A mentor of mine, restaurateur Danny Meyer, once said that if your restaurant concept doesn’t add anything to the dialogue of what’s happening in the restaurant world then there is no point in doing it. I see a lot of health conscious restaurants in NYC fall victim to this. They tout “healthy” and “fresh” food but it’s basically the same basic bitch food that everyone else makes (I’m talking to you, avocado toast). I had the opportunity to eat at the newly opened Coco & Cru yesterday, and I can say with confidence that they certainly add something to the dialogue.
Coco & Cru is an Australian concept that comes from the team behind Sauce, Upstate Craft Beer, and Edwin & Neal’s Fish Bar. At the helm is Australian born chef & partner Cory Lee who named the restaurant after his 2 children. Not only can the man execute the shit out of menu, I also watched as he buzzed around the dining room clearing dishes and chatting with happy customers. His restaurant is located on the busy corner of Bleeker & Broadway but feels more hip and chic as though you are in Soho. The space is open and airy with large floor-to-ceiling windows. You’ll see NY classics like subway tile, exposed brick, and birch wood floors. They have been open for a week but the place is already packed with young beautiful people.
The menu houses the type of product and price point that could lure you in 4-5 times per week. They too use buzz words like healthy and fresh to describe their concept, but it’s much more than that. There is a large selection of egg dishes, bowls, salads, and sandwiches. Products are locally sourced, crazy flavorful, and elevated versions of healthy dishes. Their baked eggs rocked my world with pulled pork and tomatillo salsa. Instead of making a classic avocado toast, their version comes with smoked mozzarella and pumpkin seeds for crunch. They have 7 sandwich options to satisfy your carnivorous cravings. My personal favorite was the perfectly cooked hormone-free steak with romesco. Want to get drunk and feel good about it? You can spike their fresh squeezed juices with tequila. Go here and go often. Here’s what we had:
Avocado Toast – smoked mozzarella, pumpkin seed, sourdough
Shaved Zucchini Salad – Jicama, pico di gallo, quinoa, queso fresco
Coconut Bircher- apple, toasted almonds, coconut yogurt
Huevos Rancheros – 2 sunny side eggs, refried beans, queso fresco, avocado
Baked Eggs- pulled pork, tomatillo salsa, potatoes
Steak Sandwich – romesco sauce, roasted scallion, arugula
643 Broadway, New York, NY 10012
Phone : 212-614-317
