Blu La Cafe - Los Angeles

Starting with the bread—on their signature Blu La Cafe Burger, the soft rolls held everything together beautifully. The juices, meat, and vegetables combined with mayo were well-balanced. I assume the burger patty was hand-formed since it fell apart while I ate it, which I consider a positive sign. My only minor criticism would be that it was a bit too salty or perhaps too spicy. Other than that, it was a solid burger. My dining companions opted for the Monterey Burger, which our waitress strongly recommended. I might have ordered that if I hadn’t been swayed by the “award-winning” label on the Blu La Cafe Burger. From the bite I tried of the Monterey Burger, it had a nice kick from the jalapeños and Monterey Jack cheese. I think the burgers’ richness complements the spiciness really well. There were also some orders of the turkey lasagna. Unfortunately, one of those plates came out a bit undercooked, but my other friend polished hers off in record time. The little bite I had wasn’t bad, but it’s not something I’d rush to recommend. Two items got unanimous praise: the fries and the fried mushroom ravioli. The fries that accompanied my burger were raided—fry by fry—before I even finished my burger. I think I only ended up with a few! They were thin, crispy, and not overly greasy, just as fries should be. As for the fried mushroom ravioli—stuffed with Portobello mushrooms and Ricotta cheese, served with house chili oil—that was the hit of the night. The chili oil was so delicious, we even used it as a substitute for ketchup with the fries. We shared both orders, and they were gone in no time. I think one of the girls was nearly in ecstasy over the ravioli! Overall, Blu La Cafe is a lovely spot in the heart of Downtown LA, right next to Cole’s and the club. Parking can be a bit tricky, but I believe it’s worth the effort.