The Blue Nile

If it feels like its been two months since you last read a Food Blog post from us, you have. Elisabeth and I were in a little production called BRIGADOON, but now that it is over, we have all the time in the world to eat and write about eating. We hope you missed us.

Tonight, Elisabeth and I celebrated the end of the year and the show with several of our good friends at The Blue Nile, an Ethiopian restaurant downtown.  It's unlike any dining experience I have ever had- they bring you huge trays of food and these light bread roll/wrap things that you tear up and scoop up the food with. It's communal dining at its best. Elisabeth and Ashley had been there together about a month ago and I've been dying to go and experience it for myself. I was NOT disappointed.

Across the street

Me, Elisabeth, Ashley, Allison, Laura, Holly, and her brother Adrian

Atmosphere: 7. The Blue Nile is beautiful- its colorful, spacious, and incorporates Ethiopian design elements. Our table was right next to the window overlooking the street, prime seating.

Service: 10. Perhaps given the fact that we were one of the only parties in the restaurant on a sleepy Monday evening contributed to this factor, but the wait staff took excellent care of us. Our waitress was constantly bringing us more food and water, we were visited by the owner of the restaurant, and they even brought us free tea at the end of our meal!

Food: 9. I don't quite know how to begin to describe how great the food was. And so different from anything else I've ever had. Included in the food tray were lentils (lots of kinds of lentils), cabbage, split yellow peas, chicken drumsticks, spicy beef, collard greens, mixed vegetables and more. We each ordered the "Ethiopian Feast" which meant an all-you- can-eat buffet. They brought us two trays for the table and for the next hour replaced all the items we had eaten with more food. So. much. food.

Before they brought the meat for the middle of the tray, and before we devoured it

This side of the table ate their seconds before we could finish our firsts... They actually lapped us twice.
L to R Elisabeth, Ashley, Allison, and Laura- who is halfway in the pic because she only half helped them

Allison loves the Blue Nile :)

IF YOU GO: Important Tip! Bring any recent UProd ticket- on the back is a 20% discount!
The Blue Nile
221 E Washington St 
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 
(734) 998-4746 
http://www.bluenilemi.com/bluenile