GRAND LAKE — was the second cat-themed eatery I’d visited in as many days, but the reception was so warm that I didn’t care whether anyone would think I’m a crazy cat lady for going to two feline-inspired restaurants in a row.
It’s an easy trope to lay on a woman with two cats and a lot of bookshelves, and I wasn’t helping the stereotype by traveling alone. And when I was at Fat Cat, I was served by a woman wearing a cat T-shirt as I sat at a table with a little kitty statuette. But when that fast and friendly server brought out a plate overflowing with an enormous green salad and quiche so creamy that even the most finicky feline would lap it up, I decided I didn’t care if Denver Post readers would brand me a crazy cat lady. I had to tell you about Fat Cat Cafe. And let you know that the décor and cat T-shirts are just a wink at cat kitsch, so don’t sweat it, even if you’re a die-hard dog person.
I landed at Fat Cat after driving through Rocky Mountain National Park from Estes Park, where I had gone to the day before. (More on Moon Kats shortly.) I hadn’t been to Grand Lake in a few years, and I needed to nosh when I rolled into town after an early-morning bird walk on the park’s east side, followed by an exciting moose sighting on the park’s west side (a pair of moose, spotted across the meadows strolling along the Colorado River). With no fond food memories from a previous trip, I turned to Yelp and found plenty of favorable reviews for Fat Cat.
Purrfect.
Eating is part of the experience when we travel. Whether we’re just on a jaunt through a nearby mountain town or have our eyes on another prize, like a music festival or a powder day, we all have those favorite restaurants, breweries or bars that gnaw at us. ( in Telluride, I’ve been thinking of you, fondly. And in Poncha Springs — so good to see you last weekend!)
Yet in some places, I have a hard time finding that one restaurant that stokes a fire. Maybe it’s because some eateries in big tourism destinations feel pressure to cater to all and end up lacking that something special. In super-seasonal destinations, restaurants have to focus on earning a year’s worth of profits during a short high season. I understand that every town can’t have The Butcher and Baker … but Butcher and Baker, if you’re looking to franchise, I have a mental list of towns where I’d be thrilled to find you.
Estes is a place I visit often, but when someone asks me where to eat there, the cat has my tongue. I love the curry and hot chai at , but it was 86 and sunny when I was looking for lunch in Estes in late June. I was hunting for something new, and something that would beat the heat (salad!) when I stumbled upon Moon Kats Tea Shoppe. I popped in for a late lunch on a weekday thinking I’d easily get a table, but it turns out there aren’t many tables, and afternoon high tea is popular at Moon Kats. Now that I’ve had a slice of the Earl Grey tea bread (with a tasty lemon “kurd,” which I spread on the bread with a tiny knife with a kitty handle), I get why I had to wait. That bread was the cat’s meow.
Make a reservation if you plan to visit. You don’t want to wait forever. When cats get bored, they get curious … and even cat people don’t want to give up one of their nine lives just for lunch.
Jenn Fields: 303-954-1599, jfields@denverpost.com or twitter.com/jennfields
