The Cellar Door in County Durham

Booking was easy, staff so helpful. Although the restaurant takes dogs, today we left ours home We all opted for Sunday lunch and it was amazing! Biggest Yorkshire puddings I've ever seen. Staff so kind, food quality superb! Lovely views over the river, only complaint tad cold, yet weather is snow right now, so hard to keep warm! We have already booked to return, thank you ♡

We celebrated our daughter’s graduation in Durham with a meal at the Cellar Door. It is OK and our waitress was excellent and professional my comment is on quality of one dish only and how the chef and management handled my feedback on one poor main dish out of four persons dining. This was the confit of duck cottage pie. It is a poorly thought out dish and was served containing nearly raw carrots. The dish does not come with any other sides and is too small and underwhelming compared to how a steak and chips dressed with tomatoes and mushrooms and sauce for £1 more. When I pointed out to the waitress that the carrots were undercooked and not really edible she went to the kitchen and came back to say that the chef says this is how the dish is meant to be served and eaten. I demonstrated to her that it was nearly not possible to cut the carrots. She went to the kitchen again and returned saying that the chef will cook another with carrots or without carrots!!!!! and this will take 8 minutes or so. I declined as my family were nearly finished their meals. When it came to paying the waitress explained that the management would give me 20% discount for my main dish. Until then I was still enjoying the dining experience just but to be offered 20% discount on a dish which was not cooked properly was an insult to me as a customer I explained that I thought the offer was very poor the waitress went away and came back to back with the price of the dish removed Both the chef and management need to consider a customers feedback and how this was handled did not show respect to me the customer I could go on about a very cold cheese platter and a poor desert but I will stop Overall the food was Ok but how we were treated was poor The waitress was very professional but fronting up for the attitude of the chef and management 20% on an inedible dish Poor customer focus

A restaurant in downtown Durham, it is a family restaurant with a slightly small but cozy space. Prices start at about 30 pounds. The most recommended appetizer is duck breast Recommended main meal: lamb chops The portion size is enough, male adults will feel full after eating this way

Terrible food . Ordered Beef Wellington . The steak was frankly disgusting and tasted like stewing steak. We had both ordered it and the price would have been 34 pounds each. They didn’t argue and took it off the bill but the meal and occasion was ruined. The staff were fine . The fault lies with the chef and the management.

Good selection of choice and food was presented well, plenty of options for drinks non alcoholic options too. Really good food for a special night out. Decor a bit tired

Absolutely brilliant place. Mood lighting, excellent wine selection, prompt and very professional service. Food was delightful. Will definitely return

Wow what an incredible find. Fantastic service, the best Sunday roast I've ever had that I've not made! The desserts were out of this world. but the best part was the cocktails, the lemon one was astounding! Two was not enough! We could also take our dogs with space downstairs which was so appreciated

We went with all the family for a Sunday lunch, it was their first time, and the food exceeded the expectations. Veggie option recommended. We really enjoyed the atmosphere of the cellar and mention of honour to Hari that welcomed us with a big and contagious smile, very polite and professional also. Definitely, we will come back!

Extremely delicious food, staff were really nice and inviting. A must visit.

Had a fantastic evening meal here with 8 friends. The service, food and wine cannot be faulted and the atmosphere was superb. Highly recommended if you are looking for somewhere special to eat in Durham.

Food was ok, a little on the cold side and took 30 minutes to appear; was expensive for what it was. Wine was not great and not a fan of the overbearing Bridgerton soundtrack playing in the background. Staff were lovely, it was just a bit disappointing and didn't live up to expectations. Went during the lunch period so may be better during peak times?

Very disappointed after looking forward to attending here today. The service was very poor. Sat for 20 mins before even getting a drink or water. Then ordered drinks and food waited another 30 mins for starter. (Which was lovely) then for the mains waited about 45 mins from finishing our starter. Meat are very rare even chicken was a little close to being under. We were there as a party of 4 (not a large party) and our food were all served at different times therefore felt like we were not eating together. Had to constantly stop a waiter/waitresses to get drinks. Not somewhere I would return. Only one waitress had the courtesy to apologise all others did not have a care in the world.

I've come to this restaurant before and this place just keeps getting better. Dan my server was so polite and efficient. Very charming and knowledgeable about the menu. The lamb burger was great value for money and tasted out of this world. Probably one of the best restaurants in Durham city.

Visited on a Saturday evening and was not disappointed, food was excellent and of a high standard, staff attentive and friendly especially Daniel, thank you for a lovely evening.

Great food and great service. Would highly recommend. Will definitely go back next time in Durham. Really enjoyed our visit.

Fantastic meal at the Cellar Door, top class. Highly recommended for a special night out. It's not cheap but worth the money in my opinion. Loved it.

Excelente comida y personal muy atento Muy bonito lugar y defo vale la pena visitar La mesa no estaba disponible a nuestra hora reservada, que fue un comienzo decepcionante, pero al final de la comida que se olvidó, ya que la comida era excelente

Went for dinner on a Saturday night. The restaurant was very full with what appeared to be two large tables in. Service was beyond slow.... Had to wait 45 mins for starters and another 25 for mains. The crab tortellini starter was small with only three pieces of pasta. The saffron cream it sat in had a strange aftertaste and the chilli and mango salsa appeared to have been left off the dish. The duck was better but a bit of a chore to eat, would have been better to actually serve it with a spring roll rather than a style over substance thing. Both dishes were only just warm. Considered complaining but couldnt face waiting any longer. Mains were underwhelming. Beef wellington was ok but not that well seasoned, but the pastry raw in parts. Only good thing about the dish was the chips! The lamb dish was ok. The filled brioche bun filled with lamb shoulder was bizarre though and incredibly soggy having been sat in a lack lustre 'broth'. The only three positive things to note were the wine (good selection), the warm focaccia with whipped butter and no forced service charge (if there had been it would have been asked to be removed). It was a real disappointment, I think the kitchen was having a bad night and overwhelmed with the number of covers.

Had a two course dinner here last night on a whim walked in. Staff were very accommodating and friendly straight off the bat even when it was very busy. Seated in the upper reastrant, which is small but not in a crampt or claustrophobic way, welcomed by an incredibly friendly waiter in a waistcoat and tie who took my order of wine and sparkling water which arrived within minutes. I chose the peppered beef brisket to start and the Wellington for main. Whilst waiting for the brisket to come i was given a complimentary slice of homemade foccaccia and butter. The bread was lovley with a crisp crust and lovley texture however overall the butter needed some salt or perhaps a sprinkle of sea salt over the bread. Very nice quality and clearly fresh but lack a touch of flavour. The brisket came promptly and was hot and plated beautifully. Served with a celeriac puree, pickled veg and a hoisin sauce. The flavours worked very well, it was lovely. My one criticism is that it was slightly dry, which was a shame. Either the brisket needs more cooking liquid or could be served with more sauce. It's a slight shame for an overall lovley starter. For main, I had to choose the Wellington, which was a smashing choice, I must say. I've had Wellington at the Savoy and various other high-end restaurants, and this did not disappoint. The Wellington was served with hash brown chips, tenderstem brocoli, and an amazing rich jus. The hash brown chips were stunning, one of the nicer potato dishes I've ever had. Literally nothing bad to say about them. The brocoli was perfectly cooked with a crisp snap to it, as well as being seasoned with crispy fried onions. The Wellington was a lovley medium rare , the pastry was crisp and seasoned so beautifully. The jus was to die for and was beautifully rich and savoury. Very impressed with the portions as well as its quite often with higher end food to leave feeling slightly hungry. This was not the case here. I was so full I didn't have room for pudding however all sounded delicious. Overall, a large glass of wine, bottle of sparkling water , two courses and a bread dish cost just over 60 pounds. This price for the quality was more than fair, and the staff were frankly flawless. The girl who served me was friendly, and served with a smile whilst being chatty. If your in Durham and want a higher end meal at a reasonable cost I suggest a visit. 8/10

We like the Cellar Door and have eaten there a number of times. This time the service was incredibly slow - though the staff are always pleasant - and the portions were a little meagre. It won't stop us returning - in the hope that this was a "one-off".

Great restaurant. Food was good.

Seis de nosotros visitamos recientemente. Excelente menú. La comida era excepcional. El servicio fue posiblemente el mejor que hemos tenido durante varios años al visitar otros restaurantes. Una velada muy agradable. Volveremos muy pronto.

We visited for a birthday celebration and enjoyed a 3 course meal and cake. Only down side was noise, very difficult to hear in the room.

Fantastic experience, a great place for a special occasion with lovely food and brilliant service. Certainly the nicest place to eat in Durham. Would thoroughly recommend!

Quite the spot. If you’re looking for REALLY good food in Durham, get a table here, staff are very welcoming and friendly; The menu is incredible and every dish will impress. Had Hari as my waiter, he was fantastic and helped us a lot with our choices. Couldn’t ask for more!

Joya escondida a través de una puerta y bajando las escaleras a un encantador restaurante con vistas al río. Cálida bienvenida en un almuerzo de mitad de semana. Servicio encantador. Menús bien equilibrados e incluía opciones de menú a la carta y almuerzo. Filete perfectamente cocinado. Hamburguesa de pollo con lado de kimchi también fue aparentemente muy disfrutado. El fondant de chocolate con helado de tonka y panal casero nos dejó boquiabiertos. Precio realmente decente para una mejor opción de almuerzo - alrededor de £ 37 por cabeza, incluyendo 10% de propina

My wife and I had been here for lunch around 3 months prior and it was superb. Booking for my Mother’s Birthday was a natural choice. However the experiences could not have been more in contrast. Something has to have happened at this establishment, change of ownership, chef, both? Regardless the food was below average. My beer had sediment in the bottom of the glass, almost from an unscaled kettle. The sirloin steak was tough as boots, blue cheese sauce far from anything of cheese taste. We ordered my young daughter the buttermilk chicken burger that came with sriracha mayo and kimchi and specifically asked for this on the side due to her 8 year old palate not being that mature. The waitress assured us it came separate to find it arriving all in the bun. A nightmare. The staff were pleasant, the mains quite slow to get out for a restaurant not even half full on a Friday evening. They did not charge me for the beer. I declined to add the tip regrettably. Have to do better

What a wonderful service staff and menu. Simply an outstanding experience.

A thoroughly enjoyable evening meal for our anniversary. Food excellent, ambiance pleasant. Staff friendly and professional. Enjoyed the conversation when, as is often the case, we were the last ones there. Menu had good options, though relatively short. This was what attracted us as this is usually a sign of care in the kitchen. All freshly cooked and using lots of locally sourced ingredients. Would thoroughly recommend.

We ordered sirloin steak as part of our main course and have NEVER been unable to cut into a steak in any restaurant we've been to in our lives! We pointed this out to the waiter and he offered to replace the meal with something different. The replacement involved beef shin, which was very nice but the balance between the meat, one portion (= one small scoop!) of mashed potato and one piece of carrot with a smattering of sauce was completely wrong. To be fair, I had an excellent chocolate fondant dessert but my wife's brioche dessert was dry and unappetising. When asked for feedback by the restaurant subsequently I replied in a similar vein but have heard nothing back from them this past week. The Cellar Door strikes me as a restaurant which offers fancy food but isn't getting the basics right.

I have been eating here for quiet a while now and never been disappointed, i have sampled different meals on the menu which i was not over whelmed but that was my choice just to have something different i had never tried, quality was great but not to my taste, but all the other visits where i have played safe the food has been top notch cannot complain and if you go for Sunday lunch fantastic you will not be dis satisfied. Reading some of the reviews someone looking at the skirting boards think that is a little sad glad it was not me who took her for a meal what a wasted evening that would be.

A stopover on route to Scotland and found this gem online. A single antiquated door leads you down to a bright modern but atmospheric restaurant. Always love it when the staff greet you well and put you at ease immediately, this great service continued throughout and the food matched the service. We both had the crab tortellini for starters followed by Stone bass for my wife and beef wellington for myself all of which were excellent. Great wine list and sadly could not make it to the desert, although there was a great choice. If in Durham again would definitely come back, highly recommended.

Family birthday meal, Saturday lunchtime. . Absolutely beautiful every mouthful. Sat outdoor on terrace wonderful view of river. A range of starters and mains, all divine. Wine was delicious too. Highly recommend

Great spot next to the river, friendly staff and fantastic food

What a lovely city.. ‘The Cellar Door Restaurant in Durham, Set within a 13th-century riverside building hidden on the main thoroughfare up the cathedral. Great service and amazing food. Recommended!

Absolutely delicious food, well planned and beautifully executed. Fair prices and immaculate service. We had the Ox and cheese soufflé for starters, chicken supreme and beef wellington for mains and chocolate fondant for dessert. You can mix and match between the al la carte menu and linch menu during the day. We did not book and visited around 13:00 on a Friday August. Highly recommended, please give it a try.

Absolutely love this place so different from the crappy chain restaurants that seem to be popping up in Durham. The food is amazing the chef obviously knows his stuff .

Amazing food, service and atmosphere. Lovely engaging staff who were knowledgeable about the menu

Beautifully prepared and well presented food. Excellent service would recommend 💯%

We had a lovely meal at The Cellar Door in Durham City. Alex was friendly, attentive and knowledgable throughout the evening and offered advice on the menu. We didn’t manage to take any photos of the food but it was all presented beautifully and tasted delicious. The oysters are a lovely addition to begin with and the Rosé Cava matched with them perfectly. We’ll definitely be back.

Oh, what regret I have that I've left cellar door to last in my journey through the culinary offerings of Durham - as it came recommended by so many articles, but the google rating, relatively to others, is lagging (at 4.4 at time of writing). The service starts before the reservation as one receives a courteous reminder. The restaurant itself is multi-levelled, the main restaurant is classy, with character, there is a hidden away balcony that nonetheless feels elegant, with a view of the river. There is also the downstairs crypt-like restaurant for an intimate atmosphere. The cured salmon with mustard, home-pickled cabbage was out of this world, the duck confit filled onion could have been a little bit better spiced, but the duck breast was cooked to perfection, retaining tenderness, all natural flavour, without firming up. I am usually not a fan of beef wellington and puff pastry, but this was different. The mushroom (truffle sprinkler?) layer was a perfect complement, the puff pastry a wrapper, more than a filler, the beef melted on the tongue. The hash brown chips and absolute show stealer. Also go for the lemon pannacotta. It's meals like this that remind me why it's worth to continue trying different restaurants. I also just want to thank cellar door for perfect portions and service, I'll be back!

Had a wonderful lunch today: very good food, friendly service and adequate prices). Very recommendable.

A restaurant situated on the street leading to Durham cathedral, entry is by some stairs down into the restaurant. There is ample seating inside the modern, pleasant room on 2 levels, but we chose to eat outside with a view of the river. There was a good wine selection and both an a la carte and lunchtime menu from which you can mix and match. The food is modern British / European and to a very high standard. Service is excellent. Highly recommend.

Tasty but served on cold plates and food not hot however it is worth a visit and we wld return.

i don’t write reviews but this place is 5 star everything, i had the veggie roast and it was hands down best sunday roast i’ve ever had. my boyfriend had the beef, it looked unreal & he said it was 10/10 if your in Durham go here

The best roast dinner ever! With giant Yorkshire puddings - as big as your head! Amazing! 😍

If you’re on the hunt for a place where both your palate and pooch can feel pampered, look no further than this gem of a restaurant. The selection of mocktails is a rare treat, reminding us that sophisticated sips aren’t just for the tipsy. Kudos to them for acknowledging the sober sophisticates among us! Our evening was elevated by the attentiveness of our server, a gentleman whose service was nothing short of impeccable. He ensured our experience was as smooth as a well-stirred mocktail. The menu, while a tad on the pricey side, delivers delightful dishes that don’t quite cross into fine dining territory but are definitely worth the splurge. The pièce de résistance? The restaurant’s dog-friendly policy. Yes, you read that right—Fido is not only welcome but treated like royalty in certain areas. This feature alone warrants a 5/5 in my book and is enough to lure me back time and time again. Combine this with a charming atmosphere, and you have a recipe for a repeat visit. We relished every moment and can’t wait to return!

Such a mixture of cuisines available it was such a delight to start a meal with bow buns followed by a Sunday lunch! Can't recommend enough!

We treated ourselves to an absolutely wonderful meal at The Cellar Door for our wedding anniversary. The name perfectly fits the entrance to the restaurant - a cellar door. Down some stairs and there is a surprisingly huge space, both inside and outside. Very modern and lovely. The greeting was warm, friendly and genuine. Both the food and wine were superb and the service was excellent. You may pay a little bit more for your dining experience at The Cellar Door, but believe me it is well worth it. Go on and treat yourself!

Excellent food - the best Sunday Dinner I’ve had since moving to Durham

Excellent, fish, meat, everything.

Absolutely fantastic food, crab tortellini was delightful and the cod spaghetti that followed was equally as good! The dark haired girl serving me was excellent, super polite and attentive Top wine menu too. Will 100% return here, I’ve heard they do a tasty Sunday lunch too

We’ve been here before and had a lovely meal, although service was poor. This time it was the other way round. Our waitress was lovely, but the food and customer service were very poor. It seems to have changed hands and it’s no longer a nice place to go. Very disappointed, too expensive and won’t be going back.

We ate in the cave!!! It was splendid! Food was fantastic- get the oysters!

We only planned a week ago to stay at Lumley Castle as part of my Birthday weekend. On Sunday we wanted to go to Durham to see all the sights. We had looked for lunch options in advance and The Cellar Door appealed to both of us. Sunday Lunch was amazing, so fresh, full of flavour and theee largest Yorkshire Pudding I have ever seen! ! To top it off, after mentioning it in passing - the lovely waitress produced this delightful sweet treat for my birthday. Excellent value for such lovely food and service. Highly recommend and can’t wait to go again for the a la carte menu.

Called in during music festival for a light lunch! Had beautiful freshly made focaccia bread to start and 5 starters to share between 3 of us! All were superbly presented and served (and tasted just as good) . Washed down with crisp pints of asahi . Will be back ! Cheers

The food was presented beautifully. My lamb and cod were dry. I may be wrong but I guessed that my meat and fish might have dried out while in storage/in thawing. I felt I was eating leftovers😐

We had a lovely graduation dinner at the Cellar Door recently. The staff were attentive and friendly. The meals were delicious, highly recommend the lamb starter (everything was delicious).

Excellent meal and service. The salmon starter was delicious as was the beef wellington. The vegetables were perfectly cooked.

Service was great. The food was average at best. The lamb starter was very salty. The beef wellington was tough inside and overdone. The deserts were good but the cheese board was very uninspired, with four supermarket type cheeses. I expected a lot more for the price range.

great spot for graduation.. but book a long long way ahead

Exceptional service provided by Grace and the food was fantastic! Lovely vibe too - a great night out

Best cheese and mushroom soufflé I’ve ever tasted delicious

The food was just bad. The menu looked great, but what we got was nothing like what was promised. The chicken main was dry and under seasoned (all the salt seemed to have gone instead on the beef shin which was very salty but lacked pepper). Both dishes had some kind of potato rosti (cutting corners? the chicken was supposed to come with a gratin or dauphinois?) which was undercooked, dry and tasteless. The beef shin didn’t have any of the blue cheese element that the menu promised. In short, dry, tasteless, poorly put together and not according to the menu. Staff were pleasant and cheerful but i guess the chef was on holiday. A sad experience

My son and I had a delicious meal, celebrating the finish of his university studies. The menu choice was perfect; service excellent; flavours superb and food visually attractive with complementary flavours and well balanced; ambient surroundings. Sadly it was too cold to eat outside on the lovely terrace overlooking the river, but we will be back, so fingers crossed for warmer weather next time!

On a weekend visit to Durham we wanted somewhere special to celebrate an anniversary and this restaurant was perfect. The food was excellent with a diverse choice and beautifully cooked and presented. But most of all, I will highlight the service, discrete but attentive and rounded off by a specially piped plate with a complimentary treat. Went away feeling very happy. Thank you, The Cellar Door, highly recommended.

First time at The Cellar Door and it was absolutely superb! By far the best Sunday lunch we've ever had! Delicious food and cocktails! The service was fantastic and it had a lovely atmosphere! We'll certainly be back! Thank you!

Lovely food - local ingredients, some global twists, and friendly service in a beautiful building. I am still talking about the cherry blossom ice cream a month later. It's so rare to have a memorable, challenging dessert, but The Cellar Door managed it!

Fantastic food and amazing service, minor error with starters that was more than made up for and then some, can’t fault the level of service the quality of food, will certainly be back in future.

We had a weekend open day event at the University so chose a couple of restaurants from the various reviews we'd read online. The Cellar Door was outstanding with a wide variety of menu options and prices weren't that expensive which is always a plus quite honestly. all the food was really well prepared and presented. Some great local produce and all seasonal which is even better in my opinion. Booking was simple, the staff very attentive and pleasant to deal with. Overall a great visit and we shall be returning with our regular University visits.

What a wonderful place. From the outside it doesn’t look like anything. You go downstairs from the street and you’re in a bright and airy restaurant . Outside is 3 levels of indoor eating /drinking space . The food was amazing the Sunday dinner huge and the service amazing . Don’t miss miss this place

Amazing food as always. The beef Wellington is always a winner and the desserts are so good. It was my first time having a chocolate fondant in over ten years! Gigi is an amazing host she is always kind and accommodating and makes every visit special. I look forward to seeing her every time I come back!

My recent visit to The Cellar Door in County Durham left much to be desired. The pigeon breast starter I ordered came with an unexpected surprise - three shotgun pellets embedded within the meat. Upon expressing my concerns to the waitress, her dismissive response was disheartening, stating that such occurrences were to be expected. This lack of cautionary information regarding potential hazards in the dish is unacceptable. Furthermore, our dining experience was marred by the incessant rattling of keys as patrons attempted, unsuccessfully, to open a nearby door. This repeated disturbance greatly detracted from the ambiance and enjoyment of our meal. Overall, my visit to The Cellar Door was marred by safety oversights and disruptions, resulting in ongoing dental discomfort and a disappointing dining experience.

Very classy dishes on a wide-ranging menu, with a similarly comprehensive (and reasonably priced) wine list. Very attentive, friendly service and tasteful decor. The soufflés- for starter AND dessert - were a highlight.

Menù estremamente ricco con piatti della tradizione e proposte di cucina internazionale rivisitate con gusto. Da non perdere il Sunday roast e il Beef Wellington. Ottimo assortimento di vini. Location con una vista incredibile. Merita una menzione il personale di sala che è sempre squisitamente gentile e disponibile.

We booked the Cellar Door cave room for our meal after our wedding. From start to finish the venue were amazing. Letting us come visit to check entrances for elderly relatives, agreeing to make a chippy tea for some fussy eaters (this should be on the menu btw it was so so good) and everything about the booking was so well organised. Everyone had the best time, enjoyed the food, the ambiance of the private room really made it, our photographer was amazed by the room and was tempted to book it for her own wedding. Staff couldn’t have been more accommodating, helpful and friendly. If you’re looking for a place to celebrate something then I couldn’t recommend anywhere more than here. A simply must visit. Thank you so much!

Great. Loved the grub which was fun, inventive, interesting and delicious. Loved Alex and Sophie who looked after us very well. Loved the view of the river and bridge. Really pleased that we stumbled across this gem which has upped its game considerably since my last visit some time back.

We went because we saw some Spaniards who work in the city go there, honestly. We waited almost an hour to have a table because it looked good. The food was great but the service was slow. Even so, I think it is a very good option after touring the city. I recommend booking.

A great find for Sunday roast! Good selection of beers, wine and cocktails. Lovely decor and nice atmosphere Staff were friendly and professional Sunday roast was delicious. Hugh Yorkshire pudding, Good quality meats and veg! Found the profiteroles a little dry but the sauce was delish

Unexpected find in the historic city of Durham. Walking down the street, browsing menus, in the search of lunch. The menu was interesting enough to encourage us to investigate what was down the stairs. Very welcoming, friendly & knowledgeable wait staff and unexpected beautifully prepared & presented

We love coming to Cellar Door on a Sunday to enjoy their Sunday Dinners. It’s such a treat, we enjoying visiting as a couple but also have invited family and friends who aren’t from the area to visit as the food and staff are brilliant. Gluten free options are available and the staff are knowledgeable in this area. As a Yorkshire lass, I can confidently say the Yorkshire puddings are amazing, bigger than your head but amazing! We have always booked our table in advance to avoid disappointment.

Great 30th birthday meal. Came with family which my husband had organised as a surprise. We were sat int he stone room which was fab. The food was delicious and service fantastic. 100% recommend for a special meal.

A lovely hidden gem with views over the city and river. Friendly attentive staff, gorgeous food and wine at reasonable prices.

Having seen the good reviews we were tempted to try this restaurant. Unfortunately we were underwhelmed. The bread and butter to start with was delicious. My husband ordered the stone bass , which he thought was OK. I ordered the Salmon, I didn’t know and it didn’t state that the Salmon would be cooked but cold. I told the waitress and she returned the meal I said it would be fine if they cooked it through but they kindly made me another meal. Unfortunately this was still not hot and not cooked through. We ordered the Apple brioche, this was enormous , sweet and very sickly full of butter cream . at £12 per portion I was expecting something a bit special but very disappointed, and unable to eat it. The waiting staff were friendly, very sympathetic and hard working . They gave me a discount and a free drink but I’m afraid it spoilt the evening.

Food okay, service very slow and impersonal, very noisy.

Lovely home made bread to start, always a good sign. Cheese soufflé was wonderful. There's a lot of interesting flavour combinations here, dishes are slightly unexpected, but it's great to try new things done well.. Good presentation, excellent service. Unusual but pretty impressive wine list.

If you don't know it's there, it's difficult to spot but oh so well worth looking for. Excellent food and service. Not a word against...

First time to Durham and first time to Cellar Door. We stumbled upon a gem of a restaurant when passing through from Newcastle to home just nipping off the A1 to see what Durham was all about. We wandered for only 10 minutes after parking in the shopping centre car park and wasn’t long before we spotted the Cellar Door, an unassuming entrance that takes you down a flight of stairs to a room with a view over the River Wear. The menu was hard to choose from, so many mouth watering choices; it was delicious, well presented and the top top quality. Service was excellent too our waitress knew the menu very well. It was a lunch come dinner as it was mid afternoon and we mixed dishes from the lunch menu and the a la carte. We will definitely find time to come and stay in Durham, looks an interesting place to stay with lots of dining options, bars and sights to see. Oh and another visit to the Cellar Door is a must. Excellent. Keep it up Cellar Door this is how to do it!

Table booked for 2pm didn't get sat down till nearly half 2 ordered Sunday lunch took an hour to come I think my roast beef came out of a packet it was horrible did get 20 % off for having to wait but this was my worst Sunday dinner

Visited the Cellar door last year for Sunday lunch and we were really impressed so decided to book again for my sister's birthday on Saturday for lunch. The staff were all friendly and the restaurant was busy, we were asked if we wanted water for the table and drinks so we ordered a couple of coffees and then our food. The starters took around 40 mins to come out which would have been ok had we been offered more drinks in that time, we weren't and our glasses and coffee cups hadn't been removed from the table. Starters arrived and they were really tasty and everyone was happy. Then our mains came out not too long after the starters. My main was a vegan option from the A La Carte menu which was £20, when it arrived I was underwhelmed to say the least. It was a quarter of a head of broccoli with some sauce on it (the menu said it came with onion bhaji and raisins but it didn't?) It was delicious, I can't knock the flavours of the food, but I was left feeling so hungry after eating it, It needed something alongside it, some sort of grain or potato, onion bhaji perhaps? just anything! Everyone else's mains were nice. My partner ordered a burger which he got fries with (and it was cheaper than my floret of broccoli, how?) Anyway we were never asked if we wanted any more drinks, which we all did. We skipped dessert and paid up and then went next door to Tango and I had an absolutely delicious vegan burger and fries. I've never left a restaurant feeling hungry after a main course and certainly never had to buy another main course elsewhere. Very disappointed as we really had high hopes for this place and had recommended it to loads of people after the initial visit. I just think some improvements need to be made in order to justify the prices and to honour how good the flavours are. Front of house although incredibly friendly could benefit from more direction and training on the basics, they weren't incompetent they could just do with better direction and communication.

Rwally lovely little restaurant. Excellent food and service, And good value for money too!

Beautiful setting in Durham City centre. Food was excellently presented, tasted fantastic. Service was outstanding. The warm bread and whipped butter is not to be underestimated, really good. Twice baked trufflyn cheese soufflé with chestnut mushroom and goat’s cheese cream was simply the best. Followed by stone bass, for both of us, served with kale, samphire, dill mash and caviar and clam cream. Mine was really lovely, the other portion was slightly undercooked, we mentioned it, just for chef awareness, apologies all round and when we got the bill a 10% discount had been applied. Excellent. Setting is lovely overlooking Elvet bridge and the river wear. Beautifully decorated restaurant with a lovely atmosphere.

Exceptional food and drink lovely atmosphere. Never let's you down staff very helpful and friendly . In a lovely building

A wonderful experience from start to finish. Attentive and efficient staff. Food choices were broad and the presentation and favours were perfect. A very pleasant afternoon, thank you

Can’t remember when I enjoyed a meal more than this one. I’m glad I booked a few weeks ago, quite a small restaurant and lots of couples waiting for a table. Extensive wine list with wines @ quite a range of prices. The wines we chose were both lovely. Starters - very special, mains - delicious, desserts - delightful. Service wasn’t quick and we were a little rushed at the end because they needed the table for customers waiting to come in. Very high quality dining at a reasonable price.

Sunday lunch roast was perfect with wow factor Yorkshire pudding. Very tasty and attentive service.

Really good food in a fantastic atmosphere, with very attentive staff. Great dinner!

Prententious food and incredibly slow service

Absolutely gorgeous food and brilliant staff no faults at all Yorkshire pudding was to die for even got the recipe thanks to the lovely Amy (think that was her name) would highly recommend this place to everyone

Great restaurant and been here a few times now for dinner and Sunday lunch. Our last visit was mid January and I ordered the cheese soufflé starter which was delicious and the mutton main. We finished with a cheeseboard to share which was also great. Wine list is extensive with a great variety.