Blossoms Café
A downtown lunch spot blooms
by Meghan Sutherland
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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