The Cellar at Duckworth's image

The Cellar at Duckworth's

Restaurant Bar Lounge

Classy speakeasy with a vintage vibe offering creative cocktails & eclectic American fare. People often mention great, experience, cocktails, good, atmosphere, service, server, attentive, recommend, oysters,


Address

330 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202

Website

thecellaratduckworths.com

Contact

(980) 349-4078

Price rating

$$$ $

Rating on Google Maps

4.70 (1.3K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Thursday: 4 PM to 12 AM
  • Friday: (Good Friday), 4 PM to 12 AM, Hours might differ
  • Saturday: 4 PM to 12 AM
  • Sunday: (Easter), 4 to 11 PM, Hours might differ
  • Monday: 4 to 11 PM
  • Tuesday: 4 to 11 PM
  • Wednesday: 4 to 11 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: great (13) experience (12) cocktails (10) good (10) atmosphere (8) service (8) server (7) attentive (7) recommend (7) oysters (7)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Karla F. 1 year ago on Google
    5 star experience all the way around! I had a friend in town and we came here for my belated birthday dinner and they did not disappoint. Often touted as one of the best restaurants in Charlotte, I can absolutely see why. Aesthetic: this place is a whole vibe! Conjuring up all the feelings of a speakeasy because this place actually used to be a speakeasy with very famous artists of the prohibition era frequenting this basement. I absolutely love the vibes down here - dark, moody, vintage - it's all perfect. And the bar is stunning. Food: I got the bone-in filet and my friend got their fish special and both were incredible. My steak was cooked to perfection and tender and the Mac and cheese was the perfect accompaniment. I tried my friend's fish and it was fantastic. They have an extensive cocktail list and it was overwhelming but our server helped me pick out a bourbon- based cocktail that I loved. Service: top notch as one would expect for this experience. Our server was friendly, attentive, and offered great suggestions. Very happy with the experience here and well worth the price tag. This makes for a great place to celebrate something special or for a romantic, intimate date night. You won't go wrong with the food or the cocktails - can't wait to go back!
    8 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 turkilicious 2 years ago on Google
    The atmosphere and service was great. Thus the stars. Our server Alyssa was great, took care of us well. I came for the food, and my review goes specifically to the food I ordered. All based on my palate and my eating experience. Appetizer: ordered the char grilled oyster, it was inviting, plating was nice and good sized portion. My main course was the crispy skin Scottish salmon. The salmon was cooked nicely, skin was ok crispy, the salmon needs more seasoning, and the lentils did not have the elements to complement the salmon. By then I have already decided to skip dessert. Tasting my family's order of other dishes, I discovered that we had similar thoughts on the food. Some are too heavily seasoned, some are light. All in all, we received a close to Michelin restaurant bill, but not quite the taste. I believe, that the atmosphere and the services, if paired with a higher standard of food, will be able to elevate the place to a M standard. Hopefully, the kitchen will take this in a good way, and God willing my next visit will be better. FYI I wouldn't be writing this review if the price was not at this level, my expectation would be different given a lower price point for the menu. Readers if you do not agree with my review, just move on. Thank you and blessings
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ankita C. 2 years ago on Google
    This prohibition style speakeasy has a rich history behind it. It was a speakeasy in the prohibition era with a running pharmacy upstairs to keep it hidden. They still have their beer cellar pictured below. Then it became a jazz club that hosted all the greats. The staff are really proud of the history and can fill you in on the details. However, the really stand out things about this place are the simple yet delicious food and the unique cocktails. Each cocktail was balanced and perfectly made. The food was simply delicious. Would highly recommend the oysters, the truffle fries, and the brussel sprouts. Great selection of craft beers as well. Highly recommend!
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sandy K. 2 years ago on Google
    I don’t give 5 star reviews very often but this one deserves it. I came to this place under the recommendation of a friend and it lived up to its hype. Drinks were fantastic, and they definitely reflect the brand of this place. We ordered tapas which were quite larger than what we were expecting but we weren’t complaining! Food was great, it was clean, fresh, and tasty. Our waiter was also very informative, professional, attentive and friendly. I would definitely come back again and highly recommend to friends.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dave W. 2 years ago on Google
    I can't say enough pleasant things about this establishment. First of all, I feel like I was under dressed. Second, I didn't have a reservation even though they appeared to be booked solid. Instead of asking me to return with a reservation, they found a spot for me at the bar and seated me promptly. The bar tenders were affable and gracious, even when handling a high volume. The woman next to me and myself were well tended to. I'm not sure how many conversations Star had going, but he always came back to ours without dropping a beat. A true master. The ambiance was amazing. Doesn't lend itself to taking pictures, but honestly that's not a bad thing. I feel like you're meant to enjoy the experience and be present in the moment, not taking time for selfies and/or instagram pics like I did. What more can I say? It was an awesome dining experience and I can't wait to go back!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Frank F. 5 months ago on Google
    Wow! This place is great! The service was the best I've had in a long time, the food was amazing! Everything we ate was better than the last. Probably one of the best meals I've had in a long time. If you are thinking about don't wait, do it!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mike B. 2 years ago on Google
    Top-notch dining experience from the food to the service to the atmosphere. This was our first trip to Charlotte and we’re so glad we chose to dine at the Cellar. All our food items - charbroiled oysters, tuna tartar, and a KC strip - were prepared and presented extremely well and were delicious. The char on the steak alone is worth a visit! They offer a decent wine list and have a cellar with over 350 varieties of bottled beer. Our server, Jordan, was excellent - very attentive and passionate and knowledgeable about the food and the restaurant. Five stars!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kaila P. 1 year ago on Google
    Smoked whiskey sour is where it's at. The filet is better than any in the area, hands down. Find a place where history, culture, great food, and incredible cocktails come together sparing no expense for the sake of saving practice and quality of what dining and craft cocktails are intended to be. The waitstaff are knowledgeable, immensely hospitable, and down to earth. If you want to experience fine dining without the stiff atmosphere, this is the place for you.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Benjamin H. 2 years ago on Google
    Food and drinks were amazing. Highly recommend the oysters, Brussels, clams, bacon appetizers. The mac and cheese and chicken/shrimp/poke cone was good. For entree we tried the burger and the filet mignon. The filet was basically unforgettable. Incredibly tender and delicious. I'll be back soon!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kassandra W. 1 year ago on Google
    We came here while visiting Charlotte for my fiancé’s birthday. Our server Amanda was amazing (seriously, we loved her) and she knowledgeable about the cocktails, menu and rich history of the restaurant. I had the Paloma and he had the Bitter X, which crafted by the head bartender. Both were great. For food we got the oysters, truffle fries and steaks. All were delicious. This was a great choice for a nice dinner; I’d highly recommend this place.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Philip H. 4 months ago on Google
    Great atmosphere, excellently crafted balanced drinks, amazing food, and attentive service. Order "My Bitter X", the grilled oysters, and the short rib and thank me later. 10/10
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Matt J. 8 months ago on Google
    I've lived in Charlotte since 2005. This was the best meal I've eaten in Charlotte. Period. Awesome food. Awesome drinks. Awesome service. A++++++ experience. Also, I loved the atmosphere and the vibe. It wasn't stuffy like some other steak houses I've been too uptown and the steaks were better! Highly recommend their cocktails. My buddy and I went with a recommended Manhattan. All of the food was great, but the jalapeno candied bacon (we ended up getting 2 orders), the steaks, and the short ribs stand out. Can't rave enough about them. My buddy ate every single bite of his ribeye and his wife and devoured the 8oz filets. The seasoning was on point. My wife got the braised short ribs. Ridiculously good. Make a reservation. Go here, eat and enjoy!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Vinny L. 6 months ago on Google
    Jessi was a wonderful server with excellent cocktail and food recommendations, and she was even kind enough to give us a complimentary dessert for our first wedding anniversary! This place is a home run; my shrimp and grits were delicious, and my wife loved her short ribs.

  • 5/5 HJC 9 months ago on Google
    This is the third time I’ve been to The Cellar at Duckworth’s. The first time was during Covid, so this was a very different experience. The place is super cute, it’s downstairs from the duckworths taproom. It was extremely dark down there, probably really good for a date. We ended up sitting at the bar because we couldn’t get a table reservation which was fine. Brett, our bartender, was incredible. He made a really great martini, was attentive, friendly and accommodating. We ended up ordering a bunch of sides and apps and then shared a burger. The food was OK. I remember it being better but it also could’ve been what we ordered. We ended up getting the charred romaine salad, the char-grilled oysters, the brussel sprout and jalapeño flatbread and the burger. I’ll start with the burger first. My friend wanted it medium and I would never eat it that way. I think if it was medium rare, I would’ve liked it a lot better but it was good overall. The other apps were pretty good. I thought the oysters were soggy but the salad had a good taste and crunch. The flatbread was pretty good too even though I feel like it was overpowered by all the arugula on top. Not sure how this happened but we ended up getting the brussels sprouts instead of the salad and then we asked for truffle fries with the burger and it came with regular fries but they brought us the salad and the truffle fries and didn’t charge us. All in all, it was a great experience and I would definitely go back!

  • 5/5 Hay C. 6 months ago on Google
    Definitely a 10/10 different vibe factor and would recommend it to anyone looking for a great dinner in the city. Service was tremendous and the food had so much flavor! (Personal favorite was the pork steam buns + grits that the pork was served on) My only complaint is spending around $20 per beverage and not feeling A THING after. Great taste, but no alcohol. (One of us was drinking whiskey drinks and one was drinking recommended margaritas) We had to go to another bar nearby just to catch a buzz for way less.

  • 5/5 Kristina K. 5 months ago on Google
    My first visit here was to celebrate my birthday and it was absolutely fantastic! Brittany served us so well and was very attentive. Our waters were always full and as we finished, our plates and drink glasses were removed promptly. To top it off, the steak I ordered (Dry-Aged Prime NY Strip) was without a doubt on my top 5 list for the best steaks I've eaten in my whole life! It was seasoned very well and cooked perfectly. You get what you pay for and this experience was worth every penny! *4 stars for atmosphere only because it was not overly busy on a Sunday night, but it was a bit loud and difficult to hear. The mood was very dark and romantic, but hard to see and read the menu. ***The 1920s Prohibition theme was on point and made for a really fun and classic vibe!!!

  • 5/5 Patrick S. 1 year ago on Google
    This place is special. The cocktails in particular are creative and well crafted. I especially enjoyed the East Village and, as an after dinner drink, the smoked buttered pecan old fashioned. I had the blackened grouper for my main, which was also excellent. Prices are high but it’s worth it, and the bartenders offered excellent service and suggestions. I will be back.

  • 4/5 T H. 1 year ago on Google
    The decor, music, and ambiance take you back to a classy manhattan speak easy vibe. The cocktails are creative and the wine selection is plentiful. we sat at the bar and the two bar tenders were very friendly attentive! The hostess however was dry, cold, and rude - not the person I would want greeting guests. The food was good but not "life-changing". A little too much salt for me. But I would go back for the vibe.

  • 5/5 Caitlin Z. 2 years ago on Google
    This place has a gigantic list of cocktails and bottled beers. The food was phenomenal and the service was even better. Our server was able to make wonderful suggestions on cocktails and dishes that he knew we would like, as well as pairing options for the many bottles in their beer cellar. It was clear that he had a nearly encyclopedic knowledge of everything The Cellar had to offer and could answer any question. The steak I ordered was cooked to perfection and the candied bacon was a wonderful treat. This isn’t a place to visit if you’re in a hurry - it’s for savoring and taking in the atmosphere. It’s a pricier spot, but worth the money for the fine service and steaks. If you’re looking for something at a lower price point, or to have a more casual evening, Duckworth’s upstairs is a much better fit.


Call (980) 349-4078 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Paid parking garage
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Hard liquor
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Late-night food
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Takeout
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ No-contact delivery

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