Black Cat Bistro

Very nice service. Food was tasty.  I really enjoyed the use of local ingredients.  The goat cheese fig salad was amazing

I found foodie heaven, and it is in Cambria.

On my friend's recommendation, we made reservations at the bar.  It was great, because we could see everything that came out (for us and other tables), and could see the chef/owner.  We were a group of foodies, so it worked really well for us.  Although a more intimate group less interested in the food scenery might prefer a table.

Every single thing I ate was amazing.  I went there with four people, and we tried each other's dishes (for the most part).  So I got to try:
*The tomato bisque w/grilled cheese sandwich croutons (which was the best grilled cheese anything I've ever had).
*The fried abalone appetizer (which was amazing).
*The duck confit (which was quite good).
*The chevre cheese plate with bacon shortbread (which I think is the most delicious thing I've ever placed in my mouth).
*The lamb with fried kale (the lamb was amazingly tender and flavorful; the kale was melt-in-your-mouth, which I didn't even know was possible for kale).
*The braised duck (which was perfectly cooked and delicious).
*The pickled watermelon from the salmon dish (which was perfect).
*The sticky toffee pudding (which was great).
*The lemon goat cheesecake (which was awesome).
*The homemade toasted marshmallows (which were delightful).
*The salted caramel tart (which was fantastic).

Really, there just aren't enough positive adjectives to describe the food at this place.  Even the water is above-par: it is cucumber water, and the clean, crisp taste compliments everything quite well.

The menu changes regularly, with the seasons and availability.  That said, I'm told that the fried spinach is similar to the fried kale, in it's ability to melt in your mouth.  So if they have a fried green leafy vegetable on the menu, I highly recommend trying it.  You can probably get them to make you a side of it if you aren't interested in the dish it's paired with.

The service was equally fantastic.  They anticipated my every need.  I never had to ask for a refill of water or for a clean fork because it was already done.  And they will take pretty much any request.

The wine menu is extensive.  They have numerous wine spectator awards, and they have pairing recommendations with every dish.

I also tried their orange cream beer, called Buffalo Bills.  If you like orange cream and beer, I highly recommend it.

Basically, if you're a foodie, go here.  Even if you live 3,000 miles away, go here.  It's worth it.  Definitely get reservations, unless you're willing to show up right when they open and hope for a seat.

I'm moving to Florida in 2 weeks, and still planning to come back here at some point.

Sometimes just walking into a place is enough to get a "good feeling," and that's exactly what happened as my wife and I entered Black Cat Bistro in always beautiful Cambria. The place was pretty well packed, understandable for an early Saturday evening, but still a good sign. Packed or not, we were quickly taken to a lovely little booth and immediately ordered a glass of wine.

The dinner menu is full of temptations (here's a sample menu <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blackcatbistro.com%2Ffood%2F&s=7ff80dd24303372ccc7b4d8a72d9fdf8724a9bbf888b4366a5de193420f49559" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.blackcatbistr…</a>), but I decided to order an abalone appetizer to start. In my experience, abalone can range from a springy, rubber-like ordeal to something delicate and astoundingly delicious, and I'm happy to report that what I was served was a great example of the latter. In the spirit of fairness, I must confess that the burre blanc used was, to my taste, a touch too acidic, but I'm really going out of my way to paint a clear picture of my experience. I then ordered a gorgeous lamb shank, which chef/owner Deborah Scarborough braises for 10 hours, and comes with couscous and a red wine reduction. The lamb was lovely, virtually falling off the bone, truly memorable. While I seldom give in to such temptations, for dessert I ordered a cheese cake made from goat's milk. The "Lemon & Happy Acres Chevre Cheesecake" (with gingersnap crust, pomegranate molassesand fresh pomegranate) was simply too tempting to pass. I wasn't disappointed!

My wife's experience was equally enjoyable. Being a vegan, we called well ahead to give chef Scarborough a heads up. I'll let my wife describe her experience. Check her blog and see what she had to say at:

<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fthevalleyvegan.com%2F2013%2F06%2F23%2Fblack-cat-bistro%2F&s=703270568c8040ad2c1d1858f6e5558f834e0a8d567dca9b386e14e0086bfb86" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://thevalleyvegan.co…</a>

Our experience at Black Cat Bistro was memorable. The service was always attentive and professional, not to mention simply pleasant, and the atmosphere homey and welcoming. The seating is a touch tight, but reasonably so, and because of it, we ended up having a lovely conversation with a couple sitting next to us (wine does lubricate the social mechanism).

I thought long and hard before deciding on a four and not five-star rating, but finally concluded that the highest rating should be saved for extraordinary, truly transcendental experiences, and lovely as our dining experience was, it was not quite that. Nevertheless, if you find yourself traveling through or staying in Cambria, you won't find a finer place to spend a beautiful evening. Highly recommended.