RATHSKELLER

‖Raths″kel′ler (räts″kĕl‐lẽr), n. [[G., also ratskeller, prop., town-hall cellar.]] Orig., in Germany, the cellar or basement of the city hall, usually rented for use as a restaurant where beer is sold; hence, a beer saloon of the German type below the street level, where, usually, drinks are served only at tables and simple food may also be had; — sometimes loosely used, in English, of what are essentially basement restaurants where liquors are served.