Crush Wine Bar Launches Fried Chicken & Champagne Thursdays (+Caviar)

A “wine bar” is a tricky concept. It sounds simple, but what is it exactly?

A haven for wine geeks, with charcuterie and cheese as an afterthought? A venue for high volumes of cheap wine and overpriced small plates? A regular restaurant with a passion for wine, disguised as a bar?

Luckily, there is nothing tricky about Crush Wine Bar in bustling West Hartford, which opened in November 2024.

If you’re a wine pro, it’s got everything you could want, at some of the lowest markups around. Just out for a good time? You’ll likely discover a new wine you love, and it will be surprisingly affordable. 

Oh, and you’ll eat very well, too…whether you’re just there for a few bites or an entire meal. Always with welcoming and knowledgeable service, and never with someone trying to upsell you on a more expensive bottle.

While there’s a full menu (more on that below), Crush’s newest offering could not be simpler: Fried Chicken + Champagne. While this concept is not entirely new, it is certainly very on trend.

Crush is currently offering this special menu on Thursdays only. However, due to its overwhelming popularity, they plan to add more days soon (most likely starting with Wednesdays and then potentially Tuesdays, too).

How does it work?

You choose a bucket of 2, 4 or 8 pieces, which come with their house-made sauces. And don’t sleep on them, they are extremely tasty—my personal favorite was the pink peppercorn & lime honey. You can also order classic sides that have been elevated by chef Tim East. The dill potato salad and bacon-braised butterbeans were particularly delicious.

The chicken is excellent. Super crispy exterior, super juicy interior. The birds are buttermilk brined and there are 12 herbs and spices in the batter, so each piece packs a little flavor punch. There are also two Fancy Nuggies, topped with either Perigord Black Truffle or Kaluga Royal Caviar. These are no ordinary nuggs. They’re wider and taller than you’d expect, with a succulent blend of dark and white meat, and can more than handle the salty, briny notes of the caviar and the earthy tones of the truffle. Lastly, there’s a fried chicken sandwich on brioche with the house ‘truffalo’ (truffle-buffalo) sauce, slaw and pickles.

General Manager and talented sommelier, Vish Badami, has curated a special wine list to accompany all these crispy chicken options. It features Champagne from some famous smaller producers at very reasonable prices, both by the glass and for full bottles. 

For example, you can enjoy a bottle of Ponson Brut Champagne for $50 the (or a glass or $19). A bottle costs about $45 in a retail shop, meaning the markup is very, very low. And—wine geek alert (!)—a bottle of Georges Laval Brut Nature Champagne is only $180. While that may sound like a lot, it costs $120+ in most wine shops. That’s markup of 1.5x at Crush, whereas most places would charge a 3x markup (or more), making it $360+ in another restaurant. 

There are also boutique sparkling wines from regions outside of Champagne that are great values, too. If you’re not into bubbly, there are cocktails and house-made, non-alcoholic options that will pair deliciously.

The regular menu at Crush is broken into small plates, medium plates, salads and large plates. Vish explained that there is a particular emphasis on vegetables. The stuffed artichokes with goat cheese, pine nuts and a spinach cream was tangy and satisfying, while a katsu-style fried green tomato finger sandwich (with mayo and white soy) was comfort food taken up a few notches. Don’t miss the stuffed eggplant main course. It has curry-spiced beans inside, with a rich yet beautifully balanced agrodolce sauce and some jasmine rice on the side. It is 100% delectable and 100% vegan.

Definitely try one of the Fried Chicken + Champagne nights, then come back for the full food and wine menus. Vish has over 400 bottles on his list (mostly with only a 2x markup 🤫 🥂) and there are fun blind tasting flights, Wine Class Wednesdays, plus more to discover.