The Cellar Door Reviews Summary

Staff Service

Pros:

• "The staff were lovely and very responsive."
• "The staff were all helpful and friendly."
• "Service was great, staff friendly and chatty."
• "Service was attentive without being intrusive."
• "Staff were very friendly and attentive despite the fact there was a large party at one of the tables."
• "The staff were professional beyond their years. Attentive, polite and efficient."
• "Staff really attentive to allergies/dietary restrictions and worked around them creatively."

Cons:

• "Service was shocking! We came as a party and preordered food ahead of arriving however a 3 course dinner took over 3 hours..."
• "The service wasn't good that evening as they need more staff."
• "Most of the waiting staff were nice enough, always asking if everything was okay but our cocktails and the prestarter took quite a while to get to us."
• "We provided feedback to the kitchen, and were ignored for the rest of our visit by front of house."
• "Staff knowledge on menu was a bit dubious, guessing at an ingredient is not something I would expect especially in relation to allergies."
• "Staff had to be prompted for every course."
• "Very poor service.... Slow, Very casual and sloppy waitress, food constantly served to wrong tables."

Food Quality

Pros:

• "Everything delicious and beautifully presented."
• "Food always good here, waiting staff same but this time felt cleanliness was lacking, particularly during this epidemic."
• "Food was amazing! There were 8 of us during our visit and staff was very helpful and accommodating."
• "Excellent food, the best Vegan desert we've ever had."
• "Undoubtedly the best piece of lamb I have ever been served, soft, well seasoned and full of flavour - excellent."
• "The food was full of flavour especially it was my first meal in a restaurant since the start off the lock downs."
• "The food well presented and delicious..well worth seeking out."

Cons:

• "Beef Wellington was over cooked and cold by time it arrived."
• "Bird dirt on the railings not acceptable."
• "The truffle chips didn’t taste of truffle."
• "The food was generally poor, ranging to awful in a few cases, and came in very small portions."
• "Food undercooked.... When I raised the issue the food was returned having been microwaved rather than a fresh meal prepared just appalling."
• "Three of four starters were oversalty, the main - the steak ordered medium to well done, arrived rare to medium."
• "Food generally excellent but beetroot in starter too raw for our tastes and too much tomato and cream sauce with the cod."

Ambiance & Decor

Pros:

• "A really well managed Covid safe restaurant! All staff had face masks, well spaced tables and temperature checks."
• "Unique restaurant. Need to head downstairs from the main street (hence the name 'Cellar'). But restaurant opens up to the view of the river."
• "Loved the ambiance the staff were attentive but not over so."
• "A pleasant atmosphere, great food and very reasonably priced."
• "Decor understated and very clean."
• "Is quaint, intimate and has 2 terraces, the lower leading onto an area sloping down to the river!"
• "The atmosphere was calm and relaxed."

Cons:

• "Also the atmosphere was odd and cold; I didn't feel entirely comfortable."
• "Dont sit downstairs its freezing."
• "The atmosphere was stark and a bit awkward, like it was trying too hard to be fancy."
• "Only complaint was the procession of people walking through the restaurant and out of the fire exit (causing a massive cold draught!)."
• "We were on a table right next to the top of the stairs and there was quite a lot of coming and going which was a bit distracting."
• "The restaurant surroundings are in much need of updating too, very shabby & untidy."
• "Unfortunately on this occasion we were given a table in what must be original cellar. Next to toilet entrance which allowed drafts through every time someone used it."

Value

Pros:

• "Price is unbelievably cheap."
• "A very friendly place with good food made from the freshest ingredients and all quite reasonably priced."
• "Good value for money."
• "A real find. Good choices on the menu and extremely reasonably priced."
• "The Sunday Dinner offers good value and exquisite cooking, making fine use of local ingredients."
• "It must be one of the best value Sunday lunches you can get in Durham at £24 for 3 courses."
• "Food was delicious and great value for money."

Cons:

• "Was not offered sufficient compensation for the evening. Disappointing."
• "Wine a little over priced."
• "The price of drinks was extortionate."
• "Quite expensive, food is very well presented but overall lacking any real quality."
• "High prices (double everywhere else) aren't consistently matched in the food quality - I've been here twice now and both times several of our dishes weren't cooked properly (eg burnt), not fresh, or slightly bland."
• "I felt it was a little too pricey for the food we received."
• "They were very short-staffed, wine was not included and the price of drinks was extortionate."