Cellar Hands, will give you, based on our 2 experiences; Exceptional and friendly service Simply and properly well-made food; nothing to overwhelm you or made for Instagram All wines are great, experiment and enjoy a different wine each time Minimalist but cozy, well-designed, atmosphere read more

Cellar's Hand has officially become my new favorite brunch spot and honestly, I can't believe it took me this long to stop in. I've passed by this place so many times without realizing what I was missing. After finally giving it a try, I loved it so much that I came back the very next day for brunch after having dinner the night before. That should tell you everything.Brunch here is beautiful. Every dish that came out looked like a gorgeous palette thoughtfully plated and almost too pretty to eat (almost). Everything tasted just as amazing as it looked.The restaurant itself is cute, comfortable, and such a great place to sit, relax, and catch up with friends. It has that perfect balance of cozy and stylish without feeling over the top. They also have a great wine selection along with small dishes that pair really well with the wines they offer, which makes the experience feel a little elevated but still approachable. A huge shoutout to Katy, our server both days. She was fantastic. Katy had incredible knowledge of the wine list and helped recommend dishes that paired perfectly. Every suggestion she made was delicious. She checked on us regularly and gave truly superior service. Places like this are such a great surprise when you finally discover them and Cellar's Hand definitely delivered. I'll absolutely be back! read more

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Located on the corner of University and Normal Street in a small strip of shops, Cellar Hand is such a hidden gem. I can't believe I've always missed it. We first heard about this spot through our wine club since this is their sister restaurant, and we were excited to finally check it out. We brought a bottle of wine to sip and came in for happy hour. They use a farm‑to‑table approach with seasonal ingredients, so the menu changes -- which I love. They also offer fun options like bar dinners during the week, happy hour, and tasting menus for seasonal holidays. For drinks, you'll find a large wine selection, some beer, and wine‑based cocktails. We ordered a few apps, and each one was fresh and lovely. This is the perfect place for light bites and shareable plates. I'd love to come back for their three‑course bar dinners on Wednesdays and Thursdays. A cozy, thoughtful spot worth adding to your rotation. read more

Cellar Hand - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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My friend invited me to an event here back in June of 2024. This wine bar is such a vibe- I liked that they have some art work too! I got to try some glasses of wine and a yummy spread! There were sardines, olives, crackers, hummus, oysters, pita, etc. Everything was fresh and delicious! I would like to try their brunch menu soon! read more

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This place was great, from the food to the service. We came to try their bar dinner for $50 and chose to upgrade with the wine pairings for an additional $10. They have a good amount of both indoor and outdoor seating. The bar dinner is only done outside or inside around their bar. Throughout the whole night we were checked on multiple times, never felt rushed and overall had a wonderful time. From the bar dinner menu we were surprised that we could choose from a list of 3-4 options for each course. Our group was able to order different ones and try a bit of everything. Portions were very generous, especially for the price! I got the house labneh, charred green beans and crispy pork schnitzel. The labneh was delish! Not too tangy and the sweetness from the onions was nice. The pita they served it with was of the thinner, lighter variety but still very tasty and fresh. The green beans could have been charred a bit more for my taste but still yummy and had a savory sauce on the bottom that I liked. The pork schnitzel was a great size. Didn't come with any sides but didn't need any since I was so full at that point. Because we were celebrating a birthday they also gave us a free dessert! We tried their tiramisu (with guava instead of coffee) and their deconstructed Dubai chocolate options. Both solid. While we didn't love any of the wine options in particular, we were happy to get to try a variety of different kinds, some that we had not heard before. It was helpful that they come with little descriptions for each as well. read more

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Ambience was fun and lively, service was very attentive and kind, but the food didn't do it for me. The sangria was mostly ice and very watered down, not much flavor. The fried eggplant was delicious and I'd order that again if I were to go back. The local catch was very fishy and not cooked properly, the inside was not fully cooked. Overall the dish lacked seasoning and the greens were already yellowing and tough to chew, dry. read more

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Came here with girlfriends for brunch. I wouldn't recommend coming during the Sunday nearby Hillcrest farmers market since the parking lot was FULL and while I got lucky with parking in the lot, my friends had to park farther away near the post office. Our server was attentive and great with suggestions. They only had 2 tea options which seemed surprising but it arrived in a French press and made 2-3 cups. Our group shares the chocolate toast and it was delicious! I got the farmers salad and added a fried egg on the side (protein gains!) and it was filling. The setting was relaxing and really pretty with decor. read more

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So happy I stumbled upon cellar hand. Went on a Sunday evening & got seats immediately. Johnny, our waiter, was so lovely & broke down the menu and how they source all of their food & produce from local farms, so their menu is seasonal. Our food came within MINUTES of ordering, fresh & beautifully prepared! 1) the bluefin tuna crudo was so delicious! You could taste the freshness of the tuna, and there were these delightful ice plants in it that were magical--have never had anything like that before! 2) the fried artichokes were good & really crispy, but probably wouldn't get again as all of their other items are so good in a more unique way. 3) the house fermented pitas were delicious-- we loved both the whipped baba ganouj & the whipped tahini. If you like a strong flavor profile, I would choose the whipped tahini--it was so creamy & unique with the black garlic and urfa. The 21 rose of Pinot noir by pali wine was also so good - highly recommend! Such a cute, relaxing spot. They have a large patio as well. Can't wait to try more items! Definitely come and support this special spot in Hillcrest!!! read more

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Cellar Hand Restaurant is located in a quiet mini-mall collection of shops and businesses, and is located near the busy intersection of University Avenue and Normal Street. There is a smallish parking lot vailble to visits. As I recall, there are two designated handicapped parking spaces available within the lot. I understand the building that houses Cellar Hand Restaurant used to be a restaurnt known as the Gossip Grill. The hostesses are the first staff members you meet when you arrive , and they are posted outside in front of the restaurant. There is large bar up front. As to dining, you have several areas from which to choose. Specifically, there is a small dining room to the left as you enter the restaurant. Thereafter, a patio extends back, where many people like to sit. There is also a rear dining room, which is comfortable. Special mention for waiter, Johnny. read more

Cellar Hand - Banquettes - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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I was super stoked to try a brand new restaurant. I had not been to yet and even more excited at the fact that they had ribeye on the menu, unfortunately, I cannot recommend the ribeye entrée. The baba ghanoush we ordered before was probably the best part of the meal. The steak came garnished with ricotta cheese, which was not very good, however, the golden beats were fantastic and the beat purée was really good. Overall, the steak was very chewy which to me did not match the $60 price tag. I would highly recommend to the chef to get a much higher quality cut of meat in the future. Stephen's service was fantastic, very attentive and astute. read more

FARM-TO-TABLE CONCEPT (3.9 stars) - FOOD: good - PRICE: ok - SERVICE: attentive - AMBIANCE: small (indoor but mostly outdoor seating) Sat outside under the evening sky next to a heater lamp! For a new restaurant, the website should keep up to date with the most current menu. I've notice slight differences when comparing menu online vs menu in hand. Our order came out rolling as they became prepped and available and once the main dish came I wish it was served with some of the earlier dishes we had to treat it as a "side" instead of an appetizer. GHIA ($7) - reisling juice, yuzu, orange peel, ginger, lemon balm, fig, and elderflower. Their take on a spritz. No picture of it but it was served in a tall glass and it was reddish. Overall taste was ok, I'd probably be fine with water. SMOKED BLUEFIN TUNA DIP ($18) - served with house garleek chips. This dish was a perfect starter. The garleek chips were a bit salty but the dip balanced it out. The dip itself had more "dip" than any chucks of bluefin tuna and the fact that it's smoked, the flavor shines thru without having the volume of the bluefin tuna. You will more than likely finish the chips before the dip; extra chips was changed as extra pita for $5 - I thought it would be free. Overall bite was yum. HIGHLY RECOMMEND CHARRED CAUILINI ($17) - za'atar labneh, fennel frond pistou, oro blanco grapefruit, dukkah. Honestly, first glance the portion to price did not match. I have no idea of the ingredients except cauilini and grapefruit. The sauce had a little bit of heat and the grapefruits were a nice touch. Overall bite was tasty. RECOMMEND THOMPSON HERITAGE CHICKEN LIVER MOUSSE ($16) - orange wine 'jello shots', pomelo, sesame bread. I am not a liver bot mousse nor liver mousse person - just not my flavor but it was ordered and I said I'll try it. Inquiring taste! It was beautiful to look at and the taste wasn't that bad - in moderation. The mouse was fine, the liver flavor was subtle but after taste it was present, the Jello shots have this a sweet flavor - when speeded in a slice of toasted bread it was fine to eat. Overall bite was ok. CRISPY SKIN ROCKFISH ($36) - garlic toum, fennel confit, pole beans, grapefruit. One of their popular ordered main dish. The fish was butterflied and cooked with the face starring at you. Lots of ingredients to make the fish fillet pop - the description forgot to mention citrus olive oil decorating the plate. "Crispy" is an overstatement - I got average, moisturized, bot dry but also not crispy. Overall bite was standard tasting. I felt like although the plate had a ton of things on it, I wish there was a small side or bread to go with it. RECOMMEND THOMPSON HERITAGE BERKSHIRE PORK CHOP ($48) - warren pear, cider, pomegranate, sage, smoked almond. Another popular main dish! This pork chop was tender, juicy, and fatty. I loved the additional ingredients it was cooked it for flavoring and the smoked almonds added a crunching element. I wish there was a side or a small serving of something or a piece of bread - just something! HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Such a cute little restaurant in Hillcrest. When I pass it often there isn't much people coming thru as I expected. Until the next review... read more

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Such a good find! Came on a Friday night and same day reservations were easy, though we opted to sit at their indoor bar. Not crowded and it felt very chill and relaxed for a weekend night. Both food and drinks were great - many of the dishes seem very seasonal. Everything was super tasty but if I had to rank what we ate it would be: 1. Crab Chitarra - I wish this was always on the menu. Flavors and texture were perfect to me 2. Wagyu beef tartare 3. Harissa shrimp 4. Baba ganoush 5. Duck confit (not pictured) - probably the only dish i wouldn't order again. It was still tasty but did not stand out as much flavor wise read more

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I'm not going to lie. If it weren't for San Diego Magazine, I probably would have never heard of Cellar Hand. Be that as it may, I did make a reservation shortly after learning of it and took my "gay" wife and best friend, Shyla - she's not, I am - there to find out for myself. The location itself has something a history, being the original site of Gossip Grill, the home of the 'two-finger' pour, so I was anxious to see how it looked, too. The place was for some time a hard place to anchor a tenant. So that we have a San Diego Magazine-endorsed restaurant holding its own is all the more noteworthy. After we sat down, our server approached and gave us a nice, short presentation of the kitchen philosophy guiding the chefs. Locally-sourced. Organic. Vitamin B-12-adjacent. All those trendy buzzwords being batted around these days. And no matter how much she denies it, I still stay our server has shades-o-Zooey Deschanel. And she struck the right balance between friendly and professional and overstaying their welcome. She was, is, and will continue to be an outstanding addition to the place. My bestie and I shared three plates, a baba ganoush-styled appetizer, a vegetable and greens salad, and then I went on to order the Crispy Skin Rockfish with Garlic toum, Fennel confit, Pole beans, and Grapefruit. And honestly, if I were Pope, I would inspire Catholics the world over to eat this on Lent then clasps hands, get on our knees and thank little Black baby Jesus for Cellar Hands. This is to say nothing of some of the most amazing bread of I've ever been served; these beautifully-textured, wafer-like sheets of pita-ish bread, topped with seeds and herbs. Holy Fuckmonth was that was good. But, If I were to change one, itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny thing...we we're sat by the front door. And I know you need to put tables there, given the space's layout, and need to maximize revenue, but it could have used some warmth, frankly. A little more lighting. Perhaps a faux wall to give the diners a sense of privacy. No matter how good the food was or is, it can't be displaced by the comings and goings and weather of the front door. But then again, if I had to sit by a door I couldn't think of a better place to do it in. So, in conclusion, and in the words of that towering figure of American History - The Terminator - I'll be back. read more

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To start off we had the most calm welcoming server, Bianca had great suggestions and the food was delicious. Any high quality ingredients is worth a great review. read more

Cellar Hand - February menu - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here on a slow Tuesday night and place doesn't look like much from the outside and there is some decent parking considering the area as it's tucked away. Menu changes pretty regularly from what I've gathered. Hard to find pictures of entrees on yelp for that reason. Ordered the smoked tuna app with some house made chips. A little salty but went will with the smokiness flavor of the dip. Went with the rib eye which had a tomato butter which was great, but my steak did taste a little old and may have been sitting in the fridge too long. Squid ink pasta I would say was the best part of the meal. Portions are just the right size here. Overall I would like to try some of the other season eats like rabbit or duck, but they don't seem to update their website so it's kind of the luck of the draw on what your going to get here. Service I would say is above average, but in the 1.5 hours we were there only two other tables were sat. Overall a great spot to eat, and I would likely come back here again. read more

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Finally tried this restaurant. I have been wanting to come here since they opened. I love nice wine bars/restaurants. We met friend there and we sat outside and though it was cool, they have heat lamps so it was very comfortable. Our server was nice and attentive. We brought our pup and they were all very sweet to him. Our friends had ordered a few shared plates before we arrived and then we ordered some other items. I totally forgot pics except for my fish. Below is what we ordered: Olives House labneh Tartare Yellowfin Pork chop Burgers Everything was pretty good. The pork cop was a little fatty but flavorful. Everyone liked their burgers. My yellowfin was yummy and they make their own "ritz" crackers. The tartare was good and so was the labneh. Overall, everything was good. My wine was very yummy as well. We will be back! read more

Cellar Hand - Menu - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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Absolutely unique and delicious dishes from starters to main courses. Fun to try a variety of them. The menu changes often. Everything tastes fresh, pure, natural, unaltered and full of flavors. Super knowledgeable staff and kind service. A great moment. read more

Went to Cellar Hand for drinks. My friend and I both got wine based cocktails. Hers was bitter just like she likes it. Mine was just ok. It was rosemary, grapefruit with sparkling rose. It tasted more like wine on ice than a cocktail. In retrospect I should have returned the drink. The place is very nice and has a lovely outdoor seating area. I wish them the best. read more

Cellar Hand - Wine cocktail - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

This place is cute. Service is very friendly. I really like food. I got the breakfast plate. My wife got the falafel wrap. We both really enjoyed our plates. I was super disappointed in the drinks. We ordered orange and grapefruit mimosas but they were so sour. We really tried to like them but didn't. We asked for the espresso martinis instead. I was disappointed that these were served in tiny plastic cups with no powder or espresso beans on top. They looked really sad. Tasted even sadder. Drinks were just not good. We couldn't finish either of them. That being said, we all really liked our food. read more

Everything I've ever eaten here is delicious. I can't believe that brunch is only on Sunday -- their brunch menu is SO good. The tuna schnitzel and chocolate babka are the MVPs. This is a cute and vibey place too. read more

Unique and thoughtfully curated menu. True farm to table will definitely be back. Also our waiter Johnny was exceptional, patient, and had great recommendations/ explained the entire menu since some plates were new to us. read more

Cellar Hand - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Perfect spot for a girls night out! Went here with 5 girlfriends and we enjoyed every second of it. The service was amazing, but the food was the star of the show! Great wine bar and tapas spot in Hillcrest and definitely a spot I want to come back to :) read more

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Walked in on a friday night and was seated immediately. We ordered several things: Aly's Crudo- this was fresh! good appetizer, but definitely on the smaller side Whipped Tahina - this was also good but definitely not enough pita for $14 Pork -the pork was so tender and the apple butter sauce melted in your mouth. this was truly amazing! Agnolotti- this was also very good, but pork was the best. Overall, love that all their ingredients are fresh and that they source locally. The service was great. A little bit on the pricier side so definitely a treat, but would love to try brunch! read more

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I came here for dinner with my wife and experienced excellent service, food, and a beautiful atmosphere. We will be back. 5 stars on every count read more

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Had such a nice dinner here! We were able to walk in with 2 people on a Saturday evening. I was a little tentative when I saw the small plates of veggies, crudos, and conservas, but turns out there was nothing to worry about! Moving from NYC, so many of those plates are such a rip off and aren't great - not the case here. The yellowtail conserva was amazing, and the homemade warm crackers really made it next level. The caulini was yummy, and the chicken liver mousse was standout - loved the little orange wine jello cubes. Our server was really nice and attentive, and their wine list is also fun and interesting. I enjoyed both the reds I tried and appreciated that they were local. read more

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Cute spot in hillcrest with a great happy hour! We were seated right away and they have a good selection of bites for happy hour and half off glasses of wine. read more

Cellar Hand - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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Cellarhand is a modern restaurant with a farm to table tapas concept! We dined here for a birthday on a Saturday night. Our waiter was helpful in the beginning with our menu selection but was not very attentive throughout the meal.For two people, we ordered the garlic toum, hukama farms carrots, and the whole rockfish. The rockfish was delicious! the garlic toum and carrots I thought were mediocre and the portions were pretty small. Overall, the ambiance was nice with but I thought the food and service could have been better. read more

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Stopped by Seller Hand and had a great experience. Their wine selection stood out with plenty of good options to choose from, and the entrées were creative and fun without feeling overdone. We made it for happy hour, which made everything feel like an even better value. The atmosphere was relaxed and easy to enjoy, whether you're catching up with friends or just unwinding. Definitely a spot I'd return to for another casual evening and a good glass of wine. read more

A wonderful dinner experience surprisingly tucked away off a busy street. Wasn't sure what to expect as I was visiting a friend, but the inside is decorated beautifully with wine to buy near check in and a great outdoor area. The hostess was friendly and our server provided great recommendations on dishes and how to course out the meal for 4 of us. I loved the various flavors of the dishes and was pleased with pretty much everything we ordered! My favorite was the labneh dipping, all three pastas (dumplings included) and the shawarma tartare. I felt very content with how much food we got and it was reasonably priced! Definitely recommend! read more

The vibe here is cool. They really boast about their locally sourced freshly made everything. Everything here is served at a smaller portion and shareable. Food here ranges from bleh to dang that's pretty good. The tuna toast here was edible, we expected more. They didn't expertly cut the sushi, there were chunks we had to spit out. The sashimi was under seasoned and lacked flavor. The fried green tomato's were barely edible sans the sauce. The best item was the tahini which you can grab at Trader Joe's, but the pita was legit. Waiter was forward but friendly, disappeared for maybe 15 minutes but came back ready to do what we needed next. Lots of well off middle aged folk here. It's decent but it doesn't make my must try list. read more

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Best brunch! Sat outside at the bar, beautiful weather, heat lamps on, great vibe, uber comfortable. Best service with our awesome bartender Josh. Wine knowledgeable (this place is owned by a Santa Barbara wine group). Expect a foodie menu, great atmosphere and terrific service. $25 endless mimosas. Definitely check them out! read more

Cellar Hand - A lot of meat! - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

I dont even know where to start. We came here on a Friday evening and sat at the inside bar. So happy we did. Steven, our waiter/bartender, helped make the entire experience. He talked us through the menu in great detail, and his recommendations were spot on. The bluefin appetizer was fresh and perfect. The orange wine was crisp and dry and went perfectly with everything. We got two of the specials, the cavitelli and the scallops. The scallops may have been the best i ever had. Normally i am not a dessert person, but the carrot cake was also just perfect and not too sweet. We will definitely be going back many times in the future. Such a great new place! read more

Cellar Hand - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Overall an enjoyable experience! Very small food menu - but the small bites we got were enjoyable. The Tahina had a nice pistachio reduction of sorts that went on top, it was our favorite dish. The flavors were enjoyable and the flatbread went really nicely with the Tahina. We also got a small yogurt dish with caramelized onions. I enjoyed that one a bit less as I didn't feel the flavors worked well together. I enjoyed the wine offerings and would perhaps stop back in for another happy hour. read more

4 of us came here for brunch and had a wonderful time. First of all, the space is large and nicely mixed indoor / outdoor. We sat at a table right by the outside, but with shade. The service was good to great. I would say, there is room for improvement, but not anything egregious. It took a bit for our waitress to come to us and we wanted to order an app and coffee, but she quickly left after bringing water and didn't introduce herself, and asked if we wanted anything but left before we answered. The food was fantastic. Two of us ordered the basic breakfast, which comes with 2 eggs with delicious pork belly bacon and crispy potatoes, with two slices of thick bread and blackberry jam. Very good. My husband ordered the shakshuka, which was very good also. Our other friend got the dark chocolate babka - comes with a sauce on it, which should just be on the side. The babaganoush app was fantastic - definitely get that! Plan to spend $25-30 per person. read more

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Came for good wine + shareable, small plates and that is what we received! Everything was so flavorful and fresh-tasting. The patio is also lovely on a breezy, summer night. The current dessert offerings were the only thing that didn't impress (they look better than they taste imo). Good service, albeit a little helicopter-y. Full transparency I was a little shocked when the bill came out lol. Wasn't expecting it to be $75 per person without any entrees. But if you're cool to spend that much to snack, then I totally recommend coming here, and often. read more

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Wanted to try someplace new so we picked Cellar Hand for their farm to table menu. We were greeted warmly and seated at a table by the window. Avalon was our server. Ordered the rockfish crudo, Caulini, Carrots, and the Ribeye. The rockfish crudo was very fresh and had a nice brightness with kumquat slices, the caulini and carrots were amazing with some zaatar on both and the ribeye cooked perfectly medium rare. We ordered the chocolate orange dessert. A wonderful finish to our meal. Kudos to the chef for the combinations of flavors in each dish. We'll definitely be back. read more

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Great food, great drinks, great service, great vibe. Definitely worth going back again. read more

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The food was incredibly underwhelming for what you pay for and what it was. The description sounds wonderful but when you take a bite, I'm just so underwhelmed. Service was great, our server took very good care of us and knew exactly how to course out the food. Ambiance was pretty casual, you come here just for happy hour, not a nice fancy dinner like they advertise to be. They do family style which we love but oddly enough the family style dishes were not really "family style" they were pretty small and at best share between two people. Either way there were 4 of us and we were disappointed leaving considering how much we spent. Not worth it read more

I was walking by with my daughter and she suggested that we go to this place because she had read about it online. The music that they play is very cool and we walked around the place to check it out and we were intrigued by the menu, so we decided to have a little happy hour. Happy hours between four and five, which coincidentally was the time that we were walking by so we lucked out. I ordered the liver pate and she ordered the tahini and we also ordered some castelvetrano olives. The tahini with warm flatbread was Fantastic.. served with a pesto and pomegranate. Wow. The olives had a little spice sprinkle with was really good. The pate was a traditional French style, which was absolutely delicious.I really recommend this restaurant read more

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It took longer than anticipated, but the owners of Pali Wine have now opened Cellar Hand in the Pride Plaza of Hillcrest. About half of the seating was on the adjacent outdoor patio along the east side of the structure that had several fire pits included. The open air interior could seat another 60 customers. Currently, only dinner is served from Wednesday to Sunday, but the plan is to add a weekend brunch. Hyper-local was the focus of the menu as the kitchen tried to execute the farm-to-table concept by using numerous local suppliers. The categories were Raw, Conserva (preserved food in tins/jars), For Dipping, and Dinner. A note on the bottom stated that "We politely decline modifications." I wonder how diners with allergies or certain health conditions can comply with this request? I started my meal with the Bluefin Nduja Toast from the Raw section. Meyer lemon and dill were the seasonings to the diced bluefin tuna that was spread on top of a piece of toast. I appreciated the freshness of the tuna. To stick with the seafood theme, I then ordered the Grilled Whole Rockfish from the twelve Dinner choices. The locally caught fish was so large that a bigger plate was needed to hold the serving. Meyer labne, cucumber, dill, ruby reds, and radish were the garnishments. Since some bones were still present, a separate small dish to hold the picked bones was needed. Either that or if the chef could have completely deboned the Rockfish, then that would have made eating this entree more simple. The tartness from the dill and the acid from the ruby reds provided a sharp contrast to the strong fishy odor. The cost of this item was very reasonable as many restaurants would charge over $40. For a soft opening, I thought the operations flowed pretty well while the place was about 3/4 full during my visit. The waitress checked on me frequently and was pleasant. I gave a four star rating for my dinner at Cellar Hand. read more

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