Cella Restaurant & Bar is a Monterey establishment that offers a memorable dining experience in a historic setting. The restaurant’s menu features seasonal dishes crafted with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, while the bar boasts an extensive wine list and creative cocktails. Cella’s warm and inviting atmosphere, coupled with its commitment to quality and service, makes it a popular destination for both locals and visitors alike.
Nicole Pack
Cella was so good, it really deserves 6 stars. Went with two childhood friends on a girls trip and shared several dishes. We were so blown away that we cancelled our reservation elsewhere for the next night and returned to Cella. Highlights included the beet salad, pork chop, rigatoni, scallops, the pavlova was to die for and the persimmon cake amazing. Our server Kevin was the cherry on the cake, along with the entire staff who were so welcoming and friendly. A special experience and can’t wait to return!
… moreAlex Morton
I go to a lot of restaurants for work and, Cella is easily one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. Never have I looked at a menu where I wanted to order every single dish – until now. Had duck confit leg and braised beef cheeks and they were absolutely incredible. Their chef Cal is extremely talented and their waitstaff was equally as great!
… moreAnna Javins
A friend and I dined at Cella on a Tuesday evening and it was a wonderful, relaxed, high end experience. The atmosphere is clean, cozy, and refined. The service was excellent, thank you Maddie R!! Top notch service from all staff who touched our table, it was so well done without feeling fussy or intrusive. The food was absolutely delicious, every last bite was enjoyed. Manager came to check how our wine was and felt genuine & loved the touch of our to-go persimmon cake waiting for us at the bar on the way out (bartender even went out of her way to get us to-go utensils!) all around fantastic experience and can’t wait to return next time I’m in town!
… moreAmy Crissinger Murry
I visit the area every once in a while, and I’ve had my eye on this place for a few years! Really happy to say I finally made it in and it exceeded my hopes!
Really beautifully done space, incredibly friendly and helpful staff and food that lets the quality ingredients shine through in just the most perfectly prepared way. Simple and quality, but by no means ordinary. I can’t wait to come back! Thank you!
… moreNearsly
Very unique tastes! Some of the ingredients in the drinks and food seemed a little weird on the menu but completely made sense after tasting it. Like….Mezcal with corn and coffee?? Totally great experience!
… moreHannah Arcilla
Oh my word is this place good. The atmosphere is very romantic with lovely pops of color. We got married right next to this restaurant at the Barns at Cooper Molera, and for our one year anniversary we decided to dine here. We got the steak and scallops, along with bread and burrata apps. The scallops were by far the star of the show, in a wonderful cream sauce cooked to perfection. The steak was good, not our favorite but still amazing. The service was wonderful and they brought us 2 glasses of champagne to celebrate. We made a reservation, and they seated us at a nice corner table that was very romantic and private for us. Definitely on the pricier side but you get what you pay for, which is delicious food! We will definitely return for future anniversaries celebrated in Monterey!
… moreRene Arreola
My wife and I are Monterey locals but hadn’t yet dined at Cella. We had a very special occasion to celebrate: our 15th wedding anniversary. We made easy reservations online for July 17, 2025.
We both had a great time and enjoyed the staff as well as the food. We had a great server who took great care of us. And food itself was just amazing! We started with appetizers (Italian Burrata and Warm Bing Cherries) they were outstanding.
Then we had our entrees: Rack of Labm and Red Wine Braised Beef Cheek. Absolute culinary works of art that tasted incredible! All the food just melted in our mouths and we never felt “full”, like we could keep on eating. We both paired our meals with a Rhone red wine. Perhaps this is simply the best quality foods and the way they are prepared. Our compliments to the chef and his staff.
Dessert was an Olive Oil Cake and a special cake that had almonds…both, again, delicious!
We thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience there and will go again. We highly recommend Cella Restaurant Bar.
… moreSuz Keen
Quintessential California coast kind of vibe. Beautiful courtyard although we ate inside along the mahogany banquette. Drank Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire even though we were in Monterey bc life’s too short. The Normandy butter and in-house baked bread will change your life. The baby lettuce salad and the beef cheeks were divine. Beef cheeks came with a side of horseradish cream which made the dish sing. Some of the best mashed potatoes I’ve had lately (I’m an expert in the field of mashed potatoes). The vanilla crème brûlée with chocolate mousse is a little stroke of genius.
… moreDerek Wang
We were exhausted from traveling and Cella welcomed us with warmth and grace. The setting was a soothing respite from the crowds. The people were genuine. The food satisfied and impressed. And the drinks were perfectly matched to the food. Cella embodies true hospitality and we hope to be back for more
… moreTiffany Baldi
Every ounce of this experience was 11/10. Our waitress Maddie was such a joy, pleasant and kind and we really want to highlight her professionalism because she made this visit SO special. And if I am leaving a review, it’s only because everyone needs to know how amazing something was because I have wasted my money at 100’s of restaurants. We sat outside and were often offered blankets though not cold, which was such a nice touch. We are from Colorado and I have been lucky enough to dine at many Michelin star restaurants and I hope one comes to Cella soon. The bread and butter were the simplest yet most divine treat. And our scallops were cooked to perfection with seasonal compliments in the corn Chardonnay sauce and mushrooms that accompanied it. And most notable, we were sharing this entree and were given warmed plates just before the entree came out. This is a HUGE sign that the chef cares about the condition the food is served. It was something many skip but could easily do. We wanted to savor every bite. And the homemade butterscotch pudding came in a fun yet approachable display and is unlike anything I’ve ever had. We were warmly greeted upon arrival and departure. I’ll be very sad often that I can’t rush back over from my home in Colorado. This is not to be missed.
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