Lexington, KY - In the former spot of the swanky Landsdowne Club beneath the Signature Club on Lansdowne Drive, The Cellar Bar & Grille, which opened in the spring of 2010 to the entire public, has emerged as an ambidextrous location suitable for intimate and formal engagements or casual meetings.
On warmer days (especially with the coming late summer weather), the shady and spacious patio offers an ideal atmosphere for outdoor dining or drinks, or both. On the Monday evening my guest and I attended the restaurant, the patio area was packed with leisurely eaters. The low-lit interior, anchored by a large semi-circle bar, consists of a large, open dining area with table and stool-top seating, as well as a few nooks more secluded from the action.
With nearly 30 huge, flat-screened televisions hanging on the walls, The Cellar has ample prime real estate for watching your favorite sporting events, and I've heard there's a lively crowd cheering for UK on game days.
Owned and operated by the folks at Shamrock Bar & Grille, The Cellar has found a way to boast appetizing pub fare without sacrificing its upscale sentiments, and the restaurant's decorous menu offers a selection of appetizers, sandwiches, soups and salads, and well-thought entrees.
To get thing started, my guest and I had an order of grouper fingers ($9.50), which is served with a remoulade sauce, and a shrimp and crap dip (also $9.50), which is served with tortilla chips. The grouper was delicious -
lightly battered, tender and devoured forthwith. The dip was hot, creamy and, surprisingly, very spicy. Other appetizers include a beer cheese platter ($5.50), peel & eat shrimp (a half pound tossed in Old Bay cocktail sauce; $10), mini brauts ($5) and "Cellar chips" (homemade with bleu cheese crumbles; $6).
The usual suspects make an appearance in the sandwich section -
burger ($8), buffalo chicken ($7), club ($9.50), BLT ($7.50) -
which are also accompanied by some imaginative items, such as the Chicago Dog (with tomatoes, pickle relish and peppers; $5), "Beef & Beer Cheese" (roast beef on a pretzel roll with beer cheese; $8) and fish tacos (served with black bean and corn salsa; $8).
Even though there are less than a dozen formal entrees, we still gave pause trying to decide what to order. However, once our server said the blackened sirloin ($17) was the best item on the menu, my mind was made up, but once he came back and said the kitchen was out, it was back to the drawing board -
I guess it is good. I opted for the Bourbon glazed salmon ($17) and my guest ordered "Filet Oscar" (filet medallions with hollandaise, fresh crab and asparagus; $21). Both of these meals were excellent selections, especially the filet. Other entrees include a bone-in filet ($28), a hot brown ($11.50), baby back ribs (a full rack; $20), chicken teriyaki ($11) and the aforementioned blackened sirloin.
Our bill, prior to tip and tax, came to $72.75, and included two appetizers, two entrees and a handful of adult beverages. I'll be sure to come back at a later date; I want to try that blackened sirloin.