One of Melbourne's masters of creatively charged cafe fare is at it again. Kevin Li, the mind behind Lights in The Attic, 3Lives and The Crux & Co, has gifted the city with yet another supercharged brunch concept, with his Glen Waverley newcomer Cru+.
Pronounced 'cru-plus', this open, marble-clad space has made its home within The Glen Shopping Centre, and its vibe apparently nods to both Tokyo train stations and the sort of high tea service you'd enjoy aboard the Orient Express. Designed by acclaimed studio EAT Architects, it's light, bright and contemporary, doing away with walls and showcasing a luxurious assembly of rich velvets and cool steel.
The offering, too, is far from standard, headlined by the same style of intricate cakes and pastries made famous by sibling Crux & Co. There's no shortage of ingenuity here, with creations like the moody-looking charcoal and salted egg yolk croissant, a char sui pork eggs benedict featuring wasabi onion, miso hollandaise and pumpkin loaf, and a grilled miso salmon that's given the blowtorch treatment.
The humble breakfast burger's been reimagined through a series of stuffed croissants, loaded with combinations like smoked salmon, dill crème fraîche and capers; buffalo mozzarella with salsa verde; and bacon, egg and barbecue sauce.
Cru+ is also shaking things up with its build-a-box options, allowing diners to customise their own breakfast, lunch or high tea bento with additions like granola pots, sandwiches, croissants, salads and pastries.
Vidda Flowers is lending extra life to the space, too, with an onsite pop-up florist, while that all-important coffee offering comes courtesy of a collaboration blend with Five Senses.