Karen Ponzio photos
David Taylor Coffey.
New Haven-based singer-songwriter David Taylor Coffey was at the Cellar on Treadwell again on Saturday — not virtually, as he was in April, but on the venue’s new expanded patio, as part of the Cellar’s latest Dinner and a Show.
The last Dinner and a Show I attended at The Cellar on Treadwell back in April involved curbside pickup and a variety of livestreamed performances, including one from Coffey. This past Saturday night the Hamden bar/restaurant was open and ready for another version of this popular event, one that included the availability of dinner and drinks on their expanded patio and yes, live music from Coffey.
This show was the sixth one thus far since the patio has been refurbished, according to co-owner Shari Vikmanis, the first one featuring singer-songwriter Pat Stone. Co-owner Pete Mould took existing fence panels and put them on hinges, extending the size of the patio and allowing for four 8‑by‑8 booths as well as three tables, all with canopies or umbrellas and all with sufficient distance between them as required under Covid-19 guidelines. Indoor seating was also available, and the music from outside was broadcast on the screen up on the Cellar’s indoor stage (as well as livestreamed over Facebook).
The new patio set up.
“We just want as many eyeballs on performers as possible,” said Shari. And as many options as possible for The Cellar’s supporters to be able to have a comfortable and safe experience.
“About 80 to 90 percent of people dine outside,” said Mould. He emphasized that inside or out, they are adhering to guidelines “relentlessly” with “everything marked out” for proper distancing, in order to add more opportunities for their regulars and new customers to try another type of experience there.
The Cellar is still open for limited hours on Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday mornings, but they have added events like the live Dinner and a Show, that make use of combining the new patio experience along with the livestreaming/indoor screen as well as what they are becoming even more known for: their food.
“We’ve been getting rave reviews for our food,” said Shari, especially their new Sunday Brunch menu, which debuted three weeks ago. And then there are the chicken sandwiches.
Marla and Chris Serapiglia, that chicken sandwich, and those tacos.
“Chef Andre Mack is still flipping the love,” said Mould with a big smile. “He’s the king of the chicken sandwich. Ask Chris Serapiglia,” local musician and Cellar regular. “He always says, ‘the colonel sandwich is life.’ He will be here later.”
Serapiglia did show up later and he did say it again. “It’s the best chicken sandwich I’ve ever had,” he said. He and wife Marla had their booth reserved so he could partake in another one on this night, Marla opting for the fish tacos that were on special.
A close up of those tacos and the largest side salad ever.
This reporter also opted for the fish tacos, which included three large pieces of fried fish layered with taco slaw and avocado on grilled flour tortillas. The side salad included with it was roughly the size of most dinner salads and fresh as can be (fries and other sides, such as tater tots, are also an option).
And then there was the music. Coffey was set up on the other side of the patio with his guitar and harmonica for two hours of live music simultaneously broadcast on the screen inside and on Facebook. The singer-songwriter offered up a variety of acoustic covers and originals, and mentioned that he had CDs for sale if anyone was interested. More often, he made it a point to ask the audience members to tip their servers, noting that “they are the true heroes of the pandemic.”
From his takes on everything from Neil Young to The Replacements, Coffey found a song for everyone, helping to ease the day into nighttime and easing those of us who are yearning for a return to a live musical experience. By the time he began his second hour, all the booths and tables were filled, everyone drinking, dining and interacting with Coffey, who also shouted them out for coming out and participating, even dedicating The White Stripes “We’re Gonna Be Friends” to them because “we’re all friends now.”
Mould, Shari and co-owner Erik Vikmanis emphasized the importance of their friends and regulars in keeping the business going.
“The local families and friends … we have very good support,” said Mould.
Shari agreed. “People have been committed. They stepped up and showed up. They have shown us so much love and support right through it all from the pickups to this.”
And the Cellar continues to change and adapt. “The silver lining in all of this is it’s given us the opportunity to focus on the culinary side,” Shari added. “We’re hoping with that happening people will come out more for food once things are more back to normal.”
Until then, the Cellar will be continuing with its Friday night schedule — courtesy of Digital Tracks Entertainment, which offers alternating weeks of mixtape bingo and team trivia — the Saturday night Dinner and a Show, and the Sunday brunch, which will also offer music from here on in. This Sunday’s was the first with reggae music, courtesy of DJ DBCL; nexy weekend’s will feature a DJ playing punk music. The Cellar will continue to offer their menu for takeout during all of these events.
“We’re baby-stepping,” said Shari. “We will add new ideas as they come up and as we are approached, but for right now we are focusing on these few events.”
Mould noted that room is available for rental with guidelines still being followed. He has had two bands over the past two months use the place to shoot a video, and had a private event scheduled there for a small group.
The inside set up with Coffey’s live stream
Erik added that the venue would be hosting a watch party for a livestream event on Saturday, Aug. 29 for the band Down, which would be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of its album NOLA with a live concert. Afterward two bands — Ricochet Effect and Oil Through the Bones — will be performing live acoustic sets of their music on the patio.
Mould reiterated The Cellar’s commitment to following safety measures while staying relevant. “We want to be responsible,” he said. “And we want to get back and reopen. We’re ready.”
For further info about any of The Cellar’s events as well as reservations for events and tickets for this weekend’s watch party and show, please visit the venue’s Facebook page.