Date Visited: July 30, 2009
Reason Why We Visited:
The local band "Butter" is awesome. This summer they have performed many outdoor free concerts at the 31st Stage on the Oceanfront. This is a neat venue because we got the benefit of the ocean breeze, the tourist people watching, and Isabelle loves to dance around with the other kids on the huge lawn in front of the stage. The plan was to eat at Catch 31's cool outdoor section positioned conveniently within earshot and view of the 31st stage. We wanted to eat a light dinner, have a few drinks, and enjoy the music.
The Wait:
Because this IS tourist season and this is one of the most high class and popular spots on the Oceanfront, we were in for a wait. We ended up sitting on the lawn and listening to Butter play for over an hour before our little pager vibrated and we were actually given a table. Also, because we were warned of the wait when we arrived and we were starving we asked for "first available", so that landed us inside. At least we had gotten our Butter fix.
The Atmosphere:
Catch 31 is upscale. Its decor matches the hotel. The Hilton is only about five years old and everything in it is definitely meant to be eye-catching and luxurious feeling. The restaurant itself is a little on the loud side for Kate's taste. Between the clatter of the open kitchen, the conversation of other patrons, the canned music playing overhead, the TVs in the nearby bar area, and the faint sound of the outside activity including Butter still playing, it can be a bit overwhelming. Jon mentioned to me at this point the pros and cons of an open kitchen. Pro: Patrons enjoy watching the activity, it can be entertaining and it can give one the security of knowing what is NOT going on behind closed doors. Con: As a kitchen employee, one can feel a sense of pressure and uneasiness with all those eyes on you. There is little chance for horseplay or casualness with your fellow cooks, its all business and professionalism.
The Service:
After we were seated by the hostess (who proved to be everything a hostess should be: cute, perky, and polite), we waited a full five minutes before a hurried waiter rushed up to our table, poured water into the water goblets (which Kate loved) and mumbled something about our "real waiter" coming by shortly. Granted, they were VERY busy, but this display of events was a little annoying. Another five minutes goes by, and finally our "real waiter" arrives. He is breathing heavily and apologizing with some bizarre, half baked, almost unintelligible in his quick gaspy breaths, story about helping some other lady with her take-out order. For the rest of the evening he was creepily ever-present. Hovering and prodding excessively. "Can I get you anything else? Is everything ok?" Showing fake attention to the appropriateness of our drink and appetizer choices. Kate said to Jon (as the waiter walked away) "Ok dude, you were late, you are still getting a tip, back off".
The Food:
The goal of dinner was light. We ordered calamari as a shared appetizer and two dinner sized Ceaser salads. Kate has a special affinity for calamari and can tell you at just about every restaurant that serves it, whether it is good or not. Catch 31 disappointed...what was even further disappointing was that this restaurant is no casual dining joint that just attempts to reheat frozen calamari. This establish is ON the Oceanfront. It is supposed to have good seafood and even claims via the menu that it obtains all its product from fresh local markets. The calamari was not very tender and had a huge overabundance of tentacles instead of the more appetizing delicate rings that should melt in your mouth. The accompanying sauce however, was a pleasant surprise. Being used to some form of cocktail sauce, offering a different selection with calamari is definite points in our eyes. It was called a "sweet chile sauce" and it was a little sweet and a little spicy, just right. The Ceasers were Ceasers. Nothing much different from one eating establishment to the other. The only thing of note was the dressing. Kate mentioned that it was the lightest and tastiest Ceaser dressing she had had in a long time. Very mild and just the right amount on the salad.
The Drinks:
Jon ordered one of our over-eager servers recommendations, some kind of Island Rum Tea. He thought it was good although a little strong. Kate asked for own of her old faves, A Sex on the Beach. To her surprise, it came a weird algae green color instead of its traditional pink and orange. I asked the waiter to insure there was not a mix-up and he acted a little offended that I didn't recognize my own drink, as if its always been that color. Very strange...but still tasted like a Sex on the Beach so I guess no points lost.
The Desserts:
We took a short glance at the dessert menu. Over priced and everything sounded like they might have taken it out of a Sara Lee box and poured some melted chocolate over it. Not worth it.
Value:
Definitely not budget friendly. Everything on the menu is priced like you would expect at a "upscale seafood restaurant". Even our salads were a bit overpriced for plates of leaves and some cheese and croutons. But not a shocker either...this is the Hilton and the Oceanfront, remember.
Overall:
We would like to go back. There were quite a few other dishes on the menu that we wanted to try, especially the soups...they all sounded incredibly tasty. Maybe in the winter, minus the tourists and plus the cold weather.
Reason Why We Visited:
The local band "Butter" is awesome. This summer they have performed many outdoor free concerts at the 31st Stage on the Oceanfront. This is a neat venue because we got the benefit of the ocean breeze, the tourist people watching, and Isabelle loves to dance around with the other kids on the huge lawn in front of the stage. The plan was to eat at Catch 31's cool outdoor section positioned conveniently within earshot and view of the 31st stage. We wanted to eat a light dinner, have a few drinks, and enjoy the music.
The Wait:
Because this IS tourist season and this is one of the most high class and popular spots on the Oceanfront, we were in for a wait. We ended up sitting on the lawn and listening to Butter play for over an hour before our little pager vibrated and we were actually given a table. Also, because we were warned of the wait when we arrived and we were starving we asked for "first available", so that landed us inside. At least we had gotten our Butter fix.
The Atmosphere:
Catch 31 is upscale. Its decor matches the hotel. The Hilton is only about five years old and everything in it is definitely meant to be eye-catching and luxurious feeling. The restaurant itself is a little on the loud side for Kate's taste. Between the clatter of the open kitchen, the conversation of other patrons, the canned music playing overhead, the TVs in the nearby bar area, and the faint sound of the outside activity including Butter still playing, it can be a bit overwhelming. Jon mentioned to me at this point the pros and cons of an open kitchen. Pro: Patrons enjoy watching the activity, it can be entertaining and it can give one the security of knowing what is NOT going on behind closed doors. Con: As a kitchen employee, one can feel a sense of pressure and uneasiness with all those eyes on you. There is little chance for horseplay or casualness with your fellow cooks, its all business and professionalism.
The Service:
After we were seated by the hostess (who proved to be everything a hostess should be: cute, perky, and polite), we waited a full five minutes before a hurried waiter rushed up to our table, poured water into the water goblets (which Kate loved) and mumbled something about our "real waiter" coming by shortly. Granted, they were VERY busy, but this display of events was a little annoying. Another five minutes goes by, and finally our "real waiter" arrives. He is breathing heavily and apologizing with some bizarre, half baked, almost unintelligible in his quick gaspy breaths, story about helping some other lady with her take-out order. For the rest of the evening he was creepily ever-present. Hovering and prodding excessively. "Can I get you anything else? Is everything ok?" Showing fake attention to the appropriateness of our drink and appetizer choices. Kate said to Jon (as the waiter walked away) "Ok dude, you were late, you are still getting a tip, back off".
The Food:
The goal of dinner was light. We ordered calamari as a shared appetizer and two dinner sized Ceaser salads. Kate has a special affinity for calamari and can tell you at just about every restaurant that serves it, whether it is good or not. Catch 31 disappointed...what was even further disappointing was that this restaurant is no casual dining joint that just attempts to reheat frozen calamari. This establish is ON the Oceanfront. It is supposed to have good seafood and even claims via the menu that it obtains all its product from fresh local markets. The calamari was not very tender and had a huge overabundance of tentacles instead of the more appetizing delicate rings that should melt in your mouth. The accompanying sauce however, was a pleasant surprise. Being used to some form of cocktail sauce, offering a different selection with calamari is definite points in our eyes. It was called a "sweet chile sauce" and it was a little sweet and a little spicy, just right. The Ceasers were Ceasers. Nothing much different from one eating establishment to the other. The only thing of note was the dressing. Kate mentioned that it was the lightest and tastiest Ceaser dressing she had had in a long time. Very mild and just the right amount on the salad.
The Drinks:
Jon ordered one of our over-eager servers recommendations, some kind of Island Rum Tea. He thought it was good although a little strong. Kate asked for own of her old faves, A Sex on the Beach. To her surprise, it came a weird algae green color instead of its traditional pink and orange. I asked the waiter to insure there was not a mix-up and he acted a little offended that I didn't recognize my own drink, as if its always been that color. Very strange...but still tasted like a Sex on the Beach so I guess no points lost.
The Desserts:
We took a short glance at the dessert menu. Over priced and everything sounded like they might have taken it out of a Sara Lee box and poured some melted chocolate over it. Not worth it.
Value:
Definitely not budget friendly. Everything on the menu is priced like you would expect at a "upscale seafood restaurant". Even our salads were a bit overpriced for plates of leaves and some cheese and croutons. But not a shocker either...this is the Hilton and the Oceanfront, remember.
Overall:
We would like to go back. There were quite a few other dishes on the menu that we wanted to try, especially the soups...they all sounded incredibly tasty. Maybe in the winter, minus the tourists and plus the cold weather.
Thanks I'm going to try them out. This article was helpful.
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