The Cellar

08/09/09

Not so good

by LanaP at Citysearch

The first thing I noticed when I walked in the restaurant is very bad smell. The carpet on the floor was very old and very dirty. Also the restroom had very bad moldy smell even though they tried to cover the smell up with the air freshner it didn't seems to help.

First we ordered the heirloom tomato stuffted with crab. It wasn't bad except the tomato wasn't heirloom. Then we had the salad with walnuts and blue cheese. I don't remember the name of that salad but the walnuts were staled tasting and the salad itself we didn't like. We switched to a spinach salad but it didn't taste any better and half of the spinach leaves were yellow. For a fancy restaurant I just expected a better quality food.

The rest of our food wasn't any better. My dish smelled like dirty feet which is not appetizing, I ordered pork tenderloin. The flavor was OK. My husband had filet mignon. I don't know if his steak just wasn't fresh or it's just the way they prepare it in this restaurant. The filet was kinda tough and not juicy also it had some strange flavor like it was going bad.

The chef came out and apologized for the steak he sad that the meat is always fresh and they order it from the same supplier as Costco if I heard it right. I don't know if he was proud of it but I don't buy any meat from Costco so a high quality restaurant shouldn't be buying it either. I felt like I was served a $5 Costco steak for $40.

All I know if you go to Wild Fish restaurant in Newport Beach and try their steak you'll know the difference. They buy their meat from some ranchers I think in Texas or Chicago . The meat is just outstanding. I highly recommend that place. I never had bad food there. Plus places like Mastro's, Oyster's and some others have way better tasting steak. The chef seemed to be very puzzled why we didn't like the meat. He just needs to go out to some other restaurants and try different food may be then he'll see the difference.

I will never go back. Very overpriced poor quality food.

The service was very good but it doesn't help if the food is bad.

• Pros: Great service
• Cons: Old carpet smell, food quality

07/05/09

AMAZING FOOD & THE BEST SERVICE

by IlyaErenburg at Citysearch

I went to dinner with 5 of my friends on Thursday July 2nd for the first time ever and no joke I’m actually getting ready to go there tonight (reservations at 7:30 for 2). I'm honestly speechless! Like a tool we walked in with a t-shirt, jeans and flip-flops, some in shorts. Well we felt like morons when we looked around and everyone was dressed very nicely. I apologized for not dressing up like we should have and the beautiful hostess sat in a very private booth which was perfect for all 6 of us!

The wait staff is remarkable and the owner Ryan is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet! It was a real pleasure and even though we weren't dressed for the occasion he made all of us feel very welcome and happy that we were there...The Cellar was a full house that night!

For starters we ordered and shared a few appetizers. We had Escargots which was amazing (if you like that, if you’ve never had it, brighten your horizon and try it…you’ll love it), Bacon-wrapped scallops were hands down the best out of all the appetizers we ordered, tiger shrimps were sensational along with the Lobster Bisque and French Onion soups (yes we all got to try everything) and it was indescribable!

For our entrées we had a New York Steak (medium rare)…only at a great place can you order a steak medium rare and have it come out melting in your mouth! Tournedo "Lili" (filet of Beef topped with Artichoke), three people ordered that and let’s just say enough said, it’s a must have…period! Sugar-crusted Ahi was a lady’s choice and it was very good, but I’m a steak guy so…oh and by the way, the presentation on all the dishes was phenomenal! I see people complaining below that the food portions were too small, obviously those people have never been to a fine dining restaurant. If you want to stuff yourself like a pig with crappy food, go to Claim Jumper and have at it! There is a reason why they give you so much food lol…need I say more? The portions at The Cellar are perfect and the quality of the food is top notch!

As for the dessert…CHOCOLATE SOUFFLÉS! That is all I gotta say! If you’re a dessert person like me, it is to die for!

In the end…the service, the food and the layout of the place is an experience for itself! If you’ve never been there, GO! If you have, you know what I’m talking about! Anyways, I’m late for my reservation writing this review haha…enjoy!

• Pros: Food, Service, Location!
• Cons: What cons?

02/18/09

Great wine and great food

by DavidLawrence99 at Citysearch

Its quite a treat to literaly walk down into the cellar and you are always greeted as you come thru the door. Ask for the Grotto near the fireplace if you want a romantic private setting. There food is delicious and the deserts are wonderful. I would always recomend the lobster bisque soup as I have sampled resturants all across this country and only 3 forks in Austin Texas comes close, but doesnt beat them. Their wine list is top of the line and its great to have an old dusty bottle to the table to try.

• Pros: Service deserts, and wine list
• Cons: No windows as you are in a cellar