Food is excellent! Service was sub par and particularly my server -- middle aged lady that never introduced herself, also seemed bitter from the beginning. She apologized but also confronted me to ask why I said something to the manager making it more awkward. Love Ethiopian food and this food was indeed great! Fresh and clean. Kitfo and Lamb were phenomenal. read more

Nil Bleu - Ethiopian Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

This was my first time at an elevated Ethiopian restaurant. I cannot fault the food, the atmosphere, or the service - all were excellent. But a place like this cannot duplicate the charm from a place like a family-run Ethiopian restaurant. For example, on arriving: Other Ethiopian restaurants I've visited: "Welcome!" Nil Bleu: "You don't have a reservation, but we can seat you if you are done by 8pm." Great care was put into quality food, and the tej was quite good and perfectly chilled. This could certainly be a place to sample Ethiopian cuisine for the first time if you were uncomfortable going elsewhere. I'm glad I visited here, but I'll continue to check out as many other Ethiopian restaurants as I can as well. read more

Cozy and romantic, with authentic touches adorning the walls, this spot feels special the moment you walk in. The food here is next-level. Get the lamb stew. Hands-down the best thing I've eaten all year. My friends ordered sampler platters, but I asked our server for a recommendation--and she nailed it with the lamb stew. Sure, you could play it safe with a sampler... but why not trust the locals? When in Ethiopia, eat the lamb stew. You can thank me later. read more

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It's by the hotel door entrance, enter the left door. It's fancier and has a red hue inside the dining area. May be the fanciest Ethiopian restaurant we have ever been to so far. One side of the menu is in French, flip it over for the English menu. We got a single platter vegan and meat (less the file mignon tartare) and a single platter vegan, veggie sambusa and a mango salad. C$103.27 The sampler was good, it comprised of a tomato salad, cooked bean and broccoli, chick pea and eggplant with crispy injera and normal injera. The injera crisps up nicely. The mango salad is okay, although not much mango pieces. The veggie sambusa is so-so, the dough is quite dense and heavy. The mango dip or sauce is good though. The Doro wat is one drum and a hard boiled egg. The Berbere sauce is good. The beets, spinach, cabbage, potato and carrot, yellow lentil, red lentil, salad, lamb, all were rather bland and nothing special. Everything tasted flat to us. The portions are small for the vegan, but I can't say anything was good enough to wish for of at all. The starter or apps was good, the main dishes for my vegan wasn't good. The only decent meat was the chicken. Service here is good. Expensive for what you get. Flavors aren't as good as expected either. read more

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Very yummy and gluten free and vegan options. The tasting menu was great and more filling than i expected. Every dish on it was very good, there wasn't even one that was kind of mid. They were just all good. Favourite place with vegan and gluten free options in the city so far. Fave dish was the gluten free chocolate pecan desert and the chickpea appetizer and tomato cucumber salad appetizer. The servers were also kind and the restaurant felt fancy. read more

This was our second visit to Le Nil Bleu, and it was absolutely first-rate. We loved it the first time, but this was EVEN better. We are vegetarians, and had the shared 5-item vegan appetizers and dinner, then dessert. I also had a glass of honeyed wine. The service and atmosphere was delightful. If only we lived in Montreal, we would go there often, but as it is, this gem of a restaurant is a destination all on its own. After this meal, we now hold Le Nil Bleu above our favorite Ethiopian restaurants in Brooklyn and San Francisco. Can't wait to go back for more! read more

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This was our last night in Montreal and I just wanted it to be the cherry on top of a delicious sundae. I'm so glad we picked this place to end our vacation. This place is just so classy and the staff go out of their way to make you feel first class. The meals are absolutely spectacular and the place itself is very elegant. We had the sampler meal and it was just beyond what words will allow me to adequately describe. I can say every bite was amazing. You think to yourself can food really be this good? Oh my friend, it can because the staff of Le Nil Bleu do it with the greatest of easy and care every minute you're blessed to be dining here. read more

Summary - the best Ethiopian we've had; truly a cut above. My wife and I were visiting Montreal the week of American Thanksgiving and she found Le NilBleu and made a reservation for a Wednesday at 6:00. We were late after a Metro delay but still had a choice of tables. So many of the Ethiopian places we go to are a step up from home cooking, but Le NilBleu really elevated the food, ambience and the experience. Le NilBleu really turned us around. Beautiful decor, great service and the cleanest restaurant bathrooms we've ever seen (a huge positive sign). Although we didn't hear music that evening, they had a baby grand and a few instruments. But the food! We had the vegan sampler for two with Doro Watt. Everything had distinct textures and flavors and the Gommen and Yessmer Watt was the best we've ever had; we could have seconds! So much unique flavor for each dish of the 2 person sampler and accurate descriptions of the spice level on the menu. Even for people new to Ethiopian food and dining, there is something there even for them. Highly, highly recommended. When we come back to Montreal, this will be a regular stop. read more

High class, and such good bites. They f you've never had Ethiopian, your server will orient you to the meal. Get ready for a flavor journey. So good. Cocktails were ok. Food and service outstanding. White tablecloth vibe, casual dress fine. I recommend highly the two course tasting meal. read more

Nil Bleu - Tasting meal for two - Ethiopian Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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I'm disappointed that I didn't love this restaurant, but it just didn't meet my expectations. To start, in this area of Montreal, many restaurants are "Apportez Votre Vin", which provides a fantastic opportunity for guests to save money. Nil Bleu does not offer this feature. The decor is dark and eclectic, but definitely plays up on stereotypical African decor - Maasai hunters on the art, Zebra-patterned upholstery, carved wooden giraffes. Seems a little outdated in 2023. Our service was perfunctory and actually, a long wait for our appetizers. Our waiter was most animated when seeing our 18% tip and wishing us a bon soir. My companion and I ordered the tasting menu with meat. We quickly filled up on the Injera and needed to have most of our main course packaged up for home. Flavors were just okay - nothing remarkable. A dessert of chocolate cake seemed pre-packaged and made off-site. Similar quality as if purchasing from a bakery in a grocery. Again, nothing remarkable. I really wish I had gone to Le Virunga instead. I was on the fence, but thought the novelty of eating with our hands would be unique. And it was, certainly. But the flavors, service, and decor just did not wow us. Seems marketed for tourists and visitors, as much better options abound in a culinary city such as here. read more

Nil Bleu - Chocolate mousse cake/ - Ethiopian Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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Great restaurant. The decor is special! We loved the vegetarian appetizer and dinner platters. Each dish was beautifully presented and had a unique taste. There was plenty of injera provided. Our waitress was helpful and kind. The spiced tea was a perfect with the strong flavors of the dishes. read more

Nil Bleu - appetizer platter - Ethiopian Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

We were visiting Montreal from Texas and ate at this restaurant on our last night in town. The food was fabulous. We had only eaten Ethiopian food once before and weren't sure we were fans. We are now! We had the meat and vegetable tasting menu and liked everything. The spices and the freshness were very appetizing. It was a large amount of food and we couldn't finish it all as much as we wanted to. The people that worked there were very friendly and accommodating. If we lived in town this would be one of our go to establishments. Highly recommend it. read more

After my first time eating here I can now update my review and include take out services. Had a friend visiting from out of town who loves this place and we decided to grab some food but we were also not feeling our best and wanted to have a meal at home so luckily for us they do take out! We had to call in because the online option wasn't working but none the less we were able to order our food pick it up and bring it back home. The drive from st denis to Laval is pretty long but the food held up and was just what we were craving. So weather you're eating out and taking it home you'll have a great meal from this spot read more

We visited this restaurant on a recent trip to Montréal. It's been 30 years since I had Ethiopian food, and this place did not disappoint. Delicious Ethiopian cuisine with prompt, friendly service. read more

For the past 20 years, this is my #1 place where I take friends and family because I know I can trust the quality to be consistently impeccable in every way. The decor is both exotic and tasteful, the service is attentive, warm and caring and the food is quite simply sublime. If anything, the food and service are even better after the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and I am in total awe as to how they pulled that off. The spices become more perfectly balanced each time and the portions were so generous on our last visit that we literally couldn't finish. Also, this is the best injera I've ever eaten and I've eaten injera at many a restaurant and also make it at home. We are beyond blessed to have this gem of a restaurant in Montreal. read more

Great Ethiopian food. Love that they offer a wet washcloth to wash your hands before you use them to eat your meal! read more

Nil Bleu - Vegan Menu - Ethiopian Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

We ordered the tasting menu for two people and it was a lot of food! We couldn't finish them. The crepes were so delicious even though it was my first time trying it. The beef, eggplants and lamb were a little bit spicy. It was great for me but just a reminder for some people who are not used to spices. read more

Nil Bleu - a plate of food and utensils - Ethiopian Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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We will certainly be back to Nil Bleu. Our server was helpful, especially with my gluten-free questions. The ambiance was relaxing & slightly upscale - great for a date night. The food: can't compare to other Ethiopian restaurants in town, but we loved everything. We ordered a tasting platter for 2 & especially loved the whipped chick peas and the caramelized vegetable salad. Everything was flavorful & beautifully presented. A huge bonus was the wide variety of gf options. The injera is naturally made without gluten (teff flour), but they can't guarantee no cross-contamination of the teff. It's not on the menu, but they'll also make rice or quinoa instead of injera. (For the record - I had the injera w/no issues ) read more

Amazing overall Nice decor, tasty food, Great service I always go and love it I order the veggie dinner and coco pineapple drink read more

On our first night in Montreal, we decided to get Ethiopian food for dinner on a suggestion of a friend. The Blue Nile Restaurant offers vegan/vegetarian options as well as beef, lamb and chicken dishes, so there is something for everyone! The drinks looked delicious and fruity and were pretty inexpensive at $8 Canadian. I had the safari, and it was fruity, as was expected. My friend and I shared the eggplant appetizer, which was delicious and then a chicken and a beef dish. The chicken and beef were served on a large platter with the Ethiopian spongey crepes and a little fresh salad in the middle. I liked the chicken a lot more than the beef, it fell off the bone and the sauce was excellent. All the dishes come with the crepes, and maybe they don't eat rice in Ethiopia, but I wish there was a different kind of starch... The service was excellent except for the little mishap when the waiter accidentally spilled water on me. Also, the tables are really close together, so I had to stand up and get out of my chair a few times to let the customers at the adjacent table get in and out.... It got very crowded, so try to make a reservation if you can! read more

I love Ethiopian food and luckily found this place. Loved the ambiance. Good outdoor and indoor seating. Ordered Vegetarian combo platter that came with 4 items and salad - 2 types of lentils, potato, spinach and injera. Ordered another entree that was made from chickpea. Everything was delicious specially the chickpea based vegetable it was sooo good. Tried the Hibiscus flavored beer which was good. Overall good food and good service. One entree per person is mandatory. read more

If you're looking for true authentic Ethiopian food, this is not the place for you. The food is highly modified and does not look like Ethiopian food. We ordered Kitfo and it came looking like a tartare meat, not the kind of Kitfo I grew up with. However, for if you're open for adventure defiantly try it, the test was excellent. We also had the Sambus for appetizer and not an authentic Ethiopian Sambusa. It's mor like a Jamaican patty. The place and service was excellent!! read more

Best Ethiopian restaurant in Montreal. Great decor with a hint of Ethiopian culture and very clean place, you need reservations for busy days so just reserve online just Incase. The main restaurant floor is very cozy and romantic with seemed lights, great for a date night. Food is great, portions can be less somedays but delicious. Great place and food for vegetarians and vegans. You eat by hand as it is the Ethiopian culture but you can use forks as well but not comfortable to eat. Place can get very busy but service is always good. You should try their vegetarian combo and kitfo (beef tartare with cheese and chopped kale) Very hearty food. Never tried their desserts!! read more

Nil Bleu - 3 dishes (kitfo, tibs, derek tibs) True carnivores dinner!! - Ethiopian Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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My husband and I were visiting from Vermont, looking for a good vegan option and stumbled upon this place as we walked the city on a warm evening. We are familiar with Ethiopian dining and love the flavors and teff, spongy, textured "bread". They offered a couple of pre fixe menus and we quickly chose the vegan option for two. This included an appetizer selection of hummus, tomatoes & cucumbers and eggplant mixture. The main course was enough to feed 3 or 4 so we happily took home leftovers. The waitstaff was attentive and very friendly even to us non-French speaking Americans! The food was delicious and we never felt rushed. We even found room for one of their tiny cakes. I had the dark chocolate raspberry mousse. Yes, it was as fabulous as it sounds. read more

Nil Bleu was the best place I ate in Montreal. The meal was delicious, and the Doro Watt was amazing. Good service and good atmosphere as well, but I can't say enough about the food; it was fantastic and my friends & I could not stop talking about it. read more

It was my first time eating Ethiopian food at Montreal and the restaurant was amazing. We had a tasting menu for two with a mix of vegan and meats. Everything was pretty good. read more

Nil Bleu - Ethiopian Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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Made a reservation for lunch today, and received a confirmation. Came from across the island to a locked door and voice mail when I tried to call. Left a message and half an hour later, waiting in the cold, nothing!! Very disappointed after coming all this way to celebrate my spouse's birthday. read more

Nil Bleu has been on the rise for years and I finally had a chance to try it out. On a Saturday evening, it can get very busy, so if possible, call ahead and reserve to make sure you have a seat. Nil Bleu is a restaurant that can cater to vegan/vegetarians and omnivores (like me). With tons of choices to choose from, such as a chicken, beef, lamb, veggies, lentils, etc, you're bound to find something you will love. We had the tasting menu for 2 with a mix of vegan and meat options so we could have best of both worlds. I kid you not, we were blown away with the portion and with the taste. The most fun part of our meal was to eat with our hands! Please come here, you won't regret it! read more

Nil Bleu - Platter for two - Ethiopian Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Really tasty vegan combo, chill vibe, attentive service. I went with a beer but the cocktails looked good too

We were absolutely blown away by the quality and taste of this beautifully decorated, Ethiopian restaurant. Each part of tasting menu was better than the next and more and more filling as we ate on. There are not many Ethiopian restaurants in Montréal and this is a definte must try. read more

This place used to be excellent. Now the portions are small, the service is extremely slow and the quality of food is really not at par with what it used to be. Sad. read more

This is by far the best Ethiopian food that I've tasted outside of Ethiopia! The food tastes like it was made with love! The seasoning - everything was top notch. I cleaned my plate twice!! I wish I could transport this food to Brooklyn! read more

Always good eats at the Nil Bleu! They seem to have gentrified the menu and decreased portion sizes somewhat - but that shouldn't stop you from having a great meal. My only sticking point is the awful feel of the synthetic washcloths that they offer at the beginning of the service. I would love to see cotton being used rather than icky icky polyester. read more

I was first introduced to Ethiopian food by my sister. Together we have sampled some incredible dishes from LA, DC, Pittsburgh, Boston, and now, Montreal. Le Nil Bleu had the best vegetarian platter I've ever tasted. There wasn't a whole lot of variety, but the dishes they included were thoughtfully curated to fit my taste: stewed collard greens, yellow split peas, lentils, and sweet cabbage and potato. Everything was seasoned to perfection and the house made injera further emphasized the scratch made quality of the dishes. If you are concerned about sharing food while eating with your hands, there is no double dipping here because everything is pre portioned out for two. They did offer to bring us more injera, but we refused it. My favorite part is peeling the bottom layer that the food sits upon. The spongy, porous flat bread soaks up all that yummy spicy goodness. It's a huge bonus. read more

Nil Bleu - Vegan platter did not disappoint. All my favorites on crepe-like, house made injera - Ethiopian Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Their two people degustation is definitely something to you should try and come hungry. It's so much food and their spices are incredible. Definitely overpriced for Ethiopian food and we got the vegetarian plate. read more

I am in love with the Ethiopian food the spicy taste is out of this world besides they have plenty of very tasty vegetarian dishes, very cosy and excellent for everyone , each time is a good experience and the service is great ! But the dishes got very small and u should order a big variety of everything to feel you have eaten a true dish ! read more

You need to go there everything is good . Le décor l'ambiance la serveuse tout guys you need to go there read more

Nil Bleu - Ethiopian Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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I really enjoyed my experience here. It's romantic, has fabulous decor and friendly staff. The atmosphere was good not too loud or chaotic and we didn't feel pressured or rushed(somehow we spent two and a half hours here). My love and I had never tried Ethiopian food and our waiter was very good at explaining everything to us. We decided on the tasting menu. Our food was out within 25 minutes and I honestly expected a longer wait based on the description of the menu items. I was thrilled about the lack of utensils. Every single thing was tasty..everything. I especially enjoyed the lamb, so flavorful. The honey wine at the end was a special treat. read more

Nil Bleu - Ethiopian Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Cheers to this ethiopian restaurant! I discovered some new grub here and it was simply delicious and full of flavors. Highlight of this discovery was to eat with your hands. I tried the tasting menu since it was the first time for me to eat ethiopian food. Lots of food. And good. First platter was filled up with vegetarian appetizer such salads, hummus, etc. Main course was mainly different meat such as lamb, chicken, filet mignon and some other salads. Tasting menu include also a glass of hydromel and small desserts. The waiter gave us good and pretty fast service. Sitting on the terrace was a plus. read more

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Not sure why this place has negative reviews on yelp - I personally was very pleased. I had a living social deal for a three course prix fixe lunch and loved it. Our waiter was amazing. He was playing host, and waiting on 11 tables and doing an excellent job. Why the owners wouldn't have had more staff for lunch on Saturday is sort of puzzling to me, but despite the lack of staff we were still waited on promptly and well taken care of. I left a big tip simply for the great job the guy did managing it all. The food was pretty good. I had a curried beef with some sides. The food wasn't the best I've had, though I did enjoy it, the soup and tea were excellent though. The presentation was also unique, as you'll see from my picture. The atmosphere was pleasant and very modern which was nice. Overall - I'd say 3.5 stars, but I'll give it a four because I'm feeling generous. read more

Nil Bleu - Lunch - Ethiopian Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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