What would you do with $250,000? If you’re Ryan Dudley, owner of The Cellar Restaurant in Downtown Fullerton, you’re going to celebrate your 40th Anniversary with a stylish remodel.  As if winning the title for Restaurant of the Year from the Orange County Concierge Association wasn’t enough, The Cellar has revamped their menu and interiors to give it a more contemporary ambiance.

The menu has steered away from ancient French fare to the new health conscious and farm fresh entrees, still keeping its French flair. The remodeling consists of new bathrooms, new decor in the dining room, kitchen, and carpeting while Dudley has still retained much of the original decor built by the Disney Design team.

Still hot after 40 years? The highly acclaimed wine list (Oh yes, Wine Spectator gave them an award for that too). Dudley purchased The Cellar in 2004 at the young age of 27. He continues the youth brigade by hiring GM Sara St. Pierre, 33, new chef Sean Nemetz, 30, and California’s youngest certified sommelier, Cameron Tyler,  only 26. Dudley is only the third owner in The Cellars 40 years of business, and has maintained the fine European dining experience intended during the Cellar’s inception.

Like Haute Living Orange County? Join our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter @HauteLivingOC. Want Haute Living Orange County delivered to your inbox once a week? Sign up for our newsletter.