Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant & Lounge

Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant & LoungeBlue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant & Lounge
Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant & LoungeBlue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant & Lounge
Bar, Eatery

2027 E Franklin Ave
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55404-2245
United States

// CLOSED //
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.33
Reviews:
50
Ratings:
55
pDev:
7.85%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.5 by Josholson666 from Minnesota

Dec 09, 2015
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Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota

3.91/5  rDev -9.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25 | food: 3.75
When it first open i went there for the food. Then I looked at the beer menu. Go there for the beer. it has a nice funky vide and generally a good mix of people.
Jan 06, 2015
 
Rated: 5 by timlyon from Arizona

Jun 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Powderhornphil from Minnesota

Jun 15, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by mmulebarn from Minnesota

May 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by benjamincarter from Minnesota

Jan 30, 2014
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Reviewed by KarlHungus from Minnesota

4.71/5  rDev +8.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.5
Great food, awesome ever-changing beer selection, cool atmosphere, 2-4-1 happy hour taps, eclectic world music and good jazz playing overhead, good service. What else needs to be said about The Blue Nile? The selection although not massive (a dozen taps) is full of unique rotating options. They get a lot of rare beers from both local breweries, and breweries as far away as Belgium and Sri Lanka. They also put on great special events, and release parties.
Sep 15, 2013
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Reviewed by DaveAnderson from Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev -5.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 2.75
I love Blue Nile, I really do. Virtually all of my "drinking out" dollars go there. That said, it has some drawbacks that visitors should keep in mind.

Atmosphere: (Note: I am not planning to review the restaurant or the non-beer beverage selection) This is a hermit-crab establishment through and through. A great beer bar nestled in the husk of an Ethiopian restaurant, itself occupying the shell of a Mexican restaurant. If you're confused, join the crowd. It's dark, and the bar stools are of dubious integrity. The roof leaks when it rains. Patrons are a mix of neighborhood residents and beer geeks. And more, depending on what's on stage.

Yeah, there's a stage and dance floor. If there's a Reggae or Death Metal band, there's a $10 cover charge and a crowd to match the music. You can avoid the cover by getting there before 9 PM or so, which dovetails nicely with the 8-10 happy hour (more on that later). If there is no stage act, the music is likely to be jazz, especially in the afternoon.

Quality/Selection: The bar manager is fellow BA feloniousmonk: ask for Al. Al maintains 12 tap lines, of which none are wasted. Typically, 6 are dedicated to pints (mostly local), and 6 to the more expensive beers. The latter typically include some hard-to-find Belgians and special releases from local breweries. As proud owner of Surly invoice #3 and Harriet invoice #1, Blue Nile has an unsurpassed relationship with those two breweries, and only takes their beers off-tap during special events.

The bottle list is not huge, but it has some gems, and you never get gouged on price. I drank more than my share of barrel-aged Gonzo at $6.25 a bottle last year.

Service: The staff love customers who love beer. They are as friendly as you are. Chat them up, and you'll get great service.

Food: There is a restaurant menu and a bar menu. I consider the Ethiopian fare acceptable, but below par for the city. The bar menu has two gems, however: the Shwarma sandwich and the wings. Big and meaty, these are not BW3 wings.

Value: Blue Nile has two happy hours every day: 4-6 PM and 8-10 PM. Buy any draft beer and get one of the pints for free. As in: Buy a Cuvée Des Jacobins Rouge for $7, get a free pint of Furious. That kind of thing.

All-in-all, it's a great place to drink and talk beer. Plus, it's quite close to a light rail station, in case you have one too many.
Aug 13, 2013
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Reviewed by Hopsiam14 from Minnesota

4.31/5  rDev -0.5%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4.75
The Blue Nile doesn't have a ton of beer options. Other places in town such as Stubs or the Happy Gnome have a lot more choice. With that said, the Nile has some great quality in their tap list and they are always moving through to new and more interesting options. The food is also fantastic if you are up for Ethiopian. Definitely a fun place to visit if you are from out of town.
Jan 24, 2013
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Reviewed by drpimento from Wisconsin

4.33/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Had an excellent couple of brews here couple with the same quality service, food, and music. Lights were a bit bright, but other wise great setting. Waitress had a great attitude, fast, and helpful with food. Didn’t speak much of beer. Food was exemplarary though a touch pricey. Beers were good and of good value; although, the draft selection was weighted towards Belgians and IPAs. Bottle selections are similar; however, there are some pale lagers, wheat brews, and some dark, rich choices. I’ll return someday. Was a perfect celebration for the renewal of my passport!
Aug 02, 2012
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Reviewed by sacrelicio from Minnesota

4/5  rDev -7.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 5 | food: 4
Solid, fun place to get a few beers or have some good food.

The atmosphere is that of an Ethiopian restaurant, so it is fairly standard for what I imagine an Ethiopian restaurant to be. That said, it is pretty damn cool overall.

The quality and selection is great, always interesting things on tap. Not a huge selection but always the specialty Surly beers and a nice rotation of Belgians. One thing I really like is that they do alot of theme nights with their taps (like a stout and porter fest which was awesome, among others like Belgian fest and a IPA/hops fest). Unusual stuff pops up all the time their too.

Service is average usually I have had a few nights where it has taken a long time to get a beer. That said, I do tend to go when it is busy. Service on release nights tends to be gruff and poor, though.

Food is good from what I remember. I only had it once but it was solid.

I like that they host parties for local brewery releases and they have all sorts of music and entertainment most nights of the week.
Jan 30, 2012
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Reviewed by FightingEntropy from Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +9.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
After years of going to the Blue Nile, I'm finally doing a review after attending last night's Battle of the Belg. I didn't try them all, but filled in my list with a few new beers. Last night's sampling included De Ranke XX Bitter and Harriet Brewing Dark Abbey. Both fine ales, but in different categories for the head to head format of the tasting. Tried both Epic Brainless on Cherries and Kasteel Rouge in the fruit category to finish the night--for me, Kasteel wins hands down, but I walked away with more respect for the Epic ale than I had when I tasted the bottle last fall.

Over the years, I've added 50 new drafts to my list with excellent beers ranging from St. Amand French Country Ale to Boulder's Killer Penguin, and many of those--like Monk's Flemish Ale--are difficult to find other places. Since I live over 20 miles from the Nile, I'm an irregular regular at best. But it's always a treat when I do. Bar manager Al McCarty--aka feloniousmonk--always does a fine job of not only bringing in great beer, but you know that the beer is always going to be well served in its proper glass. The beer you're drinking is the beer the brewery wanted you to drink. For me, there's no greater compliment.

Food is excellent as well. My favorite meal is from the bar menu, and is the falafel sandwich, made with simple, fresh ingredients makes it my usual. I've tried the range of vegetarian options of authentic Ethiopian food and have enjoyed them all. While the menu may be new to many, the descriptions of the food and the help from the servers makes ordering and indulging accessible for everyone.

In short, if you haven't tried the Blue Nile and stopped in to say hi to Al, you are missing out of one the most unique beer spots anywhere. When I belly up to the bar for a special event or walk in for a Saturday afternoon pint, I simply ask Al--what am I drinking today? And, I'm never disappointed.
Oct 16, 2011
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Reviewed by arniepnminne from Minnesota

4.6/5  rDev +6.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 3.5
My first visit to The Blue Nile was Surly Four release in Feb. 2010...I think it was Feb. Al and his crew had their hands full with the amount of people that night. Since then, The Blue Nile has been my favorite beer bar. Happy hour(2 for 1's) from 4-6pm and 8-10 pm every day of the year. You cannot beat that! Al always has great offerings on tap. Usually puts together a Belgian Beer week or Hops week. Top notch! Servers are all kind and knowledgeable. Al is a hell of a guy as well!

If I could recommend a few changes to The Blue Nile they would be...install a NEW roof. Too much rain water during big storms. After the roof is fixed, add 4 larger TV's that display the MN Twins games. Otherwise, everything is great.

Of all the beer joints in Minneapolis this is one of my favorite locations to enjoy great beer and conversations with my MN friends!

Jesse
Jul 22, 2011
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Reviewed by corcoranjc from Minnesota

4.28/5  rDev -1.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
AHHH....The Blue Nile...Great Beer, Excellent Ethiopian Food, Beer, Ethiopian Food, Beer, Ethiopian Food.

What an excellent, unique, and cool place. Every time I've been to the Blue Nile has been a treat and a bit of surprise. You can go to the restaurant and have a wonderful, upscale Ethiopian meal, or you can go to the bar for a completely different but no less excellent experience. the place is huge, and the owners have a done a great job keeping the restaurant and bar separate but still accessible to one another. There is even a stage area for live performances (I haven't caught one yet, but I've heard great things).

Since this is BeerAdvocate, I should probably write a bit about the beverages at the Blue Nile. The selection shifts pretty frequently, but it's always good, and the management does a nice job of having excellent local and regional offerings as well as great imports. this is really a must see spot.
Feb 17, 2011
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Reviewed by kbutler1 from Minnesota

3.35/5  rDev -22.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
FIRST EXPERIENCE:
Ok, first experience was the Surly Four release. Was really surprised to find how big the place was. And they were BUSY! I don't think they anticipated how many people would come out for the Four release. The bartenders were honestly rude and seemed bothered that people were there. I got 2 Surly Fours and they filled the pint glasses up about 75%. That is piss poor in my opinion and not representative of what Omar and the folks at Surly would want to see. The release of Darkness at Hell's Kitchen was much better than this. Too bad the staff at Blue Nile didn't have the same respect and enthusiasm for Surly that Hell's Kitchen had.
I still want to go back and check them out as I think they may have just had an "off" night the first time I visited. Only time will tell if Blue Nile is place I choose to spend my money.

SUBSEQUENT VISITS:
As I hadn't written off The Blue Nile completely after the first visit, I have been back several times to enjoy some beers and food. The tap list is pretty nice with a good selection of Surly and other fine beers. The service was fine. My girlfriend ordered an appetizer and it arrived in decent time and was pretty tasty.

The twin cities has lots of options for beer bars and as such Blue Nile has some stiff competition (Happy Gnome, Muddy Pig, Town Hall, Town Hall Tap, The Bulldog, Acadia, Sub & Herbs, Pracna, etc) in that respect, but if you want some Ethiopian food AND good beer, then hell, you really only have 1 choice.
Feb 24, 2010
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Reviewed by MPLS from Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev -5.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
Overall this place has a great atmosphere with every changing nightlife. During the daytime happy hour it's relaxed and an environment well suited for great conversation. The bar is my primary spot, but there is seating in their "entertainment" room. I find the building decor to be a bit tacky and not entirely to my liking, but that doesn't change the bar.

The quality of beer is great, always served in an appropriate glass and always tastes right. They seem to take care of their taps at this place. That might be credited to their bar manager.

The selection is pretty variable at this place, overall it's pretty decent. They have a good relationship with Surly and occasionally get some of the rarer kegs in town. It's typically advertised and runs out quickly unfortunately. I had the pleasure of drinking Darkness from various vintages numerous times at this bar.

The service at the bar is exceptional, but falls a little short with the servers.

The food is primarily Ethiopian and is probably good for it's style, but it stills seems overpriced. There twice a day happy hour makes up for the food pricing though.
Feb 09, 2010
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Reviewed by mdwalsh from Iowa

4.28/5  rDev -1.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4
Al is a great guy and Blue Nile is a place I intend to go again. It was our last stop on our tour de beer in the twin cities. Tons of Surly on tap, served in Darkness tulips, very classy. Tap list is updated on the website and was accurate, another plus. Its a bit of a downer that it doesn't open until 4 pm, but there was no one in there when we arrived, so I can see why they don't bother to. The owner/manager(?) is a BA and should be contacted before you go to see when he'll be there. Not the easiest place to find, but close to the freeway and worth the trip.
Dec 06, 2009
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Reviewed by jera1350 from Minnesota

4.66/5  rDev +7.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
If judging by the parking lot and building itself, this is one of the last places you would suspect to have a great beer bar. Once at the bar though you will quickly discover the goodies to be had. I was there for the start of the 20th Anniversary Celebration. On this weekend, all of the taps were local brews including several different Surly's including Wet, some Schell's, Flat Earth and Summit. They also had a cask of Summit Oatmeal Stout dry hopped with Fuggles. Al knows his beer and provides great service. Also, they offer happy hour two for one's from 4-6 and then again later in the evening. I will have to try the food next time I'm in. All in all a great place to get some quality beer.
Oct 11, 2009
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Reviewed by Erdinger2003 from Iowa

4.63/5  rDev +6.9%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
I walked in to a nice lounge bar with a bar in the middle of the room and chairs on all sides (like cheers :). Then was escorted into the resaurant seating area where I ordered some of my first Ethiopian food and Furious on tap. Great service as the beer and the food came timely-I'm glad I came on a Saturday night that was fairly slow I guess? The beer was great, the food was amazing. Not unlike some Indian foods, but different spices. Had a good time here and hope to visit and have more great experiences.
Sep 22, 2009
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Reviewed by kbaker91 from Minnesota

4.41/5  rDev +1.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
Visited the Blue Nile Saturday for the 'Hop Heads Only' event put on by the staff. It was my first time visiting the establishment, and the Nile lived up to the glowing reviews I had seen in the past here on Beerfly.

It is located on a somewhat sketchy area of Franklin Ave, near Cedar, which is one reason this place hadn't been on my radar before. The bar area of the restaurant is roomy, with a couple of dance/band areas off to the side. The dining area looks spacious as well. The Blue Nile also features a lovely patio in the back.

The beer selection was top-notch, which one would expect given the fact that they were hosting such a great event. Many American IPA & DIPA taps such as Hopsickle, Maharaja, and 16 Grit were included, along with a few hoppy Belgians. Three cask brews (Summit Red, Bitter Brewer, & Bubblejack) were also tapped on the patio. From viewing the website, the regular beer lineup appears to be outstanding as well.

The staff were top-notch, all enthusiastic and knowledgable about the beers they were serving. They also were very personable, joking around with the customers and answering questions about both the beers and the tasting setup.

I was there too early to eat, they hadn't started serving yet so I cannot comment on the food.

Prices were fair & reasonable.

Overall, this is a place that hadn't been on my radar before this weekend, mainly because of the location and the fact that I do not care much for the style of cuisine. I will not make this mistake any more, as I had a blast at the Blue Nile. Looking forward to their next beer event, or just the next weekend to belly up and have some incredible beers.
Jun 01, 2009
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Reviewed by BearsSox from Wisconsin

4.1/5  rDev -5.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
I love the Blue Nile. Al manages to make this place a rock-solid beer bar despite not having a ton of tap lines. There is always something (usually several somethings) interesting on tap, they do a lot of events (release parties, big beer nights, and the like), and the bottle list is stellar, as well. Good prices, the right glassware, usually some good music playing, and a pretty festive (but not loud) atmosphere.

If you need a drink, you can
Call Al
He'll get you some beer that will
Taste good
Served with a smile and some cheeer!

(set to the tune of "Call Me," originally by Burt Bacharach)
Mar 31, 2009
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Reviewed by AdmiralDiaz from Minnesota

4.47/5  rDev +3.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
Like everyone else I was at Blue Nile for the Surly release party. It goes without saying that the bar was crowded. I found that the high amount of people actually enhanced the atmosphere, mostly because almost everyone there was there for the Surly. The restaurant itself was very nice quality.
The bartenders are very friendly and work their hardest to serve you as fast as possible. From what I noticed the selection was very good, however I was very focused on the Surly.
Very good food, I only got a burger but my party got some middle eastern food that was fantastic!
Overall amazing, one of the best in the cities!
Feb 12, 2009
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Reviewed by natasharai from Minnesota

4.3/5  rDev -0.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
I went to the Blue Nile for the Surly Three release party. It was pretty crowded as I expected it would be. They have a great selection of beer, and the food was really good! I had the Gosa Gosa which was delicious! The atmosphere was great! There is a really big center bar and tables around the rest of the bar area. The only complaint I would have is that they needed more seating, but it was pretty busy so that is expected. They had an area for a band, I would love to go back when they have live music! The service was surprisingly good for how busy it was, I didn't have to wait very long to get a drink, and the food came out pretty quickly. I would definitely recommend this bar to anyone looking for a good beer bar, or a place to get some good Ethiopian food.
Feb 12, 2009
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Reviewed by br3wmeister from Colorado

4.38/5  rDev +1.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Some of my friends and I went to the Blue Nile last night for the Surly Three release. It is conveniently located close to the light rail so it was really easy to get there and I did not have to worry about driving. The blue Nile is really nicely decorated and is a cool place to hang out. It was a little busy and difficult to find a place to sit at the bar, but we eventually found a table. There were several Surly beers on tap along with some other great offerings, also a great bottle selection. The service was a little slow mainly because it was so busy. We ended up getting several beers and an appetizer which was fantastic, this is a great place to come to try some Mideastern food. Over all this was a pretty fun place to get some drinks an eat some good food. I will definitely be going back soon.
Feb 12, 2009
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Reviewed by josephhaugen from Washington

4.4/5  rDev +1.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Finally made it down here, after many failed attempts. The first thing that hits me is the smell, that combined with the decor for some reason took me back to Turkey, or maybe east Africa, but that is not the point. The layout is nice, and Al has some kickin beers on tap. Hopslam, Bells TC Old Ale 06, N'Ice Chouffe, Surly Furious, Surly Mild, Surly Bender, and more that I can't recal. Good pricing on the beers as well. I only paid $4.50 for the Mild, which compared to some other high end establishments is pretty good, and the high end Belgians were capped at like $8-9. The food was superb as well, and took me back to areas I have not traveled to in a little while. Try the Gosa Gosa (appetizer sampler?) platter if you are aprehensive (my wife is the pickiest eater ever, and she liked it.) All in all a great experience, although the music wasn't quite my bag.

Edit: After a visit for Al's B-day the score has to go up, as he had Oak Aged Cynic!
Dec 19, 2008
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Reviewed by jjanega08 from Minnesota

4.8/5  rDev +10.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
Great little place. When I went I could tell they were into beer. It was quiet and comfortable. I had a glass of darkness there and as I was reviewing the beer the bartender cheerfully asked me if I was reviewing which made me smile. I was impressed with the prices as well as the selection of beer from all over the world. They had a nice stage for a band to play on as well. Overall an exellent place! I wouldn't change a thing. Even the way everything looked as cool all the way to the outside of the building. Truely a place for a ba
Nov 26, 2008
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Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)

4.06/5  rDev -6.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
A bit off the beaten track, this is known as Al's place ("Felociounosmonk"), the Food & Beverage manager who made a stand of commitment to make a craft beer scene in the city. This is a relaxing bar, and a huge one. You can sit on sofas and relax, this is not a metal and glass place. Just missing a fireplace. And you can come for the bar alone, as several people did on a cold Monday night. Roy and Al know their beer, and the selection is good for quality, with the right glass served. The music allows for conversation, and is the world of Black music for around the world, soulful and relaxing. Note: Only open at 4 pm, and extra points for being one of the last places (because of extra kegs) wth Darkness.
Nov 19, 2008
Photo of benito
Reviewed by benito from Oregon

3.7/5  rDev -14.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
As others have noted, the Blue Nile is really an Ethiopian restaurant (and an average one at that) with an impressive tap selection.

The interior of the restaurant is spacious, dark, even maze-like, and there's a nice outdoor patio to boot. When I visited, the taps were less diverse than what some other reviewers have noted: there were three Surly taps (Cynic, Bender, Furious), Bell's Oberon, Lion Stout, Grain Belt Premium, Southern Tier Heavy Weizen, and Goose Island Matilda. The prices on all the pints were reasonable, though I arrived a little too late for the two-for-one happy hour special.

The food was fair; even though I hadn't had Ethiopian cuisine in a while, I recognized that this didn't live up to some of the food carts that I used to eat from in New Haven--more spice next time, please! The combination plates, however, are well priced and give you the perfect amount of food, somethig that can't be said of many restaurants. Here's kudos for cutting down on waste!

I love the combination of non-traditional cuisines and beer, and Ethiopian food does seem to pair well with beer (or CynicAle at least). The Blue Nile is not the end-all-be-all of ethnic beerstraunts, but it is a good place to start. It's also only a mile or so from the Town Hall Brewery.
Aug 19, 2008
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Reviewed by DaPeculierDane from Wisconsin

3.6/5  rDev -16.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 1
Visited for Al's 40th. Great taps and great people were the highlights.

Atmosphere: Let's start with the neighborhood. On the way there my Somali driver was nice enough to point out a drug deal going on in broad daylight. I didn't get a chance to ask the driver if he thought it was for Qat or Crack because a few moments after passing the hoppers we arrived at our destination. A large patio grabbed my attention since it was a beautiful evening to watch the sun set behind illicit drug sales but alas, I knew that the action would be at the bar.

Inside I was surprised to find a sprawling space with many rooms for eating and drinking along with a small stage for bands. There appeared to be a large dancehall club in the basement. The bar area was kept dark and gave off a blue tone (very nice) while the restaurant was bright, colorful, and well lit.

Beer: Obviously, Al's birthday was a special occasion but I'm sure that the selection here is always great. That night I drank Two, Cask Oaked Cynic, Cynic, Russ River IPA, Scurvy, Cask Two Hearted, and a few others. Prices were a steal.

Service: In the bar service was good, friendly, and obviously they know their trade. In the restaurant, service was non-existent. After being seated, our table of seven waited 15 minutes but was not approached. We grabbed the attention of a server and she promised to send someone over. Ten minutes later we still hadn't been approached so we grabbed the same young server again and she agreed to take our order (I think after cursing her co-workers under her breath). An eternity our food arrived, and even though by now the restaurant was almost empty, service was still terrible. Getting a drink order in took far too long.

Food: Without any doubt in my mind, Blue Nile served the very worst Ethiopian food I have ever had in my life (and I've had some pretty bad Ethiopian food). We ordered two large meat combos (all wat dishes) and two veggie combos. The veggie dishes were anything but. We received 3 lentil dishes and although they were different colors, they largely tasted the same (and not very good), and one pink bean dish that I actually enjoyed quite a bit. Still, no Alecha, no greens? The meat dishes were also disappointing. Their version of Dorowat for example was spiced almost entirely with cheap, generic paprika and tasted terrible. The chicken itself was cooked so much as to be nearly inedible. None of the dishes used Berbere as I know and love it and Tibs and Kitfo dishes weren't even an option in such combos, nor do I think they would have been good if they were served. Avoid eating here. In fact, just avoid the restaurant all together and stay in the bar.

Not wanting to end on a down note, I will reiterate that the Blue Nile has a great selection, and interesting atmosphere, and top notch bar staff. I won't be eating there again but I will certainly be drinking.
Jul 15, 2008
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Reviewed by Beerking721 from Minnesota

4.94/5  rDev +14.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Visited for Al's birthday and prior to that, the Darkness release last October 30.

This is a cool place that offers loads of surprises. The bar is set toward the front of the restaurant and offers an exotic feel due to the finish and appearance of their decorating.

Make no mistake... this is Al's house and as such, he is committed to offering a number of fine imports and high-end domestics on tap and FRESH! Service is friendly and fast and on top of that, there always seems to be at least one or two fellow BA's to share some great conversation with.

A great place to visit with a commitment to be a leader in the local bar scene. Great job Al!
Jul 04, 2008
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Reviewed by leftmindedrighty from New Jersey

4.44/5  rDev +2.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Stopped into the Blue Nile after having dinner at Town Hall.

My main reason for visiting here was to catch Surly on tap. And low and behold, I walked into find three Surly beers on tap. With the exception of a young lady, I was the only person at the bar. Which is always nice when you just want to relax and drink some great beer. The bartender was very friendly and beer-savvy.

I had come on happy hour, which meant 2-for-1 beers. They had Surly's Bitter Brewer on tap, which was awesome, as previously in the day I learned that it hadn't been canned yet. I had a pint of that, plus a pint each of the Furious and Bender before I left. And I loved that they were served into Surly nonic glasses. Just a great touch that made the beer that much more enjoyable.

I really enjoyed humming the scenery of the Blue Nile, and can't wait to go back. Awesome beer, great staff, and a very unique atmosphere.
Jun 24, 2008
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Reviewed by mnstorm99 from Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev -5.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
This is a great place and Al is always changing up his taps. Atmosphere is good, but maybe a little stuffy, and old school. but the quality is spot on, well cared for beers some of which Al ages on his own. Service is always good, although I have only been in the bar, but even if Al isn't there the bartender always seems pretty knowledgeable about what is going on. Selection is nice for the few taps they have, they always keep a decent mix going. And the food is always very good.

Will be back, and the two for one happy hour is always a must stop when in the area.
Apr 16, 2008
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Reviewed by Deuane from Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +2.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
I learned about Blue Nile through beeradvocate.com, where feloniousmonk (a.k.a. Al), the bar manager, is a frequent poster. I made two vists during our trip...one on the first day and one on my last...before I head off to the airport. I had promised Al I would be back and I did not want to disappoint!

One might not think to go there - an Ethiopian and Middle Eastern restaurant by design - for microbrew selections, but it is most definitely a destination for beer travelers. And since we arrived during Happy Hour (4-6 PM) we enjoyed 2 for 1 beers along with the company of Al.

On tap right now are three Surly beers (Two, Furious and Bender), Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence, Brau Brothers Scotch Ale, Summit Grain Belt, Lion Stout, Bell's Consecrator Dopplebock and a few others that I just don't remember. There is also a very nice selection of bottled beers if one is so inclined.

Al told us a lot about what he's lining up, the interesting music visitors can enjoy (including hip-hop, jazz, reggae, and African bands), and the background of the owners and how their Oromo heritage influences the menu. We ordered appetizers. I did not note the names, but one was like a samosa but made with lentils and served with a really interesting hot sauce and the other was a really tasty Baba Ghanoush served with warm pita triangles.

Both times I/we were in the lounge area....but from what I saw the dining area looks very interesting.

I was most impressed with what Al is trying to and seems to be succeeding at doing here. I hope more people come out, have a few good beers and try some great ethnic food!
Mar 30, 2008
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Reviewed by jokelahoma from Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +3.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4
Strictly speaking, I guess this isn't really a beer bar, since it's technically a lounge within an Ethiopian restaurant, but man am I glad this is listed! I got a chance to come in on a fairly slow Wednesday and talk to FeloniousMonk as he was working the bar.

This is a nice little place on a street corner in a quasi-residential neighborhood. At least I parked in front of houses to get to it, so that seems quasi-residential to me. The bright colors on the outside of the building make it hard to miss. Once parked, as you enter the place the bar is off to your right, as others have said. Again, pretty impossible to miss. A pretty good sized lounge area, with seating at the bar in the round, tables to the side, and even couches off in the corner for those who want to drink in comfort.

The taps were all great. There are ten at the moment, with three (3) from Surly, a Summit, a Bell's seasonal rotational, a peated Scotch ale from elsewhere in Minnesota, etc. They've done a remarkable job finding and promoting local Minnesota and regional beers here. I enjoyed the lineup, and that was made better by the fact they have a 2 for 1 happy hour. Being from Kansas, any happy hour that is allowed to actually involve alcohol pricing (as opposed to "Get 35 chips with your nachos instead of the usual 33 for the same price!!!") is welcome news to me!

The place is decorated like the rest of the restaurant, in vaguely African (specifically Ethiipian, obviously) themes. That doesn't distract at all from the beer. The smells from the restaurant can, if you let them. Spicy Ethiopian dishes with strong odors can waft into the bar from time to time, making a good inhale of your brew difficult, but certainly not impossible. It would be different if the food smelled bad, but it was appetizing as hell. I ordered nothing, having eaten at Town Hall earlier, but the prices looked pretty inexpensive for what you get.

Service wasn't an issue for me, since I was chatting up the bar god. If one can't get good service that way, there's no hope for the place. As it was, I was taken care of remarkably well, and enjoyed every minute of it. I imbibed upon the the Surly Furious (reviewed), Surly Bender (reviewed), a Brau Brothers Scotch Ale (not reviewed because I couldn't get my brain around what they were going for... peated malt? Seriously?), a Surly Two, and another Surly Two (not reviewed, because I was getting pretty damned drunk at that point). Better yet was the conversation.

This is a very nice place with a very good selection well worth seeking out. They work hard to bring the best beer to the area and deserve to be reqarded with business. If you're going to be in Minneapolis, it's well worth the visit to get over here. Great service, great beer, great atmosphere. Hard to go wrong. Look 'em up. You'll be glad you did.
Mar 20, 2008
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Reviewed by ryantupy from Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev -5.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3
I finally made it out to the Blue Nile for a Surlys release of Two. I instantly enjoyed the coziness of the bar and size. The bar has a great offering of beers on tap and bottled. I was suprised to see the beer being served in the proper glassware. You dont get that everywhere you go. The service was slow but the bar was packed with loyal Surly fans awaiting Surlys next masterpiece. Our waiter did his honest best to serve us as quickly as possible. Considering the size of the crowd, I think the entire bar staff did a great job. The food was interesting to say the least. I found most offerings did not pair well with most beers on tap. But the tray we ordered was good and very spicy. I would go back for a few drinks anytime.
Feb 17, 2008
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Reviewed by brdc from Wisconsin

4.64/5  rDev +7.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
Very interesting place. Nice bar close to the entrance, and in the back tables and the stage with good music from a Togo band.
The bar has a very good beer selection. Although I only partook from the on-tap, very fresh brews, there is also an extesnive bottle list.
On tap four different Surlys (including Bitter Brewer and Cynic), Rodenbach plus additional "local" stuff, Russian River and Flat Earth among them.
Food looked very good with some unusual items that are probably worth trying, but I concentrated on the beer.
Service is just exceptional; everybody is friendly and knowledgeable. And then the Monk, which is in my humble opinion enough reason to visit the place. Very knowledgeable and pleasant, a great company, a craftbeer encyclopedia.

All in all a very plesant place, one that I will definitely go back whenever I have a chance.
Jun 22, 2007
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Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

4.56/5  rDev +5.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4
The entrance was on South 21st Avenue, off of East Franklin Street and as I entered through the ornate wood door, the m.d.s. was straight ahead with the lounge down a passageway to the right. Remaining in the central passageway, the washrooms were on the left, just opposite of the bar/lounge area. Past the washrooms and still on the left was a staircase leading down to an extensive dance floor with its own DJ booth and a separate bar, well off to the left. At the extreme end of the central passageway was the restaurant area with its attendant tables and chairs. The opulence of the restaurant area made me want to fulfill F.M.’s wish to have a meal there, but I ran out of time before I could do so. The kitchen was all of the way aft, past the bar area.

The lounge was a wide space with a stage in the front, a large seating area with sofas and chairs off to the right, and an extensive bar just left of center. This was where FeloniousMonk, held court. I know from personal experience that F.M. takes great pride in the running of the bar. Physically, it is a raised black bakelite affair with stainless steel as its rail. They featured nine taps and each one was given great consideration as to which beer to have on. During my visit, it was two Bell’s; all three Surlys; Lake Superior Mesabi Red; a Summit; Grotten Brown; and PBR.
Jan 02, 2007
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Reviewed by Chaz from Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev -4.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 5
In the location formerly known as Montanita's, this pan-African cultural mecca cum better beer bar might seem at sorts with its surroundings from time to time. But don't let neo-Spanish colonial wrought iron stylings fool you: when The Blue Nile relocated from its original Lake and Lyndale home it brought with it the know-how and recipes that had made it a standout even in the trendy, worldly Lyn-Lake area. The second (and presumably permanent) location is a far cry from the veritable hole-in-the-wall on Lyndale that spawned them. A very spacious building, with four separate rooms whose functional roles range from the main dining and performance area (which adjoins the bar) to a basement special events and performance space. There's also a small lounge area which is literally stage left, with a couch and easy chairs - I often see this occupied by the neighborhood's numerous college kids during happy hour. Live music is a staple at The Blue Nile, and chances are you'll be able to enjoy it on your visit (cover charges apply, so be aware of that.) I would like to encourage those who come for the beer to stay for the food, the entertainment, and the atmosphere. The food is Ethiopian cuisine, which due to its own service style and portioning is a very unique experience in a town filled with Asian buffets, sports bars, and a growing numbers of taquerias. If you can somehow manage to ignore the aromas of fried food and spices that permeate this place you are a lot more focused than I, for everytime I visit The Blue Nile I get hunger pangs for their exotic-yet-comforting offerings. Of particular interest is the wide variety of vegetarian menu items available, from appetizers to multiple-dish samplers. Their meat entrees are far more adventureous than the burgers/steaks/chops which make up the bulk of American casual dining. The live music is pan-African, which includes everything from Caribbean to African continental stylings, and yes . . . Reggaeton (I'm still not sure I buy that as a separate style though : ) Longtime local Reggae standard bearers Les Exodus have played at this venue for years, and I have enjoyed many a brew while listening to them. Hip-Hop and spoken word have also found a home here, and even college rockers and deejays have enjoyed their respective nights in the past. All of this speaks volumes about the atmosphere of the place itself. The Blue Nile is the most integrated restaurant and bar in the surrounding area, which is home to the largest community of Somalian and East African immigrants in the Twin Cities metro area. And when I say "integrated" I'm not trying to conjure up images of America's fractious political past, but am instead trying to describe the very real nature of our celebrated 'melting pot' culture: there are almost none of the difficulties in cultural adjustment to be found here where elsewhere they are notable. Instead, I've had wonderful conversations with Americans of African birth, and these have served to strengthen my appreciation of our own rich cultural fabric.

And before I forget - the beer.

Bartender Al "Felonius Monk" McCarty has taken great pains over the years to serve beer in the proper glassware, to rotate a number of better-than-average offerings, and to mind his draught lines regularly. This focus alone would make The Blue Nile worthy of a visit while in town, but it shouldn't be the only reason. Al is often on hand to offer both suggestions and pairings, and when he's not around there are several other staff members that follow his lead: customer service and server attitude, whether ordering at the bar or from a table, is friendly, knowledgable, and above average. I would like to note the value of the entrees in relation to price: on my most recent visit I shared a two-part vegetarian sampler plate (listed on the menu as an entree serving "One Person") with my roommate, and along with a couple of beers we were quite full by the time we left! By comparison to a lot of bars and restaurants I could mention by name, The Blue Nile is a genuine bargain. Granted that Happy Hour prices were in effect when we first arrived, but overall this place offers you plenty of bang for the buck.
Dec 19, 2006
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Reviewed by dfried from Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev +2.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I first visited the Blue Nile a couple years ago to see some of my friends' band play. I was still getting into craft beer at the time, and I was impressed that they had a couple of Bell's selections I really liked, not really noticing much else.

Now that I am a bit more beer savvy, I wonder what I missed. This place has exceptional quality beer. There are about 10 taps, and a decent bottle list, so the selection isn't the greatest, but since they will have something new and dank every couple weeks it seems, it's been worth stopping in there a bit more now than I used to. Things like Victory's St. Victorious Doppelbock, He'Brew Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A., and usually a good Belgian or two are what keep me coming back, they are not common, even at some of the other good beer bars around the cities. And if you aren’t feeling adventurous, they have all of your local favorites as well (*cough* all three Surlys at the time of this review *cough* and Two Hearted Ale and Oberon *cough cough*).

The atmosphere here varies quite a bit. There are times you can walk in at 10pm and be one of two people at the bar. Then again it can be busy as hell on a random week night. They get a very diverse crowd in there too, they have shows that vary from pop-punk, indie music, hip hop nights, to poetry nights, to reggae nights. And with the good beer they serve there it's really easy to run into fellow beer lovers and talk beer.

I havn't tried every dish, and I am no expert on African food, but I have really liked all of the food I have tried there, it seems very authentic, not a cheap rip-off. They have a bar appitizer menu too if ethnic food isn't your thing.

The service there is nice, astute, and fairly knowledgeable, a bit above average all in all, unless the bar manager Al (a.k.a. feloniousmonk on BA.com) is helping you. Then it is outstanding. He knows a ton about beer, and he keeps an optimistic and explorative approach about it. Always want's to make sure you are having a good time, and your beer stays full. He doesn't try to dazzle you with knowledge either, he just wants you to enjoy it. The first time I met him he was giving away glasses of a dry hopped batch of Furious at a Surly promo at the Nile. What a guy!
Jul 17, 2006
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Reviewed by DarkerTheBetter from Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
I came here for stage one of the 2006 summer MN BA bar crawl. I showed up early with my girlfriend, BA SMF and his wife, and my buddy, Steve who has yet to join BA because he’s currently suffering from a World of War Craft addiction.

The outside of the building has a really groovy mural on it, and the door is located in the lower left-hand corner of said mural. Once inside, the place seems to be split up with the bar/lounge area on the right, and the dining room in the far back left. Since we ate first, I’ll start with the dining area. The first thing I noticed about this place was how much the tables were spread out. It was really compartmentalized here too, so each table had it’s own little area to it. This was a greatly appreciated effect that made the dining experience all the more enjoyable. The walls were a pale stucco and there was ample wrought iron metal work to lend a very stylish look to the place. I’m guessing that this was from a earlier theme from the building’s career, but it went well with the African decorations that were up now. Moving onto the bar side, it is a long rectangle with plenty of seating and small tables along the far wall. Towards the front of the building were some couches and stuffed chairs for a more intimate and cozy setting. This side of the building was disproportionately dark, but it worked all right.

For dinner we tried one of the sampler trays. It came out on a large flat dish. On the bottom was a large pancake-like piece of bread and on top were several different mounds of creamy stuff of different colors and textures. Our server pointed out which was which but I forgot instantly. The one rule I remembered was that the more red one’s were spicier. To eat these little piles, we were each given an additional giant pancakes which we would tear little pieces off of to scoop up the goo. It was both tasty and a lot of fun to eat. I must say, the lady friend and me had been up since 0400 from out plane ride from Philly, we were eating some powerfully spicy foods and we were trying to sample all of the Surly offerings, so we were sleep deprived, eating really spicy foods and buzzing. This made for a very odd but enjoyable altered state of consciousness.

The service was all right. Our server was quick to fill up our waters and no one was without a beer for long at all. The service at the bar was nothing short of legendary thanks to Al (BA feloniousmonk) who served up drinks for our gathering. Too bad he couldn’t join us for the rest of the crawl as he was stuck behind the bar for the night. On tap was the triad of Surly and a new one from the He’brew people. I got a sample in a snifter so I didn’t take any notes, but it was hot! That’s a boozy one for sure. The rest of the taps were remarkable as well. They’re definitely going for quality over quantity here.

The food here’s awesome and the taps are very thoughtful. I strongly recommend checking this place out for both the African dining experience and the taps.
Jul 17, 2006
Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant & Lounge in Minneapolis, MN
Place rating: 4.33 out of 5 with 55 ratings