CRU - Bar à Huîtres in Saint-Lambert, offers a most creative menu. A wide range of seafood and fish and a selection of tartare and meats aged on site. A dedicated chef will offer you about fifteen oyster varieties every night. The incredible staff will suggest the perfect wine pairing for your dish. With its affordable prices, this restaurant is accessible to everyone. A beautiful discovery, well located, beautiful decor and a relaxing ambiance. You'll love your meal!
CRU - Bar à Huîtres is described in reviews as a refined seafood spot where the oysters, tartare, and other dishes are frequently praised for freshness and bold flavors, and the service is consistently described as attentive, friendly, and efficient, with many visitors enjoying a thoughtful wine list and a welcoming ambiance. Some entries note occasional service gaps, longer waits, and menu items that fall short of expectations, while others highlight flawless execution and generous portions that feel worth the price. Overall, the consensus is that CRU offers a memorable, high quality dining experience for seafood lovers, with standout moments around the seafood platter and tartare, and a vibrant atmosphere that remains engaging on busy nights.
I have to admit, I was a bit hesitant to try this location since I had a disappointing service experience at the Mont-Royal one. But after hearing so many good things about the St-Lambert spot, I decided to give it a chance - & I'm so glad I did!
Sebastian, our waiter, was impeccable. He made us feel so welcomed & was incredibly helpful throughout the evening. He even mentioned that the chef could customize dishes based on our preferences, which really elevated the experience.
The setting is beautiful - clean, cozy, & still very elegant.
We had the seafood platter & the bone marrow with beef tartare, & everything was absolutely delicious. You can really tell there's a lot of attention to detail in each dish, & we truly appreciated the quality of the food.
Overall, a fantastic experience that completely changed my perception - I'll definitely be back!
Oh, it's absolutely tragic what's happening in St. Lambert. I went into CRU - Bar à Huîtres expecting a delightful disaster-because really, who trusts a seafood bar in a quiet suburban town?-& they had the audacity to be actually competent.
Here is a review for those who enjoy being'suffocated' by quality.
A Suburban Tragedy: My Evening at CRU
If you're looking for a place where the staff ignores you & the food tastes like a lukewarm freezer bag, stay far away from CRU. I was fully prepared to hate-watch an oyster bar in St. Lambert, but the staff ruined my cynical mood by being-wait for it-friendly & efficient. The absolute nerve of this place:
The Cutlery Crisis: They actually changed our utensils after every single course. Apparently, using the same fork for your appetizer & your dessert is'too much to ask' for these people.
The Staff Overload: There were basically two people per table. I felt so judged by their constant attention & seamless service. It's a small, elegant space, so you can't even hide from the professionalism.
The'Inedible' Highlights
We started with a seafood platter that was a total eyesore. Gravlax, shrimp, salmon tartare, oysters, & caviar? It was a colorful nightmare of'freshness.' Then came the Caesar salad. I hope you like the taste of'perfectly balanced lemon' &'homemade dressing,' because that's the torture I had to endure.
The Main Courses were even worse:
The Crab Sabotage: One friend ordered the oyster pasta, & because they knew it was her birthday, they buried it under a mountain of extra crab meat. How am I supposed to see my pasta under all that free, high-quality seafood?
The Tortellini Trauma: The veal tortellini came in a creamy, spicy sauce, & the portions were'huge.' It's like they want you to be full & satisfied. The tortellini à la vodka with burrata was equally offensive in its deliciousness.
The Final Blow: Heart Attack City
By the time dessert arrived, I was ready to call my lawyer.
The Crème Brûlée: Served in a bowl the size of a small swimming pool.
The Apple Cinnamon Doughnut Thing: They take French doughnut dough, stuff it with apples, drench it in caramel & heavy cream, & then expect you to just go home? I couldn't even sleep that night because I was busy hallucinating about cinnamon.
The Verdict: $349 for three people, including drinks, tax, & tip. For that price, you get an incredible meal, top-tier service, & a complete lack of things to complain about.
I'll be going back, obviously, but only so I can continue to suffer through their excellence. Highly NOT recommended if you enjoy mediocre experiences.
Mar 15, 2026
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We visited this restaurant with my wife this summer. Overall, the food was good, but not exceptional.
We sat outside on the terrace, which had a nice atmosphere, but the tables were a bit wobbly & it felt slightly uncomfortable at times. Another thing worth mentioning is the cutlery & tableware. It didn't feel like restaurant-level quality - more like something you'd buy at Dollarama, which took away from the overall dining experience.
To sum it up, the restaurant is okay for a casual meal, but there's definitely room for improvement when it comes to the details that make a dining experience feel more special, especially at the price category
First off, we ordered so much food. Like so much. We just wanted to try everything as we really love their sister restaurant Primi Piatti, & let me tell you, we were not disappointed & we WILL be back soon.
We tried Rockefeller oysters for the first time & HOLY COW!!!! I am not an oyster person but these were unbelievable. A must order. The yellowfin tuna sashimi, absolutely unreal. Bone marrow with added beef tartare on top? Honestly blew me away. The octopus, some of the best I've ever had. The mashed potato, delicious. Caesar brussel sprouts? Also delicious. It was consistently amazing bites, probably anything on the menu will be just as good as anything I ordered, but you really need to try either the lamb chops, or the Chilean Sea bass. Just trust me!!!
We went on a Sunday & it was their first Sunday open so it was understandably slower than usual in there. Not the service, just the restaurant wasn't packed, which I personally love. Service was great & fast by Justin & Enrique, nothing short of amazing. Drinks were flowing & delicious. Prices were high, but the quality of food & service made it completely worth the price to us. I can't wait for my next visit to Cru. Thank you guys for your service & incredible recommendations.
CRU offers a refined dining experience that's nothing short of exquisite. The food is consistently excellent-creative, beautifully plated, & bursting with flavor, making each dish feel like a celebration of culinary craftsmanship. The wine selection is thoughtfully curated & perfectly matched to the menu, enhancing the experience without overshadowing it. While the prices are undeniably high, they reflect the quality & attention to detail that define the evening. It's a place for indulgence, where every bite & sip feels deliberate & delicious.
Cru is a well-placed restaurant in the heart of Saint-Lambert. With the prime real estate comes high expectations, & Cru delivers in terms of food, service, & atmosphere. Their oysters are notably great, along with a vast drink selection to match. I personally had the Wagyu burger, & was pleasantly surprised by its quality. Prices are on the high side, but not outrageous. The vibes are great, though the only detractor was that we sat outside & there was no music playing at all. I assume Saint-Lambert residents are not fans of loud music & they effectively killed that part of the vibe. Overall, great resto. Definitely will be back.
Everything about this place is just perfect. From the quality of the food to the ambiance, the service, the wine selection, the decor. Definitely a hidden gem outside of Montreal.
Jan 13, 2024
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This restaurant is TOP. A gem of a restaurant in St Lambert. The quality of food, the beautifully balanced menu & wine selection & the exquisite service makes this a restaurant you want to go back to over & over again.
