Crussh, Kensington

Crussh is the capital’s original juice and healthy fast food grab and go café. It launched back in 1998.

We love them for moving healthy food hotspots into a hospital, a sports centre and a university. With 35 stores across London,  Crussh continues to innovate including becoming this month the first food outlet on the high street to offer CBD oil boosters in lattes and coffees. We paid a visit to one of the original locations on Kensington High Street.

The setting

Crussh Kensington is located at the Kensington Gardens end of Kensington High Street, a short stroll from the tube, Whole Foods and Hyde Park. It’s a handy location to pick up a healthy picnic for the park.

The space

Crussh is primarily a take-away, but in the back room there are four large tables and a handful of small tables if you want to eat in. The rest of the café is minimal with crisp white tiles and open fridges full of salads and sandwiches. Plus there is a smoothie bar where they blend smoothies in front of you as you wait. We visited mid-afternoon which was was quite busy, although there were a few empty seats.

We decided to grab and go, as Kensington Gardens, with its boating lake and stunning sunken garden, is just across the road.

 

The little things that make a difference

The packing is totally sustainable and recyclable straws are on sale at the till. Crussh  also uses strong paper straws rather than single use plastic.

The fresh juice test

Crussh has an impressive selection of fresh juices and boosters, but we picked a smoothie. We decided to review the The Crusshberry Blast. The mix of low fat yoghurt, apple juice, raspberries, blueberries and bananas hit the spot. It was admittedly pretty sweet, due to the apple juice, but the staff are happy to tailor make if you ask to leave out the apple juice.

Crussh has brought CBD oil to the High Street.  For an extra £1.50, you can now add a CBD booster to your coffee or latte.

We tried the turmeric latte version. You couldn’t taste the CBD oil.  It was a perfect partner to the bittersweet chocolate and peanut butter protein balls.

What we ate

There’s a good selection of vegan and plant-based food on the menu. From protein pots to super salad boxes and from a daily warm selection to their signature healthpots. We chose the Lentil and Herb Healthpot and the Butterbean Tomato and Parsley Healthpot. The former has always been a huge favourite of ours. This good sized, well priced, pot contains green lentils, cucumber, feta cheese, red peppers, mint and parsley.

It’s fresh and filling and the mint and parsley add a kick to the velvety lentils and cheese.

The second pot was a combo of cannellini beans, cherry tomatoes butter beans, shallots and parsley. It was creamy and filling. Finally, we tried a desert pot. The Crussh Key Lime Pie was a  lime and avocado mousse with a cacao nut base. It was pretty sweet with a massive kick of lime, but not as sweet as a traditional key lime pie. The crunchy cacao base evened out the sweetness and added texture.

What we’d go back for…

The convenience, the multiple locations, the filling smoothies and the amazing lentil health pot. The reasonable prices for healthy food in central London are also a hit with us.

The bill

(take away prices)

Crusshberry blast smoothie (S) £3.60
Lentil and herb healthpot   £2.80
Butterbean and and cherry tomato healthpot  £2.80
Key lime pie £2.75
Turmeric latte £2.50
+ CBD oil  £1.50