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A From-Scratch Kitchen with Imaginative Bar Offerings
Boasting more than a dozen culinary offerings, Watters Creek at Montgomery Farm in Allen is becoming quite the foodie mecca in North Dallas. Open just four months, The Cellar Craft & Kitchen is the newest among the diverse blend of eateries in this picturesque mixed-use neighborhood.
The Cellar’s dining concept is built around a from-scratch kitchen, its menu focused on steaks, seafood and burgers, while serving a wide assortment of whiskey, wine and an inventive menu of craft cocktails from its indoor-outdoor bar. On a recent girls’ night out, three of us took advantage of the cooler-than-usual summer evening by making ourselves at home at a table on the patio.
(Note: When visiting Watter’s Creek for a meal, the patio dining areas are not to be missed if the weather is good. This lively spot on the southern edge of Allen was developed with sustainability in mind and design, a beautiful lush green lawn area with oodles of trees, a creek, playground and a stage for live entertainment situated in the center of the development. Lucky for us, The Cellar is right across the street from “The Green,” providing a great opportunity for people watching and enjoying the relaxing scenery.)
We started our evening perusing the craft cocktail menu’s creatively named and inventively described drinks. We chose the deliciously not-too-tart “Giggle Juice,” made of Caracella Limoncello, champagne and a lemon wheel, and the colorful “Berrry Lavender Mule,” a mix of vanilla vodka, lavender bitters, ginger beer and blackberries. Wanting to leave plenty of room for our meals, we decided to share an appetizer, selecting an order of Tuna Ceviche, a just-right blend of fresh tuna chunks, tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice, serrano pepper, and avocado, topped with chipotle garlic aioli and served with fresh, crispy wonton chips.
When it came to ordering dinner, my sister opted for an order of pan seared scallops served in a lemon butter sauce, a sprinkling of green onions and a garlic herb risotto that she deemed perfectly creamy. Our friend selected the braised beef short ribs and grilled asparagus spears, served atop sharp white cheddar mashed potatoes and smothered in a tasty truffle rosemary demi-glace. Always a sucker for Southern comfort food when I dine out, I chose the fried chicken plate, a tender, not-at-all-dry (as chicken can sometimes be when breaded) boneless chicken breast topped with cream gravy and served with sharp white cheddar mashed potatoes and bacon green beans. The jalapeno-cheddar biscuit that accompanied my entrée was quite flavorful, a nice finishing touch.
We don’t normally indulge in desserts when we dine out, but despite being nicely full from dinner, there was no way we could pass up something as decadent and mouthwatering as fried Oreos with vanilla ice cream drizzled with hot fudge. The order was perfect for our party, with one melt-in-your-mouth cookie and just enough ice cream for each of us.
If the weather isn’t cooperative enough to allow for patio seating the night you visit this nice addition to Watter’s Creek, never fear! The Cellar’s indoor cocktail lounge is plush and comfortable with an intimate dining area that features a glass fireplace.
The Cellar Craft & Kitchen
968 Village Green Drive | Allen
