Good vibes here- hip urban sophistication was my impression. Low lights and subdued modern decor. Not a "college town" kind of place. We just stopped in for a cocktail. Impressed by the offerings as well as the wine and beer lists, lots of craft selections including IPAs. Bartendress was well dressed, polite, and knowledgeable, which is so important. Some years back this was strictly a 'wine bar' with small plates and snacks, but they've evolved into a comfortable cocktail lounge with a full dinner menu. Entrees looked appealing (not so much the apps) and I'm hoping to be back here tomorrow for dinner and an update. read more

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Espresso martini delish and so were the button mushrooms. Cute wine bar without all the youngsters read more

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I love this place! The food is always great and they have some of the best Ribs I've ever had. They change up the menu every once in a while, and that keeps it fresh. They also do a great job with the wine selection and rotating beers on tap. read more

I was taken here by a friend and her family for dinner, and I was originally concerned after looking at their menu online and not seeing near to nothing for vegetarian/vegans. Do not fear, they have curated an entire vegan menu that you can request inside! There were a lot of salads on there, but also a good amount of warm dinners to explore (bonus, they're less expensive!). The waitress was extremely hospitable and kept up with the table well, and even talked to us for a bit once we were a couple drinks in. The Moscow mule was crafted well, it is always a favorite of mine. It was a great environment to have interpersonal conversations and enjoy one another's company. read more

Cru Gastro Lounge - Vegan stir fry and Mac and cheese (side) - Wine Bars Near Me - Oxford, Ohio

service was absolutely terrible. took over an hour for food and saw a service once in that hour. Also never apologized regarding the terrible service. would not ever recommend to anyone. read more

Food was awful! There were 3 of us, each ordered something different for dinner, and none of us liked what we got. Sent one meal back and they gave us 75% off of it. Totally overpriced as well. Ambience was okay as server very nice, but horrible food when you're starving makes everything else not matter much. read more

Good food and drinks. Pleasant atmosphere, great for appetizers and drinks or dinner. Salmon on the spinach salad was done perfectly. Waitress was efficient and attentive. They were very busy and it took a while to get food but it came out hot and perfectly cooked. read more

One of the worst dining experiences of recent memory. The tuna was tasteless. The crab cakes were dry. The mac & cheese was just OK - for that price I could have made something way better at home. The caesar salad was made with wilted shredded lettuce - have never seen that before and hope to never see it again. The ribs were tough and dry. And even though there were only 2 other tables, service was slow. Our waiter was far more interest in the young waitress than providing good service. And to add insult to injury, the prices were outrageous for what they serve. read more

Oh Cru I was hoping it will get better. Unfortunately i was wrong. last time I was there was after Christmas December 2022 to be exact.. We were 5 at a table mind you they did not post a sign at the entrance to let us know that their oven was out of order until we were at the table ready to order: No Ribs, No Pizza, No Bread, No Dessert. No apology nothing. We just had to make do. We were hungry, tired and it was cold outside. Very unprofessional won't be back to CRUEL (suggesting a name change). ever. People in that town deserve a much better place like the new place in town uptown that is "THE PICKLE & PIG ". I heard it's good. So long "Cru Gastro Lounge". For the price you're charging: please get your act together or get out of the business. read more

Nice and relaxing spot for wine and great food. Just a special place to spend quality time. And besides the wine beg exceptional, the food is great. read more

Greatest place ever. Been coming here when I visit after graduating. Mike the owner is so friendly and welcoming! This is the hidden gem in Oxford! read more

We wanted to like Cru a lot. Oxford desperately needs more "quiet" and comfortable places for adults to relax and talk. My wife and I stopped in on a Friday to eat and check out Cru. We are not big drinkers and are not wine aficionados. As you will learn, we are also not "complainers." We gladly pay for what we get. If we don't think we got a good deal- we won't complain on-site- we just don't return. My wife had heard good things about the menu, and both of us enjoyed a different pizza, and we shared an appetizer. We both ordered a soft drink when we sat down. Over the course of about an hour and a quarter, I drank three soft drinks, and my wife was about halfway through with her second. I can still hear the (attentive) waitress asking my wife if she can "top off" her soft drink. The answer was "sure," and the waitress brought back a filled glass. We finished our meal, and the waitress brought our check. I almost needed CPR when I saw that we were CHARGED FOR FIVE SOFT DRINKS! Yes- apparently "topping off" a drink was worth another nearly $3.00 to Cru. Maybe we just had a waitress who was confused. Maybe she was new. After being charged for almost $15 worth of soft drinks between my wife and I, we never went back to check. read more

I want to love Cru. I'm a oeneophile who is a "townie" in Oxford. And while it is the most serious attempt at a wine bar in the town, it still misses the mark. I posted photo shoots of the menus tonight. See for yourself. I think their beer menu is fantastic, and their food menu quite good. Yet this is advertised as a wine bar. And there are no decent wines by the glass. You've gotta be kidding me, right? No, see for yourself. They have a very decent retail bottle store attached in the back. But if you wanna come in and partake in the place by the glass as a "bar," you can have....Cline ancient vines Zinfandel??!! Really? When you have Nickel and Nickel in back??? Now I understand full well that we are a college town, and many of your patrons only will want a glass of white Zin. I get that your menu must mainly be less expensive glasses. But really, if you're going to put yourselves out there as a wine bar, you actually have to have at least a couple decent wines available by the glass. I will certainly come again for the food and beer. Which is in a way ironic, if they continue to bill themselves as a wine bar. Think about it... Beer- five stars. Food- 3.5 stars. Wine- two stars. Waitstaff- two stars. Both for being friendly. No points awarded for knowledge, as they couldn't describe a single wine or beer on the menu. Couldn't even tell us whether a given beer with an ambiguous name was an amber or a stout. I'm not kidding. But the place is new. And I think it could become great. We really hope so. read more

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For a wine bar, the by the glass list was poor. Better beer list which is ironic. Briefly listened to the fella I believe was the owner have a quasi melt down. Was pretty worked up and frustrated and made it clear he hates parents weekend. As someone who was in for parents weekend and spending money in his place, was puzzled as to how I should not be offended. They were "so busy" that other staff members were frazzled as well, but the place was half full if even that. Spoke to a very nice couple from town who tried to explain that things were busier than normal and the staff was usually more friendly. I suggest the staff at Cru goes out back to bitch about guests and out of towners vs standing behind the bar where all can hear. That or take a Xanax mid way through your shift. read more

Wonderful service the stuffed mushrooms was great! We also got a pizza which was very good thin crust lots of cheese and toppings. We will be going back to try more of the yummy food and drinks read more

Cru Gastro Lounge - Wine Bars Near Me - Oxford, Ohio

The owner/manager (an elderly gentleman) was not wearing a mask despite the fact that we are in the middle of a pandemic and it is mandated by the County. He came within 2 feet of me and I took a step back. He did not like this and acted very rudely towards me. We were so disgusted that we left. We were treated horribly that we decided to take our business elsewhere. We will never enter this place again! If I could give this place zero stars, I would. read more

This is an update to my previous post. I've been to Cru at least 3 times where the service has been good! I joined their "Big Ass Wine Club". This is where you pay a $20 one time fee and you always get your wine in a larger glass which means you get more. I think it's been worth the investment. I enjoy that they always have a hot appetizer and veggie tray for FREE beginning at 5pm! Definitely had much better experiences here lately which has convinced me to visit more often. read more

A lovely wine bar in Oxford. Very comfy seating, a nice place to get together and relax. Had a bottle of their house red which was pretty reasonably priced. If I lived in the area, I'd join the Big Ass Wine Club for sure. read more

A unique new addition to the local Oxford list and a unique new venue. Go and enjoy a glass of wine at the bar or take a table and share a bottle with someone special. Small plates and interesting pizzas are served up from the kitchen. All are fantastic! And don't forget to take home a bottle or two on your way home from their excellent selection of wines from around the world. Owned and operated by Mike and Michelle Patterson, this new addition to their family of local restaurants is another favorite of mine. What once was a florist shop is now transformed into a warm and welcoming gathering place. Sit around with friends in their comfy couches or right up at the copper topped bar made from recycled barn wood. A must go to place! read more

Perfect for date night or girls night out!! Great atmosphere, fantastic band, and unique wine selections. My husband and I really like Chilean wines and we were not disappointed with the Carmenere & Malbecs! The bruschetta and pizzas were very good. We definitely recommend the meatball pizza. Lastly, the band duo was incredible. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and will be back for more date nights!! read more

Cru Gastro Lounge - Excellent wine selection! - Wine Bars Near Me - Oxford, Ohio

Definetly agree with Liz's review about needing a place like this for adults. Nice atmosphere with good service and reasonable prices. We enjoyed the baked Brie and margarita pizza. We will try some other items on our next visit like the crab cake and chickpea sliders. read more

Everything on the menu is good...nice date night place. Great wine selection! It is Cru, not Gru.

We need this. It's not life changing, but it's for adults. There is wine. It's quiet. People can talk. Let's support it so that it stays around. Also for $20 you can join the Big Ass Wine Club and forevermore get an extra large pour. Worth it. read more

I went to Cru this past Thursday February 20th and I had Lauren F serve me. She was hands down the best server we've ever had in our entire lives. Me and my wife were blown away by her attentiveness and her knowledge of the menu and wine. I ate so many meatballs but I don't regret it one bit! We will be back very soon!!! read more

Great find hidden off the beaten path in oxford. A great break from all the college bars. Good wine selection, great food, and decent prices. The portions are huge and can easily share them. The piano man was good with a wide range of music genre's. read more

If you are looking for a unique and fresh dining experience, keep looking. Cru is relatively new to the Oxford scene, but offers nothing more than overpriced wines, pizzas, and cheeses. Not only is it expensive for a college town, but the portions are surprisingly small, as is the size of the menu. The high prices and small portions are not the only reason why this review fails to provide a better rating. The staff and, more specifically, the owner were what inspired this review. Not only were we checked on by the waitress once in the hour we were there, but the owner made a point to welcome all the older adults personally, while intentionally not approaching us, or even willing to say goodbye to us as we passed him walking out the door (I'm assuming this was because we are of a younger college age, but it was still disrespectful). The one star Cru earns is for the decor of the restaurant. They have nice wooden tables and chairs, that give the place a natural, oaky, feel. The restaurant itself was pretty nice. Ultimately, I could not recommend this restaurant. Any points earned for the decor or appearance of the restaurant were more than taken away by the poor service and mediocre food. In a town with multiple good and unique dining options, go elsewhere. read more

This place was great! My mom, aunt, and sister were visiting our third sister at Miami and came here for some wine and cheese before dinner. What a cute interior and cozy atmosphere! The people serving us were very nice and didn't seem to mind that we were just ordering a little bit before dinner at another place. Would definitely recommend Cru for their great atmosphere and extensive wine by the glass list (at least 10!). read more

Restaurant owners from Oxford should travel outside of their little bubble once in a while to see how "real" restaurants operate. Cru is another in a long line of disappointing Oxford establishments. Maybe it has something to do with a transient labor force dominated by entitled college students. Whatever the issue, the service was poor, food was mediocre, and the bathrooms are in the pancake restaurant next door. read more

Pizzas are very good! Nice bar selection as well. The atmosphere is one that can be enjoyed by any age group. I recommend the veggie pizza with an Italian red blend. read more

Love Cru. I'm not a wine drinker I like beer. They have a great selection of beers that allow me to try new flavors. The food is great, service is friendly with good conversation. Décor is very comfortable and helps me relax after a long day. Those that stick their nose up at individual idiosyncrasies can go elsewhere. read more

Wine was good, but the menu is awkwardly small for a wine bar. The food was comical, despite the interesting menu, the food came out on blue and orange plates with absolutely no concern for presentation. The crab cake was literally a pancake of crab on a orange plate with some overpowering sauce. I ordered my steak medium and got a well done EXTREMELY THIN ribeye. Im not even mad, the whole experience was comical. For a restaurant that looks so professional and classy the food looked like absolutely amateur. The waitress knew the bare minimum about the menu, not much else to say here. Edible food, beautiful environment earned two stars. Absolutely comical presentation and uninspired food. read more

Honestly the worst waitress I've ever had. She refused to bring our table water. When I asked she made a joke about charging me $7 for tap water but she still didn't bring water. She came to our table only twice on her own, with a 20-30 minute wait just to order a drink or a small plate. Three times, members of my dinner party had to go to the bar to ask for her to come to our table or get the bill. When one friend tried to pay with a twenty dollar bill, the waitress very rudely asked "you seriously don't have anything smaller than this?!" and rolled her eyes. We attempted to ask very simple and typical questions about the food and drink menu and each question was returned with major attitude from this woman. The entire experience with her was insult after insult and I regret leaving a tip at all. I was there for just over two hours for a dinner that should have taken an hour. If I hadn't approached the bar to get the bill I would have been there much longer. Truly a shame because the menu and portion sizes (as well as pitchers of water) seen from other tables who had different wait staff looked delicious. Had it not been for this horrible experience I'm sure I would have enjoyed the atmosphere and menu options. read more

While the food here is amazing, the service is horrendous. Three of our pizzas came out after roughly 30-40 minutes and the other came out another 10 minutes later. Our waiter, who was new and carries no fault, had some difficulty with our bills. He asked his co-worker/potential superior, Tara, for help. She was clearly annoyed that he needed help because she was too "busy". She proceeded to run the bill up incorrectly (charged us additional money for each glass of wine, mixed up each order, etc). When we kindly pointed this out, she started so swear, then told us that while we ordered the happy hour wine, they actually gave us another wine, and that we had already drank it so we were to pay full price. After heated discussion, she inappropriately slammed our bills down on the table, blamed our waiter for getting it wrong, went to the table next to us (who were friends of ours), and started complaining to them about us. We then sat there for an additional 20 minutes waiting for our bill to be collected. We resorted to taking it up to the cash register ourselves. We have been to Cru multiple times and the service repeatedly disappoints. read more