City Cellars Claim this business

Stephanie Wildon Google

3 months ago

I chose City Cellars to celebrate Mother’s Day with my mom and sisters. We made a reservation online and the manager was accommodating to our requests once we arrived at the restaurant. We sat outside on their patio and enjoyed the gorgeous view of downtown and breeziness underneath the fans. Karen, our waitress, was absolutely amazing. She offered delicious recommendations and was attentive to our table. We ordered the bananas fosters French toast (great to share), açaí bowl, and build your own brunch. We truly enjoyed our time and can’t wait to return. When you go, ask for Karen, she’ll take great care of you ✨

David Bon Google

3 months ago

It’s been a while since we’ve had a team building dinner, and this place definitely set the bar high. Very classy atmosphere, beautiful patio seating, and we were seated instantly with reservations for eight at 4:30. Our server, Julia, was absolutely fantastic from the moment she introduced herself. She was sharp, attentive, and somehow knew what we needed before we even did. She walked us through the cocktail menu, happy hour menu, and explained dinner service started at 5:00 without making us feel rushed at all. I ordered the “Smoking in the Park” and “Flicked the Bean” cocktails. Whoever names these drinks deserves a raise because they’re hilarious and instant conversation starters. Perfect first date energy or just good laughs with friends. Food wise, the sliders and Sriracha mac & cheese balls were amazing, but the braised beef completely stole the show. Easily the best braised beef I’ve had in Houston. Melt in your mouth good. I honestly can’t hype it up enough. The patio overlooks a beautiful water view with tons of plants and trees, making it a great spot to relax. The inside décor was also really well done, and yes, even the restrooms deserve a shoutout. Super clean, plenty of stalls, and they had those oversized fluffy hand towels that make you feel like you accidentally walked into a luxury spa. Now for the only downside. Our table had the post for an umbrella but no umbrella attached. Since the patio was completely empty except for our group, I grabbed one from a nearby unused table so we could have some shade. As soon as I placed it down, the manager, David, came over extremely stern and rude about it. I immediately told him it wasn’t a problem and I’d put it back, but he responded pretty smugly with, “Don’t worry about it,” and explained the umbrellas were placed where they were for a reason and there were no extras. The funny part? While taking pictures later for this review, I noticed several umbrellas sitting in the corner on the ground. So apparently the Umbrella Distribution System is more protected than Fort Knox. That interaction definitely rubbed me the wrong way, especially considering how empty the patio was, but overall the experience was still excellent because Julia absolutely carried the hospitality side of the evening. One of the best servers we’ve had in a long time

Laura Martinezon Google

3 months ago

My sister and I planned a Mother’s Day brunch at City Cellars and were genuinely excited for the experience, especially since we made reservations in advance for what was supposed to be a special day with family. Unfortunately, it turned into one of the most uncomfortable and disappointing dining experiences we’ve had, and we left feeling deeply unfairly treated. When we arrived, we were seated at a patio table with only partial shade in the middle of the Houston heat. The sun was directly hitting our table, making it extremely uncomfortable almost immediately. We politely asked the hostess if we could move to one of the several fully shaded empty tables nearby, but were told that was not an option because all of those tables were “reserved” — despite the restaurant barely being occupied at the time. Wanting to be understanding since it was Mother’s Day, we stayed seated and ordered drinks anyway. A few moments later, a group of white women arrived and were seated in a similar partially shaded area. They asked to move tables and, to our shock, were immediately accommodated and moved to a shaded table without hesitation. At that point, we felt embarrassed, confused, and honestly hurt. We had asked first, were told no, tried to be respectful and cooperative, yet watched another group receive completely different treatment within minutes. It made us feel singled out and invisible. When we questioned why we were denied the same accommodation, the hostess apologized and said she would get the manager. Unfortunately, the manager showed very little concern for how the situation looked or how it made us feel. He claimed the other table had “just opened up,” but when we asked why we still couldn’t move to one of the other visibly empty tables, he again insisted they were all reserved. I even explained that we would be in and out quickly and suggested the next reservation could simply take our original table once we left, but he refused and seemed completely dismissive of our concerns. There was no empathy, no attempt to make things right, and no acknowledgment of how unfair the situation appeared from our perspective. I have worked in the restaurant industry myself, and as someone who understands customer service and hospitality, I know this situation could have been handled very differently. Good businesses treat all guests with the same level of respect, care, and consistency. Policies should be applied equally to everyone, not selectively depending on the customer. Even if there truly was a reservation policy in place, there were multiple opportunities to handle the situation professionally and compassionately, and instead we were made to feel like our concerns did not matter. As Hispanic women, it was hard not to walk away feeling racially profiled and treated differently. Whether intentional or not, the inconsistency in how guests were treated was very noticeable and upsetting. No customer should ever leave feeling less valued or less deserving of basic comfort and hospitality. If patio seating is being offered in Houston heat, every table should have proper shade or umbrellas available. More importantly, all guests should be treated fairly and with the same courtesy. Very disappointing experience, especially on Mother’s Day.

Adavion Wayneon Google

3 months ago

I love the vibe and aesthetics at City Cellars! I’ve been here several times, for dinner and happy hours, but today is my first day for brunch. A great experience! The drinks are always consistent and the food is great. Julie, our server, has been AMAZING! She’s attentive and I appreciated the questions she asked when taking our orders to make sure the food is correct! Love that!

Nekesa “Okorie” Sappon Google

5 months ago

Brunch at City Cellars was absolutely amazing! Every dish we ordered was delicious—from the short rib omelet to the bacon jam sliders and the chilaquiles. The portions were generous, and everything was beautifully presented. The food could have been seasoned a tad bit more, but otherwise it was delicious. The drinks were also a highlight. The pineapple ginger mimosa and the cactus pear pomegranate mimosa were both incredible—refreshing, unique, and perfectly balanced. Try the wine flight if you can! What really elevated the experience was the service. Our waitress Karen was amazing—attentive, friendly, and made sure everything was perfect from start to finish. Great service always makes a difference, and she truly delivered. Oh and I almost forgot the MOST IMPORTANT PART. THE VIBE!! Mr. Houston created the perfect live music brunch atmosphere. He entertained guest and wowed the crowd. Great food, great drinks, great music, and wonderful service… City Cellars is definitely a spot to add to the rotation. We’ll absolutely be back!