Cru Nantucket Oyster Bar Review
Search for places to eat on Nantucket, and you’ll notice one restaurant mentioned in every article, blog, and travel guide: Cru Nantucket Oyster Bar. Turns out, there’s a good reason for that! Located on the docks near where the ferry lets off, Cru has been a staple on Nantucket since 2012, and it turned out to be one of the (many) highlights of our visit. Read on to discover why it truly is a must-visit!
Cru Nantucket Oyster Bar
Location: Nantucket, Massachusetts, USA
Address: 1 Straight Wharf
Nantucket, MA 02554
Food Type: Seafood
Meal Duration: 1.5+ Hours
Dining Experience: Indoor
Price: $150 per person
Dress Code: Casual+
Special Diets Available: Gluten-Free, Pescatarian
Ambience
Right along the water, on the quiet, misty day we visited, everything was serene. Gentle waves lapped at the dock just outside our table, couples and families chattered away together, and fog horns sounded in the distance.
Inside, minimal maritime decor accentuated the calm fervor of Cru Nantucket Oyster Bar. The excitement in the air from guests and staff was palpable, yet carrying on a quiet conversation with my husband was as effortless as always. No loud music, no car engines revving, and no doubt we were about to have an excellent meal; Our lunch was perfect in every way.
Our Meals
Everything we had was splendid. The lobster was fresh and succulent, vegetables crisp, flavorful, and nourishing. Our meals were colorful, simple plating allowing the food to truly shine. I’d love to dine here again someday and try a few more dishes that had caught my eye, like the gluten-free version of their lobster roll, crab cocktail, and famous Petrossian caviar service.
Above: Local Nantucket Oysters
These oysters were phenomenal. Harvested from the waters around Nantucket, these were a great way to experience the terroir of the area. We tried four of each of the Devil’s Creek (crisp & sweet), Fifth Bend (briny & mineral finish), and Pocomo Meadow (earthy mushroom finish). The latter was my favorite!
Above: Lobster Salad
Crafted with lobster harvested that same afternoon, plus an abundance of blood orange, radish, cucumber, butter, and oak lettuce, Cru’s lobster salad was an absolute delight. I believe they had to exclude the salad dressing as it contains gluten, so yours may look slightly different than mine. Still, this was one of the best salads I’ve ever had.
I mean, look at that! Sometimes food is really fun to photograph, and this was one of those times. It was the perfect lunch after a long morning of biking to ‘Sconset and back (and getting stuck in the rain, haha.)
Above: Smoked Fish Dip
This was SO great. Fresh, flavorful, and perfect when paired with crisp vegetables, we devoured this appetizer. If you like fish dips, crunchy veggies, or freshly made Japanese sweet potato chips, you’ll love this Smoked Fish Dip from Cru.
There were so many more things we wanted to try, but didn’t have room for. Thankfully, we don’t live far away, and will return someday soon!
Final Thoughts
Cru Nantucket Oyster Bar was a delight. Their extensive selection of ultra-fresh seafood and attentive staff welcomed us with open arms and made us feel right at home. Our server went above and beyond to cater to my gluten allergy, so I was able to dine worry-free. If you’re looking for seafood, oysters, and drinks done right, stop into Cru Nantucket Oyster Bar and tell them I sent you.
You won’t regret it!
Ps. Check out this awesome succulent display that was outside Cru! They had a bunch of tiny pineapples growing, too!
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