Speakeasy vibe that falls short in some areas.
Walking through an American Pub type restaurant and down some stairs into its basement feels like you might stumble across an underground poker game. It makes for an interesting vibe; arguably something that is largely missing from Uptown. The decor and setting make for a pretty cool experience. Something about it feels very private and intimate even though it will most likely be packed.
If you are labeling yourself as a speakeasy-style restaurant you better have outstanding cocktails and The Cellar holds up pretty well in this area. The beer selection is pretty good as well. Food-wise they could certainly do some things better. The grilled octopus was not done very well and tasted a bit off. The waffle cone trio while an interesting idea, failed to really impress. The duck ragu felt like it was just trying a little too hard. The Brussels sprouts are excellent, but those are hard to mess up.
After a handful of visits here, I've realized the service can be hit or miss. Some wait staff are fully capable of providing excellent service even though they are clearly slammed, while others only check in every 15-30 minutes. I wish it were more consistent. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND making a reservation well in advance. This isn't the place to roll up to at 7PM asking for a table.
All in all, this is a very interesting spot that I would recommend checking out, but after a 3 year span, other restaurants on the surface have surpassed it...3.5/5.