Blue Spoon - Portland, Maine

It had been almost two years since I last ate at Blue Spoon. I recall that dinner was a decent value, slightly above-average fare at reasonable prices. But as one reader said in a recent post comment, it lacked any "wow factor." For that reason - and because I prefer restaurants that accept reservations, I had not been back.

But in the mood for another meal "on the hill," I took the suggestion of one of my readers and decided to give it a try for lunch on a recent Saturday afternoon. Blue Spoon is a tiny, neighborhood restaurant with seating for about 30 people - there are ten tables and four seats at the bar. We arrived shortly after one and the place was half-full.

We settled into our corner table and were greeted by a cheery waitress. After perusing the items on the menu, many of which were vegan and vegetarian, we settled on the Bruschetta and Soup as appetizers, and the Chicken Asiago and Portobello Mushroom Sandwiches.

Service was prompt, despite the fact that there appeared to be only two people working - the chef and our waitress. The Bruschetta ($6) she delivered was topped with pesto, olive oil, cheddar cheese and diced tomato. It was served with a side of greens, lightly dressed with vinaigrette, which we piled on top of the bruschetta. The Bean soup ($4) was chock full of kidney, garbanzo, and canelli beans, diced carrots, baby bella mushrooms, peas and kale. I prefer my soups hearty, and this one fit the bill.

The Chicken Asiago Sandwich ($9) was served open faced on slices of thick, dense bread topped with caramelized onion, herbed mayo, and melted asiago cheese. The chicken was just a tad dry, but the overall compilation of ingredients was enjoyable. The side of room temperature rice was interestingly prepared, holding finely diced onion, parsley and herbs.

Demonstrating creativity, the chef topped an average quality bun with a juicy, grilled Portobello mushroom, pungent blue cheese, and a sweet and zingy red onion jam ($9). Each bite was delightful, as the sharply contrasting flavors hit my taste buds.

My husband ordered a cup of hot tea to enjoy with dessert. Sachets filled with loose leaf tea were a nice deviation from typical tea bags. Unfortunately, the tea cups are so small that the sachet almost completely filled the cup, making it difficult to drink. While on the subject of dishware, the dishes and silverware at Blue Spoon could use an upgrade, as they are showing wear from years of use.

Our minor complaint was quickly forgotten when we took our first bite of the standout dish of the day - the Flan! I'm not much of a flan fan - the texture doesn't do much for me, but Blue Spoon's version was amazing. Made with coconut milk, it was not overly sweet, rather it was simultaneously rich and refreshing. Our waitress explained that it was made on-site by a Cuban chef who makes it "Cuban style" - denser, with more of a custard consistency. It was outstanding!

At about the same price point as the newly opened Chef et al, Blue Spoon is less creative and a bit more cramped, but it does have the true "neighborhood restaurant" vibe. Offering excellent value to its patrons, it is not a "destination restaurant," though it would surely be a favorite if I lived nearby.