- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
City Cellar Wine Bar and Grill
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Best Nights:
- Mon, Wed, Thu
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
13 reviews for City Cellar Wine Bar and Grill
Very simply one of my favorite places on Long Island.
The space is gorgeous, with a 2 story glass enclosed wine cellar rising up over the the bar. It's clear that a serious amount of thought was put into the design of this space ( check out the bathroom if you don't believe me! A good bathroom is always a mark of a restaurateur who has a good attention to detail. )
I'm not the biggest wine fan in the world, but the selection they had rivals many places that I've been. Bar drinks are quite good as well. Check out the Sangria deal they have on Tapas night. Delish!
The food is always nothing short of fantastic. Though I'd only recommend going for dinner. The lunch menu tends to be a bit on the boring side. The dinner menu on the other hand, changes regularly and almost always has something really interesting on it.
During my last trip I got the filet mignon and it was served in a wine reduction with a gorgonzola cheese empanada. Quite simply one of the best plates of food I've ever encountered. Totally worth every penny.
I just wish I was able to get out of there for less than $100 for 2 ppl haha, but the food is just too good.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
I went here for dinner with my coworkers. We were a party of seven and the waiter took the order without writing anything down.
We ordered appetizers for the table the calamari was run of the mill, mozzarella and deep fried tomato, interesting twist but I could do without the fried tomato, tuna tartar eh I've had better.
Everyones order was correct except for mine, I ordered the Brick Chicken but was delivered Scallops. 15 minutes later after everyone else was done my dinner arrived. It was delicious! The chicken was moist and tasty and the skin was perfectly crisp. The waiter never apologized for the late dish but delivered a comp platter full of assorted cakes, sorbets and ice creams.
The first time I went to City Cellar I was with my mom. We saw it the last time we ate at Famous Dave's (next door) and made a mental note to go back and try it out. Walking in the place is very nice, spacious and subdue yet elegant. It would be a great restaurant for a first date. Their wine menu is extensive; I ordered a Riesling my mom and Pinot Grigio and we were very satisfied. For my meal I got a yellow fin tuna rare on the inside and cooked on the outside crusted with sesame seeds as most good tuna steaks are made. It came with a jasmine rice that was really tasty and some veggies. A perfect meal! I was too full to order desert on my own so my mom and I shared a key lime and fruit tartlet that was okay, but next time I will pass on the desert and maybe order and after dinner cocktail.
I have been back a few times since and it has yet to let me down yet.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
Let me start off by saying that I am not a wine person, prior to coming here I never really could find a wine that I thoroughly enjoyed. However, this place was recommended to me by my date and when a pretty lady says something I usually listen. With that said, my opinion might be slightly skewed... but I absolutely loved this place.
A brief history lesson.... Apparently this place used to be the old Roosevelt Raceway which has since been revamped to create a trendy and sophisticated restaurant and/or winery. Upon entry you will notice some interesting write ups from the New York Times and other publications posted on the wall citing the history of the location as well as some accolades.
The place is very large and roomy, it looks elegant but the dress code is casual. It's like a taste of the good life for us common folk. The waiters and waitress staff are very accommodating and will recommend beverages based on your meals. However, we did not eat anything, instead we headed straight to the bar. She looked through the wine menu, while I observed the wall of wines located behind the bar. I felt adventurous and asked my lady to select a wine, and we both shared a bottle of Coppola Diamond Chardonnay. It was outstanding! So good we finished it and ordered another.
After being a little loaded we wound down and conversed for a while. On weekdays the place closes at 11, but recognizing that we were on a date and perhaps a little sloshed.. they allowed us to stay as long as we wanted.
We didn't stay too much longer.. but it was really nice of them not to rush us out. All and all it was a great place to drink wine and enjoy great company.
City Cellar is nice looking inside and out. The Shrimp Salad was so good! Of cause my friend tried the Veal and Bolganese Pasta. He liked it,but felt the cheesecake factory's Pasta is Better!
People thought this was:
- Useful (7)
- Funny (4)
- Cool (6)
Great food and service with a good atmosphere. The portions are very generous. I should have had 1/2 of the entree and packed the rest. I am sure my bologenese meal would have tasted real good the next day as well.
The bread and butter was superb as well as the service. They are attentive without seeming overbearing.
For dinner if you get there before 6:30, a salad and dessert is included. Well worth it.
weird observation-the set up reminded me of california pizza kitchens o_O hmmmm-classier but nonetheless CPK-like. Anywho, what an impressive wine collection-theres something for everyone. We ended up with one of the pinos. We started with the hummus and eggplant. It was presented very nicely and was very tasty. I ordered the scallops and shrimp with risotto and my hunny got the swordfish with artichoke hearts. Both were soooo delicious and rich (but not overwhelmingly rich). My regular stomach was full to capacity but my dessert stomach fiended for sweets-so creme brulee was in order. It was so creamy and delicious-and came with chocolate walnut and cranberry spice biscottis. Oh-the waiter-he was friendly and knowldgeable and on point with everything.
If you're in the area and want to avoid your run of the mill chillis/fridays/applebees greasefest-hit up this place
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
Reminds me of Florida immediately. When you pull up it's like the restaurants in West Palm that run right along the highways... and what do ya know, there is locations in Florida, one being West Palm. Alright, enough back patting for now.
Anywhat, the decor, immense and lovely. Sat in a booth shaped like a leather horseshoe. We ordered a Gewurtz, escargot and the salad with fig and goat cheese. The salad was superb, the Gewurtz a bit too sweet for my liking at the moment and the escargot was decent.
Main course was natural chicken with goat cheese mashed potatoes and sauteed swiss chard with golden raisins. Yummy. I ordered hearth pizza. Left much to be desired. I will leave it at that.
What is date night without dessert? No fun! The special was Summertime Napoleon. Consisted of puff pastry dusted with powdered sugar and layered with ricotta pureed with honey and fresh peaches and strawberries. We damn near licked the plate clean.
They have some nice nightly events that I am sure I will be back for, 1/2 off bottles of wine under $99 on Mondays, Tapas Tuesdays, happy hour with special drink prices, and Ladies Night on Thursdays.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
The restaurant is large and open with high ceilings. It is pretty much a semi-circle with the glass enclosed wine closet as its center. They have one of the most extensive and varied wine lists I have seen on LI lately. And, the wine prices aren't too crazy.
We went a little before 8 on a Monday without a reservation which was not a problem. The place reminds me of a Houston's in atmosphere, ambiance and menu. We all enjoyed our appetizers. I had the chicken soup special which, although not like my mother's, was really good. For entrees, I was the loser as my pork chops were dry & overcooked. But, my bf loved his salmon and my friend enjoyed her steak tremendously.
One great reason to go here on a Monday is that all bottles of wine priced $99 or less are 50% off. This basically brings it down to retail in many cases. Definitely a bargain and, again, the wine list is great.
Came here for dinner around 6:30 pm. Pull into the parking lot behind the restaurant, and there is valet parking to the left. You can opt to park your car yourself by going to the right, towards Famous Dave's BBQ. When we walked into the City Cellar, the room was wide and expansive. On the far wall was a glass cellar from floor to ceiling, with racks of bottles of wine. Just in front of that was a bar where it appeared the majority of clientele were at. The place was hopping but the dinner tables were not very busy, with only about 20 of the 40 tables occupied. The dining area seemed generally empty. There were a variety of table, booths and tables with chairs, all without a lot of privacy. You could see everyone else since the only attempt of a partition was the back of the booth seats (head-level). This caused the restaurant to have a lot of echo and loud chatter, I guess this should be expected with a name like City Cellar.
Seating was prompt as well as table service. The waiter came over to give us bread & butter, take drink orders and mention the specials of the day, which he did not seem to remember. Several times I caught him peeking at our menu to remember what the dishes were. Nevertheless, the waiter was attentive and came to our table several times to refill our glasses of water and to see how we were doing.
For entrees, we ordered the Long Island Striped Bass ($26) which included coconut cauliflower puree, asparagus, stir-fried snow peas, and thai curry honey. We also ordered the Gnocchi al forno ($22) with roasted natural chicken, spinach, asiago cheese a la vodka sauce. A glass of Coppola Chardonnay was $9.50 and a Sam Adams on draft was $5.50.
Our entrees came out pretty fast, in only about 10 minutes. The flavors of the bass with the puree were pretty delicious but the bass was slightly overcooked. I was expecting the fish to flake off but rather, it was more firm/chunky and slightly dry. The gnocchi al forno was delicious, the flavors exploding in your mouth. The gnocchi were al dente, nice and soft in consistency, and the shredded chicken was tender and yummy. I was actually quite a fan of that dish. Portions for the bass were a bit small leaving me slightly hungry, but the gnocchi was medium proportioned, easily making the average person go home full.
In all, service was great though the prices of the food definitely did not justify the originality and taste of the dishes. I would consider this establishment trying to reach out to a slightly higher class of demographics. Don't expect any cheap dishes except for their pizza which is below $20. Would I come here again? Probably not, maybe for wine since the list seemed very extensive for both bottles, half-bottles and glass portions.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
There are very few negatives I could say about this place. Those who say it reminds them of Florida need to relax a bit. They were on Long Island. There aren't going to be many unique experiences on Corporate Drive. For something off the beaten path, it will involve a bit more work. That said, for a chain restaurant, this is nearly as good as it gets.
Just got back from there and the only problem I had was as mentioned earlier, the fact that the lights continually dimmed and flared up. Not a significant problem, but it was something that bothered my eyes. But ignoring that minor issue and instead focusing on the food and wine, will allow for you to enjoy the experience.
For starters, we enjoyed the hummus and eggplant caponatta plate served with warm flat-bread. The bread was crisp, coated in sesame seeds and was light when eaten with the hummus. I'm actually already forgetting to mention the plates of fresh warm bread brought to the table as you sit. When the flat-bread was finished off the hummus plate, more was delivered so that we could finish off the hummus and eggplant. It was great.
For entrees, there was a pan roasted duck breast that was amazing - it literally melted in my mouth - served with a wild rice pilaf and red wine reduction. The sauce blended perfectly with the pilaf (which came with plump dried cranberries) and was an ideal compliment to the duck. Even knowing and seeing the fat on the duck breast wasn't a concern to me. It added to the flavor and contributed to the experience.
Also, there was a baked gnocchi served with shredded roast chicken, spinach, asiago cheese in a vodka style sauce. The sauce wasn't as close to a vodka as I'd prefer, instead a bit too much tomato, but paired with the spinach and cheese, it was perfect.
To go with both entrees, we had a bottle of the Sterling Vineyards Merlot as recommended by our server. Early on we were thinking of going with a white wine (we had been out on the north fork at several vineyards earlier in the day drinking primarily whites), but the Merlot wasn't too oaky and in fact served to pair well with both dishes.
To cap everything off, we opted for the dessert platter instead of individual desserts. Instead of getting a small plate for each, we were served up a table full offering of basically everything on the menu. I don't know what I can say about this. The banana cream doughnut was to die for, the key lime tart was brilliant. Just tart enough, cut by the fresh fruit placed on top of the custard, the cheesecake on the menu said NY style, but it actually tasted more Italian in style - a bit more reminiscent of an Italian cheesecake - one made of ricotta. Finally, the gelatto sundae and warm chocolate cake melded together perfectly (even though they weren't supposed to go together).
To top everything off, the service was excellent. The restaurant wasn't crowded, the majority of the cars in the lot were there for Famous Dave's instead, so there was no wait. As others mentioned, there are daily specials that you might want to take advantage of instead of just going on any random night. Overall, it's a bit pricey for Long Island, more in line with city prices instead, but for the speed of service, quality of food and extensive wine list, City Cellar is easily one of the best experiences on Long Island.
It's right across from Target and looks like it just does not belong all the way out there in the middle of nowhere, or rather even next to Dave's BBQ. But there it is...it's gorgeous and inside is even better.
The setting is a huge room with leather booths and it's dark, but the best part is the huge wall of wine. I mean, it's the wide selection of wine that really catches your eye located right behind the bar. The wall of wine is enormous and inviting.
The service is just right, not too invasive or pesky and just little enough to make you want a little bit more. That's ok. I do not like overachieving waitstaff.
You can bring your family there but it really could be more along the lines of a very pleasant date spot.
The open kitchen is not too noisy and really barely noticeable. You do not hear too much crashing, cursing, pans banging or any typical kitchen hoopla that one might expect. It's just like the gentle hum of a well built machine.
The wine selection is a bit much and we were not offered any assistance in this arena. I think it might be something to be considered, perhaps the kindness of a great sommelier who could perhaps come to the table and offer a tidbit or a hint of a suggestion of something that is particularly delightful that their diners might wish to try. However, I do know that there is a speed dating or wine tasting singles night every Friday so perhaps the wine pours more freely then.
I had a delightful Pacific Rim Riesling that I would recommend. It is on the least expensive side and perfectly compliments the meal.
The margherita is a good starter. The calamari fritto misto was tender but not very crispy. The aioli was very tasty but the tomato sauce needed a little more basil perhaps.
We also enjoyed a light Caesar salad with vinaigrette dressing, I didn't think it was really great but it was good.
The hummus was really good with the eggplant caponata was served with a crispy flatbread and was utterly delightful. I would definitely order that again. Tasty~!
For dessert, the warm apple strudel with the light crispy crust and spicy cinnamon gelato was perfect.
The warm chocolate cake with the coffee granita was not good enough. Something was missing, I don't know what.
Service was on the money. Great job.
Lights kept going dim and then light throughout the evening, not too noticeable but notable yeah.
I liked it. I would go back. Plenty of parking and spacious for groups.
I loved the atmosphere in this place with it's huge bar and hundreds of bottle of wine. The Pino was superb. The prices weren't to bad either and it's probably one of the most extensive wine list I've seen. I had the steak with the gorgonzola empanda. I brought half of it home because it was a heavy plate, but it was delicous.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
