It was another Friday night on Second Street as this foodie took a stroll through Belmont Shore. With tons of people walking about, undoubtedly gearing up for summer as the weather is warming up, it was a beautiful night.
My friend Solfia and I decide on Boubouffe, the relatively new Mediterranean restaurant that just opened last year. A friendly hostess greeted us, seating us “inside” facing the parking/auto detail lot. Umm…not a good start (a parking lot is not the greatest of views), but I am hopeful as I heard good things about the food.
A very pleasant and attentive waitress took our order. However, I think she must have been new because she wasn’t very familiar with the menu as she couldn’t answer our questions. Things aren’t looking too good — again.
Now I have to say that I do love Middle Eastern food with its exotic Mediterranean and Eastern Asian spices and flavors — but here, my Moroccan Lamb Tajine with black figs, turnips, and couscous missed the mark. It was rather bland and not all flavorful — such a disappointment given the dynamic flavors usually associted with Moroccan cuisine. My friends dish was significantly better, as the fish she ordered — a Pan Roasted Stripe Bass served with cauliflower purée, pine nuts, capers, and sultana — was tasty. However, the vegetables were a bit off as the puree looked a little like baby food. Gerber shouldn’t be on the menu.
The best dish by far was the Old Fashioned Wilted Spinach Salad with sweet onions, croutons, apples, smoked Turkey bacon, poached egg, and white balsamic dressing. The tangy dressing was just right, the onions delectable, and the poached egg was perfect. Solid choice.
Lastly, we decided to share dessert to round out the meal and ordered the Baklava. Served as three long rolls on a dish sprinkled with pistachios, it certainly looked nice but the pistachio filling was a little too spicy for me and not as sweet as I am used to (even with the rather nice flaky crust). Solfia seemed to like it though as not much was left over.
As we walked home that night, we decided we should have just ordered the salad with a glass of wine but agreed we would give it another chance because maybe it was just an off day — and everyone is entitled to one of those. Or we just ordered the “wrong” dishes — you never know. So until next time this cougar wishes you and your stomach a Bon Appetite!
Boubouffe Mediterranean Grill, 5313 East Second Street, 562-433-7000.