Blu, Winter Park

I had lunch at this seafood restaurant on Park Ave on Monday. It is from the same folks (when did people become folks) who run 310. I guess it's the "surf" in a "surf and turf" double team. I had their clam chowder for $6 and their octopus salad for $6. I chose two appetizers because the prices were lofty ($20's and $30's) and they don't deign to offer a lunch menu and the sushi specialist didn't come to work. The chowder tasted like it had some fennel or anise flavored liquor in it. The chef denied it. Either I have cancer of the tongue or the clam juice was off or the pot was dirty, but, it tasted like I said. It's a brothy chowder. Not much dairy. There's a reason New England outsells Manhattan 10-1. Needless to say, I wouldn't order this again. The portion was small. It only tasted passably when you put the oyster crackers in it. Maybe that is the design? It was also described as having Quahogs (or a similar brand name clam) and some designer pork. There was so little of either that I wouldn't order it based on that promise. The octopus was equally bad. It was soft and slimy. Either it was just pulled out of a tank (and wasn't wiped) or it sat for a while. The portion, in all cases in which the dish is unwelcome, was large. It came with an arugula side salad. It had way too much seal salt on it. I also had a diet coke that also tasted funny. It cost $2.65. I think the place occupies the old Spice spot. It has a narrow floor plan. The interior work looked rushed. There area paint splotches on the walls. The base board was covered in boot marks or dirt (flood?). Etcetera. You find Waldo. They decorate it in a base of some odd grey tone with accents of blue. Certain areas are white. The tables were dark brown wood. The hardware and decoration are straight up Pottery Barn. There is a cute waterfall behind the bar, but, they put a goofy plastic mini-fish tank in front of it. It seats over eighty. They put in a dividing wall a quarter of the way inside. It separates the bar area from another set of tables. The table side is kind of cramped. It's an unfortunate layout with little window seating. I would sit on the patio/sidewalk. The service was the best component. They seem to have enough polite and competent people. The prices are about one third too high. It really isn't "perfect" enough too demand more. They have Park Avenue aspirations, but, Upper West Side sensibilities. It's about as good a seafood place (actually less good) as 310 is at what they do. If you think that competes (with even) the other restaurants on Park Ave, then give it a go. If not, then I suggest you consider an alternative or encourage the management to pick it up a notch. I think they said it has been open since January.