The chef is not very good and his personality is even worse. The place is small, old and beyond dirty...especially in the kitchen. When I was using the bathroom around the back, it was beyond disturbing to see the makings of where and who was preparing my dinner. read more

I am looking at all the five-star reviews for this place and wondering if the diners were all high. The food we had was all either deeply mediocre or just plain bad. The waitress ( who was very nice) started us off with an ice-cold sub roll that looked to be straight from a supermarket deli counter, with a tiny disposable plastic cup of hummus. We passed on both. For an appetizer, we shared the seafood tart, which turned out to be a pile of overcooked, sautéed mixed seafood dumped over a SWEET (dessert level sweet) tart shell, swimming in a pool of watery orange sauce with a hint of saffron, and mixed with, for some reason, canned black beans. The sauce made the pastry all soggy. We love seafood and we were both starving but we didn't finish. I was glad I'd gone with a simple entree, the fish tacos. These turned out to be a pair of ice-cold corn tortillas, some more unseasoned black beans, some tomato chunks, and a couple of pieces of blackened haddock, with a side of inedibly salty chips. Not great, I've had better fish tacos just about everywhere, but I could eat them. Husband was not so lucky, he had ordered the $30 Creole seafood stew. This was more overcooked seafood, which did not smell fresh to me at all, and it was made truly disgusting by the addition of BEETS and BROCCOLI. I enjoy both, but neither has any place in a seafood stew. I would have sent it back, but husband never sends back food, so he picked at it. I wanted dessert, it was my birthday, but after that we just fled. And I hope we don't get food poisoning. We had a far better meal a few weeks ago at Crave Kitchen. Don't waste your money at this place. read more

Always amazing food and service! If you go you have to try the fallen Caesar salad and ALWAYS ask to see the desserts. They literally bring a tray out of house made options and all of them are amazing. read more

Phat Cats is the kind of place you just want to come back to over and over and over again. The tiny little annoyances are not enough to deter one from enjoying what is probably one of, if not the best, restaurants in Amesbury, maybe the entire area. You'll find Phat Cats just outside of the downtown area on what appears to be a side street. If you don't know where you're going it can be a difficult find but once you're there you're there. OK. Let's get that little annoyance thing out of way right now. It's noisy. No, it's loud, and there is nothing in sight that might even contribute to nixing that. If you have trouble hearing conversation with a lot of ambient noise, you are not going to like this place. Seriously. Depending on where you sit will determine just how bad it is. If you're fortunate enough to get the window seat it really does go a long way in minimizing the noise factor. If on the other hand, you're seated at the big round table in the middle, forget it. In the end, this is the only deterrent to Phat Cats that I can come up with and the only thing that cost them a star. The only other thing I wonder about is the spelling of fat and if it's about not offending anyone. Someone please enlighten me or we'll never know, I guess. The service here was impeccable. Water was already on the table when we were seated and it was obvious that with a reservation they were expecting us. The list of specials was read to us in detail by a gentleman who obviously knew the menu. Any server who knows the menu inside and out will immediately get the kudos and the tip they so rightly deserve. Oh wait, he was just the beginning. After that our actual server came around to take our orders and never missed a beat. Sometimes they amaze me with their memory when they don't write anything down. But, if you don't write anything down and you screw it up, you're toast. T-O-A-S-T. We started off with the fish tacos as our appetizer. Soft corn tacos filled with blackened haddock, cilantro sauce and fresh black bean butternut squash salsa. Holy crap, were those things good. Probably the best fish tacos I've ever had. Blackened and not deep fried and that in itself is a bonus. Flavorful and sauced perfectly. The entrée was a veggie burger, a house crafted patty of rice, grains and beans topped with caramelized onions, mushrooms and cheese served on a beer bun with tortilla chips. The table mate's choices ranged from swordfish and haddock, to a seafood tart with hand picked cheese plated with olives, pepper crackers, fruit chutney and crostini. As you may be able to tell, this is a glowing review and a restaurant that I highly recommend. If you do decide to try it, make a reservation and request the window table. It'll help a little with the noise issue which in my opinion, was the only detraction. Next visit I'll be trying something different, maybe with a little wine and let you know. read more

Always a wonderful meal! Be sure to make a reservation plenty of time in advance because this is the best restaurant in Amesbury-Newburyport-Salisbury area. read more

We called for reservations as recommended on their website, and it was a good thing we did because that little place is hopping. It's decorated with art from a local artist named Quinn. It's beautiful. The food is amazing. I had never had fish chowder before, and I was not disappointed. It was amazing! I followed that with fish tacos and the rhubarb pie. Just fabulous! My husband had a filet with sautéed mushrooms, garlic mashed potatoes, and vegetables. The steak was tender and flavorful. The bartender and wait staff were all so friendly. They went out of their way to make sure we felt welcomed. We picked the place randomly, and wow! If we lived in this area, we would eat here all of the time. read more

Occasionally I run into places that appear to be very well received by the community but my experience is off. Perhaps I just ordered the wrong dishes, I'm not sure. I'm going to break this down into each order we had, and how each piece came out. First Appetizer: Broccolini Brushetta - This was fantastic, had great flavor, properly cooked, wife and I both loved it. 5/5 stars would get this again. Second Appetizer: Lobster Rangoon - This appetizer was very disappointing. In terms of the frying, this was done well, the item did not come out burnt or anything. We got 5 pieces of fried rangoon, with small nickel sized pouches inside. The flavor was very mayo heavy, in fact it tasted like I was eating deep fried mayo blobs. I did not taste lobster at all. There were no detectable lobster bits. It honestly could have been made with no lobster, and I would not have been able to tell the difference for what I was served. This was a bit disappointment. 1/5 stars. Main Courses: We ordered the Surf and Turf Risotto, and the Lobster Mac and Cheese. Surf and Turf Risotto - Risotto was undercooked, and overly watery. Flavors were pretty good, shrimp and steak both had good marinades. 2/5 stars. Lobster Mac and Cheese - Very heavy, creamy. Not bad flavors. Some good chunks of lobster 3/5 maybe 3.5/5 stars. Based on the yelp star review system, I'd say for me this fits into "Meh, I've experienced better". But with all that said, I feel like if I had ordered some other meals, perhaps I would have had a 4 or possibly even a 5 star experience. Perhaps I had a different cook than most. read more

WOW! We are returning for another fantastic gastronomic experience. We loved it the first, second and third time and now we are going again. Great Place! Great Ambiance & above all, Great Food! read more

My wife and I just moved to Amesbury and found our new favorite restaurant. This place is phenomenal in every way! Very good vibe in the restaurant, amazing service, and the food was fantastic. This may be a weekly spot for us now! read more

Excellent food in nice "off the path" spot. Parking can be a pain but it's well worth it

Tried this place for dinner. Very nice. From the Lobster Rangoon to the Mac and cheese and the chicken dish over angel hair, everything was tasty and well prepared. The staff was very attentive and helped tremendously. Nice small Restaraunt very impressed. I can only imagine how busy it is on weekends. read more

Phat Cats Bistro - Lobster Rangoon appetizer - Italian Near Me - Amesbury, Massachusetts

We went last evening, which was a Thursday, and Phat Cats has $1.00 oysters. The oysters were sensational!!! We both ordered fresh shucked lobster with raviolis that was so outstanding you wanted to lick the plate the sauce was that good. Can't wait to return on Thursday to enjoy oysters again. Lastly, our server Colleen was exceptional in every way. read more

Warning! Warning! This place is plotting to trick you into buying more food. Let me explain. My wife and l are healthy eaters but when dinning out we almost never have room for desert. With this place, although the portions are generous, the food is so good it makes you not want to stop. so, all three times we have been there we ordered desert Seriously, this is a top notch restaurant. The food and service are constantly excellent. The staff are very friendly and efficient. The dinning area is very attractive. You definitely need reservations. You can also reserve seats at the bar. We consider this place one of the finest estaurants on the North Shore. read more

Amesbury is such a cool place-and beautiful, too. Phat Cats belongs here and could scarcely look more like it fits in this historic New England town. It's a charming, small space with great atmosphere. I was traveling and dined alone at the bar around 8 PM on Thursday where I was greeted by smiley, welcoming, and attentive staff. Their energy was winning and the bartender was amiable as he moved from patron to patron with ease and engagement. The bartender immediately brought water, asked if I wanted bread, and crafted a fine Tito's cosmopolitan ($12) served with a smile. It was good. The small spinach salad ($8) was great, a perfect starter size for 1, and had great crunch, freshness, and flavor. I'm not certain it was dressed, but I was okay because the cranberries, almonds, cheese, and pickled onions were plenty. I was excited about the offering of homemade gnocchi ($35), but it was terrible. It was chewy and gummy, so much so that some bites were akin to bubble gum. The gnocchi maker here does not know how to make gnocchi. At first I thought there were strips of chicken in my dish because the gnocchi were long rectangle strips. The sauce had no flavor, but improved with the salt & pepper I added. The lobster mixed in with the dish was a fair amount, and not bad, but a little overcooked. I really enjoyed the fresh bread and compound butter. Butter in a plastic take away container is a miss for presentation. The charm and meal would be elevated if the butter were served in any kind of dish. I wanted dessert, but was too full. The dessert tray looked pretty good, as I saw. I thought the dessert tray was a nice touch. It was nice sitting at the bar to see all of the food coming out of the kitchen, and so much of it looked good. I had 1 cosmo and no other beverages or food not already mentioned and the bill was $58.85 before tip. I'd come back for drinks, salads, and first courses next time. read more

I can't say enough good things about Phat Cats! The food is incredible and great service. They've got great drinks, love their blue martini. The seafood tart is to DIE FOR. Seriously, I dream about it. Every meal I've had here has been so flavorful, and delicious. And their desserts... SO good. They are made in house, and are totally worth it. I don't normally get dessert when going out to eat but I make sure to do it here. Carrot cake is my favorite. If you haven't gone, make a reservation and GO. You won't be disappointed! read more

Really terrific food in downtown Amesbury. Creative menu, interesting cocktails. Wonderful ambience. comfortable tables and eat-in option at the bar too. Very knowledgeable, friendly waitstaff. read more

My family has a reservation here earlier this week. We called multiple places in the area to find a restaurant with vegan options and they were most accommodating. Great menu variety and amazing service. Would definitely recommend! read more

Terrible service. Hostess was very rude and literally ignored us as long as possible imo. When she finally did acknowledge us she was snappy and impolite. Idk if it was a bad day for her but she definitely ruined me and my husband 1 date night a month. read more

I love the Phat cat but I don't think that the chairs are stable so I'm sorry but 4 stars for me

What an absolute gem of a spot. Ambience, food, and service were well exceeded. Lobster ragoons and blue cheese apps were all tasty little nuggets to begin with. All our meals were excellent and the desserts were next level. Our server Skylar was on her game and super sweet. Add this place to your must try next outing and see for yourself. read more

Delicious! Amazing food & service ! Great cozy place for a special night out !! So many different types of food to chose from all cooked to perfection ! Not to mention the homemade desserts an absolute must ! Yum! read more

Thank you Yelp! This place is great and I wouldn't need have found it without other people's reviews (visiting from out of town for classes at Sig Academy). Overall, I would probably describe it as gourmet and modernized versions of classic New England dishes, with a great bar, really good quality ingredients, staff/owners who work hard, and a lot of loyal local customers. It isn't stuffy like fine dining places can be, but it is clearly "the nice restaurant" in the area. (If you live here, you probably already know about it, so this is more for visitors or people new to the area.) I had some of the best seafood chowder I've had anywhere, a herb crusted haddock special with a savory creme brulee, a great black and blue martini with blue cheese stuffed olives, and the best carrot cake I've had (made in house) with ginger ice cream. Finished with a double espresso. Not inexpensive, but priced as I'd expect ($70 with tax and generous tip). They appear to get busy on Friday nights (unsurprisingly), but I got in a little early and sat at the bar. Overall, this is a great choice for a great meal in Amesbury or vicinity, and I'll definitely be back when I'm in town in the future. read more

We love it here and it is "our place".... we come in for date night and Shuck a Buck on Thursday's and we love bringing friends and family when they visit amazing food, desserts and drinks. read more

Phat Cats offers a diverse menu but specializes in fish and sea food. The gnocchi is fabulous. The raspberry butter cream cake is excellent. The decor is a cool combination of brick walls and blue tin ceiling. read more

A small hidden gem in the heart of Amesbury. Extremely nice owners and amazing staff. Simply the best!

If not for Yelp I never would have found this place traveling through for work. I wandered around trying to find a parking spot but I'm so glad I didn't just drive on. Lazy Lobster with Pillows!! Oh My God!!! I am 40 years old and I don't know how long it's been if ever since I basically made moaning sounds after every bite. This place was awesome, the food is obviously made with a lot of love, what an awesome gem of a restaurant. read more

Three out of four hits is a great batting average. I've been wanting to try Phat Cats for some time now but I was distracted by Crave and their expansion wiithin the rail depot, the now sadly departed No. 8 Kitchen & Spirits, and even the uber casual Flatbread Co. which makes the best damn house salad anywhere. Phat Cats got its' turn last eve with my wife, son and son's girlfriend. Three of the four entrees were hits according to my dining companions. Firstly, cudos are in order for the caring owners Christina & Paul and their staff. Sitting near the door in a great big booth gave us a ringside view of the generous and heartfelt hugs exchanged between arriving patrons and the Phat Cats team. You can't manufacture that kind of sincere warmth. While briefly awaiting our 7 pm table we were ushered to the back side bar while our table was cleared and set. Not even enough time to order a drink, we were brought to our showcase table in the front corner. We were warmly greeted by Christina who offered and delivered a fresh bread with accompanying bean dip or hummus equivalent. She made fast work by swiftly replacing the one broken and one lipstick stained glass from the table. No demerits here as this was well handled without any fanfare. Next came the cone of fresh calamari, gobbled up by all with chipotle and coriander dipping sauces. And dinner orders were placed. My wife had the swordfish special recommended by Christina, my son had the gnocchi romano, and his girlfriend had the mac and cheese. I the roasted half chicken special. Hits were the swordfish accompanied by mega rigatoni and a walnut pesto, gnocchi romano with spinach, roasted red pepper and fontina, and signature mac and cheese. The miss was my roasted half chicken which I so very much wanted to love. Some observations. The walnut pesto on the swordfish resulted in a bath of oil underneath a truly beautiful piece of fish. The gnocchi were few and far between and overwhelmed by the "hearty pink sauce" and too many roasted red peppers. Mac and Cheese was deeply enjoyed but looked oily to me from across the table. Now to my half chicken. The presentation was great, and this was no punny chicken half. As it approached from across the dining room I was reminded by the epic fried whole chicken from Marcus Samuelsson at Red Rooster in Harlem. I was syched. But then reality hit. The bird was overseasoned with a turimec heavy dry rub. Moist meat within indicated a well cooked bird, but would have benefited from a brining so to stand up to the excessive dry rub. The bed of blue cheese mashed potatoes had potential, but was dry. Roasted veggies were undercooked, and the beets within overpowered the dish. But all my dining companions were in love, and I was happy to be having this nice night out with those dearest to me. Onto the dessert plate which with its' homemade cakes and tarts and in-house ice creams sent the table into a tizzy. Chosen were the chocolate cake with espresso ice cream, and a white chocolate mouse cake with mandarin orange accent and raspberry ice cream. Again, the table was oohing and ahing. I found the chocolate cake dry, but didn't dare let on so not to ruin the delight of my family. So the three stars offered here seem reasonable based on the above, but will likely jump to four on a deserved return visit in the coming months. Fortunately this Phat Cat has nine lives. Admittedly, I hope this cat (me!) won't be so finicky next time. Phat Cats is worth the trip and will likely please. read more

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I rarely leave reviews, but Phat Cats managed to provide the best food I ever had in my 44.5 years - not exaggerating - that gets a review! I've told a dozen people at least how their surf & turf risotto was by FAR the best thing I've ever had and how if I knew it would be impossible to get it again I would gladly pay several hundred to enjoy it one last time (of course, it was nothing close to that - their prices were more than generous for what you get). Can't wait to go back and try so much more. Simply amazing. Great atmosphere, service and all else as well. This place is magical :) Thanks Phat Cats! read more

If you love to support local foodies you will not regret coming here! Food is always amazing no matter what you order. Owners are personable and friendly as well! read more

Home made food but with a fancy kick, never fails. Best dessert combinations and creativity of taste. Call for a reservation !!! read more

We had a rare date night and decided to try something other than the fried seafood on and lobster rolls along Hampton Beach (not knocking it, we did it the night before) and found this place on Yelp. The mussels, garlic shrimp and lobster with ravioli were all incredible. The sauce with the mussels and lobster were so good that we asked for bread after we were done so we could soak the rest of it up. Then we got the savory corn creme brûlée for dessert because we aren't dessert people and why the hell not. Also, really good. It's our new go-to place when we stay in Hampton. read more

We went to Phat Cats for the first time. The whole experience was awesome from service to food to price! The menu and alcohol selections were very diverse and of high quality. This is now right up there with our top 3 restaurants. read more

Had no clue this place was even here. They have oysters on Thursday for $1.00! They also had dinner specials and special wine menu that night that (by the glass) they offer glasses of wine when they normally only sell those specific ones by the bottle. We loved our round booth in the front, it's off to side and private. The spinach salad was perfect and size was just right. You need ton Park on the street but we found a spot close enough. The service was very satisfying as she was personable. The tiny building is typical of Amesbury so plan ahead, make reservations! read more

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this little place with a name like phat cats. Figured it'd be a lil hipster joint that prided itself on being a 50's throw back. I was completely and pleasantly surprised and thankful that it wasn't. We were met at the door by the owner, who welcomed us and chose a great table for us. A seat by the window and by the small electric fireplace which gave off no heat but plenty of ambiance. He walked us through the wine specials, which all sounded amazing and if we were wine people we would have definitely partaken in one of them. But, we are not wine people, we are beer people and we had a local Amesbury brew which was okay. The food was amazing. I ordered the fish tacos and my husband got the burger. The fish tacos were the best I have ever had, hands down. The fish was cooked perfectly and blackened just right. It was accompanied by a delicious black bean salsa and drizzled with a sauce that was out of this world. It had the perfect amount of spice and flavor, bold but not overwhelmingly so. There was a definite party in my tummy. My husband said his burger was delicious and cooked to a perfect medium. It came with a sliced baked potato which was a pleasant surprise and a welcomed change from the standard fries that are usually plated alongside a burger. Also, it came with a side of roasted veggies that were delicious. I snuck a few bites of his beets. yum. We were both pretty full but we had to check out their desserts which are all homemade, even the ice cream. We ordered the cheesecake with the ginger ice cream. Now, I am not a cheesecake fan and I only had two bites but it was so good! The cheesecake and the ginger ice cream complimented each other perfectly. I think I should also add their price points are low for what you get. My meal should have been almost $20 for the plate but it wasn't... It was $12. For the amount of food we received and the superb quality and freshness, we made out like bandits! We will most definitely be back! read more

Adding my voice to the din: I've been meaning to get to Phat Cats but the food isn't stuff the BF would necessarily eat. Along came an email that told about a fundraiser on a day they are usually closed. One call to a friend who lives in the neighborhood and reservations were made. For whatever reason, the idea of the place in my head was not what it actually was. That's a good thing because I was thinking deli style diner not fine dining. Our waiter started us off with some bread with a tangy dipping oil. We decided to split the lobster crab rangoon and could have sat there the whole night just eating those. Chipotle dipping sauce didn't hurt, mmmmm. With so much to choose from, we decided to split. Angus sliders and mac & cheese with sausage. The sliders were OK and anywhere else would probably rate a good. But put them side by side with the rangoon and that mac & cheese? They get demoted. Between that and the chocolate cake being a bit on the stale side, I dropped a star. I will surely be back. They also have a variety of dinner pricing options so you can get out of there without handing over a stash. Of course the problem will be figuring out what to have next time! read more

Don't let the location (in the middle of a neighborhood) or the small appearance on the outside influence your opinion - Phat Cats is the real deal when it comes to creative, unique, and delicious food. My wife and I come here often and have never left still hungry, let down, or disappointed. The servers are prompt and attentive and the atmosphere is quaint and mellow. I've had just about every item on the menu and you cannot go wrong with the lobster rangoon or the fish tacos. Wine and tapas night is also excellent. Beer on tap is always changing and is always fresh. Much of the food is prepared from local ingredients grown here on the North Shore. Only reason why I'm not giving it five stars is because the menu has not changed in quite some time...Not a bad thing for new comers but as a frequent visitor, it would be good to see new menu options. read more

We live in Amesbury and choose to spend our money locally as much as possible. That said, even if we didn't live here, this place would rank as one of the best restaurants here or anywhere around. Phat Cats is nothing short of amazing. What may not look like much from the outside, what awaits inside is what other restaurants should strive to achieve. The host is always welcoming and accommodating even when the place is hopping (which it often is.) The service is absolutely spot on. Servers and bartenders are knowledgeable about both their food and wine pairings. They offer incredible, attentive service, without hovering. The food is absolutely delicious. Many of the ingredients locally sourced. Well prepared. Excellent portions. And for those who like to take the menu from appetizer to dessert, many of the every day entree items are available as a 1/2 portions. Daily specials will have you drooling. The dessert menu changes and frequently features seasonally flavored items that never disappoint. Don't expect to just walk in thurs-weekend though. For good reason, seats are limited. Definitely call for a reservation. Can not recommend Phat Cats enough. read more

I think for the area Phat Cat is as good as it gets. Food was exceptional and the fish chowder to die for. Wife has food issues so they made up a special dressing for her salad, This place is cozy inside, service excellent. Looking forward to going back read more

I've hit up Phat Cat's 2x now and I have slightly mixed reviews. ON one hand, the food is well prepared, the wine and beer selection is very good and the staff very helpful. On the other hand, I have been underwhelmed by the food itself. The highlights are the Fallen Caeser salad, steak sliders and their desserts. Not so much? The fish tacos are totally missing something and the surf ad turf risotto just didn't meld flavor wise (while each component was pretty good independently). I still like Crave up the street better for a similar price range and similar quality but will certainly be eating at Phat Cats again. Pass read more

Hands down one of the best dining experiences we've had. Went here last night for the first time, and from start to finish a near perfect meal. Our server was fantastic, very knowledgable and friendly, and the food was delicious and beautifully presented. Thanks for a great night, we'll most certainly be back! read more