Happy Hour Project: Blue Point Grille is more than special occasion restaurant

The lobster deviled eggs required more than one bit.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Blue Point Grille has been in Cleveland’s Warehouse District for more than two decades, and it’s easy to see why it’s maintained its longevity.

It’s been a destination for celebrating promotions, birthdays, anniversaries and more. It doesn’t have to be reserved for special occasions, especially when you factor in happy hour specials.

Happy hour is accessible in price, food and cocktail options while maintaining the upscale vibe. It’s a classy place to relax after work that’s inviting enough to meet up with friends or dine alone at the bar.

Five cocktails on the Happy Hour menu include Manhattan Noir and a Bella Bellini for $8.

Guests can enjoy the discounted food and beverage from 3 to 6 p.m. in the bar only.

The restaurant name “Blue Point” certainly implies oysters as in the classic American variety from Long Island Sound known for a mild, briny flavor. And the restaurant delivers oysters. In fact, its website says they’ve “shucked nearly two million fresh oysters since opening.”

Lobster deviled eggs, marinated olives, Manhattan Noir and Bella Bellini and beef carpaccio are all on the happy hour menu at Blue Point Grille.

After ordering cocktails Alex and Paris, of course, ordered oysters.

Five happy hour cocktails ($8) are available. Select wines are $10 and include a Coppola Prosecco which is perfect with oysters.

Alex chose the Bella Bellini, a mix of Chambord, peach and bubbles. It was a nice fruity version of a Bellini that felt elevated thanks to the Chambord.

Paris went with the Manhattan Noir made with Wild Turkey bourbon, ruby port, Carpano Antica vermouth and barrel-aged bitters. It was similar to a Boulevardier — a negroni variation that swaps gin for bourbon.

The happy hour menu is divided into raw, small and large plates. Diners can share or not, but as usual, Paris and Alex opted share a few plates.

The afternoon started with raw Blue Point oysters, $2 each or 6 for $10. A generous plate of beef carpaccio ($10) – paper thin slices of raw beef — was topped with parmesan, lemon aioli and truffle relish.

The next two dishes were “small plates.” The lobster deviled eggs with black truffle ($9) had too much lobster, if there is such a thing as too much lobster. And a dish of marinated olives with blue cheese and Marcona almonds was enough to share with four people.

The large plates are more formatted for one person. They include Maine Blue Mussels ($12) with chorizo, sofrito, garlic and white wine. A custom grind burger ($14) with aged cheddar, applewood bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion and fries would easily make a meal as would the hearty grilled salmon Caesar ($14).

The menu also includes “The Social Set” ($22) – a Tito’s dirty martini with blue cheese olives, Caesar salad and fries. Perfect for a solo dinner, no celebration needed.

If you’re looking an excuse to return to Blue Point that doesn’t require a celebratory event, happy hour is an easy way to make any weeknight feel like something special.

Details

Blue Point Grille, 700 West St. Clair, Cleveland

Happy Hour: 3 to 6 p.m. weekdays, 4 to 8 p.m. Sundays

Vibe: Classy, large bar, comfortable alone or with friends

Food: seafood-focused raw, small and large plates

Beverages: Craft cocktails, wine

Budget: $40-$50

Note: A 20 percent service charge is added to the bill.

Dining out can challenge the budget. Still, most people – especially extroverts like reporters Paris Wolfe and Alex Darus — want to dine out, at least sometimes. They want to support local restaurants and relax with delicious food and cocktails they don’t have to prepare. Sometimes that’s simply a Happy Hour dinner. Thus, “The Happy Hour Project.” Paris and Alex regularly visit independent restaurants in Northeast Ohio for happy hour and report back on the vibe, food and cocktails. If you have a Happy Hour to suggest reach out to [email protected] or [email protected].

Details

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