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My friend and I visited Cru on a Wednesday night before heading over to see Shirley Valentine. We were delighted that they were able to fit us in as the place was choc o block with reservations (WOW!). We were seated at a 4 top which proved to be a smart move in order to accommodate all of our "small" plates. The room has a great vibe - the light blue walls and dark wood hiply contrast each other and the smiles on the wait staff were genuine and welcoming. After being seated, the waitress asked us if we had been to Cru before. She explained how the menu worked. Very interesting way of presenting wine pairings and a good and playful guide to the uninitiated into the world of vino. Then it was onto the food. We ordered five small plates to share: The duck confit, the bruschetta, the caesar salad, the mussels and a side of polenta. The caesar was grilled and very tasty - whole leaf with enormous garlicky croutons. The mussels were delish! and presented in a pistou sauce which I have not tried in any of the city's other venues. The polenta although not strongly flavoured in a like a bit of comfort food. The only dish that was not a hit was the bruschetta - the flavours were ok but the fig and walnut tapenade was a little dry and not to our liking. For dessert we had a creme brulee and the white trash parfait. With a name like that, how could you not want to try it?! The creme brulee was presented in a flat dish which allows for a lot more of the brulee, which is how I like it. AND as for the trash, really yummy, like comfort food and who else thinks that the secret ingredient in it is Jello chocolate pudding mix??? Definitely try Cru - it is a welcome addition to the burgeoning food scene on South Granville. The price is quite good, flavours are varied and interesting, service sublime and a menu that keeps calling you back to try more.

I ventured out to Vancouver's newest hot spot, Feenie's on Monday night. We arrived sans reservations and was shown to a little alcove behind the bar. Although this is a little away from the action, it does offer a view into the kitchen which is always interesting. For drinks we ordered Fizzes which are the perfect pre meal summer time beverage. Very refreshing and nice to see rather than the much maligned martini list. I ordered the steak and fries. Other than the silver vase/fry holder, the most interesting thing on the my plate was the balsamic dressing for my salad. I am not saying that the steak was not good, it just wasn't great. The sauce was good as were the fries (however, not the best in Vancouver by far - you will have to go to Salade de Fruits to get those!). That is the thing though, everything was just good and it seems so sad to have to use the most milky of adjectives to describe Rob Feenie's newest venture. Nothing had oomph, illicited oohs or ahs, not even a simple YUM! Dessert was better tasting than dinner. We ordered an apple galette which used to be on the Tasting Menu and the vanilla pound cake with caramelized figs and lime cream. The vanilla pound cake was the day's dessert and the fig and the lime were a interesting combination. Both were once again good but still none of that illusive yum factor. Perhaps it was the service that was the most disappointing. Feenie's is supposed to be a bistro, more casual in ambience and one would think with friendly service. It was like pulling teeth trying to get our waiter to smile. Even as we left the restaurant, we left disheartened as we had not achieved our goal. How hard is it to smile? Even with his Mud molded hair and Down Under accent, this foible was most unforgiveable. Feenie's is worth trying. I will give it that. Busy bar, great place to be seen, and perhaps my expectations were too high. Afterall Rob Feenie is a great chef but it is the food and service that make a restaurant that you will go back to again and again and not because of its starry proprietor.