Bleu Bohème - San Diego

My experience at the restaurant was during their happy hour. The service was excellent. I enjoyed the oyster mushroom ravioli and the muscles, both of which were excellent. However, I found the escargot to be too salty. The duck pate and mousse were also on the menu. The mousse was a bit too runny for my liking.

My experience at this quaint little French restaurant in the heart of San Diego was a mixed bag. I found the French onion soup to be absolutely fantastic! However, I was not a big fan of the orange duck; the flavors didn't seem to mesh well, and it was a little too salty with the addition of olives. Other members of my party enjoyed the beef, which looked very tasty. The restaurant has a nice romantic atmosphere, and the service was excellent (rated 5/5). Parking was available on neighborhood side streets, though finding a spot was somewhat difficult. The noise level was quiet, making conversation easy.

The food quality at this restaurant is truly exceptional, easily deserving a 4 or 4. 5 rating. However, the overall experience was significantly marred by the service. While the host and back waiter were bright and communicative, our server was largely absent, leaving us waiting for extended periods. It was particularly frustrating to see tables that arrived after us receive more attentive service. Regarding the food, we thoroughly enjoyed the salad maison and gnocchi à la parissienne to start. These were beautifully conceived and executed dishes. The gnocchi, in particular, was light and well-balanced, perfect for sharing. Our main courses, the moule frites de champignons and the boeuf bourguignon, also showcased high-level execution with delightful flavor profiles. The bourguignon sauce was velvety and succulent, and the moule frites featured plump mussels in a classic, layered broth. Unfortunately, the Pain d'Epice was forgettable, being too dense and not moist, and the accompanying ice cream was only marginally better. Despite the food meeting or exceeding expectations, the service detracted from the dining experience. Our server seemed to anticipate our needs rather than genuinely listen, and was rarely available for requests. In an era where dining out is a luxury, especially at over $100 per person, a full-service restaurant should offer more than just food delivery.

My experience at this restaurant was quite disappointing, especially considering the price. I ordered the mustard mussels, and unfortunately, the flavor and consistency of the broth were far from typical. It was excessively bitter due to too much mustard, thin, and lacked the richness I'd expect from mussels in broth. The mussels themselves were also questionable in terms of freshness, and their large, bulbous appearance was frankly grotesque. I could only manage to eat a few before giving up. My friend's beef Bourguignon was also a letdown; it was dry and stringy, with undercooked vegetables and insufficient seasoning. Even the bread seemed stale, as if it were a day old. It's a shame, as the food used to be really good here. It felt like a complete waste of money.

My experience at this restaurant was a significant disappointment, especially considering its past reputation. We don't know what happened to their kitchen, but it’s a sad shadow of what it used to be. In the past, this was the best French food in San Diego. Now, it’s French imitation cooking, although the service is still good. What a shame. The curry pork chops were dessert-sweet, and my duck confit was a mystery dish I would not have identified had I not known what I ordered. We took out-of-town friends there, promising a French meal, and it was borderline embarrassing.