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Boston Restaurant Blog >> 2010 archives >> June, 2010 >> blog entry

Boston Restaurant Blog -- June, 2010

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Lunch at the Fat Cat in Quincy

About a year ago, I reviewed the Fat Cat in Quincy on the Boston Restaurant Talk blog (link: Review: Fat Cat, Quincy) after checking the popular restaurant and pub out for dinner. Recently, we got back to The Fat Cat, this time for lunch. Because I have already reviewed the place--and because we went more for a quick bite to eat than a detailed review--I'll spare most of the details here, but I can tell you that it was an enjoyable experience once again, with both excellent service and food.

photo of The Fat Cat, Quincy, MA As I mentioned in the Boston Restaurant Talk review, The Fat Cat is a place that has quite a bit of character, with lots of exposed brick, dark woods, and a somewhat industrial vibe. The left side of the narrow room consists of a bar, while the right side (as well as the front) is dedicated to dining. The restaurant and pub is completely unpretentious, and the people who work there tend to be very friendly and often funny. The Fat Cat can probably be described as a gastropub, though in some ways, it feels a bit like a classic American restaurant and bar with a twist here and there.

When we arrived at lunchtime on our recent trip, I was stunned that the place was nearly empty, as this is a place where lines are quite common (it did fill up quickly as we were leaving, though). Our meal there was a simple one this time around; we started with the wonderful fried pickle slices that came in a cylindrical basket and had a mild Cajun remoulade on the side. As was the case before, the pickles were delicious and addictive, but they quickly started filling us up, so we had to stop after getting about halfway through them. Our entrees soon followed, with the steak Philly being a slightly upscale version of the classic cheesesteak, and while it was very tasty, it didn't impress quite as much as the last time, as I could have done with less in the way of peppers and shitake mushrooms, which detracted from the taste of the high-quality steak just a bit. The grilled burger was huge (more than a half pound) and had the perfect combination of a charred exterior and a juicy interior. The handcut fries were just as good this time around, once again having very little grease considering that they were fried. Beers included a couple of good ones, namely the Abita Purple Haze and the Wachusett Blueberry. Prices were reasonable, with each dish being in the single digits, and service, as mentioned earlier, was just terrific--the people really seem to enjoy working here.

I'm not sure that the Fat Cat is my favorite restaurant of its kind--that might go to the outstanding Highland Kitchen in Somerville--but it is very, very close in quality. I would be happy going to either place once every week or two if I had the time, as both the Fat Cat and the Highland seem to have it all, from great comfort food to extensive beer lists to hosts and servers who are genuinely nice. It may not be a hidden gem, but that certainly won't keep me from going back to the Fat Cat.

If you would like the address for The Fat Cat, here it is: Fat Cat, 24 Chestnut Street, Quincy, MA, 02169. Phone: (617) 471-4363

Fat Cat on Urbanspoon

Related Blog Entries: Quincy restaurants

2 COMMENTS:
MH said:
We returned to the Fat Cat recently and had another satisfying meal there, with dinner including the Haystacks (a delicious pile of thin onion strings that weren't greasy at all), the decadent linguini alfredo (which seemed to be heavier on the butter than the cream), and the fish and chips (fall-apart tender fish and a large portion of their wonderful fries) Drinks included Abita Purple Haze once again, which is becoming one of my favorite beers. Our server was friendly, though he (and us) were lamenting the Bruins loss that occurred while we were there, and prices were not too bad overall. The place was full even though we were there early in the dinner hour, so it still seems to be a popular place among the locals in and around Quincy.
Posted on 4/25/12
MH said:
Another return to the Fat Cat a few days ago, and once again it impressed. The fried dill pickle slices were terrific again, while the lobster macaroni and cheese was loaded with lobster meat and the pulled pork sandwich was huge, with a sweet and smokey sauce soaking the pork. One note--as of a few days ago, the city of Quincy was doing major work on Chestnut Street, closing it to cars, so the only way to get to the Fat Cat is to park on another street and walk to the restaurant.
Posted on 7/18/13

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