Reviews of Blue Nile African Restaurant (Restaurant)

Kyle Pinner

Tasty food. Definitely worth it for something different

Rob Black

We've driven by a hundred times and always find ourselves saying "we really should go" - so glad we did. Amazing buffet, the injara was delicious and it was nice to find Tusker beer! Such friendly staff too! Highly recommended!

Erica Francis

Really wish we could have actually eaten at this restaurant, but when we got there at 8:30p (posted hours are until 9), they said they were closing in 15mins and 'sorry'. The food at spinnakers though gets 5 stars.

GEN Dong

Support local businesses!!! This local Ethiopian gem is my family's go to comfort food! Ordered through skip the dish and it was great as always!!

Yonas Tesfamichael

(Translated) Tummy nourishment (Original) ቱዑም ምግቢ

Eyad Dasouki

Super nice and friendly labours thank you keep it up????????

Andrei Bakhmachev

This restaurant is absolute gem! Friendly staff,small menu, amazing flavors and consistent quality. I get it typically once a week and happy to drive from langford to get it. Small menu and bread that is made fresh. If you are looking for a new food experience that will become your mainstay give this family run restaurant a try.

Chris Hazeldine

Absolutely awesome food. My only critique is that it tastes so good, you will want to eat more!

Jamie Totten

Delicious! Such a great experience and the woman who runs it is a super woman!

Shaun Scandrett

Saturday night buffet is very tasty although a bit on the pricey side of things. Everything is made onsite and is full of flavour.

Asad Raquib

This is a family own East African restaurant and they always provide homemade fresh food. Taste of food is always best with reasonable price and their service is so amazing. Highly recommend ????

Stew

It is a eating experience the food is made with love the buffet was awesome the selection of items and flavours kept us very satisfied “feel good food” and their Blue Nile Cocktail is very nice and if that is not enough the atmosphere/decor is very cool . The family that runs the restaurant are truly hard working kind people

Kate Lois Howell

Not as good as the last time I was here, a year ago. Still a reasonably good buffet, a little pricy.

Kat Palmateer

Such a yummy place with buffet style serving so if you don't know what you like- have it all!

E B

Pretty good, not amazing. Staff was very friendly and helpful.

Kel Videll

We got dinner from Blue Nile tonight, and it was my first time trying this restaurant. I ordered on Skip, but should have called. Anyway -- it reminded me of the first time I ate Ethiopian food. It was in 2004 in Berkeley at a place, amusingly enough, also called Blue Nile, on Telegraph avenue - which has unfortunately since closed. I think that was the first-time food blew my mind, and I realized there was so much more out there to explore in the world of cuisine as I had been doing in the world of music. It was a night like tonight, too - early summer, cool but with warm late sun. I had spent the day in record shops - sun streaming warmly in through store front windows across the dust and haze, heads nodding and bobbing to rhythms unknown underneath well worn headphones, browsing with my DJ group before a “little” party they were throwing in Oakland at a repurposed church that was then used by the Burner community to display art and host events. We’d been to four or five different record stores, and were ready to stop dragging our scores along, so we headed to the restaurant block and picked a place after weighing down the van with new sounds. After spending the day sitting on wobbly stools, trying out tracks and digging for the latest remixes and releases in too-warm record shops, the bright flavours of the Injera and various spiced meats and spiced veggies was an unexpected delight. I remember it well. I'd tried other Ethiopian places around the bay area of course, but it never dazzled me quite like that first seating. Tonight, however, did, and I am deeply satisfied.

Andy Westhaver

Dumb lit

Linda Rodgers

Delicious & authentic.

Alan King Bowden

Amazing African food served as a buffet without any compromise quality!

Alex

We just moved here and missed our Ethiopian restaurant from back home. We were so excited when we found out that Blue Nile was just down the road from our new house. We placed an order for pick up and the meals did not disappoint! Everything was delicious. Made us feel at home. Thank you!

Jana Shishkin

Location is great with parking right in my hood. Speedy sit down and overflowing options to choose from for vegan. Delicious injera and lovely staff. I had fresh mango juice which is a treat. Nice music playing....could be casual or romantic. I'll be back!

My Healing Cuisine

Lovely ambience, delicious food, plenty for a vegetarian on the dinner buffet...is a little chilly in there...dress warm youll be fine.

THE CABBIE IN THE #YYJ (MAKE IT VIRAL)

They seem nice and polite inside.. looks busy

The Dine Life

If your looking for a unique cultural dining experience, this is probably the most under-rated dining establishment in Victoria. Very special place. With an all-you-can eat buffet of authentic Ethiopian cuisine, this place is, in fact, worth stopping by. Meh? Yes, the music gets repetitive, but thats part of the mom-and-pop feel of the place. If you don't live in Esquimalt/Vic West, it isn't exactly convenient, but we feel its still worth your buck and the unique culinary experience. Ups? So so friendly. Simrat is the loyalest hostess ever, and you can always count on a friendly smile and kind, personal service. Very laid, back and the buffet is humble but truly truly authentic and delicious. Recommendation? Anyone who just spent the entire day training for you next marathon, has a culturally diverse palate, and doesn't feel like cooking. A serious feast for a hungry tummy, and plus, if they run fast on this stuff, you can too! Will we be back? For sure. Blue Nile is such a unique night out, its become a town favourite.

Shweinna Bhurtun

I'm from Mauritius Island (East African Island) and I'm excited to have found this place here in Canada (Fairly new to the country)

Faith Lauchlan

My favourite restaurant in Victoria! Amazing food, beautiful atmosphere, lovely chef. My bank account hates me for how often I get the food here.

Rachel Harle

Amazing food, great value!

Carole Masure

Fabulous food and service!

B. Joel Cran

I quite like this place. Organic food, nice, buffet. A gem in the middle of no where

Carlos Miranda

The location is secluded but in a good way, lots of parking and a nice quiet atmosphere. I think that's the only good thing I can add about this place. The food hasn't changed much over the past 4 years and the last time I was there, the roof was leaking right above my guests. We pointed it out and all we got was an apology, not an offer to change our seats or anything proactive but just a very apologetic young man, while the lady (I think she is the owner) seemed to be bothered we were pointing out her ceiling was "leaking on us" And thus this is the last time I am going there. Sorry but don't feel like paying about $20 per person to have a buffet of less than 10 choices and literally "rain in africa" over our heads while we try to eat.

Julie Jennings

My husband and I just went for the first time for the buffet. The food was really good. The people were super friendly. We will definitely be going again. They also have paper bead jewelry, made by a woman in Uganda, for sale. Money goes right back to her. Really pretty stuff bring cash for that if you want to support her. :)

Patrick Wilkinson

Absolutely amazing. I can't even begin to explain how amazing the food, atmosphere and owners are. From start to finish the whole experience was beyond what I could have imagined. The buffet is perfect and so fresh. The owners are some of the nicest people I've ever met. I'm proud to suggest this place. If you haven't gone DO YOUR SELF A FAVOR AND HAVE SOME AMAZING FOOD HERE! 5 STARS. so so so so good. I'll be coming back here when ever I can. Thank you guys for keeping such an incredibly high standard.

Erin Ewing

Delicious food, cozy ambience, friendly service = very happy bellies and hearts! :)

Nikki B

Delicious, unique and a lovely experience

Mark Butson

Good place

Jennifer Helfer

Had the buffet and enjoyed.

Alli Bean

Consistently beautiful food & always kind service. Please support this Victoria Gem of a restaurant. ????

Kent Ainscough

Great value and buffet

Abby Wolovick

Absolutely amazing food, lovely owner, and beautiful atmosphere

Mike Sanders

Wonderful flavours in unique dishes. Friendly family owned staff make for an interesting experience.

Michael Richards

Food was delicious! I definitely need to go back and try more dishes.

Todd McCaslin

Huge portions for takeout/delivery, very balanced meals even for meat entrees. Vegetarian combo has a great variety of flavors and textures. Great if you only do plant protein. Very filling

bailey marki

great smelling bad food. the chicken was moist the cabbage and carrots were good the rest bordered on bad not even near mediocre

Cailey Jones

I love this place. The buffet is great with lots and lots of vegetarian/vegan options, and the owners are the friendliest people ever!

B.B

The only reason this place can stay open is due to lack of competition. There's only 1 other restaurant that serves similar food. This is my 2nd time visiting (tonight, cos Messob closes earlier) and the service and food was mediocre. How an Ethiopian/Eritrean place can run low on injera blows my mind. It's like running low on pasta in an Italian restaurant. Messob in Cook St Village is so much better. Go there instead.

Emrhys Williams

The buffet at the Blue Nile is great for trying new African foods. They are really helpful and welcoming.

Ariana McLeod

Excellent food, with lots of vegetarian option. Lovely people!

Shannon Alex

DELICIOUS and very friendly staff!

Islandlife 90

Delicious food!

Gwen Ewart

The food was amazing, and the service was great! My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be back!

Suzannah Sarah Thomas

A lovely place. I would suggest to opt for the buffet. Amazing lentil dishes and exotic meat preparations. Must try the 'injeras' _ local Ethiopian bread.

Toni Love

Absolutely the best buffet in town. Amazing service and good quality. I’ve been going here for years and they never disappoint. I have a delicious vegetarian combo on the way through skip the dishes and I can’t wait to tuck in.

Niilo Van Steinburg

Been here three times now. I just ate so much that I feel like I'll burst. Hopefully no one offers me a wafer-thin mint. Excellent food, buffet style, with about 9 out of 12 options that are vegan. My wife and I are planning to bring our son since we wouldn't have to wait before getting him something to eat. Plus he loves Ethiopian.

bébé cheeses

Amazingly good, authentic African food! Tastes home cooked! Nice atmosphere, friendly service! Highly recommend!

B K

Been here twice for their Buffett and have not been disappointed!

Shiraz Dindar

The food is very, very good.

Mel B

Nice place you love the food here they have a buffet there !!!!

Dan Batchelor

Really tasty food, always look forward to coming back — the buffet is my suggestion, and you’ll still feel good after eating tons. Great benefit of not eating highly processed foods! There aren’t many places you can over eat and still feel this good after. Thanks for the many great meals over the years and many more to come!

Clive Gorman

Awesome food and a much-needed alternative to the usual options

Sofia

The Fermented bread is delicious and the food is just wow!

Stéphane Tran

l come here as often as l can and am never disappointed. The service is very friendly and had a real family-run, intimate feel to it. The food is excellent and l really enjoy the flavourful mest and lentil dishes that are a welcome break from the same old Indian/pasta/Chinese restaurants that are a dime a dozen in Victoria. Highly recommended.

Antoniette Yap

Great vegetarian place. I wish they had better hours but they are a small mom & pop place. Well worth the visit. Family run operation and owner is a gem and honest about their product.

Helen Edley

We love eating here and the Ethopian Injera is our favourite. The flavour and texture is so darned good. There are so many great vegetarian options on the buffet and even though we're not vegetarian, we love eating these dishes.

G M Stone

Food was tasty, but the menu is small (12 items) and there was only a buffet offered on a Saturday night, something not listed anywhere.

Wetcoast Woman

The best! Fave spot in all Vic. They have amazing Veg and Meat options and the buffet or to go boxes are soooooo valuable. Amazing spot. I miss eating here in person as the Lady who runs place is soooooo lovely and wonderful, Support Local Business.

Pascal Raven

Awesome East African food. Friendly service! Definite recommendation.

Dylan Gedig

Delicious affordable buffet with really tasty juices and home made ice cream.

Jessica Dhaliwal

Ah we loved this place and the service is amazing. We got the vegetarian combo and it was so quick and easy with so much variety! Even a very fresh tasting steamed and lightly seasoned carrot in there! Felt like coming here in special dresses but that will have to wait for next time :)

Doug Collinge

So great.

Richard Western

Best place for all you can eat and mostly vegan!

Eric To

Saw the high star rating and came to try it out. It was alright, wasn't anything spectacular. The decoration was pretty good and does give some African feel, however the music was way to repetitive and gets a little annoying afterward. Overall, the food was OK, and it needs a bit more selection. The chicken and the beef was good.

Chris Jakubowski

Good food. Nice owners!

Dario Greco

Would recomend

Chris Van Sickle

I love this buffet. I forget about it for months and then am happy all over again to remember that it's there and so good. Delicious.

Rentals Victoria BC Victoria BC

Wanted to try something new and different. This was a pleasant choice. I ordered 5 combos and they also had a non spicy option for the young ones. Great food if you like flavor and spice. They also had veggie options.

Keira Mackay

Love love love !

The Fernando

Loved the buffet and the owners were so friendly. We'll definitely go back.

Adam Park

Not bad ???? but there's no food considered as a hook. Like if I go there I would eat this. Nice enough but not enough to go again.

Ren

So tasty!!! This place is amazingly good. I'll be ordering here a lot more often. New favourite for sure. Worth a shot if you haven't tried it yet. The spices are plenty but it's not too hot-spicy, the meat cuts are pretty lean but still juicy, the sourdough flat bread has a similar sensation of like how sourdough bread bowls taste marinaded in goodness and are easier than naan to use as a tool to pick up food, and the vegetable dishes remind me of a really well made corned beef and cabbage dish.

Sandy Kerr

Delicious food, gracious hostess.

Simon Ledsham

Superb food, great service, nice atmosphere. An Esquimalt classic.

James Bruce

Wow, in one word

Chris Ellsay

Delicious Ethiopian Buffet with best ethiopian food around and a good value. The owner is delightful and always very helpful. Great food but leave room for homemade icecream.

Jilleybean

The staff was so pleasant and helpful, and the food was absolutely delicious!!

Keith Salter

Love it...and the owners are great hosts.

farah

easily the best food on the entire island. introduced quiet a few people to it and they all adored it!!

Dre Bindon

Amazing food.

Christine Ellsay

Amazing service, great variety of vegetarian and meat dishes, plus the decor makes you feel like your in Africa!

Derrick MacLeod

Good food, lovely people, authentic experience

Kirk Buhne

Good healthy food at a fair price, with vegan options. I have counted this among my favoured restaurants since it opened about 15 years ago.

Elliott B

Fantastic food and super friendly service! We had the dinner buffet and were all very impressed with the diverse array of flavours, plentiful vegetarian options (and great meat too!), and best of all, the very friendly and genuine service. The food is made with love, and it certainly shows.

Lorne Moore

Best buffet for African food.

Erik Pels

(Translated) Cozy and tasty restaurant. (Original) Gezellig en lekker restaurantje.

Mike J

Used to visit here all the time with my mother. They are so friendly and the restaurant has a lovely African decor. There are always young couples and families in there and the food is warm and tasty. I would recommend it to anyone.

Morgana

Absolutely delish! The staff are lovely, very attentive, and great at helping you explore their offerings if you are unfamiliar with East African food!

Travis Biltzan

This place is AMAZING. Vegan/vegetarian/meat. Their buffet offers everything you need and it's delicious. I love restaurants that have nice decor, and theme and this place delivers. Definitely go here I'd you're looking for a good and exotic buffet. It's always quiet which is a plus.

Garry LaRose

Really really really good buffet. Worth the price, the family who runs the restaurant are friendly too.

Daunte Fernandes

Don’t know who the waiter was but he sat my table, great company, better food tho!

B-lad Griffin

eggs? Check! Injera style bread? Check. Go here if you like awesome east African food. Don't go here if you enjoy terrible food and service. I can't praise this place enough. A shining jewel in ESquimalt's crown.

Davis Luton

Delicious food, really friendly owners!

Christina Chak

Yum! Nice buffet & friendly service! So great to have good injera in Canada!

Raven Bleskie

Incredible!! One of my new favourite places to order from! I can’t believe I hadn’t tried this place before tonight

Krista

Went to check out the dinner buffet and decided to skip it. The place was a ghost town and the food looked like it has been sitting out for days.

Douglas West

Food is consistently good with a welcoming atmosphere

Y J

Consistently delicious everytime

AJ Kalsi

Good value, nice ambiance, pleasant service. A pleasing African buffet experience. Certainly would recommend.

Janene Proulx

So good!! Service was wonderful!

Gemma Lidstone

Your food is so yummy and your injera is so fluffy and soft Thank you for continuously filling the void in my stomach ❤️❤️❤️

Laura

Blue Nile is delicious! Healthy, inexpensive, and filling. I would eat here every day if I could.

Anis Gedeon

This is such a good place to be introduced to Ethiopia/Eritrean food. If you are home sick, this is the place to come.

Tom Rush

Very good, delicious and loving prepared food! So tasty!!

Shahid Amlani

Nice African food . Locally owned and operated . I had the buffet . Nice mix of meat, salads ,lentils - all traditional African recipes with African sourdough bread . Meats were cooked to perfection .and priced reasonably at around $17. If you like to experiment with your taste buds then - Definitely recommend!

Brett Hux

A hidden gem we in the ‘Malt would like to greedily keep to ourselves. Fantastic food (buffet!?!?) and staff. I almost want to knock a point for the kind of weird layout of the place but naw - this joint is basically perfect.

Renee Fouquette

Wonderful food and very friendly service. We went to blue Nile for dinner - they only had a buffet style dinner, no menue items. Everything was delicious. Great atmosphere, perfect food, wonderful staff.

Lisa Billesberger

Incredible. Can’t wait to eat here again!

Michael Hostettler

Delicious food and very friendly people

Josho Kamoo

Good and fresh food which make it a awesome East African restaurant.Good experience for people who haven't tried the regions food before.Friendly and helpful owner and staff.As mentioned before , fascinating decor in the place. i would recommend to friends and family as a top Eatery in Victoria .

Michel Bedard

Got the meat combo platter to go - loved it! Delicious and good portions. Well spiced meat and delicious injera :)

Neeraj Sharma

Sambusa !!! Yes, this is the menu item i love the most here, most of the time sold out. Similar to East Indian snack “Samosa”. So good, highly recommend to try one.

Laura Backstrom

I was served by such a lovely and friendly woman. The meal was delicious and nutritious comfort food, beautifully packed for take-out. Looking forward to the day when they can have sit-down dining again...their dining room looks like a fun place. In the meantime, I will return for more take-out. Affordable!

christ alain mizero

Good food

Richard Serl

Just got take out from this place for the first time, everything was so delicious, especially the Zebhi Dorho, great flavour and a good kick. Had a quick chat with the chef and her daughter and they were very nice! Will definitely order from here again, can’t wait for COVID to be over so we can go in and enjoy the room!

Julie Thacker

Went in early January with my kids from Ottawa. This is the second time and the experience was not dissapointing. My grand daughter aged three ate a lot and enjoyed her meal [mommy refilled her plate with her favorites several times]. The staff catered to the little one and made sure she enjoyed her visit [she behaved like a three-year-old enough said]. The adults all enjoyed our food and beverages. I found the spices in most of the food from the buffet about right. A few that weren't spicy enough i didn't take seconds of [i tried a little bit of everything first and then went back for my favorites].

Bill Larkin

My wife and I love this place. The buffet food selection is generally unchanged since we started going there a couple of years ago, and for that we are thankful! Amazing flavours and enough variety to satisfy my wife’s vegetarian desires and to allow me to enjoy eating meat dishes. The owner generally always comes out to greet us and she makes us feel like we are coming over to her house for dinner. Tonight we got to hear about her month-long trip home to Ethiopia. It’s obvious she loves her restaurant, and that love is evident in the food she prepares, using many of her mother’s recipes, imbibed with spices and herbs from Ethiopia. We wouldn’t change a thing. Love this place ...

Ying

How does a drumstick wrapped in a piece of sour bread for $15 gets 4.7 stars is beyond my comprehension of this world

geoff shugg

The food is fantastic and the restaurant is owned by a wonderful family. I keep coming back for Sim's veggie combo. Can't wait until dining returns to show further support for this amazing family owned local business.

Tony Scott

Had zebhi droho and siga. Absolutely delicious, well spiced and aromatic. Takeout portions were generous and included injera bread. There was also a lentil side dish (not sure the name) that was so, so good. This will become a regular for us.

veritas

Just thinking about this restaurant gets me emotional! Never change, Blue Nile, never change.

georgia mary

Absolutely amazing flavor and huge portions!! This is definitely a new favorite of mine

Ryan And Sam

Very nice atmosphere, great delicious food with the perfect amount of spices, the owner is very friendly and happily accommodated a request we had. Very satisfied will definitely go again on my next visit highly recommend

Sarah L.

Owner is so incredibly sweet and kind! I loved the food. Ive never tried African food before and traditionally with the bread and by hands. Highly recommended for anyone!

yaz A

The most amazing food!!!I could eat it all day every day! This place is so underrated and is still a bit of a secret but would highly highly recommend!

Kirsten Roche

Finally tried Blue Nile tonight after wanting to for months, and I'm glad I did! Although it was just a pick-up order since they're not doing dine-in during covid, I was very pleased with the friendly service when I dropped into the restaurant to pay. The owner of the restaurant was warm and kind. My husband and I thought the food was flavorful and delicious, and the injera was perfect (not "crepe-like" as another reviewer suggested- it was as fluffy as any injera I've had elsewhere). I can see why the restaurant has been successful for 16 years- we'll be going here again!

Richard Green

Simply delicious

Smokus Cat

Top notch dinner buffet. High quality and delicious. As good or better than all of the Ethiopian places I've tried in Vancouver, Toronto, or the states.

Emma Sloan

Food is always phenomenal and the staff are polite and courteous.

Roy Smardon

awesome. great food. nice ambiance.

Dylan Wyonzek

I've always ordered take out or done pick up. The food is always delicious and the owner is very nice, she always chats with me when I go in to pick up food. I highly recommend eating here, it's one of my go to restaurants.

Amanda Robins

Really yummy food and lots of tasty vegan options. Definitely somewhere we will add to our rotation of local restaurants. The only downside was that they didn't have any dessert and we were limited to only the buffet. It's a small, local restaurant though so it's understandable. The buffet itself was very good and we absolutely left happy and satisfied.

Arsema Hagos

The food is very testy. neat and of a good portion. The lady on the phone was helpful and polite. I can't wait until they reopen to see the place.

David Harris

One of my favorite restaurants, great people, superb food! Top-notch all around

Quintin Blain

I have been here twice for the buffet and both times it was amazing, very good and friendly service, nicely dim lit for dinner, authentically decorated, all the different foods have very high flavor profiles, and are very different in a good way. all makes for a genuine dinning experience

Dawn Myers

A gem of a place in West Victoria, very close to Spinnakers Brewpub. They have a dinner buffet with lots of tasty vegan/vegetarian options -- lots of lentil dishes, potatoes, a delicious cabbage dish, a nice beet one, and more, plus injera of course. A little pricy at $19++, but you can't possibly leave hungry. Friendly service. Very much recommended.

Ashley Cowan

So yummy! Very talented cook who goes the extra mile in preparing your food. Love it!

Rex Mullenix

Amazing! Head and shoulders above most restaurants in town. Buffet is to die for

Jessica Kirkwood

African deliciousness!! Blue Nile East African Restaurant dinner buffet was spectacular. After running a half marathon I needed FOOD and this was absolutely the right choice. 9 of the 12 buffet dishes are vegan, plus injera mmmmm injera. Our favorite was the red lentils or bursen tumtumo. We were the first ones there at 5:00 but it was pretty full when we left at 6:30. Total was $50 for 2 buffet and 2 glasses wine. Worth it! Great service. Free parking. #veganoptions #african #africanbuffet #lentils #injera #imayhavehadafewplates #victoriabc

David Blackman

If you haven't tried Blue Nile, you need to.

Shelley Bashnick

Awesome food and dining experience.

Ze David

Over priced

Melissa Seifrit

If you like new taste experiences go here. Awesome ambience and amazing staff!