CRAVE

Their Salmon Sushi was surprisingly good! We went during Happy Hour and they had a menu ranging from $ 4-​$ 6. I recommend getting their CRAVE Sliders, it comes with crispy french fries and 2 sliders. I don’t recommend getting their Margherita Flatbread. Although the presentation was pretty, their tomato paste tasted like it came out of can.
Our waiter seemed like he didn’t really want to be there, but he wasn’t rude or anything.
We tried using our $ 30 Groupon, but we didn’t read closely to the fine print specifying that it didn’t work for Happy Hour :(However, we did have a good meal that costed roughly $ 11 each between 3 people.
Their water was clear, which is always a good sign! I appreciated the organically shaped ice cubes (also clear). However there were some black things floating in my water, which was quickly fixed.

I hate to be such a cliché leaving my first Unilocal review after a bad experience, but I can’t not say something. Other people with allergies need to be warned. I rarely eat out due to my severe food allergies, but occasionally I want a nice steak out, as usually that’s a pretty safe bet. I don’t feel that any food establishment owes me anything. I would appreciate disclosure of ingredients, but if they can’t provide that no biggie, I look for elsewhere to eat or just stick to the safest route of eating at home.
Last night, though, I ordered some sashimi for an appetizer at Crave. I notified the waiter about my allergies (no sauces /​spices) and asked if the sashimi options had any sauce or spice on them. He said no but he would be sure to double-​check with the chef and notify him of my allergies just in case. When the sashimi came out I took one bite and tasted soy sauce. I brought it to the waiter’s attention and he went to ask the chef about it. I was told «The chef said that he didn’t add any ADDITIONAL spices or sauces, but the meat may have come packaged with some already on it.»
Well, fantastic. Turns out my allergens aren’t dependent on timing of placement or dependent on who the eff put them on, ALL THAT MATTERS IS THAT THEY ARE ON THE FOOD THAT WILL BE GOING INTO MY STOMACH. If someone explicitly tells you they are allergic to all spices/​sauces and can only have plain meat, but the food you cook comes from a package pre-​seasoned (what is this? Amateur hour?) MAYBE you should let them know there’s a massive risk involved in eating the food you are giving them? MAYBE? Preferably at some point BEFORE the food goes in my mouth and I realize OH HAI SOY SAUCE.
Which now, by the way, means I will be violently sick for the next 2 weeks.
I’m angry that the chef didn’t disclose that there was some uncertainty on one of the selections. Like I said, I don’t feel anyone owes me anything. I’m not one of those people with restricted diets who runs around demanding restaurants cater to my crazy restrictions. I’m just livid about disclosing those allergies, being reassured I was safe and then being given food with those allergens on them anyway. If the chef wasn’t sure about the sushi and had just let me know that he suspected the meat came from the package a little pre-​seasoned, then I would have been very grateful for the warning and not taken my chances. Blatant withholding of that information just cost me two weeks of my life. I will never eat here again.

I went with my two friends on Saturday night at 8:30 during ACL weekend two. We were just 30 minutes early for Happy Hour which starts at 9. The restaurant was pretty empty except for about 4 couples that sat outside. We sat outside at the patio area which was very nice.
I ordered a lemonade and a turkey burger. I received unlimited lemonade for no extra cost and the waiter was super vigilant and always made sure we had water/​lemonade. Lemonade didn’t seem to be hand made so it was decent.
The menu had so many good options. The tater tots and the wings in the appetizers looked so good and so did the sliders. I would love to come back again and try them.
I ended up getting a turkey burger and it was slightly disappointing. The meat didn’t have much flavor even when there was avocado and tomato on it. On the other hand, the fries on the side were so good. They had a garlic flavoring drizzled on top and they were so addicting.
All in all, my turkey burger was sub-​par but I would love to come back and try some of the other menu options.

What a perfect place to take my sushi hater friends who have very tame palettes when I’m craving some sushi! The restaurant has mostly American fare with an additional sushi menu, so we got the best of both worlds. There is also a great happy hour daily and reverse happy hour on weekends. With a great downtown location and outside patio overlooking the beautiful streets, what more could you ask for in a night out on the town? Service was great and groupons are another great perk too to ease the wallet from the pricey sushi.
Food: rainbow roll was excellent. For an American restaurant, the sushi chefs got it right. The crab inside the roll was delicious and didn’t taste anything like imitation crab, which is usually what is put in sushi rolls (so if it was imitation crab they fooled me!). Negihama roll (yellowtail and scallion) was also a nice way to finish off my sushi dinner at an awesome $ 4 happy hour price. I also got to try my friend’s fries– garlicky and crispy mmmm
Drinks: the prices of the cocktails are not on the menu, but my mojito was around $ 9. Drink choices looked great though– I will have to come back and try some others!

I hadn’t been to Crave in over a year and have been extremely disappointed. On a Thursday night with open tables, our party of 2 waited ten minutes to be seated.
Another ten minutes later… our server is nowhere. I go up to the host and ask about our server. He comes to our table a few minutes later and says our server should be coming around– I said, «I’m giving him 5 more minutes and then we’re leaving.»
A few minutes later the table next to us called over a manager because their bills were overpriced compared to the menu, so I had her serve us. The manager was really young and later we saw her playing around and laughing with the guy who was supposed to be our waiter… wtf.
Thirty minutes later we were served. I will say that my boyfriend’s pulled pork sandwich was good. However, my salmon «salad» was a joke. It was seriously a salmon fillet with a side of spring mix for $ 14.95. Not impressed at all.
And to think I originally gave them 5 stars the first few times I came to Crave! They no longer have that awesome lamb burger, btw.
Skip the high prices and poor service, head over to Cedar Door!

First the bad:
The (multiple) menus have so many options that parsing it all makes the place seem disjointed and kind of confuses the pallete. I hate to say it, but the quasi upscale environment almost makes it seem like they are trying too hard… hence I was pleasantly suprised with most of the food.
They do seem to specialize in fish; So chicken is not advised.
We share; and treated everything like large tapas
I ordered the Tomato Basil soup; which was light and tangy with some parmesan sprinkled for added texture. Highly recommended.
I also ordered the salmon salad. The salad was competent (a little too much dressing) and the salmon was arguably one of the best prepared that I have had; cooked perfectly.
Quite generous portion as well. Definitely recommend.
The fish and chips were excellent. The fish was perfectly cooked again with the breading not being greasy, mildly fluffy, and the fish falls apart… The fries were thinner than I care for but well seasoned… The fryer is kept at the right temp; I rarely find that at most places. If you want something fried then this is it. One complaint — they didn’t have malt vinegar. This is kind of a must for this dish.
The chicken caprese was the one thing we didn’t care for. Large chunks of tomatoes are fine, and the burrata was good (once again generous portions). The vinnagrete was also fine, but the chicken was a charred grey mess. The whole salad was not plated very well.

I’m giving Crave two stars because our waiter was fantastic and the food was not. We ordered four dishes resulting in four second-​rate experiences. The loaded cheddar tater tots were loaded with a watery sweet cheese sauce and the flavor was a bit off. I love crab cakes and our waiter recommended them after two other menu items we wanted were unavailable. The Crave crab cakes tasted fishy and were paired with a sauce I did not enjoy. The carnitas tacos were next, the menu describes the tacos as Chipotle BBQ — I did not sense Chipotle or BBQ, only a mismatched taste pairing of carnitas and a sour slaw. Last up was the Baked Mac & Cheese, the important step of baking the dish was forgotten. The result was pasta soup topped with a watery cheese sauce, an underwhelming bread topping, and some type of pork accompaniment.
The restaurant was fairly empty during our dinner either due to our 7:30 PM weekday visit, or the locals having knowledge of the inferior offerings. Our dining companions came in the form of bugs instead of other patrons.
When the bill came, I didn’t point out to the waiter the menu prices and charges on the bill did not match for three of the four food items ordered. I knew if a manager had to come over, I may not have been polite as I should be.
The overall experience was unsatisfactory and left me Craving the amazing food Austin is known for.

I was very much looking forward to trying this place for the first time. I was impressed off the bat with the décor, the variety of menu choices and the decent selection of local brews. I went in with a party of 8 for a birthday. It took our server an extensive amount of time to take our drink order and them bring them to us. It took him even longer to take our food order. While waiting for what seemed like forever for our food to arrive, I could overhear other patrons saying how long their food was taking & that no one around us had food or was being waited on.
Once the food finally arrived, mine was over cooked, a friend’s order was wrong, another’s looked as if it had been prepared by a toddler and others just were not impressed. I’ve had better food at a fast food place. Also, when anything was wrong with an order or they forgot something for our plate, it to be «manager approved» before we could get anything fixed. Found that rather odd.
When waiting for our check, it took around 25 minutes for us to get them and then check out. That was mainly due to the fact that most of our checks were wrong. The prices for the food items on the menu were different from what was shown on the check. About a $ 3 difference. Again, it had to be «manager approved» before our waiter would change it. Please check your checks before paying if you choose to dine here!!!

Host seats you without regard to menus being readable. Not a win to begin the experience.
Waiter forgets the chopsticks and soy sauce trays for your sushi order. Second no no
My Mexican roll was decent though not particularly memorable. Poblano Caesar salad was rather bland sadly.
I generally do not complain though felt it necessary to point these items out. Plus we are here for convention week and acknowledge we will pay tourism pricing. Yet we arrive at 8:15, are seated and review the menu to order only to be informed that the kitchen closes at 8:40 when it is 8:35. Though this was after we ordered our drinks not when we arrived.
My guest says he wished the dishes arrived properly. Not to have your entrée arrive while you are still enjoying your app.

Came here for my best friends 21^st & it was great! Our server was so helpful & friendly. Sushi was very tasty and pretty reasonably priced for a higher end sushi restaurant.
I recommend the #9 sushi roll & the strawberry fields martini.
Also, they have other menu items like hamburgers and stuff like that for those in your party that don’t like sushi.

I crave CRAVE. No, really, I do. It’s one of my favorite go-​to spots. Why?
— CRAVE is a great way to impress. It’s swanky enough to make anyone feel like a million bucks, yet utterly approachable and unpretentious.
— Wide menu. Whether it’s a business meeting or a first encounter, you don’t have to worry about food preferences when you invite someone here. From sushi to steak, they’ve got it all – and all of it is excellent
— Happy hours that make you downright happy. Great drink specials, including specialty drinks, and a distinct selection of appetizers you won’t find anywhere else put the hap-​hap-​hap in happy.
— Excellent service. You’ll always feel that your business is both welcomed and appreciated by both management and staff.
— Reservations. So many places take reservations, and then overbook or increase their exclusivity by making you wait for a table in an empty restaurant. Not CRAVE. You’ll be seated at or ahead of your time.
— High touch. When placing a reservation by phone, CRAVE actually asks if there are any food allergies they need to consider. I’ve NEVER been asked that question before, and it’s a really nice touch in our allergy-​plagued city!
— Dessert. Chocolate. Cheesecake. No matter how bad the day, CRAVE will turn that frown upside down in no-​time at all with a variety of decadent selections.
So what are you waiting for??? Satisfy that CRAVing today!!!

I think this may be the last place I’m craving.
The attitude, quality and overall experience has changed drastically since CRAVE’s opening last year. I genuinely liked this spot the first three times we came. Every time, though, the menu offerings have changed.
My thoughts are that the two other people who had flocked to the restaurant at the same time we did the other night were convention center associated or stumbled over from a nearby hotel. Unfortunately, the restaurant seems to attract that kind of crowd as opposed to appealing to local flavors and flairs. It’s an evident corporate chain, sticking out like a sore restaurant thumb among the rest of downtown.
The sushi we ordered was a moderate to pleasant presentation, but they boy couldn’t even stomach to finish the entire dish. The vegetables inside had a heavy plastic taste. It was certainly way too crunchy for the rest of the roll. In fact I think this was a crunchy tuna roll variation, but I was expecting the crunch would come from the panko, not the unusually tasting carrot. Regardless, it didn’t taste fresh. And sushi not being fresh is the last thing I want to think about. Especially when accompanied by a $ 16 price tag.
My occasional indulgence of fries was also a major let down. The description of truffle fries sounded too delightful to skip. The presentation is also darling, which it is served in a metal cone, lined with paper. Though, the soggy, soppy mess of shaped potatoes barely represented the item description of the menu. They were bottom of the barrel an far from artisanal. I can’t place what makes a good batch of French fries, but these were an aim and major miss. They were served with ketchup and a ramekin of generic aioli.
The wine menu is gouged more than I’ve seen at most restaurants. I’ve actually seen a bottle of one of their reds selling for what they charge for one glass. I understand you’re paying for ambience, but you can’t enjoy any ambience when you’re bent that far over.
Speaking of overpriced, let’s continue with that. I’d say everything needs to scale back at least $ 2-​$ 3, especially knowing that the quality doesn’t match the price. Though I understand, it’s a large restaurant. They may need it to supplement the rent on that place.
And to be fair, this restaurant is certainly lovely. Even the boy said the bathrooms were well decorated. I’ve always been intrigued by restaurant bathrooms. So bizarre.
The large u-​shaped bar in the center of the restaurant features lovely lighting and pours a few local beers, but mostly focuses on non-​Texas beers. As a person who appreciates craft brews from other states also, this is a fun shake up, as most places keep their focus on local pours only. I wish prices were more predominately displayed on the beer and cocktail menu, though. When places hide their prices, I feel like a fast one is about to get pulled on me.
The restaurant is broken up by regular dining, sushi bar area, outdoor patio and a few private dining rooms. There certainly is a space for everyone. We just need to figure out how to entice them there.

The service was good, the food quite good but small servings for the price. They don’t serve bread or salad unless you order it desperately. The scallops were delicious, and the swordfish they served in place of mahi, since they were out, was very good. We finished with the lava cake, which was also good, although we’ve had it done better elsewhere.
I’m not sure we’d go back, with so many really spectacular places to choose from downtown, we’ll go somewhere we get a bit more bang for our buck if we’re going to spend this much for a meal.

Crave is a special beast! Not sure why it’s a beast, the name just seems fitting.
Anyway, I’ve made this place a groupon habit. I’m «that girl» that’s always here with the groupon. The menu is diverse, but it kinda throws my mind for a swing because I feel like I need to choose a side– sushi? or not sushi? Come on Amanda, you can have the best of both worlds! Don’t hesitate! It’s in a cool location and the interior is inviting. I know when I come that I’ll enjoy whatever I get.
The Aloha roll is a particularly delicious one, along with the Mexican. I’d say the prices are kinda high, but they’ve got a nice Happy Hour option as well. Erika has been my waitress almost every time I’ve come here, and she’s a winner. I love her!

Whoa Crave, way to let me down.
I used to really dig this place. Back in the daaaay when they first opened.
But the food has gone downhill. The servers seem kind of miserable.
What really gets me is the inconsistency. Sometimes you can get happy hour in the restaurant, sometimes you can’t. Sometimes the food is good, most times it isn’t.
Anyways the last time we went here was the last straw. It was half priced wine night and the server was a jerk about it, demanding to see my Crave loyalty card.
Then my friend ordered a burger and we watched it sit in the window for 15 – 20 minutes while a server ate fries off the plate. The other food wasn’t good, the sushi didn’t taste fresh and was bland, the calamari came out borderline raw and we had to send it back.
Bleh.
This wasn’t the first negative experience we had at Crave, since they first opened the restaurant seems to have lost it’s pride. It’s sad, because I did enjoy the restaurant in the beginning, but now it seems it just wasn’t meant to be.

A year or two ago, I made my gold Unilocal debut by being late and crashing a speech by the owner. The food and wine was great.
A couple weeks ago, I get a thing in the mail for Crave. I got one that said one free meal with one meal purchase. It said something like that. I thought to myself, well this would be a perfect time to use it. My parents are coming over this weekend to celebrate my birthday.
You have to admit CRAVE is one of those places you would take your parents to. We started off having appetizers the Fried Calamari and Tuna Poke — the tuna tartare. Then came the Norwegian Salmon, which was interesting to point out the waiter asked how we wanted our salmon cooked. I just thought it was cooked well. My dad had the Bento Box which had a variety of sushi and tempura in it.
Then the desert came and we had the Crave Miniatures. I must say it was cruel and unusual punishment to have a small cup of tiramisu. It would have been better to have a plate full of tiramisu. Other favorites were Lemon Panna Cotta, Blueberry Cheesecake and the French Silk.
The presentation of the food was great and the service was good.

If I really could give a half star then I would give this place a total of 3.5 stars.
The ambiance in this place was awesome but none could be said much about the actual food itself. I am no Sushi expert, but I’ve had my fair share and this place is good but not great. Some of the rolls were too focused on how exotic it could be that you couldn’t enjoy the real sushi (salmon, scallop, tuna, etc) itself.
The salads were pretty good, but a tad overpriced for me, especially for a salad that I could make myself.
The desserts were an A+ with presentation but a B in flavor.
I wasn’t too impressed with the service. Our waitress recommended one of their grape sodas, but it was some ginger ale with a sprig of rosemary on top, plus three grapes. So when she said that it was exactly as it sounds, I was very disappointed. She came by every 5 minutes asking if we were alright that I couldn’t even relax and eat.
So in a nutshell, service was a little anxiety provoking, and the food was decent, but overpriced.

Great prices, varied menu, nice DT location and comfortable environment makes for your typical upscale-​ish chain restaurant. Crave is a great place to meet up with a group. The service is fantastic and you don’t want to eat here without joining the loyalty program.
I like Crave and the food is pretty good, not great or innovative or special. However, there is something for every taste. You won’t be wowed, but everyone will be pleased with what they get. Drinks are watery and sweet so I’d stick to beer or wine.
They have all kinds of specials, HH twice a day, Monday ½ price sushi, etc. etc. etc. This is a bit of a turn off for me. It’s like shopping at Kohls, you never know when you are getting the «right» price. Everything is always on sale.

A chain restaurant that puts the Cheesecake to shame. Quantity, but yet maintain a high quality taste and overall experience.
This is a great restaurant for a large group. They have a spacious indoor seating area, and quite a large cozy outdoor patio area. The service is always impeccable — friendly and highly attentive. It’s hard to believe that a menu with Italian and Sushi does everything equally well. The presentation and taste are always spot on. They also have some great happy hour deals. I was surprised that one of the things I like here the most is actually the sushi. This place always surprises me. It’s a great place to take a group of people with varied taste in food. There is something for everyone.
I stay away from the cocktails here, as that is the one thing that they do so –so.

It would be easy to dash a one-​liner here and dump CRAVE in the happy file, like — «It’s the Hip & Cool Cheesecake Factory,» or «Wow, A Corporate Chain that Feels Localized, or «Is-​there-​one-​last-​place-​we-​can-​go-​to-​before-​you-​return-​that-​skirt/​top/​cardigan-​combination?» You know, if writing Unilocal reviews were easy, everyone would be doing it. Oh wait.
The thing is, I really like CRAVE. I’ve been here twice now, once for an official Unilocal event and once as a normal person. I enjoy the bright and vibrant ambiance, I’ve had the most delightful service from the engaging Trang on both occasions, and I’ve only been to CRAFT with my favorite people. Hard to argue with Karma.
So yeah, on this last visit I didn’t particularly stand up and shout «EMG!» over our Aloha roll or nigiri sampler, I assumed the «scallop poppers» would be hot and not cold, and the playful dessert ensemble of six shot glasses filled with stuff proved a little much for the two of us. But did I have a good time? Oh you betcha.
So if there are two of you, I think the key to CRAVE is split things from both parts of the menu — do something from the sushi side, and an app & entrée from the «Western» options too, maybe along with a dessert or two. I can vouch for the crab-​crusted filet. If you’re with a group, you’ve got the whole menu in your hands, and I envy you. I’m curious now about their Sunday brunch. Will CRAVE make us cancel those Uchi/​Uchiko resos and never darken the doors of Ruth’s Chris again? I don’t think so. But if you really are returning that blouse tomorrow, and it needs one last place to do everything tonight, then By George I think we’ve got it.