just introduced me to even more fabulous food! I would eat it everyday if I could...
Blue Nile was the first Ethiopian restaurant that I tried in Phoenix. I always passed in when I was in Tempe and one day I decided to try it. I was impressed! It was really good! I do not know the names of the dishes but it was the chicken and I got it with the mushrooms and lentils...and of course the spongy bread that you eat everything with...I love the fact that you get to eat with your hands its awesome! I wish that I would have been able to try many dishes at one time but that is ok...This place is great but Cafe Lalibela has the special place in my heart! I will return and I do encourage people to try this place... -
Review from Lindsay L.
Chandler, AZ
6/12/2009
I agree with Ben H.
The jokes about starving Ethiopians are not only old, they are ignorant and tired.
That being said, I would also like to address the age old question: to Lalibela or to Blue Nile?
Well, I was a die-hard Lalibela fan. It seems to me that those who eat meat prefer Blue Nile, while those who chomp veggies like Lali-better. I have been both a meat-eater and a vegetarian at both places, and I have to say that based on the Ethiopian cuisine, Lalibela wins for me every time. The spicy chicken use to be my favorite... well, you can read my Lalibela review too.
So what brought me back to Blue Nile? Chef Ron. On Sundays and Mondays (from open at 11am until close at 10pm), Chef Ron serves up the very best in RAW CUISINE!
That's right, folks. Chef Ron is the resident expert in raw vegan cuisine and he shows off his talents at Blue Nile two days per week. Before you think, "why would I pay for a bunch of raw rabbit food?", you should know that raw cuisine has depth, complex flavors, and usually requires a sophisticated palette. I like it anyway.
After some raw dolmas (I wasn't so big on the collard greens wrapping), Super Yogi and I ordered the living lasagna while hubsky went for the onion bread sandwich. After the requisite "my food is cold" jokes, we dug in. It was tasty. The flavors of the zucchini flat noodles with the spinach and mushrooms (which I usually avoid)... the tangy marinara... and most of all the cashew ricotta... ok, it would have been nice if it was a little warm, but it was delectable.
Hubsky's sandwich was tasty, but the grain mustard was a little much for me. The sandwich was packed with tasty veggies and tons of flavor.
I saved room for the cinnamon roll, which apparently is a staple while the rest of the menu changes based on local availabilities. It looks small, but it packs a punch.
The thing with raw cuisine is that you can't have expectations. For instance, if you order a cinnamon bun and expect a warm doughy mess, you'll be disappointed. This is indescribable. No, I tried. I can't make it sound anything close to what it is. Just know, it is cinnamony and rolled up.
Some other sample menu items include mango chili, watermelon gazpacho, zucchini hummus, banana ice cream, and orange cream pie with dark chocolate crust.
Have I convinced you yet? Get off your butt and go! -
Review from Karson D.
Atlanta, GA
6/25/2008
3.5 Stars
When my friend told me we were going to an Ethiopian joint for lunch after class, I was skeptical. When I think Ethiopian cuisine, I think empty plates. Do they even have food in Ethiopia? National Geographic makes it look like they don't. If they do, it must be twigs, right? But the food genuinely suprised this white ignorant fool. The meal was tasty and a little strange, but exciting. The spongy dough is odd looking, but definitely edible! I've only been once, and am not craving to return. But definitely worth trying once since it's a different cuisine. You better clean your plate off, there are starving people in Africa. -
Review from Norm R.
6/18/2009
Thanks to the Blue Nile, I'm gradually being weaned from my fascination with meat dishes and am getting to appreciate vegetarian cuisine more. I do order their lamb dishes, which are delectable, but their vegetable dishes are truly the bomb!
And I love the injera, the traditional spongy flatbread that comes with the meal. The first time I ate at this restaurant, I thought the entree portions were small (I have a huge appetite and can go through a buffet like a vacuum cleaner and not gain an ounce; my friends hate me for that). But now I believe that the injera swells like a sponge in your stomach, because every time my friends and I dine here, we always leave not just very satisfied with the food, but feeling really, REALLY full ;-)Listed in: International Yum
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Review from Natalie D.
Scottsdale, AZ
6/2/2008
I agree w/ reviewer N.T. in that I prefer Blue Nile over Lalibela b/c of the better atmosphere. Given the choice, I prefer to eat ethnic food in the way I would if at someones home in that country. So yes, part of the restaurant's seating is "traditional" and I like that. In fact, Blue Nile also serves more traditional beverages such as spiced tea and honey wine. In fact, if I remember correctly, you can even experience the traditional table hand washing at Blue Nile. So the the entire experience is more authentic and the food is fantastic. I love the fact that the food at Blue Nile isn't American-ized.
Like many other cultures, Ethiopians eat with their hands (not fork/knife). And here's a tip: you're supposed to place food in your mouth with your right hand only.
If you've never had Ethiopian food & you want to try something "safe", might I suggest the Doro Wat. Its (dark meat) chicken simmered in a spicy red curry. So good and a very common dish.
Enjoy! -
Review from Daniel N.
New Orleans, LA
6/29/2009
Be warned: this place hasn't updated their store hours. My girlfriend and I went on a Sunday looking for one last place to eat before I would have to leave Arizona and the store sign said they weren't open until 12pm, when in fact, they actually opened at 11am. We only found out of their actual business hours by calling the restaurant and by then we had spent almost an hour waiting at a Del Taco across the street eating $.57 tacos. Agh.
Getting into the restaurant, surprisingly, was the least pleasant aspect of the trip. Once we were inside, we were greeted by Marley, one of the waitresses. She was extremely nice and did a great job of making us feel welcomed and was very attentive to possible dietary restrictions - such as veganism(she pointed out which dishes had yogurt in them and provided possible alternatives).
My girlfriend and I, despite already being half satiated from Del Taco, were enticed enough by the menu selection to go ahead and order more than a full meal. We got:
1. Potato and Collard Sambussas - The skin was thinner than most sambussas I've had(which isn't a bad thing - in fact, I enjoyed it very much) which, as a result, gave the sambussa a very nice crispy outer layer. The filling was on the milder side but went very well with the spiced yogurt sauce that was provided for dipping.
2. Vegetable Combo/Platter -
- Eggplant - It's a bit tangy and some bites didn't taste like eggplant
- Red Lentils - Surprisingly sweet - I definitely enjoyed it
- Yellow Split Peas - This dish was also more on the sweet side - enjoyable
- Collard Greens - Not bad but not great - more spices please!
- Spiced Chickpeas - Probably the most spiced dish we got which is a good thing
My main complaint is that the dishes were far too mild for my taste. I wish they had more spice!
The restaurant, on certain days of the week(only two, I think Wednesday and Sunday?), offers a special raw foods menu. Like most raw foods, it's definitely on the pricey side and portions take a noticeable cut. We got two desserts:
Banana Ice Cream Sundae - The ice cream was nice and refreshing - not overly sweet though at times I felt like we were just eating mashed up frozen banana. The raw chocolate sauce was the real star. It has a very distinct nutty taste that chocolate syrup normally doesn't have. I can see how it is probably a hate-it-or-love-it kind of thing but I absolutely enjoyed the sauce.
Chai Custard - This was my favorite dish here. Too bad I didn't have enough room to finish it. The texture was incredibly smooth and provided wonderful tactile sensations to my tongue as I ate it. No one spice was overpowering and I could taste all the different spices in the custard(cardamom, chai, cinnamon). Definitely a must try.
The prices for the food were decent. It was $8.95 for the vegetarian platter which came with a good amount of injera - we definitely left stuffed. The raw foods, on the other hand, are much pricier. The custard itself was $7 - almost the cost of the entire vegetarian platter.
This restaurant would be great for people with low tolerance to spicy food, but for me, I prefer a lot more kick in my food. -
Review from Francesca H.
Phoenix, AZ
7/5/2010
I know little about Ethiopian food. I'm an adventurous eater, and was taken here to try it. And I must say, now, that I am a fan!
The food was very cheap, and incredibly flavorful. So, if you're on a budget, and want to either impress a date with your culture, or are a foodie, this is a great place to try! I am writing it only as 4 stars only because I haven't tried any other Ethiopian food. However, I pretty much don't want to risk tr.ying another place ;)
The Ethiopian tea they serve is fantastic, along with your meal. The portions are generous, along with generous amount of of injera. We has more than enough food around us, and left stuffed.
The dish that especially impressed me, was the curry chicken. So much so, that I continually kept enjoying the injera in the sauce.
All the vegetarian food was delicious! I, unfortunately, don't remember the names of everything, but the greens were some of the best I've ever had, along with a lentil dish.
Also, I rated this good for kids, however, that's only because I have a toddler that eats anything! If you don't have problems feeding your kid unique food, I suggest an attempt!
In short, if you're a big food fan, or want to be a little more adventurous on your food options, especially for a great, fair price, try Blue Nile!! -
Review from Dorothy Y.
New Orleans, LA
6/28/2009
First of all, Google Maps, your walking directions to get here are wrong, wrong, WRONG. My boyfriend and I walked in the completely wrong direction down University, following the directions Google gave me, until we called Blue Nile and were told the cross streets were Rural and University: in the opposite direction. It is hot here, okay? I'm sorry we don't drive but that is no reason to punish us.
We ended up getting there around 1030 in the morning (early risers) and were confused by the sign on the door saying they opened at 12 PM, when the phone-answerer had just told us 11. They did, however, open their doors at 11, when we entered and were greeted by Marly (sp?), who asked us if we were here for Ethiopian or Raw food, because the raw menus weren't printed yet (new menus weekly-a good sign!) We chose to read over the Ethiopian menu and decide on any additional raw items later. Since we were the first ones there, she asked us where we would like to sit, and we opted for the bright dining room with wooden tables, yellow-orange painted walls, and colorful art and carvings. The other room, with lower wicker seats and curtains, looked very cute, but with much less light, and we wanted to see the food as we enjoyed it.
What we ordered (caveat--I'm recovering from a cold so my tastebuds are not at their best; you may want to read Daniel's review of the same meal when he gets to Yelp):
1) Ethiopian black tea - this was an unsweetened iced tea, but still very refreshing, with the wonderful scent of and slight taste of cardamom and cloves. They did not even laugh when I poured (and spilled) some of the tea into my water bottle because it was so good.
2) Sambusas - we started with one order of collards and potato sambusas (one for each of us). The skin was much thinner than the Somalian sambusas that we're used to, and the filling was much less spicy. The yogurt-based dipping sauce, however, was incredible and really enhanced the dish, although it too was mildly spiced.
3) Vegan combo - We got the chickpeas, red lentils, eggplant, collard greens, and split peas combo, which is technically for one but was definitely enough for the both of us. They are all delicious although, again, not as spicy as I was hoping for (again, tastebuds and sinuses may be at fault). My two favorites were the split peas and collards. The eggplant was not as soft as I like (I only liked eggplant if it is mushy, personal preference), and the red lentils were too sweet. The best part, of course, was the injera on top of which the food was served, when the flavors have soaked into the little pockets.
4) Raw desserts: Persian Cashew Custard and Raw Banana Ice Cream. I'm not a dessert person but Daniel definitely loved them. The texture of the custard was great, very creamy, and I think it had a touch of saffron. The banana ice cream basically tasted like cold banana to me, with a raw chocolate syrup that I really loved.
The service, by the way, rocked! Marly was so attentive and nice, coming up to us often and ready to answer any question. Admittedly, there were not many other people, but I noticed her giving that same degree of attention to a woman who was clearly a regular. I will definitely be back sometime in the next 3 weeks that I'm stuck here in Tempe, to enjoy the excellent food, ambience, and company. -
Review from Stephanie K.
Manhattan, NY
12/14/2009
Came here last night with my friend who has not so much as ventured outside the American food realm. He finds sushi to be disgusting and didn't even know what Indian food was. He also continues to ask me about cooking tamales even though he knows I'm Spanish, but I think he does that for fun.
Now when he suggested dinner, we could have opted for his standby of Chili's, but that would mean severely lowering my dining standards. So I decided to open his eyes to a new cuisine, hence the trip to Blue Nile. I'm a virgin to Ethiopian cuisine, but I'm trying to go the way of a pescatarian, and I know Ethiopian is very friendly to the vegetarian.
This restaurant is located in the multicultural strip mall just east of Rural on University. Total unsuspecting place of great food. We settled into the second, larger room which has seating more traditional to that of Ethiopia.
I was excited and menu offered so many choices. My friend was completely lost and not sure of what to do. We both settled on the samplers, me with the vegetarian and him with the meat plate.
When the food finally came, it was arranged on this huge plate with injera at the bottom. It didn't look like a lot to begin with, but looks are deceiving, as I couldn't finish a quarter of my dishes. I can't remember the names, but I got the garbanzo beans, split lentils, eggplant, mushrooms, and squash. I love eggplant, and the eggplant was my least favorite. Everything else was just too good!
My friend loved his food, even though he was unsure of what he was eating. It was his first time trying lamb (I don't know how that's possible at 22), but he really enjoyed it. Surprisingly we didn't make a mess, which seemed impossible to do.
Overall, $22 pre-tip for a huge and flavorful meal, awesome deal! -
Review from Ashley S.
Phoenix, AZ
6/30/2011
As a vegetarian with a fairly adventurous palate, I love Ethiopian food. And now that I work in northern Tempe, I'm here all the time. It's filling, flavorful and inexpensive. I can have a pretty big dinner for less than $10. If you, like me, think spiced (though not particularly spicy) vegetables are the greatest things on Earth, definitely pay a visit to Blue Nile.
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Review from Amanda D.
2/5/2011
I finally tried Ethiopian food! Blue Nile Cafe is a groovy little restaurant in Tempe. My friend JR and I sat in the back room, which was very quaint. I was able to try six of the dishes, due to the fact that you are able to add two sides to your plate. My main dish was the Tikil Gomen ($6.99), which is a flavorful cabbage and potatoes dish! JR enjoyed the Blue Nile Tebb ($8.99), which is a beef dish with onion and green chili. Loved the fact that I could try so many dishes by us strategically not ordering the same side dishes. My two favorite sides were- Kik Alitcha (delicious pureed yellow split peas) and Kik Misir Watt (red lentils with Ethiopian spices). Very reasonably priced and excellent service. I am excited for my next trip to the Blue Nile Cafe!
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Review from dan l.
Chicago, IL
10/3/2011
First of all, I LOVE Ethiopian food and have hit spots all over the world. That being said, this doesn't rank towards the top however it is good and also less expensive than many other Ethiopian restaurants I've been to. But all the same, nothing out of the three items I had really grabbed me. The same goes for my friends who also dined. The Kik Masir Watt was the most watery I've ever had and somewhat of a small portion too. It's my absolute favorite item on any Ethiopian menu so I was a bit disappointed. The flavor could use some tweeking too. They really need to work on this. The injera was good but could stand to be more sour. The Timatim Fitfit salad had one the strongest most unique tastes I've ever encountered but please understand this is NOT a salad but a puree (aka soup). Big difference, guys. Still, it was quite good however because the taste was so strong it was rather difficult to get it all down.. and we're not talking huge portions either. The final item was the vegan floret crunch which is lightly browned cauliflower topped with a rather heaping serving of sesame seed dressing (too much dressing!) and served over lettuce. This was a bit bland and could have used a couple of spices however it was still tasty. Long story short, I think they're onto something here and I appreciate the effort but they need to work out some kinks. Maybe I'll try it again way down the line..
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Review from Ben S.
2/3/2010
I always enjoy eating family style with a group. That's the way to do it when you visit Blue Nile. My first visit was a few days ago, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Luckily I went with some people that knew what to get.
We ordered a platter with some meat in the middle, and vegetarian sides around the outside. You eat by tearing off pieces of this spongy bread they serve with the food, and grabbing what you want off the tray with that. The food was simple items that were liberally spiced.
I enjoyed my experience, and would gladly return. -
Review from Jack T.
Phoenix, AZ
9/10/2006
I had never had Ethiopian food before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised - the food was delicious. But the dining experience was terrible. They seemed understaffed for a Friday night - one waitress and one cook for a full restaurant. It took us around an hour to get our food, and when we did, our waitress had forgotten half of it. She apologized profusely and made it sound like she normally didn't wait tables, but it was frustrating. Our portions were also -very- small (which was strange, every other table seemed to have enormous heaping plates...maybe we ordered wrong!) and I left hungry.
I'd like to give it another chance, because the food was very good, but I'm really hesitant. -
Review from Sarah S.
Denver, CO
8/1/2009
Blue Nile is the epicenter of my Ethiopian food world. It was the first place that I ever tried the chewy, sour injera goodness and the savory assortment of vegetably and meaty dishes to sop up with it. Since that fateful hour I have sampled Ethiopian food in many places, from Raleigh, North Carolina to Barcelona, Spain, even Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and nothing...nothing has even begun to compare to Blue Nile in Tempe, Arizona.
When I was going to ASU, I was a vegetarian, so I often shared the vegetarian combo plate with friends. The highlight of the dish is the tomato fitfit...a sort of tomato and lettuce salad right in the middle of the dish. I don't know how they make it, but one of the ingredients is smack, because I am hooked. I have looked for it at all the other ethiopian places I have been to, and no one seems to have it. It's worth a trip back to Tempe just to order that.
The prices are totally reasonable...last time I went with two friends and we got out of there for about $25 plus tip and we were all completely stuffed. God, I love that place. If you live there, make sure to visit often and enjoy it for me!!
