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Cellar Hand, San Diego, CA

Cellar Hand

4.7
4.7
112 Reviews
$31 to $50
Farm-to-table

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 19 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Innovative
  • Great for outdoor dining
Nestled in the heart of Hillcrest, San Diego, Cellar Hand embodies a commitment to sustainability, craftsmanship, and community. Through a farm-to-table approach, our menu showcases hyper-local seasonal fare. Our extensive wine list highlights the diverse terroir of California, serving as an extension of founder’s Pali Wine Co. Santa Barbara County winery. By fostering deep connections with local artisans, farmers, fishers, and stewards, Cellar Hand strives to be a destination where guests can savor the essence of California’s bounty in every bite and sip.

Enjoy our exposed kitchen, an indoor-outdoor bar, outdoor fire pits, and artwork by Nick Perr. Opened Wednesday - Sunday with daily happy hour specials and Sunday brunch!

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Farm-to-table, Mediterranean, Seafood
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Sun 10:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Wed–Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Happy Hour Wed–Sun 4:00 pm–5:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (619) 876-4099
  • Website
    http://www.cellarhandhillcrest.com/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Location
    1440 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103-3405
  • Neighbourhood
    Hillcrest
  • Cross Street
    University Ave. and Normal St.
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Beer, Corkage Fee, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Brunch at Cellar Hand

    Multiple dates available
    Join us Sundays starting at 10am for decadent dishes including our house made brioche toasts, our take on traditional brunch eats, locally-sourced tea & coffee, and our handcrafted cocktails!
    Brunch at Cellar Hand photo

  • Happy Hour

    Multiple dates available
    Enjoy 50% off all wine by the glass, beer, and sangria, alongside deals on bar snacks and our seasonal dips. This special offer is available Wednesday through Sunday, 4-5pm.
    Happy Hour photo

  • New Year's Eve at Cellar Hand

    US$95.00 per person

    Dec 31, 2024 only
    Ring in the New Year with an unforgettable dining experience at Cellar Hand! Enjoy a 5-course prix-fixe menu showcasing our hyper-local cuisine, thoughtfully crafted to highlight the best seasonal flavors. The menu will include local spiny lobsters, Thompson Heritage Ranch bone marrow, our famous pita, and more! Elevate your evening with supplemental wine pairings from our exclusively California wine list—reserve your table now for a celebration to remember!
    New Year's Eve at Cellar Hand photo

Offers

  • Happy Hour, 4-5pm

    Multiple dates available
    Sun - 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.,Wed - Sat - 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
    When the clock strikes four, our prices hit the floor. Glasses of wine at half price, pair them with pitas, so nice. For a whole hour, be happy, in the Hillcrest sun. Join us at Cellar Hand—the evening’s just begun. Happy Hour, Wednesday - Sunday from 4 PM - 5 PM!

    Happy Hour, 4-5pm photo

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 112 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • San Diego

    Innovative

  • San Diego

    Innovative

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Cellar Hand in Hillcrest is a "culinary gem" known for its exceptional food and service. Diners rave about its "creative and incredible menu" featuring locally sourced ingredients. With a welcoming atmosphere and a "fantastic wine list," it's a must-visit for foodies. Don't miss the highly-praised pork chop and house-made pita!

112 Reviews

  1. Ali

    VIP

    Portland

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined today

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I have been here 6 times since it opened in June, the food and service is amazing!

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  2. scott

    VIP

    San Diego

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on December 15, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was amazingly fresh. Overall a great experience.

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  3. Stephanie

    Dallas

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 7, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service and food . Our server, Vanessa, was able to provide diet specific recommendations for our food and beverage. Very impressive. There were a few slight mishaps, but the overall attention to detail, kindness of the staff, and quality of the food was exceptional. The mishaps only confirmed that the business is run by humans. I highly recommend!!

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  4. Jessie

    Columbus

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 7, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our delightful sever was Summer. The carefully curated menu was sublime. This was a dining experience like no other. I will most definitely recommend this hidden gem 10 out 10

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  5. Jordan

    Orange County

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 1, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Cellarhand is probably one of the best new restaurants to come to San Diego in a while. Every single dish hits, the service is next level, and the vibe is perfect. I cannot say enough about this place, but these are the types of restaurants that’ll make San Diego a food staple like SF/NY. Chef Logan and team is next level In the kitchen. Nothing on this menu is short of an unreal experience for your palette. BRAVO!

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  6. Jonathan

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 25, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great space for a moderate size group to come together for a drinks and small, very flavorful, plates. Recommend!

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  7. Lisa

    VIP

    San Diego

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on November 24, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Chef Logan and the team here are top tier. We came for brunch and I had the best breakfast potatoes I’ve had anywhere—perfectly crispy and seasoned. The Bluefin schnitzel is the best schnitzel my bf says he’s had stateside (he travels to Germany a lot for work). The dark chocolate babka is soft, chocolatey and balanced. The music is hella fun while you eat and the service is warm and attentive. We’ll be back for sure!

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  8. Mauricio

    Chicago

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 24, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    The front tables are very cold. If we would have been warmer the experience would have been much better.

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  9. Amber

    Chicago

    354 reviews

    5.0

    354 reviews

    Dined on November 17, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    What an outstanding brunch experience - all the toasts are amazing with housemade bread. You need to get the chocolate babka and the basic breakfast is anything but basic, with pork belly bacon, sesame toast with housemade ham, herby potatoes and eggs your way. I’m surprised it’s not more crowded. Usually space for walk ins and right next to the Hillcrest farmers market.

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  10. Margaret

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 11, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is a new gem in San Diego! Food and ambience is awesome. Wine list fabulous, especially if you know you’re California local wines. Excited to come here again!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Cellar Hand is rated 4.7 stars by 112 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 19 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Cellar Hand

1440 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103-3405

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    University Ave. and Normal St.
  • Neighbourhood
    Hillcrest
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Sun 10:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Wed–Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Happy Hour Wed–Sun 4:00 pm–5:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Farm-to-table, Mediterranean, Seafood
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Beer, Corkage Fee, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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