Back in Black

Hyannis is bustling with traffic as we sit down for dinner at the Black Cat Tavern, now under new ownership. We have a full view of departing ferries through the generous dining room windows that look out onto the breezy outdoor dining area and the lively Ocean Street harbor scene. For starters, I enjoy a cup of potato-packed clam chowder ($5.95) as my guest savors her Mediterranean Salad ($9.95), topped with a tasty house dressing that features lots of fennel. Next, the entrees: delicious Char-Grilled Salmon ($19.95), topped with mojo sauce, a Caribbean condiment that emphasizes cumin. My guest enjoys one of a handful of seafood entrees: Sauteed Gulf Shrimp ($20.95), cooked with roasted tomatoes and bathed in white wine sauce, elegantly served over angel hair pasta. We end a great meal with the Rocky Roadhouse Cafe Cake a La Mode ($6.95), a thick, fudgy treat named for its 29-year-old sister restaurant on nearby South Street. And there’s no need to skimp on the tip for the thoughtful service: The Black Cat has free valet parking.