The Red Cat
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The Red Cat was a mixed experience for us; the service and décor were exemplary, but the food was inconsistent. For our money, we would prefer next time to sit at the bar and indulge only in bacon tempura, banana ice cream sandwiches, and Corn & Oils. It would shorten our lives, for sure, but it will make them so much better! Try the Bacon Tempura, Corn & Oil, and Banana Ice Cream Sandwich.
Atmosphere
Taking a cue from New England, The Red Cat exemplifies the successful convergence of casual and elegant with its stately, yet comfortable, farmhouse chic décor. White clapboard walls are set against sophisticated red leather banquettes, and handsome tables set with white linen are played down with white white butcher paper and oversized hanging lanterns. The result is a cozy but comfortable setting, well-balanced between stylish and homey.
Seating is divided between the more-casual front bar area, and the main dining room in the back. Both are intimate spaces. If you are lucky enough to sit at one of the freestanding tables you will have plenty of room, but if you sit at the banquettes, be prepared to become chummy with your neighbors, as well as the busboys who knock into your table as they try to pass. And, although there is carpet in the dining room, conversing over the din or hearing any music playing can be a challenge when the restaurant gets busy.
Seating is divided between the more-casual front bar area, and the main dining room in the back. Both are intimate spaces. If you are lucky enough to sit at one of the freestanding tables you will have plenty of room, but if you sit at the banquettes, be prepared to become chummy with your neighbors, as well as the busboys who knock into your table as they try to pass. And, although there is carpet in the dining room, conversing over the din or hearing any music playing can be a challenge when the restaurant gets busy.
Service
Service is friendly, informed, and perfectly professional.
Food
Food at The Red Cat can be hit or miss. The standout of the evening was, without a doubt, the deep fried Bacon Tempura ($12). As if bacon were not great enough on its own, this perfectly salty, fatty treat is fried in the lightest, most delicate tempura batter, and laid crisscross over black-eyed peas, chicory, and baby bello mushrooms, creating both a slight crunch and subtly decadent aftertaste that was divine. After that, the entrees were a little disappointing with a decent, but not exceptional, roast chicken, with crispy skin and a very good soy mash, but not enough vinaigrette to save it from dryness, and a disastrous special of suckling pig tacos ($7 each) that were dry, tasteless, and downright boring.
Desserts elevated our experience slightly, with a wonderful Banana Ice Cream Sandwich ($9) with buttermilk toffee ice cream and caramelized bananas and a good, but heavy, fried lemon cheesecake with blueberry sauce ($9). Excellent coffee came in a small French Press.
To drink, I experienced one of the greatest cocktails of my life, a Corn & Oil ($11), consisting solely of 3 types of rum, including one that is spice-infused and sweet. The result was a pleasantly aromatic and faintly honeyed drink that seriously packed a wallop! Far from the sugary, overpriced cocktails that abound and, most often, disappoint, this had the perfect blend of strength and sweetness, and it was nice and big, for only $11! In NYC, that is the bargain of a lifetime. Be forewarned, though, this drink is not for amateurs.
Desserts elevated our experience slightly, with a wonderful Banana Ice Cream Sandwich ($9) with buttermilk toffee ice cream and caramelized bananas and a good, but heavy, fried lemon cheesecake with blueberry sauce ($9). Excellent coffee came in a small French Press.
To drink, I experienced one of the greatest cocktails of my life, a Corn & Oil ($11), consisting solely of 3 types of rum, including one that is spice-infused and sweet. The result was a pleasantly aromatic and faintly honeyed drink that seriously packed a wallop! Far from the sugary, overpriced cocktails that abound and, most often, disappoint, this had the perfect blend of strength and sweetness, and it was nice and big, for only $11! In NYC, that is the bargain of a lifetime. Be forewarned, though, this drink is not for amateurs.
Cleanliness
Immaculate. We especially love the rustic-cool bathrooms
Pros
Pleasant and homey farmhouse chic décor, excellent service, and some wonderful food.
Cons
Some dishes were disappointing, very cramped and noisy when crowded.
