Blu #2--First Impressions

The long awaited opening of the Woodbridge Blu Alehouse--NJ's second, with Riverdale claiming the first-- happened last weekend. After serving only beverages during that modified grand opening of the pub that used to be the Shannon Rose, the food took the stage this past Monday.

But first a word about that stage. Those former Shannon Rose patrons who were used to lots of little nooks and crannies in which to secrete themselves while eating or imbibing will find no such cover in this airy, glass-walled, modern sports bar. One wall is a massive TV. While the contractors maintained a two-level look, that look is totally different than the one SR patrons were accustomed to.

Architecturally, It's not a place for secret trysts, for sure; indeed the sunlight that streamed through the front windows during my visit around 6 PM was blindingly bright at the bar, but General Manager Tom Blume said that electrically-powered shades were coming early next week to remedy that situation. That will be a big help to patrons who may wish to chat with each other or their barmaid.

Not that these barmaids (like "SK")--or any other staffer, like the industrious, hard-working Vicki--have time to chat, though I did get a moment to do so with a star Woodbridge wrestler who was busy bussing tables. Gotta love a kid who knows the value of hard work, and wrestlers surely know that. The parking lot was filled beyond anything I had ever seen at the SR, and the Blu Alehouse was bustling with guests and staffers attending to their needs.

Blume, with the help of Shore Point Beer guru Gary Rosen, has put together an impressive beer list, with forty-four now up and available--though he has room for a total of fifty-four. One of the most impressive was the house Blu Ale made by Flying Fish. A Happy Hour bargain, it's a tasty, malty session ale that would pair with many menu items. I wasn't there for dinner--that's coming up in a future review--but I did manage to try one of the appetizers called "Steak Poivre Sliders" and they were quite good. The steak was perfectly done, the peppercorn sauce was pungent and tasty and the rolls were soft. It's also a steal at just $6 during Happy Hour, and it paired very well with the Blu Ale.

The Blu Alehouse is decidedly different in terms of layout and design (the second floor was not in use during my visit). And patrons might be surprised at the ice rail that runs along the bar top, a place where you can set your beer to keep it cold. But they should keep in mind that the colder your beer is, the less you can taste of it. There's a reason Coors Lite touts itself as "frost-brewed." But the formula for a successful pub never changes. You need good beer (check), good people (check) and good food (check, so far). This place has them.

Go check it out. Tom and Mark will be waiting.

And until those new electric shades come in, bring your own.