Feed Me Now! Cafe Bleu

Cafe Bleu

Location: Hillcrest

Prices: Inexpensive to moderate - during happy hour it was only $94 for 4 people to eat a lot of different things, plus 6 spectacular cocktails

Good for: Happy hour with friends, leisurely dinner

Pros: Nice, relaxing ambiance; a mix of modern style (deep red walls and modular wine racks) with French touches (velvety settees); delicious food

Cons: Service can be a bit slow, but still good; parking can be difficult during busy times

Ratings and Recommendations: (And yes, 4 lovely ladies consumed these dishes all in one sitting! Well done, team!)
8/10 - Olives, almonds, and dates - The dates were wrapped in bacon, so I didn't partake in those - but holy cow did they look and smell tasty! The almonds and olives were very flavorful, I just wish there were more!
9/10 - Heirloom tomato, buffalo mozzarella, and prosciutto - This was garnished with a balsamic reduction and roasted garlic, which pulled it all together really, really well... light, but super tasty!
7/10 - Puff pastry tart with carmelized onions and parmesan, topped with dressed lettuces - I wanted to give this a higher rating, but I think the "salad" portion overtook the charm of the carmelized onions, which is what I was really interested in eating.
10/10 - Mushroom vol-au-vent, a puff pastry filled with herbed wild mushrooms in a creamy white wine and garlic sauce - This was ah-maz-ing. I have eaten an entire vol-au-vent here before, and would have done it again if were weren't nicely sharing.
7/10 - Salade bleu, an iceberg wedge with heirloom tomatoes, shaved red onion, and chunky bleu cheese - it was a very good salad, but alas, it is still a salad... so thus does not deserve to be rated as highly as real food.
9/10 - Classic creme brulee - This was easily one of the best creme brulees I have ever tasted.
8/10 - Chocolate tart - This super simple rich chocolate tart with raspberry puree and fresh berries was delightful.
8/10 - Carmelized pineapple tart tatin - This was very tasty... but perhaps a little brown sugar action on the pineapples would have made a deeper, sweeter crust on top.
9/10 - Mojito - Minty, limey, rummy perfection.
10/10 - Lemon raspberry drop - fresh raspberry, a lemony tang, and just enough liquor to make you feel deliciously happy and carefree.

Notes: This place is great! Bonus: you can get free parking in the Union Bank Building with validation from Cafe Bleu, or there is a $5 lot right next to the restaurant.