Cheryl Roberts

Review of The Best Cellar

Went there recently; have gone periodically since ...

Went there recently; have gone periodically since the mid-1980s (old location); several Xmas dinner traditions with 5 to 7 family members at the new location. The experience was always at least a B+, sometimes an A, and friendly.
This time the greeter with a sort of sergeant's smile barked out something like "We have a rule that we start only on time; we will notify you when it's time." "Polite" perhaps (or not) but it made me at least feel like I'd already done something wrong to show up ten minutes early (four of us). Not at all the previous experience over decades. Not too promising...
The server had an ugly little black thing dangling from her nostril (only when she approached the table from a different angle did I see it had an other-nostril twin as a loopy piercing). I don't want to be served by someone who believes that is a proper way to present herself or the restaurant to the public. The server was under-informed about basic table protocol alas (she was basically likable and she tried but was not up to the job). She would interrupt a food question in order to run out her memorized patter.
We ordered Cakebread chard. After 15 minutes I inquired after it. It was being cooled I was told. We should have been informed there was no cold bottle (it's an upscale wine); we'd have ordered another. It finally arrived not yet actually chilled (and we don't like overly-chilled Chardonay).
We ordered three kir royaux and they were improperly prepared. The oysters rockefeller were so over cooked as to be cheese-like and utterly tasteless (and didn't taste like oysters). The clams in sauce were so drenched in basil, fennel, etc. that there was zero clam taste left (just the sting of herbal overdose). The unfresh grouper special was tasteless and poorly cooked. The steak was excellent. The green beans were way overcooked, very chewy; the crunchy asparagus was very poorly cooked (close your eyes, pinch your nose, you couldn't tell what it was).
The desserts were very good. They had no sweet dessert wine (pushed liqueur instead). The price is quite high and the overall quality of the experience is way down from times past. If you're looking for "fine" dining this is not the place.