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The Cellar
Categories: Nightlife Bars Wine Bars Restaurants American (New) Wine Bars, American (New) [Edit]
820 Clark St(between Sherman Ave & Benson Ave)
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 864-8678
- Nearest Transit:
-
Davis (Purple Line)
Foster (Purple Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
57 reviews for The Cellar
Review Highlights
"The acorn squash ravioli is decadent, perfectly drizzled..."
(in 6 reviews)
"...and co-owner of The Stained Glass, Victor Hernandez, has..."
(in 17 reviews)
"Fish tacos are also flavorful and delicious."
(in 15 reviews)
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57 reviews in English
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Review from Andrew H.
Evanston, IL
2/8/2012
This is the third time my (favorite, most beautiful, and only) dining date and I have been to The Cellar. Overall, the service is satisfactory, ambiance is great, but most importantly, the food is great quality albeit small in portion-size for the price.
Every time we have dined, the place has always been full but we've never had to wait too long. Being under 21 and unable to wait at the bar without announcing to the whole restaurant our (legal minus one) age, the waiting area is inadequate. There is one chair between the door and the hostess booth, approximately 3.5 feet. I imagine this could be an issue for families with children as well. Excluding this flaw, the ambiance and decor is contemporary yet cozy - perfect for a gathering of cronies or a real date (my fantasy if this reluctant girl would give me a fighting chance to win her over...)
Once we were seated, the service was prompt. We began with the Tomato and Arugula salad. The sweetness of the tomatoes, the freshness of the mozzarella, and the distinct arugula flavor with the vinaigrette dressing combined for a refreshing palette teaser. My only complaint was the size of the tomatoes - they could have cut them a little smaller.
For the rest of our dishes, we shared the Truffle Mac and Cheese, the Barbacoa Tacos, and the Grilled Lamb Chops. The tacos were on point, flavorful and juicy beef with black beans. The slow-roasted beef was tender and I desired more. On the other hand, the beans were superfluous to the point that my dining date made me eat some of hers (she wears the pants, I know).
The Lamb Chops were the second time we have ordered them. They are grilled medium and rest upon potatoes and a delicious apple-mustard sauce. The lamb chops are competitive with many other lamb chops I have eaten but the potatoes and apple-mustard sauce make it unique. The potatoes are wondrously soft while the actual mustard seeds in the sauce give the whole dish a nice kick.
The mac and cheese was delicious as well. My dining date is a mac and cheese connoisseur (borderline elitist) and has craved The Cellar's version each time. The blend of cheeses baked altogether in the cast iron dish makes it any cheese lover's dream. If only she would appreciate lobster (and my desires) more and allow us to get it with lobster, I would rank this dish over the lamb chops.
For dessert, we tried the Lemon Lime. Fresh and light, it was a perfect way to end our meal. We have also tried the creme brulee and the panna cotta in our previous visits. I would rank them in the order: panna cotta, creme brulee, lemon lime. There's no wrong choice though.
We will definitely come back when we're not terribly hungry yet desiring good quality and a variety of food. I would have ranked it five stars save a few flaws (or if this dining date would have given me a goodnight kiss after one of these visits), but I can always come back and edit my rating after future visits (if she obliges sometime soon). -
Review from Jackie L.
12/17/2011
Hands down my favorite place to eat in Evanston.
The tapas style menu is large, varied, and well-executed. My personal fave is the butter and salt flight - which is a trio of decadent butters and complementary salts served with delicious fresh bread. Serving sizes are very generous relative to other tapas restaurants: our server recommended 1.5 dishes per person. With an average price around $10 per dish and $3-4 for a side, a meal at the Cellar is an absolute steal (think ~$25 with a glass of wine). Furthermore, this is the only place I can think of in Evanston that makes you feel like you're in the city - the crowd is great and it has a cosmopolitan ambience without trying too hard.
My one complaint is that the wine list is pretty limited - I think around 12-14 options. While the wine list is well curated and seems to have something for everyone, it is short, especially for a place named "the cellar". This is rarely a problem unless you're craving something specific... for example, a Chardonnay. Overall though, this place is an absolute gem. -
Review from Kenny O.
12/4/2011 5 Check-ins Here
My go-to place for after-dinner drinks.
They have a large variety of wines, beers, and they have a full-service bar with great bartenders at the helm.
If you're getting into beers, just start plowing your way through their offerings.
As much as I try to come here to actually try their small plates, I never seem to think of The Cellar until after I've already had a very filling meal.
Shame on me. -
Review from Simone T.
Chicago, IL
1/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
First time here tonight; we'll be back for sure. Tapas-like, fresh ingredients, delightful! In a party of four, we all shared: the dates wrapped in bacon, lobster curry, beef tacos, fish tacos, 1 micro-burger each, falafel. Can't really pick a favorite, as they all were perfect. Service was a bit slow, but it's the perfect place to linger w/ a date or dear friends.
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Review from Bettina Y.
Chicago, IL
11/30/2011
Great cozy atmosphere and good food. Sat at the bar, had excellent service and was able to catch up with a good friend! I don't know if we would have liked it so much if we sat at a table since the restaurant seemed a little noisy.
But what is this you say about small plates? I guess it depends on what you order. That would be my only complaint, as I really wanted small plates, so that I could try more food. Some plates were small and some plates were not so small. And one plate was a full-on entree. It was confusing.
Onion Rings were VERY tasty with the spicy sauce that they serve with it. Mussels were good. The Acorn Squash Ravioli was too sweet and was overall an unbalanced dish. The Black Sheep Burger was....well we didn't get to try it because the bartender thought that we were joking?! Who jokes about ordering a dish?! But he made it up to us and the burger would have been too much food anyways.
I am looking forward to trying more "small" plates next time...and more Onion Rings. -
Review from Cindy P.
10/15/2011
We loved this place! This place is so cute, cozy, and full of tapas! I love the fact that you can order a bunch of their items and try many dishes!
My ultimate favorite has to be their Pork Belly! With the crispy texture on the top, seasoned potato in the middle, and a mashed potatoes consistency at the bottom - WOW! Yum! It was definitely my favorite. My second favorite was their Acorn Ravioli - it was like the taste of Autumn all wrapped into their taste, texture, and creaminess! Very refreshing and delish!
There were definitely honorable mentions as well including the Curry that was so creamy and smooth, Lamb Cutlet that was full of favor, Truffle Mac and Cheese with Lobster, and their bacon wrapped Shrimp!
Thumbs up! The Cellar, so far, has been our best meal in Evanston!Listed in: Excellent Evanston Eating!
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Review from Rick N.
Oswego, IL
12/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Nice assortment of creative tapas at reasonable prices. Great beer and wine selection and the service was pro. Nice decor. I'll be back.
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Review from Anthony G.
Gary, IN
10/11/2011
On the whole, a nice restaurant in the downtown Evanston area. I was quite surprised that The Cellar was connected to another restaurant that I planned on visiting, The Stained Glass.
Overall the food was good. I guess most menu items can be what I'd categorize as American tapas. We started with the escargot, which was very good, then the pork belly and fish tacos, which were all very good also.
The wine and beer list is the real jewel though. They have an extensive list of very good beers here. Most restaurants carry one or two good beers and the rest is garbage, but At The Cellar I counted at least 8 that were superb. I mean Delirium Tremens on tap?!! They get 2 stars just for that!!
Its overall a good restaurant to go to if you're in Evanston for dinner. -
Review from Peter F.
Evanston, IL
11/27/2011
Just got back from dinner at The Cellar, and even with it being just after Thanksgiving I have to say this was the best dinner I've had in quite a while. I have always been afraid of the concept of small plates, but The Cellar has made me a believer.
The food was absolutely delicious. The shrimp and grits was hearty without being overly heavy, and the bacon really complements the dish, bringing out a meatier flavor in the shrimp. The bacon-wrapped dates were also excellent; again, the meat was much appreciated without overpowering the dish. The onion rings are huge, the spicy dipping sauce was very good, and the combination was rich, delicious, and filling. The mac and cheese was the least inspiring of the dishes, but it was still very good. Overall, the ingredients seemed to be of very high quality, the cooking and presentation were excellent, and I enjoyed every bite thoroughly.
The beer selection was also great. They have a decent variety of very good drafts supplemented by a well-organized and extremely comprehensive selection of bottled beers. I would consider going back for the beers alone. Some of them are a bit expensive, but not more that you'd expect from such a high-quality smorgasbord of microbrews.
I also really appreciated the overall ambiance of the restaurant. The space has an upscale but relaxed feel. It's a great atmosphere for a date, or dinner with one or a couple of friends. This isn't a fancy restaurant in the traditional, intimidating sense. There is a TV by the bar, but it's out of the way and doesn't distract if you're in the dining area. They had brown paper on top of the tablecloths, which I actually kind of liked; it made me feel less uptight. Our waiter was attentive and polite, if slightly awkward in a hard-to-explain way.
I cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough. It's upscale and intimate yet still very comfortable and casual. The food is fancy without being pretentious, and I thought it was well worth the price ($70 for the food I listed plus three beers, including tax and tip). I will certainly go back, hopefully very soon! -
Review from Yanyao N.
Being reunited with a former flame never felt (tasted?) this gooooood. A year or so ago, I used to frequent The Cellar at night because it was one of the only decent food options open late(r) at night that I could walk to. Pair that with deals such as $1 fish tacos and BOGO sliders after 9pm? YES! Plus, they played some awesome music (still do) along the lines of Radiohead, Gorillaz and other indie/alt rock that my ears enjoy. I was smitten, until one day, I walked in to be told that they had changed their hours and now closed at 9pm.
Now fast forward to the muggy summer of 2011. It seems that The Cellar has not only tweaked its hours (open till 10pm during the week? Hooray!) but also their beer list (much larger!) and menu items (new foods to eat = yum!)
I was a very happy camper. We came with friends and feasted. There was ooey gooey truffle mac'n'cheese with lobster, of course. So sinful. So decadent. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. There were crispy onion rings with spicy aioli. There were juicy sliders with bacon and cheese. Shoestring potatoes. Fish tacos. Smoked salmon flat bread. Crab cake. It was ridiculously gluttonous (would you really expect anything else from me?) and so so glorious.
A few little tidbits of possibly useful information for you:
* The Cellar is the more casual, small-plate and beer-centric, sister of The Stained Glass. They share a kitchen, they share bathrooms, and very important: a dessert menu (hello chocolate bombe!)
* The menu is divided into 3 cuisine categories. Looking for a hint of Europe with a side of All-American? This is your place! Throw in some Worldwide empanadas while you're at it too. Why not?
* Choose from glasses of wine, cocktails, beers (in bottles or 6 on tap) to pair with your meal. All that eating will make you thirsty, you know.
* Bring in a same day movie stub and get 15% off your bill!
* No reservations taken.
The current duke/duchess better watch out. Rekindled passions burn hot. Your reign will soon be over. ;)Listed in: (h)E(a)vanston
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Review from Laura A.
Bartlett, IL
12/5/2011
really liked this restaurant -- good atmosphere (eclectic without being snooty), good beer menu, and good food. The beer menu is fantastic and seems like it changes fairly frequently so there's usually something different on draft the next time you go. The food is a mixture of the veryyy interesting (bacon-wrapped dates, which I decided to be adventurous and got and it was amazinngg) and the traditional comfort food (recommend onion rings or mac and cheese).
probably a little more pricey than a place I'd go to all the time, but I would definitely urge you to try it...and get the bacon wrapped dates! -
Review from Keerthi A.
Chicago, IL
4/28/2011
We went for a casual night out on a weekday. It was a great ambiance for casual dining, the crowd was bubbly and the lighting was relaxing, overall casual. The menu was interesting, although I realized later that the restaurant mostly serves small plates, so if you are super hungry like we were, then one entree is not going to cut it. We ordered one entree each first, and the portions were pretty small and so we ended up ordering two more entrees. We ordered the following:
Lamb chops with au jus - It was highly recommended by my friend who had dined there before, and I was glad we ordered it. It came with roasted fingerling potatoes and was simply scrumptious!
Microburger - Came with fries - It was delicious, very tender and flavorful, (one itty-bitty burger)
Fish Tacos - These were deep fried. The Fish Tacos were made with mahi-mahi battered and deep fried, with the tacos also deep fried. While I am not a huge fan of deep-fried food, this dish was just so refreshing, non-greasy and crunchy, that I became a fan.
I would like to dedicate this entire paragraph to the black bean soup that came with the Fish Tacos. It was simply the best black bean soup I have ever had. It was tangy but very creamy and just right - I would go back for that soup all the way to Evanston.
All in all, a definite visit if I am back in the Evanston area!Listed in: Dress, set, go!
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Review from Heidi D.
Chicago, IL
11/6/2011
Great Service, even better wine list and just the right amount of small plate options!! Of course we could have eaten more, can't you always when it comes to small plates.
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Review from Varsha L.
6/13/2011
I was not impressed withthe food at this place at all....the food has no flavor,
I had the falafel, it was bland....
I had the empanadas, it was also bland,
I had some fish tacos, also bland-just tasted like batter fried fish...
the onion rings were good, only bec the sauce they give with it was good the fries are okay....
the crab cakes were good, very small for the price....
the best thing I had there was the Chocolate Bombe dessert
They dont take reservations but they got 7 of us seated within 15 min, that was the most impressive thing about this place....
sorry I really did want to like it but I did not..... -
Review from Cathy G.
Wilmette, IL
12/3/2011
I hate to be a crank but this place is a poster child for what's wrong with suburban restaurants. My friend (who lives in the city) and I eat out a lot. He drove up here and we noticed this place - it was cozy looking and quite crowded so we tried it. The service is OK (most of the busboys seemed like professionals - the wait staff was all college kids, but no problems there) First, the glass of Grenache I had from the bar was old wine from a two day old open bottle - it was not good. I didn't say anything... The wine list is actually pretty limited. I thought maybe they were going with 16 "sure-things" to keep it simple (Like Bistro Campagne on Lincoln) but that was not the case. We ordered a bottle of Viognier that was ALSO not good (it tasted flat and lifeless), but cost 50 bucks. At least the manager brought us another bottle of the same which was better. Still for 50.00 it should have been pretty good, not just OK.
The menu is clever and tempts you to sample tapas-style dishes from all over. The squash ravioli was very good. But then the fish tacos were very fishy and just not very good. Same for Crabcakes. Just ble-ahhh. Not sure anyone ever tastes this stuff before they bring it out. Arugula and tomato salad was pretty good. Finally we realized that maybe we had unintentionally ignored the sweet spot of the menu which turned out to be correct - the American dishes. The fried chicken was great. Sorbet was good as a finish.
My point I guess is that why are these places so iffy? Why is one dish good and the other NOT good? What good is sharing a kitchen with a premier wine bar (Stained Glass Bistro) and serving not-great wine? I know it seems like I'm being harsh since more of the food was good than wasn't, but I don't like surprises when I'm paying 60-70 dollars a person for the evening. Come on Cellar - we NEED more good places up here. Consistency is what you're being judged on - get it together! -
Review from StephAnir K.
The Loop, Chicago, IL
10/3/2011
great small plates, great atmosphere, great beer and wine list. I've enjoyed The Cellar for girls night or date night!
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Review from Kyle H.
Updated - 11/24/2010
Oh my God, we ate like Kings! Albeit I found waiting by the bar annoying (no matter where we stood, we were always in the way of the servers), I'm just a huge fan of the Cellar for meetups with friends in Evanston!
-Arancini, small rice croquettes with parmesan dipping sauce, nice!
-Black Sheep burger- So rich! A meal unto itself, this tender burger is served with basil mint mayo and a small bucket of fries
-Empanadas were some of the best I've ever had, and I liked the avocado-tomatillo salsa for dipping my fries in too
-Smoked Salmon Flatbread reminded me of something I had seen Jaques Pepin do recently on PBS, the salmon was cured in citrus and served with greens on a nice flatbread, excellent!
I know I'm forgetting something, our table was stocked with food to share! Top it off with a great beer, wine and specialty mixed drink menu and the Cellar is a hit.Listed in: Evanston is not in Canada
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/4/2010
Another hit in Evanston. The Cellar offers small plates of dishes that sing with flavor. The menu is… Read more »
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Review from Lisa H.
San Francisco, CA
1/17/2011
My new discovery and favorite restaurant in Evanston!
loves:
I was scraping the mac n cheese off from the sides while happily tearing away at the fried chicken.
The onion rings are huge and crispy.
Fish tacos are also flavorful and delicious.
falafels - very crispy and comes with a refreshing side salad...i need to have SOME greens
so-so:
The acorn ravioli could use a bit more flavor, but all in all, not bad.
empanadas were a little too bready -
Review from Evan S.
11/24/2010
A GREAT tapas restaurant! I went here for my birthday with four friends and we ate like royalty!
Ambiance: very quiet, tranquil setting that's good for groups or dates.
Food: full of flavor, and quite varied in selection.
Service: helpful, explanatory, and kind.
"Winner winner chicken dinners" include: the jumbo lump crab cake, the shrimp and grits (this one made me slap my knee and yell out "Lord Ha'Mercy!"), and the fish tacos.
Make this happen VERY soon if you're in the Evanston area.
Stay classy foodie friends,
Evan -
Review from Steve J.
Glenview, IL
8/2/2011
The Cellar is certainly a nice addition to Evanston; however, it is hard to understand why the other reviewers think this is a more affordable than the Stained Glass: appetizers are served and they are just as expensive as those in the Stained Glass. The wines and beers are very expensive: $9 - $13 for a glass of wine? Most of the bottles of wine only cost $10-$20 at the store; this is a little absurd!
I though the fish tacos were good, but, as all fried food, they quickly lost their charm; would be better to serve two little tacos (rather than three) and lower the price to $7.50. Much of the rest of the menu has the same issue. Dishes are too large and expensive to be appetizers. Would prefer to have smaller portions for less cost so we could get more and share. The food is quite good, but not outstanding. -
Review from anita m.
3/18/2011
I will be perfectly honest with you, I am not usually a big fan of places that offer "small plates." To me I just hear "lets charge you full price for half the portion!" Damn our nation & society for being accustomed to eating and always expecting super size me portions. Way back in the day, what we now know as "small plates" was and should really be the regular portion sizes.
Any who, with that said... I actually do not mind one bit that The Cellar offers small plates. I've been nothing but impressed each time I visit. All my predetermined thoughts about small plates are out the window. In fact those two words do not even cross my mind whenever I hear or think of The Cellar. In my mind, The Cellar simply = yummy in my tummy or more like "GET IN MY BELLY" but then I get a hold of myself because the Cellar is classy, and of course as am I!
P.S. Heart the wine & beer selection! -
Review from Peter K.
Evanston, IL
10/23/2011
Found the food to be quite good (onion soup, lam chops, lobster curry, pork belly and crab cake), but service was not good. The restaurant considers itself to be a fine dining establishment ( per the Manager), but fine dining restaurants take reservations, don't have flat panel TVs in the dining room, and offer you a new plate with each shared appetizer or entree...and take your old plate away. Fine dining restaurants also check in with you to see how the food is. So, lower your expectations and go knowing you may or may not get good service, and from what friends and others on Yelp have said, avoid the fried items, which I always do. What we had was good, but we go out for food AND service.
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Review from Kelly M.
Evanston, IL
7/20/2010
I love this place. I can't believe I didn't stumble upon it sooner! My mom was in town and we were looking for a good place in the neighborhood to eat - we were immediately intrigued by the menu at The Cellar. We walked in on a Friday night around 7:30pm. The tables were full but we decided to sit at the bar and eat. About 10 minutes after we sat down at the bar, the hostess came up to us and asked if we wanted to sit down at a table that just opened up (I thought this was great hospitality, she could have kept us at the bar and given the table to the next walk-in).
The atmosphere here is really appealing. They definitely succeeded with the "cellar" theme - warm candlelight, a high wood-beamed ceiling, earthy brown paper on the tables and various wine barrel decor. Very beautiful without feeling overdone or too upscale. You could easily wear a t-shirt and jeans, or come straight from work.
When it came time to order we were told that most of the items on the menu were meant for sharing (don't let this hinder you, they aren't the itty bitty portions you get downtown). We ordered the crab cakes, waldorf salad and truffled mac and cheese with lobster. Everything was outstanding, especially the mac and cheese - wow!! The prices are very reasonable ($6-12 an item)....only spent $50 for the entire meal and three cocktails (great selection of specialty cocktails, beer and of course, wine). We finished the evening with a trio of gelato. The next day, all we could think about is how good the food was. The Cellar is my new favorite spot in Evanston! -
Review from Fawn J.
Chicago, IL
9/25/2010
After reading the reviews on yelp my husband and I decided this was worth a try. We were looking for a quiet, romantic feel, non child friendly place with ambiance to have a date night dinner. The Cellar fit that perfectly!
When we arrived (without a reservation on a Friday night) we were told it would be 45 minutes, but the hostess took our name and # and would call when a table opened up. Thankful we didn't have to wait at the restaurant as most places require we went shopping for a bit. When our table was ready we returned and our waitress said, "Are you Fawn? We've been expecting you" as though we were honored guests.
For food we ordered the Salmon Flatbread, Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf, Lobster Mac & Cheese, and Lemon-Lime for Dessert. Everything was incredibly good! My husband also had the Flywheel beer, which we both loved.
Our waitress was extremely attentive, maybe overly so, very friendly and helpful. The ambiance was exactly what we'd hoped for - low lighting, candles, wooden beam ceiling, very "wine cellar" like (hence the name). The $50 tab seemed appropriate for the food, drinks, and dessert. Because we knew what to expect we liked the tapas style, brought out as it's made concept. Probably more of a date or family night place, not really great for large parties. We can't wait to go back again and try a few of their other choices! -
Review from Steve A.
Orlando, FL
8/1/2010 2 photos
The Stained Glass is one of my favorite restaurants in the whole world, so it's not surprising that The Cellar, which is owned by The Stained Glass, is now a new favorite. It's just around the corner and a block down, and shares much of the same culinary philosophy.
When I go to The Stained Glass, I like to graze on the appetizers, ordering everything tapas style. At The Cellar, that's the normal operating procedure.
Everything is delicious, and the prices are extremely reasonable. If anything, the portions are too big for tapas style dining; I'm sure two people could share a couple of items such as the salmon flatbread and Short Ribs sandwich and leave stuffed, with a tab under $30.
I just got home from a visit, and already I'm thinking about when I can go back!Listed in: Chicago Tasty Finds
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Review from Velina L.
10/6/2010 1 Check-in Here
I would describe this place as kind of a gastropub - extensive beer selection (both American and International), and gussied up comfort food/pub fare, although the atmosphere doesn't feel like a pub. I'm not sure why they call this a wine bar since they have very few wines on the menu, although there are wine paraphenalia decorating the place, such as wine barrels at the entrance and wine bottles along the wall.
Food is served tapas-style, with small portions for sharing coming out as they're ready. The menu is dominated by comfort food choices such as micro burgers, mac and cheese and onion rings, all with a little grown up twist, as well as some more sophisticated yet homey choices such as sauteed escargots with a phyllo wrapped custard, lobster curry with kale and black forbidden rice, and pork belly with potatoes.
Overall I'd say the food was decent, and my favorites include the lobster with sweet coconut curry sauce, the tender pork belly, the acorn squash ravioli with beets and candied walnuts, and the mac and cheese with gruyere and cheddar. Nothing too amazing, but pretty good. -
Review from Jeanie P.
12/6/2010
Loved the dinner here! We got a 15%discount for bringing our movie stubs here which is a great deal since it's right around the corner.
The atmosphere is laid back and feels really focused on just good food without the pomp. My favorite dishes was the lobster curry which was really quite complex in flavor with huge chunks of lobster. I also really loved the freshness of the empanadas which felt light and not greasy at all. The dipping sauce with cilantro was fantastic as well.
I nearly swooned when I saw the truffle mac and cheese on the menu, and it was good but not mind-blowing. Needed a little salt. The braised pork belly with marrow mashed potatoes was rather dry, not moist and tender as expected.
It is sort of "small plates" style but the portions are not as tiny as regular tapas. So it sort of depends on the dish in determining how many you need to order.
Huge selection of beers. Friendly atmosphere. Trendy food. Love it! -
Review from L B.
Evanston, IL
10/3/2011
My partner and I had dinner there last week and we were not impressed at all. The service was absolutely horrible--our server wasn't even a little friendly, didn't have answers to questions when asked, rarely came back throughout our meal, etc. (We actually saw the people next to us get up and walk out after not having their server bring their drinks for over 15 minutes when they were sitting completed at the bar.) But who knows, it might have just been an off night. I might be willing to give them another chance if the food was any good, but it wasn't! Everything we had was either bad or decent but not quite there. We had the tempura, which had this thick, greasy, cakey batter. Tempura should be light and feathery! The empanadas were ok though the filling was undersalted and the dough was a little tougher than it should be. The squash ravioli were tasty though not properly balanced--they were undersalted and then topped with these overly sweet candied nuts that just made the whole thing sweet with no salty or tangy counterpoint. The bleu cheese beignets were tasty fried dough but had no blue cheese flavor. We also had two desserts. The chocolate bombe was fantastic--only great dish of the night. The white chocolate panna cotta was super disgusting--the texture was hard like firm jello (panna cotta should be soft and luscious, not like a jello jiggler) and it came with tasteless underripe peaches and a berry sauce that looked like it was just dumped out of a frozen bag with no adornment. Truly I've never had a dessert so bad in a restaurant before.
They were out of 2 or 3 menu items and literally half the red wines (and they only have 6 red choices)--guess they didn't get a shipment or something? We each had 2 glasses of wine and they were all mediocre. My sparkling wine was tasty but kind of flat, and my partner's wines were just "meh". If you're only going to offer 6 reds and 6 whites, they ought to be good ones! And our bill came to almost $120. Definitely not worth a return visit. -
Review from Drew S.
7/13/2010
This place is just gorgeous. Love the atmosphere, they make this long narrow restaurant really shine with its decor. I also loved their beer list, really nice for me when the serve up Kwak which tastes buttery smooth to me. Wife's margarita was also tops for her.
We just ordered small items. Had the mini burger and frites. Both were average, I was hoping the frites would have been thicker, but are quite thin, good taste but not what I like in them. Also the burger was nice, but my wife could not going on about their lobster mac and cheese which was nice and rich. Our friend also ordered the fish tacos which she said were great.
Deserts looked equally impressive, but decided to skip and walk around after wards, but my wife wanted to come back next day for it, but unfortunately the in-laws had another spot to take us. But this is just a beautiful warm spot that I'm sure we will definitely come back to when it's time to visit the fam. -
Review from Kim R.
Evanston, IL
12/29/2010
Whether it's a date night with my husband, or celebrating with a group of girlfriends, or taking our daughter somewhere that's adult enough for us, yet with staff that's friendly enough to handle a little one, The Cellar is the place to be.
Executive Chef and co-owner of The Stained Glass, Victor Hernandez, has done it again. For those of us who would love to dine regularly at the Stained Glass, but can't due to a slightly out of reach price point, The Cellar answers all our prayers! This is comfort food with an accessibly chic twist. The acorn squash ravioli is decadent, perfectly drizzled with carmelized walnuts and brown sage butter. Move from that to the micro burgers for a grown up taste in bite-sized portions. If you want to head directly to heaven, try the truffle mac-n-cheese with lobster. Your pallate will thank you. Or, if you want something a little more substantial, try the "Black Sheep" - a lamb burger on a yummy pretzel bun, with porter cheddar, basil-mint mayo and served with some delicious home style fries.
Try to save some room for dessert. Victor is AMAZING with the sweets he delivers. You seriously can't go wrong with any choice. If you're brave enough to try Chocolate3, be sure to have someone share it with you. Decadent doesn't even begin to describe it!!! Then there's the creme brulee sampler - with a Mexican chocolate version that is to die for!! The Ice Cream Soda is fun, and delicious, beyond belief!!
If you're like me, you'll want to bring enough people to get one of each and share a little bit of everything. -
Review from Caroline M.
Chicago, IL
11/24/2009
I am in like with The Cellar. It has so much potential being housed in a gorgeous downtown Evanston space. It's a lovely loft style restaurant with plenty of seating, fancy mirrors and fixtures, stylish bar seating, and an okay "global" menu.
Global. That concept annoys me because it encompasses too many cuisines, and often fails to harmonize, which seems to be the case here. They encourage sharing plates, which I like, because you get to try more items. Here's the low down:
Empanadas:
Poblano, corn and cheese in a wonderfully flaky pastry. Served with a cilantro sauce. This was my favorite!
Onion Rings (side dish):
They got the batter to onion ratio correct, however they were very bland. A simple sprinkling of salt would have worked wonders.
Pumpkin Ravioli:
I had a serious craving for this and overall it was a solid dish, especially with the beets tossed into the mix. The caramelized walnuts were too sweet, otherwise I really liked it.
Bucket of Fried Chix:
Served piping hot in a mini silver bucket. How cute is that?! The slaw on the side was quite tasty. The chicken just needed a sprinkle of salt, otherwise the gravy dipping sauce was excellent.
They have a nice beer list and offer a dozen wines by the glass. Our server was friendly and remained attentive even when the restaurant was completely full. They don't accept reservations, but tables opened up frequently so I doubt the wait wasn't all that bad.Listed in: Would you like some whiiiiine…
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Review from Kelly M.
Chicago, IL
7/7/2011
My husband and I stopped by this place for a beverage after a day of shopping/movie in Evanston. It's called "The Cellar", but don't let that fool you. Yes, their wine selection is great, but their beer selection is truly the star here. Plus a full bar (yes, they even have great whiskey options for the hipsters). We didn't eat there, but we looked at the menu and saw food come out for others and everything looked amazing!! The service and atmosphere were great here! Cozy and friendly. A great "neighborhood" feel. We'll definitely be back!
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Review from Teasha B.
Evanston, IL
8/10/2010
We're new to Evanston and have been trying out all the restaurants. Cellar was hands down BEST meal we've had so far.
Couldn't pick our favorite between the salmon flatbread, waldorf salad, acorn squash ravioli. We actually think it might be the salad, which is odd. They share the kitchen and chef with Stained Glass, but just a bit cheaper and more casual. Fantastic, we'll be back many times. -
Review from John C.
Boston, MA
2/28/2010
At last. A great place to take a date in Evanston. Plush couches, soft lighting and ambiance galore. The Cellar is definitely not a place you will ever have to worry about a frat party breaking out.
Solid selection of wines by the glass, strong selection of microbrews and belgian ales.
Did not try the food this time around, but the menu looked tasty -
Review from M R.
Chicago, IL
7/23/2011
Good atmosphere, the food is okay though. I will probably have to go back again soon.
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Review from Ashley E.
Vallejo, CA
3/8/2010
I've been here too much. If I could encapuslate the crowd on weekend nights, it's "Moms and Dads of ETHS Teenagers Who Still Wish They Were in High School." Still, the staff is awesome, decor is great (falls in line with my love of deep, narrow restaurants...don't ask) and they have a few knockout items that I dream about.
Love:
fries + truffle aioli
tostones...mmmm. Who else offers tostones up here?
bacon-wrapped dates
tons of brews--many of the bottles are reasonably priced, too, which is a rarity
Of note: dessert comes from the connected Stained Glass. Nom nom.
Wish they could improve on:
Wine selection is rather narrow, unimaginative, and overpriced for the selections :( I mean...you guys already have tons of inventory that could be borrowed from next door...why not crack open a bottle and feature a different by-the-glass nightly/weekly? Why not add flights, like with Stained Glass? Or just tasting portions? Make the wine selection as fun as the beer! -
Review from Onur U.
1/3/2010
The restaurant is more of a concept than anything else. The menu has three categories of small plates: American, European, and Rest of the World. American is classics like fried chicken and waldorf salad, European is old-world dishes like cassoulet and duck confit, and rest of the world was mostly latin dishes with a curry and tempura thrown in for good measure. Translation, they're serving up small (though not too small) portions of foods everyone already knows they like. Nothing was bad, and nothing was great. From the menu you can tell they're not aspiring for too much in terms of food (obviously they don't specialize in anything) and they certainly don't over-deliver on that promise.
They purport to be a beer and wine bar. They offer quite a few wines by the glass, but the waiters don't know much about the wine, and they don't take any effort to use proper glassware (and I can't be the only one who doesn't like it when they fill my glass to the top). They have no beers on tap and what they have in bottles is something of a greatest hits (kind of like the food), with an emphasis on light ales and lagers. Not a serious beer drinker's destination, but plenty of decent options and they get a thumbs up for carrying stuff from Metropolitan which is a great local brewery.
So to sum it up there's nothing creative or exceptional about the place. Average food and average drinks trying to capitalize on the wine bar/small plates fad that's all the rage. They're not trying to do anything special, so I guess it's hard to be too disappointed. -
Review from Jeff M.
Wilmette, IL
4/11/2010
Went on a date with my wife, and we immediately said we'd go back. The small plate concept is great to try many different flavors in one stop, but don't plan on picking things that actually go together.
We started with the lobster curry which is kind of like lobster bisque with rice. It was delicious and had good sized chunks of lobster.
I then had one of the mini burgers and liked the flavor. It was the smallest of our plates. The fries were tasty but sparse. If you like/want fries order the truffle frites.
The empanadas were good (not great). They needed more flavor (I like ones with meat), but my wife really liked them.
The fish tacos were really good. The guacamole underneath the fish made all the difference. I wasn't expecting them to be fried and in a hardshell, but I enjoyed them just the same.
Our dessert was the strawberry rubarb. If you like strawberries, don't pass this one up. Good thing I wasn't hungery b/c I normally go with the chocolate and both desserts looked great as well.
The Margahrita my wife had was good, but they dumped a truck of ice in it making it not seem worth the $11 price. The beer list was good and I was able to try a new beer that was good and local - Flywheel. Had a Delirium before that - always happy to drink that.
All in all, I would recommend this place for nice casual dinner or a place to grab a small bite and good drinks. -
Review from Lauren A.
Chicago, IL
4/17/2010
This is one of my absolute favorite places in Evanston. The food is fantastic and has a lot of different tastes to choose from. Like the previous reviewer, I often get the lobster curry and it's just great. I love it but there are a lot of other tasty things to choose from. Their wine selection is far more than I'll ever get around to trying but I did my best to try.
This is a fun place for a girl's night or for a little romantic dinner date. Either way, you'll walk away happy. -
Review from Michael B.
Chicago, IL
8/12/2010
The food is excellent but I am not sure I like the 'food is brought out as its made' concept. Also, the service was odd, but I almost want to venture out and say that they were aiming for that reaction.
I ordered the lamb burger with mint-mayonnaise. I have to say, it was delicious. My other guests ordered mini burgers, fries, and lobster mac n cheese. Nothing came out at the same time. This isn't such a bad concept if you are on a date with someone, as you can just share the food, but it doesn't work for a party of four who might not have the same tastes for everything.
The atmosphere is also geared more toward dating scenes rather than larger parties, which again is what they might be going for. The decor is simple yet very elegant over all.
As far as service goes, I have no complaints. It was standard and the server's knowledge of the menu was fine.
I just wish the place allowed for a better system for larger parties.
