Wild Crush Wine Bar(n) now open in Town & Country
The newest wine bar in town has a patio that rivals the best in town.
Courtesy Wild Crush
There’s a new wine bar in Town & Country, and the emphasis is on the “country.”
Located at 13350 Clayton Road, in the new Blacksmith Grove development at the corner of Clayton and Mason, Wild Crush Wine Bar(n) looks as natural as the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City. All that’s missing are the swinging doors.
Courtesy Pace Properties
Blacksmith Grove is clad head-to-boot in barnwood, a radical (and oh-so-welcome) departure from the modern-day strip center, the perfect setting for “a country-feeling wine bar that’s not in the country,” says Jay Delsing, who owns the business with his crush, Karen Paslawski.
Paslawski, a commercial interior designer by trade, had been looking for an event venue that she and her daughter, Lexie, an experienced hospitality professional, could own and operate. A professional golfer, Delsing has always wanted to own a restaurant or bar.
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Photo by George Mahe
Wild Crush seats 64 inside and approximately the same number on the outside patio deck
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Photo by George Mahe
“When we saw this beautiful, rustic building going up and then discovered that it opened onto 7 acres, including a lake and a park with a waterfall, fountains, and an amphitheater, we looked at each other and said, 'This just might be the place,'" Karen says.
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Photo by George Mahe
Wild Crush seats 64 inside and 64 on the outside patio
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Courtesy Wild Crush
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Photo by George Mahe
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Photo by George Mahe
Blacksmith Grove features 13-foot-high wood ceilings, windows that span the front and back of the bays, and rustic touches. Karen outfitted the space with church pews reclaimed from a church in North County, Western art, whimsical house rules, and a scatter of playful window frames (upcycled from Delsing’s house) along a wall festooned with breezy linen curtains.
In another DIY touch, the partners built the hanging light fixtures. “One started with a beam from an antique mall and progressed from there,” Lexie says. “Our electricians just shook their heads.”
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Photo by George Mahe
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Courtesy Wild Crush
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Courtesy Wild Crush
Courtesy Wild Crush
At a participatory Wild Crush board, guests can fill out a tag in conjunction with the theme, which the owners will change every month. (What’s your passion? What’s your favorite wine? Who’s your personal crush?, etc.). "You may see some of these appear on social media, using #whatsyourwildcrush," Lexie says.
A central bar acts as the anchor, with rustic stools on one side and a 24-tap, self-service wine-dispensing system on the other (reducing the need for restaurant labor as COVID-19 protocols and hiring shortages linger).
Photo by George Mahe
In another nod to the next-gen wine bar, Wild Crush offers a limited food menu, including a variety of charcuterie-style shareables from St. Louis Cheese Boards, with options including cheeses, meats, nuts, olives, raw veggies, and seasonal fresh fruits.
Photo by George Mahe
Photo by George Mahe
The picnic boxes and snack packs are available to enjoy indoors, on the sprawling back patio (destined to be one of the most talked about in town), or on a leisurely stroll exploring the walking paths leading to gardens, fountains, and a pavilion.
After regular hours commence October 22, a limited selection of spirits will be available, buoyed by 10 signature cocktails, including the Back in the Saddle Bloody Mary (with Tito’s Zing Zang and pickled fresh vegetables) and house fave Young Troubadour Ranch Water (with Codigo Blanco tequila, Topo Chico, and fresh lime).
A handful of domestic beers and a few craft brews are currently offered, and the plan is to have two frozen drinks on hand at any given time (including frosés, frozen strawberry vodka lemonade, and frozen Champagne with fruit).
Photo by George Mahe
Logically, the wine and temperature-controlled dispensing system are the main draws. A preloaded card allows customers to pour themselves a 2-, 4-, or 6-ounce portion of wine, all priced by the ounce. Wines run the gamut from popular chardonnays (such as Sonoma Cutrer) and light French rosés to higher-end reds (such as Belle Glos Pinot Noir). By-the-glass prices run from $7–$42. Full bottles are also available, with prices in the $30–$50 range, although some selections run north of $100 (such as Duckhorn Cab, at $142).
In another nod to the new normal, Wild Crush is a hybrid of self- and full-service. Load up a card, and sample some glass wine or use a QR code (secured to every table inside and out) to order bottled wine, cocktails, and snacks. Delsing says the ordering procedure was designed to be fun, fast, and accurate. “Customers can either self-order for instant gratification or use the QR code, and we’ll get it out to them almost as fast.”
And one more nod: Wild Crush is completely cashless.
On October 22, regular hours will commence (Wednesday–Friday nights, as well as Saturdays and Sundays during the day). Private events can be booked on Tuesday nights, Saturday nights, and early in the day on Saturdays and Sundays. (See complete hours below.) “Even if private events are not booked at those times, we plan to remain closed,” Lexie notes. “In this business especially, customers appreciate consistency.”
Courtesy Wild Crush
Before October 22, the hours are as follows:
- September 26: Noon–5 p.m. (music by Common Ground from 1–4 p.m.)
- October 1: 5–10 p.m.
- October 2: Noon–5 p.m.
- October 8: 5–10 p.m.
- October 9: Town & Country Fall Festival Concert and Fireworks
- October 10: Noon–5 p.m.
- October 15: 5–10 p.m.
- October 16: Noon–4 p.m.
- October 17: Noon–5 p.m.
Then, beginning October 22, the restaurant will be open to the public from 4–9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 4–10 p.m. Friday, and 1–5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
It will also be available for private events from 4–9 p.m. Tuesday and 11 a.m.–1 p.m. and 6–10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Courtesy Wild Crush
Jay Delsing, flanked by Karen and Lexie Paslawski, at a pop-up event earlier this summer
