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Photo Cred: Gato and Compass + Twine
When Chef Bobby Flay’s new restaurant Gato hopped onto the scene a few months ago, food critics were…well…critical. The reviews were uninspiring and some people seemed to think Flay was loosing his touch. We were bummed about it, but ventured to try it anyways. Turns out, a recent dinner at Gato was a lesson in not believing everything you read.
Why hadn’t we gone sooner!? What did the critics not like? We walked in with an open mind and were immediately impressed. First off, the space is pretty killer with exposed brick ceilings and mercury glass chandeliers hanging from above. When you walk in, the huge bar is the focus of the room with cozy dining tables lining the walls. The menu has lots of options, beginning with some tasty bar snacks. You can choose to sample three dishes for the price of one. That’s just enough to whet the palate and leave you wanting more. The burrata is silky smooth and the chorizo crepinette divine. The octopus appetizer was a stand out and one of the best we’ve ever had. For a main course, Flay has everything from rabbit and steak to prawns and saffron linguine. He also has some good vegetarian options, and if the cauliflower side dish is any indication of his veggie talents, then we have high hopes for the kale and wild mushroom paella.
Needless to say, we left with full bellies and confused brains. What was up with those initial sub-par reviews? The meal was delicious and well executed from start to finish, the cocktails were top-notch, and the ambiance fun and lively. Ever since Mesa Grill closed years ago, we’ve been look for our next go-to Flay spot, and we’re happy to have found that in Gato.
GET THE: Burrata, Piquillo, Roasted Octopus, Charred Beef, Porterhouse Pork Chop, Cauliflower
