Blue Nile Cafe
Phoenix/Tempe Metro, Arizona
4.4 / 15 votes
Mostly-Vegan Ethiopian and RAW-Vegan Restaurant in Tempe!
Tucked back in the corner of a strip mall on the campus of Arizona State University, and basking in the shadows of the highly-touted Cafe Lalibela (just down the street) is "the other" Ethiopian restaurant in Tempe, the Blue Nile Cafe.
In comparison, the Blue Nile does have nicer decor, and an even more romantic setting (in the back room).
In stark contrast, though, is Blue Nile's ultra-Vegan-friendly menu. Besides their Ethiopian delights (which are all vegan), they offer 9 Vegan salads, 4 Vegan appetizers, and (if you're not in the mood for Ethiopian) a Vegan Falafel Plate, a Vegan Lentil Plate, and Vegan Veggie Plate.
And if that's not enough, on Blue Nile also offers Vegan RAW Food lunches 7 days a week. (RAW dinners are Sunday and Monday only.) Just ask to see the RAW menu.
Vegan Ethiopian entrees include:
>Kik Alitcha (Slightly pureed yellow split peas)
>Tikil Gomen (Sliced cabbage with potato chuncks in a curry sauce)
>Misir Watt (Whole lentils simmered in a tumeric cumin sauce)
>Kik Misir Watt (Pureed lentils in a berbere sauce)
>Atkilt Watt (String beans, with carrots and potatoes in a tomato sauce)
>Gomen Watt (Collard greens with onions in a garlic sauce)
>Suro Watt (Chickpeas, roasted and cooked in a berbere sauce)
>Begerdan (Eggplant cooked with bell peppers and tomatoes)
>Squash (Yellow squash simmered with tomatoes in a ginger sauce).
>Inguday (Mushrooms simmed with fresh tomatoes in curried sauce).
Pricewise, the Blue Nile is typically a better deal for an entree. Though they have higher prices on their individual menu items ($6.50-$7.00 vs. $4.75), the portions are also larger; as each watt comes with two side orders.
The best best is the sampler platter, allowing you to pick five Vegan items from a list of ten.
Tastewise, between the two Ethiopian restaurant gems, it's a tossup.
My advice: try both places.
Added by Steve Carlson on Aug 20 04 (last updated Dec 28 09)
Most Recent Reviews
pia machita
Dec 28 09
rawtastic
Dec 14 08
Hi I want everyone to know that Blue Nile is now offerring raw vegan Sunday and Mondays!!!!!!!!!! Until 10 pm!!!! YUM!!!!!!
Neighborhood
east valleyDirections
Located in the strip mall just east of the SE corner of University Dr and Rural Rd.
Non-Smoking
No Reservations
Wheelchair Accessible
Prices
$$ - average
Payment
Cuisines
- Ethiopian/Eritrean
- Raw Food
Features
- Large Group-Friendly
- Romantic
Look in the Phoenix New Times for a buy one get one free coupon (usually in there every other week).
Blue Nile Cafe is the best Ethiopian place in the valley I've tried (haven't been to Tina's in Chandler). Their selection is amazing and the food is delicious. You can tell they care about their patrons and know how to cook! I highly suggest going out of your way to go here - you won't regret it! They just opened up for breakfast recently, although I haven't gone in to try it. I hear they have a tofu scramble.