CRU Wine Bar & Bistro

I think I found my Sunday chill day vibe place. I came just to do some work, enjoy the weather, have a light bite and have a bottle of wine but ended up with a great experience and two bottles of wine! I appreciate the attentiveness of our server Johnny to make sure we were hydrated with both water and wine. Making recommendations and checking in with us regularly. I also appreciate Chris stopping by the table to talk wines, very informative! Not sure how long it will be on the menu since summer is almost over but I recommend a bottle of the Vermentino and the Albariño on their Summer Sips, and the grilled cheese with tomato soup to snack on. Thanks for a great evening guys!

Amazing!!!! We had the most amazing time here! Our server was incredible so nice, attentive, and suggested food and two perfect wine flights for our preferences. We have to give a shoutout, however, to their incredible sommelier, Chris!! He elevated a simple last minute dinner and glass to a full wine loving experience! He asked us a bunch of questions about our preferences and palette and suggested an incredible bottle of wine (photo attached for anyone that loves a red with a smooth taste with a hint of spice). They let us know about their wine tasting dinners so we will definitely be back with our group! Would 10/10 recommend for a simple date night or girls night!!

Met some friends here for a quick visit, snack, and some wines….. very nice place to meet for happy hour. Service was attentive and the wine and charcuterie board.. also very nice. Will definitely visit here again.

We came and got the wine and pizza deal and it was great! We had Andrew and his service was amazing. Very personable and kind. My partner and I don’t live in the area but we will definitely come back just for him.

I don’t usually drink, but I really enjoyed everything we ate. The total was about $240 before tip for five people, and everyone except me had wine. The goat cheese balls were surprisingly good, almost like warm cream cheese. The meatballs were perfectly seasoned and came with crunchy, delicious toast. The margherita pizza was great and came with a bottle of wine. The shrimp and calamari mix was excellent, and the chocolate fondue with pound cake, pineapple, strawberries, marshmallows, and bananas was a perfect finish.

I've been here before and enjoyed the food, but today was a terrible experience. We went inside and asked to be seated outdoors. The host told us to sit anywhere and he'd follow us out. We went outside and grabbed a table, but the host did not reappear. A few moments later a waiter with red hair and a goatee (wish I knew his name) came up to us, looking very annoyed and told us it would be 15 minutes before they got to us bc they were short staffed outside. I think he thought we'd just seated ourselves, so I explained we were told to take a seat. He seemed extra annoyed and asked who told us that. He huffed off. We waited a good 10 min with him not making eye contact or looking our way- no menus or water. Nothing. So we left. He was ridiculously rude and I hope it's not an indication of the entire restaurant. Worst customer service I've experienced in a long time. It was a wine bar serving apps-only at the time. Not sure why he couldn't at minimum get us waters while we waited, or taken a drink order. Doesn't matter if the host messed up. That is not on us.

Went to Cru for an afternoon glass of wine and appetizer. The meatball appetizer was amazing with perfectly crusty toast points ! I have had their Janz sparkling rose before so was an immediate order! Went back that evening (after visiting with family) for a glass of red to nightcap ….spoke with the Manager “Chris” and struck up an amazing conversation. Asked for a recommendation for any wine recommendation in the establishment and after asking my a few questions picked out the most amazing Primitovo/Malbec blend !!! Could not have chosen anything close this perfect wine !!! Bought 3 bottles to bring back to NC. Wish I lived closer to frequent this great spot more often. Give CRU a try…..you will NOT be disappointed! We go every time we come to the Atlanta area. Try their amazing atmosphere and food/beverages. 💥

The whole staff is great, Ethan was our waiter and he is the best waiter ever! The pizza is the best I've had in America as well as the wine that was recommended to us by Ethan. 10 stars for this restaurant. All recommendations. The prices are excellent, as is the service and food

Went here for the first time on a First Date, and wasn't sure what to expect of my date or the establishment, but both far exceeded my wildest expectations. Although it was a busy Saturday evening when seemingly EVERYONE was out due to the beautiful weather, we were seated immediately. Ordered the Wagyu meatballs and goat cheese beignets for appetizers, and my date had the gem Caesar salad. The Wagyu meatballs were cooked perfectly and so flavorful, and the sauce they were served in beautifully complimented them. The goat cheese beignets were perfectly fried without being oily or greasy, as well as rich and uniquely tasty (not everyone likes goat cheese, but I love it). My date thoroughly enjoyed the gem Caesar salad and said it was tasty and well. The waitress recommended Saracco Moscato (we both prefer sweeter wines), and it was AMAZING! Smooth, wonderfully sweet, and absolutely NO bitterness. Our waitress was very bubbly, friendly, professional, knowledgeable, efficient, and just a joy to deal with - really, all the staff there was great, very attentive and friendly. All in all, CRU Food & Wine Bar helped to make a good first date a GREAT one with their inviting atmosphere, great food, and stellar service.

The food was delicious, the miso halibut was on point. The service was wonderful, the staff were incredibly kind and attentive to us and our needs. The ambiance was sparkly and gorgeous. We would definitely love to come back

***FOOD: consistently good and delicious food. TRUFFLE PIZZA - love the thin crust, love the truffle and mushrooms ; BARTOLO BRAISED SHORT RIBS - absolutely chefs, kiss delicious, Juice tender Fall of the bone fabulous, a must try; CHICKEN ALLA FRANCESE - fresh and bright and tasty with the hint of lemon ***COST (OUT OF 4$) $$ good value for what you get. ***DÉCOR: Casual, smart, contemporary wine, bar, atmosphere, clean, some patio seating outside, lots of parking at the Avalon ***SERVICE: friendly and fast just the way I like it, came quickly and wine recommendation was spot on ***RECOMMEND: HIGHLY RECOMMEND and we definitely go back

The wine and service here is great! I wouldn't come for the food though. We ordered a charcuterie board and it was alright- there was a ton of artichokes on it with no flavor. I love artichokes but these were basically out of a can! They were stingy on the meats and cheeses ( this is a picture of the aftermath of the board showing what we didn't love). They don't offer any type of GF crackers so my mom was smart enough to bring some for me. If I come back here it will be for only wine! The outside seating is by far the best, we popped inside to take a look and it was freezing cold!

We went in before a show, hoping for a good experience, but it fell short. I'd read that they offered happy hour, so we asked about it, but the waitress responded curtly with a no. It seems to me that a waitress should at least be friendly and make customers feel welcome. We decided to leave and go somewhere else.

We went here last night and were seated out at the patio. Service was extremely slow and it took over 20 minutes for us to get water. Fast forward to the end of the evening. Our server hadn't checked on us for a whole 30 minutes and we had to flag her down to order dessert. She informed us the kitchen was closed. (Well maybe you should have gave a warning, but then also if you actually checked on us, we might have not been having the same conversation.) We proceed to ask for our check, she brings them out and immediately just clears our table... we had several items still out and wanted a box. I guess no box for us tonight, she didn't even ask. The cherry on top was the 6+ cockroaches crawling around outside on the ground.... So gross. We will not be back.

Visited location for a nice evening to celebrate with some bites and wine. It was not hard to find this location as it was located in the middle of Avalon. The menu has a variety of things for the appetizers and entrees but most importantly they have the wine bar which has different flights that come with several wines or you can select by the bottle or glass. I actually enjoyed the goat cheese beignet as it was creamy, and sweet with a touch of honey. The pizza was not the best as it was a tad been crispy and too burnt for me. I did enjoy my potstickers and wine. I know it was hard locating our waitress often because she would disappear when we needed something. There was plenty of water glass refills but I wish there was ice in the water as I am not a fan of room temperature water especially when it's hot outside.

It's been a while I haven't been to Cru at Avalon, and I couldn't be more disappointed. I ordered the NY strip steak (which turns out to be most expensive item of the menu at $38) and it was unimpressively small (maybe 4-6 oz the most), very different from what it used to be. My wife had the beignets which were good but greasy. Servers were distracted and aloof. We sat outside and we spotted several small roaches which basically became the subject of the night. No background music, no candles, just outdoor tables.

Do not order the Lobster Grilled Cheese as it has almost no Lobster. Disappointing for a $26 sandwich with literally a dusting of Lobster. Never got a bite where I could even taste Lobster. Everything else on that menu is wonderful. All the servers are wonderful, but Carissa is my favorite. Inside is beautifully appointed & the atmosphere is all class. I like this place so much that I named my boat "CRU". I'm here at least once monthly.

I came here for some wine and a charcuterie board. The wine was fine. To say the "charcuterie" was offensive at $24 is an extreme understatement! I've attached a photo. It was a regular sized dinner plate with probably an ounce of each cheese. The pears were turned and the rest of it must have been made for a child. I've received larger portions at a more chic place in Napa Valley. Alpharetta is NOT Napa! This was maybe a $5-8 serving. Whomever made this executive decision that this is acceptable should be fired immediately! I will not be returning.

I would give 3 stars for the location, the ambience, and the wine selection. Too bad that the service and the food were a total disappointment. Nice and inviting presentation as you can see in the pics. It takes them forever to prepare the food....so not worth the 30 min wait. The grilled cheese sandwich had no cheese. The batter on the fritto misto was way too thick. So thick that the calamari and the shrimp did not even cook. Left almost everything. Ended up with a stomach ache. Fruit flies kept us company. Did not complain right there because I was trying to have a pleasant day.

Visiting from NYC, I wasn't sure what to expect for food quality, but Crú did not disappoint! Great ambience and location. The wine selection was on point, and bartender(Cheyenne) knew what her patrons wanted. Food was delicious, and well presented. The fig and gorgonzola bruschetta was unlike any other we had tasted. The saffron risotto was delicious! I also got to try some of the truffle pizza which was hard to stop eating. Goat Cheese Beignets were to die for! We sat at the bar and had great company from other patrons as well as the bartender. Overall a great experience and definitely recommend visiting when in town. Recommendation to the restaurant manager to add more vegetarian items to the menu!!

In short- don't waste your time here. Wine selection is great but that's what to expect from an establishment that considers themself a wine bar, as for the food? 100% not worth your time. We started out with the burrata and the Caesar salad, while the salad was great, the burrata was small, lacking flavor, and not worth the price. We carried on to entrees where I had quite possibly the worst filet mignon i have had in my life. I regret not taking a photo because it was actually comical what they consider to be steak. Upon arrival of my steak that I asked for medium rare, i received a steak with absolutely not a trace of red in it, sent it back and got one in return that was cooked at medium but was so ready to leave it didnt fuss. Save your time- bad food, but great atmosphere.

Love Cru! The staff always takes great care of us. The wine selection is wonderful and the stone fire pizzas are delicious! A great date night location in the heart of Avalon. The manager Chris is extremely knowledgeable and gives one of a kind service. Highly recommended!

Cru is a staple spot at the Avalon and really fun to eat and drink here. Especially small appetizers while you're enjoying a flight of wine. If you come here, make sure to order the goat cheese beignets. They are life-changing. I have dreams about them. Every time I have a visitor come to Alpharetta I bring them here for them. You will not regret it. Also, super cute outdoor area that is dog friendly and when it's colder they have heaters so check it out

I went to Cru for my Birthday to have lunch and I was treated like a king. Morgan the budding somlia was amazing. She and the manager were so graciou. I had a great lunch and the food was delicious.

Visited randomly for a solo lunch date and I'm so glad I came here. Bria was my server and she was amazing from start to finish. I love the wine selection and wide variety of menu items. My favorite wine is Sauvignon Blanc so of course that's what I ordered and this was by far one of the best glasses of wine I've tried. I ordered the seared scallops with risotto and it was DELICIOUS. I love the ambience here and will definitely be returning.

Cru is always a solid, B+ experience. We had a few bumps in our most recent visit with a couple in our party having to send back very, very overcooked steaks - but our server handled it well. Can be a tad pricey, but you can manage that by what you order, and if you are careful which "flights" you partake of. Solid, not a 5-star but consistently good.

Had a decent last minute brunch at CRU before my flight. The food was just okay. The beignets were an interesting flavor and the bruschetta was tasteless. The mini waffles were good and the steak and eggs were decent. The fried chicken sandwich had ciabatta bread, but likely would have been more tasty with brioche. Next time, I'll only come for wine.

Great spot to have a margarita pizzas and a flight of wine. This is a small indoor outdoor place in a middle section at the Avalon. It is a good spot to relax. Walk in and go to the bar for a glass of wine, grab a table to enjoy some pizza (which is pretty good) and a flight of wine, or sit outside where people watching is abound! The staff are courteous and responsive, the selection of wine extensive and the atmosphere is just what the doctor ordered... chill. We came here as a starter to our dinner at another location because we were way early. Everything was so good we almost skipped our pending reservation in favor of just staying here. A truly nice location for a drink, a meal, socializing and just chilling.

I heard about their happy hour and pizza special on Mondays so I decided to check it out. It's right in the center of the Avalon near the pavilion area so it's easy to find, cute, quaint and great selection of wines. MJ was my bartender and she was very knowledgeable and friendly. I can tell she's tended this bar for some time with how she interacted with guests. I love how they have the options of wine flights, from bubbly to wine and reds. She let me know about what they had on special and also if you buy a bottle of when you get to choose a free pizza which is so cool! I decided to partake in their happy hour apps and got the mussels and margarita pizza. I LOVE mussels but these were a bit too acidic for me and I love high acid in foods. I usually will drink and devour the white wine sauce but perhaps this time it wasn't cooked down enough but I did enjoy the mussels itself. The pizza was pretty good and you can tell its homemade. I checked out the rest of their menu but was pretty full so I plan on returning to try their entrees. This is a cool place to go to if you like wines or just to grab some small bites.

We had the most fabulous time at Cru! Chris went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and fabulous! We left stuffed with the best wines,cheeses,tartare and more!

Visited Cru on a beautiful Saturday afternoon! The Avalon is absolutely gorgeous during the day, so of course we opted for outdoor seating! We ordered Apps, the Lobster & Shrimp pot stickers DELICIOUS & the Steamed Mussels! The sauce they're steamed in, is absolutely delicious, if you see this & interested in purchasing them, ask for extra bread to soak it all up & enjoy!!! My friend & I both had wine flights! I had the No. 2 white wine flight & I can't remember which red wine flight she had, but they were both very light and refreshing! Cru @ the Avalon is a beautiful location for a girls date or a date, date! Afternoon or evening, their ambiance, food, wine and service do not disappoint!

This is my go too for a quick bite and drink, I always order a glass of champagne with fresh fruit, and a fried chicken Caesar salad. Never disappoints me :)

We stopped here before a movie last night. We ordered the goat cheese beignets and the charcuterie board. I had a couple glasses of barbaresco and my husband had a wine flight. Our server, Debbie, was great! I wish the toasted bread had been a grilled baguette. But the food and wine was good. The people watching was also good. Super convenient, in the center of Avalon.

From the moment we entered, it became an experience! Greeted and was immediately seated. The restaurant is on the smaller side and really sends a "Wine Bar" feel. The Server (I believe her name was Isabella) was very pleasant and was well informed in both food and wine. Started with the Sauvignon flight while my significant other had the Cabernet. Ordered potstickers and the fritto misto which were both delicious. The new manager Chris came by and answered some questions about the flights. Taking the server's suggestion. We had the chocolate fondue for dessert which was the perfect finish. We will be back soon!

If you sign up for the rewards program, you can get a free entree on your birthday. I went during the week and there was plenty of seating. There are food options but it is limited. I enjoyed the salmon dish and my husband had the chicken sandwich. The service was friendly but I don't think we will be back due to the lack of food options.

I want to comend the amazing customer service at Cru. I had an issue with my order & sent an email to address my concern. The General Mgr Marlene called me personally to make it right. I was satisfied with the way it was handled & resolved. Regardless of the issue I love the wine & food there. Wine is the best quality!!

My wife and i went to this place on June 30th for lunch i ordered a hamburger but the meat was spoiled and smells, i took a bite and realized something wrong with it then i called up the server to let her know then the manager came out and apologized she didn't charge me for it but it ruined my lunch.

Went there for a work dinner. Staff were fun and incredibly accommodating. I got the champagne flight and was thrilled by the presentation and selections, and the informative card you got! The app we ordered gave so much diversity to the meal. As an entree I had the scallops. While I only anticipated eating half due to fullness I finished the whole thing effortlessly! We finished off with chocolate fondue foundations that kept the conversation going. Loved the open space and for being so open and at the battery, it wasn't too loud. Can't wait to go back!

Cru used to be one of my favorite places. It is still fun to sit outside relax and drink wine, however the service is horrendous and the food is not much better. We started with the meatballs and the sauce tasted burnt, then we had a cheese plate. The amount of cheese is so tiny that if you are sharing you both barely get a small bite. Not worth the cost at all.

Great place in the Avalon. I've never sat inside, but the outside area is cozy and comfy. The staff is super kind & went out of their way to make sure we were warm and taken care of. They have a good variety of wines for a pretty affordable price ($11-$15 a glass). The goat cheese beignets were delicious. They were perfectly fried and the honey added a nice touch. Overall, a great place to grab a quick bite and drink.

We normally love Crù for a glass of wine and cheese plate, but I'm disappointed in our NYE experience here. At $65/person, we expected more; our normal special occasion steakhouse is Pampas, which never disappoints. First, there was no caviar on the caviar amuse bouche; why call something "Osetra" if you're not including any. Disappointing. Next, the appetizers were lukewarm; nobody likes cold lobster bisque. Disappointing. Our filets were overcooked by at least one temperature level; mine was well done when I ordered it medium. The potatoes and green beans were good and overall, we enjoyed dinner. We ordered dessert to go and the creme brûlée was two spoonfuls at best, scraped out of another vessel. We had them replace it with a lava cake, which was delightful. I finished my portion because I was hungry, but for $176, I expected more.

First time coming on Thanksgiving. The atmosphere was quaint and cosy. Loved how intimate the place was. The special Thanksgiving menu had various options. I went with the butternut squash soup, it was creamy and sweet. Main course was the turkey, mash potatoes, brussel sprouts, and stuffing with gravy. The wine pairing was on point with the meal, I chose the Cabernet. Dessert we all had the chocolate lava cake. All around the food and experience were amazing. So happy we chose this place for it family thanksgiving meal.

Good service very light apps. Ran out of the wine I had the night before. They pre make the charcuterie so it's not too fresh.

The staff was very dismissive and our waitress was unhelpful and even acted like she didn't wasn't to speak to us at all. We just ordered wine flights and left to get food else where .

We gave this place another try and decided to sit at the bar and I am so glad we did!!! The bartender Matty was amazing, he was so nice and we had great conversation. He was also knowledgeable about the menu and incredibly attentive. The service here has always been pretty meh for me so we were thrilled when we were greeted by such a friendly likeable person. As usual, the food was delicious and the wine was great. We will be back to the bar very soon to enjoy their delicious food and Matty's amazing service!

We visited Cru on Saturday. There were very few people when we arrived, but it became more crowded as the night went along. We were greeted and seated by AJ. He was friendly and responsive at first. He immediately took our drink order and served our wine. We were impressed with the very extensive wine list. Afterward serving our wine, AJ started talking to guests at the bar. He finally returned to our table to take our food order around 20 minutes later. After placing our food order, we waited over 15 minutes for our food to be served. While the service was a little slow, the food was amazing. I ordered the grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup based upon my daughter's recommendation. It was delicious. It was the perfect pairing to a classic combination. I would definitely order it again. At one point, Byars, the executive chef, came out of the kitchen and told us about one of the daily specials. He suggested we try their St. Patrick's Day sliders appetizer. If you are looking to enjoy a glass of wine with delicious food, then this might be the perfect place for you.

I'm going to start this off by just simply saying you all need to try the lobster and shrimp pot stickers as a starter without a second thought. This is the most delicious sweet chili Americanized potsticker I've ever had! Thankfully I was only dining with my godmom so one order was enough to share without fighting over the last piece. Otherwise I'd definitely order two of these!! I'd come back to CRU just for them. We shared their cast iron seared sea scallop risotto and pan roasted Scottish salmon with cous cous. Both dishes were absolutely divine. The scallops were huge, like a seafood steak! The risotto could have been a little softer but the generous amount of Parmesan cheesy ness mixed in made up for it. The chef roasted the salmon just right, it was a nice thick steak! Both of these meals weren't too heavy at all! Just the perfect light yet fulfilling entrees to keep your fuel on for more shopping in the mall.

The staff here at Cru (Avalon) ruined my daughter's 1st Mother's Day. We had a reservation, and was running late. We called on the way, and they said it was fine its only 10 mins. We arrived and was told by the hostess, Debbie, that we couldn't be seated. After explaining that we called, she told us to wait. After 30 mins when we asked what was going on, she continues to with her rude and hateful attitude insisting that we lost our reservation and have to wait. We spoke to Manager, Marlene or Marlena who was really indifferent about the entire situation, and condoned the hostesses disrespectful behavior. Debbie then tells us, "well, you don't have to eat here". So, we didn't and left. This restaurant should have been one of the many that shut down due to covid. Their unprofessional behavior and lack of appreciation for business on the tail end of a pandemic is unmatched. I would NOT patronize this establishment if it were free.

You do NOT know Alpharetta if you don't know Cru's rooftop. The *perfect* place to hang out on Friday or Saturday night, listening to the live music and enjoying the sunshine. And even though the ambiance is 10/10, the service is even BETTER! Mia does a great job of understanding what her guests want without being overbearing. She's upbeat and fun and knows a good wine. Food is great, location is great, wine is great. If you're looking for a date night spot, look no further.

Haven't been there in awhile. Had lunch yesterday. It was delicious tomato soup and grilled cheese yummy! Ben our server was the best!! We sat outside because of our Yorkie Monty was with us. He made sure to accommodate us. Definitely will be back.

Update: came back and got their rose flight and goat cheese beignets again. Friends got the lobster potstickers and the calamari. They seemed to enjoy it. We also got a cheese board which was good. The fig bruschetta was decent, probably wouldn't get it again. Everyone seemed to enjoy their wine. Waiter was very helpful and checked in on us o Got their rose flight and goat cheese beignets. This was the first time I've ever tried goat cheese and I loved it. The honey and black pepper on top of the beignets completed it. I really only drink sweet wine and enjoyed the flight. It was busy but our waitress was attentive.

I love this location for their happy hour. Seating is open and it's in the perfect place to do some people watching. The staff was friendly and accommodating for my party of 6. Will definitely be back to try their dinner service.

Upon entering, I didn't get the welcome I thought I would. The hostess just didn't seem that welcoming. However, the wine flights are a pretty good deal. I ordered the grilled cheese which was cool. The presentation was better than the actual taste. I enjoyed the look of the place and the cleanliness.

Great food, great wine. Staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. The wine flight system is unique and inventive

You have to try to Champ flights and the appetizers. Amazing! Loved the Lobster Pot stickers. Server was amazing as well.

My friend had eaten here a couple months before and recommended it. Went on raving about the wine flight and Filet Minon. I decided to try it myself and the hype was not what it was made to be. The service was extremely slow because I think our server had more tables than she could handle. We were seated quickly, but that was it. The wine flight was great and the server offered a great mix of different wines. The filet minon was a huge disappointment. For the price, it was delivered medium well rather than medium rare and it was cold. The cheese platter for the appetizer was very weak. It looked like the cheeses were cut up for small children and made for a child. I really had high hopes for this place and hope this was just a fluke on the restaurants part, but needless to say, I probably won't risk the money on trying this place again. It really was a bummer.

Great location in the Avalon. You can get wine flights for great prices. Each wine flight is three 2 ounce pours, there are several options to choose from. Although the building is small there was open seating on a Thursday night, we chose the bar. Fast, friendly service, great wine! This is a great wine bar to take a break during a day of shopping. I will definitely be back!