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✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in
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Hours
| Friday | 4–10 PM |
| Saturday | 4–10 PM |
| Sunday | 10 AM–3 PM, 4–9 PM |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 4–10 PM |
| Thursday | 4–10 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 1440 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
Phone: (619) 876-4099
Website: https://www.cellarhandhillcrest.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: opentable.com
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
Cellar Hand Hillcrest Restaurant
Discover the Cellar Hand Restaurant, a charming dining destination in San Diego featuring thoughtfully crafted dishes made with locally sourced ingredients.
Menu Test | Explore Our Menus — Cellar Hand Restaurant
Wine & Cocktails. Reservations. 1440 University Ave. San Diego, CA 92103. Dinner | Wednesday – Saturday, 4pm – 10pm & Sunday, 4pm – 9pm. Brunch | Sunday 10am …
Cellar Hand Restaurant – San Diego, CA – OpenTable
Cellar Hand is open Wednesday through Sunday. Brunch: Sunday 10:00 AM–3:00 PM. Dinner: Wednesday–Saturday 4:00 PM–10:00 PM and Sunday 4:00 PM–9:00 PM. Happy …
Reviews
Alex
Located on the corner of University and Normal Street in a small strip of shops, Cellar Hand is such a hidden gem. I can’t believe I’ve always missed it. We first heard about this spot through our wine club since this is their sister restaurant, and we were excited to finally check it out. We brought a bottle of wine to sip and came in for happy hour.
They use a farm‑to‑table approach with seasonal ingredients, so the menu changes — which I love. They also offer fun options like bar dinners during the week, happy hour, and tasting menus for seasonal holidays. For drinks, you’ll find a large wine selection, some beer, and wine‑based cocktails.
We ordered a few apps, and each one was fresh and lovely. This is the perfect place for light bites and shareable plates. I’d love to come back for their three‑course bar dinners on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
A cozy, thoughtful spot worth adding to your rotation.
… moreThey use a farm‑to‑table approach with seasonal ingredients, so the menu changes — which I love. They also offer fun options like bar dinners during the week, happy hour, and tasting menus for seasonal holidays. For drinks, you’ll find a large wine selection, some beer, and wine‑based cocktails.
We ordered a few apps, and each one was fresh and lovely. This is the perfect place for light bites and shareable plates. I’d love to come back for their three‑course bar dinners on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
A cozy, thoughtful spot worth adding to your rotation.
Derek Tovar
I’ve got to be very honest here. I didn’t enjoy my time at this restaurant and will not be back. As someone who has worked in fine dining, I was very disappointed.
We came in for the prix-fixe $50 menu. We had reservations, but the host didn’t even ask and just sent us to the bar. I hope she just assumed who we were and didn’t mark our reservation as a no-show.
The bar area is VERY tight. A group was leaving and got stuck because we both couldn’t be there at the same time. At first I didn’t know who our server was, a person behind the bar was dressed differently from everyone else and was kind of bopping around. He handed us the menus and then I realized he was going to be handling everything. My companions had questions about the food and he didn’t seem very knowledgeable about the dishes, maybe they were new? Who knows. We ordered the food and he didn’t write anything down and was just memorizing what we said, repeated it back to us, and then went to put it in. I was surprised he didn’t ask if we wanted anything to drink.
We got our first course and finally I asked him if I could get a drink. It was an odd tasting iced tea that I would not recommend at all. It tasted like it had flat sparkling water in it with a hint of fruit flavor.
The first course I had was a hummus with a flat pita. It was good, nothing mind blowing, but it was a first course, so I didn’t mind it. Not a lot to it (I’ll get to that later)
The second course came out at a good time. I had the green beans (added a picture) I liked this dish, it was very simple, but had a good flavor. Very small, but I assumed the final dish would be bigger… Oh how wrong I was.
The third course took 45 minutes to arrive. Couples who sat after us got their food before we did. It was frustrating seeing people eat and almost finished with their meal before we even got to see ours. I ordered the burger and my friends got dumplings. When it finally arrived it was extremely disappointing. It was so small it was almost laughable. My friends had 6 tiny dumplings and I had this kids sized burger. You’re telling me this took 45 minutes to prepare? The burger tasted good, thankfully. It was more on the medium rare side, but I wasn’t about to ask them to cook it more because I was ready to go at this point.
For the prices this place charges, the food and service are definitely not worth it. The interior does look nice, though oddly shaped. It doesn’t seem to be run very well. The staff didn’t come across as prepared, and don’t get me started on the kitchen. From my vantage point I could see directly into it. It was so obvious there were issues. Oh and I must mention there were maybe 6 tables while we were eating so it wasn’t busy at all.
This place needs better management, better training, bigger portions, or honestly just a big overhaul of everything. The other better reviews are honestly so confusing. I went home upset and still hungry.
… moreWe came in for the prix-fixe $50 menu. We had reservations, but the host didn’t even ask and just sent us to the bar. I hope she just assumed who we were and didn’t mark our reservation as a no-show.
The bar area is VERY tight. A group was leaving and got stuck because we both couldn’t be there at the same time. At first I didn’t know who our server was, a person behind the bar was dressed differently from everyone else and was kind of bopping around. He handed us the menus and then I realized he was going to be handling everything. My companions had questions about the food and he didn’t seem very knowledgeable about the dishes, maybe they were new? Who knows. We ordered the food and he didn’t write anything down and was just memorizing what we said, repeated it back to us, and then went to put it in. I was surprised he didn’t ask if we wanted anything to drink.
We got our first course and finally I asked him if I could get a drink. It was an odd tasting iced tea that I would not recommend at all. It tasted like it had flat sparkling water in it with a hint of fruit flavor.
The first course I had was a hummus with a flat pita. It was good, nothing mind blowing, but it was a first course, so I didn’t mind it. Not a lot to it (I’ll get to that later)
The second course came out at a good time. I had the green beans (added a picture) I liked this dish, it was very simple, but had a good flavor. Very small, but I assumed the final dish would be bigger… Oh how wrong I was.
The third course took 45 minutes to arrive. Couples who sat after us got their food before we did. It was frustrating seeing people eat and almost finished with their meal before we even got to see ours. I ordered the burger and my friends got dumplings. When it finally arrived it was extremely disappointing. It was so small it was almost laughable. My friends had 6 tiny dumplings and I had this kids sized burger. You’re telling me this took 45 minutes to prepare? The burger tasted good, thankfully. It was more on the medium rare side, but I wasn’t about to ask them to cook it more because I was ready to go at this point.
For the prices this place charges, the food and service are definitely not worth it. The interior does look nice, though oddly shaped. It doesn’t seem to be run very well. The staff didn’t come across as prepared, and don’t get me started on the kitchen. From my vantage point I could see directly into it. It was so obvious there were issues. Oh and I must mention there were maybe 6 tables while we were eating so it wasn’t busy at all.
This place needs better management, better training, bigger portions, or honestly just a big overhaul of everything. The other better reviews are honestly so confusing. I went home upset and still hungry.
Devin Ferguson
This place is awesome! We had a large formal dinner here with about 60 people, and the Cellar Hand team was great to work with from start to finish. Warren was extremely accommodating in setting everything up, and ran a perfect show day-of. Chef Ashley was so great to work with and flexible with our menu requests, and her and her team knocked it out of the park during the event. I’d highly recommend coming here for any occasion, whether big or small. The vibes are immaculate and food, service, and drink excellent. Thanks so much to the Cellar Hand team!
… moreOlha Martinez
Cellar Hand is such a gem! The Mediterranean dips and pita were amazing, and the wine was absolutely delicious.
The service is truly the best —so attentive and welcoming.
The patio is beautiful and makes the whole experience even more enjoyable, plus there’s convenient parking.
A wonderful atmosphere all around. Can’t wait to come back!
… moreThe service is truly the best —so attentive and welcoming.
The patio is beautiful and makes the whole experience even more enjoyable, plus there’s convenient parking.
A wonderful atmosphere all around. Can’t wait to come back!
Softwave
We had a great experience here. Warren was kind and very organized when assisting our reservation for 15 people. Chef Ashley knocked it out of the park. And our server Katie was very attentive, professional, and helpful. The food was great, the service was phenomenal and I look forward to coming back!
… moreDaniela Silva Riera
Chef Ashley knocks it out of the park with a wide variety of small plates with hyper local ingredients. Every time a new dish came, we were surprised with such unexpected flavor combinations and beautiful presentation. Service was phenomenal and the wine selection was a fantastic representation of local wineries. The orange wine, both in the glass and in the gelée (with the chicken liver mousse) was so tasty! Great for special occasions and celebrations or any treat-yourself night! Loved it! Thanks for a great experience!
… moreMishel Kaufman
Amazing food and wine, and quaint modern rustic atmosphere. Every dish was a flavor bomb! Crispy eggplant had a perfect deep fry crisp, the labneh is smooth, creamy tangy yogurt with sweet carmelized onions and crispy shallots and the homemade pita was wow! Ribeye came out slices and perfectly cooked, duck confit delish, but the star of the night was a brisket and polenta pasta. Wasn’t what we expected, and we’re amazing little pillows of perfection! California wines were perfect compliments. Highly recommend and can’t wait to go back.
… moreJazmin Gardner
From service, to food, to ambiance, to wine selection, Cellar Hand exceeds expectations. Every bite of food was absolutely phenomenal. The bartender was very knowledgeable and intentional in his service. We ordered a ton of food that was courses out perfectly. The wine list has something for all and hits a variety of price points. Desert was very unique and lovely as well. Oh and they had some very cool daily specials. Absolutely a must try but you’ll be hooked. This is an excellent addition to Hillcrest.
… morejoelle altomare
Cellar hand is arguably one of the best restaurants in the area! The whipped tahina dip is out of this world, as is the rest of their plates. The staff and chef take great pride in their dishes and it shows in how each meal is executed perfectly. Everyone is extremely welcoming and kind, giving the space a warm and cozy vibe. This place has become one of my favorite places and I am very grateful to have it in the neighborhood! Also, the chilled red is unbelievable!
… moreYinlin Dai
Normally I like to go out for Asian food but this place is really good. The portion isn’t big but the ambiance and everything else combined is enjoyable.
… more