Raw seafood, other items highlight the menu at Old Town Bluffton’s newest eatery
Old Town Bluffton’s new raw bar is set to fully open for both lunch and dinner this week.
CRUDO has been serving guests for dinner since March 11, its soft launch, but will usher in its full opening this week with the addition of a lunch service. The raw bar can be found filling about half the space that was once the Corks Wine Bar in the Old Town Bluffton promenade.
The address is 14 Promenade St., suite 306, Bluffton. The Promenade makes for a great location because of all the established restaurants nearby, CRUDO owner Brian Behnke said.
“With the established restaurants already here, we think we complement them well,” he said. “They’re all, you know, really good neighbors, and we’re really excited to be here.”
“Crudo” is the Italian and Spanish word for “raw,” and refers to a dish of uncooked fish, shellfish or meat, seasoned with olive oil, citrus juice or vinaigrette.
The menu features daily crudos, ceviches and other raw seafood dishes like oysters, caviar, salads, a few non-seafood plates and some Vietnamese dishes sprinkled in. All of CRUDO’s fish will be purchased from local market, Behnke said.
To pair with their dishes, CRUDO offers an assortment of wines, spirits and cocktails. Behnke, as a trained sommelier, will continue to curate CRUDO’s wine selection and is looking forward to recommending new ones to his guests.
Behind the bar is the Le Verre de Vin wine preservation system, which can preserve opened bottles for over 20 days. That way CRUDO can offer more wine by the glass, Behnke said.
A program called the Cru Club, which gives access to advanced reservation capacity, advanced sign up for special events, a reduced corkage fee and the ability to purchase the wine by the case for 15% over cost. Events will happen every other Wednesday, Behnke said.
They’re open 5-9 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays and closed on Tuesdays. On Sundays they serve a four-course family supper.
Dine-in and carry-out are available, according to the restaurant’s website.
CRUDO has a dress code, but it’s not extensive, only asking men not to wear hats or tank tops and for all guests to avoid athletic wear.
“While we’re upscale, we’re not formal and stiff,” said Behnke “It’s not like a formal dining experience where you get to sit here for three hours.”
