Blue

Blue
2337 Market Street
415-863-2583

Close to Castro and Market in the middle of the action is this small restaurant that was once part of a mini chain of small, good restaurants based in or near the Castro that are gay owned and operated. Blue feels like a shoe box at an angle from the street which is vividly visible from the inside of the restaurant. This place serves a very good burger along with a full menu of meat, poultry, fish, salads, sandwiches and even small plates. The burger is top notch meat generously formed into a large patty and cooked to order. Blue has a short history as part of a small gay owned chain that had great ideas and lousy delivery, and it got spun off to an owner who knows how to operate a restaurant that keeps the customer in the forefront of his operation. There is an urban warehouse feel to the place with painted concrete, chrome and dark blue tables and chairs and simple industrial décor. The place was a hit from day one for great Mac and cheese which went downhill under the previous ownership along with just about everything, but has been revived to its rightful glory under the new owner. Back to the large and juicy burger that is served on a very good roll that is lightly toasted and the perfect cushion for the meat and produce they offer to dress their burger. Good, generous portions of lettuce, tomato and onion share the plate with some excellent shoestring French fries. Condiments are good quality and limited in selection as are the cheese choices, but you can’t go wrong with the bleu cheese which arrives bubbling beautifully.

The wait staff is friendly, warm and fun, the place is clean and the service flows smoothly and efficiently for the most part. They have a couple of excellent salads and their meatloaf can be terrific. They serve quite a few other comfort type entrees that frequently disappear quickly, so the early bird usually gets the worm at this popular Castro diner. The location is perfect for just about anything you might want to be doing over there and most people know the Castro is a prime destination for people from everywhere with every kind of interest and persuasion. A great burger and a lot of fun at reasonable prices.