Blue Nile Cafe

08/24/08

Best Ethiopian food around!

by LovingNE

My fiance and I have lived in the Irvington neighborhood for 5 years, and eat at Blue Nile at least 3 times a month. It is a low-key dining environment with a 5-star cuisine. We've tried all of the Ethiopian restaurants in Portland and continue to come back to Blue Nile time and time again. The taste, texture and aroma of the dishes are amazing (we love the Yedoro Wot and lamb tibs), and the ambience of the restaurant has a cozy, dining room feel. The owners and staff are all extremely friendly and in such a tough economy, the food is definitely worth every penny. We hope this restaurant never leaves!

07/24/08

Good experience

by nft

Good food and good service. I loved the new experience. I love the Dero wet, it was spicy and test good.

05/06/08

Delicious food, prepared lovingly; affordable and friendly

by missirene

Vegans and Omnivores alike, you've found your place. It's casual, easy to find, with a choice of indoor or outdoor dining. It's not fancy! But the food is prepared by the same family members who have run this little gem for years. The wine selection is limited, the beer selection is better; their spiced tea is wonderful. I always request my own combination of entrees, and they always accommodate me. I wish the restroom was a little more luxurious, but that's not really why I go there. The prices are moderate, so go when you're short of cash and get a filling meal for a few dollars, then go back when you're flush to sample a couple of things. Unless you're really hungry, you'll probably have enough to take home for tomorrow. The seasoning is rich, so you're wallet doesn't have to be. They had a little change of staff recently, but they've ironed out the wrinkles. Check out the red lentils and collard greens. This is an excellent place to eat your veggies and make Mama happy.

• Pros: Flavorful and nutritious
• Cons: the restroom needs a painting

05/28/07

The Worst Service & Dirty Dining

by marie_costello

The service is the worst! A friend and I went searching for a new neighborhood eatery and stopped by the Blue Nile. The service was awful unattentive and rude. We picked at our mediocre cold meal on some dirty picnic tables outside - which was our only escape from a blaring tv. As we finished one of the staff made a comment about cheap customers and that people get better service if they pay for it. We won't be going back.

• Pros: Near other resturants
• Cons: Poor service

04/19/07

Great Ethiopian

by legit1

Great lunch spot, usually not very busy. Surprisingly large and diverse beer selection. Definitely a great place to go if you need something different.

• Pros: Great food
• Cons: Sometimes slow service

04/18/07

Portland has better choices

by drm60

I'm sorry to say that I came in for lunch and only found confirmation of some of the negative comments already posted here. I ordered the spicy beef which came with spinach and cabbage. The beef was stewed with large slices of onion than I like to have - a personal preference. But the meat was tough and stringy. The sauce was a little bland. The injera is very good. It is served on the side and the food is served on a plate by itself.

I was wary of the comments about the TV. It is, in fact, a real distraction. In a tiny room (I couldn't eat outside on a 50 degree rainy day) the TV blares. While I was there it was turned on to a horrible talk show (Dr. Keith?) and when that ended kept on for an Oreck air purifier infomercial. Meanwhile, the owners stayed in a back room. So I think the criticism of an unfortunate ambience is fair.

Please remember that I'm posting this after only a single visit but I would recommend Mudai father in on NE Broadway.

• Pros: Very friendly
• Cons: Loud TV and tough meat

03/18/07

Good vegetarian combo but...

by patatasavona

...you should definetely take it to go and be careful they tend to overcharge your card for tip even on take outs!

• Pros: vegetarian combo
• Cons: ambience

12/16/06

Very poor food, poor service

by clemmie

Two of our party of six arrived before us. They had a menu, we waited and waited for one. Finally I requested a menu and got one but the other four people who arrived with me did not. I had to explain we would each like one. Only one "drinks" menu for the six of us. No ice in the water, heaters scattered about on the floor, which I considered a fire hazard.. Bread served separately on a plate was cold, not room temperature, COLD. I ordered a meat dish. So tough I could hardly chew it. This was my first experience with Ethiopian food in Portland. There must be restaurant which serves better foood than this one. I would never go back.

Clemmie

• Pros: Sauce was tasty
• Cons: All else was below average

As traditional as Ethiopian food gets in Portland.

by Contributor

In Short
This little eatery serves its authentic dishes with injera--spongy, fermented flatbread--as well as a paper towel and a fork. Diners use injera to scoop up stew-like dishes, popping the flavor-filled bundles into their mouths. Light sauces and complex flavors--ginger, turmeric and curry, among them--surround potatoes, green beans, lentils, cabbage, carrots and a variety of meats. Plenty of vegetarian choices are available, as well as a variety of choices for meat-eaters.

10/05/06

our favorite Ethiopian restaurant

by ohaimee

We regularly get cravings for Ethiopian food and this restaurant is consistently a delight to dine in. The owner is kind and friendly and the food is always prompt and delicious. We usually order the veggie and meat combinations. So cheap for all the food you get!

• Pros: great food, wonderful service, cozy atmosphere
• Cons: none