"TL;DR - I don't know if it's a place I'd recommend to people that have never been there before, but since my wife and I knew what it used to be, we find ourselves still coming back to be slightly let down each time. Closer to a 3.5 than a 4. HopCat seems to be a shell of what it once was almost 20 years ago. I was in college at GVSU when the first one opened in Grand Rapids and knew a couple original employees at that location. Fast forward almost a decade later and I introduced my now-wife to HopCat and she fell in love with it as well; we visited the AA location several times before work has moved us all over the Midwest. Now, whenever we find ourselves in the area, HopCat is near the top of our "you wanna try and make time for that?" list. Our food was just a notch above mediocre: the cosmik fries have a substantially different texture than when they went by another name, and don't taste as great because of it. The accompanying cheese sauce also doesn't pack the flavor and texture it used to; the sauce used to be extremely thin, yet still thoroughly coat the fry with just a quick dip. I ordered the steak frites cooked to medium and I received a true rare; not a big deal for me, but I know plenty of people that would be an absolute no-no for. The Caesar salad was decent, but would have been better if it wasn't swimming in dressing. The brussel sprouts were somehow the best part of the dish: cooked to the correct doneness and the balsamic drizzle was the right amount to add flavor without overpowering it. Our server did an acceptable job; she was pleasant and checked on us twice, right after our food came out and then several minutes later to offer refills."

"Decided to try this place because of the amount of reviews. It was recommended to have reservations but not sure if because it was a Sunday they were not needed. It was nice they weren't very busy not exactly sure why. Food was good, maybe not great. Appetizer sampler was good, nice variety for a table. Both burgers were GREAT, the ruban was OK not the best, little salty. The fries are really good, seasoned well."

"Hopcat is a great restaurant/bar combo. Great food, but one you absolutely have to order is the cosmik fries. I don’t know what the seasoning is, but that doesn’t matter. They’re amazing. In addition to all that, Shea was a very attentive bartender and server. I didn’t even ask her to, but she refilled my water and asked multiple times if I wanted anything else to order. So she deserves a raise as well. All around a great experience and would highly recommend going here."

"I just finished an impeccable meal at Hopcat and I can’t say enough about the fantastic experience we had, largely thanks to our amazing server, Em. From the moment we sat down, Em greeted us with a warm smile and a welcoming attitude that set the tone for the evening. Her knowledge of the menu was impressive. She is clearly a seasoned pro. She provided excellent recommendations tailored to our tastes, and her enthusiasm for the food made us even more excited to try everything. Em was attentive without being intrusive, ensuring our drinks were always full and checking in on us at just the right moments. The ambiance of the restaurant was lively and inviting, but it was Em's outstanding service that truly made our visit special. She went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed, and her genuine care for our dining experience was evident. If you're looking for a wonderful meal in Ann Arbor, I highly recommend Hopcat, and be sure to ask for Em. I promise you will NOT be disappointed. You can hold me personally accountable if you are."

"Vibes were great, food was even greater! Great burgers, with a black bean burger option that exceeded expectations. If you're looking for a place that cat, burger, and beer lovers can all agree on- this is the place! We'll definitely be revisiting next time we're in Ann Arbor."