Cat & Fiddle — Restaurant in Hamilton

Newly re-opened under new ownership. Has some limitations and a few bugs to work out but has potential.

I went with a large group about a week after their re-opening under new ownership and we sat in the back room. The lighting there is terrible – it’s one of those fixtures with several spotlights that you aim where you want, and they aimed them at the tables. Which means anyone not sitting with their back to the middle of the room gets to eat with a bright spotlight aimed at their face. It’s really annoying and makes it very uncomfortable.

With a name like “Cat ‘N’ Fiddle” you might expect a decent beer selection including some British beers. They do have Guinness, which is of course a cosmic law for any pub with a remotely British-sounding name. But other than that it’s clear they’re geared for the folks who drink the typical Canadian big-brand lagers and very little for the craft beer fan.

You might also expect the Fish & Chips to be pretty good. The fish is properly battered and cooked, but it’s bland and really needs the tartar sauce applied. The fries are dry and tasteless, as if reheated - maybe they’re stale or overcooked. And they don’t even have malt vinegar – which does break a cosmic law.

After the initial rounds of drink and food orders our server came by three times to talk to our group about their plans to have live music etc. but failed all three times to notice I was trying to order another beer. When we agreed to go elsewhere for the next round our server gave me my bill, then took it back to set the machine for payment and then failed to give my bill back to me. But her attitude and enthusiasm were great.

All in all I’d say this place has potential, and it’s reasonable to have a few things not dialled in when first opening. It looks like it’ll be a good place to go to watch sports on their giant TV or watch a band, as long as you’re not going for the food or beer selection. Older reviews show it was a favourite local hangout and I’d say it’ll likely be that again. I myself won’t be going back unless they have a band my friends and I...

My husband and I heard the cat and fiddle reopened with a new owner. We went with friends after the forge game. The atmosphere was great. The live music was awesome and we noticed it had been updated. We ordered the nachos and our friends order the cauliflower bites which were really good until we found a live bug under one. Aaahhh! We told our waitress and she immediately took the situation seriously. She apologized and went directly to the kitchen. She was amazing. The owner however (young man, and i cannot remember his name, worked behind the bar most of the night directly across from our table) , did not acknowledge us or the mishap. Told the waitress to "just take off 10%" The waitress took the bites off our bill. Thank you!! We did not make a scene, but quietly left. We understand things happen, but seriously, a bug was in our food. As an owner you may want to take that seriously and at least come to our table. Check your kitchen maybe??? As supporters of local businesses we will not be back. A shame as they...

Cat is newly open again. Stopped in for a couple lunch time pints. $20 for two pints of Mill St Organic.

Bar doesn't have water access inhibiting proper pours -poured pints were short - approximately 1.8" below the rim and far too much head.

Upon asking for my bill I had to wait 17 minutes total in a mostly empty bar for the bartender to first start and finish a non work related conversation with a coworker, and eventually have to go get the password for the interac device to be activated by the owner.

As an industry professional I understand new openings and staffing issues but I don't understand why I need to hear you complain over and over that you opened today and you're working til close and hope to close early.

Extremely unprepared to be operational as of yet and left an incredibly unprofessional taste in my mouth. First time in my life not tipping a...