Blue Inc.

 Jason Santos of Hell’s Kitchen brings a hip new American eatery with Asian flare to the Financial District with Blue Inc. Even before my co-worker started raving about it I knew it was a must try. Located at the end of Broad Street, it attracts the after work crowd but after building up a reputation I’m sure people will be flocking from places near & far.

Bread: Four pretzel bread rolls were wrapped in tin foil and served in a red metal basket with a side of mustard butter. The bread was warm, salted, and so excellent with that infused butter. One of the best bread baskets I’ve had in a while!

Menu: The Dinner Menu offers Apps and Mains, many of which I was interested in. I had checked out their Bar Menu online and knew I needed to order a couple of items from there, which our waiter allowed us to do. The only thing that wasn’t available to us was the bar Bucket Menu which offers small bites from $1-$7 served in a Blue Bucket! I’d also like to mention that the cocktail menu is unique and fun, with items like ‘Dinner and a Movie’ (buttery popcorn rum, pepsi, malt balls) and ‘Fizzy Lifting Drink’ (pear-cranberry infused tequila, poached cranberries, fizzy salt). The list goes on, and it’s intriguing!

I Know I Jamm Jamm

I Know I Jamm Jamm

Food/Presentation:
Blue Inc. Hand Tossed White Pizza-  butternut squash, blue cheese, fresh figs
Now that I think of it, we asked for this with the prosciutto but didn’t get it! It was so delicious though that we completely forgot; I was mesmerized by the size of the fig pieces and contrasting flavor of the butternut and blue cheese. Really amazing pizza!

Pumpkin Bisque – fennel puree, porcini tortelloni, black garlic
A large shallow bowl came full of 2 tortelloni and a small cup which the waiter poured the bisque from. The soup was great, smooth and flavorful. The tortelloni was a nice touch; without that addition it may have been too simple/plain.

Spicy Tuna Tacos – chile aioli, cucmber salsa, shredded lettuce
Three tacos came side by side filled with diced tuna and cucumber, lightly tossed with spicy mayo. The shells were nice and crispy as they should be. I could have used a little more sauce but I appreciated that it wasn’t overpowering. Great portion for me!

Bathroom: The restroom isn’t exactly located in the restaurant; you have to walk through the entryway and down a long hall to the back of the building. Each door has a funky silhouette of a lady and gentleman. The interior was clean but there wasn’t any toilet paper in the lady’s room both times I went (I sure did sneak into the men’s room to steal some). They could use some more decorations but the flowers were nice.

Service: Our waiter was great and was able to get me a glass of the Strawberries Fields Forever cocktail, even though it’s a seasonal summer beverage. I also asked for the Bar Menu (knowing I wanted to Spicy Tuna Tacos) so he brought that over without hesitation. Everything was served in a timely manner and he filled our water glasses when they were low.

Strawberry Fields Forever

Strawberry Fields Forever

Overall: My parents, Matt & I all really enjoyed our evening; every bit of food we tasted was excellent from mom’s Cabernet Braised Short Ribs to dad’s Hand Rolled Sage Gnocci. I’d love to go back for their Grilled Salmon dish, and even the Pan Roasted Natural Statler Chicken Breast sounds amazing (rosemary polenta, yes please!). The prices weren’t outrageous with entrees topping out at $26, and the apps and bar menu ranging from $5-$19. Blue Inc. certainly makes a statement, esp. with its pretzel bread and blue lollipops they give out with the check. It’s a small interior but has a lot of flavor and sass; I can’t wait to go back!

The Perfect Bite: A slice of that white pizza with a giant piece of fig! Unbelievable.

www.blueincboston.com

menu cover

menu cover

Ristorante Euno

 I believe the coupon of choice this evening was offered from Bloomspot: spend $25 and receive $50. I had never heard of Euno, most likely b/c of its small sign and Salem Street location away from the hectic Hanover. When I checked out the website and saw Rachel Ray’s stamp of approval I figured it was a must try.

Bread: About 4 slices of white Italian was served with a side of infused EVOO. The bread was good but not anything special; a typical Italian loaf, not particularly warm or doughy, but soft with a good crust.

Menu: Antipasti, Insalata, Pasta, Pesce, Carni, and the waiter had about 7 specials to add. There were a couple of fish specials with an amazing sounding risotto, which made my decision a littler harder, but I was in need of a great Bolognese so I took my chances with Euno’s version.

Food/Presentation:
Caprese: fresh mozzarella, wine-ripe tomatoes, basil garlic oil
Four slices of tomatoes alternated with 5 slices of mozzarella next to a side of arugula topped with a roasted red pepper. You usually don’t see the mozz out weighing the toms, and usually this would be a positive feature, but not when the cheese is hard and unappetizing. I would not recommend this dish as the mozzarella was uncharacteristic of any I’ve had in the past. The side salad however was nice & refreshing, lightly tossed with a simple dressing.

 Pappardelle alla Bolognese: Osso Bucco with homemade pappardelle pasta in tomato herb sauce
The homemade pasta was served on a square dish and topped with a basil leaf. The meat was Osso Bucco style and shredded rather than ground, which I wasn’t sure about at first but ended up really loving it. The proportion of sauce to pasta was perfect, the portion wasn’t too overwhelming, and pasta was cooked al dente – no complaints here!

Bathroom: Three unisex one-room bathrooms are located downstairs, where there were surprisingly more tables. The restroom I used was clean, had a warm décor, and offered 2 different types of nice smelling soap!

Service: The gentleman who greeted us at the door was extremely friendly and upbeat. Our waiter was prompt and recited all 7 specials from memory. The bread was a bit delayed b/c “they were slicing it”, which isn’t that big of a deal (it still arrived before the appetizers). We received each course rather quickly, which may make some people feel like they’re bring rushed, but it works for me & Matt!

Overall: Prices do not appear on the website which typical means entrees run over $30; my pasta was the priciest option in that category at $21, and Matt’s swordfish special was $35. We both cleaned our plates but I’m convinced you can get a similar quality of food for less. I did enjoy the charming atmosphere with exposed brick walls and dim romantic lighting. I grabbed this image from the website but this was my view for the evening, peering out onto Salem Street. Our meals were fantastic, and I wouldn’t tell you to not go to Euno, but I think you can experience the same for cheaper at other Italian eateries.

The Perfect Bite: Pappardelle Bolognese – perhaps in my Top 5 Boston Bolognese! If you’re curious, current favorites are from Stella (South End), Lucca (North End), Teatro (Theater District), and Mamma Maria (North End).

www.eunoboston.com/