Blue Nile was my first taste of Ethiopian food, and I'm glad I tried it! The Meat Combo Platter was a hit! The Doro Wot, a traditional chicken stew with its rich and spicy sauce, was a standout, perfectly showcasing the bold flavors of Ethiopian cuisine. The Alicha Yeb'ge, a mild lamb stew, offered a delightful contrast with its aromatic blend of spices. And the Beef Bamia, with its tender beef simmered alongside okra and tomatoes, was a savory delight.The only hiccup was the slow service during lunchtime. We were the only ones eating inside, and it took a while for the server to bring water and menus. Plus, we waited another 30 minutes for our food. They could work on being quicker and more attentive.But despite that, Blue Nile is a great spot to explore Ethiopian flavors.
Recommended dishes: Meat Combo
Mo Me
Blue Nile is AMAZING! Gibts is wonderful and so helpful. We needed lunch for 17 staff during a training and she worked hard to make sure we got everything we wanted. The food was great and our people were so happy. I will always refer people to Blue Nile, they are great.Vegetarian options: So many!Dietary restrictions: They had plentiful vegan options!
The ladies that work here are very friendly and helpful. I had the place all to myself at 4pm on a Thursday afternoon and the delicious vegan food came out in five minutes! Id definitely come again!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegan Combo, Injira, Salad
Jackie G.
We stopped here after going to the Oakland Museum of California with the kids and we all loved it! My son, who is a very picky eater, absolutely loved the Doro Tips (chicken) and so did we! We will definitely be back.
Jo W.
Solid Ethiopian food in walking distance from Bart! It was so delicious and packed full of flavor. You can't go wrong with any of the choices here! I loved eating up every last bit with the injera. Now I know a great go-to near Lake Merritt whenever I'm craving Ethiopian food in the area!
Danelle W.
Great food. Shared the combination plate...so delicious. Service was fantastic . Family run business. Will definitely be back.
William C.
Great food. I tried the vegetarian platter and it was delicious and had a very colorful presentation!
F M
Lovely locally owned with lots of fresh ingredients. They are vegan/ vegetarian friendly.Caution, they don't use utensils - which is fine since it's their tradition.Vegetarian options: Lots of veggie optionsKid-friendliness: Well light and friendly staffParking: Street parking with some parking lots nearby.Wheelchair accessibility: Street levelDietary restrictions: Ask the staff for accommodations
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Ethiopian Vegetarian Combo
Arun R.
I had a wonderful experience at this Ethiopian restaurant. The food was delicious, flavorful and authentic. I enjoyed the injera bread, the lentils, the doro wat and all the other stuff. The service was friendly and helpful, and the atmosphere was cozy and inviting. The price was reasonable for the quality and quantity of food. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who loves Ethiopian cuisine or wants to try something new. This is one of the best restaurants in town!
Ercell Valcina
I really love their food. It tastes like someone loves to cook! Lentils Yummmmy. KIFTO SO GOOD ( I prefer it cooked, though) Tibs are dynamite! Service is fine. Atomosphere could be a little more welcoming. For business sake. It kind of feels like a clique, but that might just be me! Overall, it just Yummy! Yeah, baby, order here!
Underrated. Good vegetarian sampler for a reasonable price.There is only one person manning the front, so getting their attention may take a bit of time.Usually have Ethiopian music playing in the background which adds to the atmosphere. And wall murals of traditional Ethiopian villages.Vegetarian options: Vegetarian combo is good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Ethiopian Vegetarian Combo
Brittany
delicious food paired with honey wine
Jurni Roco
The food was great!The music was loud. Though they turned it down a bit for us (we were the only customer), we still had trouble hearing each other. It's not a place I would recommend to have a conversation over dinner.It was also quite cold inside. We kept our winter jackets and hats on during the entire meal. Make sure you bring warm clothing.(It was a 45 degrees outside and they kept the door wide open.)Despite the good food, I was miserably cold and my ears were aching.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 4
Jade Dorsey
Had a yummy vegetarian meal at Blue Nile. Ordered the vegetarian platter served with injera and a chai latte. My latte was really good! Food was great. Nice service and clean place—I will be back!
Jordan Locke
Very tasty lunch here. Note, the old menus do not reflect the new and increased prices.
Blue Nile was my first taste of Ethiopian food, and I'm glad I tried it! The Meat Combo Platter was a hit! The Doro Wot, a traditional chicken stew with its rich and spicy sauce, was a standout, perfectly showcasing the bold flavors of Ethiopian cuisine. The Alicha Yeb'ge, a mild lamb stew, offered a delightful contrast with its aromatic blend of spices. And the Beef Bamia, with its tender beef simmered alongside okra and tomatoes, was a savory delight.The only hiccup was the slow service during lunchtime. We were the only ones eating inside, and it took a while for the server to bring water and menus. Plus, we waited another 30 minutes for our food. They could work on being quicker and more attentive.But despite that, Blue Nile is a great spot to explore Ethiopian flavors.
Recommended dishes: Meat Combo
Blue Nile is AMAZING! Gibts is wonderful and so helpful. We needed lunch for 17 staff during a training and she worked hard to make sure we got everything we wanted. The food was great and our people were so happy. I will always refer people to Blue Nile, they are great.Vegetarian options: So many!Dietary restrictions: They had plentiful vegan options!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ethiopian Vegetarian Combo, Vegan Combo, Bozena Shiro Combo Plate, Vegetarian Sambusa, Mushroom TIBS, Ye'Beg Wot Combo Plate, Fish TIBS
The ladies that work here are very friendly and helpful. I had the place all to myself at 4pm on a Thursday afternoon and the delicious vegan food came out in five minutes! Id definitely come again!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegan Combo, Injira, Salad
We stopped here after going to the Oakland Museum of California with the kids and we all loved it! My son, who is a very picky eater, absolutely loved the Doro Tips (chicken) and so did we! We will definitely be back.
Solid Ethiopian food in walking distance from Bart! It was so delicious and packed full of flavor. You can't go wrong with any of the choices here! I loved eating up every last bit with the injera. Now I know a great go-to near Lake Merritt whenever I'm craving Ethiopian food in the area!
Great food. Shared the combination plate...so delicious. Service was fantastic . Family run business. Will definitely be back.
Great food. I tried the vegetarian platter and it was delicious and had a very colorful presentation!
Lovely locally owned with lots of fresh ingredients. They are vegan/ vegetarian friendly.Caution, they don't use utensils - which is fine since it's their tradition.Vegetarian options: Lots of veggie optionsKid-friendliness: Well light and friendly staffParking: Street parking with some parking lots nearby.Wheelchair accessibility: Street levelDietary restrictions: Ask the staff for accommodations
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Ethiopian Vegetarian Combo
I had a wonderful experience at this Ethiopian restaurant. The food was delicious, flavorful and authentic. I enjoyed the injera bread, the lentils, the doro wat and all the other stuff. The service was friendly and helpful, and the atmosphere was cozy and inviting. The price was reasonable for the quality and quantity of food. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who loves Ethiopian cuisine or wants to try something new. This is one of the best restaurants in town!
I really love their food. It tastes like someone loves to cook! Lentils Yummmmy. KIFTO SO GOOD ( I prefer it cooked, though) Tibs are dynamite! Service is fine. Atomosphere could be a little more welcoming. For business sake. It kind of feels like a clique, but that might just be me! Overall, it just Yummy! Yeah, baby, order here!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
Underrated. Good vegetarian sampler for a reasonable price.There is only one person manning the front, so getting their attention may take a bit of time.Usually have Ethiopian music playing in the background which adds to the atmosphere. And wall murals of traditional Ethiopian villages.Vegetarian options: Vegetarian combo is good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Ethiopian Vegetarian Combo
delicious food paired with honey wine
The food was great!The music was loud. Though they turned it down a bit for us (we were the only customer), we still had trouble hearing each other. It's not a place I would recommend to have a conversation over dinner.It was also quite cold inside. We kept our winter jackets and hats on during the entire meal. Make sure you bring warm clothing.(It was a 45 degrees outside and they kept the door wide open.)Despite the good food, I was miserably cold and my ears were aching.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 4
Had a yummy vegetarian meal at Blue Nile. Ordered the vegetarian platter served with injera and a chai latte. My latte was really good! Food was great. Nice service and clean place—I will be back!
Very tasty lunch here. Note, the old menus do not reflect the new and increased prices.