Predictable "limited" menu of good food and always a couple of specials. Homemade desserts that are well worth sharing. (Baked by the owner). Comfy atmosphere and local bar Conversation. (Not a singles meeting house). A go to for many years near downtown Amesbury. Reservations a must. read more

Always a hit at Phat Cats! Brought friends from out of town and they were very pleased with their meals! The mussels, oysters and seafood tart were all delicious! My husband had the chicken pasta which he was surprised it was so flavorful! Service was excellent as well as the martinis! read more

The place I always recommend to people looking for great food and a personal experience in Amesbury. The staff has always been friendly and great to us. A night out always well spent at phat cats. Love the vibe. All around great place to eat whether it's date night or drinks with friends. Food is out of this world! read more

Food -very good Service -has a lot to be desired. If you're not a "regular" they could care less about you. VERY poor customer by owner . She is very standoffish. Not welcoming . Which makes sense why the bartender barely paid attention or rather was aware that I waited atleast 10 minutes before he came over. It's not the biggest bar in town not to notice someone new. Plus they weren't busy yet . read more

I love their wooden ambiance and the sushi rolls are just perfect and I can't stop laughing about it lol and the way the kids look in their faces when I look up and I see the whole room and the whole thing looks so cute I can't stop crying read more

Phat Cats Bistro - Tung tung tung sahur - Italian Near Me - Amesbury, Massachusetts

Well established restaurant primarily reservations only, but we were able drop in and seated at the bar with no reservations. Decor was eclectic with dark nouveau classic look. Given the main menu, but don't miss out on the plethora of other choices on the wall menu. We had the Hangar steak and Haddock. Both 5/5 each had complimentary sides that went well. Now don't forget the wine or perhaps that martini. This is a definite 5 star place were the locals love. read more

See all

Going to Phat Cats is always a 5-star experience. Paul Eastman is the co-owner and chef. I don't think he has ever prepared anything that is not absolutely delicious. His risotto is the best I ever had. All his seafood dishes are fabulous. The other co-owner, Paul's wife, Christina Johnson, is equally talented in the baking and dessert department. Their dessert cart is heaven! read more

Amazing food and service prices were fair for what we ordered Lobster Rangoon; surf & turf risotto All amazing and the carrot cake read more

Best meal I've had in a very long time. My wife and I went here for dinner per a suggestion from a friend and we were not disappointed. Thursday is dollar oysters so grabbed a dozen of those. My wife got the mussels, unbelievable. For dinner I got the seafood stew per the bartenders suggestion, it was AMAZING!! vanilla cake and crème brule to round out the dinner. Wife had two dirty martinis and said they were amazing. We left there stuffed and very happy. Great new find for us, we'll be back! read more

See all

Spectacular meal here--luckily we were invited by friends and the four of us sat at the bar. Dean, one of the owners, served us, and was friendly and helpful throughout our meal. We started with the baked oysters topped with bacon, spinach and heavenly melted Fontina cheese (5/5). The garlic shrimp app was decent but not as good. I ordered the curried grilled striped bass from the specials board and the flavors were perfect. Meanwhile my wife worked on the Lazy Lobster with Pillows and was batting my fork away from her plate, but what I was able to filch (one ravioli and some buttery lobster niblets) made me ponder ordering two entrees. Our companions, regulars, raved about the baked haddock and the tenderloin, and we washed it all down with the Bottle of the Week, a Paso Robles cab (Austin Hope 2019) that had a slight sweetness that paired well with anything. Of our 3 desserts the carrot cake was the favorite but the chocolate hangover ganache was a close second. Thank you Phat Cats for continuing to thrive in downtown Amesbury! read more

Wish this place could of lived up to the hype. My friend and I were excited to grab a reservation and try this place out. The location and ambiance are amazing, candlelit tables, dark, moody lets just say the place has a really cozy vibe. A+++ for ambiance. It's important to note this place is RESERVATION ONLY. We saw multiple people walk in and were told if they didn't have a reservation, they were full. Very VIP feeling. Service was great too. The only reason I am giving three stars is because the food just wasn't good. The "fresh" bread they serve to start was hard a rock and looked like a deli roll it was served with a plastic container of hummus. A little bit of a odd vibe. I ordered a fish special and my friend the gnocchi. Both were VERY bland and under seasoned. My fish was served with a creme brulee on the side, I found it kind of odd. May try it again in the future for the dollar oyster night and some drinks. We just weren't impressed at all with the food. read more

This review has been sitting in my drafts for MONTHS (shame on me) but I still think about the meal I had here which I think says something about how much I enjoyed it. My dad and I went to Phat Cats Bistro (pre-COVID-19) based on a family friend's recommendation and I'm glad we did. The restaurant is rather inconspicuous as it's located in a 100+ year old building in a residential area. There's no parking lot but a good amount of street parking nearby so we didn't have to walk far. Their list of cocktails is pretty unique, with a Prohibition Era cocktail list since the building has been around since then. Their signature cocktails are more on the fruity side. I opted for the Phat Cat Cosmo, their version of a classic cosmo with lemon vodka, orange liqueur, fresh lime, and cranberry puree, which I enjoyed. For dinner I had one of their dinner specials, a grilled tenderloin with mashed sweet potatoes and vegetables. Perfectly cooked steak, great portion size. For dessert I had the amaretto cheesecake with housemade raspberry ice cream and it was amazing. The cheesecake was rich and the ice cream complimented the flavors nicely. All of their desserts sounded yummy so I don't think you can fo wrong with whatever you choose. Service was excellent and we were seated immediately. You can make reservations but not required. read more

See all

Whike this is one of the best restaurants in the city, the quality over the last year has declined. The menu and cocktails are still quite inventive and unique while tasting scrumptious. read more

While visiting friends in Amesbury, they took us to this chic bistro in downtown Amesbiry, for dinner. Phat Cats Bistro is a small, intimate restaurant with great atmosphere. My wife and I tried their homemade sangria, red for me and white for my wife. Both were excellent and fruity. We started off with baked oysters and baked blue cheese, served with homemade chips, bread and toasted almonds. Both appetizers were served hot and they were delicious. The selection of entrees was quite impressive, as were the specials offered. I had the baked haddock special, my wife ordered the surf and turf risotto, our friend ordered the duck confit special, while his wife ordered the beef tenderloin. Everything was delicious and more than enough to satisfy the hungriest diner. After dinner, we enjoyed a few of their scrumptious desserts. Two of us had their pecan and chocolate torte and my wife had the limoncello creme Brulee. If you are in the Amesbury area this is a great place for a fantastic gourmet dinner. The only caveat is that reservations are required, as Phat Cats is quite popular with the locals and fills up fast. Diners are never rushed, so they tend to linger. They close for one week in February and one week in July, so be sure to check with them during those two months. read more

Eaten here MANY times! Food, service the whole package are amazing! I've never been disappointed with anything I've ordered!

This place is always busy, so don't think you'll go in on the day when it isn't. It is always busy because the food, the owners, the staff and the overall experience is just that AMAZING. Don't be afraid to ask to hold off a veggie or throw an extra in -- they want you to be a very satisfied diner. If you are wanting to try some new whiskey or Scotch, they've got a great selection. If Paul, isn't bogged down in the kitchen, he'd be happy to help guide you to a new one to try. Remember, the owner's work there so don't expect to be able to get a full on lesson in scotch...but he'll get you squared away. I enjoy the place and love the photography that covers the walls. Bought a few photos from there -- reasonably priced and local artist. If you have difficulty hearing in a noisy environment, you may want to try to sit in the corners to cut down on noise. They take reservations well in advance, and I'd recommend calling before just stopping in. Because this is a local gem, they're always busy. Getting through the restaurant with a wheelchair will be tricky but not impossible on a busy night. The bathrooms have wide doors and enough space to turn a chair around in. There are grab bars on the wall next to the toilets. The door into the women's restroom is a little tighter because of a piece of furniture. I got through okay but would have just used the men's if I was in a full wheelchair. (The restrooms are a single room -- not stalls.) The only step is in to the establishment and it was easily manageable. One of the better places in town for accessibility. read more

Food ok. More risotto than protein. Service very good. Price points affordable. Cozy atmosphere. Not sure who would like cold bread and hummus served with the meal. read more

We always come here for special occasions! We love the ambiance! I always feel like we are walking into a special place when we arrive! The service is excellent and the menu is superb! I highly recommend Phat Cats Bistro! read more

Wonderful hood I suggest you make a reservation. It's small. Very quaint very distinct a little on the pricey side but if you want to go someplace special like Valentine's Day. read more

The best dining experiences I've had in a long time. Had an early reservation but wasn't rushed to turn over the table. The food from apps to dessert were nicely presented and cooked with care. Server (I hate that word) was pleasant and efficient. Craft cocktails were well conceived. Pricing a value. Nice place in a nice town. read more

I can't say enough great things about this place! The service, the food, even the other patrons were wonderful! I ordered the tenderloin special which was perfectly cooked and you could clearly taste every ingredient. It's obvious that every dish (as well as the sides) are cooked to order. I enjoyed my experience so much that I made another reservation on my way out! read more

Got kicked out for going over our allowed time, 4 people, apps, main course, dessert, drinks. Never given the option to move to the bar...and a round on the house, just " we need the table, heres your check" Not rowdy, early 60's professionals. Never going back! read more

Awesome place. Great service. Great food. Thursday night $1.00 oysters - big unexpected bonus

Small place. Definitely recommend making a reservation. When we visited, there were only reservations left for the bar, unless we wanted to dine after 7:30. We chose to sit at the bar. There were some interesting offerings, though I thought there was more for seafood lovers than not. We were asked if we bread, and said yes, and were presented w one hamburger like roll, and a small cup w what turned out to be hummus. We thought maybe the waitress heard only one of us say yes to bread, but upon further investigation, each couple around us was given the same one roll for 2 people. Please, give at least a roll per person, and I just do not understand the hummus, especially w that type of roll. I decided on the gnocchi, w hearty pink sauce w sausage. It came in 2 sizes. I ordered the dinner size and ate it all. There was not a lot for a serving that I believe was 21.00. It tasted great, just not a lot of it, and just a few little pieces of sausage. My friend got the Surf and Turf Risotto. I don't think she cared for it much, and said there were beets in it. I am not sure if that was the case it would be an odd thing to add to the dish, but I don't eat seafood so I did not try it. Because it was my birthday, we decided on dessert. I got the creme brulee, and it was very good. She got a chocolate cake that she liked as well. I am glad I tried it, but as my time in New England nears an end, I would not feel the need to go back one more time before heading South. read more

Hits all the tight notes. Ambiance is very bistro, service is pleasant and personable without being over bearing. And the good is, well, worth at least an hours drive. read more

The BEST restaurant in town! A chef owned & operated business with a farm to table style of dining using fresh ingredients where everything is made in house to order. Make sure to save room for dessert because the ever changing display of delicious desserts is worth having one there and taking one to go! Do yourself a favor & make a reservation at this hidden gem today! read more

Great food and cozy atmosphere. Our server was perfectly attentive and good times were had by all.

Had a great experience, sitting at the bar with the excellent service and delicious food. Salads were fresh and crispy and inventive. Seafood was cooked perfectly. read more

Do you craft cocktails they have there are absolutely amazing and I had the butter nut squash or pumpkin ravioli topped with lobster one of the best meals I've had all year absolutely amazing read more

Phat Cats Bistro - The pumpkin ravioli with lobster on top. - Italian Near Me - Amesbury, Massachusetts

Awesome place truly a hidden gem. This is one of our favorite places to dine. The food is incredible. Kristina, Paul, Dean, and the rest of the staff always make it an excellent experience. Dinner Salads, Surf and Turf Risotto, Fish Chowder you cannot go wrong. Friends and Family always ask to go back on return visits. We were even fortunate enough once to get the exclusive half round booth. read more

Phat Cats Bistro - Awesome Dessert - Italian Near Me - Amesbury, Massachusetts

Amazing the food was absolutely delicious and our waitress was exceptional. I had the mussels for an appetizer, I got the haddock special as an entree, and for dessert I had the chocolate cake wit espresso ice cream. The atmosphere was also really great. read more

This is a small independent restaurant in downtown Amesbury. The food is tasty and individually prepared.

I don't think I can say enough about this place it's just so special. Imagine being a single woman in her late 50s who is dating and likes it and wants a special wonderful place to meet and feel like you're in Alice in wonderland or anyway it's just that kind of feeling for me and the drinks are great food is fantastic don't go there and think it's low budget meal but that's why you bring your special date! (‿) hundred percent recommend read more

Bottom line this is a truly fabulous restaurant. Worth the drive if you live elsewhere on the north shore. It has been about five years since I first stumbled across this gem and this is the first time I've been back. Wonderful cocktails and truly creative and yummy food. read more

Went once on a recommendation from a friend and had a decent meal. The menu consisted of maybe 4 or 5 dishes. The locals seem to like it and I'm sure this place has regulars. All in all we were a little underwhelmed, but maybe they deserve another chance. read more

What's not to love? We go here often and they knock it out of the park EVERYTIME. The appetizers, drinks, farm to table fresh cooked meals, and of course their five star service makes Phat Cats the goto place for a nice evening with loved ones every time. read more

I love this place. I've been coming for years but have never left a review. The food and drinks are amazing and it has great atmosphere. It's a little loud sometimes due to the tin ceiling and size of the space, but I feel that lends to the atmosphere. I've never been disappointed by anything on the menu or specials. Call for a reservation read more

Can be a challenge getting in without a reservation, but it's worth the effort! Wonderful staff and a cozy (though sometimes a bit crammed) environment. Food is wonderful and specials are worth trying before gone. They have a small casual overflow bar in the back if you want to be away from the main dining room, which is nice. Good variety of cocktails for various tastes and moods. read more

All four of us had a great dinner experience! Hanger steak was tender and delicious; I especially loved the mushrooms and mixed vegetables. My son had the phat cat mac 'n cheese with lobster. It was a huge portion with plenty of lobster and he ate every bite. My wife had the lazy lobster with pillows. Incredible! Our BFF had the baked haddock and raved about it. Usually one dinner amongst us is meh, but tonight all four dinners was out of this world. We had a reservation and were immediately seated. Service was great. Two minor gripes. The banquette was not comfortable at all but the place was full so we didn't ask for a change of seating. Lastly the bread was "different". There were four of us and we were served a bread stick the size of a hot dog roll with hummus. We all got one bite of bread. Again, minor gripe. Overall, great evening with tremendous food! read more

Although we live in the next town it was our first time here and it was fabulous. We started with the Haddock Chowder that was very good and then I continued with the Haddock theme and got the Haddock special and my husband chose the Pork Chop special and we both loved our meals. We couldn't resist their homemade desserts which all looked so good but we went with the carrot cake that was delicious. Our waitress Skylar was excellent so between the delicious food, excellent service, very reasonable pricing and we really loved the setting so just an overall excellent experience from start to end. read more