We came here for our anniversary and I made a mistake with the booking (my fault completely). The staff were so accommodating, making sure that we enjoyed our evening and managed to get us a table, even though it was really busy. We both had sirloin steak which was really tender and delicious, the wine excellent and the staff friendly and nicely attentative. Would definitely recommend.

Have just had a glorious birthday lunch at Cru for my daughter’s 12th birthday in very chic and contemporary surroundings. The staff were very accommodating letting me arrange our table early with confetti and balloons and to drop off the cake. Even though the town centre was packed, I was pleased it wasn’t too busy while we ate as sometimes restaurants can become so noisy you can’t hear the conversation! We all had succulent steaks with (what I assumed to be) hand cut chips, gorgeous wine in very pretty glasses and there was no quibble over us eating the cake I’d slaved over making!! For those not into their steaks, they had a very tempting sparkling wine battered local fish. This is the second visit, and the food has been consistently great, so booked in again to come for a girlie night out and I’m sure I won’t be disappointed. Highly recommend Cru

Nice atmosphere and well presented food from a varied menu with plenty of interest.
Very good wine list with a range of well chosen wines. There were some noisy guests bragging about all the wonderful restaurants that they had eaten at but the delights of eavesdropping are not to be underrated!!
Staff were perfectly delightful

Went here with a group of 6 friends some from London and some from Eastbourne. We all enjoyed the food and the staff and service were excellent. The wine was really good. Only comment would be for music to be slightly quieter so conversation could be a bit easier. The place was full and a lovely atmosphere. Thank you.

Amazing experience from start to finish...incredible atmosphere....excellent customer service..... amazing product knowledge..... EXCEPTIONAL FOOD...impressive hospitality an absolute gem.....try it....you'll love it 😍

We booked a table here fairly last minute but Cru were able to accommodate us. We didn't know what to expect but as soon as we walked down the steps and through the entrance We could have been anywhere, miles from Eastbourne! The atmosphere was buzzing and the staff all so friendly and professional. They knew what they were doing and explained the menu and wine list perfectly when we had questions. The food was delicious. We had three courses and a bottle of the Italian Da Vinci. Other diners seemed to be enjoying themselves as well. Great spot for that extra special meal, we will be back! Thank you Cru. :)

Great decor and good food - although portions are on the small side. Very busy on a Friday night, but fab atmosphere and friendly staff.

We were a group of 5 non locals being taken to Cru for a business lunch. It’s a small cosy wine bar/restaurant with a great vibe.
WELL DONE CRU.. From beginning to end it was a wonderful experience. The food was absolutely melt in the mouth, I had a 52 day dried sirloin, my colleagues had sea bass and another had the surf and turf, all of which were given 10/10. The deserts were all woofed down (sorbets, cheeses, chocolate etc.). BUT the wines…. Wow spoilt for choice; they were all to die for... We polished off quite a few bottles but I remember the Bolney pinot noir as fantastic the rest were fabulous but unfortunately I can’t seem to recollect them all!
The staff were incredible, very knowledgeable about the food/menu and wines which is so refreshing. What a fantastic place, I will definitely recommend your place to all and sundry and next time I am in Eastbourne I will visit you.
Thank you for such a lovely experience.

We came on Friday night as a treat to say thank you to my parents and I was really hoping that the good reviews for Cru were accurate! I neednt have worried as it was wonderful! Greeted by smiling, friendly staff and taken to our table to peruse the extensive wine list and choose some food. We don't know a huge amount about wine but the sommelier was incredible and really helped us. My dad and husband shared some tapas plates whole mum and I had veggie options - lovely to find somewhere which gets the veggie right!! Not just mushrooms and goats cheese like most places seem to be! Desserts were awesome and decent coffee too! We went in at 8pm on a Friday night and were glad we had booked as it was quite busy. This didn't impact the wait time though, seems to be a well run place and there was a great atmosphere too! Will be back without any question! Thank you for a lovely evening!

It's the 2nd time that I have visited Cru, the first being over a year ago. When we arrived for our friend's birthday celebrations it was very busy which is always a good sign.
We talked with Hardy (the owner I think) about which Prosecco to order. Although he recommended the Frizzante we ended up ordering the bottle that has more fizz which is much more to our taste. It's a delicious Prosecco and if like me you like the fizz I would definitely recommend it.I had read a review stating they only served one lager\beer but they do 3 I think, Peroni being one of them.
Once we had sat down for food we decided to order all the starters as a Tapas style dinner. The food was absolutely outstanding! All of the dishes were delicious especially the pulled pork, risotto balls (I'm not even a fan of risotto) and feta and watermelon salad with chorizo (I think)!The staff were excellent, so friendly, patient, fun and there exactly when we needed them without being over bearing. They are an absolute credit to this restaurant!
Other restaurants in Eastbourne ought to take note.....We will definitely be back, hopefully not in a year's time........

We went here because I wanted a decent wine with dinner, the other places we’d been to had no-name bulk-shipped plonk.
It was busy but we managed to get an ordinary table. Quite a number of the tables are high and one needs to sit on a high seat; I like to touch the floor with my feet.
A neighbouring table was having a sparkling wine battered cod and chips and it looked excellent. But I was determined on red wine. The list was big but tatty, one of the pages in the wine menu kept falling out. It's strong on South America, South Africa only has two wines, neither the signature Pinotage.
I chose Ch Camensac, a Haut-Medoc 5th growth. It was excellent.
To accompany it I had steak and chips. The chips were excellent, the steak was so-so, it tasted of little and was tough. Mrs P ordered grilled vegetable and halloumi brochettes which came with tzatziki and a pile of maftoul. Mrs P didn’t know what maftoul was. It looked like a cross between cous-cous and puffed rice and she said it was stodgy and tasteless. She should have asked before ordering because if she’d known was it was she wouldn’t have ordered that dish. What really peeved her was that, although the menu says brochettes, only one brochette was served.
So, excellent wine, shame about the meal. 3.5 stars really

I was here for dinner on a Saturday night and the atmosphere was great. It was the perfect place for a date, but also to go out with friends. The wine list was extensive, the food was amazing and the service was impeccable. We spoke to the company on the table next to us and they said we were lucky to get a table and that it is the best place in Eastbourne. I haven't been to that many places, but from what I've seen I think I want to agree. I would strongly recommend this to anyone

I have enjoyed Cru's unrivalled wine list quite a few times over the last 12-18 months but had not stayed for dinner until last week. The venue is clearly thriving for food as much as it is wine now it is established and after spotting "Lobster Tacos' on their facebook page recently I couldn't resist anymore.
I was actually going to have a meal out in Eastbourne other than a curry for the first time in a decade!
It isn't new news that there is nowhere decent to eat in Eastbourne especially if you are a bit of a foodie and/or are used to London fodder. I took some friends so between us I think we had the whole menu somewhere on the table and what a feast it was! The Steak was something of excellence, I haven't tasted anything so good since Gaucho and that was a few years ago. The steak was served with lobster on a "surf & turf" dish and was flawless. I of course also tried the lobster tacos which were perfectly cooked and presented without being too pretentious but also not leaving you feeling a little cheated with the price or portion size...they were spot on. Pates and other home cooked and beautifully crafted dishes were circling for about an hour while we enjoyed several different reds and whites. I like my wine but usually wouldn't be confident enough to choose different wines for different dishes in such a way as we did but the waiter clearly knew his stuff and guided us through a great selection and what was really noticeable, (and appreciated,) he didn't once enter into the expensive part of the list, he was looking after us and his contribution added massively to our whole dining experience. (A waiter not trying to up-sell, this was different)
I very rarely write reviews, I think to myself "Il'll leave it for those with too much time on their hands or a chip on their shoulder about basements!?!?" WTF was that review about? but my party and I had such an outstanding evening which not only contained the perfect serving of food and drink but atmosphere too and this was all within the walls of Cru. I take my hat off to you Cru, you have achieved what I never thought would happen, very, very good food AND drink being served beautifully in Eastbourne. I will be back and back and back again. Next stop- Sunday Lunch, I have heard it is the best in town, that is a relief.

I took my wife to the Cru Restaurant for the first time on Fri 23/6.17 at 7pm for dinner. It is a cosy little place with excellent food and wine. We had a very good experience and we will return.

Nice friendly reception and good service and atmosphere. The 'brown shrimp' dish was very small but the Burger and Minute Steak dishes were plentiful. Will certainly try the evening menu some time.

Sunday lunch
Firstly - WOW! This is is no understatement!! This establishment is my favourite in Sussex let alone Eastbourne and I must say the Sunday lunch is beyond amazing! I come for a Sunday roast at Cru fairly regularly and there is not one aspect of the experience that is not beyond formidable. Firstly and most importantly the food. I usually have the roast and have tried them all and cannot fault them. They do a pork, beef, chicken and nut roast. The pork is always so tender and you can tell it is freshly roasted every Sunday and comes with the most amazing home made crackling which has been consistently perfect every time I've had it. The beef is beautiful topside and the quality unquestionable ( I've been told by the waitresses that all the meat that cru serves is personally hand selected by one of the owners at a meat market in London every week in the middle of the night, this shows the dedication the Cru couple have for their food). The chef always does his best to cut the beef in a way that means you can get the beef the way you like it whether that's on the rarer or more well done spectrum (rare is the right way to have it by the way ). And the chicken is sublime. It's always a very generous sized chicken breast which means there's no fussing around with bones and it's always so moist and juicy. You can tell it's cooked to order and there's no sign of a microwave in sight. The nut roast is never dry which I have found in other restaurants or pubs. I am a meat eater myself but sometimes fancy something a little bit different and the waitresses always make sure to check what your dietary requirements are as it can come with meat gravy or veggie or vegan aswell apparently. My vegetarian friends have said it's one of the best veggie gravys they've ever had and always tastes rich. The trimmings are also perfection. The roasties are always crispy and fluffy and the Yorkshire puddings are huge and again always fluffy. The stuffing is always so good and has a beautiful blend of herbs and you can tell it's freshly home made and not from a packet as it's never dry. They even put that extra touch in with a pig in blanket!! The gravy is to die for and I can never get enough and the best bit is it's unlimited and the attentive service means they are always on hand to top you up if you like your roast drenched in gravy like me and the gravy is so good you can't help it! The veg is also always fresh and they mix it up so you can keep going back and never be bored from carrots, fine green beans, brocoli and beautifully roasted parsnips and nothing is ever over cooked which can often happen with the vegetables with roasts elsewhere and is another perfect touch. There is not one fault to their food and if I may even say, better than my mums!! All of this topped with beautiful surroundings and top notch service that has yet to be rivalled in any other restaurant ( perfect mix of attentive and friendly yet not overbearing ) and everyone there is always so smiley and seems to genuinely enjoy and take pride in their work. The wine list is also one of the best you'll see and surprising compared to the size of the venue, I challenge anyone not to find something to their taste and they also have an interesting range of unique beers and ales. Cru is the place to be on a Sunday and my Sunday tradition whether you're battling a hangover or catching up with family. I can't believe I've not reviewed this place yet but thankyou Cru for my go to roast and always the perfect end to my week!

I came to Cru for a Sunday roast on 25 June. It is great for those with a car because the parking is right outside and it is free parking on a Sunday. I must say, this place just keeps getting better and better every time we visit. The staff are so welcoming and always go out of their way to make sure we have a great time. We fancied a change and thought we would sit outside this time as the sun was shining and they had new wooden decking and new comfortable fabric sofas outside. It would so comfortable, I could have sat there all day. We made friends with the couple next to us and stayed all afternoon chatting in the sun with the Prosecco flowing... absolute bliss! We then went inside and had their signature roast dinner... absolutely gorgeous.. I had the roast beef and my partner had the roast chicken. You must try their stuffing and Yorkshire puddings, they are so delicious. Thank you Cru, we will, of course, be back very soon!

This place is fantastic! If you are in any doubt as to whether to visit, dispel that thought and just go!
I live in London and visited Eastbourne looking for relaxation and sun by the sea. What I didn't expect was to find a place that would be perfectly at home in London's trendier districts (think the quality and professionalism of Mayfair rolled seamlessly into the cool of Shoreditch but without the crowds of city bankers, hedge fund managers and hipsters usually in attendance - bliss!).
The wine list is phenomenal and the bottles are presented innovatively (and beautifully, it must be said) all around the bar. If you find the thought of having to choose from an extensive wine selection intimidating then you needn't fear: Hardy (the proprietor) and his team are equipped to answer any questions you may have and have found the sweet-spot in being able to recommend wines by giving sufficient details to make an informed choice without making you feel like an idiot - there is no snootiness here. Plus, if wine isn't your thing, there is good range of quality spirits and some excellent (not-often seen) beers on offer.
The food is absolutely top-draw too and came as a real surprise - the ambience alone makes it a place worth visiting; that the food is thoughtfully sourced, expertly cooked and immaculately presented just topped off the experience. A starter of native lobster tacos was sensational (and better than the Nobu equivalent!) and the steak, often a hit and miss affair, was right on the money.
It's very hard to praise Cru too highly - I can see it being perfect for anniversaries, romantic dates or just a good evening out with friends when you're after that bit of quality and style that is otherwise in such short supply. If Cru was even only half as good as it is I would go again at the next opportunity. I just wish there was one in London!

The food was amazing easily the best in Eastbourne, the service was impeccable and the atmosphere was incredible. I Will 100% be back again and again.

I am a regular visitor to Cru and absolutely love this quirky, intimate, friendly, knowledgeable, professionally run restaurant/wine bar! The food and choice of wines are by far the best in Eastbourne! Whether you want to dine here or just have a drink, Jordan, Hardy and all the staff make you feel welcome as soon as you walk through the door! Having just read a previous review calling Cru "dreadful" (and them having given 5* to a take away kebab shop) has made me think maybe it isn't their kind of establishment. Dont be put off, get yourselves to Cru and enjoy this little gem in Eastbourne!

Another fantastic lunch at cru this place just gets better every time I visit the food was off the radar amazing quality beef which is sourced from Smithfields the owner told me .The wines where also amazing I had the Sangiovese my wife had the prosecco both a class act .im so glad we have a little gem of a restaurant like this in Eastbourne . Will be back very soon feed our very happy bellies again....

A little gem of a place hidden away in the centre of Eastbourne.
The wine selection and quality is far beyond compare of anything I've found south of London! I believe I was told there are over 200 different wines at any one time and what the owner, Hardy, doesn't know about wine frankly probably isn't worth knowing. He is always happy to talk broadly and knowledgeably about the subject and I'd be amazed if there wasn't something on their wine list for every taste. The girls serving work very hard and cope deftly with the snug environment that treads the line well between a contemporary and trendy London bar juxtaposed with something gloriously reminiscent of a Victorian age gone by when taking the lighting fixtures into account.
Not the cheapest bar in town but a price worth paying for the quality of the service and products on offer and a worthwhile trade up environment wise from other local bars! A good place to catch up with friends but my preference is to use it as a more intimate venue and hide away in one of the corners to enjoy a glass of something special.

Just read a review described as "Dreadful" and can only conclude that these people were in a different establishment on the same evening as me. Of course it's in a basement!! That's obvious as soon as you see the place. If you have a problem with basements, don't blame the establishment, just don't go in!!! My experience as a regular customer is that ALL the staff at Cru are brilliant. They are so friendly and do everything they can to make you welcome and look after you in such a way that nothing is too much trouble. The menu is exemplary and the food is amongst the finest and most consistently high quality cooking in town and the wine list one of the most exciting in Sussex I would suggest. I love Cru, which has a wonderful atmosphere and if you haven't tried it yet then I thoroughly suggest you get yourself down there sharpish!! Remember to book! Weekend tables are hugely in demand!!

I have been into Cru quite a few times for all kinds of reasons.. quiet drink, party, romantic meal, light lunches or to meet friends (who by the way I've met thanks to Cru) I have never been disappointed. The staff are always super helpful, they know the menu & wine list inside out and nothing is too much trouble.
The food is excellent and I'd be happy to say the best in Eastbourne, especially the Sunday roast dinners & the steak! It can get a little busy at times, as you would expect from a good restaurant on a friday & saturday evening so I would recommend you book but even if you just turn up at their busiest time they will always try and accommodate you the best they can. The owners have a very extensive knowledge of all the wines on their huge wine list, they have a whole separate menu for all their wines and they're even all on display too see for yourself.
The ambience of the place is perfect, yes it's small but I prefer that, it's intimate and the soft lighting makes it feel very romantic in the restaurant area while the bar area is a little more informal. There are some quite steep steps down into the bar but there is a perfectly adequate hand rail to help you and at least you have to walk down them on the way in and not on the way out after a few!!
I love the fact that this place is not so obvious, it's a little hidden gem!

I've been coming to cru regularly since it opened and with no doubt it is the best place in Eastbourne. Very knowledgeable staff who always go out of their way to make sure you're well looked after and chefs who put Gordon Ramsay to shame.
We went to check out their new menu, and the food was absolutely stunning. I didn't let them know in advance that I have dietary restrictions (my fault) but they still prepared a lovely vegan meal for me! You definitely get what you pay for, which in this case is the top quality service and delicious food. Our drinks were perfect too, recommended by Hardy who definitely knows his wines. My boyfriend tried their pistonhead lager and found it very nice, but I see how it wouldn't work for someone who's used to drinking Fosters-quality beer. As always, 11/10 and would definitely recommend.