Cru

(3/8/12)

 Oanh's restaurant closed & for quite a considerable time we have wondered what would emerge

 in its place? Question answered CRU! Yet another trendy cafe with a modern/industrial feel! It doesn't have a huge internal space as the bar/coffee area takes up a considerable amount of the floor space. There are however tables outside in the space that runs the length of the building which houses the kitchen, storage & toilets, it is covered which is great & means their customer capacity is increased.

All the tables inside are occupied, so we have to venture to the outside (covered) area, & unfortunately the only table left that 3 can use is located near the toilets. I had my back to them, lucky for me, maybe the addition of a tall plant near entrance might serve as a barrier. The end of the path way which was near our table could have used a sweep with a stiff broom as there was a bit of possum poo/seeds from adjacent tree, just an observation :-)

Orders for drinks taken by friendly waitress, menus & water supplied, then juices arrived ......... no coffee?? Waitress had forgotten to put coffee order through, but how can you be cross when someone actually owns up to their mistake! Apology  accepted.  

Not a huge breakfast menu but some interesting choices. You could have your basic toast, of which there was a gluten free option.  Stop 80 (reference to the tram stop out the front) fried egg, brioche bun, bacon, tasty cheese $5 ; Porridge pistachio fig, cranberries, yoghurt, honey, rose petals $10 to Gallette - Puy lentils, sumac feta (sumac is the fruit of a shrub that grows throughout the Middle East & mediterranean, sold as a coarse or fine powder), baby beets, onions, green soy beans $16 ; CRU Pierre smoked bacon, bubble & squeak, 65 65' egg $17.  Extras such as poached egg $2, mushroom, spinach $3, avocado, smoked bacon, boston beans, chorizo $4 etc

Orange Juice $4.5 served in a very cute little jug, nice touch, although the guys think

the paper straws taste a bit funky!!

Phlavours of pho juice $6, interesting taste!

Coffee($3.5)

En cocotte 6 hour smoked ham hock, baked eggs, sauteed spinach

($17)

Quite an international take on the menu, but after a little deliberation the ham hock won out.

  It was a very tasty & filling dish, & the side of toast came in handy to wipe the bottom of serving dish when empty.

Eggs scrambled with seeded toast & sides of mushrooms, Boston beans & of course

Avocado!

($9 + $3 + $4 + $4)

This was less adventurous brunchers choice, a take on a big breaky, with his beloved

avocado. It was indeed sufficient for his hungry stomach, & declared very tasty!

Roesti avocado, smoked salmon, red onion, crispy capers, poached egg

($18)

What an incredibly pretty dish :-) & the taste was just as good!  The roesti was lovely & crispy 

underneath the salmon, egg & other goodies.  Every mouthful was a delight & I would 

return at any time of the day to enjoy this dish again.

Empty plates removed by friendly staff, a couple of familiar faces from a previous life 

at another popular nearby cafe. Another coffee ordered & a Green tea, which was served 

in this very cute teapot, with a somewhat dangerous position of spout for wait staff! Must keep tray level otherwise contents can end up on table or customer lol. 

Lots of friendly/happy staff at front station, music being played was a vinyl record!!!

Cru seem to have the recipe right, good food, attentive staff, bright funky interior, 

keep on keeping on guys!