I'm not typically one for stand up comedy but my friend and I were in the city for the weekend and this seemed like it would be a fun time. You make a reservation online ahead of time for a time slot. Getting into the place was a bit of a disorganized mess but we had a reservation so I wasn't super worried. 2 item minimum and a 3 alcoholic drink maximum plus a $20 cover per person which will be charged to you at the end of the show with your drinks/ food. The 2 of us had a combined $80 bill which is pretty good for a 2 hour show and 2 drinks.. The comedians were great- there were about 5 and a good mix of people. Overall we really enjoyed the night and would 100% return for another show. It's also located near a bunch of other bars which is great for before/ after the show! read more

So I have to preface this with I'm not a huge comedy person. That being said, I think all New Yorkers and tourists should check this place out at least once as it is a true New York experience. Not sure how to get tickets as my friend and I had to put our names on the wait list twice, leaving us to the 12:15am show! The only good thing with the late show was that the more seasoned, famous comedians, Dave Attell and Jeff Ross, made an appearance (albeit they were basically half-asleep) and the show lasted longer (well actually too long as I was there until 3am). Food is blah (yay mozzarella sticks lol) and drinks seem ok - such a rip off to have to pay $24 as well as 2 items off the menu per person. If you do end up doing the wait list thing, you can sign up and then wait in one of the nearby bars. And get mamouns before or after :) With spicy tahini ;) read more

Great (and popular!) comedy location. We went for the 10:30 showing, which featured 6 comedians, five of which we all agreed were pretty funny. What was great about our line-up at least was that the different comedians seemed to have different styles of comedy, so in the end people in our group couldn't agree on who we thought was the funniest. Some points: -You have to make a reservation in advance, and even with a reservation you have to show up relatively early for your showing. There are 4 showings/night -There's both cover ($20-24) and a two-item minimum; cocktails run $8-10, so it could be a bit pricier than you think going in. -If you sit in the "front row", you're almost guaranteed to be made fun of at some point in the night. This is also true if you admit it's your birthday, anniversary, or if you in general just look funny. -Desserts count towards your two-item minimum, and the options look pretty tasty. read more

Yup, it's the best comedy club in the city, wanna fight about it? Your best bet is to go to their web site and print out the internet special to save the cover charge. Then it's just a 2 drink minimum inside. It's also best to attend a shorter show, since the place is pretty uncomfortable. I've been there from 11-close and my face, chest, neck, and back were sore from the seats...oh, it was awful. read more

Saw Greg Giraldo and Dave Attell this past sat. They were hilarious!! My face was seriously hurting from laughing the entire time. The mc was also hysterical. Can't remember his name but he was freakin funny. A few people in the audience got a little attitudy after some of the jokes were directed their way. You should not be there if you can't laugh at yourself. This is an awesome venue and there is no bad seat. $18 cover on a sat night with a 2 drink minimum. Only bad thing is the whole getting in ordeal. Here's a tip : when you get there and are facing the entrance -if you have a reservation, the line starts around the corner towards Minetta's Tavern. Then, MAKE SURE that somebody gives you a table # while your in line. Otherwise you'll get all the way to the front only to find that you need to go back and find the old lady who somehow skipped you when she gave out table numbers. read more

Comedy Cellar should be on everyone's must-do list. A great alternative to the usual movie or theater outings. Not meant for the easily-offended or overly politically-correct types. KNOW THIS: 1. Make reservations online in advance for Thurs-Sun nights. 2. Cover charge PLUS 2-item per person minimum (food or drink). 3. Order BOTH of your items during the first round of ordering. Even if you're getting 2 drinks, you're better off ordering them both right at the beginning because the staff's timing to get the second round of orders is terrible. (I think the comedians don't really like them walking around too much.) 4.The hummus and the babaghanoush are excellent. 5. Drinks are okay. Don't expect a perfect cocktail. Beers are safe bets. 6. When you are outside waiting to enter, someone will come around to check your reservation and assign you a number. This is your seat number. If you don't want to sit in the front or don't want to be smooshed in a corner, then this is your chance to say so! read more

These comedy people at the Comedy Cellar really do a public service. Where can you go and know at some point you will laugh until your stomach hurts? You can't worry, complain or think when you are laughing that hard. We were there Saturday 9/8/2012. @ the 11pm show. You know even the opening MC was funny. Who were you in the back with that insane laugh? Part scream, part guffaw, with the intensity of a drill sergeant, I had to laugh even the comedian laughed about it. Thanks made our evening. PS: If you don't want to be part of the entertainment don't sit in the front row. read more

Came here awhile back to see a friend perform as a surprise guest. They have solid lineups most of the time. As most comedy clubs are, the prices for drinks/food are way overpriced. Come for the comedy. The place gets packed! So if you are claustrophobic this may not be the ideal environment for you. read more

Came here on a Friday night for the 7:30pm showing and was literally laughing my ass off, despite sitting right in front of a damn column that was blocking half the comedians' faces. One or two stand-ups were a bit on the corny side, without getting even a chuckle out of me, but the rest were pretty hilarious. The host was awesome as well as the musicians. It was a huge crowd in a dark, underground room, all enjoying themselves and having a great time. There is a food & drink minimum, but everything was overpriced so you shouldn't have a problem meeting it. It is also very well worth it. read more

If you're looking for a different evening out with friends instead of the typical bar scene, I would highly recommend coming to the comedy cellar! It was great and started the night off in good humor! We went to a 9:00 show which I thought was a perfect time. We were out by 11 and still got to enjoy the rest of the night! You have to reserve tickets online before the show. It gets crowded so I would highly recommend doing this. Also, since it gets crowded definitely get here early! Even if you have a ticket already to make sure you can get good seats. The only problem with our seats were that they were in a booth in the back and you sit in rows. So sometimes it was uncomfortable to have your head turned the whole time. The comedy acts were great. They bring a lot of different people up on stage so you get to see various comedic acts. Some were certainly funnier than others, but overall were super funny and made us all laugh out loud. There is a two drink minimum here but if you just stick to coke products or beers or ciders you can make for a cheaper night. I got cider because I heard the cocktails weren't that great and not worth the money. You can also get food! Definitely would go back here and would recommend this as a fun night out! Don't sit in the front if you're not prepared to get picked on. read more

I'm a fan. I came here with a date and had an absolutely great time. Two people meant a 4-item minimum. Apparently there's a 3-drink MAXIMUM. What we did was get a large pitcher of sangria to share. It was very tasty, not too sweet. It gave us about 6 (4-5 oz) glasses each for $26! A glass itself cost $8. All the acts were great. Some funnier than others. I like that there's constantly different actors. I'll likely come back! read more

The comedy here was great and super hilarious. The comedians we met interacted a ton with the crowd. But just a few notes: *it is somewhat cramped *there is a two drink/food minimum in addition to the cover charge (this seems a bit much if you don't drink) *I had the kebabs which were not great *It was too dark to actually see what I was eating *I felt that some of the jokes were in poor taste (I know people have very different thoughts on what is acceptable to joke about though, so you may be fine with their material) read more

Came here on a Saturday night for a 10:30 show. The big name that performed was Amy Schumer. She was pretty funny, but all the other people were average except for a few. The service was good and the drinks were good as well. I'm hoping to come to another show and see some more talent from up and coming comedians and possibly a celebrity drop by. read more

Perfection. This is the gold standard. Simply put. And the food was actually really good, just had mozzarella sticks and wings but they were great! The comedy was awesome and they have a great system in place, I think it's a phenomenal experience and can't wait to go back! read more

Came here on a Sunday 8pm showing with a group of 5. I made online reservations beforehand. OBSERVATIONS * They are extremely strict about time. There were bouncers at the door * Online reservations were great! My group was lucky to get awesome seats in front of the stage * The cellar layout is very long and the stage is in the center. I feel like the tables at either end of the cellar don't get as great a view. * The 4-5 comedians were funny. 4 were white males and 1 white female. I appreciated some diversity. * This was a great group activity with friends. It was really great to talk about the jokes and comedians afterwards. * They limit your group size to 8 or less. * 2 drink or food/person minimum. read more

Time of my life! We were lucky enough to snag a spot for their 11:00pm show just a few days beforehand. I suggest reserving way ahead of time if you want to go at a specific time. Came a wee bit early so we decided to check out some bars nearby. It's location is perfect, we could have spent all night in that area if we wanted to. I do suggest, though, to fall in line as early as you can. It determines where you will be seated inside. It's really small and intimate inside. You really get to know the people you end up at a table with. For us we sat next to two people we met from Atlanta. We even ended up going to a bar together after the show to redeem our free drinks. They handed out these cards after the show to get a free drink next door. The acts were die hard hilarious and if I'm not mistaken, most infamous comedians have performed here at least once. read more

The place is really cool in that you get to experience lots of tremendously funny up-and-coming comedians, and even get to see famous, well-established folks as well. But the staff is so incredibly rude. On my most frequent visit (and probably my last) Amy Schumer made a surprise appearance on stage. I was unaware that taking photos and recording video is not permitted. My friend is a huge fan of Amy and from the excitement decided she wanted to take a photo of her. As soon as her phone when up to snap the pic our waiter came over and yelled at us as if we were a couple of misbehaving kids. Shocked and a little embarrassed she promptly placed her phone on the table and the waiter then yelled "No, Put it Away Now!". My immediate thought was this person must've lost their fucking mind talking to us like that. Then there were other short exchanges with the same waiter that were equally displeasing and unnecessary. Because I didn't want to be the asshole that ruined the show for everyone else, I decided to just let it go and simply make a mental note to make sure I expressed my displeasure in a sure-to-come review--and here it is. I really liked the joint, but if I'm going to spend my hard-earned cash at an establishment at the very least I expect to be treated with respect. So, I'm pretty certain I will not be coming back to this hole. read more

One of the original comedy spots in NYC! My second time here for a 7PM show. This time I didn't love the comedians but I do like that there's an emcee plus 4 or 5 comedians - so most likely you'll connect with at least one of them. Make sure to make a reservation before you go, easy to do online and you don't need to pre-pay. Nice small venue with lots of interaction between comedians and audience. Love it! read more

Waitress was so rude Comedy was lame. Most seemed so stressed out it was painful to watch read more

Greatest comedy club in the world if not the most comfortable. I never go to New York without visiting at least once. Always a great lineup and on the rarecoccassion when you may not have heard of any of the comics it is still going to be funny. read more

Stopped in on a Monday night for the early 8pm show. We made reservations online and glad we did when we saw the line up. Since we were a party of 2, they sat us up front (aka perv row). Luckily the host and comedians took it easy on mocking the audience. Our server was friendly and after perusing the menu, we decided to split a large pitcher of Sam Adams ($18), which covered both our 2-item minimum. The Comedy Cellar space is pretty small, intimate and cozy. Great energy for a small audience. Comedians were okay. Since it was a Monday night, a lot of them were just trying out new material - some funny, some not so funny. No celebrity appearances unfortunately. $12/person cover which I thought was worth the price for some laughs on a school night. read more

This place is awesome! We reserved about a week in advance and got tickets for 3 people. There was a $12 cover per person on Tuesday night with a 2 item minimum. That's awesome. It didn't need to be a drinks. The comics were HILARIOUS. Sheng Wang performed that night and I loved his act! The setting was very intimate. No cell phones or cameras allowed. No talking during the show or they'll ask you to leave. Overall experience: awesome. I would definitely go back the next time I come to NY. read more

Had a great time here last night! The place is small and intimate and if you have no problem being called on, sit in the front -- you will definitely get a great view while enjoying the show! read more

Every time i go there, I laugh my ass off. i saw the recently deceased Greg Giraldo there, along with guys like Louis C.K. and Darrel Hammond. One of the M.C.'s made a point of going around the room and asking the men if the women seated next to them was their wife or girlfriend. A lot of guys replied that the lady in question was just "a friend." After 5-6 times of the same response, the guy said, "Welcome to Blue Balls Night at the Comedy Cellar." The drinks are overpriced and there is a two item minimum but I don't care because I have fun every damn time I go there. If you're tired of just going to the movies with your girl, bring her to his place. And if the girl you go with is just "a friend", maybe you'll get lucky and some of the funny will rub off on you before you leave. read more

I have seen at least a handful of shows at this place and the comedians are pretty awesome plus you famous comedians will sometimes randomly drop by for the late night shows. I really only have 2 complaints... 1. the place is small and you get VERY friendly with your neighbors as they pack people in like sardines. 2. The guy who has been the MC there for what seems like forever is funny....the first time but after a few years you expect this guy to change up his jokes a little but instead I am forced to sit through the same material every single time. Ugh. I have a few tips for first timers planning to visit the cellar: 1. Make reservations (seriously, you may not get a table without one) 2. Unless you want to be the butt of a few jokes ask to be seated anywhere except the front row. Plus if your on a first date, the front row will promise to make the experience truly awkward. read more

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA... awesome. Make reservations and drop by because this will be worth it. Minus a star for HELLA tiny booths, sticky tables, and allowing dumb whiny girls to enter. Then again, the comedians need to make fun of someone so I guess they serve their purpose. read more

This place is great for groups of friends- especially when they have a great lineup of comedians and/or surprise guests. Drinks 2/5 Really all over the place. The mixed drinks were either too sweet, or poorly mixed. Stick with the beer. Ahh good ol' Stella saved the night. Decor/Ambiance- 4/5 Though the place is cozy to say the least, it's a cellar; what did you expect? The view of the comedian and the leg room isn't so bad. One problem is if you need to use the restroom while the show is going on. Depending on your seat location (which is assigned to you outside as you are waiting on line), you conceivably would cause a multitude of others to get up so you could go through. Also the comedian might use you as the butt of his/her joke. Your call. Performance 4/5 This place is popular for a reason. The comedians are funny and there is usually a surprise guest. The problem? Our surprise guest was Bob Sagat. He is not funny. Not one bit. He is so vulgar, crude, awkward, and fidgety one wonders how he even gets these gigs. He sucked so bad. He is only one comedian though, so your chances of getting him are slim. read more

Best comedy club in the world. Hands down. My number 1 date spot as well. Soooooo much value for your money (sooo inexpensive). Very famous comedians make surprise experiences all the time- I would say once every three times I go a superstar shows up. read more

I laughed a lot during the night, some comedians were really good and others... not my style! But overall the show was great! Now onto the policy, a cover and then you discover you have to have 2 items - that's just very annoying. And you can't have more than 3 alcoholic drinks! I would rather pay slightly more for the cover than being forced to eat or drink... This kinda ruined the experience for me. That said drinks and food are reasonably price. read more

Had a great time here. Both really good comedians and some who were a bit painful to watch. But overall a fun time with a great small comedy club atmosphere. read more

I've been coming here for many years. Their choice of comedians is always on point and it's always a good time here. ( solid one star for that) HOWEVER!! (-4 starts: -1 for treatment of customers, -3 for female manager who definitely knows how to ruin it for many). Management is horrific. A woman "manager" who dresses like she's homeless ( I am just trying to describe her appearance as I do not know her name so please excuse the judge mental description ) is one to ruin ones night. Be aware. Your business is not very appreciated by this establishment- unfortunately. Won't ever return because of this one individual as id hate to spend my hard earned money where it's not welcome, appreciated nor wanted. read more

Loved it! Had such a great time here. We reserved seats a week before we arrived to NY from Cali. I've been to comedy clubs so I have experience with the two order min. We laughed the whole time! Definitely recommend this place if you're into stand up. read more

Brilliant comedy evening with an amazing roster of comedians. Something for everyone that's for sure! The food and drinks were surprisingly very reasonably priced. read more

Hands down the best comedy show I have ever seen. The host was funny and warmed everyone up and then comic after comic killed it. It didn't hurt that The Louis CK showed up. Yeah, not kidding. The place collectively crapped itself. Don't get your hopes up for that though, it's not an every night thing. Drinks were decently priced and the place was just kinda cozy, if an underground, low ceiling cellar is your type of thing. Give these guys a chance, I haven't laughed this hard in a long, long time. read more

Only been here once b/c I'm from CA, but the one day we picked to go to Comedy Cellar (a random Wednesday), Chris Rock showed up! I just googled some live comedy shows to go to in NYC and Comedy Cellar seemed like a cool place. Although we were 45 minutes late in getting let in, it was worth it. Most the comics were hilarious, except for the guy who went after Chris Rock -- sorta have to feel back for the guy right? We actually took off around 2:30am cuz the show kept going and going....we're from CA -- places close at 2am here! =) They really enforce the 2 drink minimum -- I've gone to many places that state a 2 drink min but no place has enforced it like Comedy Cellar. I would definitely come back and see who else might make a special appearance. read more

This place is AWESOME! Make reservations and be prepared to be packed super tight with other people because it's SUPER BUSY! Oh and if you sit in the front row, you will get picked on. We did not stop laughing. Although there were a couple comedians that were just OK, most were amazing! They each had their own style. So sit back, have some drinks and enjoy the show! read more

Had such a fun Saturday night here! Failed to make a reservation, but waited outside to get in off the waitlist. As we waited, I realized that I had forgotten my ID. The bouncer was kind enough to take me at my word and allowed us in when our names were finally called. I must be looking real old and washed up these days. Great. Anyway- the comics were hilarious and Aziz Ansari made a guest appearance. I laughed so hard, I cried. Standard 2 drink minimum plus entrance fee. My only complaint is the attitude of the waitresses, or ours at least. They need to RE-LAX about the cellphone policy. Sending a 6 word text to my babysitter without even removing my phone from my handbag between comedians hardly deserves a reprimand. Sheesh. read more

Love this game lace! Great comics, good food, good drinks. Sunday's are my fav as comics trying out new material.

We went to the brunch show when my brother came to visit and it was amazing!! Great food and the line up was hilarious. Awesome Sunday funday read more

One of my comedy spots to go to in the city. There is always someone special stopping in. I have seen Sarah Silverman here on Sunday, I have seen john mayer and josh groban. I really good place to take out of town guests on a sunday or non crazy going out night. Its really fun and you will enjoy - promise :) *Enjoy* read more