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. read more