A concept that originated in Dallas, Cru has brought its take on the classic wine bar to Austin and Houston in recent years. With one location already in The Woodlands, the new West Ave. location fits in well with Cru's history of serving cheese plates, stone-fired pizzas and flights of wine in upscale retail centers.

Classy and sophisticated, Cru is proving a nice complement to the other establishments of West Ave., including the Indian restaurant Pondicheri and Ava Kitchen. More than 300 wine selections from all over the world populate the menu along with an extensive list of food options for brunch, lunch and happy hour. And of course all of the options pair nicely with a vintage-just ask one of the knowledgeable servers.

Cru is available for intimate parties and larger get-togethers as well. Also, ask about their regular weekly events.