Cellar Hand

4.7

111 Reviews

$31 to $50

Farm-to-table

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 24, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 6 times today

Experiences are available.

Neighborhood gem
Innovative
Great for outdoor dining

Nestled in the heart of Hillcrest, San Diego, Cellar Hand embodies a commitment to sustainability, craftsmanship, and community. Through a farm-to-table approach, our menu showcases hyper-local seasonal fare. Our extensive wine list highlights the diverse terroir of California, serving as an extension of founder’s Pali Wine Co. Santa Barbara County winery. By fostering deep connections with local artisans, farmers, fishers, and stewards, Cellar Hand strives to be a destination where guests can savor the essence of California’s bounty in every bite and sip.

Enjoy our exposed kitchen, an indoor-outdoor bar, outdoor fire pits, and artwork by Nick Perr. Opened Wednesday - Sunday with daily happy hour specials and Sunday brunch!

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Farm-to-table, Mediterranean, Seafood
Hours of operation
Brunch Sun 10:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Wed–Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Happy Hour Wed–Sun 4:00 pm–5:00 pm
Phone number
(619) 876-4099
Website
http://www.cellarhandhillcrest.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress

Location
1440 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103-3405
Neighborhood
Hillcrest
Cross street
University Ave. and Normal St.
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Beer, Corkage Fee, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

Brunch at Cellar Hand
Multiple dates available
Join us Sundays starting at 10am for decadent dishes including our house made brioche toasts, our take on traditional brunch eats, locally-sourced tea & coffee, and our handcrafted cocktails!
New Year's Eve at Cellar Hand
$95.00 per person
Dec 31, 2024 only
Ring in the New Year with an unforgettable dining experience at Cellar Hand! Enjoy a 5-course prix-fixe menu showcasing our hyper-local cuisine, thoughtfully crafted to highlight the best seasonal flavors. The menu will include local spiny lobsters, Thompson Heritage Ranch bone marrow, our famous pita, and more! Elevate your evening with supplemental wine pairings from our exclusively California wine list—reserve your table now for a celebration to remember!

Offers

Happy Hour, 4-5pm
Multiple dates available
Sun - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM,Wed - Sat - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
When the clock strikes four, our prices hit the floor. Glasses of wine at half price, pair them with pitas, so nice. For a whole hour, be happy, in the Hillcrest sun. Join us at Cellar Hand—the evening’s just begun. Happy Hour, Wednesday - Sunday from 4 PM - 5 PM!

What 111 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.7Service
4.7Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

San Diego
Innovative
San Diego
Innovative

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Cellar Hand in Hillcrest is a "culinary gem" known for its exceptional food and service. Diners rave about its "creative and incredible menu" featuring locally sourced ingredients. With a welcoming atmosphere and a "fantastic wine list," it's a must-visit for foodies. Don't miss the highly-praised pork chop and house-made pita!

111 Reviews

s
scott
VIP
San Diego
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on December 15, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food was amazingly fresh. Overall a great experience.
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S
Stephanie
Dallas
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 7, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great service and food . Our server, Vanessa, was able to provide diet specific recommendations for our food and beverage. Very impressive. There were a few slight mishaps, but the overall attention to detail, kindness of the staff, and quality of the food was exceptional. The mishaps only confirmed that the business is run by humans. I highly recommend!!
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J
Jessie
Columbus
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 7, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Our delightful sever was Summer. The carefully curated menu was sublime. This was a dining experience like no other. I will most definitely recommend this hidden gem 10 out 10
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J
Jordan
Orange County
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 1, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Cellarhand is probably one of the best new restaurants to come to San Diego in a while. Every single dish hits, the service is next level, and the vibe is perfect. I cannot say enough about this place, but these are the types of restaurants that’ll make San Diego a food staple like SF/NY. Chef Logan and team is next level In the kitchen. Nothing on this menu is short of an unreal experience for your palette. BRAVO!
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J
Jonathan
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 25, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great space for a moderate size group to come together for a drinks and small, very flavorful, plates. Recommend!
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L
Lisa
VIP
San Diego
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on November 24, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Chef Logan and the team here are top tier. We came for brunch and I had the best breakfast potatoes I’ve had anywhere—perfectly crispy and seasoned. The Bluefin schnitzel is the best schnitzel my bf says he’s had stateside (he travels to Germany a lot for work). The dark chocolate babka is soft, chocolatey and balanced. The music is hella fun while you eat and the service is warm and attentive. We’ll be back for sure!
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M
Mauricio
Chicago
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on November 24, 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
The front tables are very cold. If we would have been warmer the experience would have been much better.
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A
Amber
VIP
Chicago
354 reviews
5.0
354 reviews
Dined on November 17, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
What an outstanding brunch experience - all the toasts are amazing with housemade bread. You need to get the chocolate babka and the basic breakfast is anything but basic, with pork belly bacon, sesame toast with housemade ham, herby potatoes and eggs your way. I’m surprised it’s not more crowded. Usually space for walk ins and right next to the Hillcrest farmers market.
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M
Margaret
San Diego
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 11, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This is a new gem in San Diego! Food and ambience is awesome. Wine list fabulous, especially if you know you’re California local wines. Excited to come here again!
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A
Adam
VIP
San Diego
36 reviews
4.0
36 reviews
Dined on November 8, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
The food and service were great, at the bar and at our table. Very nice experience.
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Cellar Hand is rated 4.7 stars by 111 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 24, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 6 times today

Experiences are available.

1440 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103-3405

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
University Ave. and Normal St.
Neighborhood
Hillcrest
Hours of operation
Brunch Sun 10:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Wed–Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Happy Hour Wed–Sun 4:00 pm–5:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Farm-to-table, Mediterranean, Seafood
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Beer, Corkage Fee, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.cellarhandhillcrest.com/
Phone number
(619) 876-4099

Cellar Hand

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information

Experiences

Brunch at Cellar Hand

New Year's Eve at Cellar Hand

Offers

Happy Hour, 4-5pm

Menu

What 111 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Cellar Hand restaurant rated?

Is Cellar Hand currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information