Le Nil Bleu on St-Denis Street in Le Plateau is a rare Ethiopian restaurant to offer flavourful, yet exotic meals that patrons keep going back for. The cuisine at Le Nil Bleu is composed of lamb, chicken, beef, seafood and vegetarian dishes. Le Nil bleu also offers combo plates which allow diners to sample several offerings. The exotic decor features art, musical instruments and print fabrics. The environment is intimate and relaxing. We now offer delivery!
Le Nil Bleu in Montreal delivers a warm, refined Ethiopian dining experience with a welcoming service and a cozy yet stylish ambiance that many reviews describe as transporting and intimate. The menu features a generous tasting approach that showcases a spectrum of flavors, with a shared injera centerpiece, richly spiced stews, and a range of vegan options that satisfy both meat lovers and vegetarians. Cocktails and wines complement the dishes, and the desserts provide a polished finish to each meal. The staff are repeatedly praised for knowledge, attentiveness, and friendly hospitality, making occasions feel special whether dining as a couple, with friends, or with family. The atmosphere, decor and music often earn compliments for being calm, elegant and inviting, and the option to dine on a terrace is noted as a pleasant bonus. Some comments mention slower service at times or portions that could be larger for bigger groups, but overall the experience is described as consistently delicious, well presented, and memorable with an emphasis on authenticity, freshness and hospitality.
My adult daughter & I are visiting Montreal for the first time. She lives in Brooklyn & has easy access to all the cuisines of the world. Ethiopian food is one of her regular go-tos. As a vegetarian, it is perfect because it is filling, super nutritious & beautifully spiced. Even as a regular Ethiopian food-eater, she was blown away by everything about Nil Bleu! It was just down the main strip of Rue St Denis in the Plateau neighborhood where we are staying in Montreal. The staff was so kind & patient with us non-Francophones. When a couple left the primo window table before our food arrived, our server asked if we would like to move over there. We got the Mango mule cocktail & we both so surprised by the delightful flavor & freshness of the drink! The first course included so many interesting tastes & textures that we couldn't pick our favorite. The main course was equally varied & all so filling & delicious. We had a gorgeous vegan dinner-- it was perfect comfort food after a day of hiking Mount Royal in the snow, & it was perfectly healthy! I bet we had more vegetables in this meal than we had eaten in the week before! Every bite was more delicious than the last! The restaurant was gorgeous & the music was ethereal & soothing. What a special evening with kind folks, exquisite food, & beautiful ambiance. Thank you, Nil Bleu!
Nil Bleu has been our favorite restaurant for many years. Yet each time we go, we are supervised again by how tasty the food is. The menu has excellent choices for everyone -- for meat eaters (the lamb is great) & vegans (the lentils & the spinach dishes are fantastic).
The food presentation was just as good as the taste & quality of the food! We shared the vegan platter & it was incredibly delicious! The injera bread was some of the best I've tried. Service was good & the staff were friendly. The only thing I'd say is if you're hard of hearing it might not be a good place for you if you plan to converse over your meal, as the atmosphere is quite loud so it makes conversation a little more difficult to focus on.
Amazing food! As a vegan, i don't usually go to non-vegan restaurants in Montreal. But when i'm in the mood for ethiopian food, we're so lucky to have Nil Bleu. They have an amazing vegan menu. We always take the tasting manu with the 3 appetizers & several varieties as entrees. The injeras (Ethiopian pancakes) are wonderful & the selection of wine is fantastic!
We have sampled Ethiopian food all over the world. We ordered the vegan tasting platter. Uneasonably expensive food & drink with small portions. Glass wasn't clean. Food was good, but not worth the hype & price. Excited to try other options in the city.
J'ai commandé un menu dégustation végane avec mon copain, mais ce n'est pas ce que nous avons reçu. Lorsqu'on nous a apporté l'entrée, le serveur nous a très peu expliqué les plats, ce qui a fait en sorte que nous n'avons pas constaté que nous avions reçu le plateau omnivore. À la fin, lorsque nous avons posé une question sur un ingrédient, le serveur a répondu qu'il s'agissait de fromage de chèvre puis est parti immédiatement, sans nous laisser le temps de lui expliquer qu'il y avait une erreur sur notre commande. Au 2e service, on nous a apportés des plats avec viande, & ce n'est que là que nous avons pu expliquer le malentendu. Aucun geste commercial ne nous a été offert pour compenser. Le reste du service était plutôt ordinaire, presque robotique. Dommage car la cuisine est excellente.
The diversity of options in the Montreal food scene is incredible. Do not overlook this wonderful Ethiopian restaurant near Square Saint-Louis. Many incredible options that are all organic & delicious. So many vegan options that do not feel like side dishes or h'ors d'oevres. Service was attentive. Atmosphere was spot on. Try this African cuisine gem.
Se restorant est toujours excellent & l'ambiance est excellente aussi.
Le menu dégustation vegan à partager est excellent, je le recommande à tous le monde.
Jun 15, 2025
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The food is delicious! I had the vegan platter & it is a great variety! The 2 course tasting has even more if you have 2 people or even if you just want to try more options. The staff is super friendly & the decor in the restaurant is gorgeous! If you have never had Ethiopian food I recommend you try it & if you have you should come here!
We ordered the vegan tasting sampler for two. There were four smaller appetizers & five larger mains. We loved all of the appetizers but were not as keen on the mains. To be fair, I think the meat tasting menu would have been better & I was keen to try it, but my dining companion wanted the vegan so I agreed. I'm sure the food is worth five stars but I'm just not vegan.
I love Ethiopian food for their vegan dishes! The vegan tasting menu consist of:
a platter with 4 small appetizers
Bouticha: chick pea mousse
Yetiamtim salad: tomato salad (tangy & refreshing)
House salad: caramelized veggies (warm & sweet)
Yeberdjane: marinated eggplants (cold)
& 5 flavours served over Injera
Yekik Alicha: turmeric split peas
Zucchini Sire: zucchini & beets
Yatakelt Watt: carrots, potatoes & cabbage
Yemesser Watt: berbere lentils (spicy)
Gommen: spinach, onion & garlic
The stewed vegetables seasoned with spices are all delicious. For those who want gluten-free, they have rice or quinoa for substitution.
Ethiopian Sun is a mix of mango, orange, pineapple & peach juice.
It's a generous size dish. They also have vegan dessert but I was full. :P
Nil Bleu - une expérience chaleureuse, savoureuse & pleine de découvertes 🍋🫓🌿
Dès notre arrivée, nous avons été accueillis avec chaleur. Toute l'équipe était souriante, & l'ambiance tamisée du restaurant nous a plongés tout de suite dans une atmosphère intime & apaisante. Nous étions assis dans la salle du bas - un petit cocon parfait pour profiter de l'expérience.
Notre serveur était charmant, attentionné, & a pris le temps de bien nous expliquer les plats. Nous avons partagé deux menus dégustation : un végan, un avec viande. Notre groupe de quatre a été unanime : chaque plat était savoureux, parfaitement exécuté, & surtout très différent l'un de l'autre tout en s'harmonisant. 🌿🍖
Ce que j'ai adoré, c'est l'expérience de manger avec les mains, à l'aide de petites crêpes éthiopiennes.
Mes plats coups de coeur :
✨ Salade maison - légumes caramélisés
✨ Kitfo - tartare de filet mignon
✨ Gommen - épinards, oignons & ail
✨ Yekik Alicha - pois cassés au curcuma
Les breuvages étaient tout aussi délicieux que beaux à regarder. & le dessert… wow. La tarte citron meringuée avait une texture crémeuse & un bel équilibre. Elle n'était pas trop sucrée, exactement comme je les préfère! 🍋
Un endroit où je retournerai sans hésiter, autant pour l'ambiance que pour la générosité de l'expérience.
From the moment we walked in, we were warmly welcomed. The entire team was smiling, & the soft lighting created an intimate, peaceful atmosphere. We were seated downstairs - a cozy space, perfect for fully enjoying the moment.
Our server was lovely & attentive, walking us through each dish with care. We tried two tasting menus - one vegan, one with meat. The four of us agreed: every dish was delicious, unique in flavour, yet perfectly complementary. 🌿🍖
One of the highlights was eating with our hands using small Ethiopian crêpes - a beautiful & sensory way to connect with the culture.
My personal favourites:
✨ House salad - caramelized vegetables
✨ Kitfo - beef tenderloin tartare
✨ Gommen - spinach, onions & garlic
✨ Yekik Alicha - split peas with turmeric
The drinks were just as delicious as they were beautiful. & the dessert? Wow. The lemon meringue tart had that perfect texture - creamy & perfectly balanced, & just lightly sweet. 🍋
I'll absolutely go back - for the atmosphere, the flavours, & the overall richness of the experience.
