Cella Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in Monterey

Being locals we go to restaurants during the week when support is most needed, so we went to Cella on a Thursday evening.

Attendance at 6pm was sparse (and remained so) except for a group seated in the back behind a partition. I asked for a corner table but the hostess with the light brown hair said no and directed the other hostess (darker hair) to take us to … the worse possible table at Cella: the one located at the back along the wall next to the escape exit so in immediate view and earshot of the animated group. Really? With all the empty seats all around? So, we said we do prefer a corner table and so it was.

Later a woman from the bar delivered my wine in the wrong glass and with a scowl as a bonus. Not to be picky but when you drink wine only in restaurants the experience matters. In addition, my red wine barely reached the lower 1/3 of a (small) white wine glass. Clearly in a proper red wine glass the amount would have been ridiculous. Perhaps it was the end of the bottle? When four people sat two tables away from us and ordered two bottles of different wines they were provided with the correct glasses. When I mentioned the fact to our lovely waitress she said she had noticed, well then why did she not offer to correct the order? My wine also was a mid range ($17/glass!) was this a factor? Would an order of a more expensive wine get the proper treatment?

Eating at a restaurant is a “holistic” experience where food is only one aspect, albeit a crucial one of course. The dismal seating experience, the scowling bartender, the wrong glass and the lack of intervention from our otherwise delightful waitress were a letdown after our high expectations for Cella. Was it incompetence? Snobbery? A really bad day? We shall not come back to find out.

Our bill was $200 and we added a 20% tip. A 3 medium size scallop...

As a local, I was excited to try this place with some out of town guests. That being said, I am not sure why people love this place so much. When I arrived, they literally seated me near the bathroom/kitchen entrance, even though there were other tables available. We asked to move, which ultimately happened but took far longer than necessary. The food was very "hit or miss." Our party of 4 ordered 4-5 apps, 4 main dishes and 4 cocktails. I was extremely disappointed in the cocktails. They were expensive and no one at our table liked what they ordered. We did not order a second round of anything. The apps were erratic. The steak tartare was delish, the warm cherry dish was not. The crab was good, but not groundbreaking. Honestly, the fries were the only item that all 4 of us liked. For our entrees, the scallops were a bit salty (and you literally got 3 for $61) but the corn that came with it was yummy. I ordered the pasta. When it arrived, it had a weird foamy texture on top which literally reminded me of seaweed at the beach. I was told it was a foamy parm. The pasta itself was actually quite delicious, but a very small portion for the $45 price tag. The waiter was very detail oriented and helpful. The building itself is beautiful. It was too cold to sit outside, but the patio looked lovely. Personally, I will not return, as I did not find the food worth...

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...