Black Cat Cafe

My fiancé and I decided to try Black Cat for dinner one night. I don’t know how the ratings for this place are so high, because we had a very disappointing experience. The service was alright, but not spectacular for how slow they were that night, and the food was pretty awful. I ordered fish that had no seasoning whatsoever except for some plain whole grain mustard smeared on top. My fiancé got a burger which was sub-​par. There was a couple sitting next to us and one of them ordered a burger, but when it came out it was missing one essential piece– the meat. By the time the waitress came back to check on them, I’m sure the other dish was nice and cold. Needless to say, we won’t be returning.

Great little gem of a restaurant. Moderate portion sizes, good service, and great cost. I enjoyed that the had customizable grits and omelets to fit any taste that you have. Nothing to fancy but great small intimate space to get some quality breakfast and lunch.

I’ve been to Black Cat before with a friend and had a lovely lunch but today I decided it’s not worth it. We arrived at 10:40. We know the time because they were not serving lunch yet as the waitress explained. After ordering lattes, we decided on simple breakfast. We were both really hungry so we chose a BLT and grits for him and 2 eggs, grits, veggie sausage, and biscuit for me.
That’s where it began. The lattes were small and not good. Tasted burned. With 4 other tables of patrons we waited over 30 minutes for our food and the waitress only returned to our table to pick up our empty lattes and offer us another one. When I commented on the wait, she went to check on our food and promised just a few more minutes. As I waited, I observed a table of two ladies who received their food and their order was wrong. Instead of the waiter explaining the mistake, he told the lady she said abc and he thought she meant xyz. Obviously it was her mistake. No recompense was offered.
When our food came out, I felt unimpressed. Plain grits, a regular pillsbury style biscuits, and, I swear to god, a MORNING STAR microwaveable sausage patty. I know this because I eat them every morning and this was identical. It even had the same chewy sides from microwaving too long.
At least our food was warm. The grits were still granular but they must be good. I observed our waitress eating some of them after a different table received them by mistake. Isn’t that a food safety violation?
The nail in the coffin came when our bill arrived. We were charged an up charge for egg whites (which I saw on the menu to be $ 2). Guys. That’s $ 2 PER EGG. That’s right. My $ 8 egg plate went to $ 12 for a small serving of granular grits, a microwaveable veggie sausage patty, a pillsbury biscuit, and egg whites. Seriously. When I mentioned to the waitress that $ 4 seemed ridiculous she stated there was nothing she could do and started to back away. I stopped her and said it would of been nice to know to which she replied, «I think it states it on the menu.» I scoffed. Yes. It said $ 2 up charge for egg whites but not per egg. I read the menu, but thanks for insinuating I didn’t.
Really disappointed with this place. Perhaps the high end clientele of North Hills likes expensive eggs and microwaveable sausage for a total bill of $ 32 but we don’t plan to partake of it again.

Great food, great music playing, great service — wonderful brunch or lunch place with tasty burgers or sandwiches with family or friends!

Great little restaurant. Super friendly staff. Lots of interesting menu items. They suggested the portobello mushroom sandwich.
DELICIOUS.
will definitely be back!!!

Really diverse café and comfort foods menu — including daily soups and ½ sandwich and choice of sides combo options for just $ 7.
Tucked quietly into the back of the Lassiter side of shops at North Hills, you have to look for this place, but it’s worth it. Inside you’ll find a super friendly staff, food brought to you table (after ordering at the counter) and even a nice selection draft beer and wine, unexpectedly.
The only complaint I have, and it’s not much of one, is that I ordered the chick-​less pot pie — expecting a vegetarian take on the traditional pot pie — and basically got a fancy faux-​chicken and vegetable stew for $ 10. The portion was small and wasn’t really a pie. It was fantastic in taste, but underwhelming in value… I would just venture further around the menu next time, because I’ll still be back.
PS: They also offer great freebies on Stealz, including desserts and entire entrees when you’ve visited often enough, so download that app too and start racking up the points here.

Busy when we arrived and slow order to meal arrival time even as tables emptied. Arrived right at noon, seated at 12:25, order taken 12:35. Table seated 5 mins before us was served at 12:40. We were finally served at 12:57 Not looking for fast food, but long wait for lunch anywhere. Tables seated after us were served sooner. We ordered salads. Redemption because the meal was good. Next time I have a spare hour, we will be back.

The vegan BBQ sandwich with sweet potato fries (add on) was pretty much the best lunch I’ve ever had. No lies. Service was good, atmosphere was cute. We also got the fake-​chicken thai salad and it was super tasty. We’ll be coming back. Aces for vegetarian/​vegan lunch.

My wife and I own a small restaurant not too far from the Black Cat Café. One of our customers/​friends (who coincidently manages a local restaurant) has been telling us to try the BCC for the longest time. With so many excellent choices in Raleigh, we didn’t make it to the black cat for too long. That all changed last night.
WoW. What a find. We could not have been more satisfied with every aspect of our visit. There was plenty of parking available. Before you can get to the front door you are already enjoying the ambience of the patio. The trees and shrubs surrounding the patio are very tastefully decorated with lights.
From the moment that you walk through the front door you are greeted by very delightful, unique environment. Each staff member that we encountered greeted us with a nice attitude and a smile.
The menu is unbelievable. There were so many things that we wanted to try we ended up with one appetizer and three entrées one of which was a salad. We had to force ourselves to not eat everything just so that we could enjoy some leftovers at the house in a day or two.
We ordered the hummus served with vegetables. Their special touch with the red pepper and perhaps some spices? Had us licking the bowl clean. We ordered one of their grilled chicken salads and substituted their «chick-​less» chicken. Let’s just say the salad did not make it to the togo box. The «chic-​less» chicken pot pie was decadent. The eggplant parmesan (which is my jam) was so damn good it was scary. We had a craft beer (watermelon) and an americano coffee done right.
It took every little bit of strength that we had not to order a dessert or a cookie. We were told by our friend that the peanut butter pie is something that cannot be missed.
and they do breakfast on the weekends! What…
We plan on going back often.
Well…since the above review we have been back to the BCC two more times for a total of three visits. Our second visit was with another couple and we ordered what seemed like most of the menu. The third stop was just my wife and me.
At no point have we had anything other than amazing foods and flavors.
For each of our 3 visits we had the same server. TETYANA. What a lovely pleasant young lady. Tetyana is very knowledgable, patient, funny, and easy going.
We look forward to seeing Tetyana as much as we look forward to our next meal at the BCC.

I agree with another reviewer that the staff treat you like a burden.
I went in one afternoon at 2:30 and was very quickly informed that they would be closing at 3 but that I could come back at 5:00.
Bad first impression and certainly my last visit to this restaurant.

Such a good brunch spot! Our group was pretty indecisive and the server was helpful and very patient. Although the breakfast options looked pretty great, everyone got different salads. The Thai curry, Aegean, and the Farmer’s Market salads all were done with such high quality ingredients. Greens and toppings were so fresh and seasonal. Outdoor seating is tucked in and feels separate from the N Hills parking area. I was really impressed. Service was also so pleasant and accommodating.

I was in Raleigh for a few days and stumbled across this beauty. It’s a mom & pop place. Very friendly service and fast. I Had a Farm fresh salad with «chicken-​less». Very fresh and light, great lunch spot. They seem to have regulars and they have a good amount of outdoor seating.

Tucked away behind the Bonefish Grill and a few other bigger businesses, it’s an easy place to miss. I was in the area and decided to drop in for a quick breakfast.
The server was kind of monotone throughout and didn’t express much emotion, but seemed like a nice enough girl. I opted for the shrimp and grits with cajun spices, with a few adjustments. It was delicious! I was a little concerned with the portion size at first, but it wound up being just right. For dessert, I wanted to try something I didn’t see too often so I got the jasmine rice pudding. It was alright, the rice was too firm and nothing really stood out. Next time, I’ll pick a different finish. Maybe tiramisu or the peanut butter pie. Haven’t had it for any other meal, but would recommend this place for breakfast or brunch.

The Black Cat Café is a really enjoyable little street-​side restaurant. I think it would be best dining here during the spring, summer, and fall months of the year, as the outdoor seating is the best option in my opinion. While they do have indoor seating, the best ambiance is outdoors, although they do have really great artwork inside the café.
We tried the turkey melt, and an 8″ cheese pizza. Both were delicious, and being seated outdoors during a sunny spring day added to the enjoyment. It’s in a tucked away North Hills location as compared to the rest of the shopping and dining in the area, but it’s definitely worth looking for.
The young woman who helped us when we ordered at the counter was very friendly, and although they do bring your food out to your table, it’s a bit of a «no frills» kind of place. You fill your own drink at the drink machine, so you really need to go back inside to refill it during your meal if you run out. No one really comes back to check on you once you have paid for your meal and have had it brought over to your table. We knew that upon ordering though, so we were fine with it.
Parking is available outside the café in the shopping center’s private lot. I wouldn’t really recommend it for large groups or kids, but as a nice, romantic, cute little bistro style café for lunch or dinner, it’s great.

Been here multiple times I don’t know if I have to say «I use to love this place» or «never coming back» for today’s experience I would give 0 starts if I could. The food was great, and. But in a restaurants like this one food is not all that it matters, SERVICE.
Very disappointed with the service all I have to say to resume my visit today, after I got sat I had to go to the counter to order my meal cuse nobody came to my table in 5 min while the people that work there was checking their cellphones and eating there. clearly they don’t care about their job or what is that? After I got my meal same thing servers would pass by and still nothing no service. Where was the manager? The owner? Who cares about this place? Cuse obviously the staff that was there today, I don’t think so.

This was my first and most likely my last visit April 15 2015. I’ve never been to a restaurant where you feel as if you are a burden, only to interrupt the woman behind the counter. The most unpleasant person I’ve ever met. When she did come to the table she asked «you done» and just took the plates. My friend and I both agreed not a place that needs our buisness. Maybe that was why there were only 2 other customers in the place.
So many other restaurants would welcome your business in today’s economic times, not this one.
If your looking for a pleasant experience… RUN…As this is NOT THE PLACE. :0 (
I hope management will make a note.

I would round this up to 3.5 if I could but overall it was a-​ok for me. I believe they took over the old Hot Points Deli and the menu seems a little similar as well. If you are looking for a large menu with a lot of veggie & vegan options then you should definitely check out Black Cat Café I was really shocked by the wide selection on the menu.
It was a little confusing at lunch time but I shortly realized it was more of a fast casual restaurant you order up front and they bring you your food. It was tough to pick what to eat with this large menu but I was craving a salad so I ordered up the salmon salad.
I thought the salmon was cooked very well but over salted a bit. The salad itself was fresh and full of veggies including cucumbers, roasted red peppers, and more. I ordered the ½ size version I can’t even imagine what the full size salad looked like and at almost $ 12 for the ½ version I’m not sure I could even afford it.
They have wine and beer and also serve a selection of coffee drinks. They also have wi-​fi a big plus for me. The servers were very nice and made sure everyone was happy with their meals. I’d give this place another shot for sure but nothing blew me away on this visit that would have me running back anytime soon.

Well I’ve been back now and I’m 100% underwhelmed. I came with my family who was in town for Thanksgiving for a Saturday lunch. My moms shrimps and grits were reported to be especially bland, with pretty much 0 flavor. My hoppin johns with corn cakes were fine, but the portion was small and the flavor unremarkable. My dad seemed happy enough with his sandwich, but didn’t have any enthusiasm about it. My fiancée really enjoyed his veggie bbq sandwich, but we’re pretty sure the filling came from a local soy company and wasn’t made in house. Couple the underwhelming food with the inconsistent service and several errors on our bill, none of us felt like we would ever be back.

I think we came at a weird time or something? We stopped in for dinner and were the only two there, other than the employees.
We ordered drinks and browsed the menu. This menu has a LOT of different dishes, sometimes that makes me nervous because I tend to appreciate restaurants that don’t boast so many menu items because really, how can you nail any one of those dishes? Sometimes quality is more important than quantity, and in this case, I believe that to be true.
I ordered the veggie lasagna and my husband had the club. The veggie lasagna was layered with tortillas and cheese and vegetables. Then piled high with cheese on top. I ate a couple of bites before feeling like this meal was entirely too heavy. My husband’s club was your typical club, nothing incredible or outstanding about it.
The service was mediocre at best. We sat with empty glasses for a good portion of our meal — my husband and I decided we COULD refill it ourselves because the soda machines were right behind us, but he flagged the waitress down instead.
Probably wouldn’t eat here again with so many other places in the area.

Black Cat Café had a Cool Cat vibe going on Friday night. Glad we got to experience it!
Vegan Son in town pulled out his Happy Cow app for vegan-​friendly places after we decided First Friday downtown might be too busy to get into some of those. We were afraid busy North Hills might be an issue also as it was around 7, but we were able to get right in with a table of 5. They had some Cool Cat live music going on which was a nice plus.
Service… friendly and excellent. Drinks arrived quickly. Menu had a great variety, and everything sounded really good. Sandwiches, Salads, pizzas, burritos, full dinners… Vegan Son was torn between a few enticing options. He went with the Vegan BBQ sandwich with horseradish slaw, which he very much liked. Two others were happy with their Chicken Burritos. Exact-​Opposite-​Son-​From-​His-​Brother got the Whole Hog Burger which had ham and bacon with BBQ sauce piled on a burger, minus the fried onions it called for (sad!). I opted for the Salmon BLT Sliders with a lime aioli. These were perfectly cooked and the balance of flavors was light and crave-​worthy delicious! I also got to try Son’s Parmesan/​Rosemary Fries that came with his Burger and I loved them. He thought they had too much parmesan and rosemary though (IS there really such a thing???)
Atmosphere, Food, Reasonable Prices, Service… all spot on! We’ll be back to visit this cat, that’s for sure!
I am editing this to add that we went back the following Friday night with friends. I had loved the Salmon BLT Sliders so much that I ordered them again and my friend ordered them too. Sadly they were totally disappointing. Instead of big juicy pieces of salmon on each, they were so small I had to pick up the bun lid to see if there was really salmon on them. It was mostly tomato and aioli. And NO bacon. Wah! I was embarrassed to have recommended them. That being said, maybe it was an off-​night. I am going to assume that and give them another try, because everything was so fabulous the week before!