Recession Relief: Bluestem

Lately, I’ve written a lot about Bluestem. The fine-dining restaurant just celebrated its fifth anniversary and last week owner Colby Garrelts was announced as a finalist for a James Beard Award. Even with all the accolades in the world, though, the restaurant’s high prices keep some people away. “That’s why we created the lounge,” Garrelts told me.

Bluestem’s lounge is connected to the main dining area and offers its own lower-priced menu. This isn’t normal bar food, but food made from premium-quality ingredients and an everything-made-from-scratch mentality that even extends to the ketchup.

The prices are slightly higher than a sport’s bar but not by much. Seasoned popcorn with a hint of curry and covered in Parmesan cheese is $3. Honey-roasted nuts slightly spiced with cayenne pepper are $5. House-cut string French fries covered in a light truffle oil and herbs: $5. Tartare makes a rare appearance on a contemporary menu, with Bluestem making its version from wagyu beef; it sells for $10. The most popular item on the lounge menu is the Kobe Burger served with a choice of cheese, crispy onions and truffle fries. “Everybody else was doing a burger and so we wanted to do our take,” Garrelts said. It will likely change way you look at bar burgers. It costs $14.

Those are the normal lounge prices but here is the best part.