Posted by Jodi in 
We’ve been seeing a whole slew of new restaurants in downtown Akron in the last couple of years, but it’s Crave that brings innovation to the city’s cuisine.
The first thing you will notice when you walk into this hot spot is the decor. Trendy, sleek and beautiful with hand blown glass light fixtures and a breezy curtain wall that separates the entrance from the dinning room. There’s a giant high-top table that can seat eighteen and a sexy bar that makes you want to have a drink. All together the place makes you feel like you’re doing the trendy downtown thing the minute you walk in the door.
Next thing you will find is a excellent wine list. Plenty of tasty wines by the glass and a list of bottles the likes of which you won’t normally find in a restaurant. There’s a long list of imported beers to go with the domestics and a couple of fruit beers so you can order up a black and red made of Lindeman’s Framboise and Guinness. The bartenders are knowledgeable and fun to hang out with and this is the bar of choice for an eclectic group of young townies, businessmen and couples.
Crave has an eclectic menu that at times can be a little daunting for the uninitiated. Here’s what I’ve figured out: read six words in to any of the lengthy descriptions and you’ll figure our what they are trying to serve you. Aside from the wordy descriptions, I have yet to find anything on this menu that disappoints. The chef brings out the best in all of the ingredients, using both the ordinary and exotic to create something bursting with personality. The perfect example of this is the steak skewers marinated in beer and served with a smoked Gouda cheese dipping sauce. They serve up a mean Duck Confit salad with figs, goat cheese, baby spinach and candied almond brittle or a low-carb steak wrap with peppered bacon and Worcestershire aioli. One of the richest dishes on the menu is my favorite, the pan seared sea scallops with macadamia nuts over lobster ravioli is a dish you will adore for its layers of flavors and the surprise you get as they blend together in each new bite. As for the entrees, you can get lost in all of the choices but a sure thing is the Smoked Gouda Mac-n-Cheese with blackened chicken, it’s he dish that everyone raves about.
This is all basic comfort food taken to a new level. You don’t have to be a foodie to enjoy Crave, but you do need to have an open mind, my recommendation- let the chef do his thing and enjoy.
This is a great place for an night out, or a business lunch, but I don’t think you can have a romantic dinner here easily. Crave is a noisy place day or night, with lighting that lends to a more energetic atmosphere than a couple looking to canoodle would find conducive. On the other hand if you are tying to impress, this is the place to take the date!
Crave is open Monday-Friday for lunch and Monday- Saturday for dinner and if located at 57 E. Market St. They are closed on Sundays. Reservations are accepted, along with most major credit cards. Private room available.
For more info: Visit their web site for a look at the menu, hours, reservations EatDrinkCrave
I came across this post, Discover What You Crave in Akron – MenopauseMafia while I was searching for curtain swag and thought it was interesting and a little unique.