cru steakhouse - manila marriott hotel

everything about this place is epic. first, we ordered the sample appetizer plate which includes 9 of their starters. that was delicious. we ordered the 700 gram porterhouse steak for both me and my wife. that was absolutely one of the beststeakswe've had in manila. just remember that food this epic takes time to prepare, so be ready for some waiting time.

cru steakhouse: loss of fine dining status-

my wife and i decided to have our third anniversary dinner at cru steakhouse on march 3, 2021. we chose the location after careful consideration of other alternatives. we figured that with a marriott brand and cru's framing itself as a fine dining steakhouse, we anticipated a cozy, warm, and quiet intimate dinner. before our appetizers were served, someone from marriott banquet services accompanied a couple and their guests who were planning a future wedding reception at cru. my wife and i dressed up for the occasion and all of a sudden these guests came in in slippers and sneakers and proceeded to have a loud conversation right in front of us for the duration of our dinner. my wife and i decided to forego after dinner drinks and just wanted to leave the place immediately out of disgust! i have been to other steakhouses around the world and this is the first time that i saw a banquet services discussion unfold loudly in the middle of dinner service. i understand that cru is not a ruth's chris, morton's or lawry's (the prices however are similar in range!) but we would have expected at least to enjoy even a minimum amount of professionalism and formality for an expensive restaurant. our verdict? an expensive steak dinner, acceptable in quality, in a denny's or ihop environment. not worth the 200.00 usd given the (lack of ) ambience. get your act together or sell $5.99steaksto match your cheap environment.

finally tried cru's steakhouse for dinner. it's been in my must-eat list for so long! we ordered their appetizer platter that features all of their best appetizers: foie gras, tuna, beef carpaccio, scallops, chicken wings, crab cake, and their 3 soups: mushroom, french onion, and gambas. i really enjoyed the scallops and the foie. so happy this platter existed! we ordered their us angus primerib for our main course in medium.steaksare good, but would love to have it softer and more melt-in-your-mouth. the peppercon sauce was too sweet to my liking, and would love to have more servings. the sides are awesome though, the twice baked cheesy potato and their truffle risotto are bomb! would love to try their other appetizers and sides!

we went here for their sunday roast unlimited offer during thier 11.30am to 2pm timeslot.we arrived 11.30 am sharp and had a room reserved for 8 pax 2 weeks back.

i think i don't need to descibe the quality of their service since it was superb. 5/5 for me.

this also holds true for their ambience and cleanliness 5/5.

the quality of food was superb as well. i chose the mushroom soup, it lacked a little salt but it was good. the marbled potatoes and carrots were seasoned just right. the us certified angus roast beef tasted great! i had it cooked medium rare on my first and second serving and man were they soft and tender. you can taste the eseence of charcoal in the steaks. the dipping sauce also matches well with the steak but i prefer eating it as is or with salt. for my third serving i had it cooked medium. it was still soft and tender but the grill was hotter since there were already a lot of people when they took this order thus the edges were a little charred and it was also good! for my fourth serving i had it done medium well. this was already a little harder compared to the other 3 so i think this is as far as you want yoursteaksto be cooked. the sides were charred making it tastier. the fifth serving, which my daughter had for free since she's just 4 y/o, was cooked weel done. please just don't have yoursteaksdone this way, it is a waste. it's dry and hard. the dessert, the apple pie, was so good! it wasn't too sweet and the aples didn't over whelm the pie. food quality is at 4.5/5.

value for money 5/5. for 1,300 net per head it was worth it. our total bill was around 6k, for 6 adults and 2 children below the age of 5. we even had a botrle of wine with that and my daughter ate for free.

will definitely come back for more (if there's no traffic)

p.s. don't forget to reserve seats because the place was packed when we left.

cru steakhouse’s unlimited crusteakssundays started early in february this year (although i think they already offered this before). the promo is not just unlimited steaks, but a 3-course menu specifically available only during lunch. . the sunday roast menu includes a starter, with a choice of creamy mushroom soup or garden salad; a main course, which is the unlimited serving of us certified angus roasted beef, plus a single serving of sauteed root vegetables, and herb roasted baby potatoes; and a dessert, which is the classic apple pie.

really fantastic experience at their weekly sunday roast! two friends and i went for a little galentine’s day celebration in february. we were seated at a nice booth. the service was wonderful, they were attentive without being suffocating and we never had to look far for the waitstaff.

the food was delicious. oursteakscame out at a little rare at first, but this was immediately rectified by the staff when we asked if we could have them re-grilled. the salad was fresh and crisp and dessert was lovely.

overall, a fantastic dining experience. i’m planning on going back and am on the waiting list for reservations in april!

we were staying at marriott and debating between cru and wolfgang's when i decided in favor of cru after reading better reviews than the latter's. while thesteaksare equally good, you're supposed to get more in terms of experience with cru, according to the reviews at least.

well, that's where my disappointment sprang from. we didn't have a reservation so we were made to wait for a few minutes while giving us a menu to choose from. when we were finally seated, it turns out out that what we picked (which is what most of the reviews recommend) was not even available--us certified angus beef prime rib steak for two persons.

so the bestseller we came for was not available, no biggie, move on... but the other things we wanted as an alternative were also not available. 😂😂

finally, i settled for the surf and turf. i'm sure it will be just as good, but what transpired already ruined the experience for me so for the price we paid and the experience we got, it's not gonna get any higher than this rating.

i politely asked the server why she didn't inform us before we were seated that bestsellers weren't available and she reasoned that some guests get turned off by that because they think they are being turned away. uhh, okay.... i still think providing that information is the better alternative.

as for ambiance, everyone says it's topnotch and romantic. well, it sure looks swanky but on a busy and full night like this, you could eavesdrop in every conversation around you. not exactly what i would consider romantic. i wish i took the several grand we're paying to wolfgang's instead.

bill was 7,000 for 2 people.

not impressed, cru.

we booked for a table a week in advance to celebrate our 2nd year anniversary.

most of the time we find ourselves  at steakhouses when there's a special occasion. we have created a #japizasteakescapade hashtag for instagram!

anyway, again.. it's celebration time - it's also time to find out if the raves we've been hearing about new restaurants are true.

this time, our destination is at cru steakhouse at the marriot hotel in pasay city.

our seat was one of the booth tables on the side, near the entrance. i personally like the semi-circle booth tables because of the muted lighting and it feels very private. 

we stared with a compliemtary spinach bread with gruyere cheese on top - this one was really something. it comes with two spreads: butter and bleu cheese. both tasted absolutely delicious!

the bread is firm and crunchy outside but surprisingly soft inside. 

we ordered 5 side dishes:
truffle mac & cheese, truffle risotto,cajun fries, grilled sweet corn and onion rings.

i loved the mac & cheese and risotto!!! both were creamy and the black truffle made the dish really tasty!

then comes the grilled sweet corn that had an elegant presentation

as for the fries and onion rings, we had to ask deth ( our server to return and change the cajun fries because it was too salty ) same with the onion rings although it was more edible compared to the salty cajun. the seeetness of onions created the balance for the onion rings.

moving forward to our wopping 900 grams main dish! the steak! its marbling characteristics made it very delicious! their steak was tops! it naturally had its enhanced flavor, tenderness and juiciness.

for our dessert we had a surprise chocolate cake from the cru team with matching card and and anniversary greeting!

overall, cru gets our vote for one of the best steakhouses in town.

we love it not only because of the way the super prime us beefsteakswas cooked to perfection but also because of the other dishes like the spinach bread and truffle mac and risotto.

it had the right romantic ambiance. awesome date place! the service was topnotch. 
thank you, cru steak house team and thank you deth for making sure that everything was well attended.

a fancy dining venue that is outstanding in both aesthetics and palate. their choicesteaksare superior to most steakhouses i have sampled. if you're going to choose a side dish with their grilled steak, i'd highly recommend the truffle risotto as one of them. their pork belly is also one of their bestsellers.

from all the steak houses that we've tried, no other steakhouse's can be a classier as cru! cru steakhouse located in marriott manila offers great marbling of differentsteaksas well as various choices of appetizers. actually, the appetizers alone is already great!

but before that, let me share my insights with the star of the night, the steak! their steak is surely finest of the finest. the medium doneness of it was spot on! the steak comes of different sauces but to tell you honestly, i loved eating their steak on its own together with the juice that sipped in the meat.

our appetizers were imcomparable. my personal favorite is their baked macaroni with truffle. to think that i'm not a fan of truffle at all! speaking of truffle, the girlfriend said the she wanted to put their truffle soup as a dextrose to her. hahahahahah!!!!

every cru/marriott experience is surely can't be forgotten because of their world class service. every crew and staffs were so kind and polite to us. we were treated warmly and like vips. hehe!

sure it does costs a little more than others, but with the ambiance, service and foods like this? it's totally worth it!
chat conversation end

cru steakhouse is definitely one of the better steak place in the metro. went here with a fairly big group and tried a lot of stuff from their menu.

the place: ambiance here is fantastic! tasteful interiors and dim lighting setup makes this a good date place.

the food: food is good with greatsteaksas the star and center of the show. we tried their us angus bone-in ribeye and all its fatty goodness served with well made sides (i liked the truffle risotto and the gratin). as for the appetizers - try the foie gras, crab cakes, salmon and tuna tartare

value for money: i say pretty good value for money, serving portions are more on the big side and splurging for one of theirsteaksif you're a meat lover / steak fan is definitely a good idea.

more about my dining experience at cru steakhouse: heftyfoodie.com/cru-steakhouse-manila-marriott-hotel-resorts-world/

i have been to a one-of-a-kind dining experience at cru steakhouse at the manila marriott hotel.

cru is a global restaurant brand exclusively by marriott hotels that serves quality delicious steaks, other delectable dishes and amazing desserts. cru is open during dinner service and also serves wine to complete the gustatory experience.

we were first served the appetizers: salmon tartar, sauteed duck liver and seared yellow fin tuna.

we also had the lump crab cocktail and chilled ocean shrimp. we also tried the seared us scallops and cru crab cakes.

i was impressed by all the appetizers, but i was particularly amazed with the salmon tartar, lump crab cocktail, seared us scallops and the cru crab cakes.

cru steakhouse serves salads with all-organic local ingredients, as evident with the organic tomatoes salad and the organic baby spinach salad.

i loved both salads but i really liked the parmesan crisp on the organic baby spinach salad.

for soups, i had tasted the wild mushroom soup and the shrimp gumbo. the wild mushroom soup is a creamy and thick soup with a strong flavor of truffles while the shrimp gumbo is a has this spicy kick and quite heavy with rice mixed in the soup. i enjoyed the texture and the spiciness of the shrimp gumbo a lot

the main event, of course, is the 900-gram us certified angus beef prime rib steak (php 5400), carved table side and served with five cru signature side dishes and two sauces.

served at the perfect temperature, the prime rib steak did not need any sauce. the tenderness of the meat is so divine it almost melted in my mouth. it is the steak that will render one speechless, i swear.

some of the signature side dishes cru offers are mashed potato, baby carrots, french beans, spinach, potato gratin, truffle risotto, baked baby potatoes, fries and mac and cheese.

to say that a slab is good for two persons seems injustice as it can feed four persons to the brim. 

prepared table side is one of cru's signature desserts, the banana foster, a dessert of caramelized banana, flamed rum, raw sugar topped with vanilla ice cream and almonds. i love how simple this dessert is, yet how it was prepared was quite impressive.

we also shared a chocolate caramel crunch log and sweet and salty chocolate moist cake.

the last dessert was the grand cru chocolate praline mousse.

cru steakhouse is a haven of all things delicious -- from the appetizers, to thesteaksand the desserts. it is indeed one of the best steakhouses in the metro.

at cru,steakscooked to perfection are a given! this high-end restaurant inside manila marriott hotel doles out generous portions of amazing grilled steak matched with an imaginative fare elevated by an extensive wine list.

salads

think oranges are just for breakfast, snacks, or desserts? think again. the orange made such delightful addition to the organic baby spinach salad (php 550), thrown together with blue cheese crumble, walnut in parmesan crisp, and mustard dressing. fruity notes to the well-dressed leaves of baby spinach made the salad taste outlandishly better.

tossed with red onions, balsamic, crushed olives, and feta cheese, the giant organic cherry tomatoes locally grown from the marriott organic farm served in the organic tomato salad (php 580) were super juicy and fresh. this salad was sweet, tangy, and full of character, with the natural flavor of tomatoes combined with cheese oozing with a savory sensation. it’s a must-order for those who are in a diet. :p

appetizers

voted as the best appetizer we had for the night, the sauteed duck liver (php 920) with apple chutney and sweet maple lemon glaze was very satisfying. admittedly, the number of times i’ve tasted foie gras is probably less than five. but by far, cru’s take on the foie gras is the best. it melts on the tongue like the creamiest butter but with a distinct cured sweetness.

the certified angus beef carpaccio (php 750) reminded me of yukhwe, which is raw beef eaten with raw egg in korea. wandering more into a fancy territory, this appetizer was an absolute home run, and it turned out to be love at first bite. the paper-thin slices of beef were topped with parmesan, arugula, and tarragon dressing. so good!

next, we were treated to seafood galore. the seared us scallops (php 730) were plump, briny, and buttery but still supple, with a very slight sweetness. spicy shimeji mushrooms, pickled onions, and hollondaise sauce all contributed to the robust flavors that stood up to the zesty sauce.

the tuna tartare (php 650) looked so tiny and simple, but this dish should not be underestimated. every element was on full display (not sure if that’s egg yolk on top but it tasted like egg yolk), and the complete bite, with the soft wash of the wasabi aioli, was so much more than the sum of its already excellent parts.

the salmon tartar (php650) was another knockout. it was pure decadence: perfectly cooked chunks of ultra fresh raw salmon with lemon mustard dressing and extra virgin coconut oil. close your eyes and bite into this and you could imagine you’re tasting the best salmon you’ve ever had.

crispy and crabby, the cru crab cakes (php 690) with the celeriac apple slaw and creamy cajun remoulade were quite dainty, gone in three or four delicate bites at most—but they were three or four perfect bites, i can assure. i’m also glad that these crab cakes were not too heavily coated in breadcrumbs but packed more with crab meat than pasty binders. taste was stellar.

too appealing to slip by, the chilled ocean shrimps (php680) looked like a starfish or spider from afar. its presentation was so captivating with summer colors lifting our mood and appetite. dipped in the cocktail sauce and eaten with jalapeno salsa, the shrimps tasted nice and fresh, titillating our taste buds for the final appetizer.

if eating crabs in shells isn’t your thing, try the lump crab cocktail (php690) and savor the juicy lump crab meat without getting your hands dirty. spicy pineapple salsa and cocktail sauce added texture and a hint of sweetness to the cold dish.

soups

we were served with three kinds of soup. the shrimp gumbo (php 370) consisted of a mildly spicy broth that’s a far cry from the one-dimensional broth made from instant meal packages available in the grocery store. the soup had a rich body and a faint aroma of the sea. at the bottom of the bowl, we found bits of fragrant rice and minced vegetables popping out as a nice surprise.

the caramelized onion soup (php 350) sang a chorus of layered onion flavors topped with a blanket of gooey cheese. yum! we enjoyed the variation in tastes and textures.

the wild mushroom soup (php 390) was super creamy, rich, velvety, smooth, and with the aroma of truffle oil, intoxicatingly delicious. omg. i loved the soup so much and i think i won’t ever get tired of it. :p

main

the long wait was finally over and well worth it. the spectacle of parading the three sizzling slabs of pound cru’s us certified angus beef bone-in rib eye (php 5,400 for 900 grams/31.75 ounces) through the function room invariably led everyone wanting one. well-browned and crackling with some fat, cru steakhouse’s signature steak was sliced open and revealed a juicy pink center that extended from edge to edge. each slab had a commendable crust and a succulent interior.

each 900-gram steak comes with two sauces, five sides of your choice, and carved table side. choose to pair it with black peppercorn, forest mushroom, spicy tomato and onion, cru blue cheese, shiraz, or béarnaise sauce, and you have one unforgettable dish. i’m not a fan of sauces for the steak, but i tried them anyway. what i wasn’t able to resist were the sides that have a good fit with the food.

since we got three slabs of steak (shared by 12 people), we were pampered with all the sides which were more than enough to please our demanding palates: truffle mac and cheese, grilled organic sweetcorn, organic sweet corn on the cob, corn and pepper hash, grilled portobello mushrooms, creamed spinach, steamed asparagus with hollandaise sauce, green beans pancetta, organic steamed broccoli, honey glazed organic baby carrots, fried onion rings, black truffle risotto, warm organic tomato salad, and sliced potato fries.

above all, truffle mac and cheese, grilled portobello mushrooms, creamed spinach, and black truffle risotto for me struck as the best complements to the steak and almost worthy of as much discussion as the steak itself. :)

desserts

the banana foster (php 410) took a few minutes to get prepared. the waiter ignited caramelized bananas, raw sugar, flamed rum, whole butter, and sliced almonds at the tableside and then poured over vanilla ice cream for our enjoyment. it was like a one-plate dinner theater that’s undeniably fun and interesting to watch. the first bites of the banana foster were luxurious, as crisp flakes of almonds and swimming banana in ice cream completed the equation.

if you have a sweet tooth, you can’t miss the sweet and salty chocolate moist cake (php 400) with homemade dark chocolate ice cream. it had a moist and buttery crumb that packed a toasty, nutty punch. this chocolate cake isn’t particularly novel, but it’s not disappointing in any way.

basically an ice cream cake of chocolate and cognac, the grand cru chocolate praline mousse (php 400) is one of those desserts that create a great textural experience, as the mousse melts away while the praline provide crispiness. make sure to snag the layers in one forkful! :)

another pure chocolate bliss was cru’s chocolate caramel crunch log (php 380). sweetened by caramel, the rich chocolate flavor was beyond divine.

drink

cru steakhouse’s bar serves wine by the glass and by the bottle. selections range from champagne, sparkling wines, red wines, and white wines. other beverages offered are local and imported beers, whiskey, rum, tequilla, etc. we had beringer’s 2010 cabernet sauvignon (knights valley) that featured aromas of black plum, cherry, and enticing spice notes.

by the end of our meal, we could only utter one word to describe their menu: phenomenal. cru steakhouse presents everything you would expect in a quality steakhouse. :)

i got all filled up with extreme excitement when i heard that we'll be dining here in cru steakhouse. my sister even noted that this place serves one of the beststeaksin the city! that didn't help out in containing my excitement. 

now, with my expectations raising higher and higher as i read and hear great reviews about the place, i somehow got nervous about it not being met. fortunately, cru didn't let me down, and in fact still got to impress me with its amazing line up of dishes. 

among those that really marked my memory (and of course taste buds) are the wild mushroom soup (p390), sauteed duck liver (p920), the us certified angus beef prime rib steak (p5,400) and the black truffle risotto for the side dish of the steak.

every special occasion deserves an equally special way of celebrating, and if you’re fond ofsteaksand looking for a place to visit for your next anniversary, date, or business meeting, head over to marriott hotel in pasay city to try cru steakhouse.

things i loved about cru: the lavish, luxurious atmosphere, sleek interiors, red and black motif, plush seating, well-stocked bar, open grilling station and open kitchen. the staff members are incredibly friendly, and will not make you feel you're in a snooty fine dining establishment.

appetizers i liked and you must order:
- parmesan, pesto, and tomato rolls with blue cheese and herbed butter

- organic baby spinach salad. loved the parmesan crisp!
- organic tomato salad. gigantic tomatoes with balsamic and feta

- sauteed duck liver - rich foie gras with apple chutney and sweet maple lemon glaze
- certified angus beef carpaccio - sheets of raw, flavorful beef
- seared us scallops - loved this and the hollandaise sauce
- tuna tartar – wasabi aioli is