The Boston Phoenix
November 11 - 18, 1999

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Blossoms Café

A downtown lunch spot blooms

by Meghan Sutherland

ON THE CHEAP
When it moved downtown from the Charlestown Navy Yard three years ago, Blossoms -- like a lot of lunchtime haunts in the Financial District -- was overshadowed by the wildly successful Rebecca's Cafˇ just around the corner. But since then, the service has gotten speedier, the menu has expanded, and it's become a solid contender in the downtown lunch wars. Be warned, though: the prices have been inching slowly upward in recent months, so we recommend checking it out soon.

Blossoms' menu is international, with choices that include a "calzone of the day," jerk-chicken sandwiches, and curry salads. The salads, all under $5, are hearty and fresh -- most notably the Blossoms Salad, sunflower seeds and bright, juicy mandarin oranges over a bed of mesclun ($4.75). The soup-and-sandwich deal is a steal -- $4.75 for a bowl of spicy white-bean soup and half a turkey sandwich. A three-layer Mexican quesadilla ($5.25) includes vegetarian refried beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, and peppers, and comes with side helpings of ziti and carrots. The bottom layer of the quesadilla was heavy on the grease, but it tasted good nonetheless. And, in a nod to fashion, the cafˇ offers 12 wrap sandwiches, all for less than $5.25. A good choice is the "Pesto Sundried Tomato Grilled Chicken Wrap" ($4.75), with truly zippy pesto and strips of chicken that don't threaten to overwhelm the tortilla. Cups of mulled cider ($1) will come in handy this winter. And if you're not up to braving the High Street lunchtime shuffle, Blossoms is open between 3 and 4 p.m. just for dessert and cappuccino.

Blossoms Catering Cafˇ, located at 99 High Street, in Boston, is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (617) 423-1911.


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