Two Wrasslin' Cats Coffee House & Cafe — Restaurant in East Haddam

Details: Upon approaching from the intersection the first thing you we noticed was a banner with a Harvey Milk quote with dripping rainbow lips below it. As we approached the door on the left side is a large commercial coffee maker just outside the door (see photo). There is a hand written sign which does not stand out that states there is a limit of four people in the ordering area which is funny because unless you enter the number inside is unclear. We opened the door and were met with the person behind the counter telling us the limit. I had my family wait outside while I stayed to hold our place. The ordering area was cluttered with cat items, t-shirts, pictures, knick knacks, and hand written signage. It was impossible to tell what was for sale and what was on display. As I was standing inside numerous people tried to come in but were told the limit. I am still trying to figure out why they were enforcing the limit while at the same time non of the employees were wearing a mask. My family was finally able to come in. They ordered cat themed food and then we headed to the back dining room. We sat around a circular table towards the back. The chair I sat in was on the side with my back to the live cat display doors. The arm on my chair was broken so it swayed side to side. There were cat items of every type, swinging from the ceiling, placed on a shelf, and framed. On the wall to my left were two framed pieces of toast and a framed board that displayed multiple cat fur balls that had been coughed up. On my right was an alcove with a bathroom on the left and an out of order one on the right. Behind me were two glass doors where you could watch five playing cats. In front of me was a bar like area with stools. Underneath the bar were boxes and items all crammed from the floor to just under the bar. After a few minutes had passed a group of eight teenagers sat behind my son directly in front of me. Our food was brought out from a door on the left of the hairball collection. The second the door opened a strong smell of ammonia filled the dining room. The longer we sat the more we noticed our surroundings. There was a sign telling people to clean the table and seats before and after we ate. After my family was done my wife asked the girl up front if we could see the cats. The girl brought us over to a gentleman named Mark who was in a chair reading. Mark put down what he was reading and told us to meet him outside. He asked us to follow him to a door that was on the side rear of the building. He let us in and told us the rules. Mark began to tell us the cats names but he seemed to struggle to remember them. We patted the cats that all had oddly long noses. The room had tunnels and a scratching pad boxing ring. My wife noticed to the back were five empty food bowls. She also noticed holes in the wall with kitty litter around them. We assumed that is where the kitty boxes were. We let ourselves out and walked to the outside yard and took pictures.

Original Review: I wish I could say it was great. Very unwelcoming. Walked through the door to be scolded because only four at a time can enter. Numerous people continued to enter after us. There was no clarification on who was currently in the ordering area. There was also a sign to wipe your tables and chairs before and after eating. A wafting smell of kitty pee permeated the dining room..... Kinda gross.

In reply to your response I would like to clarify with detail. The smell began to fill the dining area when an employee opened the door and entered the dining room. I would not waste time with a fake review. I wish someone was at the door welcoming us and letting people know when the next group could come in. Instead of trying to grow from the review you have chosen to ban us from returning. These reviews are organic and you have guided the direction...

Very disappointed in the treatment I experienced while dining at 2 wrasslin cats. I have been there multiple times before with my service animal and everything has been fine. Today, 3/19/23, my school was promoting our drama club with a bake sale outside. I entered to order some food, the women took our order, very kind, told us we could go make ourselves comfortable and she would find us when our order was ready. When I turned to head towards the seating area, the owner, Mark, walked in and was immediately very confrontational towards me. He told me I could not pass the counter area to go towards the seating area and had to sit outside. I have sat indoors with my family on multiple occasions with no issue. He told me it was because he didn't want to stress out the cats. I was not going to go anywhere near the cats and they are closed off in a separate area that I was not going to enter out of respect for the cats anyways. He told me that he couldn't have dogs in the building when the dog is my task trained service animal that was completely under control and well behaved. He claimed it was in case my dog barked, which would not happen as he is a very well trained, well behaved, medically necessary service animal. We have 2 cats at home that coexist with my dog just fine. I was not going to go near the cats anyways. Many people can vouch for my service animals behavior as we live in town and he attends school with me. The owner, Mark, has met my service dog before and never had an issue with him accompanying me. My dog calmly lays at my feet and does not cause any form of disturbance. I find it odd that a business that promotes positivity and equality would discriminate against a disabled person and their medically necessary service animal. I will no longer be supporting 2 wrasslin cats based on their behavior towards me. I no longer feel comfortable or welcome at their business. I am saddened as this has always been a place I have enjoyed dining at. I understand wanting to give your cats space, and I was going to respect that, but you also need to accommodate disabled people as well. It is illegal to discriminate and kick out a person with a service animal and ask them to sit outside, especially on a cold morning when it is 28 degrees outside. My dog was under control and behaved, as he should be. The only legal reason to kick out a service animal is if they are not under control or behaved, are aggressive, or are not potty trained. If this business has any more questions about service animals I would be happy to educate to ensure an incident such as this one doesn't...

So my group and I traveled from NJ to stay at getaway house where they recommend this place. It was actually one of the main reason I booked here and not in Catskills. Well it was a massive disappointment. Only giving it 2 stars because the smoothie was good, and the place looks cute but that’s it. We came in purchased drinks and food despite just having had a large breakfast all because we wanted to see the cats. We were told that after we finish we should approach a server and they would let us into the cat room, but only if no one is in there as the limit was 4 people at a time. We agreed and when we finished we went back to the cash register to ask to see the cats. The female waitress who had informed us of the policy had just finished with a client but was busy getting their order ready. Another man was finishing up his client and then asked us what we wanted. We asked to go in the cat room and that is when things took a turn. He proceeded to tell us we would have to wait as he has more customers to attend (there was a couple behind us) and that the cat room is a privilege not a right. He kept going on saying we would only go in once he was unoccupied if he managed to get unoccupied, as he would have to bring us in and essentially supervise us. Now first while I understand getting in the food orders is a first, there were two other servers behind him that could help the customers. He was not alone. Secondly, the purpose of a cat cafe is to go inside and be with cats not in a room with cat looking items. Thirdly, we would have not even come if it weren’t for the promise of cute cats which we didn’t get to touch (didn’t see a single person allowed in the cat room) or play with. If this place only cares about food orders and not the cats then advertise as a regular cafe. Don’t get annoyed when people ask to see the cats. You are the ones advertising that way. My whole group was very upset. I even told getaway they should stop recommending it because it will just reflect badly on them when people drive out so far only to be...