V's Cellar — Restaurant in Juneau

V's Cellar Door was chosen by my out of town guests and I because of its clearly marked menu of Gluten Free items. 2 tables were filled with patrons who were eating when we arrived with 5 tables that quickly filled up shortly after our own arrival at 8 p.m. There were 2 waitresses and 1 out of the 2 showed inexperience; fortunately, for guests and staff alike, the more experienced of the 2 helped as much as she could and seemed to move about the room with confidence, solutions, and ease.

The kitchen was in transition. A newish chef was the one preparing everyone's meals while simultaneously training an additional chef too. Unfortunately, the waitresses failed to communicate this to us when we sat down. It would have helped to explain our long wait and eased us into our dining experience, with proper expectations in place, instead of having my guests and I wonder if we should've chosen to eat elsewhere.

On the positive side, the waitress that took our orders let us know that there was a 2 bite rule. Since the food is an infusion and a unique experience, you're able to take two bites; after which, if you don't like what you've tasted you can request the food be returned to the kitchen with no questions asked! At that point, you're able to place a new order and your bill will be adjusted to reflect the changes, i.e. You will only be charged for the menu item you actually eat/take more than a couple of bites of.

If you like spicy food, this place is for you! If you require a Gluten Free diet, V's Cellar Door has unique choices that are sure to satisfy. If you don't like spice, either think twice or request that the house sauce(s) are withheld and any other items that house a natural spice within them. Prices are moderate and well worth it for the portion size ( which is generous) as well as for the cozy, modern, yet laid-back atmosphere.

Due to our wait time (which was excessive both in regards to the initial greeting/handing out of the menu, to the taking of our order, to the wait time for our food); as well as, one of my guests utilizing the two bite give back, our waitresses approached us as a team, thanked us for not complaining but simply enjoying one another's company, thanked us for our patience, and adjusted our bill to reflect a deep discount for anything that would have reflected poorly on their establishment, on themselves, or had negatively affected our visit with them.

In the end, those involved in our first visit to V's Cellar Door did everything within their power to make things right. It's because of this, I've given a 4 star review instead of a 3. I look forward to attempting another visit in the future and to seeing notable improvements within the experience itself as I believe the staff are doing everything within their power to right their ship and succeed.

If nothing else, may curiosity and a sense of foodie adventure rule your day! Korean/Mexican fusion is cause to pause, taste, savor, and enjoy. Viva la V's...

This has to be one of the most well-executed unique food experiences of my life. So many times, fusion food ends up being interesting, but ends up being less tasty than either cuisine would have been on its own. V's Cellar Door is a delightful exception. The flavors of Mexican and Korean spices work startlingly well together, with the tanginess of Korean kimchi layering over the sweeter spices of the Mexican influence. While there are straight Mexican options on the menu (the Tacos al Pastor were exceptional), I cannot recommend the fusion options strongly enough. V also makes it easy to take a risk with her "two bite guarantee": if you take two bites and don't like the dish, you can send it back for another, no charge. I was never tempted to take advantage of it, because I liked everything I ate, but it gives peace of mind when taking a risk on more unusual dishes.

The restaurant itself is an intimate space, with only 10 or 12 tables in an underground room. The decor is modern and relaxing, with indirect lighting, warm colors throughout, and pleasing artwork. While our server was very new and had a few issues with our order, she was very cheerful, and unlike many many servers in Juneau, she clearly cared that we enjoyed our meal, which made our time there extremely pleasant.

All in all, V's Cellar Door is one of the best restaurant experiences I've had in a long time, and I strongly...

A friend generously treated our group to dinner at V’s Cellar last night, and we were all excited—especially after spotting the T-shirt in the merch corner that boldly proclaims, “I’d rather choke on GREATNESS than nibble on mediocrity.” Unfortunately, our meal fell short of that promise.

What shone

The ceviche was bright, fresh, and genuinely the star of the table. If every dish matched that quality, this would be a rave review.

Staff were friendly and clearly wanted us to enjoy ourselves.

Where things slipped

Despite only one other table being occupied, it took nearly 30 minutes for our first round of drinks.

1 hour 10 minutes after ordering, both appetizers and entrées arrived together—so pacing felt more like a sprint at the finish than a smooth course-by-course experience.

Utensils and napkins came after the plates, leaving us awkwardly waiting while the food cooled.

My Korean short ribs were cold, and the accompanying rice was both under-cooked and mushy.

I understand every restaurant can have an off night, and I appreciate the warmth of the staff and my friend’s generosity in choosing the venue. Still, basics like timely service, hot entrées, and proper table settings need to align with that “greatness” slogan on the wall.

I’m rooting for V’s Cellar to deliver the excellence it advertises—I’d love to come back and experience that...