City Cellar Wine Bar & Grill

This Zagat-rated restaurant is a paradise for wine enthusiasts with a 4000-bottle wine cellar, spectacularly displayed behind glass walls. The friendly atmosphere has attracted everyone from actress/songstress Hillary Duff to the New York Islanders.

Although the prices are what you'd expect from a restaurant with such high quality food, frequent specials make it affordable for those on a budget.

One of the first things I noticed about City Cellar Wine Bar & Grill was its sprawling size, and the next thing that struck me was its huge wine cellar, tastefully exhibited behind glass walls. The restaurant features tall brick walls with decorative artwork, and dark wooden tables and leather seats. If you sit in one of the banquettes, you might find it easier to get into, but harder to squeeze your way out after a heavy meal!

When my husband and I dined there, the hardest part of the evening was deciding which of the many delicious options to choose from. For an appetizer, my husband enjoyed one of the evening's specials: Oysters Rockefeller, topped with savory Asiago cheese. I ordered the pinenut-crusted warm goat cheese salad, which came with a fig balsamic vinaigrette and tasty chunks of figs. It was an excellent blend of flavors.

We also tried another appetizer: Mediterranean hummus, hearth-baked feta cheese, eggplant caponata, Moroccan olives and flatbread. We were not disappointed. The hummus (and just about anything you can think of on the menu) is made from scratch at the restaurant, and some of the best that I've ever tasted.

Our main courses were fresh and wonderfully prepared. My husband savored the rich crabmeat-crusted Chilean sea bass with Yukon Gold potato pancake and vegetable fricassee, and I enjoyed the grilled Atlantic salmon with a delicate artichoke-and-English pea risotto. We barely had room for dessert, but managed to share a decadent gelato sundae.

On a budget? Then take advantage of the frequent specials like select lunch entrees for $20.10. Ask about daily Sunset Specials from 5-6:30 p.m, which feature a three-course prix fixe for the price of an entree. There are also Tapas Tuesdays with tapas ranging from $3 to $9. Wine Down Mondays from 5-11 p.m. offer half off any bottle of wine under $99.