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    Bearcat Cafe

    4.5 (1.5k reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Bearcat Cafe Photos

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    BEARCAT CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Trendy
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - Bearcat Cafe

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    Shrimp and grits and boudin egg rolls
    Shanea M.

    This was my second time visiting Bearcat in New Orleans. My first visit was about two years ago at the CBD location, and I absolutely loved it. I still talk about it to this day, especially the boudin balls, which were one of my favorite things I had while in the city. So when I came back to New Orleans with my sister and friend, I was excited to go again and decided to try the Uptown location since it was closer to where we were staying. To start, the waitlist system was convenient. They have a tablet outside where you enter your name and phone number and get an estimated wait time. It was quick and efficient, and our wait ended up being exactly an hour, which they did estimate correctly. However, there is no real waiting area. You're basically left standing outside, walking around, or sitting in your car until your table is ready. That wouldn't be too bad in perfect weather, but it's not ideal in general, especially if it's raining or windy. The Uptown location is also very different from the CBD location. The CBD spot feels like a traditional restaurant with indoor seating and a back patio. The Uptown location is set up more like a large house. You walk up stairs to a front porch with seating, and then the inside of the house is the main dining area. We were asked if we were okay being seated outside on the porch, which we agreed to so we didn't have to wait longer and also not knowing where the outside seating was. I would not recommend sitting outside. The weather wasn't bad when we went it was actually cool and breezy because rain was expected but never came but even with good weather, I would still request indoor seating. Louisiana heat and humidity alone would make that porch uncomfortable, and if it's raining or windy, it would be even worse. The biggest issue outside was the flies. They were constant the entire time. The restaurant does have small table fans that are meant to help, but they didn't make much difference. We spent a large part of the meal swatting flies away from our food. The porch itself is also very small and cramped, and it's not really what I expected when thinking of outdoor seating especially being that the cbd location has a back patio. The chairs outside were not very comfortable, if you're wearing shorts or a short skirt. Our server was friendly and gave recommendations. He also brought complimentary lemonade since it was our first time at that location, and he explained that the menus differ slightly between the Uptown and CBD locations, which I didn't know beforehand. One of the biggest disappointments for me was finding out they no longer serve the boudin balls. They've been replaced with boudin egg rolls, which were nowhere near as good as what I remembered from the CBD location years ago. Service overall was slow. Our server was polite, but there were multiple long waits anytime we needed something, including when we were ready for the check and even after we had paid. As for the food, it was just okay. I ordered the shrimp and grits. The flavor itself was fine, but the shrimp were overcooked and tough, and the grits were very thin and almost watery in consistency. The dish had potential, but the texture was off. My sister and friend also felt their meals were okay but nothing special. Everything we had the potatoes, bacon, lemonade was just average. The biggest issue of the entire visit happened near the end of our meal. A couple was seated on the already very small porch with a large dog. Personally, I don't think dogs should be in dining areas at all, especially not in a cramped space where people are actively eating. Not everyone is comfortable around dogs, some people are allergic, and there simply isn't enough room for that kind of setup. The situation became more frustrating because the dog wasn't just sitting. The owners allowed it to move around, and the restaurant also provided a water bowl for it on the porch. While we were waiting for our server to return with our check, the dog stepped in or knocked over the water bowl, and water splashed all over our legs and clothing. The owners' only response was "oops." No apology. No acknowledgment. Just "oops." At that point, we were over it. I place responsibility on both the owners and the restaurant. The owners were inconsiderate and didn't properly manage their dog, but the restaurant also made questionable decisions by allowing a large dog in such a small, crowded dining space and providing a water bowl in that environment. Our total bill for three people was about $160. After taxes, a mandatory 20% gratuity, and an additional employee wellness fee, nearly $40 of that total was fees and service charges alone. For that price, the experience simply did not match the cost. The food was average, the service was slow, the seating was uncomfortable and cramped, and the overall experience was disappointing compared to my previous visit at the CBD location.

    Hot Cat Daddy Biscuit
    Daniel R.

    Oh my goodness, the Hot Cat Daddy Biscuit was on a whole different level! I highly recommend it. Service was great, and the staff and waitress were super friendly and attentive. Just a heads-up: the wait time can get pretty long. I definitely recommend going with a small group (2-4 people) because they have a hard time seating larger groups.

    Pancakes and Bearcat breakfast
    Emily T.

    So good I had it twice while in NOLA! A bit expensive but so, so delicious. The first time I went here, I got Fuji apple oolong tea ($6), the Bearcat breakfast ($16), and blueberry pancakes ($7). The oolong tea was sweet and refreshing. The Bearcat breakfast came with eggs, your choice of meat, and potatoes. I opted for scrambled eggs and bison sausage. The potatoes were crispy and well-seasoned. The bison sausage was even better. It was juicy and full of flavor. And the blueberry pancakes - they were perfection. Huge, fluffy, and filled with juicy blueberries. They came with butter and syrup, and while the syrup was good, I didn't reach for it a whole lot since the pancakes were so good on their own. The second time I went, I got the Bearcat breakfast and pancakes again. Diet, schmiet! As for my drink, I tried the pineapple lemonade ($6), and it was a great mix of sweet and tart. The servers were also lovely. FYI - they do add a small percentage of your bill to their employee care fund (less than $1 for me each visit). It is optional.

    Crab scramble with mushrooms
    Serena P.

    Always a wait but always worth it. I always get something from the bad cat menu Don't sleep on their juices!

    Outside
    Greg P.

    Kept hearing how good it was. Kept hearing how good it was. Kept hearing how good it was. Well guess what? It was better! Man this spot was good. Arrived a little before opening because I heard there's often a line but I was the first one. Other people steadily came in as I ate. I ordered the shrimp and grits with a side of pancakes. And a charcoal lemonade. First bite of the shrimp and grits literally made me pause eating and just take in the flavor. So good. Shrimp perfect. Grits. Perfect. Sauce. Perfect. So good. Beginning to end. Next time I will order two. The pancakes were big fluffy and filling. Also amazing. And the lemonade was delicious. Comes in its own stored glass. What an experience. Yeah so it was all I was told. I will definitely be hitting them up every time I come back to the city. Wow. Believe the hype.

    Cat daddy biscuit
    MarQuesha

    Food is good and mimosas will get you there, I accidentally left my food because of it

    Smoked salmon toast & seasoned potatoes
    Olivia G.

    Rating: 7.5/10 Bearcat was our breakfast choice and it was a cool lil spot with a wide array of food options. Location: The restaurant is located off of Claiborne so there can be a little bit of traffic. The location itself has limited parking but a few feet away is a free parking lot. Food: They serve breakfast and lunch options and have an extensive drink menu as well. My party ordered the orange juice and grapefruit mimosas, matcha latte (yum!), a biscuit with crawfish sauce, smoked salmon toast and seasoned potatoes. The food was good and our waitress did ok at making sure we were taking care of. Price: The total cost for my party of 2 was $103. They add gratuity in automatically so don't be surprised by that charge. While it was nice, it wasn't anything too special. If someone wanted to go there, I would go back but not just to go.

    Kem B.

    Bearcat Cafe has become my favorite breakfast spot in the city. They have two locations, and I visited both locations. The one on Carondelet Street offers outdoor seating for anyone who enjoys dining outdoors. The atmosphere was relaxed, and the service at both locations was exceptional. I ordered the Bearcat Breakfast with bison sausage and added a side of Banana Foster pancakes. Everything was delicious. The food tasted fresh, well-seasoned, and thoughtfully prepared. The bison sausage was flavorful and hearty, and the Banana Foster pancake was the perfect sweet complement to the meal. Both locations share the same menu, so you really can't go wrong no matter which one you choose. If I lived in New Orleans, I would be here weekly without hesitation. Hands down, this is the best breakfast I've had in New Orleans.

    Robster
    Mandisa N.

    Bearcat does not take reservations and they are very popular so expect a long-ish wait. I think we waited over 30 mins and eventually got a table on their patio. I went with the Robster which was fried soft shell crab on a biscuit with creamed spinach and a fried egg. Very yummy and hearty. The rest of my party's meals looked scrumptious. Solid breakfast spot!

    Aarish A.

    Everyone knows about all the fabulous food in New Orleans and I had so many good food spots during my visit there, so I don't say this lightly in stating this was one of the best things I had on my trip here. We got the hot daddy biscuit and the bison sausage. The bison sausage was astonishingly delicious me and my wife were not ready for that since we thought it would be run at the mill sausage. However, the hot daddy biscuit was the star of the show. I'm writing this review a month after I had it and at least one time everyday I think about the gravy in this dish, it is beautiful. The chicken the biscuit the egg all held together with the divine gravy makes this meal really something special. I had an experience having this place which was a shame since we discovered it on our last day here. The staff were so friendly here and always were ready to fulfill our requests. The restaurant itself is also nicely themed especially the patio seating outside, with ample space outside. Anyone reading this review must have this place at least once it is simply amazing.

    Crab cake sandwich
    Nicole T.

    I was in town for work when one of my coworkers, who's a local, suggested I try this place for lunch. I'm so glad she did, because the food was too good! This place was not too packed on a Sunday early afternoon, but there was a line out the door by the time I left. The staff aren't super friendly and weren't interested in small talk, but that wasn't an issue for me because I wasn't either. They were blasting music, so you have to talk loudly if you come with other people. Luckily, I easily found a table to eat at since this is a first come first serve restaurant. I didn't wait too long for my order, which was good because I was pretty hungry. I ordered the crab cake sandwich with a side salad. To drink, I ordered the ube latte. The crab sandwich is hands down one of the best sandwiches I've had in a long time. I wish I could fly back to N.O. just to eat that sandwich again, that's how good it was. I can see why this place is popular, especially with a younger crowd. Definitely worth a visit if you're near Magazine Street.

    Cafe Au lait and chai latte
    Brie W.

    Bearcat was the perfect spot for my birthday breakfast! We went on a Saturday morning and were pleasantly surprised that the wait was actually pretty quick. We started with the biscuits. The biscuits themselves were pretty standard, but the pepper jam had so much flavor! For my main, I ordered the Bearcat Breakfast with bison sausage and blueberry pancakes. The bison sausage tasted like high-quality beef but even better and more flavorful. The potatoes were also seasoned perfectly. The pancakes were the real star of the show, they managed to be super fluffy on the inside while having those perfect crispy edges. To drink, I had a chai latte which was delicious. A small but cool detail: it came in the cutest cup that has a little dimple for your thumb instead of a traditional handle. It made the whole experience feel that much more unique.

    Shrimp and grits with crab claws
    Trevi B.

    Best breakfast ever. Worth the hour wait. My goodness everything was so fresh and tasty. Great friendly and quick service once you got seated. Casual cafe setting with open kitchen. 10/10 highly recommend.

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    2 months ago

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    27 days ago

    Absolutely delicious! Service was fair, but speedy! I was a short wait! Vibe was EVERYTHING!

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    2 days ago

    Food is good, service was great, Prices could be better considering it's bacon and eggs!

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    Bearcat Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Bearcat Cafe

    Does the Jena street location serve alcohol?

    I'm assuming yes. Every restaurant we went to in New Orleans served alcohol.

    Are they usually busy on Wednesdays around 1-2pm? What's the latest time to walk in if they close at 3? Thank you!

    I usually am sat pretty immediately on Wednesday afternoons. The latest I have walked in is 2:15.

    Do they do reservations or is it first come first serve?

    It's first come first served. They take your name and number and you receive a text once your table is ready.

    Is there free parking?

    Yes, but it's not much, and there's nearby parking lot and street parking.

    What time does bearcat stay open tiill?

    7am-4pm Tuesday through Sunday

    What time is brunch?

    They serve breakfast from open to close. Lunch does start at 11...shrimp and grits, baby! It is on the breakfast menu and is the greatest.

    View All 7 Questions

    Uptown Coffee

    Uptown Coffee

    4.1
    (34 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    If I could give 10 stars, I would! I love this place! Why…read moreare there not more alcohol coffee place in nola?! They sell an awesome - near perfect - Irish coffee that I always dream about. There is no reason not to come here and make this place popular. I don't think many people know about it. I have been about three times and there are maybe 2 or 3 other people inside. YOU NEED TO CHECK THEM OUT! They have regular coffee too. But they do not have a huge food list, it is mainly beignets - which are delicious and they make fun shapes out them to be festive - like stars for example. But who needs food, when you have alcohol coffee?! The staff are always kind and helpful. If you want to change anything up, they are more than happy to. And they make the presentation just beautiful as well. It is a great place for pre gaming prior to a meal or post gaming after a meal. They are connected to 4141 and it can be a little confusing trying to find the entrance. The bathrooms are clean, there is a fun two seater table that has like a pac man game or something similar, and there are some leather chairs and couches to sit on. This place is great and you know I will be back!

    A quiet place to grab a quick bite. I've been here before and their beignets are pretty solid, the…read moreminis are great for kids. I got the frostbite today and wasn't impressed. It's supposed to be made with chicory and ice cream blended together but just tastes like watered down coffee. Not really creamy or thick at all.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Nite size beignets
    Nite size beignets
    Uptown Coffee

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    Bearcat Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated July 2026

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