Comedy Cellar

Geez I'm totally failing as an Elite..we were here in the middle of August and I'm just now getting to the review at the end of October. Oh well, better late than never right??

Of all the things to do in New York, the Comedy Cellar was the one place my boyfriend wanted to for sure see. We made reservations before our trip and actually went to the show the same day we landed in NYC. Now, be prepared this place gets crowded for obvious reasons but we were still able to sit down and enjoy the show. Granted our seats weren't the best...in fact there was a pillar kind of in our way. Would have been nice to be able to see the entire stage. Not to mention the party at the table next to us would not stop talking - made it hard to hear what was going on. The other massive downside was because it was so crowded the staff had some trouble keeping up with everything. While slow, service was definitely good. As we had already eaten dinner (yay NYC Pizza) we didn't order any food...so couldn't tell you one way or another how it was. I'd expect it to be very similar to standard bar fare. Drinks weren't too bad so that was a plus after a long day of traveling.

Overall we had a great time (sure there were a few minor annoyances, but really those were things the Comedy Cellar really couldn't deal with - annoying guests and a pillar in the way). The comedians were hilarious and we definitely will be back next time we are in NYC. Especially because this is the one place my boyfriend wanted to see on our trip!

Just a few tips to enhance your Comedy Cellar experience:

-Make a reservation! And if you don't get one, you'll probably be able to still get in with a short wait in line.
-I don't think you really control it, but it's a comedy show. Use your brain and don't sit near the stage. They will try to talk to you and if you are anything like me that is a scene from a recurring nightmare.
-Get some food with your drinks because they are STRONG.

On our last trip, we couldn't get a res on a Saturday night but we put our name on the standby list for the 12pm, went to go find a bar and ended up finding ANOTHER COMEDY show. Obv a little more amateur but so fun. Like a little comedy appetizer.

The comedy cellar show was so funny, so worth the wait, and so something I cannot wait to do again. Worth the money (you pay per ticket to get in and then there is a two drink minimum).

Perfect little nyc night. Grab dinner before (because again, those drinks are strong) and have fun.

Eh it was fine.
booking was iffy and calling wasn't great, but in person dealing with reservations was best.

The comics are okay. You can't have your cellphone without putting in sealed postage envelope because they're too busy pushing crowd work and want to record your mundane reactions for social media content.

We went on a Saturday night without reservations to the 8:45 show. If you don't have a reservation, then you stand in the standby line about one hour ahead of Showtime. Then, depending on how many people don't show up for their reservation, they let in a certain number of standby people. We lined up at 7:30 and just barely made it in.. maybe 15 people ahead of us.
This place is a well oiled machine... From the standby line to the drinks and service. Everything moves very efficiently.
Our comics were hilarious and pretty different from each other... none of them really did crowd work, not sure if that's common or not.
I will say.. they jam you in this basement. It can be very difficult to get out of your seat to go to the bathroom so keep that in mind!

Very good spot for comedy. It's very cozy and intimate and perfect for a date night. They put your phones in a plastic bags, so no photos of the comedians. 2 drink minimum and they serve food too. I had a really fun night!

One of our favorite NYC outings. We got lucky enough to get tickets for the MacDougal Street location. All the comedians were hilarious and the service was very attentive. Our seats were in the very back corner, but we could still mostly see. Can't wait to go back!

The comedy seller is a great place to come for laughs and drinks with friends and family. We saw Margaret Cho, Bobby Lee and surprise guest Ali Wong! The comedians were hilarious. Service was great with drinks and food. Fun show and fun night for laughs

I'm feeling so lucky cause I recently moved to NYC but got to see Hasan Minhaj perform??! I have to thank my roommate cause I had no idea he was performing but she gave me the idea to come here for a date. And when I checked the lineup, I saw he was performing and swooped on those tickets! So glad I did cause the standby line was crazyyyyy.

The acts that night were all so funny, my date and I were cracking up the whole night. There's a two item minimum per person (doesn't have to be alcohol, they have food and soft drinks too). We got their cocktails which honestly weren't that great but the acts made up for it.

Pro tip:
- Comedy Cellar has multiple venues. MacDougal street is the main location and the most famous one. Lots of famous comedians have performed here.
- If you have reservations, you can start lining up early. But they don't let people in until 15 min before the show. Early birds get front row seats though if getting roasted is your thing. We were early but denied "special" treatment that night.
- They pack you in tight. We were seated at a table with 3 other couples. Its basically impossible to get out of your seat without asking everyone to move so use the bathroom before sitting! (I made that mistake and felt so bad)
- I would honestly stick to beer next time, their cocktails are pretty mid.

Our entire lineup was amazing, but to see both Colin Quinn and Ronny Chieng was such a dream, I can't even begin to describe how excited we were!

But I'm not reviewing the comedy, I'm reviewing the venue, which was such an incredible space. It's very old school, I loved the Sinatra playlist, and I liked that it felt like a hide away; a sort of sanctuary for the depraved.

Our waitress was fantastic, very nice and made sure we weren't ever waiting on her -- we mostly came for the comedy and beer, but we did have a few small bites that definitely fit the aesthetic. Everything was adequate to enjoyable!

Absolutely a great time out in NYC

EVERY time I go to NYC I go to the Comedy Cellar. It doesn't matter who the comedians are - they are all good and you leave thinking about how much fun you had! You never know who will show up unexpectedly too! You never know!

This might be one of the cheapest nights out in the city also because the cost for a ticket is low and so are the prices for drinks! You do need to book ahead if you don't want the standby line. You also have to get there in advance of the start time - they have a very orderly process of standing in line and letting people in as they get there....at least 30 min before the start time. It is quite an experience because it is small, which puts you up close to the comedians - the greatest setting for a night of fun!

Please please please do NOT shout out at the comedians....we are all there for them and not for the jokesters in the audience!

Had an enjoyable night with friends here. Always a fun time. Make sure you show up on time for your reserved time slot, and wait in the standby line outside the door.