The Black Cat - Cambria

4.4

681 Reviews

$30 and under

Californian

Make a booking

2 people

1 Dec 2024

19:00

Booked 7 times today

Neighbourhood gem
Romantic
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
Area
Cambria
Parking details
Public Lot
Additional
Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Patio/Outdoor Dining

Popular dishes

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

Salads

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

Soup

Soup du JourUS$10.00
New England Clam ChowderUS$11.00
Award winning.

Vegetarian

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

Fish & Seafood

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

Meat & Fowl

Maple Leaf Duck BreastUS$32.00
Mushroom red wine barley risotto, baby bok choy, cherry duck jus, thyme. Wine suggestion: Pinot Noir
Rack of LambUS$36.00
Chevre carrot puree, heirloom cauliflower succotash, pomegranate reduction. Wine suggestion: Cabernet Sauvignon
Braised Lamb ShankUS$35.00
Pearl couscous, currants, cinnamon, kale. Wine suggestion: Red Blend
12 Ounce Rib-EyeUS$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 SteakUS$30.00
Rice croquettes, agave mango salad, mango sauce. Wine suggestion: Zinfandel
Fontina PancettaUS$32.00
Sage stuffed pork chop, celery root puree, Brussels sprout, coffee ancho glaze. Wine suggestion: Cabernet Sauvignon
Chicken PiccataUS$28.00
Roasted red bell peppers, capers, scallions, with a meyer lemon cream sauce, jasmine rice, crispy kale. Wine suggestion: Red Blend

What 681 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.4

4.4 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.5Service
4.5Ambience
4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

Diners' Choice Awards

San Luis Obispo / Paso Robles
Healthy
San Luis Obispo / Paso Robles
Neighbourhood gem
San Luis Obispo / Paso Robles
Great for fine wines
San Luis Obispo / Paso Robles
Romantic

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

The Black Cat in Cambria is a charming dining spot known for its "top notch" cuisine and cozy ambiance. Guests rave about the "amazing feast" and "superb service," with standout dishes like the chipotle shrimp linguini and flatiron steak. Though some note the building's exterior needs sprucing, the interior offers a welcoming and intimate setting. Consistent "excellent" food and attentive staff make it a must-visit when in town.

681 Reviews

R
Robert
Central Coast
10 reviews
4.0
10 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
Love this restaurant. Been there many times A bit disappointed in the slower then usual service given the restaurant was not busy at the time we were there
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M
Maria
Los Angeles
68 reviews
5.0
68 reviews
Dined on 19 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had a very nice dinner our server was great the food was very tasteful; we enjoyed everything we will be back
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C
Christina
Raleigh
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 19 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This is our yearly restaurant when we are in Cambria. The food is amazing and it is a beautiful restaurant excellent service.
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E
Elizabeth
New York City
20 reviews
5.0
20 reviews
Dined on 17 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
My friend and I had a wonderful time! The food was delicious! We each had 2 appetizers beginning with tomato basil soup. The shrimp crostinis were heaven. Highly recommend this little gem of a restaurant.
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K
Kirk
Los Angeles
17 reviews
5.0
17 reviews
Dined on 16 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
The food was excellent, but it does have a very French feel in that the service is very slow. A Couple came in after us and stood at the front podium for 10 minutes with no attention and the we were the only ones in the restaurant. So be patient and you will have a great meal. We had the shrimp pasta (outstanding), rack of lamb (also outstanding), the scallops (very good) and the trout (which was fine but seemed to be missing sauce, as it was a bit dry). Portions were generous so the four of us only had room for 1 dessert. A chocolate pots de crème (excellent).
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L
Lynda
Los Angeles
151 reviews
vip
5.0
151 reviews
Dined on 15 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The Black Cat is located in an old house and the setting is very nice. We had dinner in one of the rooms that had three tables. As we were dining on a weeknight in November, the restaurant wasn't full and we only had one other couple in our room. It made for a nice, quiet, romantic meal. The service was attentive and efficient. Our meals were delicious - I had scallops which were really good and the presentation was beautiful. We also had nice salads to start. This restaurant feels like a little gem. We will definitely dine here again.
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N
Nick
Los Angeles
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on 11 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Took my wife here for our anniversary and Romero and the other staff were wonderful. They really made the dinner feel special. The pork chop was really extraordinary and the sticky toffee pudding at the end was phenomenal. Huge recommendation
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K
Karen
Los Angeles
22 reviews
vip
4.0
22 reviews
Dined on 8 November 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Excellent food and service. Small venue. Quiet, not busy. Recommend bringing your own wine and paying the $20 corkage unless you don't mind paying for high-priced bottles.
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N
Nicholas
Jackson Hole
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on 3 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had an early reservation at 5:15 pm. The ambiance was great and the room was quiet. There was nice soft background music. The service was excellent and the food tasty. I would definitely go back.
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T
Toni
New York City
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on 21 October 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 3
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 3
We waited 20 minutes before a waiter came to us. Then it took another 15 minutes to get the wine we ordered. So only water for the first 35 minutes. After that it went more smoothly. Food was fine.
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FAQs

The Black Cat - Cambria is rated 4.4 stars by 681 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people

1 Dec 2024

19:00

Booked 7 times today

1602 Main St, Cambria, CA 93428

Additional information

Area
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
Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Patio/Outdoor Dining

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 booking

Additional information

Crispy Brussel Sprouts

New England Clam Chowder

Sea Scallops

Appetizers

Fried Green OlivesUS$8.00

Crispy Brussel SproutsUS$12.00

Cheese PlateUS$12.00

GnocchiUS$13.00

Morro Bay Rock Crab LollipopsUS$16.00

Paso Robles Pork BellyUS$13.00

Local QuailUS$14.00

Cayucos AbaloneUS$18.00

Salads

ArugulaUS$12.00

Lightly Seared RomaineUS$10.00

Soup

Soup du JourUS$10.00

New England Clam ChowderUS$11.00

Vegetarian

Baked PolentaUS$23.00

Strozzapreti PastaUS$22.00

Fish & Seafood

Wild Catch SalmonUS$31.00

Sea ScallopsUS$30.00

Shrimp ScampiUS$28.00

Rare Seared Albacore TunaUS$29.00

Chipotle Shrimp LinguiniUS$29.00

Meat & Fowl

Maple Leaf Duck BreastUS$32.00

Rack of LambUS$36.00

Braised Lamb ShankUS$35.00

12 Ounce Rib-EyeUS$42.00

Flat Iron SteakUS$30.00

Fontina PancettaUS$32.00

Chicken PiccataUS$28.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Diners' Choice Awards

Review summary

FAQs

How is The Black Cat - Cambria restaurant rated?

Is The Black Cat - Cambria currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Additional information