After almost two decades, Cru is a standout that’s still going strong and remains the proud keeper of one of the city’s broadest, deepest and finest drinks lists.
Cru’s design was ahead of its time and it endures. It’s flatteringly lit after dark (check out the fancy French Baccarat crystal chandelier), blessed with distinct street appeal and the space makes the most of both gentle Brisbane evenings and sunny afternoons. High ceilings ensure airiness and fold-back windows let in balmy subtropical breezes, with gauzy drapes adding a languorous glamour to the mix. Broad corner banquettes against the windows afford guests diverting people-watching possibilities. But you’re spoilt for choice here – a comfortably upholstered chair at the up-lit onyx counter gives you an equally entertaining front-row view of the flair on show from the busy bartenders.
The drinks list? You could probably come here every week for a year and still find something thrilling you overlooked on your last visit. Like the neat sake selection, perhaps – accompanied here by helpful tasting notes. It’s a great diving-off point for anyone curious to explore Japanese rice wine. Or perhaps you’ll focus on the listing of interesting white and red wines available by the half-bottle.
Cru tends to attract a frocked-up crowd, particularly at weekends, but at other times it’s more low-key. Choose your visit accordingly. Service is on song – affable, attentive and approachable. In fact, Cru shows every sign of becoming the exception to the rule about not being able to please all the people all the time.
When drinking at a bar with a name like Cru wine is an excellent bet. Perhaps best known for its cleverly put-together classics, Cru is no slouch when it comes to low-fi and left-field choices either. There’s a top-notch by-the-glass offering here, including a handful of sherries and fortified wines. Try a glass of cool-climate chardonnay from Tumbarumba, perhaps, or a pinot noir from Geelong’s Clyde Park. Quenching a thirst? The impressive haul of beer includes four on tap (Heads of Noosa’s Japanese lager among them) and everything from sour and blended ales to Bavarian Hefe-Weissbier by the bottle.
The cocktails, classified as refreshing, luscious, rich or classics with a Cru twist, are as good as they come. The Sherry Sherry Lady, a blend of La Goya manzanilla sherry, apple liqueur, lemon and nutmeg, is an upbeat start.
