Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Black Cat Bistro

    4.3 (322 reviews)
    Closed 5:30 am - 9:30 pm

    Black Cat Bistro Photos

    BLACK CAT BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Romantic
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    More like Black Cat Bistro

    Recommended Reviews - Black Cat Bistro

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Alex F.

    I'm going to offer Black Cat some suggestions, as follows: 1. Being "farm to table" is great. But if something is significantly out-of-season, then don't serve it at all, rather than pretend to serve it. I had the turnip salad, my wife had the beet salad. Both had relatively few turnips (in my case) or beets (in hers) and were instead really just red leaf lettuce salads with beet or turnip accents. For me, that was ok; the lettuce was good, as was the dressing; it just wasn't a turnip salad. For her, it was less good: same pile of lettuce, but the dressing was salty, and a low quantity of beets meant not much sweet for balance. #SaladFail 2. If the server, when he brings the plates, is trained to tell each person what is on their plate ... and cannot remember each item (and there were only two of us--not a whole table of people) then, guess what: your dish has too many items on it. In my case, this meant that an otherwise-delicate quail had been completely overpowered by a strong lamb merguez sausage stuffing, and was surrounded by (at least) parsnips, artichokes, polenta, another, differently flavored sauce in a different corner of the plate, and--our server made sure to note--freshly picked spinach. In my wife's case, same thing, except replace the quail/lamb combo for striped bass, which was the only edible thing on the plate, surrounded by a different collection of vegetables, two competing sauces, and some kind of fava bean fritter that was tasteless. 3. For the love of all that is holy: creme brûlée does not need a whipped cream topping of any kind. It doesn't matter that it's "chantilly" made from mascarpone. Let the creme brûlée stand on its own! It has "creme" in the name, even! Finally: our primary server was lovely and attentive. But the sheepskin or mohair throws on the backs of the couches in the side booths? Those? Yeah, management: they need to be cleaned, in between seatings, because they collect (other people's) hair, and it is gross. In fact, even better idea: along with bringing some editing to your dishes, edit these couch covers out of existence. This place is pricey, but not worth the price.

    Complimentary dessert
    Sean R.

    *visiting boulder: go here for wonderful food and farm-to-table dining* Incepted in 2006, black cat bistro was created by a husband and wife, Eric and Jill, who sought to create a unique and sustainable experience for diners of the restaurant. Fast forward to 2019 and they own a 425 acre farm to help meet their goal. Tons of livestock and produce reside there so that they can provide a true farm-to-table experience. So, now to the experience. Truly great. Exceptional service. The setup of the restaurant is very aesthetically pleasing and unique. Many of the chairs have unique touches that complement the farm-to-table experience. There is also open viewing to the kitchen from your seats--I am always a sucker for that. You can really see them prepare many of the dishes, and the care they put into each one. For food and drink, we received three(!) complimentary dishes/drinks. We ordered a meat and cheese board, the heirloom beet salad, and the Duo of Colorado bison. Although the Duo is the main course, and it was totally awesome, the heirloom beet salad was probably the best beet salad I have ever had. Nuts good. Coming back here if I find myself in boulder again. If you're here and you haven't been before, I strongly recommend you change that.

    Chef's Tasting: 4/25/19
    Rich S.

    The Chef's Tasting Menu? Simply sublime. As we drove back to our hotel, I told my wife, "Shades of Asador Etxebarri." That good. Came here with two of our favorite people of all time, who we rarely get to see. Special evening's deserve a special meal, and BCB delivered. 3.5 hours flew by, interrupted only by superb food and drink, and wonderful service. We sat in a semi-secluded "vestibule"?? at the back of the restaurant, and it was perfect for lively and private conversation. I would guess your best bet for a table is via a reservation versus walk-in, as the restaurant is not that large. The dining experience was world-class. When you are seated, they offer tap or bottled water. The tap water was just fine. The house cocktail list looked worthy of a try, and Tuxedo #2 was a nice twist on a gin martini. The menu can best be described as split in two: tasting menu and traditional plates. They do not list the plates for the tasting menu, and I can't tell you if they will run you through it in advance, though they are clear they will honor/respect any food allergies, etc. While the traditional menu was very appealing, we jumped in and went for the Chef's Tasting Menu w/ Classic Wine Pairings. What a delight from beginning to end. I won't try and do the plates/wines justice in even attempting a description, but the menu was brilliantly organized and beautifully presented. Definitely some surprise pairings along the way, but not one left any of us putting our forks down. From foie gras to rib eye, polenta to lamb, the meal was outstanding in all facets. The wine pairings are a must. Their wine list is remarkably deep, and their sommelier chose some truly superb wines from the world's best regions. My wife works in the wine industry, and she was very impressed with the offerings. The majority of the staff seem to lend a hand, though Julie was our primary server and she was awesome: cheery, knowledgeable, patient and efficient! Drew is the in-house sommelier, and it was a treat to listen to him describe the wine pairings, as well as the background/history of the wineries and their regions. First class. Black Cat Bistro was a delight, beginning to end. A Top 10 Ever dining experience for us. Cheers! RS

    Unexpected but very welcomed visitor
    Nat S.

    We had amazing dinner at their farm. The whole experience was magical and delicious. We did not know what we will be served for dinner but we were not disappointed. Loved seeing animals around the farm. And even had one visitor during our dinner. Highly recommend their farm dinner experience!

    Scallops with pickled chard stems and roasted potatoes
    Namir K.

    Unfamiliar with the restaurant scene in Boulder and on a short visit, my "research" indicated that Black cat was one of the best food destination in town. A daily changing tasting menu and a farm to table products convinced me to try it. In a nutshell : GO THERE!!! You will leave happy like I did. The ambiance of the restaurant is very welcoming with soft lighting and a gentle background music. The seating is intimate and very original with deep sofas covered with wool blankets and soft pillows ; each one was different. Our server Sarah was the best : Witty, inviting , knowledgeable, and obviously loving her job: what more can we ask to start our dinner . At $87 for a 6 course tasting menu, the choice was obvious. We had first a pate of country pork with black olive and bergamot purée : 4/5; one of us got a duck substitution: hearty and good. The blanquette of lamb came with roasted carrots , farro and chevre:very good. The goose liver mousse came with fig jam , almonds and tasted as good as it looked. The ancient grain tajarin (ribbon like pastas )were cooked with coconut cream and bolo pork; only issue( good problem to have ??) : big portion but how can we complain about this when restaurants usually will serve microscopic portions with tasting menus!! The scallops were soft , cooked just right and presented with roasted potatoes, smoked goose goat cheese crème and pickled chard stems: one of my favorite dishes. By now , I was pretty stuffed and could not fully enjoy the otherwise delicious leg of lamb with parsnip , winter squash nage and green chili purée that gave the dish a great spicy kick. The desert ( carrot cake with crème anglaise ) was also generously served but maybe the least interesting dish of the night; I would have much preferred a more innovative smaller desert with something refreshing like a sorbet. They brought some small macarons and other little fruit jellies to end a great meal. We had a bottle of Brunello di Montalcino that was reasonably priced and poured by an expert sommelier. I hope that I will come again to Boulder and will certainly come back to the black cat. But do yourself a favor and book a reservation there: you will not regret it!

    Khaled A.

    A great place to dine in with your partner or even celebrate someone who is coming from out of town. Obviously what make this place unique is farm to table aspect of it. According to their story they are the largest farm to table operation in the country. We visited this place on a Saturday around 8pm (reservation is a must for the weekend). The restaurant is a bit small and the fact you can watch the kitchen work makes it entertaining. We decided to go with the tasting menu ($87 per person) and we were happy with our choice at the end! The tasting menu is six courses but we were served seven courses, no complaints. Here is the list of our dishes and my ratings: 1. Tuna sashimi 8/10 2. Duck breast 9/10 3. Fois gras 8.5/10 4. Beef mole 8.5/10 5. Pan seared diver scallops 8/10 6. Tunis lamb 8.5/10 7. Chocolate cake 9/10 All of the dishes were great but the one that really standard out was the second dish, duck breast. Would highly recommend this place if you are visiting Boulder. Visited this place a second time for our first anniversary. Again a great experience and would recommend celebrating here for a special occasion. Even though it was a Tuesday the place was packed when we arrived at 9:30pm. We went with the tasting menu again and it didn't disappoint. Specially enjoyed the bison. Here are my ratings: 1. Salmon and Beets 8/10 2. Tuna and spinach 8.5/10 3. Duck pate and fig 8/10 4. Lamb ragu 8.5/10 5. Scallop 8.5/10 6. Bison ribeye 9/10 7. Carrot cake 8/10

    Colorado Striped Bass
    Jen E.

    Black Cat is truly an exquisite farm to table dining experience. It's located just off Pearl Street so not everyone knows about this gem. We found it about five years ago at the Denver International Wine festival. We usually choose to dine here on special occasions like Anniversaries or Birthday's. Chef Skokan creates masterpieces using ingredients brought in from his own farm. The quality is absolutely top notch. The menu changes day to day due to that days harvest. Unbelievable!! They offer an extensive wine list that includes some wonderful wines from all over the world. We even had a few amazing wines from our very own Colorado. The Chefs Tasting Menu is the way to go. They surprise you with about six courses. Then you can purchase a wine paring for each course. They ask if you have any allergies and make sure you are completely satisfied. Their Foie Gras Mousse is one of our favorite items on the menu. I also loved the Colorado Striped Bass. You cannot go wrong with anything that they bring you. If you are looking for an amazing meal that offers farm to table freshness, you need to make your way to this adorable little bistro.

    Chefs tasting - 1st course, prosciutto with puff pastry

    See all

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Kenny H.
    17
    125
    10

    1 year ago

    Great cocktails, friendly staff, and a cool laid back vibe. I enjoyed this place! Would recommend!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Alex F.
    0
    99
    23

    7 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of R J.
    0
    112
    676

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nat S.
    2
    69
    199

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Free B.
    518
    475
    50

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Naomi U.
    7
    272
    18

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    19 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ian B.
    234
    45
    23

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of C C.
    111
    74
    33

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Anwen T.
    112
    2
    12

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chris H.
    49
    31
    31

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nate B.
    0
    15
    36

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Julia H.
    306
    44
    19

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Brea S.
    109
    41
    6

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 9

    Ask the Community - Black Cat Bistro

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for New American 8,774 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Frasca Food and Wine - BURRATA E ZUCCA
 
 burrata · winter squash · walnut · purple carrot · truffle vinaigrette

    Frasca Food and Wine

    (647 reviews)

    $$$$

    We have lived in the area now for over 13 years now and have heard about this James Beard award…read morewinning restaurant for all that time and for some reason just never dropped in. Well we remedied that last night for our 34th anniversary and realized just what we have overlooked. To start with the service was simply great, attentive but not cloying like many of the Michelin rated we have visited. They all worked together like you would expect from this level of place and knew the menu and wines that were paired with the detail of a seasoned sommelier. The food was simply sublime and creative. Every aspect worked to make each dish special without that awkward "experimentive" feel that some chefs end up with when trying too hard to be original. As a rated restaurant the menu will change often so I'll not bore you with details of each course. The Shrimp Salsiccia or sausage was original and a delight as well as the Tonno bluefin tuna antipasti. The Tagliatelle with braised veal and the Wyagu ravioli dishes perfect, filled with delightful character. The same experience with our Black Cod and grilled venison Secondi dishes. And the wine pairings worked perfectly with each course so if you don't know wines just take advantage of their obvious expertise. Not being dessert lovers we could not pass on those clever and singular offerings as well. It was a fairly quiet Easter evening and the ambience was soothing and comfortable. We couldn't have been happier to spend our special day any where else! Needless to say we will be back a lot more often. When the Michelin folks finally arrived in our out of the way city they could not have chosen a better place to drop that star!

    Last evening, I took my husband to Frasca Food and Wine for a special chef's dinner, Seline--a…read morethoughtfully composed tasting where food felt less like a meal and more like an expression of art. The menu was sublime, and the wine pairings were nothing short of extraordinary. Two dishes, in particular, stood out: the short rib, deeply rich and perfectly executed, and the green garlic, artichoke, and eucalyptus "cigar," which was as imaginative as it was delicious. I could have happily dined on those alone. For me, it was a culinary escape--refined, inventive, and memorable. Unfortunately, the experience was not as enjoyable for my husband. While the menu was ambitious and beautifully curated, it leaned heavily toward seafood and white wines, neither of which suit his palate. Compounding this, we were seated at a communal table of eight. While that setting can be delightful with the right group, the close quarters and ambient noise made it difficult for him to follow conversation, given his limited hearing. As a result, he missed much of the experience that makes a dinner like this so special. In hindsight, a preview of the menu and notice of the communal seating would have allowed for a better pairing of expectations--perhaps even a different dining choice or a more adventurous companion. That said, the restaurant's hospitality was exceptional. The staff went above and beyond in their efforts to accommodate us, even offering to comp the evening--an offer I could not accept. Despite its imperfections, it was an experience worth having and one I will remember. A night where cuisine became art--though, like all art, not every piece resonates the same way with every audience..

    Vinca on Pearl - Dark Chocolate Mousse

    Vinca on Pearl

    (13 reviews)

    My favorite thing about this restaurant hands down is the atmosphere. Someone really put a lot of…read morethought into the lighting, music, furnishings, and overall ambience of the space! We also had excellent and attentive service, and the owner even came by and introduced himself. Unfortunately, our food was hit or miss. For appetizers, the Rösti (potato pancake) was decadent, well presented, and delicious. The French onion soup was also delicious with a nice depth of flavor, but the pastry looked a little anemic, and I'm not sure it really "goes" with French onion soup. The Vienna schnitzel dish was a mixed bag. The mashed potatoes were very good, but the schnitzel itself was a disappointment. There was a too-thick layer of very bland bread crumbs, and the veal was very thin, not very tender, and pretty much flavorless. The chicken marsala, on the other hand, was extremely flavorful. The sauce with the onions and mushrooms was delicious, and the orzo was perfect. The only problem I had with this dish is that they used chicken thigh instead of breast. I would have preferred breast because I like leaner meat. It was also overly charred in a few places. The combination of chicken fat and char left an unpleasant taste in my mouth. The desserts were fine but a little bit bland, except for the chiboust that came with the chocolate mousse (it had a really nice flavor). I wasn't a fan of having the nut dust or whatever it was sprinkled over the mousse dessert--it ruined the smooth mouthfeel of the mousse. I'd definitely like to return to Vinca because overall I enjoyed my visit, but I'll try some different dishes and see what else they have to offer!

    I had high hopes after researching this place online and on Yelp for both of their locations, with…read morepictures. Very little of what we were served tonight lived up to those expectations. It's was quite sad considering the amount we spent. The portions on all but the delicious fall salad were much smaller than the appeared in pix and descriptions. For starters, the happy hour house wines which were only marginally tasty have an asterisk on their online menu stating that the wine glasses are elegant and oversized. The amount of sips I took in no way added up to the supposed 5oz pour. I have to measure fluids medically and I know well how 5oz swallows. This was about 3.5. We ordered some of happy hour plates that had been advertised on Downtown Boulder as $9 plates. There was only one on the menu. The rest of the tiny number of items were at $11 which is still a good value if offered. There were only 4 offers on starters and one "sweet" but more about the sweet later. We ended up paying full price for the rest of our starters. The first picture I found online of the arancini appeared to be baked with the mushroom risotto grains visible. What showed up on our plate were small arancini balls heavily coated in breadcrumbs and heavily fried. Not unusual and why I rarely order. So nothing special but for the tasty but tiny duck center. The Rösti was also not as pictured or described and covered with crumb or batter darkly fried onion tidbits , not sprinkled with fresh grated parm as in the pictures . We found no lingonberry berries or jam in it either but the potato base was tasty. We ordered the autumn salad and it was great. A good sized bowl of fresh greens with lots of the promised ingredients, but at full price, not happy hour. The happy hour sweet was the pictured and heralded apple strudel paired with a cappuccino . We ordered so my husband could have the cappuccino and we could share the strudel. The cappuccino came immediately and eventually we had to ask for the strudel as the drink was mostly done and cold. Someone brought the tiny bit out on a plate with more whipped cream than strudel with excuse that they did not realize we wanted them together ( they were described as a pairing) and they needed to "bake" the strudel (was it frozen or refrigerated). We each had a bite of the apple filling with a simple cover of pastry, hardly a strudel which involves " layers" of pastry but it clearly was handmade and it tasted nice. My husband ate the cream as I can't. During the visit, the nice server we started with went on break and her substitute was not much interested. The place was nearly empty on a Saturday night at happy hour with a jam packed Pearl St Mall further west. Sadly they are next door to a fading and empty eatery. I doubt they can survive. The turnover in this space has been extremely high. I was hoping for more with such a unique menu for Pearl. If you go, choose wisely, note that some staff are unaware of the advertised time of the happy hour and had to go check before serving us another item. And also know that the billing tablet is preloaded with 23% tip as standard "center" option not the customary 20% or 18% as most other places on Pearl. We are not likely to go back given these issues so plan ahead with the menu and watch the clock. As others have mentioned, the decor and music were fine. No pix of the dessert because I was distracted by then. After overnight reconsideration I am rounding my admittedly 2.5 down rather than up as before. There is so much more value in taste and service elsewhere on Pearl. I have had plenty of good European food and plenty of good service in restaurants in downtown Boulder for decades. This wasn't it. It was telling that only 5 tables occupied on a holiday weekend as we walked past many full places on the way here. I will not return .

    The Kitchen American Bistro - Black Spaghetti, pink shrimp, nduja, fennel, citrus, bread crumb

    The Kitchen American Bistro

    (1.1k reviews)

    $$

    The kitchen is one of my favorite restaurants. Everything is amazing can't recommend enough I'd…read moregive 6 starts if I could. Best tomato soup on the planet accompanied by fresh, perfectly crusty bread. This location is my third favorite. First is Fort Collins, CO and Chicago, IL is second. It never disappoints and this location is consistent - always a great meal with service to match the food quality. Top Notch. Fresh, simple and delicious. Excellent service and a splendid wine selection. You can't go wrong I've had everything on the menu and truly love it all. Crisp ambiance, beautifully lit with a relaxed feel. Late lunch/early dinner recommended as parking in Boulder can be a drag, especially in this area.

    So many Yelpers raved about the carrots here so I knew I had to try it myself and boy was everyone…read moreright! It was honestly some of the best tasting, perfectly charred carrots I've ever had. Even though our table shared a variety of dishes, which included the ceviche, gnocchi, rigatoni, mussels, the carrots were still #1! We also had their special tomahawk steak which was cooked fantastically and to our liking (medium rare). Great service too and our server was super helpful in recommendations for both food and drinks. However, everything was definitely quite pricey for what we got. Though every ounce of food was delicious and top quality, the meal was definitely a splurge and more of a once-in-awhile treat.

    Black Cat Bistro - newamerican - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...