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I recently dined at City Cellars for the first time and had the chance to check out their restaurant week menu. I easily found free street parking nearby. There's also a gravel lot not too far away if you don't mind walking a little farther. Valet parking at the restaurant is available as well. The place has a beautiful view of the Houston's East End River from the patio. The ambiance was nice with tasteful r&b music playing in the background. I dined there around 4 pm and they actually have a pause between lunch and dinner so we ended up waiting a bit for dinner service to start. Otherwise cocktails and appetizers are available during the lunch/dinner gap. It was a hot one during my visit and the sun kept seeming to chase us as on the patio. We kept switching tables trying to escape it. Tip: sit on the side of the patio near the street were the comfy couch-like patio seating is to hide from the sun around 3-5 pm. Our waitress, Heavenly, definitely lived up to her name. She was super sweet, hospitable and helpful. Other than the smothered chicken which was a solid 2 stars for me. This place was a solid 4. The appetizer: calamari was good and also had pieces of large delicious shrimp mixed in. I couldn't stop eating it. My main entree, the smothered chicken however, was flavorless. The chicken was completely bland as was the sauce it was smothered with. This is the reason for my three star review. The other entree we had, the lamb chops were very good. Flavorful, crisply blackened on the outside and cooked to a perfectly juicy medium/medium rare temperature on the inside. The toffee cheesecake and chocolate mousse desserts were decadent and both the perfect size. They taste really good when you mix them together.
Nut allergy friendly: No issues for HRW, they said it was only a salad that would have nuts and that's not in the menu. Time to Drinks: 20 Minutes Time to Appetizer: 55 Minutes Time to Entree: 2 Hours. Yes, that's not a typo Time to Dessert: 2 Hours, 35 Minutes Parking: Parked in the garage, ask the waitress to validate. They add a voucher tag that is supposedly good for two hours. Mine had trouble scanning and it worked anyway so.. take that how you will. We came for Houston Restaurant Week with a reservation at 6:15PM for three people. Our intent was to try the menu without any of the upcharged items, but somehow they were out of the braised short rib and the chocolate marquise, so we had to order upcharges. Kind of weird. I really wanted to like this spot, and I get that they're pretty understaffed with only two waitstaff. Nevertheless, there were so many problems that I can't recommend things. First, we were here for over three hours. The owner (?) admitted they somehow lost our entree ticket after 1.5 full hours. Then they said our orders would be out within five minutes. We waited an entire 25 extra minutes for any food. 2 hours before entrees. They comped us a round of drinks but I'm going to be real, I would rather have had an hour of my life back than a free drink. Let's start with food. Appetizers: Beef & Bacon Sliders (2/5): Two sliders. They went with a spice char for the burgers that did not work. It was overwhelmingly burned and the buns way too buttery. Texture wasn't great. Not enough arugula to offset it. Crab Cake (3/5): Two crab cakes. This was overwhelmingly salty. Seriously, please serve some lemon or sauce with it. The texture was OK but it was waaay too salty. Calamari (3.5/5): The southern cornmeal battered shrimp was a surprising pleasant addition here. The calamari was crispy, and the best portions of any appetizer dish. I'd get this out of the options again. Mains: Smothered Chicken (1.5/5 protein, 3.5/5 sides): The chicken was disturbingly tough and dry. The sides were the highlight, with the crawfish and sauce blending well with the potatoes, and the broccolini were way better than asparagus in other dishes. Lamb Chops (3.5/5 protein, 1.5/5 sides): The lamb chops were very one dimensional and that dimension was gamey. Salt and some flavor, not much else going. The potatoes felt overcooked and the asparagus were wilted. Worst sides by far. Lastly we asked for medium rare and they were definitely medium if not well done. Redfish Pontchartrain (2.5/5 protein, 2/5 sides): It's like they amped up the saltiness of the crab and made it fish. Seriously, it was way too salty on shrimp and fish. The asparagus were half undercooked and half OK. Desserts: We got all but the chocolate marquise. Common theme here is that they were all extremely rich and sugary. Textures were great. I won't score because I don't like sweet desserts in general so they'd all be 2/5 at best. Toffee Cheesecake: It's fine. Red Velvet: Horrendously dry. I think I've had better cake at HEB. Butterscotch brownie: Ice cream came melted. Textures okay, bit burned. We tried 9 different drinks in total. These were probably the best part of the meal. I enjoyed the frose to start. The H town hideaway was solid. The smokin in the park and Illegal bills were nice smoky drinks that weren't too sweet. Honestly, just come for the happy hour. Lastly, they promised $10 gift cards for HRW but it's actually $10 off $50. Sorry, there's no way I'm spending $50 here again, maybe for happy hour? I respect their attempt at an apology with a free round of drinks and recognition of the lost entree tickets. But ultimately they lied to us about timing on the entrees, the food fell flat despite a wait, and we watched entire parties come and go as we waited. A free drink isn't making up for a terrible experience and I ultimately ran late for an appointment while paying over $100 for one of the worst meals I've had in Houston ($55 HRW+$14 lamb+2 drinks +tip). The drinks are the saving grace.
I love the vibe of this restaurant. It's located in the East River development and the large outdoor patio has a beautiful view overlooking Buffalo Bayou (no smell thank goodness) and a glimpse of the downtown skyline. I've visited City Cellars for brunch and dinner and was lucky enough to experience live music both times which really made it a lovely experience. I think the drinks here are made really well so I pretty much love to relax outside and just enjoy the view. As far as the food options, I haven't been blown away just yet. I enjoyed the calamari appetizer I had however, the short rib lacked flavor and a bit overcooked in my opinion. For brunch I thought the variety of bruschetta options was really neat so decided to try the smoked salmon and crawfish (waitress pick). I preferred the smoked salmon one it was savory and the capers on top was a nice touch. The crawfish one tasted very bland. I didn't even think crawfish and bland could go together but that was my experience with this meal. I'll still come back to support this establishment for many reasons, the well made drinks, atmosphere and the restaurants mission and values. I'm often in the East River/ 5th ward area for work and I was really happy to hear how the owner stands behind the community by creating an apprenticeship program for the community. I love a good cause, so for that I'll always find the good where I can! I'd definitely recommend checking it out for yourself.
I had city cellar on my list for a while so me and my friends decided to meet there for a lunch. When we arrived we weren't sure where to park but we found this parking garage near us and it seemed to be free and walking distance. When we arrived it was surprisingly empty around lunch time but it was MLK day and I'm assuming people normally come in the evenings for drinks with the skyline behind. We looked through the menu, as a vegetarian it seemed very much like typical American food with not too many veggie options. I opted to do two of the brusettas and we shared the sriracha Mac and cheese balls. The brusettas were pretty basic and the cheese balls were good creamy and spicy. During our time we were constantly swatting flies - I think because this patio is by the water, the flies love the area and there's so much food. Flies ended up in my water cup. It was quite windy as well outside so a lot of tissues blew away. It also does get hot but you can ask the waitress to open the umbrella which helps sometime depending on the angle of the sun. The views from the patio was very nice with the skyline present. I see the appeal of this place because of the view and location however the flies really didn't make it as enjoyable and the food is pretty average so I probably won't be back.
Terrible Sunday Brunch Experience -- Inconsistent Service and Disappointing Food Today's experience was night and day compared to my first visit on a Friday evening. That initial experience was lovely, which is why I decided to return. Unfortunately, Sunday brunch felt like I was visiting two completely different restaurants. When we arrived for our reservation, we were seated in an establishment that was not packed, yet our table was uncomfortably close to another group. Our waiter arrived shortly after and took our drink order. A staff member came to fill our water glasses, realized they were dirty, and promptly replaced them without hesitation. I also asked her about a parking validation sticker for the garage and was told she would bring it to me. She never did. We then sat for approximately 30 minutes waiting on our drinks, and we had not even ordered our food. During this time, our waiter attended to the table beside us and repeatedly walked past our table. I eventually had to stop her and ask if she would be taking our order. She apologized and explained that she was also working the bar. When we ordered, I asked about the watermelon ice cube and watermelon garnish advertised with my drink. I was informed that they were out of both, but this was never communicated before ordering. I understand that restaurants run out of ingredients, but customers should be informed when advertised components are unavailable. I also ordered spinach dip to go. The presentation was unappetizing (see attached photo), and after tasting it later, I found it overwhelmingly cheesy and disappointing. What makes this more frustrating is that the menu states the restaurant takes pride in its recipes and discourages modifications, yet recipe changes due to unavailable ingredients were not disclosed to customers. Our to-go order arrived before our meals. When our food finally arrived, it was underwhelming. My breakfast pizza crust was burnt on one side, and my mom described her meal as just okay. The parking validation situation was another example of poor communication. I asked our waiter about the sticker again, and she directed me to the hostess. After paying, I stopped at the front desk and asked for the sticker for the third time. The hostess consulted Manager Daniel Trevor and returned to tell me they did not have stickers and that the restaurant had nothing to do with the parking garage. If that is the case, why did three different interactions with City Cellars staff leave me believing they could provide one, instead of simply explaining from the beginning that parking validation was not offered? We asked to speak with the manager, but he would not come over to address our concerns. We could visibly see him nearby assisting with meal preparation, yet he chose not to acknowledge us or attempt to rectify the situation. From the poor communication and lengthy wait times to the disappointing food and lack of managerial accountability, this was a terrible customer service experience from start to finish. I will not be returning. If you decide to visit, go at your own risk.
Came here for Easter brunch with an 11:30 reservation and showed up about 20 minutes early -- we were seated right away, which was a great start. We kicked things off with a Bloody Mary and a rosé. They didn't have the rosé we ordered and had to substitute another label, which was a little disappointing, but not a big deal. For food, we ordered the Bananas Foster French Toast and the Short Rib Grilled Cheese. Both were excellent. The French toast comes with three super thick slices (seriously, about 1¼ inches thick), topped with bananas and drenched in caramel sauce. The portion is huge and definitely shareable. The Short Rib Grilled Cheese was served on thick sourdough with a generous amount of short rib and a cheddar-heavy cheese blend. It came with a massive pile of crispy, double-fried French fries that were ridiculously good. The indoor ambiance is nice, but the patio would definitely be the place to sit when the weather cooperates. Great views of Buffalo Bayou and the downtown skyline too. Would absolutely order both dishes again!
This place has been on my list for sometime - so glad i was able to stop in. The bartenders were wonderful - very personable - and definitely know how to make a cocktail. Our group had a wide variety of appetizers - and everything was delish!! Only thing I would suggest is add a few more crostini's to the spinach artichoke dip - 6 is not a good crostini / dip ratio. You have the ability to valet or self park in the garage. If you self park, the walk back feels very safe. Definitely recommend!
Ambiance 10/10, service is good. I have been about 4 times, and I will be back. However, the food is a hit or miss - meaning, sometimes they do not have the ingredients to make the meal, which is confusing. Sometimes there is a DJ and sometimes there is live music.
Food was amazing. Our group of ladies loved the bruschetta board! We also shared the Redfish, Shortrib, and Ceasar salad and LOVED everything! The space is beautiful and modern. The live jazz music was also really good!
We just had one of THE BEST crab cakes in all of Houston. No lie. I order them anytime it's on the menu at any restaurant, and this is my favorite in Houston at the moment. We've gone to City Cellars for brunch and dinner (during HRW). Our brunch experience was probably our favorite. Sitting outside with mimosas, good music, and--gumbo for brunch? Yes... Our recent dinner experience could have been better. Loved my champagne flight. Loved said crab cakes. But the beau's steak--ordered medium rare--was more well done. He was too hungry when the food arrived that it wasn't worth the hassle to send back. The veggies that accompanied it were nicely charred and had a smokey flavor. And the nanner pudding was a sweet surprise!
We had a girls night out. We enjoyed everything! Food, drinks, music, staff...all amazing. We will be back!
I honestly don't understand the bad reviews because I love City Cellars! Every visit I've had has been such a positive experience. The food is truly incredible everything is made from scratch, and you can taste the quality in every bite. Their scratch biscuits are insanely good and I'm not even a Benedict girl, but their salmon & egg Benedict has literally changed my life The staff is always sweet, the vibes are great, and the drinks are spectacular, made well and never watered down. Pricing is a little on the higher side, but you absolutely get what you pay for. Plus, they have some of the BEST fries! I'm also so happy they finally added outdoor heaters for the cooler months, the patio view is such a vibe and now you can enjoy it comfortably. My only tiny wishlist item would be purse hooks on the tables or even just bag hooks in the bathroom. Other than that, it's truly a 10/10 spot I'll keep coming back to.
The strongest points of this restaurant is definitely the patio view. The food was consistently same just OK level, when checked out few times. Service is sometimes slower and they mixed the order when shift changed. As the restaurant itself is pretty with beautiful view form patio, I would recommend this place for a evening out drinks and chat with appetizers.
What a fun vibe! We came in for a friends' dinner and really enjoyed the energy of the place. It was lively, there was live music outside, and the patio has a stunning view of the downtown Houston skyline. Appetizers were probably the highlight of the food for me. We especially enjoyed the calamari and shrimp. Dinner itself was okay. My fish was a bit overcooked. Drinks were very tasty with a great selection. Service was attentive throughout the evening. My biggest complaint would definitely be the acoustics. It is loud inside, and this had nothing to do with the live music outside. Even our server mentioned she had lost her voice from having to speak so loudly over the noise. Overall, I really enjoyed the vibe and energy, and it's in a neat area of east Houston that seems to be developing quite a bit. I'd definitely go back and give it another try, especially to explore a few different dishes. read more
1 month ago
2 months ago
I recently dined at City Cellars for the first time and had the chance to check out their restaurant week menu. I easily found free street parking nearby. There's also a gravel lot not too far away if you don't mind walking a little farther. Valet parking at the restaurant is available as well. The place has a beautiful view of the Houston's East End River from the patio. The ambiance was nice with tasteful r&b music playing in the background. I dined there around 4 pm and they actually have a pause between lunch and dinner so we ended up waiting a bit for dinner service to start. Otherwise cocktails and appetizers are available during the lunch/dinner gap. It was a hot one during my visit and the sun kept seeming to chase us as on the patio. We kept switching tables trying to escape it. Tip: sit on the side of the patio near the street were the comfy couch-like patio seating is to hide from the sun around 3-5 pm. Our waitress, Heavenly, definitely lived up to her name. She was super sweet, hospitable and helpful. Other than the smothered chicken which was a solid 2 stars for me. This place was a solid 4. The appetizer: calamari was good and also had pieces of large delicious shrimp mixed in. I couldn't stop eating it. My main entree, the smothered chicken however, was flavorless. The chicken was completely bland as was the sauce it was smothered with. This is the reason for my three star review. The other entree we had, the lamb chops were very good. Flavorful, crisply blackened on the outside and cooked to a perfectly juicy medium/medium rare temperature on the inside. The toffee cheesecake and chocolate mousse desserts were decadent and both the perfect size. They taste really good when you mix them together. read more
Nut allergy friendly: No issues for HRW, they said it was only a salad that would have nuts and that's not in the menu. Time to Drinks: 20 Minutes Time to Appetizer: 55 Minutes Time to Entree: 2 Hours. Yes, that's not a typo Time to Dessert: 2 Hours, 35 Minutes Parking: Parked in the garage, ask the waitress to validate. They add a voucher tag that is supposedly good for two hours. Mine had trouble scanning and it worked anyway so.. take that how you will. We came for Houston Restaurant Week with a reservation at 6:15PM for three people. Our intent was to try the menu without any of the upcharged items, but somehow they were out of the braised short rib and the chocolate marquise, so we had to order upcharges. Kind of weird. I really wanted to like this spot, and I get that they're pretty understaffed with only two waitstaff. Nevertheless, there were so many problems that I can't recommend things. First, we were here for over three hours. The owner (?) admitted they somehow lost our entree ticket after 1.5 full hours. Then they said our orders would be out within five minutes. We waited an entire 25 extra minutes for any food. 2 hours before entrees. They comped us a round of drinks but I'm going to be real, I would rather have had an hour of my life back than a free drink. Let's start with food. Appetizers: Beef & Bacon Sliders (2/5): Two sliders. They went with a spice char for the burgers that did not work. It was overwhelmingly burned and the buns way too buttery. Texture wasn't great. Not enough arugula to offset it. Crab Cake (3/5): Two crab cakes. This was overwhelmingly salty. Seriously, please serve some lemon or sauce with it. The texture was OK but it was waaay too salty. Calamari (3.5/5): The southern cornmeal battered shrimp was a surprising pleasant addition here. The calamari was crispy, and the best portions of any appetizer dish. I'd get this out of the options again. Mains: Smothered Chicken (1.5/5 protein, 3.5/5 sides): The chicken was disturbingly tough and dry. The sides were the highlight, with the crawfish and sauce blending well with the potatoes, and the broccolini were way better than asparagus in other dishes. Lamb Chops (3.5/5 protein, 1.5/5 sides): The lamb chops were very one dimensional and that dimension was gamey. Salt and some flavor, not much else going. The potatoes felt overcooked and the asparagus were wilted. Worst sides by far. Lastly we asked for medium rare and they were definitely medium if not well done. Redfish Pontchartrain (2.5/5 protein, 2/5 sides): It's like they amped up the saltiness of the crab and made it fish. Seriously, it was way too salty on shrimp and fish. The asparagus were half undercooked and half OK. Desserts: We got all but the chocolate marquise. Common theme here is that they were all extremely rich and sugary. Textures were great. I won't score because I don't like sweet desserts in general so they'd all be 2/5 at best. Toffee Cheesecake: It's fine. Red Velvet: Horrendously dry. I think I've had better cake at HEB. Butterscotch brownie: Ice cream came melted. Textures okay, bit burned. We tried 9 different drinks in total. These were probably the best part of the meal. I enjoyed the frose to start. The H town hideaway was solid. The smokin in the park and Illegal bills were nice smoky drinks that weren't too sweet. Honestly, just come for the happy hour. Lastly, they promised $10 gift cards for HRW but it's actually $10 off $50. Sorry, there's no way I'm spending $50 here again, maybe for happy hour? I respect their attempt at an apology with a free round of drinks and recognition of the lost entree tickets. But ultimately they lied to us about timing on the entrees, the food fell flat despite a wait, and we watched entire parties come and go as we waited. A free drink isn't making up for a terrible experience and I ultimately ran late for an appointment while paying over $100 for one of the worst meals I've had in Houston ($55 HRW+$14 lamb+2 drinks +tip). The drinks are the saving grace. read more
I love the vibe of this restaurant. It's located in the East River development and the large outdoor patio has a beautiful view overlooking Buffalo Bayou (no smell thank goodness) and a glimpse of the downtown skyline. I've visited City Cellars for brunch and dinner and was lucky enough to experience live music both times which really made it a lovely experience. I think the drinks here are made really well so I pretty much love to relax outside and just enjoy the view. As far as the food options, I haven't been blown away just yet. I enjoyed the calamari appetizer I had however, the short rib lacked flavor and a bit overcooked in my opinion. For brunch I thought the variety of bruschetta options was really neat so decided to try the smoked salmon and crawfish (waitress pick). I preferred the smoked salmon one it was savory and the capers on top was a nice touch. The crawfish one tasted very bland. I didn't even think crawfish and bland could go together but that was my experience with this meal. I'll still come back to support this establishment for many reasons, the well made drinks, atmosphere and the restaurants mission and values. I'm often in the East River/ 5th ward area for work and I was really happy to hear how the owner stands behind the community by creating an apprenticeship program for the community. I love a good cause, so for that I'll always find the good where I can! I'd definitely recommend checking it out for yourself. read more
I had city cellar on my list for a while so me and my friends decided to meet there for a lunch. When we arrived we weren't sure where to park but we found this parking garage near us and it seemed to be free and walking distance. When we arrived it was surprisingly empty around lunch time but it was MLK day and I'm assuming people normally come in the evenings for drinks with the skyline behind. We looked through the menu, as a vegetarian it seemed very much like typical American food with not too many veggie options. I opted to do two of the brusettas and we shared the sriracha Mac and cheese balls. The brusettas were pretty basic and the cheese balls were good creamy and spicy. During our time we were constantly swatting flies - I think because this patio is by the water, the flies love the area and there's so much food. Flies ended up in my water cup. It was quite windy as well outside so a lot of tissues blew away. It also does get hot but you can ask the waitress to open the umbrella which helps sometime depending on the angle of the sun. The views from the patio was very nice with the skyline present. I see the appeal of this place because of the view and location however the flies really didn't make it as enjoyable and the food is pretty average so I probably won't be back. read more
20 days ago
Terrible Sunday Brunch Experience -- Inconsistent Service and Disappointing Food Today's experience was night and day compared to my first visit on a Friday evening. That initial experience was lovely, which is why I decided to return. Unfortunately, Sunday brunch felt like I was visiting two completely different restaurants. When we arrived for our reservation, we were seated in an establishment that was not packed, yet our table was uncomfortably close to another group. Our waiter arrived shortly after and took our drink order. A staff member came to fill our water glasses, realized they were dirty, and promptly replaced them without hesitation. I also asked her about a parking validation sticker for the garage and was told she would bring it to me. She never did. We then sat for approximately 30 minutes waiting on our drinks, and we had not even ordered our food. During this time, our waiter attended to the table beside us and repeatedly walked past our table. I eventually had to stop her and ask if she would be taking our order. She apologized and explained that she was also working the bar. When we ordered, I asked about the watermelon ice cube and watermelon garnish advertised with my drink. I was informed that they were out of both, but this was never communicated before ordering. I understand that restaurants run out of ingredients, but customers should be informed when advertised components are unavailable. I also ordered spinach dip to go. The presentation was unappetizing (see attached photo), and after tasting it later, I found it overwhelmingly cheesy and disappointing. What makes this more frustrating is that the menu states the restaurant takes pride in its recipes and discourages modifications, yet recipe changes due to unavailable ingredients were not disclosed to customers. Our to-go order arrived before our meals. When our food finally arrived, it was underwhelming. My breakfast pizza crust was burnt on one side, and my mom described her meal as just okay. The parking validation situation was another example of poor communication. I asked our waiter about the sticker again, and she directed me to the hostess. After paying, I stopped at the front desk and asked for the sticker for the third time. The hostess consulted Manager Daniel Trevor and returned to tell me they did not have stickers and that the restaurant had nothing to do with the parking garage. If that is the case, why did three different interactions with City Cellars staff leave me believing they could provide one, instead of simply explaining from the beginning that parking validation was not offered? We asked to speak with the manager, but he would not come over to address our concerns. We could visibly see him nearby assisting with meal preparation, yet he chose not to acknowledge us or attempt to rectify the situation. From the poor communication and lengthy wait times to the disappointing food and lack of managerial accountability, this was a terrible customer service experience from start to finish. I will not be returning. If you decide to visit, go at your own risk. read more
Came here for Easter brunch with an 11:30 reservation and showed up about 20 minutes early -- we were seated right away, which was a great start. We kicked things off with a Bloody Mary and a rosé. They didn't have the rosé we ordered and had to substitute another label, which was a little disappointing, but not a big deal. For food, we ordered the Bananas Foster French Toast and the Short Rib Grilled Cheese. Both were excellent. The French toast comes with three super thick slices (seriously, about 1¼ inches thick), topped with bananas and drenched in caramel sauce. The portion is huge and definitely shareable. The Short Rib Grilled Cheese was served on thick sourdough with a generous amount of short rib and a cheddar-heavy cheese blend. It came with a massive pile of crispy, double-fried French fries that were ridiculously good. The indoor ambiance is nice, but the patio would definitely be the place to sit when the weather cooperates. Great views of Buffalo Bayou and the downtown skyline too. Would absolutely order both dishes again! read more
7 months ago
This place has been on my list for sometime - so glad i was able to stop in. The bartenders were wonderful - very personable - and definitely know how to make a cocktail. Our group had a wide variety of appetizers - and everything was delish!! Only thing I would suggest is add a few more crostini's to the spinach artichoke dip - 6 is not a good crostini / dip ratio. You have the ability to valet or self park in the garage. If you self park, the walk back feels very safe. Definitely recommend! read more
4 months ago
Ambiance 10/10, service is good. I have been about 4 times, and I will be back. However, the food is a hit or miss - meaning, sometimes they do not have the ingredients to make the meal, which is confusing. Sometimes there is a DJ and sometimes there is live music. read more
23 days ago
Food was amazing. Our group of ladies loved the bruschetta board! We also shared the Redfish, Shortrib, and Ceasar salad and LOVED everything! The space is beautiful and modern. The live jazz music was also really good! read more
We just had one of THE BEST crab cakes in all of Houston. No lie. I order them anytime it's on the menu at any restaurant, and this is my favorite in Houston at the moment. We've gone to City Cellars for brunch and dinner (during HRW). Our brunch experience was probably our favorite. Sitting outside with mimosas, good music, and--gumbo for brunch? Yes... Our recent dinner experience could have been better. Loved my champagne flight. Loved said crab cakes. But the beau's steak--ordered medium rare--was more well done. He was too hungry when the food arrived that it wasn't worth the hassle to send back. The veggies that accompanied it were nicely charred and had a smokey flavor. And the nanner pudding was a sweet surprise! read more
Business owner information
Daniel W.
Thank you so much for your kind words and we're glad you had a great…
2 months ago
We had a girls night out. We enjoyed everything! Food, drinks, music, staff...all amazing. We will be back! read more
21 days ago
10 months ago
I honestly don't understand the bad reviews because I love City Cellars! Every visit I've had has been such a positive experience. The food is truly incredible everything is made from scratch, and you can taste the quality in every bite. Their scratch biscuits are insanely good and I'm not even a Benedict girl, but their salmon & egg Benedict has literally changed my life The staff is always sweet, the vibes are great, and the drinks are spectacular, made well and never watered down. Pricing is a little on the higher side, but you absolutely get what you pay for. Plus, they have some of the BEST fries! I'm also so happy they finally added outdoor heaters for the cooler months, the patio view is such a vibe and now you can enjoy it comfortably. My only tiny wishlist item would be purse hooks on the tables or even just bag hooks in the bathroom. Other than that, it's truly a 10/10 spot I'll keep coming back to. read more
10 months ago
The strongest points of this restaurant is definitely the patio view. The food was consistently same just OK level, when checked out few times. Service is sometimes slower and they mixed the order when shift changed. As the restaurant itself is pretty with beautiful view form patio, I would recommend this place for a evening out drinks and chat with appetizers. read more
2 months ago
The drinks are amazing at this place!! Service is great, ask for Robert at the bar or patio for happy hour, his service is always great!! The ambiance is great all around, the garden has shade and lets the breeze in, inside is pretty nice too, the music the vibes. Let me tell you happy hour is amazing here, brunch, and for lunch read more
11 months ago
Back for the 2nd time and it was just as lovely as the first time back in August. Originally, I went to catch a sunset happy hour but this time I went for a quick lunch with a peer. The lunch menu provided "business" lunch deal for $25 where you select an appetizer and entree. (Side note: you can also order from the full menu which provided as well) There were some options that you could choose for an up-charge. I chose crab cakes (+ $8) for my app and shrimp & grits for the entree. My peer selected calamari and a turkey club. All dishes came out quick and were fresh and hot. The server was friendly and kept our waters and my strawberry lemonade refilled. She also helped me decide on an entree option when I couldn't decide. We sat on the patio which gives a really nice view of downtown, the bayou and walking paths. read more
11 months ago
Came here during happy hour with two of my friends and it may just be the best happy hour special in Houston! The snacks there's was quite a bit to choose from and were basically all $10 and they all sounded good! They ran out of the two flavors of bruschetta I wanted which was a bummer and out of the flavors we did get the elote one was the best , I probably would've liked them more had they had the burrata and the margherita I think was the other one that was out? But the dumplings, sliders, and fried Mac and cheese we loved The drinks on happy hour also some of the best deals in town all under $10 read more
Patio with good views. Service and atmosphere: All staff members were friendly and polite. Our server was attentive and helpful. The restaurant is located in the new development area surrounded by office buildings and new businesses. The interior was modern and clean. They have separate bar area and big patios outside overlooking Houston bayou and downtown. Food and drinks: The menu offers many interesting options. I chose the bowl with hearty vegetables and grains and added steak to it for extra $10. The food was okay. I expected a bit more flavour and the dish was lacking seasoning. Most of the components on the plate were coated with oil which made the food monotone. They definitely offer extended list of drinks (cocktails, wines, beers). We didn't get to try it during the visit. Pricing: $$ read more
3 months ago
22 days ago
Excellent food and terrific service from Robert at the bar! We love the happy hour prices on wine . The redfish with crab and shrimp was delicious, and all the food looked amazing! Can't wait to go back again! read more
Let's say Cute! This place is a nice spot to just unwind solo, go on a date, or just catch up with friends. It's outside time! The patio was packed. We went for happy hour. Very nice menu. The food was meh. I love Calamari but it fried in cornmeal was a first. I don't like it. It also had shrimp and a couple shishito peppers. The idea of a grilled lemon, on point. We also got the dumplings and fried green tomatoes. All these entrees were served at room temp. Probably it was mot picked up by the waitress on time because the kitchen set up looks like it was cooked at order. My favorite was the friend green tomatoes. I felt it was a little thin in that I had to take all the cornmeal off to actually enjoy the fried green tomatoes but that crab meat and sauce complimented it so well. We also had the bruschetta board. It was good and held the bext day. The bread was a burnt a little which was not a delight to me but my friend like that about it. They have wine, back of the bar items, and House favorites that are on happy hour for drinks. You will definitely find what you are looking for $10. We were able to see the sun set an enjoy the night view of downtown. The weird thing is the floor does shake a bit. Parking sucks. If you can't find street parking it is $15 to valet. Just like a few other establishments, they add a 20% gratuity. I hope this isn't to compensate because they don't pay fair wages to their employees. Luckily our server, Dee, actually deserved it. I will be vack to try their full menu. But will likely not frequent this place because of the parking. read more
1 year ago
I went to City Cellars for a work lunch on Friday and we both decided to try the Houston Restaurant Weeks menu. Apparently, if one person at the table orders it, everyone has to--something to keep in mind if you go with a group. We went family-style for the first courses and shared Brussels sprouts and crab cakes. Both were solid starters. For mains, I got the lamb chops and eggs while my coworker went with the steak and eggs. The lamb chops were a little fatty, but the steak was huge and cooked well. City Cellars has a nice, relaxed atmosphere with pretty decent views of downtown. Overall, it was a good lunch spot and I'm interested in coming back for happy hour or an early evening visit to see what the vibe is like then. read more
Super poor experience here. Service is extremely slow, the food (although decent) and is extremely overpriced, and our server, DJ, had never tried any of the drinks of the menu. We asked for flavor pallets of specific cocktails, to which he knew none of, so we asked if we don't like a drink were we allowed to swap it out; he said yes as long as it's the same price. We got a drink that was labeled as " Smoky and sweet" and it was so beyond sweet to the point of being bitter. It was horrible. We ask him if we can swap it out for one that's the same price and he decided to charge us for them both. We reminded him that he told us that we could swap it out and he said yes, you can swap it, but you're still going to pay for both... To pretend he doesn't know what swapping out means is an insult of intelligence. When we asked for the manager, he confirmed this undisclosed protocol. Being a previous server myself, it's jarring to have servers who don't know what the drinks taste like, as sometimes the only way to understand what a craft cocktail tastes like is through the lens of someone who already knows. However, when we brought this up, him and the managers response was "well this is why we tell you everything that's in the drink so you can make the decision for yourself." On top of this, valet has raised to $10 and there is auto-gratuity on checks. I likely won't ever return here, as the service has rubbed me very wrong. The only redeemable quality was the patio, however, only if you like extremely loud music and water spraying in your face while eating. read more
3 months ago
Came here to try the brunch menu and was pretty impressed. The restaurant is beautiful and spacious and our service was great. There was a little snafu about one of our party's orders, but it was resolved quickly. The menu is vast and I had a difficult time picking. I chose the pineapple mimosa, Mac and cheese balls, the build your own brunch and the bruschetta to take home. Everything was fantastic! Although the items were on the pricier side, the portions were more than generous. Some drawbacks: the parking is difficult. There are some lots and street parking or the garage, but the walk will take a few minutes, especially in the sun. Seating was spacious and we had a nice view, though covered areas outside were limited and it was very very hot. I would definitely recommend going on a cool day or sitting indoors. Overall, a nice experience! read more
1 year ago
Update! This was my third time at City Cellars and they've quickly become one of my favorite spots near Downtown. I dined during Houston Restaurant Weeks and, surprisingly, Daniel had turned this business around! Sean, my server, was full of life, super attentive, made a few jokes, carefully went over their HRW menu -- Also, you simply won't find too many places that offer happy hour on Sundays. Great specials! Whether dining inside or outside there's plenty of seating, the parking area just a quick 3-minute walk away, plus the romantic views that wrap around the entire patio are perfect for date nights or just soaking in the atmosphere... it's the kind of place that makes you want to linger. I just want to praise Daniel for the invite back and having his spot in way better conditions! I hope anyone who dines here can appreciate all the hard work that made this place what it is today. read more
My first time to check out this little complex, just off of Jensen Drive on the east side of town. The restaurant is lovely and the outside patio actually overlooks part of Buffalo Bayou, so, if you're slightly stoned, and squint your eyes, you can actually pretend that you are facing the Riverwalk in San Antonio lol. Parking. Parking is a bit of a hassle. You park in the garage and they will validate your parking ticket and then it is a walk to the restaurant. Alternatively, the standard $10 valet parking. I came here to try two items on their fixed price menu, the gumbo, and the short rib grilled cheese sandwich. The waiter advised that they do endeavor to make everything fresh. I noticed the fries and immediately thought, well, these might be the Lamb Weston Colossal Crisp that I think are a good default for any restaurant to use. I once had a conversation about them with the general manager of. Katie's Seafood in Galveston and he remarked that that particular brand shortens the life of the oil they're fried because of the batter, but it's a small price to pay for a customer satisfaction. I like them because they are the ones closest to the fries that I used to enjoy in Holland when I was working there for several years. Do tell them not to salt the fries and then just salt them to your own personal taste at the table. Big cocktail menu, and, they also have THC based High Noon as an option. This was a thicker, chicken and sausage gumbo, and I liked it. They knew to use a parboiled rice (a good sign). The chicken tasted fresh. There were still visible bits of the trinity, bell peppers, et al. I would order it again. Lucid, , the waiter, was super nice. Open viewing kitchen is a nice touch.Their ice maker makes those small crunchy chunks that I like. The short rib grilled cheese on sourdough toast sandwich was very good. All in all, a very good lunch dining experience . read more
Ambiance: Upscale wine bar with views of the bayou featuring a large selection of wine and gourmet eats. I highly recommend their brunch menu! I enjoyed a Riesling and their grits are delicious. Their bruschetta assortment is great for sharing and enjoying multiple flavors. Valet parking available and street parking in the area. A bit pricey and I highly recommend reservations. Our server was friendly and the service was fast. Loved their patio! read more
Business owner information
Daniel W.
Hi Macey,…
7 days ago
I didn't make reservations because I thought it was early enough to be there and I was right. I met my friend up at 10:30am. Valet is available for $5 right at the entrance. I was able to find street parking close by so that wasn't an issue. We sat inside and everything was very nice and modern. Large Windows so if you don't want to sit outside then sitting next to the window is your next best bet of feeling like you are outside. There is a bar right in the middle The food items on the menu looked delicious. I got the fried green tomatoes to share with my table and it was delicious. The sauce and crab on top compliment it really well. Then as my main dish I had the sesame soba noodles. I love soba noodle and it was good however, I felt like something was lacking and I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Large patio seating and a great view of downtown. This place makes for a great date day, date night, or brunch with the besties! The restroom reminds me of my clubbing days but cleaner. Hahaha read more
Business owner information
Daniel W.
Hi Joanne,…
4 months ago
10 months ago
If you're looking for a brunch spot with scenery that does not disappoint, City Cellars checks that box. The patio view alone is enough to make you linger a little longer. Sweat and all. (They have huge misty fans on the patio, too even though there isn't much shade on the patio perimeter). Even though I originally had a 2PM reservation, my party of three was seated on a walk-in basis around noon. We didn't mind the Houston heat too much because we were craving a laid-back brunch with a view, and this was it Valet is only $5, which is a rare blessing these days, and there's street parking if you want to try your luck. It was a busy Sunday crowd, and our server, who told us it was his first week, was managing both indoor and outdoor tables. He was kind and apologetic throughout, even though the pacing was a little off. We had to ask for water, and by the end, we were waiting quite a while for our check, which was also split incorrectly, creating an awkward moment for the table. I chalked it up to new-staff hiccups, but there are just some basics that shouldn't be missed (like keeping the patio hydrated and confirming who ordered what). Food-wise, the menu is huge and full of options. I love the "Build Your Own Brunch Board" idea and will be back to try that. The spinach artichoke dip was flavorful but a bit small for the $15 price tag. I ordered the carne asada hash expecting chopped, seasoned potatoes, but they came out mostly whole. The carne was cooked more medium than I usually prefer (I'm a medium-well girl), and overall the dish needed a little something. A1 sauce helped, but it felt underseasoned on its own. The standout was the mimosa. I had the cactus pear and pomegranate flavor, and it was fizzy, boozy, and just what I needed to kick off brunch. Definitely one of the better mimosas I've had in the city. Despite a few misses, the view and vibe were the highlight. There's so much on the menu I still want to try, and now that I know appetizers are half off Monday through Friday from 3-6PM, I'll be back. Hopefully next time, the service kinks will be smoothed out. read more
Business owner information
Daniel W.
Hi Caim,…
1 year ago
Had brunch there and we were told about brunch happy hour. It was only an hour long versus the normal four hours for some reason. They had been open for 40 minutes and they were out of three appetizer items already and frosés weren't available because they weren't frozen yet. It was not crowded so not sure why they were out of items. The crawfish hush puppies were okay. The short-rib omelette had absolutely no flavor or seasoning and was so greasy I had to use a napkin to try and soak up some of the oil before eating it. I only ate about 1/4 of it. Cocktails were ok and the patio area is nice. Probably won't go again. read more
Business owner information
Daniel W.
Hi Felicia,…
The beignets were delicious. My point of reference for beignets is the famous cafe du monde in New Orleans. These are not as light and airy, they are a little more dense and flaky. Almost like a flaky beignets biscuit. For my meal I had the smoked salmon croissant. It was delicious and I would order it again. I asked for capers on the side and red onion which I added to it to take it up a notch. It didn't need anything extra but some flavored cream cheese would have taken it to the next level. read more
Business owner information
Daniel W.
Thank you, India! We greatly appreciate your support! I've passed…
This spot has a lot of potential -- it's located in a fast-growing neighborhood with a fantastic location. When the weather is nice, the outdoor patio is definitely the highlight: a beautiful view of the city skyline, perfect for happy hour or watching the sunset over downtown. Unfortunately, the experience pretty much ends there. Atmosphere: The décor and vibe felt is nice pre-- about a 7/10. It tries to be upscale, but the execution just hasn't reached Food: * Crab Cake: Tasted like it came straight from a microwave -- definitely not what you'd expect at this price point. * Beef & Bacon Sliders: Dry, bland, and forgettable. * Chicken & Waffles: A major letdown. Chicken was overcooked and tough, and the waffle tasted like something from a box. Didn't even care to take a picture For a place positioning itself as upscale, the food was a real disappointment -- 3/10 overall at best. Drinks: This was hands-down the worst part of the experience. Tried three cocktails, and every one was syrupy, overly sweet, and just unbalanced. Couldn't even finish them. If you go, stick to wine or beer -- do not order cocktails. Service: Service was lackluster despite the place not being busy. Plenty of staff, but our server seemed completely disengaged. We had to wave her down multiple times just to get basic attention. It felt like we were an afterthought the entire night. Summary: Come for the view -- maybe for a glass of wine during golden hour. But if you're looking for a memorable meal, craft cocktails, or attentive service, you're better off elsewhere read more
Business owner information
Daniel W.
Hi Kodak,…
17 days ago
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2850 Riverby Rd
Ste 110
Houston, TX 77020
Fifth Ward
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(713) 715-5082
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