OC Restaurant Quest: Three Cats in Downtown Clawson
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Sept. 10, 2023)
Clawson, MI – Three Cat’s cafe in Downtown Clawson is a special story in our quest to try every restaurant in Oakland County. A friend and I had gone there just before the pandemic shutdowns began, so I wasn’t able to feature them at the time. That means I was extra happy to go there for a recent lunch with another good friend to enjoy the fine food and eclectic atmosphere.
Three Cat’s is part of the Leon & Lulu collection – a boutique with treasures old and new spanning two buildings in the quaint downtown – including an old movie theater that still bears the neon-formed name “Clawson” on the marquee. Inside the walls are adorned with artsy items – including old circus posters. On the tabletops were felt bouquets placed inside antique roller skates. Visitors are encouraged to shop the various displays, which include local artists and antiques, greeting cards, Michigan-themed items and more.
Selecting from their mocktails list, I had the Strawberry Fields Forever made with lemon juice, orange juice, fresh strawberries, rose water,and Coco Lopez which added a creamy coconut flavor. It tasted as beautiful as it looked. My friend had red wine, poured table-side like we were being fancy, in glass with the adorable Three Cat’s logo. There are a number of cocktail and mocktail options, as well as specialty beer and wine choices.
We started with an appetizer of Asparagus and Lemon Pinsas, a doughy flatbread topped with asparagus, preserved lemon, cashew ricotta, microgreens, and edible flowers. Pinsas are similar to pizza but the dough is hand-pressed and is made with more flour, giving it the airy, chewy texture.
For the main course, my friend ordered Reuben which was made with pastrami that day instead of corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Russian dressing, on marble rye bread. I opted for Connecticut style lobster roll, made with tarragon butter poached lobster on a brioche roll with house pickles and chips. We split them in half so we could enjoy each. Both sandwiches were made with care using delicious ingredients.
Menu items change, but some others listed on their site at the time of writing this include Matt’s Exhotic Mushroom Soup, Spicy Honey Chicken sandwich, Prosciutto and Fig pinsa, and small plates like Duck Rillette, Creole Crab Cakes, Maple Smoked Carrots, and Whitefish Spread. There are also a number of dessert choices, like the Panna Cotta which has Madagascar vanilla w/espresso gelee, and amaretto cookie crumb. Sorbet flavors include strawberry banana, and black raspberry with limoncello.
Three cats was founded by Mary Liz Curtain and the late culinary expert Matt Prentice with a vision that ” brings magical menus and delightful dishes to life in a modern and engaging space.”
Three Cats is located at 116 W. 14 Mile in Downtown Clawson. Learn more at www.http://threecatscafe.com.
Oakland County Times is on a QUEST to enjoy every local restaurant in Oakland County. This long-term project is a labor of love, supported by our friends at White Castle. White Castle is a family-owned company that is proud to be one of only 20 large employers to make the Fortune Best Places to work list in 2022. With steam-grilled sliders, crispy golden french fries, fantastic slides like onion chips or fried clams, and the best chocolate shakes, White Castle is a by far our top choice for a fast food meal. Check out their website at www.WhiteCastle.com.
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