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By Clint Thomas The Blossom Deli at 904 Quarrier St. in Charleston provides diners with an array of modern American dishes amid the Art Deco mirrors, booths and soda fountain counter of its predecessor, the legendary Blossom Dairy. A lunchtime staple downtown, in the evening, the Blossom unveils a surprisingly diverse selection of appetizers and entrees on its dinner menu. As one example, the Blossom Deli's appetizer choices exceed - by a quantum leap -- the typical chicken wings and jalapeno popper fare. The menu lists Creamy Polenta with Gorgonzola and Spinach, Roasted Portabello Mushrooms, Louisiana Crabcake, Tuna Carpaccio, and Salmon and Goat Cheese Crepe as starters. The salad selection includes a Wild Mushroom Salad, a Spinach Mozzarella Salad, a Chicken Breast and Artichoke Salad, Traditional Greek Salad and the Tossed Salad. The entrée selection is extensive enough to appeal to virtually every appetite and preference. Center Cut Filet Mignon and New York Strip are available for steak lovers. A Sicilian-Style Free Range Chicken meal with roasted Yukon potatoes, baby carrots, Roma tomatoes and fresh herbs is a tempting choice, as is the Veal Osso Bucco. Add to that a spectacular seafood selection that includes crab cakes, jambalaya, grouper, trout, tuna and salmon. (Entrees range in price from $13 to $21.) What's more, the Blossom Deli allows you to create your own pasta meal. Your pasta choices are penne, spinach Fettucini, angel hair, linguine and bowtie, and your sauces include the housemade marinara, Alfredo, light cream marinara, helf-infused oil and the zesty Thai BBQ. You can further customize your meal with accompaniments ranging from artichoke hearts to shitakes and portabellas to sun-dried tomatoes, vegetables and much more. Additionally, the Blossom's wine list contains approximately 40 selections for the discriminating palate. The atmosphere is intimate and remains faithful to the Blossom's malt shop, lending a casual feel to a more sophisticated cuisine. The chefs prepare the meals on an open grill behind the counter, in full view of the patrons. I ordered the Catalina Salmon and was well-pleased with my selection. Topped by tender, grilled salmon were garlic mashed potatoes, catalyn spinach, balsamic glaze and sun-dried tomato jus. Served in a generous, but not overwhelming, portion, it was delicious and filling. (As such, regrettably, I had no room for dessert - my loss.) Along with dessert specials, you can top off your meal with an ice cream sundae or milkshake made in homage to the loving creations the Blossom Dairy was renowned for for decades.
Regardless, if you're seeking unique food in a unique setting, I'd recommend the Blossom for some quiet bonhomie in a smaller setting or to impress out-of-town visitors with a distinctive taste of local history and a variety of tastes from the kitchen. (Clint Thomas is a reporter for Charleston Newspapers' Metro Department.) |
The Blossom Deli offers unique menu, unique atmosphere
I visited the Blossom on a weeknight evening without a reservation, when the restaurant was approximately half-full. The service I received was prompt, but not rushed, and efficient. Dinner reservations are taken and may be your wiser choice on weekends and nights of special events in the city.
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