Whether you dine on a meal plan or not, campus food choices can become redundant. A local restaurant tucked away north of campus offers students a unique and interesting food experience and a chance to expand their diets.

The Blue Nile, located at 2361 N. High St. claims to be the most famous Ethiopian restaurant in Columbus, if not Ohio.

Mequanent Berihun, one of the owners of the Blue Nile, came to America 19 years ago and opened the restaurant in 1994. He said it is the food that brings people from all over, and the culture that keeps them coming back.

“The texture of the food and the way we prepare the food is unique,” Berihun said. “We prepare everything from scratch. My wife is the brain and the chef is the heart.”

Berihun said part of Ethiopian culture is to dine together with friends and family and eat off of the same large tray, called the mosseb. This is to create a bond of friendship; it is said that two people who eat from the same plate will never betray one another.

Also distinctive to Ethiopian dining is the sharing of injera, a flat, crepe-like bread that is crucial to the meal. Instead of using a fork, bite-size pieces of Injera are torn and used to scoop the food and bring it to your mouth. Similar to many cultures, feeding your partner is a sign of affection.

“Vegetarians like our food a lot, and for meat (eaters) some like it mild, and some spicy. The meal consists of many things at one time.” Berihun said.

Entrees vary from strictly vegetarian dishes to those of chicken, beef or lamb. Berbere sauce is a spiced stew made from red peppers that is the base to spicy dishes. On the other side of the spice spectrum is alichas, which is a mild stew flavored with butter and more mild spices.

“Tej” (pronounced ‘t’édge’) is Ethiopia’s famous national drink. It is a sweet wine made of honey, and the Blue Nile offers several different honey wines to try.

Just passing by, one may not be able to tell that the inside of the Blue Nile offers an atmosphere totally unlike anything of a typical American restaurant. The restaurant is suitable for formal dining but also welcomes those looking for a more casual, relaxing time.

The décor in the larger of the two dining rooms is captivating, with artwork that transports you to Ethiopia. Murals on the wall were painted 12 years ago by a former Ohio State student. There are traditional tables as well as lidded basket tables called mesobs. These tables are just large enough for the mosseb tray, making for an intimate dining experience.

The Blue Nile caters and delivers, but the only way to get the full experience is to dine at the restaurant with a few friends. It is not only about eating good food, but becoming knowledgeable about another culture and its customs.

A daily lunch buffet is offered for $7.99. The restaurant is open for lunch until 3 p.m. and opens again at 5 p.m. for dinner. The Blue Nile is open everyday except Monday.

Belinda Heiman/The LanternThe Blue Nile on High Street offers authentic Ethiopian cuisine.

Kimberly Snodgrass can be reached at [email protected].