Cella

4.8

202 Reviews

$50 and over

Californian

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 28, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 12 times today

Experiences are available.

Good for special occasions
Charming
Great for creative cocktails

Discover CELLA Restaurant + Bar at Cooper Molera Adobe in Downtown Monterey. Step into a sleek, historic venue with a heated pergola and stunning local woodwork. General Manager Bernabe DeLuna leads an exceptional wine program with a remarkable staff. Savor seasonal cocktails and mocktails crafted by Barkeep Joshua Perry. Chef Ben Spungin & Chef Cal Stamenov create an ever-changing menu inspired by the bountiful central coast. Join us and experience the neighborhood's culinary gem!

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Californian, Bistro, European
Hours of operation
Dinner Tue–Sat 5:30 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(831) 920-1046
Website
http://www.cellarestaurant.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Cal Stamenov
Private party facilities
Alta Bakery and Cella Restaurant invite you to savor our offerings amid historic adobes and charming courtyards, where Chef Cal Stamenov and Chef Ben Spungin elevate your experience with family-style meals, brunches, and more. Our flexible spaces set the stage for unforgettable gatherings. Explore our packages, e-mail lily@cellarestaurant.com.

Location
525 Polk St, Monterey, CA 93940-2809
Neighborhood
Monterey
Cross street
We're a short stroll from downtown and parking structures.
Parking details
Street Parking
Public transit
Around the corner from public transit and trolleys.
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

Adventures in Barkeeping- Holiday Spirits
$188.46 per person
Prepaid
Dec 8, 2024 only
Join us the afternoon of December 8th at Cella Restaurant & Bar for a special cocktail class with professional barkeep, Joshua Perry. Missed our November Class? This is the same festive class that will have you hosting a holiday party like a true foodie! Josh will reveal expert tips on crafting seasonal cocktails, adding that 'gourmet flair', and creating a memorable atmosphere. Delightful noshes curated by chef Cal Stamenov will be provided. Dress in your ugliest holiday sweater. The ugliest sweater wearer will walk away with an extra special gift. Tickets are $150++/person and availability is limited. Don't miss this perfect winter activity! For groups of 5-10 people, please email lily@cellarestaurant.com for information.
Family-Style Mezze Experience
$128.00 per person
Multiple dates available
Reservation MUST be confirmed by restaurant 4-5 days in advance. Legendary Chefs, Ben Spungin & Cal Stamenov's farm-to-table family-style dinners are a celebration of community, whether it's a company gathering or rehearsal dinner. The menu will feature a crafted Mediterranean feast featuring our Alta Bakery's bread, seasonal shared plates, a duo of proteins and complimenting sides. This experience mimics a 3-course meal, finishing with petit fours inspired from our award-winning bakery. Enhance your experience with our add-ons. $128/person $500 room fee required to reserve the historic Diaz Sala or book our heated pergola! Email lily@cellarestaurant.com to confirm reservation request or if you're a group of 21 or more.
Sunday Supper - Fried Chicken Dinner
$111.50 per person
Dec 29, 2024 only
Join us for a Southern-inspired three-course family-style feast at Cella Restaurant. Chef Cal Stamenov and Chef Ben Spungin will serve a warm seafood bisque, followed by Mary’s Fried Chicken, collard greens, mashed sweet potatoes, and a Meyer lemon vinaigrette-dressed salad. Finish with Alta Bakery’s banana chocolate hazelnut tart. Cocktails by Joshua Perry and wines curated by Bernabe De Luna will complement the meal. This is a set menu experience—no substitutions. We can’t wait to share this special evening with you! $85++/person pre-fixed menu

What 202 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.7Service
4.7Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

California Central Coast
Californian
Monterey / Carmel
Best Overall
Monterey / Carmel
Best Food
Monterey / Carmel
Innovative
Monterey / Carmel
Californian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Cella offers an extraordinary dining experience in a historic adobe setting in Monterey. Renowned for its "creative and delicious" menu, it features fresh, local ingredients and an exceptional wine list. Guests rave about the "outstanding service" and "beautiful atmosphere." Despite some concerns about price and portion sizes, Cella remains a top choice for celebratory meals and special occasions.

202 Reviews

D
DR CRAIG
New York City
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Watched the buildout of this amazing place for two years and have been waiting for the opportunity to dine in this beautiful restaurant as we live 400 miles away. Absolutely worth the wait! Really outstanding cuisine, ambience and service. We’ve dined worldwide so now our list of favorites! Dr Craig Turley, Redlands, CA
Is this helpful?
B
Bobbie
Hawaii
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Wonderful food and service. It got loud as dining room filled up.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Central Coast
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 17, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The service was very good, the food server knew the plates personally, worked closely with the kitchen to help us make decisions on beautiful crafted plates. Tge only set back was main dish cost. It is a bit pricey. Appetizers and salads can be split with up to 4 people.
Is this helpful?
j
jenswag
Chicago
9 reviews
vip
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on November 16, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Fabulous food. Everything was delish. Served had amazing suggestions. It’s a must go to!
Is this helpful?
A
Amanda
New Orleans
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 15, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We spent a week traveling along the California coastline for our anniversary and this wasn’t our “fancy anniversary dinner” however, it turned out to be our favorite. We had the white beans and olives as an appetizer, I had the pork chop and my husband had the halibut. Every single bite of each dish was fresh and flavorful. I really wish we would saved room for the butterscotch and rosemary shortbread. Our server was sweet enough to surprise us with two small pieces of the rosemary shortbread and thad was divine. Everything about our experience was exceptional!
Is this helpful?
KD
KannikaDavis
San Francisco
30 reviews
vip
5.0
30 reviews
Dined on November 13, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent place to go in Monterey. Unbelievable food, everything I order was excellent.
Is this helpful?
M
Margaret
Central Coast
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on November 9, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Everything was fabulous - cocktails, appetizers (the yellowfin crudo, the butter lettuce salad as well as the octopus). The entrees (halibut and scallops) and exceptional wine selections were perfect! Props to your sommelier, our server and Josh for the cocktails. Thank you to Chef Cal and the kitchen! Thank you Cella
Is this helpful?
s
shallott
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 8, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I love dining outside where the stmosphere and the food creste magic
Is this helpful?
R
Rebecca
Hawaii
15 reviews
vip
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on November 3, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
It's hard to believe this restaurant continues to get better every time I visit, but it does. The food is always exceptional, but the special attention the staff gives makes every dining experience so memorable. Such a gift to have this restaurant in Monterey!
Is this helpful?
M
Marilynn
San Francisco
38 reviews
5.0
38 reviews
Dined on November 2, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
The menu has a delightful assortment of delicacies mixed with some traditional meals. The service was perfect--water glasses were constantly refilled, food and drink came on time, and there was plenty of checking back. We did feel the prices were rather extreme for a casual-style dining atmosphere, especially the alcohol.
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Cella is rated 4.8 stars by 202 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 28, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 12 times today

Experiences are available.

525 Polk St, Monterey, CA 93940-2809

Additional information

Cross street
We're a short stroll from downtown and parking structures.
Neighborhood
Monterey
Hours of operation
Dinner Tue–Sat 5:30 pm–9:00 pm
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Californian, Bistro, European
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Street Parking
Public transit
Around the corner from public transit and trolleys.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Cal Stamenov
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.cellarestaurant.com/
Phone number
(831) 920-1046
Private party facilities
Alta Bakery and Cella Restaurant invite you to savor our offerings amid historic adobes and charming courtyards, where Chef Cal Stamenov and Chef Ben Spungin elevate your experience with family-style meals, brunches, and more. Our flexible spaces set the stage for unforgettable gatherings. Explore our packages, e-mail lily@cellarestaurant.com.

Cella

Make a reservation

Additional information

Experiences

Adventures in Barkeeping- Holiday Spirits

Family-Style Mezze Experience

Sunday Supper - Fried Chicken Dinner

Menu

What 202 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Cella restaurant rated?

Is Cella currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information