This is #DishingIt – where we give you the inside scoop on what’s new and downright finger lickin’ good on the culinary scene. If you like trying different cuisines and discovering the next best Michelin star restaurant, this is the place to be. Our team recently landed at Fat Rabbit in St. Catharines and fell in love with the art of butchery and a good cut of meat.
The Vibe
Photo credit: Daniel Neuhaus
When you walk into a restaurant that’s on the Michelin Guide, and is ranked as one of the world’s best steak restaurants and best burger joint in the world, you feel the need to rush through the doors, get seated and order the whole menu. That’s the feeling we felt as we walked into Fat Rabbit, a well known butcher shop and restaurant all rolled into one, in the heart of downtown St. Catharines. The vibe is eclectic, the energy is vibrant and the music fades into the background as feasts are had at the small tables throughout the restaurant. With a newly expanded dining room, we loved the intimate feel the light-filled space provides diners. It’s a busy spot with folks stopping in to chat with the butcher, plates clattering and conversations had over family meals. Fat Rabbit is inviting and is clearly one of the trendiest restaurants in town.
The Concept
Photo credit: Daniel Neuhaus
Fat Rabbit is not your typical butcher or restaurant. It’s both weaved into one. It’s a zero waste butcher shop with a focus on bringing back the age old traditions of tending to and using the whole animal in the most ethical and responsible of ways. With a focus on sourcing from the best farms in the area, it’s a smooth transition from butcher to restaurant with traditional and unusual cuts of meat. It’s a place where you get your Sunday roast for the whole family, and you’re back on Friday for date night. The concept is simple, create a place where a community can gather to explore the intricate nature of farm to table.
The Food
Photo credit: Daniel Neuhaus
With an ever evolving menu, Fat Rabbit works alongside local farmers to pair seasonal vegetables with classics. With an in-house butcher, their menu is heavily influenced by their famous and sometimes unusual cuts of meat, which you learn to love when a cut of meat is prepared in the best way.
Photo credit: Daniel Neuhaus
Our menu for the evening consisted of indulging in the beef and shrimp tartare with potato chips, sirloin steak (the best one we’ve had in a long time), a family style side of delicious battered broccoli and the greatest burger known to mankind. Finishing off our dinner with the Sticky Toffee Pudding (a fan favourite) was just the ending we were looking for. The food was amazing, and we loved the family style vibe they throw down here. With platters of food filling our table, we couldn’t get enough of just how pretty our spread was.
The Verdict
We found a legit butcher, and because of that, we can’t wait to head back here. And if you have kids, they provide all the fun activities for kids to enjoy while the adults clean their plates.
