The Fat Cat

Until September of last year, we lived in Somerville, MA.  While Somerville is not exactly a cosmopolitan mecca, it's up-and-coming and teeming with young professionals, which means at least one thing: great eateries.  We've recently relocated to Quincy, MA.  Quincy's great (more on that later), but one thing we've really been combing the area for are decent restaurants. It seemed as if the only place in our immediate neighborhood we hadn't attended was The Fat Cat, and that's because it's always been overrun with people.  I'm talking a packed bar, no tables, frenzied waitresses - busy.  One Tuesday night, we finally faced the crowds and only had to linger at the bar for 10 minutes before scoring a table.The interior of The Fat Cat is really charming, comfortable, and up-to-date.  The walls inside are brick, the tables small but comfortable, and the lighting low enough to fit the aesthetic without having to use our Droid Flashlight to read the menu.  The only complaint about the layout is the bar - there are 2-3 feet of clearance between the stools and the divider for the dining room, which makes it all but impossible to stand at the bar and enjoy a drink.The service was great and we were seated within 10 slightly uncomfortable minutes.  Starving, we immediately ordered the Handcut Fries with Garlic & Parmesan, and Blue Cheese dipping sauce on the side.  Clearly, this date was not about the romance.  The fries were incredible; in fact, I was genuinely embarrassed each time the waitress walked by us and took notice of the rapidly diminishing pile of fries.The fries themselves were crisp and thick.  The garlic was not garlic powder, or garlic flavoring - it was raw, minced, fresh, delicious garlic, mixed with fabulous shreds of parmesan.  My god, just thinking about them now has me reaching for my cell phone to place a pick-up order.Next, we ordered entrees.  Phil knew he was getting some kind of macaroni and cheese from the moment we walked in, because it was being devoured at more than half the tables that night.  He must have just been paid, because he went with the Lobster Macaroni and Cheese ("Lobster Mac").  After much deliberation, I went with the Scallops Au Gratin.My scallops were cooked to perfection, lightly browned on the outside and moist inside.  The sauce was only faintly cheesy and tasted light on my tongue, nothing like the yellow cheese goop I was envisioning when I ordered.  On the side were sauteed green beans, clearly fresh and equally understated, but also a bit undercooked.  The sweet potato mash was great for sweet potato mash, but sweet potato mash isn't really my jam.  My jam is seafood, and I jammed out with the scallops at Fat Cat.It was clear why Phil's Lobster Mac was meal of choice that evening.  Huge chunks of lobster - "way more lobster than would ever be necessary" - filled the bowl.  The cavatappi was a change of pace from elbows, ziti, or similarly boring pasta.  The dish on the whole was really interesting, bridging the gap between soul-satisfying comfort food and high-end cuisine.BOTTOM-LINE: The Fat Cat is definitely a must-try if you're on the South Shore (or if you're in Boston and down for a trip on the Red Line, which recently celebrated 100 fantastic years of carting burgeoning restaurant goers to Quincy, MA).  But remember this: no matter how delicious they were, steer clear of the Garlic & Parmesan Hand Cut Fries if you're on, hoping to be on, or are in any way thinking about going on a date.  That taste lingers.Editor's Note: Our readers should know that throughout this satisfying and rather inspiring meal, Phil was focused primarily on the wall art behind us.  He was convinced it was a squirrel, some kind of rodent, a rat even.  I reminded him that we were at THE FAT CAT, not The Fat Rat or anything else.  Even so, it was hard for the waitress and me to convince him it was a feline.  Thoughts?  Let us know what you think this creature looks like by commenting below!  The Fat Cat24 Chestnut StreetQuincy, MA 02169(617) 471-4363