Cru vinbar og kjøkken - a second time around with the serious testers!

Well...second time around and the big boys are with us. This time we escalate the pressure!

Having changed my reservation 3 times in a week – I got a telephone call asking if we would prefer to sit downstairs at a larger table close to the fireplace. This would give all 7 of us more space. Wonderful I thought – I haven´t tested the downstairs.
Upon arrival with a wonderful blend of people – experienced people – we were seated downstairs at a table that could have taken at least 12 people. Hmmm OK let´s try this.
Our waiter – as always - smiling and happy. He asked about drinks before dinner – all is well. No menu board downstairs so I asked what was on the evening´s menu. In reply I received information that the chef has made a special menu for us according to our request. The thing was, I had made no request and it wasn´t possible to move the menu board from upstairs down to us. And telling everyone around the table about the different dishes was impossible due to the noise level. I love restaurants where this is the case since then people are relaxing and laughing enjoying their meal.
OK – quick decision – we´ll take the special menu – just a few adjustments and everyone was happy. In Oslo I have made aware that for parties over 6 people, the restaurant many times ”demand” that you preorder your food. This really irritats me since it feels like going on a field trip. It also makes me wonder if I am there for the restaurant or the right way around – the restaurant is there for me. At times, I have just cancelled the reservation. In Cru´s case, I decided to take this as a positive thing instead of a “keep it simple for the chef” thing. Let us hope this is the case.
All plates were amazing, the wine the waiter recommended fair in price and fitting to the food, the dessert consisting of apple in at least 4 different ways was a perfect ending to a wonderful meal. An amazing thing was the waiters silence running up and down the stairs. Every time a guest walked down (the WC was behind a wall downstairs), the room as filled with “bang bang bang bonk” as the shoes hit the stairs – but not with the waiters – once again they knew what they were doing.
So the old 28/30 still stands just with a difference of the missing 2 points! The reason this isn´t a 30/30 is the placement of this grand table downstairs – just under the stairway the “bank bang bang and bonk” was over our heads. Next to the grand table were shelves filled with V&B glasses and yes, a party member trying the be a gentleman, was able to bring down a few glasses when helping his lady on with a vest-and he was the sober one in the party this evening. Just the shelves being behind us were a theme during the dinner and made all a bit nervous when standing up.

Service: 5/5 - smiles, properly attentive, knew their business, and made the best out of a miss in information. Polite smiles when at least 5 glasses “fell “ off the shelf.
Food: 5/5 – filled with flavors (as expected) and with a perfect ending with the different apple mini dishes.
Drink: 5/5 - champagne is champagne and the house champagne is very good. The wines brought out and recommended by the waiter were fitting and priced right.
Price: 5/5 – 7 guests in the party, champagne, wine and 4 dishes 785 NOK/persons is a lot of money but for what you get - I am a happy camper :-)
Environment/Atmosphere: 3/5 – here the 2 points are lost - not the best seating due to the staircase being over our heads and the traffic to the WC next to us. But the restaurants atmosphere and design/fireplace does not have many other alternatives for larger parties if the upstairs is full. And there the lighting is a bit too bright for hiding wrinkles.
Location: 5/5 - perfect - down town but quiet - perfect combination. And of cource, around the corner from me.
Age of guests in party: 40 - 70.

28/30 is great!

Next visit - the champagne anniversary week starting from the 24th of November! Maybe we´ll see each other there!