The twenty something guy in in the hat and shorts acting as host at lunch was one of the rudest people I have ever encountered in a restaurant. After being ignored for a minute he says "I got ya here"...ok. I notify him of my...reservation and he says "back corner". Doesn't offer any other conversation or greeting. Doesn't seat me. After I gather my party and walk to the table we wait 7-8 minutes which you all know is cardinal sin of service in a restaurant. He then comes over, slams the silverware on the table and chastises me for moving the tiny table 1 inch from the wall. He then "wedges" it back against the wall so it won't wobble. We wait another 5 minutes for the waitress. She was fine, if slightly slow/overbooked. The food was very good but was served 50 minutes from arrival for a simple lunch. Why subject yourself to this guy when you can have cordial service or at least playacting cordial service from 50 other restaurants within 1 mile?More

The food was delicious and innovative, however the visit wasn't a success. We were seated in a corner of a separate outdoor patio. It looked OK and our food arrived very soon, before we could even taste our cocktails. These were a disappointment,- not real...cocktails, but sparking wine mixed with juice. Plates were not cleared after we finished the mussels appetizer. Nobody cared that we ate flailing our arms around trying to fend off clouds of big fat flies. Yes, stables are across the street. Doesn't it warrant a special care as to keep tables clean after seafood dish is served? We ate very fast and escaped this establishment. Another disappointment: the waitress described the seafood risotto as it having chunks of snapper and salmon along with some shellfish. My portion had NO snapper, only salmon, four mussels and one scallop.More

We have eaten at Cru on several occasions when we have visited Charleston. We made a booking as the seating is relatively limited. This visit was for lunch and the food was fresh, tasty and reasonably priced. We arrived at 2pm which seemed to be...just as the majority of diners were leaving. Drinks service was prompt. In the past, the time gap between ordering and eating had been very acceptable but was longer on this occasion even though the restaurant was emptying. The staff is young, enthusiastic and friendly. We will return again.More

Exciting Fresh food in an old Charleston house and patio. I’ve been twice because I enjoyed the experience so much. The menu is limited because it changes often, but the food choices are done very well. The service is excellent and for the location, the...prices are reasonable. We often like to take our own wine and the corkage fee is fair at $15.00. The quality of the food is great and the preparation is first rate. It is currently using patio and porch seating only now because of Covid, but after 5:00 it is shady and very pleasant. The mussels, fried shrimp and catch of the day are all excellent. The pastry chef makes amazing deserts as well.More

This was a perfect afternoon lunch! Easy atmosphere, wonderful food presentation, fresh ingredients and all the dishes bursted with flavor! Our family of 5 had 1 day to explore Charleston and I'm so grateful that we stopped in to the Cru Cafe. We ate out...on the front porch. The wait staff was friendly and attentive. The atmosphere was a welcome break from the more touristy type restaurants.More

2021 - another visit to Charleston, another good meal at Cru Cafe! Fried Green Tomatoes, and Vine-Ripe Tomato & Mozzarella were delicious appetizers. Fried Calamari was good. The Fried Oysters were a bit too fishy for our taste. For entrees, the Heritage Farm Pork Schnitzel,...and the Poblano & Mozzarella Fried Chicken were delicious. The Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon was disappointing, especially at $12 a glass. Make sure to make reservations in advance! 2017 - Through a mixup, our table was delayed, so we went down the street for a drink. Upon our return, the manager comp'd us two appetizers, to ensure our experience was positive, which it was. Also note that dining is in a converted home, which makes for an intimate atmosphere, so make sure to confirm indoor seating if that is a requirement, as space inside is limited. For appetizers, the Potato Soup, the Mussels, and the French Fries were delicious, and the Fried Tomatoes and Fried Calamari were both good. Tomato & Mozzarella, and General Tso's Brussels Sprouts were ok. For entrees, Salmon, Rib Eye steak special, and Mac and Cheese were delicious. The Goat Salad, and the Shrimp and Pasta were very good. This was one of our favorite restaurants.More

My friend and I had a fabulous lunch on the patio. The service was smooth and efficient, the background music was the best vibe ( steely Dan, James Taylor, ...) and the salmon appetizer was simply divine as were the drinks and the scrumptious fresh...Thai salad I had! I can’t wait to go back . If I didn’t live in Oklahoma, I’d lunch there once a week. Thanks, Cru , for going beyond my expectations!More

It was 4:55, and we had just finished a one-hour carriage tour. Cru Cafe is about a block from Palmetto Carriage. We chose it for the location and the fact that it is rated about 4.5 stars, so we stopped by. They open at 5:00,...yet the manager let us inside. It was too hot to eat outside, and we got the table with the kitchen view, the only option available for 4 because they would be full. Every morsel was tasty and all was consistently cooked and presented. Among us we had: small fried goat cheese salad, calamari with coleslaw (not your average slaw), striped bass, strawberry cheesecake, bread pudding. We found out that they use as much of every ingredient possible (reductions, etc.). Go there! Make reservations! ENJOY!More

Had a late lunch today with my husband and daughters. We shared the fried green tomatoes and Parmesan truffle fries and they were delicious. I always try the fried green tomatoes when I am on a trip in the South and these were some of...the best I have had in South Carolina. I had the turkey toast open faced sandwich with a side salad instead of fries. My family ordered burgers and we split the Mac n cheese which was delicious! Good place for lunch with plenty of outdoor seating and service was great but was not a place that wowed my socks off.More

Tucked into a charming 1830 house, Cru Cafe delivered a delicious meal in a casual and unpretentious atmosphere. The daily fish special my husband ordered was perfectly cooked and seasoned with an imaginative sauce of cauliflower and cream. Lovely in the mouth and lighter than...a heavy cream sauce, it was superb. I chose two small plates. I started with the daily soup special which was a mushroom soup seasoned well and full of mushroom earthiness. As my main I had their house smoked salmon served with sourdough crostini, seasoned cream cheese and lightly seasoned with a delicate vinaigrette. A small salad accompanied the salmon with fresh arugula, red bell peppers, slivered red onions and dressed in the same vinaigrette. Needless to say, our plates were empty, our stomachs full, and our list of “go to” restaurants increased by one!More

Our party of eight stopped in at Cru for a snack. There was a short wait, but pleasant weather made the wait comfortable. Located in an older house, Cru has seating inside, in a garden area outside, and on the porch. We thoroughly enjoyed our...two tables on the porch. Our waitress, Zoe, was so good! She was an enhancement to the experience. One of our choices was the macaroni and cheese side. She told us it would take a bit longer, so we asked her to just bring it out after the rest of our food, whenever it was ready, kind of like dessert! My husband and I shared the smoked salmon, and it was some of the best, if not THE best, we’ve ever had! We were surprised to see how large the serving of mac and cheese was when it came out. And absolutely rich, creamy, and delicious! It really could have been dessert. Between the building, Zoe, the food, and my Bellini, stopping in at Cru was a great idea!More

Absolutely love this place. We’ve been coming to Charleston for more than 20 years and Cru Cafe has become our favorite restaurant. That was reinforced this week with dinner last night. Started with the fantastic fried green tomatoes which were amazing. Then my wife and...i shared the red snapper feature which was served with a tomato gazpacho. Perfection. The meal was finished off with a flourless chocolate torte which was also perfect. We sat outside in their nicely distanced patio. Our server was great. Looking forward to our next visit.More