I found foodie heaven, and it is in Cambria.
On my friend's recommendation, we made reservations at the bar. Â It was great, because we could see everything that came out (for us and other tables), and could see the chef/owner. Â We were a group of foodies, so it worked really well for us. Â Although a more intimate group less interested in the food scenery might prefer a table.
Every single thing I ate was amazing. Â I went there with four people, and we tried each other's dishes (for the most part). Â 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. Â 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. Â That said, I'm told that the fried spinach is similar to the fried kale, in it's ability to melt in your mouth. Â So if they have a fried green leafy vegetable on the menu, I highly recommend trying it. Â 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. Â They anticipated my every need. Â I never had to ask for a refill of water or for a clean fork because it was already done. Â And they will take pretty much any request.
The wine menu is extensive. Â They have numerous wine spectator awards, and they have pairing recommendations with every dish.
I also tried their orange cream beer, called Buffalo Bills. Â If you like orange cream and beer, I highly recommend it.
Basically, if you're a foodie, go here. Â Even if you live 3,000 miles away, go here. Â It's worth it. Â 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.
This place is heaven for a foodie. Â There were 2 of us and we shared 4 appetizers, no main entree and no dessert. Â You can always tell the quality of the kitchen staff by the appetizers. Â They did not disappoint. Â Do need to warn newcomers to make a reservation ahead of time and try not to go during prime hours like weekends and 7pm. Â It's a small place and gets crowded and noisy pretty quickly. Â We went on a Thursday night at 6:30pm so it wasn't as crowded.
Review Source:The gnocchi melted in my mouth with subtle favors. Â The shrimp pappardelle was perfect. Â Don't miss this delightful hidden jewel. Â The cordiality and warmth of the small, intimate restaurant shows attention to detail and a philosophy of quality over quantity. Don't miss the chance to enjoy this perfect spot for a wonderful evening
Review Source:The good. Â Nice and helpful staff (our waitress was very cute, doll like face/curly hair), quaint interior. Â Very cozy. Â Ate early so there was not wait on Friday night.
The rest. Â Our appetizer was the abalone, which was really tasty. Â Liked that a lot. Got the lamb shank and duck breast. Â Lamb was good, fell off the bone, but a bit too heavy tasting. Â I know lamb usually is, but this was a typical decent lamb shank. Â The duck was good, not too greasy, tender with a crunchy skin. Â Desert was good, but can't remember what we had.
Overall, not bad but not outstanding like the reviews had us believe. Â We wanted to like this place, but just couldn't get that excited. Â Quality was good, but if we had to wait as you might on a weekend or prime dinning hours, this place out be a major let down. Â It is on the pricy side, which adding the before mentioned wait time, would make this place a big disappointment.
Agree with Odette and others. The bar/counter is the best place to be (for the foodie - like an impromtu chef's table). We were making a separate recommendation to our friends and thought I'd reinforce all the good news.
As for service, you're on the Central Coast! So enjoy the trade offs for service versus quality and have a great time.
This place is truly delicious and probably the best place for fine food in Cambria. Not knowing that is was such a hot spot, my friend and I showed up here around 7:00pm looking for a meal. It's not a large restaurant, and it was completely booked up for the night. However, room was made for us at the bar where we could enjoy wine and the full menu. Kudos to them for being accommodating to us naive Los Angeles tourists on a very busy night!
All of the food was top-notch in quality and preparation. Since we were sitting at the bar, we were also treated with a full view of the open kitchen, where they were baking fresh bread to order, along with lots of other treats. What was really notable was the fresh Cayucos ocean rose abalone and the yellowfin ahi. Taste bud heaven! Especially since good, fresh abalone is hard to find. As for the wine, they have a nice list: everything from $7/glass rose to $200 bottles from amazing vineyards and vintages. I will definitely go back here.
Cambria's created a world class dinning experience that will melt in your mouth.
In for a quick weekend, driving through or living in the area, this is your "go to" date place.
Hotel? Check.
Wine tasting destinations? Check
Friday night dinner? How about Black Cat? Sure!
Make reservations as this bistro is not huge and was full when we arrived. Many couples laughing and enjoying themselves with only a couple of larger tables. Perfect for a romantic dinner (the lights are WAY down low)
Soup of the day Corn curry cream finished with a cilantro butter was outstanding
Abalone was mouth watering over palenta
Albany Vinyards Patrina sarah
Scallops
Duck breast
The service was good, not hovering but ready and willing. That and the superb food, I was blown away. You will be too.
For the price, I had wished that the cooks/chef would taste their food before sending it out. We tried 2 appetizers and 3 entrees. Everything was confusing as to which seasoning was to be used, i.e.: Some items came out unsalted and bland as heck (quinoa) while some parts of my dinner (that had fries to garnish) were overly salted I had to not eat them.
Service is erratic and confused. Plates were left on my table, moved to the side because we were finished with them for a too long of a time. Waitress went by a couple of times and never looked. We flagged her to take them away. Water was refilled at odd times. Waitress came to our table to refill waters and 2 minutes later the server/bus boy comes.
Were they understaffed? No, I don't think so, just untrained. Like they were at work but wished they were not. For a meal with wine for three that came to $170, I expected better everything. When you have a bartender that doubles as a hostess (the place IS small) who knows who is cooking in back?
We had to open and close a door to the outside to keep the temperature comfortable. It was disruptive.
Had the best time here several years ago when we went to Hearst Castle. The service and atmosphere was superb! We have reservations for when we go back to Hearst. There's nowhere else we'd have dinner. Although, there was only one vegetarian dinner on the menu at the time. At least it was yummy.
Review Source:The Black Cat's Chef-Owner Deborah serves up a savory and sweet dining experience in the charming seaside town of Cambria.
Her menu features tempting meat, seafood and vegetarian entrees, all with optional wine pairings and an interesting choice of unusual salads and appetizers. Â The desserts are heavenly and our server was friendly, professional and knowledgeable. Â We three enjoyed our Sunday evening dinner in this elegant, comfortable restaurant. Â Oh, the prices are moderate and a wonderful value.
I've always wanted to come to this place & finally made reservations 4 days ago for last night. I was looking forward to the experience but it didn't happen.
The worthless & clueless hostess working on Saturday night kept insisting on seating us right next to the door when I specifically told her that I preferred not to be in such a high traffic area. She lacked insight, common sense, proper customer service skills and I'm sure much more. The place is so small that if you sit by the door...your are guaranteed at least a few dozen elbows to the head as people come to check in.  The hostess then tried relocating us to a sad little table  the size of a match box. Immediately a corner table opened up and I asked her very nicely if we could wait for that one to get cleaned and her response was... That one is reserved. EXCUSE ME but I also made reservations 4 days ago. So I guess that didn't mattere. This place is pretentious and ilmanaged. It's obvious that they just care about cramming you in as tight as possible to make the most amount of money.
Listen to the customer.... It's the little things that count & make a difference. Also remember that the customer is THE ONE PAYING YOUR SALARY.
As much as I had wanted to go to this restaurant for ever, last night left a nasty taste in my mouth I will never return.
After one month I still think about the meal I ate at Black Cat Bistro. At the time I thought it might have been one of  the best all around meals I have ever eaten. And one month later, I think it might be number one! We hope to make it our new Birthday, Anniversary, Special occasion place even though we are about 200 miles away!!!! That is how delicious I thought it.
We showed up Saturday without reservations and were seated promptly at the bar. I felt a bit under dressed. We were in t shirts while everyone else was dressed up. I was assured, "This is Cambria" and not to worry.
We had..
Home made bread
Salad
Quail
Cheese of the day
Lamb shank
Cheese Polenta
Chocolate creme in a pot thing.
The lamb fell off the bone. The quail was perfect, (However I've never seen someone serve half a quail before. Things are small enough) The Salad oh so fresh and delicious.
Great wine selection. The service was great!
What really impressed me was the little things. Every little morsel was planned and prepared in a way that would compliment everything else.
The prep work must take crazy amounts of time.
Pretty sure if the warden ever says, "What do you want for your last meal?" Black Cat Bistro will be the answer.
My husband brought me to Black Cat Bistro for a nice birthday dinner during a weekend trip to Cambria. It's a very nice, dimly lit restaurant. The food is delicious. We ordered a bottle of wine, also very good. Great service. We did notice that we were the youngest diners there....not a problem, just an observation. It was a nice, quiet romantic dinner. We would definitely come back.
Review Source:Black Cat Bistro is hands down the best restaurant in Cambria, and probably one of the best restaurants in SLO County (at a minimum, in the top 5). We arrived about 10 minutes early for our reservation, and sat at the intimate bar while we waited. The service was quick without being rushed, personal and engaging. The restaurant is in an old home with a rich history (described on the menu), and that homey feels exudes into the space, staff, and cuisine. Once seated, we enjoyed a delicious appetizer, our entrees were top notch, and our dessert was nothing short of amazing. The wine list is top notch, too. I would recommend this restaurant to locals and visitors alike - it's the perfect representation of coastal north county SLO. What a gem!
Review Source:A great place to dine in the sleep ocean town of Cambria. This place came highly recommended not just by those on Yelp but also those around town.
We dined here on 04/22/2013 while on vacation through the Central Coast.
They have a very extensive wine list however after a full day of wine tasting, my wife and I were "wined-out".
We started off with a Arugula Salad and Gnocchi. The salad was very good. The dressing was outstanding, however I felt some roasted almonds or something was needed to give the salad a bit of crunch. The Gnocchi however was flawless. Crispy yet soft, they were perfect in execution.
For dinner I had the Ahi Tuna and my wife had the Scallops. Both were amazing. My Tuna came rested on top of a crispy rice cake. My wife love crispy wife so she was all over that. The scallops were cooked perfectly also.
For desert we opted for the Salted Caramel Tart. My first bite was off a bit, it was too salty...however as I gave it another chance, the salt tamed down a bit but was still present. This dessert is dense and complex. We couldn't finish it and I think we still have some in the fridge...hmmmm now I just need a glass of milk.
Hands down, this is the best restaurant in Cambria. It is consistent, the food is fabulous, the waiters are attentive and helpful, they have a variety of menu choices, the wine menu is great, the prices are reasonable for the quality of food you get, and it is adorable. I simply couldn't ask for more.
My family loves to go to the Black Cat every time we are in Cambria and we have never been let down. We are always blown away with how delicious the food is. You just can't go wrong with what you order - everything always blows me away. The cheese platter that they have is also great and the cheese that they offer changes periodically along with the menu. They also offer a variety of vegetarian options if you have someone who doesn't eat meat in your party.
If you are in Cambria and looking for a nice place to go and have a wonderful dinner, Black Cat Bistro is the place for you. I couldn't recommend it more. I can't wait to get back to Cambria just so I can enjoy one of Black Cat's fabulous dinners!
We had an amazing and memorable meal here last night. Â My husband and I have been to Black Cat several times and have eaten at the bar. Â We've always had a great experience and loved the food. Â Last night we took some friends we were traveling with and got a table in the restaurant. Â The food was amazing. Â Among all the dishes we tried, we all agreed that the duck was the best, but I loved my quail appetizer and asparagus bisque. Â The sticky toffee pudding dessert was also excellent. Â But what really made the meal was the lovely, upbeat, friendly and expert service. Â This restaurant is a must when you come to Cambria -- just be sure to make reservations!
Review Source:'m kay... while everyone is awash with superlatives here..... here is my experience. Â
tried to eat there last night. reservation for 7:30 pm. showed up at 7:20, was immediately seated. at a "table" in the corner of a converted bedroom that is approximately 12 x 12 feet. the table was about the same size as generous piece of cheesecake. Â a napkin would make a reasonable tablecloth, but you'd have to unfold it. Â in this cozy ambience there were four separate groups dining, Â giving it the harmony of lane four at melody lanes bowling alley. one group of eight, one group of four, a party of two, and myself and my wife.
need a visual? Â imagine one of those illustrations of a slaving ship below decks in the early 1800's. Â
our newest best friends, a pair of the foursome at the next table, nine inches to our left, were a pair of people celebrating their fifteenth wedding anniversary... he was being an overbearing windbag, and if looks could kill, hers would have been weapons of mass destruction. i felt bad for her. she looked very unhappy. Â
my wife and i shared looks, as conversation was impossible, and as the only thing i'd ordered was a soda (artisan label... Pithy Soda Company) i dropped a $20 on the table, and we left. Â the food? dunno. ask someone who made it thru the seating arraignments, to the land of milk and honey. Â
i can review the soda however. both the soda and the seating had lots of pith. your milage may vary.
My girlfriend and I stayed in Cambria for the weekend (first time for both of us) and were looking for a nice place for dinner...but instead found an awesome place! Â We initially thought the menu was too limited and so were going to head for another place but a realtor on the street recommended we try the BC, so we went Yelping and changed our mind.
Black Cat: Â We were seating on time (with reservations) and had first class service throughout the dinner. Â We shared the gnocchi as an appetizer and it was tremendous, in fact, would have ordered it as an entree if available (hint BC). Â I ordered the scallops as an entire, cooked perfectly and the Brussels sprouts were candied and out of this world. Â My lovely companion ordered the pollenta and it was also fantastic. Â Nice wine list and we took the waiter's advice and were not disappointed. Â Â One regret (for me anyway as my dining partner wasn't bothered), there were many raves about the salted tart from Yelpers; however, if I wanted that taste could have headed West a 1/4 mile and took a gulp from the sea :D. Â The delicious chocolate and carmel tart didn't need a shaker accident to make it better. Â Full disclosure: Â I'm on a low-salt diet. Â I think I would have preferred pepper ;)
All in all, great job BC, we'll be back!
We had a memorable and delicious meal at the Black Cat Bistro. Â The setting is charming, the service attentive without being overly solicitous. Â And the meal was fantastic. Â Everything that landed on our table was unique and delicious. Â I had the Grilled Caesar Salad and Hangar Steak, and my wife enjoyed the Pea Soup and Scallops. Â We finished with the Salted Caramel Tart. Â Enjoyed every single bite.
The Yelp raves are warranted. Â The attention to detail was impeccable. Â A truly world class restaurant.
I have to say we were dissapointed with our experience. Â We spent the weekend exploring the coast and had our first stop in Cambria. Based upon the Yelp reviews we were expecting a much better meal.
Here's what we ordered:
Grilled caesar salad
Mushroom and sage appetizer
Shrimp linguine
Hanger steak
The caesar salad consisted of 3 pieces of lettuce with a light sauce. I couldn't tell if it had even been grilled and it didnt have much flavor, not to mention much lettuce. Certaintly not what you would get if you ordered the grilled ceasar at Indigo Grill in SD.
The Mushroom and sage was decent but again a very small portion. The Linguine was good but not great more of a heavy cream sauce but not bad. The Hanger steak was completly covered in a sort of dark mole sauce (and I love mole) Â including the rice which came with it. I was dissapointed in the hanger steak.
Our waitress was friendly and attentive and the atmosphere was very nice (albeit a tad tight). We are used to eating at some pretty good places here in San Diego and LA and unfortunately The Black Cat just didnt measure up. We'll try another spot next time wer'e in town.
I wish we had found this restaurant the first night we were in town - it was so good, we would have been back the second night. Â The restaurant is located in an old Victorian, which gives it a very cozy atmosphere. Â Our waitress was incredibly friendly and offered up some great suggestions. Â
Here's what we ordered:
Seared Sea Scallops - the scallops were cooked perfectly!
Trout over cauliflower/eggplant puree - probably the best piece of trout I've ever had and the puree was excellent (I would go back just for the puree)
Vegetarian pasta dish - perfect amount of spice and very creamy
Rare Seared Yellowfin Ahi - another homerun
Fresh bread was incredible
Items ordered:
Fried stuffed olives
Caeser salad
Flat iron steak
Scallops
Salted caramel tart
Items that were so amazingly delicious: Â All of them!
I was a bit wary that Black Cat might be overhyped, but the food and the service lived up to the high reputation. Â The salad might've been the best caesar I have ever had,... It was lightly seared, dressed with the perfect amount of dressing and served with a crostini smeared with BACON JAM. Â If you aren't sold after that, then try the scallops. Â Deliciously fresh and expertly prepared, they just melted in my mouth. Â
My BF said he loved the flat iron with mole and crispy sweet potato. Â
When our server, Heather, came to tell us about the desserts, I was sure I was too full to have one, but then she had me at salted caramel (tart). Â I didn't even hear the tart part before I said, yes! Â We will have that. Â It was absolutely decadent... extremely rich, but it's not super large. Â Definitely one to share between 2-3 people, but oh.. that salty sweet combo was perfection. Â
The service was all spot on. and the beer list was respectable. Â They even had wine AND beer pairing suggestions on the menu. Â Luckily Allagash White was the suggested pairing for the scallop entree, because I would have been drinking that regardless :)
This was our second visit to the Black Cat and we will be back! Â
Last year we dropped in after doing some wine tasting. It is very small and we did not have a reservation. But they do have a small intimate bar that they also serve dinner at. We shared the flat iron steak which melted in your mouth and enjoyed a great evening talking to the other people who were eating at the bar and the bartenders. Â
We were just there again and made reservations. When we arrived we were shown to a great romantic table. We started with the the grilled Caesar salad and arugula salad. Both were Very fresh and flavorful. Out of the oven warm bread. We then shared the cheese of the day - from a local cheese maker. Can we say amazing! Â Yes absolutely wonderful! Â The cheese came with a jelly, spiced nuts and a bacon baked short bread. Wow! Â Entrees were the linguini and the duck. Both were amazing. Â The wine by the glass list is impressive and allowed us to have some red and white to complement the meal. Though we were stuffed we finished the meal with the salted caramel tart with dark chocolate drizzle. And yes somehow ate the whole thing :). Amazing!
The staff was very attentive without being overbearing. Great smiles and friendly suggestions. Given the intimate setting the diners were chatting with each other and enjoying the evening.
Would recommend calling for reservations or don't feel shy about having dinner at the bar. Both are great experiences!
My wife and I went there for a mini honeymoon. We made a reservation at 4pm via phone for 5pm, and when we arrived, we were greeted immediately by friendly faces. We noted that those who came after us without reservations were not able to get a table. They were directed to the bar instead.
The restaurant had a cozy atmosphere, accented by a nearby fireplace. Indeed, it is small and could only seat about 30-40 patrons.
We parked along the sidewalk.
Service was very friendly, fast, and formal. We were served an appetizer bread and glasses of water with a slice of cucumber.
We ordered:
- Pork Chop
- Flat Iron Steak
- Salted Caramel Tart
Pork Chop was delicious, moist, and accented with a sweet sauce.
The Flat Iron Steak was unfortunately not a favorite of mine, though my wife stated that she found it decent.
The Salted Caramel Tart was very rich -- too rich in fact. We did not feel that it was worth the price, and would skip it next time around. Wife said that it tasted just like Almond Roca.
So, why did I rate this place 3 stars despite such good reviews on the food we ordered? Both of us went home with stomach pain and diarrhea within 15-30 minutes of leaving the restaurant. We suspect that the Caramel Tart may have been the culprit. She only had a few nibbles of my pork chop, and I only had a few bites of the steak.
We'd give this place another try, but definitely would skip the caramel tart.
YUMMM-Y!
This place would do really well in Los Angeles. Â The chef knows what she is doing. Â The wine menu was good with many different options. Â The menu choices offer wine pairings which my husband and I chose wine accordingly.
The bread and butter was hot and fresh with rosemary. Â The water was even tasty as they put cucumber in it- nice touch.
We started off with the quail and cheesy grits. Â I was very hesitant because I love animals, especially cute little ones. Â It was so good, I didn't even have to tell myself it was like eating chicken. Â The sauce was so delicious, we were licking the place clean.
I ordered their cheesy polenta since I was stuffed on all things meat and hubby ordered their skirt steak. Â We were both very happy with our meals and how they tasted. Â I wish I didn't care enough about my heart and ordered the beef because it was so different than anything else I had eaten.
We were so stuffed that I was sad to say I couldn't even fathom eating dessert. Â They did sound really good though. Â Another time...
Probably the single worst treatment I have ever received by a restaurant.
Walked in the front door with girlfriend, looking for a glass of wine after dinner from their well-reputed wine list. Stood for 20-30 seconds in the entryway (which, because the place is so small, is basically in the middle of the dining room). Nobody greeted us. Restaurant looked about half full.
Proceeded to the bar in adjoining room (which was empty except for one other couple), to wait until a staff member could be bothered to assist us. Blonde lady who appeared to be tending bar was currently serving the other couple. When she was finished, she literally turned her back on us, studiously avoiding eye contact, and walked to a different part of the restaurant.
Girlfriend and I make conversation. 10 minutes or so have passed since we walked in the front door; still not a single staff member has acknowledged us, though only four people (including us) are sitting at the bar.
Blonde lady returns, asks other couple if they need anything. Again, studiously avoiding eye contact, turns her back and leaves.
5 minutes or so later, waiter goes behind the bar to pour a glass of wine. I manage to make eye contact. I ask if we can order some wine. He asks what I want, pours it, but then, instead of asking girlfriend what she wants, starts engaging in conversation with the other couple sitting at the bar. Conversation finishes. He leaves. Girlfriend sitting there with no drink.
At this point we cut our losses and leave. No acknowledgment on the way out. Walked down the street, found the Cambria Ale House, whose friendly owner greeted us immediately and served us soon thereafter.
We sat next to a couple that was obviously on a make it or break it trip. Suffice it to say, I think they won't make it. The tension on that side of the room was thick like molasses!
Skirt steak with chipotle was amazing! Our daughter (7 yrs old) ordered the abalone and my heart ordered the lamb chop....
We got many compliment from the hostess and diners how well behaved our daughter was....table manners and all....
We were very proud that night....and the food was amazing... And many were amazed princess ate ABALONE...
Thank you my heart for this wonderful treat!
Black Cat Bistro is a restaurant we visit every year when we are in Cambria (usually the weekend of our wedding anniversary). Â In the past, they have served us a glass of "bubbly" in honor of our anniversary. Â Our hotel called to make the reservation and when they asked if anything special is done for an anniversary, they were told that the glass of bubbly tradition is still in place. Â
When we arrived, our host/server asked if he understood correctly that it was our anniversary. We said yes and he wished us a happy anniversary. Â We assumed that we would then get the glass of bubbly, but that never happened, even though he mentioned the occasion a couple of times and offered to take a photo for us. Â
We have no complaint about the food .... as usual, it was excellent. Â The chef at this restaurant is very creative, and it's always a hard choice to decide between all the good things on the menu.
Actually, it's not the lack of bubbly that we were put off by .... it's the fact that our hotel was told this is a restaurant policy and it didn't happen. Â They should not advertise a policy they do not adhere to.
By far the best meal we have ever had in Cambria, let alone anywhere.
My beau took me here for dinner the day we got engaged. We were dressed to the nines, and our waiter (who gave us unparallelled and stellar service) asked if we were celebrating and brought us each a flute of complimentary champagne! Great start.
The food was also SUBERB. Everything is fresh, local, super tasty. Menu changes with what's in season, so everything's "the special". We shared a chipotle pasta dish and what was pretty much the best pork chop I've ever had. Soup, salads, and desserts were also amazing. They provided excellent recommendations on wine without being pretentious. Good size portions unlike some other high end eateries.
Ambiance is dark and romantic. Small tables close together, but intimate at the same time.
Recommend making a reservation as it is a small and busy place. WORTH IT!
My husband and I had an incredibly stellar meal here. Thanks for guiding the way, Yelpers!
Their bread -- delicious.
My husband started with their special of the night, a crab dish, and I had a deconstructed Caesar salad. Both were really unique and full of flavor.
We loved our main dishes: the Chipotle Shrimp Linguine and the Three Cheese Baked Polenta. Both were rich and fresh and scrumptious. I could eat these two dishes for the rest of time.
We only wish we had had room for dessert!
Excellent service. A space with lots of charm. Great accompanying music to set the tone.
Overall a very memorable and delightful experience.
Slinky, cozy, and warm, just like a black cat, this little Bistro is a foodie experience worth the drive to Cambria.
First off, there are quite a few adorable places to eat in Cambria. On the weekends, they will all be booked solid. So, call ahead. When you do call ahead, make sure that Black Cat Bistro is first on your list. It's wonderful.
After a day at Hearst Castle, we went back to our room to get gussied up. Then we wandered out to make our reservation at The Black Cat. It didn't take too long to be seated in the back room in a cozy corner. The place was packed and the vibe was already fun.
We had a hard time choosing from the menu, and not just because we were hungry. It all looked so good! A pork chop, flat iron steak, and duck breast later, we were back in the same predicament with the dessert menu. So, we settled on the decision of our kiddo: the home-made marshmallows, home-made graham cracker s'mores. That kid has great taste.
The service was casual. It's Cambria, after all. So, our servers were fun while still being efficient. This is the kind of place where you take your time and linger over your meal. This is encouraged.
While the Black Cat is a lovely spot for a group meal, it's definitely suited for a romantic evening. Call ahead, ask for seats in one of the small side rooms, and settle in for a lovely experience. This is one black cat whose path you want to cross. It's good luck. I promise.
Thanks to yelpers! Â I found another great little restaurant in a little town in central California.
I don't know what this restaurant is doing in Cambria, because the quality of the food is better then some of the restaurants I've been to in LA!!
This place is beer and wine only, doesn't have a full bar. Â However, they do serve martinis using soju. Â
The special tonight was the Tomato bisque with a tiny grilled cheese sandwich in it. Â it was sooooo freaking good I almost licked the bowl.
I had the Scallop as the main entree, the tomato jam on the sear scallops complimented the flavor so much I was in heaven! Â The bacon in the beans are also very meaty cut... Â The potatoes under the scallops were so crispy on the outside and soft on the inside - perfectly cooked!!! Â
the husband had the duck breast with risotto, it was also very delicious... mine was better. Â :p
Salted caramel chocolate tart for dessert. Â
yeah, diet starts tomorrow... or the next day....
One of the best, not just in Cambria, but anywhere...
We had early reservations for a special meal and we were not disappointed in any way -- food was excellent; service was excellent with unusual and exciting flavors. Â
We started with a 2 cheese selection which came with some delicious accompaniments of honey, figs, caramelized onions, nuts, and shortbread. Just perfect to get the tastes going. Â We shared a seared Caesar salad and the asiago cheese dressing and "crouton" were superb. Â Our entrees of sockeye salmon and flat iron steak were fantastic. Â The salmon was perfectly cooked with a crust on the outside that drew raves. Â My steak was marvelously tender but with an incredible mixture of heirloom tomatoes and a great corn pudding. Â Absolutely incredible. Â We couldn't resist the salt carmel tart and the wonderful flavors brought this leisurely paced meal to an end. Â In short, we felt we were having something special for the evening and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
Service was friendly and well paced.
This restaurant is so unique, we're dying to come back and try some other things on their menu. Â Even though this was on a weeknight, they rapidly filled up so that within a short time, they were turning away those who did not have reservations. Â As others have noted previously, the rooms are small so that with a filled restaurant, it can get a bit noisy...suggest you make reservations and try to get there early before it fills up.
The Black Cat Bistro is MUST. Â Very nice space and super accommodating wait staff. Â The Gnocchi were soft little herb-ed clouds that melted in your mouth. Â The sea scallops were so beautiful and tasty I was sad when I had devoured them. Â
I was "full as a tick" by the end of the meal and when our server stated he could recite the dessert menu I was all like "don't even bother dude", and then a Salted Carmel Tart came rolling out of his mouth and before I knew it I did a face plant into that too.
I will come back every time I return to Cambria!
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