I was amazed at how much Ethiopian and Indian cuisine have in common. Yellow dal - Yekik Watt Shimbera Watt - Channa Masala Misir Watt - Rajma Sambusa - Samosa with cabbage and lentil filling That sort, some spices differ but basically its the same. Order included mango juice, which the girl said is made with real fruits. I didn't believe it. Then there was the ginger root juice- costing exactly same- it didn't make sense to me. Update: Received a msg from Daniel F- Owner, he reconfirmed that all their juices are made with actual fruit. Updating rating as well. For the main course got the 4 vegetable plate- the 4 sides we chose were collard greens, yellow dal, potato and cabbage, and beans and carrot, all this comes with the Ethiopian bread supposedly made with wheat and barley. Its located in the City Market , one of the popular destinations for farmers market on a weekend- today is Saturday Deal breaker - there was a long strand of hair on one of the plates. It was on top and was easily removed from the food but it still bothered me :( read more

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10/10 -- So gooooooood! The sampler is definitely enough for 2 people. The sambosas were also delicious. read more

Blue Nile Cafe - 9. Veggie Combination Dinner - Ethiopian Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Excellent food and good service! The ambiance is bright and clean enough. I would have loved some spicy dishes, but overall the food did not disappoint. read more

Blue Nile Cafe - Sampler Platter - Ethiopian Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

TL;DR: If you haven't had Ethiopian food before, this is a great place to start. Blue Nile has plenty of both vegetarian and meat options that come with injera (Ethiopian bread) that's used to sop up all the sauce as well as a few other sides, usually lentils and some vegetables. It's a great combination of tangy and savory, with just a little bit of heat. My personal favorite is the meat combo, which includes Doro Watt (chicken) and Tibbs Watt (beef) with red lentils, collard greens, and cabbage and potato sides, but the Yebeg Watt (lamb) is also great if you enjoy lamb. Only thing to note is the service can be a bit slow in general, so prepare to wait even if the place is empty. read more

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One of the best Ethiopian restaurants I have tried thus far! Our waitress was kind and attentive, and we ended up splitting two platters between the 4 of us. It was plentiful, and we had leftovers! The food was so fresh and had great variety, and the value was unbeatable. It's in a nice central location if you're already downtown, and it's fairly easy to get to. Definitely will be back! read more

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The food at Blue Nile Cafe was not very good. I had a hard telling what I was eating. The server was nice and friendly. The food was very expensive for the quality of food we received. The atmosphere was very cold and uninviting I will not be going back here. read more

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Very elegant restaurant ! Service was very good. Portion was a bit small in my opinion but maybe that's because it's a bit of a fancy place. I would visit if I was ever in the area. read more

Blue Nile Cafe - Ethiopian Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Food was good. Service was a little slow but my friends and I enjoyed ourselves. The servers were really nice. The portions are generous and they have good vegetarian options. They are near one of the stops on the free cable car and there are plenty of other restaurants in the area. I ordered a chicken dish with rice. I opted not to get the injera because I'm not a fan of it. The chicken was tender and everything was delicious. read more

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Loved it loved it loved it. I must see stop by for lunch after an afternoon at the market. The only downside is parking, but please do not let that stop you from stopping here and eating this delicious Ethiopian cuisine. read more

Blue Nile Cafe - Ethiopian Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

I was out on a stroll exploring the local spots and I knew I had to come and check out blue Nile cafe. I've had the opportunity to try this type of cuisine when I visited San Francisco. I was hooked by the flavors and I live to eat with my hands. I came on a Saturday looking for a special kind of drink and I was so excited that they have Mead (honey wine). House made mead which is an alcohol beverage made from fermented honey. Truly one of the original medicine made with ingredients from Mother Earth! Give it a try and have a taste of the nectar of the gods. read more

Blue Nile Cafe - House made Mead (honey wine) - Ethiopian Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

I'm in the heart of barbecue-land, and the first place I visited was an Ethiopian restaurant? If you know me, you'd know the answer is, "Of course!" plus I have the rest of the week to hit all the great bbq here. Actually, a friend who had been to KC a few years earlier had been here and highly recommended it, so off we went, taking the trolley from Union Station - very convenient since the restaurant is at one of the stops. The menu is pretty simple and straightforward but included all the basics and combinations. In fact, there was one item on their platter that I'd never actually had at any prior Ethiopian restaurant, a mushroom dish. It was delicious, and now I wonder why most Ethiopian restaurants don't carry it. Injera is thick here, and they evidently have 2 types available, with regular flour or teff. While it wasn't listed on the menu, a sign out front said tej was available, so we asked - yes, indeed available by the glass or bottle, so we ordered a bottle. It's evidently made here; it was served room temperature (I would have preferred chilled), but it paired great with the food, which had, for us, the right level of spiciness. I have more friends coming to the area later this week, and we hope to get a large group here for dinner some night. Fortunately, they can accommodate a reasonably large group easily, and reservations can be made online. read more

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If only Blue Nile wasn't so damn far from the house....*sigh*...anyway. My man and I had been craving Ethiopian for a while but had been unsuccessful in satisfying that craving. The place by our house changed ownership AND wasn't open. So we googled and found Blue Nile...it was too late for us to make it so we made reservations for the following week. Really that was the only way we would have remembered to make it :P. We came in on an early Saturday evening in June and immediately realized - didn't need a reservation. But still it's better to have one than not right? You never know how busy it can be at any given time. Of course, as Ethiopian is among out favorite cuisines we had to try the honey wine and their meat combo....OMG soo goood. We opted not to do family style...again because my guy eats much faster and doesn't leave much for me at all. So no giant platter to share. My only complain was the injera bread - we've been used to the brown injera which is gluten free, but these were white. Again no big thing, just not what we were used to, still delicious! Only downside - it's so bloody far from us and parking in the Rivermarket is horrendous. Otherwise I'm sure we'd be back much more frequently. read more

Blue Nile Cafe - Meat Combo - Gomen, Misir Watt, Atikeltt, Doro Watt, Tibbs Watt - Ethiopian Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Finally made it into Blue Nile after several recommendations from friends. There are 8 vegan entrees and a handful of entrees available with meat. If you're struggling to decide, there's a combo option where you can sample smaller portions of up to 4 different entrees. I went this route and ordered the Misir Watt (#2), Atiklet (#3), Yekik Watt (#4), and Shimbera Watt (#8). All entrees are served with injera, a spongey pancake-like flatbread (there's a gluten-free option available for a small upcharge). read more

Blue Nile Cafe - Veggie Combo - from left to right: Shimbera Watt (#8), Atiklet (#3), Yekik Watt (#4), Misir Watt (#2) - Ethiopian Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Today we checked out Blue Nile Cafe ! I honestly thought there were only vegetarian options , but learned there is more options for those that prefer meat . I ordered the Meat combo sample platter . I was very impressed by the flavors . The mango juice was fresh ! This place was very good and definitely worth a second visit ! read more

Blue Nile Cafe - Ethiopian Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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This was our first visit. We were greeted as we walked in. We were waiting for another person to join us, and were given menus and water. I read other yelp reviews to determine what I should order. We ordered veggie Sambusas as a starter. They were served hot, and delicious! I chose Doro Watt as my entree, and my husband had Yebeg Watt. Both were great. Atmosphere was calm, there was soft music playing and customers in and out. Never felt rushed, very good experience. read more

Located in the heart of the city market, this Ethiopian restaurant is a hidden gem and a must try for your next visit to Kansas City! To start out with, we ordered the veggies sambusa. For those who have never had Ethiopian before, this is similar to a samosa from Indian cuisine or an empanada from Latin American cuisine. It was a pastry filled with lentils and veggies, and I'd highly recommend giving it a try. We were a party of 3 and we weren't too hungry the night we visited so we decided to share the sampler platter combo for our main meal, as was recommended by our friendly waiting staff. This dish featured all 8 of the veggie options and 3 meat options. In my opinion, this was the perfect way to try everything. My favorite of the veggie options is yellow split pea, number 4; my favorite of the meat option was the Doro watt, number 10, which was the marinated chicken. All of the options on the platter were fantastic and tasty! For dessert, we tried the baklava. It was one of the sweetest and tastiest baklavas I have eaten, and I'd highly recommend this as the perfect way to finish your night! The restaurant itself is casual so you don't need to dress very fancy for it and the seating is cafe style. It's a tasty and quaint way to spend an evening! read more

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Blue Nile is good y'all! The patio is clutch on a nice KC day (or night) with plenty of people watching and a view of the streetcar. If you love to share, family style, Ethiopian platters are the best! Let's you try just a bit of all the things. We usually get a veg platter and a meat platter and go to town. Misor Wat was my personal favorite. Wine by the bottle? Yes please! The flavors will keep you coming back for more! read more

Blue Nile Cafe - Meat Platter (for one) - Ethiopian Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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My dinner at the Blue Nile Cafe tonight was SOOO good!! The waitress brought our order to the table so quickly, under five minutes! I appreciated the dinner being served without silverware so we could eat the injera bread as it is intended to be eaten. read more

Came to try this with coworkers as we were attending a conference. It was easy to find place and we sat outside as it was hot on the inside. Pros: good welcoming staff, clean place, service was fast, and not overbearing. The food was delicious. With good portion size that was filling for the three of us. It was the first time for my coworkers and they really liked the flavors. It was a good balance. Cons: Inside was really hot. The food could have been warmer, it was just warm. Overall, would definitely come back and highly recommend. read more

Blue Nile Cafe - 19. Sampler Platter Lunch - Ethiopian Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

This is a really great spot to sample Ethiopian food. And they are also very gluten-free friendly! We split the sampler platter between 2 of us, but it could've easily fed 3 - 4. Food was delicious, service was a little slow but we didn't mind. The patio is great on a nice day! read more

Blue Nile Cafe - 19. Sampler Platter Lunch - Ethiopian Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

If you've never had Ethiopian cuisine before this is great the place to try it. The staff is great and are happy to make suggestions on what to order. The fact that the food is delicious is a good reason to give it a shot too. read more

Really loved this place! The food was amazing! Service was great, servers were really nice and attentive. I loved the atmosphere, I went with my husband maybe an hour before they closed and they were all still so welcoming and didn't make us feel like we shouldn't be there since it's so close to closing time. If you've never has the veggie Sambusa appetizer you need to! It was delicious! We also ordered the Doro Watt for our main entree. This was so delicious! Is a chicken dish stewed in Berbere sauce and it comes with 2 veggie sides and of course Injera (this is the Ethiopian bread. It's has a spongy texture and is flat, it's taste is on the sour side, it goes perfect with all their dishes). They also have a gluten free option as well for the Injera! This was definitely enough for 2 people but if your really hungry maybe go for their #19 Sampler dish or #20 Meat Combo :D read more

Blue Nile Cafe - Veggie Sambusa - Ethiopian Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Great food! I come here every time I stop in Kansas City. The vegetable and meat plater are my favorite. The servers are very nice and the place has a good atmosphere. 10 out of 10!!!!! read more

Blue Nile Cafe - vegetable sambus - Ethiopian Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Everything I got in my Veggie combo is very good. Thought it was kinda pricey but so is everything else food wise in KC read more

Blue Nile Cafe - 9. Veggie Combination Dinner - Ethiopian Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Overall, this place gets 4 and a half stars. The sampler platter and the veggie sambusa was great. I wished the injera was a little more sour/fermented since it's more authentic that way. Beware that ordering extra injera comes at a hidden charge of $1.95 for four rolls not mentioned on the menu, so be careful when ordering extra injera. read more

Blue Nile Cafe - Veggie Sambusa - Ethiopian Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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When my friend told me Blue Nile was open for lunch on Sunday after we explored the city market, I was jumping for joy like a kid in the candy store. It had been so long since I got to enjoy this delicious Ethiopian food. And it was even better than I remembered. The samplers are definitely the way to go. You het to try a little bit of everything and it's all so freaking good. I eat meat but the vegetarian options are my favorite. I almost cried when I got too full to finish the sampler. 12/10 recommend. read more

Blue Nile Cafe - Meat Combo Lunch - Ethiopian Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Great service and wonderful food. We only get to experience Ethiopian food when visiting other places. Blue Nile was fantastic. We shared the vegetable platter and the meat combo dish between four and it was the perfect amount while giving us a taste of many dishes. read more

I just tried Ethiopian food for the first time and I'm so glad I came to this place! I ordered the meat sampler and it was absolutely delicious. Even though it's called the "meat platter," the vegetarian options that come with it are actually my favorite part. Great service, nice outside dining area. read more

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This place is amazing. Quality of food is high, very fresh. Taste like home made food. Try the lamb in any form. read more

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Delicious food and a good deal to order the vegetarian plate. You can pick three different things and you get two of the "bread rolls"...I should probably look up what they are called. Very crepe-y and great to eat the dishes with. It's a pretty small place but a lovely location in the River Market. I'd always wanted to go, so I'm glad to have finally checked it out. I'm sure I'd order again! I'm guessing from the menu, because it has been a while, but I think I got the Inguday Watt, Misir Watt and the Atikeltt. Each were delicious and I really can't pick a favorite! I will say though, I love me some mushrooms. Check this place out! They are quick to serve and i'm telling you, those combo deals are the best way to get a bang for your buck, especially if you've never had Ethiopian food. read more

Blue Nile Cafe - Ethiopian Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Service was great and we left stuff. We tried the two person sampler, and it did not disappoint. They had about 10 different items on there and there was only one or two that I didn't really care for. read more

I visited blue Nile with 2 friends on a busy Friday evening. We were promptly greeted and seated, and we ordered the big sampler platter. The sampler is great for either 2 really hungry people, or 3 kind of hungry people-- It is full of wonderful flavor. I have visited this spot many times and I've always been very satisfied. Once in a while, it seems like they get a little overwhelmed and you have to wait a bit. If you like spicy ethnic food, you will probably really enjoy Blue Nile! read more

Blue Nile Cafe - Ethiopian Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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To be clear, I do not begrudge any business the opportunity to close on the holidays. But when you advertise that you are going to be open, and take reservations like you're going to be open, then you need to either BE OPEN or REACH OUT TO CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE BOOKED RESERVATIONS! read more

Food was good Service was good Was nice to have something different, had to get a Togo box! read more

The restaurant is nothing short of fantastic. I met a group of 7 on a Saturday evening. I had the Duba Shorba which is a butternut squash and red lentil soup with exotic spices (whatever that means!) to start. I then had the Meat Combo. They say it's only for 1 person, but it's quite a bit of food. It lets you try 5 different of their mains as a smaller portion. All were very good. I'm honestly not wet versed in this cuisine. But, now I want MORE especially so that I can describe it better! I would absolutely go back. read more

Blue Nile Cafe - Duba Shorba - Ethiopian Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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The only reason this review isn't a five is because they seemed a little under-staffed at our time of visiting, which led to some pretty long wait times. We ate out on the patio and had a lovely time. I highly recommend the Vegetarian Sampler Platter that comes with so many dishes to try. The mushrooms and potatoes are fantastic! Some of the best Ethiopian food we've had. A must-visit if you're in KC. read more

Blue Nile Cafe - 12. Vegetarian Sampler Dinner - Ethiopian Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

I don't know anything about Ethiopian food. I don't know what's good or bad. But the 2 people I went with grew up in Kenya and they can attest that this is good Ethiopian food. For a Midwestern I needed to go in with an open mind. It was all delicious and I was introduced to a new flavour or two. I would recommend coming here to support a local restaurant. I can't tell you what to order because it's still pretty new to me. But talk to the server they will be able to point you in the right direction. read more

We were so happy to have an option to order vegan for pickup on New Years Day, and hopeful that we would have a new favorite to add to our rotation. If it was just about the deliciousness of the food we ultimately ate, this would be a 5 star review; unfortunately, literally NOTHING about our customer service experience would allow me to leave anything close to that. First, we showed up to pick up our food at 6:30 per our pickup time annnnd - they were closed. We spent the next few hours finding then waiting for our order to be complete at a very busy time, on one of the busiest restaurant days of the year. My very ill wife became more ill because she had nothing to eat - but we figured, everyone makes mistakes and judging from previous reviews it should be easy to resolve. Nope... We could have hoped that they would call us the next day to see if we wanted our order or a refund, or even just take the initiative to refund us - but instead had to call them two days later. My wife told the gal who answered the phone what had happened - no sympathy, no apology, no offer to make things right. When she said that we wanted to pick up that order at 4:30 that day, and to please make sure that the injera breads were gluten free because she is intolerant but the option wasn't offered when placing an order via the website, the hostess finally had something to say; my wife was informed that there would be an upcharge for the gf version. She responded that it seemed that comping gf bread was pretty much the least they could do to make up for us starving for hours on New Year's Day, there was again zero response. K... bye? A couple of hours later, a man called my wife to get more details about our "refund." Huh? She went through the entire spiel - again - and to his credit, he seemed a *little* sorry for our terrible night, and said they would comp the gf bread. But when I showed up on time for the pickup, I had to then wait 20 minutes for the food to be ready. A few people came out to apologize and said they'd added free stuff to the order and would call my wife again to apologize, which sounded great - but it turns out that the "apology" freebie was a ridiculous amount of $2 injera bread... but, while there was a *little* gluten free in there, it was almost all glutinous - so even if we had wanted a huge amount of inexpensive bread, my wife couldn't eat it - as they knew. Nowhere to go but the trash. And now, two days later, no one has called my wife. The good news? We did find a new favorite restaurant! Another nearby Blue business, with excellent customer service and vegan sushi. This business? As yummy as the food may have been, we won't be able to forget that our time and health needs are demonstrably not important to them. There are other great Ethiopian restaurants in the area; we'll continue to support the ones which seem to care about our experience, not this one. read more

First time trying Ethiopian cuisine. It was delicious! I am excited to try more dishes. The vegetables sides were prepared perfectly and the lamb dish was plentiful. We had enough to share. I forgot to take a picture of the "bread" it was served with. It was spongy yet thin like a crepe and rolled like a jelly roll. Although not my favorite alone, it paired perfectly with our food. read more

Blue Nile Cafe - Menu - Ethiopian Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Ordered food for takeout based on reviews. Everything was excellent! I ordered a few dishes that I've never had before and everything was fabulous. I had the bread, yekik watt and gomen. I was so full that I saved the rest for the next day and was able to thoroughly enjoy all of those beautiful flavors again! So happy we made the stop here for our dinner. read more