Blue Nile Cafe
Profile
$$ - average
Ethiopian/Eritrean
"The other" Ethiopian 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).
The Blue Nile also easily dominates when it comes to appetizers, with:
Azifa (pureed lentils with onions, served cold)
Potato Salad (Diced potatoes in a vinaigrette dressing)
Kay Seer Salad (Beets with potatoes and onions)
Timatim Fitfit (Injera bread soaked in a tomato/onion sauce)
Plus, it has more vegetarian entree selections:
Kik Alitcha (Slightly pureed yellow split peas)
Tikil Gomen (Sliced cabbage with potato chuncks in a curry sauce)
Yemisir 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).
Pricewise, the Blue Nile is typically a better deal for an entree. Though they have higher prices on their individual menu items, the portions are also larger; as each watt comes with two side orders.
But beware of Blue Nile's sampler plate, at $6.50-$8.50 per person (depending on group size). If you're with a large group, they'll bring you out enough food for a mouse, not an army, and then charge you for additional servings. (I can tell you from experience that this could add up to a rather enormous bill for what is, on the surface, a mere "$6.50 per person.") The best best on the sampler, then, is to order one for each individual in your group.
Tastewise, between the two Ethiopian restaurant gems, it's a tossup.
My advice: try both places.
Located in the strip mall just east of the SE corner of University Dr and Rural Rd.
- Large Group-Friendly
- Romantic
Added by Steve Carlson on Aug 20 04 (updated Nov 7 07)
Reviews
We were in the area for Thanksgiving and stopped by twice. They have a great selection of vegan dishes and the tofu scramble for breakfast was great. The vegan coffee cake was amazing, I don't know how they make it so creamy. It reminds me of Tiramisu.
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.
I think this place is PERFECT! The owner Abel is such a nice guy. The food was fast to arrive and the prices are great. The food was such a delight. Great Vegan food. Great job guys... thumbs up! Bless ~@~ Sunshine
I've eaten at Blue Nile at least nine times -- each time has been very pleasant, very enjoyable and very filling. The food is incredibly flavorful. The prices, especially the lunch specials, are a great value. If there is one flaw, it's that the staff does most of the time behind the kitchen doors. If you need to ask a question, place an order, or get a refill, it's common to wait a while.
Overall, it's a great place, a wonderful experience and a place that I recommend every chance I get.
I went to Blue Nile last night for a date, and we ended up using the traditional seating. We went at about 9 pm, and, while there weren't many people in the first room, the "traditional seating" room was empty. Neither of us ate much yesterday, so we were ready for a big meal -- as it was our first time there, we ordered the vegetarian sampler. We were a little disappointed when it arrived (though quickly), because it didn't look like much food. We left stuffed, though. As the handy nutrition cards on the tables show, teff is pretty packed with fiber and protein, and we used a whole lot of injera to scoop up the meal. So, the sampler for 1-2 people is the perfect amount for two really, really hungry, average-sized people. The only problem with the place was the service. The waiter was very nice and helpful, and assured me that everything on the sampler is vegan, but we never saw him after he brought the order. Perhaps he realized we were on a date and was trying to give us some privacy, but my date's water ran out early on and he didn't get a refill until the check came. Besides the water issue, which is very likely only something that might happen if you're in a room all alone, it's a nice place with good food. They even have vegan coffee cake, though I was too stuffed to try it.
The food here is wonderful! The prices are less expensive then other ethiopean restaurants I've been to (about $6-$7 for a dish with 2 sides) and there are lots of vegan choices. The people that work there are really nice, and if you let them know if you are vegan and they'll make sure to bring out vegan sauces, etc.
i LOVE this place. but as the review says DO NOT ORDER THE SAMPLER with a large group. there were 6 in our party and 4 of them ordered the sampler at like $8.50 each. The 2 of us ordered the full size at $6.50 and you get to chose 2 sides. The 2 of us had the same amount of food as them 4, so i would recommend the full size orders!