I had a hair appointment at my salon nearby and since I was coming straight from work I still needed to have dinner. I Yelped the restaurants in the area and this was the closest and highest rated. When I arrived at about 5pm I was the only customer there, but it was still happy hour! $4 glasses of wine and food items! Oh yeah! I picked a nice Sangiovese and a margarita pizza off the happy hour menu. Since I was saving so much money I decided to order a caprese salad off their regular menu as well.
The woman behind the bar was very sweet and we had a nice conversation about overseas travel and how other countries enjoy wine and it was really pleasant. At one point the chef also came out of the kitchen and chatted with me for a few minutes. At about 5:30 more people started to roll in to take advantage of the last half hour of happy hour (4-6pm). I decided to stay and have more wine and even chatted to a couple other people at the bar who seem to be regulars. They also have tables if you are on a date or with friends, if you don't wish to socialize outside your group.
My pizza was very hot and fresh. It wasn't the most traditional margarita pizza in that the crust was a bit thicker and it had a drizzle of balsalmic on top. It was really tasty though and had lots of delicious cheese on top. My salad was also very good and had a variety of different color heirloom tomatoes that were fresh and perfectly ripe. The cheese was also a standout in this dish. To be honest, this is what I expected from a certain new cheese bar in downtown Sacramento and did not get. Friendly, quick service with an emphasis on wine and cheese. I saw some of the other food that came out of the kitchen and it all looked good, including the cheese boards.
I hope to try and make this a stop before or after my hair appointments from now on, as long as I don't have my kids with me. This is a perfect place to come on a date or with friends if you want a relaxed, chill atmosphere where you can talk or even on your own with lots of friendly people you can talk to at the bar or sit at one of the tables and get engrossed in a book while you sip and nibble.
So happy we finally found this place open. We walked in at 9:15pm and the kitchen was closed. But the chef offered to whip us up some tacos and the bartender made us a cheeseplate.
So lets start with the basics:
SO MUCH WINE AND BEER TO CHOOSE FROM! I wish I wasn't the DD because there were so many things I had never heard of and wanted to try them all. My BF ordered their summer solstice (which I stole a sip from). It was refreshing and delicious.
Secondly:
The Food: the tacos were delicious! Braised steak tacos with feta, peppers, served with a nectarine and strawberry salad. My oh my! We were floored to say the least. On top of the food being A-Maz-Ing!!, the presentation was wonderful! The plate was colorful and clean, very well prepared. So now, the cheeseplate.....We ordered a honey cheddar cheese, a feta plate that I dont remember the name of, along with prosiutto, and an italian como salami. They served it with granny smith apple slices, a quince paste, pickles, olives, almonds, and freshly warm bread.
The atmosphere was calming, professional yet comfortable, beautiful, and easy. The bartender was a total doll. She chatted with us for a while and we felt at easy being there even though we were the only two patrons that late at night. The chef was awesome. He brought us out our food and had the most amusing tattoos! Definitely go check them  out for yourself! We will be going back very soon!
Oh-ps-how could I forget the pricing. It was reasonable for the amazing service and excellent quality we received. I just wish I was rich all the time to eat the food I want...oh and not gain weight...
The quality of the food and alcohol is very good, and the selection is the best I've found in this area. The service is good, but not consistent. For example, the first two times I came here, I got a small plate, which comes with two meat or cheese items. The third time, my friend and I split the medium plate, which comes with four items, but I was given half as much gorgonzola as I had been given the first two times. Price-wise, it seems like there should be the same amount of each item on each plate, although I'll admit that it seems like they were giving way too much cheese in the first place.
The first time my friend and I came here, the waitress mixed up our wines after pouring them, shrugged, and brought them to us anyway, but I haven't had any other issues with service since then. They were even super cool on my birthday even though I was too drunk for anywhere else on Sutter Street :/
The specials are pretty mediocre. The last time I came in, they were advertising $2 off sparkling wine all night, as if it were a huge event, but then it turned out that they only had three kinds of sparkling wine, and none that I expected to like. I went ahead and got the Prosecco even though I'm not usually a fan, and it was pretty decent, to the point that I might actually have changed my mind about Prosecco.
For the next glass, I had the Vigneti Reale Primitivo, which was amazing. If you like sweet red wines, I would definitely recommend this.
I'm not a big fan of beer, but tried the Delirium that my friend ordered, and it was pretty amazing.
The bruschetta is the best I've ever had outside of my own kitchen, and is a great complement to the meat and cheese plates.
Super clean, romantic ambiance, and it generally seems like they're trying. I'm sure I'll be back sometime.
This is by far my favorite wine bar in Sacramento! I love the chill atmosphere, they have daily wine specials, and you really can't beat the wine so close to Napa...
Frankie is the regular waitress there, and she is awesome! We've been going there pretty frequently in the last few months and she already knows us by name -- she makes the whole place even more warm! The only downside is trying to get a table on the weekends -- gotta get there early for a good spot.
I was in the mood for a glass of  white wine with a certain characteristic. Now, I'm no wine snob, but I do know a bit about the stuff. I asked the bartender which one of the wines, if any, that I was considering had that certain attribute. She looked at me like I'd sprung two more heads and repeated the term back to me like I was a second grader. Here's a tip: if you don't understand what the customer asks, either ask them to clarify, or explain the characteristics of that varietal that you DO know about. Either way would have been better than being scoffed at. I ended up with a glass of wine that was nowhere near what I was after, and felt like an idiot besides. I even Googled the term to see if I perhaps was wrong...nope! About a million Google hits prove otherwise.
Review Source:Really enjoyed this place. Â Went there last Friday night after being treated poorly at the other wine bar on Sutter St. - Wine Styles. Â So decided to take our business elsewhere. Â So glad we did! Â The atmosphere here was WAY better than Wine Styles! Â Love the fireplace and the dim, cozy lighting. Â The wine selection was varied and interesting, which is important in a wine bar. Â We also ordered the 4 item cheese plate. Â Really enjoyed being able to select our own items. Â Though it was a bit pricey (thus the 4 stars instead of 5), it was very good. Â Overall, I would highly recommend this place.
Review Source:This review is long overdue... I have been coming here for a long time and it is definitely my favorite wine bar.
Love the laid back atmosphere and the service is always awesome, Joanna is the best! She gives great recommendations if your not sure what to get.
Beer selection is awesome for the hubby when he's not in the wine mood. Food is great too, big fan of the brie cheese plate and pizzas...yum!
Stumbled into The Cellar Wine Bar after having a wine flight at WineStyles. I was already on a wine fix so decided to check this place out.
The space was small but intimate and I was amazed to find that Sutter St. in historic Folsom had so many cute wine places. Definitely check this place out! They had a healthy wine list and I really liked the decor of the place. Towards the front entrance there were couches for lounging and table set ups throughout the space. They even had small bites to eat such as pizza and paninis.
This was a really chill place and the server was quite generous. He initially forgot my wine but threw in an extra glass for free and a discount. Overall, I was very pleased with my experience and will be back for more vino!
Great selection of wine and beer! The meat and cheese platter is delicious! We stopped in one day but kept coming back from Sacramento to enjoy the menu and the company at the bar. You couldn't ask for a better "winetender" than Margaret. Completely knowledgable of the entire menu and a wonderful conversationalist.
Review Source:The Cellar Wine Bar is very comfortable, unique and friendly. It's become my favorite wine bar; great food, great wine selection and I love ordering the "Big Reds" which is a selection of three different wines, each served in 3oz. servings. This place is fresh, fun and cozy. My only complaint: they're not open on Mondays and that's my date night with my honey. BUT since they're closed, we just have to have two date nights in one week every once in awhile!
Review Source:This is one of the first places on Sutter Street in Folsom I tried. Â the first person I met there was Margaret. Â She was very knowledgeable and friendly. Â She recommended some good reds. Â Over the past couple of years they have expanded their beer selection to 9 taps! Â They also have many bottles to choose from .
I personally like beer over wine so whenever I go in I tend to try their beer. Â Jeff tries to keep the taps interesting, but it can be difficult as they are a "wine" bar. Â Food-wise it is okay. Â They have a wonderful selection of meat and cheeses. Â If you are looking for a "meal" then eat prior, or bring it in. Â I loved their little pizzas, and Margaret always made them just right! Â Yes, there are other bar servers, but she "gets it" when it comes to customer service. Â Not flirty, and does not ignore you. Â
If you crave chocolate with your wine Snooks is just down the street! Â Also the clientele there are some of the friendliest folks I have met here. Â One couple comes in with homemade dessert goodies! Â It is a great time being there!
For the nights I want to pretend I am more sophisticated than I actually am, I come here. The selection is abundant. First time I came here I tasted a flight of the sparkling wines which was lovely. They also have a decent beer selection for you non-wino folks. The food is phenomenal to boot. I have tried two different varieties of their pizza and they were nothing short of gourmet. I definitely would suggest getting something to nosh as you sip. The Cellar is an oxymoron in that it is upscale while simultaneously being casual. One of the best adult establishments in Folsom.
Review Source:11/11/11 Â Arrived at about 4pm. Â We seemed to place an imposition on the bar tender. Â The service was poor at best. Â Our first wine choice was below par and tasted as though it had been opened for quite a few days. Â We asked for another choice and the bar tender argued with us. Â We were not asked what we might like to eat. Â So, we drank our second choice, paid our bill and went up the street to the Sutter Street Steak House. Â A much better choice.
Review Source:My wife and I visited The Cellar on an early Sunday evening before the movies. Â We usually opt for a wine flight at these places just for the variety, but we found a $30 bottle of wine on the list from Vino Noceto in Amadro, a winery we already liked. Â We also ordered a wine and cheese combo platter (3 cheese and 2 meats) and two truffles for dessert. Â We liked the wine, and we were surprised at the generous servings of meat and cheese, along with bread, olives and sliced green apple. Â The platter made for a nice light to medium dinner for the two of us. Â Unfortunately, the truffes from the shop next door weren't anything to write home about.
The service was very good, and there was only one other party there so it was nice and quiet. Â The server did a good job of meeting our needs without intruding on our good conversation.
The wine list had a nice variety in all different price ranges, and the food menu, while somewhat limited, was enough to serve our needs. Â All of the cheese and meats on our platter were quite good. Â We will definitely return. Â It was an enjoyable place to get out of the house and enjoy a good conversation over a glass or two of wine.
Went there for a mellow chat with a couple girlfriends on a Tuesday night. Â The chairs were on their last legs...very uncomfortable. Â The waiter/bartender was okay; we ordered two glasses of red wine each and some food. Â The second glass of wine for two of us was COLD! Â When we complained about it, he just shrugged and made some odd excuse about the thermostat. Â The last time I drank cold red wine was in the 80s, at my college roommate's parents' home. Â Yuck.
Review Source:We have been going her for little over a year. Â The owner and servers are very friendly and as someone else said it has a "cheers" kind of feel. Â Great wines and a great selection of beer. Â We love the relaxed, cozy but classy feel that it has. Â This is a great place for a quiet evening, and it is great for groups also. Â Anytime we bring friends they love it. Â someone else posted a comment about splitting the bill, this has not been a problem for us when brought friends- we asked before the bill was brought to us and it was not an issue. Â Just a great place to go.
Review Source:A group of six of us came in last night following our friend's bridal shower--we were in a celebratory mood and wanted to have a couple glasses of wine! Â We sat down in the front, but it was a little sunny and warm, so our server offered us a table in the back...she warned us that it was kind of dark, but we went to check it out.
She took us to a room behind the "employees only" door, and it was set up like a comfy little living room! Â Big leather couch, coffee table, and a flat screen with satellite cable--we'll take it!!
Some of us ordered the "light red" flight--all 3 wines were delicious, but the pinot noir was the first in the flight and its flavor kind of overpowered the barbera that came next. We got a couple of the appetizer pizzas which were very yummy as well.
So, up to this point, you may be wondering what's up with the 3 star rating?? Well, when it came time to pay our bill, our server (who had been nothing but extremely nice up to this point) balked at our request to split the bill evenly between cards (after subtracting some cash). Â I get it that it is not the most convenient thing to do, but most places are super accommodating, so the thought didn't even cross our mind that she would have a problem with it. She very rudely stated "I can split, like, two cards, but not four!" Maybe she could have anticipated with a group of six girls that we may plan to split the bill--and mentioned ahead of time that we would be unable to do so. After she left the bill, I walked out to the bar area and asked the nearest server (with our server in earshot), if there was an ATM nearby. Â She was unsure but thought there was one across the street...she asked our server to confirm that, and she (without turning around or making any eye contact) said yes. Â So I went and paid $2.50 to use the ATM across the street.
Not sure what the big issue was, but considering that it was not even busy in the place, and that we had ordered a good amount of food and drink, I would have expected nicer service when paying the bill.
Have a wine system that uses a vacuum method instead of argon gas so every glass is "fresh."
Elena was fabulous! Get a wine tasting and enjoy a wonderful value! Â
Also enjoyed the Scottish Smoked Salmon plate and was pleasantly surprised at the amount of fish and loved the wafers!
If you are unsure of what to choose from their extensive selection, ask Elena for a sample.
Cheers and thumbs up!
LOVE this spot! We popped in for happy hour drinks ($3 off wines and 1/2 off cheese plates) and ended up staying for Tuesday's trivia night! So fun, good vibe and a nice wine selection. Definitely a much more posh alternative to the Powerhouse or Streets of London. Plus, the staff's amazing (shout out to Shane -- he's probably half the reason we liked it so much)!
Review Source:An EXCELLENT evening stop-off spot for post-dining ambiance in Old Folsom.
SITREP
My lovely friend & dinner-companion Jennifer and I had just finished an incredible dinner at Sutter Street Steakhouse (see my previous review on this culinary wonder!), but we weren't ready to go back to her place just yet since the atmosphere was "alive & electric" in Old Folsom.
SET-UP
The Cellar Wine & Cheese Bar is a wonderful establishment right in the heart of Old Folsom on Sutter Street itself. Â We stopped in, found nice cozy tables, and an eclectic and fun bartendress and funny clientele.
We actually got on a conversational kick with a couple of other couples talking about the 2nd Pre-cursor Star Wars trilogy. Â For an elegant place, we certainly enjoyed a fun, pop-culture-oriented conversation with other well-versed SciFi fans!
Back to business:  there are so many fantastical wines available for only $10 a (large) wine glass.  We enjoyed BOTH white (Gewürztraminer) and red (Merlot, Shiraz).  There was also an excellent music format focusing on Indie artists.  This made for a most wonderful way to relax and kick-start the digestive processes!
THE LOWDOWN
A wonderful way to debrief an evening with tasty liquid vintage!
The Cellar is an excellent addition to Historic Folsom. It is fast becoming the place to meet up with friends/family. The staff makes you feel like an instant friend as well. Has that Cheers kind of a feel to it.
This is Main Street America all the way. I hope the owners have great success so we can continue to meet up in such a cozy welcoming place.
Always walked by this place in the daytime vowing to come back at night.
Came here last Friday and it was open! Yay! On Friday evenings there is live music. This time it was a guy singing with his guitar. I was trying to remember who he sounded like. My friend and I racked our brains...was it Blues Traveller? Counting Crows? It had that neo 90's appeal to it.
You can tell that the staff dig their jobs here. If you are not sure about what glass of wine you are after, they can probably accommodate you with a couple of tastings. At least that is what happened with my and my friend. I love how it comes with a mini carafe instead of a full glass. This way it leaves ample room for swirl.
There was a chocolate fondue dessert plate that sounded tempting! It comes with rice krispy treats, fruits, etc. It does not come with a mini warmer, however. For $13 (or was it $15?) I thought it would go nicely with a Beaumes de Venise. Don't know if they pour that there, but I'm sure you could find an equivalent muscat pairing.
Cheese and meat platters also feature on the menu. If you want something more substantial, they do allow you to bring in pizza from Chicago Fire.
The Happy Hour menu features prominently on page one. It is not separated out from the normal menu, so don't go thinking that you are being overcharged (like I thought I was). It would be helpful if they had a separate Happy Hour menu that came out during Happy Hour, or at least was a separate menu.
Old Folsom desperately needed something like this. Why drive all the way downtown?
What sets this place apart from other wine bars in the area is the knowledgeable, unpretentious, enthusiastic owners and their staff. Â Todd, Jeff, Jordan, and their minions are good people. Â The decor is warm and rustic, and the back lounge area makes you feel like you're in a cozy cabin in the mountains. Â The wine menu is excellent and is constantly evolving as they rotate in new ones that are carefully selected. Â They also have a small yet very good draft beer selection (as well as bottled). Â Try the Eye of the Hawk on draft - so far, The Cellar is the only place I know that carries it. Â As carefully as they select their wines and beers, they will put together cheese, meat, and cracker pairings for you. Â Also, the staff will run out and pick up food for you at one of the nearby restaurants; however, they will soon be doing their own menu of small plates, which I am very excited about. Â I would say to stay away because I like how quaint it is; but I want these guys to succeed because they are THAT good at what they do, so come in, have a beer, have a glass of wine, and meet them. Â My friends and I are regulars.
Review Source:I am so happy there's a wine bar in Folsom, a good one! The lounge-type atmosphere offers several types of seating...bar, tables, or couches/chairs. The ambiance is very mellow and non-pretentious. I went there by myself for a glass of wine last Sunday, Eric was there, and he was really knowledgable about all the different wines. Tell him what your taste is and he can recommend something delicious. The Cellar also has Cristal Champagne which I hope to be the first to embibe in there. I walked out with a bottle of Yorba Barbera and Lavender Ridge Grenache Rose. Go there now!
Review Source: