Blue Ginger
715 4th Avenue, San Diego CA 92101Blue Ginger
Review by TableAgent
The ancient Chinese believed that Mount Tai, in Shandong Province, is where the sun begins its westward journey each morning. Many still make a pilgrimage there to watch the spectacular sunrise and reflect upon the universe. It is from this famous mountain that Confucius once observed, "The world is small", and Mao Zedong later declared, "The east is red."
The cuisine of Shandong is some of the most celebrated in China, and has been described as being lightly flavored, fragrant and rich. This province happens to be the birthplace of the popular favorite, bird's nest soup. It is also the original home of Xing Ton Lin, the talented Executive Chef at one of the Gaslamp Quarter's most exotic and remarkable new restaurants, Blue Ginger.
Situated on Fourth Avenue adjacent to its sister restaurant, Monsoon, this delightful sanctuary is one of the only establishments in the area to offer such authentic renditions of Mandarin and regional Chinese fare. Artfully portrayed murals depicting rural life in the provinces decorate the walls of Blue Ginger's dining room as soft, ethereal music lends a calming, almost monastic aura of serenity to the atmosphere. This should come as no surprise; prior to their opening, the owners hired Feng Shui consultants to create a harmonious environment and assure that guests would feel content during their dining experience.
On the night of our visit, my guest and I were seated in a comfortable booth in the corner of the dining room by our gracious server, Ken. He also offered us a few suggestions from their fully stocked antique bar, and we ended up trying a couple of signature Martinis, the Fortune Cookie, and the Blue Ginger. Both were wonderfully tasty and fortifying.
Next came a beguiling tray of appetizers. The crabmeat and cream cheese wontons were crunchy on the outside and luxuriously creamy in the center. We also enjoyed the richly flavored Shanghai pot stickers, as well as some of the best tasting spring rolls that I have eaten in a long time. These crispy, tightly rolled bundles were stuffed with an aromatic mixture of freshly shredded vegetables, and paired well with the tangy dipping sauce that accompanied the selection.
Ken then arrived with our magnificent main dishes. One of the most unusual was the Seafood Egg-white Trio, which was made with shrimp, scallops, fluffy egg whites, broccoli, snow peas and mushrooms. Every item was delicious and cooked to perfection; a difficult trick when combining items like fresh scallops and raw broccoli in the same pan. The sauce that was created by all of these ingredients after being stir-fried together was nothing less than heavenly.
We also tried the Szechwan Beef, which came in a tempting vegetable tomato sauce. The flavorful, succulent medallions were of the highest quality, and every bit as tender as milk fed, Provini veal that I have eaten at some of the Gaslamp's finest Italian trattorias. Both entrées were served alongside a bowl of steaming white rice.
For dessert, we sampled a tropical masterpiece with a French flair, Blue Ginger's special mango mousse. This cloudlike frappe was replete with the flavor of sweet, ripe mango, yet remained light and fluffy. It also possessed a decadent creaminess that forced me to forego making a mental estimate of its calorie count.
My guest and I concluded with a couple of coffee beverages, as we lounged in our seats while digesting our fine meal. Blue Ginger's sophisticated Asian cuisine and soothing décor offers guests the perfect opportunity for after dinner reflection. Perhaps, even akin to the stoic contemplation that sometimes takes place at daybreak, somewhere near a mountainous peak in Shandong Province.
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Reservations
Business Info
- Address: 715 4th Avenue, San Diego CA 92101
- Cross Street: G Street
- Location: Downtown | Gaslamp Quarter
- Cuisine: Asian | Chinese | Vegetarian |
- Cost: | Inexpensive
- Category: Fine Dining
- Star Rating:
- Reservations: Unknown
- Dress Code: Casual
- Meals Served: Dinner |
- Parking: None |
- Payment Options: VISA | Amex | MasterCard |
- Corkage Fee: 15.00 | Per Each Bottle
- Website: www.bluegingersd.com
- Phone: 619.888.0007
- Features: Full Bar, Late Dining, All You Can Eat, Outdoor Seating, Smoking Area, Wheelchair Access, Personal Wines Allowed, Lounge / Bar,
- Occasion: Romantic Dining, Dining Alone, Meet for a Drink, People Watching, Special Occasion, Trendy / Hip,
Photos
Business Hours
Reservations Available
- Monday
- Lunch - Main Dining Room 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- Dinner - Main Dining Room 5 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
- Tuesday
- Lunch - Main Dining Room 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- Dinner - Main Dining Room 5 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
- Wednesday
- Lunch - Main Dining Room 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- Dinner - Main Dining Room 5 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
- Thursday
- Lunch - Main Dining Room 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- Dinner - Main Dining Room 5 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
- Friday
- Lunch - Main Dining Room 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- Dinner - Main Dining Room 5 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
- Saturday
- Lunch - Main Dining Room 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- Dinner - Main Dining Room 5 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
- Sunday
- Dinner - Main Dining Room 5 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.