CRÚ Wine Bar and Bistro — Restaurant in Vinings

Food here is "ok". Go here if you like paying $$$ for "ok" food and service. The only thing this place has going for it is the location and "ambiance". Just stick with the solid picks around here: Superica, El Super Pan, Antico...and go elsewhere for "fine dining" this place isn't it.

Oh, and, there is a blond woman manager who is condescending to minorities.

The food:

The filet mignon was covered with butter and kind of cold by the time it came out.

Braised ribs were ok, not as tender as we imagined but acceptable, but also arrived cold for some reason.

The lobster soup was a tiny little cup, and just "ok". Ripoff.

The seared scallops were meh and we only got THREE scallops.

The potstickers were extremely salty and totally soggy, and whatever seafood inside was miniscule, hard, tough, and indistinguishable. Supposedly shrimp and lobster.

Dessert was chocolate cake, pretty typical, and the cheesecake was ok too.

The service was surprisingly slow, waiter was talking with coworkers. Took us over 2hrs to get through the meal and it wasn't even that crowded.

On discrimination:

At a table near us some Asian ladies were not told there would be an extra "prefix" charge for the filet mignon. Ok so why was it on the $55 dinner menu in the first place? Because honestly I also was surprised to see that extra amount on my bill; the menu seemed to be set up to indicate the prefix would apply if you ordered a la carte ($42 plus $7 prefix, which imo why not just put $50, why even list it at $42...). I kind of sucked it up but good for them for speaking up as I'm sure other people were also confused and ended up overpaying but just didn't speak up. Especially after seeing how they were treated:

The blond woman, who just awhile ago walked up to greet an older WHITE couple warmly as they were eating, spoke very rudely to these Asian ladies. Her words were ok but the tone was clearly condescending and loud enough to carry. I was surprised for the amount they were spending on the overall meal (they came for the Christmas Eve 3 course dinner special for $55 which we also came for), and it seemed like they were first-time customers who were pleasant and asked nicely about the charge--why she couldn't just take it off, especially since the waiter and the menu were not clear. That made it seem like she didn't care for these customers.

Overall, it's just not that great and kind of "meh" here aside from the...

I have never been happier with a restaurant/wine bar! This was one of my best experiences in Atlanta out for an evening of drinks, fun, atmosphere, and quality. I’m just so blown away... The staff was extremely attentive, and took time to connect with us. Our server, Tom, was amazing. He didn’t just serve us, he connected with us, engaged in very warm conversation with us and made sure we had everything we needed all throughout the night. Ezekiel, the host, was so dedicated to being efficient, was so nice, and he even took time to come around and ask if guests were okay. The entire staff was dressed for success, every server, the host, the bartender, I mean it was just perfection. Let’s talk about the vibe... everyone was talking, but it wasn’t too loud to where it distracts you. The crowd in the room was so nice, everyone just having their own intimate conversations and smiles. I even connected with the table sitting beside us, so much fun! This place attracts a really nice and diverse crowd. If you want to go somewhere grown, sexy, and chill, this is for you! And you really don’t have to go overboard, a chill outfit is perfect for this place. It’s a smaller more intimate setting but more than enough and I think that’s why they deliver such great service. Less is more. We sat inside because it was chilly Sat night, but the outdoor space also looked lovely. And let’s get into the wine, I had the Sauvignon Blanc Flight, and I ended up loving it. I loved being able to try three wines and have a decent pouring of each. You get 2oz of each wine to really indulge in. And the way they bring out the flight, so sexy. It’s a metal basket almost that individually holds each glass and allows them to place it on the table. For anyone that loves a subtle, soft yet warm wine, I highly recommend the Charles Debourges ‘19 Sancerre, Loire France. I loved it! And when you order a glass, you get a really nice 6oz pouring. Fun! The food was also really good. I say try the truffle pizza if you’re a fan of mushrooms and truffle. The Charcuterie Board could’ve had more cheese for my liking, it was a little heavy on the meat, but overall I still loved everything. Recommending to everyone that wants to have a really good night out, you won’t be...

This place right near the Battery, in Truist Park, has a very nice atmosphere - it feels upscale but not stuffy. The menu featured options most would find appealing, and I think most people would be able to find something here. Most dishes featured nice, though very expected, combinations of flavors - no adventurous fare here. You’ll find all the typical “wine pairing” foods - fig and gorgonzola, meatballs and hearty marinara, etc. The server was polite and helpful, and attentive during the meal. Once we paid he completely forgot us and didn’t fill our water glasses again (clear “you’re done now leave please” sign). I expect this in most American eateries because at certain price points they need to turn the tables quickly to make profit. Unfortunately this place is quite expensive and was selling a different (i.e. “European”) atmosphere that they didn’t quite deliver. Three dishes and two wine flights (these are 3 samples of 2 oz pours, and run about $15 each) was $90. The dishes were tapas size (see photo) and we also had a pizza that was about 8-10”. So for $50/person on a weekday evening, I would expect my server to courteously fill my water glass even after I pay because I’m certainly not paying for the food or wine; I’m paying for the table time.

I’d come back if a friend or colleague wanted to meet here, but I’m unlikely to choose this place again. I think they profit from location. I much prefer Vineyard Wine Market, which is 10 minutes away in Smyrna. It’s got a more laid-back, less formal vibe and offers a more intimate setting, and whenever I go they fill my water glass even after I’ve paid. The “you should go now” signs only kick in if the place is starting to fill up (understandable), opposite of Crú, which was actually starting to empty as we were finishing up. “Wine bars” are expensive because people tend to stay longer than typical dinner fare…so the service needs to match this...