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Fat Cats

 Hi Everyone!

    Miss me? The last few months have been a whirlwind of weddings, family reunions, work chaos, and computer problems (the last of which isn't completely resolved 😐). I didn't forget about our blog adventures, so bear with me while I get July, August, and September's posts up within the next week. I appreciate everyone's patience!

    In July, we visited a NEW Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives location in Cleveland Ohio: Fat Cats. The new episode aired on May 22, 2022. The restaurant itself was established in 1997. Like our other favorite DDD place in Cleveland, Lucky's Cafe, Fat Cats also works with local farmers for regional produce and has a garden on site. Similar to a lot of other Cleveland and Tremont area parking, they have a small parking lot next to the restaurant or street parking. As far as DDD locations in Ohio, the ones in the Tremont area are knocking it out of the park so I didn't even hesitate when I heard there was a new one. 


    We went on a Saturday night and sat at the bar. They don't take reservations, but we didn't have any wait time. Like many Tremont area restaurants, it is in an older home and the decor inside is from local artists. I always love that vibe. The atmosphere is super chill and all the workers were really friendly. Our waitress Wendy was amazing. She spaced our food order out in the kitchen since we had multiple dishes that we were going to try. Everything came out hot and fresh. She even checked if the vegan Apple Crumble dessert used almond milk or soy milk (tree nut allergy) for me which was above and beyond most places. Sadly, it was almond milk so I didn't get to try it, but I truly appreciated that. 

    To drink, I ordered a Lito's Girl-bourbon, pomegranate, lemon, and ginger beer. It was refreshing and addictive. It was definitely strong, but I prefer it that way. 

    We ordered the Spring Rolls: Vegan Lumpia. They were hot and crunchy. Very flavorful. Not oily at all. The jackfruit actually had a spicy, almost creamy flavor to it. We really enjoyed them. 


    The Arroz Caldo is the epitome of comfort food. It was like a broth soup meets stew. As a warning, it is spicy. The chilis caught us off guard and we got hit with "back of the throat" spice. If it were a cold day and I had the sniffles, I would be craving this dish. 

    As Clevelanders, you have to order homemade Pierogies. The texture was perfect-fluffy and creamy inside with the slight crunch on the outside. There was a fried egg on top which we didn't feel was necessary. It didn't really add anything to the dish. The sauerkraut is also made in-house and it was pleasantly different than traditional sauerkraut. They used mustard greens and it took it to a whole new level. 

    The Pork Banh Báo. Don't think I'm being dramatic, but I honestly could eat these every day of my life. As I'm writing about them, I want them. The pork belly was so crisp and it melted in your mouth. Easily the best pork belly I've had in my life. The buns are made in-house and the consistency was great. The sauce was thick and didn't fall out or make a mess. As Guy Fieri would say, it was an absolute trip to Flavortown. 

    We decided to try something we wouldn't normally order and got the Lavender Lemon Creme Brulée. It wasn't the worst thing, but it also wasn't the best. It was one of those dishes where you just go, "Huh. That was interesting." I liked that the lavender was subtle and not overpowering. It smelled really good. The brulée itself was perfectly crunchy on top and creamy underneath. The aftertaste is what got me. It did have that slight soap taste in the back of your throat. 


    You can check out the rest of their menu here. The atmosphere and food makes this one of my favorite Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives locations. It's honestly in my top 3. The Pork Banh Báo is one of the best things I've eaten from a DDD location. I'm still months later craving them quite often. Now that the weather is getting colder, I'm automatically also thinking about that Arroz Caldo to warm my soul. I'd love to go back for other cocktails and food and bring other family members to try it. 

    Have you made it out to Fat Cats? What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments!

    Pro-tip: If you park on the street along the bike trail, there is also a bonus view of the Cleveland skyline.  



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