Cru Wine Bar raises bar, eyebrows

We weren’t sure how to answer the question, “Who are you with?” when we stepped up to 2nd Street’s new wine bar, Cru, last week, until they explained that what we thought was opening night was actually an INVITATION ONLY VIP HOITY-TOITY soiree. “LA DEE DA!” we thought, insisted we were with the DJ and managed to fake our way to the bar where the highly-poised and professional bartender, Elise, gave us the rundown.

“What’s so great about Cru?” we asked her, dubious from our near-derailment. She proceeded to tell us about Cru’s “Flights”, or triad samplers of wines. We chose Flight #6 and Flight #9 (three Riesling and three California Cabernet samplers.) We’d barely finished our wines when she returned with a cheese sampler of Humboldt Fog, Robiola and American Yellowbuck Camembert with fresh breads and some tiny, mild and charming black olives. Wicked comfortable, wicked sleek, wicked...well...arriviste.

We didn’t have a chance to sample any of Exec Chef Patrick Taylor’s fare, but choices like Moroccan style meat balls, soy glazed pork tenderloin and a tenderloin pizza with mixed greens, red onions and balsamic make us want to go find well-to-do dates so we can give the menu a shot.

Quirky, intimate and lit like a night-time soap opera, Cru is definitely a hallmark of a new Austin celebrated by some and maligned by others. Ten years ago, just about anyone could show up just about anywhere with, say, Daisy Dukes, Tiddies and an old OP t-shirt from middle school. Cru ain’t that anywhere, though, so dress accordingly.

General Manager Brian Franzman tells us there are Cru locations in Dallas, Houston and Denver – definitely cities where the highly-ironed and groomed frolic. We hate to say it, but, here comes the neighborhood.

After Cru, we stumbled up the street to 219 West for a nightcap, and by nightcap, we mean a huge order of incredible shallot French fries, some unfortunately way-too-salty queso, a great little cheese quesadilla with a balsamic reduction and a cranberry on the rocks to sober up. The only thing missing was the calming presence of 219's owner, Paul Silver, as new things can be so disorienting. We like Cru ok, and we'll go back, but it'll be a cold day in hell long time before it becomes a fixture.

*Image (c) Paulaloe on Flicker*