Stella Blue, one of a handful of fine dining establishments in Conshohocken had recently closed its doors for several months to remodel the interior and spice up their menu. They went from a primarily Italian menu to more of a global tapas setup of small plates and large plates. The interior of the restaurant has undergone a miraculous transformation. Not only is the restaurant more open and airy, but all of the colors and furniture suit the menu so much better than before, using a palate of cool blues and rusty browns.

On this trip I started off with a small plate: black tiger shrimp poached in olive oil with paprika and garlic. The shrimp were served over a slice of baguette which soaked up all of the juices. I devoured this at a speed that was probably rude and drew stares from nearby tables. If the dish was larger I could have enjoyed this as an entrée. I also ordered a large plate, Chilean sea bass with a Thai lobster broth. The heat was good for me in this dish, and the Thai broth was delicious, but I would have liked it to have a little of sweetness to balance the heat. All in all, a successful reinvention of a restaurant. I am looking forward to exploring the rest of their new menu.

February 22nd, 2008 by John (Cho-Tabetai)