Crush 29....

Immediately upon entering Crush 29’s massive double doors, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to leave your troubles at the door. You might also be surprised to find how fun it is to watch the movers and shakers of Placer County at the trendy, upscale eatery.

Special touches like the complimentary valet service, the outdoor lounging couches, and even the fancy breadsticks served in glasses attempt at differentiating Crush from every other restaurant in town. However, one can’t help but wonder who really wants to sip their wine in a lounge area that overlooks not only a Chevron station but a busy intersection.

Once inside, it’s a different story. You’ll most likely find yourself gravitating towards the enormous circular bar, where you can enjoy their specialty martini, the “Crushtini”, which will leave your nose tickling from the dry ice cleverly placed in the bottom. Or, for the winos in the crowd, Crush features an impressive wine list of over 50 glasses.

If you absolutely love your selection, you can purchase from a selection of over 150 bottles at their in-house wine shop, where they also offer wine-tasting. In addition, each week a chef from a different winery visits to offer a special menu made to pair with a specialty wine.

The designers of the restaurant successfully created a lounge-like atmosphere that invites diners to stay as long as their glasses are filled. The overhead lighting bathes the venue in warm lighting and is set to dim when nighttime falls. The eclectic choice of jazz and house music adds to the hip ambiance, but makes it difficult to actually hear any sort of conversation you might be attempting to have.

Conversation seems irrelevant as soon as the waiter brings your orders to the table. Your taste buds will be rejoicing from the large selection Crush offers. Treat yourself to appetizers like Lamb Lollipops or Beef Butter Cups (thinly sliced beef tossed with cucumber and carrots in a to-die-for spicy sauce) and you will eagerly be anticipating the entrée. Portions are just enough to share and stave your hunger but still leave room for the next course.

The Jade Mountain Chicken is an unlikely pairing but will please an array of diners. Roasted chicken, covered in mozzarella, rests on a pile of rice laying in sun-dried tomato sauce. Or, if you’re up for something a little more traditional, the Margherita pizza never disappoints. The kitchen features a brick pizza oven, cooking the pies to perfection. All of the entrees come out of the kitchen looking more like art than food, which makes sense once you taste a bite of your masterpiece.

It’s smart to arrive at this particular eatery with an open wallet. The typical plate costs about a reasonable $12-$25, but the bar tabs can quickly add up. While it may not be reasonable to dine out on a weekly basis, the restaurant is perfect for special occasions.

The Alizadeh family is already planning an big brother to Crush, which will also be built in the Roseville area, just a street away. The restaurant will costs $10 million and will feature even more of an upscale experience, which will be hard to do but they promise to please.

Cheers!