Café Blue

Café Blue

Written by Pitt Garrett Friday, 07 September 2007

The Café Blue Experience . . . when you need a lift!

A leisurely drive through scenic hills, a slow ride down a lift overlooking beautiful Lake Travis and you have arrived at Café Blue, where you can enjoy an exquisite meal while watching boats cruise. But hurry, Café Blue plans to close its doors for the season at the end of October and will reopen in March, weather permitting.

When my wife and I arrived, we did not see the café anywhere. Then we went to the edge of the parking area and saw the café below. But we didn’t know how to get there. We looked to our right and saw a cage with tracks going down. A lift! It took passengers slowly down to the café while soaking in the beauty of Lake Travis.

As we walked into the open-air café, we were promptly seated by the water. The décor is unusual and comfortable with solid wood tables and chairs all on a beautiful deck. Overhead, canopies and fans protect diners from the sun and heat. The atmosphere is euphoric.

For appetizers, we ordered the Blue Crab Cakes served with a white wine stone-ground mustard sauce ($11). The crab cakes were full of crab meat, and the sauce was unique and complementary without overshadowing the flavor of the cakes.

For our entrees, we ordered the Hand-Cut Ribeye served with green beans and mashed potatoes ($25) and the Caribbean Coconut Shrimp served with dipping sauces, rice pilaf and cole slaw ($20). The ribeye was perfectly cut and charbroiled to order (medium rare). The meat was tender and flavorful. The Caribbean Coconut Shrimp were fresh and crunchy, and the sweet and tangy dipping sauces were a perfect addition.

For dessert, we tried the Lime Creek Pie ($6) and the Chocolate Dipped Cheesecake ($7). These homemade treats were a delicious ending to a great experience.

The menu also has lunch and brunch items that can be viewed on their Web site. They are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Café Blue has had a rough season. They were closed most of July because of the flooding. The café had to be completely refurbished, and now the season is coming to a close. So grab the kids, your guests or come by yourself and enjoy a true jewel of Lake Travis: Café Blue.

A Sampling of Blue's menu

• Appetizers
  • Pepper-Crusted Tuna - Seared with ginger soy sauce, $10
  • Calamari - Sesame crusted with Asian dipping sauce, $8
• Lunch
  • Tacos del Lago - Blackened redfish and homemade cole slaw stuffed in corn tortillas, $10
  
  • Portabella Sandwich - Grilled and served on a sourdough bun, $8
• Entrees
  • Shrimp Brochette - Bacon- wrapped shrimp stuffed with jack cheese and fresh jalapenos, garlic butter, rice pilaf and asparagus, $19
  • Tuna Steak - Char-crusted Sashimi grade ahi-tuna with smashed potatoes and asparagus, $20

Café Blue, 8714 Lime Creek Road • Leander, 996-8188 • www.cafebluetx.com