Comments on: The Hungry Cat http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/02/23/the-hungry-cat-2/ foodblogging los angeles Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:34:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: tally http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/02/23/the-hungry-cat-2/#comment-110210 tally Sat, 20 Jan 2007 01:48:33 +0000 http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/02/23/the-hungry-cat-2/#comment-110210 My husband and I love the Hungry Cat. We crave the food.That salad is the best salad! We love the wait staff, who are so friendly and the bar is the best bar in town. Yes, the seats suck, but maybe when they expand the space, they'll get the clue to make the place more comfortable. About a month ago I did have an unfortunate food experience there. I ordered the sea bass, which was rubbery and not at all hot when it came to the table. Normally, I wouln't have said anything, but because we go there all the time, and I was so surprised at how bad it tasted, I told the waitress, who was shocked. She took my plate to the chef (Daivd Lenz), who looked shocked (open kitchen), and a few minutes later, a whole new plate was brought to me. I commented that it looked like a new plate, and she said, "Oh, yes, David is an artist. He would never want you to dislike your meal. He cooked you a new piece of fish." The new plate of food was fabulous. I almost licked the plate. So, I wish you had told the waiter that you didn't like your food. This is the kind of place that wouldn't stand for an unhappy customer. Although, as I write this, I know that it gets harder and harder to get into the place. We have to make a reservation days ahead of time, and we have been going there since it first opened. And I do agree that occassionally there is a hostess that is a little snippy, but the hosts and managers have been very friendly. My husband and I love the Hungry Cat. We crave the food.That salad is the best salad! We love the wait staff, who are so friendly and the bar is the best bar in town. Yes, the seats suck, but maybe when they expand the space, they’ll get the clue to make the place more comfortable. About a month ago I did have an unfortunate food experience there. I ordered the sea bass, which was rubbery and not at all hot when it came to the table. Normally, I wouln’t have said anything, but because we go there all the time, and I was so surprised at how bad it tasted, I told the waitress, who was shocked. She took my plate to the chef (Daivd Lenz), who looked shocked (open kitchen), and a few minutes later, a whole new plate was brought to me. I commented that it looked like a new plate, and she said, “Oh, yes, David is an artist. He would never want you to dislike your meal. He cooked you a new piece of fish.” The new plate of food was fabulous. I almost licked the plate. So, I wish you had told the waiter that you didn’t like your food. This is the kind of place that wouldn’t stand for an unhappy customer. Although, as I write this, I know that it gets harder and harder to get into the place. We have to make a reservation days ahead of time, and we have been going there since it first opened. And I do agree that occassionally there is a hostess that is a little snippy, but the hosts and managers have been very friendly.

]]> By: Zteve http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/02/23/the-hungry-cat-2/#comment-7463 Zteve Fri, 17 Mar 2006 21:24:02 +0000 http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/02/23/the-hungry-cat-2/#comment-7463 Oh no, Erin, I quite like dissention! I'm glad another viewpoint is being expressed because I really didn't get it. Obviously more than a few people like it. It is very popular and I've never seen a negative writeup from the regular press. Having said that, I can only write about my own experience, which was terrible. Giving a place a second shot is easier if the prices are reasonable, but it becomes a difficult decision to make when I drop $75, have a bad experience, and have to drop another $75 just to make sure I didn't miss something. I totally respect your viewpoint, but I'll probably spend my money somewhere else. Oh no, Erin, I quite like dissention! I’m glad another viewpoint is being expressed because I really didn’t get it. Obviously more than a few people like it. It is very popular and I’ve never seen a negative writeup from the regular press.
Having said that, I can only write about my own experience, which was terrible. Giving a place a second shot is easier if the prices are reasonable, but it becomes a difficult decision to make when I drop $75, have a bad experience, and have to drop another $75 just to make sure I didn’t miss something.
I totally respect your viewpoint, but I’ll probably spend my money somewhere else.

]]> By: erin http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/02/23/the-hungry-cat-2/#comment-7452 erin Fri, 17 Mar 2006 18:49:23 +0000 http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/02/23/the-hungry-cat-2/#comment-7452 oh, i wasn't going to, but i just have to disagree! having become a somewhat regular at the hungry cat since it opened last year, i hate to see the, well, hate. Just as some hipsters only go where they're "supposed to", I find that some food snobs work hard to bag on places that other folks like. Not to say there isn't room for disagreement, but I love the hungry cat and must defend. my significant other and i are far from the in-crowd, but we've always felt welcome there, with no attitude from the hosts. usually, we grab a seat at the bar, and have always found the bartenders friendly and skilled. And the food--I grant you the lobster roll is small. But I've never had a bad meal there--in fact, this Tuesday I had one of the best fish dishes I've ever sampled--grilled sea bass on a bed of black rice with green curry and tangerines. Fish was cooked perfectly, curry had bite, and the tangerines brought it all together. Also had a fab squid salad. In the time that we've been going, the menu has often changed, with new fish and salads fairly frequently, reflecting the seasons. The mixed drinks are fresh and unique. Give the cat another chance! oh, i wasn’t going to, but i just have to disagree! having become a somewhat regular at the hungry cat since it opened last year, i hate to see the, well, hate. Just as some hipsters only go where they’re “supposed to”, I find that some food snobs work hard to bag on places that other folks like. Not to say there isn’t room for disagreement, but I love the hungry cat and must defend.

my significant other and i are far from the in-crowd, but we’ve always felt welcome there, with no attitude from the hosts. usually, we grab a seat at the bar, and have always found the bartenders friendly and skilled. And the food–I grant you the lobster roll is small. But I’ve never had a bad meal there–in fact, this Tuesday I had one of the best fish dishes I’ve ever sampled–grilled sea bass on a bed of black rice with green curry and tangerines. Fish was cooked perfectly, curry had bite, and the tangerines brought it all together. Also had a fab squid salad. In the time that we’ve been going, the menu has often changed, with new fish and salads fairly frequently, reflecting the seasons. The mixed drinks are fresh and unique. Give the cat another chance!

]]> By: Zteve http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/02/23/the-hungry-cat-2/#comment-7420 Zteve Thu, 16 Mar 2006 22:31:41 +0000 http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/02/23/the-hungry-cat-2/#comment-7420 Thank you! At least a little affirmation proves to me I'm not going crazy. Sometimes I need a reality check to make sure I'm not just going over the top. Thank you! At least a little affirmation proves to me I’m not going crazy. Sometimes I need a reality check to make sure I’m not just going over the top.

]]> By: Anony Mous http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/02/23/the-hungry-cat-2/#comment-7419 Anony Mous Thu, 16 Mar 2006 22:20:16 +0000 http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/02/23/the-hungry-cat-2/#comment-7419 I was part of a party of 10 last night at the Hungry Cat. It was sooo highly touted! What a waste money! The food was GOD AWFUL! I ordered the Lobster Roll for $22 and it was a bad version of a salad less than a palmful of meat in a schriveled up hotdog bun served with a half of plate of french fries. Oh my god! I have never. The group was equally horrified. The service was pathetic, they don't have their act together at all! Don't waste your time or your money! I was part of a party of 10 last night at the Hungry Cat. It was sooo highly touted! What a waste money! The food was GOD AWFUL! I ordered the Lobster Roll for $22 and it was a bad version of a salad less than a palmful of meat in a schriveled up hotdog bun served with a half of plate of french fries. Oh my god! I have never. The group was equally horrified. The service was pathetic, they don’t have their act together at all! Don’t waste your time or your money!

]]> By: MaxMillion http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/02/23/the-hungry-cat-2/#comment-6916 MaxMillion Wed, 01 Mar 2006 18:44:18 +0000 http://la.foodblogging.com/2006/02/23/the-hungry-cat-2/#comment-6916 Oh man, thanks for the write-up. I was gonna try this place, even though I had read poor reports on chowhound and citysearch. Comments like "the $22 lobster roll is a mere TWO BITES!" You can get a steak dinner for that. Now I feel like I've really dodged a bullet. It sure takes a lot of guts to walk out on a place (brunch) when you realise you're facing a bad meal. Most of us resign ourselves to inertia and grumble a lot. And I always go for the booth too. No cushions, no padding at all? Dat's cold! Several of your observations made me laugh out loud! Yeah, a place with a decor reminiscent of my own chilly, disinterested Mum? No thanks!!! Oh man, thanks for the write-up. I was gonna try this place, even though I had read poor reports on chowhound and citysearch. Comments like “the $22 lobster roll is a mere TWO BITES!” You can get a steak dinner for that.

Now I feel like I’ve really dodged a bullet. It sure takes a lot of guts to walk out on a place (brunch) when you realise you’re facing a bad meal. Most of us resign ourselves to inertia and grumble a lot.

And I always go for the booth too. No cushions, no padding at all? Dat’s cold!

Several of your observations made me laugh out loud! Yeah, a place with a decor reminiscent of my own chilly, disinterested Mum?
No thanks!!!

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