All The Things You Crave
When a new restaurant takes over an old one’s space, it’s usually no big deal. Restaurants close and new restaurants open, that’s just the nature of the game. It’s better to have a new team trying new things in an old, familiar space than nothing at all, right? But what happens when two old restaurants with the same owners merge together to form one new restaurant? That’s exactly what happened when Crave reopened its doors on 14th and Champa.
Being an active lover of food, I naturally found my way inside the newly designed space with my antennae up for missteps and glitches (a constructive attitude, you might say). And during a first and very small sampling of the new menu, I didn’t find any. A few weeks and two dinners later, I still couldn’t find any — whatever they’re doing is working, and working well.
If you’re there for dinner, start with a drink at the bar — perhaps a Midnight Special or one of their many varieties of Moscow Mules. Then take your seat. If you’re lucky, the server will be a professional who stands up straight, doesn’t balance dishes precariously up the arm, and avoids mouthfuls of verbose kitsch and slang. Order the bacon-wrapped dates and a little ahi tuna ceviche to activate the taste buds, and if that’s not enough, throw in an order of lamb sliders for the small-plate trifecta.
Once you’ve managed to clear your plates of all things delicious and “small,” switch gears and get ready to engage your entrée. Whether that’s the whiskey salmon, the chicken carbonara, or the Thai lettuce wraps is up to you. By this time, you might be interested in perusing the drink menu for your next round. Maybe it’s a glass of wine or a Chocolate Is the Answer because you don’t have quite enough room for both another drink and dessert — though we hope you’ve saved room for both.
Dessert is obvious, and it’s called the Raspberry Lemonade. This dessert screams all things fun in the sun. Made to appease the masses, this gluten-free closer features an almond-lemon bar, raspberry semifreddo, chocolate garnish, blood orange macaroons, candied almonds, white peach spheres, and a white chocolate ganache. And while it might seem like just a little too much for one dessert, it’s not. It’s delicious.
When all is said and done, the check dropped, the bill paid, and everyone at the table either too full or too drunk (a very real possibility), you can always leave your car in a nearby lot and take an Uber home. In morning, head back for the car and pop inside for brunch. We haven’t had it yet, but if it’s anything like dinner, you’re leaving beyond satisfied.
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