Food is good, service was nice and friendly and waitress took the time to explain the different type of menu items including Filipino dishes. Wished there are more Filipino items on the menu. The place is definitely unique and feels like occasion coming in. read more

The Cats has a reputation as a historic Bay Area restaurant, and while the property itself is beautiful, that's unfortunately where the positives end. We visited for Father's Day, and it was clear they were nowhere near prepared for the day. From the moment we were seated, service was painfully slow. It took nearly 20 minutes just to receive water, and even longer for our drinks to arrive. When it was time for the buffet, I was served a steak ordered medium rare that came out medium well. After sending it back, the replacement was technically medium rare, but it was so under-rested and watery that it felt like biting into a bowl of beef juice. To make matters worse, the steak sat on our table for another 20 minutes while we waited in the buffet line because the restaurant completely ran out of food. Half the dining room was left standing around waiting for items to be replenished. The food itself was equally disappointing. Nearly everything lacked flavor, with the exception of the ribs, which at least had a noticeable smoky taste. The rice was overcooked, and the lumpia was so overdone that parts of it were burnt. Overall, this was a frustrating and underwhelming dining experience, especially for a holiday meal. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a quality meal. There are far too many excellent dining options in the area, particularly in Los Gatos, that are much more deserving of your time and money. read more

The Cats Restaurant - Ribeye Steak probably one of the worst steaks I have had in a while - Barbeque Near Me - Los Gatos, California

Came here today for Father's Day and we really had high hopes for this place. We'd seen a lot of TikTok and Instagram reels and I couldn't wait to bring my husband, who loves BBQ. I'll give 2 stars for the vibe, but unfortunately the food, service and overall experience were disappointing. The buffet selection was fairly small and items weren't being replenished quickly enough. The presentation was also below expectations. Several dishes seemed overcooked or poorly prepared. The rice was burnt, the mac and cheese was burnt, and the pork ribs appeared undercooked. The highlight of the meal was definitely the cornbread. For such a major celebration, it felt like the restaurant wasn't prepared for the crowd or didn't have an effective process in place to keep the buffet stocked and maintain food quality. Overall, it was a disappointing experience. read more

Went for Father's day celebration today with the family.. Wished we had gone somewhere else. Service is average. Food & venue totally underwhelmed. My expectations were high. Garlic rice tasted too salty. The worst garlic rice ever. I did not taste any garlic at all. Wished they served steamed rice. Ribs were medium rare. Manila chicken was acceptable. Mango coleslaw with no mango visible. Place was packed. The buffet table area was too small for the number of people they planned to feed. I can say more but in the end all i can say is we will not be back. I so wanted this to be good but was so disapponted. Sorry but I won't be recommending it either. read more

This place is not ready to run yet. Place was filthy full of dirty tables, staff not helping anyone and/or knowing what to do. Sat at the bar for 10minutes and was never even talked to. Hard pass. Plus their hours/days open are read more

I came during buffet hours, at the end when you would expect the good stuff to be done. I was told to take my time and that if I wanted anything that wasn't out and available, I should just ask. Food was great! I'll be back. read more

The Cats Restaurant - Barbeque Near Me - Los Gatos, California

On the steaks and briskets are to die for. Ambiance is abundant lots of history st the cats. The service is great. Portions are very good. Some of the best BBQ in the valley read more

I stumbled on The Cats BBQ Los Gatos this past weekend for their BBQ brunch, and I'm officially obsessed. This isn't just your average barbecue spot! it's Texas-style BBQ with a Filipino twist, and it's done so well. The brisket was perfectly smoked, melt-in-your-mouth tender, and then paired with Filipino flavors that made every bite unique. Think rich, smoky meats alongside bright, tangy sauces and sides that taste like someone's Filipino grandma is back there in the kitchen. The kare kare bbq was amazing and the bbq pork belly just as amazing! The vibe? Super chill, warm, and welcoming, exactly what you'd hope for in a BBQ joint that feels like a hidden gem. Service was friendly and genuine; you can tell they care about the food and the experience. If you're a barbecue lover looking for something new (or just a foodie who likes being blown away), make this place your weekend brunch plan. It's worth every calorie! read more

The Cats Restaurant - I forgot what it is but it's really good ..,, - Barbeque Near Me - Los Gatos, California

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Had the Sisig topped with Brisket. Sisig has the citrus and salty flavor. The brisket was on the salty side. The dish came in a small sizzling cast iron skillet that was piping hot. The Sisig meat was more tender than the burnt brisket chunks. A raw egg was added on top. You mix the egg with the meats to cook it in the hot skillet. Came with a side of white rice that was perfectly cooked, moist but not mushy. For starter we.ordered the honey cornbread. It was very crusty on the outside and somewhat moist inside with pieces of corn mixed in. It came with a side of butter. It was sweet and full of corn flavor. Wish the outer layer was not so crusty hard. The pulled pork sandwich was good. Added more BBQ sauce and it was better. Tender pieces of pork in between soft burger buns. The bread's flavor was a bit sweet that it complented the pulled pork. Pulled pork sandwich has a side of fries There was live band music. So it's a dinner and a show in one especially if you were able to sit in the front dining area. They have outdoor dining space also which was quite nice and cozy with the outdoor lighting. Kinda pricey mene but you get both food and a show so it's reasonable afterall. read more

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We have driven past the Cats for three years. Finally made it in to eat dinner and it was a blast. Great service, live music, and a menu with BOTH BBQ and Filipino food! Unfortunately, they did not have lumpia but I did try the Filipino Sisig with Smoked Beef Brisket, which was topped with egg and paired with steamed rice for $20. It was tasty! My husband got the ribs and sides. The kids both enjoyed burgers and fries. The kids meals were very generous! The service was very attentive and we will be back. read more

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Good food, great service , Normally a band to watch enjoy and dance !!! Nice ambiance , friendly staff !! They had a great assistant manager Rin ( he was amazing customer service) also one of their bartenders/servers don't know her name . We talked about jewelry and clothing for an event I was gonna attend !! She was also extremely helpful and friendly !!! read more

Ribs had a mild smoky taste, mashed potatoes smooth. Salad was fine, overall average. read more

The Cats Restaurant - Barbeque Near Me - Los Gatos, California

Definitely worth the stop, but probably won't be coming back - unless of course there is an accident on 17 and dinner seems like a good idea - then it's an absolutely great option. The ambiance is fun - it says it's a tavern - and that's definitely the vibe they get - which I'm into. And they have live music which I appreciate. It is kinda dark inside though. Pulled pork - good. St. Louis Ribs also pretty good. Brisket - very bad. Like didn't eat it bad. House side salad - hilarious. Like iceberg lettuce and Costco shredded cheese hilarious. (But I kinda loved it). Kids grilled chicken was decent (I've had a lot worse chicken at a restaurant). The fries were great. Battered and crispy. Didn't love the wings - they were too saucy and the BBQ sauce itself was too thick. Also buffalo was not an option and really that's the best way to have wings. Kid friendly. Our waitress was particularly nice to our kids. They do charge 4% fee for Credit Cards - so come prepared for that. read more

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Cool spot, great the history. Love the old California charm. Live music is cool and the space is nicely setup for such. Easy arrival, a bit annoying to leave given the 1 mile trek on hwy 17 to U-turn to go east. Food was mixed - grilled chicken was great, solid ribs, good coleslaw, good mashed potatoes. Pulled pork was very greasy (maybe the last of the batch since we stopped by Sunday?), fries from my son's burger were also greasy, beans could use some work (too sweet, a bit too liquid). People seem to care so hopefully they keep it up and refine the food as time goes on. Would like to go back and try the skewers which they were out of. read more

Here, right now... I'll be updating as my party of 4 endures..... Arrived at 6:15, seated immediately, told by our very nice server that she is the only server....... Ok.... It's 6:45 and we just relayed our drink orders. Beer and wine only because the server's friend is helping by bartending. That's not a good look, right? So, we decided we'd better put in our full order.... While the band goes from playing a hit from The Gap Band, then seamlessly rolls into Iron Maiden (I'm not kidding.......). I can't wait to see how my Guinness turns out . Alright, 7:05, and three of us have been served.... No drinks or starters in sight. 7:21... We now have the fourth meal, starters, and our drinks finally arrived. It's only taken 65 minutes to get where we are now..... Lol Alright, dinner is done. Spare ribs were "eh" (really tough, but tasted ok), pulled pork was good, salmon was ok.... Nothing stellar here, but I'd eat here again. Waitstaff was VERY nice and completely over worked, management is obviously garbage, food was decent. Owner, help your people. What a crappy look for a Saturday night at a storied restaurant, with a killer band, highly capable staff and decent food. read more

Frinday night BBQ dinning bonaza! Went at 6:30 by 7:30 the place filled as the 80s band fire up the amps. This place has a awesome mountain town tavern vibe. It's so cool its just 5 minuts from San Jose. The menu has a unique life of its own, filled with awesome barbecue and steak choices. I went for the ribeye, with a monster baked potato, and house salad. Oh yeah, they have a unique four or more group menu also . Check it out on their website . I ordered a mock cocktail which was quite good. Hey, let's add some non-alcoholic beers to the menu, Heineken 0.0 and/or Corona NA as NA beers let the drives drink along with the party . Of course I had to do the lava cake, it comes in a sizzling cast iron pan with boiling butter, cake and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The sizzling butter kept each bite piping hot, amazing. Ashley was our server, total delight, fun and knew the menu perfectly. I haven't been to The Cats for years. Things have definitely changed, and I say for the better. Cats has always been a Los Gatos treasure, and it's back on top of its game. It has a lively Mountain Town Tavern with Rock-n-Roller staff and dynamite new menu. Bring your mountain man/woman vibes here and feast your cares away. read more

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I saw a post about this on social media. To see Filipino food in this area caught my attention so we decided to check it out. AMBIANCE: Parking: Private parking with room for about 15 cars. Seating: Inside and outside seating. Great for pairs and groups. There's room for about 60 people. Vibes: This is one exit off of Downtown Los Gatos. It's a bit isolated so make sure you pay attention to the exit. The spot itself is neat. You see it's history with the vintage architecture. I enjoyed the pop music and appreciated their transition to their evening live music. It's a sports friendly place so a good place to watch a game. Great for a food adventure or date night adventure. FOOD: Corn bread (Recommend) I've had corn bread but this rises on my top favorites. It's the beautiful mix of honey, butter, corn, but I think it's the brown sugar and grilled delivery to eat. Sweet, soft, crunchy, and just delicious. Roasted Root Vegetable Medley (Recommend) I underestimated this order but I'm glad we ordered it. A beautiful mix of roasted brussel sprouts, carrots, red onions & roasted broccoli. This was cooked a special way as the texture was delightfully firm and soft. French Fries (Recommend) Crispy fries that was salted and seasoned with garlic, butter, rosemary, thyme, and tarragon. Feijoada (Secret Menu) (Recommend) They ran out of lumpia but this a pleasant alternative. Meat that was soft, well marinated, and fell right off the bone. A good portion of beans and stew made this dish savory and comforting. Smoked Crispy Pata (Secret Menu) (Recommend) The main course! This did not disappoint. As a Filipino I've had crispy pata but this hit differently. It must've been a mix of the smoked cooking style and spices. Delicious! CUSTOMER SERVICE: Wonderful! Our server was friendly and even had time to meet Chef Raf Lim! TL; DR OVERALL: 5 Stars. Lovely, lovely, lovely. Creative and delicious food, reasonable prices, and an overall pleasant experience. Shoutouts to Owner Richard Tam, Chef Ref, and the team for keeping this pleasant experience going. Whether you're a tourist or local, check this spot out now. #FilipinoFoodMovement TIPS: * Call in 2 days prior if requesting the Smoked Crispy Pata * Check out their website for live performances * Look into their secret menu! * https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzcX9KpPjgk/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== read more

The Cats Restaurant - Woot! - Barbeque Near Me - Los Gatos, California

This place was recommended by my sister. The food was pretty good, especially the cornbread. It's BBQ restaurant with some Filipino dishes on the menu. They even had a live band when we went on Friday! read more

The Cats Restaurant - Beef ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Los Gatos, California

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Went for the new brunch buffet, and really enjoyed it. Several bbq options including ribs, chicken, and marinated meats off the bone. Flavorful garlic rice, creamy mashed potatoes, cole slaw, and warm soft rolls. Plus pancakes and eggs scrambled with tomatoes, onions and peppers. Friendly service, good music and a chill vibe, and well worth the price. Really the only downside was the challenging traffic on Hwy 17 to get to and from The Cats. The place was very empty as brunch is a new option there and the word still needs to spread. read more

The Cats Restaurant - Brunch buffet! Several bbq options, scrambled eggs w/ veggies, mashed potatoes, flavorful garlic rice, and delicious warm rolls. - Barbeque Near Me - Los Gatos, California

Honestly I was a little underwhelmed by this place. The atmosphere was awesome but we weren't sure how family friendly it was. The food was pricey and the portions were tiny. The flavor was great but for that much you would think you would get more. Customer service was just ok. read more

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After many years of driving by The Cats on 17 and wondering about it, we finally went here for dinner. It's a cool spot that feels like it's from another region and another era. The live music was great. Note that it can get loud if you are in the main area...you are only there to listen to the music and not have any conversations at the table at that point. There are other tables that you can get further away from there if you want to have a conversation, so mention what you want when you make a reservation. Our waitress was cool and engaging. The cocktail was okay. The cornbread was different and got mixed reviews, I liked it probably because it was very sweet and I like dessert. The sides were good. The bbq however was not that good. The meat was all served cold and the chicken was mostly bone and had barely any meat. Would have been a 4-star rating otherwise. read more

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Made reservations which seemed very important after arrival as it became packed quickly. It's not a large space so definitely make reservations! The bartender lady was fantastic - knew lots of history regarding the place and was super nice. She seemed to have the most jobs and was busy non-stop. I got ribs which were nice. I do like that they don't come slathered in sauce - I prefer to choose my own and the quantity. I wish they were a bit more tender. My wife got the brisket - could use a tiny bit more seasoning for the bark. Re-heated the leftovers the next day in mac and cheese and it was perfect. My son had the pulled pork sandwich but literally engulfed it before letting anyone try it. You get two sides with meals, but not a fan that a baked potato is a "premium side" and costs an additional 5$. Baked potatoes should be standard fare. However, it was cooked and seasoned well. This was a bucket list place that is both historic AND that we had never been to. Worth the money and the evening to check it out. read more

I was very excited to go to this restaurant as curiosity had me eyeing this place each time I drove down 17. Let's start with the good, the exterior of the restaurant really makes you feel like it's going to be an amazing experience. However, on a Friday evening, my husband and I did not have a good time. The food was extremely overpriced for what we received, and the service was mediocre. The ribeye steak was a steep $39, served with a cheap salad just lettuce and shredded cheddar on a tiny plate. The steak itself was okay, but at that price, I expected much more. To make things worse, our server completely forgot my husband's order. She never put it in and didn't check back in with us. So he sat through the entire dinner without a meal silently waiting for a plate that never came. We ended up paying $72 for a plate of onion rings and a sad steak. Definitely not worth the price. This will be the first and last time we come here. read more

This place used to have great food. Now the food is mediocre at best. They used to have delicious baked potatoes that were cooked in a fire, the real BBq was not going the last time I was there. The food seems pretty-made down to the small containers of salad dressing they hand you with the meal. Staff is pretty good. The one good thing about the Cats and the real reason I'm giving them 3 stars, is they still have live music. read more

This place has really lost its charm with the new ownership. The fact they took Theo original classic steak sandwich off the menu is a punch to the gut. After the re-opening, I was looking forward returning to may favorite whole in the wall and sinking my teeth into my favorite lifelong sandwich...I've never set foot back into this place based in my disappointment. read more

Lovely place, good atmosphere , food fantastic. Got the Manila chicken which was savory . On top of that Promise ( our server ) , was very fast , accommodating and almost with a smile . Will come here again . read more

The Cats Restaurant - Stage - Barbeque Near Me - Los Gatos, California

I moved to Hawáii a year ago, every week I would receive a call from my mom speaking about "The Cats". Her and her boyfriend go every week and never had anything bad to say about the establishment. I decided to fly out and go with her for the first time. It has been the best night my mom and I have shared in years. Our server Promise has been the best sever I have ever had. She has been attentive since the second we walked in. Welcomed my mother with open arms and was more than happy to take me in. Every time I visit home I will ALWAYS come to see Promise and the amazing management. Their food and service is outstanding. Live music was the perfect cherry to top it off. THANK YOU PROMISE! read more

We made a reservation, but they didn't have it on their books. The service was terrible. We goI no attention for 20 minutes. Then, when we did place our order, it was "lost," and we waited another 30 minutes or so. When the food finally came, it was cold and not exactly what we ordered. The salad was served with the main course and the drinks. I will not be going back. read more

The food was AMAZING the bread and the smashed potatoes were to die for! The workers were super sweet and kept checking in to make sure we were doing well, it was super nice. It is a very pretty place, the entrance makes you a little skeptical if the place would be nice but once you enter it is a completely new setting. The first thing you see is this cute little bar, and if you look to the side you'll see the food area and the sitting area. It's a nice place, I would recommend! read more

I went to The Cats during the 90's and early 2000's and it was truly THE barbecue destination. They had chicken, ribs, steaks and chops and the place was always packed. Finally, some 20 years pass and we decide to trek over from Santa Cruz for my birthday dinner. They requested reservations so I thought we were definitely in for the busy restaurant I remembered! Nothing prepared me for what we arrived to. The parking lot at 7:30pm on a Friday had maybe 10-15 cars. Went inside and the music was so loud at the bar that I couldn't even hear myself. Granted played music from 70's and 80's I was okay with that. After about 5 minutes of standing at the door, someone came over to ask if we had a reservation. Mind you only 1 other group in the dining area so the reservation system seemed a little frivolous. After being seated at looking at the menu, it was definitely more Filipino food forward. I found a ribeye steak so I was good with that. My partner being Filipino was excited to try some of those dishes. On a Friday night at 7:30 they were out of 3 of the items that he wanted to try as he continued to try to get his second choice, then third choice . . . We ordered the Lumpiang Shanghai as an appetizer which never arrived. The steak was tough, the salad was only iceberg lettuce with no choice of dressing - you get the little cup of vinaigrette. He said his Filipino food choice was not beyond OK. They came around with slips of paper because it quickly became a karaoke party. DJ did his sound check and someone must've snuck behind him and cranked the volume knob to max because all of a sudden it was a deafening blast and one older lady commented that she nearly had a heart attack. I am now 63 and don't know if I'm at the "old & crotchety" stage but this was not what I was expecting for a place called The Cats BBQ. Unfortunately for the drive and the cost and that I don't drink anymore, I doubt that I would return or recommend this to anyone. Henry's Hi life is how the Cats used to be so I would go back to Henry's for my BBQ night! read more

This is suppose to be Lumpia. It was really bad. The owner told me he would send me a gift certificate. I hope he follows through. read more

The Cats Restaurant - Fresh lumpia - Barbeque Near Me - Los Gatos, California

Bbq was a great fusion, moist and juicy. Perfect of you are meaty. Promise, the employee, was phenomenal. Kind, respectful and helpful! What a great adventure! read more

Edit: since the owner said she was not drunk... she TOLD US she had been drinking to make up for her lost birthday time. When we first got there it looked like a great atmosphere, but once we met our server, it went downhill. From the jump, I knew she was drunk, she immediately put her elbows on the table, leaned over and started talking to us loudly and very close. She found out we were celebrating my husband and his twins birthday, she told us that her birthday was around the same time, she then proceeded to say that she was drunk at the moment because she was "making up for the lost birthday time" since she had to work. She kept trying to give my daughter a fist bump and my toddler was actively crying to be left alone, she wouldn't leave her alone and it went as far as to me telling her to get away and stop. She was inches away from my husband and his brother's face at all times, when asked what desserts they wanted for their birthdays, she didn't let them answer and brought them what she thought was best. She forgot about us, leaving us waiting at 15-20 minute intervals and she called my husband and brother Christy and Brandy because she was too drunk to remember their actual names. The food was good but the service was absolutely terrible, absolutely never going back there. This was back in February but I just remembered to Yelp it. read more

I had ribs, scramble eggs and cole slew. The ribs can be cook a bit longer until the bone shows about an inch. It was self service. I did not eat much of the Pulled Pork and Texas Brisket, seems like they used the same sauce. It was a bit odd to find the place and getting back to Los Gatos means you have to drive towards Bear Creek then make a u-turn. For the price, it is not bad, I would come back again. read more

We've been meaning to stop here for a while but we are usually in the area in the morning or early afternoon before they open. Well this time we were coming back from the coast later so we decided to stop. Great atmosphere and friendly service. People there seem to like working there which is nice to see. We just had a couple of beers and an appetizer which was excellent. We will definitely be back for dinner soon read more

Such a bummer! Unfortunately This restaurant, which used to be among our favorite places for ambience, live music, great bbq and service, has fallen on very hard times. I bought a special Valentines evening package which was advertised as a four-course dinner and a DJ dance and all I can say is EVERY DETAIL SUCKED! Food, service, ambience... completely awful. AVOID THIS formerly wonderful treasure... it was four thumbs down from both of us! BOOO! read more

We stopped at The Cats on our way to Santa Cruz. When we first stepped in I got the feel of the old restaurant but completely different than it was before. I remembered it being more open and livelier. Still a fun place nonetheless the less. Live music was playing with great sounding band. The bartender was friendly and got us menus after we asked. The bbq was good and you feel very welcome there. I would recommend. read more

The ribs! the brisket! the vibe and atmospher! ALL 10/10. But the best of all was the service, especially a cheerful and kind woman named Promise. She took great care of our family, it was so genuine. Thank you so much! Can't wait to be back and boogie to the live music! GREAT PLACE FOR ALL!!! read more

We had been looking forward to trying this place for a while and finally had an excuse to be in the area at the end of a long road trip. We were utterly disappointed. The place was very under-staffed, so service was super slow, and they kept messing up our orders, charging us for drinks that we never got and for sides that were supposed to come with our meals. We had to go through a few rounds of getting them to correct our check. On top of that, the food was pretty lack-luster. Sorry folks. Never coming back. read more

Driving along the curves of the Santa Cruz highway, it's hard to miss this establishment at the border of Los Gatos. We finally got to check it out this past weekend. The service was decent on a Saturday afternoon, and the food was ready super quick (like 10 minutes). As it should be since it was a ghost town when we arrived, no one in sight, just one employee at the bar who also helped us at our table. She was attentive and friendly. A couple more guests showed up within the hour, as did another staff member. We ordered a whiskey sour from him, and when he got distracted having a conversation with other customers sitting at the bar, my bf had to request again. He gave it to us on the house which was appreciated, but it was pretty weak. For food, we got a half rack of Cats Ribs with fries, and the Tri-tip Plate with sauteed mushrooms. I liked the flavor of the bbq sauce we got on the side, a bit sweeter. The corn bread was pretty amazing too, moist and buttery. Even the fries were pretty good, lightly seasoned and served hot on a separate plate. But the meats were just about average. Worth noting, the tri-tip was a bit dry, and the mushrooms had a great buttery garlicky flavor, but it was way too salty. The setting of the restaurant isn't bad, it's like an old dark saloon inside, dim lighting, cute restaurant signs with funny sayings (like "Eat, drink, and be fat and drunk" or "No working during drinking hours"), and at least three TV's (2 in the bar, 1 in the dining area). Also, plenty of parking out front. read more

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