CHIReview
photo credit: Christina Slaton
Blue Door Kitchen & Garden
This Southern restaurant spot is located in the carriage house of Biggs Mansion (now a private cigar club) in the Gold Coast. That means horses used to live here, and it’s obvious those horses had a much nicer home than you do today. Either way, Blue Door has an inviting menu where you can find fried chicken, mac and cheese, and dishes like shrimp and grits. But they also focus on seasonal ingredients, so you'll also be able to order lighter options like roasted beets with feta or a grain bowl with dried fruit, hazelnuts, and pickled carrots.
The inside is charming and elegant in ways modern buildings can’t usually pull off, and the current design helps emphasize it all. There’s also an excellent courtyard patio, which is one of the nicest and most serene outdoor seating areas in town. Both the inside and outside make Blue Door good for date night, dinner with the parents, or even a relaxing dinner with a couple of good friends.
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Food Rundown
Deviled Eggs
The exact style changes regularly, but they're always delicious. We're not huge deviled eggs fans in general, but these are great.
Mac & Cheese
Cheesy and creamy with just enough of a breadcrumb crust on top. Always a strong side.
Fried Chicken Sandwich
This lunchtime sandwich comes with pickled onion, lettuce, tomato, and pimento cheese. If you’re wondering whether it’s as good as it looks, the answer is a resounding yes.
Purple Potato Gnocchi
A smaller dish with a few purple potato gnocchis, parmesan, pickled carrots, tarragon, and mint. Interesting and light but not a must order.
Seared Tuna
Another small dish with a few seared tuna pieces, dijon potatoes, olives, green beans, and a hardboiled egg. It’s all kind of on the plate individually and you can eat each ingredient separate. Solid tuna, although we wish they would cook it even less.
Fried Chicken
You can get the sandwich at lunch, but the fried chicken platter with garlic mashed potaoes and honey is what’s for dinner. It’s great.
Shrimp & Grits
Definitely get it for brunch or lunch, although shrimp & grits doesn’t have to be just a daytime meal. This version with tasso ham, tomato stew, and crispy okra makes for a good solo dinner or a side to be shared.
