Bleu, an old favorite for when the parents come to stay, has introduced a prix fixe -- which translates into English as student-friendly prices. At $26 for three decadent courses, it's worth the short trip to Rittenhouse for an extravagant mid-week getaway from the rigors of existence at Penn.
The choice on the prix fixe menu is varied, with about seven options for each course. Warmed by a delicious pre-dinner cocktail, I began my meal with mussels served with shallots and sun-dried tomatoes, while my partner opted for salmon tartar with nori chips. With quantities large enough to feed the entire Kennedy clan, the well-presented dishes were a visual splendor. The perfect fusion of flavors in the mussels were a joyous medley upon my taste buds. Across the table, the moans of delight assured me that I wasn't alone in this happy place.
The restaurant emits a warm, mellow vibe with dark wood furniture and mural art on the walls, and the focal point is a long wooden bar stocked with an excitingly large variety of liquor and wine, most of which we were more than happy to sample. The staff greeted us warmly, and carried an air of genuinely enjoying their work, which remained with them throughout the evening.
We ordered a chardonnay to accompany the entr‚es, which arrived speedily and looked suitably enticing. My coriander-encrusted salmon was moist, if slightly on the buttery side; the accompanying bed of rice was, well, rice, but it complemented the fish nicely. The medium-rare rack of lamb was another highlight, a huge serving that could satisfy anyone's carnal lust for blood. Wine bottle emptied, we moved back to the cocktail list, this time opting for a 'Bleu-ini' and a Rickey Q. Collins.
By the time the desserts arrived, I was full and drunk, and so I passed the gauntlet of my blood-orange sorbet over to my less faint-hearted companion, who was aggressively attacking a lemon tartlet, which was valiantly resisting his attempts to break through its crust. Both dishes got his seal of approval, and after one more drink we were ready to leave. The evening had been wonderful and I'd recommend Bleu to anyone who feels like a bit of a treat but doesn't want to break the bank. Be warned though, the drinks bill may come as a bit of a nasty surprise. But then, no one ever said an assault upon the bar was the necessary accompaniment to a prix fixe.
