Food wise, it's cheap and large portion. But there's little variety. Everything is big bread with different variations of toppings. For mine, it was soggy where the toppings were placed because of the olive oil. Service was close to non-existent. They forgot my Coke until I reminded them. It also took time for the food to be ready or to get the bill. I only saw one star, so I assume he's the wait staff, the chef and the cashier. read more

Pre-pandemic, I had an appointment down the road and I decided to walk the 15 minutes to get some Ethiopian food. I used to live in the area and visited their old location on Gladstone ages ago, so I thought it would be a nice opportunity to try their new(er) location, also on Gladstone. I've only had Ethiopian food a few times in the past, including at Blue Nile, but I was in the mood to try a dish I never had before. The restaurant had just opened for lunch so it was empty. I was grateful to have the full attention of the server, who I realized later was also the cook - the one and only staff member there! He was patient with me as I took a look around and debated over what to get on the menu before asking him for a suggestion. He asked if I ever had tibbs before, a staple in Ethiopian cuisine, and I hadn't, so that's what I ordered. I definitely read the menu, but I didn't pay attention at all to what he was making. I just said yes and got excited lol. It was about $12 at the time, before taxes and tip, though the price didn't matter at all because I was hungry and drooling at the sights and smells of him making the food. He made it with such care, packed it for takeout with such care, and rang it up with such care. He was very kind and courteous. Top-notch service. It was about 20 minutes or so before I was able to sit down to eat it and it was still piping hot. I had no idea what to expect. Whatever it was, it was fully wrapped in a huge piece of injera. When I unfolded the injera, there was a giant portion of sliced beef, onions, and peppers in a tomato-based sauce. I looked at the menu online and saw you could get juicy or dry, so I assumed I got juicy. My coworkers kept asking what I got, saying it looked and smelled amazing. A couple of them even tried some. It was delicious! The beef was tender and the sauce was very flavourful. The injera was light and spongey, not too sour. The meal was super filling, too. The injera soaked up some of the extra juices and it was all great to eat it with your hands. I would, however, separate the beef from the injera if saving leftovers, as the injera at the bottom would be super soggy. I would definitely eat here again. Maybe in person next time! I was tempted to buy some of the snacks, spices, and other pantry items by the cash, but I get carried away with that stuff and I knew I wouldn't be able to carry it back with me. But I totally regretted not getting anything. Definitely next time, too! read more

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Bad experience. Dirty bathrooms, dirty location, loud tv, couldn't eat the food. Bad experience.

This is only my second time ever having Ethiopian food, so I'm still not sure what the standard is, but I really enjoyed having dinner here. I had the vegetarian platter, which was a variety of lentil or vegetable based dishes topped onto the traditional injera, a large sourdough flatbread. Most of the dishes are quite mild but one was deliciously spiced. The injera is quite large and they give an extra roll on the start, so this ends up being a very large meal. Total with tax and tip was around $15. If you enjoy Ethiopian food, or want to try something plant based, this is definitely a more unique yet still low risk and affordable option. Owners were also very nice. read more

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Sat for 15 minutes. Place was empty but we got no service. It also looked shabby. It was a very strange experience. We don't know if they don't know how to run a business or it was a racism thing ( Husband Chinese American, me, white) but we wouldn't expect that here read more

Worth a visit! Went here with a group last night and very much enjoyed the experience. (Preview Ethiopian Cuisine on their website: http://www.bluenileottawa.com/cuisine.html. You can also preview the menu at that same site.) We were there with a person who has eaten at Ethiopian restaurants several times. They recommended trying the combo meals, to get a bit of everything - so we did. Hubby and I ordered a meat combo and a vegetable combo. They came combined on one platter, from which we both ate. The presentation is a bit different from North American norms, in that there is no cutlery. The platters have a large piece of bread (called enjera) on them, like a plate cover - and on top of that are servings of the food (meat, veggies, etc.). You use some of the bread (extra is provided) to scoop up your food, and eventually you end up eating your plate cover. Some people were quite adept at it, however I was a bit messy. It was fun - and how can you not socialize when you are playing with your food! Great idea for groups. The host / waiter was very welcoming, however, the large group of 12 was difficult for him to manage . (He seemed to be the only person working at the time we were there - possibly even doing food assembly, not sure.) However - we were all visiting and the slightly slow service was not a problem. We definitely enjoyed trying the various foods - some were good and some were excellent (for our taste). Everyone with us enjoyed the food. Would I return: Yes - with friends, it's a great experience with friends. Would I recommend: Yes - to people who love trying new things and ok eating with their hands! read more

This was my first experience with Ethiopian food and I was pleasantly surprised. We started with the beef sambussa which is sort of like a samosa but the dough is much lighter and airy. It was hot and fresh and the filling was delicious, we regretted not ordering two. For the main we chose the vegetarian platter and the beef platter. Ethiopian food has some similarities with Indian food in the use of multiple spices to add flavour and colour to the various dishes. Everything is served on a giant platter with this spongy slightly soured bread. This basically acts as the vehicle to get all the curries and sauces into your mouth and it's amazing. The vegetarian dishes consisted of pickled vegetables and a few different lentil curries, with varying degrees of spice. The beef dishes were excellent and very different from each other. The standout beef dish was one with Spinach and a sort of shredded beef, it was unreal. I like this place, the vibe is unique, really social and familial atmosphere. Also they have surprisingly nice and spacious restrooms. We finished with an in-house chai that was good but was a little clove heavy for my taste. Overall worth checking out if you've never tried Ethiopian cuisine and want a fun meal to share with a group. read more

Blue Nile - Vegetarian and beef platters - Ethiopian Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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I love this place. I always get the Blue Nile special which has both meat and vegetables. The bread is tasty and they give you a huge portion. One platter is often 2 meals for me and there are so many flavors and textures. I'm not sure which side is my favorite, they all taste wonderful. Warning: if you want fast food this not the place for you. I have ordered take out about 3 times and every time I call ahead only to wait 20+ minutes. I do find the food is worth the wait but if you walk in prepare to wait. read more

Blue Nile - My take-out dish, it doesn't look as great after transport! - Ethiopian Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

We wanted to checkout some Ethiopian food and went to Blue Nile on a Wednesday evening. The restaurant is pretty small but we were the only customers at that time. The serving lady, who I believe is the owners her self came and greeted us warmly and gave the menus. We ordered mix vegetarian, mix chicken and a vegi only dish. The food took a very long time to come( almost 1 hour - and hence deduct one star) and my daughter was very hungry and was complaining. We saw that few people came, ordered and go, only to return much later. Assume regulars who knew that food takes a long time here!! Finally the food came and we all enjoyed it. There were different types of vegetable, grain dishes and chicken served on my plate. The portion was good which I shared with my son. The food had good flavour but I was not much of a fan of the "Injera"( wrap/bread made out of a certain grass seed) which had a sharp sour taste. My wife is a Ethiopian food fan, and she enjoyed the vegetarian dish very much. I found the pricing to be very reasonable. Overall a good experience. read more

Blue Nile - Ethiopian Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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It's an experience and a good one. If you haven't had Ethiopian food yet (I hadn't), go in with an open mind. The cuisine isn't for everyone, but "those who like it like it a lot." When you walk in there is a small lobby where you can purchase spices, sweets and other items to take home with you. Walking through the beaded curtains to the left, you'll come into a good-sized dining room. This is a fantastic place for dates or group outings. The whole idea is to share the items your table, so this place has "socializing" written all over it. The menu is a good size, but keep in mind some of the items listed are the same except for the meat used. You can get beef tibs or lamb tibs - both use the same sauce. If you don't know what to order, one of the combination plates will give you an idea of what Ethiopian food is all about. The service was good. No pressure. they came back a few times because we didn't have a clue what to order. Personally, I'm very OK with the price. At least one person on Yelp reviewed Blue Nile as more expensive than another location. For these prices, I'm happy, and if they were cheaper I would begin to wonder about the food quality. Oh, and of course, the atmosphere screams Ethiopian Pride. read more

They just moved to a new location (as of two weeks ago), so their liquor license isn't back yet but my friends swear by the honey wine. I wish we had a chance to try it, but I guess we'll give it a go the next time we're there! The food here is fantastic. If you're not sure what to get, the combination platters are your best option. They have a veggie platter, beef platter, and the Blue Nile platter which contains a bit of both. We also picked up a lamb dish (yebeg tibbs), which was great!! The sambusas are also fantastic here - well flavoured and nice and crispy. They even brought out extra injera for us, which filled us up pretty quick! Be careful that some of the beef dishes are raw, in case you have a preggo lady with you like we did! The flavours and spices were perfect for us and I'm so glad we ate there. Prices are very reasonable for the portion size, and the place is nice and clean with even a little play area for kiddies! If you're up for trying something new in Ottawa, this is it! read more

I tried this little place out yesterday evening with my wife. We started with a small carafe of Tej (Ethiopian honey wine) which reminded of a sweet sake. We probably couldn't drink a full bottle between the two of us (too sweet) but a great spirit to accompany the meal. For the meal we ordered the Combination Platter (Ye-Doro Wot, Alicha wot, Minchet wot, Yater kik, Yemisir wot, Cabbage and Green lentils), and the Dulet (Rare minced beef, with tripe and liver seasoned with herbed purified butter, spiced chili powder). The food provided a diverse sampling of unique flavours and textures. What really surprised me was the price we paid. In and out stuffed to the brims with a drink each for under $35 before tip. For the quality of food and service, at the price we paid, this little place deserves its five stars. Will return. read more

While it's location (Gladstone near Bronson) won't impress your date the food certainly will. Out of the three Ethiopian restaurants in Ottawa I have visited (the others being Habesha and Horn of Africa) this is certainly the best. Great variety and exquisite flavoring really help it stand out from the competition. In fairness, the meal did have its weak spots. The lentils for one of the dishes probably needed another 20 minutes of cooking time as they were still quite hard and the bread used to pick up the food was a tad cold. In contrast to a fancier Ethiopian spot like Le Nil Bleu in Montreal this certainly is a step down. All in all this was a fantastic meal at a great price and I would certainly return. While it may not be the ideal spot to sample Ethiopian cuisine, it is a great deal better than the other options the Nation's Capital has to offer. read more

The good: - nice menu variety - food is spicy and very tasty - Tej (sweet wine) is amazing - very friendly - you can buy their spices at their small store read more

Ordered from Uber Eats. Delivery guy was good - the food was not only wrong it was garbage. I didn't get one dish I ordered and got 2 of another . Why? Because the restaurant has 2 items with the same name. Called the restaurant and the guy said it was my fault and that I should call Uber eats to resolve. read more

A quick browsing of my review history would reveal a bias towards Ethiopian food (this puts me at near a dozen different places spread across North America) but the 5 stars are earned. The food is top tier and the service is quality as well as friendly. Also it's a heck of a value. I recommend getting the combo platters to get a wide sample of all the amazing food. read more

Wonderful meal and laid back atmosphere with interesting cultural decor and Ethiopian music videos playing. My friend and I came here based on the good reviews and were not disappointed. It was delicious, flavourful and filling! When you order a combination plate you just tell them how many people you need it serve and they add more to the platter based on your number. I can't wait to go back again one day! They brought us extra injera bread without us even asking, very kind waitress. read more

Better selection than horn of Africa but more expensive. Atmosphere is a little better too. Food was a little spicier which is nice. I had a dish of quasi raw meat which was delicious. Cabbage was really good but way overpriced. Sambousa were absolutely awesome. Service was a little slow but we brought cards with us so it was OK. I will definitely return but would chose horn of Africa if I want to save a couple of bucks. read more

The Blue Nile is closed. Ottawa (Iraqi) Kebab has opened at this location. Food was great! See google for reviews. read more

I had tried to order from here twice during opening hours in the past month yet it was closed both times - once on a weekend and once during the week. Very annoying - either update your opening hours or show up to work?? But I love Ethiopian food so I tried again and finally ordered successfully on a random Wednesday evening and the woman who picked up the phone said that it would be ready within half an hour. No problem. I come by after half an hour to pick up the food and end up waiting another fifteen minutes in store. I don't understand why it's so hard for this restaurant to be reliable and give customers accurate information. Will never return here again, for although the food was not bad, portion sizes were disappointing - got the veggie platters and there were tiny amounts of wot and way too much injera. Definitely not worth the experience. read more

I have been to the Blue Nile Restaurant anytime that I have a craving for Ethiopian food; and I like it very much. The food is tasty, fresh and the service (waiter) is very polite and helpful. The injera bread is fresh and tastes nice (not sour); the spicy beef, the lamb and the vegetarian (string beans) dishes are my favourites. I have not tried Ethiopian food at any other restaurant in order to compare, but I feel that the Blue Nile is a good option for anyone who wants to first try Ethiopian cuisine. read more

We have eaten a lot of Ethiopian in the past two years. Ate at the restaurant today, April 27, 2015.. sorely disappointed. The flavor was toned down in the vegetable dishes. Also Normally with the tibbs, you'd get a rush of flavor and then the heat from the berbere. We ordered two orders of tibbs. One dish had no berbere, no heat, no flavor. The other tibbs were just hot and no other flavors. On the other hand, the injera was very good and the service was good. She seemed concerned the tibbs would be too hot for me. In my personal opinion, the dishes should be cooked traditionally and not toned down for certain customers. We were both very disappointed. I hope in the future she stays true to her roots and lets the customer experience the real tastes of Ethiopia. There is definitely room to grow. read more

My brother and I went there tonight. It was my first time, and he had been there many times. The platter we had of raw beef and lamb and vegetables. It was absolutely delicious. Would go there again sometime. read more

I have a confession: I'm a serious Ethiopian food addict. I have to get it where ever I am - which means in every city I visit I am looking for a fix. I've tried Ethiopian restaurants in Seattle, Denver, NYC, DC, Montreal, and in Ottawa before at the Horn of Africa...the poor people that travel with me are subjected to my feverish searches for injera, tej, and any wat I can get my hands on. In any case, Blue Nile is delish. Typical of many of the Ethiopian restaurants I visit, this is a small place that probably wasn't originally a restaurant. Nothing fancy here - but as with the best places, that just lets the food and service shine. We started out with a bottle of tej (the traditional honey wine of Ethiopia) and I was THRILLED to see that they make their own! (I actually tried to convince them to let me take some with me but that's not allowed, pah!) Since my boyfriend had never had Ethiopian food before, he let me order. I got us a spicy beef and pepper stew, a chickpea stew and a lentil stew. Before long, our large communal injera arrived with the stews in their dishes which our server (the wife part of the owner's family team) spooned out. I could hardly wait to get into it and I wasn't disappointed. Richly flavored, hearty portions, and fresh, quality ingredients made this a great meal we both enjoyed. The husband and owner came out to check on us and even brought us a special plate of homemade breads which we hardly had room for but were eager to try. The prices were quite reasonable, and they also have a good selection of Ethiopian/East African cooking supplies for sale. I walked away from there a very happy woman who will definitely return on my next visit to Ottawa. read more

The staff here and incredibly friendly and will go above and beyond to make sure you have a great experience. I order from here often and it is so good I crave it if I go too long without it. Definitely recommend one of the combination platters. read more

My daughter took me here for my birthday. Nice homey restaurant and interesting decor. Had the Blue Nile special, huge portions! We had enough leftover for a snack later. You can request gluten free bread if necessary, 1/2 hour notice is requested. I will definitely go again. It was fun to experience the Ethiopian way of eating, dive right in with your bread. Yummy read more

Good, low key Ethiopian place run by a nice family. I've been getting their take out Blue Nile platter for years. Generous portions, inexpensive and delicious. My biggest complaint is that I always over stuff myself. Injera is filling stuff. read more

I don't know if it's the restaurant, or if Ethiopian food is just not my thing at all. I went here after I had AMAZING Somali food yesterday, I figure I'd try another African country's food. I ordered a vegetable sambussa and a vegetable platter. I got home,opened my dish to find this sponge bread, upon looking it up it was injera! It was freezing cold, I don't know whether or not its supposed to be though. I found my food buried under a mound of this bread, a lot of it was pureed vegetables and there were some green beans and cabbage too. None of it tasted good to me at all. Most of it had this sour taste to it and it doesn't help I didn't like the injera bread, which apparently you're supposed to use to eat your food. Maybe I'll try something else. I actually wanted quite badly to like Ethiopian food as I see Ethiopian restaurants all over the place and I have gazed at the menus and they're quite cheap. Oh well. read more