Cru Eastbourne in Eastbourne

First time at this hidden gem of a restaurant. Great food and service 👌 will back again.

Sensational. Food is outstanding. Wine list exceptional . Owners and staff wonderful. Been going here for years and gets better everytime . Highly recommended

We had the pleasure to eat here last week. We just loved it. Freshly cooked food and lovely wine. We had the 3 specials of the day, I don’t remember the names but I was pleasantly surprised by the flavors. We will go back for sure.

A gorgeous hidden gem off the beaten track in an idyllic Eastbourne garden square with attentive service staff and an exquisite menu. The wines are reasonably priced and of decent quality, but the stand-out attraction is surely the creatively formed menu and delicate flavours amid a calming atmosphere. You won’t regret dining here.

Had an amazing night Staff are fantastic Food was incredible Best cocktails we’ve ever had

Delicious asparagus starter & chicken roast. Too full for dessert but managed an Irish coffee. Service excellent. Will return.

Great food and friendly staff.

Went for a evening meal on Saturday 29th June , our 1st time here. It was outstanding food & service was brilliant. We couldn’t fault it, wife was in her element as she used to be chef and was really impressed with the quality of the food. Will be going again

Severely underwhelming, starters were average, under seasoned but ok. Steak was awful, I ordered the fillet rare, it came out blue with the sides unseared, I asked for it to be cooked more and it was better but only half was edible the rest was overcooked. Some of the bigger onion rings had raw batter in the middle. Salad had an overly sweet, yellow, apple dressing which was just not nice. Chips were good, service was good but for the price it’s just not worth it.

Local friends recommended this place, and everything met expectations. The service was very attentive and patient. The food was also very delicious. Although my friend recommended many dishes, since I was dining alone, I only ordered two small plates. The short rib and scallop were both excellent. I'll come back next time to try the other dishes my friend recommended.

Having heard the hype we finally opted for a meal at Cru to celebrate my Wife’s birthday. First impressions are a bit misleading, housed in a basement in Hyde Gardens, slightly wonky narrow steps do nothing to prepare you for what lies behind the door. This is a truly intimate venue, with a wonderful welcome, and while space is limited, the layout of the tables doesn’t feel overcrowded. A small menu, but with a great selection, and an extensive wine list, we both chose scallops as a starter, my wife having the sea bass as her main, and I took the fillet steak. Everything was simply delicious, wonderfully prepared and presented, with the steak having no trace of fat, my only comment would be a failing on my part, should have had it rare instead of medium rare. We washed it down with a delightful bottle of Ribera del Duero, which was also really good for the price. If you are on a tight budget this may not be the place for you, but as a treat it is well worth the money. The last word has to go to the staff. Absolutely brilliant, attentive but not obtrusive, even down to getting us a cab within 5 minutes of asking. Believe the 5* reviews, they are well deserved.

A nice range of dishes and a very good wine list. Everyone enjoyed the food and the overall experience.

Exceptional restaurant with a fantastic menu and wine list that never disappoints. And the best Sunday roast ever!

May 2024 another amazing visit with superb food and service. Go for the Tomahawk and lobster if you are looking for something special. Jordan and the team have always made us feel super welcome here, and also squeezed us in when we've called on the day to get a booking. Food is incredible - the Tomahawk steak was enough for 3 of us to share. Go for the truffled onion rings and Tomahawk if you love steak. Drinks are fantastic with a great choice of cocktails and Mo'cktails. Beautifully refurbished in early 2023 so even more lovely with green leather booth seating. One of the best places to eat in Eastbourne.

Just had the best meal we have had in Eastbourne. Jordan and Hardy made us very welcome and Nick the chef really is at the top of his game. We could not fault our meal, the food delicious, the service impeccable and friendly and the ambiance ideal. We do hope that we can return soon.

Great food, excellent wine and friendly staff.

Fabulous fantastic amazing what more can one say the best place to dine in Eastbourne absolutely superb Harley and Jordan are the most likeable couple your ever meet and the food never fails to deliver on point every time....

Went with my dad and we had a splendid time. If you are looking for a very nice steak and some super wine this is the spot.

It's not a cheap meal out, but well worth it for a special occasion

Beautiful atmosphere, amazing service. We got a couple of alcohol-free cocktails, they were beautifully served and delicious. I ordered the Moroccan spiced aubergine and my partner ordered a steak. My dish was great, but my partner’s steak was a bit underwhelming. We also got the treacle sponge cake for dessert, it was delicious!

No amount of compliments will do this experience justice. Truly exceptional and skillfully made food, a true attention to detail from the staff and beautifully fitted out venue. Definitely recommended.

Real food, good food, amazing steaks, great menu, wines and service- will be returning have been a few times now, never disappoints

Excellent service and brilliant food.

Tiny gem of a place with a small menu. We had the pork and the monkfish, which were both cooked to perfection. The pork was a huge portion across two plates and the monkfish was a little small and could have done with an extra side, but I should have asked. Great service. Would certainly return.

Great food, great service, make sure you ask for the cocktail menu at the beginning if that's what you want cuz they only presented the wine menu for us. Will be going back pretty soon for that grilled baby octopus and the scallops!

Great find, amazing steak, great staff, even great background music!

The service was faultless; The cocktails delicious (and as in my eyeline expertly made); The wine advice gratefully received (and to the point). A staff that clearly cares! Plus all this as a solo dinner (not necessarily the norm). If I lived in Eastbourne I'd be back time and again. I wish more people cared like these people clearly do. Thanks for a lovely evening!

Fantastic meal, probably the best in Eastbourne. Go try for yourself!

It's as good as they say it is. Very busy when we went but the service was good and the staff are attentive. Loved the artwork and surroundings. They offer a fantastic menu and to be honest we could have eaten everythingthey had, it was all very inviting. Lots of great options of smaller plates so we ordered a few and shared them. We especially enjoyed the seafood options. Lastly, the wine selection is excellent. I would definitely return the next time I'm in Eastbourne.

Went for dinner on a Saturday, place was full but atmosphere was wonderfully relaxed. Food was excellent, and menu catered to both meat eaters (me) and vegans (wife). Service very personable and attentive. Will absolutely go again.

Excellent food, very polite, helpful and friendly staff. Food was brilliant. Good selection of wine. Will be returning soon. Thanks for a great afternoon. Would recommend.

Totally brilliant So refreshing to eat food from small plates and all is so beautifully cooked and presented Must be visited

Sensational steaks that are affordable and of very good quality. Great service and very fast!!

Love this place, just the right size of venue, lovely setting and perfect service, food is cooked to perfection. If you love wine definitely the place to come, the owner has an encyclopedia of knowledge of wines and is always on hand to recommend a wine to accompany your food.

We had a couple of small plates. Seared & Roasted diver caught scallops. coral & chive,butter, English herb crumb. Roasted chorizo, red wine & local honey glaze. Large plates Local plaice paupiette, nori & wasabi mousseline, shiitake mushrooms, green tea & sesame beurre vert. Cod loin burger, lemon, tartare, baby gem lettuce, chip shop curry sauce,brioche bun, hand cut triple cooked chips. This is our go-to restaurant / wine bar whenever we visit Eastbourne. As well as great food, they have an extensive wine list and amazing cocktails.

I saw this was highly rated so I made a reservation in advance for 3. I would recommend you reserve in advance as its very busy. As we got there we were warmly greeted and being disbaled with an assistant dog was made to feel at home. We had some recommendations from our waitress and had a couple of cocktails while we waited for our starters. We ordered the Argentinian prawns and scallops which were all juicy and tasty. For main we had asked for the tommawhwk steak which we added the lobster and onion rings with truffle. It easily fed three of us. We just had enough space left for dessert which we had some churros which came with a chocolate sauce. The atmosphere was lovely very cosy and I'd recommend for a date or dinner as a couple. We will definately return.

Lovely place with great food and wine.

Eastbourne's best restaurant, without a doubt. I've eaten here many, many times and it's always excellent. Brilliant food options, a huge selection of wine and great service. Highly recommended.

There was a large birthday party in progress so the place was very noisy. It was also great fun, the roast chicken dinner, toffee apple sponge and the wine list are all outstanding. I'm going back soon to check out some fish and one of their Puligny Montrachets . They have Tignanello, a rarity, I was seriously impressed. Service is just perfect. Good choice of wines by the glass .

Husband and I decided an impromptu overnight stay in Eastbourne. What made our stay memorable was our visit to this delightful eatery “Cru,” It was a bit of nightmare to book, but the food did not disappoint!! My husband ordered the steak which was perfection! delicious locally sourced food. Prawns exceptional, I chose the Hake as I had never eaten it before was ordered it was sublime. Good wine list alongside great ambience. This establishment care food, service and the customer having a good time. If you know and love and good food, come here! Cru Keep doing what you do!! 🥂

Food was really good and waiting time was very fast between courses. Staff are all great. We'll definitely go back

The most wonderful evening. The staff were fantastic and Jordan was particularly wonderful! The atmosphere was exceptional and you could see how much care goes into the food. We will be recommending Cru and can't recommend it enough. A true gem of Eastbourne.

Just love this place. Good food and super welcoming staff, but the best bit is the wine list and knowledge. We always have something interesting and unexpected.

My first visit as I had always been put off by the very low food hygiene rating but this has recently been increased to 5. I didn’t enjoy the experience as it was very cramped between tables and very noisy being a basement and a Saturday night. The service was fast and friendly and my seating request had been sorted out. The food arrived quickly - four small plates to share which was a challenge on a tiny table. The dishes were all nice but nothing stood out and presentation looked a bit hurried. Expensive for what they were. The choice of desserts were uninspiring so opted for a selection of British cheeses. The three tiny pieces (£10) were very ordinary, served with some curled up celery, grapes that had seen better days and some cheap crackers. The chutney was nice. Excellent choice of wines and the Chenin blanc we chose was superb. I won’t be a returning customer.

Best steak we've had for a very long time

Good food, locally sourced and very well prepared. Friendly and attentive staff throughout from ordering pre meal drinks to the meal itself. Can be very busy so prebooking is definitely recommended.

As always with Cru, the service, food and ambiance is amazing. The staff are so lovely and very responsive, the food is locally sourced and delicious. I can honestly recommend this place, it's a small restaurant so you know that you will receive excellent service and food!

Fantastic food, wine and service.

The menu at Cru is a true culinary delight. The selection of steaks they offer is unparalleled in Eastbourne. Each cut is cooked to perfection, with a beautiful sear on the outside and a tender, juicy center. The flavors are rich and robust, leaving me craving more with every bite. It's safe to say that Cru serves the best steaks in Eastbourne. To complement the amazing food, Cru also boasts an impressive wine and champagne selection. The sommelier was incredibly helpful in recommending the perfect pairing for our meal. The wine list is extensive, featuring a variety of options from different regions. Whether you're a wine connoisseur or simply enjoy a good glass of vino, Cru has something to satisfy every palate. The overall dining experience at Cru was nothing short of exceptional. The combination of amazing food, outstanding wine, and attentive service creates an atmosphere that is both sophisticated and welcoming. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply looking for a memorable dining experience, I highly recommend visiting Cru in Eastbourne. You won't be disappointed.

Food amazing, friendly and competent staff. Only negative comment, noise level was almost unbearable, we could not hear ourselves talk. Right from the point of arrival, the 'din' was overwhelming. Some acoustics are needed. Put a slightly negative slant on the evening.

Excellent meal. The best I've had in Eastbourne. Good unobtrusive service too.

Excellent evening. Great food, great wine, great service.

Lovely place, great food and service. We'll be back.

Fantastic food & wine... not to mention great service!

A real gem in Eastbourne. Lovely food, lovely team, great wine knowledge and selection.

Stayed the weekend in Eastbourne and simply Googled Best Restaurants Near Me. Cru came up and after reading through the website menu we booked a table online. The place is FANTASTIC. Lovely food, great atmosphere and enthusiastic staff. Quite small and basement level make it unique too. We had a great time.

Top evening. Excellent Food, service and atmosphere. Well worth another visit if we're ever back in Eastbourne

No doubt that this is the best restaurant in the South East. Intimate dinning with top notch service from knowable crew. Second to non selection of wines and beer on tap. The seasonal menu is kept smaller and there for it's not overwhelming, I still found it hard to choose as everything sounded so good!. The chefs should be awarded and applauded, I struggle to find the words to express how good the food was so I suggest you just go and try it for yourself. This was my second vist to Cru and definitely won't be my last. I hope we can go back sooner rather than later. The restaurants location has convenient parking options and is within walking distance to other venues if you wish to carry on celebrating with a few more drinks. Very tasty sounding vegan option on the menu too.

Amazing food and wonderful atmosphere.

We were out of town visiting for the long weekend and my husband had a big craving for a roast. We walked in during a very busy lunch rush and the wait staff were so courteous and accommodating and gave us a table for an hour and a half (until the next booking). Even then they didn't rush us or try to make us vacate the table. They were very diligent and served us quickly. The food was very tasty and portions were generous. Given that the weather was unfortunately not that great today we still very much enjoyed our trip, in large part due to our visit here!

Perfect dining experience all round! :)

First time at Cru and it was pouring with rain so getting down the steps which are quite steep was a bit of a hazard but once inside the atmosphere was very buzzy. A large party for lunch seated in the rear of the restaurant and quite loud. We were a group of four and were seated in a small booth with a sliding door which was unusual ! However food was delicious and staff were very helpful, particularly the Manager( didn't get her name) our waitress was ok a bit quick on removing plates, even when one member of our party was still eating ( a particular bug of mine). The food was delicious and we will certainly go again for lunch perhaps when not so busy. Would definitely recommend.

Amazing vibe, the refurb is soooo cosy and boujee! Amazingggggggg food and outstanding service from all staff! Best place in Eastbourne for dinner and a glass of wine! Thank you thank you thank you! We will be back!

We had such a fantastic evening. The food and wine was delicious, and the service was excellent. They were so adaptable for food intolerances too. Would highly recommend a visit here.

Very attentive staff. Very willing to help. Knowlegable Wine waiter, willing to spend time in explaining the merits of different varieties. Great atmosphere. Crowded, 18:30 on a Saturday Evening.

Outstanding food , great service !! Can’t keep away ! Highly recommend . Best restaurant in Eastbourne

This is the first time my hubby and I have been to Cru. The food was amazing and the portion sizes were really good. Definitely value for money. Staff were really friendly and welcoming. Service was fast and attentive. The best roast dinner we have had in a long time. The only slight downside was the lack of ventilation. It got very warm in there as Cru is located in the basement. Air con I think would be a problem in practical terms. If you’re getting a table for two, the high chairs for the high tables on the back wall are very uncomfortable after a while. Other than that, a superb venue with smashing food and service. We will definitely book again and bring friends 👍😊

Great food and service...only downside is the closeness of tables to eachother but the food makes up for this.

Best Sunday Roast in Eastbourne Town. Jordan was great, as were the rest of the staff.

Without a doubt the best restaurant in the Eastbourne. The food is amazing the small plates are always a great start and the Sunday roasts is a favourite. The staff are always so friendly, each staff member knows the menu and wine list inside out and can’t do enough to help. Can not wait to return.

First time I’ve visited this restaurant. Lovely atmosphere and a welcoming feel. Had a Sunday lunch here and thoroughly enjoyed. Food is very good and service is excellent. Will definitely be coming back very soon.

Amazing Christmas lunch, there is only one place to dine in Eastbourne!

Small premises but very friendly staff & the food was excellent. Small menu but would cover most people's taste.

Tasty food, good staff and amazing customer services. Well done to all of you. I'll be back soon.

Small venue to which you wouldn’t know is there, your greater by very friendly staff. It did feel you are on top of one another, let the food talk and it did, small menu but a very good balanced selection. The food was first class, in fact the best food I’ve had in Eastbourne. My only criticism, had to differentiate between dinners and staff.

Went for a special Anniversary meal, and they didn’t disappoint. Beautifully presented tasty food and great choice of wines. We’ll be back.

Truly wonderful … exquisite cuisine and didn’t even have the steaks which looked fab. Best wine choice and they know their stuff here .. super impressed with the “Hey Malbec” Duck special and okra curry superb … couldn’t recommend enough - great value

Very central with excellent food and service

Nice buzzy place. Enjoyed our meal.

Delicious food, great portions, quick service, accommodating and friendly staff, well priced! We had an excellent experience and meal and would definitely recommend.

Gourmet experience in Eastbourne Nice smiley service, delicious food and stunning presentation. Above the average in Eastbourne. Highly recommend

Very nice food, nice atmosphere and staff! We had the croquettas, scallops as starters, the lamb and the fillet steak as main and the churros as dessert and everything was very good.

Dinner Cru Eastbourne A true hidden gem. We struck gold when we found this outstanding wine bar restaurant. It is the total definition of a hidden gem. On a side street in the center of Eastbourne in a basement. Their menu is like a dream. On offer are small plates which you can order like tapas style. Also large plates lamb,fish,burger and Incredible steaks. We stuck to the small plates so we could try various dishes. The special was the plank steak which was mouthwatering delicious. And the Truffle onion rings. 😲 OMG. See pics for others we had. This place was so good that we had to go back a second night to try even more delights. Half lobster thermidor Beef Short rib that just melted in the mouth. Wild Mushroom Croquettas More Scallops This time we finished with Affogato & Frangelico Liqueur It's owned by a lovely couple Hardy & Jordan. They have very professional staff who are all lovely too. Booking is essential as they were full both nights we were there. Oh did we say? This is a true Hidden Gem. Review helpful please like 👍 follow thanks

Excellent Sunday Roast. Fantastic bottle of wine. The roasts were very tasty, and the truffle cauliflower cheese was superb. The scallops small plate and the crab salad small plate were presented perfectly. The desserts and dessert wine were a delicious ending. Very well recommended.

Excellent experience What more needs saying

Food and wine list exceptional. But more important is the friendly, attentive but not overbearing staff. Lovely atmosphere. Highly recommend.

Amazing food and well made cocktails 😋

Visited for a roast as we have often seen their roasts recommended. We both had the Grand Cru Roast which was a slice of all four meats - chicken, beef, belly pork and lamb. My meat was all nice, but my partner’s beef and lamb were both chewy and fatty and we both only had a tiny bit of chicken. The stuffing was lovely and pig in blanket had a nice flavour, but the roast potatoes were tasteless and we thought they had been cooked earlier and reheated as they were very dry. The Yorkshire pudding wasn’t crispy. The veg was bland too and we would have like some sprouts or broccoli instead of leaves and celery which we would class as salad, not vegetables. We spent £60 and were disappointed! The staff were all welcoming and friendly and the atmosphere was good, but we wouldn’t return.

Excellent. Attentive staff and super food. The small plate short rib was excellent and worthy starter/smaller appetite. Owner is top drawer and friendly too.

The staff was exceptionally lovely, catering to our varied allergy/dietary requirements. We even had dessert and bread, which is usually quite a feat for our group. The food was delicious despite having to make these adjustments, would certainly be back when in Eastbourne.

The food was fabulous, the ambiance delightful, the staff friendly but not intrusive. You do have to book as its not huge. But would recommend it to everyone.

Absolutely lovely place. Went for lunch and had great fresh food and drinks. Lovely little sun trap seating area outside. Really welcoming owners. Highly recommend.

Fantastic dining experience, been a couple of times and always delivers. Excellent wine list.

Amazing food. Top class service.10/10. Cru is the best Restaurant in Eastbourne hands down 👌

Incredible food and great service

Amazing food, fantastic staff, wonderful evening. Could not recommend more highly :)

Great food 😋 excellent service x x x what a tucked away little gem x

Absolutely fantastic food with really good quality ingredients. All the staff are really friendly and welcoming. 😀😀😀

Awesome great food and atmosphere

Great atmosphere, friendly and helpful staff, I'd recommend dining earlier next time.