Lulu and Blu

Located at 2140 North Main Street in High Point, Lulu and Blu offers upscale Italian-inspired fare for lunch (weekdays) and dinner (every day except Sunday). There is a patio, a full bar, and risotto/soup/beef specials that rotate daily.

Like its former corporate cousin Magnolia Blue, Lulu and Blu takes on a well-known and well-loved cuisine, adds its own flourishes, and wraps everything in a classy package. A classic red sauce joint this is not, but if your palate permits a touch of gentrification, this is a damn good place to have an Italianish meal.

Though smaller than expected inside, Lulu and Blu is a comfortable and well-appointed space. Both the wine room and the long bar stand out albeit not ostentatiously so.

Lulu and Blu’s menu runs the gamut from apps, salads, and flatbreads to entrees, filled pastas, and Italian classics. You can go as simple as linguine and meatballs here or as indulgent as cioppino.

For our early Valentine’s Day meal, my wife and I split an order of fried fungus (portabellos, shitake caps, and oyster mushrooms with marinara) and went with pasta primavera (cavatappi, mushrooms, yellow squash, spinach, artichokes, vodka sauce, and grana Padano cheese) and duck cacciatore (cavatappi, guanciale, cremini mushrooms, tomatoes, peas, and red sauce), respectively. The fried fungus offered an interesting play on the typical breaded mushrooms, presenting earthier and more varied flavors. Both pasta dishes were excellent. The cavatappi was perfectly cooked, ingredients were fresh and flavorful, and the sauces were present enough to act as complements without overwhelming either dish. An order of bread pudding (taken to go) wasn’t on the same level, but it was still satisfying in its own right.

Neither pricing nor service left room for complaint. You know going in that this isn’t going to be a cheap meal, but nothing here felt like a reach. While the $21 paid for the cacciatore would have raised eyebrows were it the traditional chicken, duck – prepared well – made it worthwhile. Service was pleasant, and we didn’t have long to wait for our food.

With risotto, cioppino, and an intriguing sweet potato ravioli (with duck, blueberries, and kale) left unexplored, Lulu and Blu commands a return visit. From food to service to atmosphere, this place has everything needed for a great meal.