“SOMETIMES YOU WANT TO GO WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME AND THEY’RE ALWAYS GLAD YOU CAME … YOU WANT TO BE …”
AT CRU OYSTER BAR NANTUCKET HARBOR.
Walking into CRU is like coming home, whether it’s your first time there or your hundredth. Sure it’s the place, but it’s really the people, a charming cast of characters that make this little “gin joint” sing. First there is Sweet Jane, the consummate hostess who runs CRU like a ship captain but is smiling no matter what. Carlos, Mr. Jazzamarazz, fills the room with his singular flair and sports the most wonderful pocket squares! Erin, the chef and consummate creative, is always whipping up something delicious and unforgettable. And finally Tommy, aka “my boyfriend,” who makes the best “Sneeky” in town at the back bar. Regulars and newcomers alike are treated like part of the gang, just spend five minutes at the back bar and you’ll see. CRU is one big happy family where everyone really does know your name.
Then of course there is the food. You can’t leave without trying my favorites: the crispy calamari with harissa aioli and a CRUcomber cocktail. Who knew cucumbers and lemon balm could rise to new heights together? Also, CRU’s hot buttered lobster roll on toasted brioche is in another league, which is saying a lot on Nantucket, where lobster rolls abound. And for dessert, grab a spoonful of the butterscotch dessert on your way out. Yum!
My favorite spot at CRU is the back bar at the end of Straight Wharf. When I was growing up, my family would gather there after Sunday mass, making new friends and memories over the perfect clam chowder. Later in the day, the sound of magnums popping over the chatter of the full crowd with the cool breeze coming in off the water is simply heaven. It’s what I think of when I’m missing our faraway island and the people there I love. It is what always brings me back, like a song.
So whether you’re coming back or arriving on Nantucket for the first time, head straight to CRU and join the gang in the front room, back bar, or right on Straight Wharf. And don’t forget to keep a CRU cookbook, for the moments when you’re missing great friends and food. Just open it to any page and your table, along with a friendly smile, will be waiting.