Dinner at CRU Wine Bar in Kew
A stellar wine list of 400 wines, delightful Mediterranean style dishes, a modern cosy bar with a touch of class, and an affable host make for CRU Wine Bar in leafy Kew being a wine bar of note. We were invited along to experience one of Australia's finest wine bars.
CRU Wine Bar has been winning awards and receiving accolades since it first opened in 2012 but Tony Donnini, co-owner and operator of the popular venue since early 2014, has reinvigorated the business with a new look and menu.
The new dinner menu is inspired by Corsica and surrounding islands of the Mediterranean. The dishes showcase a blend of Italian and French influences with native ingredients.
We enjoyed -
LEEK & GORGONZOLA CROQUETTE chive crème fraiche, truffle oil, dill (bursting with flavour)
CANNELLINI BEAN dip with salmon roe & dill oil (wonderful creamy texture)
GNOCCHI SARDI Tuscan beef ragu, pecorino (great depth of the ragu)
STEAK FRITES 200 gm grilled porterhouse, fries, chive béarnaise sauce (classic dish)
ROAST BROCCOLINI, blood lime, pear dressing
LEMON TART strawberry sorbet (great combination of flavours)
TIRAMISU (indulgent bliss)
We also enjoyed fabulous Vermouth, Bernard Fouquet Cuvée de Silex Vouvray Chenin Blanc, Château Saint Maurice - Côtes du Rhône Rouge, Les Parcellaires & Koerner Mammolo Sciacarello paired perfectly with our dishes.
On opening, CRU served breakfast and lunch only; quickly becoming a popular breakfast destination and over time, established itself as an all-day Euro-wine bar. When they introduced dinner they included a comprehensive wine list which now sits at 400-plus wines.
“It’s a work in progress, but we’re pretty much there.” says Donnini. “While breakfast will still be offered, the long-term focus is to make CRU the stand-alone wine bar and bistro we have always intended it to be,”.
The new dinner menu is inspired by Corsica and surrounding islands of the Mediterranean. The dishes showcase a blend of Italian and French influences with native ingredients; entrees include the gorgonzola and potato croquettes with home-made yoghurt and herb oil andcannellini bean and macadamia puree with dill that we imbibed (as mentioned above), and a signature dish of chestnut polenta, lined with prisuttu (Corsican cured ham) and brocciu. Pastas offered include a vegan celeriac tagliatelle with roquette and walnut pesto, and a favourite, the Sardi dish with exceptional Tuscan beef ragout we enjoyed (also as mentioned above), and a duck lasagna with spelt pasta layers and gruyere.
The cooler weather favours big flavours in mains courses, like a classic porchetta basted with a chestnut and apple glaze with braised lentil and veal shank with cannellini cassoulet.
CRU recently added new leather seating, and lighting to enhance its vintage European charm. A new dining room with seating for eight has also been added in the wine cellar, highlighting the venue’s unique collection of wines. The room is offered for wine groups wishing to enjoy a degustation menu with paired wines.
Tony, a chef-by-trade, oversees a talented kitchen team, and his sommelier training is supported by a young vibrant staff including, Clotilde Candusso, who is Victorian young sommelier of the year and came second in Australia. The wine list is positioned to more classic-style wines to complement these European flavours; embracing the new with the old world.
CRU offers BYO wine-only on Wednesday nights with corkage at $20/bottle.
CRU’s neighbouring space, Crudo, is currently available for events and accommodates up to 120 guests.
CRU Bistro and Wine Bar 916 Glenferrie Road
Kew, Vic. 3101 https://www.crukew.com.au