Cru CafeExcellent lunch!I had the Garlic Marinated Chicken Club sandwich with shoestring fries and cannot wait to have it again! This sandwich was absolutely incredible. Tendor chicken, perfect amount of lettuce and tomato, and the sourdough bread was perfectly grilled. Try. This. Sandwich.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMHopping little cafe with great foodWe booked a 12:15pm Tues. lunch. Glad we did or we would've had a 1hr wait. They were super busy, hence a check-in delay. With no obvious out-of-the-way place to wait, we filled up the entranceway and awkwardly blocked traffic of the waitstaff to porch tables.
Once we were installed at our table the service was fast and efficient. Tables are close together, so people needing a lot of space are going to feel crowded.
We had the brisket BBQ sandwich and the shrimp BLT and both were super tasty. Sides were also delicious. Nice touch was the option (in addition to soft drinks) for tea, lemonade, or the Arnold Palmer (my fave). Portions were large, so we were too stuffed to try out the desserts.
Overall, great experience and outstanding food.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMPut This Gem On Your ListExcellent food and service. Great value. In other places, you pay way more for this quality. It's like a quality Montreal or French bistro where all the workers have good skills and experience. I'll be back.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMyummy southern foodGot to try a variety of small plates. The mac and cheese was divine! Tried fried oysters and fried green tomatoes. Bread pudding was fantastic. Very cute atmosphere-two rooms and a porch of a house. Good service.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat little gem of a spotSix of us ate there and each raved about each appetizer and entree we had. Our server, Alex, was knowledgeable, friendly, and sent us in the right direction for food and wine choices. The food is fresh, well-prepared and thoughtful. Not pretentious at all, just well done and fresh. On this trip we also ate at Trattoria Lucca and 39 Rue de Jean. Cafe Cru won out as our unanimous favorite, even though there was stiff competition from Lucca.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMDowntown Charleston's Hidden GemGreat food, great service, and worth every penny! Great place for local dining and the feeling of Charleston.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMBest Meal During Charleston Trip!Loved it! Favorite dish was the Chinese chicken salad!5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMCreative and deliciousReally delicious low country food. The setting is a charming Charleston house with a few tables on the porch tucked away from the busiest streets. Delightful. Would definitely return!5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways GreatWe eat here on every trip to town. It has a limited menu but not an issue. Harder to get rez so don't just walk in without...5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMTreasure in CharlestonAwesome. We knew it was a highly rated restaurant but had to experience it for ourselves. The restaurant was small but very intimate. The staff was friendly, the setting intimate and food very tasty. Would highly recommend Cru to anyone going to Charleston.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMYum!Great service, great food, great price. Cru is a smaller restaurant, but that works in your favor as you are capable of receiving great experiences. Its not about how many people they can push through in a day, its more about how great of an experience they create for each customer. Well done.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMHidden GemMy husband and I went to Cru Café for dinner after reading all the great reviews. We were not disappointed. The food was fantastic and unique. We sat at the counter which overlooks the open kitchen and watched our food being prepared. We had the basil shrimp and pasta dish and the chicken paillard (with choice of dipping sauce) Both were excellent. My favorite thing was the potato gratin as a side. It was rich and creamy and brown on top. Melts in your mouth. Staff were warm and friendly. Will return here again and again.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful glimpse of CharlestonLunch on the porch! As a respite from a blustery day, we had great service from Johnnie and great food, including fabulous mushroom soup and a not too sweet chocolate dessert. Only complaint is the lack of good coffee. Make reservations .....even for lunch ......as the place is small and popular.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMOur Charleston StapleWe never go to Charleston without having lunch at Cru. The truffle oil parmesan fries are amazing. I usually get one of their unique salads and my husband likes the shredded pork sandwich. My son, who attends the College of Charleston always makes time in his schedule to join us and he likes the shrimp blt. This restaurant should not be missed.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent place for lunch.What a great lunch spot! You REALLY need reservations, because there is not a good place to wait for a table. The orange dreamsicle cake is wonderful.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMProbably the best food!The evening at Cru Cafe was almost perfect. One of those rare epicurean delights, and particularly wonderful for the price.
The Thai seafood risotto could not have been better. My wife had a black drum special that was pure delight. Wonderful marriage
Of different favors.
Likely the best food for the price in Charleston, and perhaps, in the top 4 of the best overall.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMA Hidden GemCru was recommended to us by a friend who's opinion I value. We had a great meal. The food and service were excellent. I have absolutely no complaints to offer. Please note. The restaurant is VERY small. Reservations are must for lunch or dinner.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat mealThe meal was the best we had during our visit to Charleston. The mac & cheese was as good as everyone talked about it.5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMRecommend by a local. RestaurantRecommend by a local. Restaurant in an old house. Great, cozy atmosphere. Server was very nice and food was yummy!5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstandingHas to be the best meal we had in Charleston, SC
So glad we went!5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMStill my favoriteCru Cafe is always the first dining reservation I make when planning a trip to Charleston. In a city known for its culinary delights, Cru Cafe remains at the top of my personal list of Charleston's best restaurants. The website accurately represents the experience you'll have and the menu is so appealing. Brunch, lunch, dinner - there have been several trips where I've dined at Cru Cafe multiple times. Don't risk trying to walk in and be seated - make a reservation!5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMwonderful!I love eating at Cru Cafe. It's always a good idea to get a reservation, and I'm glad we did. It was crowded, but we were seated on time. The food was delicious. Everyone there was very nice. I will be back!4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMMy favorite restaurant inMy favorite restaurant in Charleston. Warm friendly service and fabulous food.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMfantastic food. watchingfantastic food. watching the cooks prepare the food was amazing. each dish looked more appealing than the next. staff was very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was our first visit toThis was our first visit to Cru and it was an excellence experience. We sat outside on the porch-nice breeze, friendly atmosphere and very good service. The food was hot, presentation nice and taste delicious.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMTerrific, fresh seafood, nicelyTerrific, fresh seafood, nicely presented. Very accomodating, as the resturant (Nate)was flexible enough to accomodate the last-minute addition of a third person to my two-person reservation.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMEvery time we go to Charleston...thEvery time we go to Charleston...this little gem is always a MUST!!! It is always so good!!4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMWe love Cru! Great food andWe love Cru! Great food and love to eat on their porch!4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways love the Cru Cafe.Always love the Cru Cafe. Food is fabulous and the staff, many who have been there for years, are warm and welcoming.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMA great experience! We hadA great experience! We had a reservation for outside but it was cold. They gave us seats at the captain's table instead. Wonderful flavors and excellent service.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMCharleston Gem!Cru Cafe was recommended to us by a friend and it did not disappoint. The restaurant was in an old house and provided a beautiful setting for what turned out to be a great meal.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWe thoroughly enjoyed theWe thoroughly enjoyed the food. The meal was delicious. The service was outstanding. Would definitely recommend and return for another meal.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMCreative dishes. However theCreative dishes. However the portions are quite small.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was not our first visitThis was not our first visit to Cru Cafe. It has never disappointed.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWe were very pleased withWe were very pleased with our dinner at the Cru. Our dinner was delicious and our servers were very helpful and pleasant.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMWent for lunch. Nice ambience,Went for lunch. Nice ambience, prompt seating, delicious food, efficient service.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMInventive menu, fresh fish,Inventive menu, fresh fish, attentive staff. only downside was that our table was not ready but we accepted the 'chef's table' and enjoyed the action and made friends with other diners.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMNeighborhood gem for sure!Always wonderful food, service and ambiance. Wish they would offer seating/drinks on the flat rooftop while you wait on your reservation.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was outstanding andThe food was outstanding and the service was great. Hands down the best meal we had in Charleston.4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMI had been told that thisI had been told that this was a 'gem' and sure enough, it was. The food was fresh and interesting. I had the BEST pork that I have ever had in my life. The waiter was very very knowledgeable.
Enjoyed my first mint julep!4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMSimple surroundings, verySimple surroundings, very good service and perhaps the best food in Charleston. We never miss a visit to Cru when in town.4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was the best meal weThis was the best meal we had in Charleston and we have been going out every night. We had baked brie and mussels for appetizers and they were stunning. We followed that with Duck and Thai Seafood Risotto. All four dishes were wonderful. The Seafood Risotto was more seafood than risotto and had a subtle thai flavor that didn't overpower the seafood. Wish we were staying a bit longer to try something else.4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent FOOD and ATMOSPHERE!Everything about Cru is amazing! Make sure to get a reservation, though, because this is a small space that is always packed. It's that good!4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful.It seems we eat here on every trip to Charleston: Cru Cafe and Husk. Its that good. Its wonderful for lunch or dinner. Reservations are a must.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMBest fried green tomatoes everCru Cafe proved to be a true Charleston culinary delight. With local seafood and artfully prepared Southern inspired dishes with a modern twist. I dare say the fried green tomato appetizer is the best I've ever had.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMBest food in Charleston!Undoubtedly my favorite restaurant in Charleston.....will be back!!!4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMWe arrived an hour early forWe arrived an hour early for our reservation as the weather outside had turned cold. With a party of 7 we were not hopeful, but were surprised when the manager accommodated us in the private dining room that they had on the second floor of the house. Our family and guests were ecstatic and the private room allowed us to really enjoy one another's company. The food was great and the service was superior.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMWe were late & they were gracious!The most impressive part of Cru was the host called us to make sure we were still on our way (8 min late with traffic), and was forgiving that the rest of our party was a few min behind us (so rude I felt terrible, but tipped well!). They were SO gracious. The food was fantastic! We are spoiled in Chicago with some excellent restaurants - Cru Cafe was a delicious, outstanding meal. I would certainly go back. Thank you!4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMMy daughter and I ate thereMy daughter and I ate there recently and I was a little worried that she might not find anything she liked since teenagers are finicky. She got a basil shrimp dish and she devoured it. I got the tilefish special and it was excellent. I visit Charleston two or three times a year and had never been to Cru Cafe. I will definitely be going back. My daughter even said it was our best meal in Charleston.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMWe were visiting from Saskatchewan,We were visiting from Saskatchewan, Canada, and had your restaurant recommended to us by a couple from Boston who sat across from us in a different restaurant the night before. We were most pleased with their recommendation and would certainly recommend your restaurant to others. The food (we had salmon with lemon risotto and tile fish) was excellent. The restaurant is casual but the food is incredible. The staff were helpful and very efficient.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AM