Restaurant Review: Bluu

Ah Bluu.

I’ve known you for your cocktails for a long time. 11 years to be precise, but I had to admit food wise…. I was a bit unaware.

So an invitation to review, meant I had to investigate the food menu and I found something intriguing. Bluu has gone barbecue. Low slow 16 hour smoked ribs, home made sauces, wings and the ever present burger are on the menu. Interesting.

Sadly due to the unexpectedly warm weather, the Smithfield Social, Bluu’s cocktail den was closed, but no matter, Bluu has it’s own well versed cocktail menu that was available to tempt our tastebuds while we debated the menu.

Unusually for me, the warm weather had brought out my fizzy side, and so I availed myself of a Moonwalk – Prosecco, Grand Marnier, grapefruit juice and rosewater made for a refreshingly dry cocktail, perfect for the summery weather. Mr GFB too, was tempted by something summery, with the Chilli Mai Tai, a combination of Havana Especial, Grand Marnier, lime, orgeat and chilli – sweet and spicy.

And so to the food. The menu is meat. All the meat. Veggies, I’m sorry, but your options are pretty limited – sides, mac n cheese, crispy shiitake mushrooms and a bean burger. I must admit to being a little disappointed.

But only a little. As a meat eater, it meant we had the run of the menu, so we went in first for the chilli and caramel chicken wings to share between us.

These are sweet sticky and spicy – exactly what it says on the tin, and the squeeze of charred lime over the top turns them a little more sweet and sour. Rather addictive.

Sticky fingers later, it was mains and we’d both gone for beef. Mr GFB leapt in with the beef rib in honey and barbecue glaze, with purple slaw and fries. And even in the fading light it looked good.

It tasted damn fine too, the meat peeled from the bone in tender chunks, and even Mr GFB had to admit defeat at the size of it. That’s a good old piece of meat.

I’d gone for a burger, with a side of truffle, sour cream and parmesan fries. Yes, you read that right, and my mouth is watering at the thought. Those fries were good – and as replacement for my bun (as my yeast aversion woes continue) they were gorgeous, but the bun looked perfect. It was savoury as opposed to the sweet brioche that’s been all the rage recently and as I pulled at it, it’s got a gorgeously lightly chewy texture. I swear, first bit of bread I can eat, I’m eating that.

The burger was good, though it had been taken over and wasn’t the pink I’d been promised. A little less time and it would have been a bit more tender, but the burnt onions and blue cheese were a great addition.

My fizz craving continued as I went a little ginny with the Windsor Garden – Bombay Sapphire, Prosecco, Luxardo Maraschino, Antica Formula and Maraschino cherry syrup. Sweeter than my previous cocktail, this was still delicious as I’m a complete cherry fiend.

Mr GFB had gone for a Bluu classic – one we’re told was taken off the menu, until protests and the sheer number of people asking for it anyway, meant it was put back on. The Tropic Thunder. Absolut Vanilla, Sailor Jerry’s, Briotett lychee liqueur, guava juice, lychee juice, lime juice and passion fruit syrup. Surprisingly, this is one sweetie I’d probably drink – the balance is just bang on, and the acidity of the fruit juice stops short of being too much.

Dessert and we were so full of meat, we decided to share. There were a number of specials on the board, but Mr GFB persuaded me to the whoopie pie with peanut butter and chocolate.

My, it was pretty. It was more a cheesecake style than whoopie pie, though the base occupied that fantasy state – the lovechild of biscuit and cake – that forms the outer of a whoopie pie. And this was my favourite of the dessert, closely followed by the popcorn brittle and the caramel ice cream. The bit that remained disappointing was the centre. I’d hoped for something creamy, with chunky peanut butter and a hint of that sweet/salty thing that I love. This was, well, a little odd. Quite dense and creamy, the peanut flavour was barely there. It didn’t quite work and was certainly lost in the other flavours and textures.

Overall Bluu, you’ve surprised me. A couple of tweaks and you could be a little gem. I just hope that not everyone discovers it before I have chance to head back.

In the meantime, someone hand me the jar of peanut butter and a spoon please? Ta.

The food and drink supplied by Bluu were done so free of charge. As ever, this doesn’t guarantee a positive review, and as you can see there were one or two things that need a little fixing. Other than that, I’m happy to return purse in hand – and I need to get me down to the Smithfield Social when it’s open!