Blue Nile

"The Ethiopian restaurant Blue Nile in River Oaks resembles a hall, filled with billowy white curtains and mesob sweetgrass baskets. It's the kind of low-key place where your hands can softly graze past each other’s while reaching for another piece of injera to scoop up the smoky, spicy yemissir wot lentils the onion-sweet kik alicha. The tender berbere-spiced lamb makes you wonder why you’d ever eat anywhere or anything else." - gianni greene, chelsea thomas

"The Ethiopian restaurant Blue Nile has the yabeg key wot harissa-spiced lamb you’re looking for, along with endless injera bread and spicy lentils. Decked out with high, timber-lofted ceilings, flowing white curtains, and colorful grass baskets, Blue Nile feels like an oasis nestled in the River Oaks neighborhood. The best move is to order sampler plates, especially the vegetable-focused one with spicy and savory stewed lentils and tangy greens. Go here with a big group of friends so you can try nearly everything. " - gianni greene, chelsea thomas