(212) 529-1700

24 5th Ave
New York, NY 10011 40.7329 -73.9958

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Neighborhoods: Greenwich Village, Downtown

CRU-NYC.COM

Hours:

Monday To Sunday From 05:30 PM To 10:00 PM

Price:

$$$$

Last updated 10.17.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Romantic Dining, Notable Chef, Notable Wine List, Prix Fixe Menu

Cuisine:

New American, Mediterranean, French

Notable Chef:

Shea Gallante

What People Are Saying About Cru

Featured Review

Erin Behan

Contributor

The windowed bar and front waiting area seems bright and airy compared to the dark but well-appointed main room, in which jacketed servers glide across carpeted floors, whisking jewel-like amuse bouche from table to table. Rich, sensuous cuisine, with equal attention to texture and presentation as to taste, emerges from chef Shea Gallante's kitchen, and it's hard to go wrong with his twists on the classics; crudo, pastas and main courses are all equally appealing. For a savory ending, try the chocolate cake served with caramel-thyme ice cream.

Editor's Tips

What to Drink:
The 4,000-bottle wine list arrives in two weighty leather-bound volumes. Sommelier Robert Bohr recommends a Burgundy, specifically the 2000 Morey St. Dennis "Clos De La Bussiere" from G. Roumier ($70).
Look Good:
Consider ordering the prix-fixe, with three courses for $74, or the chef's tasting menu, which starts at $135. The restaurant requests that everyone at a table either order off the regular menu or order the same special menu.
What to Drink:
Cru's whopper of a wine list boasts more than 150,000 varietals, and arrives in two weighty leather-bound volumes. Wine director Robert Bohr (and the wine list itself) generally favors Burgundy, but with a list this extensive there's no shortage of other options.
The Extras:
Try Chef Gallante's seasonal tasting menu, which includes six courses starting at $125 (add $95 for wine pairings). The restaurant requests that everyone at a table either order off the regular menu or order the same special menu.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. There are many other restaurants I would recommend with food that is as good but with better ambiance and service.
  2. The food was good, not exceptional, and the ambience was a bit stuffy and conservative.
  3. Food was good, dining room was empty and ambiance was off.
  4. This is paired with attentive, well-informed servers, who make you feel comfortable and like real guests.
  5. The atmosphere is great (where else can you find Christofle flatware?
  6. The atmosphere is a bit more formal than I usually enjoy - something that might make some diners feel intimidated - however the staff is attentive, highly professional & will do their very best to make your experience at Cru a special one.
  7. The front bar is bright and has great views of 5th avenue pedestrians.
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. The food was good but almost too pretentious - sous vide, foam, blah blah blah - I also never need to try white asparagus or curry ice cream.
  2. particularly enjoyed the Lobster, (first time I have it cooked the right way,) and the chocolate dessert with a little pudding pop.
  3. When dessert arrived, Happy Birthday was written across his plate & a single candle had been placed in his chocolate tart.
  4. My favorite was the appetizer and the dessert.
  5. The sticky toffee pudding is outstanding, as is her nut-encrusted cheesecake.
  6. makes desserts that are not only beautiful to look at but also intensely flavorful, and in unique combinations.
  7. We both loved and would reccomend the Gazpacho but we were split when picking a favorite dessert.
drinks
81.4799976348877% positive
  1. would recommend Cru for the wine list alone, but not for the
  2. thought that Cru would be the perfect place to take some colleagues with a passion for wine.
  3. The wine that was recommended was also excellent.
  4. To top it off, on the way out when we told the Maitre d' that the food was good but the wine was not, he replied that this had "absolutely nothing to do with me
  5. He was more than willing to recommend wines within a $50 price range (which is the low end at cru).
  6. The food, wine selection, and service at this place are outstanding.
  7. Truly outstanding wine and food
  8. They helped choose great wines under $100 that complemented the very creative and tasty food.
  9. The food was top notch, (especially noteable were the poularde and the apple beignet,) and the wine pairing was perfect.
  10. The latter didin't disappoint--their selection of wines is head-spinning, and the sommelier knew pretty much each one of them from the pricey chateauneuf-de-papes to the obscure galician wines.
  11. The bartender always selects the most delicious wine.
  12. didn't find the sommelier condescending in the slightest, and he recommended a wonderful bottle of Austrian wine.
  13. and the food is as impressive as the wine list is heavy.
  14. The wine list is the best i have ever seen and if these things are important to you then i recommend this place highly.
  15. would not be a great bottle of wine and that we really
  16. Service was extremely attentive - our gracious server did a wonderful job of pairing wines for us - but the final course was truly the highlight of the meal.
  17. The front bar is bright and has great views of 5th avenue pedestrians.
  18. Having ordered the 3-course meal, we splurged & put our trust in the sommelier to provide us with wine tastings for each course & were thrilled by the unique experience.
  19. The sommeliers were very helpful and made a huge wine list less intimidating then we thought it would be.
  20. Excellent wine, food, services.
  21. (Had I known that, I would've ordered more expensive drinks!)
  22. there are much better places to spend your money eating and enjoying excellent wine.
  23. The food and wine were fine, but the service was awful and rude throughout the whole night.
  24. While the food is good here, its very pricey and the wine can tally up as well.
  25. Still, the wines were great, and they have a nice selection offered by the glass and half glass so that you can try several of them.
  26. Still, we enjoyed our delicious 3-course pre-fixe meals and wines by the glass.
  27. One bottle of wine we ordered was corked - it smelled / tasted disgusting; cork actually fell to pieces in my colleague's hand.
food quality
82.43000030517578% positive
  1. The worst part came at the end of a full and expensive meal, when a friend stopped in to say hello as we were waiting for the bill to be processed.
  2. celebratory business dinner took a turn for the worse when the management began pushing our server to an uncomfortable pace of food delivery.
  3. Excellent wine, food, services.
  4. Truly outstanding wine and food
  5. If you are looking for avg food for money, a lackluster dining room with extremely rude service.
  6. The food was good but almost too pretentious - sous vide, foam, blah blah blah - I also never need to try white asparagus or curry ice cream.
  7. The food was wonderful and there was a lot of it.
  8. They are very attentive and above all the food was awesome.
  9. The food, wine selection, and service at this place are outstanding.
  10. There are many other restaurants I would recommend with food that is as good but with better ambiance and service.
  11. The bartender always selects the most delicious wine.
  12. Still, we enjoyed our delicious 3-course pre-fixe meals and wines by the glass.
  13. The food was top notch, (especially noteable were the poularde and the apple beignet,) and the wine pairing was perfect.
  14. To top it off, on the way out when we told the Maitre d' that the food was good but the wine was not, he replied that this had "absolutely nothing to do with me
  15. The chef seems to have his kitchen in order as each dish was its own unique experience and flawlessly executed.
  16. While the food was exquisite our overall experience was terrible.
  17. The food, the service (especially the friendly hosts) and the techy bathroom are beyond par.
  18. The dining room is more elegant and less noisy than before and the food is 10 times better, in fact there is no comparison.
  19. creative dishes and wonderful service.
  20. and the food is as impressive as the wine list is heavy.
  21. The food does not disappoint.
  22. Having ordered the 3-course meal, we splurged & put our trust in the sommelier to provide us with wine tastings for each course & were thrilled by the unique experience.
  23. We came to Cru for a good meal, not a free ride.
  24. The food was excellent for the most part but some dishes missed the mark, such as the
  25. The food and wine were fine, but the service was awful and rude throughout the whole night.
  26. The broad menu is delicious, from a selection of seven crudo, to entrees including duck, lamb, venison, bass and soft shell lobster.
  27. They helped choose great wines under $100 that complemented the very creative and tasty food.
  28. For one, our excellent appetizers were followed by rather mediocre entrees, with an intermission of about one hour, during which our food was "being plated.
  29. Great food for special occasions.
  30. Fish and meat cooked to perfection, and amazingly delicious with fresh, delicate flavors.
  31. Some of the other reviews label Cru as a waste of time due to rudeness or bad food.
  32. Service was extremely attentive - our gracious server did a wonderful job of pairing wines for us - but the final course was truly the highlight of the meal.
  33. We really enjoyed the food, our favorites being the stuffed artichoke appetizer and the turbot entree.
  34. That I would have lived down had it been memorable food.
  35. While the food is good here, its very pricey and the wine can tally up as well.
  36. The food was good, not exceptional, and the ambience was a bit stuffy and conservative.
  37. The food was hit or miss -- I liked the crudo but was underwhelmed by the black sea bass and pasta -- but the service was polished and completely flawless.
menu variety
80.0% positive
  1. The broad menu is delicious, from a selection of seven crudo, to entrees including duck, lamb, venison, bass and soft shell lobster.
  2. The latter didin't disappoint--their selection of wines is head-spinning, and the sommelier knew pretty much each one of them from the pricey chateauneuf-de-papes to the obscure galician wines.
  3. would suggest the chef's menu option.
  4. Still, the wines were great, and they have a nice selection offered by the glass and half glass so that you can try several of them.
  5. The food, wine selection, and service at this place are outstanding.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. One of the best restaurant I have ever eaten at
  2. The wine list is the best i have ever seen and if these things are important to you then i recommend this place highly.
  3. It's a great place for a special night out or to have a night cap.
  4. But if you are looking to impress, it's a great date place.
service
79.7599983215332% positive
  1. The wait-staff was great, too, though yes, a bit intrusive at times.
  2. They are very attentive and above all the food was awesome.
  3. This is paired with attentive, well-informed servers, who make you feel comfortable and like real guests.
  4. The bartender always selects the most delicious wine.
  5. The service is very warm and professional and made my parents (not sophisticated diners) feel at ease and welcome.
  6. The atmosphere is a bit more formal than I usually enjoy - something that might make some diners feel intimidated - however the staff is attentive, highly professional & will do their very best to make your experience at Cru a special one.
  7. And the service is as well--the sommeliers are helpful, patient and knowledgeable.
  8. The food, wine selection, and service at this place are outstanding.
  9. Shea Gallante and the staff at CRU were the best we have ever dealt with.
  10. have always been impressed by their wonderful service.
  11. The food was hit or miss -- I liked the crudo but was underwhelmed by the black sea bass and pasta -- but the service was polished and completely flawless.
  12. celebratory business dinner took a turn for the worse when the management began pushing our server to an uncomfortable pace of food delivery.
  13. creative dishes and wonderful service.
  14. The food and wine were fine, but the service was awful and rude throughout the whole night.
  15. Service was extremely attentive - our gracious server did a wonderful job of pairing wines for us - but the final course was truly the highlight of the meal.
  16. Wonderful service as well as extremely knowledgeable and eager to please sommelier(s).
  17. The wait-staff was nice but awkward, intrusive and one almost knocked over a few items on our table.
  18. There are many other restaurants I would recommend with food that is as good but with better ambiance and service.
  19. We were impressed with the impeccable service & attention to detail at Cru.
  20. If you are looking for avg food for money, a lackluster dining room with extremely rude service.
  21. Shea Gallante is outstanding as are his staff.
  22. think it is a sign of good service.
  23. Our waiter was professional, knowledgeable, friendly, accomodating and hunky too!
  24. I'm generally not too bothered about service but this was a truly unpleasant experience and I was embarassed to have taken people there.
  25. The food, the service (especially the friendly hosts) and the techy bathroom are beyond par.
  26. The Worst customer service EVER!
  27. Food was great but the wait-staff were total amateurs.
  28. The knowledge and the attention of the staff is pleasing.
value
45.45000076293945% positive
  1. (Had I known that, I would've ordered more expensive drinks!)
  2. Do we really want every restaurant to be an extravagantly expensive one seating place where you "own" the table all night?
  3. The worst part came at the end of a full and expensive meal, when a friend stopped in to say hello as we were waiting for the bill to be processed.
  4. While the food is good here, its very pricey and the wine can tally up as well.
  5. This was a huge disappointment and left a really bad taste in our mouths!
  6. If you are looking for avg food for money, a lackluster dining room with extremely rude service.
  7. The sommeliers were very helpful and made a huge wine list less intimidating then we thought it would be.
  8. there are much better places to spend your money eating and enjoying excellent wine.
  9. The latter didin't disappoint--their selection of wines is head-spinning, and the sommelier knew pretty much each one of them from the pricey chateauneuf-de-papes to the obscure galician wines.
  10. For all the hype, there are TONS of other places that are not as expensive and trump the quality experience.
  11. He was more than willing to recommend wines within a $50 price range (which is the low end at cru).
3 Star Rating: Average

07/14/11

SCAMMED

by Lucycat

I could not believe the review by an earlier patron who was charged $38 per glass for 2 glasses of wine. Four of us were there one night. We ordered Prosecco. Waiter said they were out, but he had a similar wine. He brought us 4 glasses. We asked jokingly if this were one of their $200 bottles. He replied that it was $38 which we assumed was per bottle. We were joined by 3 friends and waiter poured 3 more glasses without asking. We received a bill for $228 + tax.

2 Star Rating: Below Average

01/19/11

To much money

by CSMobileUser2

Service slow,to long a wait for each dish.small portionsv And way to expensive.

3 Star Rating: Average

05/26/10

Amazing Wine Selections

by prlgirl , Citysearch Contributor

I often stop into Cru for a drink because they have a vast wine selection. The bartender always selects the most delicious wine. It's a great place for a special night out or to have a night cap. The front bar is bright and has great views of 5th avenue pedestrians. The dining room is a bit more stiff and formal. While the food is good here, its very pricey and the wine can tally up as well. But if you are looking to impress, it's a great date place.

  • Pros: Wine
  • Cons: Prices
3 Star Rating: Average

03/28/10

Great Wine List! Special Occasions.

by es11sn0w

Great food for special occasions. The presentation is spectacular but the food is on the heavy side so do reserve it for special dates. Wine list is also impressive. My favorite was the appetizer and the dessert. Very creative.

  • Pros: Rich Menu, Amazing Deserts, Atmosphere
  • Cons: Pricey
4 Star Rating: Recommended

10/18/08

very class and uppidy

by CatMarJen

Very class and very uppidy.

They are very attentive and above all the food was awesome. I felt like Jesus Christ went down from heaven and cooked the food for us. hahaha. but seriously, if it wasn't 200+ per head, I would go back here everyday!!!

  • Pros: wine list,food,service
  • Cons: none

The Details on Cru

Place Categories:

  • good food
  • great wine
  • wonderful service
  • amazing dining experience
  • rude customer service
  • not recommend restaurant
  • patient sommeliers
  • great date place
  • delicious prefixe meals
  • full meal
  • outstanding shea gallante
  • favorite appetizer
  • unimpressive saltimbocca
  • favorite dessert
  • not tasteful dining
  • wonderful bottle
  • pleasing attention
  • unique combinations
  • attentive staff
  • liked crudo
  • more expensive drinks
  • pricey chateauneufdepapes
  • great views
  • intrusive waitstaff
  • less noisy dining room

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