Opened: October 2024
This breezy Sonoran seafood restaurant in Verde at Cooley Station exudes an irresistibly beachy vibe, thanks to its high ceilings, huge windows, woven pendant lights and blue accents. It’s also the surf-y sibling to turf-y Origen, a Mexican-style steakhouse parked right next door – both owned by serial restaurateur Martin Hurtado of Buqui Bichi and Miel de Agave fame. The menu meanders through traditional Sonoran dishes (say, shrimp cocktail in a goblet), modern, cross-cultural classics like tuna tartare and creative riffs on Mexican standards. An exemplary case in point: salmon en nogada – grilled salmon wrapped in a roasted poblano pepper and set in a puddle of date cream sauce, strewn with pomegranate arils and pistachios.
Out there, but tasty ($39). Chunky guacamole, loaded with tomatoes, onions and cilantro and surrounded by house-made chips ($12), is a great opening act, while ultra-crunchy lump meat crabcakes are a little dry but delicious with a swipe through chipotle sauce ($18). Shrimp Alfredo ($24), a favorite, combines salt-and pepper-flecked shrimp, creamy fettuccine and a shower of cotija cheese (Mexico’s salty counterpart to Parmesan) with thin toasted bread for accompaniment. For dessert, try firm flan strewn with sliced almonds, a recipe from the owner’s grandmother ($8).
Wild Card: Shrimp and octopus chicharrónes, crispy nuggets of goodness dunked in more of that excellent, mayo-based chipotle sauce ($22).
2472 S. Recker Rd., Gilbert, 480-992-3279, blu-seafood.com
