Blue Nile Restaurant

Blue Nile restaurant is located steps away from Greenwood station on Danforth Ave. The name “Blue Nile” was given to this Ethiopian restaurant after the famous and long Ethiopian river, which the locals refer to as “Abay.” The restaurant is ideally located in Toronto’s most ethnically diverse neighbourhood, which is home to a plethora of Ethiopian, Greek, and other ethnic eateries.

The restaurant offers a lovely summer terrace with wood panelling that provides enough privacy while yet allowing you to see folks walking by. The patio also has an umbrella that provides shade for up to six people. This is a great spot to visit, especially during summer, to spend a quality evening while enjoying excellent traditional Ethiopian food.

Blue Nile’s atmosphere is bright and inviting, with soft lighting and comfortable dining chairs and couches. You can spot Ethiopian artwork hung on the exposed brick walls of the restaurant’s interiors, which are trendy in décor. The restaurant’s fixtures are a mix of candlelight fixtures and pendant lampshades that never go out of style, giving the restaurant’s items a warm tint that reflects in every element of the room, creating a relaxing and energetic vibe that is ideal for a hangout night or any relaxing day with delicious Ethiopian dish.

The Ethiopian “Kitfo” is a classic Ethiopian dish that is enjoyed by both the Habesha and Canadian communities. “Kitfo” is composed of raw beef minced and marinated in Ethiopian “Mitmitah” and other Ethiopian spices, as well as a special “Kibbeh,” which is an Ethiopian butter prepared in a unique method with herbs to give it a particular flavour. Traditionally, “Kitfo” is served mostly during Ethiopian holidays, but at Blue Nile, every day is a holiday. The Kitfo is generally served with a portion of other Ethiopian foods, such as “Ayib,” a fresh cottage cheese, and “Gomen,” a collard green that has been cooked to perfection with spices and minced to make it easier to consume. Not to mention the spicy dipping sauce “Mitmitah,” which you can’t have Kitfo without. This delectable trio would be incomplete without an “Injera,” a flatbread used to scoop and wrap the ingredients before being eaten together. ” Kitfo be Ayib ena Gomen,” a Blue Nile special, is a wonderful mix of cuisine that is so distinctive to taste that you can’t afford

Blue Nile’s alcohol selection is equally as appealing as the cuisine. Wine, beer, and vodka are among the beverages available at their bar. You can spend a relaxing afternoon sitting in their comfy bar stools and ordering one of your favourite liquors while chatting with the staff that are very friendly. If you had “Kitfo” for dinner or “Tire Sega,” a glass of red wine is a must.

If you prefer your lamb cooked to perfection and full of flavour, Blue Nile’s “Tibs” is a must-try. The “Tibs” is made using beef that has been cooked perfectly till it is somewhat dry but still edible. This meal is rich in flavour, as the beef is cooked with one of Ethiopia’s best herbs and unique Ethiopian butter, along with onions and pepper slices. Blue Nile’s “Tibs” comes with a side of classic salad dressing. Like any other Ethiopian meal, it’s served with an Injera and Ethiopian reddish hot dipping sauce called “Awaze” or “Mitmitah,” which are both spicy as hell! But it’s still one of our favourite dishes that can be eaten at any time of day, even breakfast, and we recommend pairing it with “Awaze.” It’s obviously spicy, but it pairs well with Tibs and helps to balance the dish’s mild flavour.

One of the finest aspects of Ethiopian cuisine is that, as much as they enjoy meat, butter, and chicken, they equally enjoy vegetarian meals that are perfect for vegans. “Beye’aynet” is a vegetarian meal served at Blue Nile that has been meticulously prepared. Their platter comprises a small portion of several vegetarian dishes, including “Key Misir” and “Alicha Misir,” both made with lentil stew and Ethiopian “Berberè,” as well as “Ater Kik,” salad, “Gomen,” and “Fosolia” which are all packed with protein and fibre that you can try with gluten-free Injera.

Another vegetarian alternative at the Blue Nile restaurant is “Dinich Wot,” a flavorful potato stew cooked to perfection that melts in your mouth. This is ideal for any fasting tradition or if you are vegan, and even if you are not, you definitely should give it a try.

Blue Niles’ signature dish is the famed Ethiopian “Doro Wot.” This meal is a spicy chicken stew made with a lot of onions that have been cooked to perfection, chicken thighs and legs marinated in Ethiopian berbere, and a hard-boiled egg. The chicken is so tender that it falls off the bone. You should eat the meal with a piece of Injera and scoop the “Wot” with your bare hands, wrapping it tightly like seaweed in sushi. Doro Wot is one of our favourite foods in Blue Nile, and we like to break apart the hardboiled eggs with our hands, scramble them a little, and eat it with Doro Wot and Injera, Yummm!

It’s impossible to leave an Ethiopian eatery without at least a cup of coffee. Not only does Blue Nile coffee taste fantastic, but they also go all out presenting the entire Ethiopian coffee ceremony. The coffee ceremony comprises Ethiopian cups which are without cup holders, so be careful not to burn your hands. And they are arranged on the “Rekebot,” a miniature coffee table where the coffee is poured from a traditional Ethiopian coffee pot, “Jebena.”

Who’d have guessed that coffee and popcorn went so well together? Well, popcorn, or “Fendisha” in Amharic, is a decorated Ethiopian snack served with a cup of coffee during the coffee ceremony. Stop by Blue Nile if you want to truly appreciate this wonderful and unique tradition.

Ethiopian coffee ceremonies are incomplete without the use of Ethiopian incense, also known as “Itan.” Blue Nile imports their Ethiopian incense and uses it in all of their coffee ceremonies. The smoke makes the space more vibrant and warm while also filling it with a pleasant aroma; It’s a true experience.

Blue Nile’s Ethiopian coffee bean roasting technique is our ultimate favourite. Blue Nile coffee beans are imported from the best Ethiopian coffee brands and roasted in a traditional pot that you can see as it’s being made, and they’ll let you smell it when it’s done by bringing it up to your nose. It’s a tradition.

The Blue Nile is one of the best places to visit if you want to immerse yourself in Ethiopian culture. It is the finest location to be, from the friendly and pleasant ambiance to the excellent cuisine and one of the best Ethiopian coffee.