I met up with Steffie and her beau at LACMA on Thursday and afterward we headed to Hollywood for an early dinner at The Cat and Fiddle, a place that Steffie’s beau, a bona fide Brit, wholly endorses. Situated on Sunset Boulevard, sitting back from the noise and grime of the street is a tranquil courtyard perfect for outdoor dining. We ate inside where the decor is English pub-centric, though not football hooligan over the top. There is an area for darts and a stage for their live music nights, typically Sunday and Thursdays.

Steffie ordered macaroni and cheese with peas, bacon and mushrooms while her beau and I each ordered the chicken and mushroom pie with steamed vegetables and fries (for Kris) and mashed potatoes (myself).

Steffie enjoyed the mac and cheese and let me have a few bites to judge for myself. The macaroni (or pasta) in question is penne style. Very cheesy and rich, though I could do without the bacon. Stef is too much of a bacon purist to due without it.

I was careful to ask the waiter if canned mushrooms are used for the pie, which they are thankfully not. Anyplace that uses tin mushrooms does not get my business. I enjoyed the pie – though I was surprised that the chicken and mushroom mixture came in a ramekin with no actual pastry shell or bottom. This bummed me out just a bit since the top shell was extraordinary. I mixed the mashed potatoes up, added a little HP sauce (I wasn’t fond of the gravy) and ate it all up.

Prices are a little steeper than what I am used to for Brit pub fare, but the quality holds up and the portions are nice. HP sauce available for purists. I’m not promising anything, but you may spot a rocker or two here as The Cat and Fiddle’s roots lie in rock and roll with its co-founder Kim Gardner. Learn more about The Cat and Fiddle from the link below.

The Cat and Fiddle
6530 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 468-3800
website