Restaurants In Metro Detroit: Blue Nile

Blue Nile in Ferndale and Ann Arbor serves up some of the best food in Metro Detroit (in my opinion) and this is why you should eat there.

The Restaurant Itself

Before going to Blue Nile in Ferndale, MI I never had Ethiopian food. Some friends told me they ate some for the first time and that it was absolutely delicious so I decided to give it a try. I’m now passing that same message on to you in this post. The moment you walk in, you’re taken right into a new environment that feels very different from let’s say, a (very American) Chili’s.

It’s full of warm tones and wood elements that make you feel very cozy (especially during the winter months). The table settings also, outside of the booths, don’t r

esemble your typical table setting because the idea is to eat from a communal platter of food. You’ll find this setup is great for having a night out with your significant or some friends as you share something together (gives you something easy to talk about too). I love how everything in the restaurant feels like nothing I see in other places so it feels like more of a treat to go.

Before You Eat

Once you get situated, you’ll be greeted with a warm towel to wash your hands. You’ll be using your hands and no utensils with your meal. When giving your drink order, ask for the Ethiopian Tea for everyone at the table; it taste like a cinnamon spice tea and is absolutely divine. It’s naturally sweetened and decaffeinated too.

What To Order

For ordering food, they make it easy by having a featured menu item, the Ethiopian Feast. The idea is that everyone at the table orders the feast and shares it (trust me nobody will leave hungry). The setup is kinda like how everyone eating at the Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth, MI orders the family-style chicken dinner haha. With the feast you get 7 or so sides in this round bowl that all offer their own flare. You also get unlimited Ethiopian flatbread which I love; it’s so soft and spongy. You can also order a gluten-free version of the flatbread.

Add a meat your feast for an extra price if you’d like (chicken or beef in different styles) which are also very tasty. Once your food comes out, the sides will all be on the same plate and the meat will be separate. Go ahead and pour the bowl of meat into the middle of your pan for everyone to share. Then dig in!

The Eating Experience

The experience of pulling apart the flatbread and wrapping the food was fun to me as again it’s not the norm. Each of the sides offer a unique flavor and after everyone tries them all, you’ll def. have your favorites. If you’re anything like my husband and friends, you’ll want tot announce your favorites and share opinions immediately. This makes for fun table conversation.

What’s great is that you get unlimited sides, so you can always ask for more of your favorites. But warning, you’ll get full very fast so don’t order seconds of too much. A few sides incorporate lentils in different ways. One taste a bit like collard greens, another taste like enhances refried beans. There’s even another that taste like a heartwarming cabbage stew. I can’t really decided if I like the chicken or beef dishes I had best because both have been great.

Explore a new place like Blue Nile if you tend to stick to the regular restaurants and you won’t be disappointed.