Crave….the name says it all! You will CRAVE this place. You’ve probably heard about their amazing food, delicious drinks, and welcoming ambiance, but not much about how Crave Kitchen & Bar all started. Owners Derek Hood and Pat Morandi wanted to create a unique and laid back restaurant with an atmosphere of high standards that didn’t exist anywhere else in the Treasure Valley. “It’s not necessarily formal dining or casual dining,” explained Hood, ” it's somewhere in the middle where people can feel comfortable in blue jeans or tuxedos.”
Crave’s focus was to create a dining experience that catered to everyone’s tastes, from steaks to burgers to salads to pasta all while delivering excellent service. Whether celebrating in their private room, enjoying date night at an outdoor table with the view of the lake, a girl’s night out on the rooftop patio, or meeting friends at the bar area, Crave is truly a next-level experience.
Crave opened its doors in 2020. In March they were about 60% into the construction process. When they finally opened their doors, they were at 50% capacity and take out orders.
“Running a restaurant is hard enough, but opening one up during a pandemic had its challenges," says Hood. “However the community has been wonderful in supporting us and we were intentional in creating a safe environment for people to dine in during the height of the pandemic.”
There was another silver lining during this time. They were able to focus on training the staff and work with the cooks to master everything. Hood expresses how important his staff is and how everyone treats each other like family. All the sales from their recently celebrated one year anniversary were donated to the Women and Children’s Alliance (WCA). “We are in the people business, not in the restaurant business,” he says.
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ITEM ONE: Crave's extraordinary pastry chef Rich Gardunia creates masterpieces for special events in the private room and rooftop patio.
ITEM TWO: "It takes a village to get this restaurant open in the morning, so family meals are a Crave tradition," says co-owner Derek Hood.
ITEM THREE: Friday afternoons call for an refreshing cocktail, amazing appetizer, and a shaded patio with a water view. The restaurant is nearly 7,000 square feet with an open floor plan and glass wall looking out to the patio and pond.
ITEM ONE: Can we have a seat at this table?! Craves delivers beautiful settings for special reservations, making every meal memorable and delicious.
ITEM TWO: Another slice of heaven. Every bite is a reason to celebrate at Crave's Kitchen.