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: 4.5

4.5 (723)

$30 and under

Californian

1602 Main St, Cambria, CA 93428

Make a reservation

2 people

Jun 29, 2025

9:00 PM

Booked 8 times today

About this restaurant

Charming
Good for special occasions
Neighborhood gem

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

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 723 people are saying

The Black Cat - Cambria reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.7Service
4.4Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

California Central Coast
Great for fine wines
California Central Coast
Romantic
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 a cozy, bistro atmosphere with charming service and a commendable wine list. Diners enjoy "wonderful food," especially the scallops and clam chowder. Despite occasional inconsistencies, many praise its "amazing service" and "gourmet" preparation. A delightful spot for special occasions and a must-visit in Cambria.

723 Reviews

G
Gene
San Francisco Bay Area2 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 10, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Many menu choices; great food; great service. We'll be back!
Is this helpful?
R
Ray
Los Angeles18 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 7, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
First time visit after many years. We were pleasantly surprised with the friendly service and tasty menu. We split the shrimp crostini appetizer and then enjoyed a wonderful bowl of cream of mushroom soup. The scallop entree on a bed of flavorful corn pudding was beautifully prepared and enjoyed immensely. We shared a very rich pot de creme for dessert and left the restaurant discussing what we plan to order next time. Since we are live here, we will recommend to all of our friends and neighbors and add this restaurant to our local favorites list!
Is this helpful?
J
Joe
California Central Coast1 review
2.0
Dined on May 21, 2025
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 1
The Black Cat may have been top quality at one time but has lost its luster. The property needs serious maintenance and TLC - we almost didn’t enter based on the weeds, run-down appearance & lack of lighting. The food was OK overall but lacked vibrant flavorings and sauces. My cous cous was cooked properly but was tasteless. My braised lamb shank was OK but tasted more like a microwave reheated leftover. The service quality (Tommy) was excellent and made the whole experience tolerable. The Black Cat needs a serious facelift, both externally and in food preparation to regain its earlier reported excellent.
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L
Lady Jodi VIP
Los Angeles3 reviews
1.0
Dined on May 5, 2025
1. Overall 1
2. Food 2
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 2
I was so looking forward to celebrating my milestone birthday at the black cat. It was the most disappointing experience I've ever had unfortunately!! They messed up my reservation, saying I was a no-show and sat us in the corner with no vibe, leaving us there with the worst service ever. They had no clue, even the so-called manager, Romero...he had no empathy that he completely ruined my celebration. Do yourself a favor and never go to the Black Cat Bistro in Cambria
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CW
CherylW
San Francisco Bay Area2 reviews
4.0
Dined on April 24, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
My husband loved it, for me not so much, it tasted good but was very rich.
Is this helpful?
J
Jeffrey
Sacramento / Sacramento Valley2 reviews
3.0
Dined on April 20, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Menu options look great online. However, our two main dishes, the pork chop and duck breast were mediocre at best. The pork was very dry and overcooked. A dinner for two that costs $190 including tip should at least approach good. Our experience fell short of that. Service was friendly and attentive and the wine was good.
Is this helpful?
MM
MedicalMan VIP
Sacramento / Sacramento Valley8 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 19, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Get the lemon cake, if you like lemon. It is the best lemon dessert I've had.
Is this helpful?
B
Becky VIP
Chicago / Illinois5 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great food. I had the scallops and they were delicious. The clam chowder was amazing.
Is this helpful?
J
Jeffrey
San Francisco Bay Area13 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 12, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
We had a very good experience at Black Cat in Cambria. We had a very good appetizer.. fried green olives which were fantastic. It’s small place, very intimate. Staff was attentive. We had vegetarian fare.. which was quite good
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R
Rosalie
California Central Coast15 reviews
4.0
Dined on March 30, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
We had a lovely dinner on our anniversary, however, the waiter did not offer us anything special or acknowledge our anniversary even though it was on the reservation. This has happened before at other restaurants.
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FAQs

The Black Cat - Cambria is rated 4.5 stars by 723 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Jun 29, 2025

9:00 PM

Booked 8 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

About this restaurant

Additional information

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