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Name: Blue Ginger
Address: 583 Washington St, Wellesley, MA, 02482
Telephone: (781) 283-5790
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.70

Blue Ginger

583 Washington St, Wellesley, MA, 02482

(781) 283-5790
Store is closed

Blue Ginger Menu

Lunch - Appetizers

Organic Mixed Green Salad

Spiced Sweet Potato Soup

Pork Springrolls
Lunch - Entrees

Pea Pasta

Vietnamese Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Korean Burger
Lunch - Dessert

Tahitian Vanilla Creme Brulee

Chocolate Pot De Creme
Dinner - Appetizers

Sesame Caesar Salad

Spiced Sweet Potato Soup

Pork Spring Rolls
Dinner - Entrees

Szechwan Chicken

Aromatic Braised Beef Short Ribs

Moroccan Atlantic Salmon
Dinner - Dessert

Coconut Passion Fruit Cake

Miso Caramel Pot De Creme

Healthy Meal suggestions for Blue Ginger

Lunch - Appetizers

Organic Mixed Green Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spiced Sweet Potato Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pork Springrolls [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Lunch - Entrees

Pea Pasta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vietnamese Grilled Chicken Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Korean Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Lunch - Dessert

Tahitian Vanilla Creme Brulee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate Pot De Creme [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Dinner - Appetizers

Sesame Caesar Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spiced Sweet Potato Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pork Spring Rolls [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Dinner - Entrees

Szechwan Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Aromatic Braised Beef Short Ribs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Moroccan Atlantic Salmon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Dinner - Dessert

Coconut Passion Fruit Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Miso Caramel Pot De Creme [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Sam S.

5-star food in every bite; very professional service during meal; allergy requests cheerfully accommodated. Ordered a craft beer only to be told it was "out of stock" that evening; list could be expanded to include more interesting selections (Note to owner: check Beer Advocate before choosing). Took a bit too long to receive check at end of meal. Street parking or metered lot nearby. Great location near center of town, walking distance to lots of cute boutiques.
(4)
S A.

Its clearly the pride of wellesley when it comes to local restaurants. Every time i have been here, its been an experience. The quality of food is as good as it gets in Wellesley. Presentation is exquisite. Service is fine too, though its not consistent across waiters. It requires a little more space to reduce the usual wait time when a guest lands up without a prior appointment.
(4)
Jamie Y.

This place has a great reputation but unfortunately didn't please any member of our party of 5. We ordered five entrees on the menu and only the butterfish was good and worth its price. The Indonesian curry pasta however wasn't great and no one wanted to finish it at our table (we were sharing our dishes). Everything else was only ok- again, not worth the money. If you're looking for a fancy dinner place to go to for a special occasion, I would go somewhere else where the food is worth paying for.
(3)
sally l.

The extra special bar area is my favorite...Last night the bar menu Chicken wraps was delicious, the Sancerre very good, the service excellent. I am a fan of Ming Tsai and give thanks to him whenever I am at BlueGinger...For bringing Blue Ginger to Wellesley!
(4)
Ed L.

Get the mussels. Trust. I friggin hate mussels and I loved these. The broth was so deep and rich, we wanted to drink it all. The shiitake mushroom spring rolls were just okay. They were a little dry and tasted mostly of onions. My pork chops were amazing and melted in my mouth. My wife liked her salmon as well. Service was friendly, professional and attentive. We had the four course tasting menu, and the portions were actually very large. Most people inside were dressed in business casual attire. I would gladly come back to try more dishes.
(4)
Christine J.

I would give it 3 stars for its mediocrity but the high price drives it down a star. way overrated. If this is what americans consider good Asian food, they're missing out! I expected way more from Ming the famous Chinese chef, but instead its like Asian food cooked by non Asians. whatever Asian fusion is, it should taste good but this is just way average. the lobster fried rice was so mundane. their signature dish. it was salty and nothing special.. had another dish and it was also so so. can't remember what it was.. maybe steak? wouldn't waste my money or time travelling here again.
(2)
Matthew F.

In a celebratory mood we went the Blue Ginger with high expectation given its considerable hype, more or less upper-end positive reviews on Yelp, and our enjoyment of inventive cuisine. Overall, my wife felt the experience to be mediocre, and I found myself profoundly disappointed in the meal, based on other options in the region. Despite our negative reaction, however, being newcomers recently relocated to Wellesley, we will certainly give them a second chance. With regional fusion competitors esconced in comparable French-Pacific Rim motifs like Myers + Chang, Oishii, Uni, Journeyman, and O-Ya, Blue Ginger, in my expectation, will be outdone and outclassed without undertaking a serious retrofit of its outdated menu options. For my money, I think one can find more exceptional quality on the Chinese end at a handful of expressly Chinese restaurants in the region, and some really interesting fusion-concepts do exist elsewhere for the discerning gastronome in eastern Massachusetts. We began the evening perhaps too auspiciously in ordering what was a superb bottle of champagne (hey, we were celebrating) -- and it was one so excellent to our palates, it upstaged everything else without being ruined -- that's what we're telling ourselves anyway. Had we known what we were in for, we would have set our wine-pairing sights much lower, or gone the Singapore-Sling route. We shared the leek-shiitake springrolls, the fois-gras shumei, the sablefish, and the lobster -- the latter two being by far the most expensive items on the menu (which btw is not why we picked them). Like other reviewers we were surprised by the blunt mediocrity of these choices. They were also quite heavy and unrefined. The springrolls were salty and uninteresting, even wrapped in the lettuce with the coleslaw, the manner carefully instructed by our young server (is this P. F. Chang's?), and the plating was more major cruiseline than celebrity chef. The shumei were no different, though served in the classic bamboo steamer over a sludge-like sauternes french onion soup whose flavor was more in the Germanic Blaukraut spectrum -- not a bad thing, but a strange choice for fois-gras - flavors cancelled each other out. My Sablefish was overcooked, and, I gotta say, the weird soba-noodle sushi and seaweed salad is indeed an awful and unappetizing combination with this delicate fish -- how is this their headliner dish? My wife's lobster was a hacked-up Maine swimming in a brownish, chunky, and salty gravy that over-powered our otherwise sweet and hearty local crustacean friend. The inadequately sized plate and abundant sauce also made it less than graceful removing the meat from the shells - we were confused this step was not addressed by the chef given the dish's form. Desserts were mostly pedestrian but good - my wife had the chocolate cake with cardamon ice cream - though their blackberry-yuzu jellies were amazing.
(2)
Davide C.

The restaurant scene in the suburbs is vibrant and there are excellent choices available. BG is not on the top of my list. It just does not excite me the way a restaurant with its reputation should. I consider their food average (not bad), their wine options average (not bad), their service average (not bad). This was our third time there. This time, the bread was brought out after the appetizers (rookie mistake). At Christmas, we bought from BG a gift certificate that got us a $20 coupon. Unfortunately, BG refused to accept the coupon because it was expired by a few days. Again, BG is average. It should be more., It is not.
(2)
Sonia N.

This place is just fantastic! It takes a lot for me to say that all three factors were perfect this visit - Service was excellent and professional, ambiance was elegant and romantic and food was tantalizing. We started our evening off with the chef suggested green gazpacho. It was emulsified so thoroughly that it tasted creamy. You forget it's not prepared with any cream at all. Next we had the pleasure of trying their Shiitake-Leek Springrolls and the Mussels. Both were wonderful and nothing lacked in flavor or presentation. At our server's suggestion, we tried Korean Rice Cake Stir Fry with Tofu and the Curry Pasta with Vegetables. AH-MAZ-ING! If you only can pick one of these to try, choose the tofu dish. Very original and I'd say if you're a foodie looking to order something to try out the chef's artistry, this is your must have. I promise you won't regret it. For our desserts, we chose a chocolate dessert and something that looked like strawberry donuts. Both satisfied our sweet tooth but the donuts were the winner that round. Overall, a 5 star experience and we will be back!
(5)
Mark W.

So disappointed with our most recent dinner visits to BG. Over salted food both times, wait staff inattentive very surprised to walk out the front door on two occasions after spending $300 (party of two) to be ignore by the front door hostesses both times they were just too busy chatting amongst themselves to even say good night.
(3)
Lannie L.

After watching Top Chef and receiving a gift card from our wedding, we finally had the chance to patron this place! It was easy to make a last minute reservation via Open Table on a late Friday night. The ambience was louder than I would have preferred but it was a large restaurant with an open kitchen section which I always appreciate. Our waiter had a strong foreign accent and I found myself smiling and nodding most of the time without actually understanding what he was saying. I started with a Castlebrite cocktail, him an Old Fashioned. Both delicious. We got the Poke and LOVED it. I loved the take on 'rice cakes' as I expected soft and gooey, pounded rice cake. Poke itself was so good - lots of interesting flavors and we cleaned that plate quick. He went with the Sablefish (butterfish) and I got the Porterhouse pork. He claimed his fish was the best he has ever tasted. Butterfish is very soft and tender and an easy fish to eat. The pork was delicious but overly sweet in my opinion with the apricot and glaze. The smashed crispy potatoes were great but I would have hoped they were more evenly cooked (some were more burnt). We ended with the Mochi Donuts, which were very...sesame-like if that's what you want. It was interesting with good texture but I should have followed my gut and went with something chocolate. Maybe I walked into it with my fake Top Chef judge hat but overall, we really enjoyed the food but could understand why the price point would draw people away for what they would think is 'worth it.' Service was also incredibly slow but our water was topped off constantly and bread re-fills were offered which I thought was thoughtful and attentive. PS - Parking in the back in case you're pulling your hair out looking for street parking.
(4)
Tessa D.

I came here for the Easter brunch buffet, so I'm not sure if that's a good indicator of the usual standards of this place. When I first arrived it wasn't too busy so I was alright then, but as the day continued I became very annoyed because they had squeezed us into these tiny seats. Every time I had to leave my table I wound up jabbing the man next to me. Maybe this would be a good set up on a regular night, but when people are getting up and down to refill their plates it isn't all that convenient. I grabbed one of every single thing their asian buffet was serving. There was lamb, shrimp, dumplings, noodles, thai fried chicken, sliders, ham. The only thing I really enjoyed were the lamb and the dumplings, because they were the only things that were warm. I strongly disliked the noodles, they were covered in a yellow curry sauce and it wasn't very good, the noodles were overcooked and essentially mush, I had one bite and regretted it. The "Thai" fried chicken was also very confusing to me, as someone who has lived in Thailand. It kind of just seemed like a typical fried chicken with a few asian spices that I didn't immediately associate with Thailand. I went back up for another plate of ham, lamb, and shrimp but then after that I was done with the "adult" side of the buffet. I was still hungry so I moved from the mature asian fusion side that my peers were enjoying, and walked over to the kid section. Yup, I chose chicken nuggets, mac n cheese, and a hot dog over the menu an Iron Chef made. Don't know if that says more about me or the food at Blue Ginger. My boyfriend actually laughed so hard when he came back to the table and saw me eating chicken nuggets I was worried he'd choke on something. The highlight of my trip to Blue Ginger was the dessert table. Oh. My. Goodness. If I had known it had existed earlier I would've spent all my time there, but unfortunately I didn't discover it until after I'd stuffed myself with kid food. They had key lime bites, strawberry shortcake, green tea cakes, creme brulee. My boyfriend and I went back to the table twice. Had it not been for the dessert I would've very much regretted going to Blue Ginger, but it made it worth it. So, not sure how much I can say about their usual menu, but this is what I experienced during their Holiday special.
(3)
Paul M.

If I could give them 10 stars, I would! Blue Ginger - Wellesley, MA - 5/13/2015 Its a Wednesday night and the place is packed! A large well decorated restaurant in earthy tones... Columns with wood accents... Gold colored walls... Black ceiling with accent lighting... House baked French country loaf served aside a wonderful Brioche... Made fresh daily accompanied by whipped butter. Amazing! Thai Fish Chowder with salmon, coconut milk & lemongrass. If there is a fish heaven, I think I just found it. This is probably one of the absolute best soups that I have ever had. Small bits of various vegetables and pieces of salmon... The flavours and textures blend like a torrid affair on my palate... Mere words cannot describe what I am experiencing right now... Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster with Lemongrass Fried Rice. Pea tendril salad with tamari-ginger vinaigrette. I'm not even sure where to begin with this one... The presentation of the plate?... The placement of the fried rice inside the lobster shell?... Or was it the way the lobster tail was sectioned like riblets with the meat still inside?... Or was it the way the spinach was neatly placed upon the chunks of lobster claw meat...? Everything purposely positioned... For dessert their flowerless chocolate cake with cardamom ice cream and chocolate ganache... I have had a lot of these but because everything else was so exceptional I figured this would be extra special here... The richest, creamiest, most chocolaty foodgasmic dessert you will find for miles... Simply WOW! Top it off with a cappuccino and life is truly good... My server Jill was fabulous! Respected my pace and everything came out at the exact time I was ready for it. I cant say any more than I already have... Although I like to try different restaurants as I go in my travels, I will definitely be back here... Definitely!
(5)
Marlana Y.

'Free bread? Maybe it's not that kind of place.' That's the first thought we both had after we ordered because we were so hungry from the wait. But as we were thinking it, it came. The service was amazing but we went during the dinner rush on a Sunday and surprisingly it was busy!!! Especially since it also was a blizzard warning weekend. Every Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday night they offer the winter comforts 3 course dinner menu for $39. The deal gave us a reason to visit but due to the prices and tastes it's not something that makes me want to go there all the time. It was just OK. It's a nice fancy place to bring a date if you want to impress. Apps came out fast. We ordered the Crispy Fried Calamari with Thai dipping sauce and the Shiitake-Leek Springrolls with three chile dipping sauce. The calamari was good but the sauce was too sour- so much lime that it turned us off from eating the calamari. Entrees and dessert was a bit slow I think due to a back up in the kitchen from the high volume customers as the evening went on. We ordered the Braised Pork Shank and Grilled Salmon. I thought the salmon was amazing. I loved the mushroom risotto that came with it. My husband felt that the pork needed Tabasco sauce. Dessert we got the creme brÃ»lÃ©e which tasted like every brÃ»lÃ©e I've ever had and my hubby grabbed the Bittersweet Chocolate Cake which he loved because he loved anything that tastes like dark chocolate .
(3)
creighton k.

Always dependable, a mile from our house, great food, great wine. Service can be slow on Saturdays. Place is always packed.
(4)
Julie A.

What a great treat! This place is expensive but totally worth it. Fantastic food, no matter what you get. I find the menu is as diverse as the flavors in each item on it. Everything is cooked to perfection. a lot of seafood and meat, but there are a few vegetarian dishes as well. All are bursting with flavor! the lot in the back makes for a nice suburban convenience factor too. MAJOR MUST HAVE..... the Blue Ginger Gimlet. It's liquid heaven!
(5)
Mike C.

My fav restaurant in and around Boston. Ming's food is fantastic. I have eaten just about everything on the menu except the vegetarian entree. The simplest appetizer is a mixed green salad with shallot-pommeroy dressing, is to die for. The lobster entree is awesome, beyond words. The service is great, Kat is a great waitress. You often see Ming and his wife Polly there making sure it all goes perfectly.
(5)
Lala L.

This place has so much hype. There isn't anything that special about the dishes, nothing I can't make at home. I think the only fact that makes their dishes stand out and that Blue Ginger can charge so much is that they use the best ingredients. The seafood is very fresh, the presentation is awesome, and the service was unbelievable. I think I was more impressed with the dessert than the apps and entree. food: 7 creativity: 7 presentation: 9 service: 9
(4)
Ambreen D.

We ordered the calamari, foie gras dumplings, and the Indonesian noodles. The dumplings were great. The rest wasn't particularly amazing. The sauce for the calamari was the same as the primary flavor in the noodles. Wish someone had warned us. Felt meal was too monotone.
(3)
Ann G.

I hadn't been here in years and left with the same thought I had the last time - this is mediocre and overpriced. Had we not been for restaurant week I would be really angry at having paid $54 + tax/tip per person instead of $38 for the items we ordered (all available on the regular menu). The clam fritters were ok but served too hot and therefore a little soggy and honestly 3 little fritters for the price of a plate of clam strips at a clam shack. The chicken entree was very moist but no whiz-bang. Actually the watermelon bits that came with it were really tasty but far too few (and watermelon is cheap, so why scrimp?!). The pork porterhouse was FAR too salty, almost inedible, and the glaze didn't taste like peach. The side was some bean mixture that was fresh and tasted fine but nothing special. Blueberry cake dessert was good, but the yozu ice cream pairing didn't work for me. Tart with tart - no. It needed something un-tart to offset the berry tartness. The sesame profiterole was very good, and the crunch from the sesame made the dessert. It was the best thing we ate all night. Service is friendly and good, and parking was easy. If the food was 1/2 the cost I'd give it another star, but the price is unjustified. I highly doubt I'd go back despite being quite close to my house.
(2)
Roberta R.

Eat at the bar, eat early, or late, if you don't want to listen to demanding brats, it's Wellesley after all and we have a lot of them, of all ages. When ever I am in town I make a point of eating here even at the bar or in the dining room depending upon the time of day. The food is fantastic and the people who work here are exceptional. They serve from and clear from the correct sides, swipe crumbs off the table, and know when they see silverware in the appropriate position to clear or leave the diner alone. They don't clear unless asked to do so which is rare these days. If you are lucky the owner will be circulating through the dining room. He is a wonderful person. When we were there last time he signed a book and personally delivered it to the table. The lettuce cups and butterfish are enough to make the trip up from NY or CT as often as possible. While I don't eat much steak myself, my dining companion had it and enjoyed it thoroughly. The presentation of everything from cocktails to dessert was beautiful. If you only have time to make it to their location in Boston, Blue Dragon, go there for a taste of the fabulous food and service we get a mere 17 miles west.
(5)
Jennifer X.

Ming Tsai's restaurant lived up to its name. Came here on a Thursday night for my company holiday party. Attentive service and great flow of food. We started with the servers recommendations of a few different apps, the shumai stood out in particular. The raw tuna was also delish. As a (fake) Korean, I had to go with the entree with the korean rice cakes in it. Completely vegetarian dish. Crispy tofu was AMAZING. If I could eat tofu prepared like that everyday of my life, I would seriously consider giving up meat. (I never will but it's a nice a thought). It was accompanied by perfectly sautÃ©ed Swiss chard, crisp cauliflower and a broth to soak it all in. Still thinking about this dish many days later... Desert was pretty good, the cheesecake was the star of the show. If I'm ever back in Boston, I'll definitely be coming back to this restaurant.
(4)
Michelle T.

Disappointed. Expected much more. Ambiance is nice. However food is mediocre. Definitely over priced. Drinks are delicious.
(3)
Jeremy W.

Priced accordingly but delivering across the board, Blue Ginger was a great place for a celebratory dinner this past Saturday (of Thanksgiving weekend). It was really difficult to get an Open Table res for a prime time (7-9 Friday or Saturday), but I'm not sure why, because there were several open tables well before 9pm. I love watching Simply Ming and was really looking forward to trying Ming's cooking (regardless if he was in the house or not - he wasn't), and I was not disappointed. App round: drunken noodles and himachi (1A or 1B), followed by the spring rolls (sliced on a bias so you get a good look at the mushroom filling and seemingly less fried dough) and calamari (IMO always a pedestrian app order, but everyone else was pleased and I did really like the cilantro vinegar sauce). Entree round: I struggled to settle on a dish but am thrilled I chose the sake-miso sablefish (to me, the best of 5 strong entrees); it's no mystery why they call this soft, delicate fish "butterfish." The lamb chops and lobster were both knockouts, the pho extremely enjoyable, and the steak was cooked perfectly and tasty, though they were out of the accompaniment (noodles maybe?) and offered a butternut squash substitution. We had a nice bottle of Napa Cabernet for $55, but the vintage (2010 vs 2009) was incorrectly listed on the menu. Service was friendly, efficient, and accommodating. Would definitely recommend (with the disclaimer dinner will likely be $75+ per person).
(5)
James G.

I've been a fan of Ming Tsai for years, ever since he had his show on Food TV. I've been using the Blue Ginger cookbook almost as long, always to great acclaim, so when the opportunity presented itself to dine here, I hurried to go. I went for lunch with a business associate who lives nearby, and she reported that she goes regularly, and that she might go more often if the menu changed a bit more (the fact that the menu seems unchanging is why I cannot give them five stars). Both she and the waiter advised that I order the famed sake-miso marinated sablefish, so how could I turn it down? Yes, it's the most expensive item on the menu, at $21, but it was presented beautifully and tasted wonderful, with a bit of wasabi on the plate and a knot of udon (or was it soba??). Excellent!
(4)
Wendy W.

No one told us about restaurant week. Said we had to say something when reservations were made. Seriously?? We are from NY. How were we supposed to know?! Cost us over $100 more for the same dinner! Bad business. Left bad taste in mouth. Oh- and pork was raw and had to go back--unlike us who will NOT go back!
(2)
Robyn B.

Super overrated. I came here with my mom, and while we enjoyed the food, we left with a kind of 'meh' impression. The environment feels like it's trying too hard to be fancy. While the food tasted good (and was beautifully plated), it was WAY expensive, and the portions are teensy. We were both hungry again 20 minutes after we left. Not worth it! Not coming back again. There are better options in Wellesley!!
(2)
Shannon C.

Bless my husband's heart for planning my birthday dinner here at my long-time admired chef Ming Tsai's restaurant. The experience was a lot of fun and the food full of unique fun flavors. What we ordered: - Charcuterie Plate - pate was oh-so-smooth, loved the mustard and orange marmalade pairings - Cranberry Char-Siu Glazed Pork Belly - yummy, again an interesting flavor combo - Sake-Miso Marinated Sablefish (a.k.a. Butterfish) - best dish, most unassuming and just darn good fish, very well prepared, delicious - Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster with Lemongrass Fried Rice - beautiful presentation, personally didn't care for the rice, most over-hyped - Berkshire Pork Porterhouse* with Szechuan Apricot Sauce - most surprising, loved the flavor pairing with the apricot sauce Our server was kind and helpful, everything was prepared well and an altogether memorable restaurant experience. Metered parking and a great little spot in Wellesley!
(4)
Julia K.

My sister and I grew up watching Ming on PBS on the weekends, so we decided to try out his restaurant in Wellesley. The restaurant decor and service was above average but truly nothing special. Ming was present but only went around and said hi to the larger tables which I understand but why not quickly stop by as many tables as you can and say HI? It takes very little effort on his part and can make the dining experience so much more enjoyable. The mussels appetizer was prepared with a deep and rich black soy bean flavor. This was probably the best dish. The sake-miso marinated sablefish and lamb were fairly standard in flavor, and I don't think that commands $30-$40 per entree.
(3)
Stephanie T.

I'm torn between 3 and 4 stars here, but I'm going to stick to 3 because of the crazy prices at Blue Ginger. I think the restaurant is pretty overrated, the food is good don't get me wrong, but not good enough to warrant the price tag. It comes in small portions and isn't filling enough. I am always hungry still either when I leave or shortly after. Service is great though, great presentation and very attentive staff.
(3)
Carlos F.

Wife and I had the spring roll appetizer tonight along with the (I) sable fish entree and (ii) lobster entree. The food was good but we did not leave feeling like we got a good value for our dining dollar. For the prices, we would typically say, "wow, what an amazing meal," but we did not leave with that sentiment. The sable fish was excellent, but the portion of fish was small -- maybe 5 ounces. Also, the sides were just weird -- udon sushi plus seaweed salad -- and not very appetizing. I can do better with $41 for this entree.
(3)
Derek L.

Went here for Restaurant Week 2011 with my family late in the evening. All for the sake of Ming Tsai. (+) I had the leek spring rolls as appetizer. It tasted ok. Nothing too surprising or great. For the main entree, I had the oxtail. It was tender but again, nothing surprising. (-) Where is Ming Tsai? =( The portions were small, as expected for a Restaurant Week dinner menu. Honestly, the spring rolls in Pho Pasteur taste better. Sorry man. The oxtail dish was soaked in this watery tasteless substance. I don't understand what the point of it was. (=) It was ok. Not as good as what I had expected. It makes me rethink what famous chefs have to do with great tasting food.
(2)
Annie K.

This place is top-notch! In short, the food, service, and ambience are spectacular!!! My only complaint (which is no fault of the restaurant's; simply the location) is the atmosphere - you can't take the yuppy uppity out of Wellesley. Fortunately, the staff certainly do NOT reflect this atmosphere. We loved the bartender Melissa so much that we ended up staying at the bar to eat rather than dining outside and wanted the phenomenal host (didn't catch his name) to dine with us because he was also so fabulous and entertaining! The drinks were expertly crafted (though she refused to refer to herself as a mixologist, they were created artfully and deliciously) and the food was awesome. We split the "sliders," black pepper shrimp app, shishito peppers, green salad, and sweet potato/taro fries. Delicious! We will definitely be back for the food and service!!!
(5)
Jim F.

About 8 years ago I received a $100 gift certificate to go to Blue Ginger. Every few years the certificate would be rediscovered in a drawer or in a pile of papers, and somehow survived the passage of time. When it recently turned up again, we decided it was now or never. Surprisingly the restaurant confirmed that they would still honor it. Just in case you hadn't heard that Blue Ginger was started by a celebrity chef, the image of chef / rock star Ming Tsai appears in several articles posted at the entrance, and his book is displayed prominently. I don't know if Ming appears at this restaurant any more, but he wasn't there on this night. But the ambiance is tasteful and upscale, the service excellent except for the fact that we could barely understand our Russian-speaking waiter, the cocktails: potent and delicious, the food: artful, unique, mouth-watering. I had the tuna sushi appetizer, served on a bed of crunchy, toasted rice, with a green garnish and a touch of wasabi. For the entree, I went with their signature dish, the sake miso-marinated Alaskan butterfish. Well named, it melts like butter in your mouth. I've never heard of butterfish before, but I'm interested now in making this at home. Here's the recipe: newasiancuisine.com/3788â€¦ Enjoy!
(5)
Michelle W.

We went there for dinner during restaurant week, and I was very pleased with the food. Our meal was delicious. I had the spring roll appetizer and the salmon entree. My fiance had the pork lollipops as an app and chicken as his entree. My salmon was absolutely amazing. First time in my life I've cleared a plate in a restaurant and was looking for more food. My fiance was thrilled with his food as well. The reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because of our server. She had the personality of a pound of hair, and when I asked her about just having plain fruit for dessert (I have a dairy allergy, and all the desserts contained dairy), she seemed annoyed. She knew I had the allergy from both my reservation, and from when we first ordered. It's not something I can hide, and my reason for choosing this place was because of how good Ming Tsai has been publicly talking about food allergies and food service staff being sensitive to them. I ended up getting a sorbet which was fabulous, but she could've spared the attitiude. It wasn't like I sprung an allergy on her to be dramatic....
(4)
Danny F.

I have now been to BG twice for dinner and once for lunch, and I would give two stars to each experience. I do not know how else to say it, but the food is crap. It is either overcooked or overseasoned or something else. And beyond the execution, the flavors are not very interesting either. I truly do not understand the hoopla at all. Perhaps it is in fact too "American", but I for one enjoy American Chinese food, and would honestly prefer cheap takeout. I had calamari and garlic miso ramen on the latest outing. Fried calarmari in general is good. So yes, it was fine. But it is nothing out of the ordinary. There was a lot of very crispy batter and very little calamari. And the ramen just tasted funky. The thin pork slices were delicious, but everything else was kind of awful. And jicama just does not go with ramen. The problem with fusion is that chefs often try too hard to make dishes appear interesting, e.g. jicama in ramen. But at the end of the day, the food needs to taste good. Ming falls way too easily into the trap of creating just for the sake of creating. Pity.
(2)
Foodie W.

3rd visit in a couple of years. Each experience starts out strong with very good appetizers ( foie gras Shumai & spring rolls). We ordered 3 entrees: beef tenderloin, rack of lamb and the duck breast. We requested medium rare for each entree. All 3 entrees came out definitely rare. I happen to like my duck on the "rarer" side, but the beef & lamb needed to be sent back to the kitchen. Food does not "knock my socks off", to justify the prices. 3 people = $360.
(3)
Biker A.

Ok, I was in Wellesley was hungry and wanted to give BG a try. The food was good, interesting presentation and good taste. Not cheap, but good eats. The only problem was the pretentious, stuck up diners next to me. They're like character actors that walked right out of a movie. Think Vivian and Warner out of Legally Blonde. It didn't help that the tables were *REALLY* close together (minus 1 star), and that perhaps I was dressed down a bit in a dress shirt and jeans. Hey, I just got off a plane from California. No words exchanged, but I got the vibe loud and clear. I think Viv and War should stay in Wellesley. If they emit that attitude in Boston, they would get pounded!
(4)
Dennis F.

I have dined at Blue Ginger since it opened, Lately I felt it had slipped a notch, I was more than pleased to find new items on the menu, and a return to its former, over the top dining experience. Our waitress was Melissa, she was the one of the reasons the latest visit was about the best ever. She was perfect, not an easy thing, on a very busy night. I had the Duck Breast, along with the Hot and Sour Soup both are new items on the menu, loved both. My wife had the Indonesian Curry Shrimp Pasta, she always gets that, she claims it was even better than usual. I feared with the opening of Ming's new restaurant, The Blue Dragon, the Blue Ginger might lose some of its past glory, that is not the case, it's right back where it started, on top.
(5)
Rick J.

OK, so the chef is famous and the food is good (though not amazing). What bothers me is that Blue Ginger is pretentious and haughty, too impressed with itself, and largely indifferent to its customers. I had one totally bizarre experience in which the service was unusually slow, but we didn't complain because we were enjoying the conversation at our table. When it came time for dessert, the manager asked if we could have dessert at the bar because he needed our table for a VIP. I guess regular customers who make reservations aren't important enough when someone more significant needs a table. If we were staying beyond our expected table-stay, it was only because the kitchen and service were running slow, not because we were over-staying; and our dessert order hadn't even been taken yet. I don't understand what happened here, and won't return to find out.
(2)
Peter W.

Obviously this place is popular, so make sure you make reservations at least a week or two in advance. It is also important to understand that they need to stagger reservations so that you get the best service from the wait staff and the best food prepared from the kitchen. With those thoughts in mind, then I think you will have a great experience in food and service. Decor and ambiance are clean and refined respectively. What did we have: Appetizers: Shumai - fantastic foie gras and sauce Calamari - tangy sauce Carpacio - innovative marriage between beef and salmon Main courses: Poussiin: Fantastic flavors and filling Hanger steak: Tender and flavorful Butterfish: Flaky and seared to perfection Dessert: Four pieces - great treats Wine: Groth wine - Cabernet Sauvignoon - wonderful flavor and texture In summary, this place is worth the visit; especially when there is chance to meet up with the great Ming Tsai...although not this time.
(5)
Robert D.

One star? Yep. Today was my second visit to Blue Ginger, and my last. I love food, and I think Ming does? But he probably never eats at Blue Ginger. Great location, great service, and nice atmosphere, but the food was nothing but a disappointment. We started out with the calamari--which was salty, and not very flavorful. Quality was akin to something you'd get in a red and white clam box and a late-night roast beef house. The dipping sauce was uninspired, and salty. Are you sensing a pattern? My companion got the Pad Thai-- should be a no brainer, eh? But like a few people have already written, it had an "off" taste- as if something had gone bad in the ingredients. Really unpleasant. My companion said that he thought the flavor came from chicken "that had not been prepared today." I got the hot-mustard chicken salad and I must say that after my confusion (what is this? a salad or a noodle dish?) I tried to dig in but the dish was uninspired- very little flavor (except for the hot mustard chicken) and the noodles were chewy in the wrong way and tasteless. I can't remember the last time I left any lunch over. A bad feeling, especially at the prices, and when Tuto Italiano is across the street and has incredible food. Lastly-- the bread basket. I'm not sure why a "fusionista" restaurant such as Blue Ginger serves bread as their table treat. It doesn't really go with the menu. But, the white bread and challah were the tastiest thing on the table for the duration of the meal. My advice is to avoid this restaurant. There are much, much better in the immediate area.
(1)
Emma W.

The food is of course, amazing. This has been mouth-wateringly discussed in other reviews. We ate the tapas in the bar section, which had no wait on a Thursday night. Very delicious and inventive dishes. I've eaten here a few times and had a really nice time- it's a very nice special dinner out. However, this most recent time there was a large group of people in the bar section that seemed to just be drinking and socializing. Fine and dandy, but they were incredibly loud and distracting. It was impossible to converse with the people across the table from us without leaning and shouting. I think the group was familiar with Ming, the owner, but it would have been courteous to ask them to try to keep it down. It put a big damper on an otherwise fun evening. We might be back, but certainly just to eat in the dining room, not the bar area. It should be noted that they were really accommodating of a member our group who has celiac's and can't eat wheat. They had a separate menu (and let him order off the main menu even though we were in the bar section) and the manager came over to talk about how seriously they take all food allergies. Very comforting!
(2)
Roger A.

By what appeared to be a miracle, we found plenty of tables available on a Friday night with only 1 week notice. We thought we were in for a treat and guessed the sudden availability was a function of summer/school vacation/etc. In a nutshell: we saw the manager more than our waitress, and the food (while good) is overdone with heavy powerful flavors that overwhelm the food itself. Price just simply isn't worth it. Decor was cold and uninviting with paper lining on tables and cafeteria style plates and cutlery. Now for the details: We were promptly seated and found the restaurant about half empty at 7pm on a Friday night. (Odd, right?) The first ladythat stopped by to ask if we wanted bottled or ice water never returned. We later found out she was bussing tables (including our own). We sat idle for a solid 10 minutes until our waitress finally comes by to take our drink orders. Drinks took forever to come out and the Manager finally stopped by to see if we had even been waited on yet. We told him we were waiting for drinks and he promptly returned with them in hand. How long had they been sitting there? Not sure. Our waitress returns to take our dinner orders (no apologies for the delay with the drinks, nor the fact her manager had to do her job for her). We order the shumai, salmon, and pork chop. We finish our first round of drinks and still no shumai. The manager returns to apologize about a mix up in the kitchen with our order and offers us an amuse bouche to tide us over until they can cook up new shumai's for us. We ordered two glasses of wine while we had someone's attention. The waitress delivers our wine, again without acknowledging any of the mishaps or the fact her manager has now voluntarily come to our table twice this evening. Shumai finally arrives and its tasty but forgettable. Entrees took another eternity to arrive. Both were perfectly fine, but nothing magical to warrant the price nor reputation that BG seems to have. The only thing that arrived in lightening speed was the check but she forgot to include a pen with the credit card stub. Sigh...our final interaction and she flubbed that as well.
(2)
Nicholas A.

I really wanted to enjoy this, but... for three people and $250 later, I can't say any of us were impressed (and we certainly don't mind spending enormous money for great food and fruit). The salt and cream levels were over the top, to such an extent it is hard to call this "Asian-inspired" cuisine (perhaps Asian cuisine with multiple sticks of butter is more accurate). Of course, the place was packed on a Saturday evening. We shared everything: three appetizers, three entrees and one dessert. The best part of the meal, was a tasty beef carpaccio and tea-smoked salmon. Though we could not ascertain that the salmon was tea-smoked, but the dish was enjoyable. The soft-shell crab was too oily/fried/salty, but the rest of the dish was pretty good. The mussels were decent, but certainly no better than any of a myriad of restaurants all over the Boston area. One entree included seared scallops. The actual scallops were excellent as was the grain it was served with, but the ying-yang decorated sauce on the side was quite poor. Another was a black pepper lobster. Really nothing special and again... too salty and far too rich. Lobster is already rich enough as it is, but this was even far heavier than if one was dipping it into pure butter. The last entree was coconut shrimp with Indonesian noodle. The shrimp was excellent, but the noodle, while consisting of a wonderful combination of spices, was so heavy and rich that not even half of it could be finished. Again, I could think of dozens of average Asian restaurants with a spicy noodle combination (if not that exact combination) that would be far superior, both during actual consumption and later. A severe defect of ALL three entrees was the horrendous imbalance of protein over vegetable (though to be fair the last dish was slightly better). We ordered one dessert and tried to share it. It was a tart with ice cream. Given the extreme richness and sweetness, we were unable to finish it (even though it was not large by any measure). An hour later, and I still feel overwhelmed by too much cream/butter/fat. I had heard this place does not meet the expectations and/or standard of 15 years ago, but I still had hoped for something far better. Yes, service and ambiance were fine, but that can never,ever trump actual food. Had they skipped the fusion exercise and simply served real Asian dishes, they would have had a far better chance at creating great food. I cannot imagine a place like this would last for even a year in places where people really know food (e.g. Taipei, Tokyo, Paris, etc). If instead of a "Super-size me", a "Blue Gineger-me" was attempted, the poor subjects would not last more than a few days before their arteries would be sealed for good. Save your money... there are literally 30 or more restaurants in and around Boston that are far superior on all measures.
(2)
Lynn S.

Went here for restaurant week also. I too was a bit disappointed. Long wait lists so expectations are high. The food is okay yet very overpriced. I have been here 2 times and I am not sure what all the buzz is about either. Its not that the food is bad, its just that its not as good as it should be for the price. Portions are small - thats okay...
(2)
Amber S.

Had an app at the bar - pork belly & it was tasty. Really wanted to stay at the bar to try the Ming's Bings, but moved to a table. I got the lobster & we also got the hanger steak. I actually sent the lobster back, which really kills me - really don't like being that person - but for the price, it should be very good food. The lobster was cooked perfectly, but the sauce it was drenched in was SO SALTY. I don't know who could taste that sauce & not think it's salty. A new dish came back to me & the sauce was EXACTLY the same. Clearly that's how they want it to taste - seriously I can't understand it...good food tastes good to all palettes - and I'd think especially to those that are sophisticated enough to cook in Ming's kitchen. And, I love salt. But that was crazy. The hanger steak was cooked wonderfully, but the chick pea fries were SO SALTY. They would've been so good otherwise. My hands still smell like cooked butter...I hate leaving restaurants smelling like the food. Also, our food runner was just an ass - he basically thew the plates in front of us and walked away without looking at either of us - it was after 9:30 and the restaurant wasn't busy - no need for that nonsense. Our waitress Kat was wonderful and the general ambiance is great for an easy Friday night. Still just don't get the over working of all ready delicious food. It makes me not want to go back & try the bings....but I probably will.
(3)
Helen F.

Ok, where should I begin?? It was my sister-in-law's birthday last month. Anyone whose lived in Boston for a while has heard of the great reputation of the Blue Ginger. I've always heard that reservations needed to be made well in advance. In our case, our reservations were made on that same week. Guess, because it was the summer that tables were available. Decor was nice & the lighting was dim. Our table of 10 was seated in the back of the restaurant. The waitress didn't seem to know what she was serving because every time we had a question, she had to go into the kitchen to inquire. I ordered Coconut Tempura Soft Shell Crab for an appetizer which was nothing to write home about. My entree was halibut over noodles.There were small pieces of heart of palm & Chinese mushrooms in soup or so it seemed. My piece of halibut although quite large, was very bland. I really was not enjoying my dinner to say the least. :( As I was eating, I noticed no one else seemed to exceptionally enjoy what they ordered. The bus boy seemed very nervous & actually spilled something on my mother-in-law's chair. I was hoping dessert was going to be better but, I wasn't going to hold my breath. We decided to share a Spring Sorbet. $12 for 3 very small scoops. A month later a friend of mine mentioned she & her husband ate @ the Blue Ginger. Of course, I asked her what she thought!! Her response mirrored my sentiments. I will never understand the rave over this restaurant. It is definitely over-rated & over priced. :(
(2)
Kendra L.

You have to like Asian fusion to go to Blue Ginger. If you are looking for anything else, just don't go. The duck was good. The lamb had to be sent back because it was still moving on the plate. The grapefruit, lychee, meringue , and sorbet dessert was delicious. The final bill hurt.
(4)
Jacqueline C.

We were last here about five years ago...and we loved it. Since we had some friends move to the area we thought we'd check it out again. We were pleasantly surprised to see that on a Saturday night it was still crowded. We had a reservation but it was about 30 minutes after our time before we were seated. The service was fine, the ambiance was fine. The food was...not fine. For appetizers we had the fois gras shaumai, which was bland and boring. We also had the spring rolls, which were absolutely bad. For dinner my husband had the lobster which was tasteless and questionably cooked. I had the butterfish, which was served fresh from under a heat lamp, complete with real burnt char. At one point the runner had gotten our orders wrong and brought the wrong food and the server strangely asked if we had returned the food because we wanted it kept under the heat lamp. I'm still not sure what to make of that comment, as the butterfish arrived a few minutes later - lukewarm at best. It was a really disappointing return to Blue Ginger, after having had such fond memories of the place.
(3)
Kelly O.

I've been here once, on the family's dime, so I was already pre-disposed to like it (free food = score). Got the springrolls as an app, which were executed nicely. I wasn't totally wowed, but they were a solidly good rendition, decent flavors and not too greasy. My entree was the famous lobster- hey, if I'm not paying, I'm going big!- and it was cooked absolutely perfectly, just spot on. The garlic-black pepper sauce (note: peppery in a good way, not spicy or overwhelming) was soooo delicious I literally wanted to lick my plate. Rice was rice, but with the sauce it went from standard to o-wow-yum, and I really liked the greens with it too- basically you could put that sauce on anything and it would be amazing. Presentation was pretty neat (see the pic), and service was excellent. Pretty sure I had a creme brulee or something for dessert, tasty but not memorable, same with drinks. I think I may have been a bit underwhelmed had I been the one footing the bill, especially given the dearth of other amazing restaurants in the area that are much cheaper overall (Oleana's entrees are all $10-15 less than Blue Ginger and equal if not better). But hey, if you're a richy-rich and have money to spend, this is a tasty choice.
(4)
H. G.

East meets West meets Salt. Blue Ginger is a restaurant I have wanted to go to since college. And I was finally able to experience it for my most recent birthday. And two months later I'm still dehydrated from the saltiness of the food. It's okay though, Ming. I still rooted for you to win the Iron Chef competition. So we're all good.
(2)
Sean O.

Dinner here is really an experience. I've been to dinner as well as the wine pairing dinners, and it is always an adventure. Staff is awesome and always willing to explain the menu and offer suggestions. The Butterfish is the signature dish, or one of them. It comes with these Soba noodles that are simply ridiculous. If it were socially acceptable, I would drape myself in them. The Oso Buco is probably my favorite. The Rack of Lamb and the Lobster are also really great. The food, presentation and service are all exceptional.
(5)
Jamie H.

we went to blue ginger tonight for restaurant week, and it was fantastic. excellent food, great atmosphere, and i would love to go back to try other dishes. i chose to do the wine pairing along with the 3 courses, which was a great value at $12 for 2 glasses of wine. we started with the pork lollipops and the springrolls. i didn't actually love the appetizers, but the other courses more than made up for it. the pork was small, breaded, and came on lemongrass type of reed, and the sauce had a little too much licorice flavor. in contrast to the very small pork dish, i was surprised at how big the springroll dish was. the rolls were good, and i liked the chili sauce although it had a bit of a sour tinge to it. it came with a very nice, crisp cabbage slaw that was actually the best part of the dish. the wine was smooth, mellow, and complemented the flavors of the appetizer dishes well. i then received a glass of red wine to pair with the entree, and i liked the contrast of having red and wine with the dinner. i ordered the miso salmon, and my boyfriend got the short ribs. honestly, this was the best piece of salmon i have EVER had. and to note, i cook it for myself about 1-2 times per week, and order it at about 40-50% of the restaurants that i go to. it was cooked beautifully, and seared just enough on the outside to offer a nice crisp. i loved the wasabi dipping sauce, since it had enough flavor to let you know that it was definitely wasabi, but it didn't tickle your nose any more than it needed to. the short ribs were also very good, and the grits that they were served on were amazing and it was a perfect pairing. my boyfriend couldn't stop himself from finishing long after he was full, and he even moved on to a few bites of my dish. for dessert, we tried both options - the panna cotta with berries and the chocolate cake with cardamom ice cream. that ice cream was AMAZING - the cardamom added a very interesting flavor to a great crisp texture. the portion was perfect - just enough to satisfy without leaving you feeling stuffed. i also enjoyed the panna cotta which was simple and refreshing. the meal was fantastic, and this is definitely a place that i look forward to going back to for any special occasions.
(5)
carol a.

I've been wanting to try Blue Ginger for ages (we're huge Ming fans) and finally got my opportunity! First, as a couple with multiple food allergies I can't say how much I appreciate their focus in this area. When you call to make reservations they ask if there are allergies in your party and even have a gluten-free menu. Big kudos for that! The service was excellent and our waitress was a doll. As far as the food...they had us at Big Eye Tuna Poke, which we practically live on when we are in Hawaii and is extremely hard to find in Yankee New England. We both had that as the starter. It's not your traditional Poke but is excellent. For entree, I had the Miso Butterfish and my husband had the duck. The Butterfish dish was a little unfocused (too many components on the plate) but the flavors and quality were top notch. My husband devoured every morsel of his duck. For dessert we had the flourless chocolate cake, which was to die for. Can't wait to go back!!!
(4)
Chrissy N.

I'm definitely a fan of Blue Ginger. We went on a Friday night for dinner and made reseravations ahead of time (strongly suggested). This place was PACKED. We sat at the bar once a seat opened up and waited to be seated. The bar menu looked excellent (I would come back just to eat here). We got an order of edamame, which was covered in some kind of orange/teriyaki sauce. Very good! Once we were seated, we were served some bread and crackers with soft/spreadable butter. I loved the crackers! My boyfriend ordered some calamari, which I hesitantly tried (I occasionally eat fish). It wasn't too bad and my boyfriend loved it. Anyway, the menu was a little tricky for me because I am vegetarian. I ordered the smoked tofu with braised greens. The presentation was WOW. Unfortunately, my palate wasn't agreeing with the dish. The server was on top of it. She immediately brought me the menu back and took the food away. I asked her for some help, being that I'm vegetarian. She suggested the garlic noodles with tempura vegetables, which normally comes with some kind of meat or fish. The general manager (I believe) presented me with this second dish. It was absolutely superb! We both enjoyed a glass of Ghost Pines Merlot, which we very much enjoyed. My only complaint was the noise level. For being a nice restaurant, it was VERY loud (which is why I gave four stars).
(4)
Richelle P.

We went there for Valentines day . It's very expensive for ok food.
(2)
Lee D.

Finally made a trek to Blue Ginger after all the hype we've heard about how accommodating they were about food allergies. The sign of a place that knows food allergies to me, is one that makes you feel welcome and that treats you as normal as possible given the circumstances. And not one that makes you feel overly and unneccessarily high maintenance, as we were made to feel here. Perhaps we had misguided expections, but with no gluten free menus to leisurely peruse (not that we expected them), and more importantly with most of the ingredients in the dishes not listed on the menu, it was hard to tell/narrow down what was acceptable for the gluten free and dairy free on our own...or even if a dish had something you simply didn't like regardless of the dietary restrictions So in order to figure out what you could eat/order, you were instructed to keep pestering the wait staff, who were not very forthcoming, as to what was in each and practically every dish, and to find out how it can be modified. They kept insisting anything on the menu could be accommodated, so said they didn't need to review with us. But of course our first choice, then later our second choice, could not be modified. What an exhausting and frustrating ordeal till we finally found something! And one that surprisingly seemed to have left us (celiac, gluten intolerant, and lactose intolerant) with very few selections and questioning why we were there. Then after all the effort, the food once it arrived, was so disappointing regarding taste and seemed ridiculously overpriced for what it was. Felt very mislead and let down regarding this place.
(1)
Lee H.

Went back to Blue Ginger for lunch on the weekend. They only offer the Tapas menu, but it's quite special. I started with a pork dumpling, then had the butterfish. Wow. Both delicious. My wife had some kind of ravioli - also delicious. We shared some sweet potato fries, also great. I'd recommend lunch over dinner. The quality is as good (if not better), and the prices are lower. Don't forget the free parking in the back.
(5)
patty m.

First time dining here. Had a generous gift certificate so thought we would do a special night out. Ambiance was casual and cool. Did not reflect the high prices. ( no butter knife, paper table covering). Both Entrees were very disappointing. I had curry pasta with cocoanut shrimp. The shrimp was overcooked and dry- no dipping sauce to alleviate that problem. Pasta was pasty and did not taste like curry that i had experienced in the past. They did not charge us for that entree because it was really not satisfactory and I ate very little of it. Husband had the rack of lamb medium rare. It was served sooo rare it almost did not look cooked. They took it back and cooked more- not at all what we were expecting. Husband ate the lamb with no complaints. Dessert was delicious- creme brule with cookies. They accommodated my husband's gluten free needs and were very nice overall. Total bill with one bottle wine and one entree credited was $159.00. Sooo disappointed! Really wanted to love this place but won't return even though we have $ left over on our gift certificate.
(1)
Maud D.

I was lucky enough to be taken here for an impromptu family lunch, having no idea it was a celebrity chef restaurant until we saw the pictures of Ming inside. Definitely much more sophisticated fare than I am used to. We ordered from the tapas menu and the flavors and presentation were great (especially the dumplings).
(4)
Janina T.

There is nothing I can complain about. I came about an hour later than my party so I was struggling to catch up to them. The wait staff was aware of this so they were extremely prompt (and nice) about getting my drink and food order. I ordered the Mixed Seafood Paella with Lemongrass-Tomato Broth. DELISH. It had a bit of a spicy kick in it which was a pleasant surprise. Careful though, it's pretty hot, so scarfing it down like a dog isn't really in the cards. For dessert, I got the Sesame Macadamia Caramel Nut Tart. EXTREMELY GOOD. Not too rich so it hit the spot. My other two friends got the chocolate cake and the sorbet so we had a great time trying each others desserts. All three were awesome but I think mine was my favorite out of the lot. My friend's dad pointed out that he thought the restaurant would be more geared towards Asian cuisine (i.e. sushi, etc.) but it had more of a western feel to it. Not anything bad at all but it may be a misconception of others. Overall, a really great restaurant. I assume it's rather pricey (my friend's parents took care of everything) since it's owned by Ming Tsai and it's located in Wellesley but it's well worth the money, in my opinion.
(5)
Amanda R.

Honest to GOD, the butterfish at Blue Ginger is my single favorite meal on the planet. I listed it as the "last thing i want to eat before I die" on yelp because it is just THAT good. It is rich, decadent, flavorful and simple all at the same time. Those sushi rolls on the side filled with some kind of noodle thing are also so amazing that I would probably just eat a whole meal of that. Aside from the amazing butterfish, Ming has done wonders to truly perfect the sweet potato fry. There are no better SPFs on the planet, in my opinion. The servers are also super attentive and the ambiance is great. I don't find it pretentious at all, but it is a little on the pricey side. I think it's well worth the price when going out for a knock your socks off kind of meal.
(5)
Franco C.

Usually, the Blue Ginger gets a four or five rating. Tonight just a three... Loved the atmosphere. Bustling and fun. Frenetic but still elegant. The food? Just OK. Nothing spectacular. Started with a couple of appetizers -- the Shiitake-Leek Springrolls and sweet potato fries. Neither were extraordinary. In fact, the sweet potato fries were boring. Little taste. For our entrees we had the grilled hanger steak and the Alaskan butterfish. The grilled hanger steak had a tangy kick to it. While the butterfish -- although flaky -- lacked pizazz. Needed more flavor. The presentations however, were outstanding. And the atmosphere, once again, helped move the evening along. Dessert -- the petit four plate. This consisted of Lime Leaf-Coconut Macaroons, Almond Shortbreads, Chocolate Hawaiian Sea Salt Caramels, and Mango-Yuzu Jellies. They were fine. After dinner coffee was outstanding. Not the first time I've eaten here and not the last. Will definitely make more appearances but will enjoy other options on the menu. Still one of the best places to eat in the entire Boston metro.
(3)
Ann L.

Two stars because of excellent service. For the food, this place is overrated. I had high expectations for this place. Maybe it was too high? The bartenders cannot make drinks. The portions were very small but presentable. Blue Ginger is expensive for what its worth. Honeslty, I had better. A place to try but I probably won't be coming back.
(2)
Lori B.

I've been wanting to try Blue Ginger for years. I always seem to forget about it. Finally got the opportunity. Atmosphere: Very nice. Clean. Modern. Hostess: Incredibly welcoming, professional and kind. Bar: Bartender was ambivalent and didn't mix a good martini :( Wine List: Nice Server: Attentive, helpful and energetic. Solid service. Appetizers: Tuna was very interesting. Good texture. Different take on Tuna and was surprisingly good. Wonderful presentation Mussels: Clean. Plump. Sauce was good, but not the best I've had. probably wouldn't order again, but the quality of the mussels was top notch. Dinner: Steak and Duck. Nothing terribly interesting. Certainly not for the price. I was underwhelmed. Dessert: Sorbet. AWFUL. The worst I have ever had. I couldn't get the taste out of my mouth for the rest of the night. Owner: Very fun and energetic and was kind enough to hold a conversation. VERY COOL. Overall: Nice atmosphere, solid apps, but wasn't thrilled with dinner. I'm not sure if I'd return. Seems like there are other new places to explore. Still worth a try if you're in the area.
(2)
Angie L.

3 years ago, we flew into Boston to celebrate our 30th anniversary, this past weekend, we were in town for a conference, and we just had to go back to Ming Tsai's Blue Ginger. We were not disappointed. Service was fantastic, we were able to get reservations last minute for 6:30pm, but arrived at 5:30 and was seated immediately. To try something different from the last time we were here, we chose the tuna and shitake springrolls for appetizers, and for our entrees, we ordered the sablefish "butterfish", and the gumbo. All the dishes were delicious. I was stuffed, but made room for the creme brulee and cookies. It was the highlight of the weekend. This is definitely a "come back to" dinner spot.
(5)
B B.

Ming Tsai....need I say any more! This is as awesome as it gets, the food the ambiance ....and did I mention the food?!
(5)
Heather G.

After all the rave reviews about this place, and my history of chronic disagreement with Yelp reviews, I went into Blue Ginger expecting...nothing. I assumed over-hype and went in thinking it'd be mediocre at best. I would say this was an upside-surprise. The dining room buzzed with customers, and the servers both (we had some confusion) were nice, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. The bread basket was inventive with crispy wafers and sweet, challah-like sliced bread and sweet butter. I tried my darndest to not fill up on crunchy bread-wafers! For appetizer, we tried the mushroom leek spring rolls. They were just OK - very greasy outside, and the veggies inside were cooked to the point of mushiness. There was no distinguishing any flavor from another, and the fried grease taste washed out any freshness they were trying to achieve with the veg. The dipping sauce was very salty, so just a dab will get it done. This was the least successful part of my meal. For entrees, we ordered: Hoisin-Garlic Marinated Hanger Steak with Chow Fun-Shrimp & Shiitake Roulade, Fresh Bamboo Stirfry and Chinese Hot Mustard Emulsion: Steak was cooked well at medium-rare, and was moist and delicious. The accompanying veg was more a shredded asian slaw than a stirfry, and the dish also had two shrimp roll-up/pinwheel pieces that had a nice sear on the outside but were mushy on the inside. The shrimp flavor was nice, but the consistency was doughy and chewy, which was a bit distracting. The entire dish was covered in a glaze/reduction that was very sweet (rather than spicy as the name would suggest), and detracted from the light, freshness that would have been present had the sauce been absent or a bit more citrus-y. Grilled Miso-Mustard New Zealand Rack of Lamb with Roasted New Potatoes, Maitake Mushroom Sauce and Wasabi-Sweet Pea Emulsion - The lamb was very tender and juicy, and the dish was beautifully-presented. The place clears out early, though, and by the end of the meal, we were the only patrons there! I guess that's suburban life for ya!
(3)
Marilyn T.

The downtown street in Wellseley is super cute, and all the trees are lit up in the winter around the holidays. Street parking isn't too bad in the evening, either. The crowd at the restaurant is a bit of a random mix. We started with the foie gras shumai, which is an interesting take on the traditional dimsum dish, but the foie gras is pretty subtle. It was served in a traditional steam basket. As for entrees, the miso butterfish is tender and flavorful. The black pepper lobster is sweet and plump, served over a lemongrass fried rice. For desserts, the pineapple upside down cake is fragrant, and it comes with a tropical fruit salad and pineapple tapioca. The best part is that Ming Tsai is very conscience about dietary preferences and food allergies, since his son has food allergies himself, so no need to worry about that here. Ming Tsai's original restaurant is a little out of the way from the city but definitely worth it if you like Asian fusion.
(4)
Paul M.

I wanted my wife's birthday to be a special occasion and wasn't disappointed. I must have mentioned the fact while making the reservation, but the host made sure to wish my wife a happy birthday, which I thought was a nice touch. We were seated promptly at a nice table for two in the back corner of the front room. The "Boston Bog" cocktail was almost mandatory - and very good. As an appetizer, my wife ordered the calamari and I ordered the spring rolls. The server offered the tip of wrapping the spring roll in a lettuce leaf and topping it with cole slaw before dipping, but I found this to be unnecessarily messy. The spring roll was delicious enough not to require this extra fuss. For the main entree, my wife ordered the seared duck breast, which was prepared perfectly and featured a rich, delicious shallot-medjool date sauce. She declared it to be among the best meals she's ever eaten - high praise for the foodie and fine chef that she is in her own right. I had the butterfish, as it is considered one of Ming Tsai's signature dishes. The fish itself was so tender and delicate that it fell into neatly-divided segments with the touch of a fork. I have to admit that I didn't quite understand the soba noodle sushi as an accompaniment. It was tasty, but I thought a simple starch (perhaps just soba noodles?) would have been a better choice. We opted not to have dessert, but the server brought a pair of cookies and a single candle to celebrate my wife's birthday, and several people at a nearby table - total strangers - started to sing "Happy Birthday." A very special occasion indeed!
(4)
Joe J.

This place is good. Really good. I had a big dinner here last night, and got to try the mussels, the calamari, tuna, beef carpaccio, and the New Zealand rack of lamb. I also had the "Vitamin C Sorbet". All of it was delicious. Why not 5? If you are going to charge what you charge and try and create a certain atmosphere, I feel like the food should be mindblowing. Nothing really was, although it was great.
(4)
Vikram B.

We went for a special occasion with the kids on a Saturday evening. Overall this place is highly overrated as the food is very average. We were expecting a "wow" moment and that never came. I had the steak with dan-dan noodles and that was nicely cooked and the noodles were great too. Have had better dan-dan noodles in Chinatown Boston. My wife had the curry braised Lamb and it was seriously under seasoned, though the lamb was cooked very well. Also no-way did it look like the pictures on the menu. The worst was the pasta with the chicken that my daughter ordered. The pasta was dry and the chicken added nothing to the dish - it was like 2 separate dishes just assembled together without any finesse. The Chef Ming Tsai - does interact with the guests but focusses on the large groups and old friends, but it was exciting for the kids to see him around. Will likely never go back again. The food is clearly cooked by an under qualified staff.
(2)
Craig S.

My wife and I celebrated my wife's Birthday at the Blue Ginger Restaurant this week. The restaurant had been enlarged since the last time we were there adding to the capacity and noise. It was the NOISE that first annoyed us - and then reached a point where we were forced to quickly finish our meal and leave. We spoke to the manager as this noise level continued to escalate - and were told that there were some larger parties there - and they couldn't do a thing about it. Imagine if you would ten tables of between 8-10 people each all very intoxicated and loud. Think about how much noise that would make and you have a pretty good picture of our very unpleasant evening at the Blue Ginger. We were also surprised at the food. I had the shrimp - a little overcooked - with a strong sauce that overwhelmed the flavor. My wife had the rack-of-lamp - she loved the lamp but the accompaniments were anything but editable.. While the Blue Ginger "had" been one of my wife's favorite, it is no longer. I do not recommend anyone dine here unless they bring a very effective EAR PLUGS and are good at "lip reading" with their dining partner.
(1)
Jack F.

Stop #22 7:00 PM: Never had a chance to finish up my 2009 Boston Dining Tour in which I visited over 24 different restaurants in the span of 3 days. For a complete review, read Cindy Y's original comments from 2/18/2009. Visiting Blue Ginger was an homage to my culinary idol, Ming Tsai. And while it wasn't the most brilliant meal or the most amazing restaurant since I started writing about food, Blue Ginger was still a memorable dining experience well worth going the extra mile to visit. It's the type of meal where you put down your notebook and enjoy the dining experience uninterrupted. So while I don't have many notes, I still have very satisfying and fond memories of my 2009 visit. This being said, if I ever came back I'd opt for the lunch at Blue Ginger or dining at bar instead. Both options are much more affordable and you still get to experience the culinary creativity of Ming Tsai. As Ina C. said, "we do not want to pay $30-40 an entree if we can go six hours earlier and pay $10-20 less!" My post-dinner Blackberry notes included: "Difficult to choose from the menu made worse because the menu changes every two weeks. Had the sesame cracker brioche with ohtouka sake (unpasteurized). The Hawaii poke takes a back seat to the crispy rice cakes, which single handly redeems the rice cake selction. Had fresh, foe gras shumai and beef onion soup consumme. Tasty but heavy so thank goodness for the smooth sake. The pork belly was fatty goodness. Something about chicken sauce, hoisin, and the peanut essence of fried crisp skin. Carrots and beans may have been undercooked. Mochi with spicy pineapple, bittersweet chocolate and lime-guava sorbets. Not the must unique dessert but still good flavors nonetheless. Sadly, it wasn't really traditional mochi ... I was hoping for real mochi. Blue Ginger is certainly the type of restaurant where I'd return whenever I'm back in Boston. [Original Visit: February 2009]
(4)
Rema A.

Went to Blue Ginger with the hubby for lunch last Monday and we were really impressed!! We like eating out, and I really can't remember the last time I had a dish with such unique flavors. We asked our friendly waiter what he recommended, and he mentioned two dishes, both of which we got. 1. the butterfish (which many others have mentioned). it's pricier than the other dishes (all entrees are $12-14, this is the only one on the lunch menu for $21). but it was oh so good...seriously melts in your mouth! when my husband was almost done, he was actually sad that the butterfish experience would soon come to an end. 2. the cheeseburger bing sliders - not your average slider! ground beef and blue cheese wrapped in a won ton skin. i'm probably not describing this right, but it was super tasty!!
(5)
Sarah F.

I went here with my boyfriend the other Friday night. We were running a little late, so we called ahead to tell them and they were so accommodating and pleased/happy that we called ahead. So, service was excellent! Our waitress was so nice, I was very impressed! I had the Butterfish, and I have to say...it was AMAZING! Ming Tsai was there, walking around, talking to people, which made the night that much better. I've been to L'espalier and other fancy shmancy places, but this was by far the best meal I've had in MA, maybe the best meal ever (besides my Mom's homemade fajitas). I may have a crush on Ming Tsai....don't tell my bf, actually I'm pretty sure after that meal, my bf has a crush on him too.
(5)
Howe L.

Ah, Ming Tsai deserves nothing less! Best spring rolls I've ever tasted. Loved the crispy chicken and braised shortribs. Delicious sauces. Service was a little slow, but very genuine nonetheless. The ceiling was dripping water onto our table, but we received complimentary sushi. Top notch experience.
(5)
Bethany B.

I've heard rave reviews about this place time and time again, but because of budgetary constraints haven't had a chance to try it until restaurant week. I'm very very glad that I didn't check it out for full price. Maybe it's the hick in me, but I thought the flavors were too intense. There was just a lot going on on my plate. Kudos to the corncake lemongrass dessert, but I was disappointed in the dirty fried rice, and the sashimi. I'm glad that I tried it, so that I wasn't left to wonder, but won't be returning.
(2)
Barbara B.

LOVED his cookbook, his TV appearances and the article about him years ago in The New Yorker. The first time I came I liked, which was years ago, however. The second time 6 months ago was unbelievably disappointing. So crowded, noisy and too many chi-chi suburban types with slick hairdos, slick expensive outfits and big rocks air kissing and hobnobbing. Everyone seemed to know everyone, except poor us! Feel like we walked into someone's wedding or anniversary party. The service was mediocre and the food so disappointing. What happened; what the chefs were chowing down while they worked and which we saw when we walked out looked far better--yummy sandwiches and other dishes! Save your pennies and go to China for the real food or at least New York's Chinatown!
(2)
Anna R.

I came here for a late dinner with my boss on a weekday night. There was no wait and the hostess was very friendly. We got the spring-roll appetizer, which was delicious, and the waiter's suggestion of the chef's preferred eating method was very helpful. I got the paella, which was unlike any I'd had and more like a soup. That said, it was far too amazing for me to care! Extremely fresh seafood, perfectly seasoned broth, very hot and served beautifully. The only downside was our waitress, who wasn't very friendly and seemed bothered. (Also, as a very minor side-note, the bread basket that they gave was below the quality of their restaurant. It looked cheap and had an odd blend of breads in it.)
(4)
Nayiri B.

I love this place. Love it. Have been quite a number of times and have never been disappointed. The foie gras shumai is one of the most delicious dishes I have ever eaten in any restaurant in any genre of food. I can almost taste it now! Best deal is the bar menu. Great way to sample some good creative food in small plates. Fun drinks and a good atmosphere. This is our repeat date location.
(5)
Eugene D.

Last night, I met friends for a birthday dinner at Blue Ginger, the restaurant of celebrity chef Ming Tsai. We had talked about eating there for years, and we finally managed to get a reservation a week in advance. The Asian fusion cuisine was very good, and open kitchen was a nice touch. For appetizers, we had the tender salmon and beef carpaccio, attractive charcuterie plate, and shiitake-leek spring rolls. For entrees, we ordered tasty hangar steak, nicely spiced Vindaloo-glazed lamb, and flaky Alaskan butterfish. For dessert, we ate a sorbet trio with a ginger kick, spiced buttermilk donuts, a sweet petit four plate, and foie gras-shiitake shumai. The dishes were all an interesting blend of flavors, if a bit rich and pricey. The service was prompt and efficient. I'd definitely recommend this restaurant for special occasions.
(4)
Toni M.

Went to Blue Ginger for Restaurant week. This place would have gotten 5 stars if it weren't for the appetizers. The Pork lollipops which tasted oddly like Indian Kabobs and the Shitake-Leek spring rolls which were amazing accept for the vinegar dipping sauce which was extremely overpowering. The Wasabi Miso Salmon was incredible! Just enough Wasabi that it didn't consume the dish. The Beef over grits was cooked perfectly, pretty much melted in your mouth. For Dessert, a wonderful, very small, chocolate cake with cardamom ice cream. So delicious! And lemongrass panna cotta with blueberries was very light and the perfect ending to a wonderful meal. Would definitely come here again!
(4)
Patrick S.

Blue Ginger was recommended by a local while out to Boston on business. Went with colleagues and the food was out of this world!!! The drinks are great too, but the food is amazing. The presentation of the food is beautiful and the taste is excellent. Quite possibly the best tasting asian fusion food I've ever had. I highly recommend this place!!
(5)
Ina C.

I just moved to the area and I'm not that informed when it comes to celebrity chefs, so the first time I heard of Ming Tsai was when I turned on the TV and saw a fascinating butterfish dish being made by an Asian man with excellent English. So we decided to go on a little excursion today to check out Blue Ginger - for LUNCH. No, we do not want to pay $30-40 an entree if we can go six hours earlier and pay $10-20 less! We decided to skip appetizers and get the something- (wasabi?) crusted salmon and, of course, the butterfish. Both were great, but definitely not when-you're-in-Boston-you-must-come-to-Blue-Ginger worthy. The salmon was cooked perfectly, and the crust on top was a really unique combination of wasabi and maybe some kind of dried bean? It had a great texture and flavor. The butterfish tasted great - it had a creamy, silky-smooth texture (reminded me of orange roughy) and the miso seasoning was subtle. The dollops of wasabi mayo on the side were pleasantly spicy, and the soba noodles wrapped in seaweed were... alriiiight. Overall, it was a great meal, but nothing really stood out to me as being mind-blowingly delicious or innovative. So for me, I would only recommend this restaurant if you're in the area, but don't go out of your way like we did today. Wayy out of our way.
(4)
Mark H.

The food was ... awful. The duck combined with blue cheese in the ming bing was vile. The (highly recommended by the staff) mint tamarind just didn't work with the tuna. It just fell flat.
(1)
Angela S.

This is a highly classy place with excellent service, delicious food, and fun drinks. I've been here at least twice (once on a date, and once on a double date, and perhaps another time or two aside from those, with friends), and every time it has been absolutely fantastic. The curry noodles, though intense, are highly delicious. I'm an avowed vegetarian and usually hate all meat and seafood, but even I have to admit that the butterfish is pretty tasty, and aptly named. So, yum, yay, go to Blue Ginger.
(5)
Sara S.

Sit in the lounge and enjoy a delicious weekend lunch without the crowds or reservation-needed atmosphere. While the service left a little to be desired and was slightly rushed, we still enjoyed our cocktails (many of which incorporate ginger syrups/liquors) small bites (edamame and shumai with a TRUFFLE sauce... amazing) and my miso-grazed butterfish. While I'd never had butterfish before, I really enjoyed the flaky and tenderness of the meat, with a mild flavor which was nicely complimented with the sweet miso glaze. The spicy soba noodle "nest" which came alongside it rivaled the fish for being the better of the two items to eat on the plate. I will be back!
(4)
An L.

Delicious food. If they ever bring back the duck dish, it's awesome.
(4)
Anthony E.

To get the negatives out of the way: The calamari appetizer dipping sauce and the curry noodles were way overboard on the lemongrass. After a few bites it was so intense it was impossible to taste anything else. Also, the hangar steak was not the highest quality steak I have ever had... We don't get out to very fancy restaurants often at all, so this was a very special occasion for us (we got engaged the same evening!). The service was excellent, water glasses never empty, and we briefly spotted Ming! The calamari was excellent and tender, the hangar steak had great flavor and the corn tamale was simple yet delicious! The curry noodles were definitely the disappointment for us. The creme brulee was pretty much the bomb and highlight of the meal for us. We wanted so badly to love the whole meal, but could not get past the overwhelming sour intensity of the noodles and the dipping sauce, maybe we just don't know good food as well as we should. Would definitely try again for lunch.
(4)
Jennifer T.

Went here for a friend's bday dinner with another couple. The ambiance is very elegant and refined - I felt a bit out of place, but the staff were all respectable, professional, and knowledgeable about the menu and recommendations. We started off sharing the shiitake-leek springrolls, which were crispy and bursting with flavor. For the maincourse, I had their famous butterfish - which lives up to its name and all the hype! It was delicious, but the portions were very small. My husband had the tea-smoked poussin, which was also flavorful, but also very small. As for dessert, the creme brulee was one of the best I've had, and the pear tarte tatin was quite unique, sweet, and a great meal closer. Would recommend this place for its truly unique menu and well-prepared meals; its a nice place for a fancy occasion...but a bit pricey otherwise.
(4)
Doris K.

There was absolutely nothing I didn't love about this place. My bro, bestie and I took my father here as a surprise to celebrate his bday during Boston's Restaurant Wk. It was nothing short of amazing, from the inside and outdoor decor to the presentation and taste of the food, sensational! Our server was more than gracious, assisting us in getting our orders straight since Papa wanted to order off the regular menu while we had the prix fixe, her wine recommendations were on point every step of the way. I've ALREADY recommended this place to friends and family and look forward to dining here again..hopefully in the near future!!
(5)
Chris N.

Went there for Restaurant Week. Front of house staff need an attitude adjustment. Too snobby and full of themselves. Food and service were ok. Not worth going back for.
(1)
Brian E.

Outstanding in every way. The food, service and atmosphere are unsurpassed. Tis celebrity chef has earned his reputation in my mind. A bit pricy, but not typical food you can create at home.
(5)
David L.

Skip the main menu. Go for tapas at the front bar. The big eye tuna poke, sweet potato fries, edamame, and bings are our favorites. Our vegetarian friends find the place delightful. Carnivores will be done well by, too.
(4)
Alice L.

For years we've been wanting to try Blue Ginger and this past weekend we finally did. The first thing I noticed when we entered the restaurant was the barrage of media clippings in the foyer. Yes MIng, being named one of People's 50 Most Beautiful is a big deal, but that was over 10 years ago! It might be time to retire those clippings and focus more on the reason why we're there - the food! The restaurant has a nice casual-elegant ambience. Dimly lit with a comfortable noise level. The tables are covered with white paper and the host told the kids they were welcome to draw on it with the provided crayons (in addition to their kids menus). So here's what we ate: Kids menu - Chinese Pork Potstickers with Soy Dipping Sauce. The potstickers were deep fried (not pan-fried) and overcooked. Meat filling was very heavy. Big disappointment. Panko-Crusted Chicken Fingers with Shanghai Noodles & Butter - very good. Chicken was lightly battered and moist. Shanghai Noodles with Vegetables in Garlic-Ginger-Sweet Soy Sauce - terrible. Way too sweet. Couldn't eat more than 2 bites. Appetizers - Crispy Fried Calamari with Thai Dipping Sauce and Fragrant Thai Mussels with Lime Leaf & Green Papaya. Without the sauce, the calamari would have been totally forgettable. The mussels were okay - could have been more flavorful. Entrees - Miso-Sake Marinated Alaskan Butterfish and Grilled New Zealand Rack of Lamb with Crispy Taro-Corn Cake. The fish was a tad too sweet - otherwise it would've been perfect. The lamb was a generous portion and very tasty. Dessert - Bittersweet Chocolate Cake with Cardamom Ice Cream and Two Scoops of BG Ice Cream - cherry-vanilla and toasted coconut (kids' menu). Drinks - the kids shared a bottle of cider - was hoping it would be some sort of local or artisanal brand but it was just standard Martinelli. We had Polly-tinis and Pear Soju martini which were good. The irregularities in the service made the meal less than enjoyable. Our appetizers came out very quickly, along with the kids entrees (which was fine). But it took so long for our entrees to come out that even the bus person thought we were completely done with our dinner and cleared everything off the table (including the fresh silverware that was just placed by someone else). So when our entrees were served, we had to wait again for silverware. Then we had to again wait a long time for our dessert and also to settle our check. Not the worst service but I expected more from a restaurant with such a reputation. We were glad we finally tried Blue Ginger so we won't have to wonder about it anymore. But will we ever go back? Probably not. Unless Blue Ginger reinvents itself, I don't think it's a worthy of a second visit.
(3)
Alex B.

I was pretty bummed out the other day when I finally had a chance to try Blue Ginger after hearing about it how great it is for 10 years. The calamari was pretty darn good but my meal was really not. I ordered the house ramen and it just had a very bland, odd sickly sweet taste that I couldn't really make out. I appreciate trying new flavors and like to be pleasantly surprised but this just tasted like something went bad in my soup.
(2)
Damian S.

Dear Chef Ming Tsai: Oh how I wanted to like your restaurant. I've faithfully watched your TV shows, I always tune in when you're a guest judge on whatever cooking show or competition, I love your cooking philosophy, I think it's great that you are willing to work with people's food allergies, and though it's a high end place, you welcome families with children. There's so much to love, but, alas, at the end of the day a restaurant is about food and the food really just wasn't that good. My wife and I were in Boston for a conference without a rental car, but because we were SURE that your food would be worth the trip, we got ourselves from Boston to Wellesley (about 20 mile cab ride each way). We went for lunch on a weekday, so maybe we got the second string chefs, I don't know, but for when you're dining at the restaurant of a former James Beard award winner, one assumes the food's going to be on point no matter when you go. The atmosphere and staff were great. The food presentation was beautiful. The place was clean and welcoming. The waitress was friendly and helpful and the menu had a number of interesting dishes. Basically, everything was great but the food. We ordered the following: Appetizers: Panko-Crusted Butterfish Croquette with Lemon Aioli, Grilled Onion & Olive Vinaigrette - tasted like overly salted fish sticks. My wife and I debated over who had to eat the last croquette, not who got to eat the last croquette. Sweet Potato Fries with Chili Aioli - tasted great, but there was nothing special, unique or asian about the dish. We get the same exact thing done the street at the local burger joint Entrees: Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish - tasted good, but the portion was tiny and it didn't come with any rice, noodles or anything else we liked to eat it with. We've eaten essentially the same dish at Nobu in NYC and Vegas as well as at Roy's in SF and Vegas and we liked it more and got more of it. Wok Stirred Lobster and Seafood Paella with Garlic-Black Bean Chorizo - While in Boston we had Cioppino at Atlantic Fish Co. The dish was fantastic. When I ordered this dish at Blue Ginger I thought I'd get a similarly terrific dish with asian influences, sadly the dish just didn't come together. The sauce lacked and particular spice or punch, it was like a watered down thai curry sauce that was too sweet. The big problem though was the preparation of the seafood. The key to anything like paella or cioppino is recognizing that different seafood cooks at different speeds, so to get everything perfect you have to add things at different times. In Blue Ginger's paella the lobster was fine, but the fish was tough and over cooked. It was just sad to see such nice seafood not properly cooked and served. Dessert: Chocolate Pot de CrÃ¨me - fine, nothing great, but not bad either. Drinks: The Housemade Limeade was good, we both liked it The cocktail was syrupy sweet and not good at all (again, maybe we got the bad mid-day bartender) I realize that this restaurant is located in suburban Mass where maybe people don't have the most adventursome palates, but the meal just didn't click and I can't recommend the restaurant. I guess I was hoping for more bold, asian flavors. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, lived in China for a over a year and have visited Thailand and Cambodia twice, so maybe my palate for asian flavors is different from that of the average resident of Wellesley, but the salty croquettes and overcooked fish in the paella would have been objectionable to anyone. I had so looked forward to my meal at Blue Ginger. It's sad to say that my lunches at the Flour Cafe and Finale (both 1/5th the price of Blue Ginger) in Boston far exceeded the flavor and execution we found at Ming Tsai's place. I'm glad to read that other's had good experiences at Blue Ginger, but I think that if people go, they need to realize that they're not going to get strong, authentic asian flavors, but instead muted, references and allusions to great asian dishes and cuisines. I understand the concept of fusion and East meets West cooking, and I've had other examples I've enjoyed VERY MUCH, but Blue Ginger wouldn't rank among my top ten. Two stars because the restaurant didn't come close to living up to expectations and didn't provide a good dining value (money v. tasty food). Regards, me
(2)
Michael H.

Absolutely wonderful. The space, the presentation but mostly the FOOD. Wow. The butterfish was the standout, but all four of our starters and all four of our entrees were fantastic. One of the best meals I've ever had.
(5)
Courtney Y.

We were here visiting one of my cousins who attends Boston University and it was my other cousins Birthday. So she decided on Blue Ginger for her Birthday Dinner. We decided to take a Taxi b/c the place didn't look like it was anywhere near the T. This was a bad idea. I felt like we were in the cab FOREVER. It was a good 50 dollar cab ride and we later found out that we could have taken the T to a closer station and then just road the cab from there. As soon as we walked in the hostess greeted us w/ a nice friendly smile. The four of us were seating quickly. The restaurant was fairly empty probably b/c it was a Sunday Night. We pondered over the menu for quite a while. We really wanted to try everything. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful. She told us what signature dishes they had and favorites. It was sooo hard to decide. Then finally I noticed on the bottom of the menu that you could ask your waiter about the tasting option. So, we did... she told us that it starts at 80 dollars and you can get 5-10 tastings. We thought about it for a little longer and decided on the tasting option. My sister Michelle Y. was stoked. Each tasting was a surprise so we had no idea what we were going to get. We did mention however, that we really wanted to try the butter fish. Everyone's favorite type of fish at the table. Course 1: Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna Poke* with Crispy Sushi Rice Cake and Peppercress-Tosaka Salad. I always thought Ahi Poke was a little played out. I mean everyone does it. But you haven't had a good poke until you've had one here. The icing on the cake was the crispy rice cake. TO DIE FOR. Course 2: Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish: Our wishes were delivered and the infamous butterfish dish arrived. If you've never had butterfish before its seriously just that.. butter in your mouth= SO DAMN DELICIOUS Course 3: Foie Gras-Shiitake Shumai in Sauternes-Shallot Broth: Gotta eat as much Foi Gras b/c I'm not allowed to anymore. This dish was good, very good. A perfect bite is created when pouring the soup into the dumpling and eating it all together. Dishes like these make me sad that I live in CA and I can't just drive over to blue ginger to get some. Course 4: Grilled Asian Marinated Hanger Steak* with Hong Kong Black Bean Sauce AND Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster with Lemongrass Fried Rice. Surf and Turf. This was no tasting size portion either. AMAZING is all I can say. Course 5: Bittersweet Chocolate Cake AND Palm Sugar Cranberry Tart. This was my least favorite dish and I was STUFFED by the time it came out. The brown butter ice cream was pretty bomb though. All four of us were thrilled after the meal. It was an anonymous decision that we all just had the BEST meal we've ever eaten. As we were leaving the waitress handed us 4 menus that were all signed by Ming Tsai himself. Overall: Great experience, great company, and most of all great food. Five Stars!
(5)
Jimmy B.

Feeling a bit vindicated... the Boston Globe recently did an under-cover investigation on the mis-labeling of fish in the Boston area. Blue Ginger features fairly prominently in trying to pass off a cheap grade of white-fish for more expensive "Butter Fish." What was ironic was that, in contrast to most people who got caught in the Globe sting, the owner/chef didn't even come up with a plausible excuse. He just said he like the sound of "Butterfish" better and thought he was allowed to call it what he wanted (the article made it very clear this isn't the case, and that Blue Ginger was essentially committing fraud.)
(1)
Cynthia L.

When I first went to Blue Ginger, I was a junior in high school. My mom and stepdad both had a crush on Ming Tsai. Lucky for both of them he was there and actually signed menus. Well, I was also completely star struck! How many times do you see a real life public access television chef in person?! So I would rate the experience 5 stars and would tell people how great the food was. When I finally went back 5 years later, I actually had some idea of what to look for in food. The food service is great (any place that has a person dedicated to pouring water will usually get a 5 star rating for service). The second time around I had the duck. It was good, but a little heavy on the salt (most things were heavy on the salt). Additionally, (and this may be because I'm Chinese) I didn't see any fusion going on. Maybe he fooled the posh Massachusetts residents, but he couldn't full me. If you're going to call yourself a fushion place, then you better provide some fushion! In the end, if you like overpriced Chinese food (wish a side of extra salt) in an overly cramped restaurant this may be your place.
(2)
Joshua C.

I was skeptical about this place given its ritzy chef-owner, status and high-priced food. However, my wife and I wanted to check out this place before we moved out of the area. And wow...I'm glad that we did! I got the butterfish, and though a bit more expensive than the rest of the lunch entrees, it was well worth it. The fish was so soft. So tasty. So...mmm...good. It was buttery, but not over the top. I was so bummed that there wasn't more. I actually saved a little morsel towards the end just because it was so dang good! And the soba sushi was nice too. Nothing crazy amazing like the butterfish, but still quite good. On a sidenote, I have to give props to chef Ming for not opening all these other restaurants even though he could leverage his status and fame to open all these chains. Now if only Blue Ginger were closer to Boston proper...
(5)
Tim Y.

I rarely give out 5 star reviews, but it seems my time in the greater Boston area has truly been full of standout experiences. Blue Ginger rocked the house in every possible way. The mussels were quite good - spicy and flavorful. The asian slaw and tomatoes were interesting, and added a fair bit of flavor to an otherwise routine white wine sauce. I had the five spice duck breast. Fabulous. I'm a big fan of duck, and this did not disappoint. Served alongside the sliced duck is an excellent frisee salad with yet more duck, this time smoked and pulled. But back to the breast, as it were. Really, it was outstanding. A thick, rich sauce was a perfect compliment to the dish without overshadowing the natural flavor of the meat. The only flaw I noted was the fact that the sauce seemed to have developed a film between the time it was plated and served -- it wasn't long, as I had a full view of the kitchen and kept track of all the butterfish entrees being prepped and saw mine come up. It must have taken a brief rest under a heat lamp. Forgivable once tasted to be sure. All the staff were exemplary. The server ended up being a transplant from a neighboring town where I live back in Illinois which made for some nice smalltalk. Manager visit was appreciated, as was the custom-ordered bottle of sake. Also thoughtful was the cookie arrangement and candle brought to the table after dinner to celebrate my birthday. How thoughtful! I guess there's a reason they ask the occasion of the visit...
(5)
Heather S.

I admit it. I'm a food snob. That's because I come from San Francisco, land of foodies like myself -- where food -- priced high or low (and divey) is divine. If you like this place, I just must accept that your taste buds are different from mine, and maybe, just maybe you haven't dined in SF. Ming may be cool but Blue Ginger's Asian-Fusion is benign at best. Blue Ginger has several things against it: 1. It's expensive. Very expensive. I wouldn't have been there had I not gotten a gift certificate from my friend's sister. 2. The food isn't so good, and it's expensive. 3. It gets super crowded quite quickly, the sound proofing ain't so good, and the food isn't worth it. And did I mention it's expensive? On the other hand, the service is wonderful. Truly excellent, attentive waitstaff. My ginger infused Martini was too sweet. Was it made with fresh ginger? Who knows. In SF, I know when it's fresh. Let's talk appetizers: We only tried two. The Hawaiian BigeyeTuna Poke (was not super fresh) with Crispy (read: Soggy) Sushi Rice Cake and Watercress-Tosaka Salad. - For $15.00 Ming's Tea-Smoked Salmon & Beef Carpaccio with Fresh Wasabi Emulsion for was just average. No real flavor of tea-smoked, (I think of places like Samovar in SF where it really is tea smoked). The wasabi was good. I love Wasabi. All for a smashing $14.00. But, wait there's more! At our nice waitstaff's suggestion, I had the Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish in Wasabi Oil, Soy-Lime Syrup and Vegetarian Soba Noodle Sushi for $36.00. ** People, in case you're wondering, I copied the name and items out of their menu; I wouldn't have been able to remember the title nor the fish. It was okay. Light, tender, flaky, nice sauce. But, it was not worth $36, FOR SURE. ** My friend had the Chile Tea Rubbed Duck Breast with Fresh Plum Sauce and Peach Teriyaki with a Crispy Duck Confit Johnnycake and Grilled Haricot Verts Salad for $35. It was okay. Peaches weren't fresh, crispy duck was tender, cooked just right, but haricot verts (thin green beans) were more than al dente. Can you say, with a CRUNCH like it's raw? For dessert, we sampled (such a nice word, sampled), the "Bittersweet Chocolate Cake Cardamom Ice Cream and Spiced Sugar Wafer and Chocolate Ganache" -- $12. I love cake. I did not love this cake. If I could introduce a new title, it would be: "Dry Cake Meets Interesting Ice Cream and Insubstantial Completely Boring Cookies. " All for 12 dollars. At the end, stuffed but dissatisfied, no doubt gaining 10 unworthwhile pounds, gift certificate gone, envelope stuffed in my pocket, we started home, lamenting the well-off town we were in where not a single homeless person was around to give the well-stocked doggy bags a hand and mouth treatment. Throwing the food away felt like a waste -- to us, the sister, and the animals, but then we really didn't want to eat it either. So, we took it home, and it's still in my fridge. Right now. Two weeks later.
(2)
Al R.

Only OK for all the hype. The food was good, but the service was rushed. We parked on the street without any problems. I would not bring kids here and the bill will run $50+ PP depending on what you choose.
(3)
Jay B.

We decided to do a Friday lunch at Blue Ginger and I can safely say - wow. We've wanted to try out Blue Ginger for quite some time and the asian fusion is quite good. We had the Butterfish (one of the few dinner entrees you can get at lunch) and the Korean BBQ Brisket Sandwich - along with some apps of spring rolls and calamari. The flavors in the entrees was out of this world. The Butterfish came with these soba noodle sushis - wowser. We can't wait to try Blue Ginger for dinner soon.
(4)
Josh M.

I visited Blue Ginger during my summer road trip around the northeast. I was definitely in vacation mode, and so I was indulgent to the whims of the restaurant. For the appetizer, I had the Tuna Poke, a dish I often default to at reputable seafood restaurants. The fish was exemplary, but not revelatory. That distinction for the dish would go to the fried sushi rice cake the tuna rested on. The outside fried crispy but the inside was as fluffy as fresh-steamed rice. I've never seen sushi rice fried as successfully this. My entree was Mom's Famous Three Vinegar shrimp. Another direct hit from a very savory dish. Deeply pungent vinegar -- even with the name, you may not be expecting what you're getting into with this one. The vinegar draws out the perfectly sauteed (so tender!) shrimp's undercurrent of sweetness. When it was done I idly considered ordering more. But then came dessert. It was a summer fruit and thai basil-cream napoleon, a special that seems to be missing from the online menu. Sounded strange, perhaps too East meets West, but the basil and the cream fit the slices of fresh berries like a glove. My service was the sort you hear about at great restaurants. Always on the spot with drink refills, plates cleared seemingly the moment you're done with them, and at least one chef from the kitchen came around to check on the product. It wasn't a cheap dinner, but it was a worthwhile one. The street parking can be a little tough to come by for a prime dinner reservation, yet I'd urge punctuality. I learned the hard way that there is very little to do in downtown Wellesley.
(4)
L O.

It has been 7 years since i was last there - i remember not being impressed with the food the last time and that's why i stopped going there. but now i thought i should give them a try again and maybe they improved... i was wrong, not only the food tasted so-so, the presentation and atmosphere even went downhill... the dishes looked like being served in a cafeteria, even the bread plates looked worn. not going back again, not for another 7 years at least...
(2)
Steve A.

Owned and operated by TV Chef, Ming Tsai, Blue Ginger is one of the finest restaurants in all of Wellesley. Ming can be often found here working the line and greeting guests. I had tuna tartare which was the best I've ever tasted, although admittedly I"ve only had it once prior (Cheesecake Factory). I'm only taking one star off because of the prices. One night here equals my monthly rent! I had to eat exclusively off the McDonald's dollar menu (Cheeseburger, Small Fries, Happy-Meal sized Coke) for the next thirty days, but it was totally worth it for that one great meal made by the Dragon Dad himself, Ming Tsai!
(4)
Quang N.

My brother took me here for my birthday. To start we had the Shiitake-Leek Springrolls, and Foie Gras-Shiitake Shumai in Sauternes-Shallot Broth. They were both awesome. For entrees both my wife and brother ordered the Butterfish while I went with the Hanger steak. To finish we had the Sesame Macadamia Caramel Nut Tart. All in all it the food was very good, even the bread. The service seemed a bit slow, but it was a Friday night so it was pretty busy. The water guy made sure to keep our glasses full, but he seemed a little annoyed the whole night. In the end we were all able to meet Ming Tsai himself. He signed a menu for me and we got a picture together with him in the front of his restaurant. Was a great dinner overall.
(4)
Tony L.

Blue Ginger is a very unassuming restaurant--if you didn't know anything about it, you could drive by and never notice a thing. There's nothing flashy about the decor, creme paint decorated with a few royal blue highlights--an orchid here, a painting there. But once you get seated, that's when the magic begins. The service was excellent. It's one thing to have friendly, prompt service, but it's another to have unassuming waiters that are warm and that make you feel comfortable. Our waiter paired a few glasses of wine that went well with our entres. The appetizers were interesting. We had the fried calamari and the foie gras and shitake mushroom shiumai. The calamari is good, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it. Although they weren't greasy, they weren't crispy either, and aside from the sauce, which was the main selling point, they didn't taste too different from other fried calamari dishes I've had. The shiumai, on the other hand, was delicious. Interestingly, the shiumai had the familiar taste of shiumai you'd get at dim sum, yet had the added complexity and texture of foie gras. Delicious. Onto the entres, the heart and soul of our meal. My girlfriend had the rack of lamb and I had the peppered lobster. I had a few bites of the rack of lamb, and it was amazing. Juicy, melt-in-your-mouth tender, and cut three bones thick and served over a bed of seasoned veggies. The lobster was probably the best lobster I've ever had in my life. Both the claws were served deshelled and whole and the tail cut into sections served in the shell. The lobster head was hollowed out and filled with black peppered fried rice. Seasoned pea shoots blanketed the dish. The black pepper permeated the moist rice and succulent lobster, for a bold and unique finish. Each bite was tender, juicy, and filled with consistent flavor and brought me right to the edge of full. For desert, we shared a frozen lemon sorbet souffle. Although it spread out the palate with sweetness and sharp sour notes, cold sorbet and warm souffle, it isn't something I'd necessarily recommend again. Passable. Thus ends my meal and begins a dream of lobster, lobster that will remain the benchmark for all lobsters to come.
(5)
Peter B.

This is among the worst meals I can recall having paid this kind of money for. Visually, both mine and my wife's plates looked like freshly drained swamps and they tasted only slightly better than that initial impression. I've never been a snob about plating, but this was ridiculous - steamed greens, scraps of rice and chunks of shell and meat floating back and forth in an excess of (rather flavorless) sauce. Our server showed little interest in us and the whole experience was a disappointment.
(1)
L. Q.

What is wrong with you people? Did you not read "The Emperor's New Clothes" as a child? This foodie "Emperor" has. no. clothes. I was treated to this place by friends on a recent visit to Massachusetts. From the unintelligible, hard-to-find waiter, to the noodly lump-of-things entree presenting a dense wall of mismatched flavors that felt like a fist in my mouth, the experience was unforgettable for ALL the wrong reasons. Imagine how this review would read if I had actually picked up the tab. Does the word "aghast" mean anything anymore? Wellesley, really? This you rave about? Get into the city - ANY city - more often.
(1)
H M.

My husband has been here before for business dinner and he suggested going there recently. We called ahead, made reservastion and headed out to Wellesley. When we arrived, our table was not ready and we had to wait for another 5 minutes or so. Remember we asked for the 5 PM reservation - it's not like there are many diners at that time! My husband ordered Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish and it was tasty. According to the waiter, it's basically cod, but I can never make cod this buttery and melt in your mouth. But this fish has got to be the smallest piece I've ever seen in any restaurant. Also for the Vegetarian Soba Noodle Sushi on the plate, it's like wrapping spaghetti in seaweed. I ordered Blue Ginger Seafood 'Bouillabaisse' with Saffron-Edamame Risotto. Saffron rice tasted too sour with the Vinegar Syrup and there were a lot more rice than seafood on the whole plate. Aagin, the portion was really small. When the entrees were done, we asked for the dessert menu. After studying it for a while, we decided not to get anything because most of them were either cookies or ice cream (with a little something else). Give me something decent! Ready? "Doughnut and coffee" costs $12. You're kidding me, right? Overall, the food was OK and the service wasn't too bad. But it was very Wellesley-ly priced! We end up walking out the restaurant hungry. For almost $100, I shouldn't feel that way. Don't you agree?
(3)
Ryan V.

Asian Fusion? Where's the Asian? I was very disappointed with my overall experience in dining here. First off, the theme of the cuisine is Asian Fusion but there was not one Asian person working in the kitchen which didn't really throw me off but it could've helped as I explain later below. I was greeted by an young, arrogant Asian hostess and was seated immediately. The restaurant is dimly lit to disguise what you were ordering in terms of price. Our server was very nice, attentive and quite knowledgeable. I ordered a limonade which cost $5 and tasted just god-awful. I would made it myself for $5 by getting 5 limes and 6 pack of water and some packets of sugar. Next I ordred "Fragrant Thai Mussels with Lime Leaf & Green Papaya" and was very disappointed in terms of taste. My taste buds were very confused on what was going on here and could not see any Thai theme. For my main course, I ordered "Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster with Lemongrass Fried Rice". This course did not meet my expectations. The rice was did not go well with the lemon grass. The presentation was just plain awlful. The only thing that was done right was the lobster meat. The meat was still moist and tender. It is very easy to overcook the lobster and have it come out rubbery or chewy. I had to pass on dessert not because of the limited selection and the prices but my overall food eating experience here. I did not see any Asian theme in any of the cuisines here. As bad as it sounds, perhaps there was no Asian staff working in the kitchen. The food is overpriced since you are eating in the "Wealth of Wellesley". I can honestly say that my taste buds prefer Panda Express in the mall food court for a fraction of the cost. Can I say "More Orange Flavored Chicken Please!!"??
(2)
Christopher S.

I came here a few months ago with my girlfriend, her aunt and uncle for dinner in late March. Family and coworkers kept telling me that this place is delightful and worth a trip out to Wellesley. Now, I've eaten Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Korean other similar foods but I've still yet to understand the whole Asian Fusion concept. Sure, the meals here looks nice and they must be a pain to literally assemble but I hate it when food gets so wrapped up in the presentation that the taste suffers. It is interesting how the chef comes up with these combinations but I think most chefs try to squeeze too much into too little. All night my taste buds were boxing with flavors of YUM and YUCK from a single meal. Almost everything I tried that night had something in it I both liked and disliked which was annoying. Don't expect to find cheap eats here or anywhere else in Wellesley. This is a wealthy town and most places are moderate to pricey. I would suggest giving this place a try if you are trying to impress someone on a date or feeling bold and looking for something different. Blue Ginger is more of a 2.5 star rating for me. I would suggest anyone who want to try this place go for drinks and appetizers first before committing to a big meal which can cost $22.00 to $41.00 a person. Ouch!
(3)
Glen T.

My wife and I went to Blue Ginger for our first "date night" since the birth of of our daughter. Overall, it was excellent; however, we had very high expectations and there were a few things that were not perfect. For appetizers we shared the Shiitake-Leek Springrolls and the Maitake Mushroom Soft Tacos. The Springrolls were awesome and I could have eaten 20 of them. The soft tacos were good too. I liked the shitake mushroom component of it; however, I wasn't a huge fan of the flavor of the soft taco shell. For the main course I had the Alaskan Butterfish and my wife had the Hangar steak.The Butterfish was phenominal and I loved the presentation of the meal. Perfectly cooked and ultra light and tastey. My wife was not in love with the adobo bbq sauce on her steak. Personally, I think she is crazy because I tasetd it and thought it was great (not sure which camp you will be in). For dessert we had the chocolate cake (super rich and decadent) and the macadamia crusted caramel tort (yum!). Both were awesome. The service was excellent and the ambiance was great... my only nit-picky complaint is that they have white paper over the linen table cloth. It is a minor thing, but if I am going to spend $150-$200 (with tip) for dinner, I would expect not to eat on paper table cloths. Overall it was great. But for the $ and high expectations it wasn't perfect.
(5)
Bridget B.

I think the quality has gone down proportionately with the rising of Ming Tsai's star, but I still think the food is pretty good, if possibly over priced. I've been there a handful of times, and Ming has actually been there every single time, which I think is pretty neat considering he's now a celebrity chef. My husband and I brought our families there for our wedding party and he came by and hung out at the table for a good ten minutes which I thought was sweet (We had told them the meaning of the dinner in advance and that my mom was a huge fan of his) The lychee martinis are really good...that's the first thing that really comes to mind. Those and the seafood soup, however since the menu is seasonal I'm not sure how often you can get the latter. It's a fun experience, the decor is gorgeous and the staff is friendly. It also warrants mention that they have a gluten free menu for those of you who suffer from celiac disease.
(4)
Kristine M.

I was so disappointed in Blue Ginger. I went here for lunch with my friend yesterday with the highest of hopes and a hearty appetite. Our experience started of strange right off the bat. My friend had made lunch reservations, and the snooty host alerted us to the fact that they don't take lunch reservations, so it wasn't possible. (Nevertheless, we DID have lunch reservations!) To our surprise, once we got inside the dining room, the restaurant was almost completely empty, with only about 4 other parties there. So I guess we didn't even need reservations! Our waitress was unfriendly, with a monotone voice and expressionless face. We asked for water to drink, and the water tasted like the worst tap water you could possibly imagine. We decided to order Shirley Temples. Later when we got the bill, we saw that our Shirley Temples each cost $3.25. (!!!!!) I ate the crab rangoons, the pork bun, and the butterfish. While everything was good, I left Blue Ginger with an empty pocketbook, and with a still empty stomach. And the prices -- I couldn't get over the prices. $12 for THREE crab rangoons? $12 for ONE pork bun? A few bite sized pieces of butterfish on an artistically arranged plate for $21? Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it. Blue Ginger is ~GOURMET~ so they have these minuscule entrees accompanied by large prices. But I can't bring myself to spend that kind of money for lunch. If I'm going to spend that kind of money on food, I want to leave satisfied. I did not leave satisfied. I felt snubbed by our waitress and like a sucker for spending $12 on a single pork bun. After my visit to Blue Ginger, I had a second lunch an hour later. Now I know why the restaurant was empty -- in this economy, who wants to go to a restaurant where you need to spend $50+ on LUNCH?! As someone who frequents Chinatown, I'd rather forgo the "fusion" and trendy decor of Blue Ginger, and see how many pork buns I can get for $12 at Hei La Moon. And they'll probably be just as good.
(2)
Robert C.

Maybe it's a perennial problem with celebrity chef restaurants...the person who made the food so famous is now removed from the kitchen, and the standards fall....but the prices don't! The "crispy calamari" was anything but - too much coating, and not fried hot enough to keep the grease from soaking into the food. The "Thai Dipping Sauce" was an overly sour lemon-y or vinegar-y liquid that made me wish for good ole' tomato dipping sauce that I get at Italian restaurants. The cracked pepper lobster dish was not bad (but overly spiced), except that some of the tail pieces were mushy (maybe from the lobster being dead for too long?). The "crab encrusted halibut" was a great fish dish, but the sauce was overly spiced, masking ....what? The apple fritters challenged me to find any apple in them, though there was an apple compote spread around the dish - maybe that's where they were? In all, for the price paid, I would have expected a "Wow" food experience, but what I got was just a bit better than a chain restaurant quality. I must say, though, that the service staff - waitress, bussing folks, etc., were really great and redeemed the meal.
(3)
jamie l.

Oh Ming... I'll start with a comment that my wife made mid-way through the meal. She looked up at me from her greasy dish and asked, "Ming Tsai...or Ming Fry?". She was spot-on. This place was downright awful. One of the two breads given when you first get served is a deep-fried pita-like bread, our waitress told us that two of their signature starters were a fried calamari (seriously?) and their mushroom & leek spring rolls - also fried. When we asked about the preparation of the spring rolls the waitress said "well...they're fried but so lightly fried that you don't even notice." These were typical, suburban, Cantonese, greasy, Chinese restaurant egg rolls. Actually - those suburban egg rolls are much better because they probably cost $10 less and don't make you vomit (I'll come back to that). My wife had the butterfish - which the waitress described to us as a lot like Chilean Sea Bass. I had the duck - which the waitress informed me would be cooked "with a little bit of pink in the center". The fish was nearly inedible (in addition to the quality, texture and greasy-ness, it had an overwhelming smoky taste from the grill - and not that nice smokiness that you often long for - this was a smokiness like a pot holder or rag got burned in the grill and imbued a nasty burnt flavor into the fish). Granted it's called butterfish - I get that - but it's not called greasyfish. Also - the prep and accoutrements didn't help at all. My duck was mostly raw (so much for "a little bit of pink in the center") and generally poor quality. Fortunately they sliced it up for me because it took so long to chew I can only imagine how long it took them to cut. My duck was accompanied by a pork-fried-rice (although I don't recall it being described that way on the menu). Yup - fried. They added blueberries in an attempt to be creative, I suppose, but it was basically just pork-fried-rice with blueberries. My wife and I agreed that you'd be better off driving to Chinatown and spending about $40 (our bill was $150) on food that is fresher, tastier, lighter, more interesting, and doesn't make you vomit. Right - because to top off our night out my wife woke up around 1:30am and vomited three times. All the other (negative) stuff that you read is relevant about the staff and room, etc. - so I won't bore you with more of that. Don't blow your money (or your arteries) here. Go to Chinatown - or that suburban Cantonese Chinese restaurant - either would be a million times better.
(1)
Lori K.

I had been dying to try Blue Ginger, but we just never seemed to find the time when visiting Boston. We finally went as a special dinner for our son who graduated from college that weekend. The staff was wonderful...they made a point of asking if it was a special occasion when I made the reservation, and when we arrived they made sure to congratulate our son and give him special treatment throughout the meal. We started off with a variety of apps - tuna poke, calamari, mussels, salmon and beef carpaccio - the tuna poke and carpaccio being two of our favorites. For entrees we had the butterfish (delicious!), garlic-black pepper lobster, scallops, and rack of lamb (yum!). All were superb. Definitely make the time to splurge and try this place!
(5)
Mike G.

some in last year's Top Chef made snarky comments about Ming Tsai's cooking as uncreative, stuck in the '90s. and they'd be right. had apps of bigeye tuna with crispy sushi rice and a salad; mains of sake-miso marinated alaskan butterfish and orange glazed duck breast all split-plated between two diners. was incredibly pricey for really generic tasting food. if hungry for pan-asian in Boston, go to Myers & Chang instead.
(3)
A H.

We were in the Boston area with our kids on school break. I have always like Ming Tsai and enjoyed watching him over the years, so I suggested we try it. My wife agreed and we took the girls in for an early dinner on a Thursday evening. The restaurant looks very nice. Clean, modern and we lliked watching the chefs in the kitchen. The staff was attentive without being pushy and in general were excellent. We knew we were in for an expensive evening but we decided to splurge. We got the calamari appetizer and the kids got the pot stickers. The calamari was over-cooked and rubbery, and the dipping sauce tasted like some kind of floor cleaner. The pot stickers were good and the kids liked them, but they weren't extraordinary. The kids ordered Panko chicken fingers which were very overcooked and extremely dried out. Shanhai noodles which was basically just vermicelli with too much oil on it. I ordered the butterfish and my wife ordered the lobster. The fish was good, but not great, and a very small portion. The soba noodle sushi was excellent. The lobster wame with the carapace filled with lemongrass risotto which was a nice presentation and provided a wow factor, but the risotto didn't live up to the promise of the presentation. So we left almost $200 lighter in the wallet and not really satisfied with any aspect of the meal. C'mon, Ming, step it up.
(2)
Sohini R.

6 of us went out to Blue Ginger, 4 of us had been wanting to go for some time. The ambiance was lovely, but we all left feeling underwhelmed....perhaps our expectations were too high? The calamari was good but the sauce was not (I recommend Harvest's calamari instead). We all liked the tuna sashimi poke, and the butterfish. My fiance didn't like his bouillabaise, mostly because of its salty taste and because it was a risotto with a thick sauce reduced from fish, as opposed to a soup. My vegetarian noodle/curry/whatever seemed to come straight from P.F. Chang's. I didn't really want to take the leftovers home. Like others here have said, it was only OK given the hype.
(2)
gus w.

My wife and I hit Blue Ginger on a friday night, on a whim with out reservations. Got right into the lounge area (tapas menu only). Service was prompt, and the server did a great job of explaining the menu and picking out some wined for us to enjoy with our selections. We started with the Shitake Mushroom soup -- Awesome, one of my favorite soups in recent memory. Spicy, well balanced very flavorful soup. Moved onto the sweet-potato fries with the chili spices. Nice, crispy flavorful fries. Not greasy in the least. For the large plates we split the buttterfish and the black pepper shrimp. Both were perfectly cooked and in sauces that left me wanting to lick the plates. Super successful visit, total cost (3 glasses of wine, 2 smal plates 2 large plates) was $100. Not bad for a friday night at such a popular resturant. We will be back soon to try the main dining room....and see what else awaits!
(4)
Aimee Z.

For my 350th Review, I wanted something special... While in town for a wedding, and my first vacation in 6 years, Tracey W, Crys B and I decided we had to go to Ming Tsai's Blue Ginger. Even though it's a 45 minute drive from our hotels near the Boston Harbor, we had to go; we just rented a car for the day and took off. It was totally worth it!! Blue Ginger is 5 stars, all the way, from the ambiance, to the service and most especially the food!!! I ordered the clam chowder and it was different than any other clam chowder I had ever had as it had a very thin broth and lots of vegetables. Delicious CrysB ordered the Sweet Potato Fries with Chili Aioli as an appetizer saying she couldn't resist sweet potato fries, and the aioli was a great to dip them in. I was sad when we, as a table, finished off the fries. For my meal, I ordered the Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish in Wasabi Oil, Soy-Lime Syrup and Vegetarian soba Noodle Sushi. The fish was flaky and perfectly cooked with a wonderful flavor. "And, for dessert (oh my god, the desserts!!!)" Crys said... AMEN I ordered the Blue Ginger Cookies & Sweets Plate, which had small portions of their other desserts, such as the Tahitian Vanilla CrÃ¨me BrÃ»lÃ©e (my favorite) and some insanely delicious cookies and bars. The other girls ordered the Warm Apple Crisp with Candied Ginger Ice Cream. I, of course, had to try it. The apples were perfect, not too crisp and not too mushy, and the sauce was so full of fall spices, it was delicious, but my favorite component of the dish was the candied ginger ice cream! I love ginger and now I've got to figure out where to get ice cream like this or get an ice cream maker to make my own! As for the service, it was absolutely amazing. We were very late for our reservation, due to problems with the car rental, but the restaurant was completely gracious about it. Our server was absolutely wonderful from the moment we sat down to the end of our meal. One of the most impressive parts of the service was that they inquired about food allergies when the reservation was made in September, and our server double checked when we sat down nearly a month later. I have some food allergies, so it's really nice when a restaurant is not only able to cope with it, but to actually bring it up and recommend what they could do, based on my allergies. Would I go back? Definitely, this is one restaurant not to be missed.
(5)
Jinine C.

really mediocre ..... had low expectation going in and was still disappointed.... The Red Miso ConsommÃ© soup was a bit too salty and had a very interesting taste.... the Indonesian Curry noodle had way too much ginger and didn't taste very good either... chances of going back is very unlikely... but very good customer service and atmosphere thou
(2)
Ann G.

We had a wonderful time at Blue Ginger in Wellesley. The staff was excellent, the interior lovely, and the food was delicious. I find it funny that other reviewers felt the clientele was "suburban". The restaurant is in Wellesley - what did they expect? A room full of chic Boston-ites? Who cares who sits next to you, so long as the food is good and the service just right. And both were, for us. Add to the food my truly delicious Blue Ginger Gimlet and you've got a great dinner experience.
(5)
Crystal B.

For my 200th Review, I wanted something special... While in town for a wedding, some friends and I put Blue Ginger down as our 1 "Must Try" restaurant. Even though it's a 45 minute drive from Boston, we had to go, we just rented a car for the day and took off. Let me just say this, it was totally worth it!! Blue Ginger is 5 stars, all the way, from the ambiance, to the service and most especially the food!!! One of my friends ordered the clam chowder, which I had a bite of, of course, and it was absolutely perfect, one of my favorite comfort foods. My appetizer was the Sweet Potato Fries with Chili Aioli, just because I can't resist sweet potato fries, and the aioli was a great accompaniment. My entree was the Seafood Paella. A little different than I've had before, but so incredibly delicious! I wish I could have figured out the spices in this dish, it was just so amazing, there was a little something extra that perked up the palate, definitely not part of the traditional dish. I only wish there had been some shrimp in this dish, it was the only thing missing. And, for dessert (oh my god, the desserts!!!) I ordered the Warm Apple Crisp with Candied Ginger Ice Cream. The apples were perfect, not too crisp and not too mushy, and the sauce was so full of fall spices, it was delicious, but my favorite component of the dish was the candied ginger ice cream! I love ginger and now I've got to figure out where to get ice cream like this or get an ice cream maker to make my own! One of my friends ordered the Blue Ginger Cookies & Sweets Plate, which had small portions of their other desserts, such as the Tahitian Vanilla Creme Brulee (wonderful!) and some insanely delicious cookies and bars. Wish I'd ordered that one, too, lol. As for the service, it was absolutely impeccable. We arrived late for our reservation, due to problems with the car rental, but the restaurant was completely gracious about it. Our server was absolutely wonderful from the moment we sat down to the end of our meal. One of the most impressive parts of the service was that they inquired about food allergies when the reservation was made, and our server double checked when we sat down. One of the friends I was with does have some food allergies, so it's really nice when a restaurant is not only able to cope with it, but to actually bring it up and recommend what she could have based on her allergies. Would I go back? Definitely, this is one restaurant not to be missed.
(5)
Pete P.

good but not great... an OK time but not a fabulous time... expensive for sure... those are the first 3 phases that come to mind when i think of my time at blue ginger. it was very underwhelming and certainly not worth the drive from somerville. the atmosphere was pretty good. having ming come by the table was a nice touch. the open kitchen is neat but not as pertinent as say east coast grill (i would like to see the loon on ming's face if you send a 6er or tall boys to the kitchen!). overall it was a very blah experience. i imagine if you live out that way it can be a nice place to go to but i will certainly not make that trip again.
(3)
Brent G.

Having just been to Charlie Phan's new restaurant in San Francisco, I wasn't expecting much better from Blue Ginger. ...I stand corrected. This place was great! I booked 730 reservations and we were seated exactly at 730. The service was great and it was followed up by Ming Tsai coming to our table to speak with us for several minutes. I could tell it was something he really enjoyed doing and for once in my life I was a little star struck. We couldn't decide what to order so we ordered the tasting menu. 1st Course: Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna Poke - Served on a bed of warm crispy rice. I love it when they mix cold dishes with warm. The sambal also gave it some good heat and really brought the flavors out. 2nd Course: Sake Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish- Quite possibly my favorite meal of the night. The fish was very tender and the miso sauce made the fish very sweet. 3rd Course: Foie Gras Shitake Shumai - Cool concept, it was served in a broth of what tasted like an asian style french onion soup. I thought this dish was a bit rich but still good. 4th Course: Grilled Marinated Hanger Steak and Garlic Black Pepper Lobster - Steak was cooked just right and very tender. The Lobster had good flavoring but what I liked the most was the fried rice. The ginger gave it a very refreshing taste. 5th Course: Bittersweet Chocolate cake and strawberry shortcake - Tooooo full to eat any more...must have one more bite! Very good but not the focus of the meal. I was sufficiently full for the rest of the night and for the next morning. Not on par with some of the other restaurants I gave 5 stars to but the service, experience and price make up for that.
(5)
Michelle K.

The biggest 5 stars I've given so far! Forgive me, but this meal was about a month ago so I remember it in hyperbole. This was an incredible, delicious, meal with complex flavors and well worth a little drive from Cambridge or Boston or wherever you're are. My family and I started with both the Shiitake-Leek Springrolls and the Foie Gras-Shiitake Shumai in Sauternes-Shallot Broth which were out of this world! Trust me, get those shumai and only share if you have to. Then I had the Alaskan Butterfish entree which was the best fish I've ever eaten. Seared nice and crisp but melt-in-your-mouth soft inside. The noddle "sushi" on the plate was a creative idea. Beautiful plating all night. We couldn't leave such a great restaurant without tasting the dessert. We got the Bittersweet Chocolate Cake and the Caramel Nut Tart -- which was even better than I imagined. We had a fabulous table at the back with the sun streaming in a screen and the service was ideal. Gotta get back here!
(5)
Han K.

I'm a big fan of Ming Tsai, I'm also a big fan of haute cuisine and willing and have paid through the nose for a great meal and not felt bad about this. Blue Ginger was one of the few times where I went in expecting to pay a lot but I didn't walk out thinking I got my money's worth. The food is very good bordering on excellent but the flavors just didn't seem quite right when I went, the meshing of eastern flavors with western techniques just didn't sit well with my asian palate. What really disappointed me was the overall service and attitude of the place. It felt a little too casual to drop $300 for a dinner for two.
(3)
Ken S.

Friday night 8:15 reservation for 4 made at 5PM same night worried me, when the 7 o'clock guests were done the restaurant was less stuffy we had a great meal. Ming was there,a plus for all groupies. Wellesley is a quaint but long streched town, so carefull cruising through as the local fuzz monitors the road.As for food; Price should not be a deterrent, this is a class act. Top to bottom,well managed and executed.This rest. could easily be in any center city. $350 for four,8 cocktails,4 apps,4 entree,3 desserts,2 coffee. Service was efficient and caring. Our servers were knowledgeable,but we were never needy,as everything was explained and delivered promptly. The Menu, great concepts, some unfamiliar ingredients, sensory treats,great presentations. My Opinion. I'd go back if I'm in the area again to try other items.I'd recommend to others the same. Worth the drive from around the Boston area for a special dinner with special guests who can appreciate their Asian/Fusion style. Plenty reviews on individual menu items on Yelp, but I leave that to the diners. We loved our meal,and cocktails.Why 4 not 5 stars? I think the menu needs freshening,all reviews for a couple years are on same items,besides very few can achieve a perfect score,if 6 were tops 5 would be my call.
(4)
Michelle C.

Wow! My husband took me here for my birthday and it was badass. The hostess wished me a happy birthday meaning when my husband called they wrote it down just so they can say happy birthday when I arrived- bonus points in my book. Service continued to be exceptional, Chef Tsai was at the pass and actively tasting to make sure everytime was top notch. For app, we got the carpaccio which was salmon and beef, this was different and amazing. Loved the wasabi sauce with it. Good portion too. For dinner I had the lamb chops which actually aren't on the menu right now (looks like lamb shank now) but this was stunning in presentation and flavor. It could not have been cooked any better, I salivate just thinking about this dish. This goes down in one of the best things I have ever eaten. My husband had scallops over a vegetable gratin which was awesome too but not as exciting as my dish. Looks like this is not on the menu anymore either. Damn, looks like I am going to have to make that drive again to try these new items.
(5)
Archana V.

Recommend: Creole spiced cod with shrimp gumbo I had never heard of Blue Ginger until now. I haven't seen any of Ming Tsai's shows or bought his cookbooks. But. I do know and appreciate good food. For appetizers I had the fried calamari that was served with a very sour dipping sauce I didn't like much. As for entrees, I think the butterfish is overhyped. It is good but definitely not great. I preferred the assertive flavors of the creole spiced cod to the subtle and overly buttery butterfish. Dessert was good again. Definitely not great. Honestly, I do not see the point in driving all the way to the burbs to eat okay food that was overpriced. Also, the decor is definitely in need of an upgrade.
(3)
S K.

Blue Ginger has been on my must-dine list even before I moved to Massachusetts. My husband and I went for our anniversary and it was definitely worth the drive and the wait. The restaurant has a very casual, neighborhood atmosphere--not pretentious and very relaxed. The bar area is a little small to wait in but the bartenders and waitstaff are really nice and on top of things. We saw lots of people ordering something that looked like tuna tartare at the bar tables so we made sure to order it when we got to our table. It was the tuna poke appetizer and the standout of the dinner. Our dinner order was seafood heavy and delicious: butterfish, seafood paella, spring rolls and the poke. Our waiter, who was extremely knowledgeable, nice, and just the right amount of attentive, brought us little cookies to celebrate our anniversary too. The matsutake coffee was a perfect end to a perfect dinner.
(5)
Alan B.

The food was 5-star; the service and value were 4-star; still very good but the draws of this restaurant are the incredible flavors and textures. We consulted Yelp reviews, our host and our server for recommendations. The Tuna tartare app included yummy sushi grade tuna and a delicious crispy sushi rice base. The foie gras shumai were heavenly, melt in your mouth. For entrees we selected two of the most popular dishes-butterfish and lobster. Both lived up to their reputations but at $41 the value was only ok. We sat at the bar for a few minutes before and after dinner and found it warm and inviting. We drank proseco with dinner which was perfect with the layers of flavor. We arrived early (5:00) and enjoyed a quiet and private dinner. Service could have been a bit more attentive given that the place was mostly empty but they may not have been in the groove yet. We live 50 miles away and probably will come back but for special occasions.
(4)
Daniel L.

I've been a casual fan of Ming Tsai ever since I used to get home from work early enough to watch his East Meets West show on the Food Network. From that show I knew he had a restaurant in nearby Wellesley, but being a typical Rhode Islander who needs to pack a lunch and make overnight arrangements if I am driving more than half an hour out of my way, I never ventured there to try his cuisine. Well, let me tell you, I am extremely disappointed in myself for not getting off my butt and going there sooner. Early this past week, my fiancee and I decided to treat ourselves and be adventurous, and make the trek up from East Greenwich to Wellesley to try out Blue Ginger. Given the generally great reviews of the place, and given that Ming is a "celebrity chef", I have to admit that I had extremely high expectations for this dining experience. I even told my fiancee that they were so high that I could totally see myself being disappointed even if the experience was really good. We arrived about 15 minutes before our 7:15 reservations, since I couldn't really tell exactly how long it would take to drive from our place in East Greenwich and I would rather be early than late. The place was hopping, and the hostess said that there were several tables with checks on them so we would be seated soon. We made our way to the bar to wait where we had a couple of drinks. There were only two bartenders there, and they were slamming; even so, we ordered and received our drinks in an acceptable amount of time. Chef Tsai was floating around the area chatting up the guests while we were there, which was a nice touch. Exactly at 7:15, another hostess found us and brought us to our table. We have a habit of scouting out the menu online before we go to many restaurants, so we pretty much knew what we were going to get (and we didn't waste any time lolly gagging - plus, we were pretty hungry): we ordered the calamari (very good; light batter, crispy, not greasy at all, with a nice little Thai dipping sauce), the foie gras-shiitake shumai (YUM!), and for entrees she had the scallops (which she said were scrumptious), and after reading the raves, I had the butterfish. Oh my goodness, that fish was the most melt-in-your-mouth thing I have ever ever ever ever had! Wow! I may be ruined for anything else there, even though I saw enough lobster dishes being served that I may have to try that next time we go. The meal proceeded at a nice, relaxed, even pace throughout the evening, even though the place was packed the entire time (I am SO happy I made reservations). We observed Chef Tsai throughout the evening, greeting guests, overseeing the plates going out, and even bringing plates out the some tables. In fact, my fiancee noted that once he brought entrees out to a table and the diners didn't even notice it was him, treating him like one of the waiters. . . Oh yeah, we ordered the doughnuts for dessert. . . again, oh my goodness! I am not really a dessert guy, but these rank in my top 3 of all time. I'm not sure what they do to make them so good, but whatever it is, I hope they keep it up and have them whenever we go. I stopped by the mens room on the way out, and when I came out, my fiancee had somehow corralled Chef Tsai and we chatted a little while before we left. She told me that while she was waiting for me, he stopped near her and was looking over the area, and she approached him to thank him for a great meal. She told him that I was a fan and he said he would wait for me to emerge so he could say hi. Again, a nice touch. Obviously, Chef Tsai knows he's a "celebrity chef", so he definitely has the schmoozing with the guests thing down. He seems very charming and nice. However, my fiancee did notice him directing one of the wait staff that came out of the kitchen balancing a large tray in his right hand while carrying a single plate of salad in his left. She saw Chef Tsai stop the waiter and take the salad plate out of his hand, telling him that he should always leave one hand free when carrying a large tray so that he could catch the tray if it became unbalanced. She said he wasn't bossy, demeaning or arrogant about it at all, just seemed to be trying to teach one of the younger waiters how to do things properly. One nice thing that I noticed was that even though the serving sizes seem on the light side, I have to say I was completely satisfied without feeling stuffed at the end of the meal. In these days of either skimpy, tiny servings where you still feel hungry afterwards, or places trying to get by on heaping servings where you feel overstuffed after eating, I found this to be a fabulously refreshing way to leave a restaurant. I must say that my expectations for the evening were easily met and exceeded. From beginning to end, we had a fantastic experience and are definitely going to make the hike back to Blue Ginger a few times a year from now on.
(5)
Alice J.

Reservations are difficult to secure, however, this place is a must if you have the opportunity to dine here! The pan-Asian cuisine is prepared with flair and panache. Ming Tsai is often seen greeting the patrons and taking pictures. The waitstaff is highly knowledgeable, courteous, and accomodating. Though the prices may be a bit higher compared to other restaurants in the area, that's to be expected from a Super Star Chef!
(5)
Roxanna M.

Oh how I miss asian fusion cuisine! I honestly didn't expect much because I would compare the food to fusion cuisine in Miami, but it is outstanding and unique by Boston standards. The dishes were imaginative and fresh. Unfortunately, the decor was bland - the lighting is too bright. Still, I would have given it four stars if I had met Ming. Trust me, I looked! But alas, he was not to be found. Maybe next time?
(3)
Sarah C.

Wow! what a disappointment Blue Ginger was. My hubby and I have been looking forward to dining at Blue Ginger for over a year now as we love asian-fusion cuisine. We decided to check it out during restaurant week to get a taste of what they serve at a better price and left feeling like we wasted money. Food: Mediocre at best. Got the spring rolls, chicken and creme brulee, hubby got the soup, oxtail and cake. My spring rolls were tasty but looked like I could get them at Chilis. My creme bruele was burnt. My hubby enjoyed the soup and oxtail but said they were both something you can get anywhere. Plus he kept asking me how is oxtail and garlic mash was asian? He said the best part of his meal was the store bought cardamom icecream. Atmosphere: Tables were very close together. Had very pretty music when we first arrive but became very loud when the restaurant was full with everyone talking. Why paper table clothes? why? Do I get a box of crayons to draw on it? Really cheapened the experience. If I'm spending over $100 for dinner I was real linens. Service: Horrible. This is what ruined our date night. My hubby and I both have worked for years in the restaurant biz so we understand having a bad day etc but this was beyond bad. We arrived 30 minutes early for our 6:30 reservation thinking we could get a drink at the bar before dinner. They were not busy so they sat us right away. The host Jeff looked at us when we came in with disgust, and said very loudly to the other hostess, "they need the restaurant week menu? Whatever I'll give it to them anyway". Def didn't make us feel welcome walking in. He sat us, threw the menus down and left before I'd even sat down. Doreen F was our waitress. She looked at us like we were interrupting her night and all she wanted to do was go out for a smoke. She rushed us the whole night. We planned on a bottle of wine or a bunch of rather expensive cocktails but having to ask for the cocktail menu over and over again and seeing her eye roll when she had to walk to the host stand made us not want to keep asking. She obviously did not plan our dinner well with the kitchen. We were still eating our apps when our dinner came and she took my unfinished spring rolls away when I wasn't done with them. Then she disappeared for about 30 minutes after dinner so we had to hail down another waitress for refills on water. The worst offense came when she brought our check to us when she gave us dessert. So we can't order another $14 drink or coffee? You don't want a bigger tip? Then we swarmed us like a hawk while we ate dessert so my hubby paid and she took the check over my shoulder while I was eating and then proceeded to walk to her waitress friend and bitch so we could hear about us. We gave her a 20% tip which I thought was generous based on the service and she was loudly swearing about us so we could hear. Thank you Doreen for single-handly ruining our date night. I know that restaurant week sucks for the staff, and I'm sorry that you don't agree with your restaurant hosting. But we are customers that honestly wanted to check it out and come back for further date nights but now will never return.
(1)
Liqi P.

My favorite place to treat friends!
(5)
Christa W.

We've been watching Ming Tsai on tv since the early days of the Food Network and drooling at his creations. I was lucky enough to talk my friends into taking me there about 8 years ago, and had an amazing meal. We may have ordered everything on the menu. This year my husband made reservations at Blue Ginger for valentine's day. The food was as good as I had remembered if not better. We shared two appetizers - Smoked Salmon & Beef Carpaccio and Sesame Crusted Hamachi with Red Miso ConsommÃ©. We were amazed at how well smoked salmon and beef could compliment each other. The hamachi was perfectly cooked. My carnivorous husband ordered a vegetarian dish (Grilled Vegetable Quinoa "Risotto" with Yuzu Chili) and could not stop raving about it. I, however, could not pass up the chance at a perfect dish of duck (Orange Miso Glazed Long Island Duck Breast Sunchoke PurÃ©e) and was not disappointed. We can't wait to go back!
(5)
Bharathi B.

Whatever you do, have the butterfish! It literally melts in your mouth. And always save space for dessert, you won't regret it.
(5)
Penny K.

Delicious food and attentive/prompt service made this a great choice for a special dinner. The three of us shared 2 ample appetizers (tuna and salmon/beef carpaccio); the tuna was sweet and creamy, the beef/salmon delicate and lovely. We had the butterfish/sablefish (similarly butter-like), the lobster and the scallops ... three great choices. Portion size is very generous. For dessert we shared a macadamia, coconut, banana and chocolate concoction that was the best dessert we could remember.
(5)
Doris W.

I remember seeing Ming with his family in Chinatown 7-9 years ago. It was late in December and my friends and I had just finished lunch. I yelled hi to him (I was far away) and he yelled back "Hi and Merry Christmas!" while waving. That was pretty cool. Anyway... I've been wanting to check out his restaurant for years but hesitated because I haven't had a good experience with Asian fusion cuisine. Because of that, my boyfriend and I didn't have any expectations going in, especially since we heard a mixed bag of reviews from family and friends. But as with all reviews, you won't know for sure unless you try it yourself. We went back in May for my boyfriend's birthday. Service was great but I wish I could say the same for the food. Read Christopher S.'s review because he was spot on. I have a detailed review on my blog - doriseats.blogspot.com . I wonder if the food Ming cooks on his show tastes better than his restaurant's? It looks so much more simple.
(2)
Linda B.

My husband and I celebrated his birthday at Blue Ginger and the food was awful! My side dish tasted like a left over. All of the sauces where so salty and bitter. The portions were small and the barbecue sauce was right out of a bottle. Our server was excellent and so was the location/atmosphere. Was not a good value and will not ever visit again.
(1)
H Y.

Only eaten here twice and both times was blown away. At the time I had the Wasabi Sea Bass (which is no longer available?) and that was sublime. So good that it still makes my mouth water when I think about it. By far one of the best restaurants I have ever eaten at and that's saying a lot. Emerald who?
(5)
D H.

Ming, what have you done? =( I've been waiting for years for the opportunity to make it to this fabled restaurant, but I left sadly disappointed. Perhaps it was the high expectations after watching Ming since he first was on East Meets West on PBS 12 years ago, but it did not live up to the reputation, perhaps it was the exorbitant cost, perhaps it wasn't really all that hungry that night (doubtful), but it left a lot to be desired. The first thing that caught my eye was the set of Kyocera knives being "hocked" just behind the hostess...Ming, I thought you were better than that. Shameless. Being our first time to the restaurant, we decided to order the signature dishes recommended by our server: spring rolls with the three chili dipping sauce (which I have seen Ming make many times), sake-miso butterfish and the ginger-black pepper lobster. First off the dipping sauce was way too salty. It was impossible to dip the roll 'gingerly' enough (no pun intended) to keep from being assaulted by the soy. We ended up using the lettuce leaves that came with it to brush the sauce on and then just put the chilies on with a fork. Probably not the intended method. Next came the main course. The lobster was a all out flavor melee - and I mean this in a bad way. Just too much going on, and you really couldn't taste the lobster at all. It was over cooked and dry, and way overly seasoned. To top it all off, priced at $41, I would have been better served going to a local lobster shack and getting three or four lobster rolls for that price! I recall thinking that the best part of the dish was the lobster in the way back of the tail, which wasn't molested by the sauce. Not a good choice. The butterfish was well done, but the portion was ridiculously small. Flavor combination of sake and miso, not a very "East Meets West" thing, pretty much "East and more East" in my mind, but tasty nonetheless. When our meal was cleared, the server actually packed up our wine with half bottle left and brought it back with a receipt stapled to the bag. Here's a tip for people who have not been to Wellesley before. IT'S DRY! That is, they cannot serve alcohol in the city limits, with rare exception and then they need to adhere to a series of antiquated blue laws, like the receipt on the bottle thing. We didn't know this particularity, so we just thought that the check was being brought and it was time to get out. Our waitress was kind enough to explain when I attached the credit card to the receipt, but it was rather off putting and we ended up not having any dessert or coffee. I think a few of the other reviewers have commented that the service seemed rushed and we definitely experienced that. Overall, the experience was not one to write home about, and I would caution anybody who is a die-hard Ming Tsai fan to come here. I'm not sure if my expectations were simply too high for "Simply Ming" but I think I'll stick to cooking his dishes at home!
(2)
Antoinette M.

Everything was incredible!!! The food, the service absolutely amazing. The butterfish was to die for....can't wait to go back.
(5)
waltzing m.

I have to say how upset I was when I found a plastic bag on my plate in the baby peas. I called over the waiter and Chef Ming did come to the table and said it happens and offered me a free cup of coffee - never will I go back to that restaurant - so disappointed at the way he the owner/chef handled this situation
(1)
Peter G.

I took my wife out to dinner here for her birthday and I cannot say enough to what an exceptional dining experience this was. I made reservations that day for a Monday night and had no problems. I spent some time that day reading reviews on Yelp looking for suggestions for what to order and everything that we ordered was excellent: Drinks: -Golden Goose Martini: very cold ginger infused grey goose with a carmelized ginger rim, really nice -Vodka Gimlet: the bartender explained to us that they use rose's sweet and sour mix (which is hard to find) and its frothy and not too sweet. Appetizers: -Smoked Salmon and Beef Carpaccio plate -Poke with fried rice cake, better of the two, but both were great, rice cake was great touch and the tuna was the best I've had since Hawaii Wine: Sancerre, a splurge, but fantastic wine, tasted great with all of our food Entrees: -Alaskan Butterfish (black cod): one of the best pieces of fish I've had in a restaurant, marinated in mirin and sake, really nice sweet flavor, this was the better of the two and highly recommended on Yelp -Crispy skin bass, a great piece of fish, the skin was excellent and cooked to perfection Dessert: -Chocolate Cake: served with a coriander/vanilla ice cream and was excellent as well portions were good, sharing two appetizers, two entrees and one dessert and we both felt full and not overly stuffed.
(5)
Retro G.

We have been here many times, Ming Tsai is creative and often present in the dining room to welcome folks. I was concerned the last time we went because Ming has a rep for being a national advocate around food allergies but our server acted annoyed when we asked about dairy for our lactose intolerant daughter. This really ruined our last experience.
(4)
David G.

There is nothing bad to say about this restaurant. Excellent service, amazing food, beautiful space, on street parking, wonderfull bar..... Just go you'll see
(5)
Christina N.

Yum. Went here a few months ago, and it was absolutely wonderful. Dishes had interesting twists which made the experience so much better. I loved the ginger drink, and the service was decent. I think I need to go back to get a better feel of the place, and eat more food, of course. I love love love the butterfish.
(5)
Joey M.

I really enjoyed this place. The new bar seems nice and they have great cocktails, we got the agave margarita. We went for dinner around 9 and it was still pretty busy. The shiitake leek springroll appetizers were really good. They give you lettuce to wrap around the springroll and then you top it with an asian slaw and dip it in a yummy sauce. The vegetable and polenta napoleon with guacamole was better than I expected it to be. Its a high pile of grilled vegetables like eggplant and portobellos and crispy fried polenta topped with guacamole in a tomato and barbeque-like sauce combo. It was like a tex-asian fusion. Unusual but delicious. It was nice to see a couple vegan options at a restaurant like this, I just wish there was more things I could have tried.
(4)
Albert J. d.

The food was very good. I had the Alaskan butterfish. It was very delicious. The desert was also pretty good and tasty. The service was just fast enough even if the place was packed. I'd definitely come back to this place when I have the chance.
(5)
Carole S.

My friend and I hit this place up for Restaurant Week. Our server was wonderful, very professional. The drinks we had (Cranberry Bog and Raspberry Lime Rickey) were really nice. The food was hit and miss. The shiitake spring rolls were delicious, the spareribs were so tender they were falling apart, and the chocolate cake w/ cardamom ice cream was amazing, esp. the ice cream. The pork lollipops were boring, the chicken main was overcooked, and the lemongrass panna cotta had no flavor. I would go back, since when it was good it was REALLY REALLY good, and when it was bad, it wasn't that bad. There was also bountiful street parking, but that might have been because our reservation was so late at night.
(4)
KL M.

Thought it was fabulous! Great service, atmosphere and food. Had the peppered lobster, and thai mussels. Both delicious! Will be back for more. $$$$
(4)
Ellen B.

Had a farewell dinner for a colleague. Very nice private dining room. Great service. Tasty appetizers - calamari and spring rolls - yum! Also had a delicious salad. Main courses were a hit - folks had the butterfish, the pork loin and the paella. Ming Tsai dropped in and was gracious and funny. Very classy guy.
(4)
Dustin M.

Been here 3 times so far. Can't say much more than the other 70+ reviews, but I love the atmosphere and the food. Ask for their house martini or mojito - don't remember which but it's fantastic. The first time I went was in '97 or '98, and it was one of the best meals of my life. The next time was fantastic as well, but the third was a little bit of a letdown, possibly more because of a change in the menu, for which I can blame no good restaurant. I do know that if I'm back in the Boston area, it'll be on my list.
(4)
Colleen Y.

Has anyone see the renovations! So Feng Shui I am meditating just sitting in the lounge. The place really looks awesome and now you can go in an have an app and drink (my favorite combo) without having to make time for the whole meal. I'm going there next week and my mouth is already watering for one of Ming's Bings (Chinese street food) and a BG Gimlet...mmmm.
(5)
A C.

The place is alright.
(3)
KC L.

The service was good. The staff was friendly. The food was good. The only problem was the food was expensive. And could not stay for the whole thing since my baby son was afraid of everything. The food was different Was it great? NO. But something to experience. I wanted to try this place since I saw Ming Tsai on Food Network. But can't justify the $$$$. Now if it was Ming himself cooking then I would understand. Would I go back. NO.
(4)
Joohyun H.

I've heard a lot about this restaurant and Ming Tsai, so I was excited when my older cousin took me to dinner here. We arrived 45 min late after our reservation, yet they seated us immediately. For appetizers, we had the Mixed Green Salad w/ Crispy Onions & Shallot-Pommery Vinaigrette and the Shiitake-Leek Springrolls with Three Chile Dipping Sauce. The salad was fresh, with a light dressing, but it was nothing unique. The spring rolls were presented very well, and they were crispy and flavorful. However, again, they weren't exceptional or unique. We decided to split the Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish- the presentation of this dish was beautiful! We didn't want to touch it at first and we simply admired it. The soba noodle filled sushi were arranged nicely, with wasabi sauce splashed across the side. The butterfish was amazing: it was slightly crispy, sweet and salty, and seared on the outside, with flaky pieces that felt like they melted in my mouth. The seaweed salad on the side was a nice cooling accompaniment to the wasabi flavors. For dessert, we had the Bittersweet Chocolate Cake, which was moist and dense- the cardamom ice cream that accompanied it had a very good flavor, not too sweet, and slightly spicy, reminding me of chai tea. The chocolate-covered cream on top of the cake was the right consistency and not too sweet as well. Out waitress was extremely attentive and helpful. At the end of our meal, she offered us to have our picture taken with Ming Tsai, who was there that evening-- he waited at the front of the restaurant for us! My cousin and I made conversation with him for quite a while; it was nice of him to make time to meet us. Getting to know the owner/chef himself ended the evening very well! I'll be returning here most likely a few more times for special occasions. I'm not quite sure if the high prices correspond with the dishes (I had really high expectations for this restaurant.) Nevertheless, nowadays there is quite a lot of Asian fusion out there and the cuisine increasingly begins all tasting the same. Blue Ginger offers down to earth, accessible flavors while creatively keeping the food presentation, combinations, and flavors unique and interesting.
(4)
Cecilia B.

Lived up to the reputation. Exquisite food, no-pressure service, and a warm cozy setting. Surprisingly crowded for a Wednesday night, we had a corner table to watch the action and food (the lobster dish is spectacular!). Our waiter was very busy but took the time to make recommendations and explain the food to us. Once the check came, we continued chatting until the room cleared and he did not pressure us to pay or leave, which was refreshing. Two of my friends were regulars - and fans of the tuna appetizer and Butterfish. Another got the Lamb, and the veggie polenta napoleon was incredibly flavorful although a challenge to eat (you have to destroy the lovely pile of veggies held together by a lemongrass shoot). Excellent wine list. After looking forward to dining at Ming's for years, it was well worth it (and not any way near as expensive as some might suggest). We will all be back . . .
(5)
Andy S.

Maybe its because I kept heard people raving about this place, but it was not that AMAZING. I went with several friends and we all tried a bit of everything, and there were mixed reviews. While I thought it was great but not amazing, many of my friends did think blue ginger was out of this world. Service was nice, and I think the chef/owner/manager was walking around greeting the customers, which always leaves a good feeling and impression on me! Definitely would go back again to try the other things on the menu (good variety), as well as recommend to friends.
(4)
Beth F.

I went with Scott F.(4/18). I took him there for his bday. We were both excited as we've heard how good it is over the years. Anyway, when we got there for a 6:45 reservation on Sunday, our table wasn't ready. We went to the bar to get a drink, but a staff member had just broke a glass in the ice so we had to wait a bit for that. The hostess came to get us 15-20 minutes after our reserved time, but didn't write a note to remind her who we were and so had to ask everyone along the bar if they were the "Scott f" party. For the prices they charge, I would expect a higher level of customer service. Anyway, once we were sat, our waitress approached us and asked if we had been there before;when we replied, no, she launched into a lengthy monologue was regarding her favorite dishes and explaining what "north African" spices were. I think she confused not eating there with not eating out ever! I kid, but I found it really patronizing, perhaps because I teach the history of food at a culinary art college and have worked in restaurants for 20 years and most importantly, she didn't have all the information correct. The food was good, but not for the prices he was charging. Lobster is about $6. a pound retail right now & his lobster entree is$41. Nothing else particularly special on the plate, so, by my calculations it is overpricedby about 30%. (Yes, it was good, but not $41 good.) I don't get impressed by the tv fame factor - so. I don't know if that is why some folks like it so much. All I can say is that we had a meal last week at Fore Street in Portland, ME and it was so much better. Will NOT return (unless someone else was choosing and paying).
(2)
Susie Q.

I went to Blue Ginger with my family today, to celebrate my mother's birthday. I'm vegan, so my first thought was, "Oh great, a fancy omni restaurant. What are they going to make me? A salad?" Thankfully, I was mistaken. For an appetizer, I ended up having leek and shiitake spring rolls with chili dipping sauce, and they were delicious. For my main course, I ordered the one vegan thing on the menu, which was the, uh, let's see... Thai red curry maitake-vegetable ragout and sticky rice edamame packet with panko-encrusted tofu. (gosh, that's a long description!) Anyway, it was excellent. The curry was just the right combination of tart and savory. I think there was some lime juice in there. I finished the whole thing, and also ordered sorbet for dessert despite being stuffed. The sorbet was incredible. There were three flavors on the plate: peanut butter, apple, and caramel. It was served on top of an apple salad, and was not too sweet and not too mild either. So, there you have it. Blue Ginger is a wonderful place for herbivores and carnivores alike.
(5)
Lisa C.

I'm a big fan of Ming Tsai....I think he's a brilliant chef. I had the beef carpaccio to start and the lobster with lemongrass fried rice for my main course. Both were delicious but the beef carpaccio seemed a bit more "East Meets West" to me. To drink, I had the Thai basil mojito. I love the flavor of Thai basil so I knew I'd like the drink and I did. While the food was good and the service was great, I thought the ambiance was a little boring. I brought my BF there for his birthday hoping for a romantic dinner. The restaurant was way to bright to be romantic. It wasn't very romantic being able to clearly see everyone around us....even the folks way across from us on the other end of the restaurant.
(4)
Annie Y.

My husband and I received a generous gift certificate for Blue Ginger, so had a dinner and a lunch meal. I thought both meals were okay, but the food certainly did not live up to the hype. My main complaint is that just about everything was over salted. Calmari was so-so and the accompanying Thai dipping sauce was too salty and did not add any pronounced flavor to the calmari. My husband had the miso ramen for lunch and it was ok, but not as authentic as the one at Porter Square Exchange. I had the fish taco which was a little fishy and again too salty. The corn tortillas was delicious though. On the positive note, the sesame cesar salad was perfect with beautiful greens and just the right amount of dressing. The bread was delicious. The service was excellent - attentive, but not intrusive. Decor was beautiful, but it struck me as odd that outside the restaurant, they had a swath of decaying leaves outside the doorway. The rest of the merchants on the street had raked. I don't know - I wasn't impressed. I've had much better meals at much lower prices.
(3)
Eddy C.

When my gf and I decided to have dinner at Blue Ginger, I feared that we would be disappointed simply due to the sheer hype that the restaurant has received. I mean, this is MING TSAI'S RESTAURANT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT!!! Fortunately, our dinner ended up living up to the hype for the most part. FOOD We started our meal by sharing the Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna Poke appetizer. Very delicious, though a bit unspectacular in that you could probably get the same dish at a bunch of other, far less expensive restaurants. But the tuna was very fresh and the rice cake was a nice touch. For our entrees, my girlfriend was debating between the Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster and the Chile-Tea Rubbed Duck Breast while I had my eye on either the Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish. We decided to ask our server Jennifer what the two most popular dishes were and she immediately said "the lobster and the butterfish. Hands down." So that made our decisions easy, The lobster ended up being good, but again unspectacular. I would even venture to say that I prefer the lobster that you get at Chinese weddings and banquets (prepared Cantonese style with green onion and ginger) better than what they serve at Blue Ginger but that might just be a personal taste preference thing. On the other hand, the butterfish was AMAZING. Seriously,it was the best piece of fish I have ever had in my life. The flavor and texture were both so ridiculously good, I think I actually told my gf it was "borderline orgasmic". Definitely the first time I've ever used the word "fish" and "orgasmic" in the same sentence. As for dessert, we decided to split the Sesame Macadamia Caramel Nut Tart because it seemed like the most unique item on the menu. It turned out be quite good -- not too sweet yet still very tasty. Throw in a couple coffees and it was a nice way to finish off the meal. SERVICE While the food lived up to the billing, the service left a little something to be desired. Our server Jennifer was friendly and nice but not exactly all that attentive. After we finished our appetizer and our dishes were cleared, we had to wait a LONG time before our entrees were brought out. It's not that I'm blaming our server for the delay but I think it would've been reasonable to expect our server to inform us of the delay and assure us that our food would be coming out soon. Likewise, when I wanted to order a second cocktail, it took awhile for her to bring the drinks menu. I don't know about you, but I hate having to wait a long time for my next round of booze -- total buzz kill both literally and figuratively. I think part of the reason for the less-than-stellar service was the fact our server seemed a bit flustered by this older couple sitting next to us who didn't seem to speak much English but appeared to be very demanding in terms of little things that they needed. While I sympathize with her, I still would have expected more from a high-end restaurant such as Blue Ginger. MISC Ming Tsai walked out and chatted it up with some guests, which was very cool. I was very excited to see a pseudo-celebrity in real life but everyone else seemed unphased. I'm guessing he's there a lot so it probably wasn't a big deal to everyone else. But whatever -- I live in Chicago and don't make my way out to Boston (let alone, Wellesley) all that often, so I was giddy as all heck. Unfortunately, he didn't come by to say hi to us so I wasn't able to to get a picture with him. He looks good for his age -- I was digging the long hair. One last random thing: I did not like how a lot of the people were casually dressed. I'm not saying we should all be wearing jackets and ties, but it amazed me how many people were wearing sneakers. I even saw one guy wearing shorts and flip flops. I guess that's to be expected of a restaurant in the suburbs but I can't say I like it. OVERALL All in all, it was a very good meal. I think Blue Ginger does a good job of not going too crazy with the fusion aspect of their food so you have a chance to appreciate the flavors. My hunch is that the service had an off night so I wouldn't hold that against Blue Ginger too much. The food is not cheap but still very reasonable for a high-end restaurant. I would definitely go back again, if only just to get my grubby mitts on that delicious butterfish again.
(4)
Doika P.

Best restaurant I have been to in the Boston area. Every dish my three guests and I had was delicious and the service was outstanding. A rare upscale restaurant where the food quality matches the price tag. Highly recommended.
(5)
Stellina M.

Blue Ginger is a restaurant with personality. I would not label it "asian", just look at the chefs emplyed there other than the owner! Fusion it is and at its best! For appetizers I loved the thai mussels and curry pasta with coconut shrimp! You must order dessert, they are incredible
(4)
Steve N.

"is Ming here?" no, he's not. but his food is and it can be pretty good.
(4)
Justin T.

All the hyped about this place. I decided to take my girlfriend for dinner. Even though we had a reservation, there was about 20 minutes wait. The dishes where excellent and the waitress was great. The food was really good, but the portion really small. Overall it was a great time and it's not a place that I would come all the time. Maybe every now and then.
(4)
Ryan B.

Ming and team have mastered the art of entertaining. From remembering your name to making accurate thoughtful meal suggestions they have created a perfect spot. The food was delicious and cocktails were innovative. Of course the prices are on the higher side but it is worth the cost. From having to host an important customer to bring the in laws this place is one not to miss.
(5)
Cindy Y.

Ming Tsai, being my boyfriend's inspiration for cooking, I made reservations early on to ensure a table for our Valentine's day weekend. Excitedly, he brought his book all the way from DC. Unfortunately, Chef Tsai was not at the restaurant. Devastated, he wandered around checking out the restaurant. Gratefully, the hostess gave us a pen and a piece of paper for us to write our information down. She told us she'd leave it for him to sign and mail back to us. How sweet was that? What was even more impressive was the fact that we had a 7pm dinner reservation, and we were sat and greeted at our table by our server by exactly 7:00pm. We took a look at the menu, and it had tons of great selections. Unfortunately, it made it so much harder to choose what we wanted. The server was very patient with us and gave us enough time to comfortably choose our meal. The only hard part now was trying to get all of that food into our stomachs after all of the eating we did for the past two days. I was definitely afraid that my review of this restaurant would be affected by this. We received and tested each dish one by one, and the food was so good that we forgot we were full. My favorite dish of the night was the Hawaiian Poke appetizer dish. The Poke was fresh and absolutely delicious. The rice cake in which the poke was piled high and neat on was crunchy on the outside and slightly soft on the inside. It was almost like Noo Roong Ji (a Korean crunchy rice snack). I lowered this review to four stars because of the dessert and cocktail. We had a trio of sorbets over mochi (semi-sweet dark chocolate, spicy pineapple, and guava lime). The flavors were outstanding. The consistencies were good with minimal overrun. However, the sorbets were crystalized. I was crunching and munching on ice crystals part of the time. Also, the mochi was not really the mochi you would expect. If it were a better version of mochi, then fine be as eccentric as you'd like, but it was slightly hard and not very good. You can taste the sweet rice flour as you should with normal mochi, but something was just not right about it. Also, I had the ginger rum cocktail which reminded me of the one at Cafe Atlantico. This was precisely why I ordered it, but in no way was it similar. I liked the strong ginger taste of it, but the alcohol content was so strong that it almost tasted like I was drinking pure rum and not a cocktail. All in all, I would still highly recommend this place. I just don't recommend the ginger rum cocktail unless you love the taste of pure alcohol and the frozen treats. If you're going for the food, you will be so glad you went.
(4)
Tricia N.

Service was great, love the atmosphere & bonus Ming was there.
(4)
Colby H.

Up there with the best restaurants I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying. Blue Ginger's decor is unpretentious, which may turn some off for the price, but the waitstaff was doting without being annoying, completely versed in the food and wine menus, friendly and helpful. The food is just amazing. The flavors in every dish were wild, explosive, but not overpowering of the base dish. We started with calamari, which was perfect, crispy and served with a terrific lime cilantro sauce the likes of which I have never tasted. The butterfish (such an easy choice) was incredible, as was the lobster in a peppery sauce with fried rice accompaniment. The desserts each looked incredible- we got the caramel sesame macadamia dear God this is good pastry. And cappucino the way it is actually supposed to look, feel, and taste. Love this place.
(5)
O-howilovefood-livia L.

option 1: go for a special occasion, get the tasting menu (5-7 courses will probably do although i believe you can do up to 11). do not miss the tuna poke or the butterfish. bask in the glory of the tuna poke salad on crispy rice heaven. let the sake miso butterfish melt into your rejoicing mouth. option 2: get a craving, pop into the lounge or sit outside (with the benefit of ordering off the lounge or main menus) sans rezzies. enjoy smaller & budget-friendly versions of most of the menu highlights like the aforementioned tuna & butterfish. n.b. last venture outside happened to be in the middle of a beetle swarm which left us plucking & swatting beetles out of our food, drink glasses, shirts. kinda gross but obvi not their fault. they even gave us electronic repellent thingys but they didn't really work.
(5)
John Paul N.

I just wanted to say that I had one of the best meals of my life at Blue Ginger on 2/10/2009. The chef's tasting menu at $80 is a bargain. The portions you receive are near the same portions as the a la carte menu. There was not one thing wrong with our meal. The night started out on a little bit of a sour note. I hate being carded (or ID'ed as some people call it) in general, but being asked at a nice restaurant where we are nicely dressed makes me feel like some punk kids going out for the prom and trying to order booze. Seriously, I'm pushing 30...it's a Tuesday night, I really don't feel like I should be getting carded. Abby doesn't care. She likes feeling that she looks younger than she is. I don't. But the waiter, albeit a little awkward at times, was very nice and very energetic. So we ordered a couple of drinks and look over the menu. I have been dying to try the butterfish that I've heard so much about, and would like to start with the carpaccio appetizer that I've gotten the last two years. However, I noticed the chef's tasting menu and I wanted to know what was on that. The waiter said it was a 5 course tasting that includes the butterfish and a surf and turf dish...I told him to stop, he got me hook line and sinker. I'm in. Since everyone at the table has to order the chef's tasting menu as well, Abby was in too. We started with an amuse of Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup. OH! MY! GOD!!!! Next to pho, I think this little dish would be what I want to eat on a cold day in Boston. I hate the term "comfort food", but this was the most perfect definition of that term ever. Abby mentioned throughout this meal how she was getting "Ratatouille" moments and I knew exactly what she meant. In the Pixar movie, Anton Ego, the famous food critic, took one bite of the simple peasant dish and was brought back to memories of when his mom made it. Food does indeed have such powers that it can make one recall distant memories. For Abby, it reminded her of her grandmother's grilled cheese sandwiches. This was a great start to the night. First up was Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna Poke with Crispy Sushi Rice Cake & Peppercress-Tosaka Salad. And who was there to serve us, was Ming Tsai himself. He came to our table with two dishes, placed them, and explained what was in the dish. It was all we could do not to look like complete stalker-ish fans. The tuna was perfect, but what made this dish for me was the crispy sushi rice cake. It was such a perfect compliment to the tuna. Immediately I'm happy I've gone with the chef's tasting menu, and not just because Ming just served us, but because I always get the carpaccio I wouldn't have ordered this dish. I'm so glad I was able to try it, along with 3 other dishes to follow. Next up was the signature dish of Blue Ginger, the butterfish. From the menu, it is: Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish with Wasabi Oil, Soy-Lime Syrup and Vegetarian Soba Noodle Sushi. I had no idea what the soba noodle sushi would be. But I knew going into that night's dinner, I wanted this butterfish. We weren't served by Ming Tsai this time, but by one of the friendly hostesses. Still, the dish was incredible. The fish was cooked perfectly, flaking off the moment the fork touched it. The soba noodle sushi was one of the best vegetarian sushi rolls I have ever had. I would order a couple of these rolls at a sushi place if they had it on their menu. In the middle of our meal, the Chef came by to say that he was heading home soon but wanted to give us an autographed menu of the chef tasting menu but that we weren't allowed to look and peak at what the other dishes were to come. Also, he told us to finish our plate and to come take a picture with him. So we did. We had long waits between meals. But that was fine by us. The portions we were getting for each dish were nearly full entree size. I was getting stuffed fast and these long breaks were a nice way to gear up for the next dish coming. This dish was the Foie Gras-Shiitake Shumai in Sauternes-Shallot Broth. This is how good a shumai should be, though I'm not certain any dim sum place could afford serving this dish. The broth reminded of french onion soup, and cut the richness of the foie gras perfectly. I'm not sure if we were suppose to slurp the broth clean off our plates, but we both did it anyway. Next was Grilled Marinated Hanger Steak with BG Steak Sauce and Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster with Lemongrass Fried Rice. I could not believe how much lobster we got on this dish. I cannot believe that the ala cart version can be that much bigger. The garlic and black pepper on the lobster really made this dish. Those flavors were so infused in the buttery lobster and was so decadent with each bite. The hanger steak was likewise perfectly cooked and the flavors of the Blue Ginger steak sauce was both tangy and savory. Dessert was fantastic as well. Perfect meal.
(5)
Foodie M.

Ok..here's the deal..I loved the food but HATED the service - the hosting part at least. Our waiter was AWESOME...but the host, Jeffrey was being a complete jerk. He treated my husband & i as if we couldn't afford the food. As soon as we entered the restaurant, he ogled at us as if we were some alien being. He then walks us to our table, points at it and says "RIGHT here" - as if we were slaves ?? ..have some respect for the customers. So here's the thing, we observed him when he welcomed 2 other customers- they were seated right next to us...He was incredibly nice, warm and respectful. what's up with the double standards??? That action of his was very racist and extremely disrespectful!!! We live in the area- in proper wellesley .. this is not to disrespect anybody but my husband and i put together probably make 10 times more than he does!! So, why the double standards? WHy treat ppl differently ?? I went to Ming tsai's website to drop a comment on this service but couldn't find a comment box. Mr. Tsai, If you're reading this, pls do something to change this. We are just 2 customers- but if he's doing this to every other person he feels does not deserve to dine at your restaurant- go figure! First impression is extremely critical. as a host, Jeffrey is responsible to set the tone right. Unfortunately, he failed with us. We are very upset!
(2)
Nicole S.

So maybe it was just because we went for lunch, but everyone at work said Blue Ginger would "change your life", and "OMG, it is AMAZING". Maybe I had my hopes up too high. It was alright. I mean, it was good, but if the dinner tastes the same as lunch at twice the price I don't think it's worth it. I'd eat there again if it was on the company dime, but probably not otherwise.
(3)
Bruce W.

Best Asian fusion in the country. My suggestion is to veer towards the more Western rather than the more Asian except for that excellent Indonesian Lobster Pasta. I think the reason this restaurant is so good is because Ming has not whored himself out like every other celebrity chef (cough Todd English cough) and opened a restaurant near every tourist trap in the country.
(5)
Georgia B.

I am a Ming fan! 2 years ago I was in Boston (I'm from California) and left slightly disappointed because I did not make it to Blue Ginger. Well, a few weeks ago I was able to head back out, this time I planned. It was amazing!! I booked about 4 weeks in advance because I did not want to miss out again. The hostess was great and made every notation, from my friend's birthday to my food allergies. We were even late arriving on a Friday night and once we arrived, they seated us right away. The food was FABULOUS! Our waitress made great recommendations and was very good about checking everything to make sure that I did not order anything that I should not be eating. I had the beef and salmon carpaccio, the lobster with lemongrass fried rice, and a ginger cocktail. I'm a carnivore and was really looking forward to the flat iron steak, but instead ordered the lobster. I was bummed I did not have the beef, but I was not at all disappointed with the lobster. It was superb! My friends had fish and the steak, and spring rolls. They loved their meals, too. We had 2 different desserts: flourless chocolate cake w/cardamom ice cream (I am a serious ice cream junkie and the cardamom ice cream nearly made me pass out!) and the creme brulee (my sister claims that I make the best creme brulee she has ever tasted, and I must say that Blue Ginger's does compete) - along w/a dessert wine and a port. The bartender made the recommendations and he was on the money. I'm so glad that I finally made it to Blue Ginger! Props!! I can't wait to go there again.
(5)
Juan B.

Don't believe the hype. This is not a foodie place. It is overhyped gourmet Asian fusion. We went to Blue Ginger, and for 30-40 dollars for an entree, it had better be excellent. Like others, I thought the dishes were uninspired, overdone, and combined too many flavors. Not one of us thought the meal was better than average. Add to this the pedestrian location, the terrible decor (acoustic tile), and the exorbitant price, and it's about the same experience as taking your chez henri leftovers to a chinese restaurant and mixing the dishes on your plate, except at 5X the cost.... There are so many great places in Boston and metrowest, Blue Ginger is a waste of time....
(1)
Steven D.

If you like Iron Chef America's talented bunch, come join in the fun at Ming Tsai's Blue Ginger. Sit back and admire the culinary pro's work furiously in the open kitchen preparing the Asian Fusion fare while the elegance of the dining room exudes color for all to enjoy! Great Cocktails, very cozy atmosphere and you'll be mesmerized by the art work coming out of the kitchen! For appetizers; go for the Shiitake-Leek Springrolls and the Ahi Tuna Poke; while my favorite main dish is the Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish and for dessert you'll love the Sesame Pecan Caramel Nut Tart.....Bon Appetite, All!
(5)
John F.

08/07/2009- Tasting menu was Greatttttttt...... The service was outstanding and everyone was polite and quite informative
(5)
Nicholas S.

I've been here twice so far, and I don't understand what all the hype is about. Wellesley is a lovely town and a pleasure to visit, but you might find some other sites to see before settling on Blue Ginger. The decor is underwhelming and, by and large, so is the food. The much-vaunted Alaskan butterfish really is quite good, but other restaurants have taken Ming Tsai's technique of glazing it with miso and made it better. Also, the "udon sushi" - udon noodles wrapped in nori - is neither original nor tasty. The poussin with orzo "fried rice" was clearly inspired by Chinese-American chicken fried rice, but I'm afraid that Blue Ginger's version hews too closely to the original: it just tastes like the chicken fried rice you'd get at your corner Chinese take-out place, albeit less greasy. They put way too much hoisin sauce on the plate, and it overwhelms all the other flavors, so you get a Chicken fried rice meets Peking duck thing going on. In short, not recommended. The desserts are actually quite good, especially the Bittersweet Chocolate Cake. Nothing original, but well executed. The one exceptional dish on the menu is foie gras-shiitake shumai. They're good but probably not worth the trip.
(3)
Sandra C.

This place is okay, but has very heavy food and it's quite pricey. It's supposed to be "chinese fusion," but I don't really see the chinese in it anywhere. Great appetizers though. The Indonesian pasta was very oily and fatty. I actually couldn't finish it and didn't want it halfway through. For some reason this place is always packed so reserve far in advance.
(2)
Diane L.

Ming is a talent. The food is amazing, well worth the price and the wait for a reservation. My only criticism is the noise. I found it to be a bit loud. I was expecting something a bit cozier. Still, I'll be back. Rock on Ming.
(5)
So S.

Asian Fusion?? not really---isn't much Asian in this. Non-Asians would probably love this place. Asians will not. Mostly older crowd 'cause its very expensive!! I went there to try to meet the great chief, Ming Tsai 'cause he tries to be there as much as possible and he was! Nice man. He went to alot of the tables and chatted with people. I was the only Asian and he winked at me and said "hi"!! heheh. I sampled a couple of dishes and I was very disappointed considering the price!! That indonesian curry pasta was pretty bad and left an after taste. One of my friend's dish was pretty good though w/ foi-gras. Good bread and that was it. Need to make reservations beforehand.
(2)
eunice k.

one of the most memorable, delectable meals I've had yet... their calamari is so tender and flavorful, marinated in and served with a cocktail of fish sauce & cilantro & spices. their ginger-infused martinis are also tasty. it's been a few years so I don't recall what it was, but they also served us an amuse-bouche not listed on the menu, that was VERY good, which definitely whetted my appetite for the delicious meal to come
(5)
Kevin L.

I went to Blue Ginger a few years back and I can remember the taste of the food there. I was never really a big fan of Ming, but after I tried his food it was okay. I gave him a chance to wow me at his food creations but it just didn't happen, so I definitely did not become a fan of his food after this. Certain dishes were better than other like the lobster with lemon grass fried rice was good compared to the monk fish they used to make there. There calamari was dipped in sweet potato batter and then deep fried and served with fish sauce which was interesting in my opinion. Overall, the food was pretty avg. Nothing really caught my taste buds to put me over the top. I didn't think the prices was over priced in terms of the type of dining you have committed it. The dinner for 3 which includes a bottle of wine, 3 main course, 3 desserts and an appetizers under 300 bucks so not bad at all. Would I go back here again? Probably not unless I am there for a bday.
(3)
Stuart J.

Always had a great dining experience here. Friendly knowledgeable staff, great breads, fish, desserts, attention to detail. Every dish I have had has been stellar. Ming Tsai is always around at some stage during the evening. Some folks I know find it overrated, and too big and busy to be relaxing, so I guess your mileage varies.
(5)
Lizzy M.

This place brings food to a level I have never witnessed. This is art. Everything is so well done, placed, and presented. The flavors are strong and unique and were just right. I was amazed at how much the waitresses knew about the food. When asked what was different about the bread, the waitress replied on point, "carmelized onions". I got the shrimp and it was amazing. The deserts are really good too. GOOD FOR: a life changing dinner.
(5)
Wei-ying W.

Great food, at expensive (but reasonable) prices. The menu's got a broad range of food to satisfy the taste buds, and service is good too. The bread basket, the underdog of every meal, bears notice here, with its yummy munchies. Just don't fill up before you get to the real food. You have to make a dinner reservation a month in advance, but it's well worth it. Lunch is much easier to get into, so if you don't want to bother with the hassle, go for lunch, it's just as good as dinner. Ming Tsai's also in the restaurant quite often, and is always willing to talk, sign autographs, or take photos.
(5)
Geoff T.

Lives up to the hype of this guys TV persona/celebrity. I was lucky enough to be taken here once and everything was great. Tsai is one of the foremost masters of asian fusion cusine and his inventive dishes do a great job of melding different culinary traditions. Not cheap, but well worth the price. Great service as well.
(5)
shannon m.

A generous friend invited me to dinner with himself and his brothers at Blue Ginger. I looked forward to this meal and everyone was really thrilled with their meals and service. Not cheap, of course, but I would say not a bad value for the quality of the food and the friendly, kind, informative service. The place is 'smart casual' and not pretentious even though it is located in an upscale neighborhood.
(4)
paul k.

Well, i'll get right to it on this place. the food....the BEST. i got a duck dish and it had SOOO much flavor and was so tasty. it made the crazy prices very worth it. we also had a hawaiian version of poke' which is tuna sashimi with seasame oil and shoyu and some other things that vary from place to place but blue ginger's was the best i've tasted so far outside of hawaii. the only thing that made this place suck was that punk ming tsai. he was there that nite, walked by us 3 times, even looked at us once, and didn't say S..T to us! True you have to request him with your waiter and get on this dang list for him to come by and say hi and see how you're enjoying the food, but what happens when your moron waiter doesn't tell you that until AFTER you're finished and ready to go home!!! but i ain't going to blame it all on the waiter cause mr. ming was RIGHT next to us seeing how the tables next to us were and even made eye contact with us, and straight up ran from us like the plague. you all probably think i'm bitter, but put yourself there. he's the freakin owner of the place. and chose not to say anything to some customers cause they weren't on his dang list?? i think thats straight rude. MING!! if you're reading, check yourself. you're food....... ok its freakin tasty, but your people skills straight suck! oh and by the way i'm the one who took your $100 bathroom soap!!! thanks for the stupidly expensive dishwashing liquid.
(3)
Burl H.

Like other negative reviewers, I wanted to believe. But I didn't get the cult-of-personality Kool-aid and I didn't get the menu. There was none of the inventiveness in Ming's TV demonstrations. Our birthday celebration reservation didn't bring any acknowledgement. The signature dishes of fois gras shumai in shallot broth and miso lobster were questionable in design and execution, the first being so subtle that it begs the question 'why bother' and the later a demonstration in excessive plating and how saltiness is not a substitute for flavor. Other items including the muscles were primitive and over-powering in their flavor, and the duck cassoulet another example of bad execution. The recommended desert was the Warm Spiced Kabocha Doughnuts, which couldn't hold a candle to what Krispy Kreme can offer. The service was polite, the atmosphere modern and the experience incredibly over-priced. Ming is one of my favorite chef personalities which made it that much more difficult to write this review. Spend your hard-earned $ elsewhere.
(2)
nate C.

very good, one of the best meals i have had in the boston area.
(5)
julia r.

i had my 18th birthday here with three of my best friends from high school. i think it speaks to ming when i say that we are all still very much besties. clearly, if we hadn't all partook in such a tasty meal together at such a critical moment in history things could be different. although i can't recall exactly what we ordered, i have the distinct memory that it was all delicious.
(5)
Ruth P.

This place opened up maybe 7 or 8 years ago to RAVE reviews and has been packed ever since. The head chef, Ming Tsai, has a show on the TV network so that definetly helped spread the word about this great restaurant. Most of the times I've been there Ming has been in the kitchen supervising and also walking around the restaurant talking and taking pictures with the satisfied customers. Blue ginger gets packed far in advance, and I've found myself going at 5am and 9:30pm just to get in on otherwise booked nights. The waitstaff is attentive, the wine list is extensive, and the food is delicious. Both the indonesian pasta with curry and cocnut shrimp and the wasabe monkfish dish were fantastic! The bittersweet chocolate cake was to die for. The one dish which left me less than entirely satisfied was the tuna appetizer - it was great but not as incredible and out of this world as the rest of the items I've had. Blue Ginger is definetly on the expensive side ($21-$35 for an entree) but well worth it for a special dinner. ming.com/blueginger/blueâ€¦
(5)
Mylisa S.

Amazing food that tastes great and melts in your mouth. The drinks are good too but small and too pricey in my opinion. The food however is worth the price - definitely not too pricey for the experience.
(5)
Sara M.

I had been looking forward to going there for a whole and it did not disappoint. We sat at the bar for a few minutes first and the summer sangria was refreshing. The service was impeccable and everything came out at a good pace. For apps we shared the tuna poke served on a rice cake and the spring rolls. My scallop entree was cooked perfectly. Since there were several other things on the menu that I wanted to try I have an excuse to return.
(5)
Sherman T.

Have wanted to try this place for a long time, having traveled to the Boston area for over a decade and never had the time. Couldn't pass it up this time. Read some reviews, mostly good, what can I say. Get here early, on a weekday, get great service. Not over the top fancy, but clean, modern, nicely dressed up. Great environment, saw good number of kids and families (mostly well behaved :)) Bread selection was good, salted butter would have been awesome (no salt); bread was tasty. Calamari was pretty good. For main course, we had Ginger and black pepper Lobster (always good in the New England area); Sablefish and Indo Curry Shrimp Pasta. Close it out with yummy cookies and sorbet. Wasn't a fan of the $4 home brewed Lime-ade with no free refills (but kind of expected that) Could have easily spent $40 on Lime-ade for the kids. Instead spent $20 on kids drinks. Like I said, expected it. Would definitely visit again!!
(5)
Bridget K.

Went with a large party for lunch today. Food was bland and tasteless, Service was atrocious. We had three appetizers to share and everyone had an entree - no one liked their food.
(1)
Jacob S.

I like blue ginger. The gluten free food options are plentiful for dinner and a little less for lunch. All the options are very flavorful.
(4)
Susan B.

Love it here! Try the Bar bites they're great. If you go around five there's no problem with seating.
(4)
Tim Y.

My wife and I try to visit Ming Tsai's restaurant every time we are in town. Unfortunately, we always miss seeing him there. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. They bring creativity and originality to their dishes. We ordered the following this time: -Crab Crusted Halibut with Handmade Yuzu-Udon Noodles - 34 -Red Miso Broth and Ponzu Pickled Tomatoes -Vietnamese Fresh Rice Noodle Roll with Tofu - 25 -Sweet-Spicy Lime Sauce and Arugula, Pickled Daikon Salad I have to say everything was delicious!! Their homemade ginger ale rocks! Wish I could bottle some back and bring it back home to CA! The service and ambiance are great! Will definitely be back next time I'm in the Boston area!
(4)
Benjamin C.

I've been to Blue Ginger 4 times. Two of my visits have been on a Sunday afternoon. I remember when the place was half the size and the doors for the bathroom were not marked for gender. They had a cocktail called the Golden Goose (ginger infused grey goose vodka). The restaurant has come a long way since then. When I think of Blue Ginger, I see it as the local diner for Wellesley. I don't mean that in a insulting way. I mean it in the sense that it's consistently packed with people from the area. It's more of a testament to how classy Wellesley is, and that an Asian Fusion restaurant can shine. I've never had to get a reservation to be seated because the place can seat quite a few people. I had the Grilled Flat Iron Steak with Crispy Okonomiyaki for my entree last visit. It was fantastic. It was a little bit more sweet then savory, and overall delicious. My friend had the Korean Rice Cake Stir Fry with Crispy Marinated Tofu. The rice cakes were actually these compressed tubes of rice. I'd go as far to call them rice sausages. They were not great in my opinion. However my friend really enjoyed them. The lounge at Blue Ginger is large. I've had the some appetizers off of the lounge menu before with sake. I recommend the Charcuterie Plate. Duck Foie Gras and prioscutto is amazing. On my last visit, I had an Arc D'Triomphe cocktail. It's super good. I am giving Blue Ginger 4 stars only because it just doesn't feel like a 5 star place to me. That's not to take anything away from the restaurant. I've never had an issue with the service or meals I've had. It's lacking a je ne sais quoi. It is odd that they never seem to have specials. It doesn't matter. Please try Blue Ginger if you are in the area.
(4)
Shumai P.

Went right before dinner shift and Ming Tsai was there cooking and explaining the dinner menu to his staff. I was kinda star struck! Food was on another level and the service was terrific!!!
(5)
K B.

Fabulous restaurant. Food is fantastic. The service is sometimes not the best, but overall very good! The last time we ate there, I couldn't even get my water refilled.:) But I highly recommend it, and especially love the Thai mussels.
(4)
Brittany B.

I came to this restaurant for restaurant week. Even though the menu items were somewhat more affordable because of this I still did not feel that the quality nor quantity of the food I ate was proportionate to the high prices of the dishes. Blue Ginger definitely had potential but missed the mark. I was also surprised that after we paid nearly $100 for two people at dinner that they would not comp my birthday desert. I had to pay $12 for it and it was so tiny and frankly not very good. Food presentation was the only thing memorable about this place.
(3)
Karen Y.

ming tsai is one of my favorite tv chefs and clearly blue ginger was at the top of my list since moving to ma. unfortunately, i came here to say good-bye to a co-worker so it was bittersweet dinner. on the upside, my co-workers are fun and good for hours of conversation. service was kind and attentive. first item of business: drinks- we had the bubbly french gold and orange label kind ;) second question our waiter asked: food allergies. and our waiter remembered exactly who had what allergy throughout the night. he went through all the menu items and was very knowledgeable about each item. big-eye tuna poke was excellent, though it's missing some of that heat and zing that i am accustom to with other versions of poke. the texture and flavors in the crispy rice cake went well with tuna. since my co-workers have been here before, i was steered towards the lobster entree which is one of two dishes that is always on the menu. the sauce reminded me of traditional chinese preparations (fried garlic and maybe fermented black beans?), but much more subtle and emulsified in butter. delicious, every bite cleaned off my plate, minus the shells. definitely a repeat for date night with my husband. and since the menu changes, it will likely be like a whole new experience when i come back.
(4)
Alicia D.

My sister and I popped in for drinks and appetizers and the food and cocktails were very nice. It was the overall experience that generates an amusing Yelp review. First we wanted to have a little "pick me up" before going to the theater. We walked in before Blue Ginger opened, and right away got a bit of a cold shoulder. The "We are not open yet" was not warm and understanding. We felt as if we'd intruded upon them. OK, we just strolled around a bit until they opened and we went back. My sister is a fan of the cooking show that the owner is on, or has been on. I do not watch those shows and was not in any way star struck when Ming Tsai Himself appeared right next to our table. My sister got a little flustered in a cute and subtle way, though. Ming was schmoozing with the table right next to ours but as he got cozy with his pals, I got a pretty good view of his butt next to my head. Not cool. After he was done chit chatting, he swept back to his kitchen, with nary a nod our way. I mean, he could have at least said "Hello" to us; we were right there, right next to his butt. We were in there enjoying ourselves and spending money, too. Well, no, I guess non-friends do not get any kind of greeting. Oh well, drama over. We ordered some coffee to round out our expedition, and I ran off to visit the rest room. When I got back I saw that the waiter, who was lovely, was mopping up some coffee on the floor and my coat was gone. I was assured that no coffee hit my coat but they had taken it to the coatroom so they could move the chair and clean the floor. No big. We drank our coffee and I went to get my coat. When we drove away in the car, I noticed that my back was getting WET. It dawned on me that my coat had really been soaked, and I mean, soaked in flying coffee. When we got out of the car, my shirt and the car seat were marked with wet coffee. Not to mention my coat! OK, my coat is black wool and no one noticed it. I can understand that when coffee slides off a tray, you might not notice its exact trajectory. But how was my visit to the theater while I was soaked in coffee. My sister kept teasing me "You smell like....coffee" LOL ha ha very funny. When I brought all of this to the attention of Blue Ginger, they paid for dry cleaning. Very nice of them, but a pain in the tush for me. Anyway, between Ming being snobby and the case of the flying coffee, who can remember what we ate?
(3)
Amy D.

I remember seeing Ming Tsai on PBS when I was growing up, then saw him compete on The Next Iron Chef competition on Food Network recently. I was excited to have the chance to eat at his restaurant when I was in the Boston area recently for a work trip. I got to try: -Crispy Fried Calamari w/Thai Dipping Sauce ($9): Just ok. The calamari wasn't very crispy, but I liked the Thai dipping sauce. However, I wouldn't order this again. -Shiitake-Leek Springrolls w/Three Chili Dipping Sauce ($9): Just ok- it wasn't bland, but it also wasn't that flavorful. Skip! -Wok Stirred Thai Noodles (Rice Noodles, Scrambled Egg, Tamarind Sauce, Shrimp, $12): Not that great- the dish was bland overall. I was expecting more of a pad thai, but got an Asian noodle stir-fry noodle dish instead. Skip! -Chocolate Pot de CrÃ¨me: The best (and least Asian) dish of the meal- the pot de crÃ¨me was smooth and creamy, and had great chocolate flavor. Recommended! Overall, I was definitely disappointed with the dishes I tried, especially after seeing the dishes Chef Tsai cooked during The Next Iron Chef competition. I think he needs to spend more time at this restaurant to ensure the food quality is up to par. However, I would consider coming back to this restaurant again since my co-worker raved about the sablefish (butterfish) dish he had here in the past, and I definitely want to give that a try. At least the service was good- our server was very knowledgeable and efficient. However, parking is horrible in this area- try to find a spot in the lot behind the restaurant since there is very little street parking available.
(2)
Seth C.

Awesome food & great service - why the mixed reviews? Pork belly app was to die for, butterfish delicious, big eye tuna was exactly what I wanted it to be. Chocolate cake, creme brÃ»lÃ©e, I could go on & on! Our server was attentive, quick with our equally awesome cocktails. I will be back!!
(5)
Mike P.

Was visiting from out of town and brought my wife for her birthday and my 8 year old girl. It was one of the best meals I've ever had our. We enjoyed Ming Tsai's east-west food and found out how dumplings and shumai should taste. We had the specific shrimp dumplings, soft shell crab, and foie gras shumai appetizers. All were great and the shumai was our favorite as the noodle and foie gras melted in the mouth. For dinner we had the lobster with black pepper sauce, butterfish, and lamb. Each were great and we especially enjoyed the black pepper sauce. Definitely look forward to returning when in town again. Only sad thing was my daughter wanted to see Ming Tsai's which apparently we missed him by a day.
(5)
Alexandra Z.

Before going there, I've heard mixed reviews from my friends. I was still really excited to go tho because of the celebrity chef Ming. The food itself is between 3.5 and 4 stars. It was not too bad but not that special either. The presentation was on point. However for their prices and the name, their dishes are very underwhelming and I would not call it Asian fusion at all. I couldn't find any Asian flavor in their dishes. I don't think I would go back again. I can get much better Asian dishes else where for a third of their prices.
(3)
ERIC L.

People love this place and they try hard to "bring it", but the food is not really that tasty, it's not bad or anything, but not the "high end" or really delicious quality it should be
(2)
Vincent B.

My wife and I went for Valentine's day fixed price menu. Usually when I spend $170 with no drinks for 2 people I walk away saying WOW to every dish and bite I put in my mouth. Then I typically crave the meal for weeks/months until I am lured back by my tastebuds to the restaurant to do it again. I just did not get that experience. It was not bad per se, but it was far from great and certainly not worth half of what I spent. I could have gone to cheesecake and walked away with the same feeling. To start my wife had the tuna which was good but not great. I had the fois dumplings...Mediocre at best. For the main course, I had the short ribs with Palmagranite reduction which were the best dish of the night and my wife had the butter fish...one of their signature dishes. It was okay but I had the fish 15 years ago when they first opened and I remember it being better and less expensive. Dessert we had the macadamia tart and the creme brule which were again good but not great. The service was to be expected ...good. Don't think I will ever be back.
(2)
Paul L.

Went to Blue Ginger last night with some friends and again it was magnificent. The butterfish, lobster and curry pasta dishes were awesome. Everyone had a great meal and it was a special night out. The apps of tuna and calamari were excellent too.
(5)
Steven C.

Once again another amazing experience at Blue Ginger the food was amazing and the service couldn't have been better! I'd have to say that if I had to pick one meal to live off of for the rest of my life it would have to the the Butter Fish. Truly an amazing dish. I wish I lived closer because I would love to go to this place a lot more. Thanks again for such a great experience.
(5)
Emily M.

My husband and I are foodies and this did not live up to the hype. My husband got the lobster dish and the sauce was over powered with butter. Also for $41 dish, there should have been more lobster meat. I got the Indonesian curry noodles and it was disappointing. The noodles were almost sour. We were disappointed with the quality of the meal and expected dishes to be more refined.
(2)
Michael H.

I do my best to try new restaurants but when I go out of the way to try something and it disappointing as much as Blue Ginger it becomes hard to justify. I live in Boston and decided to head out to Wellesley for a special occasion at Blue Ginger. The atmosphere was very, how do I say this, suburban. Kids everywhere with their parents and grandparents and a big dining room type of feel. We had some of the most highly recommended dishes, i.e. tuna-poke, butterfish, lobster, etc. all of which were decent. The texture of the butterfish was actually very nice but all of the flavors throughout were really basic and bland. After dinner we were so unsatisfied that we went to Oishii in Boston for drinks at the sushi bar and had a couple small appetizers late night. If you live nearby, maybe it's worth it but I wouldn't recommend the journey out if it's more than 20 minutes.
(2)
Jamie F.

I really, really like Blue Ginger, so I'm kind of bummed out that some Yelpers rated BG pretty low :( Yes, it's expensive, but it's delicious, high-quality Asian Fusion - this doesn't really exist in Mass! Where else can you find foie gras siu mai and hoisin lamb rack? Mind blown. I've had the pleasure of dining here twice. First visit (a few years back) was for a family birthday celebration where everyone was a 'dinner winner' and ordered a delicious entree...except for me. All I can say is: don't order the Indonesian curry noodles; the consistency was pasty and the taste was unpalatable. Not sure why it's still on the menu. Second visit was for post-Vday dinner and it was a perfect meal in my book. We ordered all seafood this time: * tuna-poke with crispy sushi rice cake and microgreens (appetizer) * sake-miso butterfish with soba noodle sushi (signature dish) * garlic-black pepper whole lobster with lemongrass fried rice * chocolate dessert tasting All the dishes were very tasty, plated nicely, and decent portion size too. The tuna appetizer was full of zest and I loved the crunch from the rice cake. The butterfish was melt-in-your-mouth good with a nice charred/grilled flavor. The lobster head shell was hollowed out and stuffed with aromatic fried rice, a pleasant surprise. All the lobster meat was de-shelled and cooked perfectly. The chocolate dessert tasting was a sweet ending; each nibble made me want more. Honestly, the meal was so good that I would trek my lazy bum from Boston to Wellesley to feast here again. Service was fine. Ambiance was intimate, yet family-friendly. Food was excellent. Yup, I think I'm going to go find a big tree now so I can carve out "JF + BG 4EVA" on it.
(4)
Stephanie B.

I visited Blue Ginger during dine out boston. Overall the food was good, but nothing special. All the dishes had so much sodium. One was so bad I had to send it back. It is a little bit of a hike form where I live. Because the food was just average, I highly doubt I would ever both making the trek to dine here again.
(3)
Stefan B.

Asian fusion is the main reason I have trust issues. The only thing that was really really good was the fucking lobster... and it's fucking lobster. If that shit isn't good you're a failure at being a cook. go quit. you blew it. you can't even work at mcdonalds. become a fucking taxi driver/rapper, i don't give a shit. the obese french duck liver shumai was also really good. but that's one of those expensive ingredients that you can't fuck up. so yeah. insert what i said above. the butterfish was aight. i mean, if i had it for a normal price i'd freak out. but for these prices? i was like whatever. ~_~ dessert was good but it didn't taste ~THAT~ special. I dunno. basically, this would be awesome if it weren't fancy and expensive. but the price makes you feel ripped off. i'm such a bitch when it comes to any asian fusion. i think it's because i'm half asian half white. bitch, i am asian fusion. get the fuck out of here ming tsai.
(2)
Gareth L.

I honestly don't know why this one is famous. The food is definitely not Chinese and tastes strange, and the price is... so over-priced. I don't mind at all if people like their food but please, I beg you, don't call it Chinese. As a Chinese gourmet, I feel offended.
(1)
Rich C.

Great Tapas menu and amazing mix of seafood, steak and Asian inspired dinners. Scallops are killer. Creative appys and nice bottled beer selection. A must try in the area.
(5)
Greg P.

It's about time I got around to recognizing this 5-star establishment! My wife and I have dined at Blue Ginger numerous times and a review is long overdue. Located in downtown Wellesley, Blue Ginger is easily accessible with parking in a lot or on-street. The ambiance is clean and modern. The waitstaff are helpful and accommodating. The food can be classified as Asian fusion, incorporating the best of Japanese, Chinese, South Asian, and Korean cooking. Stand out appetizers include the big eye poke which is super-fresh and comes with a delicious crispy rice cake, the foie gras shumai, and the hamachi sashimi with pickled beets. It's worth mentioning that Blue Ginger is one of the only places you will find decent poke outside of Hawaii. The marquee entrees include the miso glazed butterfish (flaky, rich, and slightly sweet), the newly added flank steak with pureed squash and sauteed mushrooms, and the roasted duck leg. Portion size is just right. The desserts warrant special recognition. Too often, restaurants present great appetizers and entrees only to fall short in the dessert department. Not Blue Ginger. The macadamia nut caramel tart and pumpkin cheesecake were highlights of our most recent visit. Blue Ginger also offers many delicious tea and coffee preparations. Overall, Blue Ginger is a gem in suburban Boston dining. Certainly worth the trip out of the city or from nearby towns. A tip of the hat to Ming Tsai who has been keeping things fresh and innovative at Blue Ginger since the late 1990s. Not an easy thing to do!
(5)
Stephanie P.

The yelp star rating explains exactly how I feel about Blue Ginger: 'Meh. I've experienced better.' It was a good meal with nice presentation, but I felt underwhelmed and disappointed given the price point and reputation. The restaurant, the food and the clientele all seemed old and worn out. Service was just ok. Our waitress was friendly but seemed overly eager to butter us up purely for a tip - it definitely wasn't genuine. We ordered 2 mai tai's and they both came out as totally different colors, and neither was made properly. For any Asian restaurant, let alone something with Ming's name on it, this seems like a rookie mistake. The food came out room temp and was a little overcooked to boot. Even the bread was stale and looked like nothing more than re purposed sandwich bread. Maybe this was a hot spot when it first opened, but there are a slew of better options out there compared to this. In the very least, I've checked Ming Tsai off the list, but I have no reason to go back.
(2)
Roger T.

One of the best restaurants in the suburbs. The butterfish is TO DIE FOR. Calamari is light and airy with a unique tangy vinaigrette type dipping sauce. The staff from Jeffrey @ the host stand, to JT the head chef to Armando the GM, Vidas the server and everyone in between is so hyper hospitable it takes the restaurant to a higher level than most. Kudos.
(5)
Tony S.

I had such high hopes for Blue Ginger. I've read so many good reviews in Boston magazine about this place and it has been a perennial on the Top X restaurants for nearly a decade. To say we were disappointed would be an understatement. Let me just say this, places that are started by celebrity chefs are, in my experience, overrated. Once they get their accolades, they move on and I spend more time in the restaurant than they likely do. Clearly Blue Ginger is one of these places. We made reservations for 6:45 on a Sunday night. We arrived promptly and were seated. Upon arriving we asked for a more private table in the back of the restaurant as it was our anniversary. The hostess informed us that the table we would like to sit at would not be possible because it was set for 4. Ok, I spent my late high school and college years working in a restaurant. I get it on a Friday or Saturday night but Sunday in the burbs when you are requesting for a special occasion like an anniversary. Cut a guest some slack. Fine, we deal. We're met by the waiter after a few minutes. He sets the tone by telling us, unprompted might I add, that there are no specials and no additions to the menu, "everything is special" Um, ok, great. He rattled off some of the more popular dishes and then took our drink order. We had checked out the menu online prior to our visit and noticed that several of the items that really peaked our interest were absent. I figured it was that the menu changes seasonally but given the initial interaction with the waiter I wasn't even interested in asking about it. We asked the waiter if the appetizers were intended for a single person or for the table. After an unintelligible answer, we figured small plates, order one for each person. Just an FYI, you can easily share an app between 2 people. My wife ordered the charcuterie plate and I ordered the calamari (under recommendation of the waiter). Let's be clear about something here. Foie gras and foie gras pate shaped like liver are 2 very different things. Same on you Blue Ginger for trying to pawn off the latter as the former. That said, the apps were ok, nothing that would knock your socks off. If you are going to recommend the calamari, it darn well be more interesting than just breaded calamari. Even Legal has a more interesting calamari. On to the main course. The wifey had the rack of lamb and I ordered the carne asada. Both were cooked to the proper temperature. That's the best of the review. When I am in a restaurant that is supposed to be among the best, I expect that my food is not swimming in the sauce. Same on you Blue Ginger, sauce is an accompaniment, not half the meal. Both dishes were just meh, ok. We debated dessert and actually wanted to order but the waiter was so slow to return that by the time he did return we decided to skip it and hit a local watering hole for a drink and dessert, I was completely underwhelmed with the food and experience at Blue Ginger. I understand that Sunday is not the primo night in terms of the kitchen staff but I doubt that there would have been that dramatic of a difference to make me want to return. One final note, the 4 top table that we requested was just being sat as we were walking out the door. I guess it would have really thrown off the whole flow had they accommodated our request.
(2)
julesmary p.

I just don't get it. What is so special about this place? We have so many awesome Asian places in boston and metro west...this place does not even compare. Staff is not kind or hospitable, either. So why go?
(1)
Chad T.

The food at Blue Ginger is awesome, but I was left with a strange feeling that we overpaid for what we got. I think for the amount of money that we spent on a tasting menu I would have had better food somewhere else. That, and the lack of a decent sake selection by-the-glass are the reasons why I'm not giving it the full 5 stars. Here's what we had: - Tuna Poke - Spring Rolls, Calamari, Thai-Asian Slaw - Thai tempura soft-shell crab - Butterfish - Scallops - Foie Gras shiitake shumai (this dish could have been amazing, but it was bathed in a french onion soup that just destroyed the delicate flavor profile) - Black Pepper Lobster and Korean Hangar Steak - Creme Brulee and Flourless Chocolate Cake Like I said, the food was good but for the price of the meal I could have gone to O Ya or Menton and had a much better experience.
(4)
Phil M.

Amazing! The staff is great and the food is better! We had big plans in California for our 20th anniversary and had to move for work 2 weeks before the date. We asked around where to go that would be special and Blue Ginger was the name that came up most often. It came through for us. The wine list is pretty impressive too. It's not cheap, but there are lots of great wines to choose from.
(5)
Suzanne L.

I was so excited to actually go to Blue Ginger. We went for my parent's 50th wedding anniversary and my daughter's birthday. Our server was incredibly rude. It was clear that once we didn't order drinks he was no longer interested in our table. We also didn't order appetizer's as we simply did not see anything that we wanted. I ordered the lobster dish and while it was pretty; certainly not the best dish I have ever tasted. The food was o.k. - the service was acceptable except for the fact that we had a waiter that could not manage to hide his disdain for us. The really sad part was that I have sent many people to Blue Ginger but it truly is not worth it.
(2)
Rita V.

Still love their butterfish, and calamari. The carpaccio... Wonderful. Impeccable service. Clean, super clean.
(4)
Aurele D.

Best food experience of our lives !!! Ordered the chef's tasting menu. 5 course meal. Every course was outstanding !!!! The waiter and waitress were very nice and knowledgeable. Our waiter was in training and was very nice. Our waitress has been working there for some time judging by her knowledge of the menu. We were stuffed by the time our meal ended. Ming did not show by the the time we had left :( We were really hoping to see him. We're big PBS and food network fans. The staff did tell us the he has competed for the Next Iron Chef. Filming is over and the show begins October 3rd !!! We hope to he back next year !!! Drove 10 hours to get there !!!
(5)
Krishna A.

To be clear, the food is either 2 star or 3 star but over all, I gave it 1 star for following reasons. To be upfront - I have always been a fan of Ming Tsai's recipes on food network. I have tried many of his recipies and they are often superb. The blue ginger signature martini with ginger syrup was good but my home made version with HIS recipe was much better. I bet he uses cheap vodka! Anyway, this was my second visit. First dinner visit was extremely disappointing. Second time, I had guests and I wanted to treat them to a nice lunch. No such luck. It was disappoint second time also. I asked if they would let me order from the (more expensive) dinner menu and they said NO. That's ok I guess. Often, many restaurants are glad to make off the dinner menu because of much higher revenue. The only $25 item was the butter fish at luch and hoping that it would be high end, because of its higher price, I ordered it. It was not bad but mediocre at best. i can easily sense a fresh fish. That fish didn't come in that day.. It might have been 2 or 3 days old.. Yes, I am demanding that I would have expected someone like Ming Tsai to serve nothing but fresh fish brought in the same day! The soup - some kind of sweet and sour soup - was not good. It was not awful but certainly not in the league of Ming Tsai. He has a couple of amazing recipes for soups but nothing in that league was on the menu. I had lobster in 1st visit and the butter fish on the second. They were not bad.. but nothing to write home about. If you get a seat along the wall, which I got, because I was alone at my first visit - you are literally eating along with your neighbors - the seats are too close - to a point of - its ridiculous. Come on ming tsai, don'g be so greedy! Can you give up a couple of tables on the wall? It was like airplane seating spacing along the wall! Second time, we were three and the table was fine. As others wrote, they are some what pretentuous at blue ginger but they are not rude or bad. I did go up to ming tsai and told him I was a big fan and he kind of looked at me like "ya, big deal! So what? get lost!".. lol. He seems so nice on TV but his real personality seems not to be the same goodness! I don't accept cold bread at high end restaurant - negative 1 star for that! They are too lazy to have a bread warmer and fresh bread? It was not anything special either, for bread.. The desert, during the first visit was down right awful! Skipped desert, the second time. Over all, I would not recomment blue ginger to anyone. You can do better at some of the japanese restaurants, for a less money and better tasting food. Blue ginger is not a bad restaurant.. but its just not worth the hype.. I would suggest that you NOT waste your time and money on it! But if you have a girl friend who is impressed with pomp but does not have a palatte or does not know what great food should taste like, she would love the blue ginger!
(1)
Thomas N.

wow, all the crappy reviews????????? ok, lunch recently, wife really wanted to try this and i said ok thought not a big fan of asian food....nice place, it was restaurant week so it was pretty busy although we did not use the special menu.......ok....service was excellent, water was filled (many times) and very pleasant.......food was excellent, calamari great, the potato and leek soup was very good.......wife had the mussels and they were very good.....me, ok, i had the burger (my standard fare) it was great (in an asian restaurant!!!) the burger was cooked as ordered (rare) had some great bacon and was as good as any.....taro fries were great and the coleslaw very good, what's not to like....ok martini was very good also....wellesley is a little out of our way but we would certainly recommend this!!!!!
(4)
Shela X.

The following review is for Blue Ginger Lounge: I had been wanting to try Blue Ginger for quite some time, but unfortunately my experience fell short of expectations. We went to the lounge for lunch, and tried a variety of the shared plates. I thought overall it was way overpriced for the quality. The dumplings were strange, with very thick dry skin and an overly sweet duck type dipping sauce. At $14 for 3 pieces, it wasn't worth it or even good. The poke dish was ok, but overly salty. Lettuce wraps were very sweet and syrupy, similar to PF Changs but with a higher price tag. The sablefish with wasabi sauce was velvety and tender, but felt like it could've used some acidity or seasoning. The black pepper shrimp was the best dish, it was perfectly cooked and the soft sauce laden rice was flavorful. Overall I didn't think the quality justified the steep price tag. The selection for the most part was fried stuff, too much rice, and one dimensional flavor (mostly too sweet and salty). The service was ok. I probably wouldn't come back.
(2)
Jenny L.

Had a bad experience. I liked the main entree piece but not any of the other items/combination that they had for the fish. The butterfish was awesome but I hates the wasabi that they use. The soba sushi was soggy. I had the salmon with chili oil and that did not taste good. It was overcook. My bf and I both have food allergy and they did a good job listening in the beginning but we almost die when they gave us suggestions for dessert forgetting our allergy... I just would never come back and spend so much money on one piece that I like out of the whole dish that I do not like. Fish is good but everything was bad. Almost everything had dairy...
(1)
Patrick B.

Once again Mr. Tsai and his staff did not disappoint. From the spring rolls and Chinese Cesar salad to the main course of the flat iron steak flavors that just infused the taste buds to new levels. Wait staff recommended some tough decisions between the pork or the lamb. The pork won that battle as my wife enjoyed her pork dinner very much. My steak was simply delicious as flavors were spicy yet tasty. Dessert was called for as something I thought as simple as strawberries and cream. We were there in February and saw the winter menu and now looking forward to going back in the fall to try something new and different. Kudos to you and your staff mr. Tsai, we will be back!!!!
(5)
Jennifer S.

Love the food and the service. Pricey but so worth it. Great place to meet friends for quiet conversation and wonderful dining experience
(5)
Ali C.

Ming's asian fusion food is seriously as good as it gets. Expensive, almost too expensive, but scrumptious. He is so creative, especially with his seafood preparation and accompanying sauces. I always have the calamari with the special dipping sauce. Then his preparation of lobster with garlic is just unbelievable - you feel like this just came out of the sea, it tastes so fresh. Pan seared scallops are out of this world - crisp on the outside and like butter on the inside.
(5)
Ityng H.

Pretty place in a cute area of Wellesley. The restaurant has a nice decor with an open kitchen so you can see the chef and cooks at work! The waitress was very accommodating and understanding with ALL of our food allergies and dietary restrictions (I think this might've been the first time where I've been to dinner with people with shellfish allergies, dairy issues, pork issues, gluten, yada, yada, etc, etc... I was impressed that they still had food on the menu for us to try!) The five of us settled on the butterfish, scallops, duck, and a vegetarian dish. The butterfish and the scallops made the trip out to the suburbs worth the journey. The balance of the seafood and the sauces were near perfect. The duck I got was ok. I didn't try the vegetarian dish but it looked pretty. We were all extremely stuffed (plus it was after 10PM) so we skipped out on the dessert. Next time :-)
(4)
Marsha B.

I had 90 people for lunch at Blue Ginger. They went all out with the service and the food...Thank you
(5)
C S.

I have gone 3 time and won't go back. Each time I have thought the food was just OK, but kept thinking I was missing something given the hype. I might have kept going back since we live so close, but the last experience was so terrible I won't be back. I ordered a cocktail that the waiter called "well balanced" but was really just a mess of random flavors thrown together. I ordered the Korean Rice Cake Stir Fry with Crispy Marinated Tofu. The Tofu was good. I was expecting rice cakes but instead got these chewy tubes I was not expecting. Most folks imagine white rice formed in a patty when you say "rice cake," so if you mean yellow, chewy (I assume rice-based) tubes, you might describe that in the menu. Also, we bought my parents a $100 gift certificate here for Xmas. They gave me a $20 gift certificate as a thank you. I didn't realize that it had an expiration date but when we did, we made the reservation anyway because it didn't even cross my mind that they wouldn't accept it even if we were a bit late. It's not like a coupon that came in the mail, they handed it to me to say thanks for spending $100 at my restaurant! The manager refused to accept it! The poor waiter was so embarrassed. So overpriced mediocre food, terrible cocktails, and cheap. No need to go here.
(1)
Yasa E.

Came here for valentines day and had a very nice experience! The atmosphere is romantic. The dining room is divided up into smaller rooms so its cozy and doesn't feel like a high school cafeteria, which many big restaurants struggle with. The service was very good. The food was good, but I think way overpriced for what it is.
(4)
Amy S.

A couple friends and I took a day trip out to Wellesley and stopped into Ming Tsai's Blue Ginger to get a taste of his East meets West style. Since we were there on a Saturday afternoon, only the lounge* part of the restaurant was open. The lounge menu has an assortment of small and large plates to share tapas-style. The cool, misty weather prompted most of us to order hot green tea with lunch. Blue Ginger carries two kinds: sencha green tea and jasmine green tea. (For those unfamiliar, sencha green tea is Japanese and jasmine green tea is Chinese.) I chose the jasmine green tea since it's my favorite tea, and I was pleased to see that Blue Ginger serves pearl jasmine tea, tea leaves that are rolled into pearl shaped balls which unfurl when steeped. I also liked that we each got our own personal teapots of hot water, and our server was very good about refilling the teapots. However, I found that the water wasn't hot enough to properly bring out the flavor of the tea. What a waste of good tea. Our group of five shared the... SEARED SCALLOPS AND BACON-SCENTED RISOTTO (with pumpkin cream and arugula apple salad) yelp.com/biz_photos/n1EJâ€¦ - Perfectly executed and downright delicious. So what's the downside? This dish is tiny! There were only two perfectly seared scallops, about three bites of the refreshingly crisp apple salad, and one miniscule brick of fried risotto that was surprisingly bold in bacon flavor. KABOCHA SQUASH WONTONS (with spiced pomegranate sauce and candied pepitas) yelp.com/biz_photos/n1EJâ€¦ - Another teeny tiny dish that managed to pack a punch. Make sure your mouthful contains all the ingredients for the full effect. MING'S BINGS yelp.com/biz_photos/n1EJâ€¦ - On the menu these are described as dumplings for lack of a proper English translation. They are Ming Tsai's take on the Chinese xian bing. Each order comes with three bings; we got two orders with GINGER PORK & SCALLION, RED ROASTED DUCK, and BLUE CHEESEBURGER AND BACON. The ginger pork bing was traditional and tasted very familiar to me. The duck in the duck bing had the consistency of pulled pork which I thought was interesting. The blue cheeseburger bing was the most innovative; it looked like Chinese food but tasted like a burger. SHIITAKE-LEEK SPRINGROLLS (with three chile dipping sauce) yelp.com/biz_photos/n1EJâ€¦ - I like the halved spring rolls presentation of this dish though I suspect it's to bulk it up and make it look bigger than just two spring rolls. We were instructed to wrap the spring rolls in the lettuce with a bit of the slaw and sauce. Add some mint leaves to your wrap to make it even more refreshing! HAWAIIAN BIGEYE TUNA POKE (with crispy sushi rice cake and peppercress-tosaka salad) yelp.com/biz_photos/n1EJâ€¦ - This seems to be one of the most raved-about dishes, but I thought it was pretty ordinary. It was well-executed and tasty but there wasn't much of a wow factor. SAKE-MISO MARINATED ALASKAN BUTTERFISH (with soba noodle salad) yelp.com/biz_photos/n1EJâ€¦ - OH. MY. GAWD. THIS is what I was waiting for! The butterfish was melt-in-my-mouth soft and oh so delicious. Don't forget to dip it in the wasabi for extra oomph. We also had the EDAMAME (in sweet soy-yuzu glaze) yelp.com/biz_photos/n1EJâ€¦ and the SWEET POTATO AND TARO FRIES (with chili aioli) yelp.com/biz_photos/n1EJâ€¦ , good filler foods that don't break the bank. Though the lounge menu is supposed to be tapas-style, most of the dishes were too small to be shared between our group of five. Most dishes seemed to be portioned to be split between two or three people so plan accordingly. I'm not sure if the price is justifiable with the tiny portions, but I think Ming Tsai was successful in putting together a solid Asian Fusion menu. I enjoyed almost everything, with the butterfish being the major standout. 3.5 stars for the food, but I'm rounding up just for that butterfish. *No reservations taken for the lounge.
(4)
Ariel Z.

I have been a fan of Chef Ming Tsai for quite some time now. I remember watching him on TV from time-to-time. It is important to note, that like many high-end restaurants, the menu changes according to the season. The last time I ate here was back in fall a year or two ago (I must come back!). I ordered a fish dish with wasabi and miso sauces (can't remember the name) and a dessert that consisted of cinnamon sugar donut holes with caramel and chocolate dipping sauces! If you love Asian fusion, you just can't pass off an opportunity to eat here!
(5)
Palmier Q.

Let me start by saying this ... I love, *love*, LOVE the Singaporean Curry Noodles Dish. Though I do not live in Boston area anymore, I try to visit the restaurant whenever travel brings me to the area. So, why the low rating, you wonder? The service was okay. They probably thought that I was a one-time customer. For the past three visits, the host's arrogant tone and attitude. Yes, it was the same host all three times. I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, at first, but I am disappointed to say that *is* how he is and sadly ruins one's dining experience. And for me, the third time was also enough for me to say that the arrogance was enough for me not to come back, no matter how good the noodles are ... I do not usually write such horrible reviews, but I felt compelled to do so. Ming Tsai, it's time for you to have a chat with your staff.
(2)
Jim M.

Terrific experience all around. Service was an A-very attentive but not pushy, and gave us great recommendations. Apps were outrageously good. The poki and spring rolls were full of flavor and delicious. Main course: I got the curry pasta with panko crusted chicken that was one of the most original and yummy dishes I've had in ages. My wife got a wonderful swordfish with coconut mango rice that hit all the right taste buds. Lastly, for dessert we had the sesame macadamia nut caramel tart (an absolute must) and the key lime donuts (different but tasty). A perfect way to end a perfect meal. I'm taking a star off the ambiance: it felt a little like a mall restaurant to me. A minor gripe for one of the best restaurants in the state. Marvelous.
(4)
Will S.

The ONLY reason this place loses a star is because we waited way too long for both our first and second drinks. Ate pretty much my whole entree with an empty wine glass, which was a bummer. But other than that, this place was fantastic. We went on Valentine's Day and they had a 3-course prixe fixe menu, and the six different items we had were all very good. The oyster appetizer was the weakest, but the cauliflower soup and garlic lobster were phenomenal. The short ribs with crispy brussels sprouts and pomegranate glaze were excellent also. Definitely go.
(4)
Paul D.

Excellent food. Great powerful bold tastes. Nice location friendly service. Encourage you to visit and enjoy the great creative food.
(5)
Andy L.

Excellent cocktails and great service. We have no issues paying celebrity chef prices but the food was wretched. As other reviewers have noted there food is mediocre, poorly executed, and overly salted. We love flavorful rich food and are not sensitive to salt but every dish we ordered tasted like salt or was swimming in fish sauce or soy. I would note our family is half Lao and Thai and not afraid of salt or fish sauce. We drove 1.5 hours for this special date and were very disappointed and would not consider returning. In addition to poor execution the menu choices were not very impressive. I am sad to say you could obtain better lo mein from your local chinese take out and save some bills.
(1)
Lauretta L.

This review is for the lounge tapas menu: The Miso-sake Marinated Butterfish with Soba Noodles was one of our favorites. Place a bit of fish with a small twirl of noodles on your fork for each bite - delicious :) The Bigeye Tuna Poke with Crispy Sushi Rice on a Bed of Greens was another favorite. The crispy sushi rice cake provides a great texture contrast to the poke. The Garlic Black Pepper Shrimp with Edamame Sticky Rice and Pea Tendril Salad was our third favorite. Large and tender shrimp with savory sticky rice all wrapped in a banana leaf. The Housemade Dumplings: Orange beef was the best one. Lots of flavor marinated into the meat with no sauce in the dumpling to take away from it. Red Roast Duck was dry and flavorless. Do not get this one. Chinese Garlic Chive-Tofu Vegetarian was standard. The Goat Cheese-Mushroom Rangoon, Spring Pea-Radish Salad with Asian Pesto and Lychee Honey Syrup was also standard. I wouldn't order it again because it's not unique enough to justify the price. The Lamb and Sweet Potato Pie...no one cared for it. The Chocolate Pot de Creme was divine and inspired all of us to attempt making it at home. We'll see how that goes!
(4)
Richard D.

Had a wonderful meal here with colleagues. Some of the appetizer portions were small but tasty. Our main course of Korean infused steak over noodles was excellent. The deserts were excellent. Beautiful setting and excellent service.
(4)
Sandy C.

We love the tapas style brunch on Sat. and Sundays.
(4)
Simon L.

Arrived early this warm Sunday evening at opening and was given a choice to sit inside or out, out it was. Sampled the butterfish, miso marinated with soba noddles ($24). Excellent smooth and subtle fish, crisped to a perfect flaky texture. Soba noodles were wonderful. Lettuce "cups," wraps, came with spy marinated chicken and were rather unimpressive ($14). Braised short rib with manchego cheese was served on lightly toasted white bread and was rich with flavor ($14). The tomato soup was slightly spicy with chile and ginger. The three dumplings sampled ($14) were tasted in order, coincidentally, of favorite to least favorite: red duck (Peking duck) was extremely tasty; pork and scallion was traditional but good; blue cheeseburger with bacon was not a good fit for a dumpling. Great service good food. Like it a lot. Choose either the tapas menu or the regular dinner menu. Tapas menu is suggested to order two dishes per guest. Three for two might be fine.
(4)
Susan L.

I loved everything about Blue Ginger! The service was excellent; the decor was pleasing and appropriate; and the food was spectactular! I now understand why rich people would rather kill themselves before eating us poor people food. What we ordered for 3: Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna Poke* with Crispy Sushi Rice Cake & Peppercress-Tosaka Salad -GET IT! The crispy rice cake is perfectly seasoned with soy sauce and other spices and goes perfectly with the tuna poke. YUM! Tempura Sole-Avocado Roulade with Black Garlic Aioli and Ponzu Vegetables -Reminds me of a roll that was tempura'd and fried. Good, but I wouldn't order again. 2 orders of Sake-Miso Marinated Sablefish (a.k.a. Butterfish) -OMG the butterfish was so soft and tender. Our waitress told us the butterfish is flown in from fresh from Alaska daily. Definitely give it a try if you've never had it before.
(5)
Jana C.

Mr Ming Tsai... chef winner of Battle Duck against Bobby Flay... we finally meet. Ok; well, only sortuv... i've felt the shadows of your essence, and asked your staff all about you. Heard you're a regular during the dinner hour, both in/out kitchen and as a diner now/again. I know so much about this guy, have read so many of his recipes and watched so many how-to videos, suffered through his sometimes delirious rants and not-too-funny jokes.... I've clapped my hands when he appeared as a guest judge on Top Chef, and am well acquainted with this former squash-playing Yalie who was once an engineer, has a wife named Polly.. the list goes on. Time to hit up his restaurant for lunch!!! Huge tip to the public out there.. im' not the first to mention this, but mark-ups for dinner are somewhere in the region of 3x!!! So, if you can swing it, as we were lucky enough to, do lunch... 2nd huge tip to all: There *is* a rather large parking lot in the back of the restaurant... True that metered parking is only 25cents/hr, but why not tack that onto your tip for the day?! Restaurant is really large!!!! Love the Asian touches.. it's not kitschy, not overly done and fussed with, nice eye for usage of the space, felt the peace as soon as my eyes landed on the space.... Ming expanded 3 years ago, and the result is a nice separate wing for bar eats and such, and the kitchen side fringes a large dining room.. there's also space for private events as well. Even the niceties in the bathroom struck me... the wonderfully scented candles (I think 4 were lit for lunch!) and the quality towels, the color scheme... all very Asian and calming. Photos and articles adorn the walls everywhere, from when one walks into the foyer, to the wall just outside of the restrooms. Overall, glad to have tried, but don't feel the need to return based upon what I sampled that day.... I was told by our Greek server that his 2 sigs are the miso-sake butterfish (ONE OF THE V V BEST EVER) and the Indonesian curries....for 4 of us, we tried 5 entrees... 1. miso butterfish. out of this world.. ridiculously perfect in all aspects, even condiments. seasoned perfectly, cooked even more perfectly, if possible. loved... want more 2. spicy pork ramen... ehhHHH... we are, after all, Californians, and have our fair share of competition for quality ramen. the noodles themselves super fresh, nice subtle crisp to them, broth was honestly, just average. 3. another ramen dish ordered: same comment 4. blue cheese sliders.... WONDERFUL (which says a lot, coming from a non blue-cheese eater)... second winner of the meal. He's styled them to be like 'xiao bing' Chinese type of cover... dont' be expecting any type of American mini burger bun at all.... they're made of a flour mixture, just like in China, and sealed to be like a 'bing'. Medium, juicy, perfect ratio of that stinker cheese.... sweet potato fries... nice touches! Lunch ran about $90 total. Glad I came, but like I said, I assumed (incorrectly so) that everything was going to be magic. Twas not so.
(4)
Warren C.

Still don't know how you pronounce the city name...Wellesley? Anyways, I think this is one of the popular dining options in town. Contrary to popular opinion, Ming Tsai is the owner of the restaurant, not the executive chef. Asian fusion cuisine maybe, but I didn't think there were very many elements of Asian in the food here, at least in my sense of the word. I had the lamb ($42) and one of the ginger mixed drinks ($13). The lamb itself was very good, but I wasn't a fan of what it was served with (already forgot the name). The drink was good too, just didn't think it was that special. I think the ginger theme is rather forcefully imposed on a lot of the items here. I guess the food is just different enough here for me to come and try it. The atmosphere is nice, many of the patrons well-dressed. Service is excellent and attention to detail as well. Definitely a recommend if you're ever in Wellesley.
(4)
Nicole S.

After a long, extensive website project was finally complete, my manager took myself and a couple coworkers out for a celebratory dinner. The marinated tofu entrÃ©e was fantastic and a great treat for a job well done. Would love to come back for a special anniversary or birthday dinner - as it's a little out of my price range for a regular dinner night.
(5)
Colt V.

Came here to meet up with a friend from out of town. His S.O. was interested in the place due to the namesake of chef Ming Tsai. We started out waiting for our table and got some cocktails off their menu, all generally underwhelming. Disturbingly, our waitress looked quite ill. I realize that might be rude to say, but she really did not appear 'well'. Our waitress handed us our menus and explained the specials. Oddly, the specials were already printed on the menu among all the other entrees... some specials! She gave us approximately 20 seconds to look at the menu before inquiring if we wanted appetizers. We ordered some things to share, steamed buns, pot stickers, and a couple of other things that made such a little impression I fail to recall them. Entrees... Again, nothing impressive. I had a duck breast, that was cooked decently. It's just that the plate was... again, meh. It had no balance, no contrast in textures or flavor. Essentially, just a duck breast with a plum sauce. My girl friend's impression of the food mirrored my own. It was all just... uninteresting. I would pass on eating here again.
(2)
John B.

A very good friend and I celebrated tonight with the chefs tasting menu. Seven courses of delightful dishes. The most memorable was the foie gras shumai. The wine paring with this dish was beyond compare. The butterfish was awesome and was the second best of the seven. All in all well worth the money and time to get here from Delaware.
(5)
William E.

Great food...expensive....but great food that you won't find duplicated anywhere else. Worthy of a special occasion dinner.
(5)
Michael G.

I really enjoyed the place. The Ginger Storm cocktails were delicious. And the food was excellent. Service friendly and I tested their patience with being very particular with my table preference.. Its not cheap but worth it on special occasions.
(4)
Denise P.

Wow- what a great meal from start to finish. I'm not usually a fancy cocktail girl but I couldn't resist trying something from the cocktail menu because it all sounded so good. The Ginger Collins with spicy ginger sugar on the rim was a great start. My husband said his Gimlet was the best he's ever had (and he's downed a few in his day). We shared the Tuna Poke and the charcuterie plate. Both were great but the tuna was better - foie gras was a touch salty. I had the sable fish and it was so silky. The soba sushi on the side was playful and delicious. My husband had the lamb. It was cooked perfectly and had a yummy yucca cake underneath. We were so stuffed but had to try a dessert so we went for sorbet. Wow- the cilantro-mint-thai basil was out of this world. We finished with the miatake coffee, which was surprisingly good. The service could not have been better. Our waitress was knowledgable, made great suggestions, and could not have been nicer. Even though the place was packed, we were not rushed at all. In fact, when we mentioned that we had time to kill after our meal before the train back to Boston, we were told we could sit at our table as long as we wanted or wait in the lounge. My one and only "complaint" is that the waitstaff kept referring to "Ming" as if he were their best friend, which I found a little pretentious. Also, it was a little loud but I dont know if that is the norm - there were several graduation parties the night we were there. I will make a point of coming back here if I am ever back in this area.
(4)
Jacky K.

This review of Blue Ginger is solely a review for the RAMEN that they serve on Sundays in the lounge area. The ramen I will be reviewing is their "miso ramen". Components of the ramen seem to be very dissociated. By that I mean every component seems to be made very separately and placed together in a bowl without a harmonious conjecture. Lets dissect each component one by one: Noodles: Texture is soft and jell-like. The texture almost feels like a mixture of rice floor and tapioca starch similiar to the chinese Lai fun (or æ¿‘ç²‰). Egg: The egg is a soft boiled egg (boiling water + egg X 4-5 mins). The techinque is poorly executed and is not restaurant quality. There is no temperature control on the egg as the consistency of the egg white and the egg yolk is not what you would expect a "nitamago" to be like when compared to what you would find in a traditional ramen house. Pickled cabbage: Confused. Enough said. Plays no role in the noodles, adds no substance either. Pork: The quality of the meet was excellent. Soup base: The broth, without a doubt, is something that comes from a concentrate mixture with liquid added to it upon serving. For comparative purposes, broth of traditional ramen is usually made out of either chicken or pork bone stock which usually takes approximately 8-10 hours to make. The stock is then added to either a soy sauce mixture or combined with miso paste. The stock can also be used alone with a little salt added. Overall was one of the poorest quality ramen I have ever had. I do not recommend ordering ramen at Blue Ginger.
(2)
John O.

I have eaten here a numer of times and food is always unique and not something you can do on your own or get elsewhere. In addition recently purchased 2 gifts cards for friends and they added on a additional $20 credit without requesting it!!! Was a pleasent surprize to see that "celebrity" chefs have not forgotten the small personal touch that so many others have long left behind........
(5)
Melody N.

My husband and I came here to celebrate our first year wedding anniversary and to try out the restaurant week menu. I'll preface to say that I tend not to enjoy fusion Asian cuisine. My biggest qualm against fusion Asian food is that it tends to be overpriced for the items/portions. It was hard for us as Asian Americans while eating Ming Tsai's food to refrain from asking: "What's the difference of coming here versus Chinatown?" But alas, we were both curious and went by Ming Tsai's reputation. The restaurant choice was my husband's picking and we were surprised that dishes were not that memorable. We went with the following: beef carpaccio and pulled pork dumplings, butterfish(which was an additional $12) and fried chicken, and cheescake and chocolate fiancier for dessert. We made the mistake of splitting the fish first and finishing it before eating the fried chicken. Because of this the fried chicken was a little cooler and not as crispy. I thought the beef carpaccio and the chocolate dessert were the best items. My husband and I thought everything was cooked well but there wasn't anything amazing about the items. The butterfish was indeed buttery but again, missing a wow factor to it. I also had three bones in my butterfish which made me a little uneasy because I get paranoid about choking and swallowing bones. I had mostly white meat for the fried chicken so I didn't particularly enjoy it but my husband got a dark meat and thought it was good. In general we thought chain restaurant fried chicken would be more satisfying. The restaurant week menu is a good deal to try out this place. We went with the wine pairing menu where we thought the wine tasted really good. Taking a glance at the other entrees the entrees sounded appealing, but looked pricey (think$30-$40). Normally the butterfish alone is $41. The pros about this place is that they are very conscientious if you had a food allergy and take care to ask this at the beginning of the meal. My guess would be that we would not come out here again though.
(3)
Mindy Z.

One of my favorite places .... I have been here a few times. I like almost every dishes I had there, butterfish, duck breast, lamb. It's a little pricey and we only come here on special occasions. Got a free desert on my birthday.
(5)
Andrew F.

Alright, I have been to Blue Ginger three times now, so I think it's high time for me to write a review. While certainly a pricier dining option than some other local restaurants, Blue Ginger is well worth the splurge! The service is excellent, the ambiance is sophisticated and the food is delicious. Don't miss the Fried Chicken with Gochujang Glaze. Seriously - fried chicken at an upscale restaurant - what else is there to say? Perfection. Oh, and get a cocktail - they're scrumptious!
(5)
M L.

Tasty food that is severely overpriced. Over $100 for two people (no alcohol) is unjustifiable. My wife and I also arrived 30 minutes early for our dinner reservation and the host couldn't seat us despite the table she eventually gave us being empty the entire time we waited.
(3)
Sarah G.

If you like classy, fun Asian fusion food, then Blue Ginger is the place for you. Definitely worth the drive out to Wellesley from the Boston area (and it is a Ming Tsai restaurant too!), since even only eating the lounge menu made me excited to save up money in order to come back here and eat dinner. (yes the dinner prices are that much more expensive ha ha) They don't serve lunch on weekends, but their lounge is open which I think is a great business idea. This place is decorated in a clean style, with random pieces of Asian decor and artwork. I like it. Matt J. and I sat at the bar and we each got one of their beers imported from China which was pretty drinkable which is always a good thing, and then we ordered a few dishes to share off of their lounge menu. The bar tender and the host were both some of the nicest men ever. So cheerful and smiley--you could tell they loved working there, but then how couldn't you? Especially if you get to eat that food for free? ha ha First, let me say that their oysters cooked with that bacon candy is the best type of candy there is out there for sure. Wow. $3 a piece for those oysters, I could easily become bankrupt off of that. Then there was the hawaiian poke dish that was just so so so so so so good. It was fresh and served on this crispy rice patty and I literally could not get enough of that. I had to force myself to eat it slowly so it would last longer! We also got their edamame that came in this ginger soy glaze that I wasn't a huge fan of but Matt J. liked it and then we got a trio of their handmade dumplings that came with a side of taro chips. Those taro chips were good too! Dumpling wise, the pork one was amazing. I wish I had ordered all three of that kind since it kicked the other two dumpling's butts. The tofu one was really not that great, and the duck one was pretty good, but hands down the pork dumpling was the winner! But when doesn't pork win?? ha ha
(4)
B J.

If I could give it 10 stars, I would. Our absolute favorite place to eat, hands down. Service excellent, food out of this universe, atmosphere terrific. Ming is wonderful, and comes over if he is there and you ask. It's also our go-to place for girls nights out with my peeps! We always do the tapas bar and we order the ginger gimlet which is seriously the best drink I have ever had in my entire existence.
(5)
Vivi L.

I've been here many times and we came here for our anniversary dinner. The food was absolutely delicious. One thing that I would complain about is the service. The food came so fast. We were done with our dinner in little bit more than an hour. I wish the food will came a little slower but that was just minor. I ordered the foie gras shumai for appetizer and the butterfish and they were absolutely delicious. The food has never disappoint at this place.
(4)
Kiki P.

I liked my experience Blue Ginger. My mom has been here several times and decided to take me here to check it out. The ambiance is pleasant and the service is great. Blue ginger is an Asian fusion restaurant with quite a unique menu. My favorite dish is the butterfish/sablefish. This dish is served with vegetarian soba noodles in the form of sushi. I enjoyed these noodles but would prefer free style not wrapped in sushi. I also love the garlic black pepper lobster fried rice. The lobster is super fresh and tasty. The portion is a tad bit small though. Overall, I like Blue Ginger but I do have to say it is a bit on the pricier side.
(3)
Kelly B.

Torn between 4 and 5 stars 5 stars: the food is phenomenal. As a non-seafood eater, Asian restaurants can sometimes be problematic since there's a lot of sauces that have a seafood base and it can be hard to find a dish I can eat. Blue Ginger has a really good selection that was equally divided in terms of types of proteins offered. The cocktails are very good, strong enough that you feel like you're getting your money's worth but not so much that the alcohol overpowers the whole drink. The staff is very friendly and accomodating. 4 stars: the service is SO SLOW. Granted, the place is very pricey and if you're dishing out that much cash, the last thing you want is be rushed out of a restaurant. But the staff seems to think that everyone wants to mosey around the entire night and leave you alone for LONG stretches of time. I don't mind a long leisurely dinner, but at least come back once in a while to refill drinks or something! That being said, it is easy enough to flag someone down, so it's not like we were being ignored. I had the curry pasta, and it was very filling and very well seasoned. Definitely enough to have my fill and then have the rest for dinner the next day. Overall, a very positive experience. I would go back, but not on a night that I want to have other plans as well.
(4)
Bobby C.

3.75 stars overall. Breakdown: 4 stars for ambiance, 3.5 stars for food, 4.5 stars for service...I'm also factoring in value. I've always wanted to try Blue Ginger. On a random Tuesday, I decided to go there for dinner. I quickly booked via opentable an hour in advance. After reading some of the reviews, I was interested to see how the manager at the front desk would treat us. She was very professional. We were seated near the back area. Our server was Melissa. Before we started our dinner, there was a ruckus with the table behind us. These three people were seated a few minutes before us made a scene. From what I can gather, they weren't aware of the number of dollar signs for Blue Ginger. Maybe they thought it was just some Chinese restaurant in Chinatown? Then again this is Wellesley. There was a lot of commotion with the wait-staff after the group left. I'm not sure how the other servers were but Melissa was top notch. Very friendly and funny. Always checked in on us. It was on par with the great service I have experienced at Sorellina, Craigie on the Main, and Cucci Cucci. I wanted a sweet drink so Melissa suggested the Gimlet. I remember in Terry's review that she also liked it. It was good, but pretty strong too. For an app, we had the Crispy Shrimp Stuffed with Spiced Pork. It was ok. It was like a mini pork egg roll with large shrimp rolled into it. Onto the main dish! It was an interesting take on the mixed seafood paella with homemade chorizo. Seafood was pretty fresh. My entrÃ©e came in an interesting bowl. The dish was moderately-fairly spicy. If you like your food mild, this dish might not be for you. The lemongrass-tomato broth was pretty tasty. For dessert, my friend had the upside down pineapple cake, and I had the Sesame Macadamia Caramel Nut Tart. It was definitely yummy. Loved the caramel bananas and coconut ice cream. Great service, food was good, but pricey. It's probably a place I would just go once to experience it.
(4)
N. M.

Continues to be one of my favorite restaurants. So lucky to be living in Wellesley but even if I weren't, I'd drive an hour easily to eat here!
(5)
Jenn W.

My boyfriend surprised me and took me here for my birthday dinner. I was super excited, but sadly, my expectations were not met. Since moving to Boston, Blue Ginger has been on my "must-try!" list of restaurants. The mere fact that Ming Tsai owned this place had me thinking that it must be amazing; he's a talented chef and I am a huge fan. We started out with some drinks, a Sapporo for him and a Polly-tini for me. Delicious! My cocktail was strong without compromising taste. Starters included the Hawaiian Tuna Poke and Crispy Citrus Quail. The rice cake that came with the Tuna Poke provided a nice textural contrast and the fish was fresh, but the dish was spiced with a heavy hand which made the taste a bit off-putting for me. The quail was perfectly fried, but not memorable in terms of flavor. For entrees, we went with the Lamb Rack and the Butterfish. Lamb was cooked perfectly, but again, the flavors weren't anything special (we loved the Yuca-Potato cake though). The Butterfish was the one redeeming part of our dinner; it was so moist and literally melted in my mouth. Absolutely delicious. For dessert we shared the Peanut Butter Creameux. Meh, nothing special. Service was also inconsistent; as the night went on, we saw our waitress less and less. It took us over 20 minutes to receive our check after finishing dessert. Overall, I would give it another shot (probably just for a drink and to try their lounge menu), but I'm not going to be rushing back anytime soon.
(3)
Ralph G.

Is it Butter Fish or is it Sable? We don't know, we lost the label. It looks like Butter Fish but smells like Sable. It's another Butter Fishy fable. Served to you, served to me, served to the US VP. Why the con for these high prices? Must be very fancy rices. It's not Butter Fish on the menu. It's always Sable at this venue.
(1)
modhu s.

Awful food there are no flavours. I had the mussels with noodles which tasted stale and my friend had the asparagus soup and spring role both of which was very average. Very busy restaurant. The staff was nice she did noy charge me for the noodles.
(1)
Jackie K.

I had been looking forward to going to Blue Ginger for a long time and so my expectations may have been too high. Overall, I was not happy with my meal but plan on going back because I have heard so many good things even though my meal was not great. On the great side, service was exceptional. Spring rolls app was good. Gazpacho was a little bland as was the aioli that came with the fries. In the end, I would only go back because I assume I didn't order the "right" stuff and would be willing to try again.
(3)
richard m.

The food at Blue Ginger is amazing. I started with the tuna appetizer on rice cake. The tuna was tasty and had just the right amount of seasoning. For my main course I had the scallops which were cooked to perfection. Dessert was the decadent choc cake. The restaurant atmosphere is casual chic, you can wear jeans. With the prices it's def a special occasion restaurant.
(5)
Bhavesh L.

I don't always review places but I felt it was necessary after my last experience. I've visited twice in the past month and had two VERY different experiences. Please not this is in a dry county. 1st visit: Had a fantastic time - ordered the lamb shank and the waiter was extremely great. Ordered many drinks, ranging from wine to martini's. My friends and I were able to drink a fair amount and ordered 3 courses. 2nd visit: Again, food was absolutely impressive. This time I ordered the fish of the day. I had two glasses of wine before I decided to switch to martini's. I had one before I was told that I could not have any more. I could have more wine or beer but no more martini's. I asked why or where this was written but could not be shown. The manager that originally came over and told me this left before we asked for another manager. They were apologetic but could do nothing. My group and I were not loud nor causing any commotion but extremely dissatisfied at the service. Not sure I would return unless I got the original waiter. My recommendation stands that this is a great restaurant for food but the service in regards to alcohol is terrible. Nobody seems to understand what the rules are.
(2)
Karyn V.

Great food!
(4)
Mary J.

Had a FABULOUS lunch here on Thursday 9/11/14. Miso marinated Alaskan Butterfish was fantastic. Spring rolls were great. Service was perfect. Host was great.
(5)
David B.

I have mixed feelings about the BG and it's not because I haven't tried to like it. Mr Tsai is cool..He and I love our watches but I seems that every single time I go there for dinner I run into some A hole patron. The staff are great..fast helpful and friendly. The food Ming has designed is flavorful and a gastronomic joy. I keep going back in the hope that I can enjoy both the food and the atmosphere and I will probably try again next month.
(3)
Melissa D.

My Asian Chef Icon! Ming Tsai's restaurant has not disappointed me and I always bring people here for celebratory events, business meetings and special dates. The decor and layout doesn't blow you away but I love the open kitchen and the service is remarkable! You literally have a team of waitstaff for each table and you know the management teaches the servers the food and how to pair wine with certain dishes. The Tuna Poke is my favorite appetizer, along with the sablefish, the pad thai (different version than your standard) and the scallops. They re-invent the standard staple entrees using tea leaves, daikon, ponzu, and/or wasabi. They take dishes to the next level and you would never suspect how two random things could pair so well. I have tried almost everything on the menu and have not been let down. They do special events like wine tastings or cooking classes.
(5)
Michelle C.

Holy Salty Sauces! Second time here and was good experience, but man, the sauces are super salty. I remember this from the first visit too. Appetizers were soo good, had the Wok Stirred Maitake Mushrooms with Housemade Shiso Pasta and Spicy Roasted Pumpkin. The pasta was incredible as was the perfectly cooked mushrooms, loved the acidic afterbite, but the pumpkin didn't do anything for the dish. Also had the Panko Shrimp, Gingered Spaghetti Squash & Maitake-Preserved Lemon Salad with Garam Masala Aioli, but kinda expensive ($15!) for ONE shrimp, although, it was pretty gigantic shrimp. For the entrÃ©es, I had the Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster, the lobster was cooked perfectly, but the sauce was incredibly salty (even though I asked them not to add salt) and the rice was ....eh, rice, but loved the presentation... very pretty. Husby had the hanger steak w/ mushroom risotto, the demi-glaze, again super salty, but the steak was very tender and my sister had the rack of lamb which she said was pretty good (& salty). For dessert, split the Sesame Macadamia Caramel Nut Tart and cider donuts. OMG, the tart was heaven and the coconut ice cream was super yum. I'm not a huge fan of coconut, but the ice cream had a nice mellow flavor. The donuts were kinda heavy and had a weird honey sauce on top...waay too sweet for me and the chai ice cream just didn't pare well. Our waiter was great and our glasses were never empty, liked the atmosphere and the casual attire. Would come back for apps & dessert and maybe a chance to meet Ming, sadly, he wasn't there because he was out of town on book tour. boo!
(3)
C W.

Best food in Boston and consistently great service. Feels like you are being greeted in your own home. Bar area offers nice contrast to sit down dinner with a varied and delicious menu. Signature drinks creative and refreshing. Highly recommend.
(5)
Joseph R.

I had the pure pleasure of enjoying a fabulous dinner at Blue Ginger last week. I enjoyed the evening with three business associates, two of whom are food scientists and know quality food when they see it. We all enjoyed the signature lobster dinner, shared the calamari and dipping sauce appetizer, and tried several of the desserts. The food was top quality, presentation was amazing, and the taste devine. Our evening, drinks, and dinners were unbeatable. Service was prompt and professional, and prices reasonable for this type of food. I hope to return someday.
(4)
Maria M.

Fantastic! I have had lunch here on several occasions when my sister was a student at Wellesley, but I finally had dinner here with friends the other night, and I thought it was about time to write a review! Our dinner was perfect. From the bigeye tuna poke to the black pepper shrimp with pea tendril salad (which is a smaller version of the garlic black pepper lobster with lemon grass fried rice, which we also ordered), ming's bings, and the lobster, our dinner was totally worth the 45 min drive to Wellesley during rush hour traffic! We ended the meal with sesame macadamia caramel tart, which was the perfect ending to our meal. Black pepper lobster $40, meeting Ming Tsai and getting a signed cook book and talking asian/fusion/filipino food with Ming, priceless. :)
(5)
Diana L.

Sorry I really wanted to like this place but I didn't think this place was that great. The decor and the restaurant is beautiful though. Once you walk in you see the open kitchen, the dining area and the bar area. After the bar area is a hallway that leads to the bathroom and within the hallway are doors that lead to private rooms/private dinning area. I don't eat raw stuff so I couldn't try the Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna Poke with Crispy Sushi Rice Cake. It looked good and my friends who had it really enjoyed the dish. We also ordered this shrimp spring roll (which is no longer on the menu) and it was mediocre. For the entree, I ordered the Garlic Black Pepper Lobster. I had high expectations because there were a lot of reviews about it. I think the sauce was too strong for me which was why I didn't like it. The dish comes with a lobster head and it's filled up with fried rice which is interesting. The rice had favor but there weren't strong flavors which is good if you decide to mix it with the sauce. I also tried my friend's dishes but nothing made me go WOW.
(3)
John R.

I believe I've been to Blue Ginger 4 times, twice about 5-6 yrs ago and twice within the last 6 wks. The first two times, yrs ago the experience was a strong five stars, it has slipped, but the prices have not! You can still expect it to be 75-125 pp. The service was very good but I noticed servers in general, lacked panache. The meal's were very good but not excellent nor what I expect from a restaurant that is owned by a Chef of Ming's magnitude, btw he was "in the house", on my second recent visit. Again, the meals were enjoyable but did not rock my palate. I expect Blue Ginger to be GREAT on all fronts, Atmosphere, Service & Food. Something has changed and/or something is missing. Of course, it is a huge cut above most other Asian inspired restaurants but they are usually 25pp not 75-125 pp. I think one will enjoy and be happy I wasn't unhappy, I was disappointed. It is not at the level it use to be and it does not rival or meet experiences I have had in the past at fine establishments with real 4-5 star's at the same price point Blue Ginger is getting. First, by my standards it cannot qualify as a 5 star restaurant because as soon as I walked in I saw a "game" on a flat screen TV. Really? What happening to the art of dining out? Ahh that's what it is, Ming's is no longer "a work of art", not the service, ambience or the cuisine. If you are going to have a flat screen TV, please make it less obtrusive. The bread brought out was disappointing, I expect more creativity than bread n' butter, really Ming shame, additionally an amuse bouche would have been a nice touch but again not 5 stars, but 3 stars! On one visit, the wine was not chilled properly nor was it poured properly; again, someone is not paying attention to the small details such as the art of pouring wine. I did not order wine on my second visit. Tempura app was visually astounding but lacked flavor; The Spring Rolls were a monumental disappointment. The Scallops were seared perfectly however the brocc rabbe was not warm and for a dish listing so many bold flavors, it fell short, very short of flavor. I can get perfectly seared scallops at any good restaurant. The monkfish dish I had was bold in flavor but as can happen, unfortunately on my visit, the fish was over cooked and the texture was not as good as it could have been. Hence, Ming's got 3 stars for my last two visits as A-OK, I KNOW they can do better! Would I go back (?) maybe for lunch. Would I recommend Ming's (?) maybe to someone with money to burn OR someone needing a celebrity chef experience.
(3)
Jade L.

Since so many people have recommended to me this place, my husband and I finally decided to give it a try. Our feeling is a mixed. Very easy to make reservation -which is a plus. We brought our little girl with us. She is 18 months old. I don't think this restaurant like the idea that you bring your small kid in our opinion. However, they should know the restaurant is for the public regardless the ages. Overall, the server and waiter/waitress are nice and polite to us including my daughter but manager had a sharp eye on my daughter... I feel that the manager think my daughter is going to break something or tear down the place.-however, my daughter behaved well IMHO. ( In the end, she did run around a bit but she is under my control. ) The dishes - we have expected perhaps too high-came out just ok. (1)Fried Calamari - too salty for us and the THAI style sauce -we didn't enjoy this sauce at all . (2)TUNA Poke- I personally loved it but my husband wasn't impressed at all. I think you can get the same food with a bit cheaper price somewhere else. (3)Butter-fish...well, again, it is alright but not awesome. I don't think butter-fish is that expensive first of all and I don't think they executed this dish well enough. However, my husband did enjoy his Marlot and I and my daughter did enough the dessert. Overall, I gave this place three stars...would we return? Perhaps not.
(3)
David L.

Oh Ming...I'm fearful Blue Ginger may have "jumped the shark". Say it ain't so! On Friday night I took my lovely bride to Blue Ginger to celebrate her birthday. This was my 5th visit, my wife's 3rd. Our dinner was WAY below par. I will say that the Tuna Poke appetizer remains amazing, but the rest of the meal didn't live up to it. The Asian Gazpacho was good, but lacked any real zip. The avacado within was lost in the soup. And the bread basket was very, very bland. Now onto the mains, where the evening fell flat. My wife had the signature Black Garlic Lobster. The saltiness of the dish was not bad enough to send back to the kitchen and throw the entire dinner in the dumper by having one entree at the table while the redo is prepared, but it came painfully close to it. So she toughed it out, and didn't even mention anything to me until the end of the meal. I, after much encouragement from the waitress, went with the Curry Pasta. The dish delivered on her description of a "very citrusy" curry, but her description of a "lightly fried: shrimp was completely off the mark. The shrimp could have come from Long John Silver's if it wasn't so hansomely dressed! Thick, overbearing "batter", soaked in what tasted like tired frying oil. I'm hoping this was a "one off", and the result of the restaurant being overrun by Restaurant Week. If it wasn't for the great company, the great bottle of Paradduxx (Duckhorn) wine I selected, and the pleasant and attentive waitstaff, it would have been a complete bust. I'll need a year or so to forget about this meal before I give it another shot. And I hope someone else will foot the $200 tab so I don't need to sweat it. Sorry Ming. Just telling it like I see it.
(2)
Anastasia R.

I like it when my food can look me in the eye and face its destiny like champ. The Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster at Blue Ginger granted me this opportunity as well as a delicious meal. The dish is presented with half a lobster (the top/front half) standing up on its bisected torso, stuffed with lobster meet, rice, and tasty other bits. It's also served with pea tendril salad, and who doesn't love the word tendril? Of course it's five stars. Nicely done, Ming. My meal certainly lived up to the hype that preceded it.
(5)
Molly K.

Saturday night my parents, T & I went to one of my favorite Boston-area restaurants, Blue Ginger, to celebrate my birthday a week early. Serving East-West cuisine in Wellesley, Ming Tsai has retained his restaurant's high ratings since opening in 1998. Ming Tsai really needs no introduction, with his numerous awards and honors (even including an Emmy award for his cooking show). As a nice surprise, T had called ahead and ordered champagne for the table, so we skipped cocktails and went straight to appetizers. I started with my usual, the shiitake-leek springrolls with three chile dipping sauce, because it is too good to pass up. T went with the charcuterie plate with duck prosciutto, foie gras torchon and country pÃ¢tÃ©. Meim went with the pork hot & sour soup with umami shrimp dumpling and chile oil and my dad chose the crispy fried calamari with thai dipping sauce (which were perfectly prepared and had a bit of a cheddary-taste in the breading which was a nice spin on typical fried calamari). Next I again went with my old orders and got the fantastic famous garlic-black pepper lobster with lemongrass fried rice with a pea tendril salad and tamari-ginger vinaigrette. This dish is the reason I keep coming back, it is the perfect balance of every sense. Perfectly prepared, I have no problem finishing my portion. I also could have a salad of the pea tendrils on a daily basis and be pleasantly happy. (With my recommendation), my dad chose the soft & delicious sake-miso marinated sablefish (a.k.a. Butterfish) with wasabi oil, soy-lime syrup and vegetarian soba noodle sushi. I ordered this on my first trip to Blue Ginger, and enjoyed the light and delicate flavors mixed with the unbelievably flavorful soba noodle sushi on the side. T went with the rare grilled marinated hanger steak with spicy dan dan noodles, pickled mustard green salad, and hot mustard aioli, which T reported was the most perfectly-prepared steak he has encountered. Not being a big fan of rare meat, I stole a dan dan noodle which I can report was also a nice piece of the tasty puzzle. After the entrees, waiting for dessert, Ming Tsai took the time to escape the kitchen to come over to our table to say hello. Being extremely friendly, personable, and down-to-earth, the meet and greet was a nice bonus during my birthday dinner! The other food-reason that I continue to return to Blue Ginger is the fact that this is the home of my favorite non-chocolate dessert in the world. Every time I go I order the sesame macadamia caramel nut tart with toasted coconut ice cream and housemade hot fudge with rum caramel bananas. No pictures, as I was too excited to dig in. Meim went with the five spice apple fritters with cider glaze, cinnamon ice cream, and a ginger apple compote, which she had no problem finishing, so I assume it was delicious as well. Pictures and more on -- ----
(5)
Allison D.

I have dined at Blue Ginger several times. Each time I go with high expectations and am always let down. There are few options for fine dining in the suburbs west of Boston and I think that Blue Ginger takes advantage of that by over-charging guests. $42 for butterfish? The dish is very nice but it's fish for goodness sake. After the meal was done we went around the table and scored our food. The consensus was: cocktails 10, apps. 7.5, entrees 7. I might return to BG for a cocktail and a snack in the bar but not for dinner. For the money I will take my business down the street to Alta Strada. Better food, better value.
(2)
Michael C.

I finally managed to get the energy to drive to Wellesley to check out Blue Ginger on a co-workers recommendation. We made reservations during restaurant week but when we got there it actually worked out better for us to go with the bar (lounge) menu, it offers tapas size portions of all of their items. This was great because we wanted to do more of a tasting. Here is what we went with: Edamame in Sweet Soy-Yuzu Glaze - This was simply the best edamame I have ever had, the sauce they use on it is fantastic. Hawaiian Big Eye Tuna Poke - My co-worker said this was a "must try" item and she was right. This is basically their version of tuna tartar. Crunchy, tasty, and delicious. Alaskan Butterfish - If you have been to Nobu, this is their version of Black Cod Miso. This is a tender white fish, which is soaked in a sweet miso sauce. I have to learn how to make this at home. Garlic Black Pepper Shrimp with Edamame Rice - In the bar menu portion it only came with 2 jumbo shrimp, I wish it had come with a couple more. The sweet and sticky rice made up for the lack of shrimp though. This was another favorite, in fact I can't pick any of these dishes as my favorite. This was the type of meal where each dish was better than the next. The host/manager were very friendly. The bartender that served us was very helpful, but seemed a little overwhelmed at times. I only mention this because I usually sit at the bar for more attentive service. We even got to see Ming Tsai, the owner and chef, popping in and out of the kitchen. As a side note, this place has 2 very nice sized private function rooms.
(5)
Cindy D.

The only reason why I went was for my love of cooking shows on CreateTV like Simply Ming. Asian fusion? Sure, I'll give it a try. First, reservations are recommended since this place was packed on a Sunday night. You can tell something about a restaurant, simply by how they fill their bread basket -- and I was asking for seconds to grab hold of some crisp sesame flatbread. My bf and I started off with the tuna tartare, which came heaped in small chunks with some seaweed melange to top it off. Nothing too crazy, I suppose. MEH: The scallops were a disappointment -- now I understand that grilled scallops are simple to make, but I expected some other flavor than butter. OH YEAH: I highly recommend the braised lamb shank -- moist, and meat gently falling off the bone, I was in heaven. Of course, my bf was too as we ended up switching plates toward the end. I was left guessing what kind of sauce they brushed on the lamb as it cooked. My guess is a swath of hoison sauce to give it a bit of sweetness. Portion-wise, it was ginormous and gives the most bang for your buck, as most entrees are priced $25-$40.
(4)
Todd A.

I went to Blue Ginger a few days ago for lunch and I thought the food and service were extremely good. The servers knowledge of the menu was great and he made a few recommendations that were awesome. The decor was ehhhh to put it nicely, but everything else made up for it. I would mos def go back again....interested to see what the dinner crowd is like.
(4)
Jeremy K.

Finally got around to making my way to Blue Ginger for dinner and boy was it worth driving to Wellesley for. I've had a few Asian fusion dinners in my life but nothing quite like this one. And while some critics might think that Ming Tsai is stuck in the '90s, I was able to experience a depth of flavor and creativity that few places offer, despite it being the restaurant week menu. The restaurant itself was packed when we proceeded to walk in, slightly early for our reservation. We were promptly escorted to the bar area where we sipped on cocktails while we waited. Mine was the Orange-Pomegranate Honey Smash ($12) and featured some Makers Mark, some Orange-pomegranate purÃ©e, and some house-made honey syrup. Tasty and creative, I enjoyed every sip. The girlfriend had a ginger-based cocktail that she enjoyed at well. I must admit that the originality of the drinks is pretty awesome and they definitely have something for every palate out there, even the pickiest of ones. Ingredients like coconut, peach, ginger, pear, Chai and all kinds of others are present and I found that remarquable. The bar area is wide and features a good mix of standing room, benches, stools and even a few tables. It is pretty brightly light and makes for a vibrant atmosphere but is soothed by the fountain in the back which has water slowly trickling away. Eventually our table was ready for us to make our way to. Again, like the bar area, the dining area was well light and one could easily peer at the long, open kitchen. We sat down and were given the menus. Being restaurant week, I was a bit nervous but the selection showed no compromise on quality, taste and overall value. I selected the spiced, sweet potato soup with greek yogurt-mushroom wonton to start and it was absolutely fabulous; velvety, tasty and with great contrasts of textures. It had various seeds floating on top and the wonton was both soft and crunchy. Honestly, it was like fireworks for my tastebuds. Then came my entree which in my case was the Szechwan chicken was Lapchang sticky rice and sautÃ©ed mustard greens. There was also some garlic-ginger-soy syrup and chile sauce. The sticky rice was absolutely awesome as was the moist, fragrant chicken. The use of spices created a great balance that didn't overwhelm anything but instead highlighted the main items of the dish. I was blown away once again and cleaned my plate within instants. The girlfriend's appetizer and entrees were terrific as well. For dessert I selected the Miso caramel pot de creme which, much like the rest of the meal, was top notch. Portion size was just right and allowed for a simple but tasty way to finish my meal. So what can one expect from Blue Ginger? A lot of things. A simple, clean, sleek and modern but not uptight atmosphere which has elements from the Asian culture as well as the American one. The menu is whimsical and fun, and features all kinds of dishes and ingredients and dishes seem to each be tastier than the previous. The value is good but the restaurant does remain a bit expensive outside of restaurant week but not unaffordable. The service was great and Tsai has been an advocate for years now in regards to food allergies and they do the best job there that I've seen at handling them. Great drinks, great beer selection as well (they even have China's very own Yanjing beer) . I must return.
(5)
Queenie L.

Best dinner ever after i moved to New England.
(5)
Doug E.

Blue Ginger has officially jumped the shark. I've probably been to Blue Ginger a half dozen times over the past 11 years and I'm sorry to say that the restaurant, although really good, is no longer the exciting discovery it once was. Something just seems to be missing now... did the tables used to be covered with white paper, or was it linen? Was the bread at the tables something special, or is it cold italian bread like it is now? Did the white wines used to be in a chilled whine bucket (today we had our $75 bottle of chardonnay sit on the table and we poured it ourselves). You used to find Ming there... You used to need a month's notice to get in... now you can book the same day. Don't get me wrong, the food is excellent.. the staff attentive and atmosphere a relaxed elegant... but it isn't special any more. We each ordered an appetizer, entre and dessert plus wine and coffee. The bill with tip was $325 for three. For that price I want truly special. It's ok but I expected so much more.
(3)
Andi S.

I had the Moroccan Atlantic salmon and a ginger-infused vodka cocktail. Service, ambiance and ingredients quality was top-notch. I would return again when traveling in the area.
(5)
Saba N.

My mom lives right around the corner for blue ginger and I am JUST getting around to reviewing it. for shame! I've always wanted to go.. but it's so pricey that last minute, I choke and go somewhere cheaper. I know, I know, not an excuse.. but what can I say? I'm not big on overly pricey places. That being said, who knew there is a FANTASTIC asian tapas menu at the bar?! Not me, I sure didn't. Now that I know, I'll be going back to Blue Ginger more often. Plus, for Wellesley.. the bar is really nice and cozy without being TOO crowded. And the drinks are sooo good. I had this honey whiskey concoction... super strong, but delicious. The Tapas menu is so freaking good. Everything is under 24 bucks and it's all really good sized dishes. I had the ming's bings... which were out of this world. And for 14 bucks.. you get yuzu chips & delicious cole slaw. What a great deal! I highly recommend. I also tried the spring rolls which were the best I have ever had. You could easily get 2-3 apps for a party of 2 and leave feeling full and happy. And you don't have to spend $40/plate! Win win! The best part of my night was when Ming Tsai came over to say hi. I had a heart attack and nearly fainted. Once I calmed down, he shook my hand and asked what I ordered. Great guy. And love that this really is his baby - not a lot of celebrity chefs are working Friday nights. Blue ginger is my new favorite spot - hands down.
(5)
Tanya F.

Hmmm. I enjoyed myself but I don't think I'll be coming back. Made a special trip out here and was excited to.try the restaurant of the.pbs Chinese cook...It's hard to pinpoint why but the flavors just weren't exciting enough for me and none of the dishes I had were outstanding or impressive. Obviously I only had an appetizer and one entree so I can't judge the entire menu..but something just wasn't hitting the spot here.
(3)
Ashley F.

I can't say anything negative about my two experiences at Blue Ginger. I don't care to talk much about the decor or waitstaff (decor is nice and staff is friendly). What I do care to take about is the number one reason why we dine out - the FOOD! First time I came to Blue Ginger was over a year ago and I made a reappearance there this past weekend. What I had this time around is what I'll have the pleasure of reviewing. Appetizer - Soy-Yuzu Glazed Duck Leg Confit with Upland Cress Salad and Cherry Ginger Mostarda. Simply AMAZING. Obviously no piece of meat could be more delicious than one cooked in its own fat. Entre - The famous Miso-Sake Marinated Alaskan Butterfish. This dish is a MUST try and is famous here at Blue Ginger. Dessert - Carrot Cake with Carrot Sorbe. Again, so delicious and it literally felt as though I had taken a bite out of the season of fall. Give this cake a whirl if you want something light, surprisingly refreshing (which is unique enough for a dessert, let alone a carrot cake dessert!!) and out of the ordinary. Needless to say it is an experience dining at Blue Ginger. A very masterfully flavorful experience.
(5)
Jin Y.

I've returned~! Finally, after a few years of dreaming about the Alaskan butterfish, I have come back to relish in it once more. Walking into the newly renovated and expanded restaurant, I hoped the service and quality of food would remain the same. Once I got my Alaskan butterfish, for some reason it looked smaller, but once again I don't remember the last time I had this dish. Now that a few years have passed and I've had quite a few miso marinated fatty fishes like black cod etc., in other fine dining establishments, I was slightly disappointed by the demure alaskan butterfish that looked thinner than usual. One bite into it though, I realized why I loved it so much. It's not just the butterfish but the contrasting wasabi infused fish eggs and wasabi sauce. It cut right through the balsamic reduction/glaze and the fish was soft and took it all in. That's a nice fish.
(4)
Augie L.

I've been to my fair share of well known, Michelin rated restaurants and by far, this is still my number one. We had ordered the sake-miso marinated butterfish and our server had told us that it was sablefish instead of butterfish and that this type of fish is the closest to butterfish in terms of texture and flavor. Telling us that really blew us away. I had ordered a special that day and can't recall what exactly was in it, but it had lobster with garlic, a little balsamic and a green puree on the bottom. my god, it was superb! Moist, soft, buttery, garlicy lobster with the right amount of tartness and had a bunch of flavors bursting in my mouth. The flavors were very intense and something about this meal just stuck in head for years. I love this restaurant and Ming Tsai is just a excellent chef! I am a fan for life.
(5)
Mike H.

Wonderful dining experience. I would recommend it to anyone in the Boston area looking for a classy Asian fusion experience without the fuss. My wife and I were visiting Boston for the long weekend, and for a long time i've been a fan of Ming Tsai. Blue Ginger was in the plans. The food was beautiful and so flavorful. For an appetizer, I had a tuna sashimi with preserved lemon. It was prepared carpaccio style. Delicate and spicy. The main course was a bbq short rib with an asian take on a peach bbq sauce. A new style of grits underneath had a subtle hint of ginger in the broth. Really beautiful. The decor is clean and has a hint of Asian style but with a modern restraint. Even the cocktails were fantastic - a Ginger Collins was so tasty. I recommend!
(5)
Carolyn L.

I'm normally wary of Asian fusion having grown up with traditional Asian cuisine and basement Chinatown restaurants with questionable sanitation. I've had bad to mediocre experiences with other fusion places (sorry, Myers and Chang) so I was pleasantly surprised by Blue Ginger. The tapas are great because you get to share and sample several dishes. I try to mix it up and get "more traditional" dishes such as the short-rib kale wonton and shrimp shumai, with "less Asian" ones like the charcuterie and lettuce cups. I didn't find the dumplings worth 3 for $14 although they were still good. From their lunch menu, I've had the burger and ramen which were both flavorful without being too overwhelming. I'm surprised by some of the negative reviews because my dishes have always been well prepared and I've always had good service. I can only speak to their weekday lunch and Saturday tapas so perhaps the bad reviews are for dinner.
(4)
A C.

If you get stranded on a desert island be sure to bring Ming Tsai, so he can catch and cook his butterfish for you. I'm pretty sure I could eat that dish until rescue arrived, and I'm not a big fish person. I've been here about 4 times now, and everytime I walk away completely satisfied that I just had a great, delicious meal with wonderful service. I think it's hard for a place to live up to its hype -- and I can see where other reviewers find fault with some of the dishes. But complaining about salt with an Asian dish is like complaining about butter on a French dish. Ms. Manners would have been disappointed that the waitstaff cleared plates before everyone at the table had completed their meals. That minute detail aside, everyone there is fantastic and attentive. I wouldn't let the negative reviews deter you from trying Blue Ginger. It's one of the few places I've eaten where all three courses are amazing. Couple the food with really high-end service, it's a great experience. If you don't want to splash on dinner, you can try their lounge menu, and maybe get an idea of the food without the hefy paycheck. They have some booths by the bar and numerous shared plates and appetizers.
(5)
Mary B.

The food was memorable. Excellent presentation and great service. Ming was there when I went... I enjoy watching him cook on TV. I got the butterfish dish - it was superb!
(4)
Melanie B.

I came here the night before I flew out from Boston. My foodie friend came here before and told me we should have dinner here. I always heard good things about Ming Tsai's restaurant, so this was a treat! I would give this restaurant 4 1/2 stars. I didn't give it a perfect score due to the saltiness of the gazpacho and thai mussels dish. Other than that, we really loved our experience here! From the time we sat down until we finished our desserts Melissa was a wonderful waitress! We started off with cocktails. Then, we ordered a bottle of wine with our meal. For starters, we had the foie gras shumai with shitake mushroom broth (freaking delicious), thai lemongrass mussels with papaya salad (a bit too salty for my taste), and the corn, tomatoes, avocado, and onion gazpacho (too salty for me but I'm glad we split this one). For our main course, I ordered the ginger lobster with coconut fried rice. I loved every bite of the lobster. It was juicy and not rubbery! My friend ordered the butterfly fish with soba noodle rolls. It was delicious and very flavorful. For dessert, we had the Petit Four dessert with cookies and a gelatin candy. It was delicious and a perfect end to a great dinner! I asked Melissa how often Ming comes by the restaurant...she said pretty often. Apparently, he lives in the next town over and came the night before. Too bad we missed him but I totally find him cute and dreamy :D I heart you and Blue Ginger Ming Tsai!!!
(4)
TheBiggestJuiciestPiece a.

Went here for restaurant week. After reading up on reviews and Ming himself, I had high expectations. What a shame, the flavor profiles, textures, and freshness was disappointing. The spring rolls were alright, the szechuan chicken was not spicy at all... and the noodle dish tasted like trader joes boxed noodles. Not to say that trader joes boxed noodles are bad, just not to be expected at a $$$ restaurant!
(2)
Dave F.

The Alaskan Butterfish. Believe the hype. This miso-sake marinated sablefish served with wasabi sauce and a slight balsamic glaze presents one of Boston's best flavor profiles. The soba noodle sushi served on the side with fresh ginger refreshes the palate, until you're ready to dive back into the butterfish. You will be. Soon. To those yelpers panning the Alaskan Butterfish, how much more flavor would you need to be satisfied? My fiancee ordered the lobster. I had a few bites myself. The dish is packed with flavor. My fiancee wanted to go back yesterday for seconds, it's that good. We shared mussels to start. They were fresh, plump, and served in a Thai broth so delicious I spooned up the remnants and soaked it up with some bread. The Sesame Macadamia Caramel Nut Tart for dessert was pretty good, but not on the same level as Ming's dishes. Next time, we'll just order another appetizer. Service was great. Our courses were promptly served and our waitress was very pleasant. The wine pairings she suggested complemented our entrees very well. The decor is fine. From reading the descriptions in some of the reviews, Blue Ginger might as well be a hole in the wall. It's not. With all the flavor packed in the food, I don't need a modern/rustic 2010s ambiance. The open kitchen is a sight to behold. Notice all the Butterfish being prepared by the cooks on the line. It's up there for a reason. Treat yourself to Blue Ginger sometime. It's worth the money, and worth the drive to Wellesley.
(5)
Katie B.

Excellent choice for an anniversary dinner. Service was spot-on, atmosphere quite pleasant and seamless (despite the paper toppers on the tables) and quiet enough for me to hear my husband even though I'm hard of hearing, and food was delicious. Started with ceasar salad and fried calamari. The salad was good with fresh, crisp greens but the calamari (selected based on the server's recommendation) was a stand-out. I loved it, and I absolutely hate pretty much all seafood I've ever tried. I had the curry pasta, which was made with very strong flavors (as the server warned me it would be). And it was excellent - I guess I love strong ginger/lime/curry. I also like that it was stuffed full of a wide variety of yummy vegetables. Too many eateries completely ignore fresh, flavorful veggies. My husband had the lobster, which he really enjoyed. (I didn't try it, due to the whole seafood aversion thing.) Servings were more than plentiful. Dessert was blueberry fritters with salted popcorn ice cream (phenomenal) and creme brulee (excellent, but not unique). The Massachusetts Mojito was also perfectly balanced. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Marina S.

After months of anticipation and watching Chef Ming on tv, I could not wait to try this place. Well, I wish I had never gone. The appetizers are so over-priced and small. We ordered the shitake leek springrolls which were...interesting. Tempura Sole-Avocado Roulade which I don't even know what that was... seemed like some dried up sushi and the Hamachi* Carpaccio. Definitely not enough to go around for 4 people. The 3 appetizers were just o.k. For our main we had two orders of the scallops which came with a funky coconut sauce that we did not enjoy at all. The lobster dish seemed enjoyable and the veal pretty tasty and came with yummy bread pudding. Almost $300 later, what a disappointment. Might want to consider other places for special occasions. I went home and ate again. $300 down the drain.
(2)
Haley D.

Came here for restaurant week- ordered the udon noodles. Pretty mediocre, very disappointing. Maybe it was because of restaurant week...but I definitely had high hopes for this place.
(3)
Aamir F.

Over hyped and perhaps only known because the Chef markets himself around town and on TV. Nothing to boast about. Suffers from the confusion of trying to fuse concoctions that simply don't go well together. Each item had a distinct flaw, either too dry, too sour, too bland..Just nothing here.
(2)
Lisa P.

I finally had a chance to dine at Blue Ginger after years of dreaming about it (I went to college in Cambridge, but Blue Ginger was a little too pricey and too far away to be in my reach). We took advantage of this past 4th of July long weekend to drive up from NYC and have a weekend trip in the Boston area. Blue Ginger was phenomenal. The first thing that crossed my mind upon entering is that for such a reknowned restaurant, it has a very relaxed and laid-back vibe to it. We noticed right away that Ming was there, greeting customers and plating food, and I admit, I had to restrain myself from squealing like a schoolgirl. We asked the waitress if we could do the tasting menu, and she said that although they don't usually do it on weekends, she would check for us. The chef agreed, and it was awesome. We had: -Curried shrimp crisps as an amuse bouche -Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna Poke with Crispy Sushi Rice Cake and Micro Peppercress-Tosaka Salad (the tuna poke was really good but my favorite was the crispy rice cake) -Sake-Miso Marinated Alaska Butterfish with Wasabi Oil, Soy-Lime Syrup, and Vegetarian Soba Noodle Sushi (Ming actually brought out this dish featuring an incredibly flavorful but fatty fish to our table, and explained where the fish comes from, how it's caught, and why it's special) -Foie Gras Shiitake Shumai in Sauternes-Shallot Broth (the broth reminded me of a sweet French onion soup; the shumai melted in my mouth) -Korean Bulgogi-Style Grilled Hangar Steak and Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster with Lemongrass Fried Rice and Pea Tendril Salad with Soy-Ginger Vinaigrette (the steak has a nice sweet crust to it, the garlic-black pepper sauce is delicious, and the lemongrass rice soaks up all the lobster flavor) -Bittersweet Chocolate Cake with Cardamom Ice Cream and Chocolate Ganache, and Summer Sangria Sorbets (Pineapple-Soju, Cherry-Grenache, and Citrus-Basil) I thought Ming was awesome before I'd even had the chance to eat at Blue Ginger. Then I actually tried his food, and realized it was better than I could have imagined. The icing on the cake? Not only did he come out from the kitchen to talk to us and tell us about his food, at the end of our meal, he brought over printed copies of our tasting menu and signed them for us. Awesome :)
(5)
Alicia F.

Beautiful restaurant, delicious food - particularly the braised short ribs. The staff is wonderful and so accommodating. Perfect venue for a special event - they provide exceptional and seamless service. Would highly recommend for business or social gatherings.
(5)
Asa H.

Excellent tapas style option, great selection, food was all delicious and beautiful Definitely a little pricey, but worth it every now and then
(4)
Will B.

Blue Ginger is one of the best restaurants in Wellesley. It is the Flagship restaurant of Wellesley for its extremely classy layout and environment as well as its wonderful food. The food is very pricey, but what do you expect from a classy restaurant with wonderful service? Blue Ginger offers the highest quality food in the town, hands down. If you want to take your girlfriend out on date, your mother out for her birthday, your grandparents out for lunch, or whatever at an impressive restaurant, Blue Ginger is the restaurant to go to.
(5)
Terry C.

For my birthday dinner #2, I chose Blue Ginger. My mom watches Ming Tsai on TV all the time so I want to give Blue Ginger a try before bringing her here. The restaurant is bright and clean, well-lite and candles on every table. My reservation was at 8:45 on a Wednesday (the only one available) but when I arrived, there were many empty tables. I started with the Blue Ginger Gimlet and that was delicious. For appetizer, we had the Crispy Fried Calamari with Thai dipping sauce. This was just OK. The fried calamari was good but kind-of bland. The dipping sauce is not thick like most calamari dipping sauce; instead it was watery and very very salty. So it was hard to dip the piece of calamari in the sauce without getting too much sauce. There were so many entrees I wanted to try, so my very nice friend let me pick both of them! I chose the Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster with Lemongrass Fried Rice and the Seared Long Island Duck Breast for my friend. Both dishes were delicious! The lobster was fresh and flavorful, served with a sauce that paired wonderfully with the greens and lemongrass rice. The duck breast was tender and very flavorful. It was served with these AH-MAZING squash gnocchi that looked like scallops. YUM! For dessert, I had the Sesame Macadamia Caramel Nut Tart served with coconut ice cream and rum caramel bananas. The tart was good, surprisingly it was not that sweet which was great. The macadamia nuts added a nice texture to the soft tart. The service was great, food was wonderful. But I'm going to say this is more of an American restaurant than Asian fusion. I'll definitely be bringing my mom here!
(4)
Kaitlin A.

I've always wanted to try Blue Ginger, so my boyfriend surprised me with reservations. I had very high expectations, and Blue Ginger met all of them! Walking in, I was impressed with the beautiful decor and open kitchen. We arrived early for our reservation and had a drink at the bar. Most of the drinks were focused around ginger - fresh ginger, ginger beer, or ginger-infused vodka. I chose the Boston Bog, which had fresh cranberries, honey, wild tea vodka, and a splash of ginger beer. Yum! We were seated right on time, and our waitress was very pleasant, and was able to give great recommendations on food and wine. It took a long time for us to decide what to have for dinner. Everything looked so good! We started off with the Shiitake-Leek Springrolls which were so flavorful. For dinner, I had the recommended Butterfish (Miso-Sake Sablefish, with Wasabi Oil, Soy-Lime Syrup and Vegetarian Soba Noodle Sushi) with a glass of Pine Ridge, "Dijon Clones" Chardonnay. This fish was fabulous - tender and light, and a great mix of flavors with the soy, ginger, and wasabi. My boyfriend got the pork shank which was also amazing. We skipped on dessert because we were so full, but the dessert menu looked wonderful as well! This was a great place for a special date.
(5)
Martin M.

Picked up Dad at Logan and made it to Blue Ginger at the end of the Lunch hours. What a treat! Dad has been watching Ming for years, and this was a first time visit for both of us. "Butterfish" for him, Asian Chicken Salad for me. Fantastic flavors. Lunch prices are a great deal, IMHO, because the food is so wonderful. Pleasant room, great wait service. Can't wait to visit again...
(4)
Michelle A.

When I visited Boston last week, I couldn't help but plan a trip out to see Ming's restaurant. I'm a huge fan of PBS cooking shows- Lidia, Ming, Mary Ann Esposito, the now-sainted Julia Childs back in the day... hell, even Bob Ross was cookin (in a bit of a different way). Anyway, I checked out the menu online and since it looked pricey we decided to go for lunch. We were the first people in the restaurant that day, and we had a nice meal. We started with spring rolls filled with leeks and mushrooms- seriously some of the meatiest, most flavorful spring rolls I've had in a long time. They weren't as light as usual spring rolls, but really tasty. The runner who delivered our dish gave us a really helpful, totally unsolicited tip- wrap some lettuce around one of the spring rolls, put some of the slaw that looked like garnish on top, and eat them vietnamese rolls. Yummy. Then for lunch I got a noodle soup dish with chicken- it was the adult version of ramen noodles. Really fresh, light and tasty. My husband got a noodle dish as well, and he liked it a lot- it was sweet, salty, a little hot, etc. What we really loved about the restaurant was the decor though. It's the first time I've seen even really nice restaurants with decor that really didn't feel over-themed. It was such a subtle blue/tan &yellow/red scheme, without being too childlike or garish. It was the perfect illustrative example of FUSION. I actually almost liked the decor more than the food. Almost. Overall, worth driving out to the 'burbs for. Not sure I would do it twice, but really glad I did it once.
(4)
Georgina C.

Blue Ginger is an absolute delight! I've been meaning to dine here for quite some time and was not let down by my experience this past weekend. I ordered the Polly-tini which I know was named after Ming (the owners) wife and it was delicious! For my starter I selected the Shiitake-Leek Springrolls and the person who delivered them (not our waiter, possibly the manager on duty or host) gave us suggestions on how to authentically eat them. We shared our entrees, the Mushroom Tart with Truffles and House Pad Thai. Both were WONDERFUL! Dessert was the creme brulee cooked to perfection. I will definitely be coming back for dinner as the food was wonderful and the service is impeccable!! Well done Polly & Ming!!
(5)
Shuan L.

Blue Ginger offers unique Asian fusion cuisine that is well worth the drive to Wellesley. Because the restaurant is packed on weekend nights, service can be a little disorganized, but at least the staff is friendly and the food is fantastic. The portions are generous, even if you opt for a tasting menu. Highlights include: * Tuna poke with crispy sushi rice cake - The poke itself lacked a bit of authenticity, so I just pretended I was eating regular tuna tartare. But the real star of the dish is the crispy rice cake, which is crunchy on the outside but slightly soft and sticky on the instead. * Garlic black pepper lobster with lemongrass fried rice - Large chunks of lobster and just the right amount of fried rice, served over a slightly thick (and slightly too salty) sauce. Bonus points for dramatic presentation (they serve it with the lobster head sticking straight up in the air). * Sesame macadamia caramel nut tart with toasted caramel ice cream and rum caramel bananas - I almost wished I wasn't sharing it with my mom and had the whole thing to myself. The tart is actually more like a dense cake embedded with crunchy bits of macadamia nuts. I usually like the ice cream portion of a dessert the best, but this was a rare exception. Tip: The restaurant has a private complimentary parking lot in the back which apparently not many people know about because it was almost empty when I drove in there. It's a big plus for people who get heart palpitations at the thought of parallel parking (ahem, me, despite having had a car in Boston for almost two years).
(4)
Austin J. A.

I'm really sad to read so many lackluster reviews of Blue Ginger, especially because I've eaten the Butterfish with whipped wasabi and soba maki no less than four times...and have loved it. It has never struck me as being lower-quality whitefish. I don't have a DNA testing kit with me when I go out to eat, so I can't say for sure what species I was eating, but the labeled-as-Butterfish has been excellently cooked and delicious every time. The only thing I can say I don't love about Blue Ginger is that sometimes it's really crowded. Really, really, elbow-to-elbow crowded. Solution: go at lunch; go at off hours; go during a less-obvious time or week. Okay, now, I'll talk about the stuff I love about Blue Ginger. I love that the owners and all staff are incredibly committed to protecting diners from allergic reactions; they have two separate kitchens, and ask everyone specifically if they have food allergies. I love that they participate in Boston Restaurant Week; their prix-fixe menu is way more affordable and has very good offerings. I love the beautiful new bathrooms. I love the decor, which is a little different in each area of the restaurant (my favorite room is the room with the horse sculpture, but I extra-love the stone fountain in the main room). I love the flourless chocolate cake with cardamom ice cream (to the point where I used to call Blue Ginger the Cardamom Ice Cream Palace). I love the Ming's Bings - sliders inside a dumpling. I love that they participate in Restaurant Week (which is actually two weeks, twice a year) in Boston and its surrounding environment, because I love Blue Ginger's food but can't afford to eat there very often (which is why their $33.13 prix fixe restaurant week menu is a more accessible treat). I love being able to book reservations online at OpenTable. I love that the servers are very kind and knowledgeable, and are attentive in coordinating the arrival of all plates in my party at the same time, as well as not batting an eye if I want something cooked a little more. I love seeing one of the owners, chef Ming Tsai, just hanging out talking to patrons from time to time, and when I do see him, I try not to announce too loudly that I've "just had a Ming Tsaiting," because nobody else loves puns as much as I do. (Ming sighting...get it? *crickets*) The most recent visit I made was during restaurant week, and I had a sesame Caesar salad that was very satisfying, short ribs that melted with the slightest touch of my fork (served on grits that I loved eating for their texture and not-distracting savory flavor palette), and a "coconut cake" that was actually more like a muffin - it was a cakelet that had probably been baked in a muffin tin or its equivalent, and it was unlike any other coconut item I've ever eaten (and I've eaten a lot of coconut things in my life, loving the fruit as I do). It was so aromatic, but of coconut water/milk, and was in no way a dessert that involved shredded, toasted, or otherwise in-your-face stringy coconut. Do not get me wrong: I love coconut of all kinds, in-your-face and otherwise. But this was unreal. The coconut cake-muffin was not too crumby, not too sticky, and was served with a fruity sorbet ball (I bet they said what kind but I scarfed it faster than a speeding train) and some candied tropical fruits. I actually like small desserts for a variety of reasons, and this was a small dessert that came on the heels of a very filling meal. I've not eaten at Blue Ginger a hundred times, but the dozen or so times I have been lucky enough to eat there over the past few years have left me feeling incredibly happy, inspired, and fortunate as all get-out. It is best to make a reservation if you have more than two or three people in your dinner party. I hope that I may someday rent one of their small, private rooms for a meal and feel like some kind of rock star. A no-longer-hungry rock star!
(5)
Van O.

My mother was in the hospital at Metro West so I since I was around town I might as well try this well hyped restaurant. I can tell you from my experience it is nothing more than a hype. There is no doubt the food is flavorful... But the flavor isn't that good. I'm Asian and I know asian food, and I have to admit that this "fusion" isn't working out. I started out with the Calimari. Nice and crispy but the "sauce" was too sour and overpowered by ginger. Maybe Blue Ginger? lol I ordered the Flank steak with Frites (French Fries) This wasn't bad... The flavor was good but nothing special. It's just a steak marinated overnight served with over seasoned french fries. I would of enjoyed this dish if I had some rice with it and not fries... How unsatisfying! So at this point I'm at 4 stars rating. My girlfriend ordered the Chicken Pad Thai. Okay this has to be the nastiest Pad Thai I have ever tasted in my life! The stench from "cheap" rice noodles was evident. Not only that it was overcooked! Who makes mooshy Pad Thai!? If you're Asian you know bad rice noodles when you had them, and Blue Ginger has them. For the price they charge here I would of thought they would use "Fresh" rice noodles. C'mon Ming... Waltham isn't that far away to get fresh rice noodles. At this point I'm down to 3 star rating. So before I tasted the overpriced mediocre food here, I already had preordered the Miso Ramen with Pork for my mom who is at the hospital. She took 3 bites and threw up and could not bare to eat another bite because she said it was too bland. I took a few bites and the soup tasted warm dishwater and the pork was pretty dry. What else can you expect out of Ramens... This one costed $12. So my rating is down to 1.5 stars. The waitress we had was pretty cool and very respectful The servers were nice but the host was snobby and rude. All in all I paid for an experience... A pricey experience that I won't do again. I'm not sure if Ming has ate at his own restaurant lately but either he needs to change the menu or fire all his cooks.
(2)
Lone R.

The point of this review is summarized below: 1. Make sure that your reservation is confirmed, 2. Be prepared for arrogant, non-accountable staff, 3. The food is standard pan-Asian, nothing better than P.F. Chang's 4. I have been to a few dozed one to three star Michelin restaurants, met many celebrity chefs, currently run six hotels including one with a two star Michelin restaurant. I have never been to a more undeservedly popular restaurant. The patrons that frequently crowd this place are indicative of the erosion the celebrity chef/reality TV industry have had on gourmet cuisine.\ 5. The host, Jeff, should find a new line of work. i have never met a more arrogant staff member with unappealing customer service Detailed experience below: my wife and i dined at this place twice expecting great things. the first time we didn't have a reservation and ate at the bar. the food was decent, nothing 'wrong' with the food, but nothing great and the service was somewhat inattentive, so i figured we had caught the place on an off night and we would give it another chance. unfortunately, the second time turned out much worse. my wife had made an 8.15p reservation for the dining room, we arrived at 7.45p -- our sitter was early...9p came around and a high-top finally opened up at the bar -- we had been standing for an hour and 15 minutes. So, not only had 45 minutes gone by from our scheduled reservation time, but we were to eat in the bar and not the dining room -- which normally isn't a problem, but after we sat down the host brought bar menus -- i asked for a full dinner menu, the host indicated that we wouldn't be able to order off of the dining room menu. the bar menu didn't have anything on it that i wanted to order again -- it was unchanged for the +/- six months in between visits. Going back to the host and our reservation for a moment, when we arrived at 7.45p my wife confirmed our reservation time at 8.15p, i heard her speak to the host and say the words 'we have an 8.15p reservation', i heard the host reply 'yes you have an 8.15p reservation'. Ok, so back to the host telling me that i wouldn't be able to order off of the dining room menu. when he said that to me, i responded 'we have an 8.15p reservation, it's now 9p, we're fine sitting in the lounge, but we would like to order off of the dining room menu'. he responded with 'your wife cancelled your reservation when you arrived, we'll see what we can do, but it's going to take a long time to bring you food in the bar ordered off of the dining room menu'. at that point, we started to get into it with fairly significant back-and-forth i have never met a more arrogant restaurant staff person with less appealing service bottom-line, the host had messed up our reservation and he didn't have the professionalism to step-up, admit his mistake, then make it right for the customer, in fact his arrogant behavior. the worst part about it was that Ming was standing right next to the table and did nothing to fix the situation. Poor form all the way around on this one.
(1)
Blair M.

A friend and I had been plotting our trip to Blue Ginger since this past summer, and FINALLY made it there! The anticipation was pretty high, and we both have a penchant for foodie culture and are slightly obsessed with local celeb chefs so I'm not sure how disappointed we could be. Luckily, we weren't! Given its profile, I knew that reservations would need to be made and was still expecting there to be a wait. My friend and I were having a long overdue catch-up night anyhow, so the wait actually DIDN'T bother us as we each sipped Sapporro's. As enticing as the lounge menu is, we decided not to risk it and saved room for our meals. We started with the Tuna Poke. Stop. Shhhhhhh....sorry, I needed a moment to close my eyes and smile at the memory of this dish. The tuna was so perfectly chilled and seasoned, but the big star was the crispy sushi rice cake. I am a texture maniac and this just TOOK the rice cake. I then moved onto the Black Pepper Garlic Lobster after debating for awhile. In the end, I saw so many of them "on the line" in the kitchen that I just had to go for it. Presentation was phenomenal, and it was delicious, except I thought the sauce was a little too strong/salty and could have been used as a drizzle or less quantity. They cook the rice actually IN the lobster shell which really adds to the flavor. We also got to meet Ming, which we totally pretended was not a big deal but immediately squealed about once a safe distance away from the place. We didn't really want to bother him, but after seeing his interactions with his cooks and other patrons we decided he IS actually as nice as he seems on TV. He stopped to talk to us, asked us all about ourselves and didn't give the standard celeb cold shoulder. The only downside was the waitress who took a pic of us with him didn't put the flash on - blur central. Definitely a splurge restaurant and for those who live in Boston its a little difficult to get there. I just feel much better having finally fufilled the desire!
(4)
Rachel K.

I've been meaning to try Blue Ginger for years. I've had Ming Tsai's masterpieces for years at a few local benefits but never made my way to one of his restaurants. On a last minute whim my boyfriend and I decided to try BG with no reservation. We sat at the bar where I ordered the Thai Coconut martini, which after minutes of indecisiveness was a phenomenal decision. It tastes like a lightweight, smoother, version of a pina colada with a spiced rim kick. Delish! After a moment's look at the bar menu, which looked great but limited, we realized they don't serve their standard menu and tried to get a table. Luckily we'd barely beaten the Saturday night dinner rush and were able to get a table. We both ordered the signature dish: Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster with Lemongrass Fried Rice. As someone who eats out a lot, and often at nice restaurants, $41 still seems to be quite the splurge to me for one entree-however, it was worth every penny. A lot of nice places who deliver quality top-level dishes usually come in small portions. This entree was more than enough, and I was dreading my last bite as I didn't want it to end. Full of flavor and the freshest of lobster, this was one of the most unique dishes I've ever had. Every single ingredient seemed like a small piece in a perfectly finished puzzle. My Qupe chardonnay was an excellent match to this dish. Service was good, though a little pushy, no I do NOT need an appetizer for the third time mr. waiter, but I do appreciate your persistence in trying to up-sell us. Overall service was informative, quick, and just what I'd expect from a great establishment like BG. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Michelle T.

Once of the best seafood restaurants in Boston that is creative, delicious, and unique. Perhaps the only downside of my evening was the moody waitress who seemed distracted and a little pissed off the entire evening. The bf took me here for my birthday because he knew what a huge seafood fan I was. Both of us were impressed with all the dishes we ordered in terms of taste, presentation, and flavor, though there were definitely aspects of the dishes that we totally hated. Highlights: 1. Bread basket - we asked for a refill because i loved the crackers and my bf loved the beer bread. Delicious. 2. Big eye tuna on rice cake appetizer was highlight of my evening. It was so fresh, delicious, and unique! That rice cake was was excellent paired with the fish and the sauces they drizzled on the side. 3. Sake miso-marinated butterfish - The fish was a little on the salty side, but it was SO delicious and the tender flakes of fish literally melt in your melt. If we didn't have a gift certificate, our dinner would've definitely been super pricy and I would've given it 4 full stars, but I guess Ming Tsai is a celebrity and our food was delicious, so 5 stars it'll be...until next time.
(5)
Steve A.

I was hoping for more. The service was great. The ambience was very nice. The food was not worth the prices. We had the Poke and it was flavorful but not memorable. The Crab coated Halibut was bland. It needed salt, something I would not have expected. My wife had the Tamarind Scallops and they were good but nothing really exciting. In all it felt like we paid about $10 an entree too much.
(3)
Kelvis P.

I loved this place, but when I visited last night I immediately noticed the menu had been cut short and the quality of the ingredients on the current dishes had been diminished. After receiving our entrees, I was disappointingly proven right. The taste of the food was far from what we used to love. I'm hoping this was a rare one time bad experience and not the case that Ming's fame has grown so much he is neglecting his first jewel.
(3)
David T.

Went here with the bf for a duel birthday dinner and left with extremely happy tastebuds. Prices are a little on the high side but it is to be expected for a restaurant owned by a famed chef and thus we were prepared. Service was polite and water glasses were constantly refilled. Started with Shiitake-Leek Springrolls with Three Chili Dipping Sauce ($12). Wrappings were perfectly crisp and filling was moist and mildly earthy from the mushrooms. The sauce was slightly acidic but complemented the dish well. Plated with a small side of coleslaw that was terrifically crunchy. I had the Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish with Wasabi Oil, Soy-Lime Syrup and Vegetarian Soba Noodle Sushi ($36) and was blown away with the first bite. The fish was beautifully presented and melted in your mouth with a slight buttery finish. Perfection on a plate; it is obvious why this is one of their signature dishes. The bf had Indonesian Curry Pasta with Asian Vegetables, Chopped Peanuts and Panko Herb Crusted Chicken Breast ($23). This was good but not nearly up to the level of my entree. The portion of chicken was quite large and the panko breading gave it the texture of a Japanese tonkatsu. Only complaint about this dish would be that it was extremely citrusy so they could have held back on the lemon just a bit to let the coconut milk shine through more. For dessert I had the macadamia nut tart with rum glazed bananas($12) and the bf had the creme brulee ($12). The tart was absolutely amazing and so decadent. The creme brulee was good but fairly standard so a bit overpriced at $12. Also, since it was our birthdays, they brought out a plate with a candle and two small cookies with an edible sign that read Happy Birthday. Very nice touch.
(4)
Josh P.

This is a swell spot for lunch, and they have a dedicated gluten-free menu, which is a big plus. The pad thai was slightly bland, but they served spices on the side which helped. One disappointment was the homemade ginger ale that I ordered, which turned out to be some carbonated water medium with a homemade syrup that had all sunk to the bottom.
(3)
S. M. S.

Unmemorable, overpriced, inconvenient.
(2)
Nate S.

I get the feel like this is the type of place that people who watch a lot of cooking shows want to go to in order to name drop among their "foodie" friends. The food is definitely good, depending on what you get but the open layout made the place very loud on a Saturday night. Its worth trying if you are in the area but there are plenty of more reasonably priced and more aesthetically pleasing options in Boston.
(3)
Eric L.

I live in Wellesley, probably represent the typical patron for this restaurant, so if Ming reads this he should take note, as this opinion is shared by my friends and colleagues .... we really dislike your host, he is rude and off-putting. He tends to sit patrons with children in the worst seats facing the swinging kitchen door or the bathroom, and he allows large parties carry on with loud ridiculous rowdiness. The food compared to what is available around is just ok, so when presented in a substandard environment with a rude and arrogant host makes us not want to return. I rather drive in to town than waste time at Blue Ginger. And yes, slowly but surely, your local Brookline/Wellesley/Weston clientele are no longer coming, there are so many better choices.
(1)
Valerie V.

This is what happens when a Celebrity chef restaurant is overhyped--it becomes lackluster and delivers poor service! Went as a group of 4 to Blue Ginger without a reservation knowing that we would have to wait at the bar. They quoted us 30-40 minutes which was completely reasonable. We weren't seated until almost 90 minutes later!!! If we hadn't been having fun and not terribly hungry to begin with, we wouldn't have waited. The specialty drinks we tried were all great but were SO overpriced ($14++) After we were seated they didn't even offer us a free dessert or something to make up for the wait. Our server was nice enough and came and went in a timely manner which is always appreciated. We didn't see Chef Tsai so not sure if he was around that night or not. Onto the food...::sigh:: It certainly wasn't -bad-, it just wasn't anything to lose your mind over. For appetizers we had the spring rolls (fine), the shumai (delicious!!), and the calamari (terrible). The calamari were soooo small and there was nothing special about them but the sauce which was just a basic tangy Asian flavored dip. My fiance and I wanted to try both of the "signature dishes" so we ordered those and shared them. The Garlic Black Pepper Lobster was generous with the amount of Lobster but also VERY generous with the amount of salt. I honestly felt like I had just eaten a bucket of salt after eating it. The garlicky sauce was nice though. The Butterfish was fantastic....but the size of it was incredibly small for the $36 price tag and the sides that came with it felt like garnishes. We didn't try dessert... I can pretty confidently say I will NOT be back.
(2)
Michelle Y.

This was probably the best meal that I have eaten in a really long time. We came out to Boston to visit my cousin that goes to BU. We read all the reviews about Ming Tsai's restaurant so we decided to go visit it, the only hard thing was that it was a long taxi drive, so not that close to the T-line. Once we got there we were greeted by the hostess who was SUPER friendly...the first thing she said was "Happy Birthday" because we were celebrating my cousin's birthday. We then got seated and started looking at the menu... everything looked amazing! Our waitress was telling us about Blue Ginger's signature dishes, like their butterfish, duck, shumai, etc and I wanted all of them, and then we saw that there was a Tasting menu option at the bottom. Everyone at your table had to do it and you could have from 5-8 courses starting at $80. After careful consideration we decided to get it and I was super Psyched! Our waitress also suggested that instead of getting the wine pairings that we share a glass of white and red throughout the meal, which was a great idea, she really knew her pairings! Okay, so being super excited we get a amuse bouche, which had smoked salmon on top of a wonton chip. That was just lovely. First Course: Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna Poke* with Crispy Sushi Rice Cake and Peppercress-Tosaka Salad. THIS was amazing!! The sushi rice cake was crispy on the outside and ricey in the middle... we dont' know how they do it, either pan or deep fry that cake but it was great. AND it was like a normal appetizer size, not like when you expect to only get a bite for a tasting menu. 2nd Course: Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish, Wasabi Oil, Soy-Lime Syrup and Vegetarian Soba Noodle Sushi This too was amazing, and the portion seemed to be like a regular appetizer size, plus think that each person got one of these....it was the beginning of an AMAZING dinner. 3rd. Course: Foie Gras-Shiitake Shumai in Sauternes-Shallot Broth, this was considered Ming Tsai's signature fusion dishes and was it a perfect fusion! We each got one Shumai but the combination of shitake and froie gras was delicious, plus it was in like a french onion broth. 4th Course: Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster with Lemongrass Fried Rice Pea Tendril Salad with Soy-Ginger Vinaigrette PLUS Grilled Hanger Steak. This was our entree and it was definitely FULL size entree. By this time we were getting full and then when we saw the surf n' turf I was in awww..... my sister and I couldn't even finish it! The lobster was cooked perfectly and the hanger steak just melt in your mouth. The fried rice was a perfect compliment to the richness of the rest of the dish. It was just HEAVEN. Like I said, I couldn't finish that course because I wanted to save room for dessert, so we packed the rest and ate it later. Finally 5th course: Palm Sugar Cranberry Tart Brown-Butter Crunch Ice Cream and Cider Caramelized Apples PLUS Bittersweet Chocolate Cake Cardamom Ice Cream Spiced Sugar Wafer and Chocolate Ganache: These were delicious too, but I'm not as much of a dessert person then food person. They even came out with a plate of cookies with a candle that said Happy Birthday. Overall, this was AMAZING!! If I ever go back to Boston, I will definitely go back, the staff were all super friendly and the food mouth watering! If you can't decide just get the TASTING MENU...definitely worth the $$!!
(5)
White Devil C.

Overall I was impressed with the menu innovation level, professional wait staff, and strong food quality. Food presentation varied, with outstanding signature dishes like the sake-miso marinated butterfish colorfully presented while the pre-assembled but tasty fish tacos looked a bit sad and the lively shiitake rolls were monotone to the eyes. The front decor and booth format in the restaurant was attractive; the rear decor was a bit tired. Our table toward the back (a round table for 6) was slightly tilted and could have felt more solid. Service was consistent and excellent, prices were reasonable, and the overall atmosphere had energy and vibrancy. In my judgment Blue Ginger is worth the drive out of the city.
(4)
jon b.

Such a disappointment. It's like they just stopped caring about the food or the decor but still feel entitled to charge high prices. Sure - the butter fish is good...but c'mon - it's not that good.
(3)
Anne W.

Ming Tsai.. you have lost your touch. A clue would be when your show is no longer on the Food Network. I thought the food might be good since you won the Iron Chef America challenge. But you let your chefs in the open kitchen have let the food quality slip. First off.. we had a reservation at 8:45 pm. You made our party of 8 wait approximately 30 minutes. I know you can't make people get out of their seats.. but you need to figure out the tables a little better to avoid patrons waiting FOREVER. Second off.. the food was just mediocre. For the prices you are charging.. and the distance we all drove from the city.. we were expecting quality even if not quantity. We got neither. We tried a variety of things... including the tuna tartare which was good but not amazing. Nothing I couldn't get at a sushi place I regularly go to. It also made me sick when I got home so I am a little worried it wasn't fresh or clean. The sauces on the plate didn't add too much. It was basically.. crispy rice with chopped tuna on top with some fresh veggies. I tried part of the chacuterie plate as well.. the procieutto was delicious. I also tried the shiu mei and I thought it was very tasty although only three for $15 is a bit steep. I guess it's the foie gras. Then I got the lobster only because I had read the butterfish recipe is online and of course, I can attempt to make it myself. Ummm... it was okay. I am pretty sure it was a twin chix lobster. I can get more lobster at half the price where it tastes about the same in Chinatown. Not too much lobster meat unfortunately. The vegetables were heavily sauteed in ginger. Would have been better without. I tried the butterfish.. it was good but it wasn't amazing. I also tried the scallops which were good but nothing special or out of this world. Just sauteed with butter, salt, and pepper. I didn't try the desserts but it all looked pretty standard. Nobody was wowing or raving over it. The coffee was typical American coffee. I wouldn't mind if I had paid half the price and waited half as long. Major fail. The waitstaff was not up to par either to what I would expect from a high ened restaurant. They didn't come for a long time after he asked us how things tasted.. plates did not come all at the same time... and waitstaff (not patrons) kept bumping into my chair. Skip it... overhyped.. although I noticed if you are older, you might enjoy it. This place was full of older people.
(2)
Anthony N.

You know how after you go out to a fancy dinner with a group and everyone tries everything there is always someone who "won" the evening? Blue Ginger is the only experience I've ever had where everybody won. Start to finish impeccable, spectacular food. The black pepper lobster is incredible. The butterfish is as good as advertised. The lamb is grand. The foie grais shu mai are so rich and delicious I had them for dessert. The charcuterie plate is great. The service is top-notch, the waiters knowledgable and friendly, the cocktails and wine list fantastic. The price is high, but not unreasonably so for the quality of restaurant it is. Also, for a "celebrity chef" Ming spends a lot of time there. I've been to the restaurant twice, at different times of year, and he was there both times.
(5)
Capt k.

I went to Boston for Labor Day weekend and was looking forward to dine at Blue Ginger for weeks because I have heard so many good things from my friends. The service started very nice. The waitress is extremely patient. She spend about 15 minutes with us to describe the dishes that we are considering and the proper wine pairings. I finally decided on Foie Shumai to start, followed by splitting the five spice chile duck breast entrÃ©e, for my main entrÃ©e infamous sake miso butterfish and finally for dessert Macadamia Nut Caramel Tart with the maitake coffee. The Foie Shumai is absolute divine, the filling is so light and airy and the sauternes-shallot broth is delicious. Five spice duck breast is perfectly cooked and the rich sauce is heavenly. The infamous butterfish is just OK. The fish is overly sweet for my personal taste. The flavor of soba noodle is traditional Japanese just wrapped in seaweed. I have had better sake miso black cod and soba noodle at Japanese restaurants in Seattle. The Mac Nut Caramel Tart is a bit too sweet and dense for my personal liking. However, the toasted coconut ice cream is delicious. The waitress explained the health benefit of the magic maitake mushroom infused coffee. I guess I feel so much healthier after I had two cups of the coffee. I deducted one star from the overall rating because the experience at the end. I think we are over the allotted dining time. The waitress brings the bill in the middle of the dessert course and then DUMPED my coffee refill into my cup. I feel being rushed and ruined my overall experienced at that end.
(3)
David H.

Given the hype, I expected better. Celebrity chef, long lines, so much hoopla - I guess I thought this meal would be something special. Surprise! It wasn't. Not to say anything was really bad. The little quail legs & egg roll appetizers were perfectly OK. The 'Indonesian Curry Pasta' had (3) excellent shrimp, but the pasta surrounding them was towards the greasy side of noodle dishes, & overall impersonated a less-than-average Pad Thai. Our pork shank with coconut rice would have been better has they just steam-cooked it. But instead it must have been baked for a while as well, probably intending to produce a crispy exterior. Bad idea. Way too dry & chewy. Our overall impression was that the cooking attitude here is just about 180Â° opposite of Alice Waters' philosophy: the freshest of ingredients should shine through as brightly & distinctively as they can. Blue Ginger's flavors were muddy, murky, ill-defined. You can add a few adjectives of your own. No doubt many will disagree, but I rate Blue Ginger a hearty ho-hum.
(2)
Consuelo V.

Went for lunch during restaurant week. The prefix menu was simple: soup, salad, or spring rolls for apps; chicken sandwich, pasta, or burger for entree; and creme brulee or chocolate mousse for dessert. At the table we had soup which was light and nice and spring rolls which were presented well but nothing out of this world. Pasta and chicken sandwich for entree, which were OK. We order both of the desserts. The mousse was surprisingly light and delicious. (I'm not a huge fan of chocolate mousse.) The creme brulee was OK despite a mistake which caused one to be forgotten and hurriedly prepared so it wasn't set yet. The crust was better than the Capital Grille's. Overall a nice experience but I attribute that to the company that I was with more than the food. Not unpleasant but not memorable.
(3)
Robert H.

Fantastic food! Great waitstaff. I go every visit to Boston.
(5)
John C.

i'm really sad to rate blue ginger this low. but it's definitely not A-ok... at least not for the prices they charge. my sister took some of us out for dinner to celebrate a new job and my mom was pretty excited to try blue ginger. it was a weeknight but the place was PACKED. there wasn't an empty table in the restaurant, which is very clean and upscale. but you're not here to hear about how pretty the place was, you're here to see what the food taste like. the food was pretty typical asian foods made fancy. but here's the dilemma, most asian food is basic food. trying to make some of it fancy is like trying to make corned beef and cabbage fancy. sometimes you win, but most of the time, you'll lose because you completely destroy the nostalgic factor. that's what happened with nearly every dish ordered. i had the lobster... i took a picture and uploaded it. as you can see, it's a mush of lobster over a pile of rice. for 15 dollars, yeah, maybe it's A-ok.. but for 25+ i've experienced better. 90% of the people who eat here are caucasians who have probably never set foot in chinatown or have had authentic asian cooking growing up. i can see why the reviews are so high, compared to the local americanized chinese food this place seems amazing. but to the more experienced asian cuisine palate this place just isn't that special. i'de love to go back again to try it out and give it another chance, i just can't see myself spending $$$ money on food that my mom makes on a weekly basis. sorry chef tsai...
(2)
Lucy M.

Blue Ginger is a consistently good meal. I like that Ming Tsai is often in the restaurant (hopefully that will still be true when his place opens in Boston) I prefer the bar to the dining room, which other than giving you a view of the kitchen, doesn't offer much in the way of ambience. To me the stand out dishes are the Miso-Saki Butterfish, the tuna poke, and most recently the braised lamb shank, which is delicious. Cocktails are interesting and desserts are solid.
(4)
Jill T.

Weird food. Mediocre service. WAY overpriced for what you get. I wanted it to be a special occasion, wonderful food, great drinks, great service, and I was frustrated from the get-go. Not worth it. Overrated.
(2)
Su-Yee L.

I went to Blue Ginger on Saturday because I had a $50 gift certificate which wouldn't go far at all for dinner but would be okay for lunch/lounge. My bf and I ordered a couple of dishes: the sake miso butterfish, ming's bings with the blue cheeseburger, red roast duck, and traditional pork and chive, and the spicy red miso ramen. Here's the breakdown: -Butterfish- 2 pieces of really delicious fish, well seasoned and quite tasty. My piece, though, was on the underdone side so was quite slippery and didn't have the right texture. The soba noodle salad that it came with was way too gingery for my taste. -Ming's Bings- My main fault with these is that they weren't really all that tasty. I've had much better pork and chive dumplings at cheaper restaurants. For theirs, you definitely needed the dipping sauce. The red roast duck was okay but it was weird to have such sweet duck. The blue cheeseburger was alright, too, but nothing mind-blowing. The sides that it came with were pretty good: taro chips, some oil-based coleslaw, and a couple of pickles. -Red miso ramen- I hadn't had red miso before so I'm not sure whether I just don't like it all that much or because Blue Ginger's wasn't very good. Anyway, I wasn't the biggest fan of it. The noodles were good though and the few pieces of pork (only 2 thin slices and a some little chunks in the bottom of the bowl) but I wanted more pork and more vegetables. I barely found any beansprouts or other veggies that were listed. We also got creme brulee for dessert but it was nothing special. Our waitress forgot our tea so comped our dessert which was nice of her but all in all, if I hadn't had that gift certificate, the meal wouldn't have been worth the $60. Oh, it was also nice having the free parking in back.
(3)
Ashley M.

Delicious and unique Asian tapas in the lounge for lunch. It's a little pricy for appetizer sized dishes but the quality and presentation were so fantastic that it's worth it. Fun drink menu. My boyfriend has been a fan of chef Ming for years and was not disappointed with his restaurant. Cant wait to return to try the dinner entrees.
(5)
Karen L.

i drove past this restaurant several times while on a recent trip to Boston, and always wished I had time to have a meal there, because it looked so inviting. I never did have the time for a complete meal, but I did squeeze in a take-out order of butternut squash soup, which was delectable!
(5)
Jessie C.

Three Words - Ming Tsai High. I can't get enough of this place. Had the Alaskan Butterfish - TO DIE FOR! Wasabi is my new favorite thing! The rest of my party was equally as pleased with the food - Asian sliders wth the blue cheese, steak sandwich and the Shrimp dish (don't remember what it was called) this place was just awesome. Asian tapas - come on! doesn't get better than that...
(5)
Michelle H.

I have to say this place is overrated (at least for lunch). I felt like a lot of the dishes we had, you could make yourself and it would have came out close. Especially the lettuce cups. The bread though is pretty tasty here. Maybe I need to try dinner, but this is definitely not on my list of places that I want to visit anytime soon.
(3)
Colleen T.

I took my Mom here who was visiting from PA. She is a Food Network junkie senior citizen and really wanted to go. I knew she probably wouldn't like the food because she was raised on an Irish-American diet of pot roast and mashed potatoes with the most exotic spices of salt and pepper! But I thought I might enjoy it.... well not so much. The restaurant itself is lovely. Basic clean decor. The service was nice but the food --- ehhh. My mom and I each got an appetizer - I got the mushroom spring rolls and she got the crispy fired shrimp stuffed with pork. We each shared. The spring rolls were unremarkable. The flavors were muddled, really couldn't taste mushrooms --- really just tasted fried. Same with the shrimp - nothing remarkable. Just fried shrimp -- the pork did add a little interesting flavor. For the main course my mom got pork and I got lobster. The lobster was a big plate of muddled mess. Head and tail were left on the plate as "decor" and the tail itself was served "sliced" but in the shell. So I had to dig it out of the shell while it was covered in sauce - ick. Definitely not worth the 41 dollars. I didn't try my mom's but it looked ho-hum. Bottom line... for the money and the mystique of the celebrity chef/owner this place disappoints. The food is not exciting or interesting. The flavors are muddled and nothing is "clean". I won't be returning.
(2)
Lilia G.

I'm a little surprised to see such high ratings for this restaurant. 1) The food was good, but not great. Definitely overpriced. 2) The service was very poor. From the hostess to the waitress, no one seemed happy to be there or have us there. Our waitress was not waiting on us. Spring rolls were good but definitely nothing to write your mother about. Salmon was good but the wasabi was just a little too much for me. Duck was very good Short rib, I heard, was very good. Chocolate cake was good but tasted like hersheys chocolate fudge.. In all, dinner for the four of us came to $240 including tip and drinks. I would have rather gone to PF Chang's and saved myself the $100.
(3)
Mel H.

Private dining heaven. My husband and I had a reception here, which we had to plan remotely from the Bay Area. Selene and Erika from Blue Ginger's events were fantastic, and were able to accommodate our group's special needs (our 100+ year old Nana, menu for children and folks with allergies, bringing in our own cake, etc.) All the things that might've been crazy on the big day were not. The staff was AWESOME and so nice! We had the tasting menu and everyone thought the food was exquisite. I couldn't have been more pleased.
(5)
Jessi M.

As a poor and struggling college student, this was a treat. I went here just after my boyfriend and I both turned 21. We decided to go all out. We started with the Tea-Smoked Salmon & Beef Carpaccio. This was delicious- I could have ended here. We went on to get the butterfish and a steak. I actually liked the steak a bit more, as traditional as it was, but the butterfish was still great. We finished with the dessert donuts, which were so tasty. Overall, this was a wonderful date. The service was super professional, the food was amazing, and it was a nice excuse to dress up a bit. It is, however, a pretty big chunk of change for a college student, so save it up for a good occasion. Also, their ginger drinks are REALLY ginger-y, so be prepared. (I maybe would have gone for something milder, had I known that.)
(5)
stephanie w.

what kind of Yelper would I be if I did not at least Yelp something positive...well Blue Ginger made that pretty easy... I've been here a couple times now and I only have 1 complaint...let's get this over and done with quick...I'm just not too keen on the paper over the table cloth...it just brings it down 1 star...bummer!!! kitchen was open...which I like...very clean...at the end of the night someone sent a lamb dish back...the whole kitchen staff gathered around and checked it all out...looked like they were discussing what was going on with the dish...I liked that...whether they agreed with the it being sent back or not...I do not have a clue...but the fact that they were all examining it gave me confidence that if it was wrong they picked up on the mistake and all were ready to fix it...or just reassuring themselves all was good...either way I took it as a positive... Atmosphere is pleasant and comfortable...wait staff nice and attentive...I totally wish I remembered the name of our server...she was great...stupid me...would love to give her a shout out!!! Calamari yummy (nice huh?) - the lemon sauce that came with it...holy moly soooo good...crab cake - light and tastey...spring roll - I was glad that a server said to roll it in the lettuce and put some of the cabbage on it then dip in the sauce - nice touch I had the pan seared scallops - they were decent cooked perfectly...the risotto on the other hand - wow yummy again...it was lemony and not quite the creamy risotto that is Italian style...but a nice risotto in it's own right - the texture and taste were fantastic... I didn't have dessert but I did venture a bite of the coconut ice cream...that was good...and honestly one of the best cappuccinos around... All and all I had a very nice dining experience...and you know for sure I will be going back...maybe next time Chef Tsai will be there...
(4)
Ms. S.

I came here for an anniversary dinner a few months ago, and I was NOT impressed. The food wasn't inedible, but it certainly wasn't great. Average food, expensive prices.
(2)
Philip H.

My wife and I came here for restaurant week and were not terribly impressed. The quality here was unfortunately not great for the price nor the journey out to Wellesley. Sorry Ming Tsai.
(3)
J M.

Chef Ming is a delight. His food is better in person than on TV. If I am in this neighborhood, I try not to miss it. Even the take out is incredible. You will freakin' love this place! GREAT service, a little formal for my taste, but this is NOT a complaint. You must try it.
(5)
Jennifer W.

All the rave you heard were true...this restaurant is fantastic in presentation, taste and innovation. Foie Gras-Shiitake Shumai and lobster with fried rice were delicate and tasty. I also highly recommend the butterfish. Most importantly...get they Golden Goose martini. Ginger and grey goose...they should by as synonymous as peanut butter and jelly.
(5)
J T.

Don't believe the hype! Industrial production of ok food.
(2)
Joanna C.

I had been wanting to go here for a LONG time now, and finally got the chance to go recently! And I honestly walked in expected to be COMPLETELY bowled over. I was ready for culinary feats of genius. I wanted to leave feeling like I've eaten the best meal of the month there. And, I felt... ehhhhh... blase about my entire experience there. The girls at the front were sweet, and they sat us ALL the way in the far corner of the restaurant. I had to scootch into this tiny table, which was fine, but most of the restaurant was empty. I could've used a bigger table just to avoid being all up in my lunch companion's grill. But whatever, a tiny table is a tiny table. Bring on the food! The calamari appetizer was WAY too over salted. The dipping sauce was a miss. It didn't... mesh well together. It didn't taste right. Or maybe that was because of the layers of salt on the calamari, who knows. But my entree of Butterfish was... delicious. Perfect. Buttery like the name promised it would be. Just... perfect. And yet, I felt a little disappointed. Like... this is it? No more wow-ing? Well... there was no wow. I left completely wow-less. A solid place for a nice lunch, but... I think I had my hopes up a little too much for an amazing meal.
(3)
Andrew K.

Everything was fantastic! the staff were extremely friendly, good drinks and a pleasant atmosphere. I had the butterfish which was simply delicious and my fiancee had the veal chop, which she loved as well. I cant wait to come back and try the lunch menu sometime!
(5)
Magnum P.

A must eat place when in Boston, Asian pacific rim fusion in a chowder land. Friendly staff, great atmosphere, worth the wait, sit in the bar.
(4)
Angela M.

My boyfriend and I have been watching "Simply Ming" on TV for a while, and, after trying some of his recipes at home, we decided to have a spontaneous dinner at Blue Ginger after walking around the Elm Flats and the arboretum at Wellesley College last weekend. Since it was an impromptu visit, we didn't have a reservation, but luckily, we got in early enough to get a table for two. We started with the calamari, which was pretty great...nice, light sauce, and not such a large serving that we're too full for the main entree. After a tough time of having to decide on dinner, I ordered the Alaskan Butterfish, and my boyfriend had the Hangar Steak. We were both pretty pleased with what we had. The fish really was delicious, and melt-in-your-mouth good. It was grilled to perfection, and the soba sushi on the side were a nice addition. We both left feeling satisfied, but not full, and agreed that this is a place to remember for parents' visits and guests. The dining atmosphere ranged from casual to more dressy, and the service was friendly and efficient. I will definitely go back!
(5)
Tim C.

We try to go to Blue Ginger once a month and truly enjoy the lounge menu very much. Pleasantly surprised to see three new items. We tried the new swordfish dish and it was superb! Also tried the donuts and coffee ice cream dessert for the first time, it was fantastic. Service was delightful as usual. Looking forward to returning to the lounge to try the orange chicken dish.
(5)
The Throwin S.

I wanted to try BG for several years, but never made the trip out to Wellesley... until last week. The food was good, but it didn't live up to the reputation or the price. Calamari was worse than the average takeout pizza joint; adding Thai fish sauce to thin, rubber-like rings doesn't qualify as upscale Asian fusion. The salads were fresh. The poke and carpaccio were superb. "Signature" spring rolls, sadly, could not match what they serve at the Cheesecake Factory on route 9 in Chestnut Hill. Creme brÃ»lÃ©e was above-average. The service was excellent. Overall, a big disappointment for me. I imagine that this place is now closely run by someone who learned from the guy that was taught by the person that was mentored by the guy that played squash with Ming Tsai.
(3)
Adam W.

Whenever I travel and I am near Wellesley, I tried to make an effort to dine here. My favorite dish is the Black Peppered Lobster. Ever since I ate that dish, I can no longer eat lobster the same old way - broiled and with butter. That just sucks. Try that dish, trust me. I have been there 3 times now and every time, Ming Tsai has always come out to greet the customers. He came to our table and talked with us and made some suggestions. One of my coworker is a big fan of his show and has many of his cookbooks. He graciously allow us to take a photo of him and her together and signed her cookbook. It was an experience she will not forgot. It was the highlight of her business trip.
(4)
Sweta B.

We went to blue ginger for my husbands birthday...we were looking for something asian, a little bit special but not too formal and I think Blue ginger fit the bill perfectly. The place was full, cheerful and chirpy.The service was good. Now lets come to the food...my appetizer was a mushroom dish with parmesan flan and I think was phenomenal...for the main course I took the polenta nepolitan and I thought it was good but nothing amazing and my husband took the Indonesian curry and I have to admit that although the overall dish was good but there was something off about the dish, it was a tad too dry for a curry dish and the lemon flavour took over everything else. Overall it was a nice evening but we have had better birthday dinners.
(3)
Joe H.

We often go to Blue Ginger for special occasions. It always delivers. The wait staff are superb. Food is a solid 8 out of 10.
(4)
Julia W.

I can't believe I was suckered into another popular restaurant that didn't live up to its reputation... but I was with Blue Ginger. I didn't mind the long waits (expected when a restaurant has a huge reputation, a famous chef, and is 1 of 3 restaurants in a yuppie town), the squished seating, and the prices, but the food was not that great. Why the hell is this place so popular? Before you think I am exaggerating, let me give you a quick story about my experience at Blue Ginger. It's my mom's birthday so dessert was going to be the highlight of the meal. We look over the menu and select the Citrus- Mascarpone Cream Cake. Sounds like a heavenly treat, right???? WRONG! It tasted like pepper. Who the hell puts pepper in a dessert? Thinking we were losing our minds, we called over the waitress to see what the deal was with our peppery treat. Here's her response (and I quote) "Yeah, our pastry chef is getting a bit creative. She has been using white pepper in the desserts." Yummy. Anyway, skip Blue Ginger and grab yourself a better, lower priced meal somewhere else. Remember, Ming Tsai is only human.
(2)
Andrew B.

Reservations: We made them the day before for a Sunday night. The earliest slot was 8pm. We were seated as soon as we arrived. Even though the weather was freezing, the place was hopping. Parking wasn't bad. Ambience: The decor was not what I expected in a restaurant in this price range. It wasn't offensive, but it was down-rent: ceiling tiles. The crowd was older and expensively dressed. It's not a date spot; it's where you introduce your significant other to your parents. It felt a little tired. Service: We had to wait too long for attention, even considering how busy they were. As the restaurant cleared out, service improved. Perhaps the waiter knew that service had been slow, since he chatted with us for a couple of minutes before presenting the bill. Drinks: We had mixed drinks. They were fine. A few dollars overpriced, but fine. Food: - The bread was disappointing; the wonton / cracker thing was appealing. - The egg rolls might as well have been something from the Whole Foods deli. - I had the quinoa risotto. As I ordered it, I thought, "I'm surprised that you can make a risotto out of quinoa." Well now I know: you cannot. It had the consistency of cream of wheat. The dish was also dessert-sweet. (For what it's worth, this is the only vegetarian entree on the menu. I elected not to ask whether it was made of vegetable stock.) - My wife ordered off-menu: she substituted tofu for chicken. (We called ahead to confirm that they did indeed have tofu, even though it doesn't appear on the menu.) The waiter seemed a little confused when she said she was a vegan. ("No fish?") When the plate arrived, there was six ounces of cold silken tofu sliced and tiled to cover the entree. We were in shock that everyone who saw this dish--the cook, whoever plated it, and the waiter--thought this would be appealing. Normally we'd complain, but if they're this clueless about food, there was really nothing they could do to rectify the situation. So we just laughed.
(2)
Lan T.

This was my second time, both on company travel...woohoo! So getting there, Washington ends at around 555 Washington and so when you are near the church with the steeple, turn. I saw Ming there. His hair is longer these days. I loved the first time, but expected more this time. The bread was good, but i just wasn't wowed...
(4)
Courtney T.

Since we are huge fans of shows like Iron Chef, Hell's Kitchen, Top Chef, and Chopped, to name a few, my boyfriend and I decided to check out our first famous-chef-restaurant. I must say that every single thing that landed on our table was phenomenal. We started with the salmon and beef carpaccio, I went with the waiter's recommendation for dinner -- the butterfish entree, my boyfriend ordered the tea-smoked chicken entree, and we got maitake coffee and the sesame macadamia caramel tarte for dessert. Honestly, everything I tasted, I said "oh my gosh!" Such a fun time and such a new experience for me. And yes, we even saw Ming Tsai there. So much fun! I also learned that there's a bar menu, so if you're looking to save a buck, try that or lunch! Worth every penny.
(5)
William B.

You cannot go wrong at the Blue Ginger. I always feel confident that my guests will be thrilled by the whole experience. Have a champagne cocktail in the bar first, then order the pepper lobster. All the deserts are sensational. This place is quite simply the best food in metro west with excellent service.
(5)
Rachel M.

We wanted to love Blue Ginger. We are from California and we were in Boston on vacation. In fact, we kept our rental car an extra night just to drive to Wellesley. My husband ordered the tuna poke which he liked. He also ordered the Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster with Lemongrass Fried Rice. Both were delicious, but did not wow us. It was more of, "this is good, try it" instead of "wow, this is really, really good, you've got to try it." I ordered the Colossal Shrimp & Vegetable Tempura with Yuzu-Dashi Aioli. I was eager to try the yuzu dashi aioli. I liked the way the tempura was cooked. It wasn't like tempura you would order in a Japanese restaurant. It had a very nice crispness to it. However, it was a bit on the bland side. The yuzu sauce was ordinary, nothing great. For my entrÃ©e, I ordered the Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish. The butterfish melted in your mouth. However, the sauce was a bit on the sweet side. For dessert, we shared a Sesame Macadamia Caramel Nut Tart. This dessert did not come together for us. The ice cream was ok, the bananas were ok, the tart was just ok. It was an ok dessert, but nothing special. The wine list. I was having just one glass of wine so I wanted something good. While looking over the wines by the glass, I noticed that they were selling Conundrum for $16/glass. We don't mind spending $16/glass for something good. But, do they know that you can buy a whole bottle of Conundrum for $24 at Costco? Service was exceptional. We had a fabulous waitress. As I mentioned, we wanted to love Blue Ginger. We thought we would love it. But, instead we were disappointed.
(2)
Paul S.

Amazing food. Frankly the best food / service I can recall. Did the tasting menu. A bit of a splurge but got to taste some different things I wouldn't have ordered. Butterfish great, lobster surf and turf with hanger steak great. Shitacki mushroom appetizer had amazing sauce and the bigeye tuna app was incredible. Definitely a splurge type meal as dinner came to $245 for 2 before tip and that was with only 3 glasses of wine total. Great food and service though. Server did a fantastic job explaining each course as it arrived. The dessert was amazing, cream brÃ»lÃ©e best ever, incredible!
(5)
Eric F.

I have always liked Ming Tsai's East West fusion style. He is very cool and different. It is so out of the ordinary. I always look for new and interesting meals, recipes and things to try. Ming always portrays something out of the ordinary either through his methods, techniques, his shows, recipes, tips and much more. Plus the fact that he started out wanting to be an engineer in college, went to Yale University, was a professional squash player and then turned his interests toward to the Culinary world well I think that is even more "kewler!" I've liked his style for years and like that he only has one restaurant and pours everything into it (compared to then other chefs like with the Food channel etc etc who have several). I don't like to go to franchise type restaurants if I have my rather, and avoid thai and other restaurants that have several of the same sort of chain. I like to go to the original places that have the same chefs, style etc. Sometime the food is better at one of the places then the others. With Blue Ginger, what transpires is made from one place and one place only. I kind of like that. Even though I originally come from Providence RI and have gone to Boston and RI frequently but we never tried this place. But what spurred me onward was this blog and more recipes and restaurants that I am trying. So we finally went to eat at Ming's place Blue Ginger with my mother and sister. We went at lunch time. I was the only male in the place though. It was pretty full, not packed and has a nice airy feeling to the whole place. Not noisey at all. The decor inside is bright and it has an award winning design I have found. I was surprised to see so many chefs working at the chef/grill/wok stations. There are so many restaurants whether you like it or not always have the same menus to try. Sometimes there new specials etc which is good too. Here at Blue Ginger the menu is always changing and also reflects what food is at hand and fresh too. This gives a restaurant more versatility and freshness. Plus the waiter/waitresses have to be "at the top of their game" to know and tell the customer what is the best for them even for that day. The waiter was excellent. I thought about trying a beef entree but the courteous waiter suggested (with no reservations and hands down) that I needed to try the butter fish. His recommendation was good enough for me. My mother would try the the asian style salmon and my sister another entree. We ordered an entre or two. I did not have my camera as I left it back in Kansas. So I had to think "outside the box". Why not use my treo's camera? I have started taking pics with my pda camera and although they are not great pics, its at least a visual representation from these words. So I could show more about this review in a visual more meaningful way now and in the future for this review and the rest of my blog's entres. The butterfish fish entree was not only pretty to look at it was magnificent. It tasted like "butter!". I think I heard that this fish is better due overfishing as it is chosen because of the popularity and use of the redfish, used in so many Cajun recipes. It even had some little green fish roe caviar on it which was kind of cool. Many might not notice it and the waiter was even hesitant to tell me about when I asked what it was (I have been to Russia and had red and yellow caviar but this greenish tined roe or caviar was much smaller). Very nicely presented with great plating. The look/ plating , the unique tastes and everything just fabulous. I would rate this meal 9.9/10 (probably the highest I have ever given a recipe). My mother really like the salmon. My sister loved her dish too. Plus the price was most affordable for all the food we got and the quality. On the way I out I bought a copy of his book "Ming's Master Recipes" (he has a already signed it and was not there but it would have been even better) mainly because there are different recipes then I had seen. I had a gift to remember the place by until when I come back. The cranberry teriyaki sweet potato I made was great and the glaze on lamb was good too. More about this trip to Ming's with more specifics coming soon with photos on my website
(5)
Kelvis P.

How do you define perfection? Simple, Blue Ginger. Never mind a bad meal, I had never had an okay meal here everything has always been absolutely delicious. From apps to desserts, the combinations of flavlors provide a titillating experience. Go Ming!!!!
(5)
Troy C.

Excellent all the way around. A little pricey but a great experience. Definitely a place to go if you have a gluten allergy - the owner was instrumental in the passage of a MA state law requiring restaurants to educated their employees who gluten/celiacs.
(4)
Kendall H.

Great restaurant, and its really cool actually seeing ming tsai there once in a while. Slightly too influenced for my taste, it feels like the food is messed around with a little too much. Quality is noticeably compromised when the restaurant gets full, lunch; however, lunch is definately be a little more reasonable, you can pretty much get everything good on the dinner menu for a much better price.
(3)
Liza H.

I'm sad not to have loved this place. The food was very good, but for the price I guess I expected just a little bit more. I took my wife here for dinner on her birthday, we've been dying to try it out for over a year. Took WAY too long to get a drink, I was stunned. The restaurant is LOUD and the tables are on top of each other, which shouldn't have surprised me after reading reviews on the web, but I was a little turned off from the get-go. Food was spot on for the apps and the entrees (shiitake-leek spring rolls, calamari, chile 5 spice duck, and crispy striped bass), but really not that happy with the dessert, we ordered strawberry shortcake. It was difficult to eat, and flavors were weak ... just left me feeling a little disappointed ... right before the check came (never a happy part of the meal for me)! All in all, had I not gone in with such high expectations, Blue Ginger would have probably gotten a better review from me.
(3)
Leah M.

I enjoyed a really lovely dinner at Blue Ginger last night, my second visit (the last one was 8+ year ago). I'm surprised to see such mixed reviews--seems some people love it while others hate it. I really loved my food--the shitake leek spring rolls, diver scallops, and cinnamon donuts with salted caramel ice cream. My husband also loved his food--calamari with thai dipping sauce, hangar steak, and trio of sorbets. Our service was a bit slow but it was a busy Friday night; our delightful server Cat made up for the slowness with her warm and welcoming attitude. I will definitely be back!
(4)
Jennifer F.

AMAZING. Went here with my family during restaurant week last year because I love Ming Tsai. This place did not disappoint at all. We went for lunch thinking we would do the 2-course option, but the food all sounded so amazing all 4 of went for 3 courses!
(5)
Silvia M.

i love this restaurant! get the lobster!!! it's amazing!
(5)
Pink G.

If you are every in the Boston area, this off the track Chef Ming Tsai's restaurant in Wellesley Square is worth the extra mile(s). I have always admired Chef Ming Tsai's style of cooking with the east and west theme but its a totally different story when you actually get to eat his creation. It a very smart way of using the ingredients to compliment the natural favors of the meat the seasoning. When I took a bite of their fried calamari, I knew that it had to be one of their popular dishes. The squid was perfectly cooked and balanced the crunch on the outside and with the salt that comes with it - it tastes like heaven. Having their seafood paella - was another experience I could not forget. Although you can taste the Spanish influence in the spice there was an Asian component that was subtle but added to the richness of the dish. Of course, the seafood was perfectly cooked (I wouldn't expect anything less). I paired it with a German Riesling, since I like sweet wine and it was one of the best lunches I have ever had. Also compliments on their wine selection - very nice! Since this is Chef Ming Tsai's signature restaurant you have to pay for the brand as well.
(5)
Rose F.

Took my guy here for his birthday. This is definitely an occasion restaurant, unless you have an unlimited budget. I got the Blue Ginger Gimlet ($11) to start. Awesome. Vodka, key limes, Ginger syrup. Amazing. He got the Lychee margarita ($15) that was ok- couldn't really taste the lychee. We shares the tuna appetizer that was tuna tar tar on a fried like rice patty. Delicious. ($14) We also partook in the bread basket which had soft bread and tasty sesame crackers. He got the Striped Bass ($34) that was served with a zucchini blossom and rice patty, with a spicy sauce. Very good. Fish was cooked to perfection. I got the sake miso marinated Alaskan Butterfish ($34) that melted in my mouth like butter. For dessert we had a lemon and raspberry torte ($14). Good, but definitely overpriced for a dessert that was just good. Overall the meal and service was excellent. You must make a reservation. Food was presented well and cooked to perfection. Be prepared to spend some cash.. Great place...
(4)
Kate M.

I am a lifetime BG supporter. Having known the owner and staff for over six years, I can say that each time I've stepped through that door, I've been treated with love, generosity, and respect. The staff made my grandmother's year when they sent Ming over with a plate of Calimari-- in fact, I'm pretty sure all the women in my family have a major crush. As for the food, everything is delicious and distinctive. Tell the server what you like, and they will tell you what to order. They are professionals in every sense of the word, and I can say that the management treats them right and helps them a great deal in becoming the best server they can be. One note-- Don't forget dessert! I recommend the chocolate or the pecan option :) And to those of you who complain about the expense, don't!! You can look online for prices, or call before you go--- you don't need to trek all the way out there just to decide it's too much money. Yes, you need either a steady job or a wealthy parent to eat here. It's expensive. But you're paying not only for the food, but also for the experience, and believe me; they make it something you'll be hard-pressed to forget. I suggest making a reservation before you go.
(5)
Jessica F.

I went to Blue Ginger for lunch with my coworkers (on the boss' tab, woo-hoo!). Since we were a large group, we had a prix fixe lunch with appetizers, entree, and dessert. The appetizers were absolutely delicious. I probably could have eaten the entire plate for lunch and left satisfied. We had the shitake and leek spring rolls, which were outstanding, and the fried calimari. The batter for the calimari was really tasty and unique. They both came with some kind of strange dipping sauce that I didn't try. Neither appetizer needed a dipping sauce. Honestly, the lunch entrees were good, but nothing truly special. I had a panko-crusted chicken sandwich (aka fried chicken sandwich) with asian slaw (aka cole slaw) and taro chips (aka homemade potato chips but using a different tuber). It was tasty and satisfying although the slaw that came with the appetizers tasted much better because it had significantly less pepper. And the taro chips would have been better with less salt. I shouldn't be in an upscale restaurant scraping salt off of chips. Our dessert options were creme brulee (it had a fancier name), rhubarb crisp, and a cookie plate. Since I don't like creme brulee or rhubarb, I had the cookies. Again, they were good, but the ones I make at home are much better. It didn't help that I lost a filling while eating them. I would go here again for dinner, but probably not for lunch...unless I could order an entire platter of shitake-leek spring rolls. :)
(4)
Hannah D.

My boyfriend and I came here to celebrate our anniversary/both of our birthdays, since they all occur within a 2 week time span, coming up. And of course, we came because we loved watching Tsai on the NIC, and still to this day, wished he would've gone head to head with Forgione in the finale. Anyway, we were surprised to see that it was in a row of stores, with small amount of parking, rather than a free standing restaurant. We came in the back entrance, and we were confused at first which direction to get to the hostess stand, since it was either walk through by tables, or down the one hallway, which at first seemed like it would be busy, but when we finally walked down it, it wasn't so bad. We both ordered appetizers, mine was the sweet potato soup with chorizo shumai, which had quite a kick of spice to it, which I liked, and he had the duck appetizer (consisted of housemade duck prosciutto, duck foie gras, and others, which I didn't really try...the prosciutto was good though). For dinner, I had the honey glazed rack of lamb, and he had the butterfish. The waitress told us that their medium still had some red to it, and medium well was pink throughout. I chose to have it medium well, and I was surprised how red it was when I received it. It still seemed to have a bit of red in the very middle, and made it slightly difficult for me to eat. I didn't send it back because I'm not a fan, but I would have preferred it to be cooked more. It came with japchae and homemade kimchee. The japchae was a little salty for me, and just covered in the dressing, so there was no way around it. The kimchee was alright for homemade. The butterfish was very nice, cooked perfectly, and very good size. However, the bf didn't believe it was anything too exciting. It came with a wasabi puree, with a couple maki type of rolls, which seemed to have a faint hint of wasabi, with tobiko that also seemed to have a hint of wasabi too. Not sure though. For dessert, he had the creme brulee and I had the petit four plate. The creme brulee had a nice thick crust to it, but the flavor was just okay. Mine consisted of mandarin yuzu gelee, coconut shortbread cookies, chocolate tamarind cookies, and this chocolate rice krispy type of thing. I loved the coconut shortbread cookies. I wasnt thrilled with the gelee, and the chocolate desserts were very rich, like I needed a tall glass of milk to wash them down, or a small scoop of sorbet of some type would have been a nice contrast. I really loved the boston boyo or whatever the name of the drink is, with the absolut limited edition boston vodka. Very tasty. The overall atmosphere was alright...to me, the ceilings seemed a bit dark, and my bf said the lights were too bright. If we didnt know the cuisine, I don't think you can tell what type of place it is. We both loved the private rooms though, that we passed by. Separate rooms with a large square table, and doors that can close too. And last, but not least, it was quite difficult to keep my excitement in throughout the meal since Chef Ming Tsai himself was sitting at the table, right behind my bf (so I was facing him), eating dinner with his wife, 2 sons, and parents. We got the chance to say bye/thank you on the way out, but that was all. I was just in shock he was right there. It was really cool to see how family oriented he is though.
(3)
David P.

my wife and i visited here about a year ago. she had the butterfish and i had the lobster. both highly recommended by the staff for being the best reviewed. also, coincidentally the most expensive on the menu ;) we were not disappointed and left happy. side note: went to burger bash 2010 and ming tsai should have won with his shrimp burger.
(4)
Jay T.

Had lunch here recently for the first time. Food was good, but not as good as I'd hoped, and not in line with the price. I had: Free bread - two kinds. One tasted like a french bread, nothing to write home about, but good. The other was something totally different, with a beautiful crumb and soft crust, with a sweetish flavor. Good stuff. Shiitake and Leek Spring Rolls, which were really good, and I'd say totally worth the $9. No complaints there. Served Vietnamese style with slaw and lettuce, but no herbs except a sprig of mint. A little cilantro would have made it but it was still quite good. Indonesian Curry Pasta with Asian Vegetables, Baby Shrimp and Chopped Peanuts, which was tasty but a little disappointing. Pasta was maybe a smidge overcooked and the curry had a curious acidic quality to it (I think there was some citrus in there), but otherwise it was nicely done. It was good, but I was expecting to be really impressed, especially for $14. Ginger ale (made in house). Perfect. Spicy, not overly sweet, and not syrupy like many homemade ginger ales. It was $4, which I consider a dollar too much. Service was super friendly. Decor was OK, but nothing special, as others have said. Two odd things I noticed: 1. The patrons were 85% middle aged women. 2. The entire kitchen staff had identical goatees. I think I should go back for dinner. I definitely feel like that last star could go along with that lobster...
(4)
Jonathon S.

Don't believe the hype. Fine dining is about outstanding service, and sophisticated contrasting flavors with interesting textures; there should be a "Wow!" moment during the meal. The food at Blue Ginger was absolutely disgusting - especially for a restaurant at this price point. Most of the flavors did not meld and the dishes were poorly composed. The Asian Lacquered Poussin was so dry, it was gritty, like particle board and we had to send it back. Ming Tsai should be ashamed that this even left his kitchen. The "signature: Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster was so overly salted, you could almost feel your lips pucker; if the lobster was sweet, it was overwhelmed by salt. Our only recommendation is to avoid Blue Ginger!
(1)
Mim V.

This dinner pleased us in every way. The spring roll app worked well to start our meal. Lest we forget the blue ginger gimlets..divine. The butterfish and lobster signature dishes also deserve recognition as they met and surpassed their reputation! Server, Jill, recommended each course and she scored a 10 for leading us well. Although each dessert looked appealing , we opted for the cheesecake, which tasted lighter and tastier than the average, high quality cheesecake. Presentation, service and flavorful food all equaled a relaxing, yet elegant evening. A wonderful delight.
(5)
wing n.

My wife and I was heading to a wedding and stopped by for a lunch take out. We were a bit early that the place hasn't open yet, but they are nice enough to take our order and prepare are very yummy lunch for us! Thank you!!
(4)
Loan L.

I am a huge fan of Ming and was so excited that he was there that night. Like a dork, I asked to take a picture with him. I then congratulated him for beating the arrogant Bobby Flay at Iron Chef. Anyhoo, the food here was so good. I was hear about 2 years ago and can't really remember what I had, but i know that it was worth the price.
(5)
Zane C.

Blue ginger is by far one of the best eating experiences outside of Boston. It's located right on Route 16 in the middle of Wellesley, making it almost impossible to miss... even with their small sign. Parking has never been a problem in the 4+ years that I've been going here (free parking located right behind the restaurant and it's never filled!) As for the actual restaurant, I've never been disappointed with any dish that has been served to me. From the wonderful hanger steak to the Alaskan butter fish... everything is served with care. Portions are perfect. They have a great selection of wine and a very unique list of mixed drinks. While their beer list is a bit small for my liking, it does the job quite nicely. I think the only problem I've ever had was their medium rare is too rare for my standards... especially when it comes to their burger. The staff treats you almost as if you were royalty and can literally answer every food and drink question that might pop into your head. Always polite and always accommodating. They can literally change any dish to meet your needs. Everything is just about perfect at blue ginger... So why no 5 stars if it's perfect? Because of the size of the restaurant, it's almost always loud during dinner. The best way to avoid this problem? Go during lunch. while the menu isn't as extensive, the service and quality is identical. Plus, the meals are about 7 to 10 dollars cheaper! Quick addon: If you are going for dinner at the last minute, they will find space for you. You might wait for an hour but you will be seated. All things considered this is the best bang for your buck. I would advise anyone who goes there to eat the Shiitake Leek Springrolls and their ice cream. They make a coconut that is literally to die for (presently served in the Sesame Macadamia Caramel Nut Tart.) EDIT: Recently I've been going to the wonderful Blue Ginger for drinks and appetizers only and they've upgraded their restaurant. In the pat 7 or so months they've added a function room and a wonderful looking bar. This is now 5 star quality, easy. Epic food, plenty of space, always worth the price.
(5)
Harsh V.

Top 5 foodie experiences of my lifetime. Ming Tsai will mingle through all the dining tables. Highly recommended for a special celebration!
(5)
Jim D.

Waited a long time to go to Blue Ginger. Service was excellent waitress was attentive but not overbearing. Tuna Poke App was excellent. My wife had the Mussels ok but not memorable. For dinner I had the Hangar Steak good but again nothing over the top. My wife had the Lobster and it was very good. Desserts were average. I expected to be blown away by the food but was sadly dissapointed by the average experience we had. The place was very noisy and while I liked the meal overall I would not go out of my way to go there. A good restaurant but nothing special.
(3)
David R.

Blue Ginger is atrocious. They take a bunch of oddly textured ingredients that don't belong together, they throw them all together into a big mess- or rather a little mess, the portions are small - and then they sell these weird gobs for over twice the price of real food anywhere else. I walked out in the middle of dinner. There is no way I would ever go back to this place again.
(1)
LaTanya F.

My husband is a huge fan of the PBS cooking shows and was very excited to go to Blue Ginger when we were in New England celebrating our 1 year anniversary last weekend. We had a very late reservation which worked out nice because most of the dinner rush was gone. Our waitress was awesome! She was definitely passionate about the restaurant the food and offered great recommendations. To start I had the spring rolls they were flavorful and fun to eat (I was told to top them with the slaw and sauce and wrap them in lettuce). My husband had the Poke Tuna on top of a corn cake which was definitely the highlight of the meal. On to the entrees: I had the highly recommended butterfish which was very good, however, the soba noodle sushi that accompanies it was not very tasty. It was all the same consistency. I like soba noodles, I like sushi, but apparently I don't like them together. My husband had the pork chops. There was pork three ways, it was presented beautifully and tasted phenomenal UNTIL he cut into his pork chop. This is ultimately why I am giving them three stars. While the waitress mentioned that the pork would be cooked with a pink center because it had been previously brined. The loin was served just that way with a slight pink center. The pork chop on the other hand was BRIGHT pink in the middle. Ok we all know you cant eat (and shouldn't serve) raw pork, but mistakes do happen so we simply sent it back. This is where it gets ugly. You can see into the kitchen from where were sitting so i was definitely horrified to see them toss the raw prok chop under the broiler and return it to our table in two mangled looking pieces. Maybe I watch too much Hells kitchen, Top chef or whatever but I was definitely expecting them to "re-fire" the pork chops. They were the main component of the dish for cryin out loud. Again my husband, not one to complain cuts into the chop to find that it is still undercooked. Our waitress apologized and said that she would find away to make it up to us. By this time we're pretty full already and just ready for the evening to end. We decide to share a dessert. They were out of the one I wanted so we ordered something else. The waitress comes with a second dessert (on the house) to make up for the screwed up pork chops. Not only were we too full to fully enjoy the desserts, but we thought it odd that dessert was making up for their mistake. We were definitely shocked upon receiving the check to see that we were still charged the $36 for the potentially dangerous pork. My husband had to actually bring this to their attention before they removed it from our bill. So sad, not sure if we would return:(
(3)
Ryan R.

Blue Ginger was a 'must try' in my book. Well, I tried it. Can't say I was overly impressed. It most certainly didn't live up to it's reputation. Here's why: -Seating at Blue Ginger is crammed. For a place where entrees mostly range in the $30+ price point you shouldn't be sitting in the laps people at table next to you. -Food was well executed and used fresh ingredients, but I felt the lamb entree was way too complicated and over seasoned. Fois Gras dumplings were bland. Caesar was dissapointing. -Our waitress, while knowledgeable, was cold as a cucumber and aloof at times. Overall - I've had meals that were twice as good for 1/2 the price elsewhere. The hype about Blue Ginger is just that...hype. I wouldn't recommend anyone spend $200 for two people there. I won't go back and wouldn't recommend you bother making the trek to the People's Republic of Wellesley. Don't bother.
(2)
AB H.

We had really good service last night at Blue Ginger. Everyone was competent, knowledgeable, and nice. Ming Tsai came to our table to serve one of the dishes. I was personally escorted to the bathroom. Unfortunately, I thought the food was just OK. I found many of the dishes to be too salty, like the Thai dipping saucy that came with the fried calamari and the raw tuna dish where they pour hot sauce over the fish. I thought the springrolls and 'fried chicken' lacked distinct flavor. I did love the foie-gras shiitake shumai, the pate on the charcuterie plate and the sweet potato. The sesame macadamia nut tart had some good components, but too much going on for one dish. So I guess I would go back because we did have a few sublime dishes, but I'd keep my expectations low.
(3)
Scott F.

Maybe it's because I've heard so much about this place for so long that Blue Ginger couldn't possibly live up to the hype. Maybe Ming Tsai is too focused on his celebrity chef enterprise. (The restaurant website more concerned with selling me knives than showcasing the food.) Either way, I gotta say "meh." It was good, but certainly not deserving of the prices that were charged. Our server was competent, but seemed bored and didn't know some key ingredients like pirii piri. We witnessed three parties who were walked to their table only to have to stand there because the table wasn't set. For such a supposedly flagship restaurant, the operation seemed JV. And ultimately, the food was okay but certainly not great. Sorry - I don't see any reason to go back.
(2)
Elizabeth M.

I want to start off by saying that the food was EXCELLENT and our waitstaff was friendly and attentive. However the host the day we went was BEYOND rude, from the minute we walked in. He barked at us where to wait while he cleaned off the table and glared at us each and every time he walked by our table. I have no idea why he was so rude but I'm afraid it left a bad taste in my mouth on our experience at Blue Ginger. Again, food was excellent, but the host should definitely be fired!
(4)
Sue M.

Didn't meet expectations .. Salty indonesian curry pasta .. Seemed to have sat under a warming light .. Not fresh .. Calmari was fantastic .. Duck breast OK - good atmosphere ..
(3)
T F.

Best. Restaurant. Ever. The food was spectacular. We had dessert to try out the flavors and probably would have been happier with either another appetizer or entree to split. Everything ordered was freaking delicious.
(5)
Shawn F.

Perhaps the fact that Ming Tsai graduated from my high school makes me biased, but Blue Ginger totally rocks my socks. Years after my first visit, I still remember every detail of my first bite of Ming's famous butterfish melting in my mouth. Truly a place to go with a friend for a special occasion. The dining room can get boisterous, but the food is worth it.
(5)
G S.

So I moved out to Wellesley from Central Square to live with my awesome professor GF. Let me just point out the obvious - Wellesley is hella different than Central Square. It's a difference I'm almost embarrassed about. Like, I had more civic pride in announcing, "I live in Central Square!" than I think I ever will now that I live in mono-chromatic, bougie-fied, boring old Swellesley. I want to stab myself in the face everytime I overhear spoiled white kids conversing with their annoying, Benz-SUV-driving, fur-wearing, salon-ified moms. Then, there's Blue Ginger. Oh man. Now while it may still be filled with bougie SUV-drivers, it's still frakkin awesome. My mouth has never experienced the depth of flavors I had here. So amazingly yummy. Now, it's not for the tight-walleted but if you go for cocktails (I had an amazingly fresh and delicious Stoli gimlet) and a couple of appetizers, you won't totally break the bank. You MUST try the Hawaiian BigeyeTuna Poke with Crispy Sushi Rice Cake and Watercress-Tosaka Salad - $15. This is high-quality dining so expect to spend some dough. It's not an every day dinner place unless you are of a certain tax bracket. Unlike a lot of places, though, it's TOTALLY worth it! When the weather is nice, you can sit outside. They recently acquired the space next door so I can't wait to see what they do with it.
(4)
G K.

great food. fancy place. amazing service. I need to go back.
(4)
Neel V.

Being a big fan of Ming and his cooking show, I met up with some friends for dinner at Blue Ginger. Overall, this was a solid restaurant, a little overpriced and with some items hitting the mark exactly, others a little off. Appetizers Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna Poke with Crispy Sushi Rice Cake & Peppercress-Tosaka Salad- 10/10. As many yelpers have noted, this is the appetizer to get. Poke was well seasoned and flavored and the texture contrast with the crispy rice cake was amazing. Foie Gras-Shiitake Shumai in Sauternes-Shallot Broth- 6/10. Maybe I'm off on this but Shumai should have a solid texture and with the foie gras this was mushy. The broth was delicious but I didn't get any of the rich fattiness you'd expect with a foie gras...tasted more like just a standard liver pate. And for $16, I'd expect more than 3 shumai. Entrees Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish with Wasabi Oil, Soy-Lime Syrup and Vegetarian Soba Noodle Sushi- 7/10 Texture of the butterfish was impressive with a soft, melt in your mouth feel. Wasabi oil and soy-lime syrup didn't add much and I really didn't see much of a point to the soba sushi. Better garnish could have elevated this dish higher. Seared Long Island Duck Breast* with Shallot-Medjool Date Sauce with Kabocha Squash Gnocchi and Caramelized Fennel &Apple Slaw- 10/10 Had a bite of my buddy's duck and it was perfect. Cooked between medium rare and medium, with a sauce that perfectly complemented the duck. Didn't try the garnish, but looked well cooked and my buddy said it was great. Desserts Pomegranate Pear Tarte Tatin with Gingered Walnuts and Mascarpone Glace- 9/10 Nice take on a traditional tarte tatin. Pear was well caramelized, pom and walnuts and mascarpone added to the flavor and the pastry was very fresh. Minor ding because too much pastry compared to the amount of pear. Apple Cider Donuts with Apple Chutney and Chai Ice Cream- 9/10 Donuts were excellent, fresh with the crisp fried crunch giving way to the soft cakey interior. Chutney and ice cream were both good on their own, but chai didn't harmonize well with the apple cider taste. Overall- 7.5/10. Excellent and attentive table service and they accommodated us arriving 30 min before our reservation. That was enough to bump it to a solid 4 star restaurant in my book. Dinner for 3 ran $200 with drinks pre-tip, which seemed just a little more than the meal was worth. Some yelpers suggested going for lunch for the same food with lower prices, so those reading may want to try that.
(4)
Holly W.

Ahhh Blue Ginger... Blue Ginger is my special occasion restaurant. Someone's birthday? Blue Ginger. Got a promotion? Blue Giner. Grandma's in town? Blue Ginger... I've seriously never had a bad meal or experience here. Their menu is incredible. The wait staff is always very attentive. The food is beautifully executed. My favorite? The lobster. Of course. Hey, it's a special occasion...
(5)
Jae L.

This place was so asian fusion I was obliged to go there with an Indian and a Chinese and me. The asian fusion of dinner parties. The night started off with some buffalo shrimp and something vegetarian that i cant really remember. The best part about this place is that its got the cut of meat that i cant resist ordering whenever im at an italian joint...Osso buco...i thinks is a big side cut out of the shank of the lucky beast that landed up on my plate...this one was pork and braised in some sort of asian fusion reduction on top of a bed of california grown rice....with some sort of veggies...truly a fusion of asians and asian cusine
(4)
Ellen G.

Very poor service. Waiter forgot extra plates, soda, to cpome for the bill...he just sort of disappeared. Maitre D was asked whether our third friend had already come ( she had just moments before and had asked whether we were there) an he did not know. He said we should stand there and wait for her, this in a half empty restaurant when we were very tired. I am hardly a feminist, but it seems that they do not pay muchattention to women here. As for the food...the squce for the calamari was much too tart, almost inedible. The various salads were quite good. Since the waiter never appeared after that course, we never had a chance to look at or order from the dessert menu. A so so experience, and we had expected great things. The owner, chef Ming Tsai came into the restaurant towards the end but that didn' t seem to make much of a difference. I am ranking this three stars with the thought that most of my experience was influenced adversely by the staff.
(3)
Boston S.

I have only been here once. I was not impressed. It was pretentious and overpriced. Would never return to this place.
(2)
Amy D.

I received a gift card as a present to go here.And i was very excited by the reviews and the talk of the restaurant. Upon entering i was not knocked off my socks by the decor. I thought it was a little out dated. I was not greeted right away and the server came back and forth 2 times before asking me if she could help. And there were know other people around us. We came at a very slow time on a monday. Our server was very nice. The bread was amazing and my tea was great. The martini we order was good but very week for the price we paid. We only got one.I originally wanted to order the pad ti and our server talked us out of it and said its not what we would expect .She mentioned the butter fish was amazing, I was shocked for a lunch price it was $24.00. we also ordered a chicken sandwich. Upon receiving the food, i was very disappointed. My entree was very small. It was about a half inch thick by about 1 1/2 inches long. It was tasty but i was still hungry after. We order dessert .. the petite 4. Don't bother very disappointing.The chicken sandwich was good but nothing to brag about. i left with a bill of $85.00 for two for lunch and went to get a piece of pizza down the street for under $5.00 that filled me up. We have friends that want to try this restaurant with us. I think i will pick another place.
(2)
Bob L.

Ming Psi is one of the best chefs I've experienced over the course of going to hundreds of restaurants in the U.S. and Europe. The atmosphere could use some improvement but that focuses you more on the food which is fantastic. I'm not sure anyone else does this but I am always impressed with the attention to details such as the consistent excellence of not just the main entree but apps, desert, etc. Typically a restaurant "falls down" on at least one which really disappoints me. Even the coffee here is wonderful. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Brandon M.

For complete foodie euphoria order the "Mom's Famous Three Vinegar Sauteed Organic Shrimp". For a restaurant in the Burbs this place is amazing. To get it out of the way, I would agree with fellow reviewers who think Blue Ginger is pricey, and I'd even concede that the, Feng Shui inspired, decor is a little odd, however, this is a dining experience that is every bit worth the price and should not be missed. For mom's with an afternoon off, I would highly recommend lunch on the patio there's plenty of room for the stroller and the staff are generally kid friendly. For those that need a little Celebrity spotting with their dinner, give them a call and ask for Ming's schedule. He's a pleasant guy and is happy to stop by your table and say "Hi" if you request it. Finally, I generally don't recommend $11 cocktails, but, if you happen to be there for lunch this summer, make sure you check out ANY of the ginger based cocktails and sodas. AMAZING!
(5)
Mike C.

Ming's night off ... OK, I understand Ming is probably NEVER there. But the service was definitely lacking the night I went. Actually, the food was pretty amazing. Everything we had was wonderful. The reason for the low stars is more about the service and the decor. When you pay that much the food needs to match the price, but so does the overall experience. We felt that the atmosphere with it's ugly institutional ceiling and dirty old tile floor, mixed with the very un-hip design just didn't fit the food. Worse, our server, though pleasant, was absent most of the meal. He took our order and that's about it. Didn't bring our food (someone else did). Didn't check in with the "how's everything." Didn't really make us feel like guests. That said, the food truly is great. The tuna poke was awesome with it's crispy rice cake on the bottom; the butterfish was cooked perfectly and wonderfully flavorful. Lamb was also great, though the pad thai accompaniment was in need of some punch.
(3)
Cathy H.

Good food, overpriced with boring decor. Being smashed next to the table next to you really takes away from the experience. Did the tasting menu, which was a great way to taste a lot. Every course was good except the soup which tasted like a glorified french onion with no cheese. The monkfish made my night. This is why the food gets good reviews- did all the 5 star people get the monkfish?
(4)
Shreedhar D.

I came here for my birthday and was thoroughly satisfied. I had the spiced sweet potato soup and tuna poke to start and both were excellent. I had the butterfish for my entree and that was divine. The fish was soooo tender and even decadent. My sister's black pepper lobster was also delicious. For dessert I had a beautiful chocolate terrine that melted in mouth. But the tastiest and most ibteresting part of that dessert was the cardamom ice cream that came with it. All in all, a great experience. The only problem was that it was quite pricey so not somewhere I would come often.
(5)
Howie W.

Sigh. I really hate giving Ming Tsai five stars, as I find him a bit of a tool. Perhaps it's my insane self-hating jealousy as a fellow Asian American, who knows (I feel this way about Russell Wong too). The fact that Ming is actually a tremendous chef makes him even more insufferable. I did, however, like how he kept correcting the even-more-annoying Josie's atrocious pronunciation of "Pho" in S2 of Top Chef. Yeah, yeah, you'll find similar (and more trendy) fusion restaurants in Northern or Southern California or New York, but honestly, Ming somehow does it just slightly better. I think because he's been doing it longer, and he really does have the rare combination of a genuine Chinese cooking pedigree, as well as the Western training in France. This really comes through in his food, as it's surprisingly delicate, yet not overly so where it bears only superficial resemblance to the original traditional dish (i.e. most fusions). It's like he's projecting "Chinese food" 50 years into the future and it's eye-opening, whereas most fusion restaurants, no matter how well-done, are simply interesting novelties at heart. If you go on a weekend night, you'll also probably see Ming himself. Look for the overly tanned big Asian guy in chef whites, you can't miss him. He swapped some Iron Chef and "East Meets West" war stories with us, and as much as I hate to admit it, it certainly added to the experience. As an Iron Chef aside, Ming told us that he could probably crush Cat Cora easily, but Morimoto would probably crush him haha. So my Ming Tsai ambivalence lives on, but as for Blue Ginger, it's the real deal, and easily the most inventive Asian-esque cuisine you'll find in the Boston metro area, and one of the best beyond.
(5)
Raj M.

We've been wanting to go to Blue Ginger for a LONG time...And it wasn't worth the wait. Drinks were good, but the food was salty (like others have mentioned) and unappealing. PF Chang's for half the price is 2x as good!
(2)
Naomi U.

Make sure to visit this restaurant when the owner is 'In'. After very much looking forward to securing a reservation to eat there, I had a very bad culinary experience. It was followed by much rudeness at the time. Over a year later, I finally realized I was not 'getting over it', so I called. During a cordial conversation I was told to "definitely" email a letter detailing the unfortunate experience. A reply was implied..but there wasn't any. I think that is bad business. I would be less annoyed if I'd received a ''Thank you for your opinion..we're sorry You didn't like it but We don't care' letter. To be fair to them: NO Tsai's were there the day I went. I can't really imagine ANY restaurant owner condoning what happened. To be fair to diners: at such prices a customer ought to be very very very very very close to being right..and not dissed by an extremely shallow waiter who did not listen. If you have any food restrictions this place is a poor choice. It is also Very hard for me to believe someone with an association to FAAN would be cool with what goes on when the 'cat's away'.
(1)
Joe U.

The food was about 2.5 stars, but I mercifully rounded up. Overhyped butterfish - it's fresh and tender, but the seasoning is pedestrian. The name of the dish is better than the dish itself...isn't this just a sea bass? Put Chilean in front of that to make it sound even better. Or just call it butterfish and you have a name that rocks the dish itself. Disclaimer: I'm more into flavor than freshness (eg. BBQ over steak). Yes, it was fresh and melt-in-your-mouth, but aside from the outstanding texture, there was not that much to taste. The "signature" calamari was sub-par; just about any Chinese restaurant with salt and pepper calamari beats it. The kids' chicken finger meal was relatively a good deal (1/4 the price of the entrees), and they put impressively battered chunks of chicken on a bed of real homemade pasta. But again, it really lacked flavor (No dipping sauce for chicken fingers? Extremely bland pasta which had awesome texture and deserved much better treatment). The bread basket was OK - crusty french bread was my favorite part of the meal (sadly). Potato bread was not bad. Sesame cracker was the only Asian-fusion aspect that worked for me. Macadamia dessert was good, but a bit on the too-rich side for me; perhaps more fascinating (how did they get that chewy carmelized exterior?) than being delicious. My wife said the food was glorified PF Chang, in a negative way. This triggers my standard gripe about bad "gourmet" food which is more fancy than tasty, more gourmet than good. While I'm on the soapbox, I have an issue with "fusion" foods; often it is the antithesis of "authentic." In other words, just mixing the cuisines of two cultures often results in mutual destruction rather than synergy. I feel that's what chef Ming is guilty of, at least from what I tasted. However, I am in favor of culinary "translation," which is what chefs from another culture might do with their cuisine when importing it to the American eating scene. Eg. "Americanized food" can be a new interpretation or translation of standards from the "old country." Anyway, the food was so-so and we didn't rush to finish any of the plates (minus a star and a half) and expensive as well (minus another star). One hopeful sign: the lobster dish, which was supposed to be the other great dish, may redeem Blue Ginger one day. The chefs gave a taste to my daughter, who was watching them make it intently. She said it was absolutely delicious. It's a nice touch...I'll reserve final judgment until later.
(3)
Rachel W.

We went recently for a birthday dinner and got an 8:30pm reservation. Because we arrived a little early, we had a drink at the packed bar and got very prompt, professional service. The cocktails were tasty and the bartenders even made space for our drinks around other customers. When we got our table, however, our waiter was very disappointing. He was competent, but awkward. When I asked for recommendations on a wine, he loudly carded me (to the extent that a family at the next table expressed embarrassment for me). When I persevered and asked about specials or recommendations on entrees, he distractedly gestured toward the top three entrees listed on the menu, saying that those were most commonly ordered that night. That smacks of selling stock and a lack of knowledge of the food. Although our food was good (and I did not order one of the top three items), I believe that for the Blue Ginger price tag, you should at the very least get a server who knows the food and wants to talk about it. We left without having dessert because I didn't want to deal with our waiter any longer. What a shame.
(3)
J. G.

This review is for the lounge only. I'd give it 3.5 stars and although 3.5 rounds up to a 4, I don't really feel that it's 4 stars. We ordered several dishes along with some drinks. I ordered the Lychee Margarita which was very underwhelming and a bit on the bitter side. I didn't taste lychee in the drink at all. To start we ordered some of Ming's Bings. We ordered the pork and chive and the roast duck. The bings (aka dumplings) were pretty big and not your standard pot sticker size, but it was really overpriced. It was $14 for 3 bings (equivalent of 2 dumplings) and some taro chips and slaw. Next, we had the tuna poke on the crispy rice cake which was very good. My only complaint is that the rice cake was over fried and a bit hard to cut into. Otherwise, the dish was great. My husband also ordered the miso butterfish which was ok. I've had better butterfish and the dish was on the bland side. For one of their best selling dishes, I was very unimpressed. For dessert we ordered the Sesame Macadamia Caramel Nut Tart which was just perfect. I could've ordered another one. The caramel was really gooey and I loved the combination of all the flavors of the tart along with the caramel bananas. All in all the food was good, but I don't think I'd go out of my way to return especially since the dishes were all so expensive for the lounge menu.
(3)
Jim H.

Yes, the butter fish is reason enough to go to Blue Ginger and, once you have it, it will be challenging to order anything else when you come back. It will also lead you to never order it anywhere else. But if you do venture to other parts of the menu, you will learn that Ming is truly a step above. The menu never tries to be cute just for the sake of being cute. This is savory fare that gives you the full package. Look, I ordered the blue cheese sliders, three mini-burgers that may sound sort of "so-what?" but that taste unlike any combination of pork, beef, and cheese you have had before. Downsides? It's not within walking distance of my house.
(5)
Huana P.

Definitely worth the money. I went for the Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish (oh, and a special occasion) and I don't think I've ever had such great butterfish. Melt in your mouth good. Buttery too. I tried to savor each bite, but it was hard because I was so hungry! The open kitchen with blue lights opens up the eating area. The whole feel of the restaurant has a contemporary, East coast feel, but no stuffiness involved. I hear that Ming sometimes comes out and greets the guests, but I think he doesn't do it as much, because you know, he has other things to tend to....like being on the Food Network! Fusion food at it's greatest. Blue Ginger is different from Roy's, but both are excellent in it's own way. Blue Ginger may be more formal, but it's worth the drive from Boston all the way to Wellesley. By the way, has anyone tried Ming's Target brand? I wonder if it's any good? 2 thumbs WAY up for Blue Ginger.
(5)
Megan D.

Now, I have to say - the food was delicious. The three stars because I was seriously let down by my dining experience. I think that if a restaurant is going to charge such prices ($30-40 entrees), the service and ambiance should be spot on. It started off negatively when my dining partner and I didn't receive the amuse buche that the other tables around us received. Nor did we receive bread (they have a delicious bread basket) until we asked for it after our entrees arrived. For a restaurant that is going to be well over $100 for dinner for two, that is really unacceptable. Also, the restaurant is very chaotic and I felt like we were being shuffled out but our waitress, who was more concerned with the heavy drinking larger party next to us. We were forgotten several times. We ordered the calamari as an appetizer, which was tasty but not overly memorable. For entrees, we had the Alaskan Butterfish and the Striped Bass. Both entrees were delicately prepared and very delicious. I would not likely return to Blue Ginger due to my negative experience. Maybe if I do, I would try the lounge menu.
(3)
Christian S.

I think the place is overrated. There some dishes, like the spring roles, which are really good, but other like the calamari, though praised as one of there signatures, is really only average at best. Not worth while to come all the way from Boston.
(3)
Anne H.

I have celiac disease (i.e. I can't eat any gluten, ever) and recently went to Blue Ginger with my husband for my birthday, after reading an article in Boston Magazine that quoted Ming Tsai as saying that the restaurant makes an effort to welcome people like me. The staff was very conscientious and created a special gluten-free menu for me (a huge plus), but unfortunately -- even though I called ahead and asked -- the restaurant refused to substitute a gluten-free fish sauce for their usual brand (which contains wheat), even though most commercial fish sauce happens to be gluten-free. So although the food I had was beautifully cooked, it lacked a key ingredient (and was in no way Asian-inspired, by the way!) and tasted like something I could have prepared at home. I've eaten the regular food at Blue Ginger, pre-diagnosis, and it was delicious. I was disappointed that I was given a safe meal rather than a stellar one. Gluten-free food does not have to be bland! Please, if you work there and happen to read this review, take it up with Ming. There are a lot of celiacs out there, and they'd love to enjoy the full spectrum of tastes available at Blue Ginger!
(3)
S K.

Good, but not great. It's probably a 5 star restaurant in a suburb like Wellesley, but above average compared to the asian fusion restaurants in big cities like NYC, LA, or San Francisco. They do have some interesting dishes (foie gras shumai, lobster) but it pretty expensive at $30 to $40 per entree; Service was excellent and it is a good place to take business clients. I guess if you are in Wellesley this place is the Shit, but if you are coming from out of town from a Big Urban center, only come to this place if you aren't paying the bill. Also, if you think you are going to have a Ming Tsai siting at Blue Ginger then you also must believe you'll see The Colonel at KFC.
(3)
Jonathan M.

So I was out in the Wellesley, MA area a few weeks ago for our MBA kickoff program at Babson college. We wanted to try some good food considering that the majority of my cohort were from the Bay Area and wanted to experience something new. Well, one of our classmates recommended Blue Ginger because of the owner and Chef Ming Tsai and plus the restaurant was down the street from the campus. Anyhow, to make a long story short the place is well setup; alcoholic drinks are good and the waiter service was on point; however, the food was "horrible." I don't mind paying for expensive food when it's good, but when there's no taste and the portions are too small for the price that's when I have a complaint. I ordered the Korean Chicken expecting for a chicken type of dish to come out, but when I received it...no where to be seen was a piece of chicken. The entree resembled a sushi roll. I guess the chicken was sliced and put into a sushi like type of roll. Me and a few others looked at each other like "where's the chicken leg or piece of chicken for that matter!" Everything else in this place is good, but the food! 2 stars from me.
(2)
Trip K.

Excellent food, especially the apps. Had the tuna poke and soft shell crabs for apps. Both excellent. Butterfish lives up to it's reputation. Perfect piece of fish. Also tried the BG bouillabaise. Very nice broth and risotto, but would have liked more fish. Unfortunately sevice was very inconsistent. Sat for 10 minutes before our server appeared. No presentation or intro at all or discussion of menu until asked. Overall, nice meal, good, buzzy atmo, but service lets it down a little.
(4)
Andrew T.

Everything you could hope for in a celebrity chef's restaurant and then some. As an avid viewer of Iron Chef America, and a follower of the "celebrity chef scene", I was familiar with Ming Tsai through his various television appearances and star chef status. Blue Ginger was one of those spots that I had always been meaning to try, but just had never set aside the time and money to actually make it happen. When I finally did, it lived up to the lofty expectations I had going in. The atmosphere is simple and clean, and not pretentious at all. An open kitchen in an otherwise neutral colored space, tucked into an unassuming storefront looking spot on Washington Street in Wellesley. Service was attentive and pleasant, and the food was amazing. The butterfish was maybe the best piece of fish I have ever had, and the presentations from apps to dessert were brilliant and thoughtfully done. Creative, beautiful, and tasty food from a master chef, hidden away in the suburbs without pretense and arrogance, and well worth the price tag. The random Tuesday night that I dined at Blue Ginger, Ming Tsai himself happened to be in the kitchen, which made things extra special. We even had a chance to chat with him on the way out, where he expressed his genuine appreciation for our patronage, and in exchange, we congratulated him on "kicking Bobby Flay's ass" on Iron Chef. A nicer man, you will not meet. Best dining experience I have had in Massachusetts far and away.
(5)
Sutanuka L.

don't go during restaurant week. probably some of the worst food we have had in a long time. even the lychee martini was bad...
(2)
Tiffany D.

Edit: August 3, 2007 I came here again on Aug 2, 2007 for my bday dinner with my parents... and I LOVED it SO much more this time around.... the food was amazing... try the duck breast.. cooked so that it's moist and red on the inside... the smoked salmon and beef carppaccio was amazing and melted in my mouth... the calamari was divine (altho I would've liked for some heat (spice) in it and more legs.. haha but that's just me... my mom had the lobster (amazing!) my dad had the curry with the chicken (it was okay, don't get it) and my friend had the korean steak (delish!!!) dessert wise, everything was amazing - of course. creme brulee.. napoleon... and the sorbet trio... yum yum yum!!! the champagne was a great match and the service was excellent!!! it's def. one of my favs now!!! ____________________ I went in with high high hopes, and while the food was delicious, I think it's a little overrated. The portions are small, but beautifully decorated. The decor of the restaurant itself is a little confusing, while it IS a fusion restuarant, I can't tell if it's a cozy little American restaurant or a Japanese one. The one good thing is that I wasn't overstuffed after two appetizers, two entries and two desserts shared with my boyfriend. Try the special wine on the menu (I forgot the name, but it's Japanese I think)
(5)
Pauline M.

I only wish I could give this a 10-star rating. My DH and I have been there on several occasions and I always order the Saki-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butter Fish, which is amazing. It comes with 3 noodle vegetarian soba noodle sushi and on one occasion I mention to the waitress how much I loved them and my order came with 6. We've also ordered them as an appetizer. Yum! I have also ordered the Hanger Steak which was a special on that particular evening....so good. Now it's on the menu. The Crispy Fried Calamari with Thai Dipping Sauce is also excellent. My Dh has ordered the Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster with Lemongrass Fried Rice and Pea Tendril Salad..........also amazing. Their specialty cocktail, Ginger Martini, is fabulous. We've seen Ming Tsai there on several occasions and finally got to meet him. Although things were buzzing around him he took the time to chat with us. Bring your camera when you go (darn I forgot mine) he'll be happy to have his picture taken with you. Yes, it's expensive but so worth every bite. I highly recommend this restaurant. The entire staff is very professional and really care that your experience is rewarding.
(5)
Amanda M.

I honestly wish I could give Blue Ginger ten stars. Last night, my boyfriend took me to Blue Ginger. We had a reservation for 8:30 and we were promptly seated. We had just enough time to get a drink at the bar and have some of the lovely rice chips they have there. Once seated, our server came over immediately and quite pleasantly gave us wine list, drink menu, and explained the dinner menu. After she left, my boyfriend proposed. Here is where Blue Ginger stands apart -- after the proposal, our server came by with two complimentary glasses of Schramsburg Brut Rose, the staff congratulated us and were just really sweet. They timed everything carefully so we could be in the lavender haze while ordering. We had the recommended shitake leek springrolls, which were excellent, particularly if you follow the chef's recommendation of wrapping them in lettuce and eating them with some of the cole slaw and the dipping sauce. My fiance had the butterfish, which he thoroughly enjoyed. I had the Indonesian curry noodles with panko crusted chicken, which was incredibly flavorful and delightful. Drink-wise, we each had bourbon old-fashioneds at the bar, which were well muddled and not at all on the sweet side. The rose was lovely, and I would recommend it highly. We also had a half bottle of the Ruinart, Blanc de Blancs, which was light, crisp and paired nicely with dinner. For dessert, we split the strawberry shortcake, which is not your ordinary strawberry shortcake. Beyond being cardamom-infused and having a lovely strawberry-mint sauce, the kitchen had added an amaretto wafer with chocolate writing that said 'congratulations' on it. We also had coffee with dessert, which was freshly brewed, piping hot, and generally all that you could ask for in a cup of coffee. Overall, it was spectacular. I would highly recommend going here for any special occasion as the staff at Blue Ginger truly makes an occasion special.
(5)
adrianna C.

I dont usually give 5's , but this is a deserving 5. If i had 6 I'd be mroe than happy to give the sixth one to Blue Ginger. There is no need to disect the menu, it is outstanding. Changes on a constant basis. I will say try the creme bruele for dessert... Again,this place does not need an indepth review. Visit it and decide for yourself.
(5)
Shannon B.

Took the folks here for a fancy meal. Cocktails were great, appetizers superb (Hawaiian BigeyeTuna Poke with Crispy Sushi Rice Cake and Crispy Colossal Shrimp with Tamarind Rice Noodles) and the dinner, oh the dinner... Dad had Chile Tea Rubbed Duck Breast with Fresh Plum Sauce and Peach Teriyaki. He really had to stop himself from scarfing it down it was sooo good. I had Mom's Famous Three Vinegar Sauted Organic Shrimp with Roasted Garlic Fingerling Mashed Potatoes and Spicy Asparagus Salad. AMAZING. It's great to find such a gourmet but approachable restaurant in this part of town. Go here and eat like a Queen.
(5)
Julian M.

The service was absolutely excellent. Everyone smiled and was very kind. The cocktail selection seemed very good, but I just had to go for a wine! I tried the "Conundrum" white, which was a mixed varietal wine with riesling and other elements that was quite good. I was worried that wearing a suit I'd be over-dressed, given some of the other reviews. On this Saturday evening I fit right in--there were a few people dressed casually who were eating outside, but the main dining area was filled with people who were well-dressed. The food was, of course, extremely good. The "fusion" element really struck me as I realized I was eating mashed potatoes with vinegar, soy sauce, and chopsticks. My partner's Alaskan Butterfish was incredibly delicate and my shrimp was quite fresh. I would definitely order the Alaskan Butterfish next time. It's pricy, but I will definitely be going back when I feel like a good meal. As a side note, this was my first time reserving using the "OpenTable" reservation system. That experience was good and I hope to make reservations with other restaurants using that system.
(5)
roseann e.

Very disappointed not worth the expense. Menu NEVER changes!! The food was just ok but so many restaurants are doing asian fusion just as good if not better. The decor also leaves alot to be desired. The reason for such a low rating is the receptionist/hostess was very rude and this is my third time experiencing this treatment. Ming was there the last time I went and was asked to say hello to fan who was vacationing here from another country he never went over.
(1)
Angela H.

Oh dear god -- whitefish. So good! So expensive!! This place is good if you have parents who like to get drunk and splurge for you on your birthday or another similar event. The waitstaff will take your coat, treat you like someone important, and just smile and get a towel if your boyfriend spills champagne all over you. Ming Tsai is an incredible chef, and also a really nice person with a great, if high rolling, restaurant.
(4)
Jake R.

This was the first and only time Ive ever been here, but everything about the experience was great. Our server was really patient and was not afraid to give us her suggestions for each course. We ordered the lobster, the steak, and the butterfish and each was cooked perfectly. Well worth the expensive prices.
(5)
Crystal K.

Had a really great business dinner here last week. Was very pleased to get reservations for our out-of-town guests. We had early seating, at 5:30 on a Tuesday and there was already a line at the door waiting for the restaurant to open up. Ming wasn't to be seen but the food and service was excellent as always. We split shrimp, calamari (omg so so good) and spring rolls as appetizers. I chose Mom's Famous Three Vinegar Grilled Shrimp with mashed fingerling potatoes and asparagus salad--hands down one of the best seafood dishes I've had in ages. The sauce was sooooooooo delectable. For dessert we all got the rhubarb crisp which was good but not terribly remarkable. My manager, however, was the odd one out but the winner as far as desserts go--she ordered the Sesame Macadamia Caramel Nut Tart with toasted coconut ice cream, house-made hot fudge and Gosling's rum caramel. I was so jealous. The wine list was great. I chose the Fitz Zinfandel "Estate" which was a really nice surprise since none of us had had it before. I've never had a bad experience here and can't wait to take my hubby along at some point--I've always ended up going without him and he hates me for it.
(5)
Sarah C.

I was disappointed to say the least. The drinks were the best part of the meal. I had the gimlet and my boyfriend had the coconut martini. Concerning the food, I certainly wasn't expecting a soup when I ordered the paella, but that's what I got - a really bland tomato based soup with fish in it - blah. Not that I was expecting exactly the kind of paella you could get in Madrid or Barcelona, but I was expecting something that tasted good.
(2)
Kya F.

My husband and I went to Blue Ginger last month for our anniversary. (Has it really been 9 years?!) I called a week in advance for a Wednesday night reservation, and the only spot left was for 5:30. A bit early for a romantic dinner for two, but we took it. They did warn us that the table was next booked for 7:00, which they thought was plenty of time for a leisurely dinner, but they wanted to let us know in case we were excessive dawdlers. We ended up half an hour late (Princess #1 had a meltdown when we tried to leave her with her grandmother) but that didn't seem to be a problem. Even when we stayed past 7:00. The food was delicious, with decent sized portions. We split two appetizers, which were excellent. I got the lobster which was glorious. He got the New Zealand lamb (being a Kiwi he can never pass up NZ lamb on a menu). He enjoyed his. Dessert was yum, too, but we got it to go as we wanted to get back to the princesses. Definitely dressy casual, but I felt comfortable in dressy dressy (it was our 9 year anniversary after all). The servers were nice and personable. The bill was high. I'd go again.
(5)
Daly Y.

Amazing food and terrific service. My only regret is that I don't live closer to Blue Ginger. I've been three times and I can't wait till I go back. I went the night after Ming beat Bobby Flay on Iron Chef. In honor of his win they served a few of the winning dishes from the competition, what a treat! The menu is always changing but the service has been fantastic each and every time. The portions are the perfect amount. I hate when high end establishments charge for the name but serve average tasting dishes. I hope you get to go, I am looking forward to my next trip.
(5)
Heather H.

Despite all of the crappy reviews that I had read about Blue Ginger (crappy service, overpriced, bad atmosphere, etc), I really enjoyed my experience there. Sadly, Mr. Tsai was not in house. We arrived about 20 minutes before our reservation and decided to have a drink at the bar while our table was being prepared. I went with a ginger-infused Grey Goose Martini. Which was gingery Grey Goose straight up with crystallized ginger on the rim. What what!! Smooth! We were seated right next to the open kitchen, but I wasn't thinking and took the seat facing the dining room, not the kitchen. Stupid me. Appetizers: foie gras and shiitake shumai with sauternes-shallot broth; steamed mussels with green papaya, grape tomatoes, chile peppers, and a keffir lime leaf broth. HOLY CRAP were those mussels huge and good! there had to be a good two dozen mussels on the plate- it could have been an entree order! the broth was addictively good. The shumai were opposite from the bright flavor of the mussels and also very good. there were three large shumai (each one took 2 or 3 bites) and the broth reminded me of a really nice french onion soup. Entrees: (My companion)Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster with Lemongrass Fried Rice and Pea Tendril Salad (Me) Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish with Wasabi Oil, Soy Syrup and Vegetarian Soba Noodle Sushi They were both fantastic. I'd never had butterfish before but it was tasty with that sake-miso marinade. I wasn't crazed by the soba sushi, or the seaweed salad that came with it, but the butterfish was good enough for me to not care. My boyfriend's lobster was rather decadent and nicely presented, with the fried rice inside the lobster shell. I don't regularly like fried rice, but this was delicious. Dessert: Tahitian Vanilla Creme Brule. Sadly the most disappointing part of the whole evening. The crust was too burnt tasting and the custard was still cold and rather soupy once it warmed up to room temperature. the flavor of the custard was nice, but not good enough to make up for the crust and cold/soupyness. The cookies that came with it were way better than the creme brulee. We also imbibed on some single malt scotch that was smokey goodness. The staff was very good. Our waiter could have been a touch more attendant, but was knowledgeable enough (had been with Blue Ginger since it opened). the layout was nice with the open kitchen. I was very happy, especially to find out that all the bad reviews were wrong.
(5)
Liz B.

This place is definitely for an aquired taste. I found their decor lovely, it is very clean, very proffessional environment, I can see how people like having business dinners here. The bathrooms are amazingly pristine. The food however, lacks something. I found most of it too spicy. I did not like how the waitress told me the food I ordered was not spicy, however when I tasted it, I found it fairly spicy. Spicy enough to make my mouth tingle. The drinks are nice and strong, the way I like them! The waitstaff here is very professional, however could be a little more attentive.
(3)
Andy P.

front of the house: great service: great food: okay.
(3)
Suzanne M.

After eating here I may need to go and adjust the # of stars I've doled out to other restaurants. I wasn't in love with the atmosphere or the decor. But the food, man the food. Wow. I looked at my SO and told him he needed to pick because everything on the menu looked great. I was right ;) and he made good choices. For starters we shared two appetizers - the foie gras dumplings and the wonton crusted shrimp. The foie gras was served with a broth that was similar to an onion soup but much sweeter. The wonton shrimp was battered around a 1/4 pound farm raised shrimp. Ok wow. Both were amazing - the shrimp was very flavorful even though it was so huge. We had that with a half bottle of Veuve Cliquot champagne. Next we had the butterfish and the scallops; of course we shared them. The scallops had a grilled edging, very flavorful, and had a wonderful fennel based sauce that complemented the delicate flavor of the scallops. I was overwhelmed by the butterfish, though, which included a wasabi-flavored sauce on the side and petite caviar that was also delicate, not fishy. WOW. This had to be one of my all time favorite fish dishes. Also, served with a few vegetable sushi pieces, it was an overall well-balanced set of flavors. We had these entrees with a half bottle of the Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc, which we didn't like for the $$. It was rather mineral-y and had earthy flavors that did not complement the entrees. OK dessert...we 'simply' had to. Mike had the lemon souffle and I had the macadamia nut tart. He and I intended on sharing but did so very unwillingly :) He is really a lemon fan, and this specialty flavor of lemon many ways was impressive. I am a nut-caramel-cream fan and this did the job so well though I could not finish it. I wanted to, believe me. Served with a glass of their armagnac and tokaji, which played on opposite ends of the spectrum from sharp to smooth, dry to sweet. I would definitely go with the tokaji again. Since we spent so long there and ate (and drank) our way through the menu, we were especially happy that our FANTASTIC waiter Ron told us Ming was in the front and was going to sign a menu for us. He was very calm and cool, and his wife sitting with him very sweet and warm. What a great pair! We loved this great ending to a fantastic night! Here is the menu he signed for us: flickr.com/photos/suzie/â€¦
(5)
Thuy L.

wouldnt go there again. portions were small and it was too overpriced. didnt even fill me up.
(1)
Barry W.

Embarrassingly and deeply disappointing. The embarrassing part is because we felt hoodwinked. Drawn to try BG by Ming's TV persona and by the many good reviews here on Yelp and other sites. More specifically: - THE FOOD. this is most important and we were all set to enjoy the creative mix of flavors and passion for cooking that Ming exudes on air. we had: * appetizer 1: chanterelle and leek spring rolls. this was first bad sign of most to follow. these spring rolls weren't very good because they had too much unnecessary complexity, put cleverness ahead of flavor and just wasn't well composed. served chinese egg roll style in long, thin fried shells filled with a relatively tasteless and fried mash of mushroom and not sure what else. Served w/ an over-vinagred slaw and a big mess of dark green, limp lettuce. we were told to wrap the roll inside a lettuce leaf with some slaw and then dip in the accompanying sauce "vietnamese style". this was just a failure as an appetizer. didn't finish most of it. more train wreck than "fusion." * app #2: "korean" fried chicken. as with so many things at BG, this was enticeingly described on the menu with a fair amount of complexity. In actually, it was relatively bland chicken with too much breading, sliced into thick silver-dollar sized portions and, like the rolls above, served with an asian dipping sauce. the sauce was forgettable and the chicken so far short of what this app might have been. at this point, we were really worried about what we'd committed to and nearly dreading the dinner entrees' arrival. * the "signature dish" butterfish confirmed our fears. At $36 or $37, I'm not sure what else to call this other than a ripoff. it was too small a portion for the money and looked stark on the plate without much in the way of any sauce or seasoning. fired too hot or too long on a grill to create clever grill marks but drying out the exterior. it did flake apart as it should but just so disappointing overall and paired with even more disappointing "jap chae noodle" rolls wrapped in impossibly chewy seaweed. Cut like maki, these were awful as if they'd been prepared the prior day and had been sittting in the walk-in for two days. Not really edible. * the one exception to the trend was the duck. It was good, if not very good or great. It was cooked very well--between med rare and medium and was nicely crisped on the outside. However, it was served with a medjool date sauce, relish or bed that wasn't recognizeable as dates (probably because it had been overseasoned, overcooked or both). and, the "squash gnocchi" just tasted like generic mashed and fried starch disks. - THE SERVICE hate to say it but the service was a perfect match for the food. our server could best be described as somewhere between robotic and indifferent if not unfriendly. Any questions were answered with minimal words and never a smile. An empty bread basket was left on the table for nearly the entire meal without so much as an inquiry if we'd like more. We waited more than 10 minutes for a wine list after receiving a drink menu and having to then request the wine list. the waitress disappeared for long periods of time. servers didn't seem to support each other so much as a few times that we were looking around trying to get someone's attention, other staff didn't take notice. the one exception to the general trend of indifferent and unskilled service was water filling. it seemed as if they had a dedicated server continuously circulating with a water pitcher. This would have been great had it not been for the fact that we'd asked for water without ice and, after the first filling, it wasn't remembered and, despite a reminder, didn't happen again. As with many other aspects of BG, this seems a function of poor management/leadership. the servers aren't professionals. they seem to lack training. they clearly aren't screened in hiring for their customer service orientation. ours didn't seem to want to be there. so different from other spots at these prices in boston and elsewhere. Sigh...the entire experience was so different that what we, as first-time visitors, expected from BG. All the problems are those of much less experienced chef owners though, sadly characteristic of some other "celebrity" owners around the country. Still we didn't expect what we encountered because this is Ming's only restaurant, usually a very good sign for a very popular chef. We felt so very, very let down and wont' return. a "2" only due to the duck and, of course, because there other places that are worse if grading on the same scale for all as I try to do. better would be a 1.5 score. We were left to really wonder what Ming (who wasn't there that night) might have thought if he'd been at our table, seeing, tasting and experiencing what we did.
(2)
Ashley J.

I was a huge Ming Tsai fan and waited a long time to eat at his restaurant. I decided my ex-husbands birthday was the perfect occasion. When I called the staff was rude right off the bat, should have known then. The hostess/receptionist/whatever she was in a condescending tone informed me they book months in advance so all they had was a 5 PM reservation. OK I thought, silly me, food must be that good. I make the obscenely early reservation thinking I was lucky to get one at all. We arrive to a totally empty restaurant and it never really got busy after that, huh, thought you were booked? We sit down and I spot Ming and I get really excited. I asked the waitress if near the end of the meal he would come by the table so I could meet him and she said (I kid you not) "oh we are very blessed to have Ming with us tonight, he is a very busy person" Ummm, I didn't realize he was a deity. OK, whatever, he is gonna come over and I can tell him how much I love his show. We order and I pick the lobster which I am told is "the house specialty" and people come all over for it. Cool, I love lobster and how can I go wrong with the signature dish of such a famous chef? It sucked. It was uninspired and frankly didn't flow well. I almost wanted to scrape off the sauce and try and taste any lobster at all. I cant even remember what anyone else got. Nobody was impressed. I am a foodie, I work in the industry. I felt ripped off. For $270 for 3 people I expect to be wow'd. So as we finish Ming saunders over and I am still excited to meet him. I wanted to believe this was an off night or maybe I just picked the wrong dish for me. He was the most arrogant condescending person I ever met. He asked how we liked the food and we lied and said it was great because hey, I have manners and don't want to insult the guy, and I tell him I love your show east meets west. He looks at me and in this tone says well Simply Ming has been on for over a year now. Clearly you aren't that big of a fan and starts to walk away. Then he looks over his shoulder and goes "grab a menu at the door and I will sign it for you" :O OMG, are you f***ing serious? No thanks! I will never go here again. Funny thing is I met him again a few times outside his restaurant and he made a comment about how expensive something was to me. I laughed and said well you own Blue Ginger, you know all about expensive. He wasn't amused. Thing is, I am not bitter, I am disappointed and felt insulted. Maybe things have changed because this was a few years ago at this point but wow. Crappy experience.
(1)
Tanya A.

If Blue Ginger were closer to my house, I'd be going there all the time. Luckily for my wallet, it's way out in Wellesley and thus too out of the way to make it anything but a special occasion destination. The appetizers are delicious, though if you're looking for something to share with the table, these are not it. They're definitely a single or possibly a share-with-one-other portion. The calamari is great. The entrees are definitely incredible-- I ordered the glazed young chicken with peas once and it was so tender I hardly needed my knife. The flavors were great, and if there had been enough left to take home after I was done (despite the heaping portion, it was so good there wasn't any left!) I would've been happy to have it the next day. Desserts left a little to be desired-- I ordered a chocolate nut tart, it might have had five-spice in it, and it was a bit dry for my tastes. But I'm a self-professed dessert snob, so I'm rarely wowed with desserts in restaurants. It was a perfectly respectable dessert, at least. One of the other great things about this place is that unlike many other "celebrity chef" restaurants, Ming Tsai is actually on the premises for quite a bit of the time. We saw him on our last two visits, and he was very accommodating about taking photos with other guests (we didn't try), chatting, etc. Definitely a place to go!
(5)
brian d.

I am writing this review strictly from the perspective of a diner with a gluten allergy. The food overall at Blue Ginger seemed very tasty and those without allergies seemed to love their dinners. However, Blue Ginger advertises itself as a restaurant that is very comfortable with food allergies in general and celiacs specifically, and I didn't find that to be the case. In fact, I was pretty disappointed. First of all, they don't have a gluten-free menu, which most restaurants claiming to be GF friendly do. What they ask you to do instead is pick a selection of entrees and appetizers that you'd be comfortable with and they promise to be able to prepare something that's a close proximity to one or several of them. That's what they say on the phone anyway. When I arrived I told the waitress three appetizers and three entrees I would love to have - she immediately said they can't do any of them gluten-free. Didn't consult with the chef, didn't see if there were alternate ways to prepare them - just said 'No." I'm used to that in some of the more traditional restaurants, but one that claims to be great with food allergies? Unimpressive. What they said they could do is cook an unseasoned steak with a few sides they made up on the spot. Again - totally acceptable, and ultimately it tasted pretty good, but pretty mediocre when it comes to catering to Celiacs. I have had a much better time and felt a lot more cared for at Legal Seafood or PF Chang's, restaurants that are nowhere near as high quality or cost. For dessert, the waitress said I could have coffee or tea or sorbet. Come on, if you're gonna claim to be great for gluten intolerants, have a flourless chocolate cake - it's not that hard. I had a fine time at Blue Ginger and it seemed liked a really great restaurant. The food they finally served me was perfectly good and I have no complaints about the quality. But if you're going to boast about your able to handle any and all allergies, you should put in more of an effort.
(2)
Lucy L.

Visiting Boston all the way from Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. ate out at a total of 8 different restaurants, this one by far was my favorite. Awesome waitress, which i had to explain "I'd never been, may never return, what do you recommend," she said i must try the Butterfish, and excellent choice. It tasted soft and flaky just like Sea bass. Amazing asian wasabi oil, soy lime flavors were in the soba noodle rolled up like a sushi roll. Also, i ordered a Dark and Stormy which to my surprise came out wicked strong, which i liked, but requested a little sweetness added to it and they happily obliged-then it was perfect. Who makes drinks wicked strong without you even asking for it.... this place does. AWESOME i would have had 2, but it would have put me over the edge. I also had the Tuna pokey as my starter, a fried rice cake, with tuna and all sorts of herbs, high end salad leaves, flavors immersed on top. I had no room for dessert, but that was ok, sampled my friends and they were tastey. Now i dropped about $80 total on one drink, one app, and an entre, plus tip, so it wasn't cheap, but worth the splurge. A must experience when your in Boston!
(4)
Maureen H.

My husband and I went there during Restaurant Week and so we cannot complain about the prices. I would definitely go back. The food and service were excellent.
(5)
Sarah P.

I really liked Blue Ginger. I definatley appreciated the attention to detail. Every aspect of the dining experience seemed well thought out. I loved the interior because it felt relaxed, open and classy. Even though the restaurant was packed, it was never too noisy. The waitstaff was really fantastic. Our waitress was very knowledgable about the menu and the winelist, and the busboys were great too. The food was unique and tastey! I highly recommend trying the egg rolls for an appetizer, they are like the best egg rolls you'll ever have. I got salmon wrapped in rice paper with a plum sauce and risotto for a main course. It was very delicious! My dad got the famous Alaskan Butterfish which was absolutley fantastic. My sister got steak, which she is very picky about, and she loved it. Desert was good too. One we tried was a three part Top Chef-like desert with a little cheese, a palette cleanser, and a small pastry, and the other was some kind of nut pie that was very rich. This place isn't ideal for picky eaters because the menu is very unique and every dish has many flavors going on. Go here when you are in the mood for something new and are feeling adventurous. The Celeb Chef Ming Tsai did make an appearance while I was there, but he did not come to my table. He walked around and asked people how thier food was and chatted for a while then went away. I will say that this place is pricey but I think it is worth it. For three of us it was over $300 dollars, including two cocktails and a bottle of wine. It was flawless from start to finish, and it really was like nothing I've had before. Once again the professional waitstaff left a lasting impression on me and reminded me what good service really is. Blue Ginger is now one of my favorite splurges! I think I will go back in a few months or whenever the menu changes again. Overall a very positive experience.
(5)
Mai O.

Fusion of Asian, New American and everything else. Service: 5 Stars. Everyone is super polite, they treat you well here. The owners talked to many of the tables to see how everyone was doing, at the reception a lady (Mrs. Polly Tsai perhaps? ) asked if we enjoyed the food upon leaving. It showed that owners and employee cared about the restaurant. Food: 3.5 Stars. I was expecting haute-cuisine, so when I tasted the food, I was surprised to find it to be more down-to-earth/family style. Salt is on a stronger side, and flavor is good but is not on a delicate/subtle side. What we had were as follows (with price): Wok-Stirred Ginger-Soy Maitake Mushrooms with Truffled Parmesan Flan - 12 Foie Gras-Shiitake Shumai in Sauternes-Shallot Broth - 16 Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish - 36 Wasabi Oil, Soy-Lime Syrup and Vegetarian Soba Noodle Sushi Japanese Braised Pork Osso Bucco with Pickled Kabocha Squash Risotto - 35 Cider-Glazed Burdock Root and Arugula-Umeboshi Salad First two appetizers were just OK. Maitake mushroom had too much soy sauce flavor, it was a bit too salty, not using the ingredient's flavor and potential. 3 stars. Foie gras was not very well represented in the dish, the strong flavor hid both the taste and texture of fois gras...that particular ingredient was not well utilized. 3 stars. Now, as for the main dish, I would give Alaskan butterfish a 3.8. There is almost an identical dish served at Legal Seafoods. I personally prefer the one from Legal's. Legal's Alaskan butterfish is smaller in size, but the fish filet is more fatty yet has more supple texture. Pork Osso Bucco gets a 4.2, the best dish out of all 4 dishes we had. Pork was very tender, the bone marrow had a jelly inside (yummm). A bit too much in quantity though, less would have been ideal. Accompanying salad was quite nice as well, it was supposedly a salad with umeboshi flavor, but instead I felt yuzu flavor, which worked well with pork. Price: Overpriced for what it is. If it was refined haute-cuisine type of place, I would have thought the price was normal, but for what it is, it's over-priced. Decor: A bit strange... I know it's fusion, so it's supposedly ok to mix brown wooden counter with Asian shoji screen-ish decor, but the fake shoji screen was black and white, which clashes in color and feel with that beautiful natural wood of the cooking counter/bar. The ceiling was cheap white type that pushes up, yet in the bathroom there was a Molten Brown hand soap with nice paper towel (you know, type of paper towel that almost is like a real cloth...) Some parts of the decor was cheap, yet the soap is Molten Brown...??? I wasn't quite sure how the decision of what to spend $ on and what not to spend $ on are being made here. I feel like there were no uniformity/consistency in the decor and details as such. Fusion (decor-as well as food) can be done well, but simply juxtaposing 2 things together is not a fusion, it's a confusion. In order for any fusion to be done well, it would require a tasteful mix-and-match and sense of balance. I see a room for improvement. This restaurant can be so much more than what it is, both in its decor and in food. After such improvement, price then will not be an issue.
(3)
Daniel D.

Incredible food. Prohibitively expensive for lots of repeat visits, but very delicious entrees and appetizers! Definitely come here at least once.
(5)
Graham K.

I can't add much that hasn't already been said. Fantastic!
(5)
Brian P.

My wife and I went here for our second anniversary tonight. We were looking forward to it ever since we made the reservation two weeks ago, but we left disappointed. The decor and ambiance were nice, with an open kitchen concept. The host welcomed us and asked us if we were there for a special occasion (which I thought was nice, but a little odd), and we told him it was our anniversary. We were promptly seated. We ordered a couple drinks. My wife had the mai tai and I the platinum margarita. At $15 per drink (!), they were way overpriced. I was disappointed with the selection of the menu. There was not much to choose from, and not much "asian" for an "asian infused" restaurant. For an appetizer we ordered the calamari. The "thai" dipping sauce was an odd pairing for fried calamari. We finished our appetizer and waited for our main course......and waited.....and waited. Almost 30 minutes passed before we finally got our dinner (with lots of "we're very sorry" from the waitress). It was busy for a Tuesday night, but not *that* busy. My wife got a shrimp dish that was served with mashed potatoes, and I got the hangar steak. My wife enjoyed her shrimp dish, and the steak was tasty. The steak came with Empanadas that were quite yummy. The portions were on the small side. Given the amount of time we waited for our dinner, we decided to skip dessert. When the waitress brought the check, they brought us a special happy anniversary dessert on the house to make up for the long wait for dinner. It was very tasty, but at this point we were pretty ticked off. For $150 for a dinner for two, there are tons more places in the Boston area I'd rather spend that kind of money on. We were seated right next to the kitchen, and several members of the cook staff were blatantly drinking Sopporo beers while working, which I thought was a bit unprofessional.
(2)
Dee H.

I came with friends for Mother-Daughter night out and had a blast. I wouldn't have come with my teenagers if it weren't for one of my friends putting the event together. (It took a couple of months of planning!) The food was awesome. With the big table we had, I was able to sample some of my dinner mates' dishes. I didn't realize how popular the butterfish entree was, as evidenced by all the other postings, but I happened to have ordered it. Each bite melted in my mouth, it was so good. My daughter had the lobster, which was just wonderful too. Ming Tsai came around to chat with us. The wait staff was attentive and unobtrusive. After our main meal, we order a variety of desserts to share. I can't remember what we order, but everything I sampled I remembered as elegant and delicious. I would come back again with friends for another special occasion.
(5)
Sujin K.

Best Asian fusion that I've ever had!! I love this place.
(5)
William G.

4 of us for lunch,on a Tuesday.Great food,very interesting flavors and presentations,great service.Go for lunch,Dinner is too noisy and crowded.Rather "pricey",but good for once or twice a year.(our 6 th.visit)
(4)
Chouteau L.

nice place for lunch, you can hear your companion, the food id good, and they don't rush you
(4)
B. Y.

The appetizers were good but not memorable; however, the butterfish entree was AMAZING. It was so delicious that I didn't want it to end. Ming Tsai was around and directing his staff, which was very accommodating. The cocktails were tasty too,
(5)
Ben G.

Last night I realized a dream... well come to think of it, actually two dreams. I ate at Blue Ginger for the first time and also had the opportunity to meet the famed Ming Tsai. I have been watching Ming on TV, whether it be channel 2 or the food network, for years. I have no idea why it took me so long to visit Blue Ginger, but last night to celebrate a birthday; the dreams were made a reality. I got a good feeling while we were being seated. We walked past the open kitchen through the dining room and over to our table. I really enjoy open kitchens: the smells permeating throughout the restaurant, the sounds of knives chopping, veggies and proteins sizzling on the flat top-- these things really heighten all the senses. To be honest, I may have checked out the menu online earlier in the day. I was THAT excited. I wasn't going to walk in and decide on a whim, this was an important decision that needed hours of deliberation. Looking at the menu for a second time again only increased my excitement. My fellow diners and I agreed upon 4 appetizers to get the meal started. We selected Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna Poke with Crispy Sushi Rice Cake and Peppercress-Tosaka Salad ( 15). The tuna was cubed (I thought poke is usually a mashed texture?) and seasoned wonderfully and the crispy rice cake provided a great contrast in texture. The Crispy Fried Calamari with Thai Dipping Sauce (11) was amazing. While dipping the little rings of calamari in the sauce, I had a vision of filling a bathtub up and taking a thai dipping sauce bath. Yea, I know that's kind of a gross thought but after tasting the dipping sauce, you'll probably agree with me. Ming's Tea-Smoked Salmon & Beef Carpaccio* with Avocado-Jicama Salad & Fresh Wasabi Emulsion (14) was another great selection. I've never seen Carpaccio of beef and fish layered like that. While the avocado and jicama salad was a little messy, it added a great flavor to the dish. And then there was my favorite, Foie Gras-Shiitake Shumai in Sauternes-Shallot Broth (16). Holy moly was this unreal. Imagine, French onion soup (sans the cheese) used to steam the most succulent shumai. Then, and this is the best part, the French onion broth used to steam the shumai was later used as a dipping sauce. Forgetaboutit. The buttery flavor of the foie gras blended so well with the broth/ steaming liquid. I could have eaten four orders of this and would have been completely content to die right there. At this point in the meal, I was happy as a clam. Where did that expression come from? Clams are always smiling, right? Whatever, I'm going with it. For my entree, I had the Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster with Lemongrass Fried Rice, Pea Tendril Salad with Soy-Ginger Vinaigrette (41). There is little I can say that can describe how divine this dish was to enjoy. It was spicy, light, aromatic, succulent and heartwarming. Actually, I think I described it quite nicely and with few words. Hey maybe I'm getting the hang of this. Three of my other friends had the Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish with Wasabi Oil, Soy-Lime Syrup and Vegetarian Soba Noodle Sushi (36). I was fortunate enough to sample some of this dish. My friends and I are not shy about eating off each other's plates (with or without permission). The Butterfish; was light, refreshing, yet rich. I didn't care for the soba noodle sushi but my friends (especially the birthday girl) enjoyed it. Another friend savored the Blue Ginger Seafood 'Bouillabaisse' with Saffron-Edamame Risotto with Roasted Lobster Nage and Poblano-Vinegar Syrup (32). While I was too full to sample any of this dish, my dining compatriots assured me that this dish was up to par with Lobster and the Butterfish. I was happy that my all my friends enjoyed their meals. I mean, the foie and the lobster probably helped too. Not only was the atmosphere and food top notch, but I would be doing our server an injustice if I didn't describe the service at Blue Ginger. Our waitress was a seasoned veteran. Sometimes when you dine at an upscale restaurant, some servers display a condescending attitude. For what reason, I do not know; but this has been my experience. I'd like to be clear that this was NOT the case at Blue Ginger. Our Server was amazing. She was polite (especially when my buddy spilled his dark and stormy), very helpful (suggesting a great wine to accompany the Butterfish), not pushy, a made an effort to make sure this was a fabulous meal for all parties involved. For dessert, the five of us split Sesame Macadamia Caramel Nut Tart, Toasted Coconut Ice Cream with House-made Hot Fudge and Gosling's Rum Caramel Bananas (12) This tart but it was nothing short of magical. It was sweet, savory, gooey, and definitely pushed me over the edge into a food coma. Not even the delicious cappuccino cocould bring bring me back to life. I had died and gone to Blue Ginger heaven.
(5)
Mariko W.

Ming was there. Nice guy! I tried, calamri, organic shrimp,. and the lobster. Wow. I didn't think it was too expensive either. We spent 110.00 for two people. I could easily blow that on sub-par food in some tacky trendy place in the South End. Will go back soon!
(5)
creighton k.

Always dependable, a mile from our house, great food, great wine. Service can be slow on Saturdays. Place is always packed.
(4)
Lucy M.

Blue Ginger is a consistently good meal. I like that Ming Tsai is often in the restaurant (hopefully that will still be true when his place opens in Boston) I prefer the bar to the dining room, which other than giving you a view of the kitchen, doesn't offer much in the way of ambience. To me the stand out dishes are the Miso-Saki Butterfish, the tuna poke, and most recently the braised lamb shank, which is delicious. Cocktails are interesting and desserts are solid.
(4)
Jill T.

Weird food. Mediocre service. WAY overpriced for what you get. I wanted it to be a special occasion, wonderful food, great drinks, great service, and I was frustrated from the get-go. Not worth it. Overrated.
(2)
Roxanna M.

Oh how I miss asian fusion cuisine! I honestly didn't expect much because I would compare the food to fusion cuisine in Miami, but it is outstanding and unique by Boston standards. The dishes were imaginative and fresh. Unfortunately, the decor was bland - the lighting is too bright. Still, I would have given it four stars if I had met Ming. Trust me, I looked! But alas, he was not to be found. Maybe next time?
(3)
Jim H.

Yes, the butter fish is reason enough to go to Blue Ginger and, once you have it, it will be challenging to order anything else when you come back. It will also lead you to never order it anywhere else. But if you do venture to other parts of the menu, you will learn that Ming is truly a step above. The menu never tries to be cute just for the sake of being cute. This is savory fare that gives you the full package. Look, I ordered the blue cheese sliders, three mini-burgers that may sound sort of "so-what?" but that taste unlike any combination of pork, beef, and cheese you have had before. Downsides? It's not within walking distance of my house.
(5)
Ed L.

Get the mussels. Trust. I friggin hate mussels and I loved these. The broth was so deep and rich, we wanted to drink it all. The shiitake mushroom spring rolls were just okay. They were a little dry and tasted mostly of onions. My pork chops were amazing and melted in my mouth. My wife liked her salmon as well. Service was friendly, professional and attentive. We had the four course tasting menu, and the portions were actually very large. Most people inside were dressed in business casual attire. I would gladly come back to try more dishes.
(4)
Matthew F.

In a celebratory mood we went the Blue Ginger with high expectation given its considerable hype, more or less upper-end positive reviews on Yelp, and our enjoyment of inventive cuisine. Overall, my wife felt the experience to be mediocre, and I found myself profoundly disappointed in the meal, based on other options in the region. Despite our negative reaction, however, being newcomers recently relocated to Wellesley, we will certainly give them a second chance. With regional fusion competitors esconced in comparable French-Pacific Rim motifs like Myers + Chang, Oishii, Uni, Journeyman, and O-Ya, Blue Ginger, in my expectation, will be outdone and outclassed without undertaking a serious retrofit of its outdated menu options. For my money, I think one can find more exceptional quality on the Chinese end at a handful of expressly Chinese restaurants in the region, and some really interesting fusion-concepts do exist elsewhere for the discerning gastronome in eastern Massachusetts. We began the evening perhaps too auspiciously in ordering what was a superb bottle of champagne (hey, we were celebrating) -- and it was one so excellent to our palates, it upstaged everything else without being ruined -- that's what we're telling ourselves anyway. Had we known what we were in for, we would have set our wine-pairing sights much lower, or gone the Singapore-Sling route. We shared the leek-shiitake springrolls, the fois-gras shumei, the sablefish, and the lobster -- the latter two being by far the most expensive items on the menu (which btw is not why we picked them). Like other reviewers we were surprised by the blunt mediocrity of these choices. They were also quite heavy and unrefined. The springrolls were salty and uninteresting, even wrapped in the lettuce with the coleslaw, the manner carefully instructed by our young server (is this P. F. Chang's?), and the plating was more major cruiseline than celebrity chef. The shumei were no different, though served in the classic bamboo steamer over a sludge-like sauternes french onion soup whose flavor was more in the Germanic Blaukraut spectrum -- not a bad thing, but a strange choice for fois-gras - flavors cancelled each other out. My Sablefish was overcooked, and, I gotta say, the weird soba-noodle sushi and seaweed salad is indeed an awful and unappetizing combination with this delicate fish -- how is this their headliner dish? My wife's lobster was a hacked-up Maine swimming in a brownish, chunky, and salty gravy that over-powered our otherwise sweet and hearty local crustacean friend. The inadequately sized plate and abundant sauce also made it less than graceful removing the meat from the shells - we were confused this step was not addressed by the chef given the dish's form. Desserts were mostly pedestrian but good - my wife had the chocolate cake with cardamon ice cream - though their blackberry-yuzu jellies were amazing.
(2)
Sonia N.

This place is just fantastic! It takes a lot for me to say that all three factors were perfect this visit - Service was excellent and professional, ambiance was elegant and romantic and food was tantalizing. We started our evening off with the chef suggested green gazpacho. It was emulsified so thoroughly that it tasted creamy. You forget it's not prepared with any cream at all. Next we had the pleasure of trying their Shiitake-Leek Springrolls and the Mussels. Both were wonderful and nothing lacked in flavor or presentation. At our server's suggestion, we tried Korean Rice Cake Stir Fry with Tofu and the Curry Pasta with Vegetables. AH-MAZ-ING! If you only can pick one of these to try, choose the tofu dish. Very original and I'd say if you're a foodie looking to order something to try out the chef's artistry, this is your must have. I promise you won't regret it. For our desserts, we chose a chocolate dessert and something that looked like strawberry donuts. Both satisfied our sweet tooth but the donuts were the winner that round. Overall, a 5 star experience and we will be back!
(5)
Mark W.

So disappointed with our most recent dinner visits to BG. Over salted food both times, wait staff inattentive very surprised to walk out the front door on two occasions after spending $300 (party of two) to be ignore by the front door hostesses both times they were just too busy chatting amongst themselves to even say good night.
(3)
Lannie L.

After watching Top Chef and receiving a gift card from our wedding, we finally had the chance to patron this place! It was easy to make a last minute reservation via Open Table on a late Friday night. The ambience was louder than I would have preferred but it was a large restaurant with an open kitchen section which I always appreciate. Our waiter had a strong foreign accent and I found myself smiling and nodding most of the time without actually understanding what he was saying. I started with a Castlebrite cocktail, him an Old Fashioned. Both delicious. We got the Poke and LOVED it. I loved the take on 'rice cakes' as I expected soft and gooey, pounded rice cake. Poke itself was so good - lots of interesting flavors and we cleaned that plate quick. He went with the Sablefish (butterfish) and I got the Porterhouse pork. He claimed his fish was the best he has ever tasted. Butterfish is very soft and tender and an easy fish to eat. The pork was delicious but overly sweet in my opinion with the apricot and glaze. The smashed crispy potatoes were great but I would have hoped they were more evenly cooked (some were more burnt). We ended with the Mochi Donuts, which were very...sesame-like if that's what you want. It was interesting with good texture but I should have followed my gut and went with something chocolate. Maybe I walked into it with my fake Top Chef judge hat but overall, we really enjoyed the food but could understand why the price point would draw people away for what they would think is 'worth it.' Service was also incredibly slow but our water was topped off constantly and bread re-fills were offered which I thought was thoughtful and attentive. PS - Parking in the back in case you're pulling your hair out looking for street parking.
(4)
Tessa D.

I came here for the Easter brunch buffet, so I'm not sure if that's a good indicator of the usual standards of this place. When I first arrived it wasn't too busy so I was alright then, but as the day continued I became very annoyed because they had squeezed us into these tiny seats. Every time I had to leave my table I wound up jabbing the man next to me. Maybe this would be a good set up on a regular night, but when people are getting up and down to refill their plates it isn't all that convenient. I grabbed one of every single thing their asian buffet was serving. There was lamb, shrimp, dumplings, noodles, thai fried chicken, sliders, ham. The only thing I really enjoyed were the lamb and the dumplings, because they were the only things that were warm. I strongly disliked the noodles, they were covered in a yellow curry sauce and it wasn't very good, the noodles were overcooked and essentially mush, I had one bite and regretted it. The "Thai" fried chicken was also very confusing to me, as someone who has lived in Thailand. It kind of just seemed like a typical fried chicken with a few asian spices that I didn't immediately associate with Thailand. I went back up for another plate of ham, lamb, and shrimp but then after that I was done with the "adult" side of the buffet. I was still hungry so I moved from the mature asian fusion side that my peers were enjoying, and walked over to the kid section. Yup, I chose chicken nuggets, mac n cheese, and a hot dog over the menu an Iron Chef made. Don't know if that says more about me or the food at Blue Ginger. My boyfriend actually laughed so hard when he came back to the table and saw me eating chicken nuggets I was worried he'd choke on something. The highlight of my trip to Blue Ginger was the dessert table. Oh. My. Goodness. If I had known it had existed earlier I would've spent all my time there, but unfortunately I didn't discover it until after I'd stuffed myself with kid food. They had key lime bites, strawberry shortcake, green tea cakes, creme brulee. My boyfriend and I went back to the table twice. Had it not been for the dessert I would've very much regretted going to Blue Ginger, but it made it worth it. So, not sure how much I can say about their usual menu, but this is what I experienced during their Holiday special.
(3)
sally l.

The extra special bar area is my favorite...Last night the bar menu Chicken wraps was delicious, the Sancerre very good, the service excellent. I am a fan of Ming Tsai and give thanks to him whenever I am at BlueGinger...For bringing Blue Ginger to Wellesley!
(4)
Davide C.

The restaurant scene in the suburbs is vibrant and there are excellent choices available. BG is not on the top of my list. It just does not excite me the way a restaurant with its reputation should. I consider their food average (not bad), their wine options average (not bad), their service average (not bad). This was our third time there. This time, the bread was brought out after the appetizers (rookie mistake). At Christmas, we bought from BG a gift certificate that got us a $20 coupon. Unfortunately, BG refused to accept the coupon because it was expired by a few days. Again, BG is average. It should be more., It is not.
(2)
Paul M.

If I could give them 10 stars, I would! Blue Ginger - Wellesley, MA - 5/13/2015 Its a Wednesday night and the place is packed! A large well decorated restaurant in earthy tones... Columns with wood accents... Gold colored walls... Black ceiling with accent lighting... House baked French country loaf served aside a wonderful Brioche... Made fresh daily accompanied by whipped butter. Amazing! Thai Fish Chowder with salmon, coconut milk & lemongrass. If there is a fish heaven, I think I just found it. This is probably one of the absolute best soups that I have ever had. Small bits of various vegetables and pieces of salmon... The flavours and textures blend like a torrid affair on my palate... Mere words cannot describe what I am experiencing right now... Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster with Lemongrass Fried Rice. Pea tendril salad with tamari-ginger vinaigrette. I'm not even sure where to begin with this one... The presentation of the plate?... The placement of the fried rice inside the lobster shell?... Or was it the way the lobster tail was sectioned like riblets with the meat still inside?... Or was it the way the spinach was neatly placed upon the chunks of lobster claw meat...? Everything purposely positioned... For dessert their flowerless chocolate cake with cardamom ice cream and chocolate ganache... I have had a lot of these but because everything else was so exceptional I figured this would be extra special here... The richest, creamiest, most chocolaty foodgasmic dessert you will find for miles... Simply WOW! Top it off with a cappuccino and life is truly good... My server Jill was fabulous! Respected my pace and everything came out at the exact time I was ready for it. I cant say any more than I already have... Although I like to try different restaurants as I go in my travels, I will definitely be back here... Definitely!
(5)
Marlana Y.

'Free bread? Maybe it's not that kind of place.' That's the first thought we both had after we ordered because we were so hungry from the wait. But as we were thinking it, it came. The service was amazing but we went during the dinner rush on a Sunday and surprisingly it was busy!!! Especially since it also was a blizzard warning weekend. Every Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday night they offer the winter comforts 3 course dinner menu for $39. The deal gave us a reason to visit but due to the prices and tastes it's not something that makes me want to go there all the time. It was just OK. It's a nice fancy place to bring a date if you want to impress. Apps came out fast. We ordered the Crispy Fried Calamari with Thai dipping sauce and the Shiitake-Leek Springrolls with three chile dipping sauce. The calamari was good but the sauce was too sour- so much lime that it turned us off from eating the calamari. Entrees and dessert was a bit slow I think due to a back up in the kitchen from the high volume customers as the evening went on. We ordered the Braised Pork Shank and Grilled Salmon. I thought the salmon was amazing. I loved the mushroom risotto that came with it. My husband felt that the pork needed Tabasco sauce. Dessert we got the creme brÃ»lÃ©e which tasted like every brÃ»lÃ©e I've ever had and my hubby grabbed the Bittersweet Chocolate Cake which he loved because he loved anything that tastes like dark chocolate .
(3)
Ambreen D.

We ordered the calamari, foie gras dumplings, and the Indonesian noodles. The dumplings were great. The rest wasn't particularly amazing. The sauce for the calamari was the same as the primary flavor in the noodles. Wish someone had warned us. Felt meal was too monotone.
(3)
Christine J.

I would give it 3 stars for its mediocrity but the high price drives it down a star. way overrated. If this is what americans consider good Asian food, they're missing out! I expected way more from Ming the famous Chinese chef, but instead its like Asian food cooked by non Asians. whatever Asian fusion is, it should taste good but this is just way average. the lobster fried rice was so mundane. their signature dish. it was salty and nothing special.. had another dish and it was also so so. can't remember what it was.. maybe steak? wouldn't waste my money or time travelling here again.
(2)
Sam S.

5-star food in every bite; very professional service during meal; allergy requests cheerfully accommodated. Ordered a craft beer only to be told it was "out of stock" that evening; list could be expanded to include more interesting selections (Note to owner: check Beer Advocate before choosing). Took a bit too long to receive check at end of meal. Street parking or metered lot nearby. Great location near center of town, walking distance to lots of cute boutiques.
(4)
Jamie Y.

This place has a great reputation but unfortunately didn't please any member of our party of 5. We ordered five entrees on the menu and only the butterfish was good and worth its price. The Indonesian curry pasta however wasn't great and no one wanted to finish it at our table (we were sharing our dishes). Everything else was only ok- again, not worth the money. If you're looking for a fancy dinner place to go to for a special occasion, I would go somewhere else where the food is worth paying for.
(3)
S A.

Its clearly the pride of wellesley when it comes to local restaurants. Every time i have been here, its been an experience. The quality of food is as good as it gets in Wellesley. Presentation is exquisite. Service is fine too, though its not consistent across waiters. It requires a little more space to reduce the usual wait time when a guest lands up without a prior appointment.
(4)
Ann G.

I hadn't been here in years and left with the same thought I had the last time - this is mediocre and overpriced. Had we not been for restaurant week I would be really angry at having paid $54 + tax/tip per person instead of $38 for the items we ordered (all available on the regular menu). The clam fritters were ok but served too hot and therefore a little soggy and honestly 3 little fritters for the price of a plate of clam strips at a clam shack. The chicken entree was very moist but no whiz-bang. Actually the watermelon bits that came with it were really tasty but far too few (and watermelon is cheap, so why scrimp?!). The pork porterhouse was FAR too salty, almost inedible, and the glaze didn't taste like peach. The side was some bean mixture that was fresh and tasted fine but nothing special. Blueberry cake dessert was good, but the yozu ice cream pairing didn't work for me. Tart with tart - no. It needed something un-tart to offset the berry tartness. The sesame profiterole was very good, and the crunch from the sesame made the dessert. It was the best thing we ate all night. Service is friendly and good, and parking was easy. If the food was 1/2 the cost I'd give it another star, but the price is unjustified. I highly doubt I'd go back despite being quite close to my house.
(2)
Roberta R.

Eat at the bar, eat early, or late, if you don't want to listen to demanding brats, it's Wellesley after all and we have a lot of them, of all ages. When ever I am in town I make a point of eating here even at the bar or in the dining room depending upon the time of day. The food is fantastic and the people who work here are exceptional. They serve from and clear from the correct sides, swipe crumbs off the table, and know when they see silverware in the appropriate position to clear or leave the diner alone. They don't clear unless asked to do so which is rare these days. If you are lucky the owner will be circulating through the dining room. He is a wonderful person. When we were there last time he signed a book and personally delivered it to the table. The lettuce cups and butterfish are enough to make the trip up from NY or CT as often as possible. While I don't eat much steak myself, my dining companion had it and enjoyed it thoroughly. The presentation of everything from cocktails to dessert was beautiful. If you only have time to make it to their location in Boston, Blue Dragon, go there for a taste of the fabulous food and service we get a mere 17 miles west.
(5)
Jennifer X.

Ming Tsai's restaurant lived up to its name. Came here on a Thursday night for my company holiday party. Attentive service and great flow of food. We started with the servers recommendations of a few different apps, the shumai stood out in particular. The raw tuna was also delish. As a (fake) Korean, I had to go with the entree with the korean rice cakes in it. Completely vegetarian dish. Crispy tofu was AMAZING. If I could eat tofu prepared like that everyday of my life, I would seriously consider giving up meat. (I never will but it's a nice a thought). It was accompanied by perfectly sautÃ©ed Swiss chard, crisp cauliflower and a broth to soak it all in. Still thinking about this dish many days later... Desert was pretty good, the cheesecake was the star of the show. If I'm ever back in Boston, I'll definitely be coming back to this restaurant.
(4)
Michelle T.

Disappointed. Expected much more. Ambiance is nice. However food is mediocre. Definitely over priced. Drinks are delicious.
(3)
Paul D.

Excellent food. Great powerful bold tastes. Nice location friendly service. Encourage you to visit and enjoy the great creative food.
(5)
Andy L.

Excellent cocktails and great service. We have no issues paying celebrity chef prices but the food was wretched. As other reviewers have noted there food is mediocre, poorly executed, and overly salted. We love flavorful rich food and are not sensitive to salt but every dish we ordered tasted like salt or was swimming in fish sauce or soy. I would note our family is half Lao and Thai and not afraid of salt or fish sauce. We drove 1.5 hours for this special date and were very disappointed and would not consider returning. In addition to poor execution the menu choices were not very impressive. I am sad to say you could obtain better lo mein from your local chinese take out and save some bills.
(1)
Jeremy W.

Priced accordingly but delivering across the board, Blue Ginger was a great place for a celebratory dinner this past Saturday (of Thanksgiving weekend). It was really difficult to get an Open Table res for a prime time (7-9 Friday or Saturday), but I'm not sure why, because there were several open tables well before 9pm. I love watching Simply Ming and was really looking forward to trying Ming's cooking (regardless if he was in the house or not - he wasn't), and I was not disappointed. App round: drunken noodles and himachi (1A or 1B), followed by the spring rolls (sliced on a bias so you get a good look at the mushroom filling and seemingly less fried dough) and calamari (IMO always a pedestrian app order, but everyone else was pleased and I did really like the cilantro vinegar sauce). Entree round: I struggled to settle on a dish but am thrilled I chose the sake-miso sablefish (to me, the best of 5 strong entrees); it's no mystery why they call this soft, delicate fish "butterfish." The lamb chops and lobster were both knockouts, the pho extremely enjoyable, and the steak was cooked perfectly and tasty, though they were out of the accompaniment (noodles maybe?) and offered a butternut squash substitution. We had a nice bottle of Napa Cabernet for $55, but the vintage (2010 vs 2009) was incorrectly listed on the menu. Service was friendly, efficient, and accommodating. Would definitely recommend (with the disclaimer dinner will likely be $75+ per person).
(5)
James G.

I've been a fan of Ming Tsai for years, ever since he had his show on Food TV. I've been using the Blue Ginger cookbook almost as long, always to great acclaim, so when the opportunity presented itself to dine here, I hurried to go. I went for lunch with a business associate who lives nearby, and she reported that she goes regularly, and that she might go more often if the menu changed a bit more (the fact that the menu seems unchanging is why I cannot give them five stars). Both she and the waiter advised that I order the famed sake-miso marinated sablefish, so how could I turn it down? Yes, it's the most expensive item on the menu, at $21, but it was presented beautifully and tasted wonderful, with a bit of wasabi on the plate and a knot of udon (or was it soba??). Excellent!
(4)
Wendy W.

No one told us about restaurant week. Said we had to say something when reservations were made. Seriously?? We are from NY. How were we supposed to know?! Cost us over $100 more for the same dinner! Bad business. Left bad taste in mouth. Oh- and pork was raw and had to go back--unlike us who will NOT go back!
(2)
Robyn B.

Super overrated. I came here with my mom, and while we enjoyed the food, we left with a kind of 'meh' impression. The environment feels like it's trying too hard to be fancy. While the food tasted good (and was beautifully plated), it was WAY expensive, and the portions are teensy. We were both hungry again 20 minutes after we left. Not worth it! Not coming back again. There are better options in Wellesley!!
(2)
Shannon C.

Bless my husband's heart for planning my birthday dinner here at my long-time admired chef Ming Tsai's restaurant. The experience was a lot of fun and the food full of unique fun flavors. What we ordered: - Charcuterie Plate - pate was oh-so-smooth, loved the mustard and orange marmalade pairings - Cranberry Char-Siu Glazed Pork Belly - yummy, again an interesting flavor combo - Sake-Miso Marinated Sablefish (a.k.a. Butterfish) - best dish, most unassuming and just darn good fish, very well prepared, delicious - Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster with Lemongrass Fried Rice - beautiful presentation, personally didn't care for the rice, most over-hyped - Berkshire Pork Porterhouse* with Szechuan Apricot Sauce - most surprising, loved the flavor pairing with the apricot sauce Our server was kind and helpful, everything was prepared well and an altogether memorable restaurant experience. Metered parking and a great little spot in Wellesley!
(4)
Julia K.

My sister and I grew up watching Ming on PBS on the weekends, so we decided to try out his restaurant in Wellesley. The restaurant decor and service was above average but truly nothing special. Ming was present but only went around and said hi to the larger tables which I understand but why not quickly stop by as many tables as you can and say HI? It takes very little effort on his part and can make the dining experience so much more enjoyable. The mussels appetizer was prepared with a deep and rich black soy bean flavor. This was probably the best dish. The sake-miso marinated sablefish and lamb were fairly standard in flavor, and I don't think that commands $30-$40 per entree.
(3)
Stephanie T.

I'm torn between 3 and 4 stars here, but I'm going to stick to 3 because of the crazy prices at Blue Ginger. I think the restaurant is pretty overrated, the food is good don't get me wrong, but not good enough to warrant the price tag. It comes in small portions and isn't filling enough. I am always hungry still either when I leave or shortly after. Service is great though, great presentation and very attentive staff.
(3)
Carlos F.

Wife and I had the spring roll appetizer tonight along with the (I) sable fish entree and (ii) lobster entree. The food was good but we did not leave feeling like we got a good value for our dining dollar. For the prices, we would typically say, "wow, what an amazing meal," but we did not leave with that sentiment. The sable fish was excellent, but the portion of fish was small -- maybe 5 ounces. Also, the sides were just weird -- udon sushi plus seaweed salad -- and not very appetizing. I can do better with $41 for this entree.
(3)
Annie K.

This place is top-notch! In short, the food, service, and ambience are spectacular!!! My only complaint (which is no fault of the restaurant's; simply the location) is the atmosphere - you can't take the yuppy uppity out of Wellesley. Fortunately, the staff certainly do NOT reflect this atmosphere. We loved the bartender Melissa so much that we ended up staying at the bar to eat rather than dining outside and wanted the phenomenal host (didn't catch his name) to dine with us because he was also so fabulous and entertaining! The drinks were expertly crafted (though she refused to refer to herself as a mixologist, they were created artfully and deliciously) and the food was awesome. We split the "sliders," black pepper shrimp app, shishito peppers, green salad, and sweet potato/taro fries. Delicious! We will definitely be back for the food and service!!!
(5)
Sara M.

I had been looking forward to going there for a whole and it did not disappoint. We sat at the bar for a few minutes first and the summer sangria was refreshing. The service was impeccable and everything came out at a good pace. For apps we shared the tuna poke served on a rice cake and the spring rolls. My scallop entree was cooked perfectly. Since there were several other things on the menu that I wanted to try I have an excuse to return.
(5)
Sherman T.

Have wanted to try this place for a long time, having traveled to the Boston area for over a decade and never had the time. Couldn't pass it up this time. Read some reviews, mostly good, what can I say. Get here early, on a weekday, get great service. Not over the top fancy, but clean, modern, nicely dressed up. Great environment, saw good number of kids and families (mostly well behaved :)) Bread selection was good, salted butter would have been awesome (no salt); bread was tasty. Calamari was pretty good. For main course, we had Ginger and black pepper Lobster (always good in the New England area); Sablefish and Indo Curry Shrimp Pasta. Close it out with yummy cookies and sorbet. Wasn't a fan of the $4 home brewed Lime-ade with no free refills (but kind of expected that) Could have easily spent $40 on Lime-ade for the kids. Instead spent $20 on kids drinks. Like I said, expected it. Would definitely visit again!!
(5)
Bridget K.

Went with a large party for lunch today. Food was bland and tasteless, Service was atrocious. We had three appetizers to share and everyone had an entree - no one liked their food.
(1)
Jacob S.

I like blue ginger. The gluten free food options are plentiful for dinner and a little less for lunch. All the options are very flavorful.
(4)
Susan B.

Love it here! Try the Bar bites they're great. If you go around five there's no problem with seating.
(4)
Tim Y.

My wife and I try to visit Ming Tsai's restaurant every time we are in town. Unfortunately, we always miss seeing him there. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. They bring creativity and originality to their dishes. We ordered the following this time: -Crab Crusted Halibut with Handmade Yuzu-Udon Noodles - 34 -Red Miso Broth and Ponzu Pickled Tomatoes -Vietnamese Fresh Rice Noodle Roll with Tofu - 25 -Sweet-Spicy Lime Sauce and Arugula, Pickled Daikon Salad I have to say everything was delicious!! Their homemade ginger ale rocks! Wish I could bottle some back and bring it back home to CA! The service and ambiance are great! Will definitely be back next time I'm in the Boston area!
(4)
Benjamin C.

I've been to Blue Ginger 4 times. Two of my visits have been on a Sunday afternoon. I remember when the place was half the size and the doors for the bathroom were not marked for gender. They had a cocktail called the Golden Goose (ginger infused grey goose vodka). The restaurant has come a long way since then. When I think of Blue Ginger, I see it as the local diner for Wellesley. I don't mean that in a insulting way. I mean it in the sense that it's consistently packed with people from the area. It's more of a testament to how classy Wellesley is, and that an Asian Fusion restaurant can shine. I've never had to get a reservation to be seated because the place can seat quite a few people. I had the Grilled Flat Iron Steak with Crispy Okonomiyaki for my entree last visit. It was fantastic. It was a little bit more sweet then savory, and overall delicious. My friend had the Korean Rice Cake Stir Fry with Crispy Marinated Tofu. The rice cakes were actually these compressed tubes of rice. I'd go as far to call them rice sausages. They were not great in my opinion. However my friend really enjoyed them. The lounge at Blue Ginger is large. I've had the some appetizers off of the lounge menu before with sake. I recommend the Charcuterie Plate. Duck Foie Gras and prioscutto is amazing. On my last visit, I had an Arc D'Triomphe cocktail. It's super good. I am giving Blue Ginger 4 stars only because it just doesn't feel like a 5 star place to me. That's not to take anything away from the restaurant. I've never had an issue with the service or meals I've had. It's lacking a je ne sais quoi. It is odd that they never seem to have specials. It doesn't matter. Please try Blue Ginger if you are in the area.
(4)
Ann G.

We had a wonderful time at Blue Ginger in Wellesley. The staff was excellent, the interior lovely, and the food was delicious. I find it funny that other reviewers felt the clientele was "suburban". The restaurant is in Wellesley - what did they expect? A room full of chic Boston-ites? Who cares who sits next to you, so long as the food is good and the service just right. And both were, for us. Add to the food my truly delicious Blue Ginger Gimlet and you've got a great dinner experience.
(5)
Amy D.

I remember seeing Ming Tsai on PBS when I was growing up, then saw him compete on The Next Iron Chef competition on Food Network recently. I was excited to have the chance to eat at his restaurant when I was in the Boston area recently for a work trip. I got to try: -Crispy Fried Calamari w/Thai Dipping Sauce ($9): Just ok. The calamari wasn't very crispy, but I liked the Thai dipping sauce. However, I wouldn't order this again. -Shiitake-Leek Springrolls w/Three Chili Dipping Sauce ($9): Just ok- it wasn't bland, but it also wasn't that flavorful. Skip! -Wok Stirred Thai Noodles (Rice Noodles, Scrambled Egg, Tamarind Sauce, Shrimp, $12): Not that great- the dish was bland overall. I was expecting more of a pad thai, but got an Asian noodle stir-fry noodle dish instead. Skip! -Chocolate Pot de CrÃ¨me: The best (and least Asian) dish of the meal- the pot de crÃ¨me was smooth and creamy, and had great chocolate flavor. Recommended! Overall, I was definitely disappointed with the dishes I tried, especially after seeing the dishes Chef Tsai cooked during The Next Iron Chef competition. I think he needs to spend more time at this restaurant to ensure the food quality is up to par. However, I would consider coming back to this restaurant again since my co-worker raved about the sablefish (butterfish) dish he had here in the past, and I definitely want to give that a try. At least the service was good- our server was very knowledgeable and efficient. However, parking is horrible in this area- try to find a spot in the lot behind the restaurant since there is very little street parking available.
(2)
Seth C.

Awesome food & great service - why the mixed reviews? Pork belly app was to die for, butterfish delicious, big eye tuna was exactly what I wanted it to be. Chocolate cake, creme brÃ»lÃ©e, I could go on & on! Our server was attentive, quick with our equally awesome cocktails. I will be back!!
(5)
Mike P.

Was visiting from out of town and brought my wife for her birthday and my 8 year old girl. It was one of the best meals I've ever had our. We enjoyed Ming Tsai's east-west food and found out how dumplings and shumai should taste. We had the specific shrimp dumplings, soft shell crab, and foie gras shumai appetizers. All were great and the shumai was our favorite as the noodle and foie gras melted in the mouth. For dinner we had the lobster with black pepper sauce, butterfish, and lamb. Each were great and we especially enjoyed the black pepper sauce. Definitely look forward to returning when in town again. Only sad thing was my daughter wanted to see Ming Tsai's which apparently we missed him by a day.
(5)
Alexandra Z.

Before going there, I've heard mixed reviews from my friends. I was still really excited to go tho because of the celebrity chef Ming. The food itself is between 3.5 and 4 stars. It was not too bad but not that special either. The presentation was on point. However for their prices and the name, their dishes are very underwhelming and I would not call it Asian fusion at all. I couldn't find any Asian flavor in their dishes. I don't think I would go back again. I can get much better Asian dishes else where for a third of their prices.
(3)
ERIC L.

People love this place and they try hard to "bring it", but the food is not really that tasty, it's not bad or anything, but not the "high end" or really delicious quality it should be
(2)
Vincent B.

My wife and I went for Valentine's day fixed price menu. Usually when I spend $170 with no drinks for 2 people I walk away saying WOW to every dish and bite I put in my mouth. Then I typically crave the meal for weeks/months until I am lured back by my tastebuds to the restaurant to do it again. I just did not get that experience. It was not bad per se, but it was far from great and certainly not worth half of what I spent. I could have gone to cheesecake and walked away with the same feeling. To start my wife had the tuna which was good but not great. I had the fois dumplings...Mediocre at best. For the main course, I had the short ribs with Palmagranite reduction which were the best dish of the night and my wife had the butter fish...one of their signature dishes. It was okay but I had the fish 15 years ago when they first opened and I remember it being better and less expensive. Dessert we had the macadamia tart and the creme brule which were again good but not great. The service was to be expected ...good. Don't think I will ever be back.
(2)
Paul L.

Went to Blue Ginger last night with some friends and again it was magnificent. The butterfish, lobster and curry pasta dishes were awesome. Everyone had a great meal and it was a special night out. The apps of tuna and calamari were excellent too.
(5)
Steven C.

Once again another amazing experience at Blue Ginger the food was amazing and the service couldn't have been better! I'd have to say that if I had to pick one meal to live off of for the rest of my life it would have to the the Butter Fish. Truly an amazing dish. I wish I lived closer because I would love to go to this place a lot more. Thanks again for such a great experience.
(5)
Emily M.

My husband and I are foodies and this did not live up to the hype. My husband got the lobster dish and the sauce was over powered with butter. Also for $41 dish, there should have been more lobster meat. I got the Indonesian curry noodles and it was disappointing. The noodles were almost sour. We were disappointed with the quality of the meal and expected dishes to be more refined.
(2)
Michael H.

I do my best to try new restaurants but when I go out of the way to try something and it disappointing as much as Blue Ginger it becomes hard to justify. I live in Boston and decided to head out to Wellesley for a special occasion at Blue Ginger. The atmosphere was very, how do I say this, suburban. Kids everywhere with their parents and grandparents and a big dining room type of feel. We had some of the most highly recommended dishes, i.e. tuna-poke, butterfish, lobster, etc. all of which were decent. The texture of the butterfish was actually very nice but all of the flavors throughout were really basic and bland. After dinner we were so unsatisfied that we went to Oishii in Boston for drinks at the sushi bar and had a couple small appetizers late night. If you live nearby, maybe it's worth it but I wouldn't recommend the journey out if it's more than 20 minutes.
(2)
Jamie F.

I really, really like Blue Ginger, so I'm kind of bummed out that some Yelpers rated BG pretty low :( Yes, it's expensive, but it's delicious, high-quality Asian Fusion - this doesn't really exist in Mass! Where else can you find foie gras siu mai and hoisin lamb rack? Mind blown. I've had the pleasure of dining here twice. First visit (a few years back) was for a family birthday celebration where everyone was a 'dinner winner' and ordered a delicious entree...except for me. All I can say is: don't order the Indonesian curry noodles; the consistency was pasty and the taste was unpalatable. Not sure why it's still on the menu. Second visit was for post-Vday dinner and it was a perfect meal in my book. We ordered all seafood this time: * tuna-poke with crispy sushi rice cake and microgreens (appetizer) * sake-miso butterfish with soba noodle sushi (signature dish) * garlic-black pepper whole lobster with lemongrass fried rice * chocolate dessert tasting All the dishes were very tasty, plated nicely, and decent portion size too. The tuna appetizer was full of zest and I loved the crunch from the rice cake. The butterfish was melt-in-your-mouth good with a nice charred/grilled flavor. The lobster head shell was hollowed out and stuffed with aromatic fried rice, a pleasant surprise. All the lobster meat was de-shelled and cooked perfectly. The chocolate dessert tasting was a sweet ending; each nibble made me want more. Honestly, the meal was so good that I would trek my lazy bum from Boston to Wellesley to feast here again. Service was fine. Ambiance was intimate, yet family-friendly. Food was excellent. Yup, I think I'm going to go find a big tree now so I can carve out "JF + BG 4EVA" on it.
(4)
Stephanie B.

I visited Blue Ginger during dine out boston. Overall the food was good, but nothing special. All the dishes had so much sodium. One was so bad I had to send it back. It is a little bit of a hike form where I live. Because the food was just average, I highly doubt I would ever both making the trek to dine here again.
(3)
Stefan B.

Asian fusion is the main reason I have trust issues. The only thing that was really really good was the fucking lobster... and it's fucking lobster. If that shit isn't good you're a failure at being a cook. go quit. you blew it. you can't even work at mcdonalds. become a fucking taxi driver/rapper, i don't give a shit. the obese french duck liver shumai was also really good. but that's one of those expensive ingredients that you can't fuck up. so yeah. insert what i said above. the butterfish was aight. i mean, if i had it for a normal price i'd freak out. but for these prices? i was like whatever. ~_~ dessert was good but it didn't taste ~THAT~ special. I dunno. basically, this would be awesome if it weren't fancy and expensive. but the price makes you feel ripped off. i'm such a bitch when it comes to any asian fusion. i think it's because i'm half asian half white. bitch, i am asian fusion. get the fuck out of here ming tsai.
(2)
Gareth L.

I honestly don't know why this one is famous. The food is definitely not Chinese and tastes strange, and the price is... so over-priced. I don't mind at all if people like their food but please, I beg you, don't call it Chinese. As a Chinese gourmet, I feel offended.
(1)
Rich C.

Great Tapas menu and amazing mix of seafood, steak and Asian inspired dinners. Scallops are killer. Creative appys and nice bottled beer selection. A must try in the area.
(5)
Greg P.

It's about time I got around to recognizing this 5-star establishment! My wife and I have dined at Blue Ginger numerous times and a review is long overdue. Located in downtown Wellesley, Blue Ginger is easily accessible with parking in a lot or on-street. The ambiance is clean and modern. The waitstaff are helpful and accommodating. The food can be classified as Asian fusion, incorporating the best of Japanese, Chinese, South Asian, and Korean cooking. Stand out appetizers include the big eye poke which is super-fresh and comes with a delicious crispy rice cake, the foie gras shumai, and the hamachi sashimi with pickled beets. It's worth mentioning that Blue Ginger is one of the only places you will find decent poke outside of Hawaii. The marquee entrees include the miso glazed butterfish (flaky, rich, and slightly sweet), the newly added flank steak with pureed squash and sauteed mushrooms, and the roasted duck leg. Portion size is just right. The desserts warrant special recognition. Too often, restaurants present great appetizers and entrees only to fall short in the dessert department. Not Blue Ginger. The macadamia nut caramel tart and pumpkin cheesecake were highlights of our most recent visit. Blue Ginger also offers many delicious tea and coffee preparations. Overall, Blue Ginger is a gem in suburban Boston dining. Certainly worth the trip out of the city or from nearby towns. A tip of the hat to Ming Tsai who has been keeping things fresh and innovative at Blue Ginger since the late 1990s. Not an easy thing to do!
(5)
Stephanie P.

The yelp star rating explains exactly how I feel about Blue Ginger: 'Meh. I've experienced better.' It was a good meal with nice presentation, but I felt underwhelmed and disappointed given the price point and reputation. The restaurant, the food and the clientele all seemed old and worn out. Service was just ok. Our waitress was friendly but seemed overly eager to butter us up purely for a tip - it definitely wasn't genuine. We ordered 2 mai tai's and they both came out as totally different colors, and neither was made properly. For any Asian restaurant, let alone something with Ming's name on it, this seems like a rookie mistake. The food came out room temp and was a little overcooked to boot. Even the bread was stale and looked like nothing more than re purposed sandwich bread. Maybe this was a hot spot when it first opened, but there are a slew of better options out there compared to this. In the very least, I've checked Ming Tsai off the list, but I have no reason to go back.
(2)
Roger T.

One of the best restaurants in the suburbs. The butterfish is TO DIE FOR. Calamari is light and airy with a unique tangy vinaigrette type dipping sauce. The staff from Jeffrey @ the host stand, to JT the head chef to Armando the GM, Vidas the server and everyone in between is so hyper hospitable it takes the restaurant to a higher level than most. Kudos.
(5)
Tony S.

I had such high hopes for Blue Ginger. I've read so many good reviews in Boston magazine about this place and it has been a perennial on the Top X restaurants for nearly a decade. To say we were disappointed would be an understatement. Let me just say this, places that are started by celebrity chefs are, in my experience, overrated. Once they get their accolades, they move on and I spend more time in the restaurant than they likely do. Clearly Blue Ginger is one of these places. We made reservations for 6:45 on a Sunday night. We arrived promptly and were seated. Upon arriving we asked for a more private table in the back of the restaurant as it was our anniversary. The hostess informed us that the table we would like to sit at would not be possible because it was set for 4. Ok, I spent my late high school and college years working in a restaurant. I get it on a Friday or Saturday night but Sunday in the burbs when you are requesting for a special occasion like an anniversary. Cut a guest some slack. Fine, we deal. We're met by the waiter after a few minutes. He sets the tone by telling us, unprompted might I add, that there are no specials and no additions to the menu, "everything is special" Um, ok, great. He rattled off some of the more popular dishes and then took our drink order. We had checked out the menu online prior to our visit and noticed that several of the items that really peaked our interest were absent. I figured it was that the menu changes seasonally but given the initial interaction with the waiter I wasn't even interested in asking about it. We asked the waiter if the appetizers were intended for a single person or for the table. After an unintelligible answer, we figured small plates, order one for each person. Just an FYI, you can easily share an app between 2 people. My wife ordered the charcuterie plate and I ordered the calamari (under recommendation of the waiter). Let's be clear about something here. Foie gras and foie gras pate shaped like liver are 2 very different things. Same on you Blue Ginger for trying to pawn off the latter as the former. That said, the apps were ok, nothing that would knock your socks off. If you are going to recommend the calamari, it darn well be more interesting than just breaded calamari. Even Legal has a more interesting calamari. On to the main course. The wifey had the rack of lamb and I ordered the carne asada. Both were cooked to the proper temperature. That's the best of the review. When I am in a restaurant that is supposed to be among the best, I expect that my food is not swimming in the sauce. Same on you Blue Ginger, sauce is an accompaniment, not half the meal. Both dishes were just meh, ok. We debated dessert and actually wanted to order but the waiter was so slow to return that by the time he did return we decided to skip it and hit a local watering hole for a drink and dessert, I was completely underwhelmed with the food and experience at Blue Ginger. I understand that Sunday is not the primo night in terms of the kitchen staff but I doubt that there would have been that dramatic of a difference to make me want to return. One final note, the 4 top table that we requested was just being sat as we were walking out the door. I guess it would have really thrown off the whole flow had they accommodated our request.
(2)
julesmary p.

I just don't get it. What is so special about this place? We have so many awesome Asian places in boston and metro west...this place does not even compare. Staff is not kind or hospitable, either. So why go?
(1)
Chad T.

The food at Blue Ginger is awesome, but I was left with a strange feeling that we overpaid for what we got. I think for the amount of money that we spent on a tasting menu I would have had better food somewhere else. That, and the lack of a decent sake selection by-the-glass are the reasons why I'm not giving it the full 5 stars. Here's what we had: - Tuna Poke - Spring Rolls, Calamari, Thai-Asian Slaw - Thai tempura soft-shell crab - Butterfish - Scallops - Foie Gras shiitake shumai (this dish could have been amazing, but it was bathed in a french onion soup that just destroyed the delicate flavor profile) - Black Pepper Lobster and Korean Hangar Steak - Creme Brulee and Flourless Chocolate Cake Like I said, the food was good but for the price of the meal I could have gone to O Ya or Menton and had a much better experience.
(4)
Phil M.

Amazing! The staff is great and the food is better! We had big plans in California for our 20th anniversary and had to move for work 2 weeks before the date. We asked around where to go that would be special and Blue Ginger was the name that came up most often. It came through for us. The wine list is pretty impressive too. It's not cheap, but there are lots of great wines to choose from.
(5)
Suzanne L.

I was so excited to actually go to Blue Ginger. We went for my parent's 50th wedding anniversary and my daughter's birthday. Our server was incredibly rude. It was clear that once we didn't order drinks he was no longer interested in our table. We also didn't order appetizer's as we simply did not see anything that we wanted. I ordered the lobster dish and while it was pretty; certainly not the best dish I have ever tasted. The food was o.k. - the service was acceptable except for the fact that we had a waiter that could not manage to hide his disdain for us. The really sad part was that I have sent many people to Blue Ginger but it truly is not worth it.
(2)
Krishna A.

To be clear, the food is either 2 star or 3 star but over all, I gave it 1 star for following reasons. To be upfront - I have always been a fan of Ming Tsai's recipes on food network. I have tried many of his recipies and they are often superb. The blue ginger signature martini with ginger syrup was good but my home made version with HIS recipe was much better. I bet he uses cheap vodka! Anyway, this was my second visit. First dinner visit was extremely disappointing. Second time, I had guests and I wanted to treat them to a nice lunch. No such luck. It was disappoint second time also. I asked if they would let me order from the (more expensive) dinner menu and they said NO. That's ok I guess. Often, many restaurants are glad to make off the dinner menu because of much higher revenue. The only $25 item was the butter fish at luch and hoping that it would be high end, because of its higher price, I ordered it. It was not bad but mediocre at best. i can easily sense a fresh fish. That fish didn't come in that day.. It might have been 2 or 3 days old.. Yes, I am demanding that I would have expected someone like Ming Tsai to serve nothing but fresh fish brought in the same day! The soup - some kind of sweet and sour soup - was not good. It was not awful but certainly not in the league of Ming Tsai. He has a couple of amazing recipes for soups but nothing in that league was on the menu. I had lobster in 1st visit and the butter fish on the second. They were not bad.. but nothing to write home about. If you get a seat along the wall, which I got, because I was alone at my first visit - you are literally eating along with your neighbors - the seats are too close - to a point of - its ridiculous. Come on ming tsai, don'g be so greedy! Can you give up a couple of tables on the wall? It was like airplane seating spacing along the wall! Second time, we were three and the table was fine. As others wrote, they are some what pretentuous at blue ginger but they are not rude or bad. I did go up to ming tsai and told him I was a big fan and he kind of looked at me like "ya, big deal! So what? get lost!".. lol. He seems so nice on TV but his real personality seems not to be the same goodness! I don't accept cold bread at high end restaurant - negative 1 star for that! They are too lazy to have a bread warmer and fresh bread? It was not anything special either, for bread.. The desert, during the first visit was down right awful! Skipped desert, the second time. Over all, I would not recomment blue ginger to anyone. You can do better at some of the japanese restaurants, for a less money and better tasting food. Blue ginger is not a bad restaurant.. but its just not worth the hype.. I would suggest that you NOT waste your time and money on it! But if you have a girl friend who is impressed with pomp but does not have a palatte or does not know what great food should taste like, she would love the blue ginger!
(1)
Thomas N.

wow, all the crappy reviews????????? ok, lunch recently, wife really wanted to try this and i said ok thought not a big fan of asian food....nice place, it was restaurant week so it was pretty busy although we did not use the special menu.......ok....service was excellent, water was filled (many times) and very pleasant.......food was excellent, calamari great, the potato and leek soup was very good.......wife had the mussels and they were very good.....me, ok, i had the burger (my standard fare) it was great (in an asian restaurant!!!) the burger was cooked as ordered (rare) had some great bacon and was as good as any.....taro fries were great and the coleslaw very good, what's not to like....ok martini was very good also....wellesley is a little out of our way but we would certainly recommend this!!!!!
(4)
Shela X.

The following review is for Blue Ginger Lounge: I had been wanting to try Blue Ginger for quite some time, but unfortunately my experience fell short of expectations. We went to the lounge for lunch, and tried a variety of the shared plates. I thought overall it was way overpriced for the quality. The dumplings were strange, with very thick dry skin and an overly sweet duck type dipping sauce. At $14 for 3 pieces, it wasn't worth it or even good. The poke dish was ok, but overly salty. Lettuce wraps were very sweet and syrupy, similar to PF Changs but with a higher price tag. The sablefish with wasabi sauce was velvety and tender, but felt like it could've used some acidity or seasoning. The black pepper shrimp was the best dish, it was perfectly cooked and the soft sauce laden rice was flavorful. Overall I didn't think the quality justified the steep price tag. The selection for the most part was fried stuff, too much rice, and one dimensional flavor (mostly too sweet and salty). The service was ok. I probably wouldn't come back.
(2)
Jenny L.

Had a bad experience. I liked the main entree piece but not any of the other items/combination that they had for the fish. The butterfish was awesome but I hates the wasabi that they use. The soba sushi was soggy. I had the salmon with chili oil and that did not taste good. It was overcook. My bf and I both have food allergy and they did a good job listening in the beginning but we almost die when they gave us suggestions for dessert forgetting our allergy... I just would never come back and spend so much money on one piece that I like out of the whole dish that I do not like. Fish is good but everything was bad. Almost everything had dairy...
(1)
Patrick B.

Once again Mr. Tsai and his staff did not disappoint. From the spring rolls and Chinese Cesar salad to the main course of the flat iron steak flavors that just infused the taste buds to new levels. Wait staff recommended some tough decisions between the pork or the lamb. The pork won that battle as my wife enjoyed her pork dinner very much. My steak was simply delicious as flavors were spicy yet tasty. Dessert was called for as something I thought as simple as strawberries and cream. We were there in February and saw the winter menu and now looking forward to going back in the fall to try something new and different. Kudos to you and your staff mr. Tsai, we will be back!!!!
(5)
Jennifer S.

Love the food and the service. Pricey but so worth it. Great place to meet friends for quiet conversation and wonderful dining experience
(5)
Ali C.

Ming's asian fusion food is seriously as good as it gets. Expensive, almost too expensive, but scrumptious. He is so creative, especially with his seafood preparation and accompanying sauces. I always have the calamari with the special dipping sauce. Then his preparation of lobster with garlic is just unbelievable - you feel like this just came out of the sea, it tastes so fresh. Pan seared scallops are out of this world - crisp on the outside and like butter on the inside.
(5)
Ityng H.

Pretty place in a cute area of Wellesley. The restaurant has a nice decor with an open kitchen so you can see the chef and cooks at work! The waitress was very accommodating and understanding with ALL of our food allergies and dietary restrictions (I think this might've been the first time where I've been to dinner with people with shellfish allergies, dairy issues, pork issues, gluten, yada, yada, etc, etc... I was impressed that they still had food on the menu for us to try!) The five of us settled on the butterfish, scallops, duck, and a vegetarian dish. The butterfish and the scallops made the trip out to the suburbs worth the journey. The balance of the seafood and the sauces were near perfect. The duck I got was ok. I didn't try the vegetarian dish but it looked pretty. We were all extremely stuffed (plus it was after 10PM) so we skipped out on the dessert. Next time :-)
(4)
Marsha B.

I had 90 people for lunch at Blue Ginger. They went all out with the service and the food...Thank you
(5)
C S.

I have gone 3 time and won't go back. Each time I have thought the food was just OK, but kept thinking I was missing something given the hype. I might have kept going back since we live so close, but the last experience was so terrible I won't be back. I ordered a cocktail that the waiter called "well balanced" but was really just a mess of random flavors thrown together. I ordered the Korean Rice Cake Stir Fry with Crispy Marinated Tofu. The Tofu was good. I was expecting rice cakes but instead got these chewy tubes I was not expecting. Most folks imagine white rice formed in a patty when you say "rice cake," so if you mean yellow, chewy (I assume rice-based) tubes, you might describe that in the menu. Also, we bought my parents a $100 gift certificate here for Xmas. They gave me a $20 gift certificate as a thank you. I didn't realize that it had an expiration date but when we did, we made the reservation anyway because it didn't even cross my mind that they wouldn't accept it even if we were a bit late. It's not like a coupon that came in the mail, they handed it to me to say thanks for spending $100 at my restaurant! The manager refused to accept it! The poor waiter was so embarrassed. So overpriced mediocre food, terrible cocktails, and cheap. No need to go here.
(1)
Yasa E.

Came here for valentines day and had a very nice experience! The atmosphere is romantic. The dining room is divided up into smaller rooms so its cozy and doesn't feel like a high school cafeteria, which many big restaurants struggle with. The service was very good. The food was good, but I think way overpriced for what it is.
(4)
Amy S.

A couple friends and I took a day trip out to Wellesley and stopped into Ming Tsai's Blue Ginger to get a taste of his East meets West style. Since we were there on a Saturday afternoon, only the lounge* part of the restaurant was open. The lounge menu has an assortment of small and large plates to share tapas-style. The cool, misty weather prompted most of us to order hot green tea with lunch. Blue Ginger carries two kinds: sencha green tea and jasmine green tea. (For those unfamiliar, sencha green tea is Japanese and jasmine green tea is Chinese.) I chose the jasmine green tea since it's my favorite tea, and I was pleased to see that Blue Ginger serves pearl jasmine tea, tea leaves that are rolled into pearl shaped balls which unfurl when steeped. I also liked that we each got our own personal teapots of hot water, and our server was very good about refilling the teapots. However, I found that the water wasn't hot enough to properly bring out the flavor of the tea. What a waste of good tea. Our group of five shared the... SEARED SCALLOPS AND BACON-SCENTED RISOTTO (with pumpkin cream and arugula apple salad) yelp.com/biz_photos/n1EJâ€¦ - Perfectly executed and downright delicious. So what's the downside? This dish is tiny! There were only two perfectly seared scallops, about three bites of the refreshingly crisp apple salad, and one miniscule brick of fried risotto that was surprisingly bold in bacon flavor. KABOCHA SQUASH WONTONS (with spiced pomegranate sauce and candied pepitas) yelp.com/biz_photos/n1EJâ€¦ - Another teeny tiny dish that managed to pack a punch. Make sure your mouthful contains all the ingredients for the full effect. MING'S BINGS yelp.com/biz_photos/n1EJâ€¦ - On the menu these are described as dumplings for lack of a proper English translation. They are Ming Tsai's take on the Chinese xian bing. Each order comes with three bings; we got two orders with GINGER PORK & SCALLION, RED ROASTED DUCK, and BLUE CHEESEBURGER AND BACON. The ginger pork bing was traditional and tasted very familiar to me. The duck in the duck bing had the consistency of pulled pork which I thought was interesting. The blue cheeseburger bing was the most innovative; it looked like Chinese food but tasted like a burger. SHIITAKE-LEEK SPRINGROLLS (with three chile dipping sauce) yelp.com/biz_photos/n1EJâ€¦ - I like the halved spring rolls presentation of this dish though I suspect it's to bulk it up and make it look bigger than just two spring rolls. We were instructed to wrap the spring rolls in the lettuce with a bit of the slaw and sauce. Add some mint leaves to your wrap to make it even more refreshing! HAWAIIAN BIGEYE TUNA POKE (with crispy sushi rice cake and peppercress-tosaka salad) yelp.com/biz_photos/n1EJâ€¦ - This seems to be one of the most raved-about dishes, but I thought it was pretty ordinary. It was well-executed and tasty but there wasn't much of a wow factor. SAKE-MISO MARINATED ALASKAN BUTTERFISH (with soba noodle salad) yelp.com/biz_photos/n1EJâ€¦ - OH. MY. GAWD. THIS is what I was waiting for! The butterfish was melt-in-my-mouth soft and oh so delicious. Don't forget to dip it in the wasabi for extra oomph. We also had the EDAMAME (in sweet soy-yuzu glaze) yelp.com/biz_photos/n1EJâ€¦ and the SWEET POTATO AND TARO FRIES (with chili aioli) yelp.com/biz_photos/n1EJâ€¦ , good filler foods that don't break the bank. Though the lounge menu is supposed to be tapas-style, most of the dishes were too small to be shared between our group of five. Most dishes seemed to be portioned to be split between two or three people so plan accordingly. I'm not sure if the price is justifiable with the tiny portions, but I think Ming Tsai was successful in putting together a solid Asian Fusion menu. I enjoyed almost everything, with the butterfish being the major standout. 3.5 stars for the food, but I'm rounding up just for that butterfish. *No reservations taken for the lounge.
(4)
Ariel Z.

I have been a fan of Chef Ming Tsai for quite some time now. I remember watching him on TV from time-to-time. It is important to note, that like many high-end restaurants, the menu changes according to the season. The last time I ate here was back in fall a year or two ago (I must come back!). I ordered a fish dish with wasabi and miso sauces (can't remember the name) and a dessert that consisted of cinnamon sugar donut holes with caramel and chocolate dipping sauces! If you love Asian fusion, you just can't pass off an opportunity to eat here!
(5)
Palmier Q.

Let me start by saying this ... I love, *love*, LOVE the Singaporean Curry Noodles Dish. Though I do not live in Boston area anymore, I try to visit the restaurant whenever travel brings me to the area. So, why the low rating, you wonder? The service was okay. They probably thought that I was a one-time customer. For the past three visits, the host's arrogant tone and attitude. Yes, it was the same host all three times. I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, at first, but I am disappointed to say that *is* how he is and sadly ruins one's dining experience. And for me, the third time was also enough for me to say that the arrogance was enough for me not to come back, no matter how good the noodles are ... I do not usually write such horrible reviews, but I felt compelled to do so. Ming Tsai, it's time for you to have a chat with your staff.
(2)
Jim M.

Terrific experience all around. Service was an A-very attentive but not pushy, and gave us great recommendations. Apps were outrageously good. The poki and spring rolls were full of flavor and delicious. Main course: I got the curry pasta with panko crusted chicken that was one of the most original and yummy dishes I've had in ages. My wife got a wonderful swordfish with coconut mango rice that hit all the right taste buds. Lastly, for dessert we had the sesame macadamia nut caramel tart (an absolute must) and the key lime donuts (different but tasty). A perfect way to end a perfect meal. I'm taking a star off the ambiance: it felt a little like a mall restaurant to me. A minor gripe for one of the best restaurants in the state. Marvelous.
(4)
Will S.

The ONLY reason this place loses a star is because we waited way too long for both our first and second drinks. Ate pretty much my whole entree with an empty wine glass, which was a bummer. But other than that, this place was fantastic. We went on Valentine's Day and they had a 3-course prixe fixe menu, and the six different items we had were all very good. The oyster appetizer was the weakest, but the cauliflower soup and garlic lobster were phenomenal. The short ribs with crispy brussels sprouts and pomegranate glaze were excellent also. Definitely go.
(4)
Shumai P.

Went right before dinner shift and Ming Tsai was there cooking and explaining the dinner menu to his staff. I was kinda star struck! Food was on another level and the service was terrific!!!
(5)
K B.

Fabulous restaurant. Food is fantastic. The service is sometimes not the best, but overall very good! The last time we ate there, I couldn't even get my water refilled.:) But I highly recommend it, and especially love the Thai mussels.
(4)
Brittany B.

I came to this restaurant for restaurant week. Even though the menu items were somewhat more affordable because of this I still did not feel that the quality nor quantity of the food I ate was proportionate to the high prices of the dishes. Blue Ginger definitely had potential but missed the mark. I was also surprised that after we paid nearly $100 for two people at dinner that they would not comp my birthday desert. I had to pay $12 for it and it was so tiny and frankly not very good. Food presentation was the only thing memorable about this place.
(3)
Karen Y.

ming tsai is one of my favorite tv chefs and clearly blue ginger was at the top of my list since moving to ma. unfortunately, i came here to say good-bye to a co-worker so it was bittersweet dinner. on the upside, my co-workers are fun and good for hours of conversation. service was kind and attentive. first item of business: drinks- we had the bubbly french gold and orange label kind ;) second question our waiter asked: food allergies. and our waiter remembered exactly who had what allergy throughout the night. he went through all the menu items and was very knowledgeable about each item. big-eye tuna poke was excellent, though it's missing some of that heat and zing that i am accustom to with other versions of poke. the texture and flavors in the crispy rice cake went well with tuna. since my co-workers have been here before, i was steered towards the lobster entree which is one of two dishes that is always on the menu. the sauce reminded me of traditional chinese preparations (fried garlic and maybe fermented black beans?), but much more subtle and emulsified in butter. delicious, every bite cleaned off my plate, minus the shells. definitely a repeat for date night with my husband. and since the menu changes, it will likely be like a whole new experience when i come back.
(4)
Alicia D.

My sister and I popped in for drinks and appetizers and the food and cocktails were very nice. It was the overall experience that generates an amusing Yelp review. First we wanted to have a little "pick me up" before going to the theater. We walked in before Blue Ginger opened, and right away got a bit of a cold shoulder. The "We are not open yet" was not warm and understanding. We felt as if we'd intruded upon them. OK, we just strolled around a bit until they opened and we went back. My sister is a fan of the cooking show that the owner is on, or has been on. I do not watch those shows and was not in any way star struck when Ming Tsai Himself appeared right next to our table. My sister got a little flustered in a cute and subtle way, though. Ming was schmoozing with the table right next to ours but as he got cozy with his pals, I got a pretty good view of his butt next to my head. Not cool. After he was done chit chatting, he swept back to his kitchen, with nary a nod our way. I mean, he could have at least said "Hello" to us; we were right there, right next to his butt. We were in there enjoying ourselves and spending money, too. Well, no, I guess non-friends do not get any kind of greeting. Oh well, drama over. We ordered some coffee to round out our expedition, and I ran off to visit the rest room. When I got back I saw that the waiter, who was lovely, was mopping up some coffee on the floor and my coat was gone. I was assured that no coffee hit my coat but they had taken it to the coatroom so they could move the chair and clean the floor. No big. We drank our coffee and I went to get my coat. When we drove away in the car, I noticed that my back was getting WET. It dawned on me that my coat had really been soaked, and I mean, soaked in flying coffee. When we got out of the car, my shirt and the car seat were marked with wet coffee. Not to mention my coat! OK, my coat is black wool and no one noticed it. I can understand that when coffee slides off a tray, you might not notice its exact trajectory. But how was my visit to the theater while I was soaked in coffee. My sister kept teasing me "You smell like....coffee" LOL ha ha very funny. When I brought all of this to the attention of Blue Ginger, they paid for dry cleaning. Very nice of them, but a pain in the tush for me. Anyway, between Ming being snobby and the case of the flying coffee, who can remember what we ate?
(3)
Lauretta L.

This review is for the lounge tapas menu: The Miso-sake Marinated Butterfish with Soba Noodles was one of our favorites. Place a bit of fish with a small twirl of noodles on your fork for each bite - delicious :) The Bigeye Tuna Poke with Crispy Sushi Rice on a Bed of Greens was another favorite. The crispy sushi rice cake provides a great texture contrast to the poke. The Garlic Black Pepper Shrimp with Edamame Sticky Rice and Pea Tendril Salad was our third favorite. Large and tender shrimp with savory sticky rice all wrapped in a banana leaf. The Housemade Dumplings: Orange beef was the best one. Lots of flavor marinated into the meat with no sauce in the dumpling to take away from it. Red Roast Duck was dry and flavorless. Do not get this one. Chinese Garlic Chive-Tofu Vegetarian was standard. The Goat Cheese-Mushroom Rangoon, Spring Pea-Radish Salad with Asian Pesto and Lychee Honey Syrup was also standard. I wouldn't order it again because it's not unique enough to justify the price. The Lamb and Sweet Potato Pie...no one cared for it. The Chocolate Pot de Creme was divine and inspired all of us to attempt making it at home. We'll see how that goes!
(4)
Richard D.

Had a wonderful meal here with colleagues. Some of the appetizer portions were small but tasty. Our main course of Korean infused steak over noodles was excellent. The deserts were excellent. Beautiful setting and excellent service.
(4)
Sandy C.

We love the tapas style brunch on Sat. and Sundays.
(4)
Simon L.

Arrived early this warm Sunday evening at opening and was given a choice to sit inside or out, out it was. Sampled the butterfish, miso marinated with soba noddles ($24). Excellent smooth and subtle fish, crisped to a perfect flaky texture. Soba noodles were wonderful. Lettuce "cups," wraps, came with spy marinated chicken and were rather unimpressive ($14). Braised short rib with manchego cheese was served on lightly toasted white bread and was rich with flavor ($14). The tomato soup was slightly spicy with chile and ginger. The three dumplings sampled ($14) were tasted in order, coincidentally, of favorite to least favorite: red duck (Peking duck) was extremely tasty; pork and scallion was traditional but good; blue cheeseburger with bacon was not a good fit for a dumpling. Great service good food. Like it a lot. Choose either the tapas menu or the regular dinner menu. Tapas menu is suggested to order two dishes per guest. Three for two might be fine.
(4)
Susan L.

I loved everything about Blue Ginger! The service was excellent; the decor was pleasing and appropriate; and the food was spectactular! I now understand why rich people would rather kill themselves before eating us poor people food. What we ordered for 3: Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna Poke* with Crispy Sushi Rice Cake & Peppercress-Tosaka Salad -GET IT! The crispy rice cake is perfectly seasoned with soy sauce and other spices and goes perfectly with the tuna poke. YUM! Tempura Sole-Avocado Roulade with Black Garlic Aioli and Ponzu Vegetables -Reminds me of a roll that was tempura'd and fried. Good, but I wouldn't order again. 2 orders of Sake-Miso Marinated Sablefish (a.k.a. Butterfish) -OMG the butterfish was so soft and tender. Our waitress told us the butterfish is flown in from fresh from Alaska daily. Definitely give it a try if you've never had it before.
(5)
Jana C.

Mr Ming Tsai... chef winner of Battle Duck against Bobby Flay... we finally meet. Ok; well, only sortuv... i've felt the shadows of your essence, and asked your staff all about you. Heard you're a regular during the dinner hour, both in/out kitchen and as a diner now/again. I know so much about this guy, have read so many of his recipes and watched so many how-to videos, suffered through his sometimes delirious rants and not-too-funny jokes.... I've clapped my hands when he appeared as a guest judge on Top Chef, and am well acquainted with this former squash-playing Yalie who was once an engineer, has a wife named Polly.. the list goes on. Time to hit up his restaurant for lunch!!! Huge tip to the public out there.. im' not the first to mention this, but mark-ups for dinner are somewhere in the region of 3x!!! So, if you can swing it, as we were lucky enough to, do lunch... 2nd huge tip to all: There *is* a rather large parking lot in the back of the restaurant... True that metered parking is only 25cents/hr, but why not tack that onto your tip for the day?! Restaurant is really large!!!! Love the Asian touches.. it's not kitschy, not overly done and fussed with, nice eye for usage of the space, felt the peace as soon as my eyes landed on the space.... Ming expanded 3 years ago, and the result is a nice separate wing for bar eats and such, and the kitchen side fringes a large dining room.. there's also space for private events as well. Even the niceties in the bathroom struck me... the wonderfully scented candles (I think 4 were lit for lunch!) and the quality towels, the color scheme... all very Asian and calming. Photos and articles adorn the walls everywhere, from when one walks into the foyer, to the wall just outside of the restrooms. Overall, glad to have tried, but don't feel the need to return based upon what I sampled that day.... I was told by our Greek server that his 2 sigs are the miso-sake butterfish (ONE OF THE V V BEST EVER) and the Indonesian curries....for 4 of us, we tried 5 entrees... 1. miso butterfish. out of this world.. ridiculously perfect in all aspects, even condiments. seasoned perfectly, cooked even more perfectly, if possible. loved... want more 2. spicy pork ramen... ehhHHH... we are, after all, Californians, and have our fair share of competition for quality ramen. the noodles themselves super fresh, nice subtle crisp to them, broth was honestly, just average. 3. another ramen dish ordered: same comment 4. blue cheese sliders.... WONDERFUL (which says a lot, coming from a non blue-cheese eater)... second winner of the meal. He's styled them to be like 'xiao bing' Chinese type of cover... dont' be expecting any type of American mini burger bun at all.... they're made of a flour mixture, just like in China, and sealed to be like a 'bing'. Medium, juicy, perfect ratio of that stinker cheese.... sweet potato fries... nice touches! Lunch ran about $90 total. Glad I came, but like I said, I assumed (incorrectly so) that everything was going to be magic. Twas not so.
(4)
Warren C.

Still don't know how you pronounce the city name...Wellesley? Anyways, I think this is one of the popular dining options in town. Contrary to popular opinion, Ming Tsai is the owner of the restaurant, not the executive chef. Asian fusion cuisine maybe, but I didn't think there were very many elements of Asian in the food here, at least in my sense of the word. I had the lamb ($42) and one of the ginger mixed drinks ($13). The lamb itself was very good, but I wasn't a fan of what it was served with (already forgot the name). The drink was good too, just didn't think it was that special. I think the ginger theme is rather forcefully imposed on a lot of the items here. I guess the food is just different enough here for me to come and try it. The atmosphere is nice, many of the patrons well-dressed. Service is excellent and attention to detail as well. Definitely a recommend if you're ever in Wellesley.
(4)
Nicole S.

After a long, extensive website project was finally complete, my manager took myself and a couple coworkers out for a celebratory dinner. The marinated tofu entrÃ©e was fantastic and a great treat for a job well done. Would love to come back for a special anniversary or birthday dinner - as it's a little out of my price range for a regular dinner night.
(5)
Colt V.

Came here to meet up with a friend from out of town. His S.O. was interested in the place due to the namesake of chef Ming Tsai. We started out waiting for our table and got some cocktails off their menu, all generally underwhelming. Disturbingly, our waitress looked quite ill. I realize that might be rude to say, but she really did not appear 'well'. Our waitress handed us our menus and explained the specials. Oddly, the specials were already printed on the menu among all the other entrees... some specials! She gave us approximately 20 seconds to look at the menu before inquiring if we wanted appetizers. We ordered some things to share, steamed buns, pot stickers, and a couple of other things that made such a little impression I fail to recall them. Entrees... Again, nothing impressive. I had a duck breast, that was cooked decently. It's just that the plate was... again, meh. It had no balance, no contrast in textures or flavor. Essentially, just a duck breast with a plum sauce. My girl friend's impression of the food mirrored my own. It was all just... uninteresting. I would pass on eating here again.
(2)
John B.

A very good friend and I celebrated tonight with the chefs tasting menu. Seven courses of delightful dishes. The most memorable was the foie gras shumai. The wine paring with this dish was beyond compare. The butterfish was awesome and was the second best of the seven. All in all well worth the money and time to get here from Delaware.
(5)
Howe L.

Ah, Ming Tsai deserves nothing less! Best spring rolls I've ever tasted. Loved the crispy chicken and braised shortribs. Delicious sauces. Service was a little slow, but very genuine nonetheless. The ceiling was dripping water onto our table, but we received complimentary sushi. Top notch experience.
(5)
Denise P.

Wow- what a great meal from start to finish. I'm not usually a fancy cocktail girl but I couldn't resist trying something from the cocktail menu because it all sounded so good. The Ginger Collins with spicy ginger sugar on the rim was a great start. My husband said his Gimlet was the best he's ever had (and he's downed a few in his day). We shared the Tuna Poke and the charcuterie plate. Both were great but the tuna was better - foie gras was a touch salty. I had the sable fish and it was so silky. The soba sushi on the side was playful and delicious. My husband had the lamb. It was cooked perfectly and had a yummy yucca cake underneath. We were so stuffed but had to try a dessert so we went for sorbet. Wow- the cilantro-mint-thai basil was out of this world. We finished with the miatake coffee, which was surprisingly good. The service could not have been better. Our waitress was knowledgable, made great suggestions, and could not have been nicer. Even though the place was packed, we were not rushed at all. In fact, when we mentioned that we had time to kill after our meal before the train back to Boston, we were told we could sit at our table as long as we wanted or wait in the lounge. My one and only "complaint" is that the waitstaff kept referring to "Ming" as if he were their best friend, which I found a little pretentious. Also, it was a little loud but I dont know if that is the norm - there were several graduation parties the night we were there. I will make a point of coming back here if I am ever back in this area.
(4)
Jacky K.

This review of Blue Ginger is solely a review for the RAMEN that they serve on Sundays in the lounge area. The ramen I will be reviewing is their "miso ramen". Components of the ramen seem to be very dissociated. By that I mean every component seems to be made very separately and placed together in a bowl without a harmonious conjecture. Lets dissect each component one by one: Noodles: Texture is soft and jell-like. The texture almost feels like a mixture of rice floor and tapioca starch similiar to the chinese Lai fun (or æ¿‘ç²‰). Egg: The egg is a soft boiled egg (boiling water + egg X 4-5 mins). The techinque is poorly executed and is not restaurant quality. There is no temperature control on the egg as the consistency of the egg white and the egg yolk is not what you would expect a "nitamago" to be like when compared to what you would find in a traditional ramen house. Pickled cabbage: Confused. Enough said. Plays no role in the noodles, adds no substance either. Pork: The quality of the meet was excellent. Soup base: The broth, without a doubt, is something that comes from a concentrate mixture with liquid added to it upon serving. For comparative purposes, broth of traditional ramen is usually made out of either chicken or pork bone stock which usually takes approximately 8-10 hours to make. The stock is then added to either a soy sauce mixture or combined with miso paste. The stock can also be used alone with a little salt added. Overall was one of the poorest quality ramen I have ever had. I do not recommend ordering ramen at Blue Ginger.
(2)
John O.

I have eaten here a numer of times and food is always unique and not something you can do on your own or get elsewhere. In addition recently purchased 2 gifts cards for friends and they added on a additional $20 credit without requesting it!!! Was a pleasent surprize to see that "celebrity" chefs have not forgotten the small personal touch that so many others have long left behind........
(5)
Melody N.

My husband and I came here to celebrate our first year wedding anniversary and to try out the restaurant week menu. I'll preface to say that I tend not to enjoy fusion Asian cuisine. My biggest qualm against fusion Asian food is that it tends to be overpriced for the items/portions. It was hard for us as Asian Americans while eating Ming Tsai's food to refrain from asking: "What's the difference of coming here versus Chinatown?" But alas, we were both curious and went by Ming Tsai's reputation. The restaurant choice was my husband's picking and we were surprised that dishes were not that memorable. We went with the following: beef carpaccio and pulled pork dumplings, butterfish(which was an additional $12) and fried chicken, and cheescake and chocolate fiancier for dessert. We made the mistake of splitting the fish first and finishing it before eating the fried chicken. Because of this the fried chicken was a little cooler and not as crispy. I thought the beef carpaccio and the chocolate dessert were the best items. My husband and I thought everything was cooked well but there wasn't anything amazing about the items. The butterfish was indeed buttery but again, missing a wow factor to it. I also had three bones in my butterfish which made me a little uneasy because I get paranoid about choking and swallowing bones. I had mostly white meat for the fried chicken so I didn't particularly enjoy it but my husband got a dark meat and thought it was good. In general we thought chain restaurant fried chicken would be more satisfying. The restaurant week menu is a good deal to try out this place. We went with the wine pairing menu where we thought the wine tasted really good. Taking a glance at the other entrees the entrees sounded appealing, but looked pricey (think$30-$40). Normally the butterfish alone is $41. The pros about this place is that they are very conscientious if you had a food allergy and take care to ask this at the beginning of the meal. My guess would be that we would not come out here again though.
(3)
Mindy Z.

One of my favorite places .... I have been here a few times. I like almost every dishes I had there, butterfish, duck breast, lamb. It's a little pricey and we only come here on special occasions. Got a free desert on my birthday.
(5)
Andrew F.

Alright, I have been to Blue Ginger three times now, so I think it's high time for me to write a review. While certainly a pricier dining option than some other local restaurants, Blue Ginger is well worth the splurge! The service is excellent, the ambiance is sophisticated and the food is delicious. Don't miss the Fried Chicken with Gochujang Glaze. Seriously - fried chicken at an upscale restaurant - what else is there to say? Perfection. Oh, and get a cocktail - they're scrumptious!
(5)
Haley D.

Came here for restaurant week- ordered the udon noodles. Pretty mediocre, very disappointing. Maybe it was because of restaurant week...but I definitely had high hopes for this place.
(3)
Aamir F.

Over hyped and perhaps only known because the Chef markets himself around town and on TV. Nothing to boast about. Suffers from the confusion of trying to fuse concoctions that simply don't go well together. Each item had a distinct flaw, either too dry, too sour, too bland..Just nothing here.
(2)
Sarah G.

If you like classy, fun Asian fusion food, then Blue Ginger is the place for you. Definitely worth the drive out to Wellesley from the Boston area (and it is a Ming Tsai restaurant too!), since even only eating the lounge menu made me excited to save up money in order to come back here and eat dinner. (yes the dinner prices are that much more expensive ha ha) They don't serve lunch on weekends, but their lounge is open which I think is a great business idea. This place is decorated in a clean style, with random pieces of Asian decor and artwork. I like it. Matt J. and I sat at the bar and we each got one of their beers imported from China which was pretty drinkable which is always a good thing, and then we ordered a few dishes to share off of their lounge menu. The bar tender and the host were both some of the nicest men ever. So cheerful and smiley--you could tell they loved working there, but then how couldn't you? Especially if you get to eat that food for free? ha ha First, let me say that their oysters cooked with that bacon candy is the best type of candy there is out there for sure. Wow. $3 a piece for those oysters, I could easily become bankrupt off of that. Then there was the hawaiian poke dish that was just so so so so so so good. It was fresh and served on this crispy rice patty and I literally could not get enough of that. I had to force myself to eat it slowly so it would last longer! We also got their edamame that came in this ginger soy glaze that I wasn't a huge fan of but Matt J. liked it and then we got a trio of their handmade dumplings that came with a side of taro chips. Those taro chips were good too! Dumpling wise, the pork one was amazing. I wish I had ordered all three of that kind since it kicked the other two dumpling's butts. The tofu one was really not that great, and the duck one was pretty good, but hands down the pork dumpling was the winner! But when doesn't pork win?? ha ha
(4)
B J.

If I could give it 10 stars, I would. Our absolute favorite place to eat, hands down. Service excellent, food out of this universe, atmosphere terrific. Ming is wonderful, and comes over if he is there and you ask. It's also our go-to place for girls nights out with my peeps! We always do the tapas bar and we order the ginger gimlet which is seriously the best drink I have ever had in my entire existence.
(5)
Vivi L.

I've been here many times and we came here for our anniversary dinner. The food was absolutely delicious. One thing that I would complain about is the service. The food came so fast. We were done with our dinner in little bit more than an hour. I wish the food will came a little slower but that was just minor. I ordered the foie gras shumai for appetizer and the butterfish and they were absolutely delicious. The food has never disappoint at this place.
(4)
Kiki P.

I liked my experience Blue Ginger. My mom has been here several times and decided to take me here to check it out. The ambiance is pleasant and the service is great. Blue ginger is an Asian fusion restaurant with quite a unique menu. My favorite dish is the butterfish/sablefish. This dish is served with vegetarian soba noodles in the form of sushi. I enjoyed these noodles but would prefer free style not wrapped in sushi. I also love the garlic black pepper lobster fried rice. The lobster is super fresh and tasty. The portion is a tad bit small though. Overall, I like Blue Ginger but I do have to say it is a bit on the pricier side.
(3)
Kelly B.

Torn between 4 and 5 stars 5 stars: the food is phenomenal. As a non-seafood eater, Asian restaurants can sometimes be problematic since there's a lot of sauces that have a seafood base and it can be hard to find a dish I can eat. Blue Ginger has a really good selection that was equally divided in terms of types of proteins offered. The cocktails are very good, strong enough that you feel like you're getting your money's worth but not so much that the alcohol overpowers the whole drink. The staff is very friendly and accomodating. 4 stars: the service is SO SLOW. Granted, the place is very pricey and if you're dishing out that much cash, the last thing you want is be rushed out of a restaurant. But the staff seems to think that everyone wants to mosey around the entire night and leave you alone for LONG stretches of time. I don't mind a long leisurely dinner, but at least come back once in a while to refill drinks or something! That being said, it is easy enough to flag someone down, so it's not like we were being ignored. I had the curry pasta, and it was very filling and very well seasoned. Definitely enough to have my fill and then have the rest for dinner the next day. Overall, a very positive experience. I would go back, but not on a night that I want to have other plans as well.
(4)
Bobby C.

3.75 stars overall. Breakdown: 4 stars for ambiance, 3.5 stars for food, 4.5 stars for service...I'm also factoring in value. I've always wanted to try Blue Ginger. On a random Tuesday, I decided to go there for dinner. I quickly booked via opentable an hour in advance. After reading some of the reviews, I was interested to see how the manager at the front desk would treat us. She was very professional. We were seated near the back area. Our server was Melissa. Before we started our dinner, there was a ruckus with the table behind us. These three people were seated a few minutes before us made a scene. From what I can gather, they weren't aware of the number of dollar signs for Blue Ginger. Maybe they thought it was just some Chinese restaurant in Chinatown? Then again this is Wellesley. There was a lot of commotion with the wait-staff after the group left. I'm not sure how the other servers were but Melissa was top notch. Very friendly and funny. Always checked in on us. It was on par with the great service I have experienced at Sorellina, Craigie on the Main, and Cucci Cucci. I wanted a sweet drink so Melissa suggested the Gimlet. I remember in Terry's review that she also liked it. It was good, but pretty strong too. For an app, we had the Crispy Shrimp Stuffed with Spiced Pork. It was ok. It was like a mini pork egg roll with large shrimp rolled into it. Onto the main dish! It was an interesting take on the mixed seafood paella with homemade chorizo. Seafood was pretty fresh. My entrÃ©e came in an interesting bowl. The dish was moderately-fairly spicy. If you like your food mild, this dish might not be for you. The lemongrass-tomato broth was pretty tasty. For dessert, my friend had the upside down pineapple cake, and I had the Sesame Macadamia Caramel Nut Tart. It was definitely yummy. Loved the caramel bananas and coconut ice cream. Great service, food was good, but pricey. It's probably a place I would just go once to experience it.
(4)
N. M.

Continues to be one of my favorite restaurants. So lucky to be living in Wellesley but even if I weren't, I'd drive an hour easily to eat here!
(5)
Jenn W.

My boyfriend surprised me and took me here for my birthday dinner. I was super excited, but sadly, my expectations were not met. Since moving to Boston, Blue Ginger has been on my "must-try!" list of restaurants. The mere fact that Ming Tsai owned this place had me thinking that it must be amazing; he's a talented chef and I am a huge fan. We started out with some drinks, a Sapporo for him and a Polly-tini for me. Delicious! My cocktail was strong without compromising taste. Starters included the Hawaiian Tuna Poke and Crispy Citrus Quail. The rice cake that came with the Tuna Poke provided a nice textural contrast and the fish was fresh, but the dish was spiced with a heavy hand which made the taste a bit off-putting for me. The quail was perfectly fried, but not memorable in terms of flavor. For entrees, we went with the Lamb Rack and the Butterfish. Lamb was cooked perfectly, but again, the flavors weren't anything special (we loved the Yuca-Potato cake though). The Butterfish was the one redeeming part of our dinner; it was so moist and literally melted in my mouth. Absolutely delicious. For dessert we shared the Peanut Butter Creameux. Meh, nothing special. Service was also inconsistent; as the night went on, we saw our waitress less and less. It took us over 20 minutes to receive our check after finishing dessert. Overall, I would give it another shot (probably just for a drink and to try their lounge menu), but I'm not going to be rushing back anytime soon.
(3)
Ralph G.

Is it Butter Fish or is it Sable? We don't know, we lost the label. It looks like Butter Fish but smells like Sable. It's another Butter Fishy fable. Served to you, served to me, served to the US VP. Why the con for these high prices? Must be very fancy rices. It's not Butter Fish on the menu. It's always Sable at this venue.
(1)
modhu s.

Awful food there are no flavours. I had the mussels with noodles which tasted stale and my friend had the asparagus soup and spring role both of which was very average. Very busy restaurant. The staff was nice she did noy charge me for the noodles.
(1)
Jackie K.

I had been looking forward to going to Blue Ginger for a long time and so my expectations may have been too high. Overall, I was not happy with my meal but plan on going back because I have heard so many good things even though my meal was not great. On the great side, service was exceptional. Spring rolls app was good. Gazpacho was a little bland as was the aioli that came with the fries. In the end, I would only go back because I assume I didn't order the "right" stuff and would be willing to try again.
(3)
richard m.

The food at Blue Ginger is amazing. I started with the tuna appetizer on rice cake. The tuna was tasty and had just the right amount of seasoning. For my main course I had the scallops which were cooked to perfection. Dessert was the decadent choc cake. The restaurant atmosphere is casual chic, you can wear jeans. With the prices it's def a special occasion restaurant.
(5)
Bhavesh L.

I don't always review places but I felt it was necessary after my last experience. I've visited twice in the past month and had two VERY different experiences. Please not this is in a dry county. 1st visit: Had a fantastic time - ordered the lamb shank and the waiter was extremely great. Ordered many drinks, ranging from wine to martini's. My friends and I were able to drink a fair amount and ordered 3 courses. 2nd visit: Again, food was absolutely impressive. This time I ordered the fish of the day. I had two glasses of wine before I decided to switch to martini's. I had one before I was told that I could not have any more. I could have more wine or beer but no more martini's. I asked why or where this was written but could not be shown. The manager that originally came over and told me this left before we asked for another manager. They were apologetic but could do nothing. My group and I were not loud nor causing any commotion but extremely dissatisfied at the service. Not sure I would return unless I got the original waiter. My recommendation stands that this is a great restaurant for food but the service in regards to alcohol is terrible. Nobody seems to understand what the rules are.
(2)
Karyn V.

Great food!
(4)
Mary J.

Had a FABULOUS lunch here on Thursday 9/11/14. Miso marinated Alaskan Butterfish was fantastic. Spring rolls were great. Service was perfect. Host was great.
(5)
David B.

I have mixed feelings about the BG and it's not because I haven't tried to like it. Mr Tsai is cool..He and I love our watches but I seems that every single time I go there for dinner I run into some A hole patron. The staff are great..fast helpful and friendly. The food Ming has designed is flavorful and a gastronomic joy. I keep going back in the hope that I can enjoy both the food and the atmosphere and I will probably try again next month.
(3)
Melissa D.

My Asian Chef Icon! Ming Tsai's restaurant has not disappointed me and I always bring people here for celebratory events, business meetings and special dates. The decor and layout doesn't blow you away but I love the open kitchen and the service is remarkable! You literally have a team of waitstaff for each table and you know the management teaches the servers the food and how to pair wine with certain dishes. The Tuna Poke is my favorite appetizer, along with the sablefish, the pad thai (different version than your standard) and the scallops. They re-invent the standard staple entrees using tea leaves, daikon, ponzu, and/or wasabi. They take dishes to the next level and you would never suspect how two random things could pair so well. I have tried almost everything on the menu and have not been let down. They do special events like wine tastings or cooking classes.
(5)
Michelle C.

Holy Salty Sauces! Second time here and was good experience, but man, the sauces are super salty. I remember this from the first visit too. Appetizers were soo good, had the Wok Stirred Maitake Mushrooms with Housemade Shiso Pasta and Spicy Roasted Pumpkin. The pasta was incredible as was the perfectly cooked mushrooms, loved the acidic afterbite, but the pumpkin didn't do anything for the dish. Also had the Panko Shrimp, Gingered Spaghetti Squash & Maitake-Preserved Lemon Salad with Garam Masala Aioli, but kinda expensive ($15!) for ONE shrimp, although, it was pretty gigantic shrimp. For the entrÃ©es, I had the Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster, the lobster was cooked perfectly, but the sauce was incredibly salty (even though I asked them not to add salt) and the rice was ....eh, rice, but loved the presentation... very pretty. Husby had the hanger steak w/ mushroom risotto, the demi-glaze, again super salty, but the steak was very tender and my sister had the rack of lamb which she said was pretty good (& salty). For dessert, split the Sesame Macadamia Caramel Nut Tart and cider donuts. OMG, the tart was heaven and the coconut ice cream was super yum. I'm not a huge fan of coconut, but the ice cream had a nice mellow flavor. The donuts were kinda heavy and had a weird honey sauce on top...waay too sweet for me and the chai ice cream just didn't pare well. Our waiter was great and our glasses were never empty, liked the atmosphere and the casual attire. Would come back for apps & dessert and maybe a chance to meet Ming, sadly, he wasn't there because he was out of town on book tour. boo!
(3)
C W.

Best food in Boston and consistently great service. Feels like you are being greeted in your own home. Bar area offers nice contrast to sit down dinner with a varied and delicious menu. Signature drinks creative and refreshing. Highly recommend.
(5)
Joseph R.

I had the pure pleasure of enjoying a fabulous dinner at Blue Ginger last week. I enjoyed the evening with three business associates, two of whom are food scientists and know quality food when they see it. We all enjoyed the signature lobster dinner, shared the calamari and dipping sauce appetizer, and tried several of the desserts. The food was top quality, presentation was amazing, and the taste devine. Our evening, drinks, and dinners were unbeatable. Service was prompt and professional, and prices reasonable for this type of food. I hope to return someday.
(4)
Maria M.

Fantastic! I have had lunch here on several occasions when my sister was a student at Wellesley, but I finally had dinner here with friends the other night, and I thought it was about time to write a review! Our dinner was perfect. From the bigeye tuna poke to the black pepper shrimp with pea tendril salad (which is a smaller version of the garlic black pepper lobster with lemon grass fried rice, which we also ordered), ming's bings, and the lobster, our dinner was totally worth the 45 min drive to Wellesley during rush hour traffic! We ended the meal with sesame macadamia caramel tart, which was the perfect ending to our meal. Black pepper lobster $40, meeting Ming Tsai and getting a signed cook book and talking asian/fusion/filipino food with Ming, priceless. :)
(5)
Diana L.

Sorry I really wanted to like this place but I didn't think this place was that great. The decor and the restaurant is beautiful though. Once you walk in you see the open kitchen, the dining area and the bar area. After the bar area is a hallway that leads to the bathroom and within the hallway are doors that lead to private rooms/private dinning area. I don't eat raw stuff so I couldn't try the Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna Poke with Crispy Sushi Rice Cake. It looked good and my friends who had it really enjoyed the dish. We also ordered this shrimp spring roll (which is no longer on the menu) and it was mediocre. For the entree, I ordered the Garlic Black Pepper Lobster. I had high expectations because there were a lot of reviews about it. I think the sauce was too strong for me which was why I didn't like it. The dish comes with a lobster head and it's filled up with fried rice which is interesting. The rice had favor but there weren't strong flavors which is good if you decide to mix it with the sauce. I also tried my friend's dishes but nothing made me go WOW.
(3)
William E.

Great food...expensive....but great food that you won't find duplicated anywhere else. Worthy of a special occasion dinner.
(5)
Michael G.

I really enjoyed the place. The Ginger Storm cocktails were delicious. And the food was excellent. Service friendly and I tested their patience with being very particular with my table preference.. Its not cheap but worth it on special occasions.
(4)
Rita V.

Still love their butterfish, and calamari. The carpaccio... Wonderful. Impeccable service. Clean, super clean.
(4)
Michael C.

I finally managed to get the energy to drive to Wellesley to check out Blue Ginger on a co-workers recommendation. We made reservations during restaurant week but when we got there it actually worked out better for us to go with the bar (lounge) menu, it offers tapas size portions of all of their items. This was great because we wanted to do more of a tasting. Here is what we went with: Edamame in Sweet Soy-Yuzu Glaze - This was simply the best edamame I have ever had, the sauce they use on it is fantastic. Hawaiian Big Eye Tuna Poke - My co-worker said this was a "must try" item and she was right. This is basically their version of tuna tartar. Crunchy, tasty, and delicious. Alaskan Butterfish - If you have been to Nobu, this is their version of Black Cod Miso. This is a tender white fish, which is soaked in a sweet miso sauce. I have to learn how to make this at home. Garlic Black Pepper Shrimp with Edamame Rice - In the bar menu portion it only came with 2 jumbo shrimp, I wish it had come with a couple more. The sweet and sticky rice made up for the lack of shrimp though. This was another favorite, in fact I can't pick any of these dishes as my favorite. This was the type of meal where each dish was better than the next. The host/manager were very friendly. The bartender that served us was very helpful, but seemed a little overwhelmed at times. I only mention this because I usually sit at the bar for more attentive service. We even got to see Ming Tsai, the owner and chef, popping in and out of the kitchen. As a side note, this place has 2 very nice sized private function rooms.
(5)
Cindy D.

The only reason why I went was for my love of cooking shows on CreateTV like Simply Ming. Asian fusion? Sure, I'll give it a try. First, reservations are recommended since this place was packed on a Sunday night. You can tell something about a restaurant, simply by how they fill their bread basket -- and I was asking for seconds to grab hold of some crisp sesame flatbread. My bf and I started off with the tuna tartare, which came heaped in small chunks with some seaweed melange to top it off. Nothing too crazy, I suppose. MEH: The scallops were a disappointment -- now I understand that grilled scallops are simple to make, but I expected some other flavor than butter. OH YEAH: I highly recommend the braised lamb shank -- moist, and meat gently falling off the bone, I was in heaven. Of course, my bf was too as we ended up switching plates toward the end. I was left guessing what kind of sauce they brushed on the lamb as it cooked. My guess is a swath of hoison sauce to give it a bit of sweetness. Portion-wise, it was ginormous and gives the most bang for your buck, as most entrees are priced $25-$40.
(4)
Todd A.

I went to Blue Ginger a few days ago for lunch and I thought the food and service were extremely good. The servers knowledge of the menu was great and he made a few recommendations that were awesome. The decor was ehhhh to put it nicely, but everything else made up for it. I would mos def go back again....interested to see what the dinner crowd is like.
(4)
Doug E.

Blue Ginger has officially jumped the shark. I've probably been to Blue Ginger a half dozen times over the past 11 years and I'm sorry to say that the restaurant, although really good, is no longer the exciting discovery it once was. Something just seems to be missing now... did the tables used to be covered with white paper, or was it linen? Was the bread at the tables something special, or is it cold italian bread like it is now? Did the white wines used to be in a chilled whine bucket (today we had our $75 bottle of chardonnay sit on the table and we poured it ourselves). You used to find Ming there... You used to need a month's notice to get in... now you can book the same day. Don't get me wrong, the food is excellent.. the staff attentive and atmosphere a relaxed elegant... but it isn't special any more. We each ordered an appetizer, entre and dessert plus wine and coffee. The bill with tip was $325 for three. For that price I want truly special. It's ok but I expected so much more.
(3)
Andi S.

I had the Moroccan Atlantic salmon and a ginger-infused vodka cocktail. Service, ambiance and ingredients quality was top-notch. I would return again when traveling in the area.
(5)
Brian E.

Outstanding in every way. The food, service and atmosphere are unsurpassed. Tis celebrity chef has earned his reputation in my mind. A bit pricy, but not typical food you can create at home.
(5)
David L.

Skip the main menu. Go for tapas at the front bar. The big eye tuna poke, sweet potato fries, edamame, and bings are our favorites. Our vegetarian friends find the place delightful. Carnivores will be done well by, too.
(4)
Jeremy K.

Finally got around to making my way to Blue Ginger for dinner and boy was it worth driving to Wellesley for. I've had a few Asian fusion dinners in my life but nothing quite like this one. And while some critics might think that Ming Tsai is stuck in the '90s, I was able to experience a depth of flavor and creativity that few places offer, despite it being the restaurant week menu. The restaurant itself was packed when we proceeded to walk in, slightly early for our reservation. We were promptly escorted to the bar area where we sipped on cocktails while we waited. Mine was the Orange-Pomegranate Honey Smash ($12) and featured some Makers Mark, some Orange-pomegranate purÃ©e, and some house-made honey syrup. Tasty and creative, I enjoyed every sip. The girlfriend had a ginger-based cocktail that she enjoyed at well. I must admit that the originality of the drinks is pretty awesome and they definitely have something for every palate out there, even the pickiest of ones. Ingredients like coconut, peach, ginger, pear, Chai and all kinds of others are present and I found that remarquable. The bar area is wide and features a good mix of standing room, benches, stools and even a few tables. It is pretty brightly light and makes for a vibrant atmosphere but is soothed by the fountain in the back which has water slowly trickling away. Eventually our table was ready for us to make our way to. Again, like the bar area, the dining area was well light and one could easily peer at the long, open kitchen. We sat down and were given the menus. Being restaurant week, I was a bit nervous but the selection showed no compromise on quality, taste and overall value. I selected the spiced, sweet potato soup with greek yogurt-mushroom wonton to start and it was absolutely fabulous; velvety, tasty and with great contrasts of textures. It had various seeds floating on top and the wonton was both soft and crunchy. Honestly, it was like fireworks for my tastebuds. Then came my entree which in my case was the Szechwan chicken was Lapchang sticky rice and sautÃ©ed mustard greens. There was also some garlic-ginger-soy syrup and chile sauce. The sticky rice was absolutely awesome as was the moist, fragrant chicken. The use of spices created a great balance that didn't overwhelm anything but instead highlighted the main items of the dish. I was blown away once again and cleaned my plate within instants. The girlfriend's appetizer and entrees were terrific as well. For dessert I selected the Miso caramel pot de creme which, much like the rest of the meal, was top notch. Portion size was just right and allowed for a simple but tasty way to finish my meal. So what can one expect from Blue Ginger? A lot of things. A simple, clean, sleek and modern but not uptight atmosphere which has elements from the Asian culture as well as the American one. The menu is whimsical and fun, and features all kinds of dishes and ingredients and dishes seem to each be tastier than the previous. The value is good but the restaurant does remain a bit expensive outside of restaurant week but not unaffordable. The service was great and Tsai has been an advocate for years now in regards to food allergies and they do the best job there that I've seen at handling them. Great drinks, great beer selection as well (they even have China's very own Yanjing beer) . I must return.
(5)
Queenie L.

Best dinner ever after i moved to New England.
(5)
Saba N.

My mom lives right around the corner for blue ginger and I am JUST getting around to reviewing it. for shame! I've always wanted to go.. but it's so pricey that last minute, I choke and go somewhere cheaper. I know, I know, not an excuse.. but what can I say? I'm not big on overly pricey places. That being said, who knew there is a FANTASTIC asian tapas menu at the bar?! Not me, I sure didn't. Now that I know, I'll be going back to Blue Ginger more often. Plus, for Wellesley.. the bar is really nice and cozy without being TOO crowded. And the drinks are sooo good. I had this honey whiskey concoction... super strong, but delicious. The Tapas menu is so freaking good. Everything is under 24 bucks and it's all really good sized dishes. I had the ming's bings... which were out of this world. And for 14 bucks.. you get yuzu chips & delicious cole slaw. What a great deal! I highly recommend. I also tried the spring rolls which were the best I have ever had. You could easily get 2-3 apps for a party of 2 and leave feeling full and happy. And you don't have to spend $40/plate! Win win! The best part of my night was when Ming Tsai came over to say hi. I had a heart attack and nearly fainted. Once I calmed down, he shook my hand and asked what I ordered. Great guy. And love that this really is his baby - not a lot of celebrity chefs are working Friday nights. Blue ginger is my new favorite spot - hands down.
(5)
Tanya F.

Hmmm. I enjoyed myself but I don't think I'll be coming back. Made a special trip out here and was excited to.try the restaurant of the.pbs Chinese cook...It's hard to pinpoint why but the flavors just weren't exciting enough for me and none of the dishes I had were outstanding or impressive. Obviously I only had an appetizer and one entree so I can't judge the entire menu..but something just wasn't hitting the spot here.
(3)
Ashley F.

I can't say anything negative about my two experiences at Blue Ginger. I don't care to talk much about the decor or waitstaff (decor is nice and staff is friendly). What I do care to take about is the number one reason why we dine out - the FOOD! First time I came to Blue Ginger was over a year ago and I made a reappearance there this past weekend. What I had this time around is what I'll have the pleasure of reviewing. Appetizer - Soy-Yuzu Glazed Duck Leg Confit with Upland Cress Salad and Cherry Ginger Mostarda. Simply AMAZING. Obviously no piece of meat could be more delicious than one cooked in its own fat. Entre - The famous Miso-Sake Marinated Alaskan Butterfish. This dish is a MUST try and is famous here at Blue Ginger. Dessert - Carrot Cake with Carrot Sorbe. Again, so delicious and it literally felt as though I had taken a bite out of the season of fall. Give this cake a whirl if you want something light, surprisingly refreshing (which is unique enough for a dessert, let alone a carrot cake dessert!!) and out of the ordinary. Needless to say it is an experience dining at Blue Ginger. A very masterfully flavorful experience.
(5)
Jin Y.

I've returned~! Finally, after a few years of dreaming about the Alaskan butterfish, I have come back to relish in it once more. Walking into the newly renovated and expanded restaurant, I hoped the service and quality of food would remain the same. Once I got my Alaskan butterfish, for some reason it looked smaller, but once again I don't remember the last time I had this dish. Now that a few years have passed and I've had quite a few miso marinated fatty fishes like black cod etc., in other fine dining establishments, I was slightly disappointed by the demure alaskan butterfish that looked thinner than usual. One bite into it though, I realized why I loved it so much. It's not just the butterfish but the contrasting wasabi infused fish eggs and wasabi sauce. It cut right through the balsamic reduction/glaze and the fish was soft and took it all in. That's a nice fish.
(4)
Augie L.

I've been to my fair share of well known, Michelin rated restaurants and by far, this is still my number one. We had ordered the sake-miso marinated butterfish and our server had told us that it was sablefish instead of butterfish and that this type of fish is the closest to butterfish in terms of texture and flavor. Telling us that really blew us away. I had ordered a special that day and can't recall what exactly was in it, but it had lobster with garlic, a little balsamic and a green puree on the bottom. my god, it was superb! Moist, soft, buttery, garlicy lobster with the right amount of tartness and had a bunch of flavors bursting in my mouth. The flavors were very intense and something about this meal just stuck in head for years. I love this restaurant and Ming Tsai is just a excellent chef! I am a fan for life.
(5)
Mike H.

Wonderful dining experience. I would recommend it to anyone in the Boston area looking for a classy Asian fusion experience without the fuss. My wife and I were visiting Boston for the long weekend, and for a long time i've been a fan of Ming Tsai. Blue Ginger was in the plans. The food was beautiful and so flavorful. For an appetizer, I had a tuna sashimi with preserved lemon. It was prepared carpaccio style. Delicate and spicy. The main course was a bbq short rib with an asian take on a peach bbq sauce. A new style of grits underneath had a subtle hint of ginger in the broth. Really beautiful. The decor is clean and has a hint of Asian style but with a modern restraint. Even the cocktails were fantastic - a Ginger Collins was so tasty. I recommend!
(5)
Carolyn L.

I'm normally wary of Asian fusion having grown up with traditional Asian cuisine and basement Chinatown restaurants with questionable sanitation. I've had bad to mediocre experiences with other fusion places (sorry, Myers and Chang) so I was pleasantly surprised by Blue Ginger. The tapas are great because you get to share and sample several dishes. I try to mix it up and get "more traditional" dishes such as the short-rib kale wonton and shrimp shumai, with "less Asian" ones like the charcuterie and lettuce cups. I didn't find the dumplings worth 3 for $14 although they were still good. From their lunch menu, I've had the burger and ramen which were both flavorful without being too overwhelming. I'm surprised by some of the negative reviews because my dishes have always been well prepared and I've always had good service. I can only speak to their weekday lunch and Saturday tapas so perhaps the bad reviews are for dinner.
(4)
A C.

If you get stranded on a desert island be sure to bring Ming Tsai, so he can catch and cook his butterfish for you. I'm pretty sure I could eat that dish until rescue arrived, and I'm not a big fish person. I've been here about 4 times now, and everytime I walk away completely satisfied that I just had a great, delicious meal with wonderful service. I think it's hard for a place to live up to its hype -- and I can see where other reviewers find fault with some of the dishes. But complaining about salt with an Asian dish is like complaining about butter on a French dish. Ms. Manners would have been disappointed that the waitstaff cleared plates before everyone at the table had completed their meals. That minute detail aside, everyone there is fantastic and attentive. I wouldn't let the negative reviews deter you from trying Blue Ginger. It's one of the few places I've eaten where all three courses are amazing. Couple the food with really high-end service, it's a great experience. If you don't want to splash on dinner, you can try their lounge menu, and maybe get an idea of the food without the hefy paycheck. They have some booths by the bar and numerous shared plates and appetizers.
(5)
Mary B.

The food was memorable. Excellent presentation and great service. Ming was there when I went... I enjoy watching him cook on TV. I got the butterfish dish - it was superb!
(4)
Melanie B.

I came here the night before I flew out from Boston. My foodie friend came here before and told me we should have dinner here. I always heard good things about Ming Tsai's restaurant, so this was a treat! I would give this restaurant 4 1/2 stars. I didn't give it a perfect score due to the saltiness of the gazpacho and thai mussels dish. Other than that, we really loved our experience here! From the time we sat down until we finished our desserts Melissa was a wonderful waitress! We started off with cocktails. Then, we ordered a bottle of wine with our meal. For starters, we had the foie gras shumai with shitake mushroom broth (freaking delicious), thai lemongrass mussels with papaya salad (a bit too salty for my taste), and the corn, tomatoes, avocado, and onion gazpacho (too salty for me but I'm glad we split this one). For our main course, I ordered the ginger lobster with coconut fried rice. I loved every bite of the lobster. It was juicy and not rubbery! My friend ordered the butterfly fish with soba noodle rolls. It was delicious and very flavorful. For dessert, we had the Petit Four dessert with cookies and a gelatin candy. It was delicious and a perfect end to a great dinner! I asked Melissa how often Ming comes by the restaurant...she said pretty often. Apparently, he lives in the next town over and came the night before. Too bad we missed him but I totally find him cute and dreamy :D I heart you and Blue Ginger Ming Tsai!!!
(4)
TheBiggestJuiciestPiece a.

Went here for restaurant week. After reading up on reviews and Ming himself, I had high expectations. What a shame, the flavor profiles, textures, and freshness was disappointing. The spring rolls were alright, the szechuan chicken was not spicy at all... and the noodle dish tasted like trader joes boxed noodles. Not to say that trader joes boxed noodles are bad, just not to be expected at a $$$ restaurant!
(2)
Dave F.

The Alaskan Butterfish. Believe the hype. This miso-sake marinated sablefish served with wasabi sauce and a slight balsamic glaze presents one of Boston's best flavor profiles. The soba noodle sushi served on the side with fresh ginger refreshes the palate, until you're ready to dive back into the butterfish. You will be. Soon. To those yelpers panning the Alaskan Butterfish, how much more flavor would you need to be satisfied? My fiancee ordered the lobster. I had a few bites myself. The dish is packed with flavor. My fiancee wanted to go back yesterday for seconds, it's that good. We shared mussels to start. They were fresh, plump, and served in a Thai broth so delicious I spooned up the remnants and soaked it up with some bread. The Sesame Macadamia Caramel Nut Tart for dessert was pretty good, but not on the same level as Ming's dishes. Next time, we'll just order another appetizer. Service was great. Our courses were promptly served and our waitress was very pleasant. The wine pairings she suggested complemented our entrees very well. The decor is fine. From reading the descriptions in some of the reviews, Blue Ginger might as well be a hole in the wall. It's not. With all the flavor packed in the food, I don't need a modern/rustic 2010s ambiance. The open kitchen is a sight to behold. Notice all the Butterfish being prepared by the cooks on the line. It's up there for a reason. Treat yourself to Blue Ginger sometime. It's worth the money, and worth the drive to Wellesley.
(5)
Katie B.

Excellent choice for an anniversary dinner. Service was spot-on, atmosphere quite pleasant and seamless (despite the paper toppers on the tables) and quiet enough for me to hear my husband even though I'm hard of hearing, and food was delicious. Started with ceasar salad and fried calamari. The salad was good with fresh, crisp greens but the calamari (selected based on the server's recommendation) was a stand-out. I loved it, and I absolutely hate pretty much all seafood I've ever tried. I had the curry pasta, which was made with very strong flavors (as the server warned me it would be). And it was excellent - I guess I love strong ginger/lime/curry. I also like that it was stuffed full of a wide variety of yummy vegetables. Too many eateries completely ignore fresh, flavorful veggies. My husband had the lobster, which he really enjoyed. (I didn't try it, due to the whole seafood aversion thing.) Servings were more than plentiful. Dessert was blueberry fritters with salted popcorn ice cream (phenomenal) and creme brulee (excellent, but not unique). The Massachusetts Mojito was also perfectly balanced. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Marina S.

After months of anticipation and watching Chef Ming on tv, I could not wait to try this place. Well, I wish I had never gone. The appetizers are so over-priced and small. We ordered the shitake leek springrolls which were...interesting. Tempura Sole-Avocado Roulade which I don't even know what that was... seemed like some dried up sushi and the Hamachi* Carpaccio. Definitely not enough to go around for 4 people. The 3 appetizers were just o.k. For our main we had two orders of the scallops which came with a funky coconut sauce that we did not enjoy at all. The lobster dish seemed enjoyable and the veal pretty tasty and came with yummy bread pudding. Almost $300 later, what a disappointment. Might want to consider other places for special occasions. I went home and ate again. $300 down the drain.
(2)
Lisa P.

I finally had a chance to dine at Blue Ginger after years of dreaming about it (I went to college in Cambridge, but Blue Ginger was a little too pricey and too far away to be in my reach). We took advantage of this past 4th of July long weekend to drive up from NYC and have a weekend trip in the Boston area. Blue Ginger was phenomenal. The first thing that crossed my mind upon entering is that for such a reknowned restaurant, it has a very relaxed and laid-back vibe to it. We noticed right away that Ming was there, greeting customers and plating food, and I admit, I had to restrain myself from squealing like a schoolgirl. We asked the waitress if we could do the tasting menu, and she said that although they don't usually do it on weekends, she would check for us. The chef agreed, and it was awesome. We had: -Curried shrimp crisps as an amuse bouche -Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna Poke with Crispy Sushi Rice Cake and Micro Peppercress-Tosaka Salad (the tuna poke was really good but my favorite was the crispy rice cake) -Sake-Miso Marinated Alaska Butterfish with Wasabi Oil, Soy-Lime Syrup, and Vegetarian Soba Noodle Sushi (Ming actually brought out this dish featuring an incredibly flavorful but fatty fish to our table, and explained where the fish comes from, how it's caught, and why it's special) -Foie Gras Shiitake Shumai in Sauternes-Shallot Broth (the broth reminded me of a sweet French onion soup; the shumai melted in my mouth) -Korean Bulgogi-Style Grilled Hangar Steak and Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster with Lemongrass Fried Rice and Pea Tendril Salad with Soy-Ginger Vinaigrette (the steak has a nice sweet crust to it, the garlic-black pepper sauce is delicious, and the lemongrass rice soaks up all the lobster flavor) -Bittersweet Chocolate Cake with Cardamom Ice Cream and Chocolate Ganache, and Summer Sangria Sorbets (Pineapple-Soju, Cherry-Grenache, and Citrus-Basil) I thought Ming was awesome before I'd even had the chance to eat at Blue Ginger. Then I actually tried his food, and realized it was better than I could have imagined. The icing on the cake? Not only did he come out from the kitchen to talk to us and tell us about his food, at the end of our meal, he brought over printed copies of our tasting menu and signed them for us. Awesome :)
(5)
Bethany B.

I've heard rave reviews about this place time and time again, but because of budgetary constraints haven't had a chance to try it until restaurant week. I'm very very glad that I didn't check it out for full price. Maybe it's the hick in me, but I thought the flavors were too intense. There was just a lot going on on my plate. Kudos to the corncake lemongrass dessert, but I was disappointed in the dirty fried rice, and the sashimi. I'm glad that I tried it, so that I wasn't left to wonder, but won't be returning.
(2)
Barbara B.

LOVED his cookbook, his TV appearances and the article about him years ago in The New Yorker. The first time I came I liked, which was years ago, however. The second time 6 months ago was unbelievably disappointing. So crowded, noisy and too many chi-chi suburban types with slick hairdos, slick expensive outfits and big rocks air kissing and hobnobbing. Everyone seemed to know everyone, except poor us! Feel like we walked into someone's wedding or anniversary party. The service was mediocre and the food so disappointing. What happened; what the chefs were chowing down while they worked and which we saw when we walked out looked far better--yummy sandwiches and other dishes! Save your pennies and go to China for the real food or at least New York's Chinatown!
(2)
Terry C.

For my birthday dinner #2, I chose Blue Ginger. My mom watches Ming Tsai on TV all the time so I want to give Blue Ginger a try before bringing her here. The restaurant is bright and clean, well-lite and candles on every table. My reservation was at 8:45 on a Wednesday (the only one available) but when I arrived, there were many empty tables. I started with the Blue Ginger Gimlet and that was delicious. For appetizer, we had the Crispy Fried Calamari with Thai dipping sauce. This was just OK. The fried calamari was good but kind-of bland. The dipping sauce is not thick like most calamari dipping sauce; instead it was watery and very very salty. So it was hard to dip the piece of calamari in the sauce without getting too much sauce. There were so many entrees I wanted to try, so my very nice friend let me pick both of them! I chose the Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster with Lemongrass Fried Rice and the Seared Long Island Duck Breast for my friend. Both dishes were delicious! The lobster was fresh and flavorful, served with a sauce that paired wonderfully with the greens and lemongrass rice. The duck breast was tender and very flavorful. It was served with these AH-MAZING squash gnocchi that looked like scallops. YUM! For dessert, I had the Sesame Macadamia Caramel Nut Tart served with coconut ice cream and rum caramel bananas. The tart was good, surprisingly it was not that sweet which was great. The macadamia nuts added a nice texture to the soft tart. The service was great, food was wonderful. But I'm going to say this is more of an American restaurant than Asian fusion. I'll definitely be bringing my mom here!
(4)
Kaitlin A.

I've always wanted to try Blue Ginger, so my boyfriend surprised me with reservations. I had very high expectations, and Blue Ginger met all of them! Walking in, I was impressed with the beautiful decor and open kitchen. We arrived early for our reservation and had a drink at the bar. Most of the drinks were focused around ginger - fresh ginger, ginger beer, or ginger-infused vodka. I chose the Boston Bog, which had fresh cranberries, honey, wild tea vodka, and a splash of ginger beer. Yum! We were seated right on time, and our waitress was very pleasant, and was able to give great recommendations on food and wine. It took a long time for us to decide what to have for dinner. Everything looked so good! We started off with the Shiitake-Leek Springrolls which were so flavorful. For dinner, I had the recommended Butterfish (Miso-Sake Sablefish, with Wasabi Oil, Soy-Lime Syrup and Vegetarian Soba Noodle Sushi) with a glass of Pine Ridge, "Dijon Clones" Chardonnay. This fish was fabulous - tender and light, and a great mix of flavors with the soy, ginger, and wasabi. My boyfriend got the pork shank which was also amazing. We skipped on dessert because we were so full, but the dessert menu looked wonderful as well! This was a great place for a special date.
(5)
Martin M.

Picked up Dad at Logan and made it to Blue Ginger at the end of the Lunch hours. What a treat! Dad has been watching Ming for years, and this was a first time visit for both of us. "Butterfish" for him, Asian Chicken Salad for me. Fantastic flavors. Lunch prices are a great deal, IMHO, because the food is so wonderful. Pleasant room, great wait service. Can't wait to visit again...
(4)
Michelle A.

When I visited Boston last week, I couldn't help but plan a trip out to see Ming's restaurant. I'm a huge fan of PBS cooking shows- Lidia, Ming, Mary Ann Esposito, the now-sainted Julia Childs back in the day... hell, even Bob Ross was cookin (in a bit of a different way). Anyway, I checked out the menu online and since it looked pricey we decided to go for lunch. We were the first people in the restaurant that day, and we had a nice meal. We started with spring rolls filled with leeks and mushrooms- seriously some of the meatiest, most flavorful spring rolls I've had in a long time. They weren't as light as usual spring rolls, but really tasty. The runner who delivered our dish gave us a really helpful, totally unsolicited tip- wrap some lettuce around one of the spring rolls, put some of the slaw that looked like garnish on top, and eat them vietnamese rolls. Yummy. Then for lunch I got a noodle soup dish with chicken- it was the adult version of ramen noodles. Really fresh, light and tasty. My husband got a noodle dish as well, and he liked it a lot- it was sweet, salty, a little hot, etc. What we really loved about the restaurant was the decor though. It's the first time I've seen even really nice restaurants with decor that really didn't feel over-themed. It was such a subtle blue/tan &yellow/red scheme, without being too childlike or garish. It was the perfect illustrative example of FUSION. I actually almost liked the decor more than the food. Almost. Overall, worth driving out to the 'burbs for. Not sure I would do it twice, but really glad I did it once.
(4)
Georgina C.

Blue Ginger is an absolute delight! I've been meaning to dine here for quite some time and was not let down by my experience this past weekend. I ordered the Polly-tini which I know was named after Ming (the owners) wife and it was delicious! For my starter I selected the Shiitake-Leek Springrolls and the person who delivered them (not our waiter, possibly the manager on duty or host) gave us suggestions on how to authentically eat them. We shared our entrees, the Mushroom Tart with Truffles and House Pad Thai. Both were WONDERFUL! Dessert was the creme brulee cooked to perfection. I will definitely be coming back for dinner as the food was wonderful and the service is impeccable!! Well done Polly & Ming!!
(5)
Will B.

Blue Ginger is one of the best restaurants in Wellesley. It is the Flagship restaurant of Wellesley for its extremely classy layout and environment as well as its wonderful food. The food is very pricey, but what do you expect from a classy restaurant with wonderful service? Blue Ginger offers the highest quality food in the town, hands down. If you want to take your girlfriend out on date, your mother out for her birthday, your grandparents out for lunch, or whatever at an impressive restaurant, Blue Ginger is the restaurant to go to.
(5)
Michelle H.

I have to say this place is overrated (at least for lunch). I felt like a lot of the dishes we had, you could make yourself and it would have came out close. Especially the lettuce cups. The bread though is pretty tasty here. Maybe I need to try dinner, but this is definitely not on my list of places that I want to visit anytime soon.
(3)
Shuan L.

Blue Ginger offers unique Asian fusion cuisine that is well worth the drive to Wellesley. Because the restaurant is packed on weekend nights, service can be a little disorganized, but at least the staff is friendly and the food is fantastic. The portions are generous, even if you opt for a tasting menu. Highlights include: * Tuna poke with crispy sushi rice cake - The poke itself lacked a bit of authenticity, so I just pretended I was eating regular tuna tartare. But the real star of the dish is the crispy rice cake, which is crunchy on the outside but slightly soft and sticky on the instead. * Garlic black pepper lobster with lemongrass fried rice - Large chunks of lobster and just the right amount of fried rice, served over a slightly thick (and slightly too salty) sauce. Bonus points for dramatic presentation (they serve it with the lobster head sticking straight up in the air). * Sesame macadamia caramel nut tart with toasted caramel ice cream and rum caramel bananas - I almost wished I wasn't sharing it with my mom and had the whole thing to myself. The tart is actually more like a dense cake embedded with crunchy bits of macadamia nuts. I usually like the ice cream portion of a dessert the best, but this was a rare exception. Tip: The restaurant has a private complimentary parking lot in the back which apparently not many people know about because it was almost empty when I drove in there. It's a big plus for people who get heart palpitations at the thought of parallel parking (ahem, me, despite having had a car in Boston for almost two years).
(4)
Austin J. A.

I'm really sad to read so many lackluster reviews of Blue Ginger, especially because I've eaten the Butterfish with whipped wasabi and soba maki no less than four times...and have loved it. It has never struck me as being lower-quality whitefish. I don't have a DNA testing kit with me when I go out to eat, so I can't say for sure what species I was eating, but the labeled-as-Butterfish has been excellently cooked and delicious every time. The only thing I can say I don't love about Blue Ginger is that sometimes it's really crowded. Really, really, elbow-to-elbow crowded. Solution: go at lunch; go at off hours; go during a less-obvious time or week. Okay, now, I'll talk about the stuff I love about Blue Ginger. I love that the owners and all staff are incredibly committed to protecting diners from allergic reactions; they have two separate kitchens, and ask everyone specifically if they have food allergies. I love that they participate in Boston Restaurant Week; their prix-fixe menu is way more affordable and has very good offerings. I love the beautiful new bathrooms. I love the decor, which is a little different in each area of the restaurant (my favorite room is the room with the horse sculpture, but I extra-love the stone fountain in the main room). I love the flourless chocolate cake with cardamom ice cream (to the point where I used to call Blue Ginger the Cardamom Ice Cream Palace). I love the Ming's Bings - sliders inside a dumpling. I love that they participate in Restaurant Week (which is actually two weeks, twice a year) in Boston and its surrounding environment, because I love Blue Ginger's food but can't afford to eat there very often (which is why their $33.13 prix fixe restaurant week menu is a more accessible treat). I love being able to book reservations online at OpenTable. I love that the servers are very kind and knowledgeable, and are attentive in coordinating the arrival of all plates in my party at the same time, as well as not batting an eye if I want something cooked a little more. I love seeing one of the owners, chef Ming Tsai, just hanging out talking to patrons from time to time, and when I do see him, I try not to announce too loudly that I've "just had a Ming Tsaiting," because nobody else loves puns as much as I do. (Ming sighting...get it? *crickets*) The most recent visit I made was during restaurant week, and I had a sesame Caesar salad that was very satisfying, short ribs that melted with the slightest touch of my fork (served on grits that I loved eating for their texture and not-distracting savory flavor palette), and a "coconut cake" that was actually more like a muffin - it was a cakelet that had probably been baked in a muffin tin or its equivalent, and it was unlike any other coconut item I've ever eaten (and I've eaten a lot of coconut things in my life, loving the fruit as I do). It was so aromatic, but of coconut water/milk, and was in no way a dessert that involved shredded, toasted, or otherwise in-your-face stringy coconut. Do not get me wrong: I love coconut of all kinds, in-your-face and otherwise. But this was unreal. The coconut cake-muffin was not too crumby, not too sticky, and was served with a fruity sorbet ball (I bet they said what kind but I scarfed it faster than a speeding train) and some candied tropical fruits. I actually like small desserts for a variety of reasons, and this was a small dessert that came on the heels of a very filling meal. I've not eaten at Blue Ginger a hundred times, but the dozen or so times I have been lucky enough to eat there over the past few years have left me feeling incredibly happy, inspired, and fortunate as all get-out. It is best to make a reservation if you have more than two or three people in your dinner party. I hope that I may someday rent one of their small, private rooms for a meal and feel like some kind of rock star. A no-longer-hungry rock star!
(5)
Van O.

My mother was in the hospital at Metro West so I since I was around town I might as well try this well hyped restaurant. I can tell you from my experience it is nothing more than a hype. There is no doubt the food is flavorful... But the flavor isn't that good. I'm Asian and I know asian food, and I have to admit that this "fusion" isn't working out. I started out with the Calimari. Nice and crispy but the "sauce" was too sour and overpowered by ginger. Maybe Blue Ginger? lol I ordered the Flank steak with Frites (French Fries) This wasn't bad... The flavor was good but nothing special. It's just a steak marinated overnight served with over seasoned french fries. I would of enjoyed this dish if I had some rice with it and not fries... How unsatisfying! So at this point I'm at 4 stars rating. My girlfriend ordered the Chicken Pad Thai. Okay this has to be the nastiest Pad Thai I have ever tasted in my life! The stench from "cheap" rice noodles was evident. Not only that it was overcooked! Who makes mooshy Pad Thai!? If you're Asian you know bad rice noodles when you had them, and Blue Ginger has them. For the price they charge here I would of thought they would use "Fresh" rice noodles. C'mon Ming... Waltham isn't that far away to get fresh rice noodles. At this point I'm down to 3 star rating. So before I tasted the overpriced mediocre food here, I already had preordered the Miso Ramen with Pork for my mom who is at the hospital. She took 3 bites and threw up and could not bare to eat another bite because she said it was too bland. I took a few bites and the soup tasted warm dishwater and the pork was pretty dry. What else can you expect out of Ramens... This one costed $12. So my rating is down to 1.5 stars. The waitress we had was pretty cool and very respectful The servers were nice but the host was snobby and rude. All in all I paid for an experience... A pricey experience that I won't do again. I'm not sure if Ming has ate at his own restaurant lately but either he needs to change the menu or fire all his cooks.
(2)
Lone R.

The point of this review is summarized below: 1. Make sure that your reservation is confirmed, 2. Be prepared for arrogant, non-accountable staff, 3. The food is standard pan-Asian, nothing better than P.F. Chang's 4. I have been to a few dozed one to three star Michelin restaurants, met many celebrity chefs, currently run six hotels including one with a two star Michelin restaurant. I have never been to a more undeservedly popular restaurant. The patrons that frequently crowd this place are indicative of the erosion the celebrity chef/reality TV industry have had on gourmet cuisine.\ 5. The host, Jeff, should find a new line of work. i have never met a more arrogant staff member with unappealing customer service Detailed experience below: my wife and i dined at this place twice expecting great things. the first time we didn't have a reservation and ate at the bar. the food was decent, nothing 'wrong' with the food, but nothing great and the service was somewhat inattentive, so i figured we had caught the place on an off night and we would give it another chance. unfortunately, the second time turned out much worse. my wife had made an 8.15p reservation for the dining room, we arrived at 7.45p -- our sitter was early...9p came around and a high-top finally opened up at the bar -- we had been standing for an hour and 15 minutes. So, not only had 45 minutes gone by from our scheduled reservation time, but we were to eat in the bar and not the dining room -- which normally isn't a problem, but after we sat down the host brought bar menus -- i asked for a full dinner menu, the host indicated that we wouldn't be able to order off of the dining room menu. the bar menu didn't have anything on it that i wanted to order again -- it was unchanged for the +/- six months in between visits. Going back to the host and our reservation for a moment, when we arrived at 7.45p my wife confirmed our reservation time at 8.15p, i heard her speak to the host and say the words 'we have an 8.15p reservation', i heard the host reply 'yes you have an 8.15p reservation'. Ok, so back to the host telling me that i wouldn't be able to order off of the dining room menu. when he said that to me, i responded 'we have an 8.15p reservation, it's now 9p, we're fine sitting in the lounge, but we would like to order off of the dining room menu'. he responded with 'your wife cancelled your reservation when you arrived, we'll see what we can do, but it's going to take a long time to bring you food in the bar ordered off of the dining room menu'. at that point, we started to get into it with fairly significant back-and-forth i have never met a more arrogant restaurant staff person with less appealing service bottom-line, the host had messed up our reservation and he didn't have the professionalism to step-up, admit his mistake, then make it right for the customer, in fact his arrogant behavior. the worst part about it was that Ming was standing right next to the table and did nothing to fix the situation. Poor form all the way around on this one.
(1)
Alicia F.

Beautiful restaurant, delicious food - particularly the braised short ribs. The staff is wonderful and so accommodating. Perfect venue for a special event - they provide exceptional and seamless service. Would highly recommend for business or social gatherings.
(5)
Asa H.

Excellent tapas style option, great selection, food was all delicious and beautiful Definitely a little pricey, but worth it every now and then
(4)
Blair M.

A friend and I had been plotting our trip to Blue Ginger since this past summer, and FINALLY made it there! The anticipation was pretty high, and we both have a penchant for foodie culture and are slightly obsessed with local celeb chefs so I'm not sure how disappointed we could be. Luckily, we weren't! Given its profile, I knew that reservations would need to be made and was still expecting there to be a wait. My friend and I were having a long overdue catch-up night anyhow, so the wait actually DIDN'T bother us as we each sipped Sapporro's. As enticing as the lounge menu is, we decided not to risk it and saved room for our meals. We started with the Tuna Poke. Stop. Shhhhhhh....sorry, I needed a moment to close my eyes and smile at the memory of this dish. The tuna was so perfectly chilled and seasoned, but the big star was the crispy sushi rice cake. I am a texture maniac and this just TOOK the rice cake. I then moved onto the Black Pepper Garlic Lobster after debating for awhile. In the end, I saw so many of them "on the line" in the kitchen that I just had to go for it. Presentation was phenomenal, and it was delicious, except I thought the sauce was a little too strong/salty and could have been used as a drizzle or less quantity. They cook the rice actually IN the lobster shell which really adds to the flavor. We also got to meet Ming, which we totally pretended was not a big deal but immediately squealed about once a safe distance away from the place. We didn't really want to bother him, but after seeing his interactions with his cooks and other patrons we decided he IS actually as nice as he seems on TV. He stopped to talk to us, asked us all about ourselves and didn't give the standard celeb cold shoulder. The only downside was the waitress who took a pic of us with him didn't put the flash on - blur central. Definitely a splurge restaurant and for those who live in Boston its a little difficult to get there. I just feel much better having finally fufilled the desire!
(4)
Rachel K.

I've been meaning to try Blue Ginger for years. I've had Ming Tsai's masterpieces for years at a few local benefits but never made my way to one of his restaurants. On a last minute whim my boyfriend and I decided to try BG with no reservation. We sat at the bar where I ordered the Thai Coconut martini, which after minutes of indecisiveness was a phenomenal decision. It tastes like a lightweight, smoother, version of a pina colada with a spiced rim kick. Delish! After a moment's look at the bar menu, which looked great but limited, we realized they don't serve their standard menu and tried to get a table. Luckily we'd barely beaten the Saturday night dinner rush and were able to get a table. We both ordered the signature dish: Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster with Lemongrass Fried Rice. As someone who eats out a lot, and often at nice restaurants, $41 still seems to be quite the splurge to me for one entree-however, it was worth every penny. A lot of nice places who deliver quality top-level dishes usually come in small portions. This entree was more than enough, and I was dreading my last bite as I didn't want it to end. Full of flavor and the freshest of lobster, this was one of the most unique dishes I've ever had. Every single ingredient seemed like a small piece in a perfectly finished puzzle. My Qupe chardonnay was an excellent match to this dish. Service was good, though a little pushy, no I do NOT need an appetizer for the third time mr. waiter, but I do appreciate your persistence in trying to up-sell us. Overall service was informative, quick, and just what I'd expect from a great establishment like BG. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Michelle T.

Once of the best seafood restaurants in Boston that is creative, delicious, and unique. Perhaps the only downside of my evening was the moody waitress who seemed distracted and a little pissed off the entire evening. The bf took me here for my birthday because he knew what a huge seafood fan I was. Both of us were impressed with all the dishes we ordered in terms of taste, presentation, and flavor, though there were definitely aspects of the dishes that we totally hated. Highlights: 1. Bread basket - we asked for a refill because i loved the crackers and my bf loved the beer bread. Delicious. 2. Big eye tuna on rice cake appetizer was highlight of my evening. It was so fresh, delicious, and unique! That rice cake was was excellent paired with the fish and the sauces they drizzled on the side. 3. Sake miso-marinated butterfish - The fish was a little on the salty side, but it was SO delicious and the tender flakes of fish literally melt in your melt. If we didn't have a gift certificate, our dinner would've definitely been super pricy and I would've given it 4 full stars, but I guess Ming Tsai is a celebrity and our food was delicious, so 5 stars it'll be...until next time.
(5)
Steve A.

I was hoping for more. The service was great. The ambience was very nice. The food was not worth the prices. We had the Poke and it was flavorful but not memorable. The Crab coated Halibut was bland. It needed salt, something I would not have expected. My wife had the Tamarind Scallops and they were good but nothing really exciting. In all it felt like we paid about $10 an entree too much.
(3)
Kelvis P.

I loved this place, but when I visited last night I immediately noticed the menu had been cut short and the quality of the ingredients on the current dishes had been diminished. After receiving our entrees, I was disappointingly proven right. The taste of the food was far from what we used to love. I'm hoping this was a rare one time bad experience and not the case that Ming's fame has grown so much he is neglecting his first jewel.
(3)
David T.

Went here with the bf for a duel birthday dinner and left with extremely happy tastebuds. Prices are a little on the high side but it is to be expected for a restaurant owned by a famed chef and thus we were prepared. Service was polite and water glasses were constantly refilled. Started with Shiitake-Leek Springrolls with Three Chili Dipping Sauce ($12). Wrappings were perfectly crisp and filling was moist and mildly earthy from the mushrooms. The sauce was slightly acidic but complemented the dish well. Plated with a small side of coleslaw that was terrifically crunchy. I had the Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish with Wasabi Oil, Soy-Lime Syrup and Vegetarian Soba Noodle Sushi ($36) and was blown away with the first bite. The fish was beautifully presented and melted in your mouth with a slight buttery finish. Perfection on a plate; it is obvious why this is one of their signature dishes. The bf had Indonesian Curry Pasta with Asian Vegetables, Chopped Peanuts and Panko Herb Crusted Chicken Breast ($23). This was good but not nearly up to the level of my entree. The portion of chicken was quite large and the panko breading gave it the texture of a Japanese tonkatsu. Only complaint about this dish would be that it was extremely citrusy so they could have held back on the lemon just a bit to let the coconut milk shine through more. For dessert I had the macadamia nut tart with rum glazed bananas($12) and the bf had the creme brulee ($12). The tart was absolutely amazing and so decadent. The creme brulee was good but fairly standard so a bit overpriced at $12. Also, since it was our birthdays, they brought out a plate with a candle and two small cookies with an edible sign that read Happy Birthday. Very nice touch.
(4)
Josh P.

This is a swell spot for lunch, and they have a dedicated gluten-free menu, which is a big plus. The pad thai was slightly bland, but they served spices on the side which helped. One disappointment was the homemade ginger ale that I ordered, which turned out to be some carbonated water medium with a homemade syrup that had all sunk to the bottom.
(3)
S. M. S.

Unmemorable, overpriced, inconvenient.
(2)
Nate S.

I get the feel like this is the type of place that people who watch a lot of cooking shows want to go to in order to name drop among their "foodie" friends. The food is definitely good, depending on what you get but the open layout made the place very loud on a Saturday night. Its worth trying if you are in the area but there are plenty of more reasonably priced and more aesthetically pleasing options in Boston.
(3)
Eric L.

I live in Wellesley, probably represent the typical patron for this restaurant, so if Ming reads this he should take note, as this opinion is shared by my friends and colleagues .... we really dislike your host, he is rude and off-putting. He tends to sit patrons with children in the worst seats facing the swinging kitchen door or the bathroom, and he allows large parties carry on with loud ridiculous rowdiness. The food compared to what is available around is just ok, so when presented in a substandard environment with a rude and arrogant host makes us not want to return. I rather drive in to town than waste time at Blue Ginger. And yes, slowly but surely, your local Brookline/Wellesley/Weston clientele are no longer coming, there are so many better choices.
(1)
Valerie V.

This is what happens when a Celebrity chef restaurant is overhyped--it becomes lackluster and delivers poor service! Went as a group of 4 to Blue Ginger without a reservation knowing that we would have to wait at the bar. They quoted us 30-40 minutes which was completely reasonable. We weren't seated until almost 90 minutes later!!! If we hadn't been having fun and not terribly hungry to begin with, we wouldn't have waited. The specialty drinks we tried were all great but were SO overpriced ($14++) After we were seated they didn't even offer us a free dessert or something to make up for the wait. Our server was nice enough and came and went in a timely manner which is always appreciated. We didn't see Chef Tsai so not sure if he was around that night or not. Onto the food...::sigh:: It certainly wasn't -bad-, it just wasn't anything to lose your mind over. For appetizers we had the spring rolls (fine), the shumai (delicious!!), and the calamari (terrible). The calamari were soooo small and there was nothing special about them but the sauce which was just a basic tangy Asian flavored dip. My fiance and I wanted to try both of the "signature dishes" so we ordered those and shared them. The Garlic Black Pepper Lobster was generous with the amount of Lobster but also VERY generous with the amount of salt. I honestly felt like I had just eaten a bucket of salt after eating it. The garlicky sauce was nice though. The Butterfish was fantastic....but the size of it was incredibly small for the $36 price tag and the sides that came with it felt like garnishes. We didn't try dessert... I can pretty confidently say I will NOT be back.
(2)
Jade L.

Since so many people have recommended to me this place, my husband and I finally decided to give it a try. Our feeling is a mixed. Very easy to make reservation -which is a plus. We brought our little girl with us. She is 18 months old. I don't think this restaurant like the idea that you bring your small kid in our opinion. However, they should know the restaurant is for the public regardless the ages. Overall, the server and waiter/waitress are nice and polite to us including my daughter but manager had a sharp eye on my daughter... I feel that the manager think my daughter is going to break something or tear down the place.-however, my daughter behaved well IMHO. ( In the end, she did run around a bit but she is under my control. ) The dishes - we have expected perhaps too high-came out just ok. (1)Fried Calamari - too salty for us and the THAI style sauce -we didn't enjoy this sauce at all . (2)TUNA Poke- I personally loved it but my husband wasn't impressed at all. I think you can get the same food with a bit cheaper price somewhere else. (3)Butter-fish...well, again, it is alright but not awesome. I don't think butter-fish is that expensive first of all and I don't think they executed this dish well enough. However, my husband did enjoy his Marlot and I and my daughter did enough the dessert. Overall, I gave this place three stars...would we return? Perhaps not.
(3)
John R.

I believe I've been to Blue Ginger 4 times, twice about 5-6 yrs ago and twice within the last 6 wks. The first two times, yrs ago the experience was a strong five stars, it has slipped, but the prices have not! You can still expect it to be 75-125 pp. The service was very good but I noticed servers in general, lacked panache. The meal's were very good but not excellent nor what I expect from a restaurant that is owned by a Chef of Ming's magnitude, btw he was "in the house", on my second recent visit. Again, the meals were enjoyable but did not rock my palate. I expect Blue Ginger to be GREAT on all fronts, Atmosphere, Service & Food. Something has changed and/or something is missing. Of course, it is a huge cut above most other Asian inspired restaurants but they are usually 25pp not 75-125 pp. I think one will enjoy and be happy I wasn't unhappy, I was disappointed. It is not at the level it use to be and it does not rival or meet experiences I have had in the past at fine establishments with real 4-5 star's at the same price point Blue Ginger is getting. First, by my standards it cannot qualify as a 5 star restaurant because as soon as I walked in I saw a "game" on a flat screen TV. Really? What happening to the art of dining out? Ahh that's what it is, Ming's is no longer "a work of art", not the service, ambience or the cuisine. If you are going to have a flat screen TV, please make it less obtrusive. The bread brought out was disappointing, I expect more creativity than bread n' butter, really Ming shame, additionally an amuse bouche would have been a nice touch but again not 5 stars, but 3 stars! On one visit, the wine was not chilled properly nor was it poured properly; again, someone is not paying attention to the small details such as the art of pouring wine. I did not order wine on my second visit. Tempura app was visually astounding but lacked flavor; The Spring Rolls were a monumental disappointment. The Scallops were seared perfectly however the brocc rabbe was not warm and for a dish listing so many bold flavors, it fell short, very short of flavor. I can get perfectly seared scallops at any good restaurant. The monkfish dish I had was bold in flavor but as can happen, unfortunately on my visit, the fish was over cooked and the texture was not as good as it could have been. Hence, Ming's got 3 stars for my last two visits as A-OK, I KNOW they can do better! Would I go back (?) maybe for lunch. Would I recommend Ming's (?) maybe to someone with money to burn OR someone needing a celebrity chef experience.
(3)
Molly K.

Saturday night my parents, T & I went to one of my favorite Boston-area restaurants, Blue Ginger, to celebrate my birthday a week early. Serving East-West cuisine in Wellesley, Ming Tsai has retained his restaurant's high ratings since opening in 1998. Ming Tsai really needs no introduction, with his numerous awards and honors (even including an Emmy award for his cooking show). As a nice surprise, T had called ahead and ordered champagne for the table, so we skipped cocktails and went straight to appetizers. I started with my usual, the shiitake-leek springrolls with three chile dipping sauce, because it is too good to pass up. T went with the charcuterie plate with duck prosciutto, foie gras torchon and country pÃ¢tÃ©. Meim went with the pork hot & sour soup with umami shrimp dumpling and chile oil and my dad chose the crispy fried calamari with thai dipping sauce (which were perfectly prepared and had a bit of a cheddary-taste in the breading which was a nice spin on typical fried calamari). Next I again went with my old orders and got the fantastic famous garlic-black pepper lobster with lemongrass fried rice with a pea tendril salad and tamari-ginger vinaigrette. This dish is the reason I keep coming back, it is the perfect balance of every sense. Perfectly prepared, I have no problem finishing my portion. I also could have a salad of the pea tendrils on a daily basis and be pleasantly happy. (With my recommendation), my dad chose the soft & delicious sake-miso marinated sablefish (a.k.a. Butterfish) with wasabi oil, soy-lime syrup and vegetarian soba noodle sushi. I ordered this on my first trip to Blue Ginger, and enjoyed the light and delicate flavors mixed with the unbelievably flavorful soba noodle sushi on the side. T went with the rare grilled marinated hanger steak with spicy dan dan noodles, pickled mustard green salad, and hot mustard aioli, which T reported was the most perfectly-prepared steak he has encountered. Not being a big fan of rare meat, I stole a dan dan noodle which I can report was also a nice piece of the tasty puzzle. After the entrees, waiting for dessert, Ming Tsai took the time to escape the kitchen to come over to our table to say hello. Being extremely friendly, personable, and down-to-earth, the meet and greet was a nice bonus during my birthday dinner! The other food-reason that I continue to return to Blue Ginger is the fact that this is the home of my favorite non-chocolate dessert in the world. Every time I go I order the sesame macadamia caramel nut tart with toasted coconut ice cream and housemade hot fudge with rum caramel bananas. No pictures, as I was too excited to dig in. Meim went with the five spice apple fritters with cider glaze, cinnamon ice cream, and a ginger apple compote, which she had no problem finishing, so I assume it was delicious as well. Pictures and more on -- ----
(5)
Karen L.

i drove past this restaurant several times while on a recent trip to Boston, and always wished I had time to have a meal there, because it looked so inviting. I never did have the time for a complete meal, but I did squeeze in a take-out order of butternut squash soup, which was delectable!
(5)
Jessie C.

Three Words - Ming Tsai High. I can't get enough of this place. Had the Alaskan Butterfish - TO DIE FOR! Wasabi is my new favorite thing! The rest of my party was equally as pleased with the food - Asian sliders wth the blue cheese, steak sandwich and the Shrimp dish (don't remember what it was called) this place was just awesome. Asian tapas - come on! doesn't get better than that...
(5)
David L.

Oh Ming...I'm fearful Blue Ginger may have "jumped the shark". Say it ain't so! On Friday night I took my lovely bride to Blue Ginger to celebrate her birthday. This was my 5th visit, my wife's 3rd. Our dinner was WAY below par. I will say that the Tuna Poke appetizer remains amazing, but the rest of the meal didn't live up to it. The Asian Gazpacho was good, but lacked any real zip. The avacado within was lost in the soup. And the bread basket was very, very bland. Now onto the mains, where the evening fell flat. My wife had the signature Black Garlic Lobster. The saltiness of the dish was not bad enough to send back to the kitchen and throw the entire dinner in the dumper by having one entree at the table while the redo is prepared, but it came painfully close to it. So she toughed it out, and didn't even mention anything to me until the end of the meal. I, after much encouragement from the waitress, went with the Curry Pasta. The dish delivered on her description of a "very citrusy" curry, but her description of a "lightly fried: shrimp was completely off the mark. The shrimp could have come from Long John Silver's if it wasn't so hansomely dressed! Thick, overbearing "batter", soaked in what tasted like tired frying oil. I'm hoping this was a "one off", and the result of the restaurant being overrun by Restaurant Week. If it wasn't for the great company, the great bottle of Paradduxx (Duckhorn) wine I selected, and the pleasant and attentive waitstaff, it would have been a complete bust. I'll need a year or so to forget about this meal before I give it another shot. And I hope someone else will foot the $200 tab so I don't need to sweat it. Sorry Ming. Just telling it like I see it.
(2)
Anastasia R.

I like it when my food can look me in the eye and face its destiny like champ. The Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster at Blue Ginger granted me this opportunity as well as a delicious meal. The dish is presented with half a lobster (the top/front half) standing up on its bisected torso, stuffed with lobster meet, rice, and tasty other bits. It's also served with pea tendril salad, and who doesn't love the word tendril? Of course it's five stars. Nicely done, Ming. My meal certainly lived up to the hype that preceded it.
(5)
Robert H.

Fantastic food! Great waitstaff. I go every visit to Boston.
(5)
Pete P.

good but not great... an OK time but not a fabulous time... expensive for sure... those are the first 3 phases that come to mind when i think of my time at blue ginger. it was very underwhelming and certainly not worth the drive from somerville. the atmosphere was pretty good. having ming come by the table was a nice touch. the open kitchen is neat but not as pertinent as say east coast grill (i would like to see the loon on ming's face if you send a 6er or tall boys to the kitchen!). overall it was a very blah experience. i imagine if you live out that way it can be a nice place to go to but i will certainly not make that trip again.
(3)
John C.

i'm really sad to rate blue ginger this low. but it's definitely not A-ok... at least not for the prices they charge. my sister took some of us out for dinner to celebrate a new job and my mom was pretty excited to try blue ginger. it was a weeknight but the place was PACKED. there wasn't an empty table in the restaurant, which is very clean and upscale. but you're not here to hear about how pretty the place was, you're here to see what the food taste like. the food was pretty typical asian foods made fancy. but here's the dilemma, most asian food is basic food. trying to make some of it fancy is like trying to make corned beef and cabbage fancy. sometimes you win, but most of the time, you'll lose because you completely destroy the nostalgic factor. that's what happened with nearly every dish ordered. i had the lobster... i took a picture and uploaded it. as you can see, it's a mush of lobster over a pile of rice. for 15 dollars, yeah, maybe it's A-ok.. but for 25+ i've experienced better. 90% of the people who eat here are caucasians who have probably never set foot in chinatown or have had authentic asian cooking growing up. i can see why the reviews are so high, compared to the local americanized chinese food this place seems amazing. but to the more experienced asian cuisine palate this place just isn't that special. i'de love to go back again to try it out and give it another chance, i just can't see myself spending $$$ money on food that my mom makes on a weekly basis. sorry chef tsai...
(2)
Su-Yee L.

I went to Blue Ginger on Saturday because I had a $50 gift certificate which wouldn't go far at all for dinner but would be okay for lunch/lounge. My bf and I ordered a couple of dishes: the sake miso butterfish, ming's bings with the blue cheeseburger, red roast duck, and traditional pork and chive, and the spicy red miso ramen. Here's the breakdown: -Butterfish- 2 pieces of really delicious fish, well seasoned and quite tasty. My piece, though, was on the underdone side so was quite slippery and didn't have the right texture. The soba noodle salad that it came with was way too gingery for my taste. -Ming's Bings- My main fault with these is that they weren't really all that tasty. I've had much better pork and chive dumplings at cheaper restaurants. For theirs, you definitely needed the dipping sauce. The red roast duck was okay but it was weird to have such sweet duck. The blue cheeseburger was alright, too, but nothing mind-blowing. The sides that it came with were pretty good: taro chips, some oil-based coleslaw, and a couple of pickles. -Red miso ramen- I hadn't had red miso before so I'm not sure whether I just don't like it all that much or because Blue Ginger's wasn't very good. Anyway, I wasn't the biggest fan of it. The noodles were good though and the few pieces of pork (only 2 thin slices and a some little chunks in the bottom of the bowl) but I wanted more pork and more vegetables. I barely found any beansprouts or other veggies that were listed. We also got creme brulee for dessert but it was nothing special. Our waitress forgot our tea so comped our dessert which was nice of her but all in all, if I hadn't had that gift certificate, the meal wouldn't have been worth the $60. Oh, it was also nice having the free parking in back.
(3)
Ashley M.

Delicious and unique Asian tapas in the lounge for lunch. It's a little pricy for appetizer sized dishes but the quality and presentation were so fantastic that it's worth it. Fun drink menu. My boyfriend has been a fan of chef Ming for years and was not disappointed with his restaurant. Cant wait to return to try the dinner entrees.
(5)
Colleen T.

I took my Mom here who was visiting from PA. She is a Food Network junkie senior citizen and really wanted to go. I knew she probably wouldn't like the food because she was raised on an Irish-American diet of pot roast and mashed potatoes with the most exotic spices of salt and pepper! But I thought I might enjoy it.... well not so much. The restaurant itself is lovely. Basic clean decor. The service was nice but the food --- ehhh. My mom and I each got an appetizer - I got the mushroom spring rolls and she got the crispy fired shrimp stuffed with pork. We each shared. The spring rolls were unremarkable. The flavors were muddled, really couldn't taste mushrooms --- really just tasted fried. Same with the shrimp - nothing remarkable. Just fried shrimp -- the pork did add a little interesting flavor. For the main course my mom got pork and I got lobster. The lobster was a big plate of muddled mess. Head and tail were left on the plate as "decor" and the tail itself was served "sliced" but in the shell. So I had to dig it out of the shell while it was covered in sauce - ick. Definitely not worth the 41 dollars. I didn't try my mom's but it looked ho-hum. Bottom line... for the money and the mystique of the celebrity chef/owner this place disappoints. The food is not exciting or interesting. The flavors are muddled and nothing is "clean". I won't be returning.
(2)
Lilia G.

I'm a little surprised to see such high ratings for this restaurant. 1) The food was good, but not great. Definitely overpriced. 2) The service was very poor. From the hostess to the waitress, no one seemed happy to be there or have us there. Our waitress was not waiting on us. Spring rolls were good but definitely nothing to write your mother about. Salmon was good but the wasabi was just a little too much for me. Duck was very good Short rib, I heard, was very good. Chocolate cake was good but tasted like hersheys chocolate fudge.. In all, dinner for the four of us came to $240 including tip and drinks. I would have rather gone to PF Chang's and saved myself the $100.
(3)
Sean O.

Dinner here is really an experience. I've been to dinner as well as the wine pairing dinners, and it is always an adventure. Staff is awesome and always willing to explain the menu and offer suggestions. The Butterfish is the signature dish, or one of them. It comes with these Soba noodles that are simply ridiculous. If it were socially acceptable, I would drape myself in them. The Oso Buco is probably my favorite. The Rack of Lamb and the Lobster are also really great. The food, presentation and service are all exceptional.
(5)
Aurele D.

Best food experience of our lives !!! Ordered the chef's tasting menu. 5 course meal. Every course was outstanding !!!! The waiter and waitress were very nice and knowledgeable. Our waiter was in training and was very nice. Our waitress has been working there for some time judging by her knowledge of the menu. We were stuffed by the time our meal ended. Ming did not show by the the time we had left :( We were really hoping to see him. We're big PBS and food network fans. The staff did tell us the he has competed for the Next Iron Chef. Filming is over and the show begins October 3rd !!! We hope to he back next year !!! Drove 10 hours to get there !!!
(5)
stephanie w.

what kind of Yelper would I be if I did not at least Yelp something positive...well Blue Ginger made that pretty easy... I've been here a couple times now and I only have 1 complaint...let's get this over and done with quick...I'm just not too keen on the paper over the table cloth...it just brings it down 1 star...bummer!!! kitchen was open...which I like...very clean...at the end of the night someone sent a lamb dish back...the whole kitchen staff gathered around and checked it all out...looked like they were discussing what was going on with the dish...I liked that...whether they agreed with the it being sent back or not...I do not have a clue...but the fact that they were all examining it gave me confidence that if it was wrong they picked up on the mistake and all were ready to fix it...or just reassuring themselves all was good...either way I took it as a positive... Atmosphere is pleasant and comfortable...wait staff nice and attentive...I totally wish I remembered the name of our server...she was great...stupid me...would love to give her a shout out!!! Calamari yummy (nice huh?) - the lemon sauce that came with it...holy moly soooo good...crab cake - light and tastey...spring roll - I was glad that a server said to roll it in the lettuce and put some of the cabbage on it then dip in the sauce - nice touch I had the pan seared scallops - they were decent cooked perfectly...the risotto on the other hand - wow yummy again...it was lemony and not quite the creamy risotto that is Italian style...but a nice risotto in it's own right - the texture and taste were fantastic... I didn't have dessert but I did venture a bite of the coconut ice cream...that was good...and honestly one of the best cappuccinos around... All and all I had a very nice dining experience...and you know for sure I will be going back...maybe next time Chef Tsai will be there...
(4)
Carole S.

My friend and I hit this place up for Restaurant Week. Our server was wonderful, very professional. The drinks we had (Cranberry Bog and Raspberry Lime Rickey) were really nice. The food was hit and miss. The shiitake spring rolls were delicious, the spareribs were so tender they were falling apart, and the chocolate cake w/ cardamom ice cream was amazing, esp. the ice cream. The pork lollipops were boring, the chicken main was overcooked, and the lemongrass panna cotta had no flavor. I would go back, since when it was good it was REALLY REALLY good, and when it was bad, it wasn't that bad. There was also bountiful street parking, but that might have been because our reservation was so late at night.
(4)
KL M.

Thought it was fabulous! Great service, atmosphere and food. Had the peppered lobster, and thai mussels. Both delicious! Will be back for more. $$$$
(4)
Ellen B.

Had a farewell dinner for a colleague. Very nice private dining room. Great service. Tasty appetizers - calamari and spring rolls - yum! Also had a delicious salad. Main courses were a hit - folks had the butterfish, the pork loin and the paella. Ming Tsai dropped in and was gracious and funny. Very classy guy.
(4)
Dustin M.

Been here 3 times so far. Can't say much more than the other 70+ reviews, but I love the atmosphere and the food. Ask for their house martini or mojito - don't remember which but it's fantastic. The first time I went was in '97 or '98, and it was one of the best meals of my life. The next time was fantastic as well, but the third was a little bit of a letdown, possibly more because of a change in the menu, for which I can blame no good restaurant. I do know that if I'm back in the Boston area, it'll be on my list.
(4)
Colleen Y.

Has anyone see the renovations! So Feng Shui I am meditating just sitting in the lounge. The place really looks awesome and now you can go in an have an app and drink (my favorite combo) without having to make time for the whole meal. I'm going there next week and my mouth is already watering for one of Ming's Bings (Chinese street food) and a BG Gimlet...mmmm.
(5)
A C.

The place is alright.
(3)
KC L.

The service was good. The staff was friendly. The food was good. The only problem was the food was expensive. And could not stay for the whole thing since my baby son was afraid of everything. The food was different Was it great? NO. But something to experience. I wanted to try this place since I saw Ming Tsai on Food Network. But can't justify the $$$$. Now if it was Ming himself cooking then I would understand. Would I go back. NO.
(4)
Joohyun H.

I've heard a lot about this restaurant and Ming Tsai, so I was excited when my older cousin took me to dinner here. We arrived 45 min late after our reservation, yet they seated us immediately. For appetizers, we had the Mixed Green Salad w/ Crispy Onions & Shallot-Pommery Vinaigrette and the Shiitake-Leek Springrolls with Three Chile Dipping Sauce. The salad was fresh, with a light dressing, but it was nothing unique. The spring rolls were presented very well, and they were crispy and flavorful. However, again, they weren't exceptional or unique. We decided to split the Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish- the presentation of this dish was beautiful! We didn't want to touch it at first and we simply admired it. The soba noodle filled sushi were arranged nicely, with wasabi sauce splashed across the side. The butterfish was amazing: it was slightly crispy, sweet and salty, and seared on the outside, with flaky pieces that felt like they melted in my mouth. The seaweed salad on the side was a nice cooling accompaniment to the wasabi flavors. For dessert, we had the Bittersweet Chocolate Cake, which was moist and dense- the cardamom ice cream that accompanied it had a very good flavor, not too sweet, and slightly spicy, reminding me of chai tea. The chocolate-covered cream on top of the cake was the right consistency and not too sweet as well. Out waitress was extremely attentive and helpful. At the end of our meal, she offered us to have our picture taken with Ming Tsai, who was there that evening-- he waited at the front of the restaurant for us! My cousin and I made conversation with him for quite a while; it was nice of him to make time to meet us. Getting to know the owner/chef himself ended the evening very well! I'll be returning here most likely a few more times for special occasions. I'm not quite sure if the high prices correspond with the dishes (I had really high expectations for this restaurant.) Nevertheless, nowadays there is quite a lot of Asian fusion out there and the cuisine increasingly begins all tasting the same. Blue Ginger offers down to earth, accessible flavors while creatively keeping the food presentation, combinations, and flavors unique and interesting.
(4)
Cecilia B.

Lived up to the reputation. Exquisite food, no-pressure service, and a warm cozy setting. Surprisingly crowded for a Wednesday night, we had a corner table to watch the action and food (the lobster dish is spectacular!). Our waiter was very busy but took the time to make recommendations and explain the food to us. Once the check came, we continued chatting until the room cleared and he did not pressure us to pay or leave, which was refreshing. Two of my friends were regulars - and fans of the tuna appetizer and Butterfish. Another got the Lamb, and the veggie polenta napoleon was incredibly flavorful although a challenge to eat (you have to destroy the lovely pile of veggies held together by a lemongrass shoot). Excellent wine list. After looking forward to dining at Ming's for years, it was well worth it (and not any way near as expensive as some might suggest). We will all be back . . .
(5)
Andy S.

Maybe its because I kept heard people raving about this place, but it was not that AMAZING. I went with several friends and we all tried a bit of everything, and there were mixed reviews. While I thought it was great but not amazing, many of my friends did think blue ginger was out of this world. Service was nice, and I think the chef/owner/manager was walking around greeting the customers, which always leaves a good feeling and impression on me! Definitely would go back again to try the other things on the menu (good variety), as well as recommend to friends.
(4)
Beth F.

I went with Scott F.(4/18). I took him there for his bday. We were both excited as we've heard how good it is over the years. Anyway, when we got there for a 6:45 reservation on Sunday, our table wasn't ready. We went to the bar to get a drink, but a staff member had just broke a glass in the ice so we had to wait a bit for that. The hostess came to get us 15-20 minutes after our reserved time, but didn't write a note to remind her who we were and so had to ask everyone along the bar if they were the "Scott f" party. For the prices they charge, I would expect a higher level of customer service. Anyway, once we were sat, our waitress approached us and asked if we had been there before;when we replied, no, she launched into a lengthy monologue was regarding her favorite dishes and explaining what "north African" spices were. I think she confused not eating there with not eating out ever! I kid, but I found it really patronizing, perhaps because I teach the history of food at a culinary art college and have worked in restaurants for 20 years and most importantly, she didn't have all the information correct. The food was good, but not for the prices he was charging. Lobster is about $6. a pound retail right now & his lobster entree is$41. Nothing else particularly special on the plate, so, by my calculations it is overpricedby about 30%. (Yes, it was good, but not $41 good.) I don't get impressed by the tv fame factor - so. I don't know if that is why some folks like it so much. All I can say is that we had a meal last week at Fore Street in Portland, ME and it was so much better. Will NOT return (unless someone else was choosing and paying).
(2)
Susie Q.

I went to Blue Ginger with my family today, to celebrate my mother's birthday. I'm vegan, so my first thought was, "Oh great, a fancy omni restaurant. What are they going to make me? A salad?" Thankfully, I was mistaken. For an appetizer, I ended up having leek and shiitake spring rolls with chili dipping sauce, and they were delicious. For my main course, I ordered the one vegan thing on the menu, which was the, uh, let's see... Thai red curry maitake-vegetable ragout and sticky rice edamame packet with panko-encrusted tofu. (gosh, that's a long description!) Anyway, it was excellent. The curry was just the right combination of tart and savory. I think there was some lime juice in there. I finished the whole thing, and also ordered sorbet for dessert despite being stuffed. The sorbet was incredible. There were three flavors on the plate: peanut butter, apple, and caramel. It was served on top of an apple salad, and was not too sweet and not too mild either. So, there you have it. Blue Ginger is a wonderful place for herbivores and carnivores alike.
(5)
Lisa C.

I'm a big fan of Ming Tsai....I think he's a brilliant chef. I had the beef carpaccio to start and the lobster with lemongrass fried rice for my main course. Both were delicious but the beef carpaccio seemed a bit more "East Meets West" to me. To drink, I had the Thai basil mojito. I love the flavor of Thai basil so I knew I'd like the drink and I did. While the food was good and the service was great, I thought the ambiance was a little boring. I brought my BF there for his birthday hoping for a romantic dinner. The restaurant was way to bright to be romantic. It wasn't very romantic being able to clearly see everyone around us....even the folks way across from us on the other end of the restaurant.
(4)
Annie Y.

My husband and I received a generous gift certificate for Blue Ginger, so had a dinner and a lunch meal. I thought both meals were okay, but the food certainly did not live up to the hype. My main complaint is that just about everything was over salted. Calmari was so-so and the accompanying Thai dipping sauce was too salty and did not add any pronounced flavor to the calmari. My husband had the miso ramen for lunch and it was ok, but not as authentic as the one at Porter Square Exchange. I had the fish taco which was a little fishy and again too salty. The corn tortillas was delicious though. On the positive note, the sesame cesar salad was perfect with beautiful greens and just the right amount of dressing. The bread was delicious. The service was excellent - attentive, but not intrusive. Decor was beautiful, but it struck me as odd that outside the restaurant, they had a swath of decaying leaves outside the doorway. The rest of the merchants on the street had raked. I don't know - I wasn't impressed. I've had much better meals at much lower prices.
(3)
Eddy C.

When my gf and I decided to have dinner at Blue Ginger, I feared that we would be disappointed simply due to the sheer hype that the restaurant has received. I mean, this is MING TSAI'S RESTAURANT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT!!! Fortunately, our dinner ended up living up to the hype for the most part. FOOD We started our meal by sharing the Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna Poke appetizer. Very delicious, though a bit unspectacular in that you could probably get the same dish at a bunch of other, far less expensive restaurants. But the tuna was very fresh and the rice cake was a nice touch. For our entrees, my girlfriend was debating between the Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster and the Chile-Tea Rubbed Duck Breast while I had my eye on either the Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish. We decided to ask our server Jennifer what the two most popular dishes were and she immediately said "the lobster and the butterfish. Hands down." So that made our decisions easy, The lobster ended up being good, but again unspectacular. I would even venture to say that I prefer the lobster that you get at Chinese weddings and banquets (prepared Cantonese style with green onion and ginger) better than what they serve at Blue Ginger but that might just be a personal taste preference thing. On the other hand, the butterfish was AMAZING. Seriously,it was the best piece of fish I have ever had in my life. The flavor and texture were both so ridiculously good, I think I actually told my gf it was "borderline orgasmic". Definitely the first time I've ever used the word "fish" and "orgasmic" in the same sentence. As for dessert, we decided to split the Sesame Macadamia Caramel Nut Tart because it seemed like the most unique item on the menu. It turned out be quite good -- not too sweet yet still very tasty. Throw in a couple coffees and it was a nice way to finish off the meal. SERVICE While the food lived up to the billing, the service left a little something to be desired. Our server Jennifer was friendly and nice but not exactly all that attentive. After we finished our appetizer and our dishes were cleared, we had to wait a LONG time before our entrees were brought out. It's not that I'm blaming our server for the delay but I think it would've been reasonable to expect our server to inform us of the delay and assure us that our food would be coming out soon. Likewise, when I wanted to order a second cocktail, it took awhile for her to bring the drinks menu. I don't know about you, but I hate having to wait a long time for my next round of booze -- total buzz kill both literally and figuratively. I think part of the reason for the less-than-stellar service was the fact our server seemed a bit flustered by this older couple sitting next to us who didn't seem to speak much English but appeared to be very demanding in terms of little things that they needed. While I sympathize with her, I still would have expected more from a high-end restaurant such as Blue Ginger. MISC Ming Tsai walked out and chatted it up with some guests, which was very cool. I was very excited to see a pseudo-celebrity in real life but everyone else seemed unphased. I'm guessing he's there a lot so it probably wasn't a big deal to everyone else. But whatever -- I live in Chicago and don't make my way out to Boston (let alone, Wellesley) all that often, so I was giddy as all heck. Unfortunately, he didn't come by to say hi to us so I wasn't able to to get a picture with him. He looks good for his age -- I was digging the long hair. One last random thing: I did not like how a lot of the people were casually dressed. I'm not saying we should all be wearing jackets and ties, but it amazed me how many people were wearing sneakers. I even saw one guy wearing shorts and flip flops. I guess that's to be expected of a restaurant in the suburbs but I can't say I like it. OVERALL All in all, it was a very good meal. I think Blue Ginger does a good job of not going too crazy with the fusion aspect of their food so you have a chance to appreciate the flavors. My hunch is that the service had an off night so I wouldn't hold that against Blue Ginger too much. The food is not cheap but still very reasonable for a high-end restaurant. I would definitely go back again, if only just to get my grubby mitts on that delicious butterfish again.
(4)
Doika P.

Best restaurant I have been to in the Boston area. Every dish my three guests and I had was delicious and the service was outstanding. A rare upscale restaurant where the food quality matches the price tag. Highly recommended.
(5)
Stellina M.

Blue Ginger is a restaurant with personality. I would not label it "asian", just look at the chefs emplyed there other than the owner! Fusion it is and at its best! For appetizers I loved the thai mussels and curry pasta with coconut shrimp! You must order dessert, they are incredible
(4)
Steve N.

"is Ming here?" no, he's not. but his food is and it can be pretty good.
(4)
Justin T.

All the hyped about this place. I decided to take my girlfriend for dinner. Even though we had a reservation, there was about 20 minutes wait. The dishes where excellent and the waitress was great. The food was really good, but the portion really small. Overall it was a great time and it's not a place that I would come all the time. Maybe every now and then.
(4)
Ryan B.

Ming and team have mastered the art of entertaining. From remembering your name to making accurate thoughtful meal suggestions they have created a perfect spot. The food was delicious and cocktails were innovative. Of course the prices are on the higher side but it is worth the cost. From having to host an important customer to bring the in laws this place is one not to miss.
(5)
Cindy Y.

Ming Tsai, being my boyfriend's inspiration for cooking, I made reservations early on to ensure a table for our Valentine's day weekend. Excitedly, he brought his book all the way from DC. Unfortunately, Chef Tsai was not at the restaurant. Devastated, he wandered around checking out the restaurant. Gratefully, the hostess gave us a pen and a piece of paper for us to write our information down. She told us she'd leave it for him to sign and mail back to us. How sweet was that? What was even more impressive was the fact that we had a 7pm dinner reservation, and we were sat and greeted at our table by our server by exactly 7:00pm. We took a look at the menu, and it had tons of great selections. Unfortunately, it made it so much harder to choose what we wanted. The server was very patient with us and gave us enough time to comfortably choose our meal. The only hard part now was trying to get all of that food into our stomachs after all of the eating we did for the past two days. I was definitely afraid that my review of this restaurant would be affected by this. We received and tested each dish one by one, and the food was so good that we forgot we were full. My favorite dish of the night was the Hawaiian Poke appetizer dish. The Poke was fresh and absolutely delicious. The rice cake in which the poke was piled high and neat on was crunchy on the outside and slightly soft on the inside. It was almost like Noo Roong Ji (a Korean crunchy rice snack). I lowered this review to four stars because of the dessert and cocktail. We had a trio of sorbets over mochi (semi-sweet dark chocolate, spicy pineapple, and guava lime). The flavors were outstanding. The consistencies were good with minimal overrun. However, the sorbets were crystalized. I was crunching and munching on ice crystals part of the time. Also, the mochi was not really the mochi you would expect. If it were a better version of mochi, then fine be as eccentric as you'd like, but it was slightly hard and not very good. You can taste the sweet rice flour as you should with normal mochi, but something was just not right about it. Also, I had the ginger rum cocktail which reminded me of the one at Cafe Atlantico. This was precisely why I ordered it, but in no way was it similar. I liked the strong ginger taste of it, but the alcohol content was so strong that it almost tasted like I was drinking pure rum and not a cocktail. All in all, I would still highly recommend this place. I just don't recommend the ginger rum cocktail unless you love the taste of pure alcohol and the frozen treats. If you're going for the food, you will be so glad you went.
(4)
Tricia N.

Service was great, love the atmosphere & bonus Ming was there.
(4)
Colby H.

Up there with the best restaurants I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying. Blue Ginger's decor is unpretentious, which may turn some off for the price, but the waitstaff was doting without being annoying, completely versed in the food and wine menus, friendly and helpful. The food is just amazing. The flavors in every dish were wild, explosive, but not overpowering of the base dish. We started with calamari, which was perfect, crispy and served with a terrific lime cilantro sauce the likes of which I have never tasted. The butterfish (such an easy choice) was incredible, as was the lobster in a peppery sauce with fried rice accompaniment. The desserts each looked incredible- we got the caramel sesame macadamia dear God this is good pastry. And cappucino the way it is actually supposed to look, feel, and taste. Love this place.
(5)
O-howilovefood-livia L.

option 1: go for a special occasion, get the tasting menu (5-7 courses will probably do although i believe you can do up to 11). do not miss the tuna poke or the butterfish. bask in the glory of the tuna poke salad on crispy rice heaven. let the sake miso butterfish melt into your rejoicing mouth. option 2: get a craving, pop into the lounge or sit outside (with the benefit of ordering off the lounge or main menus) sans rezzies. enjoy smaller & budget-friendly versions of most of the menu highlights like the aforementioned tuna & butterfish. n.b. last venture outside happened to be in the middle of a beetle swarm which left us plucking & swatting beetles out of our food, drink glasses, shirts. kinda gross but obvi not their fault. they even gave us electronic repellent thingys but they didn't really work.
(5)
John Paul N.

I just wanted to say that I had one of the best meals of my life at Blue Ginger on 2/10/2009. The chef's tasting menu at $80 is a bargain. The portions you receive are near the same portions as the a la carte menu. There was not one thing wrong with our meal. The night started out on a little bit of a sour note. I hate being carded (or ID'ed as some people call it) in general, but being asked at a nice restaurant where we are nicely dressed makes me feel like some punk kids going out for the prom and trying to order booze. Seriously, I'm pushing 30...it's a Tuesday night, I really don't feel like I should be getting carded. Abby doesn't care. She likes feeling that she looks younger than she is. I don't. But the waiter, albeit a little awkward at times, was very nice and very energetic. So we ordered a couple of drinks and look over the menu. I have been dying to try the butterfish that I've heard so much about, and would like to start with the carpaccio appetizer that I've gotten the last two years. However, I noticed the chef's tasting menu and I wanted to know what was on that. The waiter said it was a 5 course tasting that includes the butterfish and a surf and turf dish...I told him to stop, he got me hook line and sinker. I'm in. Since everyone at the table has to order the chef's tasting menu as well, Abby was in too. We started with an amuse of Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup. OH! MY! GOD!!!! Next to pho, I think this little dish would be what I want to eat on a cold day in Boston. I hate the term "comfort food", but this was the most perfect definition of that term ever. Abby mentioned throughout this meal how she was getting "Ratatouille" moments and I knew exactly what she meant. In the Pixar movie, Anton Ego, the famous food critic, took one bite of the simple peasant dish and was brought back to memories of when his mom made it. Food does indeed have such powers that it can make one recall distant memories. For Abby, it reminded her of her grandmother's grilled cheese sandwiches. This was a great start to the night. First up was Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna Poke with Crispy Sushi Rice Cake & Peppercress-Tosaka Salad. And who was there to serve us, was Ming Tsai himself. He came to our table with two dishes, placed them, and explained what was in the dish. It was all we could do not to look like complete stalker-ish fans. The tuna was perfect, but what made this dish for me was the crispy sushi rice cake. It was such a perfect compliment to the tuna. Immediately I'm happy I've gone with the chef's tasting menu, and not just because Ming just served us, but because I always get the carpaccio I wouldn't have ordered this dish. I'm so glad I was able to try it, along with 3 other dishes to follow. Next up was the signature dish of Blue Ginger, the butterfish. From the menu, it is: Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish with Wasabi Oil, Soy-Lime Syrup and Vegetarian Soba Noodle Sushi. I had no idea what the soba noodle sushi would be. But I knew going into that night's dinner, I wanted this butterfish. We weren't served by Ming Tsai this time, but by one of the friendly hostesses. Still, the dish was incredible. The fish was cooked perfectly, flaking off the moment the fork touched it. The soba noodle sushi was one of the best vegetarian sushi rolls I have ever had. I would order a couple of these rolls at a sushi place if they had it on their menu. In the middle of our meal, the Chef came by to say that he was heading home soon but wanted to give us an autographed menu of the chef tasting menu but that we weren't allowed to look and peak at what the other dishes were to come. Also, he told us to finish our plate and to come take a picture with him. So we did. We had long waits between meals. But that was fine by us. The portions we were getting for each dish were nearly full entree size. I was getting stuffed fast and these long breaks were a nice way to gear up for the next dish coming. This dish was the Foie Gras-Shiitake Shumai in Sauternes-Shallot Broth. This is how good a shumai should be, though I'm not certain any dim sum place could afford serving this dish. The broth reminded of french onion soup, and cut the richness of the foie gras perfectly. I'm not sure if we were suppose to slurp the broth clean off our plates, but we both did it anyway. Next was Grilled Marinated Hanger Steak with BG Steak Sauce and Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster with Lemongrass Fried Rice. I could not believe how much lobster we got on this dish. I cannot believe that the ala cart version can be that much bigger. The garlic and black pepper on the lobster really made this dish. Those flavors were so infused in the buttery lobster and was so decadent with each bite. The hanger steak was likewise perfectly cooked and the flavors of the Blue Ginger steak sauce was both tangy and savory. Dessert was fantastic as well. Perfect meal.
(5)
Foodie M.

Ok..here's the deal..I loved the food but HATED the service - the hosting part at least. Our waiter was AWESOME...but the host, Jeffrey was being a complete jerk. He treated my husband & i as if we couldn't afford the food. As soon as we entered the restaurant, he ogled at us as if we were some alien being. He then walks us to our table, points at it and says "RIGHT here" - as if we were slaves ?? ..have some respect for the customers. So here's the thing, we observed him when he welcomed 2 other customers- they were seated right next to us...He was incredibly nice, warm and respectful. what's up with the double standards??? That action of his was very racist and extremely disrespectful!!! We live in the area- in proper wellesley .. this is not to disrespect anybody but my husband and i put together probably make 10 times more than he does!! So, why the double standards? WHy treat ppl differently ?? I went to Ming tsai's website to drop a comment on this service but couldn't find a comment box. Mr. Tsai, If you're reading this, pls do something to change this. We are just 2 customers- but if he's doing this to every other person he feels does not deserve to dine at your restaurant- go figure! First impression is extremely critical. as a host, Jeffrey is responsible to set the tone right. Unfortunately, he failed with us. We are very upset!
(2)
Nicole S.

So maybe it was just because we went for lunch, but everyone at work said Blue Ginger would "change your life", and "OMG, it is AMAZING". Maybe I had my hopes up too high. It was alright. I mean, it was good, but if the dinner tastes the same as lunch at twice the price I don't think it's worth it. I'd eat there again if it was on the company dime, but probably not otherwise.
(3)
Bruce W.

Best Asian fusion in the country. My suggestion is to veer towards the more Western rather than the more Asian except for that excellent Indonesian Lobster Pasta. I think the reason this restaurant is so good is because Ming has not whored himself out like every other celebrity chef (cough Todd English cough) and opened a restaurant near every tourist trap in the country.
(5)
Georgia B.

I am a Ming fan! 2 years ago I was in Boston (I'm from California) and left slightly disappointed because I did not make it to Blue Ginger. Well, a few weeks ago I was able to head back out, this time I planned. It was amazing!! I booked about 4 weeks in advance because I did not want to miss out again. The hostess was great and made every notation, from my friend's birthday to my food allergies. We were even late arriving on a Friday night and once we arrived, they seated us right away. The food was FABULOUS! Our waitress made great recommendations and was very good about checking everything to make sure that I did not order anything that I should not be eating. I had the beef and salmon carpaccio, the lobster with lemongrass fried rice, and a ginger cocktail. I'm a carnivore and was really looking forward to the flat iron steak, but instead ordered the lobster. I was bummed I did not have the beef, but I was not at all disappointed with the lobster. It was superb! My friends had fish and the steak, and spring rolls. They loved their meals, too. We had 2 different desserts: flourless chocolate cake w/cardamom ice cream (I am a serious ice cream junkie and the cardamom ice cream nearly made me pass out!) and the creme brulee (my sister claims that I make the best creme brulee she has ever tasted, and I must say that Blue Ginger's does compete) - along w/a dessert wine and a port. The bartender made the recommendations and he was on the money. I'm so glad that I finally made it to Blue Ginger! Props!! I can't wait to go there again.
(5)
Juan B.

Don't believe the hype. This is not a foodie place. It is overhyped gourmet Asian fusion. We went to Blue Ginger, and for 30-40 dollars for an entree, it had better be excellent. Like others, I thought the dishes were uninspired, overdone, and combined too many flavors. Not one of us thought the meal was better than average. Add to this the pedestrian location, the terrible decor (acoustic tile), and the exorbitant price, and it's about the same experience as taking your chez henri leftovers to a chinese restaurant and mixing the dishes on your plate, except at 5X the cost.... There are so many great places in Boston and metrowest, Blue Ginger is a waste of time....
(1)
Steven D.

If you like Iron Chef America's talented bunch, come join in the fun at Ming Tsai's Blue Ginger. Sit back and admire the culinary pro's work furiously in the open kitchen preparing the Asian Fusion fare while the elegance of the dining room exudes color for all to enjoy! Great Cocktails, very cozy atmosphere and you'll be mesmerized by the art work coming out of the kitchen! For appetizers; go for the Shiitake-Leek Springrolls and the Ahi Tuna Poke; while my favorite main dish is the Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish and for dessert you'll love the Sesame Pecan Caramel Nut Tart.....Bon Appetite, All!
(5)
Brian P.

My wife and I went here for our second anniversary tonight. We were looking forward to it ever since we made the reservation two weeks ago, but we left disappointed. The decor and ambiance were nice, with an open kitchen concept. The host welcomed us and asked us if we were there for a special occasion (which I thought was nice, but a little odd), and we told him it was our anniversary. We were promptly seated. We ordered a couple drinks. My wife had the mai tai and I the platinum margarita. At $15 per drink (!), they were way overpriced. I was disappointed with the selection of the menu. There was not much to choose from, and not much "asian" for an "asian infused" restaurant. For an appetizer we ordered the calamari. The "thai" dipping sauce was an odd pairing for fried calamari. We finished our appetizer and waited for our main course......and waited.....and waited. Almost 30 minutes passed before we finally got our dinner (with lots of "we're very sorry" from the waitress). It was busy for a Tuesday night, but not *that* busy. My wife got a shrimp dish that was served with mashed potatoes, and I got the hangar steak. My wife enjoyed her shrimp dish, and the steak was tasty. The steak came with Empanadas that were quite yummy. The portions were on the small side. Given the amount of time we waited for our dinner, we decided to skip dessert. When the waitress brought the check, they brought us a special happy anniversary dessert on the house to make up for the long wait for dinner. It was very tasty, but at this point we were pretty ticked off. For $150 for a dinner for two, there are tons more places in the Boston area I'd rather spend that kind of money on. We were seated right next to the kitchen, and several members of the cook staff were blatantly drinking Sopporo beers while working, which I thought was a bit unprofessional.
(2)
Dee H.

I came with friends for Mother-Daughter night out and had a blast. I wouldn't have come with my teenagers if it weren't for one of my friends putting the event together. (It took a couple of months of planning!) The food was awesome. With the big table we had, I was able to sample some of my dinner mates' dishes. I didn't realize how popular the butterfish entree was, as evidenced by all the other postings, but I happened to have ordered it. Each bite melted in my mouth, it was so good. My daughter had the lobster, which was just wonderful too. Ming Tsai came around to chat with us. The wait staff was attentive and unobtrusive. After our main meal, we order a variety of desserts to share. I can't remember what we order, but everything I sampled I remembered as elegant and delicious. I would come back again with friends for another special occasion.
(5)
Sujin K.

Best Asian fusion that I've ever had!! I love this place.
(5)
William G.

4 of us for lunch,on a Tuesday.Great food,very interesting flavors and presentations,great service.Go for lunch,Dinner is too noisy and crowded.Rather "pricey",but good for once or twice a year.(our 6 th.visit)
(4)
Chouteau L.

nice place for lunch, you can hear your companion, the food id good, and they don't rush you
(4)
John F.

08/07/2009- Tasting menu was Greatttttttt...... The service was outstanding and everyone was polite and quite informative
(5)
Nicholas S.

I've been here twice so far, and I don't understand what all the hype is about. Wellesley is a lovely town and a pleasure to visit, but you might find some other sites to see before settling on Blue Ginger. The decor is underwhelming and, by and large, so is the food. The much-vaunted Alaskan butterfish really is quite good, but other restaurants have taken Ming Tsai's technique of glazing it with miso and made it better. Also, the "udon sushi" - udon noodles wrapped in nori - is neither original nor tasty. The poussin with orzo "fried rice" was clearly inspired by Chinese-American chicken fried rice, but I'm afraid that Blue Ginger's version hews too closely to the original: it just tastes like the chicken fried rice you'd get at your corner Chinese take-out place, albeit less greasy. They put way too much hoisin sauce on the plate, and it overwhelms all the other flavors, so you get a Chicken fried rice meets Peking duck thing going on. In short, not recommended. The desserts are actually quite good, especially the Bittersweet Chocolate Cake. Nothing original, but well executed. The one exceptional dish on the menu is foie gras-shiitake shumai. They're good but probably not worth the trip.
(3)
Sandra C.

This place is okay, but has very heavy food and it's quite pricey. It's supposed to be "chinese fusion," but I don't really see the chinese in it anywhere. Great appetizers though. The Indonesian pasta was very oily and fatty. I actually couldn't finish it and didn't want it halfway through. For some reason this place is always packed so reserve far in advance.
(2)
Diane L.

Ming is a talent. The food is amazing, well worth the price and the wait for a reservation. My only criticism is the noise. I found it to be a bit loud. I was expecting something a bit cozier. Still, I'll be back. Rock on Ming.
(5)
So S.

Asian Fusion?? not really---isn't much Asian in this. Non-Asians would probably love this place. Asians will not. Mostly older crowd 'cause its very expensive!! I went there to try to meet the great chief, Ming Tsai 'cause he tries to be there as much as possible and he was! Nice man. He went to alot of the tables and chatted with people. I was the only Asian and he winked at me and said "hi"!! heheh. I sampled a couple of dishes and I was very disappointed considering the price!! That indonesian curry pasta was pretty bad and left an after taste. One of my friend's dish was pretty good though w/ foi-gras. Good bread and that was it. Need to make reservations beforehand.
(2)
eunice k.

one of the most memorable, delectable meals I've had yet... their calamari is so tender and flavorful, marinated in and served with a cocktail of fish sauce & cilantro & spices. their ginger-infused martinis are also tasty. it's been a few years so I don't recall what it was, but they also served us an amuse-bouche not listed on the menu, that was VERY good, which definitely whetted my appetite for the delicious meal to come
(5)
Kevin L.

I went to Blue Ginger a few years back and I can remember the taste of the food there. I was never really a big fan of Ming, but after I tried his food it was okay. I gave him a chance to wow me at his food creations but it just didn't happen, so I definitely did not become a fan of his food after this. Certain dishes were better than other like the lobster with lemon grass fried rice was good compared to the monk fish they used to make there. There calamari was dipped in sweet potato batter and then deep fried and served with fish sauce which was interesting in my opinion. Overall, the food was pretty avg. Nothing really caught my taste buds to put me over the top. I didn't think the prices was over priced in terms of the type of dining you have committed it. The dinner for 3 which includes a bottle of wine, 3 main course, 3 desserts and an appetizers under 300 bucks so not bad at all. Would I go back here again? Probably not unless I am there for a bday.
(3)
Stuart J.

Always had a great dining experience here. Friendly knowledgeable staff, great breads, fish, desserts, attention to detail. Every dish I have had has been stellar. Ming Tsai is always around at some stage during the evening. Some folks I know find it overrated, and too big and busy to be relaxing, so I guess your mileage varies.
(5)
Lizzy M.

This place brings food to a level I have never witnessed. This is art. Everything is so well done, placed, and presented. The flavors are strong and unique and were just right. I was amazed at how much the waitresses knew about the food. When asked what was different about the bread, the waitress replied on point, "carmelized onions". I got the shrimp and it was amazing. The deserts are really good too. GOOD FOR: a life changing dinner.
(5)
Wei-ying W.

Great food, at expensive (but reasonable) prices. The menu's got a broad range of food to satisfy the taste buds, and service is good too. The bread basket, the underdog of every meal, bears notice here, with its yummy munchies. Just don't fill up before you get to the real food. You have to make a dinner reservation a month in advance, but it's well worth it. Lunch is much easier to get into, so if you don't want to bother with the hassle, go for lunch, it's just as good as dinner. Ming Tsai's also in the restaurant quite often, and is always willing to talk, sign autographs, or take photos.
(5)
Geoff T.

Lives up to the hype of this guys TV persona/celebrity. I was lucky enough to be taken here once and everything was great. Tsai is one of the foremost masters of asian fusion cusine and his inventive dishes do a great job of melding different culinary traditions. Not cheap, but well worth the price. Great service as well.
(5)
shannon m.

A generous friend invited me to dinner with himself and his brothers at Blue Ginger. I looked forward to this meal and everyone was really thrilled with their meals and service. Not cheap, of course, but I would say not a bad value for the quality of the food and the friendly, kind, informative service. The place is 'smart casual' and not pretentious even though it is located in an upscale neighborhood.
(4)
paul k.

Well, i'll get right to it on this place. the food....the BEST. i got a duck dish and it had SOOO much flavor and was so tasty. it made the crazy prices very worth it. we also had a hawaiian version of poke' which is tuna sashimi with seasame oil and shoyu and some other things that vary from place to place but blue ginger's was the best i've tasted so far outside of hawaii. the only thing that made this place suck was that punk ming tsai. he was there that nite, walked by us 3 times, even looked at us once, and didn't say S..T to us! True you have to request him with your waiter and get on this dang list for him to come by and say hi and see how you're enjoying the food, but what happens when your moron waiter doesn't tell you that until AFTER you're finished and ready to go home!!! but i ain't going to blame it all on the waiter cause mr. ming was RIGHT next to us seeing how the tables next to us were and even made eye contact with us, and straight up ran from us like the plague. you all probably think i'm bitter, but put yourself there. he's the freakin owner of the place. and chose not to say anything to some customers cause they weren't on his dang list?? i think thats straight rude. MING!! if you're reading, check yourself. you're food....... ok its freakin tasty, but your people skills straight suck! oh and by the way i'm the one who took your $100 bathroom soap!!! thanks for the stupidly expensive dishwashing liquid.
(3)
Burl H.

Like other negative reviewers, I wanted to believe. But I didn't get the cult-of-personality Kool-aid and I didn't get the menu. There was none of the inventiveness in Ming's TV demonstrations. Our birthday celebration reservation didn't bring any acknowledgement. The signature dishes of fois gras shumai in shallot broth and miso lobster were questionable in design and execution, the first being so subtle that it begs the question 'why bother' and the later a demonstration in excessive plating and how saltiness is not a substitute for flavor. Other items including the muscles were primitive and over-powering in their flavor, and the duck cassoulet another example of bad execution. The recommended desert was the Warm Spiced Kabocha Doughnuts, which couldn't hold a candle to what Krispy Kreme can offer. The service was polite, the atmosphere modern and the experience incredibly over-priced. Ming is one of my favorite chef personalities which made it that much more difficult to write this review. Spend your hard-earned $ elsewhere.
(2)
nate C.

very good, one of the best meals i have had in the boston area.
(5)
julia r.

i had my 18th birthday here with three of my best friends from high school. i think it speaks to ming when i say that we are all still very much besties. clearly, if we hadn't all partook in such a tasty meal together at such a critical moment in history things could be different. although i can't recall exactly what we ordered, i have the distinct memory that it was all delicious.
(5)
Ruth P.

This place opened up maybe 7 or 8 years ago to RAVE reviews and has been packed ever since. The head chef, Ming Tsai, has a show on the TV network so that definetly helped spread the word about this great restaurant. Most of the times I've been there Ming has been in the kitchen supervising and also walking around the restaurant talking and taking pictures with the satisfied customers. Blue ginger gets packed far in advance, and I've found myself going at 5am and 9:30pm just to get in on otherwise booked nights. The waitstaff is attentive, the wine list is extensive, and the food is delicious. Both the indonesian pasta with curry and cocnut shrimp and the wasabe monkfish dish were fantastic! The bittersweet chocolate cake was to die for. The one dish which left me less than entirely satisfied was the tuna appetizer - it was great but not as incredible and out of this world as the rest of the items I've had. Blue Ginger is definetly on the expensive side ($21-$35 for an entree) but well worth it for a special dinner. ming.com/blueginger/blueâ€¦
(5)
Mylisa S.

Amazing food that tastes great and melts in your mouth. The drinks are good too but small and too pricey in my opinion. The food however is worth the price - definitely not too pricey for the experience.
(5)
Ms. S.

I came here for an anniversary dinner a few months ago, and I was NOT impressed. The food wasn't inedible, but it certainly wasn't great. Average food, expensive prices.
(2)
Philip H.

My wife and I came here for restaurant week and were not terribly impressed. The quality here was unfortunately not great for the price nor the journey out to Wellesley. Sorry Ming Tsai.
(3)
J M.

Chef Ming is a delight. His food is better in person than on TV. If I am in this neighborhood, I try not to miss it. Even the take out is incredible. You will freakin' love this place! GREAT service, a little formal for my taste, but this is NOT a complaint. You must try it.
(5)
Alice J.

Reservations are difficult to secure, however, this place is a must if you have the opportunity to dine here! The pan-Asian cuisine is prepared with flair and panache. Ming Tsai is often seen greeting the patrons and taking pictures. The waitstaff is highly knowledgeable, courteous, and accomodating. Though the prices may be a bit higher compared to other restaurants in the area, that's to be expected from a Super Star Chef!
(5)
Joanna C.

I had been wanting to go here for a LONG time now, and finally got the chance to go recently! And I honestly walked in expected to be COMPLETELY bowled over. I was ready for culinary feats of genius. I wanted to leave feeling like I've eaten the best meal of the month there. And, I felt... ehhhhh... blase about my entire experience there. The girls at the front were sweet, and they sat us ALL the way in the far corner of the restaurant. I had to scootch into this tiny table, which was fine, but most of the restaurant was empty. I could've used a bigger table just to avoid being all up in my lunch companion's grill. But whatever, a tiny table is a tiny table. Bring on the food! The calamari appetizer was WAY too over salted. The dipping sauce was a miss. It didn't... mesh well together. It didn't taste right. Or maybe that was because of the layers of salt on the calamari, who knows. But my entree of Butterfish was... delicious. Perfect. Buttery like the name promised it would be. Just... perfect. And yet, I felt a little disappointed. Like... this is it? No more wow-ing? Well... there was no wow. I left completely wow-less. A solid place for a nice lunch, but... I think I had my hopes up a little too much for an amazing meal.
(3)
Andrew K.

Everything was fantastic! the staff were extremely friendly, good drinks and a pleasant atmosphere. I had the butterfish which was simply delicious and my fiancee had the veal chop, which she loved as well. I cant wait to come back and try the lunch menu sometime!
(5)
Jim F.

About 8 years ago I received a $100 gift certificate to go to Blue Ginger. Every few years the certificate would be rediscovered in a drawer or in a pile of papers, and somehow survived the passage of time. When it recently turned up again, we decided it was now or never. Surprisingly the restaurant confirmed that they would still honor it. Just in case you hadn't heard that Blue Ginger was started by a celebrity chef, the image of chef / rock star Ming Tsai appears in several articles posted at the entrance, and his book is displayed prominently. I don't know if Ming appears at this restaurant any more, but he wasn't there on this night. But the ambiance is tasteful and upscale, the service excellent except for the fact that we could barely understand our Russian-speaking waiter, the cocktails: potent and delicious, the food: artful, unique, mouth-watering. I had the tuna sushi appetizer, served on a bed of crunchy, toasted rice, with a green garnish and a touch of wasabi. For the entree, I went with their signature dish, the sake miso-marinated Alaskan butterfish. Well named, it melts like butter in your mouth. I've never heard of butterfish before, but I'm interested now in making this at home. Here's the recipe: newasiancuisine.com/3788â€¦ Enjoy!
(5)
M L.

Tasty food that is severely overpriced. Over $100 for two people (no alcohol) is unjustifiable. My wife and I also arrived 30 minutes early for our dinner reservation and the host couldn't seat us despite the table she eventually gave us being empty the entire time we waited.
(3)
Michelle W.

We went there for dinner during restaurant week, and I was very pleased with the food. Our meal was delicious. I had the spring roll appetizer and the salmon entree. My fiance had the pork lollipops as an app and chicken as his entree. My salmon was absolutely amazing. First time in my life I've cleared a plate in a restaurant and was looking for more food. My fiance was thrilled with his food as well. The reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because of our server. She had the personality of a pound of hair, and when I asked her about just having plain fruit for dessert (I have a dairy allergy, and all the desserts contained dairy), she seemed annoyed. She knew I had the allergy from both my reservation, and from when we first ordered. It's not something I can hide, and my reason for choosing this place was because of how good Ming Tsai has been publicly talking about food allergies and food service staff being sensitive to them. I ended up getting a sorbet which was fabulous, but she could've spared the attitiude. It wasn't like I sprung an allergy on her to be dramatic....
(4)
Danny F.

I have now been to BG twice for dinner and once for lunch, and I would give two stars to each experience. I do not know how else to say it, but the food is crap. It is either overcooked or overseasoned or something else. And beyond the execution, the flavors are not very interesting either. I truly do not understand the hoopla at all. Perhaps it is in fact too "American", but I for one enjoy American Chinese food, and would honestly prefer cheap takeout. I had calamari and garlic miso ramen on the latest outing. Fried calarmari in general is good. So yes, it was fine. But it is nothing out of the ordinary. There was a lot of very crispy batter and very little calamari. And the ramen just tasted funky. The thin pork slices were delicious, but everything else was kind of awful. And jicama just does not go with ramen. The problem with fusion is that chefs often try too hard to make dishes appear interesting, e.g. jicama in ramen. But at the end of the day, the food needs to taste good. Ming falls way too easily into the trap of creating just for the sake of creating. Pity.
(2)
Foodie W.

3rd visit in a couple of years. Each experience starts out strong with very good appetizers ( foie gras Shumai & spring rolls). We ordered 3 entrees: beef tenderloin, rack of lamb and the duck breast. We requested medium rare for each entree. All 3 entrees came out definitely rare. I happen to like my duck on the "rarer" side, but the beef & lamb needed to be sent back to the kitchen. Food does not "knock my socks off", to justify the prices. 3 people = $360.
(3)
Biker A.

Ok, I was in Wellesley was hungry and wanted to give BG a try. The food was good, interesting presentation and good taste. Not cheap, but good eats. The only problem was the pretentious, stuck up diners next to me. They're like character actors that walked right out of a movie. Think Vivian and Warner out of Legally Blonde. It didn't help that the tables were *REALLY* close together (minus 1 star), and that perhaps I was dressed down a bit in a dress shirt and jeans. Hey, I just got off a plane from California. No words exchanged, but I got the vibe loud and clear. I think Viv and War should stay in Wellesley. If they emit that attitude in Boston, they would get pounded!
(4)
Dennis F.

I have dined at Blue Ginger since it opened, Lately I felt it had slipped a notch, I was more than pleased to find new items on the menu, and a return to its former, over the top dining experience. Our waitress was Melissa, she was the one of the reasons the latest visit was about the best ever. She was perfect, not an easy thing, on a very busy night. I had the Duck Breast, along with the Hot and Sour Soup both are new items on the menu, loved both. My wife had the Indonesian Curry Shrimp Pasta, she always gets that, she claims it was even better than usual. I feared with the opening of Ming's new restaurant, The Blue Dragon, the Blue Ginger might lose some of its past glory, that is not the case, it's right back where it started, on top.
(5)
Rick J.

OK, so the chef is famous and the food is good (though not amazing). What bothers me is that Blue Ginger is pretentious and haughty, too impressed with itself, and largely indifferent to its customers. I had one totally bizarre experience in which the service was unusually slow, but we didn't complain because we were enjoying the conversation at our table. When it came time for dessert, the manager asked if we could have dessert at the bar because he needed our table for a VIP. I guess regular customers who make reservations aren't important enough when someone more significant needs a table. If we were staying beyond our expected table-stay, it was only because the kitchen and service were running slow, not because we were over-staying; and our dessert order hadn't even been taken yet. I don't understand what happened here, and won't return to find out.
(2)
Peter W.

Obviously this place is popular, so make sure you make reservations at least a week or two in advance. It is also important to understand that they need to stagger reservations so that you get the best service from the wait staff and the best food prepared from the kitchen. With those thoughts in mind, then I think you will have a great experience in food and service. Decor and ambiance are clean and refined respectively. What did we have: Appetizers: Shumai - fantastic foie gras and sauce Calamari - tangy sauce Carpacio - innovative marriage between beef and salmon Main courses: Poussiin: Fantastic flavors and filling Hanger steak: Tender and flavorful Butterfish: Flaky and seared to perfection Dessert: Four pieces - great treats Wine: Groth wine - Cabernet Sauvignoon - wonderful flavor and texture In summary, this place is worth the visit; especially when there is chance to meet up with the great Ming Tsai...although not this time.
(5)
T F.

Best. Restaurant. Ever. The food was spectacular. We had dessert to try out the flavors and probably would have been happier with either another appetizer or entree to split. Everything ordered was freaking delicious.
(5)
Robert D.

One star? Yep. Today was my second visit to Blue Ginger, and my last. I love food, and I think Ming does? But he probably never eats at Blue Ginger. Great location, great service, and nice atmosphere, but the food was nothing but a disappointment. We started out with the calamari--which was salty, and not very flavorful. Quality was akin to something you'd get in a red and white clam box and a late-night roast beef house. The dipping sauce was uninspired, and salty. Are you sensing a pattern? My companion got the Pad Thai-- should be a no brainer, eh? But like a few people have already written, it had an "off" taste- as if something had gone bad in the ingredients. Really unpleasant. My companion said that he thought the flavor came from chicken "that had not been prepared today." I got the hot-mustard chicken salad and I must say that after my confusion (what is this? a salad or a noodle dish?) I tried to dig in but the dish was uninspired- very little flavor (except for the hot mustard chicken) and the noodles were chewy in the wrong way and tasteless. I can't remember the last time I left any lunch over. A bad feeling, especially at the prices, and when Tuto Italiano is across the street and has incredible food. Lastly-- the bread basket. I'm not sure why a "fusionista" restaurant such as Blue Ginger serves bread as their table treat. It doesn't really go with the menu. But, the white bread and challah were the tastiest thing on the table for the duration of the meal. My advice is to avoid this restaurant. There are much, much better in the immediate area.
(1)
Emma W.

The food is of course, amazing. This has been mouth-wateringly discussed in other reviews. We ate the tapas in the bar section, which had no wait on a Thursday night. Very delicious and inventive dishes. I've eaten here a few times and had a really nice time- it's a very nice special dinner out. However, this most recent time there was a large group of people in the bar section that seemed to just be drinking and socializing. Fine and dandy, but they were incredibly loud and distracting. It was impossible to converse with the people across the table from us without leaning and shouting. I think the group was familiar with Ming, the owner, but it would have been courteous to ask them to try to keep it down. It put a big damper on an otherwise fun evening. We might be back, but certainly just to eat in the dining room, not the bar area. It should be noted that they were really accommodating of a member our group who has celiac's and can't eat wheat. They had a separate menu (and let him order off the main menu even though we were in the bar section) and the manager came over to talk about how seriously they take all food allergies. Very comforting!
(2)
Roger A.

By what appeared to be a miracle, we found plenty of tables available on a Friday night with only 1 week notice. We thought we were in for a treat and guessed the sudden availability was a function of summer/school vacation/etc. In a nutshell: we saw the manager more than our waitress, and the food (while good) is overdone with heavy powerful flavors that overwhelm the food itself. Price just simply isn't worth it. Decor was cold and uninviting with paper lining on tables and cafeteria style plates and cutlery. Now for the details: We were promptly seated and found the restaurant about half empty at 7pm on a Friday night. (Odd, right?) The first ladythat stopped by to ask if we wanted bottled or ice water never returned. We later found out she was bussing tables (including our own). We sat idle for a solid 10 minutes until our waitress finally comes by to take our drink orders. Drinks took forever to come out and the Manager finally stopped by to see if we had even been waited on yet. We told him we were waiting for drinks and he promptly returned with them in hand. How long had they been sitting there? Not sure. Our waitress returns to take our dinner orders (no apologies for the delay with the drinks, nor the fact her manager had to do her job for her). We order the shumai, salmon, and pork chop. We finish our first round of drinks and still no shumai. The manager returns to apologize about a mix up in the kitchen with our order and offers us an amuse bouche to tide us over until they can cook up new shumai's for us. We ordered two glasses of wine while we had someone's attention. The waitress delivers our wine, again without acknowledging any of the mishaps or the fact her manager has now voluntarily come to our table twice this evening. Shumai finally arrives and its tasty but forgettable. Entrees took another eternity to arrive. Both were perfectly fine, but nothing magical to warrant the price nor reputation that BG seems to have. The only thing that arrived in lightening speed was the check but she forgot to include a pen with the credit card stub. Sigh...our final interaction and she flubbed that as well.
(2)
Derek L.

Went here for Restaurant Week 2011 with my family late in the evening. All for the sake of Ming Tsai. (+) I had the leek spring rolls as appetizer. It tasted ok. Nothing too surprising or great. For the main entree, I had the oxtail. It was tender but again, nothing surprising. (-) Where is Ming Tsai? =( The portions were small, as expected for a Restaurant Week dinner menu. Honestly, the spring rolls in Pho Pasteur taste better. Sorry man. The oxtail dish was soaked in this watery tasteless substance. I don't understand what the point of it was. (=) It was ok. Not as good as what I had expected. It makes me rethink what famous chefs have to do with great tasting food.
(2)
wing n.

My wife and I was heading to a wedding and stopped by for a lunch take out. We were a bit early that the place hasn't open yet, but they are nice enough to take our order and prepare are very yummy lunch for us! Thank you!!
(4)
Loan L.

I am a huge fan of Ming and was so excited that he was there that night. Like a dork, I asked to take a picture with him. I then congratulated him for beating the arrogant Bobby Flay at Iron Chef. Anyhoo, the food here was so good. I was hear about 2 years ago and can't really remember what I had, but i know that it was worth the price.
(5)
Nicholas A.

I really wanted to enjoy this, but... for three people and $250 later, I can't say any of us were impressed (and we certainly don't mind spending enormous money for great food and fruit). The salt and cream levels were over the top, to such an extent it is hard to call this "Asian-inspired" cuisine (perhaps Asian cuisine with multiple sticks of butter is more accurate). Of course, the place was packed on a Saturday evening. We shared everything: three appetizers, three entrees and one dessert. The best part of the meal, was a tasty beef carpaccio and tea-smoked salmon. Though we could not ascertain that the salmon was tea-smoked, but the dish was enjoyable. The soft-shell crab was too oily/fried/salty, but the rest of the dish was pretty good. The mussels were decent, but certainly no better than any of a myriad of restaurants all over the Boston area. One entree included seared scallops. The actual scallops were excellent as was the grain it was served with, but the ying-yang decorated sauce on the side was quite poor. Another was a black pepper lobster. Really nothing special and again... too salty and far too rich. Lobster is already rich enough as it is, but this was even far heavier than if one was dipping it into pure butter. The last entree was coconut shrimp with Indonesian noodle. The shrimp was excellent, but the noodle, while consisting of a wonderful combination of spices, was so heavy and rich that not even half of it could be finished. Again, I could think of dozens of average Asian restaurants with a spicy noodle combination (if not that exact combination) that would be far superior, both during actual consumption and later. A severe defect of ALL three entrees was the horrendous imbalance of protein over vegetable (though to be fair the last dish was slightly better). We ordered one dessert and tried to share it. It was a tart with ice cream. Given the extreme richness and sweetness, we were unable to finish it (even though it was not large by any measure). An hour later, and I still feel overwhelmed by too much cream/butter/fat. I had heard this place does not meet the expectations and/or standard of 15 years ago, but I still had hoped for something far better. Yes, service and ambiance were fine, but that can never,ever trump actual food. Had they skipped the fusion exercise and simply served real Asian dishes, they would have had a far better chance at creating great food. I cannot imagine a place like this would last for even a year in places where people really know food (e.g. Taipei, Tokyo, Paris, etc). If instead of a "Super-size me", a "Blue Gineger-me" was attempted, the poor subjects would not last more than a few days before their arteries would be sealed for good. Save your money... there are literally 30 or more restaurants in and around Boston that are far superior on all measures.
(2)
Lynn S.

Went here for restaurant week also. I too was a bit disappointed. Long wait lists so expectations are high. The food is okay yet very overpriced. I have been here 2 times and I am not sure what all the buzz is about either. Its not that the food is bad, its just that its not as good as it should be for the price. Portions are small - thats okay...
(2)
Amber S.

Had an app at the bar - pork belly & it was tasty. Really wanted to stay at the bar to try the Ming's Bings, but moved to a table. I got the lobster & we also got the hanger steak. I actually sent the lobster back, which really kills me - really don't like being that person - but for the price, it should be very good food. The lobster was cooked perfectly, but the sauce it was drenched in was SO SALTY. I don't know who could taste that sauce & not think it's salty. A new dish came back to me & the sauce was EXACTLY the same. Clearly that's how they want it to taste - seriously I can't understand it...good food tastes good to all palettes - and I'd think especially to those that are sophisticated enough to cook in Ming's kitchen. And, I love salt. But that was crazy. The hanger steak was cooked wonderfully, but the chick pea fries were SO SALTY. They would've been so good otherwise. My hands still smell like cooked butter...I hate leaving restaurants smelling like the food. Also, our food runner was just an ass - he basically thew the plates in front of us and walked away without looking at either of us - it was after 9:30 and the restaurant wasn't busy - no need for that nonsense. Our waitress Kat was wonderful and the general ambiance is great for an easy Friday night. Still just don't get the over working of all ready delicious food. It makes me not want to go back & try the bings....but I probably will.
(3)
Helen F.

Ok, where should I begin?? It was my sister-in-law's birthday last month. Anyone whose lived in Boston for a while has heard of the great reputation of the Blue Ginger. I've always heard that reservations needed to be made well in advance. In our case, our reservations were made on that same week. Guess, because it was the summer that tables were available. Decor was nice & the lighting was dim. Our table of 10 was seated in the back of the restaurant. The waitress didn't seem to know what she was serving because every time we had a question, she had to go into the kitchen to inquire. I ordered Coconut Tempura Soft Shell Crab for an appetizer which was nothing to write home about. My entree was halibut over noodles.There were small pieces of heart of palm & Chinese mushrooms in soup or so it seemed. My piece of halibut although quite large, was very bland. I really was not enjoying my dinner to say the least. :( As I was eating, I noticed no one else seemed to exceptionally enjoy what they ordered. The bus boy seemed very nervous & actually spilled something on my mother-in-law's chair. I was hoping dessert was going to be better but, I wasn't going to hold my breath. We decided to share a Spring Sorbet. $12 for 3 very small scoops. A month later a friend of mine mentioned she & her husband ate @ the Blue Ginger. Of course, I asked her what she thought!! Her response mirrored my sentiments. I will never understand the rave over this restaurant. It is definitely over-rated & over priced. :(
(2)
Han K.

I'm a big fan of Ming Tsai, I'm also a big fan of haute cuisine and willing and have paid through the nose for a great meal and not felt bad about this. Blue Ginger was one of the few times where I went in expecting to pay a lot but I didn't walk out thinking I got my money's worth. The food is very good bordering on excellent but the flavors just didn't seem quite right when I went, the meshing of eastern flavors with western techniques just didn't sit well with my asian palate. What really disappointed me was the overall service and attitude of the place. It felt a little too casual to drop $300 for a dinner for two.
(3)
Jacqueline C.

We were last here about five years ago...and we loved it. Since we had some friends move to the area we thought we'd check it out again. We were pleasantly surprised to see that on a Saturday night it was still crowded. We had a reservation but it was about 30 minutes after our time before we were seated. The service was fine, the ambiance was fine. The food was...not fine. For appetizers we had the fois gras shaumai, which was bland and boring. We also had the spring rolls, which were absolutely bad. For dinner my husband had the lobster which was tasteless and questionably cooked. I had the butterfish, which was served fresh from under a heat lamp, complete with real burnt char. At one point the runner had gotten our orders wrong and brought the wrong food and the server strangely asked if we had returned the food because we wanted it kept under the heat lamp. I'm still not sure what to make of that comment, as the butterfish arrived a few minutes later - lukewarm at best. It was a really disappointing return to Blue Ginger, after having had such fond memories of the place.
(3)
Kelly O.

I've been here once, on the family's dime, so I was already pre-disposed to like it (free food = score). Got the springrolls as an app, which were executed nicely. I wasn't totally wowed, but they were a solidly good rendition, decent flavors and not too greasy. My entree was the famous lobster- hey, if I'm not paying, I'm going big!- and it was cooked absolutely perfectly, just spot on. The garlic-black pepper sauce (note: peppery in a good way, not spicy or overwhelming) was soooo delicious I literally wanted to lick my plate. Rice was rice, but with the sauce it went from standard to o-wow-yum, and I really liked the greens with it too- basically you could put that sauce on anything and it would be amazing. Presentation was pretty neat (see the pic), and service was excellent. Pretty sure I had a creme brulee or something for dessert, tasty but not memorable, same with drinks. I think I may have been a bit underwhelmed had I been the one footing the bill, especially given the dearth of other amazing restaurants in the area that are much cheaper overall (Oleana's entrees are all $10-15 less than Blue Ginger and equal if not better). But hey, if you're a richy-rich and have money to spend, this is a tasty choice.
(4)
H. G.

East meets West meets Salt. Blue Ginger is a restaurant I have wanted to go to since college. And I was finally able to experience it for my most recent birthday. And two months later I'm still dehydrated from the saltiness of the food. It's okay though, Ming. I still rooted for you to win the Iron Chef competition. So we're all good.
(2)
S K.

Good, but not great. It's probably a 5 star restaurant in a suburb like Wellesley, but above average compared to the asian fusion restaurants in big cities like NYC, LA, or San Francisco. They do have some interesting dishes (foie gras shumai, lobster) but it pretty expensive at $30 to $40 per entree; Service was excellent and it is a good place to take business clients. I guess if you are in Wellesley this place is the Shit, but if you are coming from out of town from a Big Urban center, only come to this place if you aren't paying the bill. Also, if you think you are going to have a Ming Tsai siting at Blue Ginger then you also must believe you'll see The Colonel at KFC.
(3)
Jamie H.

we went to blue ginger tonight for restaurant week, and it was fantastic. excellent food, great atmosphere, and i would love to go back to try other dishes. i chose to do the wine pairing along with the 3 courses, which was a great value at $12 for 2 glasses of wine. we started with the pork lollipops and the springrolls. i didn't actually love the appetizers, but the other courses more than made up for it. the pork was small, breaded, and came on lemongrass type of reed, and the sauce had a little too much licorice flavor. in contrast to the very small pork dish, i was surprised at how big the springroll dish was. the rolls were good, and i liked the chili sauce although it had a bit of a sour tinge to it. it came with a very nice, crisp cabbage slaw that was actually the best part of the dish. the wine was smooth, mellow, and complemented the flavors of the appetizer dishes well. i then received a glass of red wine to pair with the entree, and i liked the contrast of having red and wine with the dinner. i ordered the miso salmon, and my boyfriend got the short ribs. honestly, this was the best piece of salmon i have EVER had. and to note, i cook it for myself about 1-2 times per week, and order it at about 40-50% of the restaurants that i go to. it was cooked beautifully, and seared just enough on the outside to offer a nice crisp. i loved the wasabi dipping sauce, since it had enough flavor to let you know that it was definitely wasabi, but it didn't tickle your nose any more than it needed to. the short ribs were also very good, and the grits that they were served on were amazing and it was a perfect pairing. my boyfriend couldn't stop himself from finishing long after he was full, and he even moved on to a few bites of my dish. for dessert, we tried both options - the panna cotta with berries and the chocolate cake with cardamom ice cream. that ice cream was AMAZING - the cardamom added a very interesting flavor to a great crisp texture. the portion was perfect - just enough to satisfy without leaving you feeling stuffed. i also enjoyed the panna cotta which was simple and refreshing. the meal was fantastic, and this is definitely a place that i look forward to going back to for any special occasions.
(5)
carol a.

I've been wanting to try Blue Ginger for ages (we're huge Ming fans) and finally got my opportunity! First, as a couple with multiple food allergies I can't say how much I appreciate their focus in this area. When you call to make reservations they ask if there are allergies in your party and even have a gluten-free menu. Big kudos for that! The service was excellent and our waitress was a doll. As far as the food...they had us at Big Eye Tuna Poke, which we practically live on when we are in Hawaii and is extremely hard to find in Yankee New England. We both had that as the starter. It's not your traditional Poke but is excellent. For entree, I had the Miso Butterfish and my husband had the duck. The Butterfish dish was a little unfocused (too many components on the plate) but the flavors and quality were top notch. My husband devoured every morsel of his duck. For dessert we had the flourless chocolate cake, which was to die for. Can't wait to go back!!!
(4)
Chrissy N.

I'm definitely a fan of Blue Ginger. We went on a Friday night for dinner and made reseravations ahead of time (strongly suggested). This place was PACKED. We sat at the bar once a seat opened up and waited to be seated. The bar menu looked excellent (I would come back just to eat here). We got an order of edamame, which was covered in some kind of orange/teriyaki sauce. Very good! Once we were seated, we were served some bread and crackers with soft/spreadable butter. I loved the crackers! My boyfriend ordered some calamari, which I hesitantly tried (I occasionally eat fish). It wasn't too bad and my boyfriend loved it. Anyway, the menu was a little tricky for me because I am vegetarian. I ordered the smoked tofu with braised greens. The presentation was WOW. Unfortunately, my palate wasn't agreeing with the dish. The server was on top of it. She immediately brought me the menu back and took the food away. I asked her for some help, being that I'm vegetarian. She suggested the garlic noodles with tempura vegetables, which normally comes with some kind of meat or fish. The general manager (I believe) presented me with this second dish. It was absolutely superb! We both enjoyed a glass of Ghost Pines Merlot, which we very much enjoyed. My only complaint was the noise level. For being a nice restaurant, it was VERY loud (which is why I gave four stars).
(4)
Richelle P.

We went there for Valentines day . It's very expensive for ok food.
(2)
Lee D.

Finally made a trek to Blue Ginger after all the hype we've heard about how accommodating they were about food allergies. The sign of a place that knows food allergies to me, is one that makes you feel welcome and that treats you as normal as possible given the circumstances. And not one that makes you feel overly and unneccessarily high maintenance, as we were made to feel here. Perhaps we had misguided expections, but with no gluten free menus to leisurely peruse (not that we expected them), and more importantly with most of the ingredients in the dishes not listed on the menu, it was hard to tell/narrow down what was acceptable for the gluten free and dairy free on our own...or even if a dish had something you simply didn't like regardless of the dietary restrictions So in order to figure out what you could eat/order, you were instructed to keep pestering the wait staff, who were not very forthcoming, as to what was in each and practically every dish, and to find out how it can be modified. They kept insisting anything on the menu could be accommodated, so said they didn't need to review with us. But of course our first choice, then later our second choice, could not be modified. What an exhausting and frustrating ordeal till we finally found something! And one that surprisingly seemed to have left us (celiac, gluten intolerant, and lactose intolerant) with very few selections and questioning why we were there. Then after all the effort, the food once it arrived, was so disappointing regarding taste and seemed ridiculously overpriced for what it was. Felt very mislead and let down regarding this place.
(1)
Lee H.

Went back to Blue Ginger for lunch on the weekend. They only offer the Tapas menu, but it's quite special. I started with a pork dumpling, then had the butterfish. Wow. Both delicious. My wife had some kind of ravioli - also delicious. We shared some sweet potato fries, also great. I'd recommend lunch over dinner. The quality is as good (if not better), and the prices are lower. Don't forget the free parking in the back.
(5)
patty m.

First time dining here. Had a generous gift certificate so thought we would do a special night out. Ambiance was casual and cool. Did not reflect the high prices. ( no butter knife, paper table covering). Both Entrees were very disappointing. I had curry pasta with cocoanut shrimp. The shrimp was overcooked and dry- no dipping sauce to alleviate that problem. Pasta was pasty and did not taste like curry that i had experienced in the past. They did not charge us for that entree because it was really not satisfactory and I ate very little of it. Husband had the rack of lamb medium rare. It was served sooo rare it almost did not look cooked. They took it back and cooked more- not at all what we were expecting. Husband ate the lamb with no complaints. Dessert was delicious- creme brule with cookies. They accommodated my husband's gluten free needs and were very nice overall. Total bill with one bottle wine and one entree credited was $159.00. Sooo disappointed! Really wanted to love this place but won't return even though we have $ left over on our gift certificate.
(1)
Maud D.

I was lucky enough to be taken here for an impromptu family lunch, having no idea it was a celebrity chef restaurant until we saw the pictures of Ming inside. Definitely much more sophisticated fare than I am used to. We ordered from the tapas menu and the flavors and presentation were great (especially the dumplings).
(4)
Janina T.

There is nothing I can complain about. I came about an hour later than my party so I was struggling to catch up to them. The wait staff was aware of this so they were extremely prompt (and nice) about getting my drink and food order. I ordered the Mixed Seafood Paella with Lemongrass-Tomato Broth. DELISH. It had a bit of a spicy kick in it which was a pleasant surprise. Careful though, it's pretty hot, so scarfing it down like a dog isn't really in the cards. For dessert, I got the Sesame Macadamia Caramel Nut Tart. EXTREMELY GOOD. Not too rich so it hit the spot. My other two friends got the chocolate cake and the sorbet so we had a great time trying each others desserts. All three were awesome but I think mine was my favorite out of the lot. My friend's dad pointed out that he thought the restaurant would be more geared towards Asian cuisine (i.e. sushi, etc.) but it had more of a western feel to it. Not anything bad at all but it may be a misconception of others. Overall, a really great restaurant. I assume it's rather pricey (my friend's parents took care of everything) since it's owned by Ming Tsai and it's located in Wellesley but it's well worth the money, in my opinion.
(5)
Amanda R.

Honest to GOD, the butterfish at Blue Ginger is my single favorite meal on the planet. I listed it as the "last thing i want to eat before I die" on yelp because it is just THAT good. It is rich, decadent, flavorful and simple all at the same time. Those sushi rolls on the side filled with some kind of noodle thing are also so amazing that I would probably just eat a whole meal of that. Aside from the amazing butterfish, Ming has done wonders to truly perfect the sweet potato fry. There are no better SPFs on the planet, in my opinion. The servers are also super attentive and the ambiance is great. I don't find it pretentious at all, but it is a little on the pricey side. I think it's well worth the price when going out for a knock your socks off kind of meal.
(5)
Franco C.

Usually, the Blue Ginger gets a four or five rating. Tonight just a three... Loved the atmosphere. Bustling and fun. Frenetic but still elegant. The food? Just OK. Nothing spectacular. Started with a couple of appetizers -- the Shiitake-Leek Springrolls and sweet potato fries. Neither were extraordinary. In fact, the sweet potato fries were boring. Little taste. For our entrees we had the grilled hanger steak and the Alaskan butterfish. The grilled hanger steak had a tangy kick to it. While the butterfish -- although flaky -- lacked pizazz. Needed more flavor. The presentations however, were outstanding. And the atmosphere, once again, helped move the evening along. Dessert -- the petit four plate. This consisted of Lime Leaf-Coconut Macaroons, Almond Shortbreads, Chocolate Hawaiian Sea Salt Caramels, and Mango-Yuzu Jellies. They were fine. After dinner coffee was outstanding. Not the first time I've eaten here and not the last. Will definitely make more appearances but will enjoy other options on the menu. Still one of the best places to eat in the entire Boston metro.
(3)
Ann L.

Two stars because of excellent service. For the food, this place is overrated. I had high expectations for this place. Maybe it was too high? The bartenders cannot make drinks. The portions were very small but presentable. Blue Ginger is expensive for what its worth. Honeslty, I had better. A place to try but I probably won't be coming back.
(2)
Lori B.

I've been wanting to try Blue Ginger for years. I always seem to forget about it. Finally got the opportunity. Atmosphere: Very nice. Clean. Modern. Hostess: Incredibly welcoming, professional and kind. Bar: Bartender was ambivalent and didn't mix a good martini :( Wine List: Nice Server: Attentive, helpful and energetic. Solid service. Appetizers: Tuna was very interesting. Good texture. Different take on Tuna and was surprisingly good. Wonderful presentation Mussels: Clean. Plump. Sauce was good, but not the best I've had. probably wouldn't order again, but the quality of the mussels was top notch. Dinner: Steak and Duck. Nothing terribly interesting. Certainly not for the price. I was underwhelmed. Dessert: Sorbet. AWFUL. The worst I have ever had. I couldn't get the taste out of my mouth for the rest of the night. Owner: Very fun and energetic and was kind enough to hold a conversation. VERY COOL. Overall: Nice atmosphere, solid apps, but wasn't thrilled with dinner. I'm not sure if I'd return. Seems like there are other new places to explore. Still worth a try if you're in the area.
(2)
Angie L.

3 years ago, we flew into Boston to celebrate our 30th anniversary, this past weekend, we were in town for a conference, and we just had to go back to Ming Tsai's Blue Ginger. We were not disappointed. Service was fantastic, we were able to get reservations last minute for 6:30pm, but arrived at 5:30 and was seated immediately. To try something different from the last time we were here, we chose the tuna and shitake springrolls for appetizers, and for our entrees, we ordered the sablefish "butterfish", and the gumbo. All the dishes were delicious. I was stuffed, but made room for the creme brulee and cookies. It was the highlight of the weekend. This is definitely a "come back to" dinner spot.
(5)
B B.

Ming Tsai....need I say any more! This is as awesome as it gets, the food the ambiance ....and did I mention the food?!
(5)
Michelle Y.

This was probably the best meal that I have eaten in a really long time. We came out to Boston to visit my cousin that goes to BU. We read all the reviews about Ming Tsai's restaurant so we decided to go visit it, the only hard thing was that it was a long taxi drive, so not that close to the T-line. Once we got there we were greeted by the hostess who was SUPER friendly...the first thing she said was "Happy Birthday" because we were celebrating my cousin's birthday. We then got seated and started looking at the menu... everything looked amazing! Our waitress was telling us about Blue Ginger's signature dishes, like their butterfish, duck, shumai, etc and I wanted all of them, and then we saw that there was a Tasting menu option at the bottom. Everyone at your table had to do it and you could have from 5-8 courses starting at $80. After careful consideration we decided to get it and I was super Psyched! Our waitress also suggested that instead of getting the wine pairings that we share a glass of white and red throughout the meal, which was a great idea, she really knew her pairings! Okay, so being super excited we get a amuse bouche, which had smoked salmon on top of a wonton chip. That was just lovely. First Course: Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna Poke* with Crispy Sushi Rice Cake and Peppercress-Tosaka Salad. THIS was amazing!! The sushi rice cake was crispy on the outside and ricey in the middle... we dont' know how they do it, either pan or deep fry that cake but it was great. AND it was like a normal appetizer size, not like when you expect to only get a bite for a tasting menu. 2nd Course: Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish, Wasabi Oil, Soy-Lime Syrup and Vegetarian Soba Noodle Sushi This too was amazing, and the portion seemed to be like a regular appetizer size, plus think that each person got one of these....it was the beginning of an AMAZING dinner. 3rd. Course: Foie Gras-Shiitake Shumai in Sauternes-Shallot Broth, this was considered Ming Tsai's signature fusion dishes and was it a perfect fusion! We each got one Shumai but the combination of shitake and froie gras was delicious, plus it was in like a french onion broth. 4th Course: Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster with Lemongrass Fried Rice Pea Tendril Salad with Soy-Ginger Vinaigrette PLUS Grilled Hanger Steak. This was our entree and it was definitely FULL size entree. By this time we were getting full and then when we saw the surf n' turf I was in awww..... my sister and I couldn't even finish it! The lobster was cooked perfectly and the hanger steak just melt in your mouth. The fried rice was a perfect compliment to the richness of the rest of the dish. It was just HEAVEN. Like I said, I couldn't finish that course because I wanted to save room for dessert, so we packed the rest and ate it later. Finally 5th course: Palm Sugar Cranberry Tart Brown-Butter Crunch Ice Cream and Cider Caramelized Apples PLUS Bittersweet Chocolate Cake Cardamom Ice Cream Spiced Sugar Wafer and Chocolate Ganache: These were delicious too, but I'm not as much of a dessert person then food person. They even came out with a plate of cookies with a candle that said Happy Birthday. Overall, this was AMAZING!! If I ever go back to Boston, I will definitely go back, the staff were all super friendly and the food mouth watering! If you can't decide just get the TASTING MENU...definitely worth the $$!!
(5)
White Devil C.

Overall I was impressed with the menu innovation level, professional wait staff, and strong food quality. Food presentation varied, with outstanding signature dishes like the sake-miso marinated butterfish colorfully presented while the pre-assembled but tasty fish tacos looked a bit sad and the lively shiitake rolls were monotone to the eyes. The front decor and booth format in the restaurant was attractive; the rear decor was a bit tired. Our table toward the back (a round table for 6) was slightly tilted and could have felt more solid. Service was consistent and excellent, prices were reasonable, and the overall atmosphere had energy and vibrancy. In my judgment Blue Ginger is worth the drive out of the city.
(4)
jon b.

Such a disappointment. It's like they just stopped caring about the food or the decor but still feel entitled to charge high prices. Sure - the butter fish is good...but c'mon - it's not that good.
(3)
Anne W.

Ming Tsai.. you have lost your touch. A clue would be when your show is no longer on the Food Network. I thought the food might be good since you won the Iron Chef America challenge. But you let your chefs in the open kitchen have let the food quality slip. First off.. we had a reservation at 8:45 pm. You made our party of 8 wait approximately 30 minutes. I know you can't make people get out of their seats.. but you need to figure out the tables a little better to avoid patrons waiting FOREVER. Second off.. the food was just mediocre. For the prices you are charging.. and the distance we all drove from the city.. we were expecting quality even if not quantity. We got neither. We tried a variety of things... including the tuna tartare which was good but not amazing. Nothing I couldn't get at a sushi place I regularly go to. It also made me sick when I got home so I am a little worried it wasn't fresh or clean. The sauces on the plate didn't add too much. It was basically.. crispy rice with chopped tuna on top with some fresh veggies. I tried part of the chacuterie plate as well.. the procieutto was delicious. I also tried the shiu mei and I thought it was very tasty although only three for $15 is a bit steep. I guess it's the foie gras. Then I got the lobster only because I had read the butterfish recipe is online and of course, I can attempt to make it myself. Ummm... it was okay. I am pretty sure it was a twin chix lobster. I can get more lobster at half the price where it tastes about the same in Chinatown. Not too much lobster meat unfortunately. The vegetables were heavily sauteed in ginger. Would have been better without. I tried the butterfish.. it was good but it wasn't amazing. I also tried the scallops which were good but nothing special or out of this world. Just sauteed with butter, salt, and pepper. I didn't try the desserts but it all looked pretty standard. Nobody was wowing or raving over it. The coffee was typical American coffee. I wouldn't mind if I had paid half the price and waited half as long. Major fail. The waitstaff was not up to par either to what I would expect from a high ened restaurant. They didn't come for a long time after he asked us how things tasted.. plates did not come all at the same time... and waitstaff (not patrons) kept bumping into my chair. Skip it... overhyped.. although I noticed if you are older, you might enjoy it. This place was full of older people.
(2)
Anthony N.

You know how after you go out to a fancy dinner with a group and everyone tries everything there is always someone who "won" the evening? Blue Ginger is the only experience I've ever had where everybody won. Start to finish impeccable, spectacular food. The black pepper lobster is incredible. The butterfish is as good as advertised. The lamb is grand. The foie grais shu mai are so rich and delicious I had them for dessert. The charcuterie plate is great. The service is top-notch, the waiters knowledgable and friendly, the cocktails and wine list fantastic. The price is high, but not unreasonably so for the quality of restaurant it is. Also, for a "celebrity chef" Ming spends a lot of time there. I've been to the restaurant twice, at different times of year, and he was there both times.
(5)
Capt k.

I went to Boston for Labor Day weekend and was looking forward to dine at Blue Ginger for weeks because I have heard so many good things from my friends. The service started very nice. The waitress is extremely patient. She spend about 15 minutes with us to describe the dishes that we are considering and the proper wine pairings. I finally decided on Foie Shumai to start, followed by splitting the five spice chile duck breast entrÃ©e, for my main entrÃ©e infamous sake miso butterfish and finally for dessert Macadamia Nut Caramel Tart with the maitake coffee. The Foie Shumai is absolute divine, the filling is so light and airy and the sauternes-shallot broth is delicious. Five spice duck breast is perfectly cooked and the rich sauce is heavenly. The infamous butterfish is just OK. The fish is overly sweet for my personal taste. The flavor of soba noodle is traditional Japanese just wrapped in seaweed. I have had better sake miso black cod and soba noodle at Japanese restaurants in Seattle. The Mac Nut Caramel Tart is a bit too sweet and dense for my personal liking. However, the toasted coconut ice cream is delicious. The waitress explained the health benefit of the magic maitake mushroom infused coffee. I guess I feel so much healthier after I had two cups of the coffee. I deducted one star from the overall rating because the experience at the end. I think we are over the allotted dining time. The waitress brings the bill in the middle of the dessert course and then DUMPED my coffee refill into my cup. I feel being rushed and ruined my overall experienced at that end.
(3)
David H.

Given the hype, I expected better. Celebrity chef, long lines, so much hoopla - I guess I thought this meal would be something special. Surprise! It wasn't. Not to say anything was really bad. The little quail legs & egg roll appetizers were perfectly OK. The 'Indonesian Curry Pasta' had (3) excellent shrimp, but the pasta surrounding them was towards the greasy side of noodle dishes, & overall impersonated a less-than-average Pad Thai. Our pork shank with coconut rice would have been better has they just steam-cooked it. But instead it must have been baked for a while as well, probably intending to produce a crispy exterior. Bad idea. Way too dry & chewy. Our overall impression was that the cooking attitude here is just about 180Â° opposite of Alice Waters' philosophy: the freshest of ingredients should shine through as brightly & distinctively as they can. Blue Ginger's flavors were muddy, murky, ill-defined. You can add a few adjectives of your own. No doubt many will disagree, but I rate Blue Ginger a hearty ho-hum.
(2)
Consuelo V.

Went for lunch during restaurant week. The prefix menu was simple: soup, salad, or spring rolls for apps; chicken sandwich, pasta, or burger for entree; and creme brulee or chocolate mousse for dessert. At the table we had soup which was light and nice and spring rolls which were presented well but nothing out of this world. Pasta and chicken sandwich for entree, which were OK. We order both of the desserts. The mousse was surprisingly light and delicious. (I'm not a huge fan of chocolate mousse.) The creme brulee was OK despite a mistake which caused one to be forgotten and hurriedly prepared so it wasn't set yet. The crust was better than the Capital Grille's. Overall a nice experience but I attribute that to the company that I was with more than the food. Not unpleasant but not memorable.
(3)
Vikram B.

We went for a special occasion with the kids on a Saturday evening. Overall this place is highly overrated as the food is very average. We were expecting a "wow" moment and that never came. I had the steak with dan-dan noodles and that was nicely cooked and the noodles were great too. Have had better dan-dan noodles in Chinatown Boston. My wife had the curry braised Lamb and it was seriously under seasoned, though the lamb was cooked very well. Also no-way did it look like the pictures on the menu. The worst was the pasta with the chicken that my daughter ordered. The pasta was dry and the chicken added nothing to the dish - it was like 2 separate dishes just assembled together without any finesse. The Chef Ming Tsai - does interact with the guests but focusses on the large groups and old friends, but it was exciting for the kids to see him around. Will likely never go back again. The food is clearly cooked by an under qualified staff.
(2)
Craig S.

My wife and I celebrated my wife's Birthday at the Blue Ginger Restaurant this week. The restaurant had been enlarged since the last time we were there adding to the capacity and noise. It was the NOISE that first annoyed us - and then reached a point where we were forced to quickly finish our meal and leave. We spoke to the manager as this noise level continued to escalate - and were told that there were some larger parties there - and they couldn't do a thing about it. Imagine if you would ten tables of between 8-10 people each all very intoxicated and loud. Think about how much noise that would make and you have a pretty good picture of our very unpleasant evening at the Blue Ginger. We were also surprised at the food. I had the shrimp - a little overcooked - with a strong sauce that overwhelmed the flavor. My wife had the rack-of-lamp - she loved the lamp but the accompaniments were anything but editable.. While the Blue Ginger "had" been one of my wife's favorite, it is no longer. I do not recommend anyone dine here unless they bring a very effective EAR PLUGS and are good at "lip reading" with their dining partner.
(1)
Jack F.

Stop #22 7:00 PM: Never had a chance to finish up my 2009 Boston Dining Tour in which I visited over 24 different restaurants in the span of 3 days. For a complete review, read Cindy Y's original comments from 2/18/2009. Visiting Blue Ginger was an homage to my culinary idol, Ming Tsai. And while it wasn't the most brilliant meal or the most amazing restaurant since I started writing about food, Blue Ginger was still a memorable dining experience well worth going the extra mile to visit. It's the type of meal where you put down your notebook and enjoy the dining experience uninterrupted. So while I don't have many notes, I still have very satisfying and fond memories of my 2009 visit. This being said, if I ever came back I'd opt for the lunch at Blue Ginger or dining at bar instead. Both options are much more affordable and you still get to experience the culinary creativity of Ming Tsai. As Ina C. said, "we do not want to pay $30-40 an entree if we can go six hours earlier and pay $10-20 less!" My post-dinner Blackberry notes included: "Difficult to choose from the menu made worse because the menu changes every two weeks. Had the sesame cracker brioche with ohtouka sake (unpasteurized). The Hawaii poke takes a back seat to the crispy rice cakes, which single handly redeems the rice cake selction. Had fresh, foe gras shumai and beef onion soup consumme. Tasty but heavy so thank goodness for the smooth sake. The pork belly was fatty goodness. Something about chicken sauce, hoisin, and the peanut essence of fried crisp skin. Carrots and beans may have been undercooked. Mochi with spicy pineapple, bittersweet chocolate and lime-guava sorbets. Not the must unique dessert but still good flavors nonetheless. Sadly, it wasn't really traditional mochi ... I was hoping for real mochi. Blue Ginger is certainly the type of restaurant where I'd return whenever I'm back in Boston. [Original Visit: February 2009]
(4)
Rema A.

Went to Blue Ginger with the hubby for lunch last Monday and we were really impressed!! We like eating out, and I really can't remember the last time I had a dish with such unique flavors. We asked our friendly waiter what he recommended, and he mentioned two dishes, both of which we got. 1. the butterfish (which many others have mentioned). it's pricier than the other dishes (all entrees are $12-14, this is the only one on the lunch menu for $21). but it was oh so good...seriously melts in your mouth! when my husband was almost done, he was actually sad that the butterfish experience would soon come to an end. 2. the cheeseburger bing sliders - not your average slider! ground beef and blue cheese wrapped in a won ton skin. i'm probably not describing this right, but it was super tasty!!
(5)
Sarah F.

I went here with my boyfriend the other Friday night. We were running a little late, so we called ahead to tell them and they were so accommodating and pleased/happy that we called ahead. So, service was excellent! Our waitress was so nice, I was very impressed! I had the Butterfish, and I have to say...it was AMAZING! Ming Tsai was there, walking around, talking to people, which made the night that much better. I've been to L'espalier and other fancy shmancy places, but this was by far the best meal I've had in MA, maybe the best meal ever (besides my Mom's homemade fajitas). I may have a crush on Ming Tsai....don't tell my bf, actually I'm pretty sure after that meal, my bf has a crush on him too.
(5)
Anna R.

I came here for a late dinner with my boss on a weekday night. There was no wait and the hostess was very friendly. We got the spring-roll appetizer, which was delicious, and the waiter's suggestion of the chef's preferred eating method was very helpful. I got the paella, which was unlike any I'd had and more like a soup. That said, it was far too amazing for me to care! Extremely fresh seafood, perfectly seasoned broth, very hot and served beautifully. The only downside was our waitress, who wasn't very friendly and seemed bothered. (Also, as a very minor side-note, the bread basket that they gave was below the quality of their restaurant. It looked cheap and had an odd blend of breads in it.)
(4)
Nayiri B.

I love this place. Love it. Have been quite a number of times and have never been disappointed. The foie gras shumai is one of the most delicious dishes I have ever eaten in any restaurant in any genre of food. I can almost taste it now! Best deal is the bar menu. Great way to sample some good creative food in small plates. Fun drinks and a good atmosphere. This is our repeat date location.
(5)
Eugene D.

Last night, I met friends for a birthday dinner at Blue Ginger, the restaurant of celebrity chef Ming Tsai. We had talked about eating there for years, and we finally managed to get a reservation a week in advance. The Asian fusion cuisine was very good, and open kitchen was a nice touch. For appetizers, we had the tender salmon and beef carpaccio, attractive charcuterie plate, and shiitake-leek spring rolls. For entrees, we ordered tasty hangar steak, nicely spiced Vindaloo-glazed lamb, and flaky Alaskan butterfish. For dessert, we ate a sorbet trio with a ginger kick, spiced buttermilk donuts, a sweet petit four plate, and foie gras-shiitake shumai. The dishes were all an interesting blend of flavors, if a bit rich and pricey. The service was prompt and efficient. I'd definitely recommend this restaurant for special occasions.
(4)
Toni M.

Went to Blue Ginger for Restaurant week. This place would have gotten 5 stars if it weren't for the appetizers. The Pork lollipops which tasted oddly like Indian Kabobs and the Shitake-Leek spring rolls which were amazing accept for the vinegar dipping sauce which was extremely overpowering. The Wasabi Miso Salmon was incredible! Just enough Wasabi that it didn't consume the dish. The Beef over grits was cooked perfectly, pretty much melted in your mouth. For Dessert, a wonderful, very small, chocolate cake with cardamom ice cream. So delicious! And lemongrass panna cotta with blueberries was very light and the perfect ending to a wonderful meal. Would definitely come here again!
(4)
Patrick S.

Blue Ginger was recommended by a local while out to Boston on business. Went with colleagues and the food was out of this world!!! The drinks are great too, but the food is amazing. The presentation of the food is beautiful and the taste is excellent. Quite possibly the best tasting asian fusion food I've ever had. I highly recommend this place!!
(5)
Ina C.

I just moved to the area and I'm not that informed when it comes to celebrity chefs, so the first time I heard of Ming Tsai was when I turned on the TV and saw a fascinating butterfish dish being made by an Asian man with excellent English. So we decided to go on a little excursion today to check out Blue Ginger - for LUNCH. No, we do not want to pay $30-40 an entree if we can go six hours earlier and pay $10-20 less! We decided to skip appetizers and get the something- (wasabi?) crusted salmon and, of course, the butterfish. Both were great, but definitely not when-you're-in-Boston-you-must-come-to-Blue-Ginger worthy. The salmon was cooked perfectly, and the crust on top was a really unique combination of wasabi and maybe some kind of dried bean? It had a great texture and flavor. The butterfish tasted great - it had a creamy, silky-smooth texture (reminded me of orange roughy) and the miso seasoning was subtle. The dollops of wasabi mayo on the side were pleasantly spicy, and the soba noodles wrapped in seaweed were... alriiiight. Overall, it was a great meal, but nothing really stood out to me as being mind-blowingly delicious or innovative. So for me, I would only recommend this restaurant if you're in the area, but don't go out of your way like we did today. Wayy out of our way.
(4)
Mark H.

The food was ... awful. The duck combined with blue cheese in the ming bing was vile. The (highly recommended by the staff) mint tamarind just didn't work with the tuna. It just fell flat.
(1)
Angela S.

This is a highly classy place with excellent service, delicious food, and fun drinks. I've been here at least twice (once on a date, and once on a double date, and perhaps another time or two aside from those, with friends), and every time it has been absolutely fantastic. The curry noodles, though intense, are highly delicious. I'm an avowed vegetarian and usually hate all meat and seafood, but even I have to admit that the butterfish is pretty tasty, and aptly named. So, yum, yay, go to Blue Ginger.
(5)
Sara S.

Sit in the lounge and enjoy a delicious weekend lunch without the crowds or reservation-needed atmosphere. While the service left a little to be desired and was slightly rushed, we still enjoyed our cocktails (many of which incorporate ginger syrups/liquors) small bites (edamame and shumai with a TRUFFLE sauce... amazing) and my miso-grazed butterfish. While I'd never had butterfish before, I really enjoyed the flaky and tenderness of the meat, with a mild flavor which was nicely complimented with the sweet miso glaze. The spicy soba noodle "nest" which came alongside it rivaled the fish for being the better of the two items to eat on the plate. I will be back!
(4)
An L.

Delicious food. If they ever bring back the duck dish, it's awesome.
(4)
Anthony E.

To get the negatives out of the way: The calamari appetizer dipping sauce and the curry noodles were way overboard on the lemongrass. After a few bites it was so intense it was impossible to taste anything else. Also, the hangar steak was not the highest quality steak I have ever had... We don't get out to very fancy restaurants often at all, so this was a very special occasion for us (we got engaged the same evening!). The service was excellent, water glasses never empty, and we briefly spotted Ming! The calamari was excellent and tender, the hangar steak had great flavor and the corn tamale was simple yet delicious! The curry noodles were definitely the disappointment for us. The creme brulee was pretty much the bomb and highlight of the meal for us. We wanted so badly to love the whole meal, but could not get past the overwhelming sour intensity of the noodles and the dipping sauce, maybe we just don't know good food as well as we should. Would definitely try again for lunch.
(4)
Jennifer T.

Went here for a friend's bday dinner with another couple. The ambiance is very elegant and refined - I felt a bit out of place, but the staff were all respectable, professional, and knowledgeable about the menu and recommendations. We started off sharing the shiitake-leek springrolls, which were crispy and bursting with flavor. For the maincourse, I had their famous butterfish - which lives up to its name and all the hype! It was delicious, but the portions were very small. My husband had the tea-smoked poussin, which was also flavorful, but also very small. As for dessert, the creme brulee was one of the best I've had, and the pear tarte tatin was quite unique, sweet, and a great meal closer. Would recommend this place for its truly unique menu and well-prepared meals; its a nice place for a fancy occasion...but a bit pricey otherwise.
(4)
Doris K.

There was absolutely nothing I didn't love about this place. My bro, bestie and I took my father here as a surprise to celebrate his bday during Boston's Restaurant Wk. It was nothing short of amazing, from the inside and outdoor decor to the presentation and taste of the food, sensational! Our server was more than gracious, assisting us in getting our orders straight since Papa wanted to order off the regular menu while we had the prix fixe, her wine recommendations were on point every step of the way. I've ALREADY recommended this place to friends and family and look forward to dining here again..hopefully in the near future!!
(5)
Chris N.

Went there for Restaurant Week. Front of house staff need an attitude adjustment. Too snobby and full of themselves. Food and service were ok. Not worth going back for.
(1)
Alice L.

For years we've been wanting to try Blue Ginger and this past weekend we finally did. The first thing I noticed when we entered the restaurant was the barrage of media clippings in the foyer. Yes MIng, being named one of People's 50 Most Beautiful is a big deal, but that was over 10 years ago! It might be time to retire those clippings and focus more on the reason why we're there - the food! The restaurant has a nice casual-elegant ambience. Dimly lit with a comfortable noise level. The tables are covered with white paper and the host told the kids they were welcome to draw on it with the provided crayons (in addition to their kids menus). So here's what we ate: Kids menu - Chinese Pork Potstickers with Soy Dipping Sauce. The potstickers were deep fried (not pan-fried) and overcooked. Meat filling was very heavy. Big disappointment. Panko-Crusted Chicken Fingers with Shanghai Noodles & Butter - very good. Chicken was lightly battered and moist. Shanghai Noodles with Vegetables in Garlic-Ginger-Sweet Soy Sauce - terrible. Way too sweet. Couldn't eat more than 2 bites. Appetizers - Crispy Fried Calamari with Thai Dipping Sauce and Fragrant Thai Mussels with Lime Leaf & Green Papaya. Without the sauce, the calamari would have been totally forgettable. The mussels were okay - could have been more flavorful. Entrees - Miso-Sake Marinated Alaskan Butterfish and Grilled New Zealand Rack of Lamb with Crispy Taro-Corn Cake. The fish was a tad too sweet - otherwise it would've been perfect. The lamb was a generous portion and very tasty. Dessert - Bittersweet Chocolate Cake with Cardamom Ice Cream and Two Scoops of BG Ice Cream - cherry-vanilla and toasted coconut (kids' menu). Drinks - the kids shared a bottle of cider - was hoping it would be some sort of local or artisanal brand but it was just standard Martinelli. We had Polly-tinis and Pear Soju martini which were good. The irregularities in the service made the meal less than enjoyable. Our appetizers came out very quickly, along with the kids entrees (which was fine). But it took so long for our entrees to come out that even the bus person thought we were completely done with our dinner and cleared everything off the table (including the fresh silverware that was just placed by someone else). So when our entrees were served, we had to wait again for silverware. Then we had to again wait a long time for our dessert and also to settle our check. Not the worst service but I expected more from a restaurant with such a reputation. We were glad we finally tried Blue Ginger so we won't have to wonder about it anymore. But will we ever go back? Probably not. Unless Blue Ginger reinvents itself, I don't think it's a worthy of a second visit.
(3)
Alex B.

I was pretty bummed out the other day when I finally had a chance to try Blue Ginger after hearing about it how great it is for 10 years. The calamari was pretty darn good but my meal was really not. I ordered the house ramen and it just had a very bland, odd sickly sweet taste that I couldn't really make out. I appreciate trying new flavors and like to be pleasantly surprised but this just tasted like something went bad in my soup.
(2)
Damian S.

Dear Chef Ming Tsai: Oh how I wanted to like your restaurant. I've faithfully watched your TV shows, I always tune in when you're a guest judge on whatever cooking show or competition, I love your cooking philosophy, I think it's great that you are willing to work with people's food allergies, and though it's a high end place, you welcome families with children. There's so much to love, but, alas, at the end of the day a restaurant is about food and the food really just wasn't that good. My wife and I were in Boston for a conference without a rental car, but because we were SURE that your food would be worth the trip, we got ourselves from Boston to Wellesley (about 20 mile cab ride each way). We went for lunch on a weekday, so maybe we got the second string chefs, I don't know, but for when you're dining at the restaurant of a former James Beard award winner, one assumes the food's going to be on point no matter when you go. The atmosphere and staff were great. The food presentation was beautiful. The place was clean and welcoming. The waitress was friendly and helpful and the menu had a number of interesting dishes. Basically, everything was great but the food. We ordered the following: Appetizers: Panko-Crusted Butterfish Croquette with Lemon Aioli, Grilled Onion & Olive Vinaigrette - tasted like overly salted fish sticks. My wife and I debated over who had to eat the last croquette, not who got to eat the last croquette. Sweet Potato Fries with Chili Aioli - tasted great, but there was nothing special, unique or asian about the dish. We get the same exact thing done the street at the local burger joint Entrees: Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish - tasted good, but the portion was tiny and it didn't come with any rice, noodles or anything else we liked to eat it with. We've eaten essentially the same dish at Nobu in NYC and Vegas as well as at Roy's in SF and Vegas and we liked it more and got more of it. Wok Stirred Lobster and Seafood Paella with Garlic-Black Bean Chorizo - While in Boston we had Cioppino at Atlantic Fish Co. The dish was fantastic. When I ordered this dish at Blue Ginger I thought I'd get a similarly terrific dish with asian influences, sadly the dish just didn't come together. The sauce lacked and particular spice or punch, it was like a watered down thai curry sauce that was too sweet. The big problem though was the preparation of the seafood. The key to anything like paella or cioppino is recognizing that different seafood cooks at different speeds, so to get everything perfect you have to add things at different times. In Blue Ginger's paella the lobster was fine, but the fish was tough and over cooked. It was just sad to see such nice seafood not properly cooked and served. Dessert: Chocolate Pot de CrÃ¨me - fine, nothing great, but not bad either. Drinks: The Housemade Limeade was good, we both liked it The cocktail was syrupy sweet and not good at all (again, maybe we got the bad mid-day bartender) I realize that this restaurant is located in suburban Mass where maybe people don't have the most adventursome palates, but the meal just didn't click and I can't recommend the restaurant. I guess I was hoping for more bold, asian flavors. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, lived in China for a over a year and have visited Thailand and Cambodia twice, so maybe my palate for asian flavors is different from that of the average resident of Wellesley, but the salty croquettes and overcooked fish in the paella would have been objectionable to anyone. I had so looked forward to my meal at Blue Ginger. It's sad to say that my lunches at the Flour Cafe and Finale (both 1/5th the price of Blue Ginger) in Boston far exceeded the flavor and execution we found at Ming Tsai's place. I'm glad to read that other's had good experiences at Blue Ginger, but I think that if people go, they need to realize that they're not going to get strong, authentic asian flavors, but instead muted, references and allusions to great asian dishes and cuisines. I understand the concept of fusion and East meets West cooking, and I've had other examples I've enjoyed VERY MUCH, but Blue Ginger wouldn't rank among my top ten. Two stars because the restaurant didn't come close to living up to expectations and didn't provide a good dining value (money v. tasty food). Regards, me
(2)
Michael H.

Absolutely wonderful. The space, the presentation but mostly the FOOD. Wow. The butterfish was the standout, but all four of our starters and all four of our entrees were fantastic. One of the best meals I've ever had.
(5)
Courtney Y.

We were here visiting one of my cousins who attends Boston University and it was my other cousins Birthday. So she decided on Blue Ginger for her Birthday Dinner. We decided to take a Taxi b/c the place didn't look like it was anywhere near the T. This was a bad idea. I felt like we were in the cab FOREVER. It was a good 50 dollar cab ride and we later found out that we could have taken the T to a closer station and then just road the cab from there. As soon as we walked in the hostess greeted us w/ a nice friendly smile. The four of us were seating quickly. The restaurant was fairly empty probably b/c it was a Sunday Night. We pondered over the menu for quite a while. We really wanted to try everything. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful. She told us what signature dishes they had and favorites. It was sooo hard to decide. Then finally I noticed on the bottom of the menu that you could ask your waiter about the tasting option. So, we did... she told us that it starts at 80 dollars and you can get 5-10 tastings. We thought about it for a little longer and decided on the tasting option. My sister Michelle Y. was stoked. Each tasting was a surprise so we had no idea what we were going to get. We did mention however, that we really wanted to try the butter fish. Everyone's favorite type of fish at the table. Course 1: Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna Poke* with Crispy Sushi Rice Cake and Peppercress-Tosaka Salad. I always thought Ahi Poke was a little played out. I mean everyone does it. But you haven't had a good poke until you've had one here. The icing on the cake was the crispy rice cake. TO DIE FOR. Course 2: Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish: Our wishes were delivered and the infamous butterfish dish arrived. If you've never had butterfish before its seriously just that.. butter in your mouth= SO DAMN DELICIOUS Course 3: Foie Gras-Shiitake Shumai in Sauternes-Shallot Broth: Gotta eat as much Foi Gras b/c I'm not allowed to anymore. This dish was good, very good. A perfect bite is created when pouring the soup into the dumpling and eating it all together. Dishes like these make me sad that I live in CA and I can't just drive over to blue ginger to get some. Course 4: Grilled Asian Marinated Hanger Steak* with Hong Kong Black Bean Sauce AND Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster with Lemongrass Fried Rice. Surf and Turf. This was no tasting size portion either. AMAZING is all I can say. Course 5: Bittersweet Chocolate Cake AND Palm Sugar Cranberry Tart. This was my least favorite dish and I was STUFFED by the time it came out. The brown butter ice cream was pretty bomb though. All four of us were thrilled after the meal. It was an anonymous decision that we all just had the BEST meal we've ever eaten. As we were leaving the waitress handed us 4 menus that were all signed by Ming Tsai himself. Overall: Great experience, great company, and most of all great food. Five Stars!
(5)
Jimmy B.

Feeling a bit vindicated... the Boston Globe recently did an under-cover investigation on the mis-labeling of fish in the Boston area. Blue Ginger features fairly prominently in trying to pass off a cheap grade of white-fish for more expensive "Butter Fish." What was ironic was that, in contrast to most people who got caught in the Globe sting, the owner/chef didn't even come up with a plausible excuse. He just said he like the sound of "Butterfish" better and thought he was allowed to call it what he wanted (the article made it very clear this isn't the case, and that Blue Ginger was essentially committing fraud.)
(1)
Cynthia L.

When I first went to Blue Ginger, I was a junior in high school. My mom and stepdad both had a crush on Ming Tsai. Lucky for both of them he was there and actually signed menus. Well, I was also completely star struck! How many times do you see a real life public access television chef in person?! So I would rate the experience 5 stars and would tell people how great the food was. When I finally went back 5 years later, I actually had some idea of what to look for in food. The food service is great (any place that has a person dedicated to pouring water will usually get a 5 star rating for service). The second time around I had the duck. It was good, but a little heavy on the salt (most things were heavy on the salt). Additionally, (and this may be because I'm Chinese) I didn't see any fusion going on. Maybe he fooled the posh Massachusetts residents, but he couldn't full me. If you're going to call yourself a fushion place, then you better provide some fushion! In the end, if you like overpriced Chinese food (wish a side of extra salt) in an overly cramped restaurant this may be your place.
(2)
Joshua C.

I was skeptical about this place given its ritzy chef-owner, status and high-priced food. However, my wife and I wanted to check out this place before we moved out of the area. And wow...I'm glad that we did! I got the butterfish, and though a bit more expensive than the rest of the lunch entrees, it was well worth it. The fish was so soft. So tasty. So...mmm...good. It was buttery, but not over the top. I was so bummed that there wasn't more. I actually saved a little morsel towards the end just because it was so dang good! And the soba sushi was nice too. Nothing crazy amazing like the butterfish, but still quite good. On a sidenote, I have to give props to chef Ming for not opening all these other restaurants even though he could leverage his status and fame to open all these chains. Now if only Blue Ginger were closer to Boston proper...
(5)
Tim Y.

I rarely give out 5 star reviews, but it seems my time in the greater Boston area has truly been full of standout experiences. Blue Ginger rocked the house in every possible way. The mussels were quite good - spicy and flavorful. The asian slaw and tomatoes were interesting, and added a fair bit of flavor to an otherwise routine white wine sauce. I had the five spice duck breast. Fabulous. I'm a big fan of duck, and this did not disappoint. Served alongside the sliced duck is an excellent frisee salad with yet more duck, this time smoked and pulled. But back to the breast, as it were. Really, it was outstanding. A thick, rich sauce was a perfect compliment to the dish without overshadowing the natural flavor of the meat. The only flaw I noted was the fact that the sauce seemed to have developed a film between the time it was plated and served -- it wasn't long, as I had a full view of the kitchen and kept track of all the butterfish entrees being prepped and saw mine come up. It must have taken a brief rest under a heat lamp. Forgivable once tasted to be sure. All the staff were exemplary. The server ended up being a transplant from a neighboring town where I live back in Illinois which made for some nice smalltalk. Manager visit was appreciated, as was the custom-ordered bottle of sake. Also thoughtful was the cookie arrangement and candle brought to the table after dinner to celebrate my birthday. How thoughtful! I guess there's a reason they ask the occasion of the visit...
(5)
Heather S.

I admit it. I'm a food snob. That's because I come from San Francisco, land of foodies like myself -- where food -- priced high or low (and divey) is divine. If you like this place, I just must accept that your taste buds are different from mine, and maybe, just maybe you haven't dined in SF. Ming may be cool but Blue Ginger's Asian-Fusion is benign at best. Blue Ginger has several things against it: 1. It's expensive. Very expensive. I wouldn't have been there had I not gotten a gift certificate from my friend's sister. 2. The food isn't so good, and it's expensive. 3. It gets super crowded quite quickly, the sound proofing ain't so good, and the food isn't worth it. And did I mention it's expensive? On the other hand, the service is wonderful. Truly excellent, attentive waitstaff. My ginger infused Martini was too sweet. Was it made with fresh ginger? Who knows. In SF, I know when it's fresh. Let's talk appetizers: We only tried two. The Hawaiian BigeyeTuna Poke (was not super fresh) with Crispy (read: Soggy) Sushi Rice Cake and Watercress-Tosaka Salad. - For $15.00 Ming's Tea-Smoked Salmon & Beef Carpaccio with Fresh Wasabi Emulsion for was just average. No real flavor of tea-smoked, (I think of places like Samovar in SF where it really is tea smoked). The wasabi was good. I love Wasabi. All for a smashing $14.00. But, wait there's more! At our nice waitstaff's suggestion, I had the Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish in Wasabi Oil, Soy-Lime Syrup and Vegetarian Soba Noodle Sushi for $36.00. ** People, in case you're wondering, I copied the name and items out of their menu; I wouldn't have been able to remember the title nor the fish. It was okay. Light, tender, flaky, nice sauce. But, it was not worth $36, FOR SURE. ** My friend had the Chile Tea Rubbed Duck Breast with Fresh Plum Sauce and Peach Teriyaki with a Crispy Duck Confit Johnnycake and Grilled Haricot Verts Salad for $35. It was okay. Peaches weren't fresh, crispy duck was tender, cooked just right, but haricot verts (thin green beans) were more than al dente. Can you say, with a CRUNCH like it's raw? For dessert, we sampled (such a nice word, sampled), the "Bittersweet Chocolate Cake Cardamom Ice Cream and Spiced Sugar Wafer and Chocolate Ganache" -- $12. I love cake. I did not love this cake. If I could introduce a new title, it would be: "Dry Cake Meets Interesting Ice Cream and Insubstantial Completely Boring Cookies. " All for 12 dollars. At the end, stuffed but dissatisfied, no doubt gaining 10 unworthwhile pounds, gift certificate gone, envelope stuffed in my pocket, we started home, lamenting the well-off town we were in where not a single homeless person was around to give the well-stocked doggy bags a hand and mouth treatment. Throwing the food away felt like a waste -- to us, the sister, and the animals, but then we really didn't want to eat it either. So, we took it home, and it's still in my fridge. Right now. Two weeks later.
(2)
Al R.

Only OK for all the hype. The food was good, but the service was rushed. We parked on the street without any problems. I would not bring kids here and the bill will run $50+ PP depending on what you choose.
(3)
Jay B.

We decided to do a Friday lunch at Blue Ginger and I can safely say - wow. We've wanted to try out Blue Ginger for quite some time and the asian fusion is quite good. We had the Butterfish (one of the few dinner entrees you can get at lunch) and the Korean BBQ Brisket Sandwich - along with some apps of spring rolls and calamari. The flavors in the entrees was out of this world. The Butterfish came with these soba noodle sushis - wowser. We can't wait to try Blue Ginger for dinner soon.
(4)
Josh M.

I visited Blue Ginger during my summer road trip around the northeast. I was definitely in vacation mode, and so I was indulgent to the whims of the restaurant. For the appetizer, I had the Tuna Poke, a dish I often default to at reputable seafood restaurants. The fish was exemplary, but not revelatory. That distinction for the dish would go to the fried sushi rice cake the tuna rested on. The outside fried crispy but the inside was as fluffy as fresh-steamed rice. I've never seen sushi rice fried as successfully this. My entree was Mom's Famous Three Vinegar shrimp. Another direct hit from a very savory dish. Deeply pungent vinegar -- even with the name, you may not be expecting what you're getting into with this one. The vinegar draws out the perfectly sauteed (so tender!) shrimp's undercurrent of sweetness. When it was done I idly considered ordering more. But then came dessert. It was a summer fruit and thai basil-cream napoleon, a special that seems to be missing from the online menu. Sounded strange, perhaps too East meets West, but the basil and the cream fit the slices of fresh berries like a glove. My service was the sort you hear about at great restaurants. Always on the spot with drink refills, plates cleared seemingly the moment you're done with them, and at least one chef from the kitchen came around to check on the product. It wasn't a cheap dinner, but it was a worthwhile one. The street parking can be a little tough to come by for a prime dinner reservation, yet I'd urge punctuality. I learned the hard way that there is very little to do in downtown Wellesley.
(4)
L O.

It has been 7 years since i was last there - i remember not being impressed with the food the last time and that's why i stopped going there. but now i thought i should give them a try again and maybe they improved... i was wrong, not only the food tasted so-so, the presentation and atmosphere even went downhill... the dishes looked like being served in a cafeteria, even the bread plates looked worn. not going back again, not for another 7 years at least...
(2)
William B.

You cannot go wrong at the Blue Ginger. I always feel confident that my guests will be thrilled by the whole experience. Have a champagne cocktail in the bar first, then order the pepper lobster. All the deserts are sensational. This place is quite simply the best food in metro west with excellent service.
(5)
B. Y.

The appetizers were good but not memorable; however, the butterfish entree was AMAZING. It was so delicious that I didn't want it to end. Ming Tsai was around and directing his staff, which was very accommodating. The cocktails were tasty too,
(5)
Ben G.

Last night I realized a dream... well come to think of it, actually two dreams. I ate at Blue Ginger for the first time and also had the opportunity to meet the famed Ming Tsai. I have been watching Ming on TV, whether it be channel 2 or the food network, for years. I have no idea why it took me so long to visit Blue Ginger, but last night to celebrate a birthday; the dreams were made a reality. I got a good feeling while we were being seated. We walked past the open kitchen through the dining room and over to our table. I really enjoy open kitchens: the smells permeating throughout the restaurant, the sounds of knives chopping, veggies and proteins sizzling on the flat top-- these things really heighten all the senses. To be honest, I may have checked out the menu online earlier in the day. I was THAT excited. I wasn't going to walk in and decide on a whim, this was an important decision that needed hours of deliberation. Looking at the menu for a second time again only increased my excitement. My fellow diners and I agreed upon 4 appetizers to get the meal started. We selected Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna Poke with Crispy Sushi Rice Cake and Peppercress-Tosaka Salad ( 15). The tuna was cubed (I thought poke is usually a mashed texture?) and seasoned wonderfully and the crispy rice cake provided a great contrast in texture. The Crispy Fried Calamari with Thai Dipping Sauce (11) was amazing. While dipping the little rings of calamari in the sauce, I had a vision of filling a bathtub up and taking a thai dipping sauce bath. Yea, I know that's kind of a gross thought but after tasting the dipping sauce, you'll probably agree with me. Ming's Tea-Smoked Salmon & Beef Carpaccio* with Avocado-Jicama Salad & Fresh Wasabi Emulsion (14) was another great selection. I've never seen Carpaccio of beef and fish layered like that. While the avocado and jicama salad was a little messy, it added a great flavor to the dish. And then there was my favorite, Foie Gras-Shiitake Shumai in Sauternes-Shallot Broth (16). Holy moly was this unreal. Imagine, French onion soup (sans the cheese) used to steam the most succulent shumai. Then, and this is the best part, the French onion broth used to steam the shumai was later used as a dipping sauce. Forgetaboutit. The buttery flavor of the foie gras blended so well with the broth/ steaming liquid. I could have eaten four orders of this and would have been completely content to die right there. At this point in the meal, I was happy as a clam. Where did that expression come from? Clams are always smiling, right? Whatever, I'm going with it. For my entree, I had the Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster with Lemongrass Fried Rice, Pea Tendril Salad with Soy-Ginger Vinaigrette (41). There is little I can say that can describe how divine this dish was to enjoy. It was spicy, light, aromatic, succulent and heartwarming. Actually, I think I described it quite nicely and with few words. Hey maybe I'm getting the hang of this. Three of my other friends had the Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish with Wasabi Oil, Soy-Lime Syrup and Vegetarian Soba Noodle Sushi (36). I was fortunate enough to sample some of this dish. My friends and I are not shy about eating off each other's plates (with or without permission). The Butterfish; was light, refreshing, yet rich. I didn't care for the soba noodle sushi but my friends (especially the birthday girl) enjoyed it. Another friend savored the Blue Ginger Seafood 'Bouillabaisse' with Saffron-Edamame Risotto with Roasted Lobster Nage and Poblano-Vinegar Syrup (32). While I was too full to sample any of this dish, my dining compatriots assured me that this dish was up to par with Lobster and the Butterfish. I was happy that my all my friends enjoyed their meals. I mean, the foie and the lobster probably helped too. Not only was the atmosphere and food top notch, but I would be doing our server an injustice if I didn't describe the service at Blue Ginger. Our waitress was a seasoned veteran. Sometimes when you dine at an upscale restaurant, some servers display a condescending attitude. For what reason, I do not know; but this has been my experience. I'd like to be clear that this was NOT the case at Blue Ginger. Our Server was amazing. She was polite (especially when my buddy spilled his dark and stormy), very helpful (suggesting a great wine to accompany the Butterfish), not pushy, a made an effort to make sure this was a fabulous meal for all parties involved. For dessert, the five of us split Sesame Macadamia Caramel Nut Tart, Toasted Coconut Ice Cream with House-made Hot Fudge and Gosling's Rum Caramel Bananas (12) This tart but it was nothing short of magical. It was sweet, savory, gooey, and definitely pushed me over the edge into a food coma. Not even the delicious cappuccino cocould bring bring me back to life. I had died and gone to Blue Ginger heaven.
(5)
Mariko W.

Ming was there. Nice guy! I tried, calamri, organic shrimp,. and the lobster. Wow. I didn't think it was too expensive either. We spent 110.00 for two people. I could easily blow that on sub-par food in some tacky trendy place in the South End. Will go back soon!
(5)
Tony L.

Blue Ginger is a very unassuming restaurant--if you didn't know anything about it, you could drive by and never notice a thing. There's nothing flashy about the decor, creme paint decorated with a few royal blue highlights--an orchid here, a painting there. But once you get seated, that's when the magic begins. The service was excellent. It's one thing to have friendly, prompt service, but it's another to have unassuming waiters that are warm and that make you feel comfortable. Our waiter paired a few glasses of wine that went well with our entres. The appetizers were interesting. We had the fried calamari and the foie gras and shitake mushroom shiumai. The calamari is good, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it. Although they weren't greasy, they weren't crispy either, and aside from the sauce, which was the main selling point, they didn't taste too different from other fried calamari dishes I've had. The shiumai, on the other hand, was delicious. Interestingly, the shiumai had the familiar taste of shiumai you'd get at dim sum, yet had the added complexity and texture of foie gras. Delicious. Onto the entres, the heart and soul of our meal. My girlfriend had the rack of lamb and I had the peppered lobster. I had a few bites of the rack of lamb, and it was amazing. Juicy, melt-in-your-mouth tender, and cut three bones thick and served over a bed of seasoned veggies. The lobster was probably the best lobster I've ever had in my life. Both the claws were served deshelled and whole and the tail cut into sections served in the shell. The lobster head was hollowed out and filled with black peppered fried rice. Seasoned pea shoots blanketed the dish. The black pepper permeated the moist rice and succulent lobster, for a bold and unique finish. Each bite was tender, juicy, and filled with consistent flavor and brought me right to the edge of full. For desert, we shared a frozen lemon sorbet souffle. Although it spread out the palate with sweetness and sharp sour notes, cold sorbet and warm souffle, it isn't something I'd necessarily recommend again. Passable. Thus ends my meal and begins a dream of lobster, lobster that will remain the benchmark for all lobsters to come.
(5)
Peter B.

This is among the worst meals I can recall having paid this kind of money for. Visually, both mine and my wife's plates looked like freshly drained swamps and they tasted only slightly better than that initial impression. I've never been a snob about plating, but this was ridiculous - steamed greens, scraps of rice and chunks of shell and meat floating back and forth in an excess of (rather flavorless) sauce. Our server showed little interest in us and the whole experience was a disappointment.
(1)
Kendra L.

You have to like Asian fusion to go to Blue Ginger. If you are looking for anything else, just don't go. The duck was good. The lamb had to be sent back because it was still moving on the plate. The grapefruit, lychee, meringue , and sorbet dessert was delicious. The final bill hurt.
(4)
Heather G.

After all the rave reviews about this place, and my history of chronic disagreement with Yelp reviews, I went into Blue Ginger expecting...nothing. I assumed over-hype and went in thinking it'd be mediocre at best. I would say this was an upside-surprise. The dining room buzzed with customers, and the servers both (we had some confusion) were nice, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. The bread basket was inventive with crispy wafers and sweet, challah-like sliced bread and sweet butter. I tried my darndest to not fill up on crunchy bread-wafers! For appetizer, we tried the mushroom leek spring rolls. They were just OK - very greasy outside, and the veggies inside were cooked to the point of mushiness. There was no distinguishing any flavor from another, and the fried grease taste washed out any freshness they were trying to achieve with the veg. The dipping sauce was very salty, so just a dab will get it done. This was the least successful part of my meal. For entrees, we ordered: Hoisin-Garlic Marinated Hanger Steak with Chow Fun-Shrimp & Shiitake Roulade, Fresh Bamboo Stirfry and Chinese Hot Mustard Emulsion: Steak was cooked well at medium-rare, and was moist and delicious. The accompanying veg was more a shredded asian slaw than a stirfry, and the dish also had two shrimp roll-up/pinwheel pieces that had a nice sear on the outside but were mushy on the inside. The shrimp flavor was nice, but the consistency was doughy and chewy, which was a bit distracting. The entire dish was covered in a glaze/reduction that was very sweet (rather than spicy as the name would suggest), and detracted from the light, freshness that would have been present had the sauce been absent or a bit more citrus-y. Grilled Miso-Mustard New Zealand Rack of Lamb with Roasted New Potatoes, Maitake Mushroom Sauce and Wasabi-Sweet Pea Emulsion - The lamb was very tender and juicy, and the dish was beautifully-presented. The place clears out early, though, and by the end of the meal, we were the only patrons there! I guess that's suburban life for ya!
(3)
Marilyn T.

The downtown street in Wellseley is super cute, and all the trees are lit up in the winter around the holidays. Street parking isn't too bad in the evening, either. The crowd at the restaurant is a bit of a random mix. We started with the foie gras shumai, which is an interesting take on the traditional dimsum dish, but the foie gras is pretty subtle. It was served in a traditional steam basket. As for entrees, the miso butterfish is tender and flavorful. The black pepper lobster is sweet and plump, served over a lemongrass fried rice. For desserts, the pineapple upside down cake is fragrant, and it comes with a tropical fruit salad and pineapple tapioca. The best part is that Ming Tsai is very conscience about dietary preferences and food allergies, since his son has food allergies himself, so no need to worry about that here. Ming Tsai's original restaurant is a little out of the way from the city but definitely worth it if you like Asian fusion.
(4)
Paul M.

I wanted my wife's birthday to be a special occasion and wasn't disappointed. I must have mentioned the fact while making the reservation, but the host made sure to wish my wife a happy birthday, which I thought was a nice touch. We were seated promptly at a nice table for two in the back corner of the front room. The "Boston Bog" cocktail was almost mandatory - and very good. As an appetizer, my wife ordered the calamari and I ordered the spring rolls. The server offered the tip of wrapping the spring roll in a lettuce leaf and topping it with cole slaw before dipping, but I found this to be unnecessarily messy. The spring roll was delicious enough not to require this extra fuss. For the main entree, my wife ordered the seared duck breast, which was prepared perfectly and featured a rich, delicious shallot-medjool date sauce. She declared it to be among the best meals she's ever eaten - high praise for the foodie and fine chef that she is in her own right. I had the butterfish, as it is considered one of Ming Tsai's signature dishes. The fish itself was so tender and delicate that it fell into neatly-divided segments with the touch of a fork. I have to admit that I didn't quite understand the soba noodle sushi as an accompaniment. It was tasty, but I thought a simple starch (perhaps just soba noodles?) would have been a better choice. We opted not to have dessert, but the server brought a pair of cookies and a single candle to celebrate my wife's birthday, and several people at a nearby table - total strangers - started to sing "Happy Birthday." A very special occasion indeed!
(4)
Joe J.

This place is good. Really good. I had a big dinner here last night, and got to try the mussels, the calamari, tuna, beef carpaccio, and the New Zealand rack of lamb. I also had the "Vitamin C Sorbet". All of it was delicious. Why not 5? If you are going to charge what you charge and try and create a certain atmosphere, I feel like the food should be mindblowing. Nothing really was, although it was great.
(4)
H M.

My husband has been here before for business dinner and he suggested going there recently. We called ahead, made reservastion and headed out to Wellesley. When we arrived, our table was not ready and we had to wait for another 5 minutes or so. Remember we asked for the 5 PM reservation - it's not like there are many diners at that time! My husband ordered Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish and it was tasty. According to the waiter, it's basically cod, but I can never make cod this buttery and melt in your mouth. But this fish has got to be the smallest piece I've ever seen in any restaurant. Also for the Vegetarian Soba Noodle Sushi on the plate, it's like wrapping spaghetti in seaweed. I ordered Blue Ginger Seafood 'Bouillabaisse' with Saffron-Edamame Risotto. Saffron rice tasted too sour with the Vinegar Syrup and there were a lot more rice than seafood on the whole plate. Aagin, the portion was really small. When the entrees were done, we asked for the dessert menu. After studying it for a while, we decided not to get anything because most of them were either cookies or ice cream (with a little something else). Give me something decent! Ready? "Doughnut and coffee" costs $12. You're kidding me, right? Overall, the food was OK and the service wasn't too bad. But it was very Wellesley-ly priced! We end up walking out the restaurant hungry. For almost $100, I shouldn't feel that way. Don't you agree?
(3)
Ryan V.

Asian Fusion? Where's the Asian? I was very disappointed with my overall experience in dining here. First off, the theme of the cuisine is Asian Fusion but there was not one Asian person working in the kitchen which didn't really throw me off but it could've helped as I explain later below. I was greeted by an young, arrogant Asian hostess and was seated immediately. The restaurant is dimly lit to disguise what you were ordering in terms of price. Our server was very nice, attentive and quite knowledgeable. I ordered a limonade which cost $5 and tasted just god-awful. I would made it myself for $5 by getting 5 limes and 6 pack of water and some packets of sugar. Next I ordred "Fragrant Thai Mussels with Lime Leaf & Green Papaya" and was very disappointed in terms of taste. My taste buds were very confused on what was going on here and could not see any Thai theme. For my main course, I ordered "Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster with Lemongrass Fried Rice". This course did not meet my expectations. The rice was did not go well with the lemon grass. The presentation was just plain awlful. The only thing that was done right was the lobster meat. The meat was still moist and tender. It is very easy to overcook the lobster and have it come out rubbery or chewy. I had to pass on dessert not because of the limited selection and the prices but my overall food eating experience here. I did not see any Asian theme in any of the cuisines here. As bad as it sounds, perhaps there was no Asian staff working in the kitchen. The food is overpriced since you are eating in the "Wealth of Wellesley". I can honestly say that my taste buds prefer Panda Express in the mall food court for a fraction of the cost. Can I say "More Orange Flavored Chicken Please!!"??
(2)
Christopher S.

I came here a few months ago with my girlfriend, her aunt and uncle for dinner in late March. Family and coworkers kept telling me that this place is delightful and worth a trip out to Wellesley. Now, I've eaten Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Korean other similar foods but I've still yet to understand the whole Asian Fusion concept. Sure, the meals here looks nice and they must be a pain to literally assemble but I hate it when food gets so wrapped up in the presentation that the taste suffers. It is interesting how the chef comes up with these combinations but I think most chefs try to squeeze too much into too little. All night my taste buds were boxing with flavors of YUM and YUCK from a single meal. Almost everything I tried that night had something in it I both liked and disliked which was annoying. Don't expect to find cheap eats here or anywhere else in Wellesley. This is a wealthy town and most places are moderate to pricey. I would suggest giving this place a try if you are trying to impress someone on a date or feeling bold and looking for something different. Blue Ginger is more of a 2.5 star rating for me. I would suggest anyone who want to try this place go for drinks and appetizers first before committing to a big meal which can cost $22.00 to $41.00 a person. Ouch!
(3)
Glen T.

My wife and I went to Blue Ginger for our first "date night" since the birth of of our daughter. Overall, it was excellent; however, we had very high expectations and there were a few things that were not perfect. For appetizers we shared the Shiitake-Leek Springrolls and the Maitake Mushroom Soft Tacos. The Springrolls were awesome and I could have eaten 20 of them. The soft tacos were good too. I liked the shitake mushroom component of it; however, I wasn't a huge fan of the flavor of the soft taco shell. For the main course I had the Alaskan Butterfish and my wife had the Hangar steak.The Butterfish was phenominal and I loved the presentation of the meal. Perfectly cooked and ultra light and tastey. My wife was not in love with the adobo bbq sauce on her steak. Personally, I think she is crazy because I tasetd it and thought it was great (not sure which camp you will be in). For dessert we had the chocolate cake (super rich and decadent) and the macadamia crusted caramel tort (yum!). Both were awesome. The service was excellent and the ambiance was great... my only nit-picky complaint is that they have white paper over the linen table cloth. It is a minor thing, but if I am going to spend $150-$200 (with tip) for dinner, I would expect not to eat on paper table cloths. Overall it was great. But for the $ and high expectations it wasn't perfect.
(5)
Bridget B.

I think the quality has gone down proportionately with the rising of Ming Tsai's star, but I still think the food is pretty good, if possibly over priced. I've been there a handful of times, and Ming has actually been there every single time, which I think is pretty neat considering he's now a celebrity chef. My husband and I brought our families there for our wedding party and he came by and hung out at the table for a good ten minutes which I thought was sweet (We had told them the meaning of the dinner in advance and that my mom was a huge fan of his) The lychee martinis are really good...that's the first thing that really comes to mind. Those and the seafood soup, however since the menu is seasonal I'm not sure how often you can get the latter. It's a fun experience, the decor is gorgeous and the staff is friendly. It also warrants mention that they have a gluten free menu for those of you who suffer from celiac disease.
(4)
Jennifer W.

All the rave you heard were true...this restaurant is fantastic in presentation, taste and innovation. Foie Gras-Shiitake Shumai and lobster with fried rice were delicate and tasty. I also highly recommend the butterfish. Most importantly...get they Golden Goose martini. Ginger and grey goose...they should by as synonymous as peanut butter and jelly.
(5)
J T.

Don't believe the hype! Industrial production of ok food.
(2)
Mel H.

Private dining heaven. My husband and I had a reception here, which we had to plan remotely from the Bay Area. Selene and Erika from Blue Ginger's events were fantastic, and were able to accommodate our group's special needs (our 100+ year old Nana, menu for children and folks with allergies, bringing in our own cake, etc.) All the things that might've been crazy on the big day were not. The staff was AWESOME and so nice! We had the tasting menu and everyone thought the food was exquisite. I couldn't have been more pleased.
(5)
Kristine M.

I was so disappointed in Blue Ginger. I went here for lunch with my friend yesterday with the highest of hopes and a hearty appetite. Our experience started of strange right off the bat. My friend had made lunch reservations, and the snooty host alerted us to the fact that they don't take lunch reservations, so it wasn't possible. (Nevertheless, we DID have lunch reservations!) To our surprise, once we got inside the dining room, the restaurant was almost completely empty, with only about 4 other parties there. So I guess we didn't even need reservations! Our waitress was unfriendly, with a monotone voice and expressionless face. We asked for water to drink, and the water tasted like the worst tap water you could possibly imagine. We decided to order Shirley Temples. Later when we got the bill, we saw that our Shirley Temples each cost $3.25. (!!!!!) I ate the crab rangoons, the pork bun, and the butterfish. While everything was good, I left Blue Ginger with an empty pocketbook, and with a still empty stomach. And the prices -- I couldn't get over the prices. $12 for THREE crab rangoons? $12 for ONE pork bun? A few bite sized pieces of butterfish on an artistically arranged plate for $21? Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it. Blue Ginger is ~GOURMET~ so they have these minuscule entrees accompanied by large prices. But I can't bring myself to spend that kind of money for lunch. If I'm going to spend that kind of money on food, I want to leave satisfied. I did not leave satisfied. I felt snubbed by our waitress and like a sucker for spending $12 on a single pork bun. After my visit to Blue Ginger, I had a second lunch an hour later. Now I know why the restaurant was empty -- in this economy, who wants to go to a restaurant where you need to spend $50+ on LUNCH?! As someone who frequents Chinatown, I'd rather forgo the "fusion" and trendy decor of Blue Ginger, and see how many pork buns I can get for $12 at Hei La Moon. And they'll probably be just as good.
(2)
Robert C.

Maybe it's a perennial problem with celebrity chef restaurants...the person who made the food so famous is now removed from the kitchen, and the standards fall....but the prices don't! The "crispy calamari" was anything but - too much coating, and not fried hot enough to keep the grease from soaking into the food. The "Thai Dipping Sauce" was an overly sour lemon-y or vinegar-y liquid that made me wish for good ole' tomato dipping sauce that I get at Italian restaurants. The cracked pepper lobster dish was not bad (but overly spiced), except that some of the tail pieces were mushy (maybe from the lobster being dead for too long?). The "crab encrusted halibut" was a great fish dish, but the sauce was overly spiced, masking ....what? The apple fritters challenged me to find any apple in them, though there was an apple compote spread around the dish - maybe that's where they were? In all, for the price paid, I would have expected a "Wow" food experience, but what I got was just a bit better than a chain restaurant quality. I must say, though, that the service staff - waitress, bussing folks, etc., were really great and redeemed the meal.
(3)
jamie l.

Oh Ming... I'll start with a comment that my wife made mid-way through the meal. She looked up at me from her greasy dish and asked, "Ming Tsai...or Ming Fry?". She was spot-on. This place was downright awful. One of the two breads given when you first get served is a deep-fried pita-like bread, our waitress told us that two of their signature starters were a fried calamari (seriously?) and their mushroom & leek spring rolls - also fried. When we asked about the preparation of the spring rolls the waitress said "well...they're fried but so lightly fried that you don't even notice." These were typical, suburban, Cantonese, greasy, Chinese restaurant egg rolls. Actually - those suburban egg rolls are much better because they probably cost $10 less and don't make you vomit (I'll come back to that). My wife had the butterfish - which the waitress described to us as a lot like Chilean Sea Bass. I had the duck - which the waitress informed me would be cooked "with a little bit of pink in the center". The fish was nearly inedible (in addition to the quality, texture and greasy-ness, it had an overwhelming smoky taste from the grill - and not that nice smokiness that you often long for - this was a smokiness like a pot holder or rag got burned in the grill and imbued a nasty burnt flavor into the fish). Granted it's called butterfish - I get that - but it's not called greasyfish. Also - the prep and accoutrements didn't help at all. My duck was mostly raw (so much for "a little bit of pink in the center") and generally poor quality. Fortunately they sliced it up for me because it took so long to chew I can only imagine how long it took them to cut. My duck was accompanied by a pork-fried-rice (although I don't recall it being described that way on the menu). Yup - fried. They added blueberries in an attempt to be creative, I suppose, but it was basically just pork-fried-rice with blueberries. My wife and I agreed that you'd be better off driving to Chinatown and spending about $40 (our bill was $150) on food that is fresher, tastier, lighter, more interesting, and doesn't make you vomit. Right - because to top off our night out my wife woke up around 1:30am and vomited three times. All the other (negative) stuff that you read is relevant about the staff and room, etc. - so I won't bore you with more of that. Don't blow your money (or your arteries) here. Go to Chinatown - or that suburban Cantonese Chinese restaurant - either would be a million times better.
(1)
Lori K.

I had been dying to try Blue Ginger, but we just never seemed to find the time when visiting Boston. We finally went as a special dinner for our son who graduated from college that weekend. The staff was wonderful...they made a point of asking if it was a special occasion when I made the reservation, and when we arrived they made sure to congratulate our son and give him special treatment throughout the meal. We started off with a variety of apps - tuna poke, calamari, mussels, salmon and beef carpaccio - the tuna poke and carpaccio being two of our favorites. For entrees we had the butterfish (delicious!), garlic-black pepper lobster, scallops, and rack of lamb (yum!). All were superb. Definitely make the time to splurge and try this place!
(5)
Mike G.

some in last year's Top Chef made snarky comments about Ming Tsai's cooking as uncreative, stuck in the '90s. and they'd be right. had apps of bigeye tuna with crispy sushi rice and a salad; mains of sake-miso marinated alaskan butterfish and orange glazed duck breast all split-plated between two diners. was incredibly pricey for really generic tasting food. if hungry for pan-asian in Boston, go to Myers & Chang instead.
(3)
A H.

We were in the Boston area with our kids on school break. I have always like Ming Tsai and enjoyed watching him over the years, so I suggested we try it. My wife agreed and we took the girls in for an early dinner on a Thursday evening. The restaurant looks very nice. Clean, modern and we lliked watching the chefs in the kitchen. The staff was attentive without being pushy and in general were excellent. We knew we were in for an expensive evening but we decided to splurge. We got the calamari appetizer and the kids got the pot stickers. The calamari was over-cooked and rubbery, and the dipping sauce tasted like some kind of floor cleaner. The pot stickers were good and the kids liked them, but they weren't extraordinary. The kids ordered Panko chicken fingers which were very overcooked and extremely dried out. Shanhai noodles which was basically just vermicelli with too much oil on it. I ordered the butterfish and my wife ordered the lobster. The fish was good, but not great, and a very small portion. The soba noodle sushi was excellent. The lobster wame with the carapace filled with lemongrass risotto which was a nice presentation and provided a wow factor, but the risotto didn't live up to the promise of the presentation. So we left almost $200 lighter in the wallet and not really satisfied with any aspect of the meal. C'mon, Ming, step it up.
(2)
Sohini R.

6 of us went out to Blue Ginger, 4 of us had been wanting to go for some time. The ambiance was lovely, but we all left feeling underwhelmed....perhaps our expectations were too high? The calamari was good but the sauce was not (I recommend Harvest's calamari instead). We all liked the tuna sashimi poke, and the butterfish. My fiance didn't like his bouillabaise, mostly because of its salty taste and because it was a risotto with a thick sauce reduced from fish, as opposed to a soup. My vegetarian noodle/curry/whatever seemed to come straight from P.F. Chang's. I didn't really want to take the leftovers home. Like others here have said, it was only OK given the hype.
(2)
gus w.

My wife and I hit Blue Ginger on a friday night, on a whim with out reservations. Got right into the lounge area (tapas menu only). Service was prompt, and the server did a great job of explaining the menu and picking out some wined for us to enjoy with our selections. We started with the Shitake Mushroom soup -- Awesome, one of my favorite soups in recent memory. Spicy, well balanced very flavorful soup. Moved onto the sweet-potato fries with the chili spices. Nice, crispy flavorful fries. Not greasy in the least. For the large plates we split the buttterfish and the black pepper shrimp. Both were perfectly cooked and in sauces that left me wanting to lick the plates. Super successful visit, total cost (3 glasses of wine, 2 smal plates 2 large plates) was $100. Not bad for a friday night at such a popular resturant. We will be back soon to try the main dining room....and see what else awaits!
(4)
Aimee Z.

For my 350th Review, I wanted something special... While in town for a wedding, and my first vacation in 6 years, Tracey W, Crys B and I decided we had to go to Ming Tsai's Blue Ginger. Even though it's a 45 minute drive from our hotels near the Boston Harbor, we had to go; we just rented a car for the day and took off. It was totally worth it!! Blue Ginger is 5 stars, all the way, from the ambiance, to the service and most especially the food!!! I ordered the clam chowder and it was different than any other clam chowder I had ever had as it had a very thin broth and lots of vegetables. Delicious CrysB ordered the Sweet Potato Fries with Chili Aioli as an appetizer saying she couldn't resist sweet potato fries, and the aioli was a great to dip them in. I was sad when we, as a table, finished off the fries. For my meal, I ordered the Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish in Wasabi Oil, Soy-Lime Syrup and Vegetarian soba Noodle Sushi. The fish was flaky and perfectly cooked with a wonderful flavor. "And, for dessert (oh my god, the desserts!!!)" Crys said... AMEN I ordered the Blue Ginger Cookies & Sweets Plate, which had small portions of their other desserts, such as the Tahitian Vanilla CrÃ¨me BrÃ»lÃ©e (my favorite) and some insanely delicious cookies and bars. The other girls ordered the Warm Apple Crisp with Candied Ginger Ice Cream. I, of course, had to try it. The apples were perfect, not too crisp and not too mushy, and the sauce was so full of fall spices, it was delicious, but my favorite component of the dish was the candied ginger ice cream! I love ginger and now I've got to figure out where to get ice cream like this or get an ice cream maker to make my own! As for the service, it was absolutely amazing. We were very late for our reservation, due to problems with the car rental, but the restaurant was completely gracious about it. Our server was absolutely wonderful from the moment we sat down to the end of our meal. One of the most impressive parts of the service was that they inquired about food allergies when the reservation was made in September, and our server double checked when we sat down nearly a month later. I have some food allergies, so it's really nice when a restaurant is not only able to cope with it, but to actually bring it up and recommend what they could do, based on my allergies. Would I go back? Definitely, this is one restaurant not to be missed.
(5)
Jinine C.

really mediocre ..... had low expectation going in and was still disappointed.... The Red Miso ConsommÃ© soup was a bit too salty and had a very interesting taste.... the Indonesian Curry noodle had way too much ginger and didn't taste very good either... chances of going back is very unlikely... but very good customer service and atmosphere thou
(2)
Steve A.

Owned and operated by TV Chef, Ming Tsai, Blue Ginger is one of the finest restaurants in all of Wellesley. Ming can be often found here working the line and greeting guests. I had tuna tartare which was the best I've ever tasted, although admittedly I"ve only had it once prior (Cheesecake Factory). I'm only taking one star off because of the prices. One night here equals my monthly rent! I had to eat exclusively off the McDonald's dollar menu (Cheeseburger, Small Fries, Happy-Meal sized Coke) for the next thirty days, but it was totally worth it for that one great meal made by the Dragon Dad himself, Ming Tsai!
(4)
Crystal B.

For my 200th Review, I wanted something special... While in town for a wedding, some friends and I put Blue Ginger down as our 1 "Must Try" restaurant. Even though it's a 45 minute drive from Boston, we had to go, we just rented a car for the day and took off. Let me just say this, it was totally worth it!! Blue Ginger is 5 stars, all the way, from the ambiance, to the service and most especially the food!!! One of my friends ordered the clam chowder, which I had a bite of, of course, and it was absolutely perfect, one of my favorite comfort foods. My appetizer was the Sweet Potato Fries with Chili Aioli, just because I can't resist sweet potato fries, and the aioli was a great accompaniment. My entree was the Seafood Paella. A little different than I've had before, but so incredibly delicious! I wish I could have figured out the spices in this dish, it was just so amazing, there was a little something extra that perked up the palate, definitely not part of the traditional dish. I only wish there had been some shrimp in this dish, it was the only thing missing. And, for dessert (oh my god, the desserts!!!) I ordered the Warm Apple Crisp with Candied Ginger Ice Cream. The apples were perfect, not too crisp and not too mushy, and the sauce was so full of fall spices, it was delicious, but my favorite component of the dish was the candied ginger ice cream! I love ginger and now I've got to figure out where to get ice cream like this or get an ice cream maker to make my own! One of my friends ordered the Blue Ginger Cookies & Sweets Plate, which had small portions of their other desserts, such as the Tahitian Vanilla Creme Brulee (wonderful!) and some insanely delicious cookies and bars. Wish I'd ordered that one, too, lol. As for the service, it was absolutely impeccable. We arrived late for our reservation, due to problems with the car rental, but the restaurant was completely gracious about it. Our server was absolutely wonderful from the moment we sat down to the end of our meal. One of the most impressive parts of the service was that they inquired about food allergies when the reservation was made, and our server double checked when we sat down. One of the friends I was with does have some food allergies, so it's really nice when a restaurant is not only able to cope with it, but to actually bring it up and recommend what she could have based on her allergies. Would I go back? Definitely, this is one restaurant not to be missed.
(5)
Lan T.

This was my second time, both on company travel...woohoo! So getting there, Washington ends at around 555 Washington and so when you are near the church with the steeple, turn. I saw Ming there. His hair is longer these days. I loved the first time, but expected more this time. The bread was good, but i just wasn't wowed...
(4)
Courtney T.

Since we are huge fans of shows like Iron Chef, Hell's Kitchen, Top Chef, and Chopped, to name a few, my boyfriend and I decided to check out our first famous-chef-restaurant. I must say that every single thing that landed on our table was phenomenal. We started with the salmon and beef carpaccio, I went with the waiter's recommendation for dinner -- the butterfish entree, my boyfriend ordered the tea-smoked chicken entree, and we got maitake coffee and the sesame macadamia caramel tarte for dessert. Honestly, everything I tasted, I said "oh my gosh!" Such a fun time and such a new experience for me. And yes, we even saw Ming Tsai there. So much fun! I also learned that there's a bar menu, so if you're looking to save a buck, try that or lunch! Worth every penny.
(5)
Brent G.

Having just been to Charlie Phan's new restaurant in San Francisco, I wasn't expecting much better from Blue Ginger. ...I stand corrected. This place was great! I booked 730 reservations and we were seated exactly at 730. The service was great and it was followed up by Ming Tsai coming to our table to speak with us for several minutes. I could tell it was something he really enjoyed doing and for once in my life I was a little star struck. We couldn't decide what to order so we ordered the tasting menu. 1st Course: Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna Poke - Served on a bed of warm crispy rice. I love it when they mix cold dishes with warm. The sambal also gave it some good heat and really brought the flavors out. 2nd Course: Sake Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish- Quite possibly my favorite meal of the night. The fish was very tender and the miso sauce made the fish very sweet. 3rd Course: Foie Gras Shitake Shumai - Cool concept, it was served in a broth of what tasted like an asian style french onion soup. I thought this dish was a bit rich but still good. 4th Course: Grilled Marinated Hanger Steak and Garlic Black Pepper Lobster - Steak was cooked just right and very tender. The Lobster had good flavoring but what I liked the most was the fried rice. The ginger gave it a very refreshing taste. 5th Course: Bittersweet Chocolate cake and strawberry shortcake - Tooooo full to eat any more...must have one more bite! Very good but not the focus of the meal. I was sufficiently full for the rest of the night and for the next morning. Not on par with some of the other restaurants I gave 5 stars to but the service, experience and price make up for that.
(5)
Michelle K.

The biggest 5 stars I've given so far! Forgive me, but this meal was about a month ago so I remember it in hyperbole. This was an incredible, delicious, meal with complex flavors and well worth a little drive from Cambridge or Boston or wherever you're are. My family and I started with both the Shiitake-Leek Springrolls and the Foie Gras-Shiitake Shumai in Sauternes-Shallot Broth which were out of this world! Trust me, get those shumai and only share if you have to. Then I had the Alaskan Butterfish entree which was the best fish I've ever eaten. Seared nice and crisp but melt-in-your-mouth soft inside. The noddle "sushi" on the plate was a creative idea. Beautiful plating all night. We couldn't leave such a great restaurant without tasting the dessert. We got the Bittersweet Chocolate Cake and the Caramel Nut Tart -- which was even better than I imagined. We had a fabulous table at the back with the sun streaming in a screen and the service was ideal. Gotta get back here!
(5)
Mike C.

My fav restaurant in and around Boston. Ming's food is fantastic. I have eaten just about everything on the menu except the vegetarian entree. The simplest appetizer is a mixed green salad with shallot-pommeroy dressing, is to die for. The lobster entree is awesome, beyond words. The service is great, Kat is a great waitress. You often see Ming and his wife Polly there making sure it all goes perfectly.
(5)
Ken S.

Friday night 8:15 reservation for 4 made at 5PM same night worried me, when the 7 o'clock guests were done the restaurant was less stuffy we had a great meal. Ming was there,a plus for all groupies. Wellesley is a quaint but long streched town, so carefull cruising through as the local fuzz monitors the road.As for food; Price should not be a deterrent, this is a class act. Top to bottom,well managed and executed.This rest. could easily be in any center city. $350 for four,8 cocktails,4 apps,4 entree,3 desserts,2 coffee. Service was efficient and caring. Our servers were knowledgeable,but we were never needy,as everything was explained and delivered promptly. The Menu, great concepts, some unfamiliar ingredients, sensory treats,great presentations. My Opinion. I'd go back if I'm in the area again to try other items.I'd recommend to others the same. Worth the drive from around the Boston area for a special dinner with special guests who can appreciate their Asian/Fusion style. Plenty reviews on individual menu items on Yelp, but I leave that to the diners. We loved our meal,and cocktails.Why 4 not 5 stars? I think the menu needs freshening,all reviews for a couple years are on same items,besides very few can achieve a perfect score,if 6 were tops 5 would be my call.
(4)
Michelle C.

Wow! My husband took me here for my birthday and it was badass. The hostess wished me a happy birthday meaning when my husband called they wrote it down just so they can say happy birthday when I arrived- bonus points in my book. Service continued to be exceptional, Chef Tsai was at the pass and actively tasting to make sure everytime was top notch. For app, we got the carpaccio which was salmon and beef, this was different and amazing. Loved the wasabi sauce with it. Good portion too. For dinner I had the lamb chops which actually aren't on the menu right now (looks like lamb shank now) but this was stunning in presentation and flavor. It could not have been cooked any better, I salivate just thinking about this dish. This goes down in one of the best things I have ever eaten. My husband had scallops over a vegetable gratin which was awesome too but not as exciting as my dish. Looks like this is not on the menu anymore either. Damn, looks like I am going to have to make that drive again to try these new items.
(5)
Archana V.

Recommend: Creole spiced cod with shrimp gumbo I had never heard of Blue Ginger until now. I haven't seen any of Ming Tsai's shows or bought his cookbooks. But. I do know and appreciate good food. For appetizers I had the fried calamari that was served with a very sour dipping sauce I didn't like much. As for entrees, I think the butterfish is overhyped. It is good but definitely not great. I preferred the assertive flavors of the creole spiced cod to the subtle and overly buttery butterfish. Dessert was good again. Definitely not great. Honestly, I do not see the point in driving all the way to the burbs to eat okay food that was overpriced. Also, the decor is definitely in need of an upgrade.
(3)
S K.

Blue Ginger has been on my must-dine list even before I moved to Massachusetts. My husband and I went for our anniversary and it was definitely worth the drive and the wait. The restaurant has a very casual, neighborhood atmosphere--not pretentious and very relaxed. The bar area is a little small to wait in but the bartenders and waitstaff are really nice and on top of things. We saw lots of people ordering something that looked like tuna tartare at the bar tables so we made sure to order it when we got to our table. It was the tuna poke appetizer and the standout of the dinner. Our dinner order was seafood heavy and delicious: butterfish, seafood paella, spring rolls and the poke. Our waiter, who was extremely knowledgeable, nice, and just the right amount of attentive, brought us little cookies to celebrate our anniversary too. The matsutake coffee was a perfect end to a perfect dinner.
(5)
Alan B.

The food was 5-star; the service and value were 4-star; still very good but the draws of this restaurant are the incredible flavors and textures. We consulted Yelp reviews, our host and our server for recommendations. The Tuna tartare app included yummy sushi grade tuna and a delicious crispy sushi rice base. The foie gras shumai were heavenly, melt in your mouth. For entrees we selected two of the most popular dishes-butterfish and lobster. Both lived up to their reputations but at $41 the value was only ok. We sat at the bar for a few minutes before and after dinner and found it warm and inviting. We drank proseco with dinner which was perfect with the layers of flavor. We arrived early (5:00) and enjoyed a quiet and private dinner. Service could have been a bit more attentive given that the place was mostly empty but they may not have been in the groove yet. We live 50 miles away and probably will come back but for special occasions.
(4)
Daniel L.

I've been a casual fan of Ming Tsai ever since I used to get home from work early enough to watch his East Meets West show on the Food Network. From that show I knew he had a restaurant in nearby Wellesley, but being a typical Rhode Islander who needs to pack a lunch and make overnight arrangements if I am driving more than half an hour out of my way, I never ventured there to try his cuisine. Well, let me tell you, I am extremely disappointed in myself for not getting off my butt and going there sooner. Early this past week, my fiancee and I decided to treat ourselves and be adventurous, and make the trek up from East Greenwich to Wellesley to try out Blue Ginger. Given the generally great reviews of the place, and given that Ming is a "celebrity chef", I have to admit that I had extremely high expectations for this dining experience. I even told my fiancee that they were so high that I could totally see myself being disappointed even if the experience was really good. We arrived about 15 minutes before our 7:15 reservations, since I couldn't really tell exactly how long it would take to drive from our place in East Greenwich and I would rather be early than late. The place was hopping, and the hostess said that there were several tables with checks on them so we would be seated soon. We made our way to the bar to wait where we had a couple of drinks. There were only two bartenders there, and they were slamming; even so, we ordered and received our drinks in an acceptable amount of time. Chef Tsai was floating around the area chatting up the guests while we were there, which was a nice touch. Exactly at 7:15, another hostess found us and brought us to our table. We have a habit of scouting out the menu online before we go to many restaurants, so we pretty much knew what we were going to get (and we didn't waste any time lolly gagging - plus, we were pretty hungry): we ordered the calamari (very good; light batter, crispy, not greasy at all, with a nice little Thai dipping sauce), the foie gras-shiitake shumai (YUM!), and for entrees she had the scallops (which she said were scrumptious), and after reading the raves, I had the butterfish. Oh my goodness, that fish was the most melt-in-your-mouth thing I have ever ever ever ever had! Wow! I may be ruined for anything else there, even though I saw enough lobster dishes being served that I may have to try that next time we go. The meal proceeded at a nice, relaxed, even pace throughout the evening, even though the place was packed the entire time (I am SO happy I made reservations). We observed Chef Tsai throughout the evening, greeting guests, overseeing the plates going out, and even bringing plates out the some tables. In fact, my fiancee noted that once he brought entrees out to a table and the diners didn't even notice it was him, treating him like one of the waiters. . . Oh yeah, we ordered the doughnuts for dessert. . . again, oh my goodness! I am not really a dessert guy, but these rank in my top 3 of all time. I'm not sure what they do to make them so good, but whatever it is, I hope they keep it up and have them whenever we go. I stopped by the mens room on the way out, and when I came out, my fiancee had somehow corralled Chef Tsai and we chatted a little while before we left. She told me that while she was waiting for me, he stopped near her and was looking over the area, and she approached him to thank him for a great meal. She told him that I was a fan and he said he would wait for me to emerge so he could say hi. Again, a nice touch. Obviously, Chef Tsai knows he's a "celebrity chef", so he definitely has the schmoozing with the guests thing down. He seems very charming and nice. However, my fiancee did notice him directing one of the wait staff that came out of the kitchen balancing a large tray in his right hand while carrying a single plate of salad in his left. She saw Chef Tsai stop the waiter and take the salad plate out of his hand, telling him that he should always leave one hand free when carrying a large tray so that he could catch the tray if it became unbalanced. She said he wasn't bossy, demeaning or arrogant about it at all, just seemed to be trying to teach one of the younger waiters how to do things properly. One nice thing that I noticed was that even though the serving sizes seem on the light side, I have to say I was completely satisfied without feeling stuffed at the end of the meal. In these days of either skimpy, tiny servings where you still feel hungry afterwards, or places trying to get by on heaping servings where you feel overstuffed after eating, I found this to be a fabulously refreshing way to leave a restaurant. I must say that my expectations for the evening were easily met and exceeded. From beginning to end, we had a fantastic experience and are definitely going to make the hike back to Blue Ginger a few times a year from now on.
(5)
Julie A.

What a great treat! This place is expensive but totally worth it. Fantastic food, no matter what you get. I find the menu is as diverse as the flavors in each item on it. Everything is cooked to perfection. a lot of seafood and meat, but there are a few vegetarian dishes as well. All are bursting with flavor! the lot in the back makes for a nice suburban convenience factor too. MAJOR MUST HAVE..... the Blue Ginger Gimlet. It's liquid heaven!
(5)
Lala L.

This place has so much hype. There isn't anything that special about the dishes, nothing I can't make at home. I think the only fact that makes their dishes stand out and that Blue Ginger can charge so much is that they use the best ingredients. The seafood is very fresh, the presentation is awesome, and the service was unbelievable. I think I was more impressed with the dessert than the apps and entree. food: 7 creativity: 7 presentation: 9 service: 9
(4)
Sarah C.

Wow! what a disappointment Blue Ginger was. My hubby and I have been looking forward to dining at Blue Ginger for over a year now as we love asian-fusion cuisine. We decided to check it out during restaurant week to get a taste of what they serve at a better price and left feeling like we wasted money. Food: Mediocre at best. Got the spring rolls, chicken and creme brulee, hubby got the soup, oxtail and cake. My spring rolls were tasty but looked like I could get them at Chilis. My creme bruele was burnt. My hubby enjoyed the soup and oxtail but said they were both something you can get anywhere. Plus he kept asking me how is oxtail and garlic mash was asian? He said the best part of his meal was the store bought cardamom icecream. Atmosphere: Tables were very close together. Had very pretty music when we first arrive but became very loud when the restaurant was full with everyone talking. Why paper table clothes? why? Do I get a box of crayons to draw on it? Really cheapened the experience. If I'm spending over $100 for dinner I was real linens. Service: Horrible. This is what ruined our date night. My hubby and I both have worked for years in the restaurant biz so we understand having a bad day etc but this was beyond bad. We arrived 30 minutes early for our 6:30 reservation thinking we could get a drink at the bar before dinner. They were not busy so they sat us right away. The host Jeff looked at us when we came in with disgust, and said very loudly to the other hostess, "they need the restaurant week menu? Whatever I'll give it to them anyway". Def didn't make us feel welcome walking in. He sat us, threw the menus down and left before I'd even sat down. Doreen F was our waitress. She looked at us like we were interrupting her night and all she wanted to do was go out for a smoke. She rushed us the whole night. We planned on a bottle of wine or a bunch of rather expensive cocktails but having to ask for the cocktail menu over and over again and seeing her eye roll when she had to walk to the host stand made us not want to keep asking. She obviously did not plan our dinner well with the kitchen. We were still eating our apps when our dinner came and she took my unfinished spring rolls away when I wasn't done with them. Then she disappeared for about 30 minutes after dinner so we had to hail down another waitress for refills on water. The worst offense came when she brought our check to us when she gave us dessert. So we can't order another $14 drink or coffee? You don't want a bigger tip? Then we swarmed us like a hawk while we ate dessert so my hubby paid and she took the check over my shoulder while I was eating and then proceeded to walk to her waitress friend and bitch so we could hear about us. We gave her a 20% tip which I thought was generous based on the service and she was loudly swearing about us so we could hear. Thank you Doreen for single-handly ruining our date night. I know that restaurant week sucks for the staff, and I'm sorry that you don't agree with your restaurant hosting. But we are customers that honestly wanted to check it out and come back for further date nights but now will never return.
(1)
Liqi P.

My favorite place to treat friends!
(5)
Quang N.

My brother took me here for my birthday. To start we had the Shiitake-Leek Springrolls, and Foie Gras-Shiitake Shumai in Sauternes-Shallot Broth. They were both awesome. For entrees both my wife and brother ordered the Butterfish while I went with the Hanger steak. To finish we had the Sesame Macadamia Caramel Nut Tart. All in all it the food was very good, even the bread. The service seemed a bit slow, but it was a Friday night so it was pretty busy. The water guy made sure to keep our glasses full, but he seemed a little annoyed the whole night. In the end we were all able to meet Ming Tsai himself. He signed a menu for me and we got a picture together with him in the front of his restaurant. Was a great dinner overall.
(4)
L. Q.

What is wrong with you people? Did you not read "The Emperor's New Clothes" as a child? This foodie "Emperor" has. no. clothes. I was treated to this place by friends on a recent visit to Massachusetts. From the unintelligible, hard-to-find waiter, to the noodly lump-of-things entree presenting a dense wall of mismatched flavors that felt like a fist in my mouth, the experience was unforgettable for ALL the wrong reasons. Imagine how this review would read if I had actually picked up the tab. Does the word "aghast" mean anything anymore? Wellesley, really? This you rave about? Get into the city - ANY city - more often.
(1)
Christa W.

We've been watching Ming Tsai on tv since the early days of the Food Network and drooling at his creations. I was lucky enough to talk my friends into taking me there about 8 years ago, and had an amazing meal. We may have ordered everything on the menu. This year my husband made reservations at Blue Ginger for valentine's day. The food was as good as I had remembered if not better. We shared two appetizers - Smoked Salmon & Beef Carpaccio and Sesame Crusted Hamachi with Red Miso ConsommÃ©. We were amazed at how well smoked salmon and beef could compliment each other. The hamachi was perfectly cooked. My carnivorous husband ordered a vegetarian dish (Grilled Vegetable Quinoa "Risotto" with Yuzu Chili) and could not stop raving about it. I, however, could not pass up the chance at a perfect dish of duck (Orange Miso Glazed Long Island Duck Breast Sunchoke PurÃ©e) and was not disappointed. We can't wait to go back!
(5)
Bharathi B.

Whatever you do, have the butterfish! It literally melts in your mouth. And always save space for dessert, you won't regret it.
(5)
Penny K.

Delicious food and attentive/prompt service made this a great choice for a special dinner. The three of us shared 2 ample appetizers (tuna and salmon/beef carpaccio); the tuna was sweet and creamy, the beef/salmon delicate and lovely. We had the butterfish/sablefish (similarly butter-like), the lobster and the scallops ... three great choices. Portion size is very generous. For dessert we shared a macadamia, coconut, banana and chocolate concoction that was the best dessert we could remember.
(5)
D H.

Ming, what have you done? =( I've been waiting for years for the opportunity to make it to this fabled restaurant, but I left sadly disappointed. Perhaps it was the high expectations after watching Ming since he first was on East Meets West on PBS 12 years ago, but it did not live up to the reputation, perhaps it was the exorbitant cost, perhaps it wasn't really all that hungry that night (doubtful), but it left a lot to be desired. The first thing that caught my eye was the set of Kyocera knives being "hocked" just behind the hostess...Ming, I thought you were better than that. Shameless. Being our first time to the restaurant, we decided to order the signature dishes recommended by our server: spring rolls with the three chili dipping sauce (which I have seen Ming make many times), sake-miso butterfish and the ginger-black pepper lobster. First off the dipping sauce was way too salty. It was impossible to dip the roll 'gingerly' enough (no pun intended) to keep from being assaulted by the soy. We ended up using the lettuce leaves that came with it to brush the sauce on and then just put the chilies on with a fork. Probably not the intended method. Next came the main course. The lobster was a all out flavor melee - and I mean this in a bad way. Just too much going on, and you really couldn't taste the lobster at all. It was over cooked and dry, and way overly seasoned. To top it all off, priced at $41, I would have been better served going to a local lobster shack and getting three or four lobster rolls for that price! I recall thinking that the best part of the dish was the lobster in the way back of the tail, which wasn't molested by the sauce. Not a good choice. The butterfish was well done, but the portion was ridiculously small. Flavor combination of sake and miso, not a very "East Meets West" thing, pretty much "East and more East" in my mind, but tasty nonetheless. When our meal was cleared, the server actually packed up our wine with half bottle left and brought it back with a receipt stapled to the bag. Here's a tip for people who have not been to Wellesley before. IT'S DRY! That is, they cannot serve alcohol in the city limits, with rare exception and then they need to adhere to a series of antiquated blue laws, like the receipt on the bottle thing. We didn't know this particularity, so we just thought that the check was being brought and it was time to get out. Our waitress was kind enough to explain when I attached the credit card to the receipt, but it was rather off putting and we ended up not having any dessert or coffee. I think a few of the other reviewers have commented that the service seemed rushed and we definitely experienced that. Overall, the experience was not one to write home about, and I would caution anybody who is a die-hard Ming Tsai fan to come here. I'm not sure if my expectations were simply too high for "Simply Ming" but I think I'll stick to cooking his dishes at home!
(2)
Antoinette M.

Everything was incredible!!! The food, the service absolutely amazing. The butterfish was to die for....can't wait to go back.
(5)
waltzing m.

I have to say how upset I was when I found a plastic bag on my plate in the baby peas. I called over the waiter and Chef Ming did come to the table and said it happens and offered me a free cup of coffee - never will I go back to that restaurant - so disappointed at the way he the owner/chef handled this situation
(1)
Doris W.

I remember seeing Ming with his family in Chinatown 7-9 years ago. It was late in December and my friends and I had just finished lunch. I yelled hi to him (I was far away) and he yelled back "Hi and Merry Christmas!" while waving. That was pretty cool. Anyway... I've been wanting to check out his restaurant for years but hesitated because I haven't had a good experience with Asian fusion cuisine. Because of that, my boyfriend and I didn't have any expectations going in, especially since we heard a mixed bag of reviews from family and friends. But as with all reviews, you won't know for sure unless you try it yourself. We went back in May for my boyfriend's birthday. Service was great but I wish I could say the same for the food. Read Christopher S.'s review because he was spot on. I have a detailed review on my blog - doriseats.blogspot.com . I wonder if the food Ming cooks on his show tastes better than his restaurant's? It looks so much more simple.
(2)
Peter G.

I took my wife out to dinner here for her birthday and I cannot say enough to what an exceptional dining experience this was. I made reservations that day for a Monday night and had no problems. I spent some time that day reading reviews on Yelp looking for suggestions for what to order and everything that we ordered was excellent: Drinks: -Golden Goose Martini: very cold ginger infused grey goose with a carmelized ginger rim, really nice -Vodka Gimlet: the bartender explained to us that they use rose's sweet and sour mix (which is hard to find) and its frothy and not too sweet. Appetizers: -Smoked Salmon and Beef Carpaccio plate -Poke with fried rice cake, better of the two, but both were great, rice cake was great touch and the tuna was the best I've had since Hawaii Wine: Sancerre, a splurge, but fantastic wine, tasted great with all of our food Entrees: -Alaskan Butterfish (black cod): one of the best pieces of fish I've had in a restaurant, marinated in mirin and sake, really nice sweet flavor, this was the better of the two and highly recommended on Yelp -Crispy skin bass, a great piece of fish, the skin was excellent and cooked to perfection Dessert: -Chocolate Cake: served with a coriander/vanilla ice cream and was excellent as well portions were good, sharing two appetizers, two entrees and one dessert and we both felt full and not overly stuffed.
(5)
Retro G.

We have been here many times, Ming Tsai is creative and often present in the dining room to welcome folks. I was concerned the last time we went because Ming has a rep for being a national advocate around food allergies but our server acted annoyed when we asked about dairy for our lactose intolerant daughter. This really ruined our last experience.
(4)
David G.

There is nothing bad to say about this restaurant. Excellent service, amazing food, beautiful space, on street parking, wonderfull bar..... Just go you'll see
(5)
Christina N.

Yum. Went here a few months ago, and it was absolutely wonderful. Dishes had interesting twists which made the experience so much better. I loved the ginger drink, and the service was decent. I think I need to go back to get a better feel of the place, and eat more food, of course. I love love love the butterfish.
(5)
The Throwin S.

I wanted to try BG for several years, but never made the trip out to Wellesley... until last week. The food was good, but it didn't live up to the reputation or the price. Calamari was worse than the average takeout pizza joint; adding Thai fish sauce to thin, rubber-like rings doesn't qualify as upscale Asian fusion. The salads were fresh. The poke and carpaccio were superb. "Signature" spring rolls, sadly, could not match what they serve at the Cheesecake Factory on route 9 in Chestnut Hill. Creme brÃ»lÃ©e was above-average. The service was excellent. Overall, a big disappointment for me. I imagine that this place is now closely run by someone who learned from the guy that was taught by the person that was mentored by the guy that played squash with Ming Tsai.
(3)
Adam W.

Whenever I travel and I am near Wellesley, I tried to make an effort to dine here. My favorite dish is the Black Peppered Lobster. Ever since I ate that dish, I can no longer eat lobster the same old way - broiled and with butter. That just sucks. Try that dish, trust me. I have been there 3 times now and every time, Ming Tsai has always come out to greet the customers. He came to our table and talked with us and made some suggestions. One of my coworker is a big fan of his show and has many of his cookbooks. He graciously allow us to take a photo of him and her together and signed her cookbook. It was an experience she will not forgot. It was the highlight of her business trip.
(4)
Sweta B.

We went to blue ginger for my husbands birthday...we were looking for something asian, a little bit special but not too formal and I think Blue ginger fit the bill perfectly. The place was full, cheerful and chirpy.The service was good. Now lets come to the food...my appetizer was a mushroom dish with parmesan flan and I think was phenomenal...for the main course I took the polenta nepolitan and I thought it was good but nothing amazing and my husband took the Indonesian curry and I have to admit that although the overall dish was good but there was something off about the dish, it was a tad too dry for a curry dish and the lemon flavour took over everything else. Overall it was a nice evening but we have had better birthday dinners.
(3)
Joe H.

We often go to Blue Ginger for special occasions. It always delivers. The wait staff are superb. Food is a solid 8 out of 10.
(4)
Julia W.

I can't believe I was suckered into another popular restaurant that didn't live up to its reputation... but I was with Blue Ginger. I didn't mind the long waits (expected when a restaurant has a huge reputation, a famous chef, and is 1 of 3 restaurants in a yuppie town), the squished seating, and the prices, but the food was not that great. Why the hell is this place so popular? Before you think I am exaggerating, let me give you a quick story about my experience at Blue Ginger. It's my mom's birthday so dessert was going to be the highlight of the meal. We look over the menu and select the Citrus- Mascarpone Cream Cake. Sounds like a heavenly treat, right???? WRONG! It tasted like pepper. Who the hell puts pepper in a dessert? Thinking we were losing our minds, we called over the waitress to see what the deal was with our peppery treat. Here's her response (and I quote) "Yeah, our pastry chef is getting a bit creative. She has been using white pepper in the desserts." Yummy. Anyway, skip Blue Ginger and grab yourself a better, lower priced meal somewhere else. Remember, Ming Tsai is only human.
(2)
Jessi M.

As a poor and struggling college student, this was a treat. I went here just after my boyfriend and I both turned 21. We decided to go all out. We started with the Tea-Smoked Salmon & Beef Carpaccio. This was delicious- I could have ended here. We went on to get the butterfish and a steak. I actually liked the steak a bit more, as traditional as it was, but the butterfish was still great. We finished with the dessert donuts, which were so tasty. Overall, this was a wonderful date. The service was super professional, the food was amazing, and it was a nice excuse to dress up a bit. It is, however, a pretty big chunk of change for a college student, so save it up for a good occasion. Also, their ginger drinks are REALLY ginger-y, so be prepared. (I maybe would have gone for something milder, had I known that.)
(5)
Allison D.

I have dined at Blue Ginger several times. Each time I go with high expectations and am always let down. There are few options for fine dining in the suburbs west of Boston and I think that Blue Ginger takes advantage of that by over-charging guests. $42 for butterfish? The dish is very nice but it's fish for goodness sake. After the meal was done we went around the table and scored our food. The consensus was: cocktails 10, apps. 7.5, entrees 7. I might return to BG for a cocktail and a snack in the bar but not for dinner. For the money I will take my business down the street to Alta Strada. Better food, better value.
(2)
Andrew B.

Reservations: We made them the day before for a Sunday night. The earliest slot was 8pm. We were seated as soon as we arrived. Even though the weather was freezing, the place was hopping. Parking wasn't bad. Ambience: The decor was not what I expected in a restaurant in this price range. It wasn't offensive, but it was down-rent: ceiling tiles. The crowd was older and expensively dressed. It's not a date spot; it's where you introduce your significant other to your parents. It felt a little tired. Service: We had to wait too long for attention, even considering how busy they were. As the restaurant cleared out, service improved. Perhaps the waiter knew that service had been slow, since he chatted with us for a couple of minutes before presenting the bill. Drinks: We had mixed drinks. They were fine. A few dollars overpriced, but fine. Food: - The bread was disappointing; the wonton / cracker thing was appealing. - The egg rolls might as well have been something from the Whole Foods deli. - I had the quinoa risotto. As I ordered it, I thought, "I'm surprised that you can make a risotto out of quinoa." Well now I know: you cannot. It had the consistency of cream of wheat. The dish was also dessert-sweet. (For what it's worth, this is the only vegetarian entree on the menu. I elected not to ask whether it was made of vegetable stock.) - My wife ordered off-menu: she substituted tofu for chicken. (We called ahead to confirm that they did indeed have tofu, even though it doesn't appear on the menu.) The waiter seemed a little confused when she said she was a vegan. ("No fish?") When the plate arrived, there was six ounces of cold silken tofu sliced and tiled to cover the entree. We were in shock that everyone who saw this dish--the cook, whoever plated it, and the waiter--thought this would be appealing. Normally we'd complain, but if they're this clueless about food, there was really nothing they could do to rectify the situation. So we just laughed.
(2)
Rachel M.

We wanted to love Blue Ginger. We are from California and we were in Boston on vacation. In fact, we kept our rental car an extra night just to drive to Wellesley. My husband ordered the tuna poke which he liked. He also ordered the Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster with Lemongrass Fried Rice. Both were delicious, but did not wow us. It was more of, "this is good, try it" instead of "wow, this is really, really good, you've got to try it." I ordered the Colossal Shrimp & Vegetable Tempura with Yuzu-Dashi Aioli. I was eager to try the yuzu dashi aioli. I liked the way the tempura was cooked. It wasn't like tempura you would order in a Japanese restaurant. It had a very nice crispness to it. However, it was a bit on the bland side. The yuzu sauce was ordinary, nothing great. For my entrÃ©e, I ordered the Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish. The butterfish melted in your mouth. However, the sauce was a bit on the sweet side. For dessert, we shared a Sesame Macadamia Caramel Nut Tart. This dessert did not come together for us. The ice cream was ok, the bananas were ok, the tart was just ok. It was an ok dessert, but nothing special. The wine list. I was having just one glass of wine so I wanted something good. While looking over the wines by the glass, I noticed that they were selling Conundrum for $16/glass. We don't mind spending $16/glass for something good. But, do they know that you can buy a whole bottle of Conundrum for $24 at Costco? Service was exceptional. We had a fabulous waitress. As I mentioned, we wanted to love Blue Ginger. We thought we would love it. But, instead we were disappointed.
(2)
Paul S.

Amazing food. Frankly the best food / service I can recall. Did the tasting menu. A bit of a splurge but got to taste some different things I wouldn't have ordered. Butterfish great, lobster surf and turf with hanger steak great. Shitacki mushroom appetizer had amazing sauce and the bigeye tuna app was incredible. Definitely a splurge type meal as dinner came to $245 for 2 before tip and that was with only 3 glasses of wine total. Great food and service though. Server did a fantastic job explaining each course as it arrived. The dessert was amazing, cream brÃ»lÃ©e best ever, incredible!
(5)
Eric F.

I have always liked Ming Tsai's East West fusion style. He is very cool and different. It is so out of the ordinary. I always look for new and interesting meals, recipes and things to try. Ming always portrays something out of the ordinary either through his methods, techniques, his shows, recipes, tips and much more. Plus the fact that he started out wanting to be an engineer in college, went to Yale University, was a professional squash player and then turned his interests toward to the Culinary world well I think that is even more "kewler!" I've liked his style for years and like that he only has one restaurant and pours everything into it (compared to then other chefs like with the Food channel etc etc who have several). I don't like to go to franchise type restaurants if I have my rather, and avoid thai and other restaurants that have several of the same sort of chain. I like to go to the original places that have the same chefs, style etc. Sometime the food is better at one of the places then the others. With Blue Ginger, what transpires is made from one place and one place only. I kind of like that. Even though I originally come from Providence RI and have gone to Boston and RI frequently but we never tried this place. But what spurred me onward was this blog and more recipes and restaurants that I am trying. So we finally went to eat at Ming's place Blue Ginger with my mother and sister. We went at lunch time. I was the only male in the place though. It was pretty full, not packed and has a nice airy feeling to the whole place. Not noisey at all. The decor inside is bright and it has an award winning design I have found. I was surprised to see so many chefs working at the chef/grill/wok stations. There are so many restaurants whether you like it or not always have the same menus to try. Sometimes there new specials etc which is good too. Here at Blue Ginger the menu is always changing and also reflects what food is at hand and fresh too. This gives a restaurant more versatility and freshness. Plus the waiter/waitresses have to be "at the top of their game" to know and tell the customer what is the best for them even for that day. The waiter was excellent. I thought about trying a beef entree but the courteous waiter suggested (with no reservations and hands down) that I needed to try the butter fish. His recommendation was good enough for me. My mother would try the the asian style salmon and my sister another entree. We ordered an entre or two. I did not have my camera as I left it back in Kansas. So I had to think "outside the box". Why not use my treo's camera? I have started taking pics with my pda camera and although they are not great pics, its at least a visual representation from these words. So I could show more about this review in a visual more meaningful way now and in the future for this review and the rest of my blog's entres. The butterfish fish entree was not only pretty to look at it was magnificent. It tasted like "butter!". I think I heard that this fish is better due overfishing as it is chosen because of the popularity and use of the redfish, used in so many Cajun recipes. It even had some little green fish roe caviar on it which was kind of cool. Many might not notice it and the waiter was even hesitant to tell me about when I asked what it was (I have been to Russia and had red and yellow caviar but this greenish tined roe or caviar was much smaller). Very nicely presented with great plating. The look/ plating , the unique tastes and everything just fabulous. I would rate this meal 9.9/10 (probably the highest I have ever given a recipe). My mother really like the salmon. My sister loved her dish too. Plus the price was most affordable for all the food we got and the quality. On the way I out I bought a copy of his book "Ming's Master Recipes" (he has a already signed it and was not there but it would have been even better) mainly because there are different recipes then I had seen. I had a gift to remember the place by until when I come back. The cranberry teriyaki sweet potato I made was great and the glaze on lamb was good too. More about this trip to Ming's with more specifics coming soon with photos on my website
(5)
Kelvis P.

How do you define perfection? Simple, Blue Ginger. Never mind a bad meal, I had never had an okay meal here everything has always been absolutely delicious. From apps to desserts, the combinations of flavlors provide a titillating experience. Go Ming!!!!
(5)
Troy C.

Excellent all the way around. A little pricey but a great experience. Definitely a place to go if you have a gluten allergy - the owner was instrumental in the passage of a MA state law requiring restaurants to educated their employees who gluten/celiacs.
(4)
Kendall H.

Great restaurant, and its really cool actually seeing ming tsai there once in a while. Slightly too influenced for my taste, it feels like the food is messed around with a little too much. Quality is noticeably compromised when the restaurant gets full, lunch; however, lunch is definately be a little more reasonable, you can pretty much get everything good on the dinner menu for a much better price.
(3)
Liza H.

I'm sad not to have loved this place. The food was very good, but for the price I guess I expected just a little bit more. I took my wife here for dinner on her birthday, we've been dying to try it out for over a year. Took WAY too long to get a drink, I was stunned. The restaurant is LOUD and the tables are on top of each other, which shouldn't have surprised me after reading reviews on the web, but I was a little turned off from the get-go. Food was spot on for the apps and the entrees (shiitake-leek spring rolls, calamari, chile 5 spice duck, and crispy striped bass), but really not that happy with the dessert, we ordered strawberry shortcake. It was difficult to eat, and flavors were weak ... just left me feeling a little disappointed ... right before the check came (never a happy part of the meal for me)! All in all, had I not gone in with such high expectations, Blue Ginger would have probably gotten a better review from me.
(3)
Leah M.

I enjoyed a really lovely dinner at Blue Ginger last night, my second visit (the last one was 8+ year ago). I'm surprised to see such mixed reviews--seems some people love it while others hate it. I really loved my food--the shitake leek spring rolls, diver scallops, and cinnamon donuts with salted caramel ice cream. My husband also loved his food--calamari with thai dipping sauce, hangar steak, and trio of sorbets. Our service was a bit slow but it was a busy Friday night; our delightful server Cat made up for the slowness with her warm and welcoming attitude. I will definitely be back!
(4)
Jennifer F.

AMAZING. Went here with my family during restaurant week last year because I love Ming Tsai. This place did not disappoint at all. We went for lunch thinking we would do the 2-course option, but the food all sounded so amazing all 4 of went for 3 courses!
(5)
Silvia M.

i love this restaurant! get the lobster!!! it's amazing!
(5)
Pink G.

If you are every in the Boston area, this off the track Chef Ming Tsai's restaurant in Wellesley Square is worth the extra mile(s). I have always admired Chef Ming Tsai's style of cooking with the east and west theme but its a totally different story when you actually get to eat his creation. It a very smart way of using the ingredients to compliment the natural favors of the meat the seasoning. When I took a bite of their fried calamari, I knew that it had to be one of their popular dishes. The squid was perfectly cooked and balanced the crunch on the outside and with the salt that comes with it - it tastes like heaven. Having their seafood paella - was another experience I could not forget. Although you can taste the Spanish influence in the spice there was an Asian component that was subtle but added to the richness of the dish. Of course, the seafood was perfectly cooked (I wouldn't expect anything less). I paired it with a German Riesling, since I like sweet wine and it was one of the best lunches I have ever had. Also compliments on their wine selection - very nice! Since this is Chef Ming Tsai's signature restaurant you have to pay for the brand as well.
(5)
Rose F.

Took my guy here for his birthday. This is definitely an occasion restaurant, unless you have an unlimited budget. I got the Blue Ginger Gimlet ($11) to start. Awesome. Vodka, key limes, Ginger syrup. Amazing. He got the Lychee margarita ($15) that was ok- couldn't really taste the lychee. We shares the tuna appetizer that was tuna tar tar on a fried like rice patty. Delicious. ($14) We also partook in the bread basket which had soft bread and tasty sesame crackers. He got the Striped Bass ($34) that was served with a zucchini blossom and rice patty, with a spicy sauce. Very good. Fish was cooked to perfection. I got the sake miso marinated Alaskan Butterfish ($34) that melted in my mouth like butter. For dessert we had a lemon and raspberry torte ($14). Good, but definitely overpriced for a dessert that was just good. Overall the meal and service was excellent. You must make a reservation. Food was presented well and cooked to perfection. Be prepared to spend some cash.. Great place...
(4)
Kate M.

I am a lifetime BG supporter. Having known the owner and staff for over six years, I can say that each time I've stepped through that door, I've been treated with love, generosity, and respect. The staff made my grandmother's year when they sent Ming over with a plate of Calimari-- in fact, I'm pretty sure all the women in my family have a major crush. As for the food, everything is delicious and distinctive. Tell the server what you like, and they will tell you what to order. They are professionals in every sense of the word, and I can say that the management treats them right and helps them a great deal in becoming the best server they can be. One note-- Don't forget dessert! I recommend the chocolate or the pecan option :) And to those of you who complain about the expense, don't!! You can look online for prices, or call before you go--- you don't need to trek all the way out there just to decide it's too much money. Yes, you need either a steady job or a wealthy parent to eat here. It's expensive. But you're paying not only for the food, but also for the experience, and believe me; they make it something you'll be hard-pressed to forget. I suggest making a reservation before you go.
(5)
Jessica F.

I went to Blue Ginger for lunch with my coworkers (on the boss' tab, woo-hoo!). Since we were a large group, we had a prix fixe lunch with appetizers, entree, and dessert. The appetizers were absolutely delicious. I probably could have eaten the entire plate for lunch and left satisfied. We had the shitake and leek spring rolls, which were outstanding, and the fried calimari. The batter for the calimari was really tasty and unique. They both came with some kind of strange dipping sauce that I didn't try. Neither appetizer needed a dipping sauce. Honestly, the lunch entrees were good, but nothing truly special. I had a panko-crusted chicken sandwich (aka fried chicken sandwich) with asian slaw (aka cole slaw) and taro chips (aka homemade potato chips but using a different tuber). It was tasty and satisfying although the slaw that came with the appetizers tasted much better because it had significantly less pepper. And the taro chips would have been better with less salt. I shouldn't be in an upscale restaurant scraping salt off of chips. Our dessert options were creme brulee (it had a fancier name), rhubarb crisp, and a cookie plate. Since I don't like creme brulee or rhubarb, I had the cookies. Again, they were good, but the ones I make at home are much better. It didn't help that I lost a filling while eating them. I would go here again for dinner, but probably not for lunch...unless I could order an entire platter of shitake-leek spring rolls. :)
(4)
Hannah D.

My boyfriend and I came here to celebrate our anniversary/both of our birthdays, since they all occur within a 2 week time span, coming up. And of course, we came because we loved watching Tsai on the NIC, and still to this day, wished he would've gone head to head with Forgione in the finale. Anyway, we were surprised to see that it was in a row of stores, with small amount of parking, rather than a free standing restaurant. We came in the back entrance, and we were confused at first which direction to get to the hostess stand, since it was either walk through by tables, or down the one hallway, which at first seemed like it would be busy, but when we finally walked down it, it wasn't so bad. We both ordered appetizers, mine was the sweet potato soup with chorizo shumai, which had quite a kick of spice to it, which I liked, and he had the duck appetizer (consisted of housemade duck prosciutto, duck foie gras, and others, which I didn't really try...the prosciutto was good though). For dinner, I had the honey glazed rack of lamb, and he had the butterfish. The waitress told us that their medium still had some red to it, and medium well was pink throughout. I chose to have it medium well, and I was surprised how red it was when I received it. It still seemed to have a bit of red in the very middle, and made it slightly difficult for me to eat. I didn't send it back because I'm not a fan, but I would have preferred it to be cooked more. It came with japchae and homemade kimchee. The japchae was a little salty for me, and just covered in the dressing, so there was no way around it. The kimchee was alright for homemade. The butterfish was very nice, cooked perfectly, and very good size. However, the bf didn't believe it was anything too exciting. It came with a wasabi puree, with a couple maki type of rolls, which seemed to have a faint hint of wasabi, with tobiko that also seemed to have a hint of wasabi too. Not sure though. For dessert, he had the creme brulee and I had the petit four plate. The creme brulee had a nice thick crust to it, but the flavor was just okay. Mine consisted of mandarin yuzu gelee, coconut shortbread cookies, chocolate tamarind cookies, and this chocolate rice krispy type of thing. I loved the coconut shortbread cookies. I wasnt thrilled with the gelee, and the chocolate desserts were very rich, like I needed a tall glass of milk to wash them down, or a small scoop of sorbet of some type would have been a nice contrast. I really loved the boston boyo or whatever the name of the drink is, with the absolut limited edition boston vodka. Very tasty. The overall atmosphere was alright...to me, the ceilings seemed a bit dark, and my bf said the lights were too bright. If we didnt know the cuisine, I don't think you can tell what type of place it is. We both loved the private rooms though, that we passed by. Separate rooms with a large square table, and doors that can close too. And last, but not least, it was quite difficult to keep my excitement in throughout the meal since Chef Ming Tsai himself was sitting at the table, right behind my bf (so I was facing him), eating dinner with his wife, 2 sons, and parents. We got the chance to say bye/thank you on the way out, but that was all. I was just in shock he was right there. It was really cool to see how family oriented he is though.
(3)
David P.

my wife and i visited here about a year ago. she had the butterfish and i had the lobster. both highly recommended by the staff for being the best reviewed. also, coincidentally the most expensive on the menu ;) we were not disappointed and left happy. side note: went to burger bash 2010 and ming tsai should have won with his shrimp burger.
(4)
Jay T.

Had lunch here recently for the first time. Food was good, but not as good as I'd hoped, and not in line with the price. I had: Free bread - two kinds. One tasted like a french bread, nothing to write home about, but good. The other was something totally different, with a beautiful crumb and soft crust, with a sweetish flavor. Good stuff. Shiitake and Leek Spring Rolls, which were really good, and I'd say totally worth the $9. No complaints there. Served Vietnamese style with slaw and lettuce, but no herbs except a sprig of mint. A little cilantro would have made it but it was still quite good. Indonesian Curry Pasta with Asian Vegetables, Baby Shrimp and Chopped Peanuts, which was tasty but a little disappointing. Pasta was maybe a smidge overcooked and the curry had a curious acidic quality to it (I think there was some citrus in there), but otherwise it was nicely done. It was good, but I was expecting to be really impressed, especially for $14. Ginger ale (made in house). Perfect. Spicy, not overly sweet, and not syrupy like many homemade ginger ales. It was $4, which I consider a dollar too much. Service was super friendly. Decor was OK, but nothing special, as others have said. Two odd things I noticed: 1. The patrons were 85% middle aged women. 2. The entire kitchen staff had identical goatees. I think I should go back for dinner. I definitely feel like that last star could go along with that lobster...
(4)
Jonathon S.

Don't believe the hype. Fine dining is about outstanding service, and sophisticated contrasting flavors with interesting textures; there should be a "Wow!" moment during the meal. The food at Blue Ginger was absolutely disgusting - especially for a restaurant at this price point. Most of the flavors did not meld and the dishes were poorly composed. The Asian Lacquered Poussin was so dry, it was gritty, like particle board and we had to send it back. Ming Tsai should be ashamed that this even left his kitchen. The "signature: Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster was so overly salted, you could almost feel your lips pucker; if the lobster was sweet, it was overwhelmed by salt. Our only recommendation is to avoid Blue Ginger!
(1)
Mim V.

This dinner pleased us in every way. The spring roll app worked well to start our meal. Lest we forget the blue ginger gimlets..divine. The butterfish and lobster signature dishes also deserve recognition as they met and surpassed their reputation! Server, Jill, recommended each course and she scored a 10 for leading us well. Although each dessert looked appealing , we opted for the cheesecake, which tasted lighter and tastier than the average, high quality cheesecake. Presentation, service and flavorful food all equaled a relaxing, yet elegant evening. A wonderful delight.
(5)
Zane C.

Blue ginger is by far one of the best eating experiences outside of Boston. It's located right on Route 16 in the middle of Wellesley, making it almost impossible to miss... even with their small sign. Parking has never been a problem in the 4+ years that I've been going here (free parking located right behind the restaurant and it's never filled!) As for the actual restaurant, I've never been disappointed with any dish that has been served to me. From the wonderful hanger steak to the Alaskan butter fish... everything is served with care. Portions are perfect. They have a great selection of wine and a very unique list of mixed drinks. While their beer list is a bit small for my liking, it does the job quite nicely. I think the only problem I've ever had was their medium rare is too rare for my standards... especially when it comes to their burger. The staff treats you almost as if you were royalty and can literally answer every food and drink question that might pop into your head. Always polite and always accommodating. They can literally change any dish to meet your needs. Everything is just about perfect at blue ginger... So why no 5 stars if it's perfect? Because of the size of the restaurant, it's almost always loud during dinner. The best way to avoid this problem? Go during lunch. while the menu isn't as extensive, the service and quality is identical. Plus, the meals are about 7 to 10 dollars cheaper! Quick addon: If you are going for dinner at the last minute, they will find space for you. You might wait for an hour but you will be seated. All things considered this is the best bang for your buck. I would advise anyone who goes there to eat the Shiitake Leek Springrolls and their ice cream. They make a coconut that is literally to die for (presently served in the Sesame Macadamia Caramel Nut Tart.) EDIT: Recently I've been going to the wonderful Blue Ginger for drinks and appetizers only and they've upgraded their restaurant. In the pat 7 or so months they've added a function room and a wonderful looking bar. This is now 5 star quality, easy. Epic food, plenty of space, always worth the price.
(5)
Harsh V.

Top 5 foodie experiences of my lifetime. Ming Tsai will mingle through all the dining tables. Highly recommended for a special celebration!
(5)
Jim D.

Waited a long time to go to Blue Ginger. Service was excellent waitress was attentive but not overbearing. Tuna Poke App was excellent. My wife had the Mussels ok but not memorable. For dinner I had the Hangar Steak good but again nothing over the top. My wife had the Lobster and it was very good. Desserts were average. I expected to be blown away by the food but was sadly dissapointed by the average experience we had. The place was very noisy and while I liked the meal overall I would not go out of my way to go there. A good restaurant but nothing special.
(3)
David R.

Blue Ginger is atrocious. They take a bunch of oddly textured ingredients that don't belong together, they throw them all together into a big mess- or rather a little mess, the portions are small - and then they sell these weird gobs for over twice the price of real food anywhere else. I walked out in the middle of dinner. There is no way I would ever go back to this place again.
(1)
LaTanya F.

My husband is a huge fan of the PBS cooking shows and was very excited to go to Blue Ginger when we were in New England celebrating our 1 year anniversary last weekend. We had a very late reservation which worked out nice because most of the dinner rush was gone. Our waitress was awesome! She was definitely passionate about the restaurant the food and offered great recommendations. To start I had the spring rolls they were flavorful and fun to eat (I was told to top them with the slaw and sauce and wrap them in lettuce). My husband had the Poke Tuna on top of a corn cake which was definitely the highlight of the meal. On to the entrees: I had the highly recommended butterfish which was very good, however, the soba noodle sushi that accompanies it was not very tasty. It was all the same consistency. I like soba noodles, I like sushi, but apparently I don't like them together. My husband had the pork chops. There was pork three ways, it was presented beautifully and tasted phenomenal UNTIL he cut into his pork chop. This is ultimately why I am giving them three stars. While the waitress mentioned that the pork would be cooked with a pink center because it had been previously brined. The loin was served just that way with a slight pink center. The pork chop on the other hand was BRIGHT pink in the middle. Ok we all know you cant eat (and shouldn't serve) raw pork, but mistakes do happen so we simply sent it back. This is where it gets ugly. You can see into the kitchen from where were sitting so i was definitely horrified to see them toss the raw prok chop under the broiler and return it to our table in two mangled looking pieces. Maybe I watch too much Hells kitchen, Top chef or whatever but I was definitely expecting them to "re-fire" the pork chops. They were the main component of the dish for cryin out loud. Again my husband, not one to complain cuts into the chop to find that it is still undercooked. Our waitress apologized and said that she would find away to make it up to us. By this time we're pretty full already and just ready for the evening to end. We decide to share a dessert. They were out of the one I wanted so we ordered something else. The waitress comes with a second dessert (on the house) to make up for the screwed up pork chops. Not only were we too full to fully enjoy the desserts, but we thought it odd that dessert was making up for their mistake. We were definitely shocked upon receiving the check to see that we were still charged the $36 for the potentially dangerous pork. My husband had to actually bring this to their attention before they removed it from our bill. So sad, not sure if we would return:(
(3)
Ryan R.

Blue Ginger was a 'must try' in my book. Well, I tried it. Can't say I was overly impressed. It most certainly didn't live up to it's reputation. Here's why: -Seating at Blue Ginger is crammed. For a place where entrees mostly range in the $30+ price point you shouldn't be sitting in the laps people at table next to you. -Food was well executed and used fresh ingredients, but I felt the lamb entree was way too complicated and over seasoned. Fois Gras dumplings were bland. Caesar was dissapointing. -Our waitress, while knowledgeable, was cold as a cucumber and aloof at times. Overall - I've had meals that were twice as good for 1/2 the price elsewhere. The hype about Blue Ginger is just that...hype. I wouldn't recommend anyone spend $200 for two people there. I won't go back and wouldn't recommend you bother making the trek to the People's Republic of Wellesley. Don't bother.
(2)
AB H.

We had really good service last night at Blue Ginger. Everyone was competent, knowledgeable, and nice. Ming Tsai came to our table to serve one of the dishes. I was personally escorted to the bathroom. Unfortunately, I thought the food was just OK. I found many of the dishes to be too salty, like the Thai dipping saucy that came with the fried calamari and the raw tuna dish where they pour hot sauce over the fish. I thought the springrolls and 'fried chicken' lacked distinct flavor. I did love the foie-gras shiitake shumai, the pate on the charcuterie plate and the sweet potato. The sesame macadamia nut tart had some good components, but too much going on for one dish. So I guess I would go back because we did have a few sublime dishes, but I'd keep my expectations low.
(3)
Scott F.

Maybe it's because I've heard so much about this place for so long that Blue Ginger couldn't possibly live up to the hype. Maybe Ming Tsai is too focused on his celebrity chef enterprise. (The restaurant website more concerned with selling me knives than showcasing the food.) Either way, I gotta say "meh." It was good, but certainly not deserving of the prices that were charged. Our server was competent, but seemed bored and didn't know some key ingredients like pirii piri. We witnessed three parties who were walked to their table only to have to stand there because the table wasn't set. For such a supposedly flagship restaurant, the operation seemed JV. And ultimately, the food was okay but certainly not great. Sorry - I don't see any reason to go back.
(2)
Elizabeth M.

I want to start off by saying that the food was EXCELLENT and our waitstaff was friendly and attentive. However the host the day we went was BEYOND rude, from the minute we walked in. He barked at us where to wait while he cleaned off the table and glared at us each and every time he walked by our table. I have no idea why he was so rude but I'm afraid it left a bad taste in my mouth on our experience at Blue Ginger. Again, food was excellent, but the host should definitely be fired!
(4)
Sue M.

Didn't meet expectations .. Salty indonesian curry pasta .. Seemed to have sat under a warming light .. Not fresh .. Calmari was fantastic .. Duck breast OK - good atmosphere ..
(3)
G S.

So I moved out to Wellesley from Central Square to live with my awesome professor GF. Let me just point out the obvious - Wellesley is hella different than Central Square. It's a difference I'm almost embarrassed about. Like, I had more civic pride in announcing, "I live in Central Square!" than I think I ever will now that I live in mono-chromatic, bougie-fied, boring old Swellesley. I want to stab myself in the face everytime I overhear spoiled white kids conversing with their annoying, Benz-SUV-driving, fur-wearing, salon-ified moms. Then, there's Blue Ginger. Oh man. Now while it may still be filled with bougie SUV-drivers, it's still frakkin awesome. My mouth has never experienced the depth of flavors I had here. So amazingly yummy. Now, it's not for the tight-walleted but if you go for cocktails (I had an amazingly fresh and delicious Stoli gimlet) and a couple of appetizers, you won't totally break the bank. You MUST try the Hawaiian BigeyeTuna Poke with Crispy Sushi Rice Cake and Watercress-Tosaka Salad - $15. This is high-quality dining so expect to spend some dough. It's not an every day dinner place unless you are of a certain tax bracket. Unlike a lot of places, though, it's TOTALLY worth it! When the weather is nice, you can sit outside. They recently acquired the space next door so I can't wait to see what they do with it.
(4)
G K.

great food. fancy place. amazing service. I need to go back.
(4)
Magnum P.

A must eat place when in Boston, Asian pacific rim fusion in a chowder land. Friendly staff, great atmosphere, worth the wait, sit in the bar.
(4)
Angela M.

My boyfriend and I have been watching "Simply Ming" on TV for a while, and, after trying some of his recipes at home, we decided to have a spontaneous dinner at Blue Ginger after walking around the Elm Flats and the arboretum at Wellesley College last weekend. Since it was an impromptu visit, we didn't have a reservation, but luckily, we got in early enough to get a table for two. We started with the calamari, which was pretty great...nice, light sauce, and not such a large serving that we're too full for the main entree. After a tough time of having to decide on dinner, I ordered the Alaskan Butterfish, and my boyfriend had the Hangar Steak. We were both pretty pleased with what we had. The fish really was delicious, and melt-in-your-mouth good. It was grilled to perfection, and the soba sushi on the side were a nice addition. We both left feeling satisfied, but not full, and agreed that this is a place to remember for parents' visits and guests. The dining atmosphere ranged from casual to more dressy, and the service was friendly and efficient. I will definitely go back!
(5)
Tim C.

We try to go to Blue Ginger once a month and truly enjoy the lounge menu very much. Pleasantly surprised to see three new items. We tried the new swordfish dish and it was superb! Also tried the donuts and coffee ice cream dessert for the first time, it was fantastic. Service was delightful as usual. Looking forward to returning to the lounge to try the orange chicken dish.
(5)
Mike C.

Ming's night off ... OK, I understand Ming is probably NEVER there. But the service was definitely lacking the night I went. Actually, the food was pretty amazing. Everything we had was wonderful. The reason for the low stars is more about the service and the decor. When you pay that much the food needs to match the price, but so does the overall experience. We felt that the atmosphere with it's ugly institutional ceiling and dirty old tile floor, mixed with the very un-hip design just didn't fit the food. Worse, our server, though pleasant, was absent most of the meal. He took our order and that's about it. Didn't bring our food (someone else did). Didn't check in with the "how's everything." Didn't really make us feel like guests. That said, the food truly is great. The tuna poke was awesome with it's crispy rice cake on the bottom; the butterfish was cooked perfectly and wonderfully flavorful. Lamb was also great, though the pad thai accompaniment was in need of some punch.
(3)
Cathy H.

Good food, overpriced with boring decor. Being smashed next to the table next to you really takes away from the experience. Did the tasting menu, which was a great way to taste a lot. Every course was good except the soup which tasted like a glorified french onion with no cheese. The monkfish made my night. This is why the food gets good reviews- did all the 5 star people get the monkfish?
(4)
Shreedhar D.

I came here for my birthday and was thoroughly satisfied. I had the spiced sweet potato soup and tuna poke to start and both were excellent. I had the butterfish for my entree and that was divine. The fish was soooo tender and even decadent. My sister's black pepper lobster was also delicious. For dessert I had a beautiful chocolate terrine that melted in mouth. But the tastiest and most ibteresting part of that dessert was the cardamom ice cream that came with it. All in all, a great experience. The only problem was that it was quite pricey so not somewhere I would come often.
(5)
Raj M.

We've been wanting to go to Blue Ginger for a LONG time...And it wasn't worth the wait. Drinks were good, but the food was salty (like others have mentioned) and unappealing. PF Chang's for half the price is 2x as good!
(2)
Naomi U.

Make sure to visit this restaurant when the owner is 'In'. After very much looking forward to securing a reservation to eat there, I had a very bad culinary experience. It was followed by much rudeness at the time. Over a year later, I finally realized I was not 'getting over it', so I called. During a cordial conversation I was told to "definitely" email a letter detailing the unfortunate experience. A reply was implied..but there wasn't any. I think that is bad business. I would be less annoyed if I'd received a ''Thank you for your opinion..we're sorry You didn't like it but We don't care' letter. To be fair to them: NO Tsai's were there the day I went. I can't really imagine ANY restaurant owner condoning what happened. To be fair to diners: at such prices a customer ought to be very very very very very close to being right..and not dissed by an extremely shallow waiter who did not listen. If you have any food restrictions this place is a poor choice. It is also Very hard for me to believe someone with an association to FAAN would be cool with what goes on when the 'cat's away'.
(1)
Howie W.

Sigh. I really hate giving Ming Tsai five stars, as I find him a bit of a tool. Perhaps it's my insane self-hating jealousy as a fellow Asian American, who knows (I feel this way about Russell Wong too). The fact that Ming is actually a tremendous chef makes him even more insufferable. I did, however, like how he kept correcting the even-more-annoying Josie's atrocious pronunciation of "Pho" in S2 of Top Chef. Yeah, yeah, you'll find similar (and more trendy) fusion restaurants in Northern or Southern California or New York, but honestly, Ming somehow does it just slightly better. I think because he's been doing it longer, and he really does have the rare combination of a genuine Chinese cooking pedigree, as well as the Western training in France. This really comes through in his food, as it's surprisingly delicate, yet not overly so where it bears only superficial resemblance to the original traditional dish (i.e. most fusions). It's like he's projecting "Chinese food" 50 years into the future and it's eye-opening, whereas most fusion restaurants, no matter how well-done, are simply interesting novelties at heart. If you go on a weekend night, you'll also probably see Ming himself. Look for the overly tanned big Asian guy in chef whites, you can't miss him. He swapped some Iron Chef and "East Meets West" war stories with us, and as much as I hate to admit it, it certainly added to the experience. As an Iron Chef aside, Ming told us that he could probably crush Cat Cora easily, but Morimoto would probably crush him haha. So my Ming Tsai ambivalence lives on, but as for Blue Ginger, it's the real deal, and easily the most inventive Asian-esque cuisine you'll find in the Boston metro area, and one of the best beyond.
(5)
J. G.

This review is for the lounge only. I'd give it 3.5 stars and although 3.5 rounds up to a 4, I don't really feel that it's 4 stars. We ordered several dishes along with some drinks. I ordered the Lychee Margarita which was very underwhelming and a bit on the bitter side. I didn't taste lychee in the drink at all. To start we ordered some of Ming's Bings. We ordered the pork and chive and the roast duck. The bings (aka dumplings) were pretty big and not your standard pot sticker size, but it was really overpriced. It was $14 for 3 bings (equivalent of 2 dumplings) and some taro chips and slaw. Next, we had the tuna poke on the crispy rice cake which was very good. My only complaint is that the rice cake was over fried and a bit hard to cut into. Otherwise, the dish was great. My husband also ordered the miso butterfish which was ok. I've had better butterfish and the dish was on the bland side. For one of their best selling dishes, I was very unimpressed. For dessert we ordered the Sesame Macadamia Caramel Nut Tart which was just perfect. I could've ordered another one. The caramel was really gooey and I loved the combination of all the flavors of the tart along with the caramel bananas. All in all the food was good, but I don't think I'd go out of my way to return especially since the dishes were all so expensive for the lounge menu.
(3)
Joe U.

The food was about 2.5 stars, but I mercifully rounded up. Overhyped butterfish - it's fresh and tender, but the seasoning is pedestrian. The name of the dish is better than the dish itself...isn't this just a sea bass? Put Chilean in front of that to make it sound even better. Or just call it butterfish and you have a name that rocks the dish itself. Disclaimer: I'm more into flavor than freshness (eg. BBQ over steak). Yes, it was fresh and melt-in-your-mouth, but aside from the outstanding texture, there was not that much to taste. The "signature" calamari was sub-par; just about any Chinese restaurant with salt and pepper calamari beats it. The kids' chicken finger meal was relatively a good deal (1/4 the price of the entrees), and they put impressively battered chunks of chicken on a bed of real homemade pasta. But again, it really lacked flavor (No dipping sauce for chicken fingers? Extremely bland pasta which had awesome texture and deserved much better treatment). The bread basket was OK - crusty french bread was my favorite part of the meal (sadly). Potato bread was not bad. Sesame cracker was the only Asian-fusion aspect that worked for me. Macadamia dessert was good, but a bit on the too-rich side for me; perhaps more fascinating (how did they get that chewy carmelized exterior?) than being delicious. My wife said the food was glorified PF Chang, in a negative way. This triggers my standard gripe about bad "gourmet" food which is more fancy than tasty, more gourmet than good. While I'm on the soapbox, I have an issue with "fusion" foods; often it is the antithesis of "authentic." In other words, just mixing the cuisines of two cultures often results in mutual destruction rather than synergy. I feel that's what chef Ming is guilty of, at least from what I tasted. However, I am in favor of culinary "translation," which is what chefs from another culture might do with their cuisine when importing it to the American eating scene. Eg. "Americanized food" can be a new interpretation or translation of standards from the "old country." Anyway, the food was so-so and we didn't rush to finish any of the plates (minus a star and a half) and expensive as well (minus another star). One hopeful sign: the lobster dish, which was supposed to be the other great dish, may redeem Blue Ginger one day. The chefs gave a taste to my daughter, who was watching them make it intently. She said it was absolutely delicious. It's a nice touch...I'll reserve final judgment until later.
(3)
Rachel W.

We went recently for a birthday dinner and got an 8:30pm reservation. Because we arrived a little early, we had a drink at the packed bar and got very prompt, professional service. The cocktails were tasty and the bartenders even made space for our drinks around other customers. When we got our table, however, our waiter was very disappointing. He was competent, but awkward. When I asked for recommendations on a wine, he loudly carded me (to the extent that a family at the next table expressed embarrassment for me). When I persevered and asked about specials or recommendations on entrees, he distractedly gestured toward the top three entrees listed on the menu, saying that those were most commonly ordered that night. That smacks of selling stock and a lack of knowledge of the food. Although our food was good (and I did not order one of the top three items), I believe that for the Blue Ginger price tag, you should at the very least get a server who knows the food and wants to talk about it. We left without having dessert because I didn't want to deal with our waiter any longer. What a shame.
(3)
Huana P.

Definitely worth the money. I went for the Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish (oh, and a special occasion) and I don't think I've ever had such great butterfish. Melt in your mouth good. Buttery too. I tried to savor each bite, but it was hard because I was so hungry! The open kitchen with blue lights opens up the eating area. The whole feel of the restaurant has a contemporary, East coast feel, but no stuffiness involved. I hear that Ming sometimes comes out and greets the guests, but I think he doesn't do it as much, because you know, he has other things to tend to....like being on the Food Network! Fusion food at it's greatest. Blue Ginger is different from Roy's, but both are excellent in it's own way. Blue Ginger may be more formal, but it's worth the drive from Boston all the way to Wellesley. By the way, has anyone tried Ming's Target brand? I wonder if it's any good? 2 thumbs WAY up for Blue Ginger.
(5)
Megan D.

Now, I have to say - the food was delicious. The three stars because I was seriously let down by my dining experience. I think that if a restaurant is going to charge such prices ($30-40 entrees), the service and ambiance should be spot on. It started off negatively when my dining partner and I didn't receive the amuse buche that the other tables around us received. Nor did we receive bread (they have a delicious bread basket) until we asked for it after our entrees arrived. For a restaurant that is going to be well over $100 for dinner for two, that is really unacceptable. Also, the restaurant is very chaotic and I felt like we were being shuffled out but our waitress, who was more concerned with the heavy drinking larger party next to us. We were forgotten several times. We ordered the calamari as an appetizer, which was tasty but not overly memorable. For entrees, we had the Alaskan Butterfish and the Striped Bass. Both entrees were delicately prepared and very delicious. I would not likely return to Blue Ginger due to my negative experience. Maybe if I do, I would try the lounge menu.
(3)
Christian S.

I think the place is overrated. There some dishes, like the spring roles, which are really good, but other like the calamari, though praised as one of there signatures, is really only average at best. Not worth while to come all the way from Boston.
(3)
Anne H.

I have celiac disease (i.e. I can't eat any gluten, ever) and recently went to Blue Ginger with my husband for my birthday, after reading an article in Boston Magazine that quoted Ming Tsai as saying that the restaurant makes an effort to welcome people like me. The staff was very conscientious and created a special gluten-free menu for me (a huge plus), but unfortunately -- even though I called ahead and asked -- the restaurant refused to substitute a gluten-free fish sauce for their usual brand (which contains wheat), even though most commercial fish sauce happens to be gluten-free. So although the food I had was beautifully cooked, it lacked a key ingredient (and was in no way Asian-inspired, by the way!) and tasted like something I could have prepared at home. I've eaten the regular food at Blue Ginger, pre-diagnosis, and it was delicious. I was disappointed that I was given a safe meal rather than a stellar one. Gluten-free food does not have to be bland! Please, if you work there and happen to read this review, take it up with Ming. There are a lot of celiacs out there, and they'd love to enjoy the full spectrum of tastes available at Blue Ginger!
(3)
Jonathan M.

So I was out in the Wellesley, MA area a few weeks ago for our MBA kickoff program at Babson college. We wanted to try some good food considering that the majority of my cohort were from the Bay Area and wanted to experience something new. Well, one of our classmates recommended Blue Ginger because of the owner and Chef Ming Tsai and plus the restaurant was down the street from the campus. Anyhow, to make a long story short the place is well setup; alcoholic drinks are good and the waiter service was on point; however, the food was "horrible." I don't mind paying for expensive food when it's good, but when there's no taste and the portions are too small for the price that's when I have a complaint. I ordered the Korean Chicken expecting for a chicken type of dish to come out, but when I received it...no where to be seen was a piece of chicken. The entree resembled a sushi roll. I guess the chicken was sliced and put into a sushi like type of roll. Me and a few others looked at each other like "where's the chicken leg or piece of chicken for that matter!" Everything else in this place is good, but the food! 2 stars from me.
(2)
Trip K.

Excellent food, especially the apps. Had the tuna poke and soft shell crabs for apps. Both excellent. Butterfish lives up to it's reputation. Perfect piece of fish. Also tried the BG bouillabaise. Very nice broth and risotto, but would have liked more fish. Unfortunately sevice was very inconsistent. Sat for 10 minutes before our server appeared. No presentation or intro at all or discussion of menu until asked. Overall, nice meal, good, buzzy atmo, but service lets it down a little.
(4)
Andrew T.

Everything you could hope for in a celebrity chef's restaurant and then some. As an avid viewer of Iron Chef America, and a follower of the "celebrity chef scene", I was familiar with Ming Tsai through his various television appearances and star chef status. Blue Ginger was one of those spots that I had always been meaning to try, but just had never set aside the time and money to actually make it happen. When I finally did, it lived up to the lofty expectations I had going in. The atmosphere is simple and clean, and not pretentious at all. An open kitchen in an otherwise neutral colored space, tucked into an unassuming storefront looking spot on Washington Street in Wellesley. Service was attentive and pleasant, and the food was amazing. The butterfish was maybe the best piece of fish I have ever had, and the presentations from apps to dessert were brilliant and thoughtfully done. Creative, beautiful, and tasty food from a master chef, hidden away in the suburbs without pretense and arrogance, and well worth the price tag. The random Tuesday night that I dined at Blue Ginger, Ming Tsai himself happened to be in the kitchen, which made things extra special. We even had a chance to chat with him on the way out, where he expressed his genuine appreciation for our patronage, and in exchange, we congratulated him on "kicking Bobby Flay's ass" on Iron Chef. A nicer man, you will not meet. Best dining experience I have had in Massachusetts far and away.
(5)
Sutanuka L.

don't go during restaurant week. probably some of the worst food we have had in a long time. even the lychee martini was bad...
(2)
Tiffany D.

Edit: August 3, 2007 I came here again on Aug 2, 2007 for my bday dinner with my parents... and I LOVED it SO much more this time around.... the food was amazing... try the duck breast.. cooked so that it's moist and red on the inside... the smoked salmon and beef carppaccio was amazing and melted in my mouth... the calamari was divine (altho I would've liked for some heat (spice) in it and more legs.. haha but that's just me... my mom had the lobster (amazing!) my dad had the curry with the chicken (it was okay, don't get it) and my friend had the korean steak (delish!!!) dessert wise, everything was amazing - of course. creme brulee.. napoleon... and the sorbet trio... yum yum yum!!! the champagne was a great match and the service was excellent!!! it's def. one of my favs now!!! ____________________ I went in with high high hopes, and while the food was delicious, I think it's a little overrated. The portions are small, but beautifully decorated. The decor of the restaurant itself is a little confusing, while it IS a fusion restuarant, I can't tell if it's a cozy little American restaurant or a Japanese one. The one good thing is that I wasn't overstuffed after two appetizers, two entries and two desserts shared with my boyfriend. Try the special wine on the menu (I forgot the name, but it's Japanese I think)
(5)
Pauline M.

I only wish I could give this a 10-star rating. My DH and I have been there on several occasions and I always order the Saki-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butter Fish, which is amazing. It comes with 3 noodle vegetarian soba noodle sushi and on one occasion I mention to the waitress how much I loved them and my order came with 6. We've also ordered them as an appetizer. Yum! I have also ordered the Hanger Steak which was a special on that particular evening....so good. Now it's on the menu. The Crispy Fried Calamari with Thai Dipping Sauce is also excellent. My Dh has ordered the Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster with Lemongrass Fried Rice and Pea Tendril Salad..........also amazing. Their specialty cocktail, Ginger Martini, is fabulous. We've seen Ming Tsai there on several occasions and finally got to meet him. Although things were buzzing around him he took the time to chat with us. Bring your camera when you go (darn I forgot mine) he'll be happy to have his picture taken with you. Yes, it's expensive but so worth every bite. I highly recommend this restaurant. The entire staff is very professional and really care that your experience is rewarding.
(5)
Amanda M.

I honestly wish I could give Blue Ginger ten stars. Last night, my boyfriend took me to Blue Ginger. We had a reservation for 8:30 and we were promptly seated. We had just enough time to get a drink at the bar and have some of the lovely rice chips they have there. Once seated, our server came over immediately and quite pleasantly gave us wine list, drink menu, and explained the dinner menu. After she left, my boyfriend proposed. Here is where Blue Ginger stands apart -- after the proposal, our server came by with two complimentary glasses of Schramsburg Brut Rose, the staff congratulated us and were just really sweet. They timed everything carefully so we could be in the lavender haze while ordering. We had the recommended shitake leek springrolls, which were excellent, particularly if you follow the chef's recommendation of wrapping them in lettuce and eating them with some of the cole slaw and the dipping sauce. My fiance had the butterfish, which he thoroughly enjoyed. I had the Indonesian curry noodles with panko crusted chicken, which was incredibly flavorful and delightful. Drink-wise, we each had bourbon old-fashioneds at the bar, which were well muddled and not at all on the sweet side. The rose was lovely, and I would recommend it highly. We also had a half bottle of the Ruinart, Blanc de Blancs, which was light, crisp and paired nicely with dinner. For dessert, we split the strawberry shortcake, which is not your ordinary strawberry shortcake. Beyond being cardamom-infused and having a lovely strawberry-mint sauce, the kitchen had added an amaretto wafer with chocolate writing that said 'congratulations' on it. We also had coffee with dessert, which was freshly brewed, piping hot, and generally all that you could ask for in a cup of coffee. Overall, it was spectacular. I would highly recommend going here for any special occasion as the staff at Blue Ginger truly makes an occasion special.
(5)
adrianna C.

I dont usually give 5's , but this is a deserving 5. If i had 6 I'd be mroe than happy to give the sixth one to Blue Ginger. There is no need to disect the menu, it is outstanding. Changes on a constant basis. I will say try the creme bruele for dessert... Again,this place does not need an indepth review. Visit it and decide for yourself.
(5)
Shannon B.

Took the folks here for a fancy meal. Cocktails were great, appetizers superb (Hawaiian BigeyeTuna Poke with Crispy Sushi Rice Cake and Crispy Colossal Shrimp with Tamarind Rice Noodles) and the dinner, oh the dinner... Dad had Chile Tea Rubbed Duck Breast with Fresh Plum Sauce and Peach Teriyaki. He really had to stop himself from scarfing it down it was sooo good. I had Mom's Famous Three Vinegar Sauted Organic Shrimp with Roasted Garlic Fingerling Mashed Potatoes and Spicy Asparagus Salad. AMAZING. It's great to find such a gourmet but approachable restaurant in this part of town. Go here and eat like a Queen.
(5)
Julian M.

The service was absolutely excellent. Everyone smiled and was very kind. The cocktail selection seemed very good, but I just had to go for a wine! I tried the "Conundrum" white, which was a mixed varietal wine with riesling and other elements that was quite good. I was worried that wearing a suit I'd be over-dressed, given some of the other reviews. On this Saturday evening I fit right in--there were a few people dressed casually who were eating outside, but the main dining area was filled with people who were well-dressed. The food was, of course, extremely good. The "fusion" element really struck me as I realized I was eating mashed potatoes with vinegar, soy sauce, and chopsticks. My partner's Alaskan Butterfish was incredibly delicate and my shrimp was quite fresh. I would definitely order the Alaskan Butterfish next time. It's pricy, but I will definitely be going back when I feel like a good meal. As a side note, this was my first time reserving using the "OpenTable" reservation system. That experience was good and I hope to make reservations with other restaurants using that system.
(5)
roseann e.

Very disappointed not worth the expense. Menu NEVER changes!! The food was just ok but so many restaurants are doing asian fusion just as good if not better. The decor also leaves alot to be desired. The reason for such a low rating is the receptionist/hostess was very rude and this is my third time experiencing this treatment. Ming was there the last time I went and was asked to say hello to fan who was vacationing here from another country he never went over.
(1)
Angela H.

Oh dear god -- whitefish. So good! So expensive!! This place is good if you have parents who like to get drunk and splurge for you on your birthday or another similar event. The waitstaff will take your coat, treat you like someone important, and just smile and get a towel if your boyfriend spills champagne all over you. Ming Tsai is an incredible chef, and also a really nice person with a great, if high rolling, restaurant.
(4)
Jake R.

This was the first and only time Ive ever been here, but everything about the experience was great. Our server was really patient and was not afraid to give us her suggestions for each course. We ordered the lobster, the steak, and the butterfish and each was cooked perfectly. Well worth the expensive prices.
(5)
Crystal K.

Had a really great business dinner here last week. Was very pleased to get reservations for our out-of-town guests. We had early seating, at 5:30 on a Tuesday and there was already a line at the door waiting for the restaurant to open up. Ming wasn't to be seen but the food and service was excellent as always. We split shrimp, calamari (omg so so good) and spring rolls as appetizers. I chose Mom's Famous Three Vinegar Grilled Shrimp with mashed fingerling potatoes and asparagus salad--hands down one of the best seafood dishes I've had in ages. The sauce was sooooooooo delectable. For dessert we all got the rhubarb crisp which was good but not terribly remarkable. My manager, however, was the odd one out but the winner as far as desserts go--she ordered the Sesame Macadamia Caramel Nut Tart with toasted coconut ice cream, house-made hot fudge and Gosling's rum caramel. I was so jealous. The wine list was great. I chose the Fitz Zinfandel "Estate" which was a really nice surprise since none of us had had it before. I've never had a bad experience here and can't wait to take my hubby along at some point--I've always ended up going without him and he hates me for it.
(5)
Sarah C.

I was disappointed to say the least. The drinks were the best part of the meal. I had the gimlet and my boyfriend had the coconut martini. Concerning the food, I certainly wasn't expecting a soup when I ordered the paella, but that's what I got - a really bland tomato based soup with fish in it - blah. Not that I was expecting exactly the kind of paella you could get in Madrid or Barcelona, but I was expecting something that tasted good.
(2)
Kya F.

My husband and I went to Blue Ginger last month for our anniversary. (Has it really been 9 years?!) I called a week in advance for a Wednesday night reservation, and the only spot left was for 5:30. A bit early for a romantic dinner for two, but we took it. They did warn us that the table was next booked for 7:00, which they thought was plenty of time for a leisurely dinner, but they wanted to let us know in case we were excessive dawdlers. We ended up half an hour late (Princess #1 had a meltdown when we tried to leave her with her grandmother) but that didn't seem to be a problem. Even when we stayed past 7:00. The food was delicious, with decent sized portions. We split two appetizers, which were excellent. I got the lobster which was glorious. He got the New Zealand lamb (being a Kiwi he can never pass up NZ lamb on a menu). He enjoyed his. Dessert was yum, too, but we got it to go as we wanted to get back to the princesses. Definitely dressy casual, but I felt comfortable in dressy dressy (it was our 9 year anniversary after all). The servers were nice and personable. The bill was high. I'd go again.
(5)
Daly Y.

Amazing food and terrific service. My only regret is that I don't live closer to Blue Ginger. I've been three times and I can't wait till I go back. I went the night after Ming beat Bobby Flay on Iron Chef. In honor of his win they served a few of the winning dishes from the competition, what a treat! The menu is always changing but the service has been fantastic each and every time. The portions are the perfect amount. I hate when high end establishments charge for the name but serve average tasting dishes. I hope you get to go, I am looking forward to my next trip.
(5)
Heather H.

Despite all of the crappy reviews that I had read about Blue Ginger (crappy service, overpriced, bad atmosphere, etc), I really enjoyed my experience there. Sadly, Mr. Tsai was not in house. We arrived about 20 minutes before our reservation and decided to have a drink at the bar while our table was being prepared. I went with a ginger-infused Grey Goose Martini. Which was gingery Grey Goose straight up with crystallized ginger on the rim. What what!! Smooth! We were seated right next to the open kitchen, but I wasn't thinking and took the seat facing the dining room, not the kitchen. Stupid me. Appetizers: foie gras and shiitake shumai with sauternes-shallot broth; steamed mussels with green papaya, grape tomatoes, chile peppers, and a keffir lime leaf broth. HOLY CRAP were those mussels huge and good! there had to be a good two dozen mussels on the plate- it could have been an entree order! the broth was addictively good. The shumai were opposite from the bright flavor of the mussels and also very good. there were three large shumai (each one took 2 or 3 bites) and the broth reminded me of a really nice french onion soup. Entrees: (My companion)Garlic-Black Pepper Lobster with Lemongrass Fried Rice and Pea Tendril Salad (Me) Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish with Wasabi Oil, Soy Syrup and Vegetarian Soba Noodle Sushi They were both fantastic. I'd never had butterfish before but it was tasty with that sake-miso marinade. I wasn't crazed by the soba sushi, or the seaweed salad that came with it, but the butterfish was good enough for me to not care. My boyfriend's lobster was rather decadent and nicely presented, with the fried rice inside the lobster shell. I don't regularly like fried rice, but this was delicious. Dessert: Tahitian Vanilla Creme Brule. Sadly the most disappointing part of the whole evening. The crust was too burnt tasting and the custard was still cold and rather soupy once it warmed up to room temperature. the flavor of the custard was nice, but not good enough to make up for the crust and cold/soupyness. The cookies that came with it were way better than the creme brulee. We also imbibed on some single malt scotch that was smokey goodness. The staff was very good. Our waiter could have been a touch more attendant, but was knowledgeable enough (had been with Blue Ginger since it opened). the layout was nice with the open kitchen. I was very happy, especially to find out that all the bad reviews were wrong.
(5)
Liz B.

This place is definitely for an aquired taste. I found their decor lovely, it is very clean, very proffessional environment, I can see how people like having business dinners here. The bathrooms are amazingly pristine. The food however, lacks something. I found most of it too spicy. I did not like how the waitress told me the food I ordered was not spicy, however when I tasted it, I found it fairly spicy. Spicy enough to make my mouth tingle. The drinks are nice and strong, the way I like them! The waitstaff here is very professional, however could be a little more attentive.
(3)
Andy P.

front of the house: great service: great food: okay.
(3)
Suzanne M.

After eating here I may need to go and adjust the # of stars I've doled out to other restaurants. I wasn't in love with the atmosphere or the decor. But the food, man the food. Wow. I looked at my SO and told him he needed to pick because everything on the menu looked great. I was right ;) and he made good choices. For starters we shared two appetizers - the foie gras dumplings and the wonton crusted shrimp. The foie gras was served with a broth that was similar to an onion soup but much sweeter. The wonton shrimp was battered around a 1/4 pound farm raised shrimp. Ok wow. Both were amazing - the shrimp was very flavorful even though it was so huge. We had that with a half bottle of Veuve Cliquot champagne. Next we had the butterfish and the scallops; of course we shared them. The scallops had a grilled edging, very flavorful, and had a wonderful fennel based sauce that complemented the delicate flavor of the scallops. I was overwhelmed by the butterfish, though, which included a wasabi-flavored sauce on the side and petite caviar that was also delicate, not fishy. WOW. This had to be one of my all time favorite fish dishes. Also, served with a few vegetable sushi pieces, it was an overall well-balanced set of flavors. We had these entrees with a half bottle of the Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc, which we didn't like for the $$. It was rather mineral-y and had earthy flavors that did not complement the entrees. OK dessert...we 'simply' had to. Mike had the lemon souffle and I had the macadamia nut tart. He and I intended on sharing but did so very unwillingly :) He is really a lemon fan, and this specialty flavor of lemon many ways was impressive. I am a nut-caramel-cream fan and this did the job so well though I could not finish it. I wanted to, believe me. Served with a glass of their armagnac and tokaji, which played on opposite ends of the spectrum from sharp to smooth, dry to sweet. I would definitely go with the tokaji again. Since we spent so long there and ate (and drank) our way through the menu, we were especially happy that our FANTASTIC waiter Ron told us Ming was in the front and was going to sign a menu for us. He was very calm and cool, and his wife sitting with him very sweet and warm. What a great pair! We loved this great ending to a fantastic night! Here is the menu he signed for us: flickr.com/photos/suzie/â€¦
(5)
Thuy L.

wouldnt go there again. portions were small and it was too overpriced. didnt even fill me up.
(1)
Barry W.

Embarrassingly and deeply disappointing. The embarrassing part is because we felt hoodwinked. Drawn to try BG by Ming's TV persona and by the many good reviews here on Yelp and other sites. More specifically: - THE FOOD. this is most important and we were all set to enjoy the creative mix of flavors and passion for cooking that Ming exudes on air. we had: * appetizer 1: chanterelle and leek spring rolls. this was first bad sign of most to follow. these spring rolls weren't very good because they had too much unnecessary complexity, put cleverness ahead of flavor and just wasn't well composed. served chinese egg roll style in long, thin fried shells filled with a relatively tasteless and fried mash of mushroom and not sure what else. Served w/ an over-vinagred slaw and a big mess of dark green, limp lettuce. we were told to wrap the roll inside a lettuce leaf with some slaw and then dip in the accompanying sauce "vietnamese style". this was just a failure as an appetizer. didn't finish most of it. more train wreck than "fusion." * app #2: "korean" fried chicken. as with so many things at BG, this was enticeingly described on the menu with a fair amount of complexity. In actually, it was relatively bland chicken with too much breading, sliced into thick silver-dollar sized portions and, like the rolls above, served with an asian dipping sauce. the sauce was forgettable and the chicken so far short of what this app might have been. at this point, we were really worried about what we'd committed to and nearly dreading the dinner entrees' arrival. * the "signature dish" butterfish confirmed our fears. At $36 or $37, I'm not sure what else to call this other than a ripoff. it was too small a portion for the money and looked stark on the plate without much in the way of any sauce or seasoning. fired too hot or too long on a grill to create clever grill marks but drying out the exterior. it did flake apart as it should but just so disappointing overall and paired with even more disappointing "jap chae noodle" rolls wrapped in impossibly chewy seaweed. Cut like maki, these were awful as if they'd been prepared the prior day and had been sittting in the walk-in for two days. Not really edible. * the one exception to the trend was the duck. It was good, if not very good or great. It was cooked very well--between med rare and medium and was nicely crisped on the outside. However, it was served with a medjool date sauce, relish or bed that wasn't recognizeable as dates (probably because it had been overseasoned, overcooked or both). and, the "squash gnocchi" just tasted like generic mashed and fried starch disks. - THE SERVICE hate to say it but the service was a perfect match for the food. our server could best be described as somewhere between robotic and indifferent if not unfriendly. Any questions were answered with minimal words and never a smile. An empty bread basket was left on the table for nearly the entire meal without so much as an inquiry if we'd like more. We waited more than 10 minutes for a wine list after receiving a drink menu and having to then request the wine list. the waitress disappeared for long periods of time. servers didn't seem to support each other so much as a few times that we were looking around trying to get someone's attention, other staff didn't take notice. the one exception to the general trend of indifferent and unskilled service was water filling. it seemed as if they had a dedicated server continuously circulating with a water pitcher. This would have been great had it not been for the fact that we'd asked for water without ice and, after the first filling, it wasn't remembered and, despite a reminder, didn't happen again. As with many other aspects of BG, this seems a function of poor management/leadership. the servers aren't professionals. they seem to lack training. they clearly aren't screened in hiring for their customer service orientation. ours didn't seem to want to be there. so different from other spots at these prices in boston and elsewhere. Sigh...the entire experience was so different that what we, as first-time visitors, expected from BG. All the problems are those of much less experienced chef owners though, sadly characteristic of some other "celebrity" owners around the country. Still we didn't expect what we encountered because this is Ming's only restaurant, usually a very good sign for a very popular chef. We felt so very, very let down and wont' return. a "2" only due to the duck and, of course, because there other places that are worse if grading on the same scale for all as I try to do. better would be a 1.5 score. We were left to really wonder what Ming (who wasn't there that night) might have thought if he'd been at our table, seeing, tasting and experiencing what we did.
(2)
Ashley J.

I was a huge Ming Tsai fan and waited a long time to eat at his restaurant. I decided my ex-husbands birthday was the perfect occasion. When I called the staff was rude right off the bat, should have known then. The hostess/receptionist/whatever she was in a condescending tone informed me they book months in advance so all they had was a 5 PM reservation. OK I thought, silly me, food must be that good. I make the obscenely early reservation thinking I was lucky to get one at all. We arrive to a totally empty restaurant and it never really got busy after that, huh, thought you were booked? We sit down and I spot Ming and I get really excited. I asked the waitress if near the end of the meal he would come by the table so I could meet him and she said (I kid you not) "oh we are very blessed to have Ming with us tonight, he is a very busy person" Ummm, I didn't realize he was a deity. OK, whatever, he is gonna come over and I can tell him how much I love his show. We order and I pick the lobster which I am told is "the house specialty" and people come all over for it. Cool, I love lobster and how can I go wrong with the signature dish of such a famous chef? It sucked. It was uninspired and frankly didn't flow well. I almost wanted to scrape off the sauce and try and taste any lobster at all. I cant even remember what anyone else got. Nobody was impressed. I am a foodie, I work in the industry. I felt ripped off. For $270 for 3 people I expect to be wow'd. So as we finish Ming saunders over and I am still excited to meet him. I wanted to believe this was an off night or maybe I just picked the wrong dish for me. He was the most arrogant condescending person I ever met. He asked how we liked the food and we lied and said it was great because hey, I have manners and don't want to insult the guy, and I tell him I love your show east meets west. He looks at me and in this tone says well Simply Ming has been on for over a year now. Clearly you aren't that big of a fan and starts to walk away. Then he looks over his shoulder and goes "grab a menu at the door and I will sign it for you" :O OMG, are you f***ing serious? No thanks! I will never go here again. Funny thing is I met him again a few times outside his restaurant and he made a comment about how expensive something was to me. I laughed and said well you own Blue Ginger, you know all about expensive. He wasn't amused. Thing is, I am not bitter, I am disappointed and felt insulted. Maybe things have changed because this was a few years ago at this point but wow. Crappy experience.
(1)
Tanya A.

If Blue Ginger were closer to my house, I'd be going there all the time. Luckily for my wallet, it's way out in Wellesley and thus too out of the way to make it anything but a special occasion destination. The appetizers are delicious, though if you're looking for something to share with the table, these are not it. They're definitely a single or possibly a share-with-one-other portion. The calamari is great. The entrees are definitely incredible-- I ordered the glazed young chicken with peas once and it was so tender I hardly needed my knife. The flavors were great, and if there had been enough left to take home after I was done (despite the heaping portion, it was so good there wasn't any left!) I would've been happy to have it the next day. Desserts left a little to be desired-- I ordered a chocolate nut tart, it might have had five-spice in it, and it was a bit dry for my tastes. But I'm a self-professed dessert snob, so I'm rarely wowed with desserts in restaurants. It was a perfectly respectable dessert, at least. One of the other great things about this place is that unlike many other "celebrity chef" restaurants, Ming Tsai is actually on the premises for quite a bit of the time. We saw him on our last two visits, and he was very accommodating about taking photos with other guests (we didn't try), chatting, etc. Definitely a place to go!
(5)
brian d.

I am writing this review strictly from the perspective of a diner with a gluten allergy. The food overall at Blue Ginger seemed very tasty and those without allergies seemed to love their dinners. However, Blue Ginger advertises itself as a restaurant that is very comfortable with food allergies in general and celiacs specifically, and I didn't find that to be the case. In fact, I was pretty disappointed. First of all, they don't have a gluten-free menu, which most restaurants claiming to be GF friendly do. What they ask you to do instead is pick a selection of entrees and appetizers that you'd be comfortable with and they promise to be able to prepare something that's a close proximity to one or several of them. That's what they say on the phone anyway. When I arrived I told the waitress three appetizers and three entrees I would love to have - she immediately said they can't do any of them gluten-free. Didn't consult with the chef, didn't see if there were alternate ways to prepare them - just said 'No." I'm used to that in some of the more traditional restaurants, but one that claims to be great with food allergies? Unimpressive. What they said they could do is cook an unseasoned steak with a few sides they made up on the spot. Again - totally acceptable, and ultimately it tasted pretty good, but pretty mediocre when it comes to catering to Celiacs. I have had a much better time and felt a lot more cared for at Legal Seafood or PF Chang's, restaurants that are nowhere near as high quality or cost. For dessert, the waitress said I could have coffee or tea or sorbet. Come on, if you're gonna claim to be great for gluten intolerants, have a flourless chocolate cake - it's not that hard. I had a fine time at Blue Ginger and it seemed liked a really great restaurant. The food they finally served me was perfectly good and I have no complaints about the quality. But if you're going to boast about your able to handle any and all allergies, you should put in more of an effort.
(2)
Lucy L.

Visiting Boston all the way from Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. ate out at a total of 8 different restaurants, this one by far was my favorite. Awesome waitress, which i had to explain "I'd never been, may never return, what do you recommend," she said i must try the Butterfish, and excellent choice. It tasted soft and flaky just like Sea bass. Amazing asian wasabi oil, soy lime flavors were in the soba noodle rolled up like a sushi roll. Also, i ordered a Dark and Stormy which to my surprise came out wicked strong, which i liked, but requested a little sweetness added to it and they happily obliged-then it was perfect. Who makes drinks wicked strong without you even asking for it.... this place does. AWESOME i would have had 2, but it would have put me over the edge. I also had the Tuna pokey as my starter, a fried rice cake, with tuna and all sorts of herbs, high end salad leaves, flavors immersed on top. I had no room for dessert, but that was ok, sampled my friends and they were tastey. Now i dropped about $80 total on one drink, one app, and an entre, plus tip, so it wasn't cheap, but worth the splurge. A must experience when your in Boston!
(4)
Maureen H.

My husband and I went there during Restaurant Week and so we cannot complain about the prices. I would definitely go back. The food and service were excellent.
(5)
Sarah P.

I really liked Blue Ginger. I definatley appreciated the attention to detail. Every aspect of the dining experience seemed well thought out. I loved the interior because it felt relaxed, open and classy. Even though the restaurant was packed, it was never too noisy. The waitstaff was really fantastic. Our waitress was very knowledgable about the menu and the winelist, and the busboys were great too. The food was unique and tastey! I highly recommend trying the egg rolls for an appetizer, they are like the best egg rolls you'll ever have. I got salmon wrapped in rice paper with a plum sauce and risotto for a main course. It was very delicious! My dad got the famous Alaskan Butterfish which was absolutley fantastic. My sister got steak, which she is very picky about, and she loved it. Desert was good too. One we tried was a three part Top Chef-like desert with a little cheese, a palette cleanser, and a small pastry, and the other was some kind of nut pie that was very rich. This place isn't ideal for picky eaters because the menu is very unique and every dish has many flavors going on. Go here when you are in the mood for something new and are feeling adventurous. The Celeb Chef Ming Tsai did make an appearance while I was there, but he did not come to my table. He walked around and asked people how thier food was and chatted for a while then went away. I will say that this place is pricey but I think it is worth it. For three of us it was over $300 dollars, including two cocktails and a bottle of wine. It was flawless from start to finish, and it really was like nothing I've had before. Once again the professional waitstaff left a lasting impression on me and reminded me what good service really is. Blue Ginger is now one of my favorite splurges! I think I will go back in a few months or whenever the menu changes again. Overall a very positive experience.
(5)
Mai O.

Fusion of Asian, New American and everything else. Service: 5 Stars. Everyone is super polite, they treat you well here. The owners talked to many of the tables to see how everyone was doing, at the reception a lady (Mrs. Polly Tsai perhaps? ) asked if we enjoyed the food upon leaving. It showed that owners and employee cared about the restaurant. Food: 3.5 Stars. I was expecting haute-cuisine, so when I tasted the food, I was surprised to find it to be more down-to-earth/family style. Salt is on a stronger side, and flavor is good but is not on a delicate/subtle side. What we had were as follows (with price): Wok-Stirred Ginger-Soy Maitake Mushrooms with Truffled Parmesan Flan - 12 Foie Gras-Shiitake Shumai in Sauternes-Shallot Broth - 16 Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish - 36 Wasabi Oil, Soy-Lime Syrup and Vegetarian Soba Noodle Sushi Japanese Braised Pork Osso Bucco with Pickled Kabocha Squash Risotto - 35 Cider-Glazed Burdock Root and Arugula-Umeboshi Salad First two appetizers were just OK. Maitake mushroom had too much soy sauce flavor, it was a bit too salty, not using the ingredient's flavor and potential. 3 stars. Foie gras was not very well represented in the dish, the strong flavor hid both the taste and texture of fois gras...that particular ingredient was not well utilized. 3 stars. Now, as for the main dish, I would give Alaskan butterfish a 3.8. There is almost an identical dish served at Legal Seafoods. I personally prefer the one from Legal's. Legal's Alaskan butterfish is smaller in size, but the fish filet is more fatty yet has more supple texture. Pork Osso Bucco gets a 4.2, the best dish out of all 4 dishes we had. Pork was very tender, the bone marrow had a jelly inside (yummm). A bit too much in quantity though, less would have been ideal. Accompanying salad was quite nice as well, it was supposedly a salad with umeboshi flavor, but instead I felt yuzu flavor, which worked well with pork. Price: Overpriced for what it is. If it was refined haute-cuisine type of place, I would have thought the price was normal, but for what it is, it's over-priced. Decor: A bit strange... I know it's fusion, so it's supposedly ok to mix brown wooden counter with Asian shoji screen-ish decor, but the fake shoji screen was black and white, which clashes in color and feel with that beautiful natural wood of the cooking counter/bar. The ceiling was cheap white type that pushes up, yet in the bathroom there was a Molten Brown hand soap with nice paper towel (you know, type of paper towel that almost is like a real cloth...) Some parts of the decor was cheap, yet the soap is Molten Brown...??? I wasn't quite sure how the decision of what to spend $ on and what not to spend $ on are being made here. I feel like there were no uniformity/consistency in the decor and details as such. Fusion (decor-as well as food) can be done well, but simply juxtaposing 2 things together is not a fusion, it's a confusion. In order for any fusion to be done well, it would require a tasteful mix-and-match and sense of balance. I see a room for improvement. This restaurant can be so much more than what it is, both in its decor and in food. After such improvement, price then will not be an issue.
(3)
Daniel D.

Incredible food. Prohibitively expensive for lots of repeat visits, but very delicious entrees and appetizers! Definitely come here at least once.
(5)
Graham K.

I can't add much that hasn't already been said. Fantastic!
(5)
Neel V.

Being a big fan of Ming and his cooking show, I met up with some friends for dinner at Blue Ginger. Overall, this was a solid restaurant, a little overpriced and with some items hitting the mark exactly, others a little off. Appetizers Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna Poke with Crispy Sushi Rice Cake & Peppercress-Tosaka Salad- 10/10. As many yelpers have noted, this is the appetizer to get. Poke was well seasoned and flavored and the texture contrast with the crispy rice cake was amazing. Foie Gras-Shiitake Shumai in Sauternes-Shallot Broth- 6/10. Maybe I'm off on this but Shumai should have a solid texture and with the foie gras this was mushy. The broth was delicious but I didn't get any of the rich fattiness you'd expect with a foie gras...tasted more like just a standard liver pate. And for $16, I'd expect more than 3 shumai. Entrees Sake-Miso Marinated Alaskan Butterfish with Wasabi Oil, Soy-Lime Syrup and Vegetarian Soba Noodle Sushi- 7/10 Texture of the butterfish was impressive with a soft, melt in your mouth feel. Wasabi oil and soy-lime syrup didn't add much and I really didn't see much of a point to the soba sushi. Better garnish could have elevated this dish higher. Seared Long Island Duck Breast* with Shallot-Medjool Date Sauce with Kabocha Squash Gnocchi and Caramelized Fennel &Apple Slaw- 10/10 Had a bite of my buddy's duck and it was perfect. Cooked between medium rare and medium, with a sauce that perfectly complemented the duck. Didn't try the garnish, but looked well cooked and my buddy said it was great. Desserts Pomegranate Pear Tarte Tatin with Gingered Walnuts and Mascarpone Glace- 9/10 Nice take on a traditional tarte tatin. Pear was well caramelized, pom and walnuts and mascarpone added to the flavor and the pastry was very fresh. Minor ding because too much pastry compared to the amount of pear. Apple Cider Donuts with Apple Chutney and Chai Ice Cream- 9/10 Donuts were excellent, fresh with the crisp fried crunch giving way to the soft cakey interior. Chutney and ice cream were both good on their own, but chai didn't harmonize well with the apple cider taste. Overall- 7.5/10. Excellent and attentive table service and they accommodated us arriving 30 min before our reservation. That was enough to bump it to a solid 4 star restaurant in my book. Dinner for 3 ran $200 with drinks pre-tip, which seemed just a little more than the meal was worth. Some yelpers suggested going for lunch for the same food with lower prices, so those reading may want to try that.
(4)
Holly W.

Ahhh Blue Ginger... Blue Ginger is my special occasion restaurant. Someone's birthday? Blue Ginger. Got a promotion? Blue Giner. Grandma's in town? Blue Ginger... I've seriously never had a bad meal or experience here. Their menu is incredible. The wait staff is always very attentive. The food is beautifully executed. My favorite? The lobster. Of course. Hey, it's a special occasion...
(5)
Jae L.

This place was so asian fusion I was obliged to go there with an Indian and a Chinese and me. The asian fusion of dinner parties. The night started off with some buffalo shrimp and something vegetarian that i cant really remember. The best part about this place is that its got the cut of meat that i cant resist ordering whenever im at an italian joint...Osso buco...i thinks is a big side cut out of the shank of the lucky beast that landed up on my plate...this one was pork and braised in some sort of asian fusion reduction on top of a bed of california grown rice....with some sort of veggies...truly a fusion of asians and asian cusine
(4)
Ellen G.

Very poor service. Waiter forgot extra plates, soda, to cpome for the bill...he just sort of disappeared. Maitre D was asked whether our third friend had already come ( she had just moments before and had asked whether we were there) an he did not know. He said we should stand there and wait for her, this in a half empty restaurant when we were very tired. I am hardly a feminist, but it seems that they do not pay muchattention to women here. As for the food...the squce for the calamari was much too tart, almost inedible. The various salads were quite good. Since the waiter never appeared after that course, we never had a chance to look at or order from the dessert menu. A so so experience, and we had expected great things. The owner, chef Ming Tsai came into the restaurant towards the end but that didn' t seem to make much of a difference. I am ranking this three stars with the thought that most of my experience was influenced adversely by the staff.
(3)
Boston S.

I have only been here once. I was not impressed. It was pretentious and overpriced. Would never return to this place.
(2)
Amy D.

I received a gift card as a present to go here.And i was very excited by the reviews and the talk of the restaurant. Upon entering i was not knocked off my socks by the decor. I thought it was a little out dated. I was not greeted right away and the server came back and forth 2 times before asking me if she could help. And there were know other people around us. We came at a very slow time on a monday. Our server was very nice. The bread was amazing and my tea was great. The martini we order was good but very week for the price we paid. We only got one.I originally wanted to order the pad ti and our server talked us out of it and said its not what we would expect .She mentioned the butter fish was amazing, I was shocked for a lunch price it was $24.00. we also ordered a chicken sandwich. Upon receiving the food, i was very disappointed. My entree was very small. It was about a half inch thick by about 1 1/2 inches long. It was tasty but i was still hungry after. We order dessert .. the petite 4. Don't bother very disappointing.The chicken sandwich was good but nothing to brag about. i left with a bill of $85.00 for two for lunch and went to get a piece of pizza down the street for under $5.00 that filled me up. We have friends that want to try this restaurant with us. I think i will pick another place.
(2)
Bob L.

Ming Psi is one of the best chefs I've experienced over the course of going to hundreds of restaurants in the U.S. and Europe. The atmosphere could use some improvement but that focuses you more on the food which is fantastic. I'm not sure anyone else does this but I am always impressed with the attention to details such as the consistent excellence of not just the main entree but apps, desert, etc. Typically a restaurant "falls down" on at least one which really disappoints me. Even the coffee here is wonderful. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Brandon M.

For complete foodie euphoria order the "Mom's Famous Three Vinegar Sauteed Organic Shrimp". For a restaurant in the Burbs this place is amazing. To get it out of the way, I would agree with fellow reviewers who think Blue Ginger is pricey, and I'd even concede that the, Feng Shui inspired, decor is a little odd, however, this is a dining experience that is every bit worth the price and should not be missed. For mom's with an afternoon off, I would highly recommend lunch on the patio there's plenty of room for the stroller and the staff are generally kid friendly. For those that need a little Celebrity spotting with their dinner, give them a call and ask for Ming's schedule. He's a pleasant guy and is happy to stop by your table and say "Hi" if you request it. Finally, I generally don't recommend $11 cocktails, but, if you happen to be there for lunch this summer, make sure you check out ANY of the ginger based cocktails and sodas. AMAZING!
(5)
Shawn F.

Perhaps the fact that Ming Tsai graduated from my high school makes me biased, but Blue Ginger totally rocks my socks. Years after my first visit, I still remember every detail of my first bite of Ming's famous butterfish melting in my mouth. Truly a place to go with a friend for a special occasion. The dining room can get boisterous, but the food is worth it.
(5)
Joey M.

I really enjoyed this place. The new bar seems nice and they have great cocktails, we got the agave margarita. We went for dinner around 9 and it was still pretty busy. The shiitake leek springroll appetizers were really good. They give you lettuce to wrap around the springroll and then you top it with an asian slaw and dip it in a yummy sauce. The vegetable and polenta napoleon with guacamole was better than I expected it to be. Its a high pile of grilled vegetables like eggplant and portobellos and crispy fried polenta topped with guacamole in a tomato and barbeque-like sauce combo. It was like a tex-asian fusion. Unusual but delicious. It was nice to see a couple vegan options at a restaurant like this, I just wish there was more things I could have tried.
(4)
Albert J. d.

The food was very good. I had the Alaskan butterfish. It was very delicious. The desert was also pretty good and tasty. The service was just fast enough even if the place was packed. I'd definitely come back to this place when I have the chance.
(5)
Linda B.

My husband and I celebrated his birthday at Blue Ginger and the food was awful! My side dish tasted like a left over. All of the sauces where so salty and bitter. The portions were small and the barbecue sauce was right out of a bottle. Our server was excellent and so was the location/atmosphere. Was not a good value and will not ever visit again.
(1)
H Y.

Only eaten here twice and both times was blown away. At the time I had the Wasabi Sea Bass (which is no longer available?) and that was sublime. So good that it still makes my mouth water when I think about it. By far one of the best restaurants I have ever eaten at and that's saying a lot. Emerald who?
(5)

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Address : 583 Washington St
Wellesley, MA, 02482
Phone (781) 283-5790
Website https://www.ming.com/blue-ginger.htm
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:30 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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Blue Ginger

583 Washington St, Wellesley, MA, 02482

Blue Ginger Menu

Lunch - Appetizers

Lunch - Entrees

Lunch - Dessert

Dinner - Appetizers

Dinner - Entrees

Dinner - Dessert

Healthy Meal suggestions for Blue Ginger

Lunch - Appetizers

Lunch - Entrees

Lunch - Dessert

Dinner - Appetizers

Dinner - Entrees

Dinner - Dessert

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