Ladies' Night Cleveland

Blue Canyon

Review by Rachel

     Welcome to the great inside of the Great Outdoors- despite the monumental size of Blue Canyon, the tavern exudes warmth and comfort.  It was an odd but very welcome transition walking in from the blustery parking lot into the cozy lodge. Everyone can appreciate the woodsy ambiance- grand rustic chandeliers hang from cathedral ceilings and suede-bound menus lay on freshly occupied tables. Here the Christmas spirit appears live and well, with tasteful holiday décor contributing to the cordial atmosphere. Our gregarious hostess directs us toward the large, centrally located bar.

    Our mission for this Thursday evening: Ladies’ 80’s Night. At first glance, Blue Canyon appears a very improbable locale for what typically brings big hair, spandex, and Michael Jackson’s Thriller to mind. But, you can leave those headbands and slap bracelets at home tonight- through noticeable effort Blue Canyon really pulled off an 80’s night of quite an elevated class. Not having to scream over KISS while musing over the lengthy drink menu was a definite plus. Exceptionally pleasant bartenders were as quick on the pour as they were with a solid recommendation. Well-crafted, stiff drinks such as the Purple Rain and Alabama Slammer were very much appreciated during the seemingly endless work week. (A fine glass of Veramonte Merlot also helped our cause.)

    While the drinks were rather enjoyable, the small plates were not to be missed- especially at five and eight dollars per plate. Our indecisiveness got the best of us once again, so we went with three appetizers- Polenta Crusted Calamari, Crispy Butternut Squash Ravioli with apple crisp syrup, and Mini Pot Roast Sliders with BC chips. We were pleased with the generous portion of fresh cornmeal-dusted calamari, which appeared to have never seen the inside of the deep fryer. However, a quick caution for those used to the standard battered dish: the large pieces of fresh squid might be just a little overwhelming for the casual seafood fan. The sliders were exceptional, consisting of two miniature sandwiches filled with flavorful, tender pot roast. Although it was a tough call, we unanimously agreed that the Butternut Squash Ravioli was our favorite. Three robust red and orange raviolis were filled with a sweet, creamy squash concoction topped with a honey-like cider sauce. Blue Canyon’s impeccable attention to detail, coupled with great food /drink specials and 80’s themed entertainment makes for a highly enjoyable ladies’ night out. An impressive number of customers within both the bar and dining area confirmed our superior commendations.  

11/29/07