Blue Nile

As it should be.. the staff and owners were consistently hospitable, accommodating and nice to us no matter how many times we asked for things and asked questions. By default you eat the Ethiopian way with your hands using the injera bread and there’s an option for a gluten free teff bread as well. A courtesy hot towels service is provided to better clean your hands before and after eating. You can get yourself a separate plate and silverware only by request. We requested plates, silverware and serving spoons bc we were a group of 8 and it just made us more comfortable to eat off our own plates with our hands, bread and/or forks. I’ve never tried the meat dishes here before but others in the restaurant seem to enjoy it. I have been a couple of times for the plant based vegan feast and it’s absolutely delicious!! You get 7 different authentic Ethiopian cooked vegetables and you can add on the fresh salad. It’s all you can eat and they’ll keep bringing more of whatever you like. The price is right, where else are you going to have all you can eat, seven different dishes all for around $25?! They also have delicious dairy free sorbet in different flavors. The atmosphere is colorful and cozy, feels like you’re in another country. I would highly recommend this place to vegans and meat eaters.

First time here in a very very long time. We came to celebrate my Mommy's birthday and Everything was good. There were four of us and we had the feast. It got all of us full and happy. We also had there hot/ cold tea. It was good. I can see us coming back

Everything was absolutely phenomenal. Not a single thing on the whole platter was less than incredible. Pricing is fair. A few other reviews mention you can’t bring home leftovers but it’s all you can eat and that’s pretty standard and to be expected. The staff was friendly and service was fast. Can’t wait to come back.

My fiance and I have been going to Blue Nile for years. I have only had good experiences here. The service is wonderful and the food is outstanding. The staff are kind and welcoming and they create such an inviting atmosphere. Their dishes are out of this world good and the cinnamon tea is so delightful. The food is actually so good that we come here for special occasions like birthdays or celebrations. I always leave so satisfied, full, and in a great mood. We love the staff, ambiance and every single dish we have tried! Thank you, Blue Nile :)

The atmosphere and service were great. However, the food did not taste anything like authentic Ethiopian cuisine. It’s $20 per person, and for that price you get a vegetarian platter. The platter is mostly vegetarian. If you want meat, you have to pay extra. If you finish the tray, you can get refills, but only on the vegetarian items. If you’d like more meat, you have to pay again. Keep in mind, it’s $20 per person for just one platter that you and your group share. So if you come with four people, you’ll be paying about $80 total, but still be sharing the same platter, with unlimited refills only on the vegetarian dishes.

It’s such a beautiful establishment! Don’t go there ordering the vegetarian platter thinking you can carry out because you cannot. The food is delicious but the service is slow, I’m not sure why when it wasn’t even that busy but hey, I was happy with the food so that’s all that matters. I highly recommend for vegetarians! A great date night vibe or if you’re catching up with someone. The staff is friendly and their uniforms were very nice.

Absolutely delicious! 3rd time here, and I will definitely be back. Loved sharing something new with my nieces!

The service was questionable. -We ordered tea but never got it. -The dinner comes with 7 vegetable dishes, but they only brought out 6. We asked them about the seventh dish, and the waitress didn't seem to think anything was missing. She had to check the menu to determine that we didn't get it all. Was it her first day? -We then waited another 15+ minutes after already eating to finally get that 7th item. -We were told both that we could get second servings of the meat dishes for no additional cost, but that there was an additional cost for second servings of meat. Confusing. They do not allow taking food home if you eat in. Since the dinner is "all you can eat", the no taking food home policy would make sense for second portions, but you can't even take the first servings home. This makes no sense, as that food was going to come out no matter what. Not letting us take the first plate home is just plain and simple waste for no reason. The bathroom sink needs to be replaced ASAP. Just look at my photo. The faucet spout is less than a half inch from the edge of the sink, making it impossible to wash your hands without rubbing the sink bowl. I've never seen anything like that. The sink knobs are not anchored to the sink itself, so it felt like the whole thing was going to fall apart when turning the knobs. As for the food, I liked the Lamb (Yebeg Alecha) which is an extra $18 on top of the $21 Dinner price. The vegetable dishes were okay, but I wouldn't want them again. I feel that for the price, the service, policies, and bathrooms should be better.

Blue Nile is a consensus 'family favorite' for the last 20+ years. The food is delicious and the staff are ridiculously nice. The pace is 'laid back' and we have come to love it. The setting is different than almost any other restaurant we frequent and we really appreciate the uniqueness. The style of eating may not be for everyone, but is #1 in our family's books!

Have wanted to eat here since moving back to Michigan. In the past they never seem to update their hours on Yelp/Google/website. Thought I'd test the Sunday hours which are 3-9. Surprisingly, they were open! They have their own lot, but plenty of street parking around too. Sat at a traditional table for two. Lovely authentic setup, but very uncomfortable. Wouldn't sit at the low table and hard chairs again. The other option is a booth and the restaurant has about 25% of booths. Our server seemed fine. Tall young guy who came by twice. I love that you receive hot washcloths to clean your hands before and after dinner. This is the extent of what I loved. What I didn't love was the confusing menu. We eat Ethiopian a lot. Usually order a vegan or vegetarian platter. Whether they charge us for one or two people depends on the restaurant. This place charges per person which is fine. About $21 pp. Fine. We ordered vegan for two. When the platter came, it was super small portions. We thought maybe it was for one. However, halfway through we were full, tired of waiting for water, and asked for a box. The server says we cannot have a box for vegetables. Only meat. I've never heard of this in my life. Knowing our bill would be about $42 plus tax... but we couldn't get a leftover box. My mind was blown. He asked if I wanted to speak to a manager and I said yes. A young girl came over and said our meals were all you can eat. We never would have ordered all you can eat. The portion was barely big enough for one person at a $42 price tag. Anyway, in addition to the confusing menu, we had to beg for a water refill, the check, and a take out box. Not a great experience. The food was just okay. Didn't love anything. Temperatures were all over the place ranging from cold to mildly warm. We really wanted to love this restaurant, but didn't.

We had not been here in awhile and wow! They still do it just great! The food was amazing and delicious. The service is top notch. The tea is also fantastic, a must have. Traditional table and atmosphere here. Love this place. A must go when I the area. We will return.

Let's start with the good things: - the restaurant is beautiful, it really gives a calm vibe and takes you to a diffetent place - the staff was very friendly and despite being busy they all looked calm

Beautiful building. It is much larger than anticipated. The service is really good. We ordered the Ethiopian feast. It was very good. One side dish was a little cold and it seemed that it should have been served warm. But, other than that it was great. It is a wonderful experience in culture if you are not familiar with Ethiopian cuisine. If you are familiar with it, to me it is one of the better places to dine locally.

I had heard about Blue Nile for decades but had never tried it until now. It is definitely a one of a kind experience. You don't get silverware - everything is eaten with your hands. You also don't get much of a choice on the menu, which forces you to try things you may not be familiar or comfortable with. Additionally, because the menu is so limited, the food comes out lightning quick. You may also look at the platter of food in my photo and think, "that's not going to be enough for the three of us"...and you will be wrong...very wrong. We couldn't even finish it! All of this may sound like I didn't enjoy my experience here, but that couldn't be further from the truth. The environment is lovely, the staff is extremely friendly and the warm cloths you receive to wash your hands before and after you eat are a wonderful luxury...and a necessity, given the hands on approach to eating! If you are looking for a unique dining experience, you should definitely give it a shot!

We thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience at Blue Nile. For vegetarians and vegans, this is the place to come. With a unique menu, the base is unlimited vegan sides for $18.90. They are served up on a tray lined with traditional teff pancakes. You can then add sides of meat dishes: chicken, lamb and beef, at an additional cost of about $10 each. The servings are on the smaller side, yet are enough to share and get a varied and delicious sampling of Ethiopian cuisine. Each side has unique flavors and included cabbage, spinach, potato-carrot-celery, and several different bean and lentil dishes. Some are cold and most are hot. Even if you are not vegetarian, sampling these sides alone, with the traditional "eat with your hands" Ethiopian style, is a treat and a delight. The teff pancakes are cold and filling. They are also gluten free and filled with protein. The meat dishes were yummy and tender. They pour the meats felt the bowls to the center of the serving dish. Everything runs together. I love it, all the mixing and matching, yet for one of our guests, the experience was too "messy" and uncomfortable for them. Our party of four enjoyed the red sauces on the meats more than the yellow sauces . The difference was the degree of flavorful spices. The yellow sauces were on the bland side though the meat was quite tender. We are at a traditional table with smaller seats and a serving platter between guests. There are booths, tables and individual serving bowls you can request if you prefer a more American eating experience. The ambience is perfect, colorful and traditional. The dining room and bathrooms are clean. The servers are very gracious and helpful. Perhaps the best part is the sensory experience of the warm towels to clean your hands before and after the meal. Divine. With tip, my husband and I arrived at a total of $81, half of the table for our part of four. Compared to other African food we have tried recently, Blue Nile is much higher in price. Not sure the price tag is necessary, reducing my rating by one star. Definitely worth the experience.

oh how it breaks my heart to give a less star but it has gone downhill. They used to have a ultimate feast with the meat included. NOW its take all your money. They charge for every single dish and DO NOT have the meat option anymore. You gotta buy every meat plate separate. Food is consistent. But there is plenty of better options out there now.

they advertise false job applications on indeed stating that they are a Warehouse and that they are hiring for order selecting, when in fact they are a poorly run restaurant with rude staff and assume management. The Management called me for and interview and let me know the position time and date and i let him know that I didn't apply for a restaurant position and that the job was falsely advertising the wrong job description he rudely told me he doesn't give a f**k and hung up in my face.

Bring your passport! JK, but you will be transported to Ethiopia the second you step through the threshold, from the scenery, music, servers' dress code, and, of course, the food. i sadly, do not have any photos of the Blue Nile, or what i experienced, but let me try to convey with words as best i can the wonderous affair that greeted me. i used to live in Washington, DC, so frequented Ethiopian spots, since there was a plethora and since moving to Detroit have been craving some injera!! So when i drove passed Blue Nile i knew where i was talking my partner for date night. We were not disappointed, but on the contrary, astonished not only to walk inside and feel like we had just stepped into North East Alkebu-Lan (Africa) but then to see that they had an all-you-can-eat option. AYCE was $18 a person, which is extremely fair considering the portions! We (or i mostly), enjoyed three plates of all their scrumptious, savory, delectable, warm, flavorful, vibrant, and amazing dishes. Next time i have a hankering for habesha, i know where i'm going! Oh, and they have a delicious cinnamon tea! Service was polite and prompt. Classy additives like a warm towel pre and post-dinner make your whole time at Blue Nile an experience. So turn off your phone and tune into the lovely vibes, soothing tunes, and delicious food, and bring some company to have a brilliant conversation.

Blue Nile is truly an establishment and they've been around for over 30 years and I can definitely see why. The staff is so welcoming, and they always have a smile on their face. The greatest thing is the Ethiopian dinner, where you get all their vegan dishes as an all you can eat, so you can repeat your favorites. If you're a meat eater, would highly recommend the Zizil Wat - the Wat sauce and seasoning is divine and the beef is so tender. I adored the Yemisir Kik Wat and the gomen. Each dish is truly flavorful on its own, and the injera does not interfere with that. I would have loved a more flavorful injera. All in all a wonderful cozy meal that is shared is all the best. A must in Ferndale!

My wife and I came here for our anniversary. It was just as magical as when we first came and this was almost 7 years later. Deena was our server and she was wonderful. The food was just as good as the last time. We'll be back.

Holy crow our dinner was amazing. The people are kind and pleasant, I have not been to this place in years. But I will be back soon. Gotta take the boys. They even have mead. Thankyou friend Beth for the dinner and choosing it.

I didn't know what to expect, but wanted to try something new. We were seated quickly and had good service. We ordered this platter with chicken and honey wine. It was a great experience. I'm glad I tried it. There are more items I'd like to try here and will return. This location has a great atmosphere and decor. I've been returning to purchase the honey wine. They sell the bottles & it makes a great gift.

I have been coming to Blue Nile since when it was in Detroit and before it was forced to move to its current location in Ferndale. Back then I didn't know too many places to get African fare, well at least in a formal place. I was very happy today I got to share this OG spot (once moved) with my son. While he looks like his mom (thank goodness) and thinks like his mom (mehhhh) and is built like her side (back to thank goodness) the three things he got from me was: 1) a cranium in the 99th percentile for size 2) a great love of sports 3) an adventurous palate and love for delicious food It is #3 that made me excited to bring him here. Walking in, you can't help notice the bright colors that imbue the ceiling designs and table decorations. I have no knowledge of Ethiopian traditions so I can only assume that these are culturally mirrored and significant to home. But let's talk about why we are here. The food. I'll be honest, all this has a very similar feel to Indian food so it was very familiar curry flavors. The "bread" they bring to the table is very similar to Uppam. The main difference is that this is served family style. A giant serving tray is placed at the center of your table with all the curried toping more Uppams that layer the bottom of the tray. And then basically everyone digs in. I highly recommend the Ethiopian feast plate with the chicken wat and lamb curry. It gives a great sampling of the foods and flavors. The service is impeccable and they do a great job explaining the different dishes. It appears there is a full bar for those that want to join in. For an even more authentic experience take a seat on the pillows as opposed to the chairs. I'm old and chunky and my knees don't like to stay criss cross apple sauce anymore. I can't recommend it enough and can't wait to come back.

If you don't experience unusual foods, check out this place! Very unique. We all really enjoyed trying this Ethiopian restaurant and the food they had to offer. The decor' and ambiance is very cool and the service was great! Great options for those who are vegetarian!

Great food, excellent services. Very friendly atmosphere. Menu had a varied selection of items Mr s. Facility was very clean. We will definitely return again soon.

I fell in love with Blue Nile and my boyfriend on the same evening in 1993. Back then when our knees allowed us, we sat at the traditional table and small chairs in an ornately decorated second floor dining room overlooking Monroe Street in Greektown (their original location). This 1st trip exposed me for the 1st time to the bold and elegant flavors, whilst humbling me with the challenge to scoop the delicious vegetables in sauces with the spongy utensil of the injera bread. While we miss the mystical ambience of the old dining room. The familial service is still the same and they're always training new staff, many of whom are eagerly learning English. This visit, we decided to retire to the bar area after dinner for Ethiopian coffee. A great idea, we then decided to purchased 2 large bottles ($11 each) of the ultra refreshing herbal tea elixir to take home. This "elixir" is so uplifting, clean tasting and caffeine free. I poured mine over ice on this 100 degree day. My friend warmed it slow in a tea kettle at bedtime. It contains chamomile and we were randomly surprised at how calming it was!

The Blue Nile makes delicious Ethiopian food. What really stands out above others is that the meat quality is very high. This brings us back. Very nice atmosphere, traditional and western seating arrangements.

Rating this was hard. The food gets five stars, heck, I'd give them 10 stars! Our server, however, kept vanishing. We waited for well over 25 minutes to flag her down for the bill and we were the only people on restaurant! It was 9:50 on a Friday night and we all wanted to get home. She was very sweet and friendly, but forgot to bring refills and works so a heat vanishing at. One dinner took almost 2 hours.

The food, service and ambience were excellent! If you want more authentic tasting Ethiopian food, this restaurant is a better choice than Taste of Ethiopia. However, I was disappointed about their ordering rules and two day closure. The day I went, I really only wanted a full order of the Shiro Wot but the menu is all you can eat with the option to order 7 different items. They were flexible enough that I didn't have to choose all 7 items. So, I think I chose 4 options. I tasted all four options and they were good. However, the Shiro was so good that I kept asking for more. I wasn't super hungry to begin with, so I felt like I was wasting the other menu items that I never would have ordered. Next time, I know to just order the items that I really want.

Ambiance was so peaceful. Service was just as peaceful and professional! Food was delish! As a person in the service industry the experience is highly recommended!

I've been dining at The Blue Nile for many years. Visited again just last night and had the most delightful experience. The moment I walked into the restaurant I felt so happy to be there. The space is beautifully decorated, warm and inviting. The service was top notch and the food is so consistently fabulous. I told my friend if I had to pick a last meal it would be the vegetarian feast at Blue Nile. This place is a special and unique gem. It's wonderful for out of town visitors, cozy date nights, intimate catch-up sessions with good friends and even for meetings with new acquaintances. The service last night was so particularly lovely too. Everyone was kind, attentive and just had the most beautiful smiles. It seemed the staff felt proud to be there and the diners, myself included, were happy to be there too. Looking around the place it just seemed all of the people there were enjoying the intimate setting, food and drinks. So grateful to live close to this special place. Should also mention ordered carryout delivery about two weeks ago and I was blown away by that too. Even out of cardboard containers, the dishes were so tasty. The containers look small but there is a deceptively generous amount of food packed into those little containers. They gave us so much injera with the carryout order I had to look up how to make baked chips with the leftover. Love this place! It's enchanting!

Great food, definitely a place where you can go with a lot of family or friends!! They have an interesting and fun drink list! The scenery is great as well and if you're lucky enough, the owner will come out and say hi to you!!

Excellent food, service and ambience!! I enjoy the spices and flavors of each of the dishes.

best restaurant on 9 mile. i have only great things to say about it. i love bringing people who have not tried it here. thanks, love you!

This is one of my favorite places to take my time and eat. I savor the food. So many spices and delectable herbs. Everything is always simply perfect. Gomem is my absolute favorite. The Ethiopian tea, decorated with cinnamon stays on my mind. I could eat here almost daily. I highly recommend coming here. Eating with your hands adds to the flavor, I promise.

I've been coming to The Blue Nile (TBN) for many years, although last Saturday was my first in at least 6 or more. The pricing may have increased, but beyond that everything that I've grown to love over the years hasn't changed one bit. While I do not enjoy eating with my hands very often (I suffer from sometimes severe contamination OCD) when I'm comfortable with someone I can sometimes get past it. Such was the case when my date and I went to TBN. I ordered for the two of us opting for the Ethiopian Feast, adding all of the meats. The upgraded Ethiopian Feast came with two types of chicken, beef, and lamb, as well as a variety of vegetarian dishes (see my photos). We sat at one of the mid-level "authentic tables," which sits a bit lower to the floor, and was served Injera (Ethiopian flatbread), which can be somewhat bland to most people, but I enjoy it on it's own. That being said, the point of the bread is to absorb the sauce(s), and to tear it when eating the meats & veggies, so that you are using the bread to pick up the food (if you go without sans utensils) and not literally using your fingers (although I'm sure some gross MFs do). Both of the chicken dishes were tasty and were served on the bone. The spicier chicken, Doro Wat, wasn't too spicy, but if you're sensitive to peppers you may think so. The other chicken, Doro Alecha, has a more buttery herb taste to it. The lamb, Yebeg Alecha, also has a somewhat buttery taste to it, and is served with onions. Tasty AF. The beef, Zilzil Wat, which is typically outstanding, seemed a bit dry on this last visit, but that has never happened before, so I wouldn't hold it against the place. The veggie dishes are Mixed Vegetables (potatoes, carrots & green beans with onion), Metin Shiro Wat (yellow split peas), Gomen (collard greens), Tekil Gomen (sauteed cabbage) was the favorite dish for my date and I. There were also other lentil/split pea dishes, Kik Alecha, Yesmir Kik Wat, and Defen Yesmir Alecha. Over all this place has stellar service, great tasting food, and it's a unique date restaurant, with tons of ambiance. Go to TBN and try something outside of the norm. You'll love it!

First time having Ethiopian food. The staff was wonderful. Amazing service. They gave us warm towels before we ate and once we finished eating. The food was really good. It wasn't spicy. The inside was a really cool vibe. The staff is extremely attentive. Great experience. Will be back!

Like stepping into another world. I recommend trying the vegetarian combo platter. Great design, great staff, great food. Try the tea!

The food, service and ambiance is wonderful here. True Ethiopian food! And great for the whole family.

Some friends and I recently started an international dinner club, and this was our first night out for it today. I had been to Blue Nile a while back in Ann Arbor so I was curious to try out the Ferndale location, too. First off: free parking! They have their own little lot right next to the building, which was convenient. Dinner is all you can eat, but is a little misleading, IMO. You can choose either the vegetarian plate, or the "Ethiopian feast" with a meat add-on, which is what I did - chicken is $6 and beef is $7. I believe they also have a lamb option. All of the food was very good - I'd give it 4/5 stars. My chicken was a little spicy but delicious, although it comes on the bone so the beef, which another friend ordered, was easier to eat. Of the veggies, I enjoyed the potatoes, spicy lentils, and (garlic spinach? something green) the best. You use injera bread (a very spongy, light bread) to scoop up all of the veggies, and meat too, if you like. When our waitress asked if we wanted refills, it turns out that meat is an upcharge if you want more ... I feel like that should be said somewhere on the menu. Veggies, however, are unlimited. I do regret not ordering the cinnamon tea, two friends did and I tried a sip and it was very good. Waitservice here was kind of meh - we had to wait a while for water refills and also more food. The bathroom was clean but at one point I noticed most of the toilets had a lot of paper in it (they looked clogged, but were not). Definitely an interesting place, with good food, but I probably won't be rushing back anytime soon.

Blue Nile is a unique dining experience! Be prepared to maybe get outside of your comfort zone a little bit. In terms of drinks, I'd go for a beer or glass of wine, as the teas seem to have absolutely zero alcohol. We ordered gin teas and the flavor was cinnamony and tasty, but there was no pine flavor characteristic of gin to be found. Not a trace. For your meal, everything is brought on a platter to be shared and the veggies are all-you-can-eat. There are seven veggie options that come on the platter, and we tended to prefer the ones more brown in color. The green beans, carrots, and potatoes also had a yummy garlicky flavor. Three of the sides are lentils, so if you're not into lentils, just be Before you eat, you're given a warm towel to clean your hands, and then you have thin bread to use to scoop your food. No utensils! It isn't as intimidating as we thought. If you order meat, that is an extra cost and not all-you-can-eat. You receive 10 ounces of each meat choice, so it is definitely enough to share. We ordered the two chicken options and they are both drumstick style. The one with the more brown/red sauce is a little bit spicier and definitely our favorite. That's what I would go for if opting for chicken, for sure. As you finish your meal, you receive another warm towel to clean your hands. We loved that. Overall impression: it was a fun one-time experience; we wouldn't need to go back.

Not authentic, and overpriced. You have to pay extra for teff injera which is traditional. I had really high hopes for this place, unfortunately it missed the mark. I ordered thru grubhub so I can't review the service etc. but just the inauthenticity of the food makes me not want to return.

The food is amazing . Don't forget to try the desert the almond donut or whatever it is . It's amazing! Also try the ice tea!

For something unique this is the place. It's a nice atmosphere and the food has always been top notch. The bummer part is they randomly close in the winter with no reopening date. I went to go here only to find them closed even though google said they were open. If the food wasn't so good I wouldn't care.

Food was okay but overprice. Nothing special I am not go back. Also my kids did not like the food.

The food and service were great! Went with a group of girlfriends and everyone enjoyed themselves. We ordered the vegetarian platter with Dora Wat.There was one dish that was extra spicy but I liked it. In fact, everything was delicious. The staff was attentive and sweet. We definitely will be back.

My first time ever eating Ethiopian food. We came here for my sister's birthday and she really wanted to try Ethiopian food. Once we walk in, you notice how beautifully decorated this place and the staff for the most part, wearing "traditional" outfits. The waitress we had was very helpful with how their system works. She had to make herself clear a few times just in case some may not understand. So they have a price per person and you get all but one vegetarian dish that's included for all you can eat. Everything else is by order (meats and the excluded veggie dish). Great for vegetarian people! You do get full really quickly because of the bread though. Super hard not to eat with the bread since you can only eat with your hands. Maybe not really baby friendly?? We managed. Since we had a bigger group (7 and a baby) we sat at a table in the middle of the room. We were surrounded by booths so we were squished in a way. They do have their own parking lot and of course there is a bunch of street parking as well. I wish there was lamb when we went. They unfortunately ran out. I really liked the chicken! The spicy chicken isn't that spicy but we ate it with the spicy peas to give it more spice. The beef was okay. Chicken had bones. Beef did not. I would like to try other place. This place was probably pricer compared to others. Great experience but wouldn't come here as often.

Ethiopian food is so underrated! I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in trying a more exotic type of cuisine. Also, I think vegan/vegetarian is the way to go when it comes to Ethiopian food. I'm not vegan myself, but I always went for plant-based meals when I'm eating Ethiopian food. However, I heard their meat dishes are also so good, so... feel free! Anyway, the decor is interesting and really builds the vibe. They serve the food on this huge shareable platter. The service is a bit slow but really friendly, amiable, and homey. They have an all you care to eat menu which serves all their veg dishes, which include: - Gomen: collard greens with onion, garlic, jalapeno, spices - Tekil gomen: cabbage dish - Potatoes, carrot, green beans in spices - metin shiro wat: yellow split peas in berbere sauce - kik alecha: yellow split peas in onion, herbs, spices - yemisir kik wat: red lentils in berbere sauce - defen yemisir alecha: lentils dish in spices All their lentil-based dishes are so good! It is obviously served with an unlimited amount of Injera bread. All the different flavors of the vegetable make it a fun eating experience as you sort of going around a rodeo of flavor and texture. I eat to my heart's content. It was a very satisfying meal. Despite all the spices, don't worry, they're either not spicy at all or are mild. Nothing crazy. I think the defen yemisir alecha was my favorite. it was creamy, aromatic, but not as bitter as the berbere-based lentils. Everything was good though.

Beware, they are cheats. The menu says Ethiopian Feast includes- All you care to eat: $16.90 base for all vegetable dishes except Timatim Salata + your choice of a la carte meat dishes: Chicken - $6 | Beef - $7 | Lamb - $11 We were 3 people and ordered 1 Ethiopian Feast with 1 chicken and 1 lamb. We got charged for 2 Ethiopian Feasts and 1 Vegetarian Feast plus the additional charge for meats. When we asked about the charges, the woman started saying that we were 3 people so she charged us for 3 feasts. We would not have felt bad if she actually brought in 3 feasts. WE ONLY GOT 1 VEGETARIAN TRAY PLUS 1 CHICKEN AND 1 LAMB. We did not want to create a scene, so we paid and left. We will never ever go back again.

I have wanted to try Ethiopian food for years. Glad I was finally able to do so. We went early with another couple. We started with the famous tea. It is delicious and sweet w no sugar and no caffeine. Although it is made from orange peels and cinnamon, so sugar from fruit. Yummy! We ordered the feast which comes with a bunch of vegetarian dishes, which are all you can eat, and then you add the meat of your choice. There are 2 chicken dishes, a beef dish and a pork dish. The vegetarian dishes were about $19 a person and adding each meat was $10-$11. The restaurant is beautiful with an authentic feel and decor. Very colorful and fun. The staff were very attentive. We got there around 5pm so we beat the crowd. We had to wait a while for our friends, but we were offered drinks and we were informed about the menu. We started our meal with large very plush steaming hot white hand towels which was amazing. Because traditionally Ethiopian food is eaten with your hands and no utensils. We were offered utensils but we declined. The food comes out on a large round tray with the side dishes around the perimeter and the meat in the center. The portions were small. But the side dishes were all you can eat. It comes with all you can eat Injera bread which is designed to be light and not filling. You dip the bread and scoop the food to eat. It was a fun experience! The meat and side dishes were good and fresh. The bread was floppy almost like firm jello so while it did work to scoop up food, it wasn't ideal. But I do appreciate that it was light and not filling. We had to wait a while to cash out as the restaurant was hopping. We finished the meal with beautiful bright orange steaming hot plush towels to wipe our hands. Very classy and nice touch. Overall, it was good and I am glad I tried it. I do think it is a little pricey but I have to account for the experience too. It is the whole experience you are paying for. As we moved on to the large money making machine of a business down the street and my friends paid $27 for 2 beers and then ordered another round, the meal seemed like a much better deal, seeing as their 4 drinks cost about as much as the meal for two people. By the time we left around 8pm the place was crowded with every table filled and a long line out the door. I am glad they are doing well. Most restaurants have raised their prices. While none are cheap, I have a few expensive and disappointing meals recently. So this was a nice meal and experience.

Always absolutely delicious and beautiful. The owner is just so great and remembers us everytime. The food is cooked with absolute LOVE and if you're vegetarian and gluten free or just gluten free, YOU CAN EAT HERE!!! They have a full vegetarian platter and gluten free bread can be made upon request. You'll never leave hungry, wear comfy pants because you'll be absolutely busting out of them jeans :) please come to this beautiful and well managed, clean restaurant and support local

A nice place to try out different cuisine than the normal ones.... the food was fresh and the bread was hot and soft and tasty... they serve on a huge plate wit a variety of vegetarian sides... due to this the meal comes more interactive.... the non veg sides were al cart .. I had the chicken side it was spicy and the gravy was very buttery and delicious.... the ambience s quite and serene ... the wait staff were friendly too... A very healthy and a unique meal experience to enjoy...

Tasty, packed nicely. Ordered through GrubHub and was here in 15 minutes! Enough food for two meals and the price is right!

The Blue Nile was where I had my first exposure to Ethiopian cuisine. In fact it was at their earlier location in Greektown. When we learned that they had moved to their current location in Ferndale we had to try it there. The food was the same-delicious-and the location is closer for us to drive. We started out and have continued to order the Vegetarian Feast. Initially, the carnivore in me needed meat so we added that to the Feast. But after a couple of times and finding out how tasty and filling the veggies can be we switched and no longer add the meats, as delicious as they were. When the initial round of dishes are brought out, we use the Injira bread to pick up bites of the various veggie dishes until we run out. Then they ask if we want more of any of the dishes, we always do, and they bring more until we have trouble getting up from our seats. I also always order the Ethiopian Tea that has a nice spiced taste to it or Ethiopian Coffee, great but only if you like strong coffee. Whenever we have visitors and want to share a unique experience with them, the Blue Nile is always one of our top restaurant choices.

It was my last night inTown. I'm from Detroit but I live in Virginia now. The staff was nice and welcoming. I LOVE Ethiopian food. I believe my first exposure was the Blue Nile when they were located in Greek Town. I've even enjoyed the Blue Nile in Ann Arbor. The food was not very tasty at this location. I got the veggie plate. It had little to no flavor. Guess I will only eat Ethiopian in DC going forward.

This is my second time visit to The blue Nile Ethiopian restaurant and its by far the best Ethiopian restaurant in Detroit. The service was very Personalized and amazing. I can't wait to go back again. It was a full house.

This is my favorite location of the two. Staff is warm and welcoming and portions are generous and refillable but I am not sure how you can eat more than one between two people!