Founded in 1982 by a certain Bill Grundfest, himself a stand-up comedian, the Comedy Cellar and its restaurant, The Olive Tree Cafe, where actors go to eat after their shows, enjoy an ever-growing popularity.
Founded in 1982 by a certain Bill Grundfest, himself a stand-up comedian, the Comedy Cellar and its restaurant, The Olive Tree Cafe, where actors go to eat after their shows, enjoy an ever-growing popularity.
Often cited as one of the best comedy clubs in the United States, the Cellar has seen its share of stars since it opened. From Robin Williams to Jerry Seinfeld, through Dave Chapelle, Jimmy Fallon or Sarah Silverman, they have all stopped by and many return regularly.
Because no matter how high you’ve reached by the sheer force of your jokes, it’s always good to visit the Comedy Cellar from time to time. “It doesn’t matter who you are because even if you’re an amazing movie star, you’re bound to come back. They all come back to the Cellar,” Estee Adoram, a former hostess turned manager, recalled in the columns of Vanity Fair in 2016. Her judgment is feared, even by the greatest: “She doesn’t care about reputation or what shows anyone has been on. She just likes what she likes. Even today, if she comes down to the room during my set, I feel very nervous,” Sarah Silverman recalled in the same Vanity Fair article. The Cellar is aptly named. You just have to go down the flight of stairs from the street to find yourself in an authentic cellar, cut off from the hustle and bustle of the neighborhood, immersed in a special atmosphere as it is punctuated by the laughter of an often dense audience. Ideal place to make discoveries, to attend the birth of tomorrow’s talents or to see a great name return to its roots, the Comedy Cellar is one of those places in Greenwich Village that cannot be ignored.
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