Cru Wine Bar & Merchant

Cru Wine Bar & Merchant Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant: Another pleasant dining option in the downtown Redwood City theater district, Cru serves casual, enjoyable wine-pairing fare in an Italian wine shop along the train tracks. As an indoor-outdoor venue, troubled only by the occasional horn of a passing train, the place is optimal for a friends’ night out for drinks, a light meal or just as a source for multicultural wines. Inside the feeling of Italy is reinforced by the bookshelf-like cases lining the walls and stocked with wine and pantry specialties. Wooden tables and metal and wood chairs contribute to an urbane-rustic feel, which continues to an open patio with hedged wooden planters. Proprietor Donato Scotti is also behind Donato Enoteca in Redwood City and Donato & Co. in Berkeley.

Likes: The rustic Italian grocery café charm and wine by the bottle program.
Dislikes: The train noise when eating outside.

Food & Drinks: Charcuterie, from standards like prosciutto to true Iberico and lomo embuchado, and aged pork loin are available on their own or as a topping for one of the variety of pizzas. Hot dishes, pork belly, baked mussels or the paella of the day, are generally meant to be shared, tapas style, as are a small selection of cold plates, like the house-made rillette of duck and pork. Individual and assorted European cheeses are ideal with a glass of wine from the well-curated and varied list, or buy a bottle off the store shelf and have it at the table for just a $5 per person glass charge. Among wines by the glass and carafe are 2016 Domaine du Salvard Cheverny Sauvignon Blanc and 2015 Turley Old Vine Zinfandel. Look for beer and cocktails, too. A short lineup of sweets includes affogato.