A few days ago I had lunch with my friend at the recently opened CRU restaurant in the Financial District and it was one of the best meals I've had in a long time. Upon entering the restaurant we were both impressed with the sophisticated yet inviting decor which included velvet curtains, marble tables, and murals by Polish artist Swanski.
For my beverage I ordered a non-alcoholic cocktail called Three Sheets that was so delicious I ordered a second. It was a simple yet refreshing blend of lavender, ginger, and lime. For appetizers we started off with savoury mini doughnut bites topped with a creme fraiche glaze, radish, chives, and caviar. We then tried a few more appetizers, all of which I would recommend: vegan 'Nduja with pickled fennel and grilled bread, chicken liver pate with quince jam, East Coast oysters, and tuna tartare with avocado, togarashi, and nori. I'm still dreaming about the chicken liver pate - it was the best I've have ever had!
For my main dish I decided to try their brown butter gnocchi with chestnut, cauliflower and capers. I love anything with capers so I knew this was the one dish I had to order. I was impressed with the unique combination of flavours and would highly recommend this dish as well. I also had a side of Brussels sprouts that were cooked to perfection. My friend had the fried chicken sandwich with kimchi, sesame aioli and pickled vegetables, and we shared the beet salad with radicchio and pistachio emulsion.
We barely had room for dessert but their menu was so appealing we knew we had to order something. We decided to try the Creme Brûlée and the Millionaire's Tart. The Creme Brûlée is creatively elevated with the infusion of mango and dehydrated raspberries. The Millionaire’s Tart is a decadent chocolate tart with a caramel filling, topped with hazelnut ice cream and 24 karat gold flakes. Both are equally delicious and rank among the best desserts I've had.
I had high hopes for CRU and the attention to detail in their food, service, and atmosphere surpassed my expectations. I look forward to exploring the rest of their menu on my next visit.
