The Oven Cellar

Overview

Over the past decade, Erickson Sullivan Architects and Foodlines have collaborated on several design and renovation projects for The Oven in Lincoln’s Historic Haymarket. The most recent project, The Cellar at the Oven, is a lower-level wine bar that extends the restaurant’s seating area.

The design focused on exposing and enhancing the original architectural features of the unfinished basement space, including the heavy timber and steel structure, wood ceiling joists, concrete floors, and limestone foundation walls. Foodlines designed a walk-in, glass-walled wine cooler behind the bar, proudly showcasing the largest wine collection in Lincoln.

The space features a contemporary open-concept stairway connecting the upper-level restaurant to The Cellar, complemented by a two-story custom coil drapery. New lighting throughout the space highlights the atmosphere, while a soft seating area with a fireplace adds a cozy touch. The design also incorporates over 30 additional seats, which can be flexibly arranged for large-group dining.

A lower-level prep kitchen was integrated as an extension of the upper-level kitchen, featuring a walk-in cooler and freezer, prep table areas, and prep sinks, ensuring seamless food service for the wine bar.