City Pages
''...
The African-restaurant scene is finally, belatedly picking up steam: Over the past couple of years, small mom-and-pop operations have been springing up all over the Twin Cities, and some, like Cedar-Riverside's Addis Ababa, show real promise. Still, the Blue Nile, the granddaddy of them all, remains ruler of the roost.
First among its many virtues is the injera: Here, the spongy flatbread made from a fermenting batter is always perfectly tender, chewy, and fresh, not cold and stale the way it is at so many lesser restaurants. Second are the oh-so-friendly combo plates, which allow us to sample widely from the carefully, imaginatively spiced dishes on the menu without spending very much at all. (In fact, if you shell out more than $12 on food here, you're showing off--most people get out the door at around $8 a head.) The clincher? The oddball Mexican/African décor (echoes of the late Montanita's) and the immeasurable benefits of a beer-and-wine license, namely the chile-slaking power of frosty beer..." >>more
AOL CityGuide - by
Guy Branum
''
Minneapolis' rapidly growing East-African community is a cultural and culinary treasure, and the Blue Nile is the place where this swinging nightlife is most accessible to the Twin Cities. Divided equally between a restaurant serving classic Ethiopian fare and a bar featuring live bands and dancing, Blue Nile caters to the complete entertainment needs of the immigrant regulars while affably initiating others into the fun..." >>more
Thrifty Hipster
''
The Blue Nile is a huge complex and offers multiple African decorated rooms and an outdoor patio. It is not your typical Minneapolis bar; it's an Ethiopian Restaurant that features live music pretty much every night that starts around 10pm. On the weekends DJ's play in the basement and it is more open for dancing (Monday= Hip-Hop, Tues. = open, Wed. = jazz, Thrus. = Reggae, Friday = African, Sat. = Live). There is usually an $8-10 cover starting mid-week and through the weekend. Most try the sampler platter which lets you try a bunch of different Ethiopian foods. Their tap beers are extensive and include: Stella Artois, New Castle, Sam Adams, Bells, and more.
..." >>more
|
