Blue Cat: Still good, just different
We here at Nosh Vermont used to be weekly regulars at Blue Cat Cafe and Wine Bar. Every Tuesday we’d get a cheese plate, maybe some panini, and drink many glasses of wine. Then summer came, schedules changed, and we just didn’t get in like we once did.
During our absence, Blue Cat changed its menu. They went from a panini, small plates, and salad dominated menu to more a more steakhouse menu, with several types of steak available, including a Kobe Ribeye, and a more “high end” menu with higher priced food, but maintaining an emphasis on their large wine selection. One questions if something is not broke, why fix it? However, sometimes changing course can be a good thing.
I went to Blue Cat recently to give the new menu a try. The atmosphere had not changed; it was still inviting and intimate, with low lights, candles, and a friendly greeting from the owners Ozzy and Mariasha. The wine selection was still huge, and seating at the bar still available. A review of the menu did show a number of steaks available, as well as a tempting prawn dish of grilled prawns with vegetable and a chili lime glaze, and items for vegetarians, a couple of starters and salads. I had never tried Kobe beef before, so I ordered that with the “dirty garlic” mashed potatoes and the house salad, as well as a frozen berry margarita. Their wine selection is tempting, but it was a margarita kind of day.
The frozen berry margarita was made with fresh raspberries and blackberries, and was very refreshing. The salad soon followed, and, honestly, it was an improvement over their previous house salad. Perhaps it was the construction or ingredients, but it was tasty, with fresh mixed greens, a flavorful tomato wedge, carrots, daikon radish, and a drizzle of house balsamic. It was light, but satisfying, and the ingredients looked and tasted fresh.
Then came the Kobe ribeye. A Kobe ribeye does not look like your standard ribeye. Rather than being long and marbled with fat, it resembles a filet mignon, small, rough and thick. I was provide with a knife, but it wasn’t really necessary, as the meat was so tender I could cut it with my fork. I had also ordered the steak medium rare, and it arrived in that state of perfection. The flavor? Oh buttery, meaty goodness. It was hard to not eat it quickly, and the necessity of savoring every bite prevailed. I allowed it to rest in my mouth, the flavor spreading across my tongue and ending right at the point of sublime happiness. It was amazing, and they prepared it wonderfully. The mashed potatoes were quite delicious as well, red skin-on potatoes with a subtle garlic flavor, a perfect accompaniment to the steak. There were also grilled yellow squash and zucchini, which were tasty, although a few more than three slices would have been nice (because they were good, it’s like a big tease to only give me three).
So, what is the verdict on the current state of affairs at Blue Cat? Honestly, it’s not cheap. It’s not the sort of place I would go on a regular basis for dinner, but I would definitely go there when I wanted a good steak. It remains an excellent place to just go in for a nice glass of wine, or maybe even just a salad. The service is friendly and the atmosphere is relaxing. It would be easy to just spend an evening sitting at the bar, siping wine, chatting with Mariasha and Ozzy. Incidentally, if you want to learn about wine, this is also the place to go. Not only do they have periodic wine tasting “classes”, just ask about a wine and they’ll give you more information than you can get at most places. Blue Cat is still a great place to go, it’s just for different reasons.
Total for drink, steak (including salad and potatoes), with tax: $44.48 (before tip).
Blue Cat is located at One Lawson Lane in Burlington. One Lawson Lane is a landlocked building in the middle of the block surrounded by Main Street, Pine Street, College Street, and St. Paul Street. If you walk across the gravel parking lot (parking by permit only) at the corner of College of St. Paul towards the Center of the block, then down the brick stairs, One Lawson Lane is the building in front of you. Once you enter, Blue Cat is to your right, just down the hall.
Good for: Having a drink, dates, celebrations, quiet meals with friends.
Hours: 4:30 pm-midnight, M-F
Full bar, extensive wine selection, some beer.
One Lawson Lane, Burlington, Vermont (802) 863-0349
-Yva
3 years ago • 0 notes