6.13.2016

Cru Cafe

Happy Monday readers!

I hope you had a great weekend! I took a little needed blog break last week. I had social obligations almost every  night and the thought of writing blog posts on top of them was just too overwhelming. I'm excited to be back in my groove this week!

Did y'all have a good weekend?

Mine was great! I took a personal day on Friday to unwind after my busy week. I logged a run in the morning, and then headed to the pool with a girlfriend for the rest of the day! That night, we had an impromptu double date night with our friends Emily and Frank. We both had planned to stay in, cooking our Blue Apron miso-glazed wings, so we decided to combine food and forces to enjoy the night together! Saturday I headed to a baby shower for Bryce's cousin and that night we had a date night. We decided to take a chance getting a seat at the bar of our favorite date night spot, Edo's Squid, and were pleasantly surprised when a prime table by the window was available sans reservations! Yesterday we went to brunch and then headed to my coworker Joanne's to celebrate her sweet baby boy Oliver's 1st birthday. After the party we had leftovers for dinner and went for a nice long walk. It was the perfect weekend in my eyes--a great mix of fun with friends, as well as downtime!

Today I am excited to be sharing one of the highlights of my Charleston trip with you: Dinner at Cru Cafe.

After a big trip, I am always overwhelmed by the the amount of pictures and activities to share here on the blog, but this meal was absolutely amazing, and a "must post" for sure!

Thanks to the recommendation of Ashley of Sweet Southern Prep, we decided to visit Cru Cafe. This restaurant is a secret gem in Charleston and a little bit off the beaten path! Erin (my bestie and travel buddy-see her blog here) and I had both hit some of the big Charleston hot spots on past visits, so we were excited to try a new place! Meg of the blog Borrowed Heaven, also joined us and it was certainly a meal and experience to remember!


When you arrive at Cru, you automatically feel like you are sitting down to dinner in a close friend's home. The atmosphere is casual and bright. 


I loved the giant whisk mounted above this bar seating area 
that is open to the kitchen!


After getting comfortable and taking a few sips from your beverage of choice, prepare to be amazed by the drool worthy menu! Cru has a great selection of classic Southern fare, tailored to the freshest low country ingredients available, as well as an eclectic mix of additional menu items with Asian and Caribbean influences.


I was delighted to be eating with Erin and Meg, who both wanted to try as many different items from the menu as I did! We decided to order quite the assortment of small plates, sides, and entrees to sample quite a bit of the menu.


Service was also impeccable! Our waiter was so friendly and had great knowledge of the menu. The chef, coincidentally named Erin, was also fabulous! She came out to speak with us multiple times: sharing both her story, as well as the history behind Cru. We were delighted when she sent out the amuse-bouche above as a surprise! It's tough to find shrimp that lovely or tasty outside of the low country!


Next up, we couldn't resist sharing the four cheese macaroni! If you've read my bio on the sidebar, you know I am quite the mac and cheese lover...and this baked cheesy goodness did not disappoint! 


As the last of our starters, we shared the Seared Nantucket Scallop small plate, which came with spatzle, Italian sausage, and shrimp. Scallops might be my absolute favorite shellfish and these were oh so tasty!

For entrees, I chose the Shrimp Special du Jour (when in Charleston, right?); Meg chose the Grilled Basil Shrimp Pasta, and Erin chose the General Tsos Brussel Sprouts and Truffle Parmesan Fries.


After all of our indulging, I was glad to choose something a bit on the lighter side as my entree. Arugula is hands down my favorite salad green and I didn't feel like I was sacrificing any flavor by going with a lighter option!


Meg's pasta was comfort food at its finest! I'm a sucker for orecchiette, and this was filled with peas, mushroom, basil, and shrimp, all in a cheesy, creamy sauce! Yes, please!


Erin's fries were also a treat and were served with a yummy aioli!


Finally, we were blown away by the General Tsos Brussel Sprouts. They were cooked perfectly and literally tasted just like General Tsos Chicken! 


With full bellies, we snapped a picture in the kitchen with Chef Erin before leaving!

Cru Cafe is most definitely a "MUST" when it comes to Charleston eats! I cannot wait to take Bryce on our next trip!

To check out some of my other favorite Charleston dining experiences, check out my "Charleston Eats" post here.

Have you dined at Cru Cafe before?

What are some of your favorite Charleston spots?

Have a great day!
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