I first learned about this place while watching one of my new guilty pleasure reality shows, "Big Rich Atlanta", which is mildly ironic considering that this restaurant manifests none of the qualities for which the show is named - it's smaller than a walk-in closet, casual, and reminiscent of the Manhattan lounge scene. Unfortunately, the sociopathic broads from the show were long gone by the time I visited, so the entertainment factor was low, but the food was surprisingly better than I had expected.
Food: Cru is first and foremost a lounge. That being said, the food menu is limited and not particularly adventurous - however, what they do put out is passable. During my midday Sunday brunch visit, I opted for the banana french toast, which came topped with whipped cream, sliced bananas, pure maple syrup, and three pieces of bacon. The meal was by no means exceptional, but both the french toast and bacon were nicely cooked and generously portioned. My dining partner opted for the cru burger, which he enjoyed, particularly the vidalia onion bun.
Service: Our waitress was really personable and quick to engage in conversation. There was initially a bit of a wait to get our drinks, which prompted me to joke to my dining partner that they must have been squeezing the orange juice out back. Much to my surprise, the waitress returned a few minutes later, apologized for the delay, and stated that she had to squeeze the orange juice by hand. Talk about going above and beyond the call of duty - I ended up not ordering another because I felt guilty about having to send her back to the juicer. Â
Atmosphere: The interior of this place is really unique for Atlanta - it's essentially a residential loft that has been transformed into a restaurant and lounge. The bar area is located on the ground floor and the second floor consists of a wrap around lounge area with booths and a few hightop tables. The overall vibe is casual, but trendy and intimate.
Cost: Moderately priced. Dinner starters are $6-$10 and entrees are $10-$25. Brunch entrees are $9-$12. Specialty cocktails are $10.
Other: Cru is located on the first floor of the Ponce Spring Loft condominiums at the corner of North St. and Glen Iris. The restaurant entrance is easy to miss - Â it's on the immediate left once you enter the parking lot on Glen Iris. Dinner is served Tuesday-Saturday, 6PM-12AM, and Brunch is served Saturday-Sunday, 11AM-3PM. The bar is open for more extended hours. Cru offers private event packages starting at $1,100, which cover the bar tab, food, rental fee, door man, and gratuity.
I was really hype to bring a friend here that had just moved into the neighborhood. As she was signing her lease I told her how I had been here a year ago for a party and how this would turn into her "go to spot" since she lives two blocks away.
We went last Saturday and it was the worst experience that either of us ever had at a restaurant!
To make a long story short, this is the time line of our night:
Walk in and warmly greeted by (seemingly) the only waitress. She advised that we should head upstairs, so we did. This place is small, there were about seven people at the bar downstairs (full bar) and two couples upstairs.
10 minutes later no one had come to the table. No big deal! Although the smell was delicious, the entire lounged spelled heavily of fried something and the smelled seemed overpowering upstairs. We decided to just go downstairs.
As we approached the bottom of the stairs, we ran into the waitress. She had this really annoyed look on her face but she didn't say anything to us and I didn't assume it was about us so we smiled, passed her and sat down at a table tucked near the bar. She turned around and followed us down but walked by us.
We sat for 10 more minutes and no one acknowledged us. I was a little annoyed but both of us have worked in the industry so we decided to just go to 4th and swift. As I grabbed my umbrella, the waitress walked by and my friend asked her if we could order. Â We both ordered a drink and I also ordered the calamari provencal.
Ten minutes passed and my drink came (by now there were fewer than five of the original 12 other patrons left).
Five more minutes passed and my friend's drink never came. She made contact with the bartender and he came over and apologized and let us know that it was on the way.
Five minutes later, my food came but no drink for my friend.
When the bartender finally brought the drink, he apologized and let us know that it was on the house ( which we appreciated). Again, we understand that sometimes stuff happens that you can't see, so we tried to let it go.
We toasted and I started to eat my calamari soup...but the cook forgot to salt it. It taste like he took the calamari out the can, added olive oil and lemon and plated it. It was inedible. I pushed it to the edge of our table and decided to get our check.
Ten minutes later, I hoped up and asked the bartender for it , he brought it right over and we left.
I can't believe that we were in here for over an hour and was only served one drink each. I can deal with not liking what I ordered (no one ever asked about it and we paid for it without complaint). But the service was so ....bad. The waitress was standing behind the bar chatting with people the whole time, she never came back to the table. It was weird, it felt like they didn't want us there even though I can't  imagine why. I hope this was just a bad night but Atlanta has so many great spots, we won't be coming back.
I went because my friend lives in the apartment complex upstairs and I had a scout mob. Â The food was pretty good and they had a decent selection of beers. Small space but maybe that's the charm of Cru. I can see myself going back for a weeknight drink and an app, but wouldn't make a night of it.
Review Source:My girl and I came here to start our new years eve celebration, and we both ordered the cru burger which is 100% grass fed beef. The burgers came with hash browns and were so good we ordered it twice. Overall the service was good, but the waitress totally forgot to bring out our appetizer. They had a decent selection of wine. I liked the ambiance and decor of this place.
Review Source:Nestled within a studio loft complex, next door to Gekko Sushi, is Cru Urban Lounge -a very small, dimly lit, and sophisticated lounge that serves a wide variety of drinks. The indie music played in the background was pleasant and not overbearingly loud. Service was very attentive.
A nice place for drinks and conversation.
How does this place have such great reviews on Yelp? I see no reason to ever go to this bar, and apparently the majority of Atlanta agrees with me.
I went with 4 friends to this bar on a Saturday night, and from the time that we stepped in around 10 pm to the time that we left around midnight, less than a handful of people walked in to this already lonely bar. It's a two-story bar but is a pretty small space. The sole bartender also managed to provide terrible service despite the small space. The drinks were disgusting, and the bartender was rude. He actually got snippy with us because my friend ordered a drink which contained lime juice, and he didn't have lime juice available. Somehow, less than an hour later, the lime delivery man must have showed up, because he was squeezing lime juice for another customer. Needless to say, we won't be back again.
This is another place near my house and I have to say, first visit and the results are good.
1. The Menu
Its not really big but has enough choice that I couldn't think of anything it lacked.
2. The food
We had the sweet and savory antipasta.  The meats were from the Pine Street Market, which is a place I love anyway.  It was tasty but the overall feel was it was a  little dry.  The meats and cheeses being dry is fine but I think they could have provided a slightly moister bread option - perhaps a fresh baked bread with butter, or a creamy goat's cheese, perhaps as an alternate to the gouda.
We then had the pulled pork sliders and spicy chicken tacos. Â Those pulled pork sliders were absolutely heavenly. Â The crunchy coleslaw mixed with the beautifully cooked pork was a fantastic combination and the overall taste in your mouth was pure yummyness. Â The problem for us was cutting the 3rd one in half as we each wanted every last bite we could get. Â The chicken tacos were great too - there was a trace amount of sauce that had oozed on to the plate that once i tasted i had to mop up with the rest of the taco. Â Perhaps whatever this sauce was, there could have been more on the tacos.
We had an orange creme brulee for dessert. It may have been a special for Valentines Day as its not on their main menu. Â It wasn't the best creme brulee I have tasted and other than the slice of orange on top of it, i wasn't sure where the orange flavor was.
3. The drinks
We were lucky enough to arrive between 6 and 8pm, and were informed it was Happy Hour and all glasses of wine were $5. This was awesome. Â Saying that, if you drink reds, the cheapest red wine (after happy hour) was $9 ( a rioja, I think) and it went up from there. Â Its getting harder and harder to find a bar/restaurant with under $10 wines and it makes it difficult. to spend a longer evening at places if you are watching your money. Â Cocktails seemed to start at $10 also so we didn't even look at those. Â I think when I come back I'll aim for the happy hour time!
4. The ambiance
I liked it. Â I wasn't really keen on being sat at high tables for dinner but they weren't that uncomfortable (tho there was nowhere to hang my coat off the back off a high stool). I liked the decor (the artwork was ace!) as well as the overall lighting and feel.
5. The staff
The staff were really nice and attentive. Â I think their life was made difficult in that the drinks and food were all prepared downstairs and the majority of the guests were upstairs but they continued to get their work out by heading up and down to check on us. Â
All in all i am excited about coming back, especially for those pork sliders!
This place makes me wish I lived closer to it. Â Other and I were looking to extend our evening after our date at Gekko. We saw the sign coming in so we figured we would stop by and have A drink. *I wish I could place more emphasis on the singularity of our intent.* Â It took some searching to find the door but once we did it was great. This place is NOT what you would expect, yet, somehow it is. Â It's someone's loft that they made into a bar/lounge. It's dark and sexy, you can lounge upstairs in the plush chairs or join the folks at the bar. Either way, like Talib mentioned... you lose track of time!! Â
The upstairs is all seating, mellow music, and NO TVs(at least they weren't on if they did have them.) Â Its small enough to have time to yourself, chat up the heavy handed bartender(shout out to Jeremy!!) or the fellow patrons joining you. Â I thought this would be a great idea for launch parties and any private event you have in mind.
It was a great time! Â One of the liquor vendors was there so of course we "sampled" some of his tasty beverages in oh so many different combinations. Â Seeing as we just came from dinner we did not eat, perhaps I should have. Â All in all it was a great night!! Â Looking forward to our next visit.
Way too loud!
This bar is so tiny, they ought to be going for an intimate and chill vibe (like a true lounge vibe), but they are totally missing the mark. Why is the music so loud and in your face? You can't even carry on a conversation with your friends. It is like they think they are a club. If I wanted to go to a club, I would go to any number of other better places in Atlanta.
And the music is just plain bad, as well - which makes it extra difficult to tolerate the noise!
The food is awful and overpriced. I went there for brunch one morning and the bartender cooked the food... no chef!? at these prices?!! And watching the bartender prepare the food, I couldn't believe what I saw: they use plain ol Publix white bread. What the heck?!
I decided to go here for birthday drinks a while back and had the absolute worst experience ever... possibly of my entire life, in particular related to the service and food availability there. I've seriously had better service and food availability in a rural areas and low-resource settings internationally.
First, we entered and it was completely empty in an awkward setting. Nobody greeted us and we thought maybe we had gone to the wrong place and stood there for a while. Then, we went upstairs where there was plenty of seating since we were the only ones there, and our waiter rudely told us that we couldn't be seated because we didn't make reservations. I was so confused because the entire place was completely empty!! As we all started to leave someplace else, the waiter changed his mind and sat us at a table. We later found out that the entire time we were there the same atmosphere held true. It was still empty, it was quiet, and no music was playing.
When we placed our orders, just about everything we ordered wasn't available. We then started ordering other options on the menu and those also weren't available. The waiter told us snidely that the refrigerator was broken and that they currently moved all of the food to his apartment. I have no idea why he mentioned this to us and I really couldn't believe the words coming out of his mouth.
Finally, when we had ordered drinks our waiter disappeared for extended periods of time, was difficult to get a hold of, and continued to make jabbing comments when we requested the only things available.
After all of that, the drinks and the food were not good at all.
There are so many wonderful options in Atlanta, so definitely DO NOT waste your time here.
My first time at Cru was a few years ago for a birthday party. Â While it's definitely small, it has a great atmosphere and the setup for the party - upstairs, of course - seemed to work just fine. Â
Most recently I met a friend here for a drink and it was a totally different experience, but equally good. Â Sure, it was a little loud and not super conducive to an intimate conversation, but I still enjoyed the overall chill feel of the place. Â Our server was very friendly and made sure we had what we needed without annoying us.
This bar is the best kept secret. It is small on the inside with a few tables tucked here and there and a second floor with a few tables and a couch. This is a true lounge, not a club. Very chill vibe. This is perfect for a romantic date night or a nightcap with a few friends.
My bf and I sat at the bar and had a few drinks. I asked for a dirty martini (extra dirty) and the bartender got it perfect. This very rarely happens. Usually it is like I'm drinking pure vodka. The staff was very friendly and when I asked for a song to be replayed, the bartender happily followed through on my request. I complimented the song choices and the bartender told me that the music was playing from her ipod. It was a perfect mix of indie, alternative, and 90s.
The best part of the night was when the bartender announced that she wanted to take a shot and poured shots for everyone at the bar! I kid you not.
We didn't get any food, but I noticed they have "poutine" on the menu! Hellooo! I have not seen anywhere else in Atlanta that has this! It's a Canadian dish of fries topped with gravy, cheese, and meat. Bar food heaven. Definitely will have to try this when we go back. Which will be soon. Very soon.
Came here after Repast. One thing this place has that Repast does not is a sign that lets you know it exists, that is always a plus.
It is a very small place, but I did like the seating upstairs. I want to get one of those HUGE leather chairs they had, I could sleep in that thing. I was surprised we were able to get seats up there on a Saturday though in such a small place.
The drink was way overpriced and weak. I am still not convinced there was alcohol in mine. The server was incredibly slow. Took awhile to get our drinks, but asking for the bill was a twenty minute experience. We finally got fed up and went to find her downstairs. She was behind the bar joking with the bartender. When she came out I asked her again for our check. She said she would get it as soon as she came back. A few minutes later she said  "hey guys, I forgot, I have your check with me" from the upstairs. Nice. I told her to drop it down because I did not want to wait another ten minutes for her to come back downstairs. I was tempted to let it hit Gretchen in the head, but thought better and caught it. Needless to say, the tip was not very big.
I went for a birthday party for a fellow blogger and had a nice night. The music was great, and the drinks were strong. Can't complain. I must admit I missed it the first time, and drove right by, but then I made a U-ey and got it together.
The outside patio is great, and there is a loft space inside, so you can have personal parties upstairs if you so choose.
This is a very relaxing lounge to take a date or to hang out with friends. The set up is intimate so there is not a lot of room to move around. Cru Lounge is for those that want to go and have somewhere to sit and unwind. The food is a little price but there is no cover charge so it balances out. I will definitely go back so.
Review Source:I really, really really what to give CRU an amazing review but I just can't. The drinks are overpriced, the food is just OKAY, the service isn't too good. The only thing I truly enjoy about CRU is the DJ that is there on Weds. nights. Â
The last time I was there the upstairs was so dark  I asked the waiter if he could increase the dim lighting just a little bit, he replied " I am not sure if I can, The owner likes it dark to create ambiance." ...... HUH!!!!  WTF Eventually the lighting was increased a tad so that we can see our "bitty plates" (big plates with itty-bitty food).  I guess I felt insulted, like increasing the light was a major inconvenience, although each of us spent well over $30 for drinks and "bitty plates".
I like hanging out there - but if I spend BIG money for itty-bitty drinks and food, I at least expect BIG service.
Free parking + good food + friendly people + good music = a good time for me. I went to hear fellow Yelper Talib spin at Cru and ended up having a ball, despite the few customers and rolling solo. I perched myself at the bar and proceeded to have a fabulous foodie conversation with bartender Jim and chef Chris, wear we touched upon Top Chef and the Dekalb Famer's market. Chris even let me sample some Logan Mill grits (did not know how to-die-for grits could be) and I will definitely be back to experience them as part of the Cru breakfast--served at night. I found the menu impressive, selections like the veal sliders sounded satisfying with a twist. I found my Riesling to be a little pricey at $9.50, but I should know to ask first from now on.
This is not a place I would recommend if you need a crowd to have a good time. Take a honey or your entourage and enjoy the space, the music, the food and each other.
I like this place. Â It's cozy and intimate. Cru reminds me of a loft-style bachelor's apartment with an awesome interior decorator. Â On the bottom level is the bar, with limited extra seating. Â Upstairs there are cute little cushioned enclaves, chic bar tables and a 'living room' sort of area with contemporary black furniture. Â The art on the walls really adds to this space looking like a comfortable living area. Â The music was great and because the location is sort of tucked away, it's very obviously a destination spot. Â Everyone there wants to be there and didn't just stumble in on their way to another bar.
I think my bacon wrapped scallops sounded a lot better than they actually were. Â While tasty, they were kind of cold and the bacon wasn't great. Â The chef had already gone for the night, so I didn't try any entrees.
The staff is nice and friendly and the drinks are great. Â It's the sort of place I'd like to be a regular customer.
I gotta do it...and while doing it I'll admit, that this isn't what I expected at all. Small and chic is how I'll describe it, very intimate is its atmosphere.
I will first go ahead and set the record straight, 'this is not a club!' Most places that have Lounge in the name at some point turns into a club, but I don't really see that happening here. I like the fact that you can sit and chat with a good drink and appetizer while still enjoying good music.
I had a nice time here. The staff was very friendly, the DJ was on point, Â and I enjoyed the company I was with, I loved the Peach Martini (Thanks for the recommendation).
I found a hidden treasure in the midst of Midtown Atlanta. Â Cru is a nice spot with great atmosphere. Â Of course, when you go there with good people, you can't help but have a good time. Â The lighting is very dim with exposed brick walls and deep reds and browns. Â The decor is modern yet comfortable and encourages you to spend time getting to know whoever you are with.
I've been here a few times but, the last trip inspired this review. Â The bartender, Rachel, was cool, real talkative, and new how to pour a drink. Â As people started to trickle in, she didn't miss a beat. Â The DJ upstairs spinned some great tracks which swam there way into the conversation.
It's an out of the way spot, so you might miss it. Â But, that's what makes it cool. Â It's not crowded or pretentious.
Cool without trying.....brings new meaning to lounging....you will lose track of time. Â Any and all of these phrases are a great fit for this place. Â I am trying not to completely gush, because I know my company had a lot to do with it. Â Cru initially presents as unassuming; it's off the beaten path, there are no signs directing you, they don't advertise (as far as I know), and there is no 'VIP' section. Â However, all of these qualities are intentional and key to the success of this place. Â All of this is enough to go to Cru, but here are some intangibles:
*heavy-handed bartender
*good & interesting selection of beer
*tasty appetizers
*easy parking
*good music
*reasonable pricing
My friend Cookie had her birthday here as well as a launch party. Â I had no idea what to expect, but had a great time.
It's sort of like a loft with the bar downstairs and a lounge upstairs. Â She had a DJ spinning and old school racy ladies being projected on the upstairs wall.
From what I can remember ;) they serve a nice menu and the bartenders mix a mean mojito.
I really liked the vibe. Â Everyone was cool and just out to have a good time.
Cru is a (seemingly) under appreciated lounge in Atlanta's Midtown-Poncey-Whatever area. Â
The converted 2-story loft is an impressive space...the artwork, the furniture, the lighting all work perfectly together to created a relaxed, unpretentious vibe that we all need.
The downstairs is occupied by the bar, a couple high tables and a booth and the upstairs holds more seating for groups - soft comfortable leather couches and chairs ideal for loungin. Â The space is small, but cozy (which ATLiens have proven they don't mind at the Harlem Bar). Â The small menu delivers consistent small plate items and the bar serves up good drinks for the patrons.
(Shameless plug coming in 4...,3...,2...,1....)
A new DJ has taken over on Thursday nights, his moniker is DJ Xzact. Â No, he's not me, just a good friend and business associate of mine. Â The theme is "Audio Relaxation Therapy: because the world is too crunk".
Every Thursday he'll be playing the hottest in Neo-soul (I hate that label), deephouse, soulful rock, trip-hop and tru-skool hip hop & instrumentals (in other words you may hear A Tribe Called Quest, Common or Mos Def...but no T-Payne, Soulja Boy...you get me).
No cover & parking is a breeze on weeknights.
Come on out! The sets usually start around 9pm
(ok, I'm back now...)
Truly this is a nice enviornment to spend an evening or as a stop over before or after hitting a show or the club.
My heart belongs to Ponce.
Not the Spanish explorer, but the street in Atlanta - for its unexpectedness.
Further strengthening my love for Ponce? My newfound crush on CRU Urban Lounge. It's tucked right off of Ponce down Glen Iris Drive in the Ponce Springs Lofts building. Â The space in intimate, with a couple tables downstairs and a bigger space with comfy leather chairs on the second floor. Â
They serve an appetizer menu, which includes hummus and spanakopita, which are nice accompaniments to coat your belly with a bit of padding before tossing back another glass of wine.
Definitely somewhere that I'd pick as a destination for its low-key sophistication; especially to grab a drink with friends before dinner or as a late night cocktail - I could easily spend a few hours surrounding myself with good friends, conversation, and a bottle of wine. Â There's a little area in front of the bar too, if you need to get a quick breath of fresh air. Â
Another cool thing about CRU for all you party people out there is that they rent the place out for private events. (Check out our event here: <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/mDqgJ6IUHSbr9OV05obO-A#hrid:bL9G28VaFMPJX7ehIm2H1A/query:cru%20urban%20lounge">http://www.yelp.com/biz/…</a> ) We had about 50 people at ours, and it was the exact right amount of room - if you had an event you needed to rent a space for 30 - 50 people, this fits!
Lets get something out in the open....I bartend at Cru, so I am a little biased. Having said that, I Â am delighted to hear that people are enjoying the spot and more importantly the service! Everything that has been said is true. We are a quaint little lounge that serves a mean drink! Yes are prices are high compared to some places, but they are STIFF and delicious! I love going to work for the relaxed vibe that sets the mood for friends to mingle or those on a date to enjoy intimate conversation. For those who want to host a party, it feels like you're in your very stylish and sexy loft amongst friends, only you don't need to learn how to make drinks or clean up after! As for the crowd, try Wednesday or Thursday nights when we have DJ's. I hope to see more Yelpers there!
Review Source:Cru is definitely not a spot you'll find along any beaten path and the fact that it's tucked away only increases its appeal. Cru is a loungey sort of place. You'd do well to tuck yourself away in a candlelit corner with nothing more than a glass of wine and a confidant.
It's small enough to be intimate, while still big enough to give you some space. In other words, just right.
When traveling around Atlanta, it is so great when you go to a certain area, and for whatever reason you are convinced that there will be nothing to offer you, and you stumble upon something that is really nice. Cru Urban Lounge is that situation exactly. I went had a few drinks and had few laughs, with good music playing and comfortable chairs. And I think that everyone needs to know about this hidden gem. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.
Review Source:Such a good time was had at Cru U with the Yelp Atlanta Elite crowd... plenty of mingling, flirting and drinking...
The bartenders at Cru were fast and friendly, the DJ was spinning urban pleasantries and the club itself was very shiek.
Good call, we should do this again!
PS - extra points to are award for pita humus olive scooping!
Um, can I live here???
Seriously - I'll just make the bar area my kitchen - knock part of it out to make a larger living room. Take one of the bathrooms and add a shower/tub to it. Walk up the glowing steps and I'll make that whole area my bedroom and closet/dressing area. I'll even keep some of the furniture, the paint colors, and most of the light fixtures as is - it's that awesome!
I can't speak for what this place might be on a weekend night - it seemed Yelpers were the only ones there on a Wednesday. Who parties on Wednesday? Oh yeah, Yelpers do!
The atmosphere is swank - great decor. Good DJ (although a tad loud to hear your friends). Love the whole "urban loft" feel.
The drinks were good - nice selection of wine and liquor drinks, as well as a few creative cocktails. Kind of pricey by Ponce/Highlands standards (I mean, this *is* right around the corner from super cheap Local and El Bar). The food though was great. The hummus was my fave, incredibly good without being too bland or too flavorful. You wouldn't think it would be hard to make good hummus but apparently it is, as I've had some really bad hummus all over Atlanta lately (*ahem* I'm looking at you, TAP).
Enjoy this place while you can, I'm moving in next moth.
This spot definitely has potential  This quaint urban lounge offers both a varied amount of libations and tasty appetizers.
I was taken back on how small it was on the inside though, after experiencing other bars/lounges in the city. Â Although, not really easy to find from the street, this place is a trendy cool place to hold a birthday party, or take a hot new date. Â
Not to mention, parking is kinda confusing since parking is clearly defined from the street. Â Nevertheless, they do offer complimentary valet parking.
The house music definitely helps put you in good mood, but it was definitely too loud at times, so be aware, you may find yourself doing the polite "smile and nod" thing with your party.
The bartenders were friendly and welcoming, but the drinks are kinda on the expensive side, my Maker's Mark and Coke was $8.50 which is kinda painful to the wallet. Â However, they are heavy handed which is always appreciated. Â What comes to mind is Yin and Yang for sure.
I'll definitely will check it out  again when I'm in a chill mode.
I like Cru...it's a cute spot. Â Like some of the other reviews mentioned, nobody was there. Â I went there with my BFF and another friend for some pre-party drinks and food. Â We ordered the chips and salsa and I had the chocolate martini. Â
The service was really good but that's because we were the only ones in the spot. Â We were able to do some wine tasting for free which was cool. Â I will def. be back with some more of my friends for a chill, relaxed evening.