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Bearcat Cafe

4.5 (1.5k reviews)
Open • 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
Updated 1 month ago

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BEARCAT CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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Reviews With Photos

Hot Cat Daddy Biscuit
Daniel R.

Oh my goodness, the Hot Cat Daddy Biscuit was on a whole different level! I highly recommend it. Service was great, and the staff and waitress were super friendly and attentive. Just a heads-up: the wait time can get pretty long. I definitely recommend going with a small group (2-4 people) because they have a hard time seating larger groups.

Pancakes and Bearcat breakfast
Emily T.

So good I had it twice while in NOLA! A bit expensive but so, so delicious. The first time I went here, I got Fuji apple oolong tea ($6), the Bearcat breakfast ($16), and blueberry pancakes ($7). The oolong tea was sweet and refreshing. The Bearcat breakfast came with eggs, your choice of meat, and potatoes. I opted for scrambled eggs and bison sausage. The potatoes were crispy and well-seasoned. The bison sausage was even better. It was juicy and full of flavor. And the blueberry pancakes - they were perfection. Huge, fluffy, and filled with juicy blueberries. They came with butter and syrup, and while the syrup was good, I didn't reach for it a whole lot since the pancakes were so good on their own. The second time I went, I got the Bearcat breakfast and pancakes again. Diet, schmiet! As for my drink, I tried the pineapple lemonade ($6), and it was a great mix of sweet and tart. The servers were also lovely. FYI - they do add a small percentage of your bill to their employee care fund (less than $1 for me each visit). It is optional.

Shrimp and grits and boudin egg rolls
Shanea M.

This was my second time visiting Bearcat in New Orleans. My first visit was about two years ago at the CBD location, and I absolutely loved it. I still talk about it to this day, especially the boudin balls, which were one of my favorite things I had while in the city. So when I came back to New Orleans with my sister and friend, I was excited to go again and decided to try the Uptown location since it was closer to where we were staying. To start, the waitlist system was convenient. They have a tablet outside where you enter your name and phone number and get an estimated wait time. It was quick and efficient, and our wait ended up being exactly an hour, which they did estimate correctly. However, there is no real waiting area. You're basically left standing outside, walking around, or sitting in your car until your table is ready. That wouldn't be too bad in perfect weather, but it's not ideal in general, especially if it's raining or windy. The Uptown location is also very different from the CBD location. The CBD spot feels like a traditional restaurant with indoor seating and a back patio. The Uptown location is set up more like a large house. You walk up stairs to a front porch with seating, and then the inside of the house is the main dining area. We were asked if we were okay being seated outside on the porch, which we agreed to so we didn't have to wait longer and also not knowing where the outside seating was. I would not recommend sitting outside. The weather wasn't bad when we went it was actually cool and breezy because rain was expected but never came but even with good weather, I would still request indoor seating. Louisiana heat and humidity alone would make that porch uncomfortable, and if it's raining or windy, it would be even worse. The biggest issue outside was the flies. They were constant the entire time. The restaurant does have small table fans that are meant to help, but they didn't make much difference. We spent a large part of the meal swatting flies away from our food. The porch itself is also very small and cramped, and it's not really what I expected when thinking of outdoor seating especially being that the cbd location has a back patio. The chairs outside were not very comfortable, if you're wearing shorts or a short skirt. Our server was friendly and gave recommendations. He also brought complimentary lemonade since it was our first time at that location, and he explained that the menus differ slightly between the Uptown and CBD locations, which I didn't know beforehand. One of the biggest disappointments for me was finding out they no longer serve the boudin balls. They've been replaced with boudin egg rolls, which were nowhere near as good as what I remembered from the CBD location years ago. Service overall was slow. Our server was polite, but there were multiple long waits anytime we needed something, including when we were ready for the check and even after we had paid. As for the food, it was just okay. I ordered the shrimp and grits. The flavor itself was fine, but the shrimp were overcooked and tough, and the grits were very thin and almost watery in consistency. The dish had potential, but the texture was off. My sister and friend also felt their meals were okay but nothing special. Everything we had the potatoes, bacon, lemonade was just average. The biggest issue of the entire visit happened near the end of our meal. A couple was seated on the already very small porch with a large dog. Personally, I don't think dogs should be in dining areas at all, especially not in a cramped space where people are actively eating. Not everyone is comfortable around dogs, some people are allergic, and there simply isn't enough room for that kind of setup. The situation became more frustrating because the dog wasn't just sitting. The owners allowed it to move around, and the restaurant also provided a water bowl for it on the porch. While we were waiting for our server to return with our check, the dog stepped in or knocked over the water bowl, and water splashed all over our legs and clothing. The owners' only response was "oops." No apology. No acknowledgment. Just "oops." At that point, we were over it. I place responsibility on both the owners and the restaurant. The owners were inconsiderate and didn't properly manage their dog, but the restaurant also made questionable decisions by allowing a large dog in such a small, crowded dining space and providing a water bowl in that environment. Our total bill for three people was about $160. After taxes, a mandatory 20% gratuity, and an additional employee wellness fee, nearly $40 of that total was fees and service charges alone. For that price, the experience simply did not match the cost. The food was average, the service was slow, the seating was uncomfortable and cramped, and the overall experience was disappointing compared to my previous visit at the CBD location.

Outside
Greg P.

Kept hearing how good it was. Kept hearing how good it was. Kept hearing how good it was. Well guess what? It was better! Man this spot was good. Arrived a little before opening because I heard there's often a line but I was the first one. Other people steadily came in as I ate. I ordered the shrimp and grits with a side of pancakes. And a charcoal lemonade. First bite of the shrimp and grits literally made me pause eating and just take in the flavor. So good. Shrimp perfect. Grits. Perfect. Sauce. Perfect. So good. Beginning to end. Next time I will order two. The pancakes were big fluffy and filling. Also amazing. And the lemonade was delicious. Comes in its own stored glass. What an experience. Yeah so it was all I was told. I will definitely be hitting them up every time I come back to the city. Wow. Believe the hype.

Crab scramble with mushrooms
Serena P.

Always a wait but always worth it. I always get something from the bad cat menu Don't sleep on their juices!

Smoked salmon toast & seasoned potatoes
Olivia G.

Rating: 7.5/10 Bearcat was our breakfast choice and it was a cool lil spot with a wide array of food options. Location: The restaurant is located off of Claiborne so there can be a little bit of traffic. The location itself has limited parking but a few feet away is a free parking lot. Food: They serve breakfast and lunch options and have an extensive drink menu as well. My party ordered the orange juice and grapefruit mimosas, matcha latte (yum!), a biscuit with crawfish sauce, smoked salmon toast and seasoned potatoes. The food was good and our waitress did ok at making sure we were taking care of. Price: The total cost for my party of 2 was $103. They add gratuity in automatically so don't be surprised by that charge. While it was nice, it wasn't anything too special. If someone wanted to go there, I would go back but not just to go.

Kem B.

Bearcat Cafe has become my favorite breakfast spot in the city. They have two locations, and I visited both locations. The one on Carondelet Street offers outdoor seating for anyone who enjoys dining outdoors. The atmosphere was relaxed, and the service at both locations was exceptional. I ordered the Bearcat Breakfast with bison sausage and added a side of Banana Foster pancakes. Everything was delicious. The food tasted fresh, well-seasoned, and thoughtfully prepared. The bison sausage was flavorful and hearty, and the Banana Foster pancake was the perfect sweet complement to the meal. Both locations share the same menu, so you really can't go wrong no matter which one you choose. If I lived in New Orleans, I would be here weekly without hesitation. Hands down, this is the best breakfast I've had in New Orleans.

Robster
Mandisa N.

Bearcat does not take reservations and they are very popular so expect a long-ish wait. I think we waited over 30 mins and eventually got a table on their patio. I went with the Robster which was fried soft shell crab on a biscuit with creamed spinach and a fried egg. Very yummy and hearty. The rest of my party's meals looked scrumptious. Solid breakfast spot!

Aarish A.

Everyone knows about all the fabulous food in New Orleans and I had so many good food spots during my visit there, so I don't say this lightly in stating this was one of the best things I had on my trip here. We got the hot daddy biscuit and the bison sausage. The bison sausage was astonishingly delicious me and my wife were not ready for that since we thought it would be run at the mill sausage. However, the hot daddy biscuit was the star of the show. I'm writing this review a month after I had it and at least one time everyday I think about the gravy in this dish, it is beautiful. The chicken the biscuit the egg all held together with the divine gravy makes this meal really something special. I had an experience having this place which was a shame since we discovered it on our last day here. The staff were so friendly here and always were ready to fulfill our requests. The restaurant itself is also nicely themed especially the patio seating outside, with ample space outside. Anyone reading this review must have this place at least once it is simply amazing.

Cat daddy biscuit
MarQuesha

Food is good and mimosas will get you there, I accidentally left my food because of it

Crab cake sandwich
Nicole T.

I was in town for work when one of my coworkers, who's a local, suggested I try this place for lunch. I'm so glad she did, because the food was too good! This place was not too packed on a Sunday early afternoon, but there was a line out the door by the time I left. The staff aren't super friendly and weren't interested in small talk, but that wasn't an issue for me because I wasn't either. They were blasting music, so you have to talk loudly if you come with other people. Luckily, I easily found a table to eat at since this is a first come first serve restaurant. I didn't wait too long for my order, which was good because I was pretty hungry. I ordered the crab cake sandwich with a side salad. To drink, I ordered the ube latte. The crab sandwich is hands down one of the best sandwiches I've had in a long time. I wish I could fly back to N.O. just to eat that sandwich again, that's how good it was. I can see why this place is popular, especially with a younger crowd. Definitely worth a visit if you're near Magazine Street.

Cafe Au lait and chai latte
Brie W.

Bearcat was the perfect spot for my birthday breakfast! We went on a Saturday morning and were pleasantly surprised that the wait was actually pretty quick. We started with the biscuits. The biscuits themselves were pretty standard, but the pepper jam had so much flavor! For my main, I ordered the Bearcat Breakfast with bison sausage and blueberry pancakes. The bison sausage tasted like high-quality beef but even better and more flavorful. The potatoes were also seasoned perfectly. The pancakes were the real star of the show, they managed to be super fluffy on the inside while having those perfect crispy edges. To drink, I had a chai latte which was delicious. A small but cool detail: it came in the cutest cup that has a little dimple for your thumb instead of a traditional handle. It made the whole experience feel that much more unique.

Shrimp and grits with crab claws
Trevi B.

Best breakfast ever. Worth the hour wait. My goodness everything was so fresh and tasty. Great friendly and quick service once you got seated. Casual cafe setting with open kitchen. 10/10 highly recommend.

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1 month ago

Absolutely delicious! Service was fair, but speedy! I was a short wait! Vibe was EVERYTHING!

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Food is good, service was great, Prices could be better considering it's bacon and eggs!

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Bearcat Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Bearcat Cafe

Does the Jena street location serve alcohol?

I'm assuming yes. Every restaurant we went to in New Orleans served alcohol.

Are they usually busy on Wednesdays around 1-2pm? What's the latest time to walk in if they close at 3? Thank you!

I usually am sat pretty immediately on Wednesday afternoons. The latest I have walked in is 2:15.

Do they do reservations or is it first come first serve?

It's first come first served. They take your name and number and you receive a text once your table is ready.

Is there free parking?

Yes, but it's not much, and there's nearby parking lot and street parking.

What time does bearcat stay open tiill?

7am-4pm Tuesday through Sunday

What time is brunch?

They serve breakfast from open to close. Lunch does start at 11...shrimp and grits, baby! It is on the breakfast menu and is the greatest.

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Thaihey Nola

Thaihey Nola

4.4
(347 reviews)
2.6 mi
•$$

Really nice meal before the show with my vegetarian friends…read more Recently a couple of friends and I needed to grab a quick bite. I thought we were going to another place when one of my guests suggested Thaihey across the street from the fire station on Decatur. Yes, sure. It's a typical Quarter restaurant with its long gallery seating. We were seated right away. The menu appeared to be heavily vegetarian which was great for my two friends. Many will understand the limited menu options for vegetarians at most places. Wes ordered Tom Kai, Becky the Massaman Jackfruit option and I the one with short rib. It was delicious. It was warm and comforting, full of flavor and the chef made it less spicy for me. What a delight to choose a menu option that I have never had and restaurant that I have never been to. You believe that I'll return for certain. Especially for that gorgeous Mai Tai!

Great food great service a nice variety. We got the catfish and it was amazing just a little bit…read morespicy and I got the less than mild. The mild is grease spicy they said. We got the Mule cocktail and the. Finished the meal with the Thai old fashion, which was a clever twist on the classic old fashion. The place has a nice feel and decorated modestly with a definite Thai influence from a city the owner may have been from. Our Takeaway was it's Thai with a twist, which was nice. Try Thaihey you should be pleasantly surprised.

Photos
Thaihey Nola
Khao Soi Chicken
Khao Soi Chicken
Thaihey Spicy Ramen Pork Ribs

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Thaihey Spicy Ramen Pork Ribs
Lufu Nola

Lufu Nola

4.7
(248 reviews)
2.3 mi

THIS BUSINESS IS OPEN. Yelp is showing them as closed, but they are very much open and you are…read moremissing out, let me tell you. So maybe it's a good thing they show as closed. This has to be one of the best Indian restaurants in the country. As a person who has tried lots of Indian restaurants, this place stands out above all. The service is impeccable. I wouldn't expect anything less given the quality and the taste of the food coming out of that kitchen. Our servers were very proper, very respectful, very courteous, and you could tell they were very proud of the food they were serving. The space is very well decorated, not a giant restaurant. If you don't already know who they are, you honestly don't expect what you're about to taste, and you're in for a ride. Every plate had something special to it. I didn't think I could fall in love again with lamb chops, but they proved me wrong. Reminded me of the first time I ever bit a GOOD lamb chop. I didn't think I would be impressed by (seemingly) fried chicken bits, but you too won't understand why they're so good when you bite into them. Fried cauliflower, AMAZING. I don't even like cauliflower - the ears are weird. We had.. Crispy Gobi Chicken Pakoda Tandoori Shrimp Tandoori Lamb Malabar Fish Cury Kolhapuri Chicken For drinks we had Vodka Mango Lassi (he knew I was in it for the vodka) Spicy Margarita (very good and very nicely presented) This place is a MUST GO

The place showed closed but we had dinner here tonight. The…read moreDal Tadka was pretty average and so was Kadhai Paneer, both these dishes are actually North Indian but they were not prepared like it was supposed to be. The Tandoori Shrimp was pretty decent. The server seems to be okay. Service was good. It is a casual type dine in place.

Photos
First time visiting their permanent location.. so amazing to see how this place started out at the Poydras Market!!!
First time visiting their permanent location.. so amazing to see how this place started out at the Poydras Market!!!
Lamb Tandoori
Lamb Tandoori
Chicken Biryani

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Chicken Biryani
Café Amelie

Café Amelie

4.3
(3.3k reviews)
3.0 mi
•$$

We had an absolutely exceptional dinner at Café Amélie tonight! With the recent rain, the usual…read morepotent French Quarter street smells were washed away, leaving the air beautifully fresh and the temperatures perfectly cool. Though pop-up showers were still lingering, my husband and I decided to take a gamble on courtyard dining--and I am so glad we did! Sheltered under the green umbrellas surrounded by historic brick walls, lush greenery, and rain-kissed citrus trees, the atmosphere was incredibly romantic and peaceful. The courtyard's intimate layout even brought a bit of extra magic to our evening. We sat near another wonderful couple (and their adorable daughter) and became fast friends, sharing laughs and conversation throughout the night. What truly anchored the experience, though, was the incredible service. The staff was remarkably personable, helpful, and welcoming. The dinner itself was excellent from start to finish, showcasing immense culinary skill across every dish. We started with the delicious brussels sprouts and a uniquely seasoned spring/summer gumbo that was unlike any version we've had before (oh, what I would give for the recipe). As for the entrées, the shrimp and grits were phenomenal, and the blackened catfish sandwich with a fresh salad was executed flawlessly...and the bread pudding was fantastic, too! It is rare to find an experience where top-tier hospitality, a breathtaking environment, and great food come together so (seemingly) effortlessly. Café Amélie is an absolute must-visit! We will be back.

We were walking around open to going anywhere for dinner and it was fairly early for dinner. We…read morecame across Cafe Amelie and it looked cute inside and was able to get sat right away. The host was extremely welcoming and friendly. Our server and helpers were over quickly to drop off waters and greet us. I ended up ordered the salmon. With it being so early and only one or 2 other tables besides my friend and me, the food did take longer to come out than I expected it to. Both of us did thoroughly enjoy what we got. The salmon was crispy on the outside with a nice sauce over it. We thought we'd have time to get dessert so we ordered a couple but that too took a very long time. We finally waved down our server to cancel and get the check since we had to be somewhere and he apologized and said their WiFi was going in and out so it could be that it was registering on the kitchen side. That may have explained why our entrees took too long. If it wasn't for the service and the food being great - I would not be thrilled about timing. We got there around 5:30p and had to leave by 7:15p so an almost 2 hours experience that probably could have been 1 hour.

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The dining room as we were leaving.
The dining room as we were leaving.
Spring salad
Spring salad
Shrimp and grits

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Shrimp and grits
Namaste Nola

Namaste Nola

4.3
(194 reviews)
2.2 mi

Delicious and service was great too! Love the ambiance, beautiful murals and traditional music…read more The food - butter chicken OMG wow the creaminess and flavor. Soooo good. The garlic naan bread - so soft and flavorful too. Check them out!

Upon walking in, it was immediately clear this wasn't some watered-down, Americanized Indian…read morerestaurant. The aromas alone told you that. The food was excellent and felt authentic from start to finish. The cocktail program was also top-tier and far better than what I've experienced at most Indian restaurants. That said, there are a few areas where I think the experience could improve. My girlfriend was trying Indian food for the first time, and we would have appreciated a bit more guidance from our server regarding the menu and spice levels, especially since she's sensitive to spice. A little direction would go a long way for first-time guests. I also noticed several walk-in parties turned away between 9:20 and 9:40 PM despite the restaurant closing at 10:00 PM. As someone who previously worked in the service industry, I understand that everyone wants to get home at the end of the night. Still, as a customer, I'd be disappointed to arrive during posted business hours and be turned away. Lastly, I felt the dessert program was a missed opportunity. The food and cocktails set such a high bar that a more robust dessert menu could really elevate the overall experience. On a positive note, I have to give a special shoutout to Satya, who was bartending and helping on the floor during our visit. He was attentive, knowledgeable, friendly, and genuinely enhanced our experience. Hospitality is hard to teach, and he absolutely nailed it. We'd gladly come back just to see him again.

Photos
Behind the receptionist
Behind the receptionist
Tattu kada
Tattu kada
Malai koftha

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Malai koftha

Bearcat Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated July 2026

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