Cellar House

Had this on the want to go list for some time. Finally made it. Neat little restaurant that’s a bit of a hidden gem. Small location. Quiet with a great seasonal menu. Wait staff was very welcoming and knowledgeable of the menu. We ordered wine and entrees. The serving size was appropriate and not too much. We asked for a special dessert. The waitress worked with the kitchen to accommodate our request. It was wonderful. (See pics for ice cream. Caramel and scotch) Would definitely recommend!!!

- Sean Arians -

Varied experience with food. 3/4 of our party enjoyed our food. Ham sliders were good, slaw was able to be put on the side, though it was clear maraschino cherries were involved in the glaze and jalapeños were involved in the jam (not disclosed). The french dip was good, as were the fries, mac and cheese, and goat cheese appetizer. The pork porterhouse was just about the saltiest meal I have ever tasted. It tasted like it was brined, seasoned, and serves with salt while also being cooked on a salt block. It made it hardly edible and contaminated the mashed potatoes and carrots that were paired with it, making it difficult to enjoy the sides. The server took a European waiting style, slow and steady. Taking time to approach us, which we did not mind as much, though other tables seemed to get better attention. All staff were kind and helpful. Parking is a little tight. Overall a decent experience, despite the high price point, which overall does not match the aesthetics of the bistro style interior or the casual uniform of staff.

- Arabella Lake -

We liked the food at Cellar House, but disliked the experience. I guess you could argue that the food was more important. Three of us went for a friend's birthday celebration on a Wednesday evening. Cellar House is in Dierberg's Plaza on Telegraph Road in south St. Louis County, and it was nicely decorated for the holiday season. We thought that the ambience was uncomfortably claustrophobic, and the place was packed. The tables were so close together that every time the server went to the table next to ours, he stuck his butt in my face. We found it difficult to have a conversation over dinner because of the noise. Our server and the staff in general were pleasant, but the service was a little slow because of the sheer number of customers in the place. We found the menu to be interesting but somewhat pretentious for a neighborhood restaurant. For example, they called mashed potatoes "pomme puree". On the positive side, there were several gluten-free choices. The food was well-prepared, well-presented, and tasty. I enjoyed the ham sliders with "pomme frites" (french fries), which were among the best I ever had. My companions both had the pork porterhouse (large pork chop), and really enjoyed it. It was tender, nicely seasoned, and cooked to perfection. Our server gave our birthday girl a free dessert, even though none of us ordered dessert. The owners have apparently found a niche to provide upscale casual dining in south County, because the place is very popular. You can't argue with success. We liked our meals, and we will try to go back another time when it's less crowded.

- THOMAS JAMES -