Blue Nile

by Alejandro A.

If you want different, eclectic, and authentic, then this is the place.  The best part of this place is the owner--if he isn't the nicest, most accommodating host, the I don't know what is.  The food is great.  My favorite is the yebeg wat, which is lamb in a red, peppery sauce.  You eat the food with injera, which is like a giant airy tortilla.  Tear a piece off and wrap it around some food and pop it in your mouth.  The food is served community-style at western (American) tables or traditional lower, round tables.  The take-out portions are pretty fantastic as well.  If you like Indian food, but have never tried Ethiopian, this is vaguely similar, and much less expensive here.

by Christina X.

I was pretty blown away to find that there was Ethiopian food in Columbus--I always thought of my hometown as relatively unadventurous in food. Always glad to be proven wrong!The Blue Nile is right on High St. next to a Hookah lounge and across the street from an Indian place. The inside consists of two rooms--the front room has a sparsely decorated interior with a few plain tables and some pictures on the wall, but the back room (which I didn't even notice until taking a trip to the bathroom!) is much more atmospheric and features the traditional Ethiopian tables for sharing.There's really not many ways you can go wrong with Ethiopian, and the Blue Nile is no different. I'm not sure as to how authentic it really is, but it's pretty tasty eats anyway, and for a very reasonable price. The portions are pretty tremendous, and I had way more food than I could handle for ~$12--and I definitely brought my A-game. Also, their food can get pretty damn spicy, so be sure to order mild if you can't handle it. Consider sharing.In fact, this is one thing to definitely keep in mind especially if you're going with thrifty college friends. Ethiopian food is sort of necessarily family-styled, so you're going to end up sharing your food with friends which means that probably the easy thing to do will just be to split the bill evenly. Might want to make sure everyone is okay with that!They have a pretty decent drink selection, including some tasty pineapple nectar and various Ethiopian beers and honey wine.If you're confused about what to get, I suggest the doro wat or doro alicha--you really can't go wrong with these if you're a meat-eater. All the veggie stuff is really tasty, too, so bring along those troublesome vegetarian friends!

by Jenna C.

#3. July 3, 2007In Columbus, on the outskirts of Ohio State University, is a small, semi kitschy Ethiopian restaurant. We decided to sit at a traditional table instead of an American table since you share a platter in order to "create a bond of friendship and loyalty" (according to their menu).  We ordered a combination dinner for three, the Blue Nile Special #1 ($35.99).  That's doro wat, yebeg wat, lega tibs, and kik alicha (a dish each of lamb, beef, chicken, and veggies).  And of course, it came with lots of Injera, the tangy, crepe-like bread you use to eat the stews.   It was all very good.  I liked the lamb dish (yebeg wat) the best.  The cottage cheese in the platter was so super yummy and great for cooling your mouth from all of the spices! Blue Nile has a fairly large selection of Ethiopian beer and wine and also domestic choices for each.  My friends each chose a different honey wine to try with the meal and I had a spiced coffee.  The service was very good.  We closed out the place (luckily we opted out of dessert or we would have really annoyed the staff) but they were very accommodating to our needs.  The only problem I see is that the only desserts they offer are rice pudding and cheesecake. This was my first time experiencing Ethiopian food, but that just doesn't seem authentic to me...

by Renata H.

This place is awesome and totally worth the price--because it is kind of pricey. Go for the traditional seating and get one of the meals that you share. You can come with only one other person but it's really best if you have 4-6. The food is served on large, slightly sour, bubbly-textured yet moist pancake type things (sounds weird but is DELICIOUS). The dishes that you choose are ladled out in sections on the main pancake, and you get a bunch of extra pancakes that you tear pieces off of to scoop up your food with. The food is meaty, heavily spiced (your hands will smell for the rest of the day and night), rich, and absolutely wonderful. The experience of eating in this way is really fun and a great way to either break the ice with someone new or catch up with old friends. Be prepared to be really, really full. When you're done eating, opt for the traditional tea service--strong tea served in a beautiful black teapot on a tray with myrrh incense burning away. The smell and taste of the tea and incense are a wonderful ending to the meal. You MUST try it!!

by John M.

Veggie friendly - if you like Indian food you will likely enjoy this.  Service was friendly and quick, and the prices were reasonable, although not what I would consider "cheap."  We shared the vegetarian meal for three, and sat at a traditional table (keep in mind this will cost you an additional $1.25 per person).  Everything was very tasty, and since it's a little lighter than Indian food, I didn't feel like a beached whale after consuming far more than I actually needed.  More like a porpoise or perhaps a sea cow.  Very good.

by Zack F.

I hadn't tried Ethiopian food before this place. I really liked it. The only down side for me was the moist "bread" got to be a bit much and without that, you can't eat. Well, they will bring you utensils if you beg them. I have too much pride for that though. ;)It's a dance studio as well I guess? Interesting decor. The little piles of greyish colored food that is the consistency of baby food really is better than it looks. Also, keep in mind that you essentially eat with your hands and everything your table orders will show up on a single plate. This means it may not be the best first date location unless your date is adventurous.It's a great place for vegetarians.

by Shawnie K.

This is the only Ethiopian restaurant at which I have eaten, so I have nothing to compare it against. However, it was a very good experience.

by Marc M.

I visited this place late on a Saturday night while in town for a convention. The staff was very friendly and they accommodated us even though we came in just before the kitchen closed.The food was very good. The injera was also fresh and spongy. I was a bit remiss that they didn't have squash on the menu but all in all, I would go there again and the prices were reasonable.

by Pink C.

I love Blue Nile.  The food is fantastic with tons of options for meat-eaters and vegetarians alike.  If you've never tried Ethiopian food before, I'd say it's somewhat akin to Indian food, with dishes of legumes, vegetables, or meats served in a sauce and eaten with a spongy pancake called injera.  The flavors are rather mellow, but complex and satisfying.  The service here is always friendly and the restaurant is decorated with Ethiopians items that give it a rather kitschy feel.  Take-out is available.

by Sara F.

I first tried out Blue Nile with my friends while out and about exploring Columbus's food offerings around campus. Without a doubt, Blue Nile is a shining star of deliciousness. I love going to Blue Nile whether with friends or alone, and everyone I have taken there has fallen in love.I always get a vegetarian dish with Tikil Gomen being my favorite, and I can usual scrape out a surprisingly filling meal at around $10. A meat dish would be a little more expensive. I've also gone for the lunch buffet once, which was also delicious. They were serving a cauliflower dish, which I loved even though I hate cauliflower. I never leave the restaurant feeling like an overstuffed elephant. Instead, I always feel good and incredibly happy.Overall, the food is always amazing, and I always feel welcomed. For a delicious, cheap, and fun meal, go to Blue Nile.