The Black Cat - Cambria

Name: The Black Cat - Cambria
Address: 1602 Main St, Cambria, CA, United States, 93428
Telephone: (805) 927-1600
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.2

4.2

667 Reviews

$30 and under

Californian

Make a reservation

2 people

Oct 10, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 7 times today

Neighborhood gem
Charming
Good for special occasions

Open since July 4th, 2002, Black Cat Bistro is known for serving Innovative Farm Fresh Fare. The menu changes often as Black Cat Bistro consistently strives to present fare that is reflective of seasonal, local produce and organically raised or sustainable product.The food is especially cognizant of wine pairings to electrify the palate. The Black Cat has received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for nine years in a row.

Black Cat Bistro is small with 45 seats and this is part of what makes it such an intimate dining experience. The service is attentive, unpretentious and refined. The dining rooms are decorated in soothing colors and fabrics. Down pillowed benches frame the edges of two of the three rooms. Candle light adorns the tables covered with white linen. Food is served on white china and wine in crystal Riedel stemware.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Californian, Contemporary American, Contemporary French / American
Hours of operation
Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(805) 927-1600
Website
http://www.blackcatbistro.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Mauricio Lopez & Joel Magana
Catering
From an office party to an at-home celebration, we can help with your next event. Please fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch soon ! https://www.blackcatbistro.com/catering/
Private party facilities
For all inquiries, please fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch soon. https://www.blackcatbistro.com/private-events/

Location
1602 Main St, Cambria, CA 93428
Neighborhood
Cambria
Parking details
Public Lot
Additional
Beer, Corkage Fee, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, High Tea, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

Fried Green Olives$8.00
stuffed with gorgonzola
Crispy Brussel Sprouts$12.00
blue cheese, roasted beet vinaigrette, spiced walnuts
Cheese Plate$12.00
please ask your server
Gnocchi$13.00
Shiitake, cremini, martini cream, radicchio, asiago, sage. Wine suggestion: Pinot Noir
Morro Bay Rock Crab Lollipops$16.00
Corn pudding, tomatillo cream, micro cilantro. Wine suggestion: Chardonnay
Paso Robles Pork Belly$13.00
Gigandes beans, date apple mustard glaze, thyme. Wine suggestion: Garnacha
Local Quail$14.00
Radicchio, apple, pomegranate molasses. Wine suggestion: Red Blend
Cayucos Abalone$18.00
Potato, hazelnut, grapefruit vanilla beurre, sea salt. Wine suggestion: Brut Champagne

Salads

Arugula$12.00
strawberries, green apple, candied walnuts, goat cheese, shallot & beet vinaigrette, balsamic reduction
Lightly Seared Romaine$10.00
lemon Caesar, asiago, bacon jam toast

Soup

Soup du Jour$10.00
New England Clam Chowder$11.00
Award winning.

Vegetarian

Baked Polenta$23.00
Eggplant, red chard, chevre, asiago, mozzarella, tomato coulis, pinenut, shiitake, sage. Wine suggestion: Rosé
Strozzapreti Pasta$22.00
Arugula, cauliflower, broccoli currants, garlic cream, asiago, pinenuts, mint. Wine suggestion: Chardonnay
- Add Shrimp or Scallops$32.00

Fish & Seafood

Wild Catch Salmon$31.00
Grilled, mashed potatoes, heirloom cauliflower, sake-miso beurre blanc. Wine suggestion: Sauvignon Blanc
Sea Scallops$30.00
Corn pudding, tomatillo cream, mushrooms, cilantro, brown butter. Wine suggestion: White Blend
Shrimp Scampi$28.00
Jumbo shrimp, roasted bell pepper, tomato, scallions, capers, jasmine rice, sautéed vegetables. Wine suggestion: Chardonnay
Rare Seared Albacore Tuna$29.00
Jasmine rice, Vietnamese cucumber slaw, shiitakes, ginger wasabi cream, shallots, peanuts, cilantro. Wine suggestion: Rosé
Chipotle Shrimp Linguini$29.00
Wood fisheries shrimp, corn, tomatoes, scallions, cilantro, asiago, chipotle corn cream. wine suggestion: Pinot Grigio

Meat & Fowl

Maple Leaf Duck Breast$32.00
Mushroom red wine barley risotto, baby bok choy, cherry duck jus, thyme. Wine suggestion: Pinot Noir
Rack of Lamb$36.00
Chevre carrot puree, heirloom cauliflower succotash, pomegranate reduction. Wine suggestion: Cabernet Sauvignon
Braised Lamb Shank$35.00
Pearl couscous, currants, cinnamon, kale. Wine suggestion: Red Blend
12 Ounce Rib-Eye$42.00
Quinoa, corn, cilantro, green onion, black bean sambal butter. Fat is an integral part of the flavor of this cut. Wine suggestion: Syrah
Flat Iron Steak$30.00
Rice croquettes, agave mango salad, mango sauce. Wine suggestion: Zinfandel
Fontina Pancetta$32.00
Sage stuffed pork chop, celery root puree, Brussels sprout, coffee ancho glaze. Wine suggestion: Cabernet Sauvignon
Chicken Piccata$28.00
Roasted red bell peppers, capers, scallions, with a meyer lemon cream sauce, jasmine rice, crispy kale. Wine suggestion: Red Blend

What 667 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.2

4.2 based on recent ratings

4.3Food
4.5Service
4.3Ambience
4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

California Central Coast
Neighborhood gem
San Luis Obispo / Paso Robles
Healthy
San Luis Obispo / Paso Robles
Neighborhood gem
San Luis Obispo / Paso Robles
Great for fine wines
San Luis Obispo / Paso Robles
Romantic
San Luis Obispo / Paso Robles
Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

The Black Cat in Cambria offers an intimate dining experience with "excellent food" and a "charming atmosphere." Guests rave about the "superb service" and "delicious" dishes like the clam chowder and duck. Despite its unassuming exterior, inside awaits a cozy ambiance perfect for romantic dinners or special celebrations.

667 Reviews

L
Lonna
San Francisco
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Meh. The food was just okay. We had duck and mahi mahi. The duck was drowning in the sauce, which also covered everything else on the plate. The mahi mahi was overcooked. Especially for the prices, I would have expected much better.
Is this helpful?
C
Carol
New York City
28 reviews
vip
4.0
28 reviews
Dined on September 24, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
Server was not as attentive as he should have been.
Is this helpful?
K
Kether
Central Coast
7 reviews
4.0
7 reviews
Dined on September 22, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
The entire meal was tasty, but the scallop dish was amazing! They were cooked perfectly with a delicious sauce. The only down side was that the service petered out from the middle to the end of the meal. Our server was quite attentive in the beginning, but wasn’t able to finish strongly. The restaurant may have been understaffed. Overall, it was a good meal.
Is this helpful?
C
Celeste
Los Angeles
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 19, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
All was great! We celebrated my Husband Roy’s 60 th Birthday. The service was amazing and the food was top notch!!
Is this helpful?
J
Jiji
Austin
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on September 18, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Delicious food as always! Tommy, the server, was great. Thanks for a wonderful dinner!
Is this helpful?
D
David
Los Angeles
56 reviews
vip
2.0
56 reviews
Dined on September 13, 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 2
The place is run down and needs a face lift. I picked out old lettuce scraps from the cushions used in our booth. The duck was not rendered properly and the cook was uneven. The bok choy was cold and clearly the plate was assembled in stages. A lack of attention to basic details. It was a disappointment. Would not go back.
Is this helpful?
G
Giselle
Hawaii
20 reviews
vip
5.0
20 reviews
Dined on September 11, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Such a lovely restaurant. Warm and inviting. Our server was excellent, along with the food ( varied menu, nice wine list) Highly recommend.
Is this helpful?
T
Todd
San Francisco
16 reviews
vip
5.0
16 reviews
Dined on September 8, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
It's been a couple of years since we patronized the Black Cat and our only regret is that we hadn't come back sooner. Menu is great and the quality of our dishes was very, very good. There are only a couple of intimate / old house converted setting restaurants in San Luis Obispo county and this one is likely the best. Plus it's in Cambria, such a great town to visit for an hour or a week.
Is this helpful?
D
Diana
Los Angeles
190 reviews
vip
4.0
190 reviews
Dined on August 31, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Excellent food, wine, and service. Would definitely recommend.
Is this helpful?
D
Doug
Central Coast
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 28, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Wonderful and great food! Highly recommend ..worth the value and experience
Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Black Cat - Cambria is rated 4.2 stars by 667 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Oct 10, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 7 times today

1602 Main St, Cambria, CA 93428

Additional information

Neighborhood
Cambria
Hours of operation
Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Californian, Contemporary American, Contemporary French / American
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Public Lot
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Mauricio Lopez & Joel Magana
Additional
Beer, Corkage Fee, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, High Tea, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.blackcatbistro.com/
Phone number
(805) 927-1600
Catering
From an office party to an at-home celebration, we can help with your next event. Please fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch soon ! https://www.blackcatbistro.com/catering/
Private party facilities
For all inquiries, please fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch soon. https://www.blackcatbistro.com/private-events/

The Black Cat - Cambria

Make a reservation

Additional information

Crispy Brussel Sprouts

New England Clam Chowder

Sea Scallops

Appetizers

Fried Green Olives$8.00

Crispy Brussel Sprouts$12.00

Cheese Plate$12.00

Gnocchi$13.00

Morro Bay Rock Crab Lollipops$16.00

Paso Robles Pork Belly$13.00

Local Quail$14.00

Cayucos Abalone$18.00

Salads

Arugula$12.00

Lightly Seared Romaine$10.00

Soup

Soup du Jour$10.00

New England Clam Chowder$11.00

Vegetarian

Baked Polenta$23.00

Strozzapreti Pasta$22.00

Fish & Seafood

Wild Catch Salmon$31.00

Sea Scallops$30.00

Shrimp Scampi$28.00

Rare Seared Albacore Tuna$29.00

Chipotle Shrimp Linguini$29.00

Meat & Fowl

Maple Leaf Duck Breast$32.00

Rack of Lamb$36.00

Braised Lamb Shank$35.00

12 Ounce Rib-Eye$42.00

Flat Iron Steak$30.00

Fontina Pancetta$32.00

Chicken Piccata$28.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is The Black Cat - Cambria restaurant rated?

Is The Black Cat - Cambria currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information