Cellblock Steakhouse

Always a great stop. If you're looking for a nice restaurant in the area, you have to stop by Cellblock Steakhouse at the Jailhouse Casino. Tucked away into the back is a intimate, and fun experience as you make your way to your own Cellblock to enjoy your fine dining experience. Steak was cooked perfectly, the garlic butter and chimichura was some of the best I've had. Definitely recommend this place if you are driving through Ely!

Great steakhouse! I highly recommend you treat yourself if your staying in this beautiful city. The food and service was excellent and I loved the jail cell seating.

We had a really nice dinner and good food. Reasonably priced, and the steaks come with vegetables and potato. Spinach salad was very fresh. The shrimp cocktail took a few minutes to prepare; we learned because they cook thr shrimp when you order. All in all, a very good meal and good price. Service was friendly.

Loved everything! My husband and I shared the Tomahawk and lobster. Our son got a burger. Outstanding food!!!

Excellent food, excellent place! I took my family of four here after arriving in Ely late at night. Despite it being friday night, we only had to wait 15 minutes. The jail cell theme is really neat. Those complaining about authenticity have obviously failed to read the back of the menu. Our waitress was very friendly and checked on us often. I ordered the ribeye medium rare with the stuffed potato and house salad. My wife ordered the filet mignon, stuffed potato, and house salad. Her steak was the best ive tasted in a while! Both steaks were spot on and seasoned just right. The asparagus was nice and tender, but not overcooked. The stuffed potato wasnt too bad, but I'd probably order a baked potato next time. It didnt taste bad, it just wasnt what i was expecting. The beans were great as well, i love the bacon pieces and seasoning they use. The price is sort of high, but i expect that from a steakhouse. I definitely recommend this place!

Excellent meal, atmosphere, and service. The food is large portions and very reasonably priced. There is a casino outside the restaurant that is quite smoky, but there is no smoking in the restaurant. I highly recommend stopping here if you are in Ely.

Wow great food and service. Once in a lifetime potato! Impressive even from an Idaho and perspective

I had the Filet with a stuffed potato and it was very good. Price is about right for the amount of food received. Ate in a cell which made for a few good jokes during dinner.

Five of us went here last Sunday night for dinner. We were seated in our own big room and it looked to be a slow night. The waitress was friendly and for the most part on top of it. The atmosphere is dimly lit and quiet. My medium steak came out rare and when I got it back it was a bit over done. Everyone else enjoyed the food with no complaints.

Wow! This was a wonderful experience! The food was delicious, every bit enjoyable! Started with the Zucchini soup, oh my goodness, we could've just lived on that! Bread was tasty, perfect compliment. We had both chicken dishes, only wish they would offer pasta to go with all the delicious sauce but enjoyed it all. And completed with a perfect bottle of J Lohr Pinot Noir that I haven't heard of before... All in all a wonderful evening and the service was excellent too! Definitely recommend this restaurant for a enjoyable meal!

The service and food were impeccable. We ordered the bone in rib eye steak and it was perfect. Loved the jailhouse atmosphere too. Great chef!

I am not a regular reviewer. I won't give a negative but when I get this kind of service I have to share. We went here knowing we were going to eat here good or bad reviews because we wanted the experience. We went before they opened just to look around and Kara was there and let us look and was so awesome. We made the reservation because they were booked. We got hungry way before waiting so we went before the busyness and they took us in. The food was one of the best steakhouse meals I've ever had and the service was even better! Kara and Alisha took care of us and all I can say is that I give this a 20

Our experience was not good! Hostess not hospitality! We order 2 New York steaks no cocktails and bill was outrageous! The steak was so tuff I could hardly cut and I couldn't even chew and swallow it. I would not recommend

Good food, different from the old cell block but did not disappoint. The beef and reef is bomb

Did not end up eating here as the menu had changed, just grabbed some drinks and that was all.

I breaks my heart to write this review...!!! Especially because the service was impeccable!!! The food was hard to swallow (literally!!!) The bread presented first was not fresh, and only the heals of the bread rolls- HOWEVER, the Chimichurri dipping sauce was spectacular!!! No wine list- I chose a Merlot... it was marginal. For dinner, I chose the "Beef and Reef"... Where do I start?!? I couldn't identify the cut of "Beef," but it was not cooked to order and disturbingly tough!!! I ordered it "medium rare," it was medium if not more. I couldn't finish it! The "Reef," was worse! It was so rubbery that my steak knife couldn't cut it... I had to tear it apart with my utensils. My salad was amazing and the Bleu Cheese dressing was some of the best I ever had, but the mashed potato serving size was severely lacking and the gravy was funky but tolerable! The vegies on the plate were so beyond perfect! Which made this meal so confusing... There is potential here... but I think some fresher menu options would be wise. The service was seriously amazing!!! But after a terribly long workday in the field and needing a seriously good meal... I was heartbroken. I won't come here again!

Am I glad we came? Yes! Cellblock Steakhouse was recommended by many of our friends when we told them we were headed to Ely and asked where we should go/ what we should do. Would I be super excited to go back? Probably not soon. I got the salmon, my husband got steak, and our kids mostly got a cheeseburger. My dish was fine (I like fish, but my family doesn't, so always a treat for me!), but it wasn't particularly hot, and that was just unexpected for where we were. Our kids, however, absolutely raved over their burgers!!! So, one of the stars is because when the kids are happy, the parents are happy. ;) I did really appreciate that they created something a little different... Our daughter ordered the cheeseburger with no meat - haha!!! Like she legitimately wanted a grilled cheese... So they made that for her and brought the patty on the side (which a brother gladly ate instead).

Was overnighting in Ely and this place was recommended by a friend. Nice atmosphere, each table is a little cell . Had a fillet and it was very good along with the service. They do take reservations.

We were so excited to have dinner at the Cellblock. My in laws had eaten here before and raved about it. It's under new ownership, the prices have doubled and the food was not good. Maybe we hit it on an off night, but the special Paela had zero flavor and nothing like an authentic Paela. The same owner owns the Italian restaurant and after looking at that menu, we should have gone there instead. I wish I would have gotten a picture of the menu, but it's mostly a La carte and wildly expensive for the quality. Our server was very nice, but for the price and quality we would make another choice next time we are passing through. On a positive note, the chimichurri sauce for the bread was the best part!

Short staffed like everywhere in the U.S. these days, so be patient, kind, and tip well. The friendly host suggested we sit in the lounge while we waited for our table. Unfortunately, no bartender or cocktail waiter asked if we wanted drinks and, as such, the casino is missing out on an opportunity ($$$). We would have ordered at least one round of drinks while we waited (at least a $50 tab before our $200 meal) and I might have played a couple of slots to pass the time. On to the restaurant... expensive but you're truly paying for the ambience of an old Nevada-style casino steakhouse. The service was good and we got a kick out of stumping the young busser when we ordered a Roy Rodgers for our son. The Friday clam chowder was good and hearty and the side salad had some garden fresh greens. I ordered the New York steak (med rare) and the cook was perfect but the cut was mostly fatty and a little tough. My husband ordered the prime rib (rare) and, while it came out medium rare, he said it was good. The baked potatoes could have used chives or green onions for a little flare. The carrots were al dente and the asparagus overcooked and brown. The side beans were unnecessary. The kids had cheese burgers (eye roll) that come with a bag of potato chips (not steak fries) and they seemed to enjoy them. The wine list is skimpy and way overpriced (Duckhorn merlot was 33% over retail), but I enjoyed my two glasses of cheap Pinot Noir ($30 total). We ordered three desserts--lava cake, cheesecake, and crème brûlée. Honestly, I'd skip dessert and find an ice cream joint... While the portions were generous, the lava cake tasted like a warm dark chocolate brownie with ice cream, the crème brûlée tasted like flan, and the cheese cake was good but very plain. Overall, we had a good time and enjoyed sharing old Nevada stories with the boys in an old west jail cell.

Nice steakhouse. Great service with most the classic cuts, plus the experience of eating in a jail cell (pretend its your last meal!).

On our way to Salt Lake City we stopped in this town named ely and we were craving for steak we found this steakhouse the inside looks like a prison which is great for my sisters kids and the food was great I asked for the Mary me chicken and well the sauce on the chicken like nothing else I've ever have my mom ordered the ribeye cow boy steak and it was cooked to perfection it melted in my mouth like butter it's a fine and fine steak house I would recommend for sure

Came for the prime rib. Was not disappointed. Was the special of the day. Little more fancier then I had expected so be prepared.

Great food excellent service! Exceptional ambiance! Ribeye Steak, scallops very yummy!

The service and ambiance was fantastic. This is a steakhouse and the prices are reflected as such. The Merry Me Chicken was fantastic. The prime rib specials came out cold. There was miscommunication on my brother's order so he didn't get his halibut and had to ask for his soup. I'm not sure I'llcome back.

Glad to see it go . Use to be good .... Sad they ran the place into the ground hopefully whatever takes it place will be better

Second time on a road trip that included a stop in Ely. Enjoyed a delightful meal of lamb chops at the Cellblock Steakhouse. Perfectly prepared and presented on a bed of savory spinach accompanied by an indulgent stuffed baked potato. Excellent Bombay Sapphire martini served in an icy frosted glass was the perfect beverage to go with my meal. Wonderful cheerful service completed the whole positive experience.

What a unique experience! Make sure you make a reservation for a jail cell table-it's the best! Steaks are delicious and the wine list is pretty decent too! Always a must stop when we are in Ely. Service is fantastic!

After arriving in Ely, I walked across the street to the steakhouse and made a reservation for 5 PM when they opened. It became crowded so I was glad I had planned ahead. My server was Sierra and she was great! She was very helpful in answering questions and she had some suggestions when I asked. I got the soup of the day--vegetable beef with rice. For the main course I ordered the Gunslinger, a 12 ounce New York steak, and I asked for it cooked blue. For potato, I chose the stuffed potato which was a twice baked potato by another name. The steak had some seasonal vegetables with it. For dessert, I went with the mud pie. There was a molten chocolate cake but I've had so many of those that I opted for something different. When she served the soup, Sierra asked me if I wanted freshly ground pepper and the amount I had her put on added to the flavor of the soup. The steak was cooked pretty much the way I wanted it--maybe a bit past blue--but prepared quite well. It was not prime cut steak but it was tasty. And while the photo will show a fair amount of fat with the steak, know that I like fat and this was not a detraction for me! The mud pie was simply, but good! My iced tea was refilled without asking and I enjoyed the cell kind of dining experience. It was like dining in a private room. It was also good knowing I'd be sprung when I paid my bail (er, the check!) If I were in Ely again, I'd make this a stop.

I really don't want to be like this during Covid. We went here for a birthday dinner, hoping it would live up to the it's hype being one of Nevada's best steak houses. It didn't even come close. It's not because of the service- Lori was great. Cool atmosphere too. The food just sort of sucked.

Ok, I love a theme restaurant or bar, so this was a must -visit destination when I spent 2 nights in Ely. I was pleasantly surprised that the casino/hotel entrance was a little more low key than some other spots you might find in this area of NV. No strong smell of smoke or air freshener, and the hallway outside has a nice exhibit of historical photos from the area. The casino and restaurant are across the street from where the original city hall and jailhouse used to be, so lots of history here. I walked in without a reservation and only had to wait a few minutes for a cellblock to myself, which was nice because some places won't waste a 4-seater on 1 person. The cellblocks are awesome. There is a dining room, but it's worth the wait to dine in jail. The menu is what you'd expect from a western steakhouse, plenty of variety and sides and fixins. The bread basket came right away and the bread is surprisingly awesome. The garden salad was mixed greens instead of the typical iceberg lettuce mix, and the ingredients were fresh. Blue cheese dressing was good. Croutons were really good and toasty. Prime rib (ordered medium rare) was really good, lots of fat and still a generous portion, juicy, tender, and flavorful. Au jus was exactly what it should be. The "stuffed potato" is basically a twice- baked potato, and I would've preferred it without the melted cheese (which looked/ tasted like American) on top. The beer and wine is very affordably priced especially considering the quality. I enjoyed my glass of Friuli Pinot Grigio, which was acidic and a bit effervescent. Brownie points for serving Bud Light Lime, a favorite of mine though I rarely finish a whole beer. Service is attentive without being pandering, though a bit rushed. (Understandably, busy on a Saturday night. ) The host and wait staff wear little sheriff badge nametags which are cute. Ambiance is fun and quirky but not overbearing and actually kind of romantic. Each cellblock has a chandelier made of an Edison bulb and a repurposed liquor bottle. Awesome. Overhead music was just background enough. I think I heard ELO, Patsy Cline, Adele. Honestly the best meal I've had after 2 days in Ely, hands down.

Food was terribly disappointing Service was very good waitstaff did a very good job Ambiance was good

The staff was nice and the food was good, but has posted another reviews. It seems like they always run out of prime rib Very early in the evening. Overall a nice steakhouse. Will probably go again next time we're in Ely Nevada.

We were weary about going here given the reviews, buy we were willing to risk it for the ambiance. I had a medium rare filet minion and it cut like butter and was delicious. My husband had the ribeye medium rare and it too was delicious. The asparagus was cooked the way I like it, a little crispy, not mushy. Salad was okay as was the bread. Everything came out quickly. The service was fantastic! We had Michelle and she was so cheerful and attentive. She also offered to take our picture in the cell. Loved the ambiance and decor. We loved it a would definitely go back and recommend to friends!

Tucked in the back of The Jailhouse Casino & Saloon, they use the fact that they stand on the location of a former frontier jail to influence the theme. Diners sit in their very own jail cell, and choose from an "outlaw" themed menu. The food is upscale, the staff is professional, but the atmosphere veers to the uber-casual (maybe because it's a small town, but I still think it's disappointing to see people going to a nice restaurant in bummy clothes.) The Sautéed Mushroom Caps appetizer was a bit on the salty side, which was unfortunate, but the small (9 oz!) Prime Rib was exactly as I ordered (medium rare) and the Stuffed Potato side was fantastic. They are currently open 5pm-9pm, with reservations recommended. There is a hotel cocktail lounge just across the hall, so come early and grab a drink for the wait. For a town as small as Ely, this is a surprisingly top-notch restaurant.

Had dinner here tonight. Some good things and some bad things. How you can be out of Prime Rib at 6 pm and only opened an hour, plus on a holiday weekend I can only assume someone's messed up. It's a steak restaurant. The shrimp cocktail was good size but the shrimp were room temperature and not chilled at all. The lamb chops were small, but very good. The ribeye was ordered medium rare and was close to medium well. Should have sent it back but I know my wife would have left her plate sitting in front of her until the order came. The waitress was nice, however was just looking to turn tables. Felt very rushed. The pricing was like Longhorn but far from Longhorn quality.

Make sure you check this restaurant is you are a steak fan! First, the concept is fun, you eat in an old decorated jail, inside a cellblock. And there was a lot of jokes and laughter around dinner time for us! The menu is pretty basic (which is often a good sign for me): steak steak and steak I guess. BB. Potatoes beans and shrooms (and maybe 2 seafood options). Now, the key point: the meat. Well the meat is (was)... succulent. rightly cooked and seasoned, and finally a prime rib that you order "rare" and that comes rare but warm in your plate. This is what I expect form a steak house and Cellblock did a really great job. Sides are generous and tastty, meat is perfect. The mushrooms were too salty but the beans were delicious. This place is highly recommended for steak lovers.

There was a car club meeting in town during our arrival. Parking in the rear was very good. As for the food, my salad & blue cheese dressing was very good-- served on a cold plate. My steak was hot and excellent but the baked potato was Luke warm as were the vegetables. If I sent it back to the kitchen, odds are the steak would be ruined. That's the reason for a so-so review.

Fun jail theme, friendly, fast service and good food and wine. We were seated right away, given bread and butter, got our drinks, we order a salad, steak, pretty good and ribeye was delicious! Some fun signs around and no smoke smell at all, even thought the restaurant is inside the casino. Excellent place for dinner if you are in the area.

Excellent food! Would definitely recommend while driving through Ely. Better than Orange Mining Co in CA.

Really cool atmosphere is truly everything this place has going for it. The food is definitely not the reason you would want to come. We ordered The ribeye steak and prime rib and both was nothing to write home about. Nothing we ate we good. When we asked around town about this place everybody continue to share that it was a hit or miss spot. I take it we came on one of the bad days. Either way, really cool design on how they did the restaurant with the old jail house but we have no stars for the food.

We are passing through Ely, NV and wanted a nice meal, so referred to Yelp (as usual). Cellblock Steakhouse was pretty much the only option, since this is a small, rural town. Reservations are recommended, so we made one for 5:30 PM (they open at 5:00 PM). The restaurant is tucked away between a motel and a casino ... not at all what we expected. As we entered the lobby, we were greeted and seated promptly ... in the #5 jail cell! Our server, Jared, appeared almost instantly, with bread/butter in hand, to take our drink orders and tell us about today's specials. Hubby ordered prime rib (medium-rare); I opted for the filet (medium) - both with a garden salad (with house-made blue cheese dressing) and stuffed potatoes. Their special "cowboy beans" and fresh veggies (asparagus and carrots) come with every meal. Both entrees were perfectly prepared and delicious! Dessert was a chocolate lava cake that was sinfully yummy. Overall, it was a great dining experience and I recommend it if you find yourself in Ely, NV!

We had previously visited here when we were last in Ely so we were interested to see how it was 9 years later. Short answer - excellent. We both had the Deputy's Cut of Prime Rib - moist, flavorful and melt in the mouth. Jacket potato was good, the dish was only slight let down by the veggies- very basic. But with outstanding steak, that can be forgiven. Will definitely return!

Long drive day, wanted a steak. The steak was bomb. All the food we had was delicious and cooked to perfection. Our waiter was very friendly and generous with the alcohol. Everything was a little slow and that was challenging because I had kiddos with me. So I gave them 4/5 stars for the slowness. The hotel overall was smokey, and it is an old school casino. Just heads up.

Here's the thing. I'm not a big plain steak person, so my review is on the jaded side. I prefer smoked meats or more seasoning. I will say, the steak here was cooked to perfection and you hardly even needed a knife because it was so tender. Taste-wise, it was just a steak. The stuffed potato was fantastic, but it's ridiculous that you only get half. The host staff were on the rude side, but the wait staff was excellent. The whole gimmick was entertaining for a couple seconds. It felt like there was a shooting range on the other side of our wall. Something kept banging next door. Over all, it's a okay place for a nice dinner in the middle of nowhere.

Not impressed. Ribs were only ok. Sauce super tomatoey and they were tuff, not cooked long enough We were hungry so we ate them. Service ok. We think they got surprised for a Monday night. Definitely not a high end steak house more or a diner feel. Hotel gave up the idea it was great. We will report to them as well.

Maybe my expectations were to high after having such a great unexpected meal in Elko the evening before. Maybe I really needed a great meal after skipping lunch on my hunt for Metropolis Ghost town earlier in the day and there being nothing between Wells and Ely. Maybe I really wanted such a cute themed place to serve up equally impressive food. But.... While the restaurant is adorable and I loved dining in a jail cell, fine dining, as their website totes, it's not. The waitresses brash demeanor and low service oriented handling didn't help the lack of quality in my food. To start, the salad lettuce was limp and tasteless topped off with equally bland dressing. My salmon was greasy, rubbery and just eh. The pilaf it came with could have been day old with how hard it was. Knowing I can't sleep without sweets in me and doubting I'd find much else accessible in a little town at 9pm, I reluctantly ordered carrot cake and, like the rest of my meal, it was low quality diner food, at best.

Cool theme to the restaurant but the food was pretty basic. Not bad but very average in my humble opinion. We ordered the Salmon and the bbq airline chicken. The food was okay but I probably would not come back. The jail cell theme for each table is pretty darn cool but at the same time the place could use a good cleaning.

We had a great time and enjoyed our dinner and drinks! At first, we sat in the bar with Roger for a pre dinner cocktail. He is an attentive and kind bartender, and we enjoyed his service so much, we had dinner in the bar, too! The shrimp cocktail was delicious, the salads were fresh and tasty, and the prime rib was a perfect medium rare. I enjoyed the Pinot Grigio wine Roger recommended, and we had a lovely overall experience.

Eating at this restaurant was such a fun experience. Each booth is a cell with bars and a whiskey bottle for a light. We ordered steak and it was very good, cooked to perfection. We topped it off with delicious home made desserts.

We stayed at the hotel and had dinner in the steakhouse bar, Roger was an amazing bartender and server! Great attitude and very attentive. Super food and service, the prime rib was delicious and the drinks were very cold. What a great experience!

On the way back from a great trip to Idaho we stopped in this town for a night of rest, but before that we had dinner here. Very average at best, the interior plays of the old mining town image and everything is very rudimentary, i had hopes because of its "steak house" category but it was unsatisfying and not worth the money, the only reason for one star is because the staff tried very hard to make it enjoyable, but the food was not good at all. Its a no recommend for me.

This is probably the best restaurant in Ely. Wine list is decent and food prices are reasonable. No need to get dressy. Service was prompt and efficient. I was in town on a hunting trip and the hunting was slow so we ate here twice. Would definitely go back next time I'm in town.

Really great fun jailhouse theme throughout restaurant with seating set up in individual jail cells complete with bars. Historical jail themed items adorn the walls adding to the ambiance. The prime rib was absolutely amazing! Terrific glaze and cooked perfectly. A great meal at reasonable prices in a fun setting. Its a win win!

Super adorable set up in this lovely steakhouse in Ely Nevada! Almost perfect for social distancing, you have your own jail cell on the block! I was impressed with this steakhouse, the food was amazing, the staff was friendly and very busy on this particular evening. My partner in crime had the steak and I had the fish, both excellent choices here at the Cellblock Steakhouse. I really love Ely, and it is fun to experience different things here, just go and explore, and have good food. So why are you waiting?

For our 1st Anniversary (April 2014) we traveled to Ely to explore our wonderful State of Nevada and get our stamps along the way on the loneliest Highway 50. We made sure to celebrate our Anniversary dinner at the Cellblock Steakhouse located inside the Jailhouse Casino which you have the option to be seated inside cool looking jail cells reminiscent of the the old west. Upon our arrival we were greeted warmly by the hostess and seated in one of the jail cells and to our surprise it was a romantic setting and comfortable with a one of kind unique setting that you can't help but capture one another behind bars forever on film aka pictures for you modern folk lol After our adventure filled day on the Ely Sightseeing Train tour and walking around town looking at all the handpainted themed murals we definitely had an appetite for a great meal. Cellblock Steakhouse didn't disappoint with the amazingly, cooked to perfection filet mignon wrapped in bacon (medium-rare on the rare side)!! Service was on point and yes folks, I would safely state this restaurant experience was that of a high end steakhouse with not just a server but a server's assistant and a wine steward - exceptional, quality service! We paired our meal with the Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley Oregon which wonderfully complimented our meal. The stuffed potato covered in bearnaise sauce with spears of asparagus topped the meal off - can you say out of this world!! And the staff working were even kind to take pictures for us - - unique experience with amazing food!! Happy 2014 1st Wedding Anniversary to us! Cheers & Happy Yelping Everyone!

Fanciest place in Ely, Nevada ~ When you're in a small town, your options are minimal and we really wanted a good steak after hiking all day. This place is themed and it's pretty amusing. You get to sit in cell blocks while you dine and it reminded me of something you would find at a theme park. Lots of fun details are all around this restaurant. The food was really good. Simple recipes with some great touches. Our steaks were very tender & flavorful and the cowboy beans were off the charts. They also serve a twice baked potato with a creamy, hollandaise sauce that you want to swim in afterwards. Side salads were fresh and the only thing I wouldn't order again is the shrimp cocktail which wasn't cold enough. Please stick those bad boys in or on some ice. Everyone is this little town is very friendly and like I said this is the fanciest place here. If I ever find myself in this town again I would come back and try something different because they have a lot of tasty looking options.