Before this dinner Savored sponsored dinner (which granted us 40% off our food bill) I had never heard of Blu Boston. Located above the Ritz-Carlton I figured it was out of my league in terms of clientele and price, but it was neither stuffy nor pretentious (not implying that the Ritz is either of these things).  It has a hip & trendy vibe with moderate prices and contemporary American menu.

photo courtesy of the Blu website

Bread: As there were 6 of us, two baskets of herbed focaccia bread were brought to the table with a side of dipping EVOO in a pretty teardrop dish. These tiny bites were excellent, there’s no way you could have just one!

Menu: The dinner menu offered Appetizers, Salads, and Entrees. Nothing too exciting but each section had plenty of mouth-watering options. I knew I wanted the Summer Squash Soup, and there were quite a few entrees that looked appetizing but since we ordered 3 apps for the table I ended up with a soup and salad.

Food/Presentation:
Smoked Mozzarella Sticks: basil pesto and marinara dipping sauce
Four short logs of smoked mozzarella were stacked on top of each other with a side of pesto and marinara for dipping. I of course favored the pesto sauce which in my opinion goes well with anything. The thick sticks did have a noticeable smoky flavor which I’ve never seen before in this classic app.

Polenta Fries: truffled fondutta and minced chives
Eight polenta fries came balanced like Jenga pieces, topped with chives and accompanied by a side creamy dipping sauce. The outside had a slight crisp while the inside was warm and smooth. These were really excellent, and clearly everyone’s favorite app.

Flash-Fried Calamari: lemony herb aioli and chopped parsley
This popular starter is typically prepared and presented the same where ever you go, and this was no different. It was good, but didn’t stand out (except I loved the lemon herb aioli, which tasted like it had a hint of mustard!)

Mixed Greens: celery, blue cheese, walnuts, apple and blueberry vinaigrette
I typically skip by the “Mixed Greens” salads but this one actually caught my eye, mainly with the blueberry vinaigrette. It’s a common salad, one that I’ve even made for myself, but it never disappoints! It was lightly dressed and had a perfect amount of each component. Winner!

Summer Squash Soup: basil chiffonade and curry-spiced apples
This soup was unlike anything I’ve ever tasted, and not necessarily in a good (or bad) way. I’ve seen pureed soup that is quite liquidy, some with a thicker consistency, others with chunks of veggies, but this was light as foam. It essentially dissolved as soon as I put the spoon in my mouth. It had some flavor but there was zero texture and tasted like air. A little strange.

Bathroom: I can’t accurately judge, as this bathroom also belongs to The Sports Club/LA, but it was clean which is important …certainly nothing special though.

Service: Twice in a row now the bread has come before we ordered (see Stephie’s on Tremont)! It didn’t influence our decision making however as we still ordered 3 apps. We didn’t interact too much with our server but our water glasses were filled and each course came out in a timely manner.

Overall: The food was great and the space is really pretty. Floor to ceiling windows line an entire wall providing views of Boston and the surrounding buildings in the Ladder District. The dining room has mainly free standing tables with some banquettes and small alcoves for semi-private dining (which is where we were seated). For being located above the Ritz and within The Sport Club/LA I expected the prices to be more outrageous, but entrees were mainly in the $20 with a few reaching the mid-$30s. I only tried one cocktail but their Watermelon Martini was excellent!

photo courtesy of Blu website

The Perfect Bite: Polenta Fries dipped in the basil pesto from the mozzarella sticks.

http://www.blurestaurant.com/

For more photos & descriptions of what everyone in my party ate, visit my Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/ThePerfectBiteBoston