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Tucked crudely beneath the Olive Tree Café is the appropriately named Comedy Cellar. NYU students, tourists, local comedy aficionados and late-night TV bookers often wait in line outside for the opportunity to sit elbow to elbow in this tiny, low-ceilinged basement, and there’s a reason for that. The legendary East Village room is a sort of comedy laboratory, a place where famous comedians drop in to test out new routines in front of an audience, and where the banter between performers often makes it onto the stage. Comedy Cellar regular Colin Quinn got the idea for his fast-paced comedian panel show, Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, after spending night after night trading riffs with his peers between sets. Often loud, raw and rowdy, the Comedy Cellar has the kind of unpredictable energy that can either be entertaining or irritating, depending on who’s on stage. — Amelie Gillette

Famous comedians like Dave Chappelle, Colin Quinn, Lewis Black and Dave Attell will stop by unannounced to work out new material, most often on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

The Bathroom
Unless the call of nature is stronger than your fear of public humiliation, wait until the show is over to cross in front of the stage and use the bathroom. Hold it, or prepare to be heckled.

Cover Charge
Sun-Thu, $10; Fri-Sat, $15; there is a two-item (drink/food) minimum for all shows