the cats restaurant & tavern

This review is for the food and service, not the bar/entertainment.I took my teenage daughter to The Cats on Hwy 17 last week and it was amazing. We didn't have a reservation and it was very busy on that Thursday around 6pm. I highly recommend getting a reservation. So we waited about a 1/2 hour for a table, not too bad.Although super busy, the waitress didn't seem rushed with us. She was prompt and friendly. My daughter ordered the Tavern Burger and I the Rib Plate. I thought $15 for a burger and $18 for ribs, they BETTER be good. And it was! We both agreed that the food was so good we'd gladly spend that kinda money for dinner.So the next week we came and brought my wife. This time we had a reservation and was seated right away. So far so good. But this is where it went downhill. Five minutes just to get water. Another fifteen to take our order. Had to flag someone down just to get water refills. Finally, dinner shows up. Um, this is definitely not the same Tavern Burger my daughter had last week: they forgot the onion rings. The bleu cheese that was nicely spinkled last week was put on the center of the beef patty in a big, single clump. Poor presentation.My wife ordered the Salmon Salad and received the filet instead. She didn't complain. But her side veggies were literally burnt to a crisp, mostly black. Seriously the server should have seen that and not even put it on our table. We're not complainers and didn't say anything.Consistency is a problem here. We problably won't be back.

The decor was interesting. The food was okay,not great but decently priced. If passing by,may want to check out.

Popped in for a beer and a take outExcellent great food and really good service Friendly and helpful staff especially as it was very busyWill be going again soon

I miss The Cats of long ago but realize that things change and hopefully for the better! My husband and I came to The Cats shortly after it reopened a few years ago and were totally disappointed. The food was no where close to in the past even though I had read the quality had been improved. The service was terrible with our waiter having no idea that there was a difference between medium rare and medium well when our steaks came out incorrectly. We decided it just wasn't going to be that fun place to go. But....we decided to give it another try and we are glad we did! The food is MUCH better, the steaks, ribs, etc are all high quality grade and its evident. No longer do you get the garlic bread from long ago but rather cornbread. I, personally, like the garlic bread much, much better but I can see how people would like cornbread with their ribs and sauce. The cornbread is a little too sweet and seems to be a dessert bread instead. I liked the sauteed vegetables that come with most of the meals (even though I do miss the big baked potato from long ago). Service was good this time.I hate to do this but the only problem we had was in the bar before and after our dinner. With at least 2 bartenders and a bar back on a pretty slow night, it took forever for us to get our drinks. We'd get one delivered at a time as the bartender seemed to only be able to make one at a time and have long breaks in between. We thought maybe it was just our table but as we watched each of the tables next to us, it happened to them too. We wanted to have a nightcap and listen to the music after our meal but we almost gave up as it took forever for the waitress to take our order and then it took forever for the bartender to make our drinks. This should be the fastest service in the place and where money is made but maybe the priorities are different these days.

Group-On Scores: giving The Cats a solid. We decided to go for Happy Hour and were very pleased. We ended up eating in the Bar because the servers were so friendly and accommodating. Well drinks and draft beer very reasonably priced. The atmosphere and menu is reminiscent of the past lost as the Valley has moved into the new technology frontier. This is the roadhouse your Grandparents lamented about during a fireside chat.The food was old west, Salinas/San Luis Obispo BBQ and much more. We went overboard with onion rights, baked beans, coleslaw, corn bread (amazing, could have had the corn-B for desert) pulled pork and tri-tip sandwiches so huge we only eat half and took the rest home. Best be hungry if you intend to devour the whole thing.The Manager must have spent a half hour taking with us and on our way out gave us a tour of the kitchen, banquet area upstairs, the deck and pristine stage coach and fire engine.We are told there is excellent night-time entertainment and there is a bus dedicated to picking you up in Los Gatos and giving you a ride to and from The Cats if you are shaky about driving on Hwy 17.The Cats is fun, entertaining and worth giving them a try if you are looking for something different from the Valley norm.

I have been there 6 or 8 times and have been satisfied with the food. The BBQ is awesome, its all about the BBQ sauce and they have very good ones. I eat in the bar area most of the time. The bar tables are a little close together and when a band is playing it is very crowded. Bathrooms a little small. These are minor things, so don't let that stop you from going. They have 2 or 3 other rooms for dining that are just fine. The pork sliders and the baked beans are a must to try. All of the BBQ is great. I had calamari last time and it was cooked to perfection. Bread sticks with the dipping sauce also very good. Chicken wings awesome, could have been a little spicier for me. They where out of 3 of the drafts and 2 of the deserts the other night. This is the first time that has happened since I have been going there. Hope that it was just a fluke thing. It is a must stop just to check out all the western stuff they have and make sure you try any of the BBQ plates, they are all very good.

The small rooms make for a great place to have conversation without having to shout. The food is good and the music in the bar is good.

This is a bit of a hidden gem with tasty BBQ food and a great atmosphere. Make sure that you reserve (possible via Open Table), especially in the weekend.

Like most people, we've driven past The Cats for years on highway 17 trips and always wondered what was inside - it's worth the stop. It's very much a small tavern with a tight room for entertainers to sing and people to drink - but it's also a BBQ restaurant with a western themed dining room and good food. We weren't sure if kids were allowed, so we went without ours ... but there were families there (at least early in the evening in the dining area).BBQ was good, prices were a little high but not ridiculous. If you've always wondered - make the stop!