Blue on Highland

I had dinner here late this afternoon. I had the haddock special with shrimp, risotto and a most delicious sauce full of flavor fusion. I died and went to food nirvana! I cannot say enough about the food, ambience, staff and the décor was clean, crisp and upscale. Whoever owns this goldmine keep doing whatever it is your doing and while you are at it give the Chef a raise!

The restaurant adds a nice touch to standard American food. Several of us had duck, and it was good but not outstanding. Some of the side dishes were very good. The service was impressive, because they gave us individualized attention even though it was a very busy Saturday evening.

Dietary restrictions beware!
I went for dinner with three friends on Friday, 1÷8÷16. Our server was Angela C. I have some dietary restrictions, so I ordered a plain ribeye (no sauce, no cheese) and steamed vegetables. She didn’t write our orders down, which was probably a good indicator that the food would come out wrong.
After waiting almost an hour for our food (and the place wasn’t packed) I received a steak covered with sauce and cheese, and mashed potatoes with sautéed spinach. She took away my food, and brought back a second plate a few minutes later with the correct steak, but still with the wrong sides. Because we had been there forever and I was starving, I proceeded to eat the steak and left everything else there. Additionally, one friend received a different side than he ordered, but didn’t say anything because he was also starving. When I got home my stomach was so upset — clearly, the steak had something on it that I couldn’t see that upset my stomach.
I realize that having dietary restrictions at a restaurant can be a pain, but she assured me that they could do a plain steak with steamed vegetables no problem. I will not be dining here again, and I caution anyone else with dietary restrictions not to go because they will ignore your requests.

Went for lung yesterday and had the steak sandwich. It was amazing! It came with fries that were super tasty. I am so gland I got to go to this place. Will definitely be going again!

Fine meal at Blue on Highland last night. Prompt attentive service, comfortable booth and atmosphere, and prime rib as good as I’ve ever had (and I’ve had plenty). Not a 5 star restaurant, but a 5 star experience to cap a busy week.

I was torn between 3 or 4 stars. Decided in 3 due to weak coffee and the dipping items that come with the bread are lacking in flavor. This is the first time we have gone since the renovation. Don’t like the chairs. Nonetheless, had been there a few times before and thought it was overpriced. I had written this off my list but now it is back on! Just make better coffee. We were a party of 5 and everyone enjoyed their meal. It’s not cheap but no more that somewhere like Brios and I rather support a local place than a chain. Food was better too. My husband had steak Frits which he said was delicious. I had an appetizer and salad. Huge spinach and kale salad which was very good but needed a bit more cleaning (a little gritty). Mom had short ribs which she enjoyed. Good burgers too. Large portions. Wine list is expensive.

Not sure why so many bad reviews! Have been here a couple of times. The basil dip they bring with the bread is fantastic. The grilled salmon is excellent, the lobster pasta is really good. Calamari and the parmesan fries are great appetizers/​sides. Very nice desserts. The cucumber martini is a great drink.
Yes, it’s overpriced. No doubt about it.

I’ve eaten here multiple times but this time I got to experience a new dish. I ordered the braised short ribs and sub’ed the sautéed spinach and almonds for the egg noodles and was pleasantly surprised. The short ribs were delicious and tender. My husband had a HUGE slice of prime rib (said it was 12oz but looked more like 16oz) and he said it was pretty good. The portions are a good size.
The one downfall we experienced was the noise level. It was very noisy and hard to hear one another across the table.
Overall good food but atmosphere was a downfall

New interior, superb! Missing the coat hangers…
Food, respectable, recommend/​Duck:))))

In town for work, great food, menu options and servers. Loved the seating near the open windows at front.

Had been there many times, but first since the restaurant’s re-​design. Simply put, we liked it better in it’s previous incarnation when it was warm and sophisticated. Now it feels like a Wild Willy’s. Really! (I’ll get back to the re-​design.)
Best part of this visit was our server, Chris, who was friendly and professional and very attentive. However, there were several issues that did not sit well with us or – in two cases — really ticked us off.
First, the food. We live around the corner and had been there many times. This time, although my wife liked her salmon, my short rib seemed under-​seasoned and it’s presentation was lacking. The meat looked pale and could have benefitted from a little caramelization which would have added taste and a bit of texture. The mashed potatoes were gluey and had a funky taste; hard to put my finger on, may have been the seasoning. Strangely, the broccolini was the best part of the dish.
We split a Caesar salad which was just OK; if a little wilted.
The wine list, which offered limited selection and limited price options was puzzling. There was only one wine at the low level ($ 23.), otherwise the limited selections jumped from the $ 40’s to just under $ 100., seemingly overpriced for the restaurant and for Needham. The issue that pissed me off was that the $ 23 wine appeared as $ 32 on the bill. An inattentive (or dyslexic) customer might just pay this. I felt this was not a simple error; it felt duplicitous (we felt not the fault of the waiter.)
Additionally, we had a $ 30 Unilocal Deal. When presented to the waiter he took the code and had to speak with the Manager. Upon returning, he said the Manager called the General Manager and said the code was expired. I showed him the deal on my phone and that it did not expire until Dec. 2015. He again went back to the Manager and the deal was finally applied to our check.
Back to the re-​designed space. We actually liked the industrial feel of the bar area with the exposed white-​painted brick. It was bustling and happening. However, the dining area was way too bright, felt too open and warehouse-​y and literally felt like the Wild Willy’s that had been located in Needham years ago. It had tall, light-​colored country-​Western-​style wood behind black naugahyde banquets. It felt an odd juxtaposition with the bar area. Also, the bar area was moved to the front (against Highland Ave.) and, although visible from the street, it makes the dining room feel cut-​off. We liked the bar in it’s prior location against the side wall.
Would have rated two stars were it not for the excellent service of our waiter, Chris! Overall, our visit this time made us feel like we would not want to return; in fact, it made us «blue.»

Ummmm… outstanding! !
Seriously even tho there are only two people working, with a nearly full lunch crowd, we got served right away and the food is AWESOME!
Im eating the grilled chicken focaccia, my bf got the vermonter (burger). Both fantastic. And our bartender is professional, courteous, and super attentive.
Well worth the thirty five minute drive to «eat outside «!!

Blue was recently remodeled (summer 2015), so I was excited to see what changes were made. I really like the new set-​up and other’s must have as well, because it was crowded on a Tuesday Night.
There was a wait for a table, but we ended up sitting at the bar and ordering dinner there. The bar area seems like a fun spot for a girls night out, etc. The new set-​up makes me think it would be a great space for a private party.
We started with the simple and fresh arugula salad and balanced it out with the delicious parmesan fries. Then we had the sausage & pepperoni pizza. The pizza was SO good. The crust is thin and the sauce is really sweet. Ordering a pizza is a must at blue.
I’m looking forward to trying one of the many burgers next time!

This is a nice restaurant for Needham. It is well priced, and has a bar with alcohol!
It gets crowded and is a bit more fancy inside. The staff is nice, a bit slow for a big party. The drinks are good, we had a few different margaritas and they have a nice beer selection.
We had a few different items, the pizzas are pretty good. The short rib was great, the salmon was good, the duck special was good as well.
Nothing incredible, but you likely won’t have a bad meal here.

Went to Blue on Highland the other night and it was a series of hits and misses.
I’ll cut to the chase. Appetizers: the cheeseburger sliders were excellent… Not overly done or dry… they were perfect and we enjoyed them very much. The caramelized onions were a nice touch. The calamari, however, was a complete train wreck. What was served to us was a congealed ball of grease with thin rings of calamari stuck to it. So overdone/​over fried and poorly executed. This app was a huge disappointment. On to entrees: sirloin strip perfectly cooked and tasty! Nicely prepared and enjoyed by my dining companion. Chicken piccata was also pretty well executed and done well. Thumbs up! Now for the bad news… I ordered the crab cake dinner… and was served something the likes of a cod fish cake. Please, either execute this dish properly or just remove it from your menu. This offering is an insult to those of us who really enjoy well prepared crab cakes. I expected a beautifully sautéed crab cake with visible chunks of lump crab meat. What I was served was nothing but an overly breaded and macerated mess! There was not ONE visible solid piece of lump crab meat present. It was more like a a crab scented croquette. (crab, no doubt being from a can) My feedback… If you can’t get fresh Lump crab meat (blue crab) then don’t offer it on your menu. What was served was not a true crab cake, by anyone’s standards.

Medicare food. I had salmon with risotto — risotto was flavorless and thick and gummy. My husband had chicken piccata he said it was solid but not great. Loud. Good, not great service. Nothing to rave about for sure. Recently renovated, the place was lively and full. Will not run back any time soon.

We recently moved to Needham and have heard wonderful reviews of Blue on Highland, and a few not-​so-​great reviews. Since we have a baby, we haven’t been able to eat-​in at Blue yet, but we did order takeout one night.
My husband went to pick it up, so it wasn’t super hot when he got home (despite it having just come out of the oven). We both got burgers & fries — and there were a lot of fries! We both felt the burgers were perfectly cooked to our preferences and were quite tasty. We have a gift card and still have a good amount on there, so the prices wasn’t too bad.
I am looking forward to eating in and experiencing the ambiance…

Beautiful Lobster Roll. Meaty, attractive and satisfying. Paired it with Moscow Mule in a copper mug, upgraded with Grey Goose. That is how we enjoy a bit of summer seafood in wintery New England this evening. Friendly staff is proud of the food. Right on.

Much needed atmosphere in Needham, but this restaurant misses the mark.
Food is subpar, lighting is off, and manager seems to want you out the door /​closeup sooner than later.

I really like this place despite what other reviewers rated this place in the last few reviews below. I think it depends on what you order. I’ve tried numerous things on the menu and its a hit or miss. I would recommend staying AWAY from the salads and soups (overpriced for the taste & what you get overall) and go for the main courses.
I came here for brunch and lunch on separate occasions. I would recommend getting the Eggs Benedict from their brunch (They have love jazz music played too during this time)! Its pretty delicious. And from their lunch menu I would recommend their blackened salmon wrap (OMG to die for) Sooooooo yummy. Best I’ve ever had (in a wrap). And the devilishly scrumptious parmesan chive roasted fries with truffle sauce. Mmmmm. Although it’s on the heavy side, it’s not a side dish one should pass up. Try the scallops too if you get the chance. They’re always cooked to perfection!
Just remember to avoid the salad + chicken soup and I’m sure you’ll love it here. Ooh! Make SURE to try their cocktails if you get the chance. They’re made very well & creatively. Very girly tasting which is exactly what I like. I love getting my morning drinks on! Try this place you won’t regret it.