All hype. They hyped this place up so much on social media that it was hard to get reservations. We were able to get one and decided to find out what the hype is about. The food was decent and flavorful but nothing special. They didn't have anything that I would come back for. read more

See all

This place is not hyped up enough (and boy is it hyped up)! The outside reminds me of a box my cats would want to play in. You walk in and you're gifted with the most eclectic art that is all cat related - from the cartoon cat corner to the giant cat head on the wall - even the bathrooms are purrfectly cat decorated. We sat at the bar and two bartenders immediately came over to greet us, give us water and menus and introduce the rest of the staff behind the bar. They were very attentive and friendly. Definitely 15/10 stars on service. Then there's the food - there wasn't a single thing on the menu that didn't look appealing - even the oysters sounded good and I only eat those on rare occasion. We opted for some small plates: French fries and the mezze plate, as well as the spicy pork belly entree and a side of cornbread. The mezze came with a whipped feta dip, an eggplant tahini dip and an olive and fava bean dip. We got the gluten free bread and the combo was stellar. The fries with the aioli were 100% on point! The spicy pork belly had an amazing sauce and the perfect amount of spicy! And the cornbread with the big slab of butter on top was the perfect addition to the meal. I don't live in the area, but I will be back! Definitely a fantastic restaurant with service that's hard to beat, decor that's hard to forget, and a top notch meal! read more

Big Cat - Decor - Mediterranean Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Fantastic! Wings were great, and I'm not usually a fan of cabbage but it was phenomenal. Pork belly was only 5 pieces and left a bit to be desired taste wise, but was still quite good. Will be taking friends and picky family members to spice up their pallets. Sat at the bar and the drinks and service were also A+. Frozen drinks are poured heavy. ;) Well done The Biggest of Cats. read more

When they first opened, I wasn't impressed. Decided to try it again now that they would have found a flow. Good food and good service. Kelly helped us on the patio- the flies were wild, and all of their fly spinners were dead, the only complaint for sitting outside. We all shared smalls and mains and the Vanilla soft serve was delicious. read more

See all

big cat I absolute love Ajja, so I was very excited to hear Cheenie was one of the partners in this new restaurant. I made 5pm dinner reservations here for my birthday dinner with my husband and 1 year old daughter. This is when they open, and there were so many people waiting outside when we arrived - they sat reservations first which was nice. The vibes inside were so fun - casual, low light, cat decorations everywhere. We ordered a few plates and shared them all. We started with the trout dip and duck fat chicken wings. The trout dip was a star - delicious flavor, not to fishy - chip accompaniment perfect. The wings were different than i was expecting - they were bare and had the sauce on the side to dip. They were fried nicely and fell right off the bone, and the sauce was delicious, though not sure I love it on chicken wings. Or maybe I just wanted it to be coated. Our entrees were the charred cabbage chop and lemon-butter shrimp. The charred cabbage chop was my favorite dish of the night - unreal. Tofu pesto was delectable and the char on the cabbage was perfection. The shrimp had a surprising spice to it, though I didn't taste much butter. It was very saucy and wish it came with rice because I really couldn't enjoy the sauce. We got a cornbread skillet to pair with dinner - it had deliciously crispy edges and the curry leaf butter was fun, but maybe a tad bit too lime-y. Our daughter got the cheesy veggies which she so lovingly rejected, but my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed We ended dinner with vanilla soft serve and magic shell (made in house) - the chocolate shell was rich and delicious. We also got the olive oil cake, which I thought was a bit dry and crumbly (i'm guessing bc it was made with cornmeal). Overall great experience! We will be back for more fun bites. 7/10 s *Smoked Trout Dip: house-smoked NC mountain trout, charred ramp, pickled apple relish, sofrito, potato chips *Duck Fat Chicken Wings: Szechuan pepper, creamy chili crisp *Charred Cabbage Chop: candied peanuts, tofu pesto, pho herbs, apple, ginger, lime leaf dressing *Lemon-Butter Shrimp: asparagus, calabrian chili, pea shoot, almond *Cornbread Skillet: curry leaf butter *Kids Cheesy Veggies *Vanilla Soft Serve: magic shell *Olive Oil Cake: citrus, almonds, cornmeal, macerated strawberries, soft cream read more

See all

Big Cat opened up about three weeks ago. I walked in with no reservation and was able to get a solo seat at the bar. The place was packed inside and outside. The decor is ALL cat themed. Super warm lighting inside, as you can see from my pictures. There's definitely a Mediterranean fusion all through the menu. I started off with the Roasted NC Oysters, I love oysters and this was like nothing I've had before. Steamed coconut curry with crispy rice flakes, it worked! I also got the steak which was served on top of a black garlic sauce and Horsey sauce (sweet). When the sauces come together it's really the perfect sweet and savory combination. The FRIES. Get them. Served with Za'atar seasoning and comes with a thoum mayo (slightly sweet). I left nothing on my plates. As for drinks, this place is super creative. They have frozen signature cocktails that look really good for the summer! I went with the Snowball II, a mezcal and coconut cream it was sweet and smoky. I also tried the Slowpoke, I love anything tequila and elderflower. I'll definitely be back for the Duck Fat Chicken Wings and Soft Served Ice Cream. read more

See all

I hope that Big Cat is here to stay, as this location has seen several restaurants over the past years. A friend and I visited for dinner, and reservations are definitely recommended. My friend ordered wine while I ordered a beer and two cocktails, the Snowball II and Slowpoke Rodriguez. Both cocktails were well balanced and worth trying. For dinner, we shared the nine layer dip, wagyu bavette, charred cabbage chop, and vanilla soft serve topped with olive oil, salt and a chocolate hard shell. The only dish that missed the mark for me was the charred cabbage chop. While it wasn't bad, I felt like it would have worked better as a smaller plate. Service was also slower than expected. I do really like the concept, atmosphere and menu. If you're looking for a new spot to try in Raleigh, it's worth checking out. read more

Okay, I will admit I was skeptical at first. Another tapas spot in Raleigh? Believe me when I say, this restaurant lives up to the hype! We came with some friends for a nice dinner. I would definitely recommend getting a reservation because it was B U S Y when we went. They have a menu full of tapas, mains, fun cocktails (and mocktails), and dessert. Our waiter told us that they are very intentional about the food on their menu - everything on the menu pairs with everything else. Meaning you can mix and match to your heart's desire and everything will always taste good together. And he wasn't wrong! We started with mocktails, I got the strawberry hibiscus lemonade and others got the Copycat and Fefe Stoner. All were absolutely delicious and refreshing! Then for starters we got: burrata + beets, duck fat chicken wings (szechuan pepper), and nine layer dip. My favorite was actually the burrata + beets. The burrata was so good! Then for mains (which we also shared) our table got the lemon-butter shrimp, wagyu bavette, and charred cabbage chop with the cornbread skillet and jeera rice as our sides. I am not typically a cornbread person but absolutely loved their version. I also thoroughly enjoyed my choice of entree. We topped off our meal with all three dessert options - vanilla soft serve, coconut soft serve, and olive oil cake. I loved the two soft serves with vanilla being my favorite. Absolutely perfect way to top off this delicious meal. We spent a good two hours here enjoying dinner and could have definitely stayed longer. A splendid night and perfect way to spend an evening with friends. read more

Love the vibe of this place - colorful, catty and fun. I enjoyed two glasses of wine that were very reasonably priced - Grillo ($8) and Tempranillo ($12). The nine layer dip was incredible - highly recommend. The Wagyu Bavette was delicious and enough to share following the appetizer. I ended the night with the vanilla soft serve, which was a bit salty for me. The service was great from the people that weren't responsible for our table - our guy, not so great. read more

See all

The food here was incredibly good. The flavors were in layers with nearly everything we tried. Took my daughter here for part of her 16th birthday. We sat outside as all the inside had been reserved. It was a cool night, so this worked out ok. The restaurant is in a small strip of businesses in the middle of a neighborhood. We did check out the inside & it was cat themed as expected :) All of the employees were very pleasant & very busy. We will be back to check out the market & lunch when available later this month or next. read more

See all

Hooray for Big Cat Brookside! This location has rotated through many concepts but hopefully, this one will stick. Brought to you by the folks from Ajja, Centro, Mala Pata and beyond, Big Cat offers ups Mediterranean cuisine with a Southern twist. Inside the space is bright and cheery, the main dining room and bar are cozy with room for 60+ people. A large covered patio extends the space for outdoors dining. I tried multiple dishes ranging from charred broccoli to cornbread and pork belly, the flavor profiles are unique and I'm curious to see how the menu evolves. It's a popular spot right now so give them time to settle down. And yes, there will be a retail market in the front of the building so more to come. read more

Big Cat - Mediterranean Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

We had a great time at Big Cat! Immediately saw all of the cat themed decorations and absolutely loved it. The service was amazing, food came out quickly, and all tasted great. We ordered shrimp, pork belly, corn bread, fries, and trout dip. All of it was really good! Trout dip was probably my favorite. My husband said they were the best fries he's ever had. (Plus everything else was amazing) read more

See all

Amazing! Love it's! Super fun! And of course, thanks Preeti, this is a hit again! The 9 layer dip (because why not? It's Wednesday!) is great and pairs perfectly with ANY of the incredibly creative and stunningly unique cocktails- I passed my limit of 1 because there were too many to choose from and I still had the rest of my meal to enjoy! Kale salad, nice! Shrimp & jeera rice- best shrimp I've ordered out in a LONG time! I can't wait to go back and work my way through the rest of the cocktail menu and the rest of the food menu. And I will now be drizzling my vanilla ice cream with EVOO from now on! read more

Fun spot for the neighborhood! We tried this earlier this month and the flavors were delicious! Can't wait to try again once they have their feet on the ground! read more

Big Cat - Mediterranean Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

See all

Big Cat is a wonderful addition to the Raleigh dining scene. Located on Brookside Drive near Oakwood & Mordecai, Big Cat offers a funky, cool vibe, great service and terrific food at prices that won't induce nosebleeds. We visited on a recent Friday evening, and had a great experience. Service was prompt and attentive, cocktails were reasonably priced, and the food was sublime. We had four small plates and one entree (all are for sharing), one Manhattan, and our bill was $81 pre tax and tip. Everything we tried was excellent! I wish the menu was a bit broader, but with food and an experience this great, this is a nit. We'll be back... soon. read more

See all

We watched and read about the development of Big Cat and were thrilled to try it one weeknight before the weekend crowds descended upon this new neighborhood gem. The outside of this beautiful, revamped space invites you into the large, covered outdoor patio. Seating approximately 80 guests just outside, I feel the Mordecai neighbors (and beyond) will fill up this patio every night they are open. We walked inside simply to take a peek at what they did with the space, and it's gorgeous, fun, flirty, and inviting. Our server, Maddie, was a delight. She made the entire dining experience fun and perfectly paced. We talked with GM & Somm Gregory and thanked him for making the wine offerings not only interesting and approachable but reasonable in their pricing structure. So often in Raleigh's dining scene we are encountering wine lists with outrageously priced glasses and bottles which, having been in the wine and hospitality business for more than 50 years combined, my husband and I find that approach offensive and steers us towards a one-and-done cocktail (followed by wine service at a place that knows how to price for today's economy). You can find an amazing glass of Grillo here at Big Cat for under $10 and/or a bottle of not-easily-found Pecorino for under $40. I had read that the food menu highlights dishes of Mediterranean, Indian, and Mexican flavor. Sounds about spot on! We loved the ginger roasted carrots, the lemon butter shrimp, and the Joyce Farms half chicken that truly is smothered in chimichurri. Fabulous, bright flavors all the way around the table. Can't wait to return to try even more of the food, cocktails, and fairly priced wine selections. The decor is VERY cat-driven, and we love cats. Everywhere you look you see something you didn't spot 5 minutes prior. I love that co-owner Paul Siler is instrumental in some of the metalworked cutouts placed whimsically around the property. We met Paul as we were leaving our fantastic dining experience, and let him know how much we enjoyed all of the aspects of their new venture. He seems genuinely excited to be part of a restaurant concept that has created such a national and local buzz. We could not make it to dessert, but I love the way the sweets are described, and they looked enticing as they were passing by to a neighboring table. NEXT TIME! read more

Dined out with a friend and we were both really impressed with the food. Nearly everything was exceptional and my mocktail was the best I've ever had. Good vibes, friendly and professional service. I'd love to come back. read more

Overall, it's a fun and great addition to the neighborhood! The food was delicious and wouldn't say we had a bad bite. There are a variety of drinks with unique and strong flavors. You'll need to experiment to find what you like, there are several to choose from. The menu hits all the bases and we were happy with portion sizes for two people. The staff was very friendly and very informed on the menu. Our only reason for not 5 stars, was the pace of service. From the time we sat down, and ordered 4 plates + drinks, it took just under 3 hours to have dinner. Plates come out tapas style so we ate, thrn waiting another 30 min between dishes. We didn't haven't any major plans that evening, but we did not anticipate being there as long as we were. Overall, I'd go back and I'm guessing our ticket times were slightly off as they are now getting into their busy summer season. Go check it out! read more

Went here for dinner a month or so after opening. Loved the decor and vibe! Cat decor everywhere was huge plus! Everything we ate was delicious but the standout, surprisingly, was the cabbage dish. So good! read more

Ambiance, decor and vibe are cute and pretty. Patio seating is nice. Service is fine. Food is expensive and trying too hard to be interesting without delivering on quality and flavor. We had the peach and heirloom tomato salad. There were almost no peaches. The tomatoes either weren't very flavorful or their flavor was completely subsumed by the dressing that was overpowering. Then it was topped with some crunchy corn, which I did not like. The flavor and texture clashed rather than complimented. Then we got steak. It was fine. À la carte with some horseradish sauce and bbq sauce. Expensive for the portion. The most egregious were the waffle fries. Very tiny portion served in a pool of oil. Very few in-tact fries and many little nubbins swimming in oil. read more

Awesome addition to the area! Everyone was incredibly friendly and accommodating, finding a table for us outside despite our reservation being for an indoor table. Fun cocktail and wine list to choose from. We had the oysters, smoked trout dip, charred cabbage salad, and steak. You have to get the vanilla soft serve with olive oil and salt for dessert! We will definitely be back. read more

Big Cat - Charred cabbage salad is a MUST - Mediterranean Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

See all

Very fun spot! The vibe is welcoming and friendly. Servers were friendly and attentive. Decor and music both fun, perfect volume where you can still have a conversation easily. Cocktails were all excellent. The food was a mix between good and excellent. The cabbage entree was the highlight for us. The mezze appetizer was a bit light on bread, but great. Wings tasted amazing, but scrawny. Ice cream at the end was a fun treat. Looking forward to coming back and trying some new things....and that cabbage again. read more

Prices are about what you'd expect but imo it's a bit overhyped. Ambience was great-food was average. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here but if I'm in the area I'll try it again hoping for a better outcome. It's hard to find outstanding restaurants in Raleigh and I was hoping this would be the one. Unfortunately this wasn't the case read more

It was the best experience! Service was top notch, the food was delicious and the ambiance was outstanding. My friend and I shared the oysters, mezze dips, tostada small plates and then also shared the steak entree. Everything was perfect and the drinks were also delicious! I would absolutely return! read more

I've been to Big Cat twice now, and it's been outstanding both times. The food is so tasty (my faves were the cabbage & broccoli), the drinks are delicious, and the FOH team is friendly & attentive. This space has seen a few different concepts come and go, but this one feels right. The menu has a good variety, and I really appreciate the gluten-free and veg options that actually feel intentional. The aesthetic has also been completely transformed into the coolest space--10/10 on design. I'll 100% be back soon! read more

The food at Big Cat is incredible! This NEW cat themed restaurant is a hidden gem located on Brookside Dr and Glascock St. The market will be opening soon and the soft serve ice cream is to die for! I love everything about this new dinner spot but the patio is next level! read more

Big Cat - Host stand - Mediterranean Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

See all

La comida en este sitio es increíble. El ambiente del Servicio también es novedoso, vale la pena ir read more

Big Cat - Área del bar - Mediterranean Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Loved it. Food and drinks were both thoughtful and delicious, and the space was so much fun. Perfect lighting and great playlist.