Sometimes, a restaurant may not look like much from the outside. Other times, you may not even realize there is a restaurant there at all because the only signage is on the door is easy to miss from the road. Such is the case with The Cellar Door in Huntington. Its sister restaurant, Le Bistro, is very hard to miss, which make its next door neighbor very easy to miss. Like a shell on a beach, it may seem like nothing special, until you open it and find the pearl hiding inside.
From the street, the Cellar Door is barely noticeable, especially if you are driving. Sandwiched between Le Bistro and Huntington's Kitchen, the restaurant is practically a hidden gem.
Past the door is a long flight of stairs leading underground. When you reach the lower floor, it is unclear is you are entering a restaurant or an art gallery. Ornately designed chairs, by the company Chairy Couture, occupy the waiting area, while artwork lines the walls in bright colors.
This waiting area may have once been fairly boring and mundane, but the zip of color and style has changed all that.
Next to the waiting area is the restaurant itself. Its aqua walls have swirling, circular reliefs. More chairs and tables give the artistic dining room a sophisticated, yet relaxed feel, designed primarily for drinks and conversation with some snack items.
Other parts of the dining room have a more traditional setup with tables and chairs, if lunch or dinner is your primary reason for coming.
Across from the main entrance is a full bar, as drinks are a large component of the restaurant's offerings. They serve wine, beer and liquor.
Part of their menu is known as a flight of beers, or a "flight board," which is essentially a small sampling of several beers. There are ample selections to choose from.
A flight board is best enjoyed with a charcuterie board, or some other snack plate, with several friends in the casual dining areas.
Primarily, The Cellar Door calls itself a tapas room. Tapas are small, savory Spanish dishes served with drinks.
These dishes, not to be confused with Mexican food, serve a variety of Spanish recipes, such as Spanish beef (pictured below), stuffed poblano peppers, couscous portabello mushrooms and mango shrimp skewers.
You can also get some basic Mexican fare, such as tacos and nachos. Not to mention several snack and charcuterie boards with a varied combination of meats, cheeses, fruits, breads and spreads to complement whatever you are drinking.
The Cellar Door is not your typical restaurant in either setting or food selection, but it is definitely the most interesting and unusual place you can dine. It is not just a place to grab a quick bite; it is an experience.
The Cellar Door is located at 905 3rd Ave. in Huntington.
To learn more about The Cellar Door, check out their website here, and their Facebook page here.
Have you found The Cellar Door yet? What other awesome unassuming restaurants would you recommend? Feel free to comment below and join the discussion.
Are you interested in more places like the The Cellar Door? Check out these 12 unique restaurants in West Virginia that will give you an unforgettable dining experience.
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