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  • 0

    the fries here are amazing!! Definitely should order this!

    There is a cheap $3 beer.

    beets sliders doesn't have much taste - so I wouldn't order it again.

    Would like to go back and try other items on the menu - they have some interesting options.

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  • 0

    Good food and served until either 11 or 11:30pm. They also give a warning when the kitchen is closing. The Rosemary-Truffle Fries are wicked good.

    They don't have a good beer selection and It is a little expensive ($4-$6 beers, $15 burger).  They also usually only have one bartender, so it is a little difficult to get service and it is cash only.

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  • 0

    I love the unique menu and creative specials here! I had the animal burger (burger w/foie gras pate and crispy pork rinds) and the butter poached lobster w/brioche cubes and a duck egg. Everything was good and I was a huge fan of the rosemary truffle fries that came with the burger. I will definitely come back! My only disappointment was the lack of a dessert menu

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  • 0

    Have honestly never had a bad meal here, this place consistently delivers.

    Last night I opted for mini burgers and rosemary truffle fries (I always opt for these fries come to think of it) but the grilled cheese/tomato soup combo will also cheer you up on a cold day.

    Service and drinks are exceptional.

    Two things to note: they won't seat you until your whole party arrives and  they don't take Amex...

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  • 0

    This place is awesome.  The food is incredible.  The egg sandwich, burger, "tots", truffle fries, salads, all amazing.  Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese to die for.

    Service is excellent.

    Interior is warm and inviting.

    Prices are reasonable.

    I have only been there for lunch but it is one of the best lunches in the Cambridge area.

    Go, it's really good.  Loved it big time.

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  • 0

    Good beer selection and very tasty sliders and fries.  It is a bit muggy down there, especially when it gets crowded.  Wish there were more places to sit and hang out with friends.  Overall, a great go to place for friends to meet up and chill out.

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  • 0

    It's generally hard to impress me with a burger (even the "great" ones are just overpriced beef patties on bread with some greasy toppings - nothing special). But the Cellar Burger is famous for a reason. Throw some rosemary truffle fries on the side and you have near perfection on a plate.

    The basement has a fun atmosphere and the bartender is fantastic. It's great for drinks or a casual dinner. Get there early or on a weeknight if you prefer a quieter venue. As others have noted, it gets crowded on weekends.

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  • 0

    I like this place.  I would love it if they took reservations.  They lose major brownie points for that.  I hate it when places don't take reservations.

    I went here with a few friends and we split a bunch of dishes.  We had the lobster tacos (the lobster was good, but I didn't care for the sauce), burger (good, not great), beet salad, a flatbread, and the rosemary truffle fries (SO YUMMY!).

    The service wasn't great.  We were a party of 3 and had been waiting for 20 mins when they seated a table of 2 in front of us.  We could have easily fit at the table they gave them, had they asked.  We ended up sitting at the bar, which was fine.  I asked for a soda, and the bartender literally poured half the glass, got distracted, and never served me.

    Overall, a solid (but not great) experience.  Good food, reasonably priced.  I'd go back at off-times to avoid the crowd or sit at the bar.

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  • 0

    Great place with split personality. Upstairs: classy dinner, downstairs: cash only bar. So whichever mood you're in for you can get it here. Recommendation: cellar burger with your choice of beverage. Have never done dinner upstairs before so I cannot speak to the ambiance. But have done lunch upstairs with beers at 1 and many a nights in the basement.

    Solid decision every time. The cash things a bit cumbersome, though there is a Bank of America literally across the street.

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  • 0

    Best burger and beer in Harvard Square. Recommend going to the downstairs for a more casual atmosphere and TV to check out a game. Regular bartender there is an awesome guy - always wear shorts, even in the winter! Never seen him without a smile.
    Food is unexpectedly awesome. If you're not in a burger mood (served with TRUFFLE FRIES!), nothing else on the menu will disappoint, seriously.
    Crowd is undergrad-free ++++++

    CASH ONLY. (for downstairs)

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  • 0

    One of my absolute go-to restaurants in Cambridge.  They do the same local, harvest-style new american food that's fairly popular in the area, but they are fantastic at it.  The gnocchi is particularly great.  Other classics include the Cellar Burger and the grilled cheese.  My favorites are closer to the pub-food part of the spectrum, but I've had a good experience with everything I've tried here.  The upstairs "Garden" area is nice and intimate, and the downstairs bar is a great place for conversation with friends (and the bartenders are the nicest in Cambridge).  The only problem is the Cellar's popularity -- it can be difficult to get a seat on weekends.  If you can't get a table upstairs, note that you can still order from the menu in the bar.

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  • 0

    The Cellar is a safe bet for whenever you're in the mood for a burger and a beer. The restaurant is divided into two floors - upstairs, with a more sophisticated dining room, and the basement (cellar) for a cash only, PBR fueled, bar food haven. Burgers are great with the grilled cheese a close second but I've sampled almost the entire menu and never been let down.

    Word of warning: the basement is small and gets loud quickly, so if you're looking for a more low key venue it probably isn't the place for you after 8pm. Bartenders are great though and the place always seems filled with people having fun. Overall I recommend you give it a shot by eating upstairs first and meandering to the basement when the night needs a kick start.

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  • 0

    Came here mid week for an impromptu date night. Even for a Wednesday it was pretty busy, however, we quickly got a spot at the bar.  Ordered the pork buns and an order of the sliders, both good. Service was good as well. I will come back for sure.

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  • 0

    Bottom line: Cute atmosphere and great service, food was alright (quite filling).  In the no-mans land between Harvard/Central though so it's a little bit of a trek to get to.

    We went for brunch on Sunday after a very sweaty yoga session.  Of important note is that we did shower before we went out in public.  Always a good thing.

    Were warmly greeted and we decided to sit at the bar.  Great lighting and decor are all pluses here.  It was quiet enough so that we could banter with one another (there were 4 of us) but not too quiet that it felt like everyone was listening to us.  I feel like this is a delicate balance that most places fail to figure out.  I had a spicy bloody mary (awesome) and coffee (quite bland) to start and ended up having this monstrosity of a breakfast sandwich.  I probably shouldn't have eaten it all, but I did.  Too much bread though, I suggest you get it on an english muffin (I knew i shoulda done it.. aghh!!!)

    They don't take AmEx (to all you faithful AmEx card holders) which was a bit annoying as I don't carry other cards BUT we figured it out in the end and they were friendly about it.

    I don't know if i'll make my way back out here as Brunch is certainly one of those things that you should be exploring all that boston has to offer in.  But I won't tell you not to give it a try!

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  • 0

    The food is fantastic, but the atmosphere is rough. The downstairs bar is tiny tiny and really loud. Bleachy and stressful too. I feel like the bartenders are barely holding it together sometimes. One guy always smiles, but the other grits teeth. I find all this madness detracts from the yumminess of the food.

    Ok, so I could eat upstairs and enjoy my meal with the grown ups. That's true, but too often, I'm meeting a friend who just wants a couple beers after work/school. That means that most nights, I'm stuck in the basement.

    I guess they want me to choose - DRINK or DINE! Well I like to do both at the same time, so I dunno. It's confusing.

    (Lunch upstairs, however, is always pleasant.)

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  • 0

    This place is absolutely amazing. I used to live in Central Sq. and came here often for the burger and tater tots, although everything that comes out of the kitchen is pretty amazing.

    My wife and I had the idea to have our small, 35 person wedding reception at the upstairs Garden level, and the experience is one that friends and family are still commenting on, many months later. And, incredibly, it was much less expensive than what other local restaurants were quoting.

    We met with Carrie, the business manager, and the head chef Brandon, and had complete freedom over what we wanted the menu look like. And I mean complete freedom, as in I got to request what temperature, exactly, the sous-vide sirloin would be prepared at, among other things. They made the process easy, fun, and most importantly, were incredibly attentive and supportive.

    The night of the event, the level of service was exemplary. We wanted for nothing, and Brandon sent out a few surprise dishes, on the house, that really made the night special. They seemed to be able to read our minds as far as when to bring out food, when to clear, when to get us drinks, etc. It was the perfect night.

    If you're lucky enough to be considering a small, intimate wedding, you could not possibly go wrong choosing The Cellar for your reception. I wish there were a 6 star option.

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  • 0

    Went for New Years 2012 with my boyfriend, extolling the virtues of this place and actually basing our hotel accommodations around being able to walk to this place.  It was a set menu and I figured, well, CHICK PEA FRIES! SURE I'll pay $50+ a head for the same genius who made my breakfast to ring in the New Year with deliciousness! Showed up 5 minutes early, were sat 30 minutes late (despite a reservation), then saw the menu and it was essentially foam.  My boyfriend and I spent over $100 on a New Years dinner that was foam.  We should have gotten the pizza we had joked about when waiting for our table.  

    I'll still come back, and yes, the foam was tasty, but I can think of 100 other places I'd go.  

    CELLAR! What you have is great! Stop trying so hard to be something you're not.

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  • 0

    This place is really bizarre.  I've read a lot of rave reviews about the rosemary truffle fries so went to check it out with a few friends.  It took us two tries because parking in the neighborhood is a nightmare.  

    The place itself is really confusing.  There are two separate doors for the upstairs and the downstairs with no apparent distinction between the two places.  The decor is also really weird.  "The Cellar" conjures up an intimate, warm space with dark wood, brick and dim lighting but it feels more like a Panera (with a sports bar) at the airport.  Nothing intimate, nothing cellar-like, nothing pub-like.  It would make more sense to have the upstairs be more formal and the downstairs a casual pub.

    The food is mediocre.  One medium-rare burger arrived rare, a medium-rare steak was medium-well and another burger was spot on.   Pumpkin soup at $12 was disappointing.  I will admit the fries were awesome but add inattentive service to the whole experience and I was ready to put this place on the "been there, done that" list.

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  • 0

    This places suuuucks. Places like this make me wish Yelp! had a zero star option....

    Let's start with service. We order drinks and a small plate to start. Drinks come, and the waitress takes our entree orders. Then the entrees come, still no appetizer...We were both almost done with our entrees before the app came.

    On to the main course. I ordered the Spicy Lamb Gnocchi off of the "Something Substantial" portion of the menu, thinking I would get something, oh I don't know...SUBSTANTIAL! What I got was about 4 ounces of dinner, that included about 6-8 gnocchi the size of Skittles, and a handful of lamb bits that were basically ground meat. The meal was not substantial or spicy, and tasted shockingly similar to Chef Boyardee meat ravioli.

    I don't mind paying a pretty penny for small portions if they are packed with explosive flavors that transport my tongue to culinary Nirvana....but the meals were small, overpriced and cheap tasting.

    WILL NEVER GO BACK

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  • 0

    You've gotta love the small bar around the corner that feels like home.   Great on a warm day with some sunlight.
    I used to frequent the wine cellar and follow the visit up with a beer downstairs and recently returned to catch up with friends. The bar is warm, cozy, with pleasant staff.  good selection on a warm day!

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  • 0

    My sister and I got an early dinner here before going to the Regattabar for a show the first week of May.
    Even though I live close by, I've never eaten at The Cellar.  Aside from it being CASH ONLY (warning! warning!), we were really pleased.  Yes, we met early (at 5pm) but the bartender was sort of stand off-ish and there wasn't any table service aside from them placing the meal in front of us.  We had to order at the bar and the bartender made a point of not coming to us.

    We ordered a beer each.  We shared the mussels, the beet salad, and the fries.  Soooo yummy.  The mussels didn't come with any bread, so we were glad to have the fries.  Everything was delicious and we ate every last bit.  I'm normally a big ketchup + fries type of girl, and we barely touched the ketchup in favor of the broth left after eating the mussels.  The mussels were also really large and flavorful...I've had much, much worse at nearby seafood restaurants.  I liked that the beet salad had both red and yellow beets.

    Girls thinking of coming here on a date: THERE IS NO MIRROR IN THE BATHROOM.  There is literally a toilet in the bathroom and then you wash your hands in the sink beside the bar.  You won't get a chance to primp in private, which I definitely like to do.

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  • 0

    OH CELLAR WHY ARE YOU SO UNRELIABLE? Some things on your menu are killer. Others (despite sounding delicious) are must-miss. Sorry, Cellar. I'd love to give you 4 stars for your burger and truffle fries, but now I've seen your dark side: your lobster tempura, pulled pork sandwich, and bacon-wrapped dates.  Sorry, Cellar. We could have had a thing.

    Truffle Fries. Cellar Burger. Grilled cheese and tomato soup. If you order these three items (and these three items only) the Cellar's food easily earns it 4.5 stars.

    If you pay attention to things like service (or don't like playing the 'where did the bartender-who-is-also-our-waiter go?' game), the cellar is more of a 2.5-star restaurant.

    The ambiance is okay-cozy, but can be noisy and hipster-full on Fridays and Saturdays.

    Lobster tempura: yuck. So much fried, so little lobster. 1 star.

    Pulled pork sandwich: WHY? So dry, so unspirited. Anyplace that sells gnocchi probably shouldn't try its hand at a pulled pork sandwich. My bad for ordering.

    Bacon wrapped dates: okay. Kinda mushy. Not nearly as good as bacon-wrapped dates CAN be. 2.5 stars.

    If you can be DISCIPLINED and ONLY ORDER the burger, fries, and grilled cheese (some kinds of discipline provide instant gratification), you will not be disappointed. Just don't go searching for other delights on this menu. They aren't there.

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  • 0

    Now maybe I just ordered the wrong things, but I just don't know how this place has four stars. With all the amazing food in the area, the food at this place just seemed like overpriced average food. It wasn't terrible but really not that great. It was definitely a mistake to eat in the upstairs portion for dinner. The vibe was just confused, was it trendy? Was it a garden? Was it hip? It ended up just feeling weird.

    I'm obsessed with beets so naturally I was excited for the beet salad. For $13 this should be closer to an entree size that a half salad, but it was tiny. It was good but just insanely priced for a pretty good small beet salad. The mussels were underwhelming too. Mussels, again, are my favorite and a go-to and they're one of those foods that with a simple garlic butter sauce can stand on their own, but they put them in this really rich creamy herb sauce and there weren't even that many of them. The muchroom flatbread was ok, but again you can get a bigger, better amazing flatbread pizza (and cheaper) at 100 other places nearby.

    I wish I would have done the beet sliders or burger, which looked and sound good, but not sure if I'll make it back...

    I will say though, our waitress was awesome. Great attitude, didn't try and oversell us and get us to order more food when we asked her opinion. Very helpful.

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  • 0

    I came here for the first time in August of 2011 and was blown away by the roasted chicken entree and lobster flatbread my girlfriend and i had. The bartender downstairs also makes excellent cocktails and is a genuinely nice guy.

    However, when i returned to the Cellar a month ago, I found to my disappointment that it had gone way down hill. Their menu has changed to mostly small plates and the service we received was pretty bad. Honestly as I write this review i am struggling to remember anything about my meal besides the service.

    Don't let the truffle fries fool you, anyone can sprinkle truffle oil on deep fried potato.

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  • 0

    So, there's a lot of blather about the rosemary-truffle fries here. They're fine and dandy, but no different than the truffle fries, say, anywhere else.The rest of the food is reasonably good, but truffle fries do not a four-star review make.

    I had a burger here and a couple glasses of wine in the upstairs portion of the restaurant. The burger was underdone, but the meat was tender. My lady-friend had a pasta dish that was good, but forgettable. And, of course, we got the oft-reviewed truffle fries. The shining star, oddly, was the beet sliders. Sounds weird, I know, but they were really delicious. I'd come back just for those and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc.

    For a place that calls itself "The Cellar" I was disappointed by the wine selection, and even more disappointed that the waiter hadn't tried the wines we were considering. Service was, additionally, a bit gruff and stand-offish.

    I got the feeling that the upstairs portion of the restaurant is quite different than the "Cellar" portion. On my quick glance downstairs on the way to the bathroom, it looked like the people down there were having more fun than we were. Maybe the waiter wished he was downstairs in more intimate surrounds? I certainly did. The decor upstairs reminded me of mid-90's chic--distantly tacky in a way that surprised me from the reviews. I was expecting a cozy and put-together wine bar.

    After dinner, we stopped by the wine store virtually attached to the restaurant, and which I assume must be owned by the same folks. I'm not sure if this place is a front for the mob or not, but there's not a lot of wine in this so-called "wine store".

    So, I'm not sure I'd recommend it. If you do go, go downstairs. But then the grass is always greener, isn't it?

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  • 0

    Ahh this place is so tasty, who can really complain about the high prices?

    Well okay fine, I can - seriously, $9 for cheese and bread and some soup? - but hey, it's close to work, the expensive food tastes good, and it's got a great atmosphere. The service is a tad slow - plan to use your ENTIRE hour-long lunch break here - but I suspect it's because they're actually preparing your meal after you order it. Like not re-heating. Cooking. And that's fantastic.

    Haven't yet gone after work, so I'm not sure how their alcoholic drinks are, but the bar always looks tempting to me so someday I will go after work and give it a try.

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  • 0

    I'm a smart person who does a lot of dumb things.  And one of those dumb things is continuing to go to the Cellar hoping to find good food.  Last time: the mussels and a burger.  Some of the mussels tasted rancid.  I'm glad we didn't get sick.  The burger was bleh.  If you knew how much I like burgers, you'd know that my bleh is not given lightly.

    I really don't like anything about this place.  I don't like the food.  There is no ambiance to speak of.  The TV setup to watch a game sucks.  I can't think of any reason to give this place another shot.

    So I won't ever be back.  

    I hope.

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  • 0

    I'm amazed that I've gone this long knowing about The Cellar without writing about it. I'm going to remedy that, right now.

    I suppose that The Cellar could have negative connotations for me. The first time I went there was with who turned out to be a bone-fide alcoholic for a roommate. This was his favorite place, and having worked in the food and drink industry in Boston for years, he knew every bartender in the Cambridge area. We had gone here when I first looked at the apartment I would end up occupying for the next two months before non-payment of utilities, smoking indoors, and drinking of all my alcohol forced me to flee to Somerville (and I never looked back).

    Anyway, even though I never went back to living in Cambridgeport, I came back to The Cellar. Numerous times, in fact. The beer selection is OK, but the food is what I came to rave about, specifically those magical rosemary truffle fries. I've also had their burgers and grilled cheese (with Vermont sharp cheddar) and have never been disappointed by my choices. Very solid pub food that's just a bit fancier.

    The bathrooms are kinda funny. The sink is outside the bathrooms, which is just for the toilet (and lots of graffiti). However, maybe this is the way it should be; you can show everyone that yes, you do wash your hands after using the restroom, or it's a big red flag to everyone else to stay away from you because you DON'T wash your hands afterwards, you dirty monkey. Or maybe it's some elaborate social experiment designed to test and maybe influence people to wash their hands in accordance with social norms. I don't know. I'm spending way too much time talking about a restaurant bathroom, guys. Help.

    So long story short, there are lots of great restaurants in the Central/Harvard area, and The Cellar is one of my very favorites. It's casual, the food is delicious, the staff is friendly, and it's a good place to be. Just make sure you get here at a reasonable time on the weekends or Thursday nights, 'cause everyone is thinking the same thing and you might have to elbow your way around to get things done.

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  • 0

    This is an OK enough place. Albiet kinda small. Not that classy and not that divey.

    But I think it's confused with itself because, to me, it looks like it's trying to be one or the other. The fact that it has the brass bar and the rosemary truffle fries makes it look like it's trying to be classy. But the weird bathroom set-up, the small footprint, the fact that it's downstairs, and the fact that they are cash only makes it look like it's trying to be divey. I mean, just pick one genre and stick with it. Don't be that over-priveledged suburban kid who shops at Hot Topic to try to look edgier. Just don't.

    However, let's get back to that bathroom setup. This could work in your favor. So, they have two single stall (with locks) bathrooms and a common sink outside. The common sink is plain view of the bar patrons. Therefore, if you think you spot some promising prospect for the evening, you can see whether or not s/he washes his/her hands after using the bathroom. Trust me, nothing is more disguisting than someone who doesn't wash his/her hands after using the bathroom. Instant turn-off.

    At least the bathrooms are clean.

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  • 0

    Inconspicuous
    Watch out for the people crush
    There's no cover charge

    I really like the unassuming facade on the cellar, a wall as seen through a glass window. Fortunately for them, and unfortunately for me, a lot of people like this facade as well.

    When you're just looking for a drink in the square and don't want to be subjected to yet another deafening band, The Cellar is the spot. If you're shorter in stature, as I am, you might want to steer clear as this place is jam packed on weekends and it might be an endeavor on par with Sisyphus to get a drink with any expedience.

    There's always a crowd, and the beer selection isn't that great either. With only a few employees to handle the crush, it's almost not worth the hassle. However, the Cellar has one gigantic redeeming quality: there's no cover at the door. It's like everyone who can't take another minute of some lazily rehearsed Irish ditty heads here to drink.

    I like the Cellar in a pinch, or when the hour wears on and all you want is that last beer, but it's not my first choice.

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  • 0

    Went here for the first time last Friday with a friend around 5:30 pm. I really enjoyed this place!

    We sat at the bar. You get the bar menu there which has some sandwiches on it that the regular menu doesn't. For starters, we got the Warmed Olives and Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese and Curried Apple Hash. Let's just say that normally, I'm only keen on the black olives that come out of cans. But I decided to give these a go. Not bad! The Bacon Wrapped Dates...oh emm gee. SO good. I wasn't such a fan of the apple hash, but I can see how it would taste good in conjunction with the dates.

    My friend and I ended up getting the same thing to eat- it was bitterly cold that day and we had a hard time resisting the Vermont Cheddar Sandwich and Tomato Soup. So glad I got it- delicious!! Honestly- some of the best tomato soup I've ever had! It's not every day that you walk away talking about the tomato soup and not the sandwich! The sandwich was good, but we were just blown away by the soup!!

    The Cellar is small- get there on the early side to get a seat. It's cozy! The bartender is funny- wrote our "bill" on a napkin. It's cash only, so be prepared!

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  • 0

    Mediocre food that could only seem good after several beers. This is nothing more than a typical after-work bar with food that's little more than not terrible.

    Friendly service though.

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  • 0

    Went back down to The Cellar last night.  Damn.  If this place isn't a good time, then I don't know what is.

    Genuinely friendly, cool, useful, funny bartender who was pleasant.  What a surprise!

    Good tunes.

    Great company.

    And, fries to die for.

    Oh. Yes.

    I could make this place my new bad habit.

    Yes, I think I shall.

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  • 0

    Good company friendly staff, reasonable prices, and *great* food.  Sweetie and I went for drinks with some fellow yelpers to the bar downstairs and had a fab time.

    I ordered the truffle fries - because you have to, the braised short rib, a Makers neat and a coke - $22.  A steal!  

    The truffle fries were a big heaping portion, they showed up with ketchup and when I asked the bar tender for something...else...*insert nebulous questioning face* he brought me garlic aoli....it was perfect perfect perfect.

    The short rib came in a dish with orzo, mushrooms, and some other goodies as well as a heaping portion of jus.  OOOh, tastiness.  

    If I hadn't been sharing it with sweetie, it would certainly have been enough for a full meal even though they were just appetizers.

    Be fair warned that it's cash only...meh...and finding parking is a beeeeeotch.

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  • 0

    A great spot spot for after work drinks.  Actually, it's got a good range of beer on tap, and what they serve ain't exactly Pub food either.  The menu looked stellar.  They are running an anti Restaurant Week Special menu of pretty delectable food for $10 a plate.

    I ordered the homemade tater tots ($5).  Oh, Dear Lord!  Great eats!  I kept trying to share them out, because no way I could finish them.  

    And Kim got the Frites, which tasted like heaven.  Everything looked terrific, as it came out of the kitchen.

    The bartender was friendly and prompt.  The food came out of the kitchen quickly.  Only weird thing is that the sink for the bathrooms is in plain sight,  outside the bathrooms.  I guess you can scope out the folks who have less than stellar hygiene on a first date, that way (Eww! Dude didn't wash is hands=no second date).  

    Suffice to say, I had a swell time.  And, YUM!

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  • 0

    This is the place you want to be going if you're not going there yet.

    Perfect mini burgers, delicious aioli potatos - and their Rosemary Truffle fries -delicious. They are almost always busy during the winter. I usually think going with one person is the best way to experience this place since it's in the basement of "The Garden at the Cellar" It reminded me of some pubs I went to in London - you order at the bar, it's small and dark and simple, (just a few tables, just a few chairs, a small bar, bathroom sink on the outside of the bathrooms) but the food. Oh god, the food.

    Affordable, delicious food done right. This is a mature gastropub, not sloppy. It's classy in it's down-to-earth-ness and always picks me up during the winter when I need a burger done right - applewood smoked bacon, arugula, cheddar - aioli, and all on a brioche bun.

    Lately, I've been splitting the miniburgers and an order of truffle fries with Russ or a close friend. Perfect amount of food.

    This place is a find. Perfect for after work food and drinks with a friend or a great place to go when getting to know someone a little better. It's comfortable enough to even meet up with your boss (which I've done before) and the best part - it's far enough from Central and Harvard that it's not completely overwhelmed with people. It gets crowded, but it would be much worse if more people could get to it.

    Also, on a recent trip I noticed they were doing $1 Oysters and $1 Deviled Eggs and 4$ (each)Mini Burgers. I LOVE pub menus especially when they're cheap!.

    One of my favorites in Boston, easily.

    Pst. It's cash only. :D

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  • 0

    I've been to the bar downstairs at The Cellar multiple times.  I've never been especially wowed by the bar, since it serves mainly beer and I'm more of a cocktail drinker.  The cash-only aspect is also a real problem for me.

    But the upstairs dining area takes credit cards!!  With this new knowlege, I sat at the bar upstairs for the first time this weekend.  It turns out that this is a great dinner-alone-at-the-bar place that's been hiding under my nose all this time!  (My ongoing search . . . )  Even if the bar and restaurant aren't full of people, you don't feel conspicuous sitting there by yourself thanks to the ceiling-to-floor supporting columns that separate the bar stools into groups of 3 or so. The columns, which might get in the way of larger parties, makes seating for one at the bar much more private.  A shy alone-diner can easily feel comfortable by taking a seat next to one of the columns.

    The bartender was friendly but not overbearing.  She made a killer creamy chocolate martini -- the best part is the hunk of chocolate waiting at the bottom of your glass to be savored once you've polished the liquid off.  I sampled the rosemary truffle fries, which are like a sophisticated version of the standard bar snack.  They look just like regular fries, so every time I had another bite,  I was surprised at the creatively unusual flavor.  (This is a rare phenomenon -- usually my mouth stops tasting about half way through a meal.  This phenomenon also happens with my mom's soy sauce and garlic chicken wings.)  I can't wait to go back for a full dinner.

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    I don't understand why this place has such a high rating.

    First, the drinks were in tiny glasses. Not sure of the price as I didn't pay. Thanks Dave & Doris.

    But the atmosphere was just mediocre. It was definitely a tiny locale, not that I mind smaller confined spaces.

    Their restroom was kinda of a new experience. There was a door for women's toilet and one for the men's toilet. They shared a sink right in front of the bar! WHO DOES THAT?!?! Oddest experience ever, as I have never had to wash my hands in front of everyone else as I just stepped out of the bathroom.

    There's not much else I could really say about this place.

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    My first visit to the Cellar was for a friend's birthday. Ashley R. on yelp, to be honest. You should check out her reviews. I think normally I would have passed over the Cellar for the rest of my life had she not picked it for her birthday get-together. She has a lot of friends. They all showed up. So, the Cellar was pretty packed. And even so, it was a great time. We ordered fries. We talked. The bartender was "jovial", which is probably the only time I've used that word in a sentence. Despite it being a smaller little hangout, it was a great time, and it opened our eyes to the Cellar.

    Fast forward to last night, where I met up with a few friends (including Emma D., whose reviews you oughta check out) and had Thursday night drinks and dinner. Excited to get some Hoegaarden on tap, we entered to find it was not nearly as packed as it was for Ashley's birthday.

    The same bartender was working. We suspected that he might be the owner. My friends food had already arrived, and damn if it didn't look really tasty. Which was sort of surprising. I hadn't eaten the last time, (except for the amazing rosemary fries), so I didn't have any idea what to expect.

    I got the chicken croquettes and a cuban sandwich. I also ordered Hoegaardens. The bartender was supremely friendly, minding me to "watch for seeds" in my beer. How funny. My food arrived, and the chicken croquettes were soo good. They were like crispy little balls of chicken pot pie. The cuban was also very good, but also sort of felt like a reuben? A cuban reuben? Didn't matter, it was still heavenly. A+++ would buy again.

    My friend Sam also had a cuban sandwich, and she asked for a box. The bartender brought over a chinese food box and asked if "he could bend it". She's like sure, and he bent the sandwich into the chinese box. It was actually really really funny, and only added to the charm of the place.

    Interestingly, I told the bartender that I was going to yelp him. He hadn't heard about yelp. So if you're reading this, hi, I gave you five stars, because I love the Cellar. It seems other people here agree with me. congratulations.

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  • 0

    So delish! This is a wonderfully vibrant spot, now it offers great food as well!  What more could one ask!
    Chef Will Gilson has added some delightful twists on old time favorites (I had the best tomato soup and grilled cheese ever...how could something so simple taste this good?) and I've tried lots of the sides and smaller dishes.  Hint: when going with friends, order lots of stuff and plan to share and taste.
    Love this place!

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