Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant

Absolutely my favorite place to eat in Houston. more

Went here a few days ago to try something outside the box for Houston. Our waitress was very nice and took the time to explain several menu items. Of the 3 main ""plates"" we ordered none were particularly good. I found the price and portions to be reasonable. The location is not in a good part of town either. I doubt I would eat there again. Pros: Service, price Cons: Food, slum location more

I have been to various restaurants. Dinning at Blue Nile was one of the best experiences of my life. The inside set up and decoration was spectacular. I was served by Aster. I usually order firfir but I asked Aster for Awaze tibs just out of the blue, and she explained to me very well about the ingredients. It was so exotic, delicious and hilarious. She was so friendly, helpful and customer oriented waitress. I wish I had other restaurants serve like the Blue Nile. I will definitely come back. I think great good and outstanding customer serive made the restaurant unique. Pros: great food and outstanding customer service more

We dined there last Saturday night and there was a decent crowd. Contrary to other reviews I've read, the service was excellent and the food was tasty. We had the variety platter since I was the only one of our group ever to have eaten Ethiopian food-- and that was 25 years ago! Portions were good, the waitress was very pleasant and explained things to us. We enjoyed the hand rinsing ritual and the coffee service with its fresh roasting and the popcorn (!) that was served with it. I consider the prices to be reasonable, as well. In short, our whole group enjoyed the experience, we'd go again, and we've recommended it to others. Pros: Great food, great service, exotic atmosphere. Cons: No Ethiopian beer or wine was available. more

My mate and I had our first outing here. It was perfect. The music, the decorations, the location, we just felt like we were in the motherland. We only wished we were there in time for the live entertainment. The food was top of the line and we just fell more in love looking into each others eyes over the cuisine and in the comfortable atmosphere. Pros: The best fried whole fish and pleasant ethnic surrounding Cons: They should open late everynight more

Last week I was dining with three of my friends and found out things are changing in Bluenile. All four of us agreed that the food quality and quantity noticeably is degrading and nothing like it used to be. The Enjera was like a flat pancake. All the ""wot"" and ""tibs"" we order didn?t have the usual taste or was not tasty at all. The quantity was less the price was high. Even other Ethiopians I talked to said the same thing. In all, regrettably, we had a bad experience. more

I dined at Bluenile Ethiopian Restaurant with a group of friends last weekend and we had the best experience. The ambiance was casual. The food was spicy and delicous. The coffee ceremony was great. The waitress was pleasant and attentive. One of our order was mixed up but we were offered a free item from the menu. more

I have been eating here for the past 6 years. The food is good but there is something to be said about customer service. I am usally one of there biggest fans and I am always telling about trying something new. But after my last encounter with them I don't think I will ever being going back and this saden me greatly. I ordered my food by phone because it takes awhile for them to prepare it. When I got there they had prepared the wrong order. The waitress/hostess apologized for the mix up but stated that I would have to pay for the wrong order before they would prepare the right order and pay for that too. I had ordered the #18 Alicha which is a beef dish. They prepared the #15 Tibs(Blue Nile special) which is lamb. I hear that lamb is good however, my family and I do not eat lamb for religious reasons. I explained this to the lady and she continued to tell me that they could change the order but add to it and I pay for the whole thing-even the food that I don't eat. I traveled about 18 miles to get it and ended leaving without anything. So I travel a total of 36 miles for nothing. It did not make any sense that because they cooked the wrong thing that they would not try to correct. It was so surreal I wanted to ask if I was being ""Punked"" because I had never experience it thing like that and I don't expect to experience it again. Just beware. Pros: Good Food Cons: Prices, long wait for food, distance, language/communication can be a problem sometimes. more

I didn't know what I was doing because I've never eaten Ethiopian food before, but the two orders my boyfriend and I shared were both great. One was minced lamb, the other a chicken dish, both spicy. Served family style on a big round tray. We spent about 30 dollars (including beer) and there was enough for dinner the next night as well. Pros: great food cheap, fun different (for my white self) experience Cons: none really more

This is probably my favorite place in Houston, and one of the very few reasons I leave the 610 loop. The service is always very friendly and the food is fantastic. The injera is soft and consistent, the Ethiopian equivalent of stews and ""stir fries"" are simple yet very flavorful and fresh, and the vegetarian options would make even some of the staunchest carnivores consider a meat-free meal. I try to go at least once a month and try to ""hook"" as many friends onto the cuisine as possible. Not everything is pureed as another reviewer stated, only some of the vegetarian options. If you've never had it think of it as various stir-fries or hearty stews that you pick up with a crepe that tastes like sourdough. Don't go for a quick dinner though--everything is made to order and does take a bit longer than normal. Pros: Food, price, variety, service Cons: The neighborhood might scare off some people more

the food is good, but the portions are on the small side. my husband and i get always get 2 veggie plates and 2 doro wats. that's we've been there a few time and everyone is always pretty friendly. my 2 year old daughter doesn't' do well there, but the they let us bring in outside food for her. that's awesome. Pros: good food, served family style- great for groups. Cons: small portions more

Though it's a million miles away (okay, I exaggerate; it's just 15 miles from downtown), this destination is worth the trip. We miss our previous Ethiopian favorites (one located on Westheimer, near Montrose, the other located on Bellaire Dr. right in the middle of Bellaire), so were happy to discover Blue Nile by accident, while a drive on Richmond past Fountainview. Pros: fresh food, authentic Ethiopian Cons: far away more

I've never had Ethiopian food, so it was definitely a new experience. You get to dip your Injera (Ethiopian crepe) into a communal dish of veggies or meats and eat with your fingers. The Injera is a little sour and I wasn't able to get used to it. The food is tasty overall, and it's neat to be able to try different types of vegetables and meats on one singular plate. Pros: Choice between a normal table or an Ethiopian-style table; Lots of parking; Friendly service Cons: Food took a long time coming out; Not the most brightly-lit parking lot or safest part of town; Kind of expensive more

My friends had warned me that Ethiopian food tastes horrible because the bread is sour and the meats pureed, but I'd have to disagree. The bread was slightly sour but actually really good and filling. My friend and I ordered the vegetable combination and a lamb entree, which were all pretty tasty but not something I'd eat all the time. The service was great, though the location is a little sketchy. I'd recommend this place to anyone who's looking to try something new. Pros: service, food Cons: location more

I love Ethiopian food, and have been to Ethiopian restaurants in New York and the Little Ethiopia part of L.A. So far, Blue Nile is the best Ethiopian food I've ever had! Pros: delicious, inexpensive food Cons: location, service more

This is a great place to take a date to if you want to eat and experience something different. Just make sure that your date is comfortable with this kind of thing. The food is delicious and they have combination plates for those that can't decide what to get. My date and I made the mistake of getting two combination plates and we were FULL. There was a lot more food in those combination plates than I had originally thought. The taste of the bread that you use to scoop and eat the food with had a very sourish like vinegar-y taste, so be sure that you and your date are open to such things. I give two thumbs up to this place for anyone that wants ""different."". I also think they have music that gets played here at night (I think I saw them setting up as we left) Pros: Cheap good food and great experience eating with your hands. Awesome decorum that helps put you in the Ethiopian mood? Cons: May be two different for some people that aren't open more

definitely a great find in houston if you want a different, unique, and fun dining experience. the main highlight: you eat with your hands! the taste and quality of food is surprisingly succulent and satisfying - with big portions to reflect it's value. the ambience is garbed in ethiopian decor with a tiki hut bar tucked around the corner. highly recommended!* Pros: good food, eat with your hands, unique dining experience, bar Cons: inconveniently tucked in the SW side more

The Blue Nile is an excellent restaurant and an excellent option for vegetarian dishes. The service is great. I always leave there with a full stomach and a full wallet (The price is right). more

I am not an adventurous eater, but I was with a group celebrating a friend's birthday who is really into trying new foods. I put on my brave face and joined the group at Blue Nile...afterall, all of the reviews on Citysearch were RAVES!! ...if you like ethiopian food, you'll LOVE Blue Nile!!... Our group of 6 ordered something of a sampler platter that feeds as many people. It included their most popular items including a ""chicken"" and a ""beef"" dish. NOTE to people who are new to ethiopian food....when they say it's chicken or beef...it's pureed! Yes, like baby food!! The only thing that identified the chicken as such was the whole hard boiled egg and chicken wing garnish. The flavors were ok, but the whole presentation was so unappealing and it was hard to get past the moist, flat, sour bread that reminded me of a damp washcloth. Needless to say, even those in our group that had previously liked ethiopian food and/or were used to trying new things left the restaurant with a ""bad taste"" in their mouth. more

I was turned onto Ethopian food in Dallas with the Queen of Sheba. I love the veggie dishes and the meat is wonderful. The bread is awesome (although my mother-in-law didn't like the tartness but I LOVE it). It is great to use to sop up sauces and toppings left from the foods and it is the way you eat the food, so be prepared to get messy! No forks here. If you haven't tried it and like exotic food, check it out! more