Crush XI Restaurant — Restaurant in Melbourne

Update: So, we did try again and came back 2 weeks ago. It's off-season so we were able to walk in for dinner and get a table. However, this experience was the last time I'm coming here. Two tables away from us was a party of 3 couples who obviously had had some drinks. They were loud and obnoxious and management did not do anything. There were lewd phrases said out loud and one of the men kept banging on the table. It was actually a bit scary at times. We kept hoping they would simmer down when the food came out for them, but no such luck. We opted to get one of the specials and the Smoked Duck Fettuccini. The duck dish was tasty and I enjoyed the smoked duck and cherries, however, it was very rich and "something green" could have been a nice balance. Also, the creamy sauce was broken by the time it came to the table with visible fat on the bottom of the plate. The "special" was strip steak, scallops and polenta. Again nothing green. I highly recommend you ask for the price when you go for the special, because, wow, the plate rang up at $105. At that point we just wanted to get out of there but I would sure like to know why. It was good, but not THAT good. We complained about the noisy neighbors and they refunded us the cheapest drink we had plus gave us a tiny desert to take home.

Previous review: Came here for brunch on Sunday. We chose to sit outside because there were no tables if you didn't have a reservation and the hostess couldn't provide a wait estimate. Really liked the feel of the place and our server was very nice and attentive. The Tips and Grits were delicious but the beef was a bit more cooked than we had hoped for. The crab cakes on the Crab Cake Benedict were delicious with nice chunks of crab. however for $26 I expected more than just crab cakes, two eggs and some Hollandaise. Some potatoes, toast or even just a small salad would have been nice. The coffee was good but both cups had grinds on the bottom. I would try another time of day. Not sure...

Yesterday was meant to be a special evening celebrating our 15th anniversary at one of our favorite spots, Crush XI. However, our experience was marred by the appalling behavior of the new manager. We arrived with our service dog, as we have done countless times before without issue, only to be shockingly denied entry. The manager callously insisted on an unlawful policy, claiming service dogs aren't allowed where food is served, despite our clear explanation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This manager not only ignored our rights but also subjected us to public humiliation, offering us an outdoor table in scorching heat, knowing we had a 3-month-old baby with us.

His discriminatory actions not only ruined our anniversary celebration but also disregarded our service dog's impeccable behavior and training, proven in various settings including international flights and hospital stays. Under the ADA, restaurants are obligated to accommodate service dogs in all customer areas. This manager's ignorance and stubbornness not only violated federal law but also left us feeling marginalized and unwelcome in a place we've cherished for years. His conduct is not just a mistake but a clear case of discrimination that could merit legal repercussions.

Celebrating a 15-year anniversary is a rare milestone, and this individual ruined that for us. While this cannot be undone or fixed, we urge the owners to take immediate corrective action. We deserve an apology and assurance that such discriminatory practices will never happen again. We hope they understand the seriousness of this matter and reaffirm their commitment to inclusivity and respect for all patrons, including those with disabilities and their service animals. Until then, we regretfully cannot recommend this establishment to anyone seeking a welcoming and lawful...

If you are in the area, or driving through it to your next destination, this restaurant is worth stopping at!

When you walk in, the atmosphere is amazing. Very well decorated, clean and the music was at a volume not too loud no quiet. Our waitress was super kind, explained the menu perfectly, answered all our questions and had so much energy and passion for the place you felt honored to have the opportunity to enjoy a meal and a drink there!

The dates appetizer was superb. The flavor was unique, but anything wrapped in bacon is an A+. I ordered the Flight-something (can’t remember) drink and French 75. Both were amazing. Very refreshing for summer. I enjoyed the peanut bomb entree which was surprisingly better than expected. I expected it to be reliably basic, it’s just chicken breast, skillet veggies and rice but the peanut sauce was outstanding. The veggies and rice were cooked perfectly. The chicken breast was good too, however, it’s almost impossible for a restaurant to serve sliced chicken breast without it drying out. So that was a bit of a bummer but the sauce made up for it.

For dessert, our group chose the carrot cake ice cream and Nutella creme brûlée. The carrot cake ice cream was actually really cool and flavorful. It’s layered so there’s a lot of different flavors going on. I would suggest they remove the ginger gummy things, they felt strange in the mix. The Nutella creme brûlée was also interesting, in a good way, and a tad on the heavier side but the portion is light so it didn’t leave you feeling unreasonably full.

Lastly, the prices weren’t outrageous. I was expecting to see prices in the $30-50 range but was surprised to see it’s more like $20-40. Cocktails are reasonable as well. A huge shoutout to the Bacon...