The Laughing Cat

Generally a very tasty place for Italian in Tampa. They’re very accommodating for large groups and have good portion sizes. I had the gnocchi, and they were quite tasty. I really appreciated the richness of their basic red sauce. One thing I would say is to keep an eye out on when you leave, as having a late dinner on the weekend usually launches you into club traffic.

On my search for some Italian. I noticed the laughing cat had No reviews. Wth!?! Ok I know allot of people have come here. I want to first say that I liked the place when the owner had a smaller place. Expect a long wait for your food and expect the portions to be big! I have to say the food is good there but it’s not the best Italian I have ever had. Although you know someone is making the dish from scratch and made to order. Waiting 30 – 45 mins for my food to come out is a bit crazy. Came here several times and not impressed. I rather have smaller portions for better quality

Wasn’t feeling it right when I walked in. The place is a dump which I mistakenly took for «character.» They had a buffet going and I was hungry so I drove the family inside. After a quick glance at the buffet’s complete lack of pasta the family decided to order off the menu. I mean it’s Italian right? I’d expect pasta dishes! At this point it became very apparent that the service level was set at buffet standards and not seated dining. Took forever to take their order, I had cleared two plates from the buffet (I wasn’t eating fast) before their plated food was brought. Silverware was never brought, nor were napkins (because they expect you to grab them from the buffet line) They up charged splitting a plate and never refilled our drinks.
Told the wife that I wouldn’t be leaving a tip so if she wanted to she could. Don’t remember if she bothered.

Man, when you walk into a restaurant and your spidey sense tells you to leave.leave.
The energy in here was weird and not friendly.
The buffet wasn’t very good and very limited.
My niece wasn’t a fan of the buffet so we order a pasta dish (fettuccine alfredo) which was COVERED in pepper. We were then charged $ 5 to split the dish which came with nothing. No bread, salad or forks. Nice, huh? $ 25 total.
I wish we went to Hamburger Marys down the street.

So I am basing this review not on the fact that I fell ill 6 hours after eating here, but I do relate this to what I believe was reheated Lasagna (since it was warm when I received it and not hot like its been in the oven). We chose this restaurant after our main restaurant we wanted to go to was closed for renovations (it is Italian to in Ybor)
Pros: The serving staff was awesome! I cant remember his name, but he had a pony tail, and I do believe he was the main bartender, but he was funny and was on top of the needs of our party. The food looked great and tasted great. I was the only one at the table who got sick that could be 100% not related to alcohol. Everyone enjoyed the food while there, and the food portions were large.
Cons: The price!!! The food and size portions did match the price more or less. BUT THE ALCOHOL, FORGET ABOUT IT!!! DONT BUY ALCOHOL HERE!!! There was a ridiculous upcharge for all alcohol. There is no happy hour specials during summer (weird but w/​e). A shot of Jack Daniels will run you on your tab 12 $. Other shots were ordered for the party and I don’t know the exact price, but I am sure they were outrageous. A bottle of Budlight 5 $ (Come on there is a brewery down the street that has 5 $ craft beer, from draft, and 16oz, and a higher alcohol content, and its NOT BUDLIGHT).
OVERALL: I don’t think I ever have the need to go back. I have been to many places to eat in Ybor and when I left I felt them I felt satisfied with my experience, here not so much. Maybe it was because we went on a Tuesday at 530pm, even though this shouldn’t matter.

The Laughing Cat is a cool little Italian Bistro on North 15^th St, in Ybor City, Tampa. The service was splendid, immediate and very helpful.
We started with mussles finished in marinara sauce — awesome! I had the filet mignon with pasta, grilled veggies and paired with a very nice red wine. The steak was perfectly done to my taste (medium rare), and finished with a red wine reduction and gorgonzola cheese & carmelized onions which gave it a salty-​sweet tang. Normally, I prefer the meat without any type of sauce, but this was terrific.
My wife had the grilled grouper which was also perfectly done. The portions are enormous! I had enough food for three more meals. Fortunately, you CAN take it with you!
Do yourselves a favor and check this place out. You’ll be glad you did.

This is officially my new favorite place in Ybor. Disclaimer: I rarely go to Ybor. HOWEVER, this place is in my top-​5 in Tampa Bay so that’s something right? We had the appetizer special and… well…holy s**t it was amazing! I’ve included a pic of the fiancé using my drink straw to consume the last remnants of the mind-​blowingly awesome sauce! It was a Portobello mushroom stuffed with crab, roasted red pepper, garlic, and onions, and topped with melted parmesan cheese, and finished with a white wine cream sauce that made us want to grab strangers and shake them to death.
I ordered the crab cakes for my main and they were quite tasty. Our server suggested I get the sauce/​topping on the side and he was correct. The fiancé ordered the Pappardelle Piemontese and, when he reached a point of Thanksgiving-​Dinner-​esque fullness he decided to go outside and have a cigarette and wait to get hungry again instead of leaving the rest of the pasta behind — commitment.
Throughout the deliciousness I was also enjoying the best strawberry mojito I’ve ever had. Real strawberries baby!
Last thing to share: We told our server to give our compliments to the chef for the amazing appetizer special and he returned to let us know that the chef had invited us to tour the kitchen! Bam! Customer service just slapped you in the face bit*h!

I absolutely adore this place! I love the family feel of the restaurant in their new location (not to worry — it’s just across the street from their old place!).
The food is to die for!!! The prices are reasonable and it has a great atmosphere. Even the waiters’ accents add a little touch that makes me feel like I’ve been transported to Western Europe for a few hours.
I would highly recommend anything from a business dinner to a dinner date for this restaurant!

I wanted to LOVE this place, after my brother raved about it. Well… it was a nice meal, but, nothing great.
Ordered the special appetizer – stuffed portobello shroom. Would have tasted really great, if the center hadn’t been cold, and the rest of it room temp. The waiter took it away while our meals were served, w/​out asking if we’d like to take it to go, or finish it there.
Against my guts’ wishes,. I went with a slightly healthier option, and immediately regretted not caving into my chubby girl’s desire. Linguini with white wine/​garlic sauce and scallops, squid, mussels, and shrimp. Shrimp and scallops-​overcooked. At least there was quite a bit of seafood, I will give them that. However, it was sooo bland. I wound up eating more of my mom’s lasagna (best dish out of all 3). My brother ordered the filet with gorgonzola cheese atop it, penne vodka and steamed veggies on the side. Filet was really flavorful and cook perfectly (medium rare), cheese was… off…vodka sauce on point.
Maybe if I’d chosen something more fattening… something smothered in meat and cheese… then I’d tack on 2 more stars. Now I know what that damn cat laughs about… dieters in an Italian restaurant!

The frutti di mare was amazing! It was full of scallops, shrimp, and mussels. The eggplant param wasn’t as exciting, but we really loved the traditional, hearty tomato sauce.
The waiter also recommended free parking around the 15^th and Palm intersection. Check it out and try the fruitti di mare or one of the grouper specials.

A few hours after we grubbed like freaking KINGS at this joint, I asked my chica, «So what did you think about The Laughing Cat?» Her reply, one word, was, «Expensive.» And that it was. We had a party of 10 and the bill was over $ 400. Granted, the $ 62 gratuity was included, and we had 3 pitchers of sangria, but that still puts the average cost per head at around $ 36. Ain’t no Italian food that good, in my humble opinion. With that being said, there were no complaints around the table. Everyone seemingly enjoyed their grub, but no one was overly excited either.
I had the POLLO TRIESTINA, which is Chicken breast lightly breaded and sautéed with Portobello mushrooms, peppers, onion and basil, topped with provolone
cheese and finished in a white wine sauce. It was good. Not $ 18 good though, and it didn’t come with a salad or anything. Best part of it all, the strawberry sangria.
Service was way above average. Very attentive and professional. The atmosphere was cool and dim; I liked it. Way better than what the place was like when it first opened up in the late 90’s or early 2000’s. If you ever ate there back then, you know what I’m talkin’ about.
All-​in-​all, the experience was good, but I’m not sure if it’s worthy of a return. There is a lot of good Italian food out there for a hell of a lot cheaper, in my opinion.

3 of us went here. The Unilocal reviews are very accurate. It is located in Ybor City in a cool part of the area. Lots of bars and restaurants. Our dishes were excellent and the drinks good. I had the past special with cheese tortellini, some sausage in a red sauce.
It is not a fancy place in terms of the decorations or tables, but the service is good, prices fair and the portions generous. Good for a family gathering or night out. I would go again.

I’ve been to The Laughing Cat several times over the years, and have always had a nice meal. The restaurant is located in Ybor City at the corner of 15^th Street and 8^th Avenue, so you’re serenaded by the sounds of the Ybor trolley car rumbling by outside. The Laughing Cat has moved across the street from it’s original location into a bigger space.
The Cat is really two different restaurants in one as the majority of people during the weekday lunch rush are there for the AYCE buffet, whereas the supper crowd is there for the quality Italian cuisine with wine.
The lunch buffet starts with a tray full of salad with homemade dressings off to the side They usually have several cold dishes including marinated mushrooms, mozzarella with peppers and tomatoes, and chilled salmon. The hot dishes include pasta with red sauce, some type of protein like baked chicken, sliced pork, fish, meatballs, and then some other vegtables or pasta dishes. The lunch buffet includes bread and dessert, and is priced at about $ 10.
Supper is a much more expensive proposition with the entrees costing $ 15 — $ 25. Everything is a la carte in the evenings, so you’ll also need to pay for appetizers, salads, soups, and desserts. That will bring your bill closer to $ 45 — $ 50 per person. Of course, add more if you include a bottle of Italian wine with your meal.
I have a couple of stand-​by favorites off the main menu, including Chicken Yolanda which is chicken breast stuffed with Italian sausage, roasted red peppers and provolone cheese, finished in a sherry wine sauce with mushrooms. This meal is HUGE, and you’ll be taking at least half of it home. I also like Pollo Triestina which is chicken breast lightly breaded and sautéed with portobello mushrooms, peppers, onion and basil, topped with provolone cheese and finished in a white wine sauce. One other favorite is Salmone Marechiara which is salmon filet sautéed with garlic, white wine, basil and a touch of tomato sauce, garnished with mussels.
The Cat also has a lot of the traditional Italian favorites, and to the best of my knowledge, everything is homemade.
Service at The Cat can be a bit spotty, depending on your server. Some of the servers have been there for a long time, and they are very attentive and knowledgable about the menu. Unfortunately, some of the newer servers have copped an attitude, and you’ll have a less-​than-​5 star evening if one of them is servicing your table.
Franco is the owner /​chef, and he makes some incredibly delicious meals. I just hope that they can correct some of the issues in the front of the house.

My second visit, and just as wonderful as the first time two years ago. The service is excellent, food is delicious, and the ambience comfortable. Highly recommended!
Our waiter was so knowledgeable about the menu, and he said he’d only worked there 6 weeks.
My entrée was far too much food to eat. I think it might have been more ellegant if the entries were smaller portions. The quality is great, but I hate wasting as much food as I did!
This place is wonderful. I wish we’d been there in the evening when the area was busier. Maybe next time!

We didnt eat the buffet, we ordered off the menu.
I give them a 3 because you can do so much with pasta, I just felt like the pasta could have been more flavorful. It was no different then going to somewhere like olive garden, well it might be just slightly better than olive garden, but pretty much on the same level.
Food definitely needs more flavor.

Generally a 3 star review from me means something was wrong, but I’m willing to give the place another shot. Personally I blame my friend who accompanied me, because every place we’ve been to together has had horrible service — but now that I’ve read other people’s reviews, turns out their service just sucks.
When we got there, we decided to sit by the bar, near the kitchen and while it took us some time to order (the menu is huge), and I settled for Veal Saltimboca and my friend the Chicken Parm.
So we ordered, got the complimentary bread, and sat there. For a long time.
Now it turns out that other people are warned that food takes 45 minutes. We were not given this warning and so we sat there.
Eventually we got our main course — the sides, well they were coming out in just a moment. So we dig in. The food is good, big portions.
And by the time we’re done, the sides come out. Yeah.
The food was good, but I’d probably just order take out from now on. It really wasn’t worth the wait, but I’ll try the place again with a bigger group just so we are more entertained during out long food wait.

Some of the best Italian food around. They call it «contemporary italian,» which mean they head chef takes his favorite influences and does whatever he wants. The result is delicious. He has cooked all over the world and have a menu and the skills to show for it. Mushrooms adorn almost every dish. The sweet potato gnocchi is particularly good. If you want a nice meal down in Ybor, check out this spot.
It’s good for the price and the service is solid too. Just an all around good restaurant, and I don’t go for Italian often at all.

Why 1 star? There was nothing redeeming about my experience, and that opinion was shared by my party of 8.
— — —
I don’t like hanging out one star. But I wouldn’t be able to look in the mirror if I handed out two here.
Server? Extremely slow. Made several mistakes. Had kind of an attitude.
Food? Cold. Really cold.
It mostly tasted like it was all cooked in the same pan… only that this alleged «cooking» had taken place about four hours prior. I don’t think one thing on my plate from the buffet was warm. That’s not acceptable.
Also, a brief description of the items in the buffet would have been beneficial. I am no Italian food expert and was unsure of what most of the entrees were. Can we get some labels? Can we get some heat lamps? I mean… at least TRY to pretend that the food is warm.
I was warned by a co-​worker a long time ago to stay away from the Laughing Cat. I should have listened.

Sorta trendy, but great Italian dishes. Have tried it only once, after having passed by several times due to high dinner prices and no recommendations. But then stopped for a very reasonably-​priced lunch buffet… simply wonderful… great antipasti, fresh mozzarella, several salad options, meatballs in fine sauce, selection of pastas, chicken parmesan, etc. Menu shows some nice al la carte veal & chicken entrees… but note that prices are not shown in the online menu photo… irritating.
The quality overall was better than most chains like Olive Garden or Carrabba’s and nearly equaling much higher-​priced places like Donatello’s. Really need to get back there, even if parking is a pain sometimes in Ybor, but the City has announced that crime rates have dropped (if you ignore recent homicides) But safe enough if you get in and out for lunch or before 9 pm.

First visit… uhhhh mazing. Really would love to try an app, salad or dessert, but with the portions as others have noted… don’t know if that’s ever going to happen.
Went basic the first time… just went with chicken parmesan and a side of penne. Chicken parm was solid… but the sauce for the penne was incredible. Made for a great dinner and breakfast the next morning.
Can’t say it’s the best Italian I’ve had, but certainly up there given the lack of options here in the Tampa area.