Consistently great food and service. We visit the Cellar as often as possible. I love the food, but it's also a nice and relaxed restaurant.

Absolutely delicious! This restaurant is a hidden gem my boyfriend and I frequent for great dinners. The location is unique, located in the basement of a building with dark, comforting, and cozy lighting. Upon arrival while waiting for your table, there is a bar, where we had delicious cocktails including a yummy and generously portioned mudslide! One of of our visits, once seated at our table, we were served by a lovely older woman who was perfectly attentive and friendly without being overbearing. The amount of food you get for the price is amazing! They first bring out bread, butter, and salad served with an array of dressings. The most delicious and favorite of our's is the green goddess dressing and is a unique treat we only have at the Cellar. Following the bread and salads, I ordered a french onion soup, which is always one of my favorites and it did not disappoint here. Then, I had a glazed salmon which was cooked perfectly and my boyfriend got the filet. His filet was cooked to a perfect medium and he had no complaints whatsoever! On previous visits, I've had the chicken and the BBQ shrimp (this i highly recommend! and you get probably 12 large shrimp) We both got baked potatoes with sour cream and butter as our sides. Overall, The Cellar is a perfect spot for any special occasion or just a nice dinner where your money will be well spent and you will leave stuffed from the delicious food! read more

Fantastic. Service and atmosphere were great and the food was delicious! Definitely will go back.

The food is always delicious! We love the cheese and crackers and the homemade cinnamon rolls! It is a true dining experience! They have great waitresses and it's always such a treat to come to the Cellar! Everything is fabulous! read more

Amazing little place with such history in the area. The walls are brick and decorated in a rotating display of art from local artists, all available for purchase. The food is delicious and freshly made. The meats are second to none, freshly charcoal-cooked for your order. Their fried catfish is huge. Their fried mushrooms and cauliflower is spectacular with the cheese and tartar-like blue cheese sauce. The sticky buns that come with your meal are a dessert on their own! Don't leave without trying one of their combo plates (surf and turf, catfish and filet, etc.) or one of their after-dinner tipsy coffees with whipped cream. Oh how I miss you! I'd return to the QCA in a heartbeat just to eat here at least one more time :) read more

The cellar is an example of a business that knows it's customers and does simple things well. I recommend the classic charcoal broiled porterhouse steak with a gin martini from the experienced bar staff. If you are looking for unpretentious value, the Cellar is your Restaurant, with excellent deals on the Thanksgiving dinner buffet and a comfortable ambiance for regular customers. The display of paintings on the walls from Geneseo area artists is a particularly nice touch that adds to the eclectic atmosphere. The charcoal broiled duck in orange sauce is a real standout and consider combining the free sticky buns with an "english coffee" or "butter rum" to finish your meal on a cold night in the Quad Cities. Why drive into Moline or Davenport to eat out when a "little steakhouse that could" is available right at your doorstep? read more

OK, for Geneseo this place is 5 stars! There really isn't much here at all. Also, another reviewer mentioned that the Cellar had brick walls. More like brick looking wallpaper! LOL. Anyway, the food is OK. Looking this place up online it mentioned the house special was charcoal broiled shrimp. My friends got a combo with the filet and shrimp. Another got the rib eye. I got the duckling. We started with the boasted cheese and cracker basket. Its just a ball of soft cheese spread and individually wrapped Melba toast and other crackers. But it was different than the same old bread baskets. The salad is just a simple lettuce salad with a trio of salad dressing to choose from. Croutons were on the table. With our dinner, my one friend and I ordered the asparagus and also the hash-browns (an up-charge but supposedly worth it). The asparagus I got was just room temp. The hash-browns were greasy but good and crispy. Looks like each order is cooked in its own skillet. But honestly, for how these were built up, they were just plain hash-browns. My friend had a cheese sauce on his. I have had better hash-browns at Huddle House. Everyone was happy with their proteins. The steaks were excellently cooked. The shrimp was good but not sure how they were labelled as the house specialty. It just had BBQ sauce on them. My duck had good flavor but was overcooked and the breast was very dry. The sticky buns to finish are just a very simple cinnamon roll with a very light sugar glaze. It is a good finish and they were nice and warm. It was just enough but it isn't a great dessert if that's what you are expecting. With the exception of our server being caught between two feuding tables and spending most of her time de-fusing the situation, the service was great. The dinner was ok. I have had better but not in Geneseo. But with just ok or barely above average food, they do have a hefty price tag. The food definitely wasn't worth the price. read more

Best steak in the Quad City area. It can get a bit loud in the restaurant. The apps and salad are good. The Green Goddess dressing is great.

Lives up to the hype! Have eaten here several times for family events and each time I come away satisfied, but always wanting more. I got the pork chops which come with warm BBQ sauce and a hash brown the size of my face. My wife got a sirloin and backed potato, perfectly cooked and juicy. Don't fill up on the crackers and tasty salad, because you'll miss out on an amazing meal! read more

The food was good but expensive The service was way off this time not friendly at all Not worth the hour drive read more

My all time favorite restaurant! Perfect for anniversaries, birthdays, or special occasions. I love the green goddess salad dressing mixed with the French dressing from the salad dressing carousel. The filet is to die for and the shrimp is amazing. Another family favorite is the duck and chicken livers. Always have superb service as well! Make a reservation to guarantee seating. read more

Myself and several co workers were working in the area restoring power after an ice storm and chose to eat here after a long day. Despite being under dressed and no reservations they promptly sat us and treated us like family. Food was consistently good from beginning to end. Server and staff were pleasant and attentive. Great mixture of small town hospitality and well prepared food. Rivals any steak place I've eaten at in the QC no sweat. read more

Three of us went to The Cellar on a Thursday night before the John Deere Classic golf tournament. I had looked up Geneseo restaurants on the internet - the Cellar had good reviews. We loved it. I was excited to see pan-fried chicken livers on the menu. They were a favorite from my childhood, my mother would make them in a white sauce over biscuits. I rarely make them for myself so was looking forward to trying them. The restaurant had a definite Wisconsin supper club feel. We loved the atmosphere the moment we walked in from how the tables were set to how nice all the staff looked. - Loved the little dish of cheese spread that comes with the crackers. It was as good a cheese spread as what we have had at Wisconsin supper clubs. - Liked how the salad was served in communal bowl. Liked the homemade salad dressings too. - I had read about the unique cinnamon rolls The Cellar serves as the bread course. The three of us dining in our group were so caught up in conversation we didn't even notice them and discovered/ate them after the meal. Very yummy, fun, and unique. - I LOVED the chicken livers. I ordered them as a combo just in case with a filet. Next time I'm able to go I will order them alone. Sautéed just right with a great crisp. The steak was good too. - Combinations is a neat feature of the menu. Lots of interesting pairings you can make. - We did have a turtle cheesecake for dessert, it didn't blow me away but I may have been too stuffed from dinner. - Loved that the kitchen was open where you could see all the cooking going on as you walked in. We had gotten to the restaurant right as it opened so the kitchen was quiet -- when we left, the kitchen was awhirl. It was a sight to see. I believe it was the head chef thanked us for coming - very nice touch. We liked The Cellar so much we are hoping we can plan a special trip to play the TPC Deere Run course sometime (which is a really really interesting course with all its hills) and have dinner again at The Cellar! read more

I would never review a restaurant where I have eaten only once. On one visit, a restaurant/food can be deemed bad (or good) for a whole host of reasons (chef sick, waiter/waitress having a bad hair day, a group of boisterous, inebriated patrons, perhaps just a plain old bad day). So, I have eaten here twice. I heard raves about the great ambience and steak. On my first visit, the steak was of poor quality, with excess fat. Add to it, it was over-cooked (well done versus my requested medium). The asparagus served was fresh, but cooked plainly; no sauce, no seasoning. One would fare better having been served Green Giant asparagus straight out of the can! On my second visit, I ordered their surf and turf (lobster and steak). As with my first visit, the steak was again of poor quality and over-cooked. The lobster had no flavor at all and was completely bland in taste. Even a dip in butter could not help. I have had lobster many times and their lobster was clearly frozen. The so-called ambience? Well, it is in the basement of a building, so you have to expect it to be dark and a bit clammy. The dining room is due for a make-over, at the very least some updating. If you go, stay out of the back, overflow room, unless of course, you don't mind the basement feel. I find the reviews of this restaurant puzzling as, after two visits, I would never go back. I am not originally from the area and I have lived and eaten in numerous major cities where fine dining is not something hoped for, rather it is expected. I will add, on the whole, the entire Quad Cities (by the way, no one from over 100 miles away has ever heard of "The Quad Cities") area is lacking for not only fine dining ("Johnny's" being the exception) but variety, too. Sorry, I call them the way I see them. read more

Our extended family visited this restaurant recently for my father-in-law's 80th birthday. First the positives... staff was very friendly and cooperative. They stored our Birthday cake in the cooler and brought it out later in style with lights dimmed. Steaks unfortunately were good not great. My well done was over cooked (charred) and I had to send it back and get another one made. I asked my other family members to rate their steaks and everyone felt the experience was about 3 - 3.5 stars. I guess there are not very many options for good steak houses in this area so The Cellar rules for now. read more

Great place for dinner. This place is usually pretty busy so it is a good idea to make a reservation. Love the atmosphere, it takes me back in time to the 80's. The steak is wonderful! Also like the dressing carousel when you order a salad. They also bring out a tasty cheese spread and crackers before your meal. This is an awesome place to celebrate a birthday. If you call ahead you can order a small birthday cake. The birthday cake comes out with sparklers on it, so cool! read more

Literally the best filet I've ever had at a restaurant. Ruth's Chris pales in comparison in food quality, price, & service. Friendly staff, reasonable prices for the portions, and did I mention the amazing steak??? Not a fan of cold, hard butter patties but that was my only complaint. read more

I came in here 45 minutes before it closed- alone after riding my bike from Rock Falls for 7 hrs. My steak was cook perfectly and the wine hit the spot. Service was great. Was a great place to end my rough day. read more

The Cellar is a local institution with the food to back it up. It works well for large or small groups as well as couples celebrating an occasion. The walls are covered in local art and and the tables are adorned with linen table cloths and candles. The food is very tasty and I've always had good steaks here. The crispy hash browns with cheese are a local favorite and I really enjoy the French onion soup. read more

Sometimes, in the hustle and bustle of living, we forget how good we have it. Geneseo has an absolute gem in the Cellar. 50 years ago we had lots of places to chose from like Mirando's, the Plantation, the Bringer In, the Flamingo, Ben's, the Oaks, and others. Now at best we get adult fast food at chain restaurants. It may not be Morton's but it still puts out a fine dinner in a very comfortable atmosphere. We enjoyed an evening there with friends on Thursday and had a wonderful dinner. The steaks were done perfectly, the sides were all great and the ladies loved the dessert. If it does not meet your idea of a fine dining experience, stay away and leave it to people who appreciate the way things were. read more

I've been here a few times before and every time the service and the food has been nothing less than amazing. We went last night for Valentine's Day and we couldn't have picked a better place. I ordered the filet and the shrimp and he had the filet and lobster. The steak was just melt in your mouth and the sauce the shrimp were tossed in was pretty good. Our server was on top of her game, swinging by the table enough without being on top of us. Naturally we will be back. read more

The Cellar, food worth traveling for! I used to go to The Cellar with my grandpa when I was a little kid...going back now as an adult, I was not disappointed. Small town Illinois charm as you drive down Geneseo's main street takes you back to a simpler time. Careful not to fill up on cheese and crackers...I would if they'd let me buy them as my meal! Order the rib-eye and a couple glasses of wine and you're good to go. Grab a handful of mints on your way out the door and don't forget to sign the guestbook. The Cellar is well worth the ~30min drive from the Quad Cities. read more

The waitress was rude, food took forever, wouldn't let anyone order simple meals P.s- Christine, ur a bitch read more

Excellent food, service and not over priced. Menu isn't over done, they know what they do and do it very well. Recommended for a very nice dinner out. read more

You are never disappointed eating at the Cellar. I've been gong there for over 35 years and I get just what I expect. Great food and service. The best Blue Cheese you'll find anywhere. It is not just for special occasions. My wife and our daughter and husband eat there often. We even have my Wife's business "After Tax " party there. When people come to visit us, it's off to the Cellar we go to show it off. We are fans. read more

Fun throw back supper club atmosphere. If you go in knowing that things do not seem to have changed for 40 years, you are solid. Careful ordering cheese sauce on anything - it is very nasty fake cheese goo. We just scraped it off and wish it didn't cost extra. The cheese ball is fun. The cooks are skilled at delivering the items properly. It is an experience. read more

We had the steak and shrimp do e exceptionally well! I love the intimacy of The Cellar! The waitress was a sweetie, we celebrated a birthday, they dimmed the lights and brought the dessert with a sparkler in it! Great finish to a superb meal! read more

Best meal we've had In the Quad Cities! Nice conversation at the bar, and the bartender made reservations for us for dinner. Make sure you make reservations before hand! read more

On a recommendation from a friend, I took my wife to the Cellar for our Anniversary and they did not disappoint. We were both pleasantly surprised! We started with the shrimp cocktail and they were large, crispy and fresh. I ordered a combo platter with a 6 ounce Filet and Pan Fried Chicken with their popular hash brown and cheese potatoes. My wife is not a big meat eater so she had the French Onion Soup and Salad. She tried my Fried Chicken and wished she had ordered that. I, of course, begrudgingly shared mine with her. Fortunately, the portions were hearty and I was comfortably full after our meal. My medium steak was cooked to perfection and every bite was memorable. I sous vide most of my home cooked meat so I'm very familiar with a perfectly cooked steak. The fried chicken was also probably the best I've eaten. Our waitress gave us a hot towel after eating the chicken which was a nice touch. The french onion soup was delicious and the salad was fresh and crunchy; probably the freshest i've eaten at a restaurant. There were a couple of things I would probably not order the next time we visit. The melted cheese on the hash brown was a little overpowering but still good. I could not determine the type of cheese used but will ask the next time we visit. The homemade dressing were thick and a little sweet for my liking but not bad by any means. My wife really liked it though. They provide a complimentary delicious Honey Bun after the meal and I recommend you eat it upon delivery when it's still hot and soft. The Service was equally great! Our waitress perfectly timed all dishes and was always very professional. On a final note....when I made the reservation I asked if they could seat us in a quite, private location. He let me know that the room was open and not a lot of privacy but he would do his best. He sat us in probably the best, most private seat in the house which again impressed me. read more

I have head of this place for years but never had the time to go during our other visits to the quad cities. My in-laws are regulars and wanted us to try it. It was great. I had the new York steak with the sautéed onions, cooked perfectly. The prices are reasonable in my opinion based on many other larger city restaurants that I've been to. Salad, cheese and crackers and rolls all came with the meal. The fake Brick wall paper is a bit tacky and the captains chairs are dated but it fit with the small town feel. Will go again when we can read more

Fantastic food and service, will be attending again. Very upscale, one could even say swanky. But with local artwork for sale hanging around. I felt charmed. read more

I can honestly say The Cellar is one of my families faorite places to go out to eat at. I have never had a bad meal there. The service is always good. read more

Went here for my each of my grandparent's anniversary and was very happy each time we went. The restaurant is a bit pricey but food you get is worth it. I either recommend the Steaks or the Fried Catfish. They also have an end of a meal coffee selection that is very good with the monkey bread they have at the end for each table. If I could change one thing about the place, it would be the bread baskets. They are only crackers really with some butter and cheese spread, and I would change them to be more simply rolls and butter. read more

If you are within an hour of Geneseo,IL and in the mood for a steak...make the drive! Quite literally the best steak I have ever had for a great price! The ambiance was perfect with an incredibly trained staff. Never once did I want for anything while dining! Outstanding!!! read more

I grew up in Geneseo and now live in Chicago and I do not understand the hype about this place. I've been there several times for work events or with my family for special celebrations and I've always been underwhelmed. The service is great and the atmosphere is ok. The food is just ok. It's fine, but it's nothing to write home about, especially for the price. It really seems to cater to the older crowd. The salad is bland iceberg lettuce. The steaks are inadequately seasoned. I think they bank a lot on their reputation as the only good restaurant in Geneseo, but they would really benefit from freshening up their menu. Fresh greens are easy to grow and taste delicious! read more

To day was my first visit to the cellar. My dad eats there all the time for work. He takes me there, and I love it. I only had appetizers ( couldn't have like a steak dinner, because the whole place is booked ( no joke :p). I had shrimp, chicken liver, steak tips, and am appetizers size of ribs. Everything was good. The ribs, steak, and chicken liver was so rich in flavor. The shrimp was very fresh. The staff are very friendly. The environment takes in a old house like building in the basement ( the cellar) If you are in the Geneseo are Highly recommend to go here. read more

We made reservations for a Thursday evening to celebrate our anniversary. When we arrived, the room was about half occupied. We asked if we could sit at a table along the wall which there were 4 available. The hostess stated we couldn't since we didn't request that when we made our reservation. By the time we had finished eating, there were 7 available. We won't be driving from the Q C again to eat there. I felt like a second class citizen! read more

When I think of The Cellar, I think of my Aunt Sadie who lived on a little farm near Atkinson. If we offered to take her out for supper she'd say, "Let's go to The Cellar in Geneseo!" It was her idea of As Good As It Gets. We love the history, the memories and the coziness, and always return when we're in the area and remember our dear, sweet Aunt Sadie (she was born in Belgium in 1885). read more

The meal was great-no complaints. Customer Service on the other hand was awful. The server had some trouble splitting up the ticket and ended up charging everyones card twice. I did not find out about this until the next day when I tried to make a purchase elsewhere and found that my account was in the negative. When I called the restaurant to inform them of the situation I was not allowed to speak with the manager, Scott, as "they were leaving for the evening" and was told by the hostess (I'm assuming) Carol, that I would need to check back in a few days because the first charge would drop off. I tried explaining to her again that even though the charge was pending and would eventually drop off I was currently inconvenienced as a customer due to their error as the establishment. Not only were they inconveniencing me through the weekend with no money (since it was tied up in pending charges) they were also costing me money because every charge I had made after the 2nd charge they sent through was coming up in a negative balance in my account. This conversation continued for several minutes as Carol repeatedly denied that they charged my card twice, saying "no we didn't, they're pending." And I repeat: even though the charges are pending the bank holds the money as if it was spent; thus throwing the account that was not expecting a double charge into the negative. When I asked if The Cellar would be reimbursing me for the insufficient funds charge Carol replied, "Well, we'll need to see some documentation for that." Now I was very well aware that they would need documentation, who wouldn't? It was the tone of her voice that insulted me, as if I was lying to her. First they refuse to let me speak with a manager, casually tell me to "wait a few days", argue with me about my bank holding the money (as if my card wasn't just denied for insufficient funds), and now her tone makes me feel as if I'm a liar seeking retribution that is not deserved. At this point I was absolutely livid. I have never felt so disrespected and belittled in my life. I felt that my problem caused by their mistake was so insignificant that the manager didn't have time to speak with me about it nor did the establishment care that this mistake was costing me, in more than one way. While I was holding up their plans to be out the door by 10pm, they were holding funds that were intended to buy my groceries for the next week. As a server myself and an employee that's been in customer service for the last twelve years I know poor customer service when I receive it. I was appalled at the lack of concern I received from this establishment. You know, an apology for the inconvenience would have went a long way. read more

Don't quite understand all the hype for this place. Yes, the steak was good....but could have been marinated and/or tenderized, and for less than half the price, I could have gotten a fine piece of meat at Fareway and grilled it myself. The salad was a bowl of cut up iceberg...not even a cherry tomato or cucumber or pepper thrown in to pretend it is a salad (or you could have jello or cottage cheese), served family style. The 3-dressing carousel seems a bit unsanitary to me as it is moved from table to table. I heard a nearby waitress tell of other dressings you could ask for, but have been there three times and have never been offered any other choices. You get a baked potato - nothing special, and no vegetable. The butter is hard wrapped pieces on the table...not what I would expect for such a high priced place. The desert rolls are also nothing special. All three times I have been there, my dinner has arrived before the salad is done with, so the waitress stands there waiting for you to move the salad out of the way. Way to hurry everyone through the meal so they can collect your money, get you on your way, and they seat someone else. There are so many tables packed in there that it is hard for people to get to their tables, and when you sit, you are no more than 8 or 9 inches from someone else at a different table...not intimate or romantic at all. It is very noisy when all the tables are filled...doesn't seem like there is anything to absorb the noise. No background music or anything. For the price, I would expect an actual piano and piano player. And I totally resent the waitress busing the table while we are still there .Sure, take away the plates, but to get every napkin, plate, bowl, cup, etc. as we sit and watch is embarrassing for me and most likely for the wait staff. No atmosphere, no ambiance, crummy service, high prices, so-so food...don't think I'll go again. I tried it three different time...same experience each time. It is nothing special. read more