Le Chat Noir

The food would be quite fine, if one was not exposed to the incredibly smoky bar. I have been there a few times and found the service to pale next to the food - if you can taste it while breathing the smoke. I made a comment to the waitperson and was told that the owner does not smoke but believes that he will loose business if he stops smoking. Well - he lost mine and I do not smoke. I would take many customers there on my many visits to Bellingham and also go on personal visits, however, we chose to go to many of the other excellent restaurants in Bellingham such as Anthonys, Marina, Dirty Dans, Stanellos (fabulous food and service), Bobs - actually, pretty much all other restaurants in Bellingham have consideration to ALL their customers except this one. I will not return until they change their policy that "smokers rule".

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After waiting at the door for at least 5 minutes before anyone greeted us, someone finally appeared and without saying "Im sorry for the wait" (like most restaurants do), asked us and the couple behind us if we had reservations (we both said no ) and dissapeared into the kitchen. Since there were a few tables that looked available we decided to wait. After a few more minutes she finally came back and seated us. The most unusual part of our fine dining experience came next. I dont know how to describe it other than she was the most unfriendly waitress we've ever met. Sure, there were a few bangs and crashes in the back, and they might have having a bad day but why did she have to slam a bottle or something on our table and slam chairs behind us? We noticed the couple after us left without dinner! Instead of rice my husband got cold potatoes but we didnt want to "inconvience" her by asking for the rice he ordered! It was our anniversary and we were hoping to order dessert but I guess she just wanted to get us out and gave us our bill even though we were nice, polite , easy customers and there were still tables available. The food was good , ambiance was nice(other than the waitress) but the view of Bob's across the street was looking even better!

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I make it a point to frequent the Black Cat. We are always greeted by warm friendly service and hospitable attitudes. The employees work hard to make sure our drinks are always full, and that our food is always to our liking. I appreciate the fact that the menu changes, so there is always new food to try. Moreover the music brings feelings of nostalgia- the other night they played a mix of The Cars, Bruce Springsteen, and Joni Mitchell. Great food, great drinks and a great eclectic atmosphere equals an awesome night! Thank you Black Cat employees!!

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Good Drinks, Bad Food

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Incredible atmosphere. The restaurant "service" is more of a concept than a reality. The food is probably pretty good when it hasn't been sitting under a heat lamp for 15 minutes. Half of our party actually got exactly what we ordered. Hopefully they're getting some incentive for hiring the mentally handicapped who work there, a government program perhaps.

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Two comments:
(1) At 8:15 last night, Sunday, the background music suddenly turned into a heavy-bass thumping sound track. Such deep tones can cause nausea in some people -- they can make some people sick. When we mentioned this to the waitress, she reacted as though our observation was unreasonable, although she did turn down the volume. She stated that she had not noticed the music and that she had no control over the individual tracks of music, that she could not forward the music on to the next track. If this music appears on my next visit, it will be my last visit.
(2) On each of my six visits, the waitresses appear to be untrained and inexperienced. Point: one waitress thought that Stella Artois was wine and when we pointed out that it's a larger, she didn't believe that ales, stouts, and beers were different beverages. Point: after we ate last night, one of my table mates wanted to order dessert but had a difficult time catching the attention of the waitress and after she brought us the menu she did not return to take the order until we called out to her. Point: during all six visits, the waitress paid attention only to the table she was serving at the time -- she avoided looking at any other table in the room and did not check to see whether other patrons needed help. Point: seconds are not offered for coffee. Point: two visits ago, I put cash on the table to pay the check but that waitress refused to take it until I told her to take it and bring me back my change -- she may have been hoping for a twenty-five percent tip by ignoring us until we left.

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Every year my 84 year old mother calls our favorite restaurant, Le Chat Noir, and gets us a gift certificate. This year, no certificate......she called 4 times, was put on hold and forgotten twice, and hung up on twice. We will no longer be going to Le Chat Noir, and now get a gift certificate to another restaurant. Great Customer Service!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not.

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I just returned from a lovely dinner at Le Chat Noir and I am so very happy I experienced such a lovely and delicious evening. The wait staff was more than happy to rearrange tables and chairs for a party of 8 that had no reservations. They quickly set up the tables and were all smiles. The atmosphere was very comfortable, windows open with a view of Harris St. and the horizon with sunlight peering through the lace curtains. Our waitress was wonderfully helpful and we had no problems or delays in getting drinks (refills) and food, even extra bread for the fondue! The food was absolutely exquisite in preparation, appearance and taste! It was moderately proportioned (a rarity in current society where large portions are so common and unnecessary). My chicken entrée was cooked perfectly and was so tender and flavorful. The vegetables were simply prepared but the freshness and taste was unlike any I’ve ever tasted! This dinner was worth every penny and really should of cost more. There are many restaurants our there that charge more for food that doesn’t compare to the quality of what you’ll find at Le Chat Noir.

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We went to Chat Noir for my husband's birthday. The service was awful. We had to ask if our salads were coming. I saw the waitress try and serve our meals to another table and then return them to the kitchen. She brought their meals out but we waiting another 15 minutes for ours to reappear. I think she forgot who ordered them and had to serve everyone else finally getting to us by a process of elimination. The food was dry and luke warm ... ruined. We never saw her to order more wind and she slapped a bill on the table without an offer of dessert. Never again.

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Just so visitors will hear an up to date opinion, I would like to mention that after December 8th, 2005, La Chat will be non-smoking like all public spaces in the state of Washington. Also as a frequent custom of the Black Cat, I would like to share this. If you are at the door and wish to sit in the area to your right (the main bar area) that you don't have to wait to be seated. Just pull up a chair. If you plan on sitting at the bar area all the way at the back to the left in "The Alley", you also don't have to wait. It is only if you are wanting to be seated in the dining area to the left that you ned to wait to be seated.

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The atmosphere, the view of Bellingham Bay, the service. All of these are excellent reasons to visit Le Chat Noir.
I haven't been there for a bit, but the Black Cat used to serve the tastiest ceasar salad i've ever had to pleasure of eating.
A lovely waitress would make the salad in a wooden bowl, while you sip your refreshments and take in the wonderful of ambiance.

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You don't go to the Black Cat for the service. You go for the great food and atmosphere. Don't show up at the door expecting to be pampered. Come with your friends or family, relax, savor the food, enjoy the music, check out the parade of interesting characters coming through the door, and expect that you'll have to catch the eye of the server the next time they swing through. And if you really have an issue, look over your shoulder...the owner is one of those guys in shorts & sandals over near the bar. So...relax.

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I am a frequent diner at Le Chat Noir. My experiences their have became worse. The food is always flavorful and delisious however the staff- servers make me feel very unwelcome, almost like i am invading there area. The waitstaff is unfriendly and seems bothered. For example my last visit I was eager to place a order and the server was no where to be found. Finaly he walks by I say "excuse me" His response " Let me refill these drinks" RUDLY!!
I am disapointed that such a unique restaurant in Bellingham has such a poor waitstaff. I love the resuarant, food and atmosefere but the service SUCKS!!! It is so bad I have heard people complaining while dining there.

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