What a great choice in coming here. Service was excellent. Food divine. Not a single complaint. I think our server's name was Tommy. I can't remember. We knocked off a bottle of wine, after all. California requires "outside" dining during the China Virus Pandemic. Dumb, but it is what it is. So Black Cat has an enclosed patio dining. So technically we are outside.... I suppose. California logic. Bottom line is, this place is awesome!!!! read more

Used to be my fave restaurant in Cambria but it's now pretty ho hum. So worth trying if you've not been (get the abalone)- but hoping they lay off the sauces & revamp the menu soon read more

My quail was testy but very slow service, waited too long to get our meals of 4 tonight. It wasn't worth go back again.

Worst meal of the weekend. Ordered the "award winning" clam chowder and if one potato, one celery and one clam is "award winning" then those who lived during the depression were always fine dining. It was Rich and creamy but then call it cream soup not clam chowder. Cesar salad left much to be desired. My lamb chop was ordered medium and I could barely cut through it. Sent it back and it came back perfectly cooked but no flavor. Had great lamb chops at another place today that were amazing. The duck was actually really good but was disappointed overall. Had seen great reviews. Chocolate dessert was unique and rich in flavor. Maybe just go for dessert. Wont be back. read more

We ate here last night and It was not as good as last time, two years ago. Had the duck breast which was primarily fatty and a bit chewy...not as flavorful or tender as before. Also had wild salmon on garlic wasabi mashed potatoes which was awesome. We also ordered red abalone appetizer for 18$ and was disappointed..not very large portion (even for this traditionally small abalone) and not as tender as expected For 125.00 we will go somewhere else...Paso is doing some food...would go into Paso next time in Cambria read more

THE WORST. Read the bad reviews to get a better understanding of what you may receive coming here... got to the restaurant early as they have some strict policy... our rsvp was for 8 so being Christmas we got here at 6:30... ended up waiting at the bar for almost 2 HOURS before being seated with a rsvp after I was told at 6:30 that it would be no more than a 20 minute wait...People coming in and out, some loud woman special ordering everything... meanwhile we order a cheese plate to hold us over before being seated... at 7:45 we FINALLY get our 'cheese plate'? I've had better cheese plates flying commercial. A slice of an apple, literally a slice- half a strawberry- some stale candied walnuts and 6 SLICES of cheese with 3 pieces of stale bread.... we had to ask to be seated and made it clear to the bar waiter that we didn't want to eat a meal at the bar, that we were waiting for our table... our tired waitress didn't give us the specials and seemed put off to be troubled taking our order. I WOULD NEVER eat here again. It was cold, rude, condescending and a complete waste of 120$. I'll be asking for a refund, we left without saying anything as my mother was so upset she was in tears walking out. It was the most uncalled for experience I think will ever live to describe. DO NOT COME HERE read more

Black Cat Bistro - New American Near Me - Cambria, California

We returned to the Black Cat almost ten years after our first visit, drawn by the memory of the fried olive appetizers. I can say that they were as good as I remembered. Our intimate date night dinner was lovely, with attentive - but not intrusive - service, perfectly prepared entrees, and a perfect dessert. This tiny bistro is definitely our Cambria favorite. read more

I have eaten here several times in the past and have had great meals. This trip, I went on a Monday holiday, and I ordered the special. It was trout, fingerling, potatoes, and vegetables. I also got the appetizer of fried broccoli with beet sauce. I could tell by the texture, and look of everything, that they were not made fresh, and I was really disappointed. I've made better trout myself at home. The skin was not crispy and you could tell from the withered edges that it had been cooked at another time, and reheated, the same with the broccoli and fingerling potatoes they were not freshly cooked but reheated. I was in and out of there in under an hour, and that tells you something. The bill for one glass of wine, entree, appetizer and a dessert with tip came to $99 for one person. Sadly, I cannot recommend them or if I do, I would recommend them on a Friday or Saturday night but definitely not a night after a weekend to where they're reheating things. Way too much money for food that could've been done better. Server was excellent and accommodating. read more

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. IN REPLY TO OWNER'S MESSAGE: regarding whether our food poisoning was potentially from this restaurant, a web search states that it can set as soon as 1 hour of consumption. Considering that we ate at the restaurant and felt sick 15-30 mins after LEAVING the restaurant (mind you we would have been dining for at least 45 mins already), the time period to get food poisoning very well falls within that hour. However, as stated, we would give this place a try again. read more

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. read more

This is my 666th review.... just thought I'd mention that. A few months back, my husband and I were on our usual trip to Cambria. We have been to almost all of the eating establishments in the area and this is one that I am really on the fence with. Upon our arrival, after checking into our hotel, we ventured off looking for a restaurant. Twice now, we have walked into the Black Cat Bistro intending on walking into Indigo Moon. When we walked up the walkway, if the menu board would have had some sort of lighting, I wouldn't have wasted their time. The menu is limited to a few items. Some look almost worth trying but at most none, in my opinion. Walking in, the lady at the greeting podium asked if we had reservations. Granted the place is small, there was only one table occupied and it had two people seated. She sat us at what I would consider the worst table, in an almost empty restaurant. She gave us ice waters and asked if we would like to see the wine list. OK.. this might possibly improve, I thought. Perusing the menu, things progressively got worse. The only thing I wanted for dinner was something light possibly an appetizer, possibly a salad. After all, it was late in the evening and we were headed for bed soon. They have 2 salads to choose from. Here is the menu: http://www.blackcatbistro.com/menus/blackcatmenu.pdf We hemmed and hawed over what to do. Do we leave and go to our intended Indigo Moon? Or do we spend $100 on food that doesn't sound good to us? Here is what I did.... call me a bitch, but I think we made an excellent judgment call. I apologized to the waitress, thanked her for the water, quietly explained to her that we did not see anything on the menu and told her that we would be leaving and if she'd like to charge us for the lemon water. By the way, I hate lemon in my water. Understandably she immediately became abrupt and walked away to the bar and told someone else in a stern 'outside voice' tone what I had just said. My husband put down $10 and we left. I understand how she may have been insulted, but she missed an opportunity to change my mind and make suggestions or possibly inquire on what it is that I was looking for. We did end up at Indigo Moon and I swear to you, I will never regret it. http://www.yelp.com/user_details_review_search?userid=tvZKPah2u9G9dFBg5GT0eg&q=indigo+moon read more

Expected a lot based on reviews and recommendations, but was underwhelmed! The restaurant itself is located in a quaint converted house. The dining rooms are small, having been converted from the home's living quarters. It definitely has an attractive, unusual charm. The room was quite small and the ambience was very quiet... too quiet. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy dining in soft atmospheres, but when you feel like you have to whisper and can't laugh, it's a little too quiet. It felt like all the diners were too reserved--or overly restrained--to have a normal conversation with their date/friends. Kinda felt like dinner in a library. The service was... well... kinda creepy! I felt awkward a couple of times during the course of our meal. Our server was nice and professional (don't get me wrong), but the monotone monologue and blank stares were a little spooky. I guess it fits the "black cat" vibe :) The food: underwhelming! I really really wanted to love this place, but the food just didn't do it for me. I ordered the ribeye with quinoa and black beans. Interesting combination, no doubt, but I felt the dish was confused and didn't really come together. Also, everything on my plate was dark brown. There was no pop of color at all. But even as I ate all three categories distinctly, it was underwhelming. The steak was very fatty (not rendered well) and overcooked. The black beans were bland. The quinoa was my favorite part of the dish. My wife ordered a vegetarian pasta dish. Can't remember which one. Nothing spectacular, but quite good. When it came to dessert, we decided to go to another restaurant down the road! I can see why some people may love it (I think), but I guess it just isn't for us. read more

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. read more

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. read more

ATTITUDE!! While not superstitious, I feel like coming across the Black Cat Bistro was definitely a stroke of bad luck. It looked cute on the outside, and we meandered over for dinner sans reservations on a Friday night. Our thoughts were: 'If they have space, great. If not, oh well.' Problem was the blond hostess was a super beeyatch. First off, the restaurant is small, but there were only two tables occupied. She kept looking my Mom, husband, and I up-and-down like a catty high-schooler who'd make those teens in the 'Mean Girls' movie run for cover. Her glance at the reservation book was so supersonically fast that it was painfully obvious she wasn't really looking at the page. The worst part was when she hesitated and said, "Maybe we can squeeze you in..." and then glanced around the room and looked us up-and-down one humiliating time more and followed with, "Mmmm...I just don't think it will work. Sorry!" As to how we were dressed...well, my husband and I were in nice jeans with leather jackets and nice shoes. My Mom was in casual pants and a casual coat. But apparently, our dress did not live up to their standards. For god's sake, woman, your restaurant is in Cambria, not Beverly Hills. We happily took our money to Indigo Moon down the street and had a lovely dinner. I WILL NEVER RETURN TO THE BLACK CAT BISTRO, EVER! read more

We arrived here after a fruitless day of driving from Paso Robles to San Simeon, only to be turned away from Hearst Castle. We walked around some of the exceptional beaches and tide pools, and then we thought about dinner. We drove by the spot where this cat lies, twice, before we made the correct turn into its gravel driveway and parked under a eucalyptus. My girlfriend and I were greeted by the staff and seated in a tight corner. Frankly the whole space is tight corners, but don't hold that against it. It has the feeling of your grandmother's house, if your grandmother had an extensive wine list and served dinner with white table cloths. Yet, there is not anything stuffy about this place. Not an air of superiority. It is humble and sincere, not really at all like a cat (I should know, I have two). After we we ordered, a table of four sat next to us... But more on that later. We ordered, for appetizers: Cayucos Ocean Rose Abalone: 5/5 I really hadn't imagined the flavors that would come across in the grapefruit vanilla beurre blanc. I thought, "how unique, someone else in the world likes to mix random flavors for the fun of it." I was startled, when I took my first bite. The abalone was perfectly tender and crispy on the outside. The crisp was aided by the hazelnut crunch. The mixture of acid and butter was extraordinary with the abalone. Presentation with the abalone shell was colorful and simple. It played with all senses. and Pork & Beans: 4/5 I really love pork belly. My girlfriend finds it odd that I like this but don't like the fatty parts of fish. But, here, there was definitely a difference. The pork was tender and the apple mustard glaze was a pleasant glaze, sweet, but not overly so. The gigandes beans are a different story and did not feel matched in the dish. More earthy than lima beans and 10 times the size. For main courses: My story continues here... As we were finishing our appetizers a table of four was seated next to us. A man in his 50s was carrying several bottles of wine. He had the server open all the bottles and he seemed quite familiar to them. You could tell that they were eyeing our food as we slipped the last morsels in our mouths. Boisterously, a head waiter summoned a few of the staff to join at their table. Soon, we were distracted from the growing gathering by our food and were consumed by the dishes' presentations. We could not resist and dove in. Loch Etive Steelhead 5/5 Soon, the gathering next to us dissipated and the 50-year-old graying man, watched us eat. He leaned over and said, "that looks fantastic. What did you order?" A woman at the table perked up and asked, "is it salmon?" I responded,"no, steelhead, and it's perfect." The seat on the steelhead was exact. The blackberry, pluot, ginger glaze was sweet and energized. The dish was perfect... I was honest. The man sitting next to us was a vintner from Paso Robles, obviously we were in good company... and Braised Lamb Shank 3.5/5 This was my least favorite dish, though my girlfriend happily ate it. I found the lamb to be too tough and the flavors to be too convergent on earthiness. Nothing about it stood out. And then there was dessert.... Pine nut mascarpone cheesecake 5/5. This dish stands out to me as my fondest dessert memory. It mixed many of my favorite elements in a way I could not have expected. The warmth of the pine nuts, crumbled over the outside of the most rich and flavorful cheese cake, topped by an unbelievable homemade candied fig preserve, all balanced on a shortbread crust. I would have savored it all night if I didn't have to drive us back to Paso Robles before it got too late. My girlfriend seemed to have the same reaction to this edible work of art. Sadly we left, and even though we did not make it to the castle, that dinner was a fitting end to a perfect a day. read more

Highly overrated and overpriced. We have been coming to Cambria to vacation since 1995. This restaurant opened in 2004 and we finally decided to try. The restaurant is a converted old house which makes the dining cozy. The food was the averaged size portions for a Bistro but lacked the flavors you would expect. An example was the stuffed fried olives we ordered as an appetizer. We got five olives that looked liked from a jar and slightly stuffed, and barely breaded. We expect more for $8 in a "Bistro". The wait staff never once came back to check to see if our entrees were okay. I would understand if they were busy, however there were only four other people in the restaurant! Look elsewhere for a bistro experience than here. There are many other restaurants in Cambria offer better quality food for a more reasonable price. read more

Black Cat Bistro - Stuffed green olives! Only $8.... - New American Near Me - Cambria, California

What a great restaurant. Food absolutely delicious. I had the blue cheese artichoke bisque and arugula salad with strawberries and apples. The bistro is really cute and wine was on point. Coming back for sure. read more

Black Cat is fantastic. My wife and I had the best meals we've had in a long long time (flat iron steak and seared ahi tuna), AND it is kid friendly (crayons and paper table covers to draw and off menu kids menu), which is a rare combination. Also very attentive and friendly service. I am grateful for such delicious food and the kid-support so I can actually enjoy it! read more

"We each made ugly orgasm faces after each bite!" -----Academy Award Winning Dining Experience!----- Genre: Global American Cuisine Duration: About 2 hours. Audience: Couples or for those celebrating a special occasion Director: Chef Deborah Scarborough Cast: Sourdough Bread Heirloom Tomato Flat Bread Pizza Seared Sea Scallops Pan Roasted Maple Leaf Duck Breast Lemon and Chevre Cheese Cake Synopsis: Small converted cottage dazzles the audience with sweet ambiance, delicious food, and impeccable service. Review: I wanted something special for my girlfriend's birthday dinner in Cambria. While I also considered Robin's, Sow's Ear, Indigo Moon, and Madeline's - I ultimately went with the best according to Yelp reviews: Black Cat Bistro. I made reservations (essential) and got seated promptly by the perky hostess. Sure we were seated high-five distance from another couple but we made the most of our nearby company by chatting happily about food and wine and even taking photos of each other. Our server Joseph looked like a modern day Errol Flynn and my girlfriend told him so. He deftly appeared with a glass of rose, complimentary for the birthday girl. I also brought a personal bottle of Cakebread Reserve Chardonnay and while I thought I read the corkage was $12 here, I think they that off our bill, probably as another birthday perk. We started off with the solid house sourdough bread and the flatbread special, which consisted of heirloom tomatoes, apples, mozzarella, and garlic. I had to tell Joseph that we were both originally from New York so that this wannabe pizza dish better be good. And it was. It was downright delicious - the textures, the gooey goodness, the way you wanted to eat another 3 servings. Our entrees arrived - she had the Duck and I went with the Scallops. We each made ugly orgasm faces after each bite! I tried her duck and it was so tender and earthy from the mushroom risotto. Meanwhile, my Scallops were perfect. The combination of the sweet corn pudding, mushrooms, and the world-class Scallops paired with an exquisite Cakebread Chardonnay made for a transcendent moment. During this time Joseph thanked us for dressing up. I had a vest, striped oxford, and tie, and she wore a glittery sequined dress and feathery vest, while most of the patrons looked like they were getting ready for drinks at T.G.I.Friday's (sorry cool couple next to us!) - to top it off, an older gentleman was wearing what I think were carpenter jeans. I was so close to fashion policing that. We ended the meal with the Lemon Chevre Cheesecake. First of all, I have to remind everyone, I'm from New York City. We are serious about our cheese cakes. I also love goat cheese. The version we had was scrumptious. The blueberries and the almond shortbread crust took it to the next level. It was the perfect ender to a delectable dinner. We couldn't have asked for a better time. All the components of the Black Cat Bistro shined - from the kind hostess, to Joseph - definitely in my top 5 servers of all-time, and the simple, yet inspired recipes of Chef Deborah. For about $100 we had one of our most memorable dining experiences ever. The friendly hostess even ran out the door after us to hand me the scarf that I left behind. Final Rating: 10 out of 10. The bottom line was that my girlfriend was truly satiated and happy. She won't stop talking about it and neither will I. Black Cat Bistro wins an Academy Award for Best Bistro in my book. read more

The food is 4.5 stars. The service is 1 star so that is why I gave it 2 stars. I ate there 4/25/15 early in the evening. Our female server was very rude. We were a party of 4 women out for a nice dinner. The weirdness began when we ordered a bottle of Chardonnay and she poured us a bottle of warm Chardonnay. We said it was too warm, and we'd like a different bottle of wine served chilled. She acted as if it was weird that we would want it cold. If she had offered us the option of drinking the warm Chardonnay, then it wouldn't be a big deal. She said that the party before us had ordered three bottles of Chardonnay so she ran out of chilled wine so she offered another type of Chardonnay (screw top whereas the other was cork - this is probably perceived value at this point). It cost more, which was fine, and we said fine. I thought it was a little odd that they don't carry more than three chilled bottles of Chardonnay at 5:30pm, but I'm writing that part for the manager's benefit only. From then on, everything was a big deal. She poured wine for some of us, then gave the bottle to the last person and asked us to pour it ourselves. I asked for two more plates, because we only had two bread plates for the four of us, and we had four people. We asked her for another glass to replace the sample glass with the sample wine in it. She was annoyed. She brought us two plates, and then when she brought us our entrees, she asked if we now had enough plates. We asked her to take a photo of us, and she said, not now, but later. The rest of the servers were very pleasant and the food was excellent. We had the gnocchi, pork, ahi tuna, scallops and other amazing dishes. We were visiting so I'm not sure we're going back anyway, but we were completely horrified that a server would be so blatantly terrible. She was honestly one of the worst servers I've had at a fine dining establishment. We ended up tipping less than 15% and writing an explanation on the receipt. read more

We were in town and it was dinner time. It was 8:15pm and apparently EVERY restaurant shuts down at 9pm. San Simeon didn't exactly strike me as a culinary town, so I picked the restaurant with the best Yelp reviews. Honesty, I think 99% of the 5 star reviews must be from people who live in the Midwest and eat Denny's for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is NO WAY the food here deserves 5 stars (based on what we ordered). And before you write me off as some monied, rich kid foodie, read my other reviews and you'll see my food tastes run the gamut. We walked in and were seated right away. Small place, but very cute and homey. Waitress was nice, but service was very slow. Especially considering there were only 4-5 tables active during our meal. We weren't too hungry so we just ordered some appetizers and a couple glasses of wine. My date wanted to try a taste of the Hearst chardonnay (which I warned her would probably be crap, just something Hearst threw their name on). It was nasty and left a metallic aftertaste. Had to have come from a bottle that had gone bad, even 2 Buck Chuck doesn't taste this bad. So we each ordered a glass of another wine, her a syrah and I a Sauvignon Blanc. Mine didn't taste right either, but her red was good. We ordered the Stuffed Fried Green Olives, Gnocchi and the Quail. Stuffed Fried Green Olives (what were we thinking).. SALT... this is all we could taste. These were green olives stuffed with cheese and deep fried. Sounded intriguing, but was just disgusting. CHEF.. Have you eaten one of these horrible things lately??? I don't think so, for if you had, you would never offer it again. Gnocchi - Very good, great texture, just slighty browned on the outside. Served in a nice creamy sauce with mushrooms. Winner of the meal. Qual - Again, excellent presentation, good texture and taste. But again with the SALT. Someone back there needs to learn how to season things. Just an overpowering taste of salt in this dish. Then we decided to order dessert. We split the Chrvre Pound cake & Meyer Lemon Curd. Looked very appetizing when it arrived. Great presentation. Unfortuantely we each could only stomach one to two bites of this thing. The meyer lemon curd was so overpoweringly sweet it was disgusting. One of those tastes you can't get off your palate for hours. It tastes like someone poured a can of sweetened condensed milk over the pound cake an then doused it with four tablespoons of sugar. So, sadly, the meal was mediocre.. at very best. I would not recommend this establishment to anyone. Now if you're the type that thinks Olive Garden in awesome Italian food, then this place will make you swoon like a fat lady at Hometown Buffet. read more

Let me say - the food was amazing! Had the abalone appetizer, duck entrée and a scallops entree. The scallops were average but the corn pudding with it was delicious! Great food!! It was the service that was odd. It's an old house with a patio (with a pass through window) small bar and there were 3 different rooms to eat in. We got one room to ourselves which we enjoyed. It seemed like a casual atmosphere but the serving style was very VERY formal...The host, server and runner were all lifeless and robotic reciting the specials but not really for us but as a recording ...We felt like we were way under dressed/classed for them...made us feel uncomfortable. My husband ordered a dark porter and the server sat the glass on the table and began dumping the beer in the glass...my eyes got so big...it's all FOAM!! How do you not know how to pour a beer especially as a server?? We found it hilarious which got us through the meal... read more

We arrived around 7pm, we were asked if we had a reservation, we didn't, so we were told we could have a table around 7:10 (odd, but ok) so we walked outside, before we could even sit down, the host came out to tell us our table was ready. When we are seated at our table, we notice how tiny the place is. It is an old 1920's house that has been converted into a restaurant with a small bar area. To start out, the menu online is much different than the one they offer. I'm assuming it's seasonal. I decided on the Loch Etive Steelhead, I normally don't order salmon when I'm at a restaurant (it's one of the few fishes I can make at home without ruining), but the accoutrements sounded really good, it was made with leeks, fennel, blackberry pluot ginger muster glaze and basil. This dish was actually pretty amazing. I'd totally recommend. My friend ordered the Three Cheese Baked Polenta, I stole a few bites of hers and this was pretty darn good as well (who doesn't love goat cheese, asiago and mozzarella). We were both happy with our choices. Here's my beef, I understand Cambria is under a pretty strict water policy with the drought, they are not giving out tap water at all, so you have to purchase bottled water, and they serve it with a plastic cup. I would much rather purchase tap water and save our landfills from the enormous amount of plastic they are producing. And why do they need to give out a plastic cup along with that plastic bottle? Anyways, your options for dinner are pretty limited in this area, make sure you make a reservation and bring your own water. read more

Fantastic place in the town. The pork belly appetizer got my attention and the abalone my friend ordered was also positively commented by my friend. The main course I ordered was sea bass which did not impress me. I personally recommend pork belly as an appetizer and pork belly as a main course. read more

We went to The Black Cat on recommendations from several friends. We got there 20 minutes before our reservation and they made us wait at the bar with no drinks (nobody even offered us water) until about 5 minutes before our reservation. When we got to our table it was a little warm so we tried to open a window for air and the window above it fell and spit small pieces of wood, paint and glass all over the table. The window didn't break, but it was stuck open for the rest of the meal. Our waitress was apologetic about it and cleaned the table off quickly. We had a polenta/cheese entree as an appetizer and it was the best thing we had, but the waitress never brought the wine I ordered with it. I ordered duck for dinner and the waitress warned me that it would be medium-rare. I said that was great, but when it came it looked like over-cooked chicken, very pale white and chewy. The risotto that came with it was gritty and grossly earthy-tasting The bok choi was gritty like it hadn't been cleaned properly, but it was the tastiest thing on the plate. My partner had an over-done pork chop that had a blueberry sauce with a very "off" (herbal? bitter?) taste we couldn't place. We didn't feel like risking dessert and just left. My guess is, since it was a Sunday, they had their 2nd or (more likely) 3rd string chef working and he just didn't know what he was doing. I considered sending my entree back, but I didn't think the chances were good that it would come back any better. I've heard so may good things about this place, I hope we just caught it on an off night. read more

Seriously over rated. Of the 3 entrees at out table, 2 of them were so over sauced you couldn't taste the food. That was the lamb shank and the rib eye steak. The sea scallops were good (no sauce), but the corn pudding with it could have been dessert. Menu items that are too complicated is usually a give away the chef is in over his/her head. It's a charming dining room, altho too dark at night. Good local wine list. Service was good. read more

If you are looking for fine dining at fine prices, in Cambria, then this is the place to go. By this I mean that it is tasty, it's charming, it's Bistro-Frenchy, and it costs much less than, say, San Francisco. In also means that this is just about the only fancy-dining experience to be had in Cambria. (And surprisingly veggie-friendly for a French joint!) If you are in Cambria - go here. read more

My husband decided to take me here for my 25th bday dinner. We have always passed this place up, and have finally partook of their delicious food! The waitress offered me a complimentary glass of Prosecco for my birthday (yay!), and of course I said yes! How can you turn down a free alcoholic beverage? And it was wonderful! For my meal, I ordered the Rare Seared Ahi which was so yummy and light. My husband ordered the Pork Tenderloin wrapped in Pancetta, which was also equally yummy! Now, we all know I can't leave ANYWHERE without having something sweet, so during our dinner we ordered the chocolate souffle (takes 20 minutes to make so ask for it when you order your meal)...it was so AWESOME!!! I just wished it could have been bigger!!! lol! The environment was wonderful and the servers were right on it! Thanks Black Cat for making my 25th bday memorable! read more

Note: I'm not trying to snob it up in the second paragraph, but I think it helps to know what people are comparing their experiences to, especially when a review is issued 5 stars. And for the record, my all-time favorite meal is a leg-n-thigh only bucket of KFC, no sides required...so I'm not a complete food snob, just a pig. That said, as a point of reference for this review, I am comparing this place to my experiences at joints like Bouchon, CUT, Blackbird, Frontera Grill, Beso, Lucques, L'Atelier, Jar, David Burke, Craftsteak, MESA Grill, NOLA/Del Monico/B&B/Emeril's, Mastro's, Spago, Nobu, Koi etc...so I've been around good food. What Black Cat has in addition to good grub is intimate, friendly service in a cool, albeit small setting. Read on, I think I can prove my case: We were in San Simeon on 2/26 for the first time visiting the Hearst Castle from Pasadena. I tried booking dinner for 2/27 at a couple places on the drive up by leaving vmails as well as emails, and the Black Cat was the only place that was professional enough to get back to me same day. The following day, I actually got an email from Deborah the Owner/Chef confirming my reservation for that evening, which I thought was kinda cool. After enjoying the world's smallest pre-dinner martini at Mozzi's Saloon (one of the few bars in this sleepy little town), we roamed over to the Black Cat. We brought two bottles of red, which the $10 corkage fees were waived since we ordered some wine/champagne by-the-glass as well, so that was nice. I had the Lamb Pops to start (had to erase the memory of the lamb chops from the meal we had the night before at the local pizza joint... although their pizza was good - duh!), and the Duck as my main. Wifey had the Soup-O-da-day (white beet I think), and the Striped bass. Dessert was the 'New Chocolate Thing'. Everything foodwise was excellent, all the way down to the rosemary bread. Only minor complaint: No liquor license, and no matter how you describe it, Soju ain't Goose! They were out of Soju anyway... Any-WHO, we got to talking with another couple and decided (against my wife's better judgment) to open the second bottle of wine that we brought. Well, we weren't quite half way through it when we sorta went cross-eyed, and after realizing that the nearest cab was probably back in LA, Jeff (Geoff?), our very cool waiter offered to drive our car back up the freeway to San Simeon (~6 miles?) where we were staying, while his wife and excellent sous-chef Jessica followed in their car. Aaaaaaah yeh', let's see Thomas Keller offer that up! Okay, so I guess Jeff and Jessica could have mugged us and thrown our bodies in the ocean, but I figured they still had to break down and clean the kitchen after driving us so the odds of a bloody murder were low that night, so we took them up on the offer. In summary: Highly recommended for the food alone, but throw in the service and it's a no brainer if you want a nice meal in this area. Maybe next time I'll bring a bottle of vodka...wonder what the corkage fee is for that? read more

Absolutely disappointed with our greatly anticipated Christmas dinner. 10 couples were seated in the first 15 minutes, we had reservations. We were not in the room with the fireplace but instead in a tiny bedroom that smelled 100 years old with 3 other tables. No Christmas music, lights or decorations! NO AMBIANCE AT ALL! Felt like kids that miss behaved at our Grandparents house so had to sit in the bedroom by ourselves. The food was overpriced and not enjoyable in the least. My husband had prime rib, end cut which looked like an uncooked piece of rare meat which was too tuff to even cut through, mound of cold mashed potatoes and a spoonful of vegetables. $42 Obviously they have never cooked prime rib at this restaurant before. I had chicken piccata which had a twist, lemon and spicy? Tiny amount of breast, maybe 1/2 of a breast. One piece of fried kale and mound of rice $30. We told the server that we couldn't cut through the prime rib, half of it was still on the plate with another fourth on the side with fat and gristle. Was not acknowledged or offered a discount. We eat out every night and so sorry to give a bad review, maybe they have better food on regular, non holidays. We suggest you find another restaurant. We will not be back! read more

One of the best dinners my husband and I have ever eaten. Upon entering, I was a little nervous - the seating is cramped and I felt the restaurant was too dark. The menu is quite short, and since I do not drink wine, I was not taking advantage of their extensive wine selection. However, upon receiving our food, all fears were dissipated. I had ahi tuna with crisp jasmine rice and a ginger wasabi (quite, quite mild) sauce, and my husband had duck with a red wine and mushroom risotto. Both were perfection, and we nearly licked our plates (but were SO full - quite decent portion sizes). I would gladly pay the big bucks for dinner here again. It looks as if their menu is so small because it changes seasonally, which is exciting to me, but I would miss not being able have a favorite again. We were able to make a reservation 15 minutes in advance on a weekend night, so that was stellar. The waitress let me see a menu again to take notes on exactly what we ate so that I could try and replicate it at home. Couldn't have been more pleased, highly recommended. I may even drive from Santa Maria (about 1 1/2 hours south) just for a special dinner here some night! read more

We had such a lovely meal at the Black Cat Bistro during a weekend getaway. We didn't have a reservation on a Saturday night (our bad), but nonetheless were able to get a cute little table in a smaller dining room where we were able to enjoy a pleasant chat with guests at a neighboring table. The shabby chic decor and artwork was lovely, too, making for a relaxed, elegant vibe. The server was a little quirky--her greeting was merely "Our soup tonight is red lentil!"--but sweet and attentive. The menu is interesting but not overly complicated, which we appreciated. Foodwise, the appetizer--a beet gnocchi--was a bit of a misstep. The idea was great--beet infused gnocchi, chanterelle mushrooms, sautéed red cabbage with a sautéed prawn. The prawn was perfect, but the gnocchi was chewy. If it had had the pillowy lightness one wants in gnocchi, the whole dish would have been heavenly because the flavors were all there. But the entrées more than made up for it. I had a seared halibut on a bed of risotto with perfectly roasted brussels sprouts. My companion had seared scallops on a sweet corn pudding. The seafood was excellently prepared, and my partner was in love the the corn pudding. The flavor on the risotto was also excellent, though it could have been a teeny bit more al dente. The halibut was offered with a grapefruit-based sauce, but I'm not able to eat grapefruit, so they substituted a light cream sauce. It was wonderful. The few small, very correctable mistakes stopped me from awarding five stars. But, especially after the horrible experience we'd had the night before at a restaurant with comparable pricing but nothing in the universe of the same creativity, quality or service, the whole experience was a delight otherwise. We will certainly be back. read more

WOW! Sea Scallops were to die for!!! Just a little spicy, with tiny currants to burst in your mouth after you have allowed the scallops and pasta to melt in your mouth. Never have I tasted such perfection in a bite. I asked for a little lamb for my service dog, and was brought a roasted lamb shank... It was so tender, we felt bad giving it all to the dog! Never has he had such a delicious meal! I can't say enough about this place. My husband had the stuffed pork chop... Decadent!!! And his salad, with butter lettuce, pomegranates, slivers of apple, blue cheese, and candied walnuts was to die for... I'm so full, I don't know how I will have the room to taste the chocolate caramel pot de creme, or the sticky toffee pudding... But I am willing to give it a shot! This place is hands down the best place we have ever eaten, anywhere. read more

Our meal at BCB was one of the best I have EVER had. And I'm a huge foodie who's eaten well all over the world. Here was our meal: Mushroom and Sage Gnocchi --excellent and very rich, but it's nice that it's a small portion Crab Rellenos ---very tasty, slightly sweet, also rich Arugula Salad --- a delicious accompaniment to break up the richness, i loved the textures of the feta cheese with onion and croutons The Trout with Raisin Butter and Cauliflower--- incredible, amazing, slightly sweet, and....guess what --- a little rich as well The Honey Lavender Ice cream sandwiches with pistachio shortbread cookie --heavenly. Not to mention some nice beers and wines to accompany the meal. We sat at the bar and I highly recommend that. It's always fun to chat with the bartenders and some of the other diners. The food at this restaurant is top notch. A foodie's haven. Bon appetit! xx read more

I came here for valentine's day. Got the scallops, so delicious. You can tell that the chef is creative and has passion for her food. The place is well decorated, the dining experience was thoughtful. The restaurant is dark, and very romantic. For such a highly rated place, the food was reasonably priced. Highly recommended, make sure to have reservations! read more

This is such a quaint restaurant, I felt like I was a dinner guest in someone's home. It was one of those order a bottle of wine, get lost in conversation, and take in the romantic atmosphere kind of experiences. Every dish was a hit, we ordered the mushroom and sage gnocchi and the crab rellenos- creative and delicious, great flavor, great texture to the gnocchi. For the main course we ordered a pork chop covered in something delicious, I am sorry not to remember what it was but I think it involved bacon and apples and a heavenly sauce. Whatever it was did not last long. The best part was the desert- pear and hazelnut upside down cake, beautiful texture, warm and fresh and perfectly sweet. Would not recommend skipping desert if dining at this restaurant. Also, our waiter was great, very friendly and helpful. I would definetly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Cambria. Also, to clarify- this would be a 4.5 star not a 4 if I could :) read more

My husband and I went here for a romantic dinner on our mini-vacation in Cambria this summer. Of course we went to Hearst Castle and did the usual stuff. This meal, however, was the highlight for this self-proclaimed foodie. I called and got a same-day reservation for around 8:30pm. I think it was their last seating but I we thought we could avoid some of the foot traffic as we heard it was very small. We were seated right away when we got there. It was a little house turned restaurant. It was also very close quarters to the neighboring table. I wasn't surprised at all because most of the reviews mentioned this. It actually turned out to be a really interesting night. We sat next to a group of four who had a lot of interesting conversation that we could not help but hear. We were literally about 16 inches away from each other. Cozy! However, being on the last seating on a Thursday night, the whole room cleared right in the middle of our dinner. We actually got the whole room to ourselves before the night was over. Truly special and serendipitous. I tried to get photo's but it was waaay too dark for pictures. Perfect for dining, not for snapping. I only remember what I had for dinner because I was so enamored by it. It was the seared scallops on the corn pudding. I'm not going to reiterate what others have already said about this dish. I will say it was absolutely perfect for me. I dream about how good it was. :) We shared a dessert that was equally good, but I had so many different things that weekend, that I really don't remember anything but the raspberries and chocolate. From the reviews here, I think it was called the New Chocolate Thing. I think I was still suffering from the "gourmet stunning" I suffered from the entree. We will definitely go back. read more

Thank you fellow Yelpers for all of the reviews of the Black Cat Bistro, that prompted me to make a reservation on Vince and I's recent vacation to Santa Barbara and Cambria. We had the BEST meal we've had in so long, and it was the perfect topper to a perfect day! I echo all of the positive reviews, and recommend it to anyone on vacation or passing through the Cambria area. After a fantastic day of elephant seals, Hearst Castle and a beautiful ocean sunset, Vince and I stopped in for our 8 p.m. reservation. We got there a bit early at 7:45 p.m. and the hostess very apologetically explained we'd have to wait awhile. We chilled on the patio for a bit, took a look at a menu and decided what we wanted. We were seated right at 8 p.m. with more apologies for "the wait." Our reservation was for 8 p.m. and we were seated at 8 p.m. - no apology needed! I had a yummy glass of sparkling white and V had a beer (shocker) and we ordered the mushroom and sage gnocchi that comes with radicchio, martini sauce and asagio cheese. It was absolutely delicious, 5 perfect gnocchi. They were a bit crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside and the sauce and savory radicchio was perfect with it. V and I were sad to have to split that 5th gnocchi, but it was really the perfect portion size for an appetizer. It definitely got us excited for dinner! For dinner I had the Yelp favorite, the seared scallops with corn pudding, tomatillo sauce, sautéed mushrooms and brown butter. I have never had scallops before, but I know its worth trusting fellow Yelpers. It ended up being the best dinner I can remember having. The scallops were fork tender with the sear making them a bit crispy, tomatillo sauce was tangy, corn pudding was sweet and the mushrooms and browned butter were deliciously salty. Every taste I could possible want. There was nothing left on my plate at the end of the meal. Vince ordered the Angus Flat Iron Steak, which I remember trying, but doesn't stick out nearly as much in my head as my scallops. The sauce was good but I remember him saying he wished there was more of it. The sweet potato "hash" on the side was delicious. He seemed equally pleased with his dinner. The service was great, our server was there just enough, and didn't bug us when we didn't need him. He was a bit smarmy, but we appreciated the effort. He seemed to really take pride in quality service. THANK YOU BLACK CAT BISTRO! read more

I took my girlfriend to Hearst Castle about 2 years ago when we had just first started dating. The hotel we stayed at was fine by my standards- it had a bed. But my potential girlfriend was horrified, and at the time was wondering if this could EVER work. During our stay, I happened upon a review of the Black Cat Bistro and decided to take her there that night to get out of the lonely hotel. Needless to say, she was dazzled at the quality of the food, service and the great selection of wines. The lighting and ambiance was great. As she later explained to me it was, in fact, the BLACK CAT BISTRO that single handedly changed her mind about my tastes and made her think- OK, this actually could work. He knows what he is doing. THANK YOU Black Cat Bistro! I have to say, 2 years later I'm still dating her and it probably wouldn't be still going without your little restaurant. Here is to you! read more