YAY: The Cellar Restaurant

Truthfully, I almost started this blog off with a "nay." It's probably the cloudy weather just making me cranky, but I couldn't think of anything that I wanted to speak highly of. But
then K reminded me that we're going to lunch at The Cellar with A and M, and I realized I had my YAY.

The first time I heard about The Cellar, I don't know what I thought it was. I knew it was a bar. I knew people from my office in Century City went over there after work on occasion. But I've been there so many times in the past year that I don't remember my initial impression. Did I think it was The Standard? Or The W? Or, even worse, Skybar? (Yes, I am still bitter about being denied entrance three summers ago.) What I do remember, though, is being surprised to find that it was a cozy little hole-in-the wall joint in the high-rise district that I call my work 'hood. They have a patio area with plenty of seating and heat lamps, which is perfect for when you or your companions want to light up. The indoor seating area has a cozy, British pub-style atmosphere, complete with wing-back chairs and old books lining the shelves on the walls. By night, The Cellar has drink specials, which you can enjoy with yummy tortilla chips and runny salsa. By day, replace "drink" with "lunch" and "tortilla chips" with "bread." (This reminds me of another "YAY" I can do on another day: CARBS.)

I guess you could say that The Cellar is my office's own version of Cheers. Sometimes we want to go where everybody knows our names -- and our drink orders. Waitress Extraordinaire Cristina has a mind like a steel trap. Whenever our group shows up, she walks back into the bar area and returns with our drinks -- without ever having to ask what we're having! She. Just. Knows. She knows what happens when I drink tequila and that once I've had one of my drinks (vanilla vodka and Diet Coke), it's time to switch to straight Diet Coke. She knows that K and C will have "the bucket" (of Coors Light). And that Ka likes rum and Diet Coke with a cherry in it. This woman is like a regular Raymond Babbit without the Asperger's. Or the Y chromosome.

Don't take my word for it... Where else can you hear such comments?

• "I don't know what they do to this tuna, but it's the best tuna melt of my life." - M

• "Anyone who lives with (Mandy) has to be easy!" - Cristina

• "May I have a Diet Coke? And a side of your babies?" - K

In summary, if you are one of the minions living in or near Century City, definitely check this place out. It kicks the ass of X-Bar or Pink Taco (yes, that is what it's called). Don't tell them Mandy sent you - they'll cut you off before you even start drinking.

The Cellar is located at 1880 Century Park East in Los Angeles (90067). Phone: (310) 277-1584.