Blue Nile
2027 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis MN
Overall Experience: 2.5
Menu Variety: 2.0
Food Quality: 3.0
Value: 3.0
Service: 2.5
Ambiance: 2.0
When I called to see if I needed reservations, the man who answered said I was looking at “at least” a 45-minute wait, so I scheduled my party of three well in advance for 7:30pm (on a Saturday night). The restaurant was easy to find from southern St. Paul, although parking is nearly non-existent.
The entrance is on the opposite side from the parking lot of a seedy building. Two men dressed in traditional Ethiopian garb were standing outside the door smoking cigarettes. They composed the sum of the evening’s ethnic experience. Were I not escorted by two strapping, devilishly-handsome men, and if I were less fearless and it less light out, I may not have gone in. [EDIT: I should have phrased this better. The outside of the building and neighborhood are not in the most savory area and did not signal to me that an Ethiopian restaurant was inside. I was not saying I was afraid of the men smoking outside, I was saying that their wardrobe was seemingly the only Ethiopian part of my evening.]
Half of the Blue Nile is a bar. We didn’t explore that side, but it was exceptionally dark with moderately loud African music playing. A few men could be seen inside. It did not seem to be populated. (Keep in mind this is Minneapolis. On a Saturday night. There is NOTHING to do in Minneapolis except drink. Or go to the Mall of America.)
Remember that 45-minute wait? When we walked in, there was one table filled. One. There was also one person working, doubling as host and waiter. Despite the distinct lack of diners, the wait time for our drinks, our appetizer, and our meal was the longest I have experienced at any Ethiopian restaurant.
The food itself was so-so. I would suggest trying another Ethiopian restaurant in the area if you’re looking for an injera feast. I am used to a different Ethiopian food experience.
UPDATE: A Blue Nile employee has kindly cleared up a couple of my comments. I have edited the post accordingly.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
hi, I’ve been working at the Blue Nile for many years. We do not call “injeera” “banana bread.” It is called “bideena bread”, using the Oroma language, because the owner are Oromos. They choose to use Oromo words on the menu, as is their right. Sorry you didn’t hear correctly. The “American appetizers” are on the bar menu. The appetizers on the main menu are all Ethiopian.
We have abundant parking behind the building, and in that parking lot across the street, ext to that seedy building, called the Seward Co-op.
thank you for your time.
This sounds like a very good place to eat. I've never heard of it before, but will try it.
The Blue Nile is awesome. I admit that I have only had the sampler platter, but I like everything so much that I want that platter every time I go there. I have not tried the bar, but like hearing the music coming from there, and I have always been pleased with the wait staff.
And nothing to do in Minneapolis but drink and go to the mall? That assessment makes this review questionable, in my opinion. If I lived in Minneapolis, I would have trouble thinning out the things to do just looking at theater events alone.
While I do not consider the Blue Nile the best Ethiopan restaurant in the Twin Cities(Faiska in St. Paul is better), I think the reviewer was a bit harsh in her assessment. First of all, the Blue Nile is not in a bad neighborhood. There are also plenty of things to do on Minneapolis on a Saturday night besides drinking and going to the mall. I suggest the reviewer spend more time in Minneapolis before forming such harsh and innacurate opinions!
Thanks for the tip about Faiska. The Blue Nile is a quick trip for me from places I’m at in Minneapolis when i visit, but I would love to give the St. Paul place a try, too! (I’m curious what the original reviewer does for fun if she can’t find anything to do at night in Minneapolis! Maybe she is from St. Paul and Minneapolis just doesn’t measure up? ;) )