Last weekend Carl and I decided we needed a nice date night so after some "yelping" we made a last minute reservation at Blue Moon Fish Company. The night was a bit rainy and overcast so I was a little weary about the idea of sitting outside for dinner. However, upon our arrival the hostesses suggested we have a drink at the bar and wait an extra ten minutes for an outside seat. Turns out, it was a great decision, and the patio was completely covered so we didn't even get we although it was sprinkling on and off. Blue Moon has some wonderful real estate and sits right on the Intracoastal which makes for a beautiful view of the river at night. Occasional boats quietly glide by, and the moon shines off the water creating a wonderfully romantic evening. It's definitely a wonderful place for a date night.
Blue Moon has an open concept kitchen, which provides patrons with a chance to view everything that comes out of the kitchen. However, it is tucked in the corner which makes it just out of view of prime seating and completely out of view of those dining al fresco. Regardless, I'm a fan of the open kitchen concept. Considering the prices this restaurant demands, I honestly expected better service. Our server wasn't very attentive, and he seemed to be too busy to give our table enough attention to sufficiently make us feel like we were worth his time. Perhaps he had a large table elsewhere, but for a restaurant where each entree is over $30, I think excellent attention should be paid to the guests.
Despite the mediocre service, the menu was very thorough and every dish sounded heavenly. With fish ranging from the classic Grouper, to Swordfish, to Trout, to a medley of seafood stars such as Clams, Mussels, Shrimp and Scallops all in one dish, it was a tough choice to pick just one. We started with an appetizer of Pan Roasted Diver Sea Scallops featuring a Hearts of Palm Salad and a Sweet Chili Garlic Glaze. I happen to be a huge fan of Scallops, and these did not let me down. There was a generous portion of Hearts of Palm, two large Scallops, and a beautiful drizzle of the Sweet Chili Glaze. Scallops are always a bit chewy, but these seemed too chewy. At $8 per scallop, I would have preferred them to have been prepared in a manner that left them, well, a bit less chewy. Otherwise, the slow after-heat of the chili glaze was a refreshing accent to the Sea Scallops, and the crisp Hearts of Palm provided a cooling touch. All the ingredients together were a perfect marriage of flavors.
The scallops were followed by the Hydroponic Bibb and Candied Walnut Salad which also had Hearts of Palm, and Gorgonzola Cheese. Fortunately for us, this salad was a rockstar and may have been the highlight of the entire meal. Unfortunately for Blue Moon Fish Co., when a salad is the highlight of a seafood meal it may be a red flag...
For the main course, I ordered Sauteed Key West Yellowtail Snapper with Maine Lobster "Mac and Peas", and a Carrot Cumin Sauce. Carl ordered the Jerk Spiced Local Swordfish and Rock Shrimp. This may be a slightly biased review considering just a week prior, I was dining on a Parmesan Crusted Snapper at GW Fins in New Orleans that was life changing. Sadly, the Snapper at Blue Moon Fish Co. was anything but life changing . The fish lacked any flavor, and was almost difficult to eat, which is saying a lot coming from this Fabbie Foodie, considering I go gaga over Snapper. The Lobster Mac and Peas, which the fish was served over, were a creamy orzo pasta and peas with a healthy serving of Lobster which was definitely the highlight of this dish. On the plus side, for an entree going for $38, the serving was gargantuan. Even if it was the most delicious fish I had ever ordered, there was no way I cleaning my plate. Carl's Swordfish dish was exponentially more enjoyable than mine. His Swordfish was cooked just right, and the curry coconut broth it was served over was a wonderful addition to the fish. It brought us right back to some of the delicious curry sauces we tasted in Thailand. Carl's dish was also massive which I found to be a huge plus to this expensive eatery. I'd rather have too much food for the price, then leave hungry because the portion was too small.
Overall, the atmosphere and the view of the water from the restaurant were top notch although the service was lacking. Yes, my dish was a miss, but I won't completely rule out Blue Moon Fish Company because Carl's dish was very enjoyable, and too many other dishes on the menu look absolutely mouth-watering. With Valentine's Day coming up, it may not be a bad idea to get dressed up, buy your honey some flowers, and make a reservation at Blue Moon Fish Co. The romantic atmosphere will definitely work toward your advantage this Valentine's Day!
Blue Moon has an open concept kitchen, which provides patrons with a chance to view everything that comes out of the kitchen. However, it is tucked in the corner which makes it just out of view of prime seating and completely out of view of those dining al fresco. Regardless, I'm a fan of the open kitchen concept. Considering the prices this restaurant demands, I honestly expected better service. Our server wasn't very attentive, and he seemed to be too busy to give our table enough attention to sufficiently make us feel like we were worth his time. Perhaps he had a large table elsewhere, but for a restaurant where each entree is over $30, I think excellent attention should be paid to the guests.
Despite the mediocre service, the menu was very thorough and every dish sounded heavenly. With fish ranging from the classic Grouper, to Swordfish, to Trout, to a medley of seafood stars such as Clams, Mussels, Shrimp and Scallops all in one dish, it was a tough choice to pick just one. We started with an appetizer of Pan Roasted Diver Sea Scallops featuring a Hearts of Palm Salad and a Sweet Chili Garlic Glaze. I happen to be a huge fan of Scallops, and these did not let me down. There was a generous portion of Hearts of Palm, two large Scallops, and a beautiful drizzle of the Sweet Chili Glaze. Scallops are always a bit chewy, but these seemed too chewy. At $8 per scallop, I would have preferred them to have been prepared in a manner that left them, well, a bit less chewy. Otherwise, the slow after-heat of the chili glaze was a refreshing accent to the Sea Scallops, and the crisp Hearts of Palm provided a cooling touch. All the ingredients together were a perfect marriage of flavors.
Sea Scallops
The scallops were followed by the Hydroponic Bibb and Candied Walnut Salad which also had Hearts of Palm, and Gorgonzola Cheese. Fortunately for us, this salad was a rockstar and may have been the highlight of the entire meal. Unfortunately for Blue Moon Fish Co., when a salad is the highlight of a seafood meal it may be a red flag...
For the main course, I ordered Sauteed Key West Yellowtail Snapper with Maine Lobster "Mac and Peas", and a Carrot Cumin Sauce. Carl ordered the Jerk Spiced Local Swordfish and Rock Shrimp. This may be a slightly biased review considering just a week prior, I was dining on a Parmesan Crusted Snapper at GW Fins in New Orleans that was life changing. Sadly, the Snapper at Blue Moon Fish Co. was anything but life changing . The fish lacked any flavor, and was almost difficult to eat, which is saying a lot coming from this Fabbie Foodie, considering I go gaga over Snapper. The Lobster Mac and Peas, which the fish was served over, were a creamy orzo pasta and peas with a healthy serving of Lobster which was definitely the highlight of this dish. On the plus side, for an entree going for $38, the serving was gargantuan. Even if it was the most delicious fish I had ever ordered, there was no way I cleaning my plate. Carl's Swordfish dish was exponentially more enjoyable than mine. His Swordfish was cooked just right, and the curry coconut broth it was served over was a wonderful addition to the fish. It brought us right back to some of the delicious curry sauces we tasted in Thailand. Carl's dish was also massive which I found to be a huge plus to this expensive eatery. I'd rather have too much food for the price, then leave hungry because the portion was too small.
My Snapper
Carl's Swordfish
Overall, the atmosphere and the view of the water from the restaurant were top notch although the service was lacking. Yes, my dish was a miss, but I won't completely rule out Blue Moon Fish Company because Carl's dish was very enjoyable, and too many other dishes on the menu look absolutely mouth-watering. With Valentine's Day coming up, it may not be a bad idea to get dressed up, buy your honey some flowers, and make a reservation at Blue Moon Fish Co. The romantic atmosphere will definitely work toward your advantage this Valentine's Day!
No comments:
Post a Comment