CellarDoor

I will start this off saying it wasnt terrible. Went there for dinner and my wife ordered the vegetarian option. This is listed on the menu as «vegetarian option: produce». When the waitress was asked, she said, «the vegetarian option is vegetables». We asked her to clarify and she explained that it is mixed vegetables in broth. This sounds like vegetable soup. It in fact was worse than soup in that it was spicy water with steamed vegetables half of which were brussels sprouts. This was not even a heaping bowl of vegetables. Rather just a meager portion in spicy water. They had a tasty brussels sprout side dish we had already ordered so not sure why they couldnt have more vegetable options in the spicy water dish. This was the only vegetarian main on the menu so it was super disappointing. I had a burger which was pretty tasteless and came literally with just meat on a bun with cheese (which was an extra charge). Had I not gotten $ 3 cheese, this probably would have been a 1 star review. The drinks were also meh. We had old fashions which were mostly ice. Again, the brussels sprouts were good but lets get over that fad. The ambience was ok… better for drinks with friends than a dinner. Overall there are much better food options in New Orleans and from the one drink I had, probably better bars.

I was really excited to try this place — super cute.
Food is boring.
Filipino food or inspired Pinoy food is just not in the cards in NOLA.
Tried their sisig and I was not happy about it.
Drinks are semi-​decent. Not the best I ever had.

Only popped in for a drink, but I’d love to eat here. The atmosphere is great! Staff was attentive. Seems like a great place!

The moment you see the Cellar Door, you know you’ve found something special. With the entrance setting up a cozy atmosphere, walking into the restaurant gives you a sense of appeal and is complimented by the choice of music.
I happened to dine in early and alone so the wait was negligible and the service excellent. I choose the Swoop Duggins burger which was recommended with an amazing onion jam. Served with the burger were tater tots and ketchup as well as a spicy sauce of the restaurants creation that is incredibly complementary to both and has a nice spicy kick.
Would definitely recommend to couples and singles and there seemed space for larger parties as well. Come here for a nice small restaurant with great food.

I am in love with Cellar Door. This place is swanky, sleek, sexy.
Speakeasyesk. Down one narrow gate on an alley way. Exposed brick, velvet couch, sky high ceilings, rustic wood.
Creative drink menu, amazing food. Brussel sprouts made of heaven. Popcorn of your dreams drizzled with honey and rosemary.
I almost dont want to let the secret out…
By 5 there isnt a seat in the house. Get there quick and get there fast.

I would imagine a place with so much history, would be better at picking it’s bartenders. It was an average Friday night, I approached the bar and requested two sazeracs. The bartender proceeded to make everything in glass cup. As she poured the last ingredient, she was greeted, by what seemed to be some friends, and left the glass full of ice and spirits unattended. About 4 – 5 minutes passed, or enough time to start to see the melted ice diluting down the mixture. She later attempted to pour these as a drinkable sazeracs.

CellarDoor has a gorgeous layout but boring food. And with New Orleans being a culinary capital of this country (the world?), having boring food is a pretty big issue. I can see this being a nice place to have a cocktail and spend some time but, in my estimation, you might want to take your hunger elsewhere.
As I mentioned, the space is sexy and inviting. I’m a sucker for step-​down entryways, libraries and books (even law school books) being incorporated into a restaurant’s/bar’s décor. Plop me down on a seat and give me a cocktail with chartreuse and an interesting name (you get one of them: laughter) and I’m good to go. And, had I stayed in this space, I’m sure my star rating would be higher.
But, one goes to restaurants to eat and eating here… bored me, I’m sorry to say. To be fair, I was here with a group dinner and didn’t have 100% choice on what I ate. That said, I’ve been to many group dinners in the past and, typically, find much to enjoy. It comes down to the kitchen not trying very hard (again, in my estimation). My table shared apps of edamame hummus and roasted vegetables. Y’see? Boring. Now, I currently have a tub of edamame hummus in my refrigerator. I like eating the stuff. The hummus here was salty to the point of it being nearly inedible. I know that edamame hummus skews salty but this was uncomfortable. The roasted vegetables… were roasted vegetables. I had a few bites and went back to nursing my cocktail. For the main event, I ordered the mussels with pork belly croutons. No brainer, right? New Orleans, right? Well… the mussels were small and, for the most part, very rubbery. The pork belly, while a nice idea, was a salty mess with an unfavorable consistency. I left the meal, a bit hungry, with more than a touch of heartburn and a fairly high level of dissatisfaction. Maybe it was the set-​up. Maybe it was the menu. Maybe the kitchen had an off-​night. I don’t know. What I do know is that I’d recommend keeping your CellarDoor visits limited to the (very) competent cocktail menu and wooing your date with the dim lighting and conversation-​piece décor.

I came here randomly one night and absolutely fell in love with it. The atmosphere is really cool feel like you’re going back in time. The bar staff and manager were very accommodating on what drink I should pick and appetizers to order. Everything was so good I will be back.

Awesome service, atmosphere, drinks and food. Had a blast!!! I am going to come here every time I am in New Orleans.

3.25÷5 it is what it is (n’t)?
this place i think is the right shell but not quite the right content. the cocktails i’ve had have all generally been good, and i am generally into the style/​décor/​etc. i’ve found that of the times i’ve had bites they’ve been just ok — was excited about a happy hour popcorn once that was mostly kernels. our table kept picking and spitting out the little bits. generally, the space and ambiance is what keeps me coming back — pretty convenient tuck away in the CBD if you’re looking to have a more lowkey or private conversation — but am hoping that the sips and munchies bump up a notch.

.
Seriously, one of my best experiences in NOLA!
The bartender helped us hand craft a plate for my vegan appetite.
The cocktails were fantastic, the outdoor seating (as well as interior) was amazing, and it was clean and trendy.
Highly recommended.

Food: Overpriced for what you get. If I have to ask for salt and lemons for more flavor, it’s not a good thing. My friend and I ordered the tuna tartare and wild mushroom chicken liver pâté for starters and clams masala for our main dish. Between the 2 of us and these 3 dishes, we couldn’t finish them. Lots of carbs accompanying the dishes so that’s why we couldn’t finish. I liked the clams the most out of the 3 dishes. Disappointed with the tuna tartare — abundant avocados but lacking in flavor.
Service & ambiance: Service was fine. She was attentive enough and friendly. I really liked the atmosphere and décor. Cozy, dim lighting gives it a romantic vibe, rustic, and charming. I like that this restaurant is tucked inside a historic building in the heart of New Orleans and they did a good job preserving the historic charm.
By the way, we were charged an additional $ 1 each for «open bottle» for our 2 glasses of wine. Not sure what that was about… we should’ve asked our server about it. We decided that it’s not a big deal since it was only $ 1 but I’m sure it would add up if you’re being charged $ 1 for each drink.
Overall, I wish I liked my food more, especially for what we paid. I enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant, but it’s not enough to compel me to return anytime soon.

The idea of this place is great. Just great! A little hide away place off an alley that you would easily miss. You do walk in and the atmosphere is very cool. It seems to balance elegant and a bit of pretentiousness. So in terms of atmosphere it wins. My issue here is the price is very high, so maybe it isn’t just the atmosphere that can be pretentious. I wanted to like the rosemary popcorn, but that just didn’t work for me. I have had all of their appetizers and really only the wings stand out. they were messy and flavorful as wings should be. The burger was just okay. I wouldn’t get it again.
But the thing that really let me down here are the drinks. They have a drink menu that looks like it wants to make Bacchus himself come down and try these drinks. Who ever wrote up the drinks are masters. HOWEVER, they are waaaay overprices and I believe missing the key ingredients; Alcohol. I have been there a few times for after work meetings and I literally have left after having 4 drinks and not felt as «happy» as I wanted to. My wallet was very sad though mind you. Look, I am no lush, I don’t want my drink to be a triple straight up. I want the fancy drinks, hell I order I pink one I don’t care. But if I am going to pay top dollar for the alcohol, my liver better know what I am paying for.
The Good:
The Wings
The atmosphere
The Bad:
What a let down on drinks! Such promise!
The Ugly:
Prices– hate that if came to that, but look… it just did

What I like most about this place is the ambiance. I love that its small and dimly lit. What I wasn’t too crazy about were the drinks. Now, taste wise they were awesome, but I drank 3 (expensive) drinks on an empty stomach and didn’t even catch a good buzz. Maybe I went on an off night so I would be willing to try again since I do love the place and the service was on point.

For me this place is a little uncomfortable. This place is ridiculously tiny and as such gets crowded very easily. In addition, I don’t like walking down dimly lit alleys. Not my type of ambiance. But that is purely personal to who I am. I know others like it for this exact reason.
This is only three stars because, though i have been here to meet potential clients twice, neither time sparked any interest in returning. The first time here I had a cider and some sweet potato fries. They were decent. All the cheese was at the bottom and they were a little limp greasy. Others had other appetizers and one person had a burger. Although I didn’t try any of the other dishes no one seemed interested in their dish enough to finish it or take it home.
This is definitely the place for some someones (since it is crowded) however, not much to offer in my opinion beyond the concept.

«Eclectic dining in NOLA». Edamame hummus was creamy and the toast points were buttery deliciousness. Mussels were small and a tad overcooked, in my opinion. I am one of those types that will not make a big stink about rubbery mussels because I just love them so much. I will even eat them lightly charred. They can definitely do a pre-​set menu for a larger dining group, by request. I loved the dim lighting and the library-​like setting of the private dining area we were in. All I could wonder during our meal was where in the world is the secret passage way to the wine cellar?
The one thing the server was good at was constantly making known to the group (and probably the entire restaurant) was calling out who had a special diet request at our table. It was very odd. Couldn’t be a bit more discreet, could you? Other than that, no complaints on my end. This is a hidden NOLA gem for sure and I will return in the near future and recommend to others.

I had dinner at CellarDoor before going to see Hannibal Buress at the Civic Theatre back in December, and I had a lovely experience.
I *love* the ambiance here, especially the patio. It feels like you’re hanging out at someone’s (cool) house.
I think I had a beer and the oxtail bourguignonne pot pie. The pot pie was good. It wasn’t as flavorful as I wanted it to be, but it was good.
I will definitely go back. I want to try the adobo glazed wings and the tom yum drumettes (happy hour anyone?).

CellarDoor speaks to the kind of soul that longs to immerse itself in mystery and history, in debauchery-​filled days gone by, in a true house of ghosts and memories — all with a fantastic drink in hand and a beautiful plate of food in front of you! No rush to get in and out, no tours, no formalities. It’s a restaurant and bar set in a genuinely historical location — perhaps the oldest still-​standing «house» in downtown New Orleans and once a lasting brothel. YAY! I’m a huge fan of a building’s past, especially ones like this. Now a craft cocktail bar and restaurant of contemporary cuisine, CellarDoor has combined the modern with the antiquated to create that sort of dreamy, bygone atmosphere I so love.
An old home with service wings, brick walls, tall ceilings, dim lighting, and chandeliers — this restaurant has an incredible ambiance. I was particularly fond of their cozy outdoor patio, although it was a bit too cold to sit outside. My party was seated in a relatively private back room with one huge table, an empty fireplace, and a huge bookshelf stocked with pretty dusty, falling-​apart reads. I didn’t love the battery operated candles but understand safety is important. Real candlelight would certainly amplify the mood they’ve created.
The booze menu is extensive. Wine, beer, fancier beer, a full bar, and craft cocktails divided into «modern» and «classic» choices. Names like «The Nervous Light of Sunday» and «The Drink of Laughter and Forgetting» might be too much for some, but right up my alley. I love words. However, I kept it simple and went with the sparkling Prosecco Brut Rose. Bubbly, pink, and lovely.
For dinner, I started with the edamame hummus. Oh my god, fantastic. The hummus itself, light green in color, was incredibly flavorful and thick. The whipped feta was silky and tart, and the roasted veggies (red pepper and squash) served cold were amazing. A TON of flavor and some amazing textures going on. Toasted pita chips come with the hummus as well.
My entrée was a roasted cauliflower and chick pea tikka masala with Jasmine rice. So many great aromas, beautiful color, and plenty of spice. I’m not sure if this dish is on their regular menu, but it was an option the night I went. Wonderful! Not a huge portion, but plenty of food. I was still kind of hungry when we left… but what else is new?!
Our waitress was a bit curt, but attentive and took good care of everyone. I hope to make it back to CellarDoor when I return to New Orleans, I have my eye on their Truffle Honey Popcorn and Frozen Bubbles dessert!

Everyone looks better bathed in candlelight. CellarDoor’s lighting is on the mark with this important aspect. Why should you care? If you look good, you feel good, and will want to spend hours looking good here!
Service? Gracious yet low-​key. A lovely, esoteric list of cocktails, wines and beer. Small plates that are actually taste as good as they look (There’s a burger if you have a hearty eater, so don’t fret…).
I wasn’t crazy about the music selection, but that’s my personal peeve. It’s too tiny a space for the volume to be that loud.

This review is for those who enjoy a night spent seemingly immersed in sepia tones.
There you are, late at night, wandering down a tiny ancient street in the CBD when you see the hint, the glow, the whisper of a drinking establishment that may not be there, and if it is there, surely you’re in one of those damn dreams again because this is too perfect. Too quiet. Too dark. Too charmed. You take a chance, you turn down a little lit-​up pathway to find that you have, indeed, arrived.
(and don’t pinch me or I’ll cut you).
Full disclosure: I fully admit that I award stars and can forgive almost anything if I’m stunned and left speechless by atmosphere. And so I start this review with Cellardoor having me all a-​gaga!
Before you write me off because say, you couldn’t give a fig about such things, well, that’s fine. We have nothing in common. Still, I want you to go here. They have a good bar, with a nice array of spirits, wine and beer too. I will admit to not having tried any of the small plates yet, though I do give them props for having a couple vegetarian options. I stuck to drinks on this visit.
I took in this glorious space under the influence of rose-​colored Cava, I admit, but I seriously could not imagine finding a more divine place to spend the late night hours on Friday night. Find your nook or cranny to grace the night, though the back patio is more of the stuff that dreams are made of, the lighting is as dim as it should be — all of it makes you feel like you’re existing in the cherished memory of someone long gone…
Until, as it happens, a largish group came in and took over the room, glared at us as we nailed the best spot in the room, a long chaise lounge, in front of which is a coffee table made out of, you guessed it, a large cellar door. This is our spot, bitches, so suck it.
And that’s my first experience with Cellardoor. Easily my new favorite spot in the CBD. I beg of you, local revelers, don’t ruin it for the dreamers.