Bleu

Located along Joo Chiat Road is a seafood grocer and restaurant, Bleu, where it is the best destination for the freshest catch in the East. Start off the feast with the Seafood Platter which comes with the gems of the ocean such as half Boston lobster, Hyogo oysters, tiger prawns, Ora King salmon sashimi and shortneck clams. At a price point of $78 for the platter, you can be assured of the quality and freshness, which complemented with the tangy Thai chilli sauce and creamy seafood sauce dips.

One of their best sellers is the Fish & Chips of beer battered haddock served with homemade yuzu tartar sauce and a side of fries. The meaty texture of the haddock goes perfectly well with the crispy batter. Small bites such as Scallop Mentaiko is great as a starter before you dive straight into the Cold Truffle Capellini Pasta topped with scallop and Sakura ebi. End the meal with a sweet ending of Fried Mars Bar.

@bleujoochiat Fish Burger ($18.80 nett) has received critical acclaim, as well as my curiosity. Ladies & gentlemen, I’m pleased to announce that all the pictures on social media have done it justice. It is indeed a behemoth burger, with two THICC and beautifully battered red grouper fillets bound to two halves of a pillowy brioche burger bun by way of melted American cheese & tartar sauce.⠀
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While there was no denying that the burger is already remarkable, the Fish Burger was somewhat lacking and incomplete. It felt like the R&D guys got super excited while creating the burger, hurriedly cobbling together all the present elements before abruptly losing interest and abandoning the project altogether. The brioche bun was wonderfully buttered, but when combined with the oil from the fried fish, it does get cloying quite quickly. ⠀
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The burger was begging for a sharp, refreshing element like pickled onions, or even a coleslaw that’s been enhanced by citrus fruits like lemon or even oranges. Heck, even a couple of leaves of grilled lettuce would’ve helped to control the grease levels here. The tartar sauce is fine, but completely pedestrian, and it would’ve benefited greatly from having more dill and perhaps more chopped pickles being added into the mix.⠀
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I did enjoy Bleu’s flavourful Fish Burger for a bit, but at just under nineteen bucks for a takeaway fish burger without fries, I do expect more complexity and excellence from the burger. Perfection is so close for Bleu’s Fish Burger, yet so far…

New deli-grocer in the East with dine in space was attractive enough to draw us in on a Saturday evening.
Our generously portioned fish and chips, fish burger featured similar beer battered haddock fish fillets that we found had a slightly overdone white meat while the batter was crisp on the outside but too thick and slightly undercooked inside. That said we did finish most of the meal snd the fries were fresh.
What I liked more were the seared salmon mentaiko and umami butter clams with toasted pita, reasons why I’d return to try other non-fried seafood produce to truly vouch for the quality of the produce here; after all aren’t they a deli-grocer.

New deli-grocer in the East with dine in space was attractive enough to draw us in on a Saturday evening.
Our generously portioned fish and chips, fish burger featured similar beer battered haddock fish fillets that we found had a slightly overdone white meat while the batter was crisp on the outside but too thick and slightly undercooked inside. That said we did finish most of the meal snd the fries were fresh.
What I liked more were the seared salmon mentaiko and umami butter clams with toasted pita, reasons why I’d return to try other non-fried seafood produce to truly vouch for the quality of the produce here; after all aren’t they a deli-grocer.

New deli-grocer in the East with dine in space was attractive enough to draw us in on a Saturday evening.
Our generously portioned fish and chips, fish burger featured similar beer battered haddock fish fillets that we found had a slightly overdone white meat while the batter was crisp on the outside but too thick and slightly undercooked inside. That said we did finish most of the meal snd the fries were fresh.
What I liked more were the seared salmon mentaiko and umami butter clams with toasted pita, reasons why I’d return to try other non-fried seafood produce to truly vouch for the quality of the produce here; after all aren’t they a deli-grocer.

There seems to be quite a trend for indie grocery these days to include a cafe or dine-in element — Surrey Hills Grocer being a really good example of an establishment that does just that. Walking around Joo Chiat after our visit to 233 Banh Mi the other day, we found out about Bleu — a seafood grocer retailing gourmet meat and seafood at 175 Joo Chiat Road that had opened its doors in late 2022. Most of its space is dedicated for the retail element of the concept — so much that there isn’t exactly a proper dine-in area that is dedicated to the bistro element itself; there are only three tables that seats two pax each, with two tables being located at the back of the shop and one table being located at the front of the shop. The food menu at Bleu consists of some sharing plates, signature dishes, rice bowls, pasta and protein — most of the dishes featuring seafood elements that showcases the produce that they have brought in via their grocer, though there are some non-seafood dishes such as that of the Beef Steak that is listed in the Proteins section of the menu, as well as crowd pleasers such as Truffle Fries. There is no specific menu dedicated to beverages that is available at Bleu, though one can easily pick up something that is being retailed in the display fridge there.

Skimming through the menu on the seafood items which they have to offer, we found ourselves going for the Miso Cod; the dish is being described in the menu to come with elements such as French Cod Fish and Miso Sauce — the slab of fish also comes with bonito flakes being sprinkled over the top, as well as a wedge of lemon and garden salad on the side. The French Cod Fish is supposedly the highlight of the show here, considering how it does seem to be the intention behind those whom have created the dine-in menu to showcase the freshness of the produce that they have at Bleu. If anything, the French Cod Fish was actually pretty fresh — we liked how juicy and moist the slab of fish was; all that whilst being tender and flaky. Being cod fish, the texture was sufficiently firm, yet easy to chew through — it also carried an inherent sweetness that was just so alluring and good to have on its own as well. With the Miso Sauce atop, the Miso Sauce adds a hint of bean-like earthiness that compliments the fish’s natural sweetness without overwhelming it, while the bonito flakes atop adds on to the umami factor of the dish. Overall, a very thoughtful pairing of flavours that would actually highlight the quality of the produce used; all that done with great execution and is quite an experience to have in a grocer setting.

Bleu is not an establishment that is primarily set for dine-in; that being said, it does seem that they have placed in a lot of thought and effort to create the dishes that highlights the produce that they are retailing — a great way to educate consumers on the various types of fish that they have to offer, as well as to suggest the different dishes that can be done with them without much fuss; all that whilst showcasing the freshness and quality that they have to offer. If anything, this approach does seem more like an all-rounded approach as a grocer, providing the shopper with a multi-sensory experience whilst shopping within their premises. We had also given their Fish Burger a try; the Fish Burger being one of their signature dishes which features elements such as Red Grouper, Brioche Bun, Cheese and their Homemade Tartare Sauce — the fish is interestingly done in a way that replicates that of Fish & Chips; seemingly coated with crisp beer-infused batter. The overall product being one that is simple, yet highlights the freshness of their Red Grouper — again moist and flaky inside considering how it has been deep-fried and covered in a batter; the batter being delightfully crisp and free from grease, which we found to be very well-executed. Prices of the main dishes on their food menu may be a little bit on the higher side for some, especially considering how the portion sizes aren’t quite meant for a full meal — the prices range from $16.80 for their signature items such as the Fish & Chops and Fish Burger, all the way to $48.80 for the Grilled Lobster; most items being priced in the sub-$20 category. Still, Bleu is a spot that we would highly recommend a visit for those who love their fish and seafood dishes; no doubt not a spot that is meant for a proper dine-in experience, but one which we found to be an eye-opening experience that is also satiating!