All. The. Things. Great date night spot! You will love this place! Come for the wine, stay for the food, dessert, coffee, music... Just a short stroll from the beach. The wine selection is stellar. The food is amazing. Start with a cheese board, you will thank me later. We had the burger and trust me on this...GET THE FRIES! I've never tasted or seen anything like them. Crispy fried scoops with a savory seasoning and soft on the inside. The Burger was done to perfection. The Caesar Salad was crisp and fresh with dressing on every single bite. After our fabulous meal we decided to order coffee and dessert and enjoy the live music. After all, it was "Date Night", so we ordered the Carmel Butter Date Cake - It was served warm and incredibly delicious. The wait staff is knowledgeable and attentive. They are happy to give you recommendations for parings. They also have a wonderful cheese shop with a variety of great choices whether you want a snack box to take down to the beach, cheese board to go, or gift-giving. If coffee is your thing, you won't be disappointed with this full barista coffee bar. Did I mention there is live music? Enjoy indoor or outdoor seating. You can't go wrong, it's all beautifully done. Sit at the bar or choose a cozy table. We hope to try the Sunday Brunch menu soon. They also have a wine club, but alas - there is a wait list for that - it MUST be worth-the-wait-great! Seriously...give this place a try. It truly has all the best things. We can't wait to go back and you will too! read more

The Cellar - Must try! Great taste combinations and cheese pairings. - Wine Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

I love the cellar to listen to live music while snacking and having good red wine. The environment is nice & the service is friendly. A great place to meet up with friends or a date. We came here to celebrate a birthday. We had about 20 people sat in the center and there was plenty of room. read more

The Cellar - Wine Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

Yummy cheese tray and flight my husband and I shared together. We arrived on a Friday afternoon and shared our meal it was perfection. read more

Self seating + happy hour 4-6pm every night I've had The Cellar on my "let's try" list for quite some time now. We came here on a Sunday around 6pm, and the placed was extremely packed. There's no signs for self-seating or a hostess at the front, and no one greeted us when we walked in so we didn't really know what to do. After a few minutes of standing around we were able to snag a back table. Service was slow, and we were seated for a good 15 minutes before we had to go flag someone down to be waited on. Not a good look for the restaurant. We ordered a few flatbreads, a cheese plate, and the mac & cheese with truffle oil. The food is nothing special, and it's definitely overpriced. The service really killed it for us because not only did it take forever to order, it also took entirely too long for our food to come, and the waitress kept forgetting to put in our orders. The best thing about this spot is that they did bring in live entertainment on Sunday. Also, another high note is they offer flights of wine, champagne, and craft beer. That's fun! I ordered the bubbly flight and they offered some really nice champagnes. If you want the most bang for your buck though, I'd avoid the flights (~$17 for champagne flight with roughly 1.5oz per pour - 3 samples) it's expensive, and you could get more for your money if you order a glass of wine. read more

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Drove down here to get away and relax. Nice bar/restaurant. The atmosphere was nice. the service was good and it was clean. Food was pretty good and drinks were good. I had the avocado toast with the works. I was very good. Nothing spectacular but was good. We also had the scramble and French toast. The scramble was good and I'm very understanding if food at times taste a bit bland or just a bad day for the cook...I get it. But, toast was burnt,...not good!! That's noticeable and could be replaced before bringing food out....the scramble was good. The French toast was also good. If I'm the area, good place for a mimosa and beer but I wouldn't drive out of my way to come back. read more

The Cellar - French toast - Wine Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

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UPDATE : I have been to the cellar many times now and love it more and more. They now have a coffee shop in the AM. I love the rotating desserts in the mason jars. I love short rib mac n cheese. I love lamp. The art in the bathroom even changes every year. The cellar is just the best. IT is in the heart of downtown SC on Del Mar and has a cow outside the door. You cannot beat it. read more

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I love going to the Cellar! It's my favorite go to these days. Sitting at the bar and chatting with the friendly bartenders just enhances the experience. I love the whole vibe.. read more

Returned again because we had a great experience last time around. Sat on patio because of our pup. Server was delightful. We enjoyed the Spanish Board (charcuterie) which had tasty delights although it seemed somewhat sparse for $26. My red wine flight was ok but not noteworthy. Partner's cocktails were ok too. He had the lamb which he said was very good. I had a salad & we shared the Mac & Cheese. Not sure we'd order that again, on the small side & not particularly memorable either. He had the skillet cookie dessert which is your standard fresh baked cookie with ice cream. With tip it was slightly over $200 for the two of us. Ah the price we pay to dine on the main drag in San Clemente! read more

We chose to try here as it was a really hot day and we thought the cellar sounded so nice and cool were we wrong! The restaurant was absolutely miserable so hot!! When I told our waitress, who by the way was very polite and kind , it was hot in the restaurant she said they were miserable to. I ordered Chia pudding thinking again nice and cool and I usually love Chia this was tasteless and bland. My husband ordered The Cellar Burger on a gluten-free bun along with sweet potato fries. My husband shared that the gluten-free bun was dry and tasteless although the hamburger itself was good. The sweet potato fries were delicious and and I got you a picture of them. We spent $30 for the burger and fries as they refunded my Chia pudding not cheap nor reasonable. I'll let you decide but for me it was a disappointment. read more

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Pre-pandemic review: Been here several times to meet up with friends who drive from the OC. Seems like a nice middle ground for a commute from Encinitas as well. Look to the menu on the wall to find yummy specials. I like to come here and order a class of wine and share plates with friends. Not much of an outside eating area but the darkness of the interior is a nice respite to a sunny day gone too hot. The servers here are helpful when recommending a wine to enjoy for a chat. My fave food to get here are the sidewinder fries. Curly fries that are soooo crunchy and flavorful. Such a nice, accompaniment to my wine. The Brussels Sprouts are a winner too. Crunchy on the inside and not too mushy inside. Red wines go wonderfully with the burrata. It is soft and has a mild flavor. read more

This is probably the best brunch spot in San Clemente. They have small patio area where you can eat with your dog, but no dogs allowed inside. Been here a few times now. I would highly recommend the mac n cheese with truffle oil. Additional short rib is good but not necessary. The regular avocado toast is just ok but the Works is fantastic. The french toast is also very good, with fresh whipped cream and berries. Service is great. Not the best place for large parties. read more

We went here before out flight to EGYPT and had a flight of reds. Incredible place and the prices were great.

This isn't fun to write because I had been looking forward to going to this restaurant for so long. But I have been trying for a WEEK now to reach out to someone, anyone, to speak with. I have emailed, DM'd, called (and was promised by someone named Sheri that she would call me back, she never did.) My boyfriend and I went to eat here last Saturday, first of all they have you seat yourselves. okay great. We see an open little space at the bar, we go over to the open space at the bar. Apparently someone had thrown up on themselves while sitting at the bar, the ambulance had left with the person before we got there. I see the bartender (Kai) chatting with the person next to the open seat at the bar, I try to catch his eye so I can ask him "Are we okay to sit here? Is the throw up cleaned up?" After about...5 minutes? He ends up finally looking at me, i ask him my question and he says "I mean...if it looks cleaned up it probably is." I respond with "Okay...do you have any extra bar stools? there's a space right here that must've had the throw up stool, is there any backup stools?" His response "If you see one you can grab it and bring it over here, if not, i'm not sure." He then proceeds to turn around and focus on what's REALLY important; the two blondes on the other side of the bar. He never checked in on us, never introduced himself, we couldn't flag him down because he literally would not look at us, he dropped the check off without saying a single word. I'm a waitress currently and I used to bar-back as well, I am not an evil person, we still tipped them 15%. And I wrote a note on the back saying that the service was not good, he acted like he didn't care about us, and we were unhappy. Me and my boyfriend work our butts off during the week to be able to come and enjoy a date night and spend $200 on an experience that left us both feeling; like we were a bother. BUT HERES THE BEST PART!!! A completely different worker there; Bryce, (who was also drinking the entire time we were dining) decides to send me a picture on instagram private messaging of him and friends(?) flipping me off!! With a lovely couple of other messages saying that I am fat, I better never come to San Clemente again, etc etc. I have tried for a week now to contact someone so I wouldn't have to put all of this on yelp? I'm not quite sure what happened in the dining industry that the standard for hiring people is so low that now people like Bryce are considered a good fit for hospitality services. I've never had this happen anywhere, never heard of it happening to anyone else at any other dining establishment, i've been told before i didn't give the best service and I never ever contacted the customer on social media and proceeded to act the way that Bryce did. It's embarrassing for The Cellar, it's shameful, and it's not the way that the rest of the community of San Clemente acts like. read more

After a day trip in L.A. I decided to stop by The Cellar and I was more than amazing. Cole's service was terfffic and he went the extra mile for us. #FirstTimeGo #HometownGroove #Gratitude read more

Love this place! Cool hang out with awesome tapas & dinners, excellent wines, variety of beers, decent music, friendly service, and comfortable atmosphere. My husband and I love this place. Favorite restaurant in San Clemente. I took my mom last weekend after spending the day together. She loved it too. Good Brussel Sprouts. The flight of wine was enough to make her tipsy. Fun night! They do not take reservations . . . First come, first serve. So, that means there is always a chance you will get in, but it's not easy. They fill up early. Awesome Happy Hour! It ends at 6:00. read more

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Fantastic is the first word that comes to mind. From the service to the food, the friendliness to the environment this place is great. I will be back! Thank you! read more

Relaxed and fun ambiance, nice wine flights and the food is delicious. We had a great impromptu date night and got in easily on a Saturday night. Service was quick despite being busy. read more

By far my favorite beer and wine pub in the area! The atmosphere is very cozy and lovely and they always have great music, whether it's live or a playlist. This is my favorite date night spot and place to get the best charcuterie fixings. Their beer and wine collection is expansive and unique. I've never been disappointed by a recommendation of theirs. The Cellar also offers some of the best food around! I'm always blown away whenever I try a new dish. From super savory mac and cheese to incredible brussel sprouts, fries and the best charcuterie boards, the Cellar always hits the spot and everything pairs so well with their drinks. Right now they offer outdoor dining and DoorDash Wednesday through Saturday. You can order food from the kitchen along well incredible cheese, wine, beer, jams, honey, sweets and more to go. read more

Very classy wine bar with great small apps and awesome wine. Want a place where you can go for a nice glass of wine while listening to live music and actually carry on a conversation this is the place to go. You won't be disappointed. Employees are friendly and accommodating. read more

SUPER DISAPPOINTED. Been wanting to try for years. Met a friend for lunch at 1:00. 1st. No sangria. 2nd ordered a grapefruit mimosa. Was told there may be enough grapefruit juice for 1 more. Mind you, these are 2 of their signature drinks. Got a Caesar salad with house smoked trout ($7 extra for MAYBE 1 ounce of fish). The size of the salad was laughable. I'm talking appetizer size for $16! So $23 total. I wish I took a photo. I literally thought it was a joke. Albeit delish. WAY OVERPRICED. And.... we had to ask for maple & silverware AFTER our food was served, waiting while non-busy employees behind bar basically ignored us. Super bummed. read more

Incredible cheese, coffee, breakfast, and entertainment. An excellent choice if you are in San Clemente or nearby.

They are very inconsistent. The first time we ordered a cheese plate it was amazing. Then we ordered two of them for Christmas and they were nothing like the first one. There was no nuts. They didn't even pair the cheeses with anything. It was like they just threw whatever in the box. This time we got one and they didn't even put the dipping stuff in containers. They put it in the box on the bottom of the cheeses and now my box is all soggy. We asked the manager if she could do something about it and she refused to help. read more

Amazing service and love the new cocktail menu!! My go to in San Clemente. The seasonal burrata is unreal. Can't wait for the cocktail bar to be fully open read more

The Cellar - Margaritas and burrata - Wine Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Took some family here visiting from out of town our first time trying the cellar. We had a terrible experience. Most of everything we tried ordering they ran out of. Service was slow and waited a long time for drink orders/ food orders. Once we received the food after being there for almost 2 hours...One of our guest didn't receive their food and the excuse was the fries were taking a little longer then expected to be cooked. Everyone started eating due to food getting cold I then proceeded to cancel the order of the person that didn't receive their food. We then realized the food order was forgotten about. Our bill was around $300 and And we won't be back. read more

The selections of wine and beer are fantastic, and frankly BETTER BE to keep up with that chef! Holy Moly!! Unique, delectable, delicious, balanced, healthy and BEAUTIFUL!!! Excellent service (even though the place is packed) Friendly, warm, prompt, comprehensive, jovial, real smiles for a change. Don't Change a thing! read more

This review is a little late, but better late than never, right? I came in right before the social distancing requirement and found the food and service to be both equally amazing. I got the bacon and eggs, and French toast, and holy moly were both delicious. The bacon was so good I ordered a second round of it. The eggs were cooked and seasoned perfectly and before I left, got a chocolate chip cookie. As I write this, I wish I had a cookie in my hands (mouth) now. I'll never forget the server because of the song by Band of Horses. Detlef was attentive, easy going, and just a nice server all around. Definitely order for pickup or to go and support this business! read more

Great food, great drinks! The service was awesome! We are looking forward to going back.

Great tasting food. Cute patio and friendly staff. We enjoy this place all the time. Heart of San Clemente, years of delicious cuisine and wonderful service. Visit soon. read more

Came to San Clemente a year ago and saw this place was packed and heard live music. I have been wanting to come back to experience it. The wait was worth it. Had such an amazing time. Sat outside with music playing from the inside which starts at 7pm. Asked for recommendations with the wine and got an amazing Chardonnay and Malbec. Continued with the Spanish cheese board and man was that amazing. Then decided to give total freedom to the staff to pick out a cheeseboard for which she thought would be best. Overall amazing. Never had such a perfect cheese, meat and fruit pairing anywhere. Can't wait to come back! Hopefully don't have to wait a whole year again! read more

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So happy to find this gem! Yay! Love love loooooove The Cellar! I'm a cheese monster and The Cellar has the BEST cheese plate! It comes with crackers, jam, nuts, and whatnot that enhance the flavor of cheese. I wish I could come here every single night! If you haven't tried it yet....please ditch whatever plans you have and go to The Cellar right now! You won't regret. The mac and cheese is great as well. No wonder this is one of the most popular items. It's not the type of mac and cheese I like (I like crispy one) but it was good. It was super oily when I heated up leftovers, though! My husband ordered the cellar burger and i took a bite but it was a little bite! So I really don't remember how it tasted....lol i will have to try it next time :) We sat at the bar and I forgot our server's name but she was super sweet, fun, and very professional! I was kinda surprised that she remembered me when I visited again! Maybe it's because there are not that many asians in SC Lol hahahaha I really like her and she has such a good vibe. read more

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Honestly, I've been a fan of The Cellar for over 6 years. Their food is amazing and their staff greets you with a smile! I do wish that they sold their gourmet mac n cheese was sold during the entirety of the time they are open, but not much I can do to change that. Otherwise, I would suggest this restaurant to any wine lovers and cheese lovers! The cheese monger there is amazing! read more

Oh my, it's just as good the second time around. I tried an Expresso Martini this time. Not as sweet as other bars/restaurants and that was fine by me. Each time I come I try to get a different meal and I have yet to be disappointed. The chef is exceptional. Ask him what to order...he knows his stuff. read more

Went to celebrate my mom's 60th! Friends were able to snag a few tables. Nice waitress, but slow service when it came to receiving our meals. Luckily, a cheese board was ordered upon arrival, or I may have eaten my hand! Nice atmosphere/vibe. Would go again. read more

better ask pricing on wine! seems the selection has dwindled and the labels are obscure but to have Carly S 'recommend' the unknown "my favorite neighbor" chardonnay and pour a $21 a glass of a chardonnay that is only $30 per bottle is inappropriate pricing and service. (I guess I should be glad it was not the $30 glass choice!) Go find better value next door. read more

Went with a girl friend of mine on a Thursday night and we enjoyed some drinks and live music. Unfortunately we didn't order any food, but we glanced at what other tables had ordered and it all looked amazing. Definitely a nice relaxed vibe. read more

Mia is the best server you can ask for. The Cellar was a great atmosphere. Loved the rose. Definitely would come here again!!! the best place in San Clemente to go! read more

Super great Sunday morning vibe. The Latte and Chai were great! Not too sweet, just how we like it. The Avocado Toast is as advertised, and tastes even better than it looks. I'll be back. read more

The Cellar - Avocado Toast - Wine Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

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This place used to be pretty cool. They used to serve grass fed burgers but they decided they're too good for that now. All the food is junk food. The staff is OK. Some are really friendly and nice and some are hating their jobs read more

I remembered the food and music being great here years ago but went here last Saturday night and the food and service was horrible. I ordered the hamburger for $19 and it was worse than burger at a drive through. The waiter didn't care or try to make it right. I won't be coming back. read more

The staff was great and we had a good time. When we got home however, the wine was rancid from sitting for so long. I gifted my children and it was embarrassing. read more