My absolute favorite sit-down pizza joint in the Heights. They have fantastic happy hour, reverse happy hour and brunch. Their pizza's are delish and creatively pieced together. The service is great and the atmosphere is super chill, like a sport bar but without the obnoxious televisions and annoying fans cheering. They have a live guitarist on Friday nights...he is quite good. All in all CRISP is awesome.
Review Source:I love this place. The food is excellent. Especially the salads. The Caesar is the best in town, possibly the best I've ever had (and I LOVE Caesars). The bisque is superb, though not very hot sometimes. The only other complaint I have, is the grilled chicken for the salads has a very, very strong rosemary flavor. It's overwhelming and unpleasant, and I actually really like rosemary. The pizza crust is very good, as well as all the toppings I've had so far. For a restaurant not having a well known chef attached, it's better than many chef-driven restaurants. Oh! Â Did I mention it's practically across the street from my house? Â I'm a lucky lady!
Review Source:Want bland food and bad service? After being sat by the hostess, we had to wait about 10 minutes before even receiving a menu or being greeted by our waiter.
The meat plate appetizer appeared as if they had presliced the meat, put it on wax paper, and let it sit under piles of other ones in the fridge. The meat was all stuck together, stuck to the paper, and bland in taste.
The margherita pizza was bland and the cheese seemed strangely chewy. The crust was the only decent thing we had.
I wish our tip could have gone to the busser who was more attentive to us than out waiter.
We won't be returning anytime soon.
We came here for Brunch for a Friend's Bday. Located in the Heights, its a cute restaurant/bar. I'd definitely like to come back at night.
We had an assortment of Breakfast pizzas that were awesome. EGG & BACON ON PIZZA! ITS GENIUS!
They don't have any hard liquor here so they make their Bloody Mary's with sake. Its got a refreshing taste for those partiers who went hard the night before.
I'd definitely come back!
I am giving the place one star for the issue that we experienced last night with the tip.
We started off in a group of four. Just having appetizers and drinks off the happy hour menu. The appetizer we got was actually really great but I found it to be a bit overpriced. Moving on...
We were joined by two others and moved to a larger booth next to our original spot, keeping the same waiter. The couple that joined us also got one appetizer and drinks. We were a very easy table and not needing a lot except the refills on drinks occasionally. When we asked for our check, which was split for 3 couples, we noticed that gratuity had already been added. And not just 15% or even 18% percent. It was around 23% tip. Added on for a group of 6 who ordered appetizers and drinks! Also, the gratuity policy wasn't listed anywhere on their menu. When we asked about it, we were told that it was added to tables over 6...we had 6, not over 6. I worked at a restaurant all through college and never have I seen automatic gratuity added for a table of 6. And then to not have it listed anywhere either. But honestly the biggest issue is charging 23% tip. That's a really nice tip that I would leave for really great waiters. Our waiter was average. It was a really irritating situation and I think I will just stick to the Corkscrew right down the road for my Height's happy hour.
Our first time here we joined friends in the back patio and were quickly greeted by a friendly and knowledgeable server. He recommended the perfect brew after we expressed what we were looking for in our beer. We then ordered a few pies and man, they were tasty!
Kids can play in the back patio (swing, ping-pong, or just hanging by the fountain) while everyone is enjoying their food and drink.
Great place, will be back.
Went on a Saturday night for girls night and was satisfied with the whole experience. Â Not a fan of the forced valet parking for $4, next time we'll park on a side street.
Beer and wine list was long and everyone found what they were looking for. Â I'm not a huge wine drinker and the fact they had Live Oak hefeweizen on tap pleased me!
We had the cheese plate and truffle fries for apps, truffle fries were crisp and delicious, the cheese plate was not impressive at all. Â Consisted of 4 different types of cheese in very small portions and we needed extra bread for the table of 7 and they charged us $1.50. Â It's bread, it really should just be included if you need more.
I shared a pizza and orchard salad. Â The pizza was great, crispy thin crust with lots of meats, green olives and tomatoes on top, no complaints there! Â The salad had a wonderful peach dressing but also had awkward chunks of apple, which tasted good, but made it really hard to eat.
Service by Alexis was great, she was very attentive and split our tricky tickets making it very easy on us. Â Gratuity was included, I'm sure due to our larger party. Â Would definitely visit again.
This is one of the places that started off wonderfully but is now hit or miss in both service and food. Â The tomato bisque soup and the Caesar salad are usually good but again, sometimes they're really, really good.
Update: Â I noticed on our last check the tip automatically. Â But for the record, I'm not sure if they do that on all tickets or just on parties of 5 or more.
What is this place? Â It has a very chain-like logo and a very strange looking interior. Â I know that this area is fast becoming gentrified, but is $4 valet really necessary?
The beer list is decent, the wine list is sub-par, and I had a very boring pizza. Â I suppose that pizza is a very subjective food to review, but I wouldn't order one again.
The real fun for me was the terrible service at the bar.
I've never really been to a wine bar before so this was a first for me. Parking here is a bit of a pain as the only option you have is valet parking that costs around $ 4. I would definitely suggest parking on a side street.
The inside is very large and open. They have a bar on one end of the room and table all around. They also have an outdoor seating area. Me and my girlfriend walked around to check out the entire restaurant before being seated at a corner table. The ambience reminded me somewhat of a sports bar because they has large LCD TVs on the bar showing ball games.
Our waitress was really friendly and she told us about the CRISP card. Basically, they give you a card that you fill up with a certain amount of cash. You use the card at their wine vending machine and drink or taste as much wine as you want. You can choose 1 oz. , 3 oz or 5 oz. Their vending machine wine selection changes periodically. They also have reverse happy hour from 10 - 12 which means you get $ 2 off any wine on the menu.
We ended up getting a $ 20 CRISP card and ordering some white wine off the menu. The CRISP card was definitely worth it. We got to try a bunch of different wines and still had enough money left over to take the card home. I ordered a chardonnay off the menu and my girlfriend ordered a Riesling. Both tasted really good. I've heard their pizzas taste really good as well so I will definitely be coming back to try those.
I think we found our wine bar :)
We went here on Friday night after dinner for few glasses of wine.
The reason for losing 1 star: valet parking $4. We got here just before 11 and probably should have parked on the side streets, because valet parking was $4 and when we were leaving, valet guys were gone and we had to go get our key from one of the bartenders. Just make it free parking. I don't understand why valet parking is needed in Houston.
Now to the point, inside is big open area, nice interior and clean. We grabbed a booth at our choice. Our waitress was great! forgot her name.. but she was from New York. She gave us a lot of great recommendations! (Her and I both love Riesling!!)
We got Riesling and Pinot Grigio by glass and got $20 CRISP card. If you dont know CRISP card, you put money in to the card and you go up to these 2 machine/cases that stores white & red wines. you put the CRISP card in and you pick which wine to taste or drink (option of 1, 3, and 5 oz). Â Pricing is different depending on the wine, but for 1oz it was somewhere from $1.30 - $4/5 i think. Me and my boyfriend had some fun trying out different wines at there.
Also, when we went, they had reverse happy hour, so we got $2 off each glass of wine we ordered! Will definitely be returning here on the weekend or Tuesdays when they have 25% off bottle wine when you get pizza deal!
I'm actually a little surprised that this place has overwhelmingly positive reviews. Â I honestly think they've fooled people with the atmosphere and beer selection, which are both slightly above average (I mean, it's no Petrol Station, but what is?). Â
However, this review is about the food. Â I was so confused about the positive Yelp ratings that I went here twice (and my wife went three times) just to make sure I didn't simply have a random bad experience. Â But in all cases we were left thinking what a disappointment this place is. Â I would liken my experiences here to my experience at The Bird and the Bear -- the value simply isn't there. Â On my first visit I got the melting beef short ribs. Â They tasted like my mom's pot roast -- which I guess is ok because my mom makes a tender, yet under-seasoned pot roast. Â But I was expecting something on a different level based on all the reviews. Â So I was pretty severely let down -- the short ribs were really "meh" for me. Â Nothing mind-blowing at all. Â In addition, the polenta was bland bland bland! Â Not creamy or rich, and the sauce from the short ribs, in my opinion, simply did nothing for them. Â (The polenta was also slightly undercooked -- but had it been appropriately seasoned I wouldn't have even commented on that aspect here). Â I'd probably pay $9 for that dish, but that's not what it's marked at on the menu -- it's $23. Â
I've also had the beer can chicken. Â While the dark meat was passable, the chicken breast was more like chicken jerky. Â I'm not one to send food back, but I came pretty close on this puppy. Â Probably the second worst thing I've had at a Houston restaurant. Â I think some of the flavors were there individually, but they definitely didn't mesh into a cohesive dish. Â All in all a pretty poorly executed entree. Â I don't really have anything else positive to say about it. Â Very disappointing.
I don't think my wife and I will be going back here any time soon. Â We tried to like this place. Â It's really convenient for us, but it's just not that great. Â I'd probably still go for a happy hour, I guess.
**not sure to suggest RSVP or not**
I called one night for rsvp @6pm, the staff said don't  worry , no rsvp necessary, just walk in & I would be fine. Which it wasn't busy..but at least try to make it feel more welcoming over the phone.
My girlfriends & i had dinner here..probably the first & last time for me.
*food*
Saffron Arancini (fried risotto ball) very bland
Texas Shrimp Carbonarra pizza - ok
Beer can chicken -raw chicken is what we got
Truffle Parmesan fries -edible. It was kinda Soggy to me.
I was so annoyed of the host. I didn't want to sit on high top table because my group of girlfriends were all wearing dresses. I requested for a low table, and she sat us all the way to the back near the restrooms. It wasn't even busy, not sure why she couldn't sit us in the common area. Anyways thank goodness our waitress was awesome & made up for it. Good wine selection list, the waitress was able to serve a bottle for our tasting.
Until...we got our food.
Saffron Arancini (fried risotto ball) was so bland & the glaze sauce did not pair well. I did not see or taste any bit or saffron!
Texas Shrimp Carbonarra pizza - i love pizza..i can eat up to an entire pie myself. sadly i had once slice & was pretty much done. the pizza was very dry, and only one fried egg for entire pizza..I think.
Beer can chicken -raw chicken is what we got..not once but twice!!!
The first time it was complete raw on the thigh right when you cut into it. The manager approached us immediately & comped it for us.
The second time the thigh bone was still bleeding. But we didn't say anything because we were in a rush to leave.
And the chicken was served with French fries. You think they would put the fries to the side, but they didn't. Pretty much the fries were soaking in chicken greasy juice. Sounds delicious ? Â As for flavor, the chicken was tasty.
I emailed the restaurant just to give them a heads up with chicken. Didn't want any future problems for anyone. Management did email me back & sending  a gift card.
Maybe I ll check it out in a few months, but for now it's not my cup of tea.
When you look at all the pictures and read the reviews you get the sense that this place is off the charts amazing... In the end it's average...
The atmosphere is by far the best part! The drink selection worth the trip! But if it is food you seek find another spot. The concept is great...The execution misses the mark. The pasta sauce is on the watery side. The waffle chicken sandwich is a fun idea...but flavor it is missing. The best way to go is the pizza... But even then you're lying if you think it's special...thinking about trying the chocolate dessert?!?! Again it is great in theory but misses what you'd want it to be...this wanna be Austin eatery just isnt there yet there...
Last night, I had my first flirtation with GOOD pizza since I've been back in Houston. It was completely different from New York pizza, but man was it awesome.
CRISP is a newer restaurant located in the Heights. The inside of it is really cool - exposed brick everywhere (which is LITERALLY my favorite thing in the world), a 360 degree wrap-around bar, outdoor patio, and visible wine cellar.
And when we got there at 8:00 on a Friday night, it was PACKED. For as trendy as this place is, the prices weren't bad either, which I'm all about!
Oh, also there was a guy playing the strangest mix of live music, and I totally dug it. Very cool, swanky ambiance.
Another cool thing they have that I'll need to try one day is an enomatic wine dispensing system, which fully preserves wines, while allowing people to sample different ones before getting them. Brilliant.
The menu has way more than just pizza, but after discreetly (okay, indiscreetly) gawking at the other patrons' food, I determined that the pizza looked PHE-NOM. Aaaaaaaand (drumroll please......................)
It was.
Even though the pizzas are big enough for 2+ people, I got my own and ordered the Talleggio Florentine pizza WITH prosciutto (duh.), which was pure honey in every bite. WOW. The flavors were incredible. Taleggio cheese, creamy spinach, marinated artichoke, crispy onion, truffle oil, and prosciutto. These flavors came so beautifully together and were utterly delectable. If ever I cried over a pizza, this would be the one. But crying over a pizza probably falls under the Unacceptable Things to do in Public or Ever list, so I exercised restraint.
Again, this pizza is completely different from New York pizza, but absolutely incredible.
I also had a bite of my bf's San Fran's North Beach pizza (AKA: Meaty Monster Supreme). I've gotta say though, mine definitely won in terms of ohmygoddeliciousness. SO GOOD.
I can't wait to have my leftovers for breakfast -- err, lunch.
I've been here twice now, once for a Friday lunch and once during brunch on the weekend. Â The drink selection is quite good, with plenty of wines and craft beer to choose from. Â I've yet to have the pizza, but more than one person has told me that it's great.
The things I've had here are:
Blue crab bisque - tasty, but a bit on the salty side (which I like, but others may not)
Beer can chicken pot pie - you MUST have this, it's absolutely delicious, though could stand to be a little bigger!
Drunken garlic bread - yummmmmmmm cheesy goodness
Meatball pasta - yummmmmmm cheesy goodness
Chicken and waffle sandwich - great concept, but when I got mine it was all soggy, and overall it's a bit bland to me. Â Next time maybe I'd ask for them to serve it deconstructed and put it together at the table, but I think I'll just go for the pizza instead.
I wish I'd realized you can make reservations, because I came here with a group and we had to sit outside on a hot July evening around 7. Â Although to their credit, they have plenty of shade on the patio and it made what would normally be unbearable weather feel only mildly unpleasant.
I had a glass of their Riesling ($8) and really enjoyed it. Â It was the right amount of sweet. Â I also had the margherita pizza ($14) on the classic dough and wasn't very impressed. Â The tomatoes are grape tomato halves instead of sliced, and the basil tasted very subtle. Â But maybe that's just my picky preferences, because I've had margherita pizza I'd drool over...this was not that.
I think it's a cool place to come chill with a group and sip some wine, but I'd probably pass on the pizza next time and try some appetizers instead.
Went Saturday night for dinner. We were told there would be a 30 minute wait for a table so we found a spot at the bar. We had a table in about 15 minutes, but decided to stay at the bar instead. Good decision - bartenders were attentive, friendly & helpful with our questions.
We ordered the mushroom fondue appetizer... The bread/dough was tasty on its own, but the cheesy goodness of the fondue made it outstanding. Â We also ordered the Shady Acres pizza and added prosciutto to it. The pizza crust was perfect, thin and crispy in the right places, a little thicker (but not thick) & doughy in others. Toppings were perfectly seasoned and spread around. It was so good!
Great selection of beers & wines too!
Looking forward to going back to try their weekend brunch and lunch specials.
Blue Crab Bisque: 4/5 - The bisque had good flavor & hushpuppies which is unique.
Simmered Mussels: 3/5 - The white wine sauce was good, but the mussels weren't.
Taleggio Florentine pizza w/ chicken: 4/5 - The taleggio cheese was very flavorful. The toppings of creamy spinach, marinated artichoke, crispy onion, & truffle oil all complemented each other.
Service: 5/5 - The server was very attentive & friendly.
Ambiance: 5/5 - It has a great outdoors dining area, perfect for the Heights.
This is probably not a fair assessment of Crisp considering they probably don't really gear up for a lunch crowd.
The place itself is really comfortable and dare I say hip. It's more for the "bar type" atmosphere anyway. So having said that, I'm thinking I"m not giving them a fair shake.
Service is friendly, courteous, and prompt.
I had the lasagna. It was very very (yawn) average. Decent flavor. Really hot plate though (hint hint).
BUT.....their drunken bread is AMAZING!!!! I'd be willing to bet I can eat my weight just having their drunken bread alone.
So.....Crisp is more deserving of a higher ranking. But given that I'm not much into happy hours (lunch will be the only time I'll go), I'll remain on 3-stars, If they can improve their lasagna to the quality of their drunken bread - look out!
Have been about 1/2 a dozen times now, and the service is consistently good, as is the food. have been with a group of girlfriends, with couples and just my husband - and enjoy it every time. Nice atmosphere. As it is a thousand degrees outside I have never been on the patio, but it is on the list.
They have a good beer selection, which keeps the husband happy, and excellent wines. They have a really cool system where you can buy a great wine by the ounce, so you can taste an expensive wine before committing to the bottle. The waiters also have wonderful knowledge of the wines. When we were last in, he told me one of their sauvignon blancs (about a $34 bottle, so not crazy) was rated the best in the world. THE WORLD?!? How could I pass that up? And he was right, it did not suck.
We decided that we wanted to try CRISP after reading about the Enomatic system and beer flights in a local food magazine. I called around 3 pm in the afternoon on a Saturday and was able to get a reservation for 4 for dinner at 6:30 that night. When we got there, the valet was not free ($4 after 6 pm), but we were easily able to find street parking just across the street.
The service was very good, and our waiter was knowledgeable about all the dishes. He was jut the right level of "attentive," not hovering or rushing us, but checking in enough that we were never long without the opportunity to order.
Our waiter warned us that the portion sizes were "Texas sized" and he was totally right. We decided that we would order a few things and share amongst us and the short story is that it was still WAY too much food. But everything was totally delicious and seasoned properly.
We started with a cheese board and mussels. My experience with cheese boards at most restaurants is that there is always at least one or two cheeses that no one enjoys; this was not the case. All the cheeses were delicious and the bread (Slow Dough, we were told) was amazing. The portion was generous and we were given more bread when we asked for it to finish off the cheese. The mussels were also cooked perfectly, with the buttery broth making it very light.
For our entrees, three of us ordered the Shady Acre salad, the short rib and polenta, and the San Fran pizza with the intent to share. The salad was perfectly dressed, and was easily the size of four generous side salads at most restaurants. The short rib was huge (14 oz our waiter said) and the polenta was perfectly seasoned, not salty like what a lot of local restaurants seem to be serving lately. After dividing the salad and the short rib among the three of us, none of us really had room for the pizza... but we rationalized a slice each since we felt like we had to try it hot in the restaurant to really do it justice. The pizza was a 14 inch, 8 slice giant... and it was also amazing. The dough was nice and chewy, with a good amount of sauce and a LOT of meat. Needless to say, we took it home and had it cold for breakfast the next morning and it was still a treat.
Our fourth friend ordered the lasagna. The lasagna was a good sized portion for itself, but it came with four huge pieces of cheese bread. There was a ton of cheese in the lasagna, and the pasta was cooked very nicely.
Needless to say, we did not have any room for dessert, but our waiter told us that the brownie is a full 6 oz, so we may have to go back and eat a lighter meal. And we will definitely be back. I really can't say anything negative about our experience, we had a great time with the food and the service, and the opportunity to try many different wines and beers was the icing on the cake. The wine mark-up is pretty substantial but that's to be expected anymore.
I would recommend this restaurant as a nice experience for out-of-towners as well.
We met two other couples for a casual night of drinks and food. The heat wave was taking a breather so we jumped on the opportunity to sit outside. Great back patio area with seating under long strands of lit up bulbs.
Our waiter was very friendly and had some great suggestions. The table started out with the goat cheese dip and some drunk garlic bread. Both great.
Fiancée and I's main course was the Texas Shrimp Carbonarra: Aged Provolone, Smoked Bacon, Sweet Peas, Alfredo, Fresh Sage and topped with a Fried Yard Egg. Pizza was a good size and could easily feed two people (which it did) or three skinny gals.
They do not have a full bar so no boozy complicated cocktails here, but they had an excellent wine list for being a casual place and there was plenty of craft beers to choose from as well.
This place isn't fancy but it holds a put together look that seems to attract the twenty somethinger crowds on date night. Interior and patio are great for intimate meals with either that special someone or a group of close friends.
If I find myself hungry for Italian in the Heights again, I'll probably drop by.
I met friends here for dinner and had a wonderful experience. The beer and wine lists were extensive and varied and our waiter had great suggestions to help us make our choices. We started with sharing an order of arancini, which was delicious--moist, warm, and well-seasoned. For dinner, I had the xxl meatballs with spaghetti. The meal was great, but enormous; I definitely should have shared with a friend. I wish that the waiter had suggested this, as two of us ordered this dish and neither could finish it.
The parking is valet but we skipped this expense and easily found parking on a nearby street.
I really don't have a lot to say about this except I had a great experience. Â One - you can never go wrong with cheese, and nearly everything on the menu includes cheese! Â Two, wine is nice - self dispensing wine is even better. Â Three - we had the coolest server ever! Â Seriously cool dude. Â
Only downside is that mini parking lot with valet (charged) - alas, I should probably give up on this considering the way the city was designed.
Great addition to the Heights area! Came here last week for a girls night and had a great time.
Highlights:
The food. Really good. The prices seem steep at first, but the portions are very large and easy to share. We had a couple pizzas, some salad, and the chick pea cake sandwich. You really can't go wrong.
The atmosphere. It's a trendy, cool-looking restaurant. The patio seemed really nice as well, but we stayed indoors. I'd say it's a pretty casual place, but there were a lot of people there after work for the happy hour (which ends promptly at 7...sadness), so there's a good mix of business casual as well.
Lowlights:
The service. Our server, in particular, I think, so it'll be worth a second visit to compare. He was just too much about the upsell. I've worked in the restaurant industry as well--you  try to upsell one or two things, not every single order. It got to be pretty ridiculous, to the point that we felt like we were arguing with the guy. Really annoying.
The cheese plate. Way too expensive for what it was. The cheeses were not that great, the portions were small, and it really looked like something I could put together for cheaper at Spec's.
Valet parking. $4? Come on. There was plenty of street parking available, so this wasn't too much of a concern.
Overall, it's definitely a spot worth checking out. They've got a cool wine list and other drink options, and a fun, laid back environment. Worth a visit!
When I saw the $4 (!) valet, I thought this place would be ridiculously expensive. Â But actually, the meals and drinks are very reasonably priced.
Love the big outdoor area with a swing bench and cornhole for passing the time while waiting for your food.
The pizza, salads, and truffle fries are all fabulous. Â The cheese tray was a little overpriced -- I would go for a different appetizer next time. Â You can order flights of beer to try out different stuff, and there's a cool wine vending machine thing that you get a card for and pay by the ounce. Â I wish I had a wine vending machine.
We loved it! Came here in a group for a birthday party and we had a great time.
We had one server for about 15 people and he was on top of everything. We ordered some random beer he suggested and it was very good. Apologies on not remembering it. Then we ordered the San Fran (?) pizza and truffle fries. Definately don't do this if you watch what you eat. But holy moly was it good. We chowed down.
The place got busier as time went on and the bar area seemed to be filled with lots of wine drinkers. We did not try or even see the DIY wine. But I wasn't looking for it either.
We would definately return if in the area.
Loved this place from the time I walked in. Good decor, friendly staff and amazing food. If you are a beer fan you'll love the selection of over 24 craft beers on tap and for the wine fans over 100 choices!
Ask for Taylor, she was my server and guided me through the choices and made some selections for me that was spot on. One of the owners Angelo Scavelli was in the trenches with his staff. It always makes a positive difference when owners are involved in the guest experience.
Two favorites are the Baked Texas Goat Cheese and Marinara, and the Shady Acres Pizza. All fresh hand made items. Go enjoy!
LOCAL CELEBRITY ALERT! Â One of the guys from the Houston Facial Hair Club works here as a server. Â Check out his could "Don't Touch My Mustache!" Â Oh, wait -- this isn't a Japanese food place. Â
I came here with a fellow Yelper (you will see this trend in recent reviews), and we had a positively good time which left us both wondering why the reviews for this place aren't higher on Yelp. Â
We ordered some beverages including an Arnold Palmer at a place that doesn't serve lemonade. Â Our server crushed up some lemons, mixed it into hot water, and added some sugar. Â Also, they dragged a heating lamp to us so we wouldn't get too cold sitting on the patio. Â How's THAT for service?
We grabbed the Toscano pizza because it was dinner time, and we both worked late on a Friday. Â This was one of the few applications of mushrooms I outright enjoy -- on a pizza. Â This pizza, by description, seemed very much like a favorite from home (check out Lo Coco's in Berkeley California and order the Sicilian Pizza if you should find yourself out there.) Â The pizza's ingredients were fresh.
Furthermore, we stayed here gabbing for what might have been five hours total. Â (It's nice to get to know your fellow Yelpers!) Â They never once hurried us from our seats. Â We enjoyed a live acoustic guitarist-singer while never worrying about mosquitos (since they spray for them). Â I would most definitely come here again, and I say, "Poo-poo!" to the less favorable reviews.
Been there twice now and ready to give some thoughts. First, as a place that allows you to buy growlers to take home, I think is a great idea and makes it distinct. the wine sampling station is also another interesting add on that gives variety to the restaurant. There's a large patio, dining area, bar high tables, and large wraparound bar to allow people a large variety of settings.
Service: The staff are excellent and friendly and the service has been prompt both times I went. Bartenders are knowledgeable about their beers--and willing to give a free taste of anything if you are interested. Flights seem like a fun thing to do if you are interested in tasting a variety of different beers.
Drink: Decent beer selection, although for a place that sells itself as a craft beer establishment, I would like to see a larger rotating selection, and specials beers that are brought in. The beer menu list doesn't seems to change much and much of the selection is what I call "mass-market microbrews"
Food: Menu is not overly complicated and the selection is decent, if not somewhat uninspired....It's safe chic-bar fare. Good food, but over-priced...$20+ for chicken and fries??? Clearly you are paying for the ambiance.
Crowd: Local from the Heights nieghborhood that it is nestled in to hip, young, middle-aged professionals looking for the next it bar/restaurant...this is it.
We've been a few times and never have been dissatisfied, to say the least. Staff was excellent, food was great and ambience was impecable. Our waitress, Alexis, was knowledgeable, helpful and awesome--so appreciated!! She recommended the parmesan garlic fries (which were sinfully great) and had me try a sake bloody mary (no liquor at restaurant...sigh) which had a funky personality of its own. I found it pleasureable and tasty! Brunch was awesome and the chicken and waffles--well, so good but so much, I couldn't finish it!
 We'll be back...
Does sometimes a review get skewed more positive by your company than the actual establishment? I'm not saying this place was terrible, but it was average at best, but because my overall experience was shared by an entertaining friend.
The parking lot is small so basically you're forced to street park, which can be quite far or valet. Â These days I don't mind those two options as much because I am still refining my parking skills with a bigger vehicle. Â The have a pretty big sized indoor dining area and a fair sized patio space. Â They have those heat lamps but the table we sat next to, it was broken, but our waiter went out of his way to acquire us a working lamp. Â Mad props to him and his awesome MUSTACHE. Â You are really the lovechild of the XX man. Â
I started off with a couple glasses of their wines, tasty selection and my friend wanted an arnold palmer, but they didn't have lemonade, so our waiter offered to actually squeeze some extra lemons for us!
The also decided to split a pizza, we got the Toscano which came with Herb Roasted Mushrooms, Balsamic Onion, Salami, Gorgonzola, Sage and Red Sauce. Â The pizza itself was meh, it was OVERLY salty, to the point that my lips swelled up from the excess sodium. Â
They had a live act, playing music over the intercoms, games out back, it was a mix of dates, rowdyness, and families. Â
I would come back just for drinks and for the music, but SKIP the food.
We've been wanting to check out Crisp for a while since we live about a 5 minute walk (yes, walk...we can actually walk somewhere other than Cedar Creek!) from our house.
The parking is valet only, btw. The decor is nice, if standard (dark wood, wine bottles on the walls, etc). On a Friday nice the noise level was way high. We had to sit on the same side of the table to be able to hear each other. It seemed like every other table was a group of girls.
We were able to get a table right away. Â The place was packed but they have enough servers to handle the crush of customers. We decided to order an appetizer of grilled shrimp with polenta and the Tallegio Florentine with artichokes and onion strings.
The appetizer came very quickly. The shrimp was cooked well and the polenta was tasty. The dish had some mixed greens on top. Unfortunately the dressing on the greens was way too salty and it overwhelmed the whole dish.
On to the pizza. While not as dire as with the appetizer, it was apparent that they had been pretty liberal with the salt as well. Fortunately the sweetness of the marinated artichokes and the cheese tamed down the saltiness.
We didn't order any drinks this time but I agree that they have a good selection of beers and wine.
They are the new game in this part of town and they are not lacking for customers. I am not counting out a repeat visit despite the fact they missed the mark this time.
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