I got there early so I didn't really deal with a crowd issue. The fish was fantastic. I had the halibut. Very good. The only let down were the sides. The sides were not on par with the yumminess of the fish. The drinks were great and they had a fantastic salad...Martha's vineyard, delicious. I would go back for the fish and the salad...something to also note is they hand stuff their olives with blue cheese if that is your thing. Yummy in an afternoon sipper.
(4)
Bill C.
This is a TOP pick on Zagats and after eating there, I was very unimpressed. There are so many amazing restaurants in Chicago and I feel like I wasted a meal on this place. The meal was poorly prepared, unimaginative, and typical. The rice had no sauce or anything - it was dry. The veggies had nothing on them - just green beans. The Chilean Sea Bass was prepared nicely but didn't have enough of the glaze to dip it in. For the prices, there are much better restaurants on Rush Street. Avoid this one.
(2)
Katie R.
First of all, the place is huge. And very 'art deco.' My mom (visiting from out of town) loved it, but it didn't feel like "Chicago," and I definitely wouldn't have chosen to go there if I had picked the restaurant. The baked oyster appetizer was delicious, but my entree of sauteed halibut with portobello and crab sounded more interesting than it tasted. Very buttery.
(2)
Ed D.
I go there every time I'm in Chicago and just love the place. The yellow fin tuna is the best around - I don't know how they consistently get it so tender and tasty. Atmosphere was great - I sat in the very front corner in the "bar" seating area - and enjoyed the music (no live music this time) and service. One minor thing - the dish was to come with rice but I got mashed potatoes instead - but I just ate them, as they were pretty good. The bread beforehand was warm. I asked for a dish of olive oil to dip into instead of the butter and enjoyed that. The Asian spinach salad was very good, but I thought it was just a little small for the price. The decaf coffee was bitter. They took that off the bill, but I'd have preferred to enjoy the coffee instead. Also, $10 for a bowl of berries and a scoop of ice cream was a little steep. They were fresh, and I thought the ice cream was tasty, but $7.95 would have been the right price at a place like this.
(4)
Junchen F.
The service is good although we waited 30 minutes longer than the appointment. My expectation for the food is a little bit too high but overall the quality is decent.
(4)
Anna S.
Very friendly service! The food I ordered was fresh and delicious. I started with the steamed mussels with white wine and garlic, the mussels were really good but the sauce could have been a little more acidic. The sourdough bread was yummy. My main course was the Chilean sea bass, wow excellent!! I would have given it 5 stars but I was not impressed with the sauce that was cooked with the mussels and the place reminded me of a cruise
I came here after seeing the great musical "Crowns" which I highly recommend. I had the Alaskan Salmon, which was amazing! My Mother in love had the lobster tail and Filet Mignon. The presentation was excellent, and the service was great as well. I also had the best Riesling I think I have ever had here. 2 glasses and I was "feelin' it!". :-)
(4)
Amber R.
I dined here last week thanks to the gDine deal. It is a pretty amazing dining experience...you get 3 courses for $28! Here's what I had: First Course - Coconut Beer Batter Shrimp Big portion. was a great 'sharing' appetizer. The shrimp were lightly fried (if that is possible). Either way they did not feel heavy. Perfectly cooked with a very nice sweet and spicy sauce. Second Course - Shrimp Surf & Turf I cannot believe this was included in the three course gDine deal. Great Steak! Third Course - Key Lime Pie This was to die for!! I usually go for the chocolate, but the key lime was calling my name and boy was i happy it did. We left there completely stuffed. I will go back anytime, just as long as its on gDine.
(4)
Sarah Z.
This is not your typical stuffy I'll-have-an-iced-tea restaurant in the loop where the food is just okay but very expensive because of the location. I came here on a Friday night and the place was packed with a lively and diverse crowd. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a hot spot, but I was pleasantly surprised and did not feel out of place in semi casual attire. And I couldn't believe it, but everything on the menu did not cost an arm and a leg. My entree was under $20 bucks! My date had some kind of fish dish that he devoured and I had the mushroom ravioli that was DIVINE. The only downer was that the Valet wouldn't keep our car past 11pm. Seeing as we were going to a show at the Chicago Theater after dinner, that would have been a nice perk.
(4)
Colleen A.
I came here for Restaurant Week during lunch. It was President's Day so it was pretty empty, which was nice that we weren't being rushed. The service was great - even though we mentioned we were going to do the restaurant week menu, the waitress tried to upsell us on the 2 most expensive things on the menu, but I get it - it's their job. The waitress also overheard that it was my birthday and put a candle in my dessert which I found nice when she knew we were doing the special "cheap" menu. I started with the crab bisque (my dad had the clam chowder) and we both loved our soups. Not too filling but great taste. I had the whitefish entree and it was delicious. It had a crunchy outside and soft and flaky inside with the perfect flavor to not overwhelm such a delicate fish. It also came with garlic mashed potatoes and spinach. My dad really enjoyed the short ribs and licked his plate clean. Dessert was great because we got to pick anything off the menu instead of being forced one dessert. I had the chocolate molten cake and it was good. Not quite as ooey, gooey as some that I've had (that is a very technical term btw!) but it was tasty. My dad's carrot cake bread pudding was the winner though. Definitely a great experience. I like using Restaurant Week to try out more expensive places that I wouldn't normally be able to afford, and I will definitely come back here and pay full price. It is worth it.
(4)
Lisa L.
im sad to report that i was not impressed with catch 35. it did not meet my high expectations of fine dining. the service was good but everything else fell a little short. i ordered a soup (i can't even remember what kind... i think shrimp bisque but it was not memorable) and the seabass. i thought the seabass would be the safe and delicious choice. unfortunately, there were a few bones in it... i don't think I've ever had seabass with bones at a restaurant. second, it was slightly over cooked and did not have the melt in your mouth sensation. that made me sad. however, i asked for sauteed spinach in place of the rice pilaf and that was yummy! on the otherhand, the service was pretty good. one of my colleagues received burnt risotto and they brought out another one right away. and we lingered until past 11 without anyone shooing us out the door. it's unfortunate, but i just had higher expectations for this type of establishment. for the price, i will not be returning for another meal.
(2)
Meagan L.
I was expecting Catch 35 to be good based on friends' experiences and I was not disappointed! Our server was very prompt and we weren't kept waiting long for anything. The new(ish) feature on their menu is their fixed price menu, $29.95 per person. Considering that you get a soup or salad, an entree, and dessert, it's a pretty good deal. I ordered the Honduran Tilapia, which had a fantastic crab crust on top, so delicious! I also tried my boyfriend's Atlantic Salmon with lemon dill sauce, which was equally delicious. Dessert surprised me; I was under the impression that it would just be your average dessert, but I was completely mistaken. The pecan pie is so yummy. If I had an entire pie in front of me, it would be difficult not to eat the entire pie. I also tried the pumpkin cheesecake; as a festive dessert, it was completely appropriate and definitely puts you in the fall state of mind. There is nothing bad I can say about Catch 35, everyone was so attentive, nice, and prompt, and the food was excellent. More restaurants should follow their model!
(5)
Lm P.
The Wild Alaskan Coho Salmon, grilled with a tomato, olive and avocado relish, was quite simply one of the best meals I ever had! See dinnerdrinksandamovie.co…
(5)
Larysa G.
I was there with my family on New Year dinner and it was a very good experience.. The service is great and fast . We ordered 2 kind of fish and shrimps with noodles for my daughter. Her shrimps were too spicy for me. The fish was good ..just good but not excellent. Environment and idea of design is great also.
(4)
Laura B.
Catch 35 offers an excellent selection of seafood, flown in daily. They have more fish options than anything (as opposed to shrimp, scallops, crab, etc.). I got one lobster tail, which was good. A tad overcooked, but still yummy. My husband ordered the seabass, which was excellent, the best-prepared fish I have had in recent memory. Decent selection of wine - we had the house pinot grigio which was fine. For dessert we had the chocolate cake whic was very good but not knock-your-socks off. Service was excellent - attentive but not annoying. Our server knew we were seeing a show at the Goodman and he timed everything just right. I liked the atmosphere of the restaurant - classy but not uptight. Nice and open, and the lighting was just right. Overall, we were very pleased. I would definitely return.
(4)
Jennifer L.
Had dinner here before a show last week. Everything was delicious! Well except the crabcake. It was a little too fishy, but I'm willing to let that slide based on all the other food I had. I ordered the white fish and boyfriend had the filet. Ranch dressing on salad was great. White fish, mashed potatoes, and spinach were amazing. Boyfriend liked his steak minus the veal glaze. He said the glaze was horrible. Luckily the steak wasn't covered in it. I don't eat red meat so i can't speak for myself. Desserts were unbelievable. Had the flourless chocolate cake and the pumpkin cheesecake. Both were outstanding! Place is really cute inside as well. Would eat here again in a heartbeat.
(4)
Steven W.
From the crab cakes to the salmon, Catch 35 represented one of the best parts of my recent weekend in Chicago. Obviously, you're paying a premium for the service, cuisine, and libations, but I think the experience was well worth it.
(4)
Fredrick B.
It had been a few years since I had been to Catch 35 for dinner, but I won't let that much time go by before I return again. They absolutely have the freshest seafood in Chicago, and though a bit expensive (almost $300 for 2) the dining experience was overall outstanding. The Crab Bisque was rich and flavorful, perfectly seasoned and a fresh tasting start; use of fresh ingredients was quite evident in the taste of the soup. Maryland Crab Cakes were baked, not pan fried, creating a much lighter version of a traditionally delectable, but sometimes oily appetizer. The South African Lobster Tails and King Crab Legs were perfectly prepared, not overcooked and tough like in so many allegedly "fine dining" seafood restaurants. Thumbs Up!
(5)
Amanda W.
They have a gluten-free menu, which earns them major bonus points in my book. Oddly, most of the salads on the regular menu didn't make it. I had the grilled salmon (came with potatoes and squash) with dill sauce and a side order of spinach. Overall, a nice meal in a nice restaurant ... nothing too terribly special, though, and too pricey for when the company's not paying.
(4)
Douglas C.
This is a very solid fish joint. Located in downtown Chicago, this very large restaurant came recommended for fresh fish in an upscale atmosphere. Since my group and I were heading to a rock concert at the Chicago theater that night, which happened to be a very hot summer day, we were all dressed very, very causally (shorts and short sleeve shirts, some collared, others not) and were probably under-dressed in comparison to the other older diners. We were welcomed warmly however. It should be mentioned that we did eat very early as well, so the majority of patrons were older. The restaurant is well appointed with a nice bar and friendly service. We explained that we were in a rush and that we would need quick service, which they more than willingly accommodated. The menu is rather expansive and includes steak, sushi, Asian inspired dishes and more basic fish dishes. I opted for a cup of the gumbo and Lake Superior Whitefish with potatoes and asparagus. The gumbo was very nice and passed muster. It was smokey with rich flavor. Additionally, the whitefish was simply prepared in butter sauce and was light fluffy and not fishy in the least. It was a simple but pleasant tasting piece of fish. The flavor did not knock my socks off but still I would order this simple dish again. The sides of potatoes and asparagus were also fresh and well seasoned. I managed to have a couple of forkfulls of the shrimp pad Thai and it was well textured and spicy. It was very good. Catch 35 was good and I imagine during the week, when surrounding businesses are open, it is a bit more hip than at 5 o'clock on a Saturday night in the dead of summer. However, the atmosphere is classy, service was friendly and efficient, and the food was good.
(4)
Aprille C.
Salad with pears, spiced pecans & Bleu cheese crumbles was delish! Shraraki(or whatever it was called) Shrimp was yummy but a but WAY too spicy for me. My mouth and lips burned through the whole meal. The BBQ unagi roll was superb. His salmon was delish. Fancy place but everyone was very attentive and there was no wait even though it seemed packed.
(4)
Katie M.
Don't bother! The service was abominable and food sub-par. A very disappointing experience and I will not return or recommend. There are so many great spots to choose from in the area....skip this one.
(1)
Bindi D.
I religiously check Yelp before committing to go to some places. Catch had great reviews, but it missed my pallet. I was not that impressed. There was not much to it. Pretty standard cuisine. The staff and the drinks were great though! Maybe we will meet again...
(3)
Terrence C.
I love seafood, and typically prefer it from either a market, or deep fried in the middle of the night. Catch 35 has REALLY fresh seafood in an upscale setting. Everything about the place is pretty classy, and food does not fall short. Near the kitchen all the seafood is laid out on ice, and looks super fresh. I was kind of upset they discontinued the lobster bisque, it was my favorite. There were huge chunks of lobster in it. You really cant go wrong with any of the surf n turfs. The sea bass is out of this world. Literally melts in your mouth! Highly recommended upscale place.
(4)
Ali W.
Just ok. Came here for lunch and we were seated right away with our reservation. I was tempted to get the three course tasting, but thought it may be too much food for a lunch...as i had to return to work after (can't exactly pass out at your desk). So I went with the Tiger Shrimp and Mushroom Ravioli. The shrimp was over cooked and dried out and the sauce was overwhelming. The pasta was drenched in it. I think if the lighted up on the sauce the pasta would have been very good, but the sauce/soup was just too rich for me. Everyone at the table had really great looking plates though. I think if i were to come back I'd get the whitefish or the tilapia... I also had the crab bisque and that was pretty good. there were just shreds of crab in it..no chunks. The inside decor is quiet interesting and the seating is kind of awkward and tight.
(3)
Judith K.
I have been going to Catch 35 for over twelve years for special occasions for the food, ambiance and good service. Service and ambiance have remained at a high level, the food has not. Yesterday evening the mussels appetizer I shared with my husband was disappointing. Mussels were fresh and plentiful but the garlic and wine sauce they came in was tasteless. I had the chiliean sea bass, my husband the Florida red grouper and both were very bland with no distinctive or interesting flavor. This is not how it used to be. At these prices, the restaurant needs a good chef. I may return for an after work drink for the excellent live jazz even though it can get very loud but we will not plan to eat here again.
(2)
Adam B.
Had dinner before going to the Chicago Theatre. Great waiter. Soups were real good. Sushi rolls were ok, but I'd recommend getting those from dedicated sushi restaurants. Fish was really good. Everything was hot and fresh. If you're in the neighborhood, give 'em a try. I wouldn't go out of my way though.
(3)
Dana F.
One of my colleagues (she's like a mom to me!) took me to dinner when I was visiting in Chicago. When I found out we were going to Catch 35, I could not be more excited. I looked at the menu online, and saw about 6 things I wanted, no exaggeration. To get to the main dining area, we had to walk past the case of fresh seafood, neatly arranged on trays by type, and all of the desserts. Let me tell you, I could have eaten every lobster tail on the tray in that case. There were at least 30 of them, but that's a minor detail. The interesting thing about the restaurant is that everyone is dressed very nicely, but it's not a pretentious place at all. We were having a good conversation, lots of laughing and cracking jokes, and no one was judging us. The waiter brought us plate after plate of warm, sourdough bread. It's difficult not to fill up on the bread. For a starter, I had the seared scallops. The only time I've had scallops that melted in my mouth like this was when I was in Spain (and those literally came from the beach). They were cooked to perfection. The plate also came with a round, flat, rice dumpling that was filled with spinach and chives - it was also delicious. Because I had lobster tails on my mind from the moment I walked past that case, I opted for the grilled lobster tail and king crab leg. The meal came with asparagus and mashed potatoes. The lobster and the crab were both so sweet. No joke, the crab meat that came from this leg was at least quarter of an inch in diameter at the widest joint. I was absolutely stuffed at this point, but had to leave room for dessert. We shared a molten chocolate cake and a slice of the deep dish apple pie. The chocolate cake was good, but it was a little too rich. The cake was filled with heavy sweet cream and caramel, in addition to the gooey chocolate center. The apple pie was good though - lots of apple and a nice flaky crust. The serving size was less like a slice and more like a wedge - these are definitely desserts that can be shared. I liked that we hung out after finishing our meal and no one was looking to turn our table over or rush us out the door. In summary: Catch 35 offers some of the most delicious seafood that I've had in the US.
(5)
John G.
Was completely surprised by this place, mostly because I work around the corner from it and never even knew it was there. First, great food, better service, and superb seafood selections/variety. From the moment we walked in, we knew we'd hit the jackpot for our dining. The place breathes class but it's not stuffy in any way. Our waiter was very personable and knowledgeable. He also wasn't shy about his opinions on the food/wine we inquired about. We ordered some cocktails with our apps and, although he got mine wrong, he was effusive with apologies & corrected the issue (and topped it off). My variety six-pack of oysters app was impressive. We selected one of the featured wines off the menu and were delightfully surprised by this Pinot Noir/Malbec hybrid and it paired perfectly with my swordfish steak We were seated immediately thanks to our reservations and it was probably one of the better seats in the house. I would like to mention that if you get a seat in the main travel area (you'll know what I mean when you see it), this would have been a 4-star rating. But based solely on last night's experience, this restaurant earned every bit of the 5 stars.
(5)
Michelle C.
Giving this place four stars because my entree notwithstanding, everything else here was super good. The seared tuna app that was on special was the size of an entree and it was perfect. I was craving crabcakes for dinner and when they were described to me as "very meaty" I was all in. My server lied. The crabcakes were not jumbo lump or "very meaty" as I expected, but rather they had that shreddy crab consistency that you can get at any not-special chain restaurant. And, they were lukewarm at best. Since I didn't want the fried rice that came with the dish, I asked for veggies instead. A pile of shredded, salad-bar-like carrots and some green beans showed up on the plate. Not very special. I held out hope for dessert and tried the gelato, which is specially made for the restaurant. I had half vanilla, half banana walnut with caramel swirl. If I could have gotten away with it, I would have licked the dish. It was that good. This is the only reason this place gets four stars instead of three. Also, a table of women near me ordered the chocolate mousse dessert, which came in a caramel "basket" and looked to-die-for.
(4)
Mo A.
If you eat at catch 35 then you must try the halibut. The waiter recommended it and he was right on. The mushrooms and Shallots were amazing and the fish perfectly cooked. It is a must try for seafood lovers.
(4)
Amy L.
Overview: I dragged my boyfriend here because I had a craving for oysters - he thought the restaurant looked cheesy from its website, but was pleasantly surprised when we got there. The food was good and the portions were large, but it wasn't spectacular. Food: The food we ordered was good but unmemorable (so much so that I don't even remember what we ordered other than oysters!) ... it wasn't great, but wasn't bad. The oysters were very good, though - I'd go again, just for the oysters! Atmosphere: The restaurant is trying hard to be sleek but the clientele just does not match up with the vibe the restaurant is trying to imbue with its decor. There were a lot of fashion fails the night that I went. I know that people in Chicago don't typically dress up when they go out, but seriously - white-washed jeans and scrunchies? Service: Like the food, unmemorable. Not bad, not great.
(3)
Tuyen T.
I went to Catch35 for a birthday dinner. Although we had reservations it took over half an hour before we were able to get our table. We had 10 people, and the table before us just dragged their stay. Anyway, the staff ended up putting us in a private room, which was nice. I got the Atlantic salmon and the garlic gnocchi. It was so good, I highly recommend it! Our table also plowed through so many plates of the bread and butter because we were starving from waiting so long. All the seafood dishes were good and so were the steaks. If the wait wasn't so long, this might have gotten 5 stars.
(4)
Lizzie S.
We were able to snag a last minute reservation on Open Table while en route to the restaurant Saturday night! Delicious warm bread served right away, nice start! For a drink, I had the thyme and cucumber cocktail - very refreshing after a hot day with a lot of walking! We took advantage of the free appetizer with a Facebook Check-in - coconut shrimp: tender and not too heavily breaded - nice pair with the sweet n sour sauce. BF ordered Tenderloin sliders - meat was done to order, tender, flavorful and juicy! Chips were a fun side - didn't expect a side with an appetizer! I ordered the Honduran Tilapia. Crab salad crust was a unique and tasty addition! The fish was light and flaky, large portion for the price! All in all I would recommend this place! Service was excellent, knowledgeable, friendly staff. We got in and out quickly, too - just what we needed for that evening!
(5)
Daniel L.
Was in Chi-town on business and this was one of the dinners. The location was good and it was a local scene. The seared scallops and massive szechwan chive pot sticker was delish! My entree was Halibut which was good. Stick to the "out of the ordinary" sections for seasonal selections.
For my 21st birthday, my boyfriend took a friend and I to Catch35. Woo! Amazing boyfriend! While I can easily get carried away gushing and praising him, let's focus on the real review. Catch35. We got there a bit early so there was not too much of a problem getting seated (though we had reservations). The decor was that of a standard ritzy seafood place. Nothing really stood out other than the piano when you walked right through the revolving door. Upon arriving, we were quickly taken to our seats near the back. My first observation was the date printed on the menu. That's right, daily menus. Something I'm not generally used to--awesome. Our bread and water were served quickly and our waiter was super nice. He didn't mind stopping by every once in awhile to see that we weren't ready. We ordered a bottle of Riesling (sooo good) as well as half a dozen oysters as a starter. There were three choices that day so we just got two of each. The two that I had were great, clean, served with your standard condiments. For the entree, my friend had their specialty, the sea bass (which I heard was amazing), my boyfriend had the steak (which again, I heard was amazing), and I had the halibut. My halibut was cooked perfectly and served with my ultimate comfort food, mashed potatoes. I'm pretty sure those were the best mashed potatoes I've ever had. Seriously. Then again..I really love potatoes. All in all, we had a great time there classing it up and celebrating my 21st. If I had the money, I'd probably go again at some point. But that was the one downside..I was a lucky girl that night to be able to go, but that's probably not the price point I would've gone for. Then again, we did have a bottle of wine...
(4)
Andrea C.
this year this was our valentines day destination and it was quite yummy! we went with the valentines day menu, which was a steal (3 courses for $30) and actually wound up eating the same thing...something that doesn't happen very often at all! we had: -lobster bisque -whitefish w/lemon sauce, potatoes and asparagus -peppermint cheesecake & profiteroles and everything was excellent! the service was spot on, too. there was a bit of a wait to be seated, but im assuming that was due to the valentines day crowd. overall, it was a solid dining experience. and there was a lovely jazz band playing near the entrance (not sure if this was for valentines day or a regular thing). an interesting crowd at the restaurant made for fun people watching and the decor was really cool! the marble facade inside and the deco-ish lamps reminded me of batman...and the light fixtures reminded me of lady gaga's sputnik grammy outfit. what can i say, ive got a creative imagination :) catch35 was great! they really reeled us in (bad pun intended)!
This place was amazing!!!! I went for NYE and the decor was really delightful. Live music and the food was simply delicious. This is a must-visit location! You will not be disappointed. Very sexy spot.
(5)
Jul B.
I went in with zero expectations & was pleasantly surprised. Catch 35 is a great solid seafood choice in the downtown Chicago area. I started with a cocktail which consisted of Patron & Lime Juice.. it was very strong (just how I like it). My friend adored her drink as well. [two thumbs up for the bartender] I ordered the crab cake appetizer & it was delicious!! Cooked to perfection. I ordered a shrimp entree and it was amazing. My friend also raved about her dish - which was the special. If you want fresh seafood - check out Catch 35.
(4)
Katie T.
We had previously been to the Catch 35 in Naperville and had a fabulous dinner so decided to try the location in Chicago. The restaurant itself is very nice, what you would expect for an upscale seafood restaurant. The food is just excellent! I swore up and down that I didn't like crab cake. Husband ordered it for an appetizer and talked me into trying a piece....and now I like crab cakes =) I also like that they steam the vegetables and leave them a bit "al dente". I hate it when restaurant cook veggies until they're limp. My carrots were firm and lightly glazed with butter, salt, and pepper. Perfect! The only reason this review isn't 5 stars is the waitress. She was perfectly polite and pleasant, but not very attentive. When she initially came over, we said we needed a minute to look over the wine list. That minute turned into much longer to the point that we were looking around for her. This was generally true for the rest of the meal as well. We were in a corner, but our part of the restaurant wasn't that crowded so I expected her to be around a little bit more. Nothing huge, but that's just a pet peeve of mine.
(4)
YaoYao W.
SO GOOD. I ordered the tilapia. MELTS IN YOUR MOUTH. My mom ordered the trout I believe? She didn't like it as much though I thought it was pretty good too. Gumbo, SO GOOD. Clam Chowder, GOOD but kinda watered down and not too creamy? Which might be a good thing considering how fatty we've all become. We got there at 6 and were seated right away. We knew that the restaurant must have been poppin since at 6 most of the tables were filled already. By the time we left there was already a line. Despite how busy they were, they got all the food to us in a timely manner, which weary travelers like us really appreciated. People around us were pretty dressed up? I think it's a date/special occasion kind of a place, and my mom and I were wearing sandals and sneakers and all sweaty from walking around the city and felt pretty under dressed. But that's ok! Wasn't tooooo awkward.
Drab outdated interior. Food is good with LARGE portions. Went for restaurant week-highlights were the seafood gumbo, filet medallions, ruby red trout, and toffee cake w/ ice cream. Great value for restaurant week!
(3)
Shannon D.
I don't eat fish, so I can't comment on any of the seafood options other than the two people in my party who ate salmon seemed happy with their meals. I came here for a business lunch, and had the twin petite filets with sauteed spinach and mashed potatoes. It was a very small portion given other lunches I've had at downtown restaurants. I was left hungry after the meal, which is never a good sign. But the quality of the food was excellent. I will definitely be willing to try Catch 35 again for dinner, but I'd skip the lunch if you're not a fan of fish. The non-fish lunch options are limited to a couple of beef dishes and Asian style chicken.
(3)
Martin M.
Both the food and service are consistently excellent. They always carry a wide selection of fish and preparation ranges from traditional to rather unique. A solid wind list and knowledgable servers make this a regular stop when I'm in Chicago.
(5)
Robert B.
The food was very good. Its great when your order comes out hot right from the kitchen. Our waitress was very helpful and we received just the right amount of service. The wine list was extensive, from reasonable to a splurge. The Seared Tuna was some of the best I have ever had. It was a little pricey, but the serving size was huge. I think you could have shared it! The atmosphere was very cool. I am not sure if its a great place for a large group, most of the tables are small.
(4)
carmen b.
Hello, FOOD SNOB here. I wished my wife still worked for Leo Burnett Advertising. This is the building Catch 35 is located. On Wacker Dr. One of the best things about going to a good Seafood Restaurant Downtown is the smell of Fresh Fish. You know what I mean. One of the best expeiriences of the senses. Just like an Italian Home on Christmas Eve. The Mussel appetizer came in a White wine and lemongrass broth. After sharing the Mussels with the old I mean little women, I finished the broth like a soup. Dunking my fresh bread with every bite. YUM. My Blackened Grouper was DELISH. Top Quality. I tasted my wifes Crab Legs and finished her Filet. They were both excelent. The Steak was very tender. This is one of your better Seafood restaurants downtown and a good place to impress a loved one.
(5)
Risa P.
Well I thought this place was delicious. We got 6pm reservations for a 7:30 show and told our waiter that when we sat down. He was very aware of this fact through out the meal and while he did not rush us, he kept us aware of the time. The restaurant is quite large and we ended up with a cute little romantic table that was secluded and nice. (It would have been a great place for an engagement. I kept asking my husband to pretend to propose again, but he wouldn't) We started out with the crispy chile salmon roll as an appetizer. We wanted to try their sushi, just to try, since the fish looked so good and fresh. It was six pieces, nice for a roll and quite yummy! The tempura crunch was very subtle which was nice and the fish was delicious. It wasn't the most exciting roll but it was quite yummy. I got the Chilean Sea Bass in a Hawaiian scallion/ginger sauce. OH. BOY. The fish was delicious and just perfect in this sauce. It was served with jasmine rice and green beans. It was so good. The fish was cooked perfectly and the sauce and veggies were perfect together. It was light without being over powering. My husband got the horse radish crusted salmon with gnocchi. He loved it and proceeded to eat the entire thing. I was not as impressed with his dish, the flavor was just not to my liking (it had mushrooms and a brandy cream sauce, which are kind of two things I don't like) but the actually salmon was quite tasty and the horseradish crust was yummy as well. His fish was cooked very well too. I would go back for a pre-fix meal as their desserts looked awesome. I always want a bit of chocolate after every meal but we were just too stuffed to have any at that time. I would like to try the creme brulee and basically anything with chocolate. A really nice meal, a great way to round out an evening going to the theater. I would like to try this place again!
(5)
Mick J.
Have gone to Catch 35 a couple of times, most recently for lunch. Fish tacos, with blackened fish, were very good, substantial lunch portion. Hd the bisque to start, tasty, not the best but good enough. Kinda of a strange room as you go into the back of the restaurant, long and narrow, booth would be a good choice versus table in the middle.
(4)
Dennis L.
I visited the Chicago Catch 35 location for a business lunch, and I really enjoyed the experience. I went with Block Island Swordfish prepared blackened with a roasted red pepper-chipotle sauce. The fish was flavorful and perfectly cooked. It was accompanied by fried rice and cooked carrots. Both sides were also delicious. For dessert, I was able to try the deep dish Pecan Pie. Honestly, this was the best piece of pecan pie I have ever had. It was quite sweet, but not overly so. The fact that the piece of pie was deep dish put it over the edge for me. The scoop of vanilla ice cream on top was the perfect finishing touch. Our service was friendly and efficient, and it was an overall good experience.
(4)
Gabe M.
I went here for lunch. I was seated in the back dining area. Super fancy. Aside from the girl with her older seemingly successful 'mentor' sitting next to my table, it was mostly lucky professionals who get to wine and dine in fancy places like this on a weekday lunch. Pretty sweet. I had the oysters and the crab cakes. Food was tasty and service was fast. They do a good job here. Great fancy vibe.
(4)
John G.
great service and even better food. i"ll be back again soon. I typically try different places when I travel but always like to go back to someplace I've been and know I will enjoy
(4)
Jessica L.
Loved this place. It had a nice decor but not overly fancy. The prices are reallly reasonable. We went there with a group of four and spent a little over 100 which included dessert too. The bread they give you is warm and really chewy, just the way I like it. I got the Seafood Salad which was actually not that great. The dressing and bleu cheese gave it flavor though but w/o it, it was suppper plain. Thats the only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars. But like I said, w/the dressing and bleu cheese, it was great. I also had a cup of seafood gumbo which was awesome!! Everyone else in my group enjoyed their food though We also got 2 desserts to share for 4 people which was more than enough since they are huge pieces and we were full. We got their signature Key Lime Pie - DELISH. The Strawberry Cheesecake was really good too.
(4)
Eric B.
Dined here with my parents for my mom's birthday. The service was outstanding from the moment we walked in. Our server Johnny made my mom feel so special that she was still talking about nice he was hours after the meal. As for the food, everything was outstanding from the lobster bisque soup to start, to the amazing seafood entreees, to the carrot cake bread pudding dessert to cap the meal. Definitely will be coming back again!
(5)
Samantha H.
I had heard some good things about this so I was quite surprised when it wasn't that good. It's in the theater district and they do a really good job of asking what time your show starts and getting you in and out. I definitely agree with some of the other reviews on the decor. It's very outdated and not very warm at all. I thought the service was actually phenomenal. The food, not that great. The mashed potatoes were the best thing on the plate at a seafood restaurant, can't be a good sign. I got the grouper, which was very bland. The preparations sound appealing, but not so much. However, the helpings were very large.
(2)
Mike C.
Was pleasantly surprised by our experience here. The prix fixe menu was a nice value. I enjoyed the filet medallions with bleu cheese. Ann was our server - pleasant, warm and professional. Would go back for the service alone.
(5)
David L.
I went here for dinner. Was sat in the very back. I had to zig zag up stairs and between tables - not good flow. It was noisy in the back. A waiter dropped a plate of food coming out of the kitchen. My food took a long time to arrive. My seafood was NOT good - horrible, in fact. I always think that having seafood that far in from the coast will be okay, but 9 out of 10 times, I'm wrong. The location is good. The food, service, and flow of the place was not. The bathroom was disgustingly dirty as well. With all the fine places to dine in Chicago to choose from, skip Catch 35.
(1)
Deb D.
Good food and a gluten-free menu. Tuna sashimi appetizer and surf and turf were very good. Sea bass had by colleague highly recommended. Good service. Would definitely go back!
(4)
Carry B.
food was great! I recommend the fish tacos! Service was good. The Decor could be updated, but over all i recommend it.
(4)
Anita L.
If this place is Catch 35, then I wonder how good Catch 1 - 34 must be because this place is stellar. The Sriracha Buffalo Shrimp appetizer was the perfect start to a delicious meal. The Maryland Style Crab Cake was tender and tasty as well. I then had the George's Bank Sea Scallops (the risotto was the perfect complement to the scallops). The best part was still to come....I had the sticky toffee pudding cake with butter caramel sauce and bourbon vanilla ice cream and I almost melted into my seat from the pleasure. This was one of the top 3 desserts I've ever had in my life. No joke. The service was good, the wine was tasty, the dinner was pricey but well worth it. I didn't really understand the many yelp reviews about it having "80's decor," but if i have to find a DeLorean and travel back in time to the 80's every time I want to enjoy such a fine meal, I will!
(5)
Jason S.
Great place to hold a business lunch if you have to stay in the loop. My service was great and my waitress was very knowledgeable, but what I'm really hung up on here is how dated the restaurant feels. I honestly had a sense of deja vu when I walked in and was guided to me seat. Quickly I remembered what the feeling was; places my great aunt would take me in Key West! Everything looked tired and dated, like it was out of the late eighties / early nineties. Even the menus had a poorly dated feel. I will say that the seafood itself was passable bordering on good. But my problem with that even is the fact that for just a $10 cab ride I can be at a number of superior seafood restaurants. If you're in a pinch and want seafood, then this is your place but see if you can get someone to loan you a Crockett or Tubbs suit. You'll feel better about yourself.
(3)
Jodi G.
Great food! This is a great date-spot. It is classy and serves spot on seafood cooked to perfection. You will not regret it! ;-)
(5)
Deyu Z.
We went to the restaurant because it is close to the theater we went for the show. After the meal, I had mixed feelings. We started the dinner with a sashimi plate, which is basically thin sliced sesame crusted tuna coming with pickled ginger, soy sauce and wasabi. It was okay. I don't think it is the best tuna I have had. We had the Chilean sea bass and halibut ,recommend by our waiter, for the entree. The Chilean sea bass was perfectly cooked. It is put of the world tender and juicy. Also the fish was marinated well. It is flavorful. However, the rest of the vegetables and rice seems to be a separate additions. They do not compliment the dish nor does enhance the presentation. The halibut on the other hand was just the opposite. The dish was presented well and integrated much better than the Chilean sea bass. However, the fish was over cooked and very dry. If I go back, I will order the sea bass. That is the dish to go in my mind.
(3)
David W.
Had lunch here today. This place is really good. Large menu with many choices. Efficient wait staff who accommodated us for a relatively quick meal (wish we could have spent more time). Cool ambiance. I started with the hearts of palm salad. Great flavors. I had the grilled salmon. Prepared to perfection. Though this was a business lunch I wouldn't hesitate to take my wife there for a date if we're ever in town together. This place is now on my list and I will return.
(4)
Valerie S.
I'm a fan of Catch35 because it's very consistent . On this trip, I tried a new dish the Florida Grouper and it was excellent. The sea bass is also one of my favorites here. For the Midwest, this is a great choice for fresh seafood, creatively prepared. While the prices are a bit high, they provide free valet parking and will let you park through your show if you're attending the nearby theater. If you take advantage of this, your meal is a bargain!
So Catch 35 is a good solid restaurant. Nothing remarkable, but pretty good. The review I want to write is for Catch and Carry, their lunch and breakfast takeout (There is no YELP listing for Catch and Carry) Service is about the slowest thing on the planet, even though they have a huge staff of about 9 people for a tiny takeout place. Service is rude and flippant. Today's delightful example was when I asked about the "chili" (menu says nothing about ingredients) I said "what kind of chili is it?" and the woman said "HUH?" I repeated myself and she then said "what do you mean what kind of chili is it?" I then said "is it chicken chili? beef chili? Vegetarian chili? turkey chili? She said, with a scoff "it's ALWAYS beef chili" So pleasant. This is just a small example of the CRAP service that you can expect there.
(1)
Scott A.
Overrated. I'm harsh on places that have high prices because if you're going to charge that much, it better live up to the price. This place did not. My crab cake sandwich was pretty good with real crab and a brioche bun which was very soft. Unfortunately, the fish and chips was pretty fishy, shrimp pad thai was average and the black cod (which is hyped up) was just OK. Fortunately we went for lunch so it wasn't as expensive, but I should have known when it wasn't that busy and our server was so polite she was almost robotic. It is very close to the river walk, but if you are smart, you'll see it and keep walking...
(3)
Miya G.
We went to Catch 35 tom celebrate my cousin's 40th birthday last Friday. Everything. - food and service - was excellent. I've never had better king crab legs in my life. Also, the salad, cocktails, other apps, wine, and veggies were perfect! Our server, Derrick, provided exemplary service and was super attentive - as was everyone else in service in the restaurant. I don't have one bad thing to say about this place.
(5)
Teri P.
Service was great!! Sheila was so attentive and didn't rush us through the meal. The wine list was perfect, we had a wine from our favorite winery in Napa Valley. Food was delicious and we were able to both have our favorite desserts, key lime pie and pecan pie. We will definitely go again!!
(4)
Luke M.
Best meal I had while in Chicago. The ambience is not wonderful, buy service was good and food was excellent. If you are in the mood for seafood, I highly recommend this place.
(5)
chris s.
The food is very unpredictable and the service was not good. The waiter was all over us to place the drink & food order then he disappeared. We had to get up to find him to ask for the check. Food: Do not order the maki rolls, if the waiter had returned we would have sent them back. Dishes were not cheap so I expected good food. Other dishes were boring, one order arrived completely wrong. The busboy picked up full plates of food and never thought about asking why, not that its his job but someone should have asked if we needed anything. like, maybe the waiter? But at this point we needed to leave for the theater so they got our money and a few ex-customers.
(1)
Brett C.
Stopped in for dinner during Restaurant Week. In a word, Fabulous! We arrived 30 minutes ahead of our reservation and took a seat at the bar. Place was busy, but not packed. About 15 minutes later we were called to our table. The restaurant is much larger than it appears. We let our server, Michelle, know we were there for the RW Prix Fix menu. She went over the two different dinner menu options. One was a 3 course for $29.95 per person and the other was a 4 course for $44.00 per person. She gave us recommendations from each of the menus then allowed us some time to decide on our options. We both opted for the $44 menu and chose different items from the menu. Everything we had was outstanding from the crab cakes and seared tuna sashimi apps to our seared tuna and scallop entree's. Good portions, perfectly prepared, and absolutely wonderful. I had the Key Lime pie for dessert. Fantastic! Crust could be a bit thicker but it was perfect. My friend had the pecan pie. In our opinion there were too many pecans. Great flavor but too heavily laden with the pecans. Great wine selections, outstanding service, and one of the best meals we have had in awhile. Hats off to the staff at Catch 35. We will be back.
(5)
Bobuzzi C.
Great food and desserts. Atomosphere is fun around the bar & they usually have a jazz band in the evenings. Haddock was really good as well as the carrot cake.
(4)
Brett F.
I hadn't been back to Catch in years until this past Saturday and everything was just as I remembered it... The restaurant was jam-packed with people eating early pre-show (there are several theatres centrally located to Catch35) in the skinny dining space. Think of Catch35 as being designed like a waterfall....cascading up up and away in a succession of narrow dining spaces. The wait staff, host and clientele are always squeezing by your table (con), but once you're seated, you do get a neat-o vantage point of the whole restaurant (pro). We shard the Nantucket Bay Scallops and Seared Ahi Tuna as appetizers.... both solid winners and were polished off very quickly. Chopsticks flying everywhere in a fervor competing for the last bite... I think at one point I suggested that we just lick the plates.... nothing but class for this bunch ; ) Of our foursome, 3 of us had the Chilean Sea Bass (house specialty) which comes in a Hawaiian scallion ginger sauce. It's tender, flaky and perfect every time. Takes all the guesswork (and sometimes the fun) out of figuring out what to order. I learned that lesson firsthand when the one standout in the bunch had his meal brought to the table. We all stared at it with envy.... Maine Lobster with Wild Mushroom Ravioli.... it had peas and huge pieces of lobster all wrapped up in a light cream sauce. Deeelish people... I kept trying (to no avail) to trade pieces of my sea bass for bites of the ravioli. Next time I'll have to bring something better to barter with or just order a big plate for me, myself and I. My only big complaint was that service was super slooooow (like 30 min b/w courses). Our server kept apologizing for the wait, but when you're hungry you don't care.... just fix it! Overall, a solid 3 stars.... I'll play Catch35-and-Release anytime!
(3)
Candice M.
Pretty good food. Loved the calamari. Service was fantastic.
(4)
Sean K.
Why Catch 35? I was visiting Chicago and staying at the Hyatt Regency on Wacker Drive. We had tickets to see The Miracle on State Street at The Chicago Theatre. I Googled "restaurants near The Chicago Theatre." A list came up and the first one was Catch 35. My girlfriend and I love fish. I read the Yelp reviews and decided to give it a try. We were seated at a nice table away from the entrance. Our waiter was Carlos. He was great. We ordered drinks and while Carlos was getting them we looked over the menu. I suggested to my girlfriend that he get the Chilean Seabass. She looked at the price and chose the Salmon. Carlos returned with our drinks. He then described two of the most popular entrees. He explained that the restaurant has an Asian influence on the way the dishes were prepared. He described the Way the Chilean Seabass was prepared. I looked at my girlfriend, she nodded and then ordered the Chilean Seabass. I ordered the Spinach Ravioli. Both dishes were great. We finished the meal off with a piece of Pumpkin Cheesecake. It was great. We will definitely go back to the Catch 35 and we'll ask for Carlos!
(5)
Jeff W.
I have a new favorite lunch destination in the loop. Especially if someone else is buying!!! True confession: one of my coworkers lost a World Series bet(Yankees won!!!) and i chose C35. Started with very tasty seafood gumbo(wish there was more seafood). Followed up with a maki roll salmon pake-this turned out to be the low light of the meal. AVOID! However the blackened swordfish was the best piece of fish I have had all year. It came with practically perfect asparagus and wonderful brown rice that may have been fried. Just in case I did not have enough for lunch, I needed some double sinful chocolate cake. Warmed with molten gooey chocolate oozing out after cutting into it and was surrounded by raspberry sauce. a perfect cup of coffee concluded my lunch of the year. I thank my coworker, Steve and look forward to winning my next lunch bet!
Three stars all day long....to wit: Decor is dated, very Gordon Gecco. I'm not a big decor guy, but the "masters of the universe" decor either says "We're bad, we're nationwide" or "We're old and in need of a refresh." In this case, the latter. As a single diner I am always afraid I will get the cold shoulder. That did not happen--I was greeted promptly and quickly shown to a decent table. Along the way, I was taken past a refrigerated case containing various fish on the menu, while the host described the offerings. I appreciate the desire to show off your fresh fish, but the whole thing seemed a bit contrived (if innocently so). Dinner was a light affair. I started with a dozen oysters. These were impecably fresh but the server neglected to identfy the varieties in the sampler. Salad was greens with blue cheese and pear with a nice tart vinagrette. The meal ended with a so called sashimi tuna plate. The tuna was seared and would more accurately have been described as "tataki" rather than sashimi. Still, it was very fresh and flavorful. Given the odd combination of items I was drinking Ketel One on the rocks. The first drink was very slow to arrive, as was the second. Decor and silly "walk by the cooler while entering" schtick takes the place from 5 to 4 stars. Server's failure to identify oyster varieties, slow drink service and tataki masquerading as sahsimi cost another star. On balance, a solid three star experience.
(3)
Gunner H.
Came here to try out one of the restaurant week seafood options. Everything I had- crab cake, chowder, grouper, was great. My wife's scallops were pretty good, but nothing super amazing. Nice ambiance, good wine list. I'd probably go back, but there are lots of other fish in the sea, you know? Sorry... couldn't resist.
(4)
Jen D.
I typically love this place, but today for lunch my waiter took the bill and never returned with my change! I guess it wasn't bad to give a great tip, but still, when you don't say "the rest is for you," please just don't assume.
(3)
Marvin G.
Honestly the reason why I tried this restaurant is because one time i was reading People magazine at CVS lol while waiting for line.. and saw Jessica Alba ate here.. So well yea i gave it a shot.. and what I found out??? it's a treasure I love everything about this place.. the ambiance, Staff and of course the food! I had the Salmon Burger and it was Fantastic and the finish the meal a great chocolate cake dessert!
(5)
Lauren R.
Ok, I know that sometimes restaurants that are connected to hotels are overpriced and can have shady food. Let me just say that Catch 35 is not one of these places! Let's start with the ambiance. It has a great bar right in front that has a live jazz band and killer daily deals on food and drink. Love it! The restaurant area is very modern and chic looking. You can see the fresh fish they are using from their deli style case right in front. We watched them pull out our piece of tuna, that was absolutely delicious. We started out with the 6 pack of oysters, not my favorite thing on the menu, but that is just a personal opinion. What I liked is that they allowed us to try all 3 different types of oysters, so at least there was a variety. The cuisine is primarily seafood with a Thai flair. I had the sea bass that came with a delicious sweet sauce, red peppers, rice and asparagus. I demolished the entire plate and was on the verge of licking what was left off my plate. My husband had the tuna, which was pan seared with a sesame crust, served with a fried rice and asparagus as well. The fried rice was nothing special, but the tuna was fantastic. We also got a relatively cheap bottle of wine and it was great. I highly recommend this place, for an evening out for a birthday dinner or even for happy hour at the bar. Check out their daily specials!
(4)
Mandy A.
Last week Tuesday I was surprised to find that I had my choice of reservation times on a Friday night during both Lent and Restaurant Week. Sweet! I picked 8:30pm since this was the extent of our date for the night and figured we would have time to enjoy our dinner and then get home with time to just relax. We walked into a very crowded and agitated restaurant at about 8:25pm and were told they were a little behind on their reservations, maybe 15-20 minutes? Okay, no problem. We made our way to the bar and enjoyed a cocktail and some live music from the trio playing. About 25 minutes later, we headed back towards the host stand figuring they wouldn't want to search us out and noticed that the host was still very frazzled. He told us at 9:15pm that they might be able to sit us in the lounge (where we just had a drink) in 15-20 more minutes. This is about the time I almost lost it. Thankfully, I got another drink and about 10 minutes later they sat us in the dining room. I realize they are very busy (and for good reason) but waiting an hour when you have a reservation... what's the point of the reservation? Anywho, onto the food. We did the restaurant week menu... I had caesar salad, husband had the clam chowder. Both were great, I tried not to eat the giant crouton on the salad but my self control was weak by this point. The sourdough bread was also really good. So much for low carbs... Entrees... I got scallops and husband got the mahi-mahi. My scallops were cooked perfectly as was the risotto cake they were sitting on. Absolutely fabulous with the sauce that was drizzled on top. I would go back just for those. I can't for the life of me cook scallops and these were flawless. Husband said the mahi-mahi was really good too, perfectly cooked and very flavorful. For dessert, he got the apple pie and I got the carrot cake bread pudding... wow. If I had more room I would have shoved all of that in my mouth but I was really full and it was nearly 11pm and the thought of going to sleep like that grossed me out. And the apple pie was enormous, especially for Restaurant Week standards. Overall, very very good. Would have given it 5 stars if not for the messy reservation issues...
(4)
Brian K.
We found Catch 35 on Yelp before our trip to Chicago. I would recommend if you are looking for an upscale meal but not a trendy spot. I would take my parents to celebrate a birthday, in other words. The menu is great, and I saw lots of meals I would order. I ended up with a hearts of palm salad and the Halibut. My wife did the prix fixe - salad, entree, and desert for $29.99. The food was excellent, service was good, my only complaint would be the decor and lighting. They sold advertising space on the interior walls to some museums, and the lights were not dimmed. They had a live jazz band playing - nice touch.
(4)
#NAME?
I've eaten here numerous times, mostly when I worked at Accenture...if they were paying I was eating- I came here last week for dinner, it had been a while since I came and I forgot what a large menu they have-I love that I can get a selection of fish prepared a certain way, or select a pasta or steak-I'm a picky eater so I get bothered when there are only 10 items on the menu to select- I got the 3 course dinner for $29.95, had the field green salad, was ok but the dressing wasn't all that good but I was starving and inhaled it like it was awesome-I selected the pan seared scallops, they were good but maybe cooked a tad too long- The rice patty that the scallops sat upon was so good! As well the green beans that came with the dish were cooked perfectly- At the end I got to select any dessert from the menu, so I opted for one I've had before, the Toffee Cheesecake- Everytime I go I want the Lobster Ravioli but then change my mind, next time I go I'm getting it- Service has always been great when dining here-
(4)
Laurie W.
Great selection, complete wine and beer offerings. Nice bar area
(5)
Norman R.
Went there Wed night for restaurant week. All 3 courses were amazing: lobster bisque, breaded whitefish, flour less chocolate cake. I highly recommend Catch 35, we've had great experiences here.
(5)
David A.
Food and Service were very good. This was especially noticed as they were extremely busy. Ahi tuna was excellent and a very large portion.
(4)
Mrs. F.
Gets 4 stars because the fried calamari is the best in the city. But...the menu is pretentious, the portions are over-the-top (over-seasoned, over-expensive, and over-sized); the ambiance is lacking, and the staff are blah. Our server didn't remember to even ask us whether we wanted bread! Plus, you will feel like a mountain goat climbing up and up numerous sets of stairs to the back of the restauant, where the tables are neither private nor coveted. $100 for lunch for 2 people, without liquor or dessert, so go for the calamari and maybe a soup and call it a meal!
(4)
Brittany L.
My fiance proposed to me while dining at Catch 35. Great food, great service, wonderful night!
(5)
Jacob Y.
Upscale atmosphere... But the seafood is stupendous. The menu changes with the season...and sometimes the chef... But they always have outstanding selections of fish to choose from cooked the way you like it. Also loved the corn and crab chowder...
(5)
Michelle W.
I went here during some restaurant week in the winter (Chicago seems to have 500) and ordered pre -fixe. It was also after seeing a miserable play with Brian Dennehy (seriously, I got scolded by an old lady for looking at my blackberry, even though she later fell asleep during the play). I digress. Here's what I remember of Catch 35. Everything was average. The bar had TVs with sports games on (not what I expected for a seafood/steakhouse) and the food? I honestly don't remember what I ordered. Not the best after-theater dining in the city.
(3)
Amy G.
Special dinner out with my parents before going to a show. We were escorted to our table for a 630 res to the furthest table thru an empty restaurant right next to the bathrooms and wait station. Totally empty restaurant. The food was good and typical, overpriced for the dishes but not the location. My folks, who don't dine out as much as I do, we're satisfied with their food ( if not the bill) but I won't return or recommend this place. I have to wonder if I was decked out in my work ensemble instead of cold weather gear if we wouldn't have gotten a better table. When we left it was obvious that the 'normal' people were sent to the back and I really didn't appreciate it. And our server only did the bare minimum and we had to ask her to attend to us, in an empty restaurant!!!. That being said, the bus boys were excellent.
(2)
art s.
For me, this is a business lunch place. And it's good for that. But honestly, I'm almost never paying at those lunches and for meals when it's my wallet on the line, I'm not sure I'd be coming here. Understand, though, that I work @ 35 W Wacker, so to misapply a simile, for me this restaurant is like kissing your sister. I also am not a seafood enthusiast. I have had some great salmon preparations here, but my 'usual' has become the stir fried beef tenderloin. It comes with the wide, flat noodles and an assortment of peppers, cherry tomatoes, etc., all in a tasty sauce that isn't over the top. Service is usually solid. And the decor is nice. Kind of generic upscale, but again, I may be jaded by familiarity. It can definitely be dark, though, especially in the back. The way their lighting is laid out it hits tables unevenly, so if that matters to you pay attention as you're getting seated.
(3)
David M.
this place does a major amount of 'business lunch' business and is conveniently located....both good things. Food is good but not outstanding...which, for the price, it should be...... for a business lunch...this is a good place....much of the seating in the rear is quiet and fairly spacious....good for a business discussion....
(3)
Rasheema L.
This place was not worth it or the hype. The waiter sucked and the food wasn't that good plus it was a small portion. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
(1)
Trudy T.
Great ambiance. The coconut beer battered shrimp are awesome!! The waiter was very attentive as well. Only gripe, no baked potatoes?? :-(
(4)
Ericka S.
The decor and ambiance of this place is pretty interesting. I was suprised, it's a lot bigger inside than I had imagined! The waiter was friendly, but appeared busy. He seemed rather rushed at the table when he was talking to us. The muscles in wine sauce were outstanding. Everything else was "good", but I've had much better elsewhere *cough cough Joes Seafood and Stone Crab *Cough** The crab legs came "pre-cracked" however they didn't crack them nearly enough, as I struggled with several pieces. The food was plentiful and left us very full - too full for desert. Overall, the ambiance is great, food is average, and service was "alright". There are much better places to get seafood in the city.
(3)
Sunny W.
I called to see if there was a wait and was told by hostess there was none. When arriving she said there would be a 15 min wait. When checking back after 20 min she said there would be another 15 min Wait We could see there were plenty of available tables and after the snobby attitude by the hostess , we lost our appetite. There are plenty of good restaurants so I wouldn't waste my time on this one. Actually I was surprised given the yelp reviews. It goes to show how one employee can leave a bad taste in your mouth! :(
(1)
Steeno F.
I went here last week to satisfy a seafood craving and was pretty disappointed with the experience. The space was elegant (ish). Live piano player and singer in the bar area while sports are playing on the tvs around the bar. Ummm, okay. Note to diners: Don't sit at a bar top table with banquette. You will feel like a small child reaching up to the table as the banquette is way too low. Service was WONDERFUL and the drinks were tasty, but the food....very blah. We had a scallops dish and stuffed salmon...both fairly tasteless and very reminiscent of something served on a cruise ship. Overall, it felt like another high-priced tourist trap in the downtown area. Not cozy, not romantic.
(2)
Jenny P.
Had a wonderful meal here recently. First time at Catch 35. Was as good if not better than the recommendations we received. Can't beat the $29.95 three course menu. Food was excellent and plentiful, had the crab crusted tilapia. Wonderful, would order again. Our server asked if we had theater tickets, we did. They take off the amount of valet fee if you do. Was priced right to begin with plus an extra $10 off. Excellent at any price, value a benefit.
(5)
Jeff M.
Such a great downtown spot! Went with my girlfriend and we had a wonderful seafood dinner here. I finally satisfied my crab-craving which had been going on for about a year with some MONSTER Alaskan king crab legs. There were only 2 legs, but more than enough meat for one serving. We also had some very tasty and tender mussels, and sides of squash and tempura asparagus. The squash was kind of bland, but the asparagus was great. GF had the tilapia, but I forgot what it tasted like since I was too busy diving headfirst into my crab and Bailey's ice cream dessert. The only thing keeping me from going again next week is the price, but it was well worth it! I'm just not made of money...
(5)
Alana T.
Let's start off with the bad! Why do restuarants think serving sourdough bread is okay?!?!? That stuff is not yummy! Please! Do away with sourdough bread! Yucky! Now, Catch 35 is such a great spot. My cousin and I went there for our birthday, my 24th, her 26th., on Sept. 9th. We both got the same thing, the tilapia stuffed with crab, and corn and crab chowder soup. Both were AMAZING. I think the biggest thing with this food is how rich it was. Love the white table cloths and the moscato d'oro was very yummy. The key lime pie really was amazing. Not too tart, not too sweet, just the right amount of twang! The service was really good too. Ultimately, i will definitely go back after trying several other places. Oh yeah! Any place with at $29 prix fixe menu is OKAY with me!
(4)
Karen A.
Martinis and mussels. Yes the menu was great and the sauces and appetizers and salads were lovely too. But the mussels. And the japlapeno cream dipping sauce. OY VEY. THAT's what I will go back for. And that's enough to fill the tummy and swoon the head.
(4)
Frank L.
A group of us enjoyed Catch Thirty Five for New Years Eve dinner. It was very nice that the restaurant was offering their daily Pre-Fixe meal on a night when most restaurants charge an arm and a leg to take advantage of the revelers. But even with that being said, the food is still the most important thing, and it was all a bit underwhelming. My corn and clam chowder was quite good, as was my girlfriend's lobster bisque. But my salmon dish and her whitefish dish were both really boring and tasteless. When I say tasteless, I don't mean to say it didn't have any flavor, but just nothing special. Don't you want to experience food with a lot of unique tastes and flavors when you go out? Sadly, Catch Thrity Five did not deliver on such hopes. For desert i had a peppermint-white chocolate cheese cake and my better half had a slice of key-lime pie. My cheesecake tasted like a mint-oreo, and the neon-ish green color of the cheesecake did not aid in its appeal. THe key lime pie was surprisingly boring. It should have tasted light and airy, but was a little too limey and dense. I hate to be such a party pooper, but our experience just wasn't very good. We probably won't go back, and I wouldn't even say it's worth a one time visit. Who gets caught up at Catch Thirty Five: People who want a reasonably priced meal featuring fish. (yeah, I've got very little positives to say) Who avoids the net cast by Catch Thirty Five: people who expect a little more pizazz and taste explosions from their dining experience. Come on - I had salmon - how do you make salmon bland?!!
(2)
Anna W.
I came here on a recommendation by a friend, while I was on a business trip to Chi town. First of all, I am truly shocked by some of the low reviews. This is by far, probably the best dining experience I have had in a really long time. The food, the ambiance, and the service were truly superb. I am a diner that likes the mom and pop, the chains, the hot dog carts, as well as the occasional sophisticated restaurants. I have to say that my experience here was truly exceptional for any type of restaurant. I had a crab and corn chowder, the spicy tuna roll, and the Australian lobster tail with fillet mignon. Just writing about this makes my mouth water :) It started with the typical bread, I mean it's just bread. But ha! It was fresh, warm, crusty but not too crusty. Really just perfect for the crab and corn chowder which was excellent for the cold night. I ate it all! I then had the spicy tuna roll, which was super fresh and very good. Finally, I ordered the Australian lobster steamed so as not to be too rubbery, but you can also have it grilled. The dish came with 2 fillet mignon medallions medium with a veal demi-glace. The lobster came with drawn butter which was delicious. The entree came with mashed potatoes and asparagus. Of course I also had 2 cosmos to seal the deal. Sadly I did not have any room for desert, but I also did not have any left overs. I know, I know. A sin, it really was way too much food, but I loved every single bit. Now for the service, the maitre'd was extremely nice and suggested a seating area. The waiter was very attentive, knew his menu and could actually intelligently recommend what was good, the difference between a Maine and Australian lobster, and just wasn't saying the generic "everything we serve is good". UGH. They also worked as a team and gave attention to small things such as picking up small items from the table as sugar packets, cleaned the dishes promptly, and refilled my drinks super fast. I would definitely come here again when I am in town again. Yes it's expensive, but for a special occasion, or a company paid dinner it is truly well worth it.
(5)
Bridget L.
I recently came here for a business lunch. The crab bisque is great but other than that, the food was just okay and the portion was not that impressive for the money. I don't think I'd make a special trip.
(3)
Bill A.
Food choices were good and the waiter did an excellent job withrecommendations. The Swordfish was just barely overlooked, but still very good. The Brussels Sprouts were outstanding. The oyster appetizer was also delicious. The service was very good and the wine and cocktails very enjoyable. I would go there again.
(4)
Mike Y.
Restaurant Week 2010 Upon stepping into this place, it is a interesting mix of sound and decoration. They have live music in the bar area, but the overall decor is a weird mix of outdated "fun" 80's-esque coloring schemes and advertisements for the Chicago History Museum. While we were on time for our dinner reservation, apparently we had hit prime dining hour and had to wait along with several other groups. Our wait wasn't too long though, maybe 5~10 minutes. Our waitress was cool. She was kind of old school and kept referring to us as her "darlings" which we both thought was funny, yet cool. I had the clam chowder as my starter. I decided to try it because I had gotten clam chowder the night before at Capital Grille. This chowder was much better! I have still had better, but still very tasty. We also got an order of their unagi roll. It was decent, but nothing special. The entree was their sea scallops with Asian mustard soy and garlic chive aioli. The scallops were soft and delicious. When cutting them, it felt like cutting through a stick of soft butter. Very nice. The sauce added a touch of an American/Asian blend of flavor and it worked really well with the scallops. The risotto "cake" that was served underneath the scallops was good in flavor, but I felt was a bit dry and perhaps overcooked a little. After a long wait in between the main course and dessert (slightly too long of a wait I think), we finally got our dessert menus. I tried their key lime pie as it was their "signature" dessert. Slightly too rich for me, but the pie and the creme on top were tasty. Overall a very good meal, service was decent, atmosphere was a bit outdated.
(4)
Geoff H.
This review is for 'Catch 'n' Carry' only, the breakfast and lunch spot, in the same building but basically behind the restaurant. It's phenomenal. They offer a HUGE array of salads, noodle dishes, soups, hot, cold and deli-style sandwiches, burgers, fries, all of which so far have been yummy. Their potato salad is particularly good. Prices are normal for the loop (most sandwiches are $5-8). The only possible downside is that they get pretty crowded at lunch, so waiting a bit should be expected, and they have very limited seating. Best option is to call your order in, pick it up and take it back to the office.
(5)
C T.
Food wasn't memorable and took forever. Server was not attentive and first brought out food for couple seated next to us, who also 100% arrived/ordered after we were seated. We inquired politely, to which we were given a BS excuse. We even tipped her at the end, because wth, turns out we're pushovers. +++++++UPDATE+++++++ Manager contacted me a few days after I wrote this with full intentions of making things right. Kudos to that.
(2)
Dan M.
After two previous, disappointing visits over the last several months, I gave this restaurant one last chance for dinner before going to the Goodman Theatre. Never again. The "sashimi" appetizer may have been sashimi-quality tuna as the menu suggested, but the fish was grilled and peppered, and the true taste was lost. It was tasty enough, but sashimi it wasn't, and sashimi was what I expected. My wife and I both had soft-shell crab prepared in the "traditional" way, according to our waitress. "Traditional" apparently means swimming in sauce that eliminated any crunchiness that I expect in soft-shell crab in-season. The sauce was tasty, but it didn't belong on soft-shell crab. I would have noted these shortcomings had anyone bothered to approach our table and asked if everything was okay. Catch 35 deducts $10 from the bill to cover the total price of valet parking while patrons attend the theater. A very good deal. But our waitress forgot to deduct the $10 from our bill. When I noted the missing $10, she said, "I let my manager ring up the check." Service was as anonymous and perfunctory as an Interstate highway oasis.
(1)
richard c.
Went here off a recommendation from a friend when visiting Chicago. This was right by our hotel and ended up being a great find. The dinner was great and the atmosphere was very cool. They had a jazz band playing - so pretty relaxing for dinner. I'd definitely go back.
(4)
Natasha R.
I've had Catch 35 bookmarked forever.. so when my brother-in-law asked me for suggestions to take his client out, this was one of them. It was a Friday night and it was the only place that took his party that night. I've never heard anyone talk about a meal like he and my sister did.. . So when Chicago Restaurant Week was featuring this restaurant, I made reservations right away. It was seriously the best money I've spent on a meal... EVER! For $44/person, I had the Yellowfin Tuna Sashimi, the Cajun Seafood Chowder, Main warm Lobster Tail butter poached, and the most heavenly dessert I have eaten in my life - Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake. The food was absolutely topnotch - there is not one thing I can think of that was disappointing. The lobster dish had a huge chunk of warm, fresh lobster in it. As with any crab and lobster, it always varies on how much meat is actually in there. I was incredibly happy and satisfied, and the best dessert ever, was just a cherry on top of my meal. Our waitress was so kind and friendly (wish I remembered her name). She narrowed our choices and gave her thoughts on the food in the most helpful way possible. The restaurant is gorgeous and gives off a very lively and beautiful atmosphere. There is live music near the bar when you first enter and there is two levels of the dining area. Yes, it's pricey, but this is an excellent choice for a special occasion and is a must try during restaurant week! I cannot wait to come back here!!
(5)
Bobby S.
Love this place, I've never had any issues here and I come quite often with my family. Listed below are my personal favorites. Appetizers: Sriracha Buffalo Shrimp, Maine Lobster Sliders, and Szechwan Scallops Dinner: Chilean Sea Bass or Swordfish (Oscar Style) Dessert: Carrot Cake Bread Pudding Order the options above and you'll leave happy. Please note - I have no idea what "Oscar Style" is, but it is damn good.
(5)
Anne H.
This is quickly becoming one of my favorites! Location wise it can't be beat, in the heart of Chicago and there's valet (bonus)! If you are looking for seafood, this restaurant needs to be on your list. They have a great assortment of fresh fish and a special catch of the day offering. For appetizers start with scallops (even people that didn't think they like scallops are obsessed), Sashimi and lobster mac and cheese. Trust me you can't go wrong, it's perfect for a group of 4 to start. Meal wise pick literally anything and you will be thrilled. Drinks are strong and portions are generous. Weekend evenings there's also a jazz band in the bar area and evening Happy Hours. What can I say, I'm a fan. Check it out!
(5)
Jim M.
This is a pretty good place. We found the food and service to be quite good. It's not quite the quality of a very high-end seafood restaurant, but the prices are not as high either. We felt like we got a very good meal for the price, especially in a nice location like this. The one big disappointment with this place, in my opinion, was that the shrimp were served with the tails on. I never quite understand why any restaurant, let alone a high-end restaurant, would leave the tails on most shrimp entrees. It creates quite a bit of work and unnecessary mess for the customer. After all, they never leave the feathers on chicken, or the fur on beef. On our second trip here, we simply asked them to remove the tails from the shrimp. They seemed a little bit put out to do that, but they did actually do it. Overall, this is a very good restaurant for the price. Very good service, very good food and a really nice atmosphere.
(4)
Jeannie A.
Checked out this place during restaurant week, with a party of 7. I arrived an hour before our reservation and sat at the bar. The atmosphere is pretty nice in the bar area. Nice wall sculpture and art, good seating, great service from the bartender. They put out some homemade spicy potato chips for anyone sitting at the bar - they were just made, so fresh and still hot. There is a main bar, then another round bar that surrounds a piano, and then some high top tables and booths. The bar area is pretty spacious. I had a Moscow Mule and it was made perfect. I would for sure come back for cocktails. We were seating once our party arrived - right on time. The dining room is just okay. Not as exciting as the bar area. The chairs were uncomfortable and kind of low to the ground. Our server was awesome and explained the menu and the restaurant week options. They had a $30/3-course menu and a $44/4-course menu - both were a good deal. I went with the yellow-tail seared tuna, the crab & lobster bisque, the swordfish, and the flourless chocolate cake. The tuna was very nicely done and a large portion for an appetizer. The bisque was lacking flavor and was more a tomato based broth. The swordfish was AMAZING. It was topped with crab and came with asparagus and mashed potatoes. The portion was large and the fish was so fresh. The chocolate cake was so rich and delicious. My friends ordered a variety of menu items and everyone loved their food. There were no complains on flavor or portion. Several opted for the toffee gooey cake for deserved and raved about that. My one complaint would be the ladies bathroom. It was kind of old and gross and needs a major renovation and/or a good cleaning. Overall, food was awesome as well as service and drinks.
(4)
Andre W.
Came here for my bday as one of my closest friends had mentioned this was one of the best dining experiences he had ever encountered. One of my other friends raved about the place as well saying he used to bring all of his clients here. Very attractive interior as it has live music playing to set the mood for a good dining experience. Menu was very good, but I decided on shrimp cocktail for my appetizer vs the crab cake because I did not want to get too full for the meal I was going to order. I heard the crab cake is noting short of phenomenal...FYI! I decided to go with the steak & lobster surf & turf meal. Very good as the lobster was awesome and the steak was very good. Service was very good as they made sure we had everything we needed as well as keeping the glasses of water full. Pretty good restaurant for good seafood.
(4)
Imran G.
My hope for this place was that it would actually have good food, or at the very least decent service considering how large the corporate crowd was. Neither turned out to be true for Catch 35. Unfortunately our entire table's experience was not as we would have expected for a high end restaurant. The food was entirely sub par, and I don't know if that's because after living in Boston for 2 years my seafood expectations have risen quite a bit. However, my crab cake was so mushy that my sandwich was falling apart, it really became difficult to eat it. At the same time, I tried a bit of my mother-in-law's anemic lobster roll which failed to impress and the plain jane french fries didn't make up for it either. The service was quite good until the end of our lunch at which point our waitress made a snarky remark, "Here's the bill, and remember it doesn't include gratuity." I could see how you might be worried as a waitress, but someone on our table just ordered a $100 bottle of wine. Sure that person is also foreign, but that sort of a tactless, assuming comment is not something you'd expect at a restaurant.
(1)
Juli A.
Catch and Carry lunch special today - Chicken Cordon Bleu with red skin mashed potatoes and lemon bourbon sauce. The roasted crisp carrots were just a bonus. They didn't fry it. They hand rolled them, browned them and roasted them to perfection. Under $10.
(4)
Brittany S.
Went here with my mother for Chicago Restaurant and was throughly impressed. The atmosphere was classic but rustic I liked the big open space and windows that allow you to see the city. All the staff were gracious friendly and professional. Everything I tasted was very good even the bread! I had lobster bisque kind of reminded me of gumbo but with a tomato base. My main course was the short ribs. They were very tender and juicy, the potatoes had an interesting little pop of flavor. My mom had the salmon which was very good too it made me like salmon which typically I don't. I had the flourless chocolate cake for dessert. It was absolutely sinful! Delicious! Moist and warm not too chocolatey. I was so full I ended up only eating half there. But I definitely recccommend and will be back!
(5)
julie q.
We got a gift card from a friend and then went on restaurant week. We went Weds eve around 8 pm. Their online menu for restaurant week had scallops as one of the options. The menu at the restaurant had swordfish instead of scallops. We also got informed they RAN OUT OF TUNA. No tuna poke, no tuna sashimi - NO MORE TUNA. How in the hell does a seafood place run out of tuna on a weds eve when they made it a feature for restaurant week??? Oh well. Anyhow - we ordered the calamari separately and it was really tasty...not too much breading and wasn't over fried. It was good and there was tons of it. We ordered beet salad - the goat cheese mousse was too bland - It needed salt. The maytag blue cheese salad was out of this world. It was the perfect blend of cheese and dressing and greens. The husbo and I sort of fought over who would have the last bite. I ordered the swordfish oscar style. The fish was dry and the lobster overcooked. Grilled aspargus was tasty as well as the sauce. But that was it. Husbo got the mahi-mahi. It was perfect. Great flavors, fish was cooked perfectly, and we fought over who would have the last bite of that dish as well. We both settled on the chocolate cake - it was good - just chocolate lava cake. You can't go wrong there. The look of the place is a sight in itself. It was definitely designed in 1982 and that's ok. It's such a neat looking place and the jazz band playing was really good. I wish my dinner had been better and I wish they hadn't run out of tuna. We'll try it again - maybe it was just a restaurant week fluke...
(3)
Joe P.
I have to write this fast, as I don't have much time on this Earth, due in fact to Catch 35's flour-less chocolate cake. Just having consumed it, I now have a sudden and fatal onset of diabetes, and wanted to leave this review as a dying dec.: it was incredible. Dense like uranium, chocolate-y like black cocoa, I was surprised that deep inside was even more gooey goodness.
(5)
Greg N.
I went here for lunch and ordered the crab cake as an appetizer and got the sashimi yellow fin tuna. The crab cake was really good but I wasn't a huge fan of the sesame crusted sashimi. Service, ambiance, and location were all good but a little disappointed in my entree choice.
(4)
Yan C.
Went here during the restaurant week. The food was delicious. My favorite was the Pan Seared Scallops, probably one of the best Scallops I've had. It was perfectly seared - the surface was nicely charred and the inside was super tender without tasting raw or rubbery like the case when they were under-cooked. .
(5)
Chelsea C.
Live jazz Tuesday - Saturday! Staying at a hotel down the road and stopped in and had such an unexpected surprise! They had Malpeque oysters from PEI! the ambiance was so relaxed but the food was amazing! The lobster sliders, oysters, cauliflower risotto, and Alaskan halibut with pistachio quinoa were all amazing!
(5)
Dianna S.
This was the last restaurant I visited on my business trip to Chicago last weekend, and lemme just say it was the perfect way to end my stay. I loved everything I ate at Catch 35. Only problem was getting full too fast. Our group shared several appetizers. I chose to sample the Szechwan Scallops and the Point Judith Calamari. The best was the scallops. These were cooked perfectly and had an excellent sauce on the plate. Someone said it was oyster sauce, but I don't know for sure. The calamari was flash fried and came with cocktail and tartar sauces. I'd never had calamari so no comparison for me, but anything fried and dipped in tartar sauce can't ever be that bad! For my entree, I went with a couple more appetizers. I really wanted to try the Oysters Rockefeller and the Maryland Crab Cake. Both of these were delicious. I am a beginner oyster eater (always Rockefeller-style, never raw), and they were so great. Topped with bacon, spinach, cheese and a mornay sauce, there was nothing about it to not like. Extremely savory. If you have never tried oysters because of fear - stop with that immediately and get the Oysters Rockefeller. You will not be sorry. The crab cake was a little bit of a looser cake than what you've seen before, but I didn't care one bit. It was chock-full of crab, and that's all that matters! Accompanied by a remoulade, it was comfort seafood at it's best. I could've eaten another one, but I was trying to pace myself as best I could. Saving room for dessert is very hard when you're having an amazing meal. My husband got the Alaskan Halibut T-Bone. He said it was very hearty and good. The least impressive as far as uniqueness goes, but still delicious and filling. Somehow though, we did manage to save room for dessert. I chose the Taffy Apple Tart, which was topped with a vanilla bean ice cream. Even though the flavors were rich, I felt this was a perfect end to the meal. There's just something about apples and ice cream! I was unable to finish it, however, because my meal had finally caught up to me. But I highly recommend it. My husband had the Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake, which is one of his favorite desserts. Any time he sees something like this on the menu, he forgoes his normal chocolate choice. He's had some good versions, and this one is no exception. Very moist with a flavorful butter caramel sauce. Comforting and warm, just like you'd want it! If I lived in Chicago, I'd definitely go back to this restaurant to try something off the entree section. Unfortunately, I don't know when I'll be in Chicago again. But for others who are local and are looking for good seafood, Catch 35 is a good one.
(4)
Natalie A.
Went here with my husband for our 30th anniversary and we were very very pleased. I ordered the Ecuadoran Mahi Mahi served with a sweet corn risotto topped with lobster and a lemon buerre blanc and arugula tossed with balsamic vinegar. You definitely need to try this dish. It was perfectly balanced and delicious! I also had the salted beet salad. Also delicious! Service was impeccable.
(5)
Donna V.
The food here is really great. I try to go every time I come to Chicago. The service is always superb and the fish is always fresh and prepared exactly how you ask. We had a large group and had an assortment of appetizers, entrees, and deserts and each one was better than the next. Very accommodating for special orders not on the menu. A little expensive but always worth it
(4)
Lewis C.
FANTASTIC pre-show dinner! Our server Paxson was fantastic. She started out by asking if we were going to a show and confirmed it was a 7:30 pm start time. She asked if we had valeted, which we hadn't. But come to find out if you are going to a show and valet they will cover the Valet cost if you show your ticket. A nice touch for sure. We started off with some excellent wine suggestions. My companion ordered the scallop appetizer which she loved. I have heard others recommend it and you can't go wrong. For dinner I had Georges Bank Scallops over a layer of short rib hash. Wow, fantastic. The scallops were cooked to perfection and the hash was such a unique tasty pairing. The other entree ordered was the Lake Superior Whitefish which my companion raved about. For dessert we had the sticky toffee pudding. And oh my was that fantastic. Overall a great first time experience at Catch 35 and it won't be my last. The price definitely reflects the high quality of the seafood so expect to spend a little bit of green.
(4)
Amy A.
Bartenders = 5 stars. However, we have been coming here for years and the new mirrors are literally blinding. We had to move our seats three times due to the sun reflecting off the mirrors. Poor design and they should consider taking the mirrors down.
(3)
James S.
Tried to walk in - on business - staying next door at the Renaissance and wanted the check out place to bring a group of 40 for dinner in July - was at 6 pm - and all the group is staying next door also in July - they had no room available except at the bar - went somewhere else - won't be taking the 40 there for dinner in July!
(1)
Maile N.
This was my first Chicago restaurant stop during a recent conference. I ran into some colleagues on my flight and at the airport and they were were staying at the Renaissance. This restaurant is literally next door to it and is super convenient for guests. We didn't have a reservation but we were able to sit in the bar area where you can have full meal service as well. We ordered plenty of appetizers, I enjoyed the heart of palm salad and the poke, and we ordered plenty of fish, mixed shellfish. It was all good and tasty. Service was attentive and brought us extra utensils, bread as requested cheerfully. Their Malbec was a good choice. With everything we ordered, our total each came out to about $60 which we thought was reasonable and a good value. We were happy overall with our dining experience, and I recommended it other colleagues who were also staying at the Renaissance.
(4)
Chris B.
Had a business dinner here, can't say enough good things about this place. The food was awesome. All chef prepared and inspired dishes. We both got the prixe fixe which included an app , main course and desert for $35. Based on the quantity and quality of the dishes, this is an excellent deal. Service was right on par and very attentive. The ambience was great with live piano and guitar solo going on. Dessert was a real treat, I had the best pecan pie which was warm and fresh, like it was just made! My steak was cooked to perfection and absolutely delicious. We will be back!
(5)
Serena B.
Yellowfin Poke. Good but not amazing. Siracha is the overdone flavor of the moment. Which is too bad because it overshadows both the freshness of the yellowtail and the other flavor components of the dish.
(3)
Samantha G.
I've been here 3 or 4 times and every time the food has been outstanding! I keep going with the prix fixe menu - for the price it can't be beat! I've tried the chowders, bisques, and salads. All were winners. The parmesan crisp on the caesar salad is soooo good! Delicious drinks (moscow mules are my go-to here) and yummy bread w/butter. I've tried every dessert on the menu except the sorbet (yes, all of them) and my favorites are the pecan pie (tons of pecans and very little gooey filling -- not how you find it in the south - FYI!) and the sticky toffee pudding. Key lime pie has a slight fake taste and is not very tart. Ice cream is standard and always a safe choice. The chocolate lava cake is really good but way too much chocolate for my taste; if you love chocolate though, it's a winner! Great atmosphere and the live music in the bar area is great. We had a private room in the back during one visit and it was amazing! If you have a group, that's definitely the way to go. Make a reservation during "peak" times, but otherwise you should be able to get in without much of a wait. Parking is miserable; valet is worth it, or take a Lyft.
(5)
Erik L.
Bar Service was excellent - thank you Bob! And the chilean seabass was fantastic - I left with a very wide smile on my face.
(5)
Dusty K.
Set a reservation for 5 pm on a Monday. Valet was easy, service as great. Food was awesome, especially the Chilean seabass, the chunky lobster bisk, and the flourless chocolate steak. Our server, Raphael was the absolute best. Taking my somewhat stupid questions with grace and explaining the menu perfectly. He took the time to make my girlfriend feel extra special. Honestly one of the best service experiences I've ever had at a restaurant. One thing to to work on: The key lime pie. I've had better.
(5)
Kris L.
I found catch overhyped and a tad expensive for the quality. I loved the ambience which was elegant and classy. The servers seemed a bit stuffy but nevertheless prompt and courteous. The food itself was alright. I do eat a lot of fish and seafood in general and found the bass underwhelming. Overall, the flavors just weren't memorable (but not offensive either). Will not be going out of my way to return but overall the experience was pleasant.
(3)
Shan D.
Great, great seafood. Have come for both lunch and dinner and am never disappointed. The blackened swordfish is one of their most popular items, cooked and seasoned perfectly. I also enjoy the halibut with crab. I was a little hesitant to order it, but I'm glad my server sold it to me. Desserts are great too. The toffee cheesecake is a great way to end your meal. The toffee and cheesecake are well-balanced.
(4)
Gary R.
Went here with my wife and children during a recent family trip to Chicago. Loved this place. At first, we were a tad nervous about taking our kids with us to dinner at an "adult" place...boy were we wrong. The servers were extremely mindful of the children from the second we arrived. The tuna appetizer is to die for...as were all the entrees we selected with assistance from our servers. The Pinot Noir they had in cellar was an excellent compliment. Our kids to this day say, "it's our favorite place in Chicago!". I agree. Thanks Catch 35!
(4)
Tricia D.
Came here for a bday dinner earlier this month. Four reasons this visit didn't meet expectations: 1) It took forever for the pre-dinner bread to come out, with no mention of it by the waitress. I did ask for it to be sure it was on its way. 2) While the fish choices are aplenty, the halibut tasted like it was soaked in butter, cooked in a pan full of butter and then topped with some butter. The dish turned out to be really heavy (came on a bed of risotto also), which I've rarely come across (or desire) when ordering fish as an entree. 3) Waitress service was a little too leisurely. 4) The clunky chairs were awkward to maneuver and didn't make scooting in and away from the table easy. Nice menu options.
(2)
Leslie K.
Really nice setting, great menu choices, especially the oyster selections! Enjoyed the venue greatly
(4)
paul g.
I was really hoping for more here. The food was good but not exceptional. The oysters were just missing that little something. Maybe they weren't cold enough the cocktail sauce was not spicey enough. The king crab legs well leg was very good. The decor was well, almost cafeteria like. No ambience there was supposed to be a jazz trio playing but they must have been on break for the 1 1/2 hrs we were there
(3)
Jen K.
I went after a matinee. It is within walking distance of the theater district. Glad I made this choice. The atmosphere is great. There is a piano bar and a couple different levels which makes the place very inviting. Our service was great and very helpful and knowledgable about all the foods. I tried the calamari and mussels for apps and they were both good. The bisque was incredible. The scallops were cooked perfectly and the shrimp and filet medallions were very good. I would recommend the brussel sprouts as a side. The chocolate cake and cheesecake were both very good but my favorite dessert was the apple tart. Overall this would be a great place to grab drinks or for a full meal. It's also in a great location
(5)
Nancy B.
Had the Chilean sea bass. It was delicious. Also had the clam chowder which was very good with chunks of clams and potatoes.
(4)
Chioke S.
Dinner with Global business partners. Seafood was excellent and the atmosphere was great for business conversation and dinner.
(5)
Patrick J.
Three of us ordered family style and debated who ordered the best dish. We all agreed that each of us ordered the best. The Phad Thai shrimp was out of character for a typical American seafood restaurant, but the perfect example of the chefs sophistication exhibited across the menu. I'm voting this the best of our many dishes as we spent the most time talking about it. The Siracha shrimp with the Kale salad is a great place to start your culinary experience here at Catch Thirty Five.
(5)
Mee K.
Best oysters! If you seat by the bar, you can enjoy the live jazz!
(5)
Michael K.
This location never seems to be quite as good as the Naperville location. I have been twice in the last month and each time something seems off. The first visit I felt really rushed by the staff. They were setting down my entree before I was half way through my appetizer (and I am not a slow eater) The meal was just average and being pushed through the meal and out the door just did not leave a great feeling. The next time was better, the service was more relaxed and the food was better. I tried the Halibut dish on the recommendation of the waitress and enjoyed it. The key lime pie was excellent. Probably a 2 star for the first visit and a 3.5-4 star for the second.
(3)
Hoy M.
I was excited to check this place out. I came here during lunch and ordered the Scallops.... The scallops were overcooked and drenched with sauce overpowering the texture flavoring of scallops itself. We also ordered oysters, one of the oysters I had were super fishy. Eh, would not come back.
(3)
Vivi W.
I had been there once for a conference dinner. We had a big table and despite reservation we had to wait an hour. I had sand in my scallops. OK thought that was a one time mistake coz they had a busy night. Last sat went there again with my partner for his birthday. Disaster. He had to ask the busboys and waiter for olive oil for the bread 5 times. The angel hair pasta was horrible (home made-ish). Shrimp in the pasta was frozen-and this is a seafood restaurant. Halibut was ok; but the mushrooms around it were burned. Dessert was ok. Drinks were way too small and overpriced. Mussels were ok. Waiter was overworked and took forever to get to our table. I cannot believe how the qualify of this restaurant keeps going down. Don't waste your money here because the food is pretty pricey but not worth it.
(1)
Carole E.
Th cedar plank salmon is off the menu. Now it's just another run of the mill overpriced seafood joint.
(2)
Philly G.
went for restaurant week and had the $44 menu. Crab bisque was great. Shrimp cocktail was okay. Lobster was absolutely delicious. Steak wasn't cooked to the right temperature. Carrot cake bread pudding I think was the best dessert listed on the menu.
(4)
Ron L.
Recently had a business dinner and wanted to return with wife. Had mussels in lemongrass was delicious. Next was halibut for entree. Again, was as server Pete recommended, delicious. Finally ordered the sticky toffee for desert. This made the entire dinner a home run !
(4)
D W.
So I hadn't been to Catch 35 in years and decided to give it another shot & went for lunch I had the Salmon BLT sandwich. It is easily one of the best sandwiches I have had in LIFE Salmon was cooked to perfection Bacon makes everything better & I think there was a dill sauce Yummmmmmmmm
(4)
Bill G.
Took a couple of clients here for dinner. The atmosphere is nice. Very open, spacious feel, with live jazz in bar. The wait staff was very attentive and helpful without bugging you to death. The drinks were good. The food was excellent. We all had fish and it was fresh and cooked very well. Soup and salad was fresh and good. Everything was delicious. I would come back.
(4)
Jen F.
Crack. Seriously. This place is great from the moment you receive the heavenly, warm bread. I was spying on people's food around me and it all looked delicious. My sister and I shared the scallop and potsticker appetizer which was delicious! For dinner, I got the lobster tail and crab leg combo. I PITY THE FOOL who doesn't order this when they come here. It was cooked to perfection. It was also cut so that I didn't even need the shell-cracking tools. The molten chocolate lava cake for dessert was also crack. It was the perfect end to the perfect meal.
(5)
Janet E.
Hmmm...not a lot of great things to say about the food here. But service was spot on!!! I started with the bisque. The bisque was okay and not overly creamy. My entree was way too salty. I couldn't finish it. I had the whitefish with spinach and smashed potatoes. Everything was salty except the potatoes. The dessert was good though. I had a caramel chocolate cake. It was yummie! Unfortunately our reservations were at 5pm but our table was not ready....it wasn't even crowded then! I think I'll skip this place the next restaurant week season.
(3)
Lauren P.
no more 1/2 price oysters on mondays. bummer. still like the half priced wine.
(3)
Sean H.
My stomach is still doing the happy dance. I went early on Sunday, opens at 4P and I was there. Service was quick and attentive (they were yet to get busy so I may be lucky). Great wine selection and super friendly server. Shrimp and Crab bisque.....YUM Bone in Rib Eye, Medium Rare....if I had two stomachs I would order it again right now. So good, I even cut a portion with my fork and gnawed the bone. I am visiting here anyway who will see me again lol. Great experience.
(5)
Joshua G.
Went here by reviews and most are accurate. Very good food, but small selection. Ordered the beer battered shrimp and was very disappointed. My suggestion is to skip appetizers all together they are overpriced and small. Other than the crab bisque very tasty. Entrees are good size so you won't miss the appetizers. I got the Ahi Tuna Sashimi style and it was very good quality. I wasn't blown away here, consistent good food all around. I don't think I will return, but would recommend for any seafood lover.
(3)
Spencer K.
I was seated almost immediatly after arriving. No reservation at all. I started off with a baby lettuce and maytag blue cheese salad. I love blue cheese. It was a good salad. The pears balanced out the cheese very nicely. I got the Chilean sea bass for my entree and it was magnificent. Most places give you a portion the size of a deck of cards, but not here. Here, they give surprisingly big portions. It was very moist and flakey. Even when it was over, I was wanting more. It is quite a bit pricey, but all the restaurants in the area pretty much are.
(5)
Lee K.
Service was excellent, food was way above average, decor was pleasant with great art on the walls. Live music in the bar area in the front did not interfere with conversation at a table in the back. It's a very large restaurant but doesn't feel vast or cavernous.
(4)
Jenifer W.
I stopped in for a business lunch based on a request from my colleague. ATMOSPHERE: It seemed an odd choice for business purposes, being that it is dimly lit. I loved the idea of a fresh fish counter which displays the daily fish options, which we passed by on our way to the table. I'm told you can choose your own filet if you like, though I did not opt for this. The restaurant is LONG and thin, and for some reason we were taken all the way to the back of the dining room and sat in a dark corner - bit creepy for a business lunch, but... FOOD: Decent. I am not a fish lover by trade, but instead am slowly learning to tolerate. I can say that most seafood restaurants turn me off just by the sheer "fishy" odor in the air, and Catch 35 lacked this particular flaw, which tells me dishes are fresh and well done. We had: 1) Crab Cake Sandwich - The crab cake was clearly house made, with just the right of crab to panko ratio. I noticed a somewhat stronger "fish" odor from my crabcake than I normally like, but it tasted fresh. The bun it sat on was very fresh and tasty, but there was WAY too much lettuce on the sandwich... after removing half of what was there, I still had a good 5 or 6 big pieces. I don't get the idea of drowning the star of the dish in greenery. There was also far too little remolaude sauce, which left the sandwich overall rather dry. Last, it was a bit small for the price, about 1/2 the size of a hamburger patty - dissapointing. 2) Blackened Tilapia Sandwich - Though I didn't actually try this dish, it looked nicely done. It was an "off menu" item requested by my colleague, pan seared and set on a french roll. It looked flaky and fresh, and there was nothing left when he was done, so I'm assuming it was well prepared. SERVICE: Lacking. Our server took some time getting to the table (3+ minutes), took the order, and didn't return until FORTY FIVE MINUTES later, when our dishes finally arrived. The wait time was much, much too long for a couple of sandwiches (what's it take to fry a crabcake and a fish filet?), and I felt unattended to by our server. The sodas went unfilled, while a busboy with a water pitcher was there every time we took a sip - funny. VALUE: Expensive considering portion size, wait time, and overall service. The fish itself was fresh, and decently done, but too small and too long to get to me for me to rate this any higher. The portions need to be larger, or the asking price smaller, but either way you aren't getting what you pay for here. Perhaps dinner is another experience entirely, but for my lunch time I won't be back.
(3)
Guillermo M.
The Martha's Vineyard salad was delicious. For the first time I tried a combination of raspberry, tomato, lettuce, blue cheese and a sweet dressing, fantastic! The halibut with crab was outstanding (great buttery flavor) and finally the pecan pie was really good. The portion was too large but if you share it is fine. A bit pricey but it is worth it.
(4)
Andrew S.
With a name like Catch-35, my girlfriend and I stuck with seafood and were not disappointed. The Salmon over Gnocchi dish was one of the best salmon dishes I've ever had, although it was definitely a bit creamy. The ahi Tuna plate with black sesame seeds was also fantastic. We also took our waitresses recommendation on the scallop appetizer and it was amazing...we highly recommend. Otherwise, the service was helpful while not intrusive and the atmosphere was great. We highly recommend.
(5)
Nick C.
A big fun space, fine seafood given Chicago's proximity to the ocean. Hard to go wrong here.
(4)
Mandi P.
Yum Yum Yum!!! We dined at Catch 35 this past weekend with a group of friends. This type of place is usually not my scene...kinda old school and too well lit!!! However, the food totally made up for this in my eyes!!! As you walk in you are greeted by a generous bar for a restaurant and a live musician playing. Kinda neat, but still not really my thing. We were seated right by the hostess stand which seemed odd, but I think it was probably in the restaurant's best interest because we were a loud and slightly obnoxious group. I didn't catch our servers name, but he was awesome. He had a lot to deal with from our table and he did so with a smile and much patience!!! If the restaurant is reading this...he was a younger guy, with light brown/dark blonde hair...he is awesome and deserves some recognition!!! Most of the group ordered red meat, but I ordered the crab cakes and buffalo shrimp to start...soooo good!!! I then ordered the Smoked Salmon Maki Roll and California Maki Roll...friggin' delicious!!! I wish I had ordered 2 of the Smoked Salmon Maki Rolls, though...so good!!! I wish this place was a little less old school, but despite that, I will most likely return for more dinners!!!
(4)
Michael K.
Ralphael was amazing. My wife and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary here and his service made the night. We cant say thank you enough.
(5)
Andrea R.
This is one of those places I always seem to forget about and I'm not sure why because the food is really good! Located right downtown it's the perfect spot for a business lunch or dinner. I'm usually a fish fanatic, but since pregnancy I've been a little "eh" when it comes to fish. It's kind of a problem since I don't eat much meat...I'm running out of options here! However, when at Catch 35 ordering fish is a must...and I'm sure glad I did. My dining companion and I shared the ranch shrimp appetizer, which was pretty awesome. We were both starving and I'm glad we ordered an appetizer because our waiter seemed to forget about us when it came to ordering our entrees. We were finally able to flag him down and at his suggestion I ordered their infamous Chilean Seabass, served with jasmine rice and green beans. It was so good that I quickly became a member of the clean plate club. Choosing between the key lime pie and molten chocolate cake for dessert can be a tough decision so we opted for both! Both were quite good, but if I had to choose just 1 next time I'd go with the molten chocolate cake. I may be "eh" about fish lately, but this baby sure likes chocolate cake!
(4)
Kristy N.
The good was amazing!! The service was all around wonderful too. Our waitress had the best recommendations based on what our style was for wine. She knew her menu very well.
(5)
Stef M.
Here fishy fishy. I have eaten at this location twice, both times I dined seafood and left impressed. Its a bit pricey but alas you get what you pay for. They have an excellent selection and quality seafood. Portions are the correct amount of food, so if you have a bigger appetite get an appetizer/soup/salad with your meal. Service is great! The bar is nicely architectural and has an airy open feel to it. This is a business casual - business dress environment although I do not think they have a formal dress code.
(4)
Janelle C.
Excellent restaurant for seafood. It came highly recommended from a friend. The service is outstanding !
(5)
Kristen H.
Worst restaurant & dining experience ever. Overpriced, glorified Red Lobster type of boring food with horrible decor and service. The three of us who dined here were so excited to come for restaurant week. It was Saturday night and our reservation was at 8:30, the only good note, we got seated immediately. 2 of 3 of us went off the restaurant week menu and the other went rogue and ordered from the extensive menu. To start 2 of us had the shrimp and crab bisque which I was so excited for because bisque is my favorite. Upon arrival the soup was luke warm and didn't have much taste. The other diner tried the cajun seafood chowder where thanks to the spice providing the only flavor really was just a thin watery soup. For entree, I had the Honduran Tilapia - crab crusted, poached leeks, celery root, tomato beurre blanc - the fish was not seasoned, but thank goodness it had the crab cake type of topping to accompany it as that is what provided the flavor. The sides were odd considering this place is marketed for having Asian flair - really mashed potatoes and grilled zucchini / squash?? Again, all bland, not salted and just blah. One other diner had the shrimp surf and turf that was served w/ the same sides (makes more sense on this traditional entree) and the initial reaction was every bite on the plate tasted the same because there was no seasoning, no salt or pepper and the food was flat. The hooligan who ordered from the main menu got the Yellow Fin Tuna - seared tuna steak, szechwan glaze, chive pot sticker, & beer battered onion ring. Sounds great on paper, right...well not so much in person. The dish came out and the seared tuna was way over cooked to well done along with everything on the plate being overdone, pot sticker & onion ring included. So round 2, the seared tuna comes out and when cut, looks nice & pink with searing on top, well it was cold in the center. Dessert - carrot cake bread pudding - where was the carrot - couldn't even tell it was supposed to be carrot cake? Toffee pudding cake - came out the size of my head and the only tasty thing on the dish was the Homer's ice-cream that was paired with it. Check - waited 20 minutes for the check to get it and have 2 tunas on it. Another 10 minutes to fix the check. Split the $152 check 3 ways - $44 one card, $56 another, remainder on the 3rd card. Remainder per the waiter $108??? Do the math buddy, it's more than the total bill. The waiter's response - "I hate restaurant week and can you tell this has been a horrible night?" With all the screw ups do you think he offered to take a meal off - maybe that tuna that was screwed up not once, but twice or offer her a free beer or dessert - nothing, not even an apology was given. Needless to say, this dining experience was horrible, overpriced and wasted 2.5 hours of my Saturday night. Do not take out of town guests here - there are so many better places in the city for Seafood.
(1)
Sarah M.
This place was quite good - Had mussels for an appetizer and they were so fresh and prepared just right. I had pad Thai with shrimp for dinner - which was okay, but definitely not one of the better pad Thais I've had - I wish I would have ordered a different dish - it was just very salty, maybe heavy on the soy sauce? My husband had shrimp and scallops and that actually looked more appetizing. Had key lime pie which was excellent - just as good or better than in key west! Although my main course wasn't great, I would still come back here and try something else. Live music does a lot for the ambiance and service was great!
(4)
Prince L.
This is the restaurant I compare ALL others to. I have yet to find a restaurant that tops this place in customer service and quality of food in both Phoenix and Chicago. In fact, this place makes Pappadeaux seem like a Red Lobster. The decor of this restaurant is contemporary, but very cozy. I found a very comfortable seat and had no problem finding what I wanted on the menu. The coconut shrimp and mango sauce were very tasty. Both the shrimp and sauce were very light and melted in your mouth. Everything else was beyond my expectations for an upscale, four star restaurant. That is something I do not say often because many restaurants do fall short. Our waiter was very attentive and made the evening beyond excellent. I do plan to bring my wife here so she can experience what I did at the time.
(5)
KM Y.
Went here before a show at the Goodman because I couldn't get reservations anywhere else. The experience was really average. Less than average wine list. Good size menu and variety of options, but the food wasn't great. My fish was terrible (my husband's was good, though) and my sauteed vegetables were still pretty crunchy. The ambiance is odd, too. Nothing terrible about it, but I felt like I could have been eating at any chain restaurant in any city.
(2)
Meredith K.
My fair review is for Restaurant Week. I think they phoned it in. I've been here before and loved it (hence the 3 stars instead of 2 or 4). The fish is super fresh. The service is usually spot on. But this time it felt a little like we were at a wedding reception and the food was prepared earlier in the day. The waiter was nice however he didn't seem all that interested in us. After we ordered the food suspiciously came out right away but we didn't have our drinks yet. How long does it take to pour a glass of wine? Then my dinner arrived before I was finished with my starter. Then a few mins later my date's dinner arrived. It was just poor timing throughout. Then the table next to us was seated. Then we waited. And waited. And waited to give our dessert order.
(3)
Inspector G.
Signature Chilean Sea Bass was over-cooked, over-sweetened and over-sold, a far cry from the plump and tasty mussels swimming in a bold broth and paired with a zesty jalapeño dipping sauce. That said, there's not much subtlety here, which is surprising since a light touch is usually the best way to bring out the flavor in fresh seafood. Kitschy neon lighting knocks the otherwise nice decor down a notch. The service was friendly but very hurried - even in an otherwise empty restaurant. We won't be going back, at this price.
(2)
Max R.
We went to dinner before a concert at the Chicago Theater. The food was wonderful. We showed up just as it opened, so there were open tables. By the time we finished, the restaurant was full. I understand why. My wife and I had the Prix Fixe meal (3 course). My wife and I both had the haddock with Panko. We both loved it. The fish was cooked perfectly. The sauce added a nice sweetness that went well with the haddock. There were other dishes that sounded wonderful also, but both my wife and I would recommend the haddock. We will definately be back.
(5)
Nik Z.
Greasy over salted food. The crab cake entree is so small that it is more an appetizer. The crab is not fresh, it's frozen. Not as fresh tasting as it should be for an upscale Loop seafood restaurant. And the Catch & Carry takeout food is horrible. Not at all worth the price.
(1)
Grace N.
Wow. It's been a while since I've been impressed by a restaurant, and Catch 35 was impressive. We ordered the prix fixe menu which includes a soup or salad, a choice between 5 or so entrees, and about 10 different desserts for $29.95. I appreciated the variety. Many prix fixe menus give you very limited options and the bird-sized portions of those limited options, but these were the same as the regular menu items. The crab bisque was creamy but not too rich. My husband's filet medallions with blue cheese were good but this is definitely a seafood restaurant because my Honduran Tilapia was PHENOMENAL. It was blanketed in a thick layer of succulent crabmeat, and the tomato beurre blanc was the perfect savory compliment....hold on, I'm mentally reliving the experience.....while the side of mashed potatoes and broccoli gave me the full happy belly of comfort food. Yes, ladies and gents, you will actually leave this $$$ restaurant FULL. I am not a dessert person, at least not passionately. But the butterscotch pie was the best dessert I've ever had, it was unfathomable, it was ethereal, it was stupendously, extraordinarily, er, extraordinary. I'll be back for another surprise date night with hubby (hint hint). p.s. Definitely make reservations, even on a weekday night. The restaurant was packed around 7 on a Wednesday night with business and pre-theater diners.
(5)
Steve S.
Loving the selection of Oysters here. Not bad priced either. Got two dozen of New England area Oysters for $30 a dozen. Even in Boston they are $3 each so not bad. The rest of the food was pretty good, not great but pretty good. The service on the other hand was excellent. I would eat here again.
(4)
Vincent W.
Wow! What a great dining experience and absolutely delicious food! Everything we ordered was incredible! Well seasoned, generous portions, creative, and did I mention delicious. Our server was attentive and very observant. We had the 3 course special which included soup, main entree, and dessert. The blacken salmon, with fried rice and broccoli, was tasty and had a little Cajun flair. My spouse had the white fish which came with a spicy sauce. Living in Texas, and enjoying Louisiana cuisine, made me remind myself that this was Chicago and not New Orleans! The desserts (deep dish pecan pie and carrot cake bread pudding) made me think that I was sitting in my mother's kitchen in Georgia enjoying a great home cook meal. A must stop place for dinner in Chicago!
(5)
Jennifer C.
This restaurant is really good. The food is five stars the service is more like 3, hence the four star rating. My friend and I had an 8:45 reservation and when we arrived we were told we could wait for at least 10 more minutes for a table or sit immediately in the Jazz lounge. Since we were starving we opted for the Jazz lounge. To drink I had the champagne cosmopolitian martini and my friend started off with the pineapple margarita which she really didn't care for so she switched to what I was drinking. To eat I had the price fix menu and I selected the caesar salad and grilled salmon with dill sauce. The salmon came with mashed potatoes and green beans both the meal and the salad were great. My friend had the mushroom ravioli with shrimp, cream, and peas and she said it was really good. My meal came with the dessert of my choice and I picked the carrot cake bread pudding which my friend and I split. The bread pudding was awesome! Bread pudding and carrot cake in one dessert, yum!! Anyways, beside the ok service the food was great and I will definitely be back, hopefully in the main dining room.
(4)
Bradley S.
I lunched here with three friends yesterday to take advantage of their Restaurant Week offerings. Each of us was quite happy with both the food and service. I walked in, almost exactly, at the time of our reservation and the rest of the guys had been seated, their drink orders taken. This gave me a couple of minutes to peruse the wine offerings. I was pleased with their breadth and depth of wines by the glass. The Restaurant Week Prix Fix consisted of soup or sald, entree (choice of fish, shellfish, chicken or beef), and dessert (choice of anything from thedessert menu). For $22 this was a deal. I enjoyed a Ceasar salad while most of my companians had the crab bisque which elicited some raves. We tried several of their entrees; I had the dijon crusted whitefish which was very good. I think it's safe to say that while we were all happy with the entree, none of us were blown away. Dessert, which for most of the table was a toffee bread pudding special thing, elicited raves. My piece of pecan pie was a delight to behold and amongs the best I've ever eaten.
(4)
Aurore t.
Loved this place. Staff was friendly and attentive. My neice had Thai Curry Shrimp. She loved it. I had blackened swordfish with chipotle sauce. Spicy, but not too spicy. Also ordered at our table, parmesan encrusted white fish. Very good. Portions not skimpy and desserts are really wonderful as well. I love the location to the theaters. Great place to go. Would definitely recommend this place.
(5)
Mike P.
F-Yeah Catch 35! I used to have a boss from Texas who hated seafood, but this is the best restaurant near my office, so we'd go anyway, when our auditors were springing! The lobster and crab bisque are awesome. I've had a ton of good entrees here as well. Everything from Tilapia to soft-shell crab. The Maryland crab cakes are a good go-to item, if you're not feeling too adventurous. Make sure you finish w/ the apple pie, it's unreal. Also, if you need to grab a quick bite, Catch and Carry, their take out counter in back of the Lobby of Leo Burnette is quite good, too.
(5)
Brad C.
Inside the Leo Burnett building some make sure you avoid this place during weekday lunch hours, otherwise you are going to be in for a wait. Go after 1:00 pm and you should only have to wait about 15 minutes to get your food. Good sandwiches, large selection and plenty of seating.
(4)
Daniel S.
How can an upscale-ish seafood restaurant in the Leo Burnett Buidling go wrong? They can't really. That said, it's not like they tried to go wrong. This is pretty much your standard, upscale fruits de mers fare.....that is nothing to offend or nothing really innovative either. The friend calamari could use some work- it is highly quality product but the seasoning is lacking. Perhaps it should just be grilled. I had the pan seared scallops, and again nothing to offend but it was served in a buttery yet spicy sauce. It's not that I mind either butter or spice- but when combined with high quality scallops this detracts from the experience. Plus mashed potatoes as a side dish? How odd, and who wants to eat a bunch of mashed potatoes and return to work? I'd be asleep in moments. The oysters were topnotch though and everyone else (4 of us) seemed to enjoy their entrees. Try as I may, I didn't get to sample the wine list, although the savignon blanc would've paired well. Bottom line- non offensive but I wouldn't go out of my way. For a more innovative approach to fruits de mers, check out Aria in the Fairmont.
(3)
Genevieve H.
Washed up here based on Yelp reviews after a loooing touristy day in Chicago (13 inning Cubs game + the Art Institute). Greeted by charming server who called us "lovelies" & brought us scrumptious lemon-strawberry martinis. Perfect. Followed by AMAZING meal: fresh tomatoes & hearts of palm salad, Honduran tilapia w/ sensational tomato beurre blanc, leeks, celery root atop, and a classic tart key lime pie for dessert. Cool atmosphere, impeccable service. Thank you, Yelp!!
(5)
Kathleen C.
To quote my husband "Cr_tch" 35. Bland, bland food. Waiter was pleasant but used the exact same lame joke on us as the table next to us (we overheard him at the next table) - schtick is bad enough when its not memorized and recycled like a script.
(2)
Eric P.
This is a great place, especially if you want to bring a date. We came on a Sunday night (about 8 pm) and it wasn't busy at all. I wasn't sure what to except as far as price goes...had been to a few of the fancy seafood places in the Loop before and had bills well over $150-200 (no wine/alcohol involved). The pricing here was between $18 for a simple fish fillet to $60+ for a lobster/steak combo. We got an appetizer (seared scallops, excellent!), 2 entrees, and shared a creme brulee. Total was about $78 after taxes, before tip. Not too bad for an upscale place in the city. I had the alaskan halibut w/ crab stuffing on top. Very good. Wife had the jumbo shrimp w/ lemongrass and pad thai noodles. Excellent as well. I've had better creme brulee before, but it was still very good. Service/staff was A+++ Great place, I'd highly recommend it!!!
(5)
Stan W.
I thought Catch35 was excellent. A classy place to go for good fish cooked well. Nothing completely stood out and blew me away so not quite 5 stars worth. Thought prices were pretty reasonable - definitely a little less than what I expected. Entrees prices were understandably high, but appetizers, salads, and deserts were very reasonable. Also, they were offering a $30 3-course prix fixe and had some cheaper wines (in the $30 range) available. Dessert was just OK though and a little underwhelming - I'm glad they only charged $6 for it. Somehow got out of there for $200 (pre-tip) for a group of 4 where everyone had wine, salad/soup, and a dessert. That's not overpriced at all for what we got.
(4)
Linda S.
We attended a pharmaceutical rep dinner here about one year ago. Seafood is pretty fresh and well-prepared here, we had the seared scallops with szechuan glaze, sauteed alaskan halibut with a meuniere sauce that had crabmeat and portabella mushrooms, grilled panama shrimp in penang curry sauce, and for dessert we tried the creme brulee blanca, double sinful flourless chocolate cake with ganache and raspberries, and the key lime pie. We loved everything -- we only wished we could have ordered more! They have a good selection of pan-seared and charcoal grilled seafood entrees and a really nice wine/martini list! Definitely try the Jolly Rancher cocktail - a mix of watermelon, strawberry, sour green apple and a twist of lemon.
(4)
Tom A.
This was my first meal of the week while in Chicago for business. What a great way to start the week with some phenomenal fresh fish. The baked oysters were so good that we ended up eating an order each both before and after the main course. A very light delicate appetizer that I just needed more and more of. The wine choices were great. I went with a Sav Blanc at the suggestion of the bartender and it was fantastic. The halibut special was another great suggestion. Perfectly cooked halibut with crab ontop and a great light sauce. Just an excellent all around meal of fresh seafood, great wine, and great restaurant atmosphere.
(5)
Gina T.
Zagat needs to revise their reviews! Poor, poor food presentation. I had ordered the crab legs. They asked if I wanted it out of the shell... It came on an orange cafeteria plate and the crab was literally in a shredded pile. The side vegetables (carrots) looked like they came out of a frozen safeway bag. We also ordered the chilean sea bass. They used the exact same soy? sauce on both the scallops appetizer and the fish. We will not be back. Overpriced and bad presentation.
(2)
Brandon B.
This place is way overpriced and not worth it. Maybe I don't get the allure as I'm allergic to shellfish, but overall, the food was just okay. The only reason I'm giving it two stars is because they have this little lunch cafe off of the restaurant that has great for a to-go lunch that's way more reasonable. One thing I have to admit is that I had their calamari appetizer and thought it was *the best* I'd ever tasted. Okay, for that, it gets 3 stars.
(3)
Dane K.
Pretty decent seafood. I've been for lunch quite a few times. They have a good lunch special, something like a selection of a few sandwiches (i.e., crabcake sandwich) and a bisque for $9ish.. I've never had any real seafood here (whole lobster) but I've seen it and I imagine it must be pretty good.... Just not something I usually want for lunch though!
(4)
Eric M.
I want to rate this place higher, but from my experience there were some downfalls. The decor is very cool with the highest ceilings I think I've seen in a restaurant. The live band playing behind the bar at the front of the place is very cool. The menu was great and our waiter was funny and intelligent, sadly my fish was pretty cold when it arrived. So I can't give them a great review but will admit I do look forward to going again.
(3)
Don W.
This is my favorite seafood restaurant in Chicago. I'm usually staying somewhere just across the river or maybe at the Monaco, and this is the most convenient and the best. I've wondered if anything is different now that Nick & Tony's was replaced by McCormick and Schmick's as a neighbor, but I don't think so. I'd still go whenever I had the chance and wanted seafood.
(5)
Kristine L.
Delicious seafood. Every course we had was delicious. And we had a big group and they were able to accommodate us in a comfortable, private room!
(4)
Mike F.
We've been here several times before and loved it. So, we felt confident bringing out of town visitors here this past Saturday night -- but we were rather disappointed in the end. Firstly, the waiter talked the special up so much (he said he had it, etc) that three out of four of us went for it. It turned out to be a bit bland. The fourth entree was the scallops and linguine dish which fed my pet-peeve more than it fed my appetite. It was a $24 dish and the whole thing could have fit neatly into a medium to large sized coffee mug. I could be wrong here but it seems that for a tiny extra cost (to them or me) they could have doubled the portion size -- not that I expected double, but it would have been better if there was just more pasta and sauce -- there were no vegetables in, or with this dish. The desserts were good and fairly priced. If I had written this review last week or maybe even if we came in on a different night I might have given this place four stars if not five. Minor annoyances that did not contribute to my two star rating are: 1) The restaurant is large and the back area is more elegant than the front. Still, while the place was far from full they placed us in the rather congested area just off the lounge area (behind the hostess stand). I could see that the adjacent table was being disturbed while we settled in (you have to pull the table away from the wall a bit) and there was no reason for this unless the illusion of being full is more important that the comfort of their customers. 2) the waiter was buzzing around trying to get a drink order when we were more concerned with getting settled into our seats and, he came by to ask if everything was OK at the same second the server placed the plates on the table. This is before we could pick up a fork so there is nothing to be said at that point. I thought they were trained to wait until your mouth is too full to speak before they ask. 3) A jazz singer and piano is a nice touch but not all of us want to hear Christmas music all evening.
(2)
Bella D.
We had a good bye celebration for an office mate here. Seafood and drinks were wonderful. Decor and people charming!
(4)
Carey A.
Nice place. If you want asian inspired seafood, you'll love it here. It wasn't for me. I went with a group of people. I want ice tea and they only serve flavored. I didn't really want seafood, so I got could either pick from having a salad or $25+ steak. Service was friendly.
(3)
Psydde D.
Went here for a very satisfying dinner with a group of behavioral analysts.. not my usual group of comrades, but very fun and interesting conversation after the second bottle of house wine. I started with a thick and filling crab bisque followed by a delicious ginger shrimp stir fry... definitely recommended! Was too full to try dessert but that will be a treat I save for my next visit to Chi-town..
(4)
Lesley S.
I went here on my birthday a couple years ago and was not impressed. I think I got some sort of tilapia on rice and it was really bland. It tasted like something I could have made at home. The atmosphere was nice and I liked the setup, just not the food so much. I just expected it to be much, much better. Maybe I just got the wrong thing, but my date wasn't that fond of it either so that is not a good sign. Overall, it is a disappointment for what you end up paying.
(2)
Michael S.
Overall, I just can't give this place more than 3 stars though I really want to. My girlfriend and I came here as it is close to the Oriental theatre and thought might as well grab some good seafood before the show. The oysters we had (dozen of different varieties) was very good and fresh so that was enjoyable. After we had oysters, we tried their crab bisque and bahamaian fish chowder... unimpressive, but it wasn't expensive at all for their soups unlike other places I can think off. We split the alaskan stuffed halibut with maryland crab on top and it was enjoyable, but the portions were a bit small. We figured since we can't bring in food to the show that we should split an entree, but I didn't think I would be left still hungry as we've split entrees and have been stuffed elsewhere. The halibut itself was pretty bland and what made it decent was the crab on top of it. We decided for dessert as my girlfriend saw the chocolate mousse with a caramel nest. While the dessert wasn't expensive, it wasn't that great at all. Ambience and decor was nice as well as our oysters. The rest was just average. I expected more from here.
(3)
Nicholas W.
Good food, good service, nice environment, great live entertainment.
(4)
Sheila Y.
Went to lunch at this "powerlunch" center and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Started with the Catch 35 bisque which I barely touched since I was so engrossed in conversation with my lunch mates. I also ordered the Seafood Cobb, which was wonderful! There were whole pieces of crab and full sized scallops which I appreciate. As well as a large portion of blue cheese. Bravo! My recommendation is to cancel out the baby shrimp and order grilled prawns instead (a very wise choice I may add). Ended the meal with a simple coffee which was just ok. Next time I am going to order an entre (once my pants start fitting again) and definitely hit up the desserts which look wonderful. Definitely a great lunch spot however.
(4)
Katey V.
Big restaurant, great seafood menu. The menu includes cooked seafood, sushi, and some thai dishes. We went before a show and the service was great. They have valet parking, and you can dine there before/after a show and leave your car there. Very good restaurant and convenient. We would definitely return.
(4)
Elizabeth W.
Great drinks and seafood. I've gone there a few times now and am a fan. Their drinks are good - so far, I've tried their moscow mule, chocolate martini, and coffee martini. As for the food - it's good! I had the steak, which was reasonably priced. The oysters were tasty. Everyone was happy with what they got.
(4)
Christine T.
So after my first mediocre experience a few weeks ago, I returned yet again this week. I've spent many quasi-memorable meals here over many years. The waitstaff in the bar area seem to have the most very basic understanding of the menu. I over heard our waitress talking about her upcoming move to the west coast, so when my oysters arrived followed by the fish I ordered the most basic of origin questions seemed to befuddle our already can't bother attitude of the waitress. On the bright side the jazz trio in the bar atrium is a must enjoy moment much preferred to the noisy dining room, even if it is for a simple glass of wine.
(1)
Pamela B.
We had reservations for Dinner, but had to cancel. So we went for lunch. Very modern in decor, staff was efficient & friendly. Hubby ordered the Oyster Loaf; V ordered the Blacken Whitefish Tacos; I ordered Fish & Chips (whitefish breaded with panko crumbs). They were all delicious. I had to large fish filets& as usual, had to get Hubby to finish for me. Please note: I asked about the Arnold Palmer & asked them to bring sweetener to table. Waitperson assured me it was already sweetened. Southern sweet must be different than Northern sweet. But I'm a big girl, I sucked it up & finished drinking what I would call an unsweetened Arnold Palmer. See! I can adapt!!! It is in a nice location for walking around Chicago or if you are staying downtown.
(4)
Kristin D.
As my sister pointed out: our waitress had a Phd in waitressing. What a wonderful dining experience last night. We got to the restaurant earlier than our reservation, but we were shown to a great table. The fixed price menu looked good, but I wanted the beet salad so opted for that plus the lobster sliders-yum! Sliders were good-a good amount of lobster very lightly dressed. Came with potato chips which were dusted with old bay. Others got the sashimi and the surf and turf. Both diners enjoyed their meals. The roasted Vegetables which came with their meals were delicious --not just the usual broccoli or carrots. For dessert we had the flourless chocolate cake. Quite good--rich but that's to be expected. The food here was good, but really what made it a 5 star was the great service and the atmosphere.
(5)
Vasile G.
We had reservation for Dinner. I love this place a lot. Everything was delicious , a little expensive but very very delicious. I've tryed Scaloops special from them and it's was great !!!! Best seafood restaurant till now in Chicago ! I would recommend to all my friends
(5)
David H.
I didn't know what to expect based on the mixed reviews I'd read. I was pleasantly surprised by the service and quality of the food and beverages. I was able to get bleu cheese stuffed olives in my martini which started the evening off on a good note. We didn't feel rushed in the least as the staff was very patient, yet attentive. Nice recommendations by our server. My group of 4 started off with a dozen oysters on a half shell. They mixed up the different types as requested. We also had some calamari. Not too much, but enough to share 4 ways. The calamari was tender and lightly breaded. For my main dish, I had the halibut which was accompanied by lump crab meat on the side placed over a spinach bed. For dessert, I finished in the usual way with a liquid version---- Balvenie 12 year with 3 cubes. Perfect business dinner.
(5)
Whitney R.
The ceviche and sea bass were amazing! The service was great. Bottles of wine decently priced. They have live jazz and the volume of the band was just right! Loud enough for you to hear it but not too loud that you couldn't hear the people you were sitting with. So important for restaurants that offer live music. Definitely will go back and definitely recommend it.
(5)
Tricia R.
Hubby and I came to celebrate our anniversary. He got the crab cakes (which he said were just as good as excellent places in Florida-so fresh). I got the beet salad, which was to die for! For dinner, hubby got the aged Ribeye (awesome) and I got the filet medallions with veal sauce (very good)! Hubby's definitely was better (we both thought so). Definitely a must try. the sour dough bread and butter was warm and fresh. Yum
My colleagues and I visited Catch 35, it was a fantastic experience. We have a wonderful bottle of wine and all the dishes served were delicious. I had the White fish, although not a fancy fish dish it was probably the best fish dish I've ever eaten. My friends enjoyed their oysters and dishes as well. I would highly recommend, if you are in Chicago, be sure to visit Catch 35!
(5)
Adrienne B.
Pretty tasty seafood restaurant I found! I never heard of this place but looks like it has been around for a awhile. I say that because the decor is from 1990's but if you are there for the food that's all that matters! First.. We were seated right away! Our server was attentive and very informative! We first started off with wine and mussels! The mussels were very large and tasty! Choose the wine sauce/ garlic!!!! We ordered the Mahi Mahi and the Sea Bass. Everyone was right about the Sea Bass it was one pretty delicious piece of fish! The side options of rice really does have to go! We didn't even touch it! They do need to serve it with something else! The Mahi Mahi was just as good but what made the Mahi Mahi perfect was the sauce and risotto it came with! Lastly.. We ordered the award winning lander Mac and cheese to go! We ate it for lunch the next day... It was good but I wouldn't say award winning. This was a quick dinner! Dinner reservations were at 7 out by 8. They are quick! They should allow people to enjoy their company. I felt a little rushed. Overall great seafood restaurant if your looking to just eat great food!! Oh yeah.. They have live jazz by the bar. Epic!
(5)
KEE K.
The Jazz was great and the trio is delicious. The shrimp bisque, whitefish and dessert is awesome
(5)
Greg H.
Came here at 5:00p in December before heading to a 7:00p ballet. The initial service was fantastic; our waitress was almost too attentive to the point where we were like "move along... we're trying to chat here..." We ordered a bottle of wine, sea bass, and scallops. All the food was fantastic and the prices were reasonable for seafood on the loop ($20-30 / plate). The slippery decline came around 6:00. Our waitress dropped off the desert menu and then quickly disappeared. We kept checking the clock, nervous about making the 7:00p ballet. The wait went from 20, to 30, to 40 minutes (!). There was no pop-in, or knowing glance for our waitress. We sat at our empty table accompanied by only two glasses of water. Eventually we got the check and promptly headed out (without our precious desert). I understand that peak times cause problems for waitresses but waiting 40 minutes to place a dessert order, and to be checked on brought this review down from a solid 5-stars to a 3-stars. I'm disappointed but will give this place another shot in the future.
(3)
Candy S.
Great food! I was in Chicago for one night and wanted a great meal. This place did not disappoint! We had the Szechuan scallops for appetizer. The scallops were cooked perfectly. I had the crab and shrimp bisque; it was great bisque but I was expecting more. The main dish was a T-bone cut Halibut with a tomato cream sauce. This dish made the whole meal. The Halibut melted in your mouth! It's a huge serving too! The bartender was great who served us for predinner drinks. And we had the sticky bun pudding for dessert. The only disappointing thing was the wait staff. It was over 15 minutes for any server to come to our table and that was just water. Our waiter did not come to our table for another 5 minutes after that while the table next to us received prompt service.
(4)
Caroline D.
Nice restaurant, in general! Live music never fails - so few places have a live band these days. It can be fairly loud there sometimes, depending on how many people are in the bar area. I usually have the blackened salmon with field greens salad. Always fresh and the salad dressing is a nice compliment to the flavor on the fish. Have had the fish tacos, which are okay - could use a little more flavor. Full bar and the staff are great!
(4)
Chad N.
This was our date night restaurant while we were in Chicago ! The atmosphere is incredible, the location and is perfect, the seafood is fresh and the prostitutes are plentiful -- not that the last part was of any interest to us. The food really was good. I had the scallops and they were the best that I have experienced in a very long time - especially over the hash. My husband had the swordfish. I think he was a little disappointed, but I explained that swordfish is very firm and not a salmon filet. The drinks were 'holla' -- perfect ! The highlight was the table next to us -- older gentleman and much younger female companion -- because we tend to be nosey --- Gentleman "would you like the tuna or salmon?" -- response (from younger woman) -- "I have never had salmon and the only tuna that I have had has been out of a can" -- well I think we know the story here... We were amused and chuckled while we finished our cocktails... Fantastic place !!
(4)
Mary T.
Fantastic food, dated decor. I've got to admit, I felt like I was in a late 80's movie the entire time we dined here. The decor is dated; well kept, but in need of an update. The nightly live jazz aside, it leaves a little to be desired in terms of ambiance. That said, the food brings it and the service is top notch. We started out with the lobster sliders, which come in an order of three. The sliders were quite tasty; I would order them again. For our mains, he went with the yellowfin poke and I went with the mahi mahi. Our dishes couldn't have been more different; his light and mine heartier. I liked them both, but in hindsight was probably more in the mood for the poke. My mahi was cooked perfectly and the sweet corn lobster risotto was decadent, almost too much for the dish. A bit pricey, but a solid seafood experience - 3.5 stars, but I'm rounding up.
(4)
Michelle L.
Pleased that we had a decent seafood meal here! We wanted a good seafood spot so this place was recommended by a local. They open at 5pm for dinner which was when our party of 4 walked into the restaurant. We had just spent a couple hours being tourists in the city and walked into this place feeling under dressed. The ambiance is casual upscale and I walked in there wearing my 49ers jersey. But I didn't get any dirty looks from the staff and they seated us right away. To start things off, we got the calamari ($13) and wanted to try the Oyster Rockefeller ($15, Applewood smoked bacon, spinach, asiago cheese, mornay). Unfortunately the oysters were buried in so much cheese and bacon, that's all we tasted. Couldn't taste the oyster anymore. I ordered the halibut ($36) while my bf ordered their popular chilean sea bass ($34). Both dishes came out very nice. The fish was cooked very well. I preferred the halibut over the sea bass but neither dish disappointed. My sister ordered the pad thai ($20). Apparently the head chef is Thai so there were a few Thai dishes on the menu. And for my 7 year old nephew, there was a kids menu in which he ordered a cheeseburger. Their fries came out pretty good. Yummy overall, but I wasn't wowed by the meals. Food was good and we left content, but we'd like to try other seafood spots as there are so many in the area.
(3)
Christine H.
Came here last minute after my friend really wanted oysters and seafood. Even though it was 7:00pm Friday night, they were still able to seat us right away. The service was definitely sub-par. The waiter kept pushing drinks, even when we have stated multiple times we didn't want anything. Our water was never refilled. Disappeared and took forever to come back to take our order. Getting our check and paying for it took another 20 min. The restaurant wasn't even that full. The oysters were amazing. They had four choices on the menu that night and we got the ones from New Brunswick. The texture was amazing, and the sauce really complimented the oysters. The entree was great too. I ordered the Haddock. It was perfectly cooked, and the rice, veggies, and crab really complemented the fish. However, the plating looked really messy, and it looked like something I could just make at home. There's plenty of other seafood restaurant in the city to enjoy.
(3)
Dave C.
Mixed feelings about this place. Loved the location and the atmosphere of the place was very good. We had reservations and were seated right away. They brought out some water but it took 15 minutes just to get drink orders placed. We were there a good 25 minutes before placing our order. Once we ordered our food, everything else seemed to go fine but I just felt the service was way too slow for how busy the place was for a Sunday night. The good side of the night was the food. I think everyone in our party really enjoyed their meals. I just did a basic Fried Haddock and Fries but it was really good. Others had different items and they all enjoyed what they had. I would certainly go for the food but the service needs to be better as far as speed. At times we thought our waiter had forgotten us. Wiling to give this place another try but if the speed of service is the same as my initial visit then I won't be back.
(3)
Alexandria T.
I dined here a month or so ago for a Father's Day dinner after seeing Motown the musical around the corner. We saw a matinee, and it let out earlier than we expected, so we arrived a bit early for our reservation. They were still able to accommodate us and seat us right away. The restaurant was pretty empty when we arrived, but by the time we left, almost every table was full. We started off with cocktails, and then ordered a bottle of wine. They had wine on the list that I had been wanting to try, just for the name, but the wine was a nice, quality red wine. Loved! The table shared an order of calamari to start. It was excellent, and I especially liked that tofu came with it. I started my meal with a Martha's Vineyard salad. I loved the dressing and the fresh fruit on top. I only wish the server hadn't snatched my last bite! For my entree, I ordered the scallops sans bacon. I thought the scallops were cooked to perfection; however, I didn't really like the sweet pea risotto. I'm a texture person, and I think that may have been the reason why I wasn't a huge fan. For dessert, I had the sticky toffee pudding cake. I enjoyed every last bite. I was really impressed by the food and had an excellent meal.
(4)
Donitta E.
Although they did not have the Lobster Roll on the Chicago Restaurant Week menu as it stated online, but that's due to the massive winter blizzard in Boston. The food was great!! I went today for lunch with a few co-workers and for $22 you get a full 3-course lunch. I would definitely go back!!
(4)
Benjamin B.
Catch 35 is a hidden treasure in the city. I highly recommend this place for seafood. The Maine Lobster Bisque is a must try, fresh and delightful. The Chilean seabass was pan seared perfectly, followed by a slice of fresh key lime pie. The waiter was friendly and welcoming. I am glad I had the opportunity to try this restaurant for Restaurant Week 2015.
(5)
Lisa H.
AWESOME specials on Tuesdays. I had to think twice about writing this review, bc disclosing their Tuesday specials of half-off on bar menu may spike up traffic there, which would make it harder for me to get a seat, but it's too good not to share. All items on bar menu is half-off every Tuesday night! Their bar menu doesn't comprise of just two measly apps and a entree; they have mussels infused in lemongrass sauce, fish and chips, scallops, and even lobster roll and sliders. You heard me right! LOBSTER ROLL! i tried their lobster sliders; the plate comes with 3 sliders and chips, so bomb. The lemongrass sauce for the mussels is one of the best sauces I've had. The first time i got the lemongrass mussels, i ordered extra bread and took the remaining sauce home...it was THAT good, no shame. There were plenty of seats at the bar and in the lounge area. Caveat is that you have to sit there to take advantage of the bar menu, not in the main dining area. Warning: If bar seats are taken, you will resort to sitting around the band in the lounge area and can get pretty loud.
(4)
Customer X.
Perfectly executed good classical food with quality ingredients in a bourgeois setting....The service is great and the restaurant is clean. It is challenging to park around here. You will likely end up in s private parking.
(4)
Danny W.
A little like the movie 'Inception', there's another idea hidden underneath a layer of steak and seafood restaurant here. Catch and Carry is on the other side and if you don't work in the building it might be the best kept lunch secret in the city. There isn't a separate Yelp listing so it kinda flies under the radar. It's similar quality of food to 35 only express version. Much faster and with more options including breakfast or a cup of coffee to go. The prices are comparable to almost anything slightly above a 5 dollar foot long you'll find in the area it's all relatively healthy for you...depending on what you order of course. If you're in the area looking for lunch and just happen to stumble upon this review give it a go and be sure to send me a compliment to tell me how much I rule ;-)
(4)
Stephanie M.
We stopped in here on a Friday night, on our way back to our hotel after a Cubs game. We were dressed very casually so I went in and asked if there's a dress code, explaining our situation. The hostess assured me our casual dress was not a problem and, while there was a 40 minute wait to eat in the dining room, the bar area and tables are open seating so we got seated right away. This worked out better anyway, since some of our group were still a tad uncomfortable being so underdressed. We started with drinks which were all great. I asked for a dirty martini and the olive juice was forgotten, but they fixed that immediately. The tart cherry manhattan and mule drink were also yummy. For food we all had fish - two ordered the Atlantic Salmon, grilled, one had the Lake Superior Whitefish with mustard crust, and I had the Wild Coho Salmon. All of our meals were absolutely delicious. The fish was all perfectly cooked, sauces were wonderful, and sides were scrumptious. The cucumber salad that came with the Atlantic Salmon was raved about, and the shrimp and crab bisque (ordered a la cart) was very tasty. We were thrilled that we stopped in and left extremely satisfied. The prices are also quite reasonable unless you're ordering crab or lobster, and the portions were perfectly sized. Too bad we were too full for dessert. We wouldn't hesitate to stop in here again and try some of the other dishes.
(5)
Maria L.
The ambiance is nice. The food is pretty good. The server is... Meh. We tried the whitefish and toffee cake for dessert. The whitefish would've been perfect, except it was a tidbit too salty. As such, I had a slight headache after dinner :-/ Our server knew we were on a tight schedule since we were heading to a play right after dinner, yet she proceeded to have small talk for too long and didn't move with a sense of urgency to place our order. Well, we had to practically sprint through dinner to make it to the play on time (we were literally seconds away from having the door closed on us), and the server failed to fully explain the free valet they offer customers who are attending a play. We ended paying for it in full because the way she explained it made no sense whatsoever. We may not return, but we do recommend others give it a shot. Perhaps with a better server and a little less salt, we would've had a phenomenal time.
(3)
Chris G.
Mayhaps the tastiest, chunkiest and most tender Chilean Sea Bass that's served in the shadows of the Trump behemoth? While I'm not wild about the so-so, high school cafeteria tasting green beans and boring lump of white rice that props up this savory and delicate lump of saltwater goodness, the star of the entree is among the best served here. Chef, please get someone to re-imagine the supporting cast, though. If I wanted Chinese food, I'd ask my friend's mom to cook it because she's the best. It would be quite interesting to try this dish again with it sitting on top of something much more interesting like a passion fruit, red peppercorn orzo. I've never EATEN or seen that offered before, but i can already TASTE it. :) And the plate ware is pretty dated. I'm not hating on you, it just doesn't sell the dish or feel special whatsoever. But please never change what you're doing when it comes to selecting and cooking up such wonderful quality seafood.
(4)
Teree H.
Came here while on a business trip. Excellent service, food and ambiance. The $33 fixed price menu includes filet mignon medallions and lemongrass shrimp & scallops that are to die for. They have an extensive wine and cocktail list and the wait staff is phenomenal. Check them out!
(5)
Brittany M.
This review is about the bar food service. In particular, Catch 35 offers a half-priced bar menu on Tuesdays. For quality seafood, the deal couldn't be beat, so I enthusiastically brought in some colleagues during our lunch hour. Although the food and service are generally good, I did NOT have an enjoyable time this trip. I would advise against going to Catch 35 when time is of the essence. I had a hard stop at 1pm and communicated this to the wait staff when placing my order around 12:10pm. Two of our colleagues arrived 5-10 minutes *after* I placed my order yet both received their food first. Around 12:45pm, I had to speak to the manager about my food and was told that it had been delayed in coming out due to a sushi short staff (I did not order sushi). The manager offered to comp my meal due to the long wait; however, when it came time to pay and I needed to leave (promptly at 1pm, as I had indicated previously), I was given the check and paid the full amount. I'm very disappointed in the customer service experience at Catch 35. I did my part in communicating my time constraints, yet 2 of my colleagues - despite arriving after me - received their meal well in advance of mine. The manager offered to comp my meal but failed to let the waitstaff know. Due to my time constraints, I had to pay before leaving. While the food here is quality, the service is not. Think twice before coming in if you are in any sense of urgency.
(3)
Susie R.
Thanks for the review, Stacey D., our experience was very similar to yours. We're here on a busy Sunday night and service was a bit slow to begin but has been perfect ever since. We were in no rush and our waiter picked up on that quickly. Husband's standard martini was very good, my cucumber cocktail not that great (too sweet, too weak, not much flavor). Mussels with garlic sauce were outstanding, the best I've had. The chilled roasted beet salad was wonderful, lightly dressed and flavorful but still light. Lobster bisque as described. .. Not too heavy, wonderful. The scallops were tender, nicely browned, the risotto creamy, and a few chunks of nicely cooked bacon over all. Green beans and mushrooms side dish were not warm enough - an afterthought. Husband's crab crusted tilapia with mashed potatoes was also quite good, lots of crab, nice flavor. Sticky Toffee Pudding: yummy yummy. Overall, as good as the service and food may be, it all feels a bit "scripted", prepared in advance and not given the individual attention the food deserves. I would award 3.5 to the food if I could.
(4)
Lauren B.
Went here for dinner before a show this weekend. When we sat down, we told them we had a show. Yet, it still took them 30 minutes to take our order and 40 minutes (and a LOT of prodding) to deliver our food. Pro: The food is EXCELLENT. I mean, I'm still dreaming about it two days later. Melt-in-your mouth sea bass. 5 stars. Con: The service is SLOW. Friendly, competent, but SLOW. If you've got no where to be, it's not a big deal. If you've got plans, don't go here. 3 stars. They did, however, comp our meal to apologize for the slow service. That was REALLY nice of them, and probably nets out the service.
(4)
Frank C.
Great food and great service! They, without in doubt, deserve the 5 stars and I definitely recommend them. Try their blackened salmon... It was delicious. Oh... and their dessert was outstanding. I was very satisfied with my choice.
(5)
Steve A.
The interior design of Catch 35 is really interesting, with multiple tiers extending up into the buildings mezzanine area. As you might expect there is a fairly broad offering of fish. My favorite is the halibut. The best thing is their sourdough bread, reminiscent of San Francisco. It's a good spot for pre-theatre dining. Also, after work there is often live jazz in the bar area, where you can eat at a high top.
(4)
Jonathon C.
Unbelievable food and we just ate off the bar menu so can't even imagine the full menu! They had by far the best bisque ever and the shrimp were spectacular!! We'll be back!
(5)
John G.
This is a better restaurant than they were tonight. They may have been overwhelmed by a big theatre crowd. I love the spaciousness of the room and tables for 2 have lots of space from other tables. I had oysters that were good but not sitting loosely in the shell. The 3 sauces were terrific. My wife's sea bass was good but they missed on my salmon. It was way over cooked. The waiter comped a glass of wine to help the situation. This is usually a great place and we'll give them another shot.
(3)
David K.
Flawless lunch for my special occasion. Chilean Sea Bass - meal for the Greek gods.
(5)
Jason C.
Food was great, staff was amazing. GF had a little issue with her food being cold so they gave us a free dessert. It was a bit on the expensive side.
(4)
Chicago K.
Great for business dinners. Very attentive staff.
(5)
Lawrence P.
Went here last Saturday for Restaurant week. Had the prix fixe menu. It was phenomenal. 3 courses. Started with the lobster bisque. So good I wanted to lick the bowl. Settled for swabbing it with my roll. For the entree had the filet with lobster tail. The steak was cooked perfect for medium rare and though the lobster was more of a garnish, the sauce for them both was so savory it didn't matter. For dessert 3 of us had the molten chocolate cake with such tasty warm chocolate in the middle it made my heart warm. One of my daughters got the key lime and it was excellent with just the right tart for key lime. Will certainly go back here. Excellent beer selection and wine list. What's not to like?
(4)
Kevin W.
We really enjoyed our dinner tonight. My wife had the Mahi Mahi and I had the filet mignon medallions with lobster bisque and key lime pie for desert. Both of our meals were very good!
(5)
Sam B.
Good food and great ambience. Had the filet mignon medallions and they turned out very good!
(4)
Kimberly S.
I'm not sure how we managed to miss this place during our frequent travels to CHI. So glad the concierge at our hotel made the recommendation. Service was attentive, food was quite tasty and price point was reasonable. I ordered scallops and my husband got the filet medallions. We'll be back for sure!
Very old establishment known for their wonderful catches. But usually, these old establishments are also very slow. When we sat down, we told our waiter that we have to leave at a certain time and he nodded as if he understood, but in the end, our meal took almost 2 hours when we only have less than that. Half the time was trying to flag down the waiter. However, the food is very good. A few select items are available in a pre-fixe meal which provided a very good value. The chocolate cake and pudding were also good, but unfortunately, we only had a bite and had to run out. Next time we would have to allot much much more time.
(4)
Phil E.
I was in Chicago on business and took a couple clients here for dinner. I had never been here before. The vibe, as other reviewers have pointed out, it a tad funky, old perhaps and somewhat odd, especially at the bar. The bar had low stools and a high bar, kind of weird. The food however was really really good. The combination of fresh fish and great ingredients made this meal really good. I had the Sockeye Salmon with watermelon couscous salsa. It was spectacular. Wait staff attentive. Great wine list too. I would definitely return here. Also, I happen to be at Shaw's Crab House the night before and this was night and day difference better. Food was far superior and more plentiful here.
(4)
Robert S.
Catch 35 was recommended to me by a friend and so I took my sister here before we went to go see Motown the Musical at the Oriental. Catch 35 is right on the river and has an awesome bar atmosphere upon entering (also love how it looks like a galley kitchen through the entire restaurant. However upon sitting down the restaurant feels old.... Old glassware, old silver, that gray miss crap in the plant boxes stringing the dining area.... Also the menus were extremely tacky for an "upscale" restaurant. Our waitress was very pleasant but altogether not available at the right times (couldn't even put in our glass of wine before our entrees arrived). Also the good runners place their trays on the staircase railing which made me extremely nervous that someone's food was going to get knocked right on the ground at any moment. We got the coconut shrimp as an app, and it was so disappointing... Not crunchy and no flavor. My sister got scallops with the pea risotto which was very good but lacking in spice, and I got the seared tuna sashimi. Ok... This was the most boring thing I've ever eaten.... I mean they could have at least come up with a sauce, and the rice and veggies that accompanied came on a side bread plate that looked terrible.... Our dessert was fantastic (a bread pudding type cake) and my after dinner Expressotini was spectacular. I wouldn't probably recommend this place to anyone and for the price we payed I left feeling like I just went to an overhyped "upscale" (but not even remotely) dinner restaurant.
(2)
Raheem L.
The swordfish was great and so was the service. I also highly recommend the calamari and the chowder. The tartar sauce that comes with the calamari is perfect l.
(4)
James B.
This was my 4th visit to catch....they have never disappointed me. Service was excellent food was excellent. Had the sea bass and bread pudding for dessert.
(5)
Sarah V.
Fantastic meal. Slower service on a Saturday night (but who wants to rush through a nice meal?!). Quieter seating in the back and live jazz music in the front near the bar. $12 valet parking. Excellent prix fixe for $33.95 includes soup or salad, entree, and dessert! Can't beat that for a downtown nice restaurant!
(5)
Natalie P.
My boyfriend and I made a reservation here for our second anniversary and we were not disappointed. Great atmosphere as soon as we walked in. The restaurant was lively and bustling, but not overwhelmingly loud or chaotic. Live jazz, too! Having been on a culinary tour of Chicago this weekend, my boyfriend and I both agreed that Catch 35 blew all its competitors out of the water in terms of entrees. He got haddock with ginger sambal and I got yellowfun tuna poke (both items off of their $33 Restaurant Week dinner menu). This was some amazing seafood (and this is coming from someone who grew up on the east coast by the ocean!). Very fresh and handled with lots of care. Dessert was Key Lime Pie (very light, not a thick custard) and a flourless chocolate cake with chocolate-hazelnut filling. We could not decide which one we loved more! Loved that this restaurant was participating in Restaurant Week which makes amazing food like this accessible to a young couple, just starting out, like us. Definitely worth traveling for. I'll happily return on a future trip to Chicago.
(5)
Steve A.
First time at this very nice restaurant. The staff was very helpful. My wife is on a weird diet and they were very accommodating preparing her a meal she would enjoy. Food was very well prepared. I had the bouillabaisse and the broth had a very nice depth of flavor. My wife's Mah Mah was also prepared very well.
Catch 35 was all around fantastic! We went there during a busy time, and the staff handled a packed restaurant with several large groups with ease. When our waitress seemed to have gotten tied up with another table, other waitstaff jumped in to make sure we were sufficiently taken care of. The food was phenomenal. I had tenderloin medallions with shrimp, and my colleague got the swordfish. The steak was so tender you could pull it apart with a fork, and the taste was at an equally high level. The shrimp was fantastic, and the swordfish got good reviews also. Our appetizer was the coconut shrimp, cooked perfectly and with great flavor. Just good good good! I loved Catch 35. I loved it so much I tried to suggest to our group that we return the following night. But alas, it will have to wait until my next trip to Chicago...
(5)
Rawlins R.
I made a reservation for Catch Thirty Five using OpenTable. In my reservation description I made a few requests/notes as this was going to be a dinner for me and the wifey on our 1 year "anniversary" from when I proposed to her. I requested two glasses of champagne for our table before we were seated. The day we came down it was snowing pretty bad so traffic was horrific as usual. I had left enough time for us to get there and find parking but with the snow we showed up closer to our reservation time. I decided to use the valet parking. They were friendly and took my keys giving me a numbered slip for pick up after dinner. I let the host know that I had a reservation for two and he told us it would be just a moment. While we waited they offered coat check but we politely declined. Others showed up and were seated with reservations immediately. The wife was slightly concerned and didn't understand why our reservation was different. I didn't immediately understand either but I realized when we were seated that they had noticed my requests in my OpenTable comments. We were seated at a table with two glasses of champagne and the host wished us a happy anniversary. I have made previous requests similar to this one on OpenTable before but none have been as greatly executed as this one. I usually put in the notes that this dinner is for a birthday or anniversary and the host/waiter never make note of it during our visit. Catch Thirty Five did a wonderful job of simply paying attention to the details and really won over the experience within the first moments of seating us. Our waitress was great. She was very soft spoken and knowledgeable of the menu. Her persona was quite calming and pleasant for a romantic evening. She asked us if we had a show to get to so that she could speed up the dining process in necessary. We let her know that we didn't but the service and timing was still impeccable. Most restaurants do an average job in terms of wait staff bringing your food and removing finished dishes. The staff here was outstanding and dishes were brought out promptly and at the right times. The food was phenomenal and the atmosphere was warm with dim lighting and live music for ambiance. I chose this location because I wanted to go to a fine dining restaurant that had a New Orleans atmosphere. There are a few other restaurants in the city that are more New Orleans-esque but not so romantic. Catch Thirty Five has an extensive seafood menu and is certainly romantic. If you were dining down in New Orleans this is the kind of like Muriel's. Coming to Catch Thirty Five was a great experience and I look forward to coming back for another special occasion when the time calls.
(5)
Dom G.
Good seafood. The wait staff was friendly, but stuffy.
(3)
Gary D.
We went to see Phantom at the Cadillac and wanted to have dinner nearby and someone recommended this place (and of course it was well recommended here). I would give it 4.5 stars but only on a technicality. I had the lobster tail and the server suggested having it poached, which I had never had lobster that way and it was ok but I won't order it that way again. Other than that it was a wonderful experience. The atmosphere is very comfortable and impressive. (I can't imagine how they heat that lobby with the high ceiling in the recent cold). The service was very attentive but not intrusive, water glasses were never close to empty, the remainder of the meal was delicious, and being it was restaurant week the prices were just right. (Although the regular prices look very reasonable for a dining establishment of this type). You won't go wrong for seafood here!
(5)
Ashley S.
My husband took me here last night for Valentine's Day. I was super excited because I really love seafood. Last year we went to Shaw's, so the bar was set high. Our experience at Catch 35 left us with little to be remembered. We started our meals with a caesar salad and lobster bisque. The caser salad was very bland and the bisque was disappointing. It had maybe three pieces of lobster and they all tasted very fishy. Next, we both had the haddock. This was decent. Very spicy, but tasty. For dessert, we ended with the flourless chocolate cake and the sticky toffee cake. The chocolate cake was simply lava cake. The sticky toffee cake was very good, the highlight of our meals. So, while the food was decent, why the 2 star rating? With it being Valentine's Day, I was hoping for an intimate dinner, but our meal was rushed. We were in and out in an hour. In fact, my meal came before I was done with my soup! Our waiter had no personality. All in all, there was no experience in dinning here. Our waiter could barely make recommendations. I guess if you are in the theater district and you want a quick dinner, then this is the place, but not for a romantic dinner.
Always excellent seafood. Service is efficient if you tell them you need to leave by a certain time for a show, but it tends to be too drawn out if you don't give them a deadline. Just because we don't have to be someplace else doesn't mean we want to spend all night at the restaurant.
(4)
Stephanie H.
we went here for lunch last Tuesday and it was fantastic. We had a group of 8 and the staff at Catch 35 took great care of us! Most of us started with oysters which were really nice and then we had a bottle of viognier as well which was perfect for the summer. 3 of us ordered the scallop and seafood risotto which was heavenly. The portion was really nice and the veggies are the side were just right. I also tried the mushroom halibut and it was so so good. The restaurant is slightly swanky but not too overly pretentious. The menu was a great mix of items, but I will say it is really a seafood place so red meat lovers beware! I rarely leave a restaurant full, especially at lunch but Catch 35 was able to fill me up. The service was great and this restaurant is definitely a winner in my book. We were all talking about our meal here for the rest of the week, including those who were visiting from our New York office. We will be back for sure!
(5)
Matthew S.
Very disappointed. Food is hit or miss; the rest is embarrassing. The atmosphere resembles the dark and tired granite lobby of skyscrapers built 30-50 years ago - because it essentially is the lobby of such a skyscraper... the garish stainless steel and neon decorations do not help. This is the type of place where people with money to burn (a.k.a. corporate expense accounts), but who don't know what good seafood is, probably tend to occupy the seats. I was lured in by the 4-star reviews, but sadly my experience was far below average even for an average restaurant. Landry's and Pappadeaux have higher quality for half the price of Catch 35. I will say that the East coast oysters were excellent. However, the bisque was boring, and the haddock, when it finally came out 40 minutes later, was burned, dried out, doused in salt, and placed atop rubber rice which was equally tasteless and dry, and then topped with lumps of "crab" that were tasteless. My selections were intentionally mid-range - perhaps the higher ratings are from those who chose the most expensive options - but considering I somehow managed to spend $80, I would have expected something superior to Red Lobster. I was pleased that there was a Potbelly sandwich shop across the street which brought a welcome conclusion to my evening meal. The servers were bored and had shockingly little knowledge of the food. Admittedly, I sat in the front room to enjoy what was left of the daylight - perhaps the service is more professional and passionate in the main dining room - my mistake.
(2)
Sandra K.
I was here a few weeks ago - the service was OK - the waitress dumped a little water on me and acted like she didn't notice. The food was good. I had the crab cakes, and they were tasty.
Fantastic meal and impeccable service. I was surprised to see a $2 charge for substituting polenta for mash potatoes, especially on a $36 entree and without any notice. That aside, lovely dinner. Great kids menu with heathy choices like salmon and pad Thai.
(4)
Joe A.
Excellent food and service. Ask for a table away from the bar if you're looking for a quiet dinner.
(5)
Chris C.
Went here last Sunday, looking to get some great seafood. The place was a little busy. The ambiance I wasn't impressed with just average. I started with the scallops, it was my first time having scallops they were very good. I then ordered the Blackened Atlantic Salmon, best and freshest I've ever had. They get everything dry packaged from the east coast. The red sauce that came on top was excellent it had a spice to it. The service is why this place wasn't 5 stars. We felt rushed and she was barley there. She gave us attitude when asking questions about the menu. I would go back for the amazing food, with hopes of getting a different server
(4)
L R.
We tried Catch 35 for the first time for dinner before a show at the Chicago Theatre. It is conveniently located near the Theatre district and a Winner. My boyfriend has a food allergy and most times when we mention it, we get assurances the meal will not contain mushrooms and meals with mushroom sauce or mushrooms which we must send back. I have never seen a waiter more attentive to our needs. Derrick went to the kitchen to give instructions regarding our meal and was very attentive going as far as to tell us, "if it is put in front of you, I have cleared it and it is okay for you to eat". Derrick, our waiter, was a pleasure. Ready with recommendations and tips, attentive yet not overbearing or disruptive. Our meals (we each ordered and shared) were delectable. We ordered swordfish and halibut. The fish was fresh and prepared with nice flavor and balance. We will go back and highly recommend Catch 35 for a nice dinner out!
(5)
Ania H.
It was my first time at Catch 35. I walked in and was very impressed with the ambiance. The bar set up was very beautiful, the decor was stunning, and I enjoyed the live pianist playing. I sat down and enjoyed a glass of malbec while waiting for my party. One by one all the other guests showed up. I was a little taken back that the hostess wouldn't seat us until the entire party was there. But that was fine. I was a little surprised how slow they were for a Thursday night in the city around 8pm. Our server was Tony, who did a wonderful job, knew exactly what wines to recommend for what you liked. He knew the menu very well and suggested some of his favorite dishes. We started off with the mussels, buffalo shrimp, ahi tuna, and crab cakes. The mussels were just ok, there was nothing special about them. The ahi tuna with wasabi and soy was fantastic. The crab cakes appetizer were pretty good, and the buffalo shrimp was different. I never thought of putting buffalo sauce on my shrimp but was fairly impressed with the taste. four out of six of the guests had the Chilean sea bass. My girlfriend and I split the sea bass and she ordered the crab cake entree. The last was the block island sword fish. The Chilean sea bass (Tony's favorite) was also our favorite. It came on a bed of off white sweetened rice, veggies, and a Hawaiian sauce. This had to have been the best sea bass I've ever had. The crab cakes entree came with an asian influenced rice (similar to a fried rice) veggies, and a mustard sauce. I felt as though the mustard sauce made the crab cakes phenomenal, which it was lacking in the appetizer. Overall the food is a little pricey, but it is a higher end restaurant, especially if you're having sea food. The service is a little slow, nonetheless the servers are still attentive. They are well trained with their menu, which is a huge plus. The food is phenomenal, the decor is lovely, and the entire experience is wonderful. Great place to dine or just grab cocktails at the bar.
(4)
S G.
Had a great dinner here before a concert. Service was quick, the bread was warm and yummy. wine list is extensive. there is a pre-fixe menu available. I had the lo mein ( I think the chef is of asian descent so there are a few items that are not straight seafood). My husband had chilian sea bass, someone had the soho salmon. appetizers were calamari and the crab cake. we had the creamed spinach as a side full bar; great martinis we did not get dessert- just too full!
(4)
Jeff And Grace S.
Best Chicago dinner theatre packages with valet parking credit included menu specials for those going to local plays short walk to most theatre district venues!
(5)
Jennifer L.
This totally did not live up to my expectations. I saw an average of 4 stars on Yelp and figured it would be good, but unfortunately that was not the case. A girlfriend and I stopped by on a Tuesday evening during restaurant week. First of all, the restaurant week menu, which advertises the prix fixe menu for $33 for a three course meal. At the restaurant however, they have a $29.95 prix fixe dinner menu. Had I known that, I wouldn't have dined there. I would have opted for a place that doesn't have a deal like this so I'd feel like I was getting one. Anyway, we both arrived a little before our reservation time and the hostess seated us right away. We sat in the middle of the restaurant. I liked that the tables were not too close to each other so we didn't feel like we were sitting on top of another party. The restaurant's decor and ambiance didn't really wow me. We were also sitting by the kitchen area so I could see the employees working. Also, there was live music playing, which I did not enjoy because I felt like it was a little too loud even though we were sitting pretty far away from it. Maybe I'm just someone that doesn't like eating while live, loud music is playing, but I was not digging it. We started with the shrimp and crab bisque, which was delicious. I particularly enjoyed dipping the bread into it as well. I got come chunks of crab, which I liked a lot. For our dinner, we both ordered the whitefish, which was served with a Dijon Crust and a lemon beurre blanc. The fish was just OK. It was cooked fine, but ratio of crust to fish seemed off. It tasted like the crust was just thrown on top of the fish instead of actually being cooked on it. It was served with mashed potatoes and some greens. I didn't care for the greens much and thought they were a little overdressed. The mashed potatoes were good, but I think a better side dish would have been some sort of vegetable instead of starch. The lemon beurre blanc tasted good and I wished there was a little more of it on my dish. For dessert, I had the creme brulee, which had some white chocolate in it and she had the gooey cake. My creme brulee was just OK. There was nothing really special about it. I stupidly took it home, which was a mistake. Note to self: never take creme brulee home. It's just not worth it. The service, unfortunately, was subpar. Our waiter was a little off. He wasn't particularly friendly and made my girlfriend and I feel as if we didn't belong in the restaurant and weren't the right type of clientele. He also made a bad mistake by charging us for our desserts when they were included with our prix fixe meal. That pretty much was the straw that broke the camel's back for me. He should have been able to get our bill right no questions asked. So, we had him correct the bill, which he did without issue. He was able to split out meal between our two cards, which was good at least. Overall, I won't be coming back here. There just wasn't anything great about it. The food was just OK and our service was subpar. I think you can find way better restaurants to go to in the Loop. I would not recommend it for restaurant week either since they have their own prix fixe menu. It's just too bad that I didn't like it since it was rated so well on Yelp! Oh well! On to the next!
(2)
Stacey D.
Idk about the other reviewers but I enjoyed our dinner here. We came here based on a lot of suggestions from chicagoists. Made reservations, got there early to have a pre-dinner drink... they came to the bar after about 20 min or so and asked if we would like to be seated early. We were seated in the dead center of the restaurant when there were two seater booths available but whatever. No big deal tho. A loaf of bread was brought to our table immediately. We started out with the oysters (can't remember the name but were the first ones listed, I think from Massachusetts) and were very good. It had the horseradish and cocktail along with a salsa type side and I think apple cider vinegar (not sure tho). I got the swordfish Oscar style. My husband got the bone in halibut. Both came with garlic mash potatoes and asparagus. Asparagus...eh. Overdone. But everything else was delicious. I personally liked mine better. It is pricey. Bill was around $120 not including tip. However, that is including our alcoholic drinks. Husband ordered a manhattan but it was made with Jack Daniels so he wasn't real impressed. I had a vodka soda with kettle one and it was a tad weak but still good. Overall, good experience.
(4)
J. Damian B.
Excellent value for great food and superior service in a convenient location near State and Wacker. Large variety of seafood, prepared creatively with nice presentation. Extensive wine list, spirits, and beers. Live music on certain nights. Great selection of desserts and even a prix fixed menu offering in a relaxed atmosphere. Our waiter Keith, who gave full attention to every detail, put the final coverage on a fine dining experience.
(5)
Comensal A.
I have passed by Catch 35 many, many times and wondered if it was any good. I finally got around to dining there, and the results were so-so at best. Part of it was the food (not as good as it should have been), part the service (brisk bussers snatching plates before both diners were finished with a course and without asking), and part was the value (food and wine were not up to the price points). There were good points, as well, that lead me to rate C35 at 3* instead of 2*. We did get to sit in a roomy, comfortable booth, the lighting was good (warm, but still bright enough to see the food), and the place was conversation friendly (at least early in the evening when we were there). Additionally, C35 deducts the valet parking fee from your check if you present tickets to a Goodman performance for that evening -- very commendable. We started with bisque: good seafood flavor, but no hint of sherry. A palm hearts salad featured nice hearts, drab arugula, and OK balsamic. The highlight for me was blackened swordfish: it was moist, fresh and seasoned just right with a chipotle cream sauce. Grouper was not as successful; it was fresh, but bland and a little salty. For dessert, an apple tart was OK, and cappuccino was good. I felt the wine list was overpriced by about 10%. It's too bad there aren't more good Loop dining choices. Currently, Trattoria No.10 seems the best in terms of food and value. A shame, in the nation's second largest city...
(3)
Ls F.
Food was amazing! I only gave it 4 out of 5 stars bc my portion was really tiny. It was my first time ever not having a doggy bad so there will be no lunch for work tomorrow after all. Lol, all jokes aside. It was really tasty for sure. I'll be back!
(4)
Trina J.
Had my first Catch Thirty Five experience. I ordered the shrimp & crab bisque soup and filet medallions. For dessert, we tried the key lime pie. The soup was really good. It was a tomato based soup with little pieces of shrimp and crab. Loved the flavor of all the ingredients. It was first crab and shrimp bisque not prepared in a cream sauce. The medallions were prepared three different ways. Blackened, garlic herb butter and bleu cheese veal demi glace. I am not a fan of blue cheese so I had two blackened medallions and a garlic herb butter. It was served with mashed potatoes and creamed spinach. Served at the right temperature. Enjoyed the meal and atmosphere. Would recommend this place if you are in the area. The menu is very extensive and has quite a few daily fish options. It was very hard to choose just one. Pros: Reasonable prices, fresh fish flown in daily, nice beef options, valet parking Cons: predetermined sides for entrees (mashed potatoes)
(4)
Linda A.
First trip to Chicago for my teenage daughter and I wanted to treat her. I made reservations online and told them that it was special for her. They seated us in a nice cozy booth and gave us complimentary appetizers. She was ecstatic about all of the food, from the yellowfin tuna sashimi to the chocolate cake and cappuccino dessert. Absolutely delicious. Beautiful atmosphere and wonderful staff. They were all very attentive to our needs. We also had 1/2 dozen raw oysters which came with 3 magnificent sauces to compliment them. For the entree, we split the poke style tuna which, while we did have tuna as an appetizer, this too was delicious. It was prepared a different way than I have had before and I really liked it. Compliments to Adam Filipkowski and staff for making us feel welcome and special!!
(5)
Joe B.
Make sure you get a reservation if you're going on a busy night. We ate at the bar. Good, fast service and great food.
(4)
Stephanie L.
Went here before a show at the Goodman. Overall, it was A-OK. The food...A-OK. I got the three course meal for like $30 or something. It was cheap and came with app, entree and dessert. The fiance got crab legs and lobster tail. We started off with the mussels and they were unimpressive. Just ok. I wouldnt get them again. Next was the mixed greens salad. It was good. My entree was shrimp with rice. It was SPICY and I liked it. We got the dessert to go because we were in a rush. The service...Meh. Our server was pretty unattentive even though we told him we were in a hurry because of the show. Then at the end of the meal, he rang up our bill wrong. He charged us for dessert when it should have been included in my meal. I wrote on the bill and left it because he was no where to be found. The ambiance...A-OK. There was quite a mix of people in the restaurant. I think most were tourists from what I could tell. It was a good, upbeat vibe though. Overall, I probably wouldnt go back, but its not horrible. There are a ton of places in the city with the same price point that are better...for sizzle.
(3)
Josh S.
i was taken to catch 35 for my brithday. in a nutshell, everything i had was fantastic. seriously, from the apetizers, to the wine, to the main course, it was fantastic. I dont remember everything i had, it was back in junethat i went, but ii remember our server was the best server i have ever had. i dont remember her name, but she was absolutely phenominal. if i remeber her name i will post it up. i will be back as soon as i can make time.
(5)
Zach T.
This is a great find, especially for lunch. It's haunted by the tenants of the building at 35 W. Wacker, because few others know about it. Their "Charley's Tuna" is excellent. Served with bacon and cheese on a roll. Their breakfasts are hearty and generous (eggs, potatoes, meat in a serving tray for about $4. Their burgers are actually very good, but they come served in a styrofoam container that makes the fries limp. The taco salad is the real find. for $5 or $6, you get a huge flavorful salad in a tortilla bowl. It's so big it comes in a container they put cakes in at the grocery.
(4)
Little Miss Sunshine B.
I love this place. The atmosphere is so nice. When you first walk in everything looks so regal and pretty. I love where it is located right off the river. Food was great but can get super crowded if there is a show at the theater on State or Randolph.
(4)
Bess R.
No complaints - woohoo! Went to dinner with my manfriend on Friday night with a mean craving for some seafood. The server was very helpful and friendly, recommending a great wine for me. Each course was served at the perfect time, no waiting, no overlap. And, of course, the best part - the seafood was SO fresh and delicious. I had the scallops and he had the crab-stuffed halibut. yumminess. Can't wait to go back and try some of their other dishes!
(5)
Melissa K.
Catch 35 is FANTASTIC!!!!!!! I've been here for lunch for work and every time we go, the food is consistently delicious. The service is incredible. We've had a different server every time and they've all been wonderful. The fish is extremely fresh, the salads are great, the key lime is to die for. It's not very cheap but it's totally worth the price.
(5)
Jeremiah S.
I was here recently for NYE and had a great experience. One of the better seafood restaurants I've been to in the city. On the suggestion of other reviewers, I tried the coconut beer battered shrimp and the moonstone oysters which were both quite good. All of my party's entrees were fantastic including the seared yellow fin tuna (rare), seared Chilean sea bass, and the maine lobster w/ spinach and wild mushroom ravioli. The price is a little high, but for the quality of the food it's worth it.
(5)
Hannah B.
I love this restaurant, the food is outstanding and the bartenders all have a great sense of humor. (I usually eat in the bar so I can hear the live music.) Be sure to check out the jazz on Tuesday through Saturday nights, Rob Parton is amazing!
(5)
Blake W.
Not bad... I heard about this aplce from a co-worker so I wondered over to check it out. Today's special was free soup with entree salad. I got a big Blackened Chicken Salas (Standard) and thier crab Bisque (Tasty) all for $6 quite a deal, so I've got no complaints on value. I went here at like 1:30 and didn't have to wait long or in a line. I've got to go back and try some other plates....
(3)
Liz A.
So..I went here for a business lunch. We made reservations and were sat immediately. It was pretty formal and they allowed us plenty of time to talk. However, the entire process felt entirely too drawn out for a luncheon. The food was really good but I would not go there for a lunch again. Also, I hate when restaurants feel the need to put "mood lighting" on, especially at lunch. Who wants to be ready to fall asleep around 1:30? Sunlight is best around then. I would definitely dress nicely (no cut offs, weekend wear, etc.).
(4)
Allison L.
Great seafood restaurant. Soft shell crabs were very delicious. ... tuna was fresh!
(5)
Haley S.
I was excited to try this restaurant on my recent visit to Chicago. However, I found it very over-hyped - to the point that I've taken the time to write my first Yelp review. The food was ok but certainly nothing special. I choose from the 'out of the ordinary' portion of the menu, but found my meal to be quite ordinary. That is except for the uncomplimentary flavors in my dish. I choose the salmon with roasted garlic gnocchi. The fish was good and had a nice wasabi crust on it. But, it did not go at all with the gnocchi served under it that had a very garlic, woody taste to it. Overall, I was disappointed with my choice. Particularly considering that the meal was rather expensive and the service slow. This place has a nice ambiance and the fish quality appears to be good. But this NY foodie would not go back again.
(2)
Megan H.
I'm not a huge seafood fan but Catch 35 has always been high on my list when I'm craving a good piece of fish. I came here for dinner with my mom after we saw a show. I remember always wanting to come here for business lunches since it wasn't me who was footing the bill. But the food is tasty and they do seafood right. I was impressed that they offered a 3 course pre fixe meal for $29.95. Since everything I was going to order anyways was on the menu, I went for it. I started with the caesar salad with the portobello mushrooms. This was sooooooo good. I'm obsessed with portobellos and this definitely delivered. I had the tilapia with crab and this was also delicious. My mom also had the appetizer scallops for her meal and she really enjoyed them. (I'm not a scallop fan) For dessert, I had the apple pie. However, we were so full from dinner, we took that home. All in all, I would say that this place is very good but I probably wouldn't make a point of coming down for the loop for dinner. However, if I'm down here anyways and it's a special occasion, it's definitely high on my list.
(4)
Shawn S.
I went here for a business lunch. My Catch Thirty-Five experience was very underwelming although it seems like a popular place for business lunches on the north side of the loop. The other customers were mostly suits and the median age of clientele was probably 50+. I felt a little under dressed in my casual friday attire. The atmostphere is decent although a little loud when the tables filled up. The food was blah at best. I had crab cakes. They were like any other crab cake like I have had anywhere else, although at Catch Thirty-Five they cost twice as much. I think it was $22 for two small crab cakes with steamed (read: soggy, limp, barely warm) vegetables and gross rice. This isn't the kind of place you go for the food, but for convenience . . . and because you know that although you're eating expensive, boring food, you don't really care . . . because you'll just end up charging it in to your employer for reimbursement. . . and that's what Catch Thirty-Five is betting on . . . so they don't even try to make better than average food. The service was very good.
(2)
Lori C.
Probably one of my favorite restaurants- it's so good. I've been here a few times for special occasions and when my parents come into town and it's delicious. The coconut shrimp are delicioius and I love the stuffed halibut!
(5)
elizabeth n.
Catch35 is my favorite seafood restaurant in the city! I go there every chance I get. The upscale restaurant has a variety of choices and I can't get enough of the salmon baked in puff pastry. Start out with the coconut beer battered shrimp and you will have one fabulous dining experience! Remember to have dessert because they are all amazing!
(5)
Anita T.
The food deserves 3 stars which means it's okay. I was definitely disappointed after dining here because the average yelp rating says it's a 4 star place and i trust my fellow yelpers, but this place is not 4 stars. The food is definitely mediocre, it was nice of the server and kitchen to whip me up a surf and turf entree when it's not really on the menu. I had a taste for some steak and fish so they whipped me up a filet and some seared tuna. The filet was bland and certainly not tender enough for a $65 entree and the seared tuna was a little too overcooked. My dad had the blackened mahi mahi and that was overcooked as well. We had the chocolate mousse and pecan tart for dessert and the presentation was beautiful but the taste was not up to par for a nicer restaurant. The price you pay is for the ambience which i did enjoy and the service was very good. If you're looking for a classier environment for a celebration of some nature and the food quality isnt that important, then catch 35 is for you. For those of us that want an pricey entree to taste phenomenal, i would skip this place.
(3)
Calvin K.
Great fusion restaurant, but I would reccomend staying away from the asian noodle type dishes. I say this because if your gonna go out for a nice seafood dinner, then get a nice seafood dish. My favorite is the chilean sea bass, OMG, it just melts in your mouth. Highly recommended, there is one in downtown Naperville as well.
(4)
Adam F.
We ate here last night before we went over to see "Legally Blonde" at the Cadillac Theatre, just because everything else around the area was jammed due to the show. I immediately asked the hostess if she could have us in and out in less than an hour, and she said "yes." Well, that is exactly what happened; and along the way we discovered a great place to eat, and hopefully enjoy more in the future. We were escorted back to a really private, quiet area, where we were given menus, bread, and water right away! The waiter Carlos, who was excellent by the way, was told prior about our situation and was very accommodating in getting us out of there on time. He sped through the specials, but we already knew we wanted to start with the Martha's Vineyard salad. We also put in our order for the Rock Shrimp Kung Pao! The salad took less than 5 minutes and was fabulous! More dressing than I liked, but perfect size (not to big, not too small) and great combination of tastes. The Rock Shrimp Kung Pao was tantalizing, and also came in a perfect size to split. It came with a patty of white rice, lots of small shrimp, and a spicy Kung Pao sauce that left me wanting more. it was a little spicy, but not hot by any means. What a tasty meal, and the waiter, Carlos, was great! He offered dessert, and they looked great, but we had to go. We both looked at the menu before we left and have already figured out what we would order on out next night out at Catch 35. Very happy with our meal, and hope to see Carlos again! Also, we both had a glass of the Joel Gott (Oakville, CA, 2007) Sauvignon Blanc and loved the fruitful taste. Though next time I told my wife I wanted to get a bottle of the Frog's Leap (Napa Valley, CA, 2007)!
(4)
Madeline L.
For the best seafood in Chicago, Catch 35 is the best place in town. The drinks are great, and the appetizers are out of this world, especially the coconut shrimp appetizer. As for the entrees, they have this lobster stir fry that I can't get enough of. And the cheesecakes and chocolate cakes are delicious for dessert. 5 stars all the way for this restaurant!
(5)
Cassie B.
tasty, classy restaurant. good for work lunches. fresh, not-too-expensive fish dishes. open, clean decor. i have never had dinner here, though.
(4)
Ren H.
Excellent seafood here! The ambiance is great, be sure to dress up and bring plenty of money.. the crowd here is definitely upscale!
(5)
Crista H.
This place has really fresh seafood. I started with a dozen raw oysters and ended with the Tuna Tartar with vegatables. A bottle of wine and good company made this evening perfect. We were too full for dessert but the options were out of this world. I will certainly be back.
(3)
Elizabeth N.
Good seafood. Ample selection. Tacky interior decor... what's with the big gaudy fish drawings on the walls??? I will say that it can have a cozy, secluded feeling if you get a table burried way in the back. I never thought I'd say this about anything, but I like the Naperville location better.
(3)
Nicola C.
Great seafood and fish, excellent to go to before a show downtown. Definitely try the curry dish, it is to die for. Just really fresh food.
(4)
K M.
Its ok. The food did not live up to my expectations and certainly didn't live up to the price. I hate the decor for some reason so that didn't help. Its decent food but there are definitely better places for seafood. That being said, I know it impresses clients or others you need to impress with a fancy meal, and has for years (so you don't have to worry about being too late to an uber trendy party that has fizzled out)
(3)
Laura R.
Everything we had here was wonderful - from appetizers to soup to the amazing scallop stir-fry. Some of the best seafood I've ever had - the service was great too. I can't wait to go here again!
(5)
Doug p.
this place rules, everything is so fresh, and prepared to perfection, plus dining area has a nice view of marina city across the river
(4)
Kison P.
I've lunch meetings here several times and dinner a few. The food is superb, great seafood selection. They also have great steaks. The service is pretty good. This is one of the few places in the Loop that has both exceptional quality seafood and steaks.
(4)
Gabriela M.
Disappointing dinner. Our server was very nice. However, the place has an outdated feel. The plates were mismatched (and not in the cute way) and chipped. The food was serviced to us but had to had been sitting out for awhile. So disappointing. We had a group of 7 people.
(2)
Melissa B.
I'll admit when I told my friend I would take him anywhere he wanted for dinner and he chose catch 35 I wasn't jumping up and down. Nothing against the place- I just was expecting a little more that night. This is one of the few times I'll admit I was very wrong! The food was amazing! We started with the bisque and a salad. No complaints there. Scallops, halibut and key lime pie were all to die for. The real winner is the wine list. We were thrilled when we spotted our favorite wine! Honestly, we probably had one glass too many for me to properly remember the meal. I am sure it was fabulous though. The service was wonderful. They ran on time for reservations and paced the dinner perfectly. I will never be disappointed when Catch 35 is the destination in the future. I may even be the one suggesting it.
(5)
Allison W.
My favorite seafood restaurant in Chicago, hands down! I've had the Miso Salmon, Mustard Whitefish, Grilled Salmon, and Filet Mignon... all delicious. I've enjoyed the sides and salads as well. Like any seafood joint, the bread is always delish! Also, must try the sticky toffee cake dessert... AMAZING!!! I've also had the creme brulee which was good. Overall, great place! TIP: If you are going for dinner on Fri/Sat be sure to book a reservation or you can always sit at the full-service bar.
(5)
Kristin S.
This meal was SUCH a delight. The special "Prix Fix" option allows you to choose soup or salad, an entree, and a dessert all for $33. I order a shrimp and lobster bisque, the lemongrass shrimp and scallops, and a blueberry pan cotta for dessert. Every single bit of it was delicious. The soup was hot and extremely tasty, the scallops and shrimpy were cooked perfectly and came with cooked carrots, rice, and vegetables including a sweet cucumber. The blueberry pan cotta was also amazing and a fresh light way to end the meal. The service was great. The wine glasses were large and the portions matched. I would recommend this place to anyone!!
(4)
Cassandra G.
Been here many times and have yet to find a negative. The food has always been consistently wonderful and waitstaff friendly and accommodating with specific requests. Lovely, lively atmosphere near the piano bar. Here's my best suggestion: order the Blue Hill Bay Mussels IN Thai Lemongrass Broth (it also comes in a garlic/wine broth, not the same WOW). I imagine this broth is the sea-version of manna from heaven. It's what I keep coming back for and order it every time. Incredibly 5-star delicious!
(5)
Sherri B.
This place was fantastic. Came in without reservations on a cold Thursday night. We had a bottle of Pinot noir, oysters on the half shell, whitefish, surf and turf, and the sticky toffee cake dessert. An order like that and my expectations are high- yet everything was even better than expected. Elegant and nicely spaced tables, helpful service, great menu, delicious food, varied wine list- all just fantastic.
We went before a play, they asked us before if we were there before we said yes then they asked what time which was 8 pm. They had us out by 7:30. Waiter also asked. It went like clock work. The food was great. 5 stars all the way. We had oysters on the half shell to begin, salad. I had salmon chefs special my husband had their seared tuna. Both agreed. A must to go back
(5)
Emily C.
Loved the joint! Just went for my first year anniversary. The place was lovely and the seafood was great. We did the 3 course menu which definitely kept the costs lower than it could have been. I had a yellowfin tuna poke. I liked the ambience of the ace and the food. Waitstaff was mediocre though. They did have live music at the bar which was lovely
(4)
Aaron Jae M.
I was a little disappointed. I had high hopes for this place as I love seafood. Good atmosphere and great service. I loved the appetizers we ordered and they were very tasty but when it came to my main course I was not impressed. I ordered the swordfish steak. I thought it would be a nice sized portion and would be simple and delicious. What I got did not even look like swordfish and was quite small for the $35-40 dollars I was paying for it. It did not taste bad but there was too much going on and it took away from the natural taste of the swordfish.
(3)
Paul F.
Good selection, good food.
(4)
D. K.
Great sea bass! Enjoyed my dinner here.
(4)
Zakia C.
This year's restaurant week lead me to Catch 35. When I say I was more than pleasantly surprised by the outcome of this date night, I am not even giving you enough information on how happy I was with my experience. Again, when I look for a restaurant during restaurant week, I look for one who truly wants you to experience what their restaurant has to offer. (It burns my buns, when they want to offer one of their mediocre meals because they really do not want to participate) Considering this, I rate the restaurant of the "wowability" of their entrees, the comfort of their service, the bang you get for your buck, and the dessert. Well, Catch 35 delivered in all components and then some! They offered the $44 dinner option for restaurant week with 4 courses. ( Far more courses than most) As soon as I stepped into Catch 35, I received excellent treatment. The host immediately greeted me and offered me a seat at the bar because they were running a bit late. Our server, had suggestions for everything, from the best drinks to order to the best entrees to order. I had the sashimi for my appetizer and lobster bisque for my second course. Both, were amazing. Then, I chose the Surf and turf for my main entree which was perfectly prepared steak medallions and a lobster tail. The spinach and mashed potatoes were also prepared nicely. However, the highlight of my experience were the desserts. The desserts were mouth watering... Yes, I said desserts because I had to taste my boyfriends dessert as well. I had the carrot cake bread pudding and he had the chocolate molten cake. Both were to die for! All and all, I give Catch 35, 5-NOMS!!! You should try this place out for yourself, especially if you are planning a great date night.
(5)
Patrick F.
The walleye was deeelicious! Only reason they got 4 stars instead of 5 was because they no longer offer the carrot cake bread pudding.
(4)
Jing L.
Lobster bisque and cesar salad were okay, soft shell crab was mediocre, white fish is good. Overall, food is very underwhelming. Service is okay...They were very keen on collecting dishes. Two guys took turns to come and check up on us every other minute when we were eating, and literally took the plate away the second I lifted the last bit of food!
(3)
Bill O.
Best halibut I've had in the city. A fantastic herbed vinagarette gave the dish a savory and tart flavor. The lemongrass scallops were excellent, and the waiter did an excellent job pairing everybody's entree with a delicious wine. I would definitely return! Bonus - if you are going to a nearby theater, you can valet here for $10, they will keep your car all night AND give you $10 credit on your food bill.
(4)
Lil D.
We all had the chilean sea bass and devoured it in less time than ever. I'm usually the slowest one to finish my meal, which may still have some left on the plate, but not this time, not here. I think I just inhaled the mouthfuls--it was that good! Perfectly seared and caramelized juicy sea bass served over a bed of rice with a ginger sauce, and vegetables. It doesn't get any better than that! If we had more time in Chicago, we'd be eating here everyday! Came here for the seafood. We didn't try the meats. Service was very attentive and even comp'd us ice cream for the two who were celebrating birthdays. My only regret was not finding this earlier so that we may have repeat(s).
(5)
Mike C.
Catch 35 has potential to really be a top of the line restaurant. However, the service there, across the board, leaves much to be desired. We got there early, so we took a seat at the bar to have a couple of drinks before our table was ready. The bartender comes over, and he has absolutely no personality at all. He doesn't smile, and his voice was very low. In addition, he seemed as if he didn't want to be there. We order our drinks. I had the Moscow Mule. I've had better, but it was okay. Our table is ready, yet I have to chase down the bartender just to pay for our drinks, which is never a good thing. We get to our table. It takes the waitress forever to get to our table, even though Catch 35 was not crowded for a Saturday night. Even though the place was not crowded, it seemed as if she was rushing all over the place; she never really seemed calm at all. She finally gets to us, and we place our orders. The caesar salad was okay, my ribeye was above average, and the creme brulee was decent. However, that key lime martini that my girl had was absolutely awful. I would have liked to have gotten another drink for myself, but the waitress rarely stopped by. I didn't see her again until after we were done with our meal. Word to the wise: if you want a good tip, make sure to actually visit your tables every now and then to see if they need anything.
(2)
John G.
Great food and service. Didn't seem to mind that we had a 11 month old with us (although we went at 5:30 for that very reason), and even gave us free fresh fruit to give to her. Definitely recommend.
(5)
T G.
My wife and I have been going to this place in Chicago for 20 years. The food is consistently spectacular and the service is really friendly and helpful. The bartenders are always on point. Great location and vibe.
(5)
Ozge S.
Sea bass is excellent however a bit pricey and fix menu is affordable- plus you can select a soup/salad salmon and a dessert-. Place is elaborated and spacey.You can bump into live music.
(4)
Jordan Y.
For starters we ordered the beet & goat cheese salad and crab & shrimp bisque soup. The salad was delicious, while the bisque has a different taste than I was expecting as it had a red base, but was still very tasty. The sour dough bread they bring out was an excellent compliment to the soup! For entrees we got the salmon with lemon dill sauce and the Hawaiin poke ahi tuna. The tuna was fantastic, very spicy and fresh. The salmon I thought was a little bland without the dill sauce. The only negative I would say was the service. It wasn't terrible by any means, but since this place is in the theatre district they're used to catering to tourists. I got the feeling our waitress didn't expect we would ever dine there again, as she kept pushing desserts, coffee, etc. She even circled the tip line on the bill, which I thought was incredibly tacky for a nice restaurant. Other than the end of the meal, the service was good.
(4)
Adam V.
I am in town for a conference and had dinner with a client here on her recommendation. The ambiance of the restaurant is very classy and certainly an appropriate choice for a business dinner. We had a number of appetizers which were ok, not particularly memorable however the tempura asparagus and blue cheese mashed potatoes were enough to offset that. I had the seabass as my entree and it was perfectly cooked. Overall I would return to Catch 35 even though I wasn't completely blown away.
This place was OK. It's like a much fancier McCormick & Schmick's, though it has food of the same quality. The service here is impeccable-- I'm not going to argue with that. The bread, great. The food fell sort of short, though. The quality of everything is excellent, but being a foodie-- I was sort of disappointed with the way it was cooked. I got the halibut, and the mushrooms didn't match with the risotto, which didn't match with the way the halibut was cooked. The whole dish didn't work together, and it fell apart as a result. My mom said the same thing about her salad, but I guess it's all about personal preference. The bread is amazing here, service is great-- but it's expensive for the quality you're getting. I could go to McCormick & Schmick's and get the same food for cheaper...
(3)
Jeff F.
We stopped into this restaurant on a whim. The food is great, the portions are appropriate, but you'll definitely pay for it.
(4)
Suvondal E.
This place is phenomenal! Great location and great ambiance in the inside. My husband and I had the beer battered coconut shrimp and the crab cake for an appetizer. For dinner I had the blackened Atlantic Salmon with the sweet chili pepper sauce and he had the King Crab leg with the Filet Mignon. They both were great and the prices....well no complaint here! We will go back. (And the drinks are great as well!)
(5)
Jasmine G.
I enjoy this restaurant because I love seafood and steak. They also have a great selection of wine. I will be back.
(5)
Jamie S.
Uniquely styled restaurant with great food and service! I tried Hugo's and Joe's and while the food and service at all 3 places are very comparable, I had the best meal at Catch 35. Exceptional service from start to finish. Everything I ate, which was outstanding! I begin the evening with the shrimp and crab bisque, which was very good, and for the appetizer, I had the crispy clam and shrimp combo...flashed fried with a perfectly seasoned batter. For the entree, I had blackened sea bass, which was really good and full of flavor - not on the menu, but its something I asked for. This is definitely one of the places I return to every time Im in Chicago. A must try for good seafood!
(5)
Wendy B.
Rock solid seafood, perfectly executed and reasonably priced for downtown Chicago. The raw bar selections were fantastic (I found a new favorite) and the service was top notch. Our server was actually a former Alinea staffer who left Achatz to return to his first love. He was great and it wasn't a surprise to see that he's worked in the finest restaurants in Chicago. I took our server's recommendation to get the cedar-planked Alaskan salmon and it was a stunner. Paired with vegetable lomein, the Asian-inspired glaze complemented the fish without drowning out the flavor. I would eat that same meal once a week if I could. If the rest of the meal had maintained that level of perfection, this would be a five star review. However, my counterpart selected the pan-seared Atlantic salmon and the fish was dry and overcooked compared to my salmon. Granted, we could argue that there's a considerable difference between Alaskan and Atlantic salmons (and in fact, I was surprised to even see Altantic salmon on their menu, given the sustainability issues), but it wasn't just that -- the menu had advertised a lemon herb sauce on the side, but what arrived was a decided cream-based affair, which would have been an important thing to note on the menu for those of us with food issues (or just those of us who want to know what it is that we're selecting). That cream-based sauce would have been a deal-breaker had it been properly noted on the menu. As with my other reviews, I always take away a star if things aren't accurately described on the menu. That being said, his meal wasn't by any stretch bad but in comparison to my dish, it faltered. Additionally, the lobster and crab bisque that is raved about in Yelp reviews fell flat for us. Might have been a bad night, or maybe the recipe just isn't as good as other locations (RL about a mile away has a superb lobster bisque, for instance). The drink menu was creative and delightful, however, and in a drinking town, such creativity is crucial. We were impressed by the selections available, particularly in the wine and scotch listings, although we ended up with martinis, which were superb. For dessert we had the house-made ice cream, a scoop each of vanilla and banana. The vanilla was, you know, vanilla ice cream. The banana was good, although the yellow color gave the artificial flavoring away immediately and the first spoonful confirmed it. Is this a bad thing? Not really. It was still good ice cream, but could have been amazing if it had been made with real bananas. The atmosphere was lively, and the jazz band was an interesting addition. A little too Baby Boomer for us, personally, but the skill of the musicians was very apparent. Unfortunately, light jazz isn't our style, so it didn't inspire us to hang around after our meal. All in all, this was a pretty fantastic restaurant and we're thrilled that we gave it a try. We'll definitely be back, as the rest of the menu looked awesome and we want to check it out.
(4)
Kevin O.
Bisque was great. Key Lime pie too. Meal (swordfish) was OK. Place was a little noisy too. It was good but not sure I will be back.
(3)
Steve S.
I would give Catch 35 3.5 stars if I could, but I can't so I'll round to 4. The food and service were quite good, but the knock against it would be pretty uncomfortable chairs and pretty high prices. Don't get me wrong, I expect seafood to be pricy - but I would say that Catch 35 is a little above average amongst the "nice / pricy" places. Also let me be clear: I have never once in my life given thought to how comfortable a restaurant's chairs are. These were so odd that I actually tried switching chairs thinking mine was damaged/broken -- it was not. That being said, the food was great and the dessert we had (Sticky Toffee Pudding) was so good I could see myself going back just for that. Our server was attentive and polite and I liked that the tables were pretty spread out. We had a reservation and walked in thinking the place wasn't all that full - but it was! It's just not as tightly packed as a lot of restaurants in terms of cramming tables next to each other, which I think is more comfortable (and makes for a lower noise level). I'd recommend Catch 35, but I'm shocked that such an expensive place has such uncomfortable chairs.
(4)
Sandy S.
We just had a fabulous experience. Our server was wonderful and the sea bass was amazing. Very leisurely dining experience
(4)
Nathan S.
I started in the bar, and got a nice cocktail. The atmosphere is comfortable and unique. The bar tenders are very nice, and quick to serve you. I made it to the table and was greeted by another knowledgable member of staff. He took our drink orders and left. It took a good while for home to get back and when he did he forgot our drinks. That was the only problem we had. I had a shrimp bisque that was wonderful, and the shrimp and scallops for dinner. Very good food. I highly recommend coming here. The menu changes a lot so I will be back to fill my belly as it does.
(4)
Dan L.
OVERALL REACTION: From start to finish, this was a great place for a lovely night in the loop. ATMOSPHERE: Upon walking in off of Upper Wacker, you are presented with what I would call the "TARDIS Effect". It's MUCH bigger on the inside. To get seated, we had a table that was near the end of the restaurant, which felt like it was a city block away. As we made our way there, I did my best not to drool over what I saw everyone else was eating. Wait staff rawked. They let us dine without having to worry about being over visited. WHAT I ATE: We came here on Valentine's Day. Their special menu for the evening included an appetizer, which had scallops, polenta, bacon, and some kind of reduction sauce that we left zero trace of. For an entre, I went with the King Crab Legs. They were only $39.95 for a pound and a half which was a steal. We also went with the Roasted Brussel Sprouts and a side of the Butternut Squash Mash with Caramelized Onions. WILL I RETURN: More than likely for a special occasion because of the classy atmosphere. WHAT TO SKIP: To be honest, nothing. This hit the spot on a romantic evening.
(5)
Bob T.
We had a wonderful "pre-Goodman" dinner at Catch 35! Loved our cosy booth. Ann, our waitress, was absolutely fantastic. The calamari appetizer was tender. The whitefish was well presented and delicious as was the lemongrass shrimp/scallops dish. . The deserts were the best we've ever had in our Catch 35 dining experiences. Perfect portion size to conclude a fine meal without pushing you into too serious of a guilt trip. Thanks for making this such a great experience!
(5)
Todd L.
Our server was amazing. The ambiance was Jazzy for sure. The decor was cool and comfy. We ordered the crab cake app.....tasty! For dinner the halibut was perfect and the scallops were seared to perfection. highly recommend.
(5)
Natalie L.
I have been to Catch 35 twice now with partners from my firm, once for dinner and once for lunch. In fairness, I agree with other reviewers that it's a 3.5 star place. Others have been more enthusiastic that me. I think the food is fine but I have never been blown away. The service is fine. I think the ambiance is much more suited to dinner than to lunch. It's a solid business dining option but it's lacking of a fun factor.
(3)
Susan C.
I love this place because of its romantic atmosphere, fresh food and $10 valet parking. They have a variety of fresh fish as well as steaks and other seafood. Sunday was our third visit and I was, however, a bit disappointed with my lemongrass shrimp and scallop meal. If I recall, the scallops used to be whole and now they are thin slices, made to look like there is more, but I think not. There are also way too many carrots in the dish. Desserts are to die for and are meant to be shared. My cocktail was on the weak side. I hope this place isn't skimping or cutting back on their quantity or quality. Overall, I give it a thumbs up.......will return!
(3)
Joe J.
EXCELLENT establishment for a nice night out in the city of Chicago. Service was great, recommendations were perfect, here is the breakdown: I had the sashimi tuna app, tasted AMAZING. The way they crusted it and the amount they gave were beyond respectable. The lemongrass shrimp and scallops was a great Asian inspired dish, and zero complaints. The three course price fixe is a great value, with the caesar salad coming with one large crouton on it, and the filet mignon medallions coming in the requested preparation style. Dessert was included, and it only cost $29.95. Drinks were amazing and everything was fairly priced. I'd recommend this place to anyone.
(5)
Carol K.
Catch 35 still continues to deliver for me with some of the best fish in town. On my most recent visit, however,- I spent my time in the bar (I know, unusual, right? -ha!) but I had forgotten how great an experience that alone could be. A jazz trio was playing in the center of the space, and as we sat sipping our martinis, at one of the high tops with those plush leather chairs that surround it, I was reminded at what a cool date place this could be. A few sushi rolls, the complimentary greasy but deliciously salty chips, and those blue cheese stuffed olives were just the right accompaniment to my perfectly poured martini. And our server was great- attentive and friendly. A perfect way to start the night.
(4)
barb g.
Very mediocre. Crab cakes burned. Creamed spinach blah. Bartender snarky. Husband loved the seabass, hence 2 stars. I would say 0 to 1.....
(2)
Kari F.
Best lobster roll I have EVER had.... I'm not kidding I LOVED this thing. I love the freshness, service, and atmosphere of Catch 35. There was no strange seafood smell- a clear sign of the cleanliness and freshness of this place. It has a bit of a fancy look, but laid back enough where you feel comfortable and relaxed. I want to steal every piece of art they have on the walls (Do not fret, I am no thief). The beautiful musical and aquatic themes with the gorgeous piano and high ceilings in the main room... I didn't want to go back to work. I hear they had fantastic happy hours that I have yet to experience. I will be back at any chance I can get!
(5)
Larry S.
This is easily one of the best Seafood Restaurants in the city in the eyes of this fussy east coast native. I've dined there at least five times and will be back. .The fish is very fresh and well prepared with nothing too fancy or over the top. On a recent visit my wife (a Bostonian with no tolerance for bad fish) and I had the Crab Bisque, Blackened Swordfish, Halibut, Roasted Brussels Sprouts and the Toffee Cake. All were superb. Prior visits have included excellent soft shell crab, whitefish, scallops, raw bar and Asian shrimp/scallop stir fry. The staff is friendly efficient and knowledgeable. The wine list is solid with a nice selection of wines by the glass. One thing we learned on our last visit is that they offer valet parking and you can leave your car with them for an evening of theater. They offer Happy Hour Jazz and an nice bar as well.
(5)
Seeker O.
This is an elegant restaurant with a slightly subdued atmosphere. It's a great place to take a client out or to celebrate a special occasion. I have enjoyed many a meal here and have always had a good experience. The fish dishes are flavorful and coupled with a bottle of nice wine, it's an experience you can really enjoy. A place I have and will continue to recommend to friends and people from out of town. Currently they have a $30 meal special which includes a soup or salad, a main dish and desert. It's hard to pass up a deal like that.
We went there prior to going to the Goodman. Great location for the Goodman. The wine list by the glass is extensive-larger than most restaurants. We had the grilled salmon and the hadddock special, both of which were very good. Since we were there on an icy night, there were very view people. This was the third or fourch time we ate there and have never been disappoined-says something about consistency.
(4)
Claudia M.
The ambiance is nice, though they tried to sit us in front of the kitchen where it was very noisy and also smelled like fish a little bit. When we asked another table we were seated in a cozy nice corner that made you wonder why they gave us the first table to begin with. Food is ok, not outstanding. Their wine list is long and diverse. Our waitress was great, attentive but discrete. Overall, nice but I don't think I'll go back.
(3)
Jami S.
Must try in the loop. Dined here on Friday for Restaurant Week and our group loved it. The food was great. My fav's were: coconut shrimp crab bisque pecan pie - 4 stars! must try dessert The deal was pretty decent for 4 courses $44. The service was a bit slow, but it was Friday night. And the waiter apologized and made sure all our food came out together and on course. Fab artwork on the walls. great ambiance. fun friday night out
(4)
Janene M.
I loved it!!! We went for restaurant week. We had the 4 course meal option. Cocktail shrimp: 2 pieces of shrimp. The shrimp sauce had just enough heat to make it very tasty. shrimp and crap bisque: It is tomato based, thus the reason for some of the negative reviews. I found it very tasty. Butter poached lobster tail: To die for!! It is served with clarified butter, grilled asparagus and mashed potatoes. Everything on the plate tasted great, even the mash potatoes!! Flourless chocolate cake: chocolate, chocolate and more choclate. Our server was very nice and gave great wine and meal recommendations. They had a nice jazz trio playing in the background. We would return!!
(4)
Mary D.
I brought my friends here from out of town because last time, I had a really good experience. But this time, my friend found a hair in her food and the server wasn't really that apologetic and just took it off the bill at the end (which was good, but that shouldn't have happened in the first place and they should have done more).
(2)
Jessica N.
This is a decent Business lunch spot. Food is good but atmosphere is so strange. It is almost stuck in the 80's? And with the awkward structure of the restaurant the mood shifts from bright to strangely dark quite quickly. The seafood is always fresh, but the menu is strange. Why the pan-asian take with that doesn't seem to be a theme of the restaurant as a whole? Fine for a quick meal. Not somewhere I'd go at night with friends or a date.
(3)
D J.
A white table cloth dining experience, where you're surrounding by fellow diners who largely represent the next decade of life is highly recommended to ease into a milestone bday month! A nice mellow Friday night dinner at Catch 35 therefore was a pretty good way to kick off November 2013. Feeling youngish and great conversation with a close friend over some Malbecs was all good. The food department however was infact "meh". The calamari starters with a tofu satay was probably my favorite dish. A double carb attack of mashed potatoes and cauliflower risotto that came highly recommended wasn't entirely inspiring. Interestingly, the spacious area that was teeming with people during the starter course ended up quickly emptying out by the time the late hour came around and so it was that it was practically us and the service staff by the time we finished a somewhat late dinner. I am not about to step into Catch 35, not for another decade perhaps - but an interesting dinner experience nevertheless.
(2)
Erika G.
I went here 20some years ago, I went here last week. Out of town friend chose this, and it was a trip back in time. The food was still great, and the 80's decor is actually holding up. I kicked it oldskool and had the shrimp surf and turf. Juicy filet and buttery shrimp with creamed spinach. was delicious. And the Sputnik lamp in the front lobby is still really cool. The large magazine covers on the walls are a little weird, but this is minor. It doesn't affect the food.
(3)
Courtney W.
My bf brought me here for some special occasion some time ago and I still haven't forgotten this place! You walk in and are instantly taken aback by a huge Sputnik-like lamp hanging down from the ceiling. This restaurant is long, so don't get lost taking it all in. We sat towards the back and I could look out at the entire place and the decor is pretty awesome. There murals of the sea and the lights were turned low enough to be romantic but there was still enough for me to read my menu. My bf insisted that I get the lobster since he knows it's my favorite so I indulged and I was mighty impressed. Coming from an ocean town, it's hard for seafood anywhere else to compete. He had a filet and of course we shared. I loved how everything was prepared and the lava cake at the end? The real winner, make sure to save some room. Heck, go for the key lime pie and the lava cake!
(5)
Jade U.
Went before a show and the waiter (very sorry I don't remember his name because he was awesome) asked us if we would be going to the theater and then suggested what time we should leave to make the show and that he would make sure the kitchen knew the sensitivity of timing. Our party of 4 had the Medallions of beef, Salmon, Sea Bass, and Surf & Turf. Plus 2 had the shrimp/crab bisque. Overall the food was excellent. The only critique is that the Sweet Pea Risotto had a grainy texture and was overpowered with the peas and the shrimp/crab bisque was watery and devoid of any lumps of shrimp or crab. If you want a decent bisque you can't beat the lobster bisque at McCormicks and Schmicks. Overall very attentive service and good food.
(4)
Nina R.
My husband and I just visited Catch 35 this past Saturday to celebrate our two year wedding anniversary. This establishment was recommended to my husband by a friend. This was our experience- The entrance into the restaurant is on the fancier side, I ceilings are very tall, there is a beautiful bar and an area where jazz musicians were playing. We had reservations and were sat right away. The host bought us towards the dining area and the fancy factor started to fade. It wasn't a dump by any means, but it reminded me of a Greek family owned restaurant. It got dark, the ceilings became lower and the guests were packed like sardines. The host sat us at a table for two (one of 6 lined up in a row), that sandwiched us between two other couples. We were kindly greeted by our server. She asked if we had any other engagements that evening that would have us on a time schedule. Luckily, all we had planned was enjoying a meal together. Our server went out of her way to make the meal an experience, rather than speeding us along for quick turnover. My husband took me to Prosecco's (on 710 N. Wells St.) the night we got engaged, so it is a tradition that we order a bottle of Prosecco on our anniversaries. The wine tasted good and the server refilled it every time, before we had a chance to. Since it was our first time here, the server did a great job of explaining the menu to us and was able to answer any questions that we had. The menu was slightly deceiving in the fact that it made many of the meals look like they came a la carte, when actually a starch and vegetable accompanied with them. After our wine came out, our server took our appetizer order. We had decided on the oysters Rockefeller. I never thought I'd say, something had too much cheese on it. The flavor was so unbalanced in this dish and it was unfortunate because the oysters we cooked perfectly. They didn't have enough spinach and all you could taste was smoked asiago cheese. I would not recommend this dish. When we were finished with our appetizer, she took our entree order. My husband ordered the Chilean Sea Bass with a Hawaiian ginger scallion sauce (this is the restaurants signature dish) . I ordered the Block Island Swordfish with poached lobster in a Bearnaise sauce. Our order came out in a timely fashion and both of our plates looked appetizing. My husband's sea bass came with carrots, snap peas, a couple other veggies and rice. He was happy with how the fish was cooked and thought that the sauce tasted like store bought stir-fry sauce. Though it tasted good, he was underwhelmed that it was the signature dish and thought that they could have put seasoning on the fish too. I really enjoyed my swordfish, it was cooked well and the sauce was tasty! My dish came with grilled asparagus and herb mashed potatoes. My asparagus was a tad burnt and usually I think mashed potatoes are a lame side, but they surprisingly went well with this dish. My husband had mentioned to our server in conversation that we were celebrating our anniversary and she treated us to dessert on the house! We had our choice of any dessert on the menu, and we chose the cappuccino creme brulee. Though the creme brulee was sightly burnt on the top and our coffees came out after we finished the desert, we still enjoyed it. Overall, we had a moderately good experience. Our bill came out to be $140.00 Chicago is a big city with many choices of restaurants. I probably wouldn't revisit Catch 35.
(3)
Stu S.
I was here earlier today for a business lunch. When I arrived at noon, it was pretty much empty, but it was much busier by the time we left. I had a cup of the shrimp and crab bisque to start, which was very good. I didn't have a whole lot of time to savor it, though, as they brought out our mains shortly after. I ordered the sriracha buffalo shrimp roll, which was spicy, crunchy, and delicious. Overall verdict: I'll be back.
(4)
Danielle S.
Catch 35 is indeed a very good meal. But there was also nothing over the top or outstanding about it. I ordered the Coconut beer batter shrimp for an appetizer. They were very large shrimp (6 total) and very tasty with a sweet chili sauce drizzled over them. For my dinner I had the "Sauteed Alaskan Halibut" them comes with crab meat and portobello mushrooms on top. The meal was also paired with zucchini, squash and mashed potatoes. The Halibut was good but lacked much flavor, the mushrooms were helpful in this case. The meal was prepared well and everything was cooked perfectly, just no wow factor for me. For dessert I had the signature key lime pie and this did not do it for me either, and key lime is one of my favorites. The service is outstanding. We went on a Wednesday evening and there was live music playing in the front that was quite nice. Overall a good experience.
(3)
Gail J.
This is a 3.5 star place aiming for the stars and I can't discredit that--aim high peeps! For the 29.95 prix fixe menu, my amiga and I had the following (it's 3 courses, app, entree and dessert): Apps Cajun seafood bisque (nice kick at the finish like an elite Kenyan runner) Crab and lobster bisque (very tasty with lumps of lobster and some nice stringy crab legs) Entree Filet mignon medallions: nicely prepared steak (with little or no fat) with maytag bleu cheese crumbles. I eschewed the veal glace as I'm fine eating grown up cows, but not babies. Yes, I see the unfortunate irony here. Lemon grass shrimp and scallop: Perfectly cooked shrimp and scallop, however the Asian fusion was over sweetened. Too much teriyaki sauce. Also, odd quarter chunks of under cooked carrots. Dessert Pecan pie: Hey, this had Jack Daniels in the sauce. This is like sauce in the sauce. The crust was severely underattended to...and the pecans were multy (this is a made up word for very squishy) Blood orange cheesecake: VERY blood orangey. The texture was a tad dry for my taste, but the blood orange flava laid over a very vanilla bean base...well, it was, in the word of Winona Ryder in Heathers many years ago, VERY VERY. No, I don't know what that means. For 100 bucks, including two local brews, for two a rather decent meal.
(3)
Graham S.
This was my wife and my first time going to this location we have been to the naperville location in the past and it was great so I thought that this would be a good choice. Went to see Wicked and then walked over after the show and arrived early and they were very accommodating and got us in about 45 mins before our reservation. The Waitress was very helpful and nice. I have the Maryland crab cakes which were delicious and my wife had the chilean sea bass which is always a great choice there. We finished up with Turtle Cheese Cake which was also awesome. We will be going back to this location with out a doubt.
(5)
Helen H.
really good! ambiance- nice presentation of food- very nice clam chowder- good! mussels- great! haddock- really good too service- excellent!!
(4)
Bob H.
We've been there twice this year. First time was before a show, and we were running late. The waitress was used to dealing with show-goers and getting them to the theater on time, so she took really good care of us. Also, when you use their valet parking, you can leave your car through the show as well, much cheaper than using the self-park garage. Food is terrific, which brought us back when we discovered our hotel was a block away. We will keep going back.
(5)
Alese R.
We love coming to Catch 35. The portions are just right and the staff is excellent. My fiance and I visited Catch 35 for New Years Eve this year and it wasn't overcrowded at the front door and the food came out in a very timely matter. The steaks are cooked to perfection and the bread is delicious. Definitely recommend to anyone interested in trying a new steakhouse. Martini's always come out perfect and I love that your waiter does not bother you every 5 minutes.
(5)
catherine b.
I've been here twice -- once with some out of town guests, and just this past week with some friends. If you are going to see a show -- this is the place for dinner. Just make reservations... it gets really busy! The prix fixed menu was great. Soup or salad and six choices (seven if you count the salmon could be prepared two different ways) for the main course -- and of course, any dessert on the menu. All for $29.95. How can you beat that? I had the haddock with sweet potato/pork belly hash/egg. Ohhh so decadent. expertly cooked. we each picked a different dessert and being girls, we all shared. each one was better than the last. flourless chocolate cake? jack daniels pecan pie?? and the white chocolate creme brulee... ? all excellent! The waitstaff is wonderful, they knew we had to be out by a certain time and gladly accommodated us. The valet service? See... that's part of the deal. it's only $10. Whaa?? Yes. You can get a wonderful meal, go see a show, return, wait inside while they get your car, and then drive home. no creepy self-park, no waiting for the CTA. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Adele G.
This is in reference to CATCH & CARRY, their take-out service by the lobby of 35WW. SERIOUSLY?! 1) I asked a colleague to lunch at Catch 35 proper because I had never been. She's usually up for anything, but she was adamant about not coming here. We went to a competing steak and seafood restaurant further from her office. Due to my experience with the take-out portion, I'm not trying the main restaurant. 2) I've eaten take-out from here a couple times, and I'm done giving them a try. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. The first time was a caesar salad. For the outrageous price, it was sub-par. I've had better salads at McDonald's. A few months later I tried the 5 Flavors stir-fry. Again, nearly $8 for a small stir-fry with a few pieces of chicken, and old rice. Some of the rice was crunchy and stale and had to be thrown out. And since when is jasmine rice yellow?? It may be convenient because it's off the lobby of the building, but best bets for lunch without going outside are other restaurants attached to the Pedway. Keep walking.
(1)
Ashley S.
The crab cake and oysters were the best I've ever had!! The fish was amazing!! The prix fixe is a great deal. Try the espresso martini for dessert, yum!
(5)
Tracy T.
Coming from Washington DC where five star restaurants are on every corner I am a tough customer. Catch 35 was up to the discriminating taste. I scheduled the reservation using OpenTable but got turned around on our walk to the restaurant and was a bit late. We called and it was no problem despite being busy. They met us at the door and already knew my name... All I had to say was, "Sorry I was lost." Excellent service when they know and use your name immediately. The service continued to be outstanding. The prix fixe menu offered great variety and there was not a single complaint from my table mates. I had the Jack Daniels Pecan pie which was outstanding. Great price, great value, great atmosphere.
(5)
Marian D.
Had not been here for many years and it is still one of the best seafood restaurants in town. Great food and service. Location perfect for an evening stroll on Michigan Ave to walk off a most delicious meal. If you haven't been in a while, it's time to go again. If this is your first time in town, you can't go wrong with a meal at this restaurant.
(5)
Hales L.
Went here for my birthday dinner because I was craving fresh oysters. Turns out, the oysters were not fresh, and the menu failed to mention that they were also miniature. We ordered a dozen and got only 6-- but rest assured, they brought out the other half. Ordered sea bass as my main course to find that the dish was extremely over-buttered. Same case with my boyfriend's halibut. Why ruin such a succulent and delicious fish by overbuttering the crap out of it? Presentation was less than impressive. Our server was also probably having a bad day. She checked on the table next to us twice more than she checked on us. Maybe because we were younger? At least I was in great company.
(2)
Lauren S.
I thought this resturant was a bit overrated... the food wasn't bad just does not live up to the hype. I probably wont go back as there are much tastier seafood resturants throughout the city.
(3)
Emma M.
Eh... I really wasn't impressed. Based on the Yelp rating and the prices, I expected a lot better. The bread was warm and enjoyable, but nothing spectacular. I love carbs & specifically fresh warm bread, so if I can't at least enjoy the bread at a restaurant that would be a really bad sign. The salad was good; I enjoyed the flavor, but they didn't seem to put much thought into the presentation... honestly I could have made a similar salad at home. The Chilean sea bass was tasty but also nothing to rave about; I liked it but I didn't love it. It came with sides of plain white rice and green beans which really did nothing for me... I could have made those myself at home as well. And I can barely even cook! The key lime pie was wonderfully delicious though... that was definitely the highlight of the meal. However, aside from the pie there was nothing really unique or special about my meal; and in a city with so many amazing dining options, this place really falls short. I think the people on here who are calling this the "best seafood restaurant ever" must have only been to places like Red Lobster in the past. I don't know, I guess it's all a matter of perspective... Anyway, if I'm ever in Chicago again this wouldn't be on my list of places to revisit.
(2)
Amy T.
Great choice for seafood lovers, they claim the menu changes from day to day based on the product they have shipped in that morning, so it's got to be fresh! Pleasant ambiance and great location, a quick walk to most of the downtown theaters. Prices vary, you can have a relatively affordable meal or you may splurge, but it's nice to know you have the option.
(4)
Kimberly K.
We have dined at Catch 35 several times through the years. Service has always been great. Food is always consistent. Definitely a place to go...when you can't think of a place to go. I mean this in a nice way. Obviously Chicago has a ton of different dining options. Can't go wrong with Catch 35. Very fresh seafood, great specials and very affordable.
(4)
Carlann F.
Excellent location for a business lunch. The wait staff was amazing making certain that everyone's needs were met. The food was delicious. I had the lobster salad and it was a great combination of flavors. Really appreciated that the waitress did not rush us as we even went over their close time. A great experience.
(4)
Nicole C.
Went for a Valentine's Day dinner. To put it simply: the food was great, but the man serving us was not very friendly - in fact, he seemed to be annoyed by us. Not the sort of service we expected from Catch 35 considering it came so highly recommended. Lobster bisque was delicious, as were the scallops with parmesan risotto.
(3)
Steven B.
Loved the soup and seafood items. Oysters were delicious.
(4)
Ashley C.
All I have to say is... yummy. We came here during restaurant week on Saturday night since it was clear it was a good deal. I am very hesitant about eating seafood out since I am new to the cuisine and can be rather picky so I was a bit concerned. Catch 35 blew me away! Our waitress was friendly and quick. Since we had never been there before, she was great in offerring suggestions during the entire meal. The bread came and it was yummy. I could see it could be easy to fill up on this. We got our first course quickly - field greens and Cesear salad. Both of us were amazed. We didn't wait too long for our food. We both got the Bank Sea Scallops - with an asian style sauce over risotto and served with asparagus. Oh my!!! The dinner conversation pretty much stopped as we savored every bite. The scallops were cooked perfectly and the sauce gave the right flavor. Dessert was tasty. I got the apple pie and my friend got a special caramel chocolate cake. I have to say I was a bit jealous of her choice since it was amazing! Mine was okay, but not the highlight in comparison. I would go back again. However, without a deal, it could be a bit pricey and 3.5 stars. By the way, it is a nicer place (for dress), but they aren't pretentious and turning people away.
(3)
Melanie S.
Has this place really been around for 20 years? In a previous life, I used to work for the company that owns Catch 35, and one of my perks was that I got to eat and drink for free. It was a benefit I did not abuse, as I was afraid it could then be taken away. I made next to nothing, but you better believe I ate good during my tenure. I would dine here on the average of once a month, and I would do it up right. Fast forward 19+ years, and Catch 35 fell off my radar. A friend suggested meeting here for lunch as it was about halfway between us. I had honestly forgotten all about this place until she suggested it. The chef at Catch 35, who is also one of the owners, is Thai, so much of the menu is Asian influenced and many of the dishes have unique preparations that you won't find anywhere else. This is what sets Catch 35 apart from other seafood restaurants. If you enjoy more traditional seafood, then you may enjoy a place like Shaw's better. We were seated on the first level, which is probably the least comfortable part of the restaurant. I prefer the upper levels which are much cozier, and less loud as well. I was thrilled to see that my longtime favorite entree, the Seared Tuna, was still on the menu, and hoped it was as good as I recalled since my taste buds have matured significantly. The Seared Tuna, while good, did not live up to my fond memories (but does anything?). It's sushi-grade ahi tuna, served rare, and it comes with a delicious szechwan glaze that gives it great flavor. I think the tuna itself would be pretty bland without the glaze. The accompaniments are a mouthwatering chive pot sticker, a couple of Maui fried onion rings, fried rice pilaf, and some sauteed vegetables. When this beauty of a dish is placed in front of me, I have a hard time deciding what to taste first. I'm not sure if they have a pastry chef on site anymore or if they outsource their desserts, but they were pretty mediocre. The key lime pie didn't have that mouth-puckering tartness that I so enjoy. In short, I'd rate it 3.5 stars. It's a little pricey, but the food is very good. It's also a great place to come after work and have drinks and appetizers in the bar area. I will put Catch 35 back on my radar for a special-occasion lunch or after work drinks.
(4)
Karina F.
After reading many great Yelp reviews, I decided to try it out for Restaurant Week 2010 I went for Lunch and left very satisfied and stuffed Appetizer: Seafood Gumbo was very tasty (while the Corn & Crabmeat Chowder looked really good too) Entree: My Parmesan crusted Whitefish was super, not too salty and cooked just right. Served with some veggies. My friend's blackened Mahi-Mahi was very good as well. Dessert: You can choose anything from the almost 10-choice menu and all sound so good! I opted for the Espresso Mousse served in a cream puff-ish pastry (light yet extremely satisfying) My friend tried the seasonal carrot cake bread pudding, which was heavenly - definitely try it while it's still available! Would definitely come again when I'm in Chi-Town... I had an awesome waiter as well Restaurant Week or not - prices are extremely reasonable for a nice seafood restaurant
(5)
Neil B.
Fantastic meal (period). Filet medallions were unbelievable.
(5)
Lu H.
Another solid 4. We came here twice, once for dinner and once for happy hour/bar food. The biggest pro is their super fresh and yummy oysters. It's definitely on the same level as Shaw's oysters, but they don't have any half-price special, and we usually order a full dozen, so it can be a bit on the pricey side. But hey, I'd rather pay up to eat fresh oysters than throwing up on cheap but nasty inedible oysters. For dinner, we ordered the mussels as appetizer, it was very fresh and delicious. For entree, I ordered the lobster tails. The grilled lobster tail was to die for, the buttered one was kinda heavy but still very yummy. And we had Molten Chocolate Cake as dessert--I am very picky when it comes to any chocolate-related cake, BUT this one was just perfect! The cake was moist, and the filling was melting just to the right degree. If you are a big chocolate fan as I am, you gotta give it a try. Move on to the bar food--we went on a Tuesday so they have all bar food 50% off. It was such a steal! My bf ordered fish and chips--we were spoiled by all the yummy fish and chips in Seattle, so the bar was pretty high and our expectation was low. BUT, their fish and chips, in my mind, was the yummiest one we've ever had in Chicago. The cod was super tender and fresh, and it came with vinegar as well as tartar sauce. The fries were okay, but we finished everything so we weren't complaining. I ordered the portabella mushroom minis. Every slider only had maybe less than a quarter of portabella on it so I was a little disappointed, but then i started just eating the bread of the slider alone, jeez they were yummy! I'd recommend you order the minis if you judge the sliders by the bread, not so much the mushroom.
(4)
Adam L.
Overall, a good meal. This isn't exactly our type of restaurant. We enjoyed the meal generally, but everything was WAY TOO SALTY.
(3)
Stephanie W.
Way past their prime? Catch 35 looks borrowed from the 80s. The decor is just bizarre, and what could be a beautiful space is polluted by all the outdated bronze mosaic and weird light fixtures oddly combined with beautiful, classic granite. Confused? Me too. The oysters and wine were a-okay, but not outstanding. Our server kept making slightly inappropriate jokes about my companion and I. And everyone else in the restaurant was at least 20 years older than I am. Think I'll be going somewhere else next time!
(2)
D M.
I don't really understand all of the great reviews. We had several appetizers and four entrees and I found them all average. The price was very high for the quality and added value to the dishes. Also, service was unbalanced at best. Not a great choice for us.
(2)
Claire M.
The interior of this restaurant is great and feels very welcoming, but the wait staff seemed to have some sort of attitude. The food was OK, nothing special and everyone i was there with would agree. I ordered the Chilean Seabass and it was.... plain and also WAY to thin. This is a fish that should always be at least an inch thick and I believe mine was maybe 1/2 an inch. It would have been perfect had it been a thicker piece. I probably will not be coming back here, but it was great to venture and try somewhere new.
(3)
S W.
There is nothing creative here whatsoever. The room is not cutting edge. To which I say "good." There are times this is fine. I mean maybe it was challenging in 1998. To people coming in from Iowa or something. Sometimes that's really not a problem. I find over-wrought "creativity" annoyingly omnipresent and it's nice to avoid it sometimes, frankly. This is a very nice place to decompress. There is nothing *wrong* here either, not on our plates. I'd stick to the strength of the menu - seafood with asian flavor profiles. I did and I don't regret it, got the scallops in red curry. Dining pal had a sudden lust for steak, and this was a good one. Service was very understanding moving "nice de-stressing night out" us away from completely inappropriate loud and horrid toddler birthday party (seriously people? here?) Solid. Not earth shattering, but would go back.
(4)
Dee B.
The service and food were great! We were ther on a Sunday about 4:30 p.m. We enjoyed the four course meal. Everything was cooked to perfection. The Reisling wine ws very smooth tasting. The server was knowledgeble about the food, wine list, etc. He was calm and attentive. This was my third time eating here. It is such a short distance to the Goodman Theatre!
(5)
Ralph F.
Went here 11/7 for a pre Lyric dinner. Four of us with a 5pm reservation. Bar opened early to seat my inlaws who were early for once. Every single thing about that dinner was executed well, from the killer Hendricks Martini they made me to the oysters to the salad to the entree. Spoke to the father in law yesterday and he's still talking about the Salmon. My Swordfish with Poblano & Fingerling Potatoes was fantastic. The women had scallops (the more savory version on the menu) and both raved about them. Our server (Patricia I think) was courteous, efficient and charming. Interior was beautiful with unique lighting. Pricing was in accordance with the address, so don't come here expecting $5 burger-n-fries. Do come here expecting among the best seafood in the city, excellent service and surroundings. Highly recommended.
(5)
Kelly S.
I had a nice time at Catch 35. My husband and I went to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary, and it was nice and romantic, which is what we were looking for. The waiter was very polite, and on top of things. As far as the food goes, the mussels in lemongrass broth were outstanding. The best mussels I have ever had, and the broth was flavorful and thick. For my entree, I had the Schezwan ahi tuna, which was good, but not great. It was fresh, but didn't have a ton of flavor. Next time I would definitely try something different. The dessert menu looked amazing, but as always my husband and I couldn't agree on one. The chocolate chip bread pudding was calling my name, so somebody please get that and tell me how it is!
(4)
Kristen S.
The seafood is great, and the service is perfectly attentive. At Catch 35, I ordered the chilean sea bass and had informed our server that I was gluten intolerant. He spoke with the management and the chef and I had one of the most delicious meals in Chicago. The sea bass was served "plainly" (no sauce or butter) with just some julienned carrots and peppers and mushrooms on top. On the side, I enjoyed some steamed asparagus and a scoop of rice. It was so delicious and healthy and I felt great. My husband did not enjoy his steak - he felt it lacked flavor. However, this *is* a seafood restaurant, so I didn't dock them points for this. Especially because the service was top-notch with the gluten intolerance. For dessert, I had white chocolate creme brulee and my husband had a mini chocolate lava cake. Both perfection. The decor is stuck somewhere in the 80s. But the food and live jazz are great. Definitely check out Catch 35 when you are in town.
(4)
Chrissy N.
You walk in--and WOW: Located on East Wacker, right across from the Chicago River, the location is ideal. You want to get drinks someplace FUN before dinner- this is the place. When you walk in the main entrance, there is a huge atrium where these light sculptures hang, and it looks AWESOME! The bar is right there when you walk in, and there is a piano set up for jazz everyday but Sundays. A coat check is to your immediate right when you walk in too. This place is known for its (sea) food, but to impress people with some fun drinking ambiance- this place is great for that too! My work has tried to get a private dining room here for some while- but theirs is very very small- no more than 6 or 8 people, and oddly-shaped. Stick to the dining room.
(4)
Doreen H.
Overall... I'd return again. My entree made my meal; the other stuff was good enough. Was here with a couple of coworkers, so we tried a bunch of food... Apps we split: Oyster platter: very good, except that I wish their horseradish had more oomph to it. Shrimp cocktail: so-so. Presentation wasn't very appealing... they were laid out on a huge plate, on a bed of ice. Made the shrimp look, well, shrimpy. Entree: Diver sea scallops... scrumptious. They were served on top of a delicious, fried risotto cake that was just crispy enough on the outside. Am still thinking about it. Sigh. Dessert: Key lime pie. I'm not an aficionado, but I thought it was good.
(4)
Jeff M.
Really good seafood. The ambiance in the main room is just plain awesome. Super high ceiling, marble without, the huge retro light is a piece of artwork in itself, and there's always live jazz playing inside the restaurant.
(4)
Kelly O.
At the time, I thought this place was really great - but after giving it a few days, it was just you average seafood restaurant. My colleagues and I each had the pre-fixe menu to try a little bit of everything, but maybe we should have ordered off the regular menu, because the food was just average. The crab bisque was pretty tasty, but it had no crab chunks. I had the white fish with veggies, and the asparagus and carrots had not taste whatsoever and the white fish was a little too buttery for my liking. The creme brulee was a larger than normal portion and while it was really good, it was too sweet to have more than a couple bites. They did have a couple bottles of wine that were half price, so not a total waste, but I would probably try another seafood place or order off the regular menu next time I'm in the Windy City.
(3)
Keziah C.
Ok can you say Yummy?? OMG, I love seafood, mainly shrimp, calamari, lobster, and crab legs. If you feel the same way I do, then you'd wanna head over to Catch 35, to eat, see, and be seen. This is a great place for large groups, group of friends or family, definitely not a romantic place because it's kinda noisy. Other than that the food was excellent, the staff was great. My king crab legs were huge, and were each sliced open so I can just enjoy every bite without working too hard ;-), the calamari was delicious too! We had reservations so we were seated immediatley after arriving. My hubby and I went here for new years eve 2010, and really enjoyed our entrees. I definitely recommend Catch 35 for all seafood lovers, but pack your wallet with cash, this place ain't cheap.
(5)
Erin V.
We came here last night for restaurant week. The food was very rich, but was good. The reason being for the two stars - the service was horrible. We had a nice lady but she took forever, took nearly 20 min. to ask what we would like to drink....then when we ordered our appetizer she insisted we wait to order our course dinner. Lady, we know what we want please let us order!! Not to mention she left our menu's on the table I had to give them to a busser. Turned into a two hour dinner - never again. I will opt to try elsewhere before I come back here.
(2)
Jenny T.
After one too many Blue Moon's & a taste for delicious seafood I found myself at Catch 35 with my ex-boyfriend & his parents who were visiting from out of town. Awkward, I know. While trying to change into my dress & falling over, I realized I had made a terrible mistake. I decided, however, I would put on my most sober game face & enjoy the opportunity to dine in such a lovely restaurant. Luckily his parents could not tell Matt & I were completely out of it& offered to buy a bottle of wine at dinner. It sounded like a good idea at the time & it really did compliment our meals, but I blame that bottle on not remembering the end of the night. We had appetizers, which were nothing special since I cannot remember what they were. I did have a very delicious & memorable entree that evening. I decided on the ginger shrimp served with rice. It was an upscale version of a shrimp stir-fry minus the veggies, but it was so good. I think I ate the entire dish before anyone else was finished & that's not because of how much I had drank, but because of how delicious it was! It had the perfect amount of seasonings & sauce on both the shrimp & the rice. Everyone liked their meals, but thought mine was the tastiest. Even though I got quite sick much later in the night (due to the alcohol, not the food-I promise you!), I would definitely return, but this time without the afternoon cocktail hours :)
(4)
Carolyn H.
This place is great for out of town guests who really do not know what a good restaurant is. The food is just okay and the service is weak. I cannot tell you how long I waited for my second glass of wine. How ridiculous. However, the wines by the glass were excellent and the waiter gave a good recommendation. If you like big portions and are not that picky about how the food tastes you will like this place. It is kind of a nice atmosphere: big and busy and lots of people. I would not go back to this place unless someone else was paying and they really liked it.
(2)
Caryl R.
Wow! Filet medallions perfectly cooked that melt in your mouth like butter...succulent. Parmesan risotto done correctly that left your taste buds wanting more. A refreshing tai basil mojito for that slightly humid evening. Stars out, breeze off the water and a nice finish with hazelnut flourless chocolate cake. I will return Chicago! And next time I might even try the fresh "catch".
(5)
Mike F.
Maybe I'm just easily impressed by fresh fish on ice. Or maybe Catch 35 just does fish well. The seafood chowder was a gluten-free treat. Very thick and hearty, not because a thickener like flour was used, but because it had so many chunks of fish. My halibut topped with portabello mushrooms was excellent. Very flavorful. And the chocolate mousse, while not divine, was certainly very good.
(4)
Alicia E.
The service was great, but extremely stuffy. The food was way over priced, over cooked and just pretty bad. Not to mention it looked like hospital cafeteria food. I'm sorry, but in a city like Chicago where you have so many choices...I would not choose this.
This was a nice place, though definitely, definitely not cheap. I had a Alaskan Halibut, one of my favorites, with steamed veggies and thought it was very good. I liked the ambiance, it was a long, hall-like, and crowded place tucked into the corner of a busy intersection. It felt jumping. We came as a trio of singles on Valentine's day and surprisingly avoided any overly saccharine public displays of affection. Maybe that's why it was so busy? Anyway, it's a nice seafood restaurant with a decent wine selection. Go on, take a bite.
(4)
Paul N.
This is always a great option for business lunches and dinners- the atmosphere is professional but not too stuffy. Food and service are always excellent.
(4)
Jenny J.
On the top of my list for Chicago seafood. I like the Asian inspired dishes and the usual seadfood. Some of my favorites include the halibut topped with crab meat, lobster bisque, and lobster and mushroom ravioli. This is an expensive place and if you do not like seafood, not a good idea. Although there are meat dishes on the menu, it is truely a seafood spot. Parking is expensive...but you are downtown Chicago, it is expected.
(4)
Brittany M.
Came here a few weeks ago, and this place has fantastic seafood. Welcomed by our waiter, who was so nice and very accommodating. I have a food allergy, and he was very careful to check all of the menu items I wanted. I ordered the scallops and pot stickers for my appetizer - so delicious. Really some of the best scallops I think I've had. The sauce was perfect, too. For my entree, I ordered the Alaskan halibut with crabmeat and mushrooms. Delicious! And super filling. I was so full after this meal, but in a good way. The seafood is so fresh and the service is great. Plus, it's one of the few restaurants in the loop that's actually open for dinner!
(4)
P B.
My Wife and I had a great time on Friday 20th. I tasted the stuff shrimp while my wife tasted the crabcakes. Both were delicious. It was complimented with a glass of Reisling wine. The house band was excellent; they played jazz tunes like MD's Nefertiti. The wait staff was outstanding & knowledgeable on the wine lists and menu. A great dining spot in Chicago.
(4)
Jennifer P.
Out of all the restaurants in Chicago we went there to celebrate my husband's birthday . Said this in reservation details and reminded them again when I snuck off to the bathroom. While eating our meal, saw the table next to us get a cute dessert with a candle. I figured, cool, that is what my husband will get. Nothing came. I spoke with the waiter to inform him in case the reservations and hostess did not. Nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nada. The only good thing to come out of our experience was that the food was pretty good. Not great, but good. Extremely disappointed.
(1)
Samantha L.
My boss took me here for my new hire lunch, and we got 3-course meals during restaurant week. It was pretty yummy... I believe I got the crab bisque- delicious, the crusted whitefish- also very yummy and fresh-tasting, and a creme brulee, which was pretty standard. It is a bit pricey, but I guess that's to be expected when you get fresh fish that's prepared well. Perhaps I will return during the next restaurant week!
(4)
Eddie S.
Came here before a musical show. First thing is that the valet is complimentary and the $10 cost comes off your dining bill. Nice way to help out with parking in an area that's tough to find spots. Now to the meal. House bread was warm and tasty. We ordered the scallops as an appetizer and we were not disappointed. Not very spicy at all, more sweet than spice and scallops were cooked just right with a good veggie mixture and large dumpling. Main courses were 3 course meal with salmon and halibut with maryland crab topping and portabella mushroom. All was cooked just right, sides were pretty standard mashed potatoes and veggies which were just fine. Dessert was an apple pie a la mode, which was OK. Pie wasn't heated all the way as it should have been. Overall, pleased with the meal. Service was on par with this level of a restaurant. If you're going before a show, they will ask you and keep your meal coursed and on time so you can make in time for your show. Only a 5 minute walk to the Cadillac.
(4)
Alexis B.
Catch 35 is my favorite restaurant in the city of Chicago. I was first taken here by my then boyfriend in celebration of our 1 year anniversary. The service was amazing. When we checked in with the hostess, she wished us a happy anniversary and handed me a long stem rose. Our server was spectacular and her recommendations and meal timing made for a fabulous dining experience. It has been a few years and although I cannot for the life of me remember my entree, I do remember that my boyfriend's lobster mushroom ravioli was one of the freshest most flavorful dishes I have ever tried. While we ate quite well, it was unsaid that we'd stray away from the more expensive dishes due to my boyfriend's college aged budget. I have been meaning to return here for years and I had my chance tonight. When we arrived, we were quickly seated at a cozy candle lit table in the corner. It was surprisingly slow for a Thursday night, and being tucked away it made for great conversation. We ordered a bottle of Napa Chardonnay to start as we enjoyed a very thick and smooth crab bisque. I've had many shellfish bisques, but never any as rich and with such large chunks of crab meat! For my entree, I enjoyed the South African Lobster tail and Filet Mignon combo. While I enjoy lobster in any capacity, I am picky about my steak. I like my steak medium rare (red throughout with a warm center) but in many restaurants, my ideal is considered rare. A true steakhouse rare has a cold center and when I asked my server about the kitchen standards she explained that they did keep steakhouse temperatures. I chose to order medium rare, and it came out perfectly tender and complimented the lobster. My date ordered crab cakes with remoulade sauce and just like our soup, the chunks of crabs were HUGE and tasted as if they had been caught while we were looking over the menu! For dessert we split an order of white chocolate Creme Brulee which was tasty, but a bit much as we were both stuffed from our main courses. Like before, the meal was fabulous with spectacular service. If I lived closer and could afford it, I'd eat here at least twice a week. I've never lived close so a coast, but I'd imagine this is a similar to what East and Pacific NW Coasters enjoy more frequently.
(5)
Rose Mary i.
Good seafood place. The staff was attentive and the fish was cooked perfectly. it is a bit noisier than other restaurants of this caliber but it seemed fine.
(4)
Santusa M.
Went here with a large group of friends and they were so accommodating. I'm talking 15+ people. The service was superb, the atmosphere was so laid back, and the food was great. I got the surf and turf and it was great, although i did ask for well done when i meant medium well but that was a screw up on my part lol. however, enjoyed myself to the fullest and everything was fab. highly recommend if you have big crowds or love seafood.
(5)
Andrea D.
We went here with 10 customers while on a business trip. I found the restaraunt to be WAY to dark and the server was arrogant, stuffy and slow! He didn't seem to think we were worth his time and must have thought our time wasn't valuable since he wasted so much of it. I ordered ne of the specials, a thai dish with shrimp and scallops mixed with veggies and a thai sauce. The veggies were undercooked and hard and crunchy. The shrimp had an odor so I didn't eat it but the scallops were good. The sauce was also very good. More than one of us at the table ordered the same dish and had the same results. When we asked the waiter to just "show" the cook the uncooked sweet potatoes, he said he would. He came back laughing and said "they weren't sweet potatoes but carrots" and set the plate back down. We made it clear we didn't want money off our bill or anythig but just thought the chef should know the veggies were very uncooked so when the waiter came back laughing saying "oh, they are crunchy because they are carrots" we were all kinda scratching our heads.....cooked carrots should be firm not crunchy. Oh well. We then ordered 1 dessert only because my "special" came with one. It was good but we had no intentions of sticking around and ordering anything else. Our bill came to over $600 so we definitely would have expected better service. I will add that the prices of the dishes are not to bad for a seafood restaraunt. We won't be going back though.
Classy place. Great seafood. Tuna appetizer was great. Sea Bass was good too, but I guess I am personally not a fan of that dish. The service was superb.
(4)
Lauren M.
The menu offered a fantastic variety of preparations. I enjoyed being adventerous!
(4)
Laura F.
The bar staff is terribly inconsiderate. My coworker and I stopped here after work one night for a glass of wine and some project gossip. Two stars because the bartender offered tastes of two Rieslings, but no more because of the sneering and lack of manners. I thanked him several times and got no more recognition than a sideways glance, as well as some major attitude while discussing the wines. I'd be hesitant to stop in again for lunch or dinner.
(2)
Kathy S.
This is for the Catch & Carry section. I haven't been here in awhile as it's too far from my work for lunch but I have been missing it. I feel like I'm getting the best of both worlds because I'm getting delicious food for relatively cheap. My typical lunch here would be some of their amazingly delicious crab bisque which is super creamy with succulent chunks of crab and a shrimp salad which is fresh and delightful.
(4)
Bruce R.
Great food, great service and just a block from the Chicago theater. A great place for a Pre or post show dinner. Beautiful live jazz trio at the bar was a bonus. The Dijon whitefish was outstanding. We will be back!
(5)
Kathleen C.
Catch 35 was good but nothing special. I feel like we were crammed into our seats behind the bar -- waiters even had trouble getting to us. Waiter was nice but it was tricky for him to get to our table so it seemed like he would just avoid it. I was excited about all of the different fish on the menu yet not many really stood out. The BF said he liked it a lot and thankfully he paid--I wouldn't have been too happy shelling out the $$ it cost. Better seafood places out there but glad I was able to see it here. ***I would go back for drinks in their bar. They had live music and a pretty decent set up of seats and bar area. Check it out.***
(3)
Aaron K.
Dress for this restaurant is business casual, which is not the same as Yelp Casual. What a comfortable, entertaining, romantic, happy atmosphere. I was really impressed with the middle-of-the-room piano stage, our seating just behind the bassist, and the quiet of our table. I can't speak to the other end of the restaurant, but to have live music playing during dinner is usually great; and it's an even better treat if the musicians were as good as they were last night. Not my style of jazz, to be honest, but everyone on stage was skillful and enjoying themselves. The service was prompt and friendly, the wine suggestion and knowledge of our server was spot-on. My girlfriend and I both ordered white fishes (halibut and grouper) and were surprised at neither of them being dried out at all! Definitely a problem with many white fishes. Our meals tasted wonderful and were prepared with skill. I couldn't get enough, and this has to be some of the best seafood I've had, especially for Chicago. Which is why I'm only giving four stars. Portions were meager and I was left wanting at least one more grouper. I was homesick for good seafood and was really disappointed, but not completely because I'm a glutton; it was just that good that I didn't want it to end. Also their key lime pie was generic-pie and not all that great, but I'm a Miami native and I have high standards. Overall, a pleasure. I'll be going back.
(4)
Molly L.
I went to Catch 35 for lunch today. The service was great and the prices were fair, but the food was just OK. I ordered the fish and chips. The fish tasted like overgrown frozen fish sticks. I'm not sure I'd come back with all the other great spots nearby in the Loop and River North.
(2)
Zach T.
Excellent! I recomend ordering fish (out-of-ordinary), it melts like butter.
(4)
Roslyn C.
Have eaten here on 4 different occasions, including a meal at the bat and lunch. It is consistently fantastic. Top notch attentive service, top quality sea food, great presentation and a totally enjoyable experience. It's not cheap, but the quality is worth it. They bend over backwards to please the customers. Great ambiance. We will be back!
(5)
Dean B.
Had the fish of the day, salmon, had them prepare it blackened, total of 4 of us dined all were impressed. Calamari was exceptional, lightly breaded, tender. We'll be back next time we find ourselves in Chicago.
(4)
Neal S.
This is good choice if you want seafood in downtown Chicago. Deep and varied menu so you'll have plenty of options. My daughter and I had the salmon and firecracker shrimp. We also had the clam chowder and a dinner salad. All of the food was fresh and prepared perfectly. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and was on time the entire meal. The wine list is deep, particularly if you like California wines. The ambience was great -- they had a jazz band playing in the background. Good music but no so loud that it interfered with the conversation. I do prefer Eddie V's to Catch 35 but you will do fine here.
(3)
Andrew K.
This place was good, but nothing special. I should preface that I was here on business, so I was not footing the bill, otherwise I would not have picked Catch35. It did actually exceed my expectations and was perfect for what I was looking for. That being said, I think there are much better options in this price range.
(3)
Tara M.
I have been to Catch 35 twice, both times for lunch. Each time I had the same thing--the crab bisque and the lobster ravioli (without peas). Catch is on OpenTable, so that is how I have made my reservations. On both occasions we were seated promptly at the time of our reservation. The service was friendly and prompt, and each lunch was under an hour. The restaurant is quiet when compared to Rivers that gets incredibly loud because you are six inches away from the table next to you. The ceilings are high, the tables are well spaced out, and while the layout of the place is a little odd it seems to work. Especially when discussing business-related topics, it is nice to know that the 6 tables around you can't hear every word you are saying. The crab bisque is pretty standard and the ravioli is awesome. I find myself craving it fairly often. Such a pleasant surprise when you see how much delicious lobster is in the dish! One of my preferred places for a business lunch.
(4)
Evelyn S.
Another restaurant week favorite! I rarely order steak out - unless the place is pretty much only known for steak. At Catch 35, however, I was intrigued and not really in the mood for seafood. I must say, they hands down prepared the best ##***!! bleu cheese crusted strip steak I have ever tasted - bar none!! Awesome and amazing!! I will now go back for seafood and more of the live, smooth jazz!
(4)
Shradha A.
went here for a business lunch 2 days ago and i am vegetarian. so i don't know how much my review holds for a seafood restaurant but i did think their salad was done nicely. the service wasn't as professional as you'd expect - no one checked up on us after they brought us our food and it just felt like no one really cared. i did hear from a colleague that he enjoyed his fish.
(3)
Dustin S.
the food was all pretty good. it took a while to get the check.
(3)
Mrs. T M.
In Chicago on business and was told to try this place. The restaurant is really nice! The shrimp and crab bisque was AMAZING!!!! I really wanted mussels and I ordered them and unfortunately I sent them back because they were not tasty at all! BUT I got sweet and spicy shrimp and it was DELICIOUS!!! I had to add the shrimp because the dish comes with chicken. The pecan pie is good too!!! Overall the food and service was good!!!
(4)
R R.
Exceptional service... The gal that waited on us the second she saw us try to pour our wine she was over in a jiffy. It was busy too. I was impressed they had my favorite california wine Girard. My steak was great and my bf's fish was cooked to perfection (mahi mahi). We were so full so we did not indulge in dessert. We found this place via yelp and as always YELP does not disappoint.
(5)
Paul K.
Great seafood restaurant. Never had anything bad here. A must if your looking for seafood.
(5)
Jay V.
This was my third dining experience at Catch 35. Seems like each one gets better than the last. You come in the front door and your first sight is that of the white baby grand under a fabulous ceiling fixture. Next is the fully stocked bar. I dropped my coat off with the coat check girl and was seated 1/2 way through my Knob Creek. I ordered ther Coconut Beer Batter Shrimp - appetizer (to die for). A cup of Catch 35 Crab Bisque - again, excellent and ended up ordering the Yellow Fin Tuna in Ginger sesame sauce. (ok, I forget to mention that I also had the Fresh Mozzarella & Vine Ripened Tomato salad with Opal basil vinaigrette. I am in Chicago, why not) Getting back to dinner - again, to die for! If you are looking for great atmosphere, a place to stop in for a drink and some music - or want a fabulous sea-food meal, than this is the spot. Conveniently located on West Wacker Drive - across from the Chicago River and the Wrigley Bldg. Bon Apetite! Did I mention the service. A 9 out of 10. catch35.com
(4)
Victor P.
Had lunch there today. Sea bass was delicious but the blackened salmon was smoothed in pepper. The waitress was MIA for most of the lunch and never asked how the food was or if we needed anything. We'll pass on going back.
(2)
Adam S.
Lazy review, sorry. I had: Bluepoint oysters, grilled oysters, crab cake entree, sauteed halibut with crab, coffee and molten lava cake with salted caramel. I paid: 145 plus tip. I thought: Ok but not great. The lava cake was pretty darn good. I disliked: The ambiance, the location, and the crowd. Yawn.
(3)
Paul C.
Loved it. Not as good as Shaws, but also not as expensive. The staff was quite courteous and knowledgeable and the seafood was fresh and delicious. You can't go wrong with this spot.
(4)
Jesse M.
Pretty yummy.
(4)
Lois A.
If you want lobster this is the place to go. The lobster is fantastic! The steak is also amazing so going with the surf and turf only makes sense. As for the Asian Flair dishes that get so many raves...I wouldn't order one of them again. The one I ordered with shrimp and scallops did not prevent me from wishing I was eating the lobster and steak. I LOVE that they serve sourdough bread here. It's a nice change up from other places. Also, the crab here is yummy!
(4)
Amy S.
A few of my friends brought our moms here for the Saturday before Mother's Day after we saw Wicked at the Oriental Theater. I guess one word that would describe this place is, unmemorable. I just really don't remember that much about it. I know it wasn't bad, but I just don't remember it being that great either. Oh! I do remember the sashimi appetizer being very good and you got a lot of pieces...like 12 pieces! But that's really all. So go or don't go....it's up to you.
(3)
Kaci H.
My boyfriend and I went to Catch 35 for my birthday on a Friday night. For the price we paid, we expected the food to be way better. We started with calamari, which was under-seasoned and bland. (We didn't finish it.) I had the tuna sashimi special with a sesame seed coating which was adequate, but not astounding. The rice that came with it was the best seasoned piece of my entire meal. My boyfriend had the blackened Mahi Mahi with rice and veggies. He said the "sauce was a little odd, offering a savory tangent to the spiciness of the Mahi Mahi, as opposed to a cooling complement as I would have expected." For desert, we had creme brulee and apple pie a la mode, both which were good, but not great. They had live music which was really great. I'd go back, but only for a drink at the bar.
(3)
maurice s.
Probably the best seafood restaurant in the city. Great seafood with an Asian twist. The steaks also are very good. In a former life, I brought clients from across the country to Catch 35 on a regular basis. All of them enjoyed their meals very much, and more than one told me that it was the best meal they'd ever had. EDIT: We recently went here after a Sunday matinee, which is an odd hour and it was reflected in the experience. The kitchen was very slow and badly undercooked my wife's steak. The waiter surprisingly anticipated the problem and asked her to check the steak for doneness as soon as it arrived. He took it back to the kitchen, and the cook seared it on both sides and put it back on the plate. (Ordinarily, this could be hard to tell, but this restaurant has an open kitchen.) In the future, I'm going to stick to regular lunch and dinner hours.
(5)
Charlie B.
Really basic seafood, done well.
(3)
bill w.
I would have liked to eat here, given the complimentary reviews on Yelp. Unfortunately, I could not get past the bad attitude of the hostess. We called around 7:00pm on 10/18 to make 7:30 reservations. She said no need to make reservations, just come on in. We arrived at 7:30, and was told there would be a 10 minute wait. At 7:45, she said that it would be about 10 more minutes. We left at 8:00 pm because we were still not seated. There were open tables. At least the live jazz was good in the bar, so one star for the jazz.
(1)
Erin V.
I really, really wanted to like this place. The interior is fun and our waiter was amazingly attentive. However, I thought my food was just so-so. I ordered the salmon, which was the evening's special, and it felt overcooked and tough. The "sun-dried tomato pesto" sauce tasted more like lumpy barbecue sauce than anything else. The steamed veggies were just that. The best thing on my plate was the potato cake. My husband ordered the scallops from the prix fixe menu and he seemed to enjoy them. He ordered the apple pie for dessert and I had the toffee cheesecake. The cheesecake was good, but I would expect no less from any restaurant in Chicago. The apples in the apple pie were way too mushy. At least the wine list was excellent and the wine I chose was lovely. Overall, though, this is a high-priced restaurant where you're paying for service and not spectacular food. Or maybe it just really depends on what you order.
(3)
Mags F.
We've come here several times. The food is consistently good (and that's saying something, considering I am not a huge seafood eater). Service is prompt and attentive. We'll definitely be back.
(5)
Leang E.
I didn't know that this place had such clientele - my friend and I sat 2 tables away from Terry Bradshaw! I so wanted to go over and ask for an autograph, but my friend told me that it would be rude and that he'd be fair game outside the restaurant. So, I sat squirming trying to abide by my friend's "rules". Anyways, I appreciated the live music with the trumpet and all. It's a relatively spacious place with what seems like 3 levels of seating. We came for my friend's birthday and started with the crab cake, which was pretty good. I had the surf and turf - filet and crab legs. It's true you can't really screw up crab legs too bad, but the filet was a little less than mediocre for me. I think we had the key lime pie and that was quite good. The fish here was pretty good from what I tasted off my friend's plate as well, so maybe stick with the seafood here. The prices are average for seafood. The crab leg portion wasn't as big as I thought it would be though. It's kind of a maybe for me to come back. I mean I could be persuaded if some other celebrity comes by.
(3)
Daniel P.
I found this place on here and happened to be a five minute walk away. I came with a friend for lunch and we both loved it. I had the trout topped with a Mediterranean salsa and paired with mashed potatoes and green beans. The trout was PERFECT and the potatoes were as light as I've ever known real potatoes to be. The green beans were seemingly meant to be al dente but that would have been an understatement. The waitstaff was incredibly friendly and the waitress got excited when I ordered what I did. And, to complete the visit, we weren't rushed even though they were about to close up between lunch and dinner.
(4)
Joseph C.
Did a holiday Chicago trip with the intent of dining at a standard Chicago steak place, but the positive reviews of Catch35 made me change my mind. Overall, I'm glad I did. On food alone, it is one of the best dining experiences we've had in Chicago. We arrived a half-hour before our reservation to enjoy a drink at the bar. I was a bit put off at first . . . the bartenders were serviceable but distracted, the wait staff was very conversational amongst themselves. There was also a small group of unruly types in the bar that ruined the otherwise first-class ambience of the place (look up from your bar seat to soak in the view). The wine list was underwhelming (when there's only one Willamette Valley pinot noir, that's a sure sign I won't be impressed). Fortunately, once we were seated for dinner all doubts were forgotten. Our waiter was extremely friendly, witty and attentive. The clientele was mostly business groups . . . maybe one or two other couples, certainly no children. Appetizers were an oysters rockefeller (with bacon and asiago), very rich but delightful, and the calamari, served with grilled tofu. Very good, lightly breaded, but no tentacles. I wanted steak for my entree (despite this mainly being a seafood place) so I went with the filet mignon with a veal demi-glaze. One of the best cooked pieces of tenderloin I've ever had. Sides were included, and I can't tell you enough about the king crab mashed potatoes (yes, you read that right). My wife had filet medallions grilled in herbed butter and was similarly pleased. What I was really left with was the tremendous value you get here; a similar meal at a place like Gibson's or Morton's would have cost at least 50% more. We got away with two appetizers, two steak entrees and two glass of wine for less that $120. Pretty amazing for Chicago! We will be back . . .
(4)
liana m.
I went for lunch at this restaurant at the recommendation of the concierge at the Hyatt. It was kind of dark inside mid-day and I realized I probably would've liked somewhere with a view or right by the waterfront. But the service was good and the starter bread was nice and warm and fresh. I opted for the $22, 3-course lunch special, had the seafood gumbo, the lake superior white fish, which came with mashed potatoes and sauteed spinach, and strawberry cheesecake. The food was okay. I probably should have tried something a little more daring, and maybe grilled. But it satisfied my belly. The gumbo was pretty good but I think the strawberry cheesecake was my favorite. That, plus an Arnold Palmer and tip cost me $33. So kind of pricey. But I would possibly go back and try something different.
(3)
Samantha P.
Good stuff! We went here for my birthday and the salmon was cooked perfectly and seasoned really well. Our waiter was great and took really good care of our table of 6. They have an impressive dessert spread--I recommend the key lime pie! Catch would have gotten 5 stars, but the place was so loud the night that I went. The long skinny space just seemed to intensify the noise, but it could have just been a fluke.
(4)
January C.
I came here a couple weeks ago with family visiting from out of town. They were interested in fish and this place was close to their hotel so we decided to give it a go. The ambiance is quite nice and what I would expect for an expensive downtown restaurant. The service was also very good. The food, however, was JUST OKAY. I tried the sea bass which is supposedly the chef's specialty. It was good, but I would hope that if I were the chef, I could do better on something I considered my specialty. I wish I would have ordered one of the cheaper entrees and saved $15, because it probably would have been just as good. I was really unimpressed with the accompanying sides too; the rice was too dry and the asparagus was shy on portion. Maybe I would have felt like I was getting enough to eat if it had come on a smaller plate. I also had the salad with blue cheese, pears, and candied walnuts and the key lime pie for desert. Everything was good, but nothing was OMG delicious for the OMG price we paid. I would come back, but with lower expectations and order something cheaper.
(3)
Michael D.
A quality place to grab dinner in the downtown area, and they have a nice selection of offerings for all types. Students should feel welcome if you're on a budget, as they do have a solid fixed menu, although the extras add up. Drinks are as good as should be expected for the general quality of the place. Expect to rub elbows a bit if you're in the back.
(4)
Susie C.
This place is pretty good. When I was there over the summer, they had a summer menu and they serve not just seafood dishes. They have other ethnic dishes like Chinese and Thai. The quality of the food is pretty good. I enjoyed my time there. The atmosphere is pretty nice. If you want to go out on a date, Catch 35 is a nice place to go.
(4)
l v.
Mediocre food at best. The food didn't 'wow' me and the the oysters were....meh. There are thousands of other restaurants you should try.
(3)
Tracey O.
This used to be my favorite place. Last night the service was terrible. We had to flag the waitress down to order. She was not attentive at all. But that is not the worst part of the evening. When we made the reservation, we requested a gluten free menu like we always do. Got the gluten free menu, ordered from the gluten free menu. Then after I ate part of my dinner the waitress informs me that they made a mistake and that my dinner was not gluten free. She took my plate and brought me the gluten free this time as if it was okay. I was absolutely shocked at how lightly this mistake was taken by the restaurant even by the general manager. Well, I would like to thank them for ruining my dinner, my evening and so far today...anyone with any type of food allergy/sensitivity knows how unacceptable this is. I just wish that this restaurant would educate themselves so that this does not happen to anyone else.
(1)
Ross R.
Dining at Catch 35 is like eating in downtown Des Moines. By 9PM, on a Friday night, the place is nearly empty. Part of the problem is that the place is big, damn big, so if they only have 100 people it seems like they're empty. The other problem is the proximity to the theaters; the rush at this place occurs early in the evening. So armed with this knowledge, use it to your advantage. Show up at 8PM and have a very quiet dinner with a date. Then head back to other parts of the city to feel like you're not in a ghost town.
(4)
fred h.
There was nothing really wrong with this place....just couldn't give it more than 3 stars. Decor was nice, bar was cool. Scene was good. Food was solid but not outstanding. Sushi rolls were average. Calamari was average. we had 4 sea bass at our table of 8... 2 were undercooked significantly. (u don't need to cut fish with a knife). Seabass seems to cook slower than other fish, so it's a common mistake with newer cooks... and maybe that was the problem - menu made by experienced, fulfilled by apprentice? Presentation was super. The most creative and tasty items were dessert. Server was average, if not indifferent.
(3)
Bill M.
This little outlet is buried in the bowels of the Leo Burnett building. It is the "back" of the noted Catch 35 seafood restaurant. There is a variety of soups, sandwiches, salads and desserts that are not too badly priced. The tasty taco salad comes in an enormous crunchy tortilla shell, and the blackened chicken salad has a spicy kick to it. Most people take it to go, but you can eat in the nondescript dining area.
(4)
George L.
I have not been here in years when it used to be a pretty popular place, but I think it has fallen a bit off the last few years and I am not much of a seafood fan anyway. Had a meeting in the building today and stopped in for lunch because it was nearby. A really good meal, the Thai-seafood fusion combination works well. The lobster ravioli was good with plenty of lobster and the service was quick and efficient. Not something I would probably seek out, but I would stop in again if in the area, even with McCormick and Schmick nearby.
(4)
Maricar A.
First time, I visited this restaurant was after a company party to get drinks. Second time, was with my coworkers during the restaurant week pre-fix menu for lunch. I can't remember, what type of fish I ordered, but all I remember was how good the meal was. I finished off everything and I wanted to lick the plate because it was that good! The dessert was too die for, again can't remember other than I think it was some sort of chocolate with ice cream on top. Really really good. I would highly recomment this restaurant...its worth trying...dont look at the price...just order what you want and EAT!!!
(5)
Marjie T.
I tried this restaurant when I was in Chicago for the weekend and was very happy I did. Since we had tickets for a show, we got there early at 5:45. The place was pretty empty, but was full by the time we left around 7:30. My friend and I both ordered off of the $29.95 menu, which included a salad, entree, and dessert. That seemed like a pretty good deal. I had the parmesan-crusted whitefish and it was very good. It came with mashed potatoes and mixed veggies, which were also yummy. The salad was a mixture of field greens with a vinaigrette that was pretty bland. For dessert I had the key lime pie, which is their specialty. It was very good, though a little heavy on the whipped cream. Overall, the service and food were both great and I'd definitely go here again.
(4)
Craig W.
Nice decor. Staff friendly. Service was decent. Food was average.
(3)
Mark C.
The fresh seafood is great, but all the sauces and preparation ruin the freshness. Pretty expensive for a meal I'm not as satisfied as I think I should be.
(3)
Debbie W.
Atlantic salmon blackened with chilli sauce is awesome....yummy deserts!
(4)
Rob S.
Went here a couple weeks ago for a night out with the gf. Our server was a bit awkward and seemed nervous but we could get over that. Food was pretty good. I thought ambience is kind of bland and sort of 90s. I had the Scallops and she had the sea bass. Scallops were seared perfectly and rissoto under the scallop was delicious. Sea bass but alright, kind of boring in my opinion. We also ordered the oysters with cheese and bacon (rockefellar style). These were decadent and if I go back, I would get another order. Overall pretty good restaurant experience, but I don't really expect to return.
(4)
Debra C.
Can never miss....a must stop before the show. Great service and great food. The best part....the prices! I have been coming back for the past twenty years! You can also enjoy a class of wine at the piano bar.
(4)
Robyne H.
Very good experience. Four of us went to Catch thirty five for restaurant week and ordered off the prix fix menu. Choices were excellent and mimicked the higher priced entrees on the regular menu. I had the scallops with risotto and it was amazing. Definitely would go back. There was a private room available and the four of us felt like VIP's for sure.
(4)
Annie S.
I love this seafood restaurant! The best seafood I've had in a long time. My co-workers and I went to here about a month ago and had a fabulous time. The service is great and the food melts in your mouth! The menu is huge and there are so many choices- it has an Asian flair, which I found interesting. We were able to do a sample of all the appetizers and they were all very tasty. My favorite was the calamari and scallops! I ordered the chilean sea bass with rice while other co-workers ordered the scallops, blackened mahi mahi, halibut, etc. WOW, the sea bass honestly was very soft and juicy. It was so tasty and was perfect. The fish is very fresh and I enjoyed myself at Catch 35. The restaurant is pricey and not sure what it's like during dinner hours, but I am sure it would be a nice date place. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
teacherme H.
Myself and two colleagues went here when in town for a conference. The food was fabulous. My first Coloda 35 was amazing, but I tried twice more to recapture the magic to no avail. This, including a bit high priced, is why it received a 4 out of 5 stars. I ordered a yummy sea bass--the flavor was all in the glaze. Dessert was very impressive--the toffee pudding cake. yum! Would definitely go back. Oh, great atmosphere with the live band.
(4)
L E.
NO one loves seafood more than me. I can eat my body weight in crustacean and fish. No fancy slop or sauces or accompaniments or even cooking (for some) needed. Just sea creature on a plate. Undeniably one of the worst meals of my life. The creole-cajun style whitefish was cold!!! Yes, served refrigerated temperature. With a gelatenous brown blob of sauce covering the ENTIRE plate. With chunks of chewy canned crawfish!??! Smelled more like sewage shit than it looked! Impossible to believe, right?!? I ate one bite & sent it back. Filled up on salad, red wine, & some scallop pan-asian appetizer that my 12 dining mates gagged over & pushed far away to my end of the table. One star for dessert, an individual pecan pie. Big portion. I was mortified to dine here!! With 12 colleagues, 4 from England, 1 from Australia, & 1 from Costa Rica. Hence, they eat FRESH seafood for the price of a Happy Meal, & were tortured to force feed overpriced frozen sewage!!! I took them to McDonalds for a fish fillet sandwich & fries 2 hours later!!! No joke.
(1)
A L.
I went here for a business dinner with my mentor and another colleague. My boss suggested it and so there we were. We started at the bar, waiting for our 3rd to join and decided to start with some wine. I was definitely more picky about my wine, so I sampled 3 before finally deciding on a malbec (decent). The bartenders were super nice and very obliging. We were finally seated after a bit of a wait (45 min) despite reservations, but I wonder if it was because the 3rd person in our party was a little later (20 min). In any case, we were then seated and then out meal began. We started with raw oysters (yum!) and grilled calamari (also lovely, not overcooked). After our salads, we had our entrees. My boss and I both had the halibut which was delicious. Our colleague had the chilean sea bass (no comment) which she enjoyed. We were so full from our delicious meals and a bottle of Chardonnay that we had no room for dessert! I would like to note that we were the last to leave due to our late seating, but not once did we feel rushed to leave. The service was excellent. I would definitely return if I stop by in Chicago again!
(4)
Libby T.
for awhile, i was all over the 1/2 price wine and oysters on monday nights. i wouldn't go out of my way to go here, though.
(3)
David R.
Reliable fresh seafood served with a variety of sauces or simply grilled. The key lime pie is terrific and the best of the three deserts we ordered. The atmosphere is bright and the service is good. Nice place for a business dinner or large group.
(3)
Dave S.
I went here before a Broadway in Chicago show because of the proximity to the theater district. We had made reservations, were sat right when we walked in, and the waiter was conscious of the show time and moved us along with our meal quickly because of the time limit before the show. The service was great. The food was not. We started with the traditional calamari appetizer. Nothing special about this. I then had a cup of a clam corn chowder, which was the highlight of the meal. I ordered a blackened mahi mahi which was over seasoned to the point where I could not even taste the fish. My date had the sea bass, which was very oily. The dessert was delicious but nothing special. I have had much, much better seafood in Chicago and would only recommend this to someone who is going to the theaters afterwords.
(2)
Alicya M.
Thought this was a little pricey for the quality of food. Catch thirty-five is one of the few upscale seafood spots in Chi. Atmosphere, service, and presentation would easily earn it 5 stars from me, if it tasted better or cost less. I was really impressed with drinks, appetizers, and they have a great caesar salad I started with, but I was really disappointed with our entrees. I had Grilled Grouper, and my guy had Swordfish with Avacado Salsa. When I bored with my dish, I tried to steal some of his, only to find it as unappetizing as mine. We finished with cheescake (me) and key lime pie (him), which were alright, but nothing spectacular. This spot would be great for after-work drinks, if you're in the Loop on business, but if you're going to drop that kind of cash, you'd be happier trying Joe's Seafood & Stone Crabs on Grand.
(3)
Kari S.
When I walked in, I felt like I was in the lobby of a high rise, and I guess I basically was, but the decor is very cool (esp. the light fixtures that look like the big bang theory!). Off to the left side, there was a live jazz band. We sat there for a minute while we waited for our table. No more than 10 minutes later, we were escorted to our spacious seats. I love that I could hear everyone at the table and that I had room! I'm not big, but there was space, which seems hard to come by in downtown chicago. The food is absolutely delicious. We had the coconut beer battered shrimp and a crab cake to start. The salads are very good- my tomato basil vinagrette was a bit unusual and I really liked it. I ordered the Chilean Sea bass, which is the chef's specialty (according to our waitress). It had a stir fry with a sauce on top that was very good. For dessert, the key lime was delicious. They had "chocolate seduction" on a prix fixe menu, but unfortunately it wasn't available to order separately. That was the only downside to the night! The waitstaff is very attentive and knowledgable. They definitely earn their five stars (more stars if I have the option!). It's one of the best seafood places in the city. A must try if you live here.
(5)
Briana J.
Try the lobster ravioli! It was great. I wished I could have finished it all but I was stuffed. The waitstaff was very helpful and helped to pick out some wine. I went on my company's tab so I cannot comment on the price but the food is awesome. The bar would be a great place to grab a drink- the decor and people watching are top-notch!
(4)
Colonel M.
Outstanding seafood... A definate stop for the seafood lover!
(4)
Karl H.
Overall, a wonderful seafood restaurant. My girlfriend and I arrived about 1.5 hours before our show, and got out of there with 20 minutes to spare. Our server was wonderful, asking about our time constraints and making wonderful suggestions from the menu. Atmosphere -- I really enjoyed the jazz club atmosphere and the live music emanating from near the bar. The place had a healthy buzz about it that wasn't overpowering. Entrees -- I had the Chilean sea bass, which is apparently one of their signature dishes. The sea bass, served with green beans and rice, was extraordinary. It practically melts in your mouth. My girl friend ordered the scallops, which were also incredible. Desert -- Be sure to try the Key Lime Pie. It was fantastic!
(4)
David G.
I went there last night and the food was delicious. From the start, the food was tasty and fresh. The sour dough bread was crispy on the outside and light on the inside. The Maytag Blue Cheese salad was tasty and well balanced.The only negative about the salad is that there was way too much lettuce to not enough dressing. The blackened salmon was quite intense that was cooled nicely by the sweet pepper sauce. The salmon was a bit over cooked and a little dry. The carrots were seasoned well and cooked perfectly. The rice was rice.... nothing special. The desert was amazing. I had the carrot cake bread pudding was the highlight and would have been that much better if I was not already stuffed.
(4)
Marie B.
This is a lovely setting. Have dined here many times in the past. Had friends visiting, so opted to take them here. They weren't entirely impressed. He ordred a steak. It was really disappointing...even the appearance was disappointing! It was covered in this steak sauce?! Any chef knows you don't "ruin" a good steak by putting sauce on it!! He also said the flavor of the sauce was much to tomato-y. Her grouper was only 'ok'. I had the crab cake, which was ok. Not fab, but ok. On a good note, the pear, champagne, apple martini was really good.
(2)
Samantha K.
Perfectly located restaurant. Well, for me it is. I go to school right across the Chicago River at the Merchandise Mart. I went there with a group of friends (6 of us) at around 1pm on a Wednesday. Our experience there went surprisingly well. I went to the Catch 35 in Naperville and I wasn't thrilled with the service. I will always choose going to a restaurant located downtown rather than in the suburbs. Our server was super nice and knew EVERYTHING on the menu. We were so excited we didn't have some idiot trying to persuade us into getting the most expensive thing on the menu. I'm not going to list what everyone got, but I will say that everyone was very satisfied with their order. I got a cup of the Catch thirty five crab bisque (LOVED IT.) and the calamari. It doesn't seem like a lot, but trust me it was. There wasn't one thing I didn't like about it. It was one of the best calamari appetizers I've ever had. :) Most of my friends got sandwiches and they looked super yummy. I took a look at the dinner menu and it was pretty pricey. Sure the food was really good, but is it worth all that money? There's a kajillion other seafood, steak restaurants in Chicago that have just as good food, but less money. Other than the prices, I'd absolutely go back. I had a good time and the atmosphere was relaxing. B+.
(4)
Erin C.
If this wasn't in my building, I probably would never come here. Not because it's bad, but because I would never have known about it. Seems like most of the customers work at 35 W Wacker. The food is decent and I usually come here when I need a quick lunch or don't want to go outside. The crab bisque (available everyday) is excellent. Also available daily is the frozen yogurt. Nice. The salads are a great value (the Caesar is huge and about $4). They have daily specials which are also a pretty good value. It seems that they've changed how they do their specials lately so it's a constantly changing list of items not typically found on their menu. My biggest complaint about Catch is the lack of veggie-friendly menu items. I think there is one sandwich and it's mediocre. Since I eat fish, I can find a few more things to eat here, but I don't recommend it for vegetarians. This place is crazy busy around noon, but arrive earlier or later and avoid the rush. You may even see some ABC 7 news anchors hanging out and eating some lunch.
(3)
Jami K.
It looks like my review for Catch and Carry was merged with the regular Catch35. I've never been to Catch35 proper. I've only been to the lunch stand on the back of the restaurant. It's good and fast and quite popular during lunchtime.
(4)
Ahna P.
I've been here a few times and this past was actually the best. It's a typical financial district sort of restaurant. Lots of suits and such at 6:30pm. The decor feels similar to a hotel restaurant hotel or lounge. We started out at the bar with my favorite bottle of sparkling, shrimp cocktail, and the grilled calamari. Seem to be stuck on the grilled vs. the fried of late. For dinner I had the yellow tail char-grilled very rare, perfectly executed. In the past I've tried a green curry dish that was nice and spicy.
(4)
Beverly W.
Our concierge at the Westin recommended this as a 'local' seafood restaurant. The location was excellent. We were pleasantly surprised with the restaurant's decor -- very open, but still had a good 'feel' to it. The service was perfectly fine; quick (even early) seating after an Open Table reservation. Sunday evening features half price bottles of select wines on the menu; they don't tell you that; you have to read the fine print. Shared a crabcake; pretty darn good. The best treat was the entree -- a lobster tail, pulled, and over mushroom stuffed ravioli in a cream sauce. This was absolutely excellent; very, very tasty and not overly rich. I ate every single bit in between the "yum's." Highly recommend it.
(4)
Dan R.
Excellent high-end restaurant. My wife and I had a romantic dinner in a private booth. The service was outstanding. What to order? If you like seafood, I guarantee the sea bass will not disappoint. It was incredibly tasty. I would have ordered a second if I had room for it.
(5)
Mike S.
Great Thai fusion seafood. Great service. A wonderful evening out.
(4)
Robert F.
Need to impress? Look no further than Catch 35. Business or pleasure, this place is going to make your guest take notice. The waitstaff is impeccable, and the food is without equal. I have some severe seafood allergies, but there was still a great selection from which to order and the head chef himself came out to assure me of the care they'd take in preparing the meal. Make this place the ace up your sleeve.
(5)
Cynthia C.
Simply Amazing! From the 1/2 dozen baked oysters... To the corn and crab meat chowder... The Alaskan halibut topped with crab meat and mushrooms to the best Key lime pie I've ever tasted. Can't wait to go back. The service is awesome, the price great. No complains on my part. Delish!
(4)
Curtis B.
Definitely some of the best seafood I've had in the city. The lobster bisque was excellent, though the portion was quite small. The redfish entree was cooked perfectly, and accompanied by a nice variety of other flavors and textures on the plate. Service was as good as I would expect from any good restaurant.
(4)
Cheese M.
The Shrimps in my shrimp cocktail were small. The steak tasted like something on special at Friday's. The lobster was good though. If you are gonna spend this kind of money, go to Joe's or Shaw's
(2)
Flora F.
underneath the office building, live jazz, awesome seafood and good service. what else I can complain about? 5 stars it is!!!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Kris C.
I got there early so I didn't really deal with a crowd issue. The fish was fantastic. I had the halibut. Very good. The only let down were the sides. The sides were not on par with the yumminess of the fish. The drinks were great and they had a fantastic salad...Martha's vineyard, delicious. I would go back for the fish and the salad...something to also note is they hand stuff their olives with blue cheese if that is your thing. Yummy in an afternoon sipper.
(4)Bill C.
This is a TOP pick on Zagats and after eating there, I was very unimpressed. There are so many amazing restaurants in Chicago and I feel like I wasted a meal on this place. The meal was poorly prepared, unimaginative, and typical. The rice had no sauce or anything - it was dry. The veggies had nothing on them - just green beans. The Chilean Sea Bass was prepared nicely but didn't have enough of the glaze to dip it in. For the prices, there are much better restaurants on Rush Street. Avoid this one.
(2)Katie R.
First of all, the place is huge. And very 'art deco.' My mom (visiting from out of town) loved it, but it didn't feel like "Chicago," and I definitely wouldn't have chosen to go there if I had picked the restaurant. The baked oyster appetizer was delicious, but my entree of sauteed halibut with portobello and crab sounded more interesting than it tasted. Very buttery.
(2)Ed D.
I go there every time I'm in Chicago and just love the place. The yellow fin tuna is the best around - I don't know how they consistently get it so tender and tasty. Atmosphere was great - I sat in the very front corner in the "bar" seating area - and enjoyed the music (no live music this time) and service. One minor thing - the dish was to come with rice but I got mashed potatoes instead - but I just ate them, as they were pretty good. The bread beforehand was warm. I asked for a dish of olive oil to dip into instead of the butter and enjoyed that. The Asian spinach salad was very good, but I thought it was just a little small for the price. The decaf coffee was bitter. They took that off the bill, but I'd have preferred to enjoy the coffee instead. Also, $10 for a bowl of berries and a scoop of ice cream was a little steep. They were fresh, and I thought the ice cream was tasty, but $7.95 would have been the right price at a place like this.
(4)Junchen F.
The service is good although we waited 30 minutes longer than the appointment. My expectation for the food is a little bit too high but overall the quality is decent.
(4)Anna S.
Very friendly service! The food I ordered was fresh and delicious. I started with the steamed mussels with white wine and garlic, the mussels were really good but the sauce could have been a little more acidic. The sourdough bread was yummy. My main course was the Chilean sea bass, wow excellent!! I would have given it 5 stars but I was not impressed with the sauce that was cooked with the mussels and the place reminded me of a cruise
(4)Jayme G.
My fiancé and I went here for a romantic evening, and we were thoroughly impressed. The food was absolutely delicious, and the service was impeccable. We never had empty drinks or crumbs on the table. Our crab legs were perfectly cooked. We left full and happy. The bill was a pretty penny, but completely worth it in the end.
(5)Courtney D.
I came here after seeing the great musical "Crowns" which I highly recommend. I had the Alaskan Salmon, which was amazing! My Mother in love had the lobster tail and Filet Mignon. The presentation was excellent, and the service was great as well. I also had the best Riesling I think I have ever had here. 2 glasses and I was "feelin' it!". :-)
(4)Amber R.
I dined here last week thanks to the gDine deal. It is a pretty amazing dining experience...you get 3 courses for $28! Here's what I had: First Course - Coconut Beer Batter Shrimp Big portion. was a great 'sharing' appetizer. The shrimp were lightly fried (if that is possible). Either way they did not feel heavy. Perfectly cooked with a very nice sweet and spicy sauce. Second Course - Shrimp Surf & Turf I cannot believe this was included in the three course gDine deal. Great Steak! Third Course - Key Lime Pie This was to die for!! I usually go for the chocolate, but the key lime was calling my name and boy was i happy it did. We left there completely stuffed. I will go back anytime, just as long as its on gDine.
(4)Sarah Z.
This is not your typical stuffy I'll-have-an-iced-tea restaurant in the loop where the food is just okay but very expensive because of the location. I came here on a Friday night and the place was packed with a lively and diverse crowd. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a hot spot, but I was pleasantly surprised and did not feel out of place in semi casual attire. And I couldn't believe it, but everything on the menu did not cost an arm and a leg. My entree was under $20 bucks! My date had some kind of fish dish that he devoured and I had the mushroom ravioli that was DIVINE. The only downer was that the Valet wouldn't keep our car past 11pm. Seeing as we were going to a show at the Chicago Theater after dinner, that would have been a nice perk.
(4)Colleen A.
I came here for Restaurant Week during lunch. It was President's Day so it was pretty empty, which was nice that we weren't being rushed. The service was great - even though we mentioned we were going to do the restaurant week menu, the waitress tried to upsell us on the 2 most expensive things on the menu, but I get it - it's their job. The waitress also overheard that it was my birthday and put a candle in my dessert which I found nice when she knew we were doing the special "cheap" menu. I started with the crab bisque (my dad had the clam chowder) and we both loved our soups. Not too filling but great taste. I had the whitefish entree and it was delicious. It had a crunchy outside and soft and flaky inside with the perfect flavor to not overwhelm such a delicate fish. It also came with garlic mashed potatoes and spinach. My dad really enjoyed the short ribs and licked his plate clean. Dessert was great because we got to pick anything off the menu instead of being forced one dessert. I had the chocolate molten cake and it was good. Not quite as ooey, gooey as some that I've had (that is a very technical term btw!) but it was tasty. My dad's carrot cake bread pudding was the winner though. Definitely a great experience. I like using Restaurant Week to try out more expensive places that I wouldn't normally be able to afford, and I will definitely come back here and pay full price. It is worth it.
(4)Lisa L.
im sad to report that i was not impressed with catch 35. it did not meet my high expectations of fine dining. the service was good but everything else fell a little short. i ordered a soup (i can't even remember what kind... i think shrimp bisque but it was not memorable) and the seabass. i thought the seabass would be the safe and delicious choice. unfortunately, there were a few bones in it... i don't think I've ever had seabass with bones at a restaurant. second, it was slightly over cooked and did not have the melt in your mouth sensation. that made me sad. however, i asked for sauteed spinach in place of the rice pilaf and that was yummy! on the otherhand, the service was pretty good. one of my colleagues received burnt risotto and they brought out another one right away. and we lingered until past 11 without anyone shooing us out the door. it's unfortunate, but i just had higher expectations for this type of establishment. for the price, i will not be returning for another meal.
(2)Meagan L.
I was expecting Catch 35 to be good based on friends' experiences and I was not disappointed! Our server was very prompt and we weren't kept waiting long for anything. The new(ish) feature on their menu is their fixed price menu, $29.95 per person. Considering that you get a soup or salad, an entree, and dessert, it's a pretty good deal. I ordered the Honduran Tilapia, which had a fantastic crab crust on top, so delicious! I also tried my boyfriend's Atlantic Salmon with lemon dill sauce, which was equally delicious. Dessert surprised me; I was under the impression that it would just be your average dessert, but I was completely mistaken. The pecan pie is so yummy. If I had an entire pie in front of me, it would be difficult not to eat the entire pie. I also tried the pumpkin cheesecake; as a festive dessert, it was completely appropriate and definitely puts you in the fall state of mind. There is nothing bad I can say about Catch 35, everyone was so attentive, nice, and prompt, and the food was excellent. More restaurants should follow their model!
(5)Lm P.
The Wild Alaskan Coho Salmon, grilled with a tomato, olive and avocado relish, was quite simply one of the best meals I ever had! See dinnerdrinksandamovie.co…
(5)Larysa G.
I was there with my family on New Year dinner and it was a very good experience.. The service is great and fast . We ordered 2 kind of fish and shrimps with noodles for my daughter. Her shrimps were too spicy for me. The fish was good ..just good but not excellent. Environment and idea of design is great also.
(4)Laura B.
Catch 35 offers an excellent selection of seafood, flown in daily. They have more fish options than anything (as opposed to shrimp, scallops, crab, etc.). I got one lobster tail, which was good. A tad overcooked, but still yummy. My husband ordered the seabass, which was excellent, the best-prepared fish I have had in recent memory. Decent selection of wine - we had the house pinot grigio which was fine. For dessert we had the chocolate cake whic was very good but not knock-your-socks off. Service was excellent - attentive but not annoying. Our server knew we were seeing a show at the Goodman and he timed everything just right. I liked the atmosphere of the restaurant - classy but not uptight. Nice and open, and the lighting was just right. Overall, we were very pleased. I would definitely return.
(4)Jennifer L.
Had dinner here before a show last week. Everything was delicious! Well except the crabcake. It was a little too fishy, but I'm willing to let that slide based on all the other food I had. I ordered the white fish and boyfriend had the filet. Ranch dressing on salad was great. White fish, mashed potatoes, and spinach were amazing. Boyfriend liked his steak minus the veal glaze. He said the glaze was horrible. Luckily the steak wasn't covered in it. I don't eat red meat so i can't speak for myself. Desserts were unbelievable. Had the flourless chocolate cake and the pumpkin cheesecake. Both were outstanding! Place is really cute inside as well. Would eat here again in a heartbeat.
(4)Steven W.
From the crab cakes to the salmon, Catch 35 represented one of the best parts of my recent weekend in Chicago. Obviously, you're paying a premium for the service, cuisine, and libations, but I think the experience was well worth it.
(4)Fredrick B.
It had been a few years since I had been to Catch 35 for dinner, but I won't let that much time go by before I return again. They absolutely have the freshest seafood in Chicago, and though a bit expensive (almost $300 for 2) the dining experience was overall outstanding. The Crab Bisque was rich and flavorful, perfectly seasoned and a fresh tasting start; use of fresh ingredients was quite evident in the taste of the soup. Maryland Crab Cakes were baked, not pan fried, creating a much lighter version of a traditionally delectable, but sometimes oily appetizer. The South African Lobster Tails and King Crab Legs were perfectly prepared, not overcooked and tough like in so many allegedly "fine dining" seafood restaurants. Thumbs Up!
(5)Amanda W.
They have a gluten-free menu, which earns them major bonus points in my book. Oddly, most of the salads on the regular menu didn't make it. I had the grilled salmon (came with potatoes and squash) with dill sauce and a side order of spinach. Overall, a nice meal in a nice restaurant ... nothing too terribly special, though, and too pricey for when the company's not paying.
(4)Douglas C.
This is a very solid fish joint. Located in downtown Chicago, this very large restaurant came recommended for fresh fish in an upscale atmosphere. Since my group and I were heading to a rock concert at the Chicago theater that night, which happened to be a very hot summer day, we were all dressed very, very causally (shorts and short sleeve shirts, some collared, others not) and were probably under-dressed in comparison to the other older diners. We were welcomed warmly however. It should be mentioned that we did eat very early as well, so the majority of patrons were older. The restaurant is well appointed with a nice bar and friendly service. We explained that we were in a rush and that we would need quick service, which they more than willingly accommodated. The menu is rather expansive and includes steak, sushi, Asian inspired dishes and more basic fish dishes. I opted for a cup of the gumbo and Lake Superior Whitefish with potatoes and asparagus. The gumbo was very nice and passed muster. It was smokey with rich flavor. Additionally, the whitefish was simply prepared in butter sauce and was light fluffy and not fishy in the least. It was a simple but pleasant tasting piece of fish. The flavor did not knock my socks off but still I would order this simple dish again. The sides of potatoes and asparagus were also fresh and well seasoned. I managed to have a couple of forkfulls of the shrimp pad Thai and it was well textured and spicy. It was very good. Catch 35 was good and I imagine during the week, when surrounding businesses are open, it is a bit more hip than at 5 o'clock on a Saturday night in the dead of summer. However, the atmosphere is classy, service was friendly and efficient, and the food was good.
(4)Aprille C.
Salad with pears, spiced pecans & Bleu cheese crumbles was delish! Shraraki(or whatever it was called) Shrimp was yummy but a but WAY too spicy for me. My mouth and lips burned through the whole meal. The BBQ unagi roll was superb. His salmon was delish. Fancy place but everyone was very attentive and there was no wait even though it seemed packed.
(4)Katie M.
Don't bother! The service was abominable and food sub-par. A very disappointing experience and I will not return or recommend. There are so many great spots to choose from in the area....skip this one.
(1)Bindi D.
I religiously check Yelp before committing to go to some places. Catch had great reviews, but it missed my pallet. I was not that impressed. There was not much to it. Pretty standard cuisine. The staff and the drinks were great though! Maybe we will meet again...
(3)Terrence C.
I love seafood, and typically prefer it from either a market, or deep fried in the middle of the night. Catch 35 has REALLY fresh seafood in an upscale setting. Everything about the place is pretty classy, and food does not fall short. Near the kitchen all the seafood is laid out on ice, and looks super fresh. I was kind of upset they discontinued the lobster bisque, it was my favorite. There were huge chunks of lobster in it. You really cant go wrong with any of the surf n turfs. The sea bass is out of this world. Literally melts in your mouth! Highly recommended upscale place.
(4)Ali W.
Just ok. Came here for lunch and we were seated right away with our reservation. I was tempted to get the three course tasting, but thought it may be too much food for a lunch...as i had to return to work after (can't exactly pass out at your desk). So I went with the Tiger Shrimp and Mushroom Ravioli. The shrimp was over cooked and dried out and the sauce was overwhelming. The pasta was drenched in it. I think if the lighted up on the sauce the pasta would have been very good, but the sauce/soup was just too rich for me. Everyone at the table had really great looking plates though. I think if i were to come back I'd get the whitefish or the tilapia... I also had the crab bisque and that was pretty good. there were just shreds of crab in it..no chunks. The inside decor is quiet interesting and the seating is kind of awkward and tight.
(3)Judith K.
I have been going to Catch 35 for over twelve years for special occasions for the food, ambiance and good service. Service and ambiance have remained at a high level, the food has not. Yesterday evening the mussels appetizer I shared with my husband was disappointing. Mussels were fresh and plentiful but the garlic and wine sauce they came in was tasteless. I had the chiliean sea bass, my husband the Florida red grouper and both were very bland with no distinctive or interesting flavor. This is not how it used to be. At these prices, the restaurant needs a good chef. I may return for an after work drink for the excellent live jazz even though it can get very loud but we will not plan to eat here again.
(2)Adam B.
Had dinner before going to the Chicago Theatre. Great waiter. Soups were real good. Sushi rolls were ok, but I'd recommend getting those from dedicated sushi restaurants. Fish was really good. Everything was hot and fresh. If you're in the neighborhood, give 'em a try. I wouldn't go out of my way though.
(3)Dana F.
One of my colleagues (she's like a mom to me!) took me to dinner when I was visiting in Chicago. When I found out we were going to Catch 35, I could not be more excited. I looked at the menu online, and saw about 6 things I wanted, no exaggeration. To get to the main dining area, we had to walk past the case of fresh seafood, neatly arranged on trays by type, and all of the desserts. Let me tell you, I could have eaten every lobster tail on the tray in that case. There were at least 30 of them, but that's a minor detail. The interesting thing about the restaurant is that everyone is dressed very nicely, but it's not a pretentious place at all. We were having a good conversation, lots of laughing and cracking jokes, and no one was judging us. The waiter brought us plate after plate of warm, sourdough bread. It's difficult not to fill up on the bread. For a starter, I had the seared scallops. The only time I've had scallops that melted in my mouth like this was when I was in Spain (and those literally came from the beach). They were cooked to perfection. The plate also came with a round, flat, rice dumpling that was filled with spinach and chives - it was also delicious. Because I had lobster tails on my mind from the moment I walked past that case, I opted for the grilled lobster tail and king crab leg. The meal came with asparagus and mashed potatoes. The lobster and the crab were both so sweet. No joke, the crab meat that came from this leg was at least quarter of an inch in diameter at the widest joint. I was absolutely stuffed at this point, but had to leave room for dessert. We shared a molten chocolate cake and a slice of the deep dish apple pie. The chocolate cake was good, but it was a little too rich. The cake was filled with heavy sweet cream and caramel, in addition to the gooey chocolate center. The apple pie was good though - lots of apple and a nice flaky crust. The serving size was less like a slice and more like a wedge - these are definitely desserts that can be shared. I liked that we hung out after finishing our meal and no one was looking to turn our table over or rush us out the door. In summary: Catch 35 offers some of the most delicious seafood that I've had in the US.
(5)John G.
Was completely surprised by this place, mostly because I work around the corner from it and never even knew it was there. First, great food, better service, and superb seafood selections/variety. From the moment we walked in, we knew we'd hit the jackpot for our dining. The place breathes class but it's not stuffy in any way. Our waiter was very personable and knowledgeable. He also wasn't shy about his opinions on the food/wine we inquired about. We ordered some cocktails with our apps and, although he got mine wrong, he was effusive with apologies & corrected the issue (and topped it off). My variety six-pack of oysters app was impressive. We selected one of the featured wines off the menu and were delightfully surprised by this Pinot Noir/Malbec hybrid and it paired perfectly with my swordfish steak We were seated immediately thanks to our reservations and it was probably one of the better seats in the house. I would like to mention that if you get a seat in the main travel area (you'll know what I mean when you see it), this would have been a 4-star rating. But based solely on last night's experience, this restaurant earned every bit of the 5 stars.
(5)Michelle C.
Giving this place four stars because my entree notwithstanding, everything else here was super good. The seared tuna app that was on special was the size of an entree and it was perfect. I was craving crabcakes for dinner and when they were described to me as "very meaty" I was all in. My server lied. The crabcakes were not jumbo lump or "very meaty" as I expected, but rather they had that shreddy crab consistency that you can get at any not-special chain restaurant. And, they were lukewarm at best. Since I didn't want the fried rice that came with the dish, I asked for veggies instead. A pile of shredded, salad-bar-like carrots and some green beans showed up on the plate. Not very special. I held out hope for dessert and tried the gelato, which is specially made for the restaurant. I had half vanilla, half banana walnut with caramel swirl. If I could have gotten away with it, I would have licked the dish. It was that good. This is the only reason this place gets four stars instead of three. Also, a table of women near me ordered the chocolate mousse dessert, which came in a caramel "basket" and looked to-die-for.
(4)Mo A.
If you eat at catch 35 then you must try the halibut. The waiter recommended it and he was right on. The mushrooms and Shallots were amazing and the fish perfectly cooked. It is a must try for seafood lovers.
(4)Amy L.
Overview: I dragged my boyfriend here because I had a craving for oysters - he thought the restaurant looked cheesy from its website, but was pleasantly surprised when we got there. The food was good and the portions were large, but it wasn't spectacular. Food: The food we ordered was good but unmemorable (so much so that I don't even remember what we ordered other than oysters!) ... it wasn't great, but wasn't bad. The oysters were very good, though - I'd go again, just for the oysters! Atmosphere: The restaurant is trying hard to be sleek but the clientele just does not match up with the vibe the restaurant is trying to imbue with its decor. There were a lot of fashion fails the night that I went. I know that people in Chicago don't typically dress up when they go out, but seriously - white-washed jeans and scrunchies? Service: Like the food, unmemorable. Not bad, not great.
(3)Tuyen T.
I went to Catch35 for a birthday dinner. Although we had reservations it took over half an hour before we were able to get our table. We had 10 people, and the table before us just dragged their stay. Anyway, the staff ended up putting us in a private room, which was nice. I got the Atlantic salmon and the garlic gnocchi. It was so good, I highly recommend it! Our table also plowed through so many plates of the bread and butter because we were starving from waiting so long. All the seafood dishes were good and so were the steaks. If the wait wasn't so long, this might have gotten 5 stars.
(4)Lizzie S.
We were able to snag a last minute reservation on Open Table while en route to the restaurant Saturday night! Delicious warm bread served right away, nice start! For a drink, I had the thyme and cucumber cocktail - very refreshing after a hot day with a lot of walking! We took advantage of the free appetizer with a Facebook Check-in - coconut shrimp: tender and not too heavily breaded - nice pair with the sweet n sour sauce. BF ordered Tenderloin sliders - meat was done to order, tender, flavorful and juicy! Chips were a fun side - didn't expect a side with an appetizer! I ordered the Honduran Tilapia. Crab salad crust was a unique and tasty addition! The fish was light and flaky, large portion for the price! All in all I would recommend this place! Service was excellent, knowledgeable, friendly staff. We got in and out quickly, too - just what we needed for that evening!
(5)Daniel L.
Was in Chi-town on business and this was one of the dinners. The location was good and it was a local scene. The seared scallops and massive szechwan chive pot sticker was delish! My entree was Halibut which was good. Stick to the "out of the ordinary" sections for seasonal selections.
(4)Christine S.
I've been to both locations of this restaurant and the downtown site is by far the winner. The service was great at both, but the plating and preparation of the food was much better downtown. I also enjoyed the option to sit near the live music that the Catch35 on Wacker offers. I recommend trying the Blackened Salmon as an entrée. I've had both the calamari and the coconut shrimp apps, and both were delish! As far as the desserts go, I love the molten chocolate cake, but my boyfriend preferred the sticky toffee pudding cake..
(4)Nikki Y.
For my 21st birthday, my boyfriend took a friend and I to Catch35. Woo! Amazing boyfriend! While I can easily get carried away gushing and praising him, let's focus on the real review. Catch35. We got there a bit early so there was not too much of a problem getting seated (though we had reservations). The decor was that of a standard ritzy seafood place. Nothing really stood out other than the piano when you walked right through the revolving door. Upon arriving, we were quickly taken to our seats near the back. My first observation was the date printed on the menu. That's right, daily menus. Something I'm not generally used to--awesome. Our bread and water were served quickly and our waiter was super nice. He didn't mind stopping by every once in awhile to see that we weren't ready. We ordered a bottle of Riesling (sooo good) as well as half a dozen oysters as a starter. There were three choices that day so we just got two of each. The two that I had were great, clean, served with your standard condiments. For the entree, my friend had their specialty, the sea bass (which I heard was amazing), my boyfriend had the steak (which again, I heard was amazing), and I had the halibut. My halibut was cooked perfectly and served with my ultimate comfort food, mashed potatoes. I'm pretty sure those were the best mashed potatoes I've ever had. Seriously. Then again..I really love potatoes. All in all, we had a great time there classing it up and celebrating my 21st. If I had the money, I'd probably go again at some point. But that was the one downside..I was a lucky girl that night to be able to go, but that's probably not the price point I would've gone for. Then again, we did have a bottle of wine...
(4)Andrea C.
this year this was our valentines day destination and it was quite yummy! we went with the valentines day menu, which was a steal (3 courses for $30) and actually wound up eating the same thing...something that doesn't happen very often at all! we had: -lobster bisque -whitefish w/lemon sauce, potatoes and asparagus -peppermint cheesecake & profiteroles and everything was excellent! the service was spot on, too. there was a bit of a wait to be seated, but im assuming that was due to the valentines day crowd. overall, it was a solid dining experience. and there was a lovely jazz band playing near the entrance (not sure if this was for valentines day or a regular thing). an interesting crowd at the restaurant made for fun people watching and the decor was really cool! the marble facade inside and the deco-ish lamps reminded me of batman...and the light fixtures reminded me of lady gaga's sputnik grammy outfit. what can i say, ive got a creative imagination :) catch35 was great! they really reeled us in (bad pun intended)!
(4)Robert And Danielle G.
Fresh, delicious seafood. Super friendly staff. Extensive Gluten free menu and a wonderful chef willing to modify recipes. Two amazing gluten free desserts - Flourless chocolate cake and creme brûlée!!
(5)LaToya J.
This place was amazing!!!! I went for NYE and the decor was really delightful. Live music and the food was simply delicious. This is a must-visit location! You will not be disappointed. Very sexy spot.
(5)Jul B.
I went in with zero expectations & was pleasantly surprised. Catch 35 is a great solid seafood choice in the downtown Chicago area. I started with a cocktail which consisted of Patron & Lime Juice.. it was very strong (just how I like it). My friend adored her drink as well. [two thumbs up for the bartender] I ordered the crab cake appetizer & it was delicious!! Cooked to perfection. I ordered a shrimp entree and it was amazing. My friend also raved about her dish - which was the special. If you want fresh seafood - check out Catch 35.
(4)Katie T.
We had previously been to the Catch 35 in Naperville and had a fabulous dinner so decided to try the location in Chicago. The restaurant itself is very nice, what you would expect for an upscale seafood restaurant. The food is just excellent! I swore up and down that I didn't like crab cake. Husband ordered it for an appetizer and talked me into trying a piece....and now I like crab cakes =) I also like that they steam the vegetables and leave them a bit "al dente". I hate it when restaurant cook veggies until they're limp. My carrots were firm and lightly glazed with butter, salt, and pepper. Perfect! The only reason this review isn't 5 stars is the waitress. She was perfectly polite and pleasant, but not very attentive. When she initially came over, we said we needed a minute to look over the wine list. That minute turned into much longer to the point that we were looking around for her. This was generally true for the rest of the meal as well. We were in a corner, but our part of the restaurant wasn't that crowded so I expected her to be around a little bit more. Nothing huge, but that's just a pet peeve of mine.
(4)YaoYao W.
SO GOOD. I ordered the tilapia. MELTS IN YOUR MOUTH. My mom ordered the trout I believe? She didn't like it as much though I thought it was pretty good too. Gumbo, SO GOOD. Clam Chowder, GOOD but kinda watered down and not too creamy? Which might be a good thing considering how fatty we've all become. We got there at 6 and were seated right away. We knew that the restaurant must have been poppin since at 6 most of the tables were filled already. By the time we left there was already a line. Despite how busy they were, they got all the food to us in a timely manner, which weary travelers like us really appreciated. People around us were pretty dressed up? I think it's a date/special occasion kind of a place, and my mom and I were wearing sandals and sneakers and all sweaty from walking around the city and felt pretty under dressed. But that's ok! Wasn't tooooo awkward.
(5)Lynn P.
I went here for my anniversary, because I wanted to try a different seafood restaurant besides Joe's Stone Crab and McCormick's. The décor and food presentation reminded me of a cruise ship dining room. Service was good, but this place was mediocre to be in such a great location downtown.
(3)Jessica Y.
Drab outdated interior. Food is good with LARGE portions. Went for restaurant week-highlights were the seafood gumbo, filet medallions, ruby red trout, and toffee cake w/ ice cream. Great value for restaurant week!
(3)Shannon D.
I don't eat fish, so I can't comment on any of the seafood options other than the two people in my party who ate salmon seemed happy with their meals. I came here for a business lunch, and had the twin petite filets with sauteed spinach and mashed potatoes. It was a very small portion given other lunches I've had at downtown restaurants. I was left hungry after the meal, which is never a good sign. But the quality of the food was excellent. I will definitely be willing to try Catch 35 again for dinner, but I'd skip the lunch if you're not a fan of fish. The non-fish lunch options are limited to a couple of beef dishes and Asian style chicken.
(3)Martin M.
Both the food and service are consistently excellent. They always carry a wide selection of fish and preparation ranges from traditional to rather unique. A solid wind list and knowledgable servers make this a regular stop when I'm in Chicago.
(5)Robert B.
The food was very good. Its great when your order comes out hot right from the kitchen. Our waitress was very helpful and we received just the right amount of service. The wine list was extensive, from reasonable to a splurge. The Seared Tuna was some of the best I have ever had. It was a little pricey, but the serving size was huge. I think you could have shared it! The atmosphere was very cool. I am not sure if its a great place for a large group, most of the tables are small.
(4)carmen b.
Hello, FOOD SNOB here. I wished my wife still worked for Leo Burnett Advertising. This is the building Catch 35 is located. On Wacker Dr. One of the best things about going to a good Seafood Restaurant Downtown is the smell of Fresh Fish. You know what I mean. One of the best expeiriences of the senses. Just like an Italian Home on Christmas Eve. The Mussel appetizer came in a White wine and lemongrass broth. After sharing the Mussels with the old I mean little women, I finished the broth like a soup. Dunking my fresh bread with every bite. YUM. My Blackened Grouper was DELISH. Top Quality. I tasted my wifes Crab Legs and finished her Filet. They were both excelent. The Steak was very tender. This is one of your better Seafood restaurants downtown and a good place to impress a loved one.
(5)Risa P.
Well I thought this place was delicious. We got 6pm reservations for a 7:30 show and told our waiter that when we sat down. He was very aware of this fact through out the meal and while he did not rush us, he kept us aware of the time. The restaurant is quite large and we ended up with a cute little romantic table that was secluded and nice. (It would have been a great place for an engagement. I kept asking my husband to pretend to propose again, but he wouldn't) We started out with the crispy chile salmon roll as an appetizer. We wanted to try their sushi, just to try, since the fish looked so good and fresh. It was six pieces, nice for a roll and quite yummy! The tempura crunch was very subtle which was nice and the fish was delicious. It wasn't the most exciting roll but it was quite yummy. I got the Chilean Sea Bass in a Hawaiian scallion/ginger sauce. OH. BOY. The fish was delicious and just perfect in this sauce. It was served with jasmine rice and green beans. It was so good. The fish was cooked perfectly and the sauce and veggies were perfect together. It was light without being over powering. My husband got the horse radish crusted salmon with gnocchi. He loved it and proceeded to eat the entire thing. I was not as impressed with his dish, the flavor was just not to my liking (it had mushrooms and a brandy cream sauce, which are kind of two things I don't like) but the actually salmon was quite tasty and the horseradish crust was yummy as well. His fish was cooked very well too. I would go back for a pre-fix meal as their desserts looked awesome. I always want a bit of chocolate after every meal but we were just too stuffed to have any at that time. I would like to try the creme brulee and basically anything with chocolate. A really nice meal, a great way to round out an evening going to the theater. I would like to try this place again!
(5)Mick J.
Have gone to Catch 35 a couple of times, most recently for lunch. Fish tacos, with blackened fish, were very good, substantial lunch portion. Hd the bisque to start, tasty, not the best but good enough. Kinda of a strange room as you go into the back of the restaurant, long and narrow, booth would be a good choice versus table in the middle.
(4)Dennis L.
I visited the Chicago Catch 35 location for a business lunch, and I really enjoyed the experience. I went with Block Island Swordfish prepared blackened with a roasted red pepper-chipotle sauce. The fish was flavorful and perfectly cooked. It was accompanied by fried rice and cooked carrots. Both sides were also delicious. For dessert, I was able to try the deep dish Pecan Pie. Honestly, this was the best piece of pecan pie I have ever had. It was quite sweet, but not overly so. The fact that the piece of pie was deep dish put it over the edge for me. The scoop of vanilla ice cream on top was the perfect finishing touch. Our service was friendly and efficient, and it was an overall good experience.
(4)Gabe M.
I went here for lunch. I was seated in the back dining area. Super fancy. Aside from the girl with her older seemingly successful 'mentor' sitting next to my table, it was mostly lucky professionals who get to wine and dine in fancy places like this on a weekday lunch. Pretty sweet. I had the oysters and the crab cakes. Food was tasty and service was fast. They do a good job here. Great fancy vibe.
(4)John G.
great service and even better food. i"ll be back again soon. I typically try different places when I travel but always like to go back to someplace I've been and know I will enjoy
(4)Jessica L.
Loved this place. It had a nice decor but not overly fancy. The prices are reallly reasonable. We went there with a group of four and spent a little over 100 which included dessert too. The bread they give you is warm and really chewy, just the way I like it. I got the Seafood Salad which was actually not that great. The dressing and bleu cheese gave it flavor though but w/o it, it was suppper plain. Thats the only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars. But like I said, w/the dressing and bleu cheese, it was great. I also had a cup of seafood gumbo which was awesome!! Everyone else in my group enjoyed their food though We also got 2 desserts to share for 4 people which was more than enough since they are huge pieces and we were full. We got their signature Key Lime Pie - DELISH. The Strawberry Cheesecake was really good too.
(4)Eric B.
Dined here with my parents for my mom's birthday. The service was outstanding from the moment we walked in. Our server Johnny made my mom feel so special that she was still talking about nice he was hours after the meal. As for the food, everything was outstanding from the lobster bisque soup to start, to the amazing seafood entreees, to the carrot cake bread pudding dessert to cap the meal. Definitely will be coming back again!
(5)Samantha H.
I had heard some good things about this so I was quite surprised when it wasn't that good. It's in the theater district and they do a really good job of asking what time your show starts and getting you in and out. I definitely agree with some of the other reviews on the decor. It's very outdated and not very warm at all. I thought the service was actually phenomenal. The food, not that great. The mashed potatoes were the best thing on the plate at a seafood restaurant, can't be a good sign. I got the grouper, which was very bland. The preparations sound appealing, but not so much. However, the helpings were very large.
(2)Mike C.
Was pleasantly surprised by our experience here. The prix fixe menu was a nice value. I enjoyed the filet medallions with bleu cheese. Ann was our server - pleasant, warm and professional. Would go back for the service alone.
(5)David L.
I went here for dinner. Was sat in the very back. I had to zig zag up stairs and between tables - not good flow. It was noisy in the back. A waiter dropped a plate of food coming out of the kitchen. My food took a long time to arrive. My seafood was NOT good - horrible, in fact. I always think that having seafood that far in from the coast will be okay, but 9 out of 10 times, I'm wrong. The location is good. The food, service, and flow of the place was not. The bathroom was disgustingly dirty as well. With all the fine places to dine in Chicago to choose from, skip Catch 35.
(1)Deb D.
Good food and a gluten-free menu. Tuna sashimi appetizer and surf and turf were very good. Sea bass had by colleague highly recommended. Good service. Would definitely go back!
(4)Carry B.
food was great! I recommend the fish tacos! Service was good. The Decor could be updated, but over all i recommend it.
(4)Anita L.
If this place is Catch 35, then I wonder how good Catch 1 - 34 must be because this place is stellar. The Sriracha Buffalo Shrimp appetizer was the perfect start to a delicious meal. The Maryland Style Crab Cake was tender and tasty as well. I then had the George's Bank Sea Scallops (the risotto was the perfect complement to the scallops). The best part was still to come....I had the sticky toffee pudding cake with butter caramel sauce and bourbon vanilla ice cream and I almost melted into my seat from the pleasure. This was one of the top 3 desserts I've ever had in my life. No joke. The service was good, the wine was tasty, the dinner was pricey but well worth it. I didn't really understand the many yelp reviews about it having "80's decor," but if i have to find a DeLorean and travel back in time to the 80's every time I want to enjoy such a fine meal, I will!
(5)Jason S.
Great place to hold a business lunch if you have to stay in the loop. My service was great and my waitress was very knowledgeable, but what I'm really hung up on here is how dated the restaurant feels. I honestly had a sense of deja vu when I walked in and was guided to me seat. Quickly I remembered what the feeling was; places my great aunt would take me in Key West! Everything looked tired and dated, like it was out of the late eighties / early nineties. Even the menus had a poorly dated feel. I will say that the seafood itself was passable bordering on good. But my problem with that even is the fact that for just a $10 cab ride I can be at a number of superior seafood restaurants. If you're in a pinch and want seafood, then this is your place but see if you can get someone to loan you a Crockett or Tubbs suit. You'll feel better about yourself.
(3)Jodi G.
Great food! This is a great date-spot. It is classy and serves spot on seafood cooked to perfection. You will not regret it! ;-)
(5)Deyu Z.
We went to the restaurant because it is close to the theater we went for the show. After the meal, I had mixed feelings. We started the dinner with a sashimi plate, which is basically thin sliced sesame crusted tuna coming with pickled ginger, soy sauce and wasabi. It was okay. I don't think it is the best tuna I have had. We had the Chilean sea bass and halibut ,recommend by our waiter, for the entree. The Chilean sea bass was perfectly cooked. It is put of the world tender and juicy. Also the fish was marinated well. It is flavorful. However, the rest of the vegetables and rice seems to be a separate additions. They do not compliment the dish nor does enhance the presentation. The halibut on the other hand was just the opposite. The dish was presented well and integrated much better than the Chilean sea bass. However, the fish was over cooked and very dry. If I go back, I will order the sea bass. That is the dish to go in my mind.
(3)David W.
Had lunch here today. This place is really good. Large menu with many choices. Efficient wait staff who accommodated us for a relatively quick meal (wish we could have spent more time). Cool ambiance. I started with the hearts of palm salad. Great flavors. I had the grilled salmon. Prepared to perfection. Though this was a business lunch I wouldn't hesitate to take my wife there for a date if we're ever in town together. This place is now on my list and I will return.
(4)Valerie S.
I'm a fan of Catch35 because it's very consistent . On this trip, I tried a new dish the Florida Grouper and it was excellent. The sea bass is also one of my favorites here. For the Midwest, this is a great choice for fresh seafood, creatively prepared. While the prices are a bit high, they provide free valet parking and will let you park through your show if you're attending the nearby theater. If you take advantage of this, your meal is a bargain!
(4)Catherine M.
Can you say, Yo ho, Yo ho ... this place is for me! I was staying at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Chicago and inquired on a great place to eat. The concierge recommended this place for diner. I walked next door and was greeted immediately and sat in a nice location for someone who was dining alone. The décor was elegant with beautiful white linen and candles. My server promptly came to my table and communicated the specials. I mention that I was considering the prix menu which was three courses for $29.95. For downtown Chicago, that was a great deal. My server made a recommendation off that menu of the Lake Superior whitefish. I took her advice. I started with the New England Clam chowder. It was hot and yummy. There were small red potato chunks and a nice amount of clams. I enjoyed the consistency as it was not thick. So, thumbs up here. Shortly after finishing my soup, my main couse arrived. It was piping hot. It was clear that it was scooped up right from the kitchen when it was first available. OMG the whitefish was wonderful. It can with fresh sautéed spinach and garlic. This was very delicious. It also came with whipped potatoes that were forgettable. Not my favorite. The portion for my entrée was large and more than one person could eat! I took my dessert to go. I ordered the carrot cake bread pudding. It was wonderful but really not sure it if was really cake or bread pudding. Just the same, I was not disappointed. Bottom-line, wonderful atmosphere, great server, delicious meal all at a great price!
(4)Clayton M.
So Catch 35 is a good solid restaurant. Nothing remarkable, but pretty good. The review I want to write is for Catch and Carry, their lunch and breakfast takeout (There is no YELP listing for Catch and Carry) Service is about the slowest thing on the planet, even though they have a huge staff of about 9 people for a tiny takeout place. Service is rude and flippant. Today's delightful example was when I asked about the "chili" (menu says nothing about ingredients) I said "what kind of chili is it?" and the woman said "HUH?" I repeated myself and she then said "what do you mean what kind of chili is it?" I then said "is it chicken chili? beef chili? Vegetarian chili? turkey chili? She said, with a scoff "it's ALWAYS beef chili" So pleasant. This is just a small example of the CRAP service that you can expect there.
(1)Scott A.
Overrated. I'm harsh on places that have high prices because if you're going to charge that much, it better live up to the price. This place did not. My crab cake sandwich was pretty good with real crab and a brioche bun which was very soft. Unfortunately, the fish and chips was pretty fishy, shrimp pad thai was average and the black cod (which is hyped up) was just OK. Fortunately we went for lunch so it wasn't as expensive, but I should have known when it wasn't that busy and our server was so polite she was almost robotic. It is very close to the river walk, but if you are smart, you'll see it and keep walking...
(3)Miya G.
We went to Catch 35 tom celebrate my cousin's 40th birthday last Friday. Everything. - food and service - was excellent. I've never had better king crab legs in my life. Also, the salad, cocktails, other apps, wine, and veggies were perfect! Our server, Derrick, provided exemplary service and was super attentive - as was everyone else in service in the restaurant. I don't have one bad thing to say about this place.
(5)Teri P.
Service was great!! Sheila was so attentive and didn't rush us through the meal. The wine list was perfect, we had a wine from our favorite winery in Napa Valley. Food was delicious and we were able to both have our favorite desserts, key lime pie and pecan pie. We will definitely go again!!
(4)Luke M.
Best meal I had while in Chicago. The ambience is not wonderful, buy service was good and food was excellent. If you are in the mood for seafood, I highly recommend this place.
(5)chris s.
The food is very unpredictable and the service was not good. The waiter was all over us to place the drink & food order then he disappeared. We had to get up to find him to ask for the check. Food: Do not order the maki rolls, if the waiter had returned we would have sent them back. Dishes were not cheap so I expected good food. Other dishes were boring, one order arrived completely wrong. The busboy picked up full plates of food and never thought about asking why, not that its his job but someone should have asked if we needed anything. like, maybe the waiter? But at this point we needed to leave for the theater so they got our money and a few ex-customers.
(1)Brett C.
Stopped in for dinner during Restaurant Week. In a word, Fabulous! We arrived 30 minutes ahead of our reservation and took a seat at the bar. Place was busy, but not packed. About 15 minutes later we were called to our table. The restaurant is much larger than it appears. We let our server, Michelle, know we were there for the RW Prix Fix menu. She went over the two different dinner menu options. One was a 3 course for $29.95 per person and the other was a 4 course for $44.00 per person. She gave us recommendations from each of the menus then allowed us some time to decide on our options. We both opted for the $44 menu and chose different items from the menu. Everything we had was outstanding from the crab cakes and seared tuna sashimi apps to our seared tuna and scallop entree's. Good portions, perfectly prepared, and absolutely wonderful. I had the Key Lime pie for dessert. Fantastic! Crust could be a bit thicker but it was perfect. My friend had the pecan pie. In our opinion there were too many pecans. Great flavor but too heavily laden with the pecans. Great wine selections, outstanding service, and one of the best meals we have had in awhile. Hats off to the staff at Catch 35. We will be back.
(5)Bobuzzi C.
Great food and desserts. Atomosphere is fun around the bar & they usually have a jazz band in the evenings. Haddock was really good as well as the carrot cake.
(4)Brett F.
I hadn't been back to Catch in years until this past Saturday and everything was just as I remembered it... The restaurant was jam-packed with people eating early pre-show (there are several theatres centrally located to Catch35) in the skinny dining space. Think of Catch35 as being designed like a waterfall....cascading up up and away in a succession of narrow dining spaces. The wait staff, host and clientele are always squeezing by your table (con), but once you're seated, you do get a neat-o vantage point of the whole restaurant (pro). We shard the Nantucket Bay Scallops and Seared Ahi Tuna as appetizers.... both solid winners and were polished off very quickly. Chopsticks flying everywhere in a fervor competing for the last bite... I think at one point I suggested that we just lick the plates.... nothing but class for this bunch ; ) Of our foursome, 3 of us had the Chilean Sea Bass (house specialty) which comes in a Hawaiian scallion ginger sauce. It's tender, flaky and perfect every time. Takes all the guesswork (and sometimes the fun) out of figuring out what to order. I learned that lesson firsthand when the one standout in the bunch had his meal brought to the table. We all stared at it with envy.... Maine Lobster with Wild Mushroom Ravioli.... it had peas and huge pieces of lobster all wrapped up in a light cream sauce. Deeelish people... I kept trying (to no avail) to trade pieces of my sea bass for bites of the ravioli. Next time I'll have to bring something better to barter with or just order a big plate for me, myself and I. My only big complaint was that service was super slooooow (like 30 min b/w courses). Our server kept apologizing for the wait, but when you're hungry you don't care.... just fix it! Overall, a solid 3 stars.... I'll play Catch35-and-Release anytime!
(3)Candice M.
Pretty good food. Loved the calamari. Service was fantastic.
(4)Sean K.
Why Catch 35? I was visiting Chicago and staying at the Hyatt Regency on Wacker Drive. We had tickets to see The Miracle on State Street at The Chicago Theatre. I Googled "restaurants near The Chicago Theatre." A list came up and the first one was Catch 35. My girlfriend and I love fish. I read the Yelp reviews and decided to give it a try. We were seated at a nice table away from the entrance. Our waiter was Carlos. He was great. We ordered drinks and while Carlos was getting them we looked over the menu. I suggested to my girlfriend that he get the Chilean Seabass. She looked at the price and chose the Salmon. Carlos returned with our drinks. He then described two of the most popular entrees. He explained that the restaurant has an Asian influence on the way the dishes were prepared. He described the Way the Chilean Seabass was prepared. I looked at my girlfriend, she nodded and then ordered the Chilean Seabass. I ordered the Spinach Ravioli. Both dishes were great. We finished the meal off with a piece of Pumpkin Cheesecake. It was great. We will definitely go back to the Catch 35 and we'll ask for Carlos!
(5)Jeff W.
I have a new favorite lunch destination in the loop. Especially if someone else is buying!!! True confession: one of my coworkers lost a World Series bet(Yankees won!!!) and i chose C35. Started with very tasty seafood gumbo(wish there was more seafood). Followed up with a maki roll salmon pake-this turned out to be the low light of the meal. AVOID! However the blackened swordfish was the best piece of fish I have had all year. It came with practically perfect asparagus and wonderful brown rice that may have been fried. Just in case I did not have enough for lunch, I needed some double sinful chocolate cake. Warmed with molten gooey chocolate oozing out after cutting into it and was surrounded by raspberry sauce. a perfect cup of coffee concluded my lunch of the year. I thank my coworker, Steve and look forward to winning my next lunch bet!
(5)Chris B.
This is a really good restaurant. We were looking for a great seafood place and we found one here. The atmosphere is pleasant, and there was a live band. The service was excellent, and the seafood was outstanding. The price was high, but that's what you pay for great food in Chicago. When we had dessert, we immediately chose their signature, the Key Lime pie. It didn't disappoint: a mild, delicious pie that was spot on. A good tip is to look at the 3 course value menu, it has a good selection and includes starter, entrée, and a dessert, all for a value price. Great seafood, service, and atmosphere. Check it out!
(5)Adam W.
Three stars all day long....to wit: Decor is dated, very Gordon Gecco. I'm not a big decor guy, but the "masters of the universe" decor either says "We're bad, we're nationwide" or "We're old and in need of a refresh." In this case, the latter. As a single diner I am always afraid I will get the cold shoulder. That did not happen--I was greeted promptly and quickly shown to a decent table. Along the way, I was taken past a refrigerated case containing various fish on the menu, while the host described the offerings. I appreciate the desire to show off your fresh fish, but the whole thing seemed a bit contrived (if innocently so). Dinner was a light affair. I started with a dozen oysters. These were impecably fresh but the server neglected to identfy the varieties in the sampler. Salad was greens with blue cheese and pear with a nice tart vinagrette. The meal ended with a so called sashimi tuna plate. The tuna was seared and would more accurately have been described as "tataki" rather than sashimi. Still, it was very fresh and flavorful. Given the odd combination of items I was drinking Ketel One on the rocks. The first drink was very slow to arrive, as was the second. Decor and silly "walk by the cooler while entering" schtick takes the place from 5 to 4 stars. Server's failure to identify oyster varieties, slow drink service and tataki masquerading as sahsimi cost another star. On balance, a solid three star experience.
(3)Gunner H.
Came here to try out one of the restaurant week seafood options. Everything I had- crab cake, chowder, grouper, was great. My wife's scallops were pretty good, but nothing super amazing. Nice ambiance, good wine list. I'd probably go back, but there are lots of other fish in the sea, you know? Sorry... couldn't resist.
(4)Jen D.
I typically love this place, but today for lunch my waiter took the bill and never returned with my change! I guess it wasn't bad to give a great tip, but still, when you don't say "the rest is for you," please just don't assume.
(3)Marvin G.
Honestly the reason why I tried this restaurant is because one time i was reading People magazine at CVS lol while waiting for line.. and saw Jessica Alba ate here.. So well yea i gave it a shot.. and what I found out??? it's a treasure I love everything about this place.. the ambiance, Staff and of course the food! I had the Salmon Burger and it was Fantastic and the finish the meal a great chocolate cake dessert!
(5)Lauren R.
Ok, I know that sometimes restaurants that are connected to hotels are overpriced and can have shady food. Let me just say that Catch 35 is not one of these places! Let's start with the ambiance. It has a great bar right in front that has a live jazz band and killer daily deals on food and drink. Love it! The restaurant area is very modern and chic looking. You can see the fresh fish they are using from their deli style case right in front. We watched them pull out our piece of tuna, that was absolutely delicious. We started out with the 6 pack of oysters, not my favorite thing on the menu, but that is just a personal opinion. What I liked is that they allowed us to try all 3 different types of oysters, so at least there was a variety. The cuisine is primarily seafood with a Thai flair. I had the sea bass that came with a delicious sweet sauce, red peppers, rice and asparagus. I demolished the entire plate and was on the verge of licking what was left off my plate. My husband had the tuna, which was pan seared with a sesame crust, served with a fried rice and asparagus as well. The fried rice was nothing special, but the tuna was fantastic. We also got a relatively cheap bottle of wine and it was great. I highly recommend this place, for an evening out for a birthday dinner or even for happy hour at the bar. Check out their daily specials!
(4)Mandy A.
Last week Tuesday I was surprised to find that I had my choice of reservation times on a Friday night during both Lent and Restaurant Week. Sweet! I picked 8:30pm since this was the extent of our date for the night and figured we would have time to enjoy our dinner and then get home with time to just relax. We walked into a very crowded and agitated restaurant at about 8:25pm and were told they were a little behind on their reservations, maybe 15-20 minutes? Okay, no problem. We made our way to the bar and enjoyed a cocktail and some live music from the trio playing. About 25 minutes later, we headed back towards the host stand figuring they wouldn't want to search us out and noticed that the host was still very frazzled. He told us at 9:15pm that they might be able to sit us in the lounge (where we just had a drink) in 15-20 more minutes. This is about the time I almost lost it. Thankfully, I got another drink and about 10 minutes later they sat us in the dining room. I realize they are very busy (and for good reason) but waiting an hour when you have a reservation... what's the point of the reservation? Anywho, onto the food. We did the restaurant week menu... I had caesar salad, husband had the clam chowder. Both were great, I tried not to eat the giant crouton on the salad but my self control was weak by this point. The sourdough bread was also really good. So much for low carbs... Entrees... I got scallops and husband got the mahi-mahi. My scallops were cooked perfectly as was the risotto cake they were sitting on. Absolutely fabulous with the sauce that was drizzled on top. I would go back just for those. I can't for the life of me cook scallops and these were flawless. Husband said the mahi-mahi was really good too, perfectly cooked and very flavorful. For dessert, he got the apple pie and I got the carrot cake bread pudding... wow. If I had more room I would have shoved all of that in my mouth but I was really full and it was nearly 11pm and the thought of going to sleep like that grossed me out. And the apple pie was enormous, especially for Restaurant Week standards. Overall, very very good. Would have given it 5 stars if not for the messy reservation issues...
(4)Brian K.
We found Catch 35 on Yelp before our trip to Chicago. I would recommend if you are looking for an upscale meal but not a trendy spot. I would take my parents to celebrate a birthday, in other words. The menu is great, and I saw lots of meals I would order. I ended up with a hearts of palm salad and the Halibut. My wife did the prix fixe - salad, entree, and desert for $29.99. The food was excellent, service was good, my only complaint would be the decor and lighting. They sold advertising space on the interior walls to some museums, and the lights were not dimmed. They had a live jazz band playing - nice touch.
(4)#NAME?
I've eaten here numerous times, mostly when I worked at Accenture...if they were paying I was eating- I came here last week for dinner, it had been a while since I came and I forgot what a large menu they have-I love that I can get a selection of fish prepared a certain way, or select a pasta or steak-I'm a picky eater so I get bothered when there are only 10 items on the menu to select- I got the 3 course dinner for $29.95, had the field green salad, was ok but the dressing wasn't all that good but I was starving and inhaled it like it was awesome-I selected the pan seared scallops, they were good but maybe cooked a tad too long- The rice patty that the scallops sat upon was so good! As well the green beans that came with the dish were cooked perfectly- At the end I got to select any dessert from the menu, so I opted for one I've had before, the Toffee Cheesecake- Everytime I go I want the Lobster Ravioli but then change my mind, next time I go I'm getting it- Service has always been great when dining here-
(4)Laurie W.
Great selection, complete wine and beer offerings. Nice bar area
(5)Norman R.
Went there Wed night for restaurant week. All 3 courses were amazing: lobster bisque, breaded whitefish, flour less chocolate cake. I highly recommend Catch 35, we've had great experiences here.
(5)David A.
Food and Service were very good. This was especially noticed as they were extremely busy. Ahi tuna was excellent and a very large portion.
(4)Mrs. F.
Gets 4 stars because the fried calamari is the best in the city. But...the menu is pretentious, the portions are over-the-top (over-seasoned, over-expensive, and over-sized); the ambiance is lacking, and the staff are blah. Our server didn't remember to even ask us whether we wanted bread! Plus, you will feel like a mountain goat climbing up and up numerous sets of stairs to the back of the restauant, where the tables are neither private nor coveted. $100 for lunch for 2 people, without liquor or dessert, so go for the calamari and maybe a soup and call it a meal!
(4)Brittany L.
My fiance proposed to me while dining at Catch 35. Great food, great service, wonderful night!
(5)Jacob Y.
Upscale atmosphere... But the seafood is stupendous. The menu changes with the season...and sometimes the chef... But they always have outstanding selections of fish to choose from cooked the way you like it. Also loved the corn and crab chowder...
(5)Michelle W.
I went here during some restaurant week in the winter (Chicago seems to have 500) and ordered pre -fixe. It was also after seeing a miserable play with Brian Dennehy (seriously, I got scolded by an old lady for looking at my blackberry, even though she later fell asleep during the play). I digress. Here's what I remember of Catch 35. Everything was average. The bar had TVs with sports games on (not what I expected for a seafood/steakhouse) and the food? I honestly don't remember what I ordered. Not the best after-theater dining in the city.
(3)Amy G.
Special dinner out with my parents before going to a show. We were escorted to our table for a 630 res to the furthest table thru an empty restaurant right next to the bathrooms and wait station. Totally empty restaurant. The food was good and typical, overpriced for the dishes but not the location. My folks, who don't dine out as much as I do, we're satisfied with their food ( if not the bill) but I won't return or recommend this place. I have to wonder if I was decked out in my work ensemble instead of cold weather gear if we wouldn't have gotten a better table. When we left it was obvious that the 'normal' people were sent to the back and I really didn't appreciate it. And our server only did the bare minimum and we had to ask her to attend to us, in an empty restaurant!!!. That being said, the bus boys were excellent.
(2)art s.
For me, this is a business lunch place. And it's good for that. But honestly, I'm almost never paying at those lunches and for meals when it's my wallet on the line, I'm not sure I'd be coming here. Understand, though, that I work @ 35 W Wacker, so to misapply a simile, for me this restaurant is like kissing your sister. I also am not a seafood enthusiast. I have had some great salmon preparations here, but my 'usual' has become the stir fried beef tenderloin. It comes with the wide, flat noodles and an assortment of peppers, cherry tomatoes, etc., all in a tasty sauce that isn't over the top. Service is usually solid. And the decor is nice. Kind of generic upscale, but again, I may be jaded by familiarity. It can definitely be dark, though, especially in the back. The way their lighting is laid out it hits tables unevenly, so if that matters to you pay attention as you're getting seated.
(3)David M.
this place does a major amount of 'business lunch' business and is conveniently located....both good things. Food is good but not outstanding...which, for the price, it should be...... for a business lunch...this is a good place....much of the seating in the rear is quiet and fairly spacious....good for a business discussion....
(3)Rasheema L.
This place was not worth it or the hype. The waiter sucked and the food wasn't that good plus it was a small portion. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
(1)Trudy T.
Great ambiance. The coconut beer battered shrimp are awesome!! The waiter was very attentive as well. Only gripe, no baked potatoes?? :-(
(4)Ericka S.
The decor and ambiance of this place is pretty interesting. I was suprised, it's a lot bigger inside than I had imagined! The waiter was friendly, but appeared busy. He seemed rather rushed at the table when he was talking to us. The muscles in wine sauce were outstanding. Everything else was "good", but I've had much better elsewhere *cough cough Joes Seafood and Stone Crab *Cough** The crab legs came "pre-cracked" however they didn't crack them nearly enough, as I struggled with several pieces. The food was plentiful and left us very full - too full for desert. Overall, the ambiance is great, food is average, and service was "alright". There are much better places to get seafood in the city.
(3)Sunny W.
I called to see if there was a wait and was told by hostess there was none. When arriving she said there would be a 15 min wait. When checking back after 20 min she said there would be another 15 min Wait We could see there were plenty of available tables and after the snobby attitude by the hostess , we lost our appetite. There are plenty of good restaurants so I wouldn't waste my time on this one. Actually I was surprised given the yelp reviews. It goes to show how one employee can leave a bad taste in your mouth! :(
(1)Steeno F.
I went here last week to satisfy a seafood craving and was pretty disappointed with the experience. The space was elegant (ish). Live piano player and singer in the bar area while sports are playing on the tvs around the bar. Ummm, okay. Note to diners: Don't sit at a bar top table with banquette. You will feel like a small child reaching up to the table as the banquette is way too low. Service was WONDERFUL and the drinks were tasty, but the food....very blah. We had a scallops dish and stuffed salmon...both fairly tasteless and very reminiscent of something served on a cruise ship. Overall, it felt like another high-priced tourist trap in the downtown area. Not cozy, not romantic.
(2)Jenny P.
Had a wonderful meal here recently. First time at Catch 35. Was as good if not better than the recommendations we received. Can't beat the $29.95 three course menu. Food was excellent and plentiful, had the crab crusted tilapia. Wonderful, would order again. Our server asked if we had theater tickets, we did. They take off the amount of valet fee if you do. Was priced right to begin with plus an extra $10 off. Excellent at any price, value a benefit.
(5)Jeff M.
Such a great downtown spot! Went with my girlfriend and we had a wonderful seafood dinner here. I finally satisfied my crab-craving which had been going on for about a year with some MONSTER Alaskan king crab legs. There were only 2 legs, but more than enough meat for one serving. We also had some very tasty and tender mussels, and sides of squash and tempura asparagus. The squash was kind of bland, but the asparagus was great. GF had the tilapia, but I forgot what it tasted like since I was too busy diving headfirst into my crab and Bailey's ice cream dessert. The only thing keeping me from going again next week is the price, but it was well worth it! I'm just not made of money...
(5)Alana T.
Let's start off with the bad! Why do restuarants think serving sourdough bread is okay?!?!? That stuff is not yummy! Please! Do away with sourdough bread! Yucky! Now, Catch 35 is such a great spot. My cousin and I went there for our birthday, my 24th, her 26th., on Sept. 9th. We both got the same thing, the tilapia stuffed with crab, and corn and crab chowder soup. Both were AMAZING. I think the biggest thing with this food is how rich it was. Love the white table cloths and the moscato d'oro was very yummy. The key lime pie really was amazing. Not too tart, not too sweet, just the right amount of twang! The service was really good too. Ultimately, i will definitely go back after trying several other places. Oh yeah! Any place with at $29 prix fixe menu is OKAY with me!
(4)Karen A.
Martinis and mussels. Yes the menu was great and the sauces and appetizers and salads were lovely too. But the mussels. And the japlapeno cream dipping sauce. OY VEY. THAT's what I will go back for. And that's enough to fill the tummy and swoon the head.
(4)Frank L.
A group of us enjoyed Catch Thirty Five for New Years Eve dinner. It was very nice that the restaurant was offering their daily Pre-Fixe meal on a night when most restaurants charge an arm and a leg to take advantage of the revelers. But even with that being said, the food is still the most important thing, and it was all a bit underwhelming. My corn and clam chowder was quite good, as was my girlfriend's lobster bisque. But my salmon dish and her whitefish dish were both really boring and tasteless. When I say tasteless, I don't mean to say it didn't have any flavor, but just nothing special. Don't you want to experience food with a lot of unique tastes and flavors when you go out? Sadly, Catch Thrity Five did not deliver on such hopes. For desert i had a peppermint-white chocolate cheese cake and my better half had a slice of key-lime pie. My cheesecake tasted like a mint-oreo, and the neon-ish green color of the cheesecake did not aid in its appeal. THe key lime pie was surprisingly boring. It should have tasted light and airy, but was a little too limey and dense. I hate to be such a party pooper, but our experience just wasn't very good. We probably won't go back, and I wouldn't even say it's worth a one time visit. Who gets caught up at Catch Thirty Five: People who want a reasonably priced meal featuring fish. (yeah, I've got very little positives to say) Who avoids the net cast by Catch Thirty Five: people who expect a little more pizazz and taste explosions from their dining experience. Come on - I had salmon - how do you make salmon bland?!!
(2)Anna W.
I came here on a recommendation by a friend, while I was on a business trip to Chi town. First of all, I am truly shocked by some of the low reviews. This is by far, probably the best dining experience I have had in a really long time. The food, the ambiance, and the service were truly superb. I am a diner that likes the mom and pop, the chains, the hot dog carts, as well as the occasional sophisticated restaurants. I have to say that my experience here was truly exceptional for any type of restaurant. I had a crab and corn chowder, the spicy tuna roll, and the Australian lobster tail with fillet mignon. Just writing about this makes my mouth water :) It started with the typical bread, I mean it's just bread. But ha! It was fresh, warm, crusty but not too crusty. Really just perfect for the crab and corn chowder which was excellent for the cold night. I ate it all! I then had the spicy tuna roll, which was super fresh and very good. Finally, I ordered the Australian lobster steamed so as not to be too rubbery, but you can also have it grilled. The dish came with 2 fillet mignon medallions medium with a veal demi-glace. The lobster came with drawn butter which was delicious. The entree came with mashed potatoes and asparagus. Of course I also had 2 cosmos to seal the deal. Sadly I did not have any room for desert, but I also did not have any left overs. I know, I know. A sin, it really was way too much food, but I loved every single bit. Now for the service, the maitre'd was extremely nice and suggested a seating area. The waiter was very attentive, knew his menu and could actually intelligently recommend what was good, the difference between a Maine and Australian lobster, and just wasn't saying the generic "everything we serve is good". UGH. They also worked as a team and gave attention to small things such as picking up small items from the table as sugar packets, cleaned the dishes promptly, and refilled my drinks super fast. I would definitely come here again when I am in town again. Yes it's expensive, but for a special occasion, or a company paid dinner it is truly well worth it.
(5)Bridget L.
I recently came here for a business lunch. The crab bisque is great but other than that, the food was just okay and the portion was not that impressive for the money. I don't think I'd make a special trip.
(3)Bill A.
Food choices were good and the waiter did an excellent job withrecommendations. The Swordfish was just barely overlooked, but still very good. The Brussels Sprouts were outstanding. The oyster appetizer was also delicious. The service was very good and the wine and cocktails very enjoyable. I would go there again.
(4)Mike Y.
Restaurant Week 2010 Upon stepping into this place, it is a interesting mix of sound and decoration. They have live music in the bar area, but the overall decor is a weird mix of outdated "fun" 80's-esque coloring schemes and advertisements for the Chicago History Museum. While we were on time for our dinner reservation, apparently we had hit prime dining hour and had to wait along with several other groups. Our wait wasn't too long though, maybe 5~10 minutes. Our waitress was cool. She was kind of old school and kept referring to us as her "darlings" which we both thought was funny, yet cool. I had the clam chowder as my starter. I decided to try it because I had gotten clam chowder the night before at Capital Grille. This chowder was much better! I have still had better, but still very tasty. We also got an order of their unagi roll. It was decent, but nothing special. The entree was their sea scallops with Asian mustard soy and garlic chive aioli. The scallops were soft and delicious. When cutting them, it felt like cutting through a stick of soft butter. Very nice. The sauce added a touch of an American/Asian blend of flavor and it worked really well with the scallops. The risotto "cake" that was served underneath the scallops was good in flavor, but I felt was a bit dry and perhaps overcooked a little. After a long wait in between the main course and dessert (slightly too long of a wait I think), we finally got our dessert menus. I tried their key lime pie as it was their "signature" dessert. Slightly too rich for me, but the pie and the creme on top were tasty. Overall a very good meal, service was decent, atmosphere was a bit outdated.
(4)Geoff H.
This review is for 'Catch 'n' Carry' only, the breakfast and lunch spot, in the same building but basically behind the restaurant. It's phenomenal. They offer a HUGE array of salads, noodle dishes, soups, hot, cold and deli-style sandwiches, burgers, fries, all of which so far have been yummy. Their potato salad is particularly good. Prices are normal for the loop (most sandwiches are $5-8). The only possible downside is that they get pretty crowded at lunch, so waiting a bit should be expected, and they have very limited seating. Best option is to call your order in, pick it up and take it back to the office.
(5)C T.
Food wasn't memorable and took forever. Server was not attentive and first brought out food for couple seated next to us, who also 100% arrived/ordered after we were seated. We inquired politely, to which we were given a BS excuse. We even tipped her at the end, because wth, turns out we're pushovers. +++++++UPDATE+++++++ Manager contacted me a few days after I wrote this with full intentions of making things right. Kudos to that.
(2)Dan M.
After two previous, disappointing visits over the last several months, I gave this restaurant one last chance for dinner before going to the Goodman Theatre. Never again. The "sashimi" appetizer may have been sashimi-quality tuna as the menu suggested, but the fish was grilled and peppered, and the true taste was lost. It was tasty enough, but sashimi it wasn't, and sashimi was what I expected. My wife and I both had soft-shell crab prepared in the "traditional" way, according to our waitress. "Traditional" apparently means swimming in sauce that eliminated any crunchiness that I expect in soft-shell crab in-season. The sauce was tasty, but it didn't belong on soft-shell crab. I would have noted these shortcomings had anyone bothered to approach our table and asked if everything was okay. Catch 35 deducts $10 from the bill to cover the total price of valet parking while patrons attend the theater. A very good deal. But our waitress forgot to deduct the $10 from our bill. When I noted the missing $10, she said, "I let my manager ring up the check." Service was as anonymous and perfunctory as an Interstate highway oasis.
(1)richard c.
Went here off a recommendation from a friend when visiting Chicago. This was right by our hotel and ended up being a great find. The dinner was great and the atmosphere was very cool. They had a jazz band playing - so pretty relaxing for dinner. I'd definitely go back.
(4)Natasha R.
I've had Catch 35 bookmarked forever.. so when my brother-in-law asked me for suggestions to take his client out, this was one of them. It was a Friday night and it was the only place that took his party that night. I've never heard anyone talk about a meal like he and my sister did.. . So when Chicago Restaurant Week was featuring this restaurant, I made reservations right away. It was seriously the best money I've spent on a meal... EVER! For $44/person, I had the Yellowfin Tuna Sashimi, the Cajun Seafood Chowder, Main warm Lobster Tail butter poached, and the most heavenly dessert I have eaten in my life - Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake. The food was absolutely topnotch - there is not one thing I can think of that was disappointing. The lobster dish had a huge chunk of warm, fresh lobster in it. As with any crab and lobster, it always varies on how much meat is actually in there. I was incredibly happy and satisfied, and the best dessert ever, was just a cherry on top of my meal. Our waitress was so kind and friendly (wish I remembered her name). She narrowed our choices and gave her thoughts on the food in the most helpful way possible. The restaurant is gorgeous and gives off a very lively and beautiful atmosphere. There is live music near the bar when you first enter and there is two levels of the dining area. Yes, it's pricey, but this is an excellent choice for a special occasion and is a must try during restaurant week! I cannot wait to come back here!!
(5)Bobby S.
Love this place, I've never had any issues here and I come quite often with my family. Listed below are my personal favorites. Appetizers: Sriracha Buffalo Shrimp, Maine Lobster Sliders, and Szechwan Scallops Dinner: Chilean Sea Bass or Swordfish (Oscar Style) Dessert: Carrot Cake Bread Pudding Order the options above and you'll leave happy. Please note - I have no idea what "Oscar Style" is, but it is damn good.
(5)Anne H.
This is quickly becoming one of my favorites! Location wise it can't be beat, in the heart of Chicago and there's valet (bonus)! If you are looking for seafood, this restaurant needs to be on your list. They have a great assortment of fresh fish and a special catch of the day offering. For appetizers start with scallops (even people that didn't think they like scallops are obsessed), Sashimi and lobster mac and cheese. Trust me you can't go wrong, it's perfect for a group of 4 to start. Meal wise pick literally anything and you will be thrilled. Drinks are strong and portions are generous. Weekend evenings there's also a jazz band in the bar area and evening Happy Hours. What can I say, I'm a fan. Check it out!
(5)Jim M.
This is a pretty good place. We found the food and service to be quite good. It's not quite the quality of a very high-end seafood restaurant, but the prices are not as high either. We felt like we got a very good meal for the price, especially in a nice location like this. The one big disappointment with this place, in my opinion, was that the shrimp were served with the tails on. I never quite understand why any restaurant, let alone a high-end restaurant, would leave the tails on most shrimp entrees. It creates quite a bit of work and unnecessary mess for the customer. After all, they never leave the feathers on chicken, or the fur on beef. On our second trip here, we simply asked them to remove the tails from the shrimp. They seemed a little bit put out to do that, but they did actually do it. Overall, this is a very good restaurant for the price. Very good service, very good food and a really nice atmosphere.
(4)Jeannie A.
Checked out this place during restaurant week, with a party of 7. I arrived an hour before our reservation and sat at the bar. The atmosphere is pretty nice in the bar area. Nice wall sculpture and art, good seating, great service from the bartender. They put out some homemade spicy potato chips for anyone sitting at the bar - they were just made, so fresh and still hot. There is a main bar, then another round bar that surrounds a piano, and then some high top tables and booths. The bar area is pretty spacious. I had a Moscow Mule and it was made perfect. I would for sure come back for cocktails. We were seating once our party arrived - right on time. The dining room is just okay. Not as exciting as the bar area. The chairs were uncomfortable and kind of low to the ground. Our server was awesome and explained the menu and the restaurant week options. They had a $30/3-course menu and a $44/4-course menu - both were a good deal. I went with the yellow-tail seared tuna, the crab & lobster bisque, the swordfish, and the flourless chocolate cake. The tuna was very nicely done and a large portion for an appetizer. The bisque was lacking flavor and was more a tomato based broth. The swordfish was AMAZING. It was topped with crab and came with asparagus and mashed potatoes. The portion was large and the fish was so fresh. The chocolate cake was so rich and delicious. My friends ordered a variety of menu items and everyone loved their food. There were no complains on flavor or portion. Several opted for the toffee gooey cake for deserved and raved about that. My one complaint would be the ladies bathroom. It was kind of old and gross and needs a major renovation and/or a good cleaning. Overall, food was awesome as well as service and drinks.
(4)Andre W.
Came here for my bday as one of my closest friends had mentioned this was one of the best dining experiences he had ever encountered. One of my other friends raved about the place as well saying he used to bring all of his clients here. Very attractive interior as it has live music playing to set the mood for a good dining experience. Menu was very good, but I decided on shrimp cocktail for my appetizer vs the crab cake because I did not want to get too full for the meal I was going to order. I heard the crab cake is noting short of phenomenal...FYI! I decided to go with the steak & lobster surf & turf meal. Very good as the lobster was awesome and the steak was very good. Service was very good as they made sure we had everything we needed as well as keeping the glasses of water full. Pretty good restaurant for good seafood.
(4)Imran G.
My hope for this place was that it would actually have good food, or at the very least decent service considering how large the corporate crowd was. Neither turned out to be true for Catch 35. Unfortunately our entire table's experience was not as we would have expected for a high end restaurant. The food was entirely sub par, and I don't know if that's because after living in Boston for 2 years my seafood expectations have risen quite a bit. However, my crab cake was so mushy that my sandwich was falling apart, it really became difficult to eat it. At the same time, I tried a bit of my mother-in-law's anemic lobster roll which failed to impress and the plain jane french fries didn't make up for it either. The service was quite good until the end of our lunch at which point our waitress made a snarky remark, "Here's the bill, and remember it doesn't include gratuity." I could see how you might be worried as a waitress, but someone on our table just ordered a $100 bottle of wine. Sure that person is also foreign, but that sort of a tactless, assuming comment is not something you'd expect at a restaurant.
(1)Juli A.
Catch and Carry lunch special today - Chicken Cordon Bleu with red skin mashed potatoes and lemon bourbon sauce. The roasted crisp carrots were just a bonus. They didn't fry it. They hand rolled them, browned them and roasted them to perfection. Under $10.
(4)Brittany S.
Went here with my mother for Chicago Restaurant and was throughly impressed. The atmosphere was classic but rustic I liked the big open space and windows that allow you to see the city. All the staff were gracious friendly and professional. Everything I tasted was very good even the bread! I had lobster bisque kind of reminded me of gumbo but with a tomato base. My main course was the short ribs. They were very tender and juicy, the potatoes had an interesting little pop of flavor. My mom had the salmon which was very good too it made me like salmon which typically I don't. I had the flourless chocolate cake for dessert. It was absolutely sinful! Delicious! Moist and warm not too chocolatey. I was so full I ended up only eating half there. But I definitely recccommend and will be back!
(5)julie q.
We got a gift card from a friend and then went on restaurant week. We went Weds eve around 8 pm. Their online menu for restaurant week had scallops as one of the options. The menu at the restaurant had swordfish instead of scallops. We also got informed they RAN OUT OF TUNA. No tuna poke, no tuna sashimi - NO MORE TUNA. How in the hell does a seafood place run out of tuna on a weds eve when they made it a feature for restaurant week??? Oh well. Anyhow - we ordered the calamari separately and it was really tasty...not too much breading and wasn't over fried. It was good and there was tons of it. We ordered beet salad - the goat cheese mousse was too bland - It needed salt. The maytag blue cheese salad was out of this world. It was the perfect blend of cheese and dressing and greens. The husbo and I sort of fought over who would have the last bite. I ordered the swordfish oscar style. The fish was dry and the lobster overcooked. Grilled aspargus was tasty as well as the sauce. But that was it. Husbo got the mahi-mahi. It was perfect. Great flavors, fish was cooked perfectly, and we fought over who would have the last bite of that dish as well. We both settled on the chocolate cake - it was good - just chocolate lava cake. You can't go wrong there. The look of the place is a sight in itself. It was definitely designed in 1982 and that's ok. It's such a neat looking place and the jazz band playing was really good. I wish my dinner had been better and I wish they hadn't run out of tuna. We'll try it again - maybe it was just a restaurant week fluke...
(3)Joe P.
I have to write this fast, as I don't have much time on this Earth, due in fact to Catch 35's flour-less chocolate cake. Just having consumed it, I now have a sudden and fatal onset of diabetes, and wanted to leave this review as a dying dec.: it was incredible. Dense like uranium, chocolate-y like black cocoa, I was surprised that deep inside was even more gooey goodness.
(5)Greg N.
I went here for lunch and ordered the crab cake as an appetizer and got the sashimi yellow fin tuna. The crab cake was really good but I wasn't a huge fan of the sesame crusted sashimi. Service, ambiance, and location were all good but a little disappointed in my entree choice.
(4)Yan C.
Went here during the restaurant week. The food was delicious. My favorite was the Pan Seared Scallops, probably one of the best Scallops I've had. It was perfectly seared - the surface was nicely charred and the inside was super tender without tasting raw or rubbery like the case when they were under-cooked. .
(5)Chelsea C.
Live jazz Tuesday - Saturday! Staying at a hotel down the road and stopped in and had such an unexpected surprise! They had Malpeque oysters from PEI! the ambiance was so relaxed but the food was amazing! The lobster sliders, oysters, cauliflower risotto, and Alaskan halibut with pistachio quinoa were all amazing!
(5)Dianna S.
This was the last restaurant I visited on my business trip to Chicago last weekend, and lemme just say it was the perfect way to end my stay. I loved everything I ate at Catch 35. Only problem was getting full too fast. Our group shared several appetizers. I chose to sample the Szechwan Scallops and the Point Judith Calamari. The best was the scallops. These were cooked perfectly and had an excellent sauce on the plate. Someone said it was oyster sauce, but I don't know for sure. The calamari was flash fried and came with cocktail and tartar sauces. I'd never had calamari so no comparison for me, but anything fried and dipped in tartar sauce can't ever be that bad! For my entree, I went with a couple more appetizers. I really wanted to try the Oysters Rockefeller and the Maryland Crab Cake. Both of these were delicious. I am a beginner oyster eater (always Rockefeller-style, never raw), and they were so great. Topped with bacon, spinach, cheese and a mornay sauce, there was nothing about it to not like. Extremely savory. If you have never tried oysters because of fear - stop with that immediately and get the Oysters Rockefeller. You will not be sorry. The crab cake was a little bit of a looser cake than what you've seen before, but I didn't care one bit. It was chock-full of crab, and that's all that matters! Accompanied by a remoulade, it was comfort seafood at it's best. I could've eaten another one, but I was trying to pace myself as best I could. Saving room for dessert is very hard when you're having an amazing meal. My husband got the Alaskan Halibut T-Bone. He said it was very hearty and good. The least impressive as far as uniqueness goes, but still delicious and filling. Somehow though, we did manage to save room for dessert. I chose the Taffy Apple Tart, which was topped with a vanilla bean ice cream. Even though the flavors were rich, I felt this was a perfect end to the meal. There's just something about apples and ice cream! I was unable to finish it, however, because my meal had finally caught up to me. But I highly recommend it. My husband had the Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake, which is one of his favorite desserts. Any time he sees something like this on the menu, he forgoes his normal chocolate choice. He's had some good versions, and this one is no exception. Very moist with a flavorful butter caramel sauce. Comforting and warm, just like you'd want it! If I lived in Chicago, I'd definitely go back to this restaurant to try something off the entree section. Unfortunately, I don't know when I'll be in Chicago again. But for others who are local and are looking for good seafood, Catch 35 is a good one.
(4)Natalie A.
Went here with my husband for our 30th anniversary and we were very very pleased. I ordered the Ecuadoran Mahi Mahi served with a sweet corn risotto topped with lobster and a lemon buerre blanc and arugula tossed with balsamic vinegar. You definitely need to try this dish. It was perfectly balanced and delicious! I also had the salted beet salad. Also delicious! Service was impeccable.
(5)Donna V.
The food here is really great. I try to go every time I come to Chicago. The service is always superb and the fish is always fresh and prepared exactly how you ask. We had a large group and had an assortment of appetizers, entrees, and deserts and each one was better than the next. Very accommodating for special orders not on the menu. A little expensive but always worth it
(4)Lewis C.
FANTASTIC pre-show dinner! Our server Paxson was fantastic. She started out by asking if we were going to a show and confirmed it was a 7:30 pm start time. She asked if we had valeted, which we hadn't. But come to find out if you are going to a show and valet they will cover the Valet cost if you show your ticket. A nice touch for sure. We started off with some excellent wine suggestions. My companion ordered the scallop appetizer which she loved. I have heard others recommend it and you can't go wrong. For dinner I had Georges Bank Scallops over a layer of short rib hash. Wow, fantastic. The scallops were cooked to perfection and the hash was such a unique tasty pairing. The other entree ordered was the Lake Superior Whitefish which my companion raved about. For dessert we had the sticky toffee pudding. And oh my was that fantastic. Overall a great first time experience at Catch 35 and it won't be my last. The price definitely reflects the high quality of the seafood so expect to spend a little bit of green.
(4)Amy A.
Bartenders = 5 stars. However, we have been coming here for years and the new mirrors are literally blinding. We had to move our seats three times due to the sun reflecting off the mirrors. Poor design and they should consider taking the mirrors down.
(3)James S.
Tried to walk in - on business - staying next door at the Renaissance and wanted the check out place to bring a group of 40 for dinner in July - was at 6 pm - and all the group is staying next door also in July - they had no room available except at the bar - went somewhere else - won't be taking the 40 there for dinner in July!
(1)Maile N.
This was my first Chicago restaurant stop during a recent conference. I ran into some colleagues on my flight and at the airport and they were were staying at the Renaissance. This restaurant is literally next door to it and is super convenient for guests. We didn't have a reservation but we were able to sit in the bar area where you can have full meal service as well. We ordered plenty of appetizers, I enjoyed the heart of palm salad and the poke, and we ordered plenty of fish, mixed shellfish. It was all good and tasty. Service was attentive and brought us extra utensils, bread as requested cheerfully. Their Malbec was a good choice. With everything we ordered, our total each came out to about $60 which we thought was reasonable and a good value. We were happy overall with our dining experience, and I recommended it other colleagues who were also staying at the Renaissance.
(4)Chris B.
Had a business dinner here, can't say enough good things about this place. The food was awesome. All chef prepared and inspired dishes. We both got the prixe fixe which included an app , main course and desert for $35. Based on the quantity and quality of the dishes, this is an excellent deal. Service was right on par and very attentive. The ambience was great with live piano and guitar solo going on. Dessert was a real treat, I had the best pecan pie which was warm and fresh, like it was just made! My steak was cooked to perfection and absolutely delicious. We will be back!
(5)Serena B.
Yellowfin Poke. Good but not amazing. Siracha is the overdone flavor of the moment. Which is too bad because it overshadows both the freshness of the yellowtail and the other flavor components of the dish.
(3)Samantha G.
I've been here 3 or 4 times and every time the food has been outstanding! I keep going with the prix fixe menu - for the price it can't be beat! I've tried the chowders, bisques, and salads. All were winners. The parmesan crisp on the caesar salad is soooo good! Delicious drinks (moscow mules are my go-to here) and yummy bread w/butter. I've tried every dessert on the menu except the sorbet (yes, all of them) and my favorites are the pecan pie (tons of pecans and very little gooey filling -- not how you find it in the south - FYI!) and the sticky toffee pudding. Key lime pie has a slight fake taste and is not very tart. Ice cream is standard and always a safe choice. The chocolate lava cake is really good but way too much chocolate for my taste; if you love chocolate though, it's a winner! Great atmosphere and the live music in the bar area is great. We had a private room in the back during one visit and it was amazing! If you have a group, that's definitely the way to go. Make a reservation during "peak" times, but otherwise you should be able to get in without much of a wait. Parking is miserable; valet is worth it, or take a Lyft.
(5)Erik L.
Bar Service was excellent - thank you Bob! And the chilean seabass was fantastic - I left with a very wide smile on my face.
(5)Dusty K.
Set a reservation for 5 pm on a Monday. Valet was easy, service as great. Food was awesome, especially the Chilean seabass, the chunky lobster bisk, and the flourless chocolate steak. Our server, Raphael was the absolute best. Taking my somewhat stupid questions with grace and explaining the menu perfectly. He took the time to make my girlfriend feel extra special. Honestly one of the best service experiences I've ever had at a restaurant. One thing to to work on: The key lime pie. I've had better.
(5)Kris L.
I found catch overhyped and a tad expensive for the quality. I loved the ambience which was elegant and classy. The servers seemed a bit stuffy but nevertheless prompt and courteous. The food itself was alright. I do eat a lot of fish and seafood in general and found the bass underwhelming. Overall, the flavors just weren't memorable (but not offensive either). Will not be going out of my way to return but overall the experience was pleasant.
(3)Shan D.
Great, great seafood. Have come for both lunch and dinner and am never disappointed. The blackened swordfish is one of their most popular items, cooked and seasoned perfectly. I also enjoy the halibut with crab. I was a little hesitant to order it, but I'm glad my server sold it to me. Desserts are great too. The toffee cheesecake is a great way to end your meal. The toffee and cheesecake are well-balanced.
(4)Gary R.
Went here with my wife and children during a recent family trip to Chicago. Loved this place. At first, we were a tad nervous about taking our kids with us to dinner at an "adult" place...boy were we wrong. The servers were extremely mindful of the children from the second we arrived. The tuna appetizer is to die for...as were all the entrees we selected with assistance from our servers. The Pinot Noir they had in cellar was an excellent compliment. Our kids to this day say, "it's our favorite place in Chicago!". I agree. Thanks Catch 35!
(4)Tricia D.
Came here for a bday dinner earlier this month. Four reasons this visit didn't meet expectations: 1) It took forever for the pre-dinner bread to come out, with no mention of it by the waitress. I did ask for it to be sure it was on its way. 2) While the fish choices are aplenty, the halibut tasted like it was soaked in butter, cooked in a pan full of butter and then topped with some butter. The dish turned out to be really heavy (came on a bed of risotto also), which I've rarely come across (or desire) when ordering fish as an entree. 3) Waitress service was a little too leisurely. 4) The clunky chairs were awkward to maneuver and didn't make scooting in and away from the table easy. Nice menu options.
(2)Leslie K.
Really nice setting, great menu choices, especially the oyster selections! Enjoyed the venue greatly
(4)paul g.
I was really hoping for more here. The food was good but not exceptional. The oysters were just missing that little something. Maybe they weren't cold enough the cocktail sauce was not spicey enough. The king crab legs well leg was very good. The decor was well, almost cafeteria like. No ambience there was supposed to be a jazz trio playing but they must have been on break for the 1 1/2 hrs we were there
(3)Jen K.
I went after a matinee. It is within walking distance of the theater district. Glad I made this choice. The atmosphere is great. There is a piano bar and a couple different levels which makes the place very inviting. Our service was great and very helpful and knowledgable about all the foods. I tried the calamari and mussels for apps and they were both good. The bisque was incredible. The scallops were cooked perfectly and the shrimp and filet medallions were very good. I would recommend the brussel sprouts as a side. The chocolate cake and cheesecake were both very good but my favorite dessert was the apple tart. Overall this would be a great place to grab drinks or for a full meal. It's also in a great location
(5)Nancy B.
Had the Chilean sea bass. It was delicious. Also had the clam chowder which was very good with chunks of clams and potatoes.
(4)Chioke S.
Dinner with Global business partners. Seafood was excellent and the atmosphere was great for business conversation and dinner.
(5)Patrick J.
Three of us ordered family style and debated who ordered the best dish. We all agreed that each of us ordered the best. The Phad Thai shrimp was out of character for a typical American seafood restaurant, but the perfect example of the chefs sophistication exhibited across the menu. I'm voting this the best of our many dishes as we spent the most time talking about it. The Siracha shrimp with the Kale salad is a great place to start your culinary experience here at Catch Thirty Five.
(5)Mee K.
Best oysters! If you seat by the bar, you can enjoy the live jazz!
(5)Michael K.
This location never seems to be quite as good as the Naperville location. I have been twice in the last month and each time something seems off. The first visit I felt really rushed by the staff. They were setting down my entree before I was half way through my appetizer (and I am not a slow eater) The meal was just average and being pushed through the meal and out the door just did not leave a great feeling. The next time was better, the service was more relaxed and the food was better. I tried the Halibut dish on the recommendation of the waitress and enjoyed it. The key lime pie was excellent. Probably a 2 star for the first visit and a 3.5-4 star for the second.
(3)Hoy M.
I was excited to check this place out. I came here during lunch and ordered the Scallops.... The scallops were overcooked and drenched with sauce overpowering the texture flavoring of scallops itself. We also ordered oysters, one of the oysters I had were super fishy. Eh, would not come back.
(3)Vivi W.
I had been there once for a conference dinner. We had a big table and despite reservation we had to wait an hour. I had sand in my scallops. OK thought that was a one time mistake coz they had a busy night. Last sat went there again with my partner for his birthday. Disaster. He had to ask the busboys and waiter for olive oil for the bread 5 times. The angel hair pasta was horrible (home made-ish). Shrimp in the pasta was frozen-and this is a seafood restaurant. Halibut was ok; but the mushrooms around it were burned. Dessert was ok. Drinks were way too small and overpriced. Mussels were ok. Waiter was overworked and took forever to get to our table. I cannot believe how the qualify of this restaurant keeps going down. Don't waste your money here because the food is pretty pricey but not worth it.
(1)Carole E.
Th cedar plank salmon is off the menu. Now it's just another run of the mill overpriced seafood joint.
(2)Philly G.
went for restaurant week and had the $44 menu. Crab bisque was great. Shrimp cocktail was okay. Lobster was absolutely delicious. Steak wasn't cooked to the right temperature. Carrot cake bread pudding I think was the best dessert listed on the menu.
(4)Ron L.
Recently had a business dinner and wanted to return with wife. Had mussels in lemongrass was delicious. Next was halibut for entree. Again, was as server Pete recommended, delicious. Finally ordered the sticky toffee for desert. This made the entire dinner a home run !
(4)D W.
So I hadn't been to Catch 35 in years and decided to give it another shot & went for lunch I had the Salmon BLT sandwich. It is easily one of the best sandwiches I have had in LIFE Salmon was cooked to perfection Bacon makes everything better & I think there was a dill sauce Yummmmmmmmm
(4)Bill G.
Took a couple of clients here for dinner. The atmosphere is nice. Very open, spacious feel, with live jazz in bar. The wait staff was very attentive and helpful without bugging you to death. The drinks were good. The food was excellent. We all had fish and it was fresh and cooked very well. Soup and salad was fresh and good. Everything was delicious. I would come back.
(4)Jen F.
Crack. Seriously. This place is great from the moment you receive the heavenly, warm bread. I was spying on people's food around me and it all looked delicious. My sister and I shared the scallop and potsticker appetizer which was delicious! For dinner, I got the lobster tail and crab leg combo. I PITY THE FOOL who doesn't order this when they come here. It was cooked to perfection. It was also cut so that I didn't even need the shell-cracking tools. The molten chocolate lava cake for dessert was also crack. It was the perfect end to the perfect meal.
(5)Janet E.
Hmmm...not a lot of great things to say about the food here. But service was spot on!!! I started with the bisque. The bisque was okay and not overly creamy. My entree was way too salty. I couldn't finish it. I had the whitefish with spinach and smashed potatoes. Everything was salty except the potatoes. The dessert was good though. I had a caramel chocolate cake. It was yummie! Unfortunately our reservations were at 5pm but our table was not ready....it wasn't even crowded then! I think I'll skip this place the next restaurant week season.
(3)Lauren P.
no more 1/2 price oysters on mondays. bummer. still like the half priced wine.
(3)Sean H.
My stomach is still doing the happy dance. I went early on Sunday, opens at 4P and I was there. Service was quick and attentive (they were yet to get busy so I may be lucky). Great wine selection and super friendly server. Shrimp and Crab bisque.....YUM Bone in Rib Eye, Medium Rare....if I had two stomachs I would order it again right now. So good, I even cut a portion with my fork and gnawed the bone. I am visiting here anyway who will see me again lol. Great experience.
(5)Joshua G.
Went here by reviews and most are accurate. Very good food, but small selection. Ordered the beer battered shrimp and was very disappointed. My suggestion is to skip appetizers all together they are overpriced and small. Other than the crab bisque very tasty. Entrees are good size so you won't miss the appetizers. I got the Ahi Tuna Sashimi style and it was very good quality. I wasn't blown away here, consistent good food all around. I don't think I will return, but would recommend for any seafood lover.
(3)Spencer K.
I was seated almost immediatly after arriving. No reservation at all. I started off with a baby lettuce and maytag blue cheese salad. I love blue cheese. It was a good salad. The pears balanced out the cheese very nicely. I got the Chilean sea bass for my entree and it was magnificent. Most places give you a portion the size of a deck of cards, but not here. Here, they give surprisingly big portions. It was very moist and flakey. Even when it was over, I was wanting more. It is quite a bit pricey, but all the restaurants in the area pretty much are.
(5)Lee K.
Service was excellent, food was way above average, decor was pleasant with great art on the walls. Live music in the bar area in the front did not interfere with conversation at a table in the back. It's a very large restaurant but doesn't feel vast or cavernous.
(4)Jenifer W.
I stopped in for a business lunch based on a request from my colleague. ATMOSPHERE: It seemed an odd choice for business purposes, being that it is dimly lit. I loved the idea of a fresh fish counter which displays the daily fish options, which we passed by on our way to the table. I'm told you can choose your own filet if you like, though I did not opt for this. The restaurant is LONG and thin, and for some reason we were taken all the way to the back of the dining room and sat in a dark corner - bit creepy for a business lunch, but... FOOD: Decent. I am not a fish lover by trade, but instead am slowly learning to tolerate. I can say that most seafood restaurants turn me off just by the sheer "fishy" odor in the air, and Catch 35 lacked this particular flaw, which tells me dishes are fresh and well done. We had: 1) Crab Cake Sandwich - The crab cake was clearly house made, with just the right of crab to panko ratio. I noticed a somewhat stronger "fish" odor from my crabcake than I normally like, but it tasted fresh. The bun it sat on was very fresh and tasty, but there was WAY too much lettuce on the sandwich... after removing half of what was there, I still had a good 5 or 6 big pieces. I don't get the idea of drowning the star of the dish in greenery. There was also far too little remolaude sauce, which left the sandwich overall rather dry. Last, it was a bit small for the price, about 1/2 the size of a hamburger patty - dissapointing. 2) Blackened Tilapia Sandwich - Though I didn't actually try this dish, it looked nicely done. It was an "off menu" item requested by my colleague, pan seared and set on a french roll. It looked flaky and fresh, and there was nothing left when he was done, so I'm assuming it was well prepared. SERVICE: Lacking. Our server took some time getting to the table (3+ minutes), took the order, and didn't return until FORTY FIVE MINUTES later, when our dishes finally arrived. The wait time was much, much too long for a couple of sandwiches (what's it take to fry a crabcake and a fish filet?), and I felt unattended to by our server. The sodas went unfilled, while a busboy with a water pitcher was there every time we took a sip - funny. VALUE: Expensive considering portion size, wait time, and overall service. The fish itself was fresh, and decently done, but too small and too long to get to me for me to rate this any higher. The portions need to be larger, or the asking price smaller, but either way you aren't getting what you pay for here. Perhaps dinner is another experience entirely, but for my lunch time I won't be back.
(3)Guillermo M.
The Martha's Vineyard salad was delicious. For the first time I tried a combination of raspberry, tomato, lettuce, blue cheese and a sweet dressing, fantastic! The halibut with crab was outstanding (great buttery flavor) and finally the pecan pie was really good. The portion was too large but if you share it is fine. A bit pricey but it is worth it.
(4)Andrew S.
With a name like Catch-35, my girlfriend and I stuck with seafood and were not disappointed. The Salmon over Gnocchi dish was one of the best salmon dishes I've ever had, although it was definitely a bit creamy. The ahi Tuna plate with black sesame seeds was also fantastic. We also took our waitresses recommendation on the scallop appetizer and it was amazing...we highly recommend. Otherwise, the service was helpful while not intrusive and the atmosphere was great. We highly recommend.
(5)Nick C.
A big fun space, fine seafood given Chicago's proximity to the ocean. Hard to go wrong here.
(4)Mandi P.
Yum Yum Yum!!! We dined at Catch 35 this past weekend with a group of friends. This type of place is usually not my scene...kinda old school and too well lit!!! However, the food totally made up for this in my eyes!!! As you walk in you are greeted by a generous bar for a restaurant and a live musician playing. Kinda neat, but still not really my thing. We were seated right by the hostess stand which seemed odd, but I think it was probably in the restaurant's best interest because we were a loud and slightly obnoxious group. I didn't catch our servers name, but he was awesome. He had a lot to deal with from our table and he did so with a smile and much patience!!! If the restaurant is reading this...he was a younger guy, with light brown/dark blonde hair...he is awesome and deserves some recognition!!! Most of the group ordered red meat, but I ordered the crab cakes and buffalo shrimp to start...soooo good!!! I then ordered the Smoked Salmon Maki Roll and California Maki Roll...friggin' delicious!!! I wish I had ordered 2 of the Smoked Salmon Maki Rolls, though...so good!!! I wish this place was a little less old school, but despite that, I will most likely return for more dinners!!!
(4)Michael K.
Ralphael was amazing. My wife and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary here and his service made the night. We cant say thank you enough.
(5)Andrea R.
This is one of those places I always seem to forget about and I'm not sure why because the food is really good! Located right downtown it's the perfect spot for a business lunch or dinner. I'm usually a fish fanatic, but since pregnancy I've been a little "eh" when it comes to fish. It's kind of a problem since I don't eat much meat...I'm running out of options here! However, when at Catch 35 ordering fish is a must...and I'm sure glad I did. My dining companion and I shared the ranch shrimp appetizer, which was pretty awesome. We were both starving and I'm glad we ordered an appetizer because our waiter seemed to forget about us when it came to ordering our entrees. We were finally able to flag him down and at his suggestion I ordered their infamous Chilean Seabass, served with jasmine rice and green beans. It was so good that I quickly became a member of the clean plate club. Choosing between the key lime pie and molten chocolate cake for dessert can be a tough decision so we opted for both! Both were quite good, but if I had to choose just 1 next time I'd go with the molten chocolate cake. I may be "eh" about fish lately, but this baby sure likes chocolate cake!
(4)Kristy N.
The good was amazing!! The service was all around wonderful too. Our waitress had the best recommendations based on what our style was for wine. She knew her menu very well.
(5)Stef M.
Here fishy fishy. I have eaten at this location twice, both times I dined seafood and left impressed. Its a bit pricey but alas you get what you pay for. They have an excellent selection and quality seafood. Portions are the correct amount of food, so if you have a bigger appetite get an appetizer/soup/salad with your meal. Service is great! The bar is nicely architectural and has an airy open feel to it. This is a business casual - business dress environment although I do not think they have a formal dress code.
(4)Janelle C.
Excellent restaurant for seafood. It came highly recommended from a friend. The service is outstanding !
(5)Kristen H.
Worst restaurant & dining experience ever. Overpriced, glorified Red Lobster type of boring food with horrible decor and service. The three of us who dined here were so excited to come for restaurant week. It was Saturday night and our reservation was at 8:30, the only good note, we got seated immediately. 2 of 3 of us went off the restaurant week menu and the other went rogue and ordered from the extensive menu. To start 2 of us had the shrimp and crab bisque which I was so excited for because bisque is my favorite. Upon arrival the soup was luke warm and didn't have much taste. The other diner tried the cajun seafood chowder where thanks to the spice providing the only flavor really was just a thin watery soup. For entree, I had the Honduran Tilapia - crab crusted, poached leeks, celery root, tomato beurre blanc - the fish was not seasoned, but thank goodness it had the crab cake type of topping to accompany it as that is what provided the flavor. The sides were odd considering this place is marketed for having Asian flair - really mashed potatoes and grilled zucchini / squash?? Again, all bland, not salted and just blah. One other diner had the shrimp surf and turf that was served w/ the same sides (makes more sense on this traditional entree) and the initial reaction was every bite on the plate tasted the same because there was no seasoning, no salt or pepper and the food was flat. The hooligan who ordered from the main menu got the Yellow Fin Tuna - seared tuna steak, szechwan glaze, chive pot sticker, & beer battered onion ring. Sounds great on paper, right...well not so much in person. The dish came out and the seared tuna was way over cooked to well done along with everything on the plate being overdone, pot sticker & onion ring included. So round 2, the seared tuna comes out and when cut, looks nice & pink with searing on top, well it was cold in the center. Dessert - carrot cake bread pudding - where was the carrot - couldn't even tell it was supposed to be carrot cake? Toffee pudding cake - came out the size of my head and the only tasty thing on the dish was the Homer's ice-cream that was paired with it. Check - waited 20 minutes for the check to get it and have 2 tunas on it. Another 10 minutes to fix the check. Split the $152 check 3 ways - $44 one card, $56 another, remainder on the 3rd card. Remainder per the waiter $108??? Do the math buddy, it's more than the total bill. The waiter's response - "I hate restaurant week and can you tell this has been a horrible night?" With all the screw ups do you think he offered to take a meal off - maybe that tuna that was screwed up not once, but twice or offer her a free beer or dessert - nothing, not even an apology was given. Needless to say, this dining experience was horrible, overpriced and wasted 2.5 hours of my Saturday night. Do not take out of town guests here - there are so many better places in the city for Seafood.
(1)Sarah M.
This place was quite good - Had mussels for an appetizer and they were so fresh and prepared just right. I had pad Thai with shrimp for dinner - which was okay, but definitely not one of the better pad Thais I've had - I wish I would have ordered a different dish - it was just very salty, maybe heavy on the soy sauce? My husband had shrimp and scallops and that actually looked more appetizing. Had key lime pie which was excellent - just as good or better than in key west! Although my main course wasn't great, I would still come back here and try something else. Live music does a lot for the ambiance and service was great!
(4)Prince L.
This is the restaurant I compare ALL others to. I have yet to find a restaurant that tops this place in customer service and quality of food in both Phoenix and Chicago. In fact, this place makes Pappadeaux seem like a Red Lobster. The decor of this restaurant is contemporary, but very cozy. I found a very comfortable seat and had no problem finding what I wanted on the menu. The coconut shrimp and mango sauce were very tasty. Both the shrimp and sauce were very light and melted in your mouth. Everything else was beyond my expectations for an upscale, four star restaurant. That is something I do not say often because many restaurants do fall short. Our waiter was very attentive and made the evening beyond excellent. I do plan to bring my wife here so she can experience what I did at the time.
(5)KM Y.
Went here before a show at the Goodman because I couldn't get reservations anywhere else. The experience was really average. Less than average wine list. Good size menu and variety of options, but the food wasn't great. My fish was terrible (my husband's was good, though) and my sauteed vegetables were still pretty crunchy. The ambiance is odd, too. Nothing terrible about it, but I felt like I could have been eating at any chain restaurant in any city.
(2)Meredith K.
My fair review is for Restaurant Week. I think they phoned it in. I've been here before and loved it (hence the 3 stars instead of 2 or 4). The fish is super fresh. The service is usually spot on. But this time it felt a little like we were at a wedding reception and the food was prepared earlier in the day. The waiter was nice however he didn't seem all that interested in us. After we ordered the food suspiciously came out right away but we didn't have our drinks yet. How long does it take to pour a glass of wine? Then my dinner arrived before I was finished with my starter. Then a few mins later my date's dinner arrived. It was just poor timing throughout. Then the table next to us was seated. Then we waited. And waited. And waited to give our dessert order.
(3)Inspector G.
Signature Chilean Sea Bass was over-cooked, over-sweetened and over-sold, a far cry from the plump and tasty mussels swimming in a bold broth and paired with a zesty jalapeño dipping sauce. That said, there's not much subtlety here, which is surprising since a light touch is usually the best way to bring out the flavor in fresh seafood. Kitschy neon lighting knocks the otherwise nice decor down a notch. The service was friendly but very hurried - even in an otherwise empty restaurant. We won't be going back, at this price.
(2)Max R.
We went to dinner before a concert at the Chicago Theater. The food was wonderful. We showed up just as it opened, so there were open tables. By the time we finished, the restaurant was full. I understand why. My wife and I had the Prix Fixe meal (3 course). My wife and I both had the haddock with Panko. We both loved it. The fish was cooked perfectly. The sauce added a nice sweetness that went well with the haddock. There were other dishes that sounded wonderful also, but both my wife and I would recommend the haddock. We will definately be back.
(5)Nik Z.
Greasy over salted food. The crab cake entree is so small that it is more an appetizer. The crab is not fresh, it's frozen. Not as fresh tasting as it should be for an upscale Loop seafood restaurant. And the Catch & Carry takeout food is horrible. Not at all worth the price.
(1)Grace N.
Wow. It's been a while since I've been impressed by a restaurant, and Catch 35 was impressive. We ordered the prix fixe menu which includes a soup or salad, a choice between 5 or so entrees, and about 10 different desserts for $29.95. I appreciated the variety. Many prix fixe menus give you very limited options and the bird-sized portions of those limited options, but these were the same as the regular menu items. The crab bisque was creamy but not too rich. My husband's filet medallions with blue cheese were good but this is definitely a seafood restaurant because my Honduran Tilapia was PHENOMENAL. It was blanketed in a thick layer of succulent crabmeat, and the tomato beurre blanc was the perfect savory compliment....hold on, I'm mentally reliving the experience.....while the side of mashed potatoes and broccoli gave me the full happy belly of comfort food. Yes, ladies and gents, you will actually leave this $$$ restaurant FULL. I am not a dessert person, at least not passionately. But the butterscotch pie was the best dessert I've ever had, it was unfathomable, it was ethereal, it was stupendously, extraordinarily, er, extraordinary. I'll be back for another surprise date night with hubby (hint hint). p.s. Definitely make reservations, even on a weekday night. The restaurant was packed around 7 on a Wednesday night with business and pre-theater diners.
(5)Steve S.
Loving the selection of Oysters here. Not bad priced either. Got two dozen of New England area Oysters for $30 a dozen. Even in Boston they are $3 each so not bad. The rest of the food was pretty good, not great but pretty good. The service on the other hand was excellent. I would eat here again.
(4)Vincent W.
Wow! What a great dining experience and absolutely delicious food! Everything we ordered was incredible! Well seasoned, generous portions, creative, and did I mention delicious. Our server was attentive and very observant. We had the 3 course special which included soup, main entree, and dessert. The blacken salmon, with fried rice and broccoli, was tasty and had a little Cajun flair. My spouse had the white fish which came with a spicy sauce. Living in Texas, and enjoying Louisiana cuisine, made me remind myself that this was Chicago and not New Orleans! The desserts (deep dish pecan pie and carrot cake bread pudding) made me think that I was sitting in my mother's kitchen in Georgia enjoying a great home cook meal. A must stop place for dinner in Chicago!
(5)Jennifer C.
This restaurant is really good. The food is five stars the service is more like 3, hence the four star rating. My friend and I had an 8:45 reservation and when we arrived we were told we could wait for at least 10 more minutes for a table or sit immediately in the Jazz lounge. Since we were starving we opted for the Jazz lounge. To drink I had the champagne cosmopolitian martini and my friend started off with the pineapple margarita which she really didn't care for so she switched to what I was drinking. To eat I had the price fix menu and I selected the caesar salad and grilled salmon with dill sauce. The salmon came with mashed potatoes and green beans both the meal and the salad were great. My friend had the mushroom ravioli with shrimp, cream, and peas and she said it was really good. My meal came with the dessert of my choice and I picked the carrot cake bread pudding which my friend and I split. The bread pudding was awesome! Bread pudding and carrot cake in one dessert, yum!! Anyways, beside the ok service the food was great and I will definitely be back, hopefully in the main dining room.
(4)Bradley S.
I lunched here with three friends yesterday to take advantage of their Restaurant Week offerings. Each of us was quite happy with both the food and service. I walked in, almost exactly, at the time of our reservation and the rest of the guys had been seated, their drink orders taken. This gave me a couple of minutes to peruse the wine offerings. I was pleased with their breadth and depth of wines by the glass. The Restaurant Week Prix Fix consisted of soup or sald, entree (choice of fish, shellfish, chicken or beef), and dessert (choice of anything from thedessert menu). For $22 this was a deal. I enjoyed a Ceasar salad while most of my companians had the crab bisque which elicited some raves. We tried several of their entrees; I had the dijon crusted whitefish which was very good. I think it's safe to say that while we were all happy with the entree, none of us were blown away. Dessert, which for most of the table was a toffee bread pudding special thing, elicited raves. My piece of pecan pie was a delight to behold and amongs the best I've ever eaten.
(4)Aurore t.
Loved this place. Staff was friendly and attentive. My neice had Thai Curry Shrimp. She loved it. I had blackened swordfish with chipotle sauce. Spicy, but not too spicy. Also ordered at our table, parmesan encrusted white fish. Very good. Portions not skimpy and desserts are really wonderful as well. I love the location to the theaters. Great place to go. Would definitely recommend this place.
(5)Mike P.
F-Yeah Catch 35! I used to have a boss from Texas who hated seafood, but this is the best restaurant near my office, so we'd go anyway, when our auditors were springing! The lobster and crab bisque are awesome. I've had a ton of good entrees here as well. Everything from Tilapia to soft-shell crab. The Maryland crab cakes are a good go-to item, if you're not feeling too adventurous. Make sure you finish w/ the apple pie, it's unreal. Also, if you need to grab a quick bite, Catch and Carry, their take out counter in back of the Lobby of Leo Burnette is quite good, too.
(5)Brad C.
Inside the Leo Burnett building some make sure you avoid this place during weekday lunch hours, otherwise you are going to be in for a wait. Go after 1:00 pm and you should only have to wait about 15 minutes to get your food. Good sandwiches, large selection and plenty of seating.
(4)Daniel S.
How can an upscale-ish seafood restaurant in the Leo Burnett Buidling go wrong? They can't really. That said, it's not like they tried to go wrong. This is pretty much your standard, upscale fruits de mers fare.....that is nothing to offend or nothing really innovative either. The friend calamari could use some work- it is highly quality product but the seasoning is lacking. Perhaps it should just be grilled. I had the pan seared scallops, and again nothing to offend but it was served in a buttery yet spicy sauce. It's not that I mind either butter or spice- but when combined with high quality scallops this detracts from the experience. Plus mashed potatoes as a side dish? How odd, and who wants to eat a bunch of mashed potatoes and return to work? I'd be asleep in moments. The oysters were topnotch though and everyone else (4 of us) seemed to enjoy their entrees. Try as I may, I didn't get to sample the wine list, although the savignon blanc would've paired well. Bottom line- non offensive but I wouldn't go out of my way. For a more innovative approach to fruits de mers, check out Aria in the Fairmont.
(3)Genevieve H.
Washed up here based on Yelp reviews after a loooing touristy day in Chicago (13 inning Cubs game + the Art Institute). Greeted by charming server who called us "lovelies" & brought us scrumptious lemon-strawberry martinis. Perfect. Followed by AMAZING meal: fresh tomatoes & hearts of palm salad, Honduran tilapia w/ sensational tomato beurre blanc, leeks, celery root atop, and a classic tart key lime pie for dessert. Cool atmosphere, impeccable service. Thank you, Yelp!!
(5)Kathleen C.
To quote my husband "Cr_tch" 35. Bland, bland food. Waiter was pleasant but used the exact same lame joke on us as the table next to us (we overheard him at the next table) - schtick is bad enough when its not memorized and recycled like a script.
(2)Eric P.
This is a great place, especially if you want to bring a date. We came on a Sunday night (about 8 pm) and it wasn't busy at all. I wasn't sure what to except as far as price goes...had been to a few of the fancy seafood places in the Loop before and had bills well over $150-200 (no wine/alcohol involved). The pricing here was between $18 for a simple fish fillet to $60+ for a lobster/steak combo. We got an appetizer (seared scallops, excellent!), 2 entrees, and shared a creme brulee. Total was about $78 after taxes, before tip. Not too bad for an upscale place in the city. I had the alaskan halibut w/ crab stuffing on top. Very good. Wife had the jumbo shrimp w/ lemongrass and pad thai noodles. Excellent as well. I've had better creme brulee before, but it was still very good. Service/staff was A+++ Great place, I'd highly recommend it!!!
(5)Stan W.
I thought Catch35 was excellent. A classy place to go for good fish cooked well. Nothing completely stood out and blew me away so not quite 5 stars worth. Thought prices were pretty reasonable - definitely a little less than what I expected. Entrees prices were understandably high, but appetizers, salads, and deserts were very reasonable. Also, they were offering a $30 3-course prix fixe and had some cheaper wines (in the $30 range) available. Dessert was just OK though and a little underwhelming - I'm glad they only charged $6 for it. Somehow got out of there for $200 (pre-tip) for a group of 4 where everyone had wine, salad/soup, and a dessert. That's not overpriced at all for what we got.
(4)Linda S.
We attended a pharmaceutical rep dinner here about one year ago. Seafood is pretty fresh and well-prepared here, we had the seared scallops with szechuan glaze, sauteed alaskan halibut with a meuniere sauce that had crabmeat and portabella mushrooms, grilled panama shrimp in penang curry sauce, and for dessert we tried the creme brulee blanca, double sinful flourless chocolate cake with ganache and raspberries, and the key lime pie. We loved everything -- we only wished we could have ordered more! They have a good selection of pan-seared and charcoal grilled seafood entrees and a really nice wine/martini list! Definitely try the Jolly Rancher cocktail - a mix of watermelon, strawberry, sour green apple and a twist of lemon.
(4)Tom A.
This was my first meal of the week while in Chicago for business. What a great way to start the week with some phenomenal fresh fish. The baked oysters were so good that we ended up eating an order each both before and after the main course. A very light delicate appetizer that I just needed more and more of. The wine choices were great. I went with a Sav Blanc at the suggestion of the bartender and it was fantastic. The halibut special was another great suggestion. Perfectly cooked halibut with crab ontop and a great light sauce. Just an excellent all around meal of fresh seafood, great wine, and great restaurant atmosphere.
(5)Gina T.
Zagat needs to revise their reviews! Poor, poor food presentation. I had ordered the crab legs. They asked if I wanted it out of the shell... It came on an orange cafeteria plate and the crab was literally in a shredded pile. The side vegetables (carrots) looked like they came out of a frozen safeway bag. We also ordered the chilean sea bass. They used the exact same soy? sauce on both the scallops appetizer and the fish. We will not be back. Overpriced and bad presentation.
(2)Brandon B.
This place is way overpriced and not worth it. Maybe I don't get the allure as I'm allergic to shellfish, but overall, the food was just okay. The only reason I'm giving it two stars is because they have this little lunch cafe off of the restaurant that has great for a to-go lunch that's way more reasonable. One thing I have to admit is that I had their calamari appetizer and thought it was *the best* I'd ever tasted. Okay, for that, it gets 3 stars.
(3)Dane K.
Pretty decent seafood. I've been for lunch quite a few times. They have a good lunch special, something like a selection of a few sandwiches (i.e., crabcake sandwich) and a bisque for $9ish.. I've never had any real seafood here (whole lobster) but I've seen it and I imagine it must be pretty good.... Just not something I usually want for lunch though!
(4)Eric M.
I want to rate this place higher, but from my experience there were some downfalls. The decor is very cool with the highest ceilings I think I've seen in a restaurant. The live band playing behind the bar at the front of the place is very cool. The menu was great and our waiter was funny and intelligent, sadly my fish was pretty cold when it arrived. So I can't give them a great review but will admit I do look forward to going again.
(3)Don W.
This is my favorite seafood restaurant in Chicago. I'm usually staying somewhere just across the river or maybe at the Monaco, and this is the most convenient and the best. I've wondered if anything is different now that Nick & Tony's was replaced by McCormick and Schmick's as a neighbor, but I don't think so. I'd still go whenever I had the chance and wanted seafood.
(5)Kristine L.
Delicious seafood. Every course we had was delicious. And we had a big group and they were able to accommodate us in a comfortable, private room!
(4)Mike F.
We've been here several times before and loved it. So, we felt confident bringing out of town visitors here this past Saturday night -- but we were rather disappointed in the end. Firstly, the waiter talked the special up so much (he said he had it, etc) that three out of four of us went for it. It turned out to be a bit bland. The fourth entree was the scallops and linguine dish which fed my pet-peeve more than it fed my appetite. It was a $24 dish and the whole thing could have fit neatly into a medium to large sized coffee mug. I could be wrong here but it seems that for a tiny extra cost (to them or me) they could have doubled the portion size -- not that I expected double, but it would have been better if there was just more pasta and sauce -- there were no vegetables in, or with this dish. The desserts were good and fairly priced. If I had written this review last week or maybe even if we came in on a different night I might have given this place four stars if not five. Minor annoyances that did not contribute to my two star rating are: 1) The restaurant is large and the back area is more elegant than the front. Still, while the place was far from full they placed us in the rather congested area just off the lounge area (behind the hostess stand). I could see that the adjacent table was being disturbed while we settled in (you have to pull the table away from the wall a bit) and there was no reason for this unless the illusion of being full is more important that the comfort of their customers. 2) the waiter was buzzing around trying to get a drink order when we were more concerned with getting settled into our seats and, he came by to ask if everything was OK at the same second the server placed the plates on the table. This is before we could pick up a fork so there is nothing to be said at that point. I thought they were trained to wait until your mouth is too full to speak before they ask. 3) A jazz singer and piano is a nice touch but not all of us want to hear Christmas music all evening.
(2)Bella D.
We had a good bye celebration for an office mate here. Seafood and drinks were wonderful. Decor and people charming!
(4)Carey A.
Nice place. If you want asian inspired seafood, you'll love it here. It wasn't for me. I went with a group of people. I want ice tea and they only serve flavored. I didn't really want seafood, so I got could either pick from having a salad or $25+ steak. Service was friendly.
(3)Psydde D.
Went here for a very satisfying dinner with a group of behavioral analysts.. not my usual group of comrades, but very fun and interesting conversation after the second bottle of house wine. I started with a thick and filling crab bisque followed by a delicious ginger shrimp stir fry... definitely recommended! Was too full to try dessert but that will be a treat I save for my next visit to Chi-town..
(4)Lesley S.
I went here on my birthday a couple years ago and was not impressed. I think I got some sort of tilapia on rice and it was really bland. It tasted like something I could have made at home. The atmosphere was nice and I liked the setup, just not the food so much. I just expected it to be much, much better. Maybe I just got the wrong thing, but my date wasn't that fond of it either so that is not a good sign. Overall, it is a disappointment for what you end up paying.
(2)Michael S.
Overall, I just can't give this place more than 3 stars though I really want to. My girlfriend and I came here as it is close to the Oriental theatre and thought might as well grab some good seafood before the show. The oysters we had (dozen of different varieties) was very good and fresh so that was enjoyable. After we had oysters, we tried their crab bisque and bahamaian fish chowder... unimpressive, but it wasn't expensive at all for their soups unlike other places I can think off. We split the alaskan stuffed halibut with maryland crab on top and it was enjoyable, but the portions were a bit small. We figured since we can't bring in food to the show that we should split an entree, but I didn't think I would be left still hungry as we've split entrees and have been stuffed elsewhere. The halibut itself was pretty bland and what made it decent was the crab on top of it. We decided for dessert as my girlfriend saw the chocolate mousse with a caramel nest. While the dessert wasn't expensive, it wasn't that great at all. Ambience and decor was nice as well as our oysters. The rest was just average. I expected more from here.
(3)Nicholas W.
Good food, good service, nice environment, great live entertainment.
(4)Sheila Y.
Went to lunch at this "powerlunch" center and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Started with the Catch 35 bisque which I barely touched since I was so engrossed in conversation with my lunch mates. I also ordered the Seafood Cobb, which was wonderful! There were whole pieces of crab and full sized scallops which I appreciate. As well as a large portion of blue cheese. Bravo! My recommendation is to cancel out the baby shrimp and order grilled prawns instead (a very wise choice I may add). Ended the meal with a simple coffee which was just ok. Next time I am going to order an entre (once my pants start fitting again) and definitely hit up the desserts which look wonderful. Definitely a great lunch spot however.
(4)Katey V.
Big restaurant, great seafood menu. The menu includes cooked seafood, sushi, and some thai dishes. We went before a show and the service was great. They have valet parking, and you can dine there before/after a show and leave your car there. Very good restaurant and convenient. We would definitely return.
(4)Elizabeth W.
Great drinks and seafood. I've gone there a few times now and am a fan. Their drinks are good - so far, I've tried their moscow mule, chocolate martini, and coffee martini. As for the food - it's good! I had the steak, which was reasonably priced. The oysters were tasty. Everyone was happy with what they got.
(4)Christine T.
So after my first mediocre experience a few weeks ago, I returned yet again this week. I've spent many quasi-memorable meals here over many years. The waitstaff in the bar area seem to have the most very basic understanding of the menu. I over heard our waitress talking about her upcoming move to the west coast, so when my oysters arrived followed by the fish I ordered the most basic of origin questions seemed to befuddle our already can't bother attitude of the waitress. On the bright side the jazz trio in the bar atrium is a must enjoy moment much preferred to the noisy dining room, even if it is for a simple glass of wine.
(1)Pamela B.
We had reservations for Dinner, but had to cancel. So we went for lunch. Very modern in decor, staff was efficient & friendly. Hubby ordered the Oyster Loaf; V ordered the Blacken Whitefish Tacos; I ordered Fish & Chips (whitefish breaded with panko crumbs). They were all delicious. I had to large fish filets& as usual, had to get Hubby to finish for me. Please note: I asked about the Arnold Palmer & asked them to bring sweetener to table. Waitperson assured me it was already sweetened. Southern sweet must be different than Northern sweet. But I'm a big girl, I sucked it up & finished drinking what I would call an unsweetened Arnold Palmer. See! I can adapt!!! It is in a nice location for walking around Chicago or if you are staying downtown.
(4)Kristin D.
As my sister pointed out: our waitress had a Phd in waitressing. What a wonderful dining experience last night. We got to the restaurant earlier than our reservation, but we were shown to a great table. The fixed price menu looked good, but I wanted the beet salad so opted for that plus the lobster sliders-yum! Sliders were good-a good amount of lobster very lightly dressed. Came with potato chips which were dusted with old bay. Others got the sashimi and the surf and turf. Both diners enjoyed their meals. The roasted Vegetables which came with their meals were delicious --not just the usual broccoli or carrots. For dessert we had the flourless chocolate cake. Quite good--rich but that's to be expected. The food here was good, but really what made it a 5 star was the great service and the atmosphere.
(5)Vasile G.
We had reservation for Dinner. I love this place a lot. Everything was delicious , a little expensive but very very delicious. I've tryed Scaloops special from them and it's was great !!!! Best seafood restaurant till now in Chicago ! I would recommend to all my friends
(5)David H.
I didn't know what to expect based on the mixed reviews I'd read. I was pleasantly surprised by the service and quality of the food and beverages. I was able to get bleu cheese stuffed olives in my martini which started the evening off on a good note. We didn't feel rushed in the least as the staff was very patient, yet attentive. Nice recommendations by our server. My group of 4 started off with a dozen oysters on a half shell. They mixed up the different types as requested. We also had some calamari. Not too much, but enough to share 4 ways. The calamari was tender and lightly breaded. For my main dish, I had the halibut which was accompanied by lump crab meat on the side placed over a spinach bed. For dessert, I finished in the usual way with a liquid version---- Balvenie 12 year with 3 cubes. Perfect business dinner.
(5)Whitney R.
The ceviche and sea bass were amazing! The service was great. Bottles of wine decently priced. They have live jazz and the volume of the band was just right! Loud enough for you to hear it but not too loud that you couldn't hear the people you were sitting with. So important for restaurants that offer live music. Definitely will go back and definitely recommend it.
(5)Tricia R.
Hubby and I came to celebrate our anniversary. He got the crab cakes (which he said were just as good as excellent places in Florida-so fresh). I got the beet salad, which was to die for! For dinner, hubby got the aged Ribeye (awesome) and I got the filet medallions with veal sauce (very good)! Hubby's definitely was better (we both thought so). Definitely a must try. the sour dough bread and butter was warm and fresh. Yum
(5)S T.
Overall this dinner was amazing because the entree was so fricken good it saved the day! I do love me some well prepared scallops so I ordered Szechwan Scallop Scallions, peppers, shiitake mushrooms, chive potsticker The first of five scallops was not cleaned well enough leaving grit, ick. The remaining scallops were enjoyable, but when the first bite is not right I am usually skeptical with each remaining fork full which interferes with the pleasure in eating IMO. Also the potsticker was not my taste. Itwas more like thick flavorless Elmer's paste and it stuck to the plate, fork and roof of my mouth just the same. Thank goodness for my husband at home who confirmed via text just before I ordered that I would like halibut. Per his assurance I went for it and ordered my very first taste of halibut Alaskan Halibut T-Bone Rosemary & lemon marinade, herb mashed potatoes, A1 tomato butter OH MY GAWD every bite was better than the last. Absolute perfection. The A1 butter adds amazing flavor, probably good on anything from bread to veg. This particular menu choice was so delightful I returned two days later just to order it again. My halibut bar is set high, very high. I almost forgot to mention the bread they bring pre meal. Make room, it is delicious! I've mentioned before my personal policy on desserts and more specifically créme brulee. It was on the menu so you guessed it, one please. I guess what I can say that is nice, the kitchen knows how to create a beautiful glass sugar top. The custard was... cold, curdled and more of a congealed texture than the silky delight I prefer. I didn't even bother finishing 2/3 of it. Please don't get distracted by my comments about the créme brulee go to Catch 35 for the t-bone halibut.
(3)Peter Z.
My colleagues and I visited Catch 35, it was a fantastic experience. We have a wonderful bottle of wine and all the dishes served were delicious. I had the White fish, although not a fancy fish dish it was probably the best fish dish I've ever eaten. My friends enjoyed their oysters and dishes as well. I would highly recommend, if you are in Chicago, be sure to visit Catch 35!
(5)Adrienne B.
Pretty tasty seafood restaurant I found! I never heard of this place but looks like it has been around for a awhile. I say that because the decor is from 1990's but if you are there for the food that's all that matters! First.. We were seated right away! Our server was attentive and very informative! We first started off with wine and mussels! The mussels were very large and tasty! Choose the wine sauce/ garlic!!!! We ordered the Mahi Mahi and the Sea Bass. Everyone was right about the Sea Bass it was one pretty delicious piece of fish! The side options of rice really does have to go! We didn't even touch it! They do need to serve it with something else! The Mahi Mahi was just as good but what made the Mahi Mahi perfect was the sauce and risotto it came with! Lastly.. We ordered the award winning lander Mac and cheese to go! We ate it for lunch the next day... It was good but I wouldn't say award winning. This was a quick dinner! Dinner reservations were at 7 out by 8. They are quick! They should allow people to enjoy their company. I felt a little rushed. Overall great seafood restaurant if your looking to just eat great food!! Oh yeah.. They have live jazz by the bar. Epic!
(5)KEE K.
The Jazz was great and the trio is delicious. The shrimp bisque, whitefish and dessert is awesome
(5)Greg H.
Came here at 5:00p in December before heading to a 7:00p ballet. The initial service was fantastic; our waitress was almost too attentive to the point where we were like "move along... we're trying to chat here..." We ordered a bottle of wine, sea bass, and scallops. All the food was fantastic and the prices were reasonable for seafood on the loop ($20-30 / plate). The slippery decline came around 6:00. Our waitress dropped off the desert menu and then quickly disappeared. We kept checking the clock, nervous about making the 7:00p ballet. The wait went from 20, to 30, to 40 minutes (!). There was no pop-in, or knowing glance for our waitress. We sat at our empty table accompanied by only two glasses of water. Eventually we got the check and promptly headed out (without our precious desert). I understand that peak times cause problems for waitresses but waiting 40 minutes to place a dessert order, and to be checked on brought this review down from a solid 5-stars to a 3-stars. I'm disappointed but will give this place another shot in the future.
(3)Candy S.
Great food! I was in Chicago for one night and wanted a great meal. This place did not disappoint! We had the Szechuan scallops for appetizer. The scallops were cooked perfectly. I had the crab and shrimp bisque; it was great bisque but I was expecting more. The main dish was a T-bone cut Halibut with a tomato cream sauce. This dish made the whole meal. The Halibut melted in your mouth! It's a huge serving too! The bartender was great who served us for predinner drinks. And we had the sticky bun pudding for dessert. The only disappointing thing was the wait staff. It was over 15 minutes for any server to come to our table and that was just water. Our waiter did not come to our table for another 5 minutes after that while the table next to us received prompt service.
(4)Caroline D.
Nice restaurant, in general! Live music never fails - so few places have a live band these days. It can be fairly loud there sometimes, depending on how many people are in the bar area. I usually have the blackened salmon with field greens salad. Always fresh and the salad dressing is a nice compliment to the flavor on the fish. Have had the fish tacos, which are okay - could use a little more flavor. Full bar and the staff are great!
(4)Chad N.
This was our date night restaurant while we were in Chicago ! The atmosphere is incredible, the location and is perfect, the seafood is fresh and the prostitutes are plentiful -- not that the last part was of any interest to us. The food really was good. I had the scallops and they were the best that I have experienced in a very long time - especially over the hash. My husband had the swordfish. I think he was a little disappointed, but I explained that swordfish is very firm and not a salmon filet. The drinks were 'holla' -- perfect ! The highlight was the table next to us -- older gentleman and much younger female companion -- because we tend to be nosey --- Gentleman "would you like the tuna or salmon?" -- response (from younger woman) -- "I have never had salmon and the only tuna that I have had has been out of a can" -- well I think we know the story here... We were amused and chuckled while we finished our cocktails... Fantastic place !!
(4)Mary T.
Fantastic food, dated decor. I've got to admit, I felt like I was in a late 80's movie the entire time we dined here. The decor is dated; well kept, but in need of an update. The nightly live jazz aside, it leaves a little to be desired in terms of ambiance. That said, the food brings it and the service is top notch. We started out with the lobster sliders, which come in an order of three. The sliders were quite tasty; I would order them again. For our mains, he went with the yellowfin poke and I went with the mahi mahi. Our dishes couldn't have been more different; his light and mine heartier. I liked them both, but in hindsight was probably more in the mood for the poke. My mahi was cooked perfectly and the sweet corn lobster risotto was decadent, almost too much for the dish. A bit pricey, but a solid seafood experience - 3.5 stars, but I'm rounding up.
(4)Michelle L.
Pleased that we had a decent seafood meal here! We wanted a good seafood spot so this place was recommended by a local. They open at 5pm for dinner which was when our party of 4 walked into the restaurant. We had just spent a couple hours being tourists in the city and walked into this place feeling under dressed. The ambiance is casual upscale and I walked in there wearing my 49ers jersey. But I didn't get any dirty looks from the staff and they seated us right away. To start things off, we got the calamari ($13) and wanted to try the Oyster Rockefeller ($15, Applewood smoked bacon, spinach, asiago cheese, mornay). Unfortunately the oysters were buried in so much cheese and bacon, that's all we tasted. Couldn't taste the oyster anymore. I ordered the halibut ($36) while my bf ordered their popular chilean sea bass ($34). Both dishes came out very nice. The fish was cooked very well. I preferred the halibut over the sea bass but neither dish disappointed. My sister ordered the pad thai ($20). Apparently the head chef is Thai so there were a few Thai dishes on the menu. And for my 7 year old nephew, there was a kids menu in which he ordered a cheeseburger. Their fries came out pretty good. Yummy overall, but I wasn't wowed by the meals. Food was good and we left content, but we'd like to try other seafood spots as there are so many in the area.
(3)Christine H.
Came here last minute after my friend really wanted oysters and seafood. Even though it was 7:00pm Friday night, they were still able to seat us right away. The service was definitely sub-par. The waiter kept pushing drinks, even when we have stated multiple times we didn't want anything. Our water was never refilled. Disappeared and took forever to come back to take our order. Getting our check and paying for it took another 20 min. The restaurant wasn't even that full. The oysters were amazing. They had four choices on the menu that night and we got the ones from New Brunswick. The texture was amazing, and the sauce really complimented the oysters. The entree was great too. I ordered the Haddock. It was perfectly cooked, and the rice, veggies, and crab really complemented the fish. However, the plating looked really messy, and it looked like something I could just make at home. There's plenty of other seafood restaurant in the city to enjoy.
(3)Dave C.
Mixed feelings about this place. Loved the location and the atmosphere of the place was very good. We had reservations and were seated right away. They brought out some water but it took 15 minutes just to get drink orders placed. We were there a good 25 minutes before placing our order. Once we ordered our food, everything else seemed to go fine but I just felt the service was way too slow for how busy the place was for a Sunday night. The good side of the night was the food. I think everyone in our party really enjoyed their meals. I just did a basic Fried Haddock and Fries but it was really good. Others had different items and they all enjoyed what they had. I would certainly go for the food but the service needs to be better as far as speed. At times we thought our waiter had forgotten us. Wiling to give this place another try but if the speed of service is the same as my initial visit then I won't be back.
(3)Alexandria T.
I dined here a month or so ago for a Father's Day dinner after seeing Motown the musical around the corner. We saw a matinee, and it let out earlier than we expected, so we arrived a bit early for our reservation. They were still able to accommodate us and seat us right away. The restaurant was pretty empty when we arrived, but by the time we left, almost every table was full. We started off with cocktails, and then ordered a bottle of wine. They had wine on the list that I had been wanting to try, just for the name, but the wine was a nice, quality red wine. Loved! The table shared an order of calamari to start. It was excellent, and I especially liked that tofu came with it. I started my meal with a Martha's Vineyard salad. I loved the dressing and the fresh fruit on top. I only wish the server hadn't snatched my last bite! For my entree, I ordered the scallops sans bacon. I thought the scallops were cooked to perfection; however, I didn't really like the sweet pea risotto. I'm a texture person, and I think that may have been the reason why I wasn't a huge fan. For dessert, I had the sticky toffee pudding cake. I enjoyed every last bite. I was really impressed by the food and had an excellent meal.
(4)Donitta E.
Although they did not have the Lobster Roll on the Chicago Restaurant Week menu as it stated online, but that's due to the massive winter blizzard in Boston. The food was great!! I went today for lunch with a few co-workers and for $22 you get a full 3-course lunch. I would definitely go back!!
(4)Benjamin B.
Catch 35 is a hidden treasure in the city. I highly recommend this place for seafood. The Maine Lobster Bisque is a must try, fresh and delightful. The Chilean seabass was pan seared perfectly, followed by a slice of fresh key lime pie. The waiter was friendly and welcoming. I am glad I had the opportunity to try this restaurant for Restaurant Week 2015.
(5)Lisa H.
AWESOME specials on Tuesdays. I had to think twice about writing this review, bc disclosing their Tuesday specials of half-off on bar menu may spike up traffic there, which would make it harder for me to get a seat, but it's too good not to share. All items on bar menu is half-off every Tuesday night! Their bar menu doesn't comprise of just two measly apps and a entree; they have mussels infused in lemongrass sauce, fish and chips, scallops, and even lobster roll and sliders. You heard me right! LOBSTER ROLL! i tried their lobster sliders; the plate comes with 3 sliders and chips, so bomb. The lemongrass sauce for the mussels is one of the best sauces I've had. The first time i got the lemongrass mussels, i ordered extra bread and took the remaining sauce home...it was THAT good, no shame. There were plenty of seats at the bar and in the lounge area. Caveat is that you have to sit there to take advantage of the bar menu, not in the main dining area. Warning: If bar seats are taken, you will resort to sitting around the band in the lounge area and can get pretty loud.
(4)Customer X.
Perfectly executed good classical food with quality ingredients in a bourgeois setting....The service is great and the restaurant is clean. It is challenging to park around here. You will likely end up in s private parking.
(4)Danny W.
A little like the movie 'Inception', there's another idea hidden underneath a layer of steak and seafood restaurant here. Catch and Carry is on the other side and if you don't work in the building it might be the best kept lunch secret in the city. There isn't a separate Yelp listing so it kinda flies under the radar. It's similar quality of food to 35 only express version. Much faster and with more options including breakfast or a cup of coffee to go. The prices are comparable to almost anything slightly above a 5 dollar foot long you'll find in the area it's all relatively healthy for you...depending on what you order of course. If you're in the area looking for lunch and just happen to stumble upon this review give it a go and be sure to send me a compliment to tell me how much I rule ;-)
(4)Stephanie M.
We stopped in here on a Friday night, on our way back to our hotel after a Cubs game. We were dressed very casually so I went in and asked if there's a dress code, explaining our situation. The hostess assured me our casual dress was not a problem and, while there was a 40 minute wait to eat in the dining room, the bar area and tables are open seating so we got seated right away. This worked out better anyway, since some of our group were still a tad uncomfortable being so underdressed. We started with drinks which were all great. I asked for a dirty martini and the olive juice was forgotten, but they fixed that immediately. The tart cherry manhattan and mule drink were also yummy. For food we all had fish - two ordered the Atlantic Salmon, grilled, one had the Lake Superior Whitefish with mustard crust, and I had the Wild Coho Salmon. All of our meals were absolutely delicious. The fish was all perfectly cooked, sauces were wonderful, and sides were scrumptious. The cucumber salad that came with the Atlantic Salmon was raved about, and the shrimp and crab bisque (ordered a la cart) was very tasty. We were thrilled that we stopped in and left extremely satisfied. The prices are also quite reasonable unless you're ordering crab or lobster, and the portions were perfectly sized. Too bad we were too full for dessert. We wouldn't hesitate to stop in here again and try some of the other dishes.
(5)Maria L.
The ambiance is nice. The food is pretty good. The server is... Meh. We tried the whitefish and toffee cake for dessert. The whitefish would've been perfect, except it was a tidbit too salty. As such, I had a slight headache after dinner :-/ Our server knew we were on a tight schedule since we were heading to a play right after dinner, yet she proceeded to have small talk for too long and didn't move with a sense of urgency to place our order. Well, we had to practically sprint through dinner to make it to the play on time (we were literally seconds away from having the door closed on us), and the server failed to fully explain the free valet they offer customers who are attending a play. We ended paying for it in full because the way she explained it made no sense whatsoever. We may not return, but we do recommend others give it a shot. Perhaps with a better server and a little less salt, we would've had a phenomenal time.
(3)Chris G.
Mayhaps the tastiest, chunkiest and most tender Chilean Sea Bass that's served in the shadows of the Trump behemoth? While I'm not wild about the so-so, high school cafeteria tasting green beans and boring lump of white rice that props up this savory and delicate lump of saltwater goodness, the star of the entree is among the best served here. Chef, please get someone to re-imagine the supporting cast, though. If I wanted Chinese food, I'd ask my friend's mom to cook it because she's the best. It would be quite interesting to try this dish again with it sitting on top of something much more interesting like a passion fruit, red peppercorn orzo. I've never EATEN or seen that offered before, but i can already TASTE it. :) And the plate ware is pretty dated. I'm not hating on you, it just doesn't sell the dish or feel special whatsoever. But please never change what you're doing when it comes to selecting and cooking up such wonderful quality seafood.
(4)Teree H.
Came here while on a business trip. Excellent service, food and ambiance. The $33 fixed price menu includes filet mignon medallions and lemongrass shrimp & scallops that are to die for. They have an extensive wine and cocktail list and the wait staff is phenomenal. Check them out!
(5)Brittany M.
This review is about the bar food service. In particular, Catch 35 offers a half-priced bar menu on Tuesdays. For quality seafood, the deal couldn't be beat, so I enthusiastically brought in some colleagues during our lunch hour. Although the food and service are generally good, I did NOT have an enjoyable time this trip. I would advise against going to Catch 35 when time is of the essence. I had a hard stop at 1pm and communicated this to the wait staff when placing my order around 12:10pm. Two of our colleagues arrived 5-10 minutes *after* I placed my order yet both received their food first. Around 12:45pm, I had to speak to the manager about my food and was told that it had been delayed in coming out due to a sushi short staff (I did not order sushi). The manager offered to comp my meal due to the long wait; however, when it came time to pay and I needed to leave (promptly at 1pm, as I had indicated previously), I was given the check and paid the full amount. I'm very disappointed in the customer service experience at Catch 35. I did my part in communicating my time constraints, yet 2 of my colleagues - despite arriving after me - received their meal well in advance of mine. The manager offered to comp my meal but failed to let the waitstaff know. Due to my time constraints, I had to pay before leaving. While the food here is quality, the service is not. Think twice before coming in if you are in any sense of urgency.
(3)Susie R.
Thanks for the review, Stacey D., our experience was very similar to yours. We're here on a busy Sunday night and service was a bit slow to begin but has been perfect ever since. We were in no rush and our waiter picked up on that quickly. Husband's standard martini was very good, my cucumber cocktail not that great (too sweet, too weak, not much flavor). Mussels with garlic sauce were outstanding, the best I've had. The chilled roasted beet salad was wonderful, lightly dressed and flavorful but still light. Lobster bisque as described. .. Not too heavy, wonderful. The scallops were tender, nicely browned, the risotto creamy, and a few chunks of nicely cooked bacon over all. Green beans and mushrooms side dish were not warm enough - an afterthought. Husband's crab crusted tilapia with mashed potatoes was also quite good, lots of crab, nice flavor. Sticky Toffee Pudding: yummy yummy. Overall, as good as the service and food may be, it all feels a bit "scripted", prepared in advance and not given the individual attention the food deserves. I would award 3.5 to the food if I could.
(4)Lauren B.
Went here for dinner before a show this weekend. When we sat down, we told them we had a show. Yet, it still took them 30 minutes to take our order and 40 minutes (and a LOT of prodding) to deliver our food. Pro: The food is EXCELLENT. I mean, I'm still dreaming about it two days later. Melt-in-your mouth sea bass. 5 stars. Con: The service is SLOW. Friendly, competent, but SLOW. If you've got no where to be, it's not a big deal. If you've got plans, don't go here. 3 stars. They did, however, comp our meal to apologize for the slow service. That was REALLY nice of them, and probably nets out the service.
(4)Frank C.
Great food and great service! They, without in doubt, deserve the 5 stars and I definitely recommend them. Try their blackened salmon... It was delicious. Oh... and their dessert was outstanding. I was very satisfied with my choice.
(5)Steve A.
The interior design of Catch 35 is really interesting, with multiple tiers extending up into the buildings mezzanine area. As you might expect there is a fairly broad offering of fish. My favorite is the halibut. The best thing is their sourdough bread, reminiscent of San Francisco. It's a good spot for pre-theatre dining. Also, after work there is often live jazz in the bar area, where you can eat at a high top.
(4)Jonathon C.
Unbelievable food and we just ate off the bar menu so can't even imagine the full menu! They had by far the best bisque ever and the shrimp were spectacular!! We'll be back!
(5)John G.
This is a better restaurant than they were tonight. They may have been overwhelmed by a big theatre crowd. I love the spaciousness of the room and tables for 2 have lots of space from other tables. I had oysters that were good but not sitting loosely in the shell. The 3 sauces were terrific. My wife's sea bass was good but they missed on my salmon. It was way over cooked. The waiter comped a glass of wine to help the situation. This is usually a great place and we'll give them another shot.
(3)David K.
Flawless lunch for my special occasion. Chilean Sea Bass - meal for the Greek gods.
(5)Jason C.
Food was great, staff was amazing. GF had a little issue with her food being cold so they gave us a free dessert. It was a bit on the expensive side.
(4)Chicago K.
Great for business dinners. Very attentive staff.
(5)Lawrence P.
Went here last Saturday for Restaurant week. Had the prix fixe menu. It was phenomenal. 3 courses. Started with the lobster bisque. So good I wanted to lick the bowl. Settled for swabbing it with my roll. For the entree had the filet with lobster tail. The steak was cooked perfect for medium rare and though the lobster was more of a garnish, the sauce for them both was so savory it didn't matter. For dessert 3 of us had the molten chocolate cake with such tasty warm chocolate in the middle it made my heart warm. One of my daughters got the key lime and it was excellent with just the right tart for key lime. Will certainly go back here. Excellent beer selection and wine list. What's not to like?
(4)Kevin W.
We really enjoyed our dinner tonight. My wife had the Mahi Mahi and I had the filet mignon medallions with lobster bisque and key lime pie for desert. Both of our meals were very good!
(5)Sam B.
Good food and great ambience. Had the filet mignon medallions and they turned out very good!
(4)Kimberly S.
I'm not sure how we managed to miss this place during our frequent travels to CHI. So glad the concierge at our hotel made the recommendation. Service was attentive, food was quite tasty and price point was reasonable. I ordered scallops and my husband got the filet medallions. We'll be back for sure!
(4)J D.
I dined here because the restaurant week menu intrigued me and perhaps had I not had an uber stellar meal that was of the same ilk at Eddie V's for restaurant week I might have thought this was okay. Well, even then probably not. It was mediocre at best. What we ate: Moi: Lobster bisque which had gummy pieces of lobster, somewhat thin and was served in cups that one finds in diners. Pal: Beet salad. She said it was "meh". Moi: Beef medallions with béarnaise lobster sauce. Ordered medium rare, came medium well, was odd in texture, kind of mealy. Beyond "meh". The root veggies were good. I gave one of the pieces of beef to the pal. Pal: Yellowtail poke. It was fine, but as good or better can be found at any decent sushi place. Her rice was in a few clumps and icky. She left it. Moi: Flourless chocolate cake. It was actually molten chocolate cake and it was fine, nothing spectacular, but fine. Pal: Key lime pie. Not much lime taste. Wine was priced the same as a fantastic bottle at Eddie V's last week. This bottle was lacking body and finish and an attempt to up sell us was made. I hate that. Nice waitress though. The whole dinner was subpar, from the beat up looking silverware to the busboys clearing EVERYTHING in front of me even though my friend was still eating her meal. Diner behavior. No thanks, I'll go back to Eddie V's and have stellar food, etc. At least I can cross this off my list.
(2)Pham D.
Very old establishment known for their wonderful catches. But usually, these old establishments are also very slow. When we sat down, we told our waiter that we have to leave at a certain time and he nodded as if he understood, but in the end, our meal took almost 2 hours when we only have less than that. Half the time was trying to flag down the waiter. However, the food is very good. A few select items are available in a pre-fixe meal which provided a very good value. The chocolate cake and pudding were also good, but unfortunately, we only had a bite and had to run out. Next time we would have to allot much much more time.
(4)Phil E.
I was in Chicago on business and took a couple clients here for dinner. I had never been here before. The vibe, as other reviewers have pointed out, it a tad funky, old perhaps and somewhat odd, especially at the bar. The bar had low stools and a high bar, kind of weird. The food however was really really good. The combination of fresh fish and great ingredients made this meal really good. I had the Sockeye Salmon with watermelon couscous salsa. It was spectacular. Wait staff attentive. Great wine list too. I would definitely return here. Also, I happen to be at Shaw's Crab House the night before and this was night and day difference better. Food was far superior and more plentiful here.
(4)Robert S.
Catch 35 was recommended to me by a friend and so I took my sister here before we went to go see Motown the Musical at the Oriental. Catch 35 is right on the river and has an awesome bar atmosphere upon entering (also love how it looks like a galley kitchen through the entire restaurant. However upon sitting down the restaurant feels old.... Old glassware, old silver, that gray miss crap in the plant boxes stringing the dining area.... Also the menus were extremely tacky for an "upscale" restaurant. Our waitress was very pleasant but altogether not available at the right times (couldn't even put in our glass of wine before our entrees arrived). Also the good runners place their trays on the staircase railing which made me extremely nervous that someone's food was going to get knocked right on the ground at any moment. We got the coconut shrimp as an app, and it was so disappointing... Not crunchy and no flavor. My sister got scallops with the pea risotto which was very good but lacking in spice, and I got the seared tuna sashimi. Ok... This was the most boring thing I've ever eaten.... I mean they could have at least come up with a sauce, and the rice and veggies that accompanied came on a side bread plate that looked terrible.... Our dessert was fantastic (a bread pudding type cake) and my after dinner Expressotini was spectacular. I wouldn't probably recommend this place to anyone and for the price we payed I left feeling like I just went to an overhyped "upscale" (but not even remotely) dinner restaurant.
(2)Raheem L.
The swordfish was great and so was the service. I also highly recommend the calamari and the chowder. The tartar sauce that comes with the calamari is perfect l.
(4)James B.
This was my 4th visit to catch....they have never disappointed me. Service was excellent food was excellent. Had the sea bass and bread pudding for dessert.
(5)Sarah V.
Fantastic meal. Slower service on a Saturday night (but who wants to rush through a nice meal?!). Quieter seating in the back and live jazz music in the front near the bar. $12 valet parking. Excellent prix fixe for $33.95 includes soup or salad, entree, and dessert! Can't beat that for a downtown nice restaurant!
(5)Natalie P.
My boyfriend and I made a reservation here for our second anniversary and we were not disappointed. Great atmosphere as soon as we walked in. The restaurant was lively and bustling, but not overwhelmingly loud or chaotic. Live jazz, too! Having been on a culinary tour of Chicago this weekend, my boyfriend and I both agreed that Catch 35 blew all its competitors out of the water in terms of entrees. He got haddock with ginger sambal and I got yellowfun tuna poke (both items off of their $33 Restaurant Week dinner menu). This was some amazing seafood (and this is coming from someone who grew up on the east coast by the ocean!). Very fresh and handled with lots of care. Dessert was Key Lime Pie (very light, not a thick custard) and a flourless chocolate cake with chocolate-hazelnut filling. We could not decide which one we loved more! Loved that this restaurant was participating in Restaurant Week which makes amazing food like this accessible to a young couple, just starting out, like us. Definitely worth traveling for. I'll happily return on a future trip to Chicago.
(5)Steve A.
First time at this very nice restaurant. The staff was very helpful. My wife is on a weird diet and they were very accommodating preparing her a meal she would enjoy. Food was very well prepared. I had the bouillabaisse and the broth had a very nice depth of flavor. My wife's Mah Mah was also prepared very well.
(5)Shariff B.
I have not dined here in a couple of years, but it was great being back and having an amazing dinning experience. Paul our waiter was friendly and professional. The scallops, lobster, crab legs and everything was fantastic. I will say that the sautéed spinach was a bit salty, but I am certain if I had sent it back - Kirk the friendly, energetic and professional manager on the floor would have been quick to resolve! It was my friends birthday and also her first time and she loved everything from starters to her entree. It is great to have been gone a couple of years and return to discover the quality of service at Catch 35 is still superior!
(5)Meg S.
Catch 35 was all around fantastic! We went there during a busy time, and the staff handled a packed restaurant with several large groups with ease. When our waitress seemed to have gotten tied up with another table, other waitstaff jumped in to make sure we were sufficiently taken care of. The food was phenomenal. I had tenderloin medallions with shrimp, and my colleague got the swordfish. The steak was so tender you could pull it apart with a fork, and the taste was at an equally high level. The shrimp was fantastic, and the swordfish got good reviews also. Our appetizer was the coconut shrimp, cooked perfectly and with great flavor. Just good good good! I loved Catch 35. I loved it so much I tried to suggest to our group that we return the following night. But alas, it will have to wait until my next trip to Chicago...
(5)Rawlins R.
I made a reservation for Catch Thirty Five using OpenTable. In my reservation description I made a few requests/notes as this was going to be a dinner for me and the wifey on our 1 year "anniversary" from when I proposed to her. I requested two glasses of champagne for our table before we were seated. The day we came down it was snowing pretty bad so traffic was horrific as usual. I had left enough time for us to get there and find parking but with the snow we showed up closer to our reservation time. I decided to use the valet parking. They were friendly and took my keys giving me a numbered slip for pick up after dinner. I let the host know that I had a reservation for two and he told us it would be just a moment. While we waited they offered coat check but we politely declined. Others showed up and were seated with reservations immediately. The wife was slightly concerned and didn't understand why our reservation was different. I didn't immediately understand either but I realized when we were seated that they had noticed my requests in my OpenTable comments. We were seated at a table with two glasses of champagne and the host wished us a happy anniversary. I have made previous requests similar to this one on OpenTable before but none have been as greatly executed as this one. I usually put in the notes that this dinner is for a birthday or anniversary and the host/waiter never make note of it during our visit. Catch Thirty Five did a wonderful job of simply paying attention to the details and really won over the experience within the first moments of seating us. Our waitress was great. She was very soft spoken and knowledgeable of the menu. Her persona was quite calming and pleasant for a romantic evening. She asked us if we had a show to get to so that she could speed up the dining process in necessary. We let her know that we didn't but the service and timing was still impeccable. Most restaurants do an average job in terms of wait staff bringing your food and removing finished dishes. The staff here was outstanding and dishes were brought out promptly and at the right times. The food was phenomenal and the atmosphere was warm with dim lighting and live music for ambiance. I chose this location because I wanted to go to a fine dining restaurant that had a New Orleans atmosphere. There are a few other restaurants in the city that are more New Orleans-esque but not so romantic. Catch Thirty Five has an extensive seafood menu and is certainly romantic. If you were dining down in New Orleans this is the kind of like Muriel's. Coming to Catch Thirty Five was a great experience and I look forward to coming back for another special occasion when the time calls.
(5)Dom G.
Good seafood. The wait staff was friendly, but stuffy.
(3)Gary D.
We went to see Phantom at the Cadillac and wanted to have dinner nearby and someone recommended this place (and of course it was well recommended here). I would give it 4.5 stars but only on a technicality. I had the lobster tail and the server suggested having it poached, which I had never had lobster that way and it was ok but I won't order it that way again. Other than that it was a wonderful experience. The atmosphere is very comfortable and impressive. (I can't imagine how they heat that lobby with the high ceiling in the recent cold). The service was very attentive but not intrusive, water glasses were never close to empty, the remainder of the meal was delicious, and being it was restaurant week the prices were just right. (Although the regular prices look very reasonable for a dining establishment of this type). You won't go wrong for seafood here!
(5)Ashley S.
My husband took me here last night for Valentine's Day. I was super excited because I really love seafood. Last year we went to Shaw's, so the bar was set high. Our experience at Catch 35 left us with little to be remembered. We started our meals with a caesar salad and lobster bisque. The caser salad was very bland and the bisque was disappointing. It had maybe three pieces of lobster and they all tasted very fishy. Next, we both had the haddock. This was decent. Very spicy, but tasty. For dessert, we ended with the flourless chocolate cake and the sticky toffee cake. The chocolate cake was simply lava cake. The sticky toffee cake was very good, the highlight of our meals. So, while the food was decent, why the 2 star rating? With it being Valentine's Day, I was hoping for an intimate dinner, but our meal was rushed. We were in and out in an hour. In fact, my meal came before I was done with my soup! Our waiter had no personality. All in all, there was no experience in dinning here. Our waiter could barely make recommendations. I guess if you are in the theater district and you want a quick dinner, then this is the place, but not for a romantic dinner.
(2)A C.
Décor - 5 stars. Nice for being in the loop. Considering it's on upper wacker drive, it's a stone's throw from my office, and good place to chill and enjoy a great meal with friends and coworkers. I like how they use candles, everything is kept clean and modern. Service - 5 stars. Customer experience is phenomenal. Our servers are extremely attentive, and made sure that we were taken care of. Having been there on numerous occasions, every server is almost always checking in regularly (like every 10 minutes or so), making sure our water glasses are full, our table is clean/not cluttered, linens/tablecloths are fresh, and if we need anything extra. Servers always give good suggestions on the menu. They will tell you what they honestly think - and NOT try to sell you the most expensive item on the menu, like some other places do. I am impressed. Food - 5 stars. Good, and I mean good. I've their Chilean sea bass, filet mignon, three course prix-fixe items, and shrimp platters before (not all at once, but at different times). All are good, and tasty. They are never overly cooked. I've even celebrated special occasions here (i.e had a birthday party in the back room for a friend before), and the hostess ensured our group had a wonderful time, never rushing us to leave, even though we spent HOURS there at the restaurant! :) I really like this place. It's definitely my go-to place- comparable to Lawry's Prime Rib downtown when it comes to food AND service. Not many places I know of have good food, good service, or especially have both. This place is the exception.
(5)David F.
Always excellent seafood. Service is efficient if you tell them you need to leave by a certain time for a show, but it tends to be too drawn out if you don't give them a deadline. Just because we don't have to be someplace else doesn't mean we want to spend all night at the restaurant.
(4)Stephanie H.
we went here for lunch last Tuesday and it was fantastic. We had a group of 8 and the staff at Catch 35 took great care of us! Most of us started with oysters which were really nice and then we had a bottle of viognier as well which was perfect for the summer. 3 of us ordered the scallop and seafood risotto which was heavenly. The portion was really nice and the veggies are the side were just right. I also tried the mushroom halibut and it was so so good. The restaurant is slightly swanky but not too overly pretentious. The menu was a great mix of items, but I will say it is really a seafood place so red meat lovers beware! I rarely leave a restaurant full, especially at lunch but Catch 35 was able to fill me up. The service was great and this restaurant is definitely a winner in my book. We were all talking about our meal here for the rest of the week, including those who were visiting from our New York office. We will be back for sure!
(5)Matthew S.
Very disappointed. Food is hit or miss; the rest is embarrassing. The atmosphere resembles the dark and tired granite lobby of skyscrapers built 30-50 years ago - because it essentially is the lobby of such a skyscraper... the garish stainless steel and neon decorations do not help. This is the type of place where people with money to burn (a.k.a. corporate expense accounts), but who don't know what good seafood is, probably tend to occupy the seats. I was lured in by the 4-star reviews, but sadly my experience was far below average even for an average restaurant. Landry's and Pappadeaux have higher quality for half the price of Catch 35. I will say that the East coast oysters were excellent. However, the bisque was boring, and the haddock, when it finally came out 40 minutes later, was burned, dried out, doused in salt, and placed atop rubber rice which was equally tasteless and dry, and then topped with lumps of "crab" that were tasteless. My selections were intentionally mid-range - perhaps the higher ratings are from those who chose the most expensive options - but considering I somehow managed to spend $80, I would have expected something superior to Red Lobster. I was pleased that there was a Potbelly sandwich shop across the street which brought a welcome conclusion to my evening meal. The servers were bored and had shockingly little knowledge of the food. Admittedly, I sat in the front room to enjoy what was left of the daylight - perhaps the service is more professional and passionate in the main dining room - my mistake.
(2)Sandra K.
I was here a few weeks ago - the service was OK - the waitress dumped a little water on me and acted like she didn't notice. The food was good. I had the crab cakes, and they were tasty.
(3)Lorri A.
A Hidden Gem in the City, right in the middle of the theater district. We dine at most Chicago seafood restaurants, and this one had escaped our attention until now. It will be our new Go-To place. The seafood here is fresh, delicious, and reasonably priced for Chicago. An added bonus is the fact that, unlike most Chicago restaurants, a starch and vegetable are served with the dinner, versus requiring the additional a la carte charges. There is a limited soup or salad/entrée/dessert $30.00 price fixe menu that has something for everyone. Our group ordered the coconut shrimp and lobster slider appetizers. They were extremely delicious. The shrimp was lightly coated and definitely had a sauce with a Thai flair. The lobster slider was a lobster roll on a slider bun, and the mix was delicious. It was served with home made potato chips that were seasoned. Dinner included lobster, king crab legs, filet mignon and combinations of the above. Each was cooked to perfection, and the lobster was poached in butter. We loved it. Tonight's starch was garlic mashed, and the vegetable was grilled asparagus. Both were very good. Service was outstanding. Our waiter John was highly attentive. We did not allow enough time to have dessert, so I can't rate it except to say that we saw several items pass by that we will try upon visiting next. By the way, it will be next weekend, as we were so impressed. I recommend reservations, as it fills up quickly when the theater crowd arrives.
(5)Tinos K.
Excellent experience in a great city. GT was a bit light but we addressed that. Sea bass was exceptional.
(4)Brooke G.
If you're looking for the best seafood experience in Chicago, this is your place. The atmosphere of this restaurant is fantastic. Very fancy yet not so much that you're uncomfortable (think business casual). The music is soft and swanky. The wait staff is some of the best I've experienced in a long time. My water glass was never under half full. The food is fantastic. We split the Oysters Rockefeller for an appetizer, and I had twin lobster tails for my entrée. It was beyond delicious. My favorite aspect was that the menu is updated daily so there's no anxiety about guessing the "market price" of something. Overall, the experience at Catch 35 is excellent. I will definitely be back!
(5)Misti D.
Fantastic meal and impeccable service. I was surprised to see a $2 charge for substituting polenta for mash potatoes, especially on a $36 entree and without any notice. That aside, lovely dinner. Great kids menu with heathy choices like salmon and pad Thai.
(4)Joe A.
Excellent food and service. Ask for a table away from the bar if you're looking for a quiet dinner.
(5)Chris C.
Went here last Sunday, looking to get some great seafood. The place was a little busy. The ambiance I wasn't impressed with just average. I started with the scallops, it was my first time having scallops they were very good. I then ordered the Blackened Atlantic Salmon, best and freshest I've ever had. They get everything dry packaged from the east coast. The red sauce that came on top was excellent it had a spice to it. The service is why this place wasn't 5 stars. We felt rushed and she was barley there. She gave us attitude when asking questions about the menu. I would go back for the amazing food, with hopes of getting a different server
(4)L R.
We tried Catch 35 for the first time for dinner before a show at the Chicago Theatre. It is conveniently located near the Theatre district and a Winner. My boyfriend has a food allergy and most times when we mention it, we get assurances the meal will not contain mushrooms and meals with mushroom sauce or mushrooms which we must send back. I have never seen a waiter more attentive to our needs. Derrick went to the kitchen to give instructions regarding our meal and was very attentive going as far as to tell us, "if it is put in front of you, I have cleared it and it is okay for you to eat". Derrick, our waiter, was a pleasure. Ready with recommendations and tips, attentive yet not overbearing or disruptive. Our meals (we each ordered and shared) were delectable. We ordered swordfish and halibut. The fish was fresh and prepared with nice flavor and balance. We will go back and highly recommend Catch 35 for a nice dinner out!
(5)Ania H.
It was my first time at Catch 35. I walked in and was very impressed with the ambiance. The bar set up was very beautiful, the decor was stunning, and I enjoyed the live pianist playing. I sat down and enjoyed a glass of malbec while waiting for my party. One by one all the other guests showed up. I was a little taken back that the hostess wouldn't seat us until the entire party was there. But that was fine. I was a little surprised how slow they were for a Thursday night in the city around 8pm. Our server was Tony, who did a wonderful job, knew exactly what wines to recommend for what you liked. He knew the menu very well and suggested some of his favorite dishes. We started off with the mussels, buffalo shrimp, ahi tuna, and crab cakes. The mussels were just ok, there was nothing special about them. The ahi tuna with wasabi and soy was fantastic. The crab cakes appetizer were pretty good, and the buffalo shrimp was different. I never thought of putting buffalo sauce on my shrimp but was fairly impressed with the taste. four out of six of the guests had the Chilean sea bass. My girlfriend and I split the sea bass and she ordered the crab cake entree. The last was the block island sword fish. The Chilean sea bass (Tony's favorite) was also our favorite. It came on a bed of off white sweetened rice, veggies, and a Hawaiian sauce. This had to have been the best sea bass I've ever had. The crab cakes entree came with an asian influenced rice (similar to a fried rice) veggies, and a mustard sauce. I felt as though the mustard sauce made the crab cakes phenomenal, which it was lacking in the appetizer. Overall the food is a little pricey, but it is a higher end restaurant, especially if you're having sea food. The service is a little slow, nonetheless the servers are still attentive. They are well trained with their menu, which is a huge plus. The food is phenomenal, the decor is lovely, and the entire experience is wonderful. Great place to dine or just grab cocktails at the bar.
(4)S G.
Had a great dinner here before a concert. Service was quick, the bread was warm and yummy. wine list is extensive. there is a pre-fixe menu available. I had the lo mein ( I think the chef is of asian descent so there are a few items that are not straight seafood). My husband had chilian sea bass, someone had the soho salmon. appetizers were calamari and the crab cake. we had the creamed spinach as a side full bar; great martinis we did not get dessert- just too full!
(4)Jeff And Grace S.
Best Chicago dinner theatre packages with valet parking credit included menu specials for those going to local plays short walk to most theatre district venues!
(5)Jennifer L.
This totally did not live up to my expectations. I saw an average of 4 stars on Yelp and figured it would be good, but unfortunately that was not the case. A girlfriend and I stopped by on a Tuesday evening during restaurant week. First of all, the restaurant week menu, which advertises the prix fixe menu for $33 for a three course meal. At the restaurant however, they have a $29.95 prix fixe dinner menu. Had I known that, I wouldn't have dined there. I would have opted for a place that doesn't have a deal like this so I'd feel like I was getting one. Anyway, we both arrived a little before our reservation time and the hostess seated us right away. We sat in the middle of the restaurant. I liked that the tables were not too close to each other so we didn't feel like we were sitting on top of another party. The restaurant's decor and ambiance didn't really wow me. We were also sitting by the kitchen area so I could see the employees working. Also, there was live music playing, which I did not enjoy because I felt like it was a little too loud even though we were sitting pretty far away from it. Maybe I'm just someone that doesn't like eating while live, loud music is playing, but I was not digging it. We started with the shrimp and crab bisque, which was delicious. I particularly enjoyed dipping the bread into it as well. I got come chunks of crab, which I liked a lot. For our dinner, we both ordered the whitefish, which was served with a Dijon Crust and a lemon beurre blanc. The fish was just OK. It was cooked fine, but ratio of crust to fish seemed off. It tasted like the crust was just thrown on top of the fish instead of actually being cooked on it. It was served with mashed potatoes and some greens. I didn't care for the greens much and thought they were a little overdressed. The mashed potatoes were good, but I think a better side dish would have been some sort of vegetable instead of starch. The lemon beurre blanc tasted good and I wished there was a little more of it on my dish. For dessert, I had the creme brulee, which had some white chocolate in it and she had the gooey cake. My creme brulee was just OK. There was nothing really special about it. I stupidly took it home, which was a mistake. Note to self: never take creme brulee home. It's just not worth it. The service, unfortunately, was subpar. Our waiter was a little off. He wasn't particularly friendly and made my girlfriend and I feel as if we didn't belong in the restaurant and weren't the right type of clientele. He also made a bad mistake by charging us for our desserts when they were included with our prix fixe meal. That pretty much was the straw that broke the camel's back for me. He should have been able to get our bill right no questions asked. So, we had him correct the bill, which he did without issue. He was able to split out meal between our two cards, which was good at least. Overall, I won't be coming back here. There just wasn't anything great about it. The food was just OK and our service was subpar. I think you can find way better restaurants to go to in the Loop. I would not recommend it for restaurant week either since they have their own prix fixe menu. It's just too bad that I didn't like it since it was rated so well on Yelp! Oh well! On to the next!
(2)Stacey D.
Idk about the other reviewers but I enjoyed our dinner here. We came here based on a lot of suggestions from chicagoists. Made reservations, got there early to have a pre-dinner drink... they came to the bar after about 20 min or so and asked if we would like to be seated early. We were seated in the dead center of the restaurant when there were two seater booths available but whatever. No big deal tho. A loaf of bread was brought to our table immediately. We started out with the oysters (can't remember the name but were the first ones listed, I think from Massachusetts) and were very good. It had the horseradish and cocktail along with a salsa type side and I think apple cider vinegar (not sure tho). I got the swordfish Oscar style. My husband got the bone in halibut. Both came with garlic mash potatoes and asparagus. Asparagus...eh. Overdone. But everything else was delicious. I personally liked mine better. It is pricey. Bill was around $120 not including tip. However, that is including our alcoholic drinks. Husband ordered a manhattan but it was made with Jack Daniels so he wasn't real impressed. I had a vodka soda with kettle one and it was a tad weak but still good. Overall, good experience.
(4)J. Damian B.
Excellent value for great food and superior service in a convenient location near State and Wacker. Large variety of seafood, prepared creatively with nice presentation. Extensive wine list, spirits, and beers. Live music on certain nights. Great selection of desserts and even a prix fixed menu offering in a relaxed atmosphere. Our waiter Keith, who gave full attention to every detail, put the final coverage on a fine dining experience.
(5)Comensal A.
I have passed by Catch 35 many, many times and wondered if it was any good. I finally got around to dining there, and the results were so-so at best. Part of it was the food (not as good as it should have been), part the service (brisk bussers snatching plates before both diners were finished with a course and without asking), and part was the value (food and wine were not up to the price points). There were good points, as well, that lead me to rate C35 at 3* instead of 2*. We did get to sit in a roomy, comfortable booth, the lighting was good (warm, but still bright enough to see the food), and the place was conversation friendly (at least early in the evening when we were there). Additionally, C35 deducts the valet parking fee from your check if you present tickets to a Goodman performance for that evening -- very commendable. We started with bisque: good seafood flavor, but no hint of sherry. A palm hearts salad featured nice hearts, drab arugula, and OK balsamic. The highlight for me was blackened swordfish: it was moist, fresh and seasoned just right with a chipotle cream sauce. Grouper was not as successful; it was fresh, but bland and a little salty. For dessert, an apple tart was OK, and cappuccino was good. I felt the wine list was overpriced by about 10%. It's too bad there aren't more good Loop dining choices. Currently, Trattoria No.10 seems the best in terms of food and value. A shame, in the nation's second largest city...
(3)Ls F.
Food was amazing! I only gave it 4 out of 5 stars bc my portion was really tiny. It was my first time ever not having a doggy bad so there will be no lunch for work tomorrow after all. Lol, all jokes aside. It was really tasty for sure. I'll be back!
(4)Trina J.
Had my first Catch Thirty Five experience. I ordered the shrimp & crab bisque soup and filet medallions. For dessert, we tried the key lime pie. The soup was really good. It was a tomato based soup with little pieces of shrimp and crab. Loved the flavor of all the ingredients. It was first crab and shrimp bisque not prepared in a cream sauce. The medallions were prepared three different ways. Blackened, garlic herb butter and bleu cheese veal demi glace. I am not a fan of blue cheese so I had two blackened medallions and a garlic herb butter. It was served with mashed potatoes and creamed spinach. Served at the right temperature. Enjoyed the meal and atmosphere. Would recommend this place if you are in the area. The menu is very extensive and has quite a few daily fish options. It was very hard to choose just one. Pros: Reasonable prices, fresh fish flown in daily, nice beef options, valet parking Cons: predetermined sides for entrees (mashed potatoes)
(4)Linda A.
First trip to Chicago for my teenage daughter and I wanted to treat her. I made reservations online and told them that it was special for her. They seated us in a nice cozy booth and gave us complimentary appetizers. She was ecstatic about all of the food, from the yellowfin tuna sashimi to the chocolate cake and cappuccino dessert. Absolutely delicious. Beautiful atmosphere and wonderful staff. They were all very attentive to our needs. We also had 1/2 dozen raw oysters which came with 3 magnificent sauces to compliment them. For the entree, we split the poke style tuna which, while we did have tuna as an appetizer, this too was delicious. It was prepared a different way than I have had before and I really liked it. Compliments to Adam Filipkowski and staff for making us feel welcome and special!!
(5)Joe B.
Make sure you get a reservation if you're going on a busy night. We ate at the bar. Good, fast service and great food.
(4)Stephanie L.
Went here before a show at the Goodman. Overall, it was A-OK. The food...A-OK. I got the three course meal for like $30 or something. It was cheap and came with app, entree and dessert. The fiance got crab legs and lobster tail. We started off with the mussels and they were unimpressive. Just ok. I wouldnt get them again. Next was the mixed greens salad. It was good. My entree was shrimp with rice. It was SPICY and I liked it. We got the dessert to go because we were in a rush. The service...Meh. Our server was pretty unattentive even though we told him we were in a hurry because of the show. Then at the end of the meal, he rang up our bill wrong. He charged us for dessert when it should have been included in my meal. I wrote on the bill and left it because he was no where to be found. The ambiance...A-OK. There was quite a mix of people in the restaurant. I think most were tourists from what I could tell. It was a good, upbeat vibe though. Overall, I probably wouldnt go back, but its not horrible. There are a ton of places in the city with the same price point that are better...for sizzle.
(3)Josh S.
i was taken to catch 35 for my brithday. in a nutshell, everything i had was fantastic. seriously, from the apetizers, to the wine, to the main course, it was fantastic. I dont remember everything i had, it was back in junethat i went, but ii remember our server was the best server i have ever had. i dont remember her name, but she was absolutely phenominal. if i remeber her name i will post it up. i will be back as soon as i can make time.
(5)Zach T.
This is a great find, especially for lunch. It's haunted by the tenants of the building at 35 W. Wacker, because few others know about it. Their "Charley's Tuna" is excellent. Served with bacon and cheese on a roll. Their breakfasts are hearty and generous (eggs, potatoes, meat in a serving tray for about $4. Their burgers are actually very good, but they come served in a styrofoam container that makes the fries limp. The taco salad is the real find. for $5 or $6, you get a huge flavorful salad in a tortilla bowl. It's so big it comes in a container they put cakes in at the grocery.
(4)Little Miss Sunshine B.
I love this place. The atmosphere is so nice. When you first walk in everything looks so regal and pretty. I love where it is located right off the river. Food was great but can get super crowded if there is a show at the theater on State or Randolph.
(4)Bess R.
No complaints - woohoo! Went to dinner with my manfriend on Friday night with a mean craving for some seafood. The server was very helpful and friendly, recommending a great wine for me. Each course was served at the perfect time, no waiting, no overlap. And, of course, the best part - the seafood was SO fresh and delicious. I had the scallops and he had the crab-stuffed halibut. yumminess. Can't wait to go back and try some of their other dishes!
(5)Melissa K.
Catch 35 is FANTASTIC!!!!!!! I've been here for lunch for work and every time we go, the food is consistently delicious. The service is incredible. We've had a different server every time and they've all been wonderful. The fish is extremely fresh, the salads are great, the key lime is to die for. It's not very cheap but it's totally worth the price.
(5)Jeremiah S.
I was here recently for NYE and had a great experience. One of the better seafood restaurants I've been to in the city. On the suggestion of other reviewers, I tried the coconut beer battered shrimp and the moonstone oysters which were both quite good. All of my party's entrees were fantastic including the seared yellow fin tuna (rare), seared Chilean sea bass, and the maine lobster w/ spinach and wild mushroom ravioli. The price is a little high, but for the quality of the food it's worth it.
(5)Hannah B.
I love this restaurant, the food is outstanding and the bartenders all have a great sense of humor. (I usually eat in the bar so I can hear the live music.) Be sure to check out the jazz on Tuesday through Saturday nights, Rob Parton is amazing!
(5)Blake W.
Not bad... I heard about this aplce from a co-worker so I wondered over to check it out. Today's special was free soup with entree salad. I got a big Blackened Chicken Salas (Standard) and thier crab Bisque (Tasty) all for $6 quite a deal, so I've got no complaints on value. I went here at like 1:30 and didn't have to wait long or in a line. I've got to go back and try some other plates....
(3)Liz A.
So..I went here for a business lunch. We made reservations and were sat immediately. It was pretty formal and they allowed us plenty of time to talk. However, the entire process felt entirely too drawn out for a luncheon. The food was really good but I would not go there for a lunch again. Also, I hate when restaurants feel the need to put "mood lighting" on, especially at lunch. Who wants to be ready to fall asleep around 1:30? Sunlight is best around then. I would definitely dress nicely (no cut offs, weekend wear, etc.).
(4)Allison L.
Great seafood restaurant. Soft shell crabs were very delicious. ... tuna was fresh!
(5)Haley S.
I was excited to try this restaurant on my recent visit to Chicago. However, I found it very over-hyped - to the point that I've taken the time to write my first Yelp review. The food was ok but certainly nothing special. I choose from the 'out of the ordinary' portion of the menu, but found my meal to be quite ordinary. That is except for the uncomplimentary flavors in my dish. I choose the salmon with roasted garlic gnocchi. The fish was good and had a nice wasabi crust on it. But, it did not go at all with the gnocchi served under it that had a very garlic, woody taste to it. Overall, I was disappointed with my choice. Particularly considering that the meal was rather expensive and the service slow. This place has a nice ambiance and the fish quality appears to be good. But this NY foodie would not go back again.
(2)Megan H.
I'm not a huge seafood fan but Catch 35 has always been high on my list when I'm craving a good piece of fish. I came here for dinner with my mom after we saw a show. I remember always wanting to come here for business lunches since it wasn't me who was footing the bill. But the food is tasty and they do seafood right. I was impressed that they offered a 3 course pre fixe meal for $29.95. Since everything I was going to order anyways was on the menu, I went for it. I started with the caesar salad with the portobello mushrooms. This was sooooooo good. I'm obsessed with portobellos and this definitely delivered. I had the tilapia with crab and this was also delicious. My mom also had the appetizer scallops for her meal and she really enjoyed them. (I'm not a scallop fan) For dessert, I had the apple pie. However, we were so full from dinner, we took that home. All in all, I would say that this place is very good but I probably wouldn't make a point of coming down for the loop for dinner. However, if I'm down here anyways and it's a special occasion, it's definitely high on my list.
(4)Shawn S.
I went here for a business lunch. My Catch Thirty-Five experience was very underwelming although it seems like a popular place for business lunches on the north side of the loop. The other customers were mostly suits and the median age of clientele was probably 50+. I felt a little under dressed in my casual friday attire. The atmostphere is decent although a little loud when the tables filled up. The food was blah at best. I had crab cakes. They were like any other crab cake like I have had anywhere else, although at Catch Thirty-Five they cost twice as much. I think it was $22 for two small crab cakes with steamed (read: soggy, limp, barely warm) vegetables and gross rice. This isn't the kind of place you go for the food, but for convenience . . . and because you know that although you're eating expensive, boring food, you don't really care . . . because you'll just end up charging it in to your employer for reimbursement. . . and that's what Catch Thirty-Five is betting on . . . so they don't even try to make better than average food. The service was very good.
(2)Lori C.
Probably one of my favorite restaurants- it's so good. I've been here a few times for special occasions and when my parents come into town and it's delicious. The coconut shrimp are delicioius and I love the stuffed halibut!
(5)elizabeth n.
Catch35 is my favorite seafood restaurant in the city! I go there every chance I get. The upscale restaurant has a variety of choices and I can't get enough of the salmon baked in puff pastry. Start out with the coconut beer battered shrimp and you will have one fabulous dining experience! Remember to have dessert because they are all amazing!
(5)Anita T.
The food deserves 3 stars which means it's okay. I was definitely disappointed after dining here because the average yelp rating says it's a 4 star place and i trust my fellow yelpers, but this place is not 4 stars. The food is definitely mediocre, it was nice of the server and kitchen to whip me up a surf and turf entree when it's not really on the menu. I had a taste for some steak and fish so they whipped me up a filet and some seared tuna. The filet was bland and certainly not tender enough for a $65 entree and the seared tuna was a little too overcooked. My dad had the blackened mahi mahi and that was overcooked as well. We had the chocolate mousse and pecan tart for dessert and the presentation was beautiful but the taste was not up to par for a nicer restaurant. The price you pay is for the ambience which i did enjoy and the service was very good. If you're looking for a classier environment for a celebration of some nature and the food quality isnt that important, then catch 35 is for you. For those of us that want an pricey entree to taste phenomenal, i would skip this place.
(3)Calvin K.
Great fusion restaurant, but I would reccomend staying away from the asian noodle type dishes. I say this because if your gonna go out for a nice seafood dinner, then get a nice seafood dish. My favorite is the chilean sea bass, OMG, it just melts in your mouth. Highly recommended, there is one in downtown Naperville as well.
(4)Adam F.
We ate here last night before we went over to see "Legally Blonde" at the Cadillac Theatre, just because everything else around the area was jammed due to the show. I immediately asked the hostess if she could have us in and out in less than an hour, and she said "yes." Well, that is exactly what happened; and along the way we discovered a great place to eat, and hopefully enjoy more in the future. We were escorted back to a really private, quiet area, where we were given menus, bread, and water right away! The waiter Carlos, who was excellent by the way, was told prior about our situation and was very accommodating in getting us out of there on time. He sped through the specials, but we already knew we wanted to start with the Martha's Vineyard salad. We also put in our order for the Rock Shrimp Kung Pao! The salad took less than 5 minutes and was fabulous! More dressing than I liked, but perfect size (not to big, not too small) and great combination of tastes. The Rock Shrimp Kung Pao was tantalizing, and also came in a perfect size to split. It came with a patty of white rice, lots of small shrimp, and a spicy Kung Pao sauce that left me wanting more. it was a little spicy, but not hot by any means. What a tasty meal, and the waiter, Carlos, was great! He offered dessert, and they looked great, but we had to go. We both looked at the menu before we left and have already figured out what we would order on out next night out at Catch 35. Very happy with our meal, and hope to see Carlos again! Also, we both had a glass of the Joel Gott (Oakville, CA, 2007) Sauvignon Blanc and loved the fruitful taste. Though next time I told my wife I wanted to get a bottle of the Frog's Leap (Napa Valley, CA, 2007)!
(4)Madeline L.
For the best seafood in Chicago, Catch 35 is the best place in town. The drinks are great, and the appetizers are out of this world, especially the coconut shrimp appetizer. As for the entrees, they have this lobster stir fry that I can't get enough of. And the cheesecakes and chocolate cakes are delicious for dessert. 5 stars all the way for this restaurant!
(5)Cassie B.
tasty, classy restaurant. good for work lunches. fresh, not-too-expensive fish dishes. open, clean decor. i have never had dinner here, though.
(4)Ren H.
Excellent seafood here! The ambiance is great, be sure to dress up and bring plenty of money.. the crowd here is definitely upscale!
(5)Crista H.
This place has really fresh seafood. I started with a dozen raw oysters and ended with the Tuna Tartar with vegatables. A bottle of wine and good company made this evening perfect. We were too full for dessert but the options were out of this world. I will certainly be back.
(3)Elizabeth N.
Good seafood. Ample selection. Tacky interior decor... what's with the big gaudy fish drawings on the walls??? I will say that it can have a cozy, secluded feeling if you get a table burried way in the back. I never thought I'd say this about anything, but I like the Naperville location better.
(3)Nicola C.
Great seafood and fish, excellent to go to before a show downtown. Definitely try the curry dish, it is to die for. Just really fresh food.
(4)K M.
Its ok. The food did not live up to my expectations and certainly didn't live up to the price. I hate the decor for some reason so that didn't help. Its decent food but there are definitely better places for seafood. That being said, I know it impresses clients or others you need to impress with a fancy meal, and has for years (so you don't have to worry about being too late to an uber trendy party that has fizzled out)
(3)Laura R.
Everything we had here was wonderful - from appetizers to soup to the amazing scallop stir-fry. Some of the best seafood I've ever had - the service was great too. I can't wait to go here again!
(5)Doug p.
this place rules, everything is so fresh, and prepared to perfection, plus dining area has a nice view of marina city across the river
(4)Kison P.
I've lunch meetings here several times and dinner a few. The food is superb, great seafood selection. They also have great steaks. The service is pretty good. This is one of the few places in the Loop that has both exceptional quality seafood and steaks.
(4)Gabriela M.
Disappointing dinner. Our server was very nice. However, the place has an outdated feel. The plates were mismatched (and not in the cute way) and chipped. The food was serviced to us but had to had been sitting out for awhile. So disappointing. We had a group of 7 people.
(2)Melissa B.
I'll admit when I told my friend I would take him anywhere he wanted for dinner and he chose catch 35 I wasn't jumping up and down. Nothing against the place- I just was expecting a little more that night. This is one of the few times I'll admit I was very wrong! The food was amazing! We started with the bisque and a salad. No complaints there. Scallops, halibut and key lime pie were all to die for. The real winner is the wine list. We were thrilled when we spotted our favorite wine! Honestly, we probably had one glass too many for me to properly remember the meal. I am sure it was fabulous though. The service was wonderful. They ran on time for reservations and paced the dinner perfectly. I will never be disappointed when Catch 35 is the destination in the future. I may even be the one suggesting it.
(5)Allison W.
My favorite seafood restaurant in Chicago, hands down! I've had the Miso Salmon, Mustard Whitefish, Grilled Salmon, and Filet Mignon... all delicious. I've enjoyed the sides and salads as well. Like any seafood joint, the bread is always delish! Also, must try the sticky toffee cake dessert... AMAZING!!! I've also had the creme brulee which was good. Overall, great place! TIP: If you are going for dinner on Fri/Sat be sure to book a reservation or you can always sit at the full-service bar.
(5)Kristin S.
This meal was SUCH a delight. The special "Prix Fix" option allows you to choose soup or salad, an entree, and a dessert all for $33. I order a shrimp and lobster bisque, the lemongrass shrimp and scallops, and a blueberry pan cotta for dessert. Every single bit of it was delicious. The soup was hot and extremely tasty, the scallops and shrimpy were cooked perfectly and came with cooked carrots, rice, and vegetables including a sweet cucumber. The blueberry pan cotta was also amazing and a fresh light way to end the meal. The service was great. The wine glasses were large and the portions matched. I would recommend this place to anyone!!
(4)Cassandra G.
Been here many times and have yet to find a negative. The food has always been consistently wonderful and waitstaff friendly and accommodating with specific requests. Lovely, lively atmosphere near the piano bar. Here's my best suggestion: order the Blue Hill Bay Mussels IN Thai Lemongrass Broth (it also comes in a garlic/wine broth, not the same WOW). I imagine this broth is the sea-version of manna from heaven. It's what I keep coming back for and order it every time. Incredibly 5-star delicious!
(5)Sherri B.
This place was fantastic. Came in without reservations on a cold Thursday night. We had a bottle of Pinot noir, oysters on the half shell, whitefish, surf and turf, and the sticky toffee cake dessert. An order like that and my expectations are high- yet everything was even better than expected. Elegant and nicely spaced tables, helpful service, great menu, delicious food, varied wine list- all just fantastic.
(5)Susan M.
Dinner was delicious! Came here for 5 yr anniversary before heading back home to Grand Rapids. The buffalo shrimp appetizer was so good I could've just had that for dinner, perfectly cooked and awesome flavor. Hubs had soup and he loved it, I just thought it was ok. For dinner, the yellow fun for me and blackened salmon for hubs. Both were good but salmon was better. Yellow fin was seasoned well but served cold, like out of the fridge cold. And sides were just ok. Nothing to talk about. Dessert, service and ambience well that's a different story. Our waitor was very attentive, soft spoken and very good recommendations! Nice quiet dinner but not too fancy, kids were at dinner and most were well manner! Dessert we had bread pudding and creme brûlée. Bread pudding was great, ice cream very good and creme brûlée was average. Overall great experience!
(4)Pam C.
We went before a play, they asked us before if we were there before we said yes then they asked what time which was 8 pm. They had us out by 7:30. Waiter also asked. It went like clock work. The food was great. 5 stars all the way. We had oysters on the half shell to begin, salad. I had salmon chefs special my husband had their seared tuna. Both agreed. A must to go back
(5)Emily C.
Loved the joint! Just went for my first year anniversary. The place was lovely and the seafood was great. We did the 3 course menu which definitely kept the costs lower than it could have been. I had a yellowfin tuna poke. I liked the ambience of the ace and the food. Waitstaff was mediocre though. They did have live music at the bar which was lovely
(4)Aaron Jae M.
I was a little disappointed. I had high hopes for this place as I love seafood. Good atmosphere and great service. I loved the appetizers we ordered and they were very tasty but when it came to my main course I was not impressed. I ordered the swordfish steak. I thought it would be a nice sized portion and would be simple and delicious. What I got did not even look like swordfish and was quite small for the $35-40 dollars I was paying for it. It did not taste bad but there was too much going on and it took away from the natural taste of the swordfish.
(3)Paul F.
Good selection, good food.
(4)D. K.
Great sea bass! Enjoyed my dinner here.
(4)Zakia C.
This year's restaurant week lead me to Catch 35. When I say I was more than pleasantly surprised by the outcome of this date night, I am not even giving you enough information on how happy I was with my experience. Again, when I look for a restaurant during restaurant week, I look for one who truly wants you to experience what their restaurant has to offer. (It burns my buns, when they want to offer one of their mediocre meals because they really do not want to participate) Considering this, I rate the restaurant of the "wowability" of their entrees, the comfort of their service, the bang you get for your buck, and the dessert. Well, Catch 35 delivered in all components and then some! They offered the $44 dinner option for restaurant week with 4 courses. ( Far more courses than most) As soon as I stepped into Catch 35, I received excellent treatment. The host immediately greeted me and offered me a seat at the bar because they were running a bit late. Our server, had suggestions for everything, from the best drinks to order to the best entrees to order. I had the sashimi for my appetizer and lobster bisque for my second course. Both, were amazing. Then, I chose the Surf and turf for my main entree which was perfectly prepared steak medallions and a lobster tail. The spinach and mashed potatoes were also prepared nicely. However, the highlight of my experience were the desserts. The desserts were mouth watering... Yes, I said desserts because I had to taste my boyfriends dessert as well. I had the carrot cake bread pudding and he had the chocolate molten cake. Both were to die for! All and all, I give Catch 35, 5-NOMS!!! You should try this place out for yourself, especially if you are planning a great date night.
(5)Patrick F.
The walleye was deeelicious! Only reason they got 4 stars instead of 5 was because they no longer offer the carrot cake bread pudding.
(4)Jing L.
Lobster bisque and cesar salad were okay, soft shell crab was mediocre, white fish is good. Overall, food is very underwhelming. Service is okay...They were very keen on collecting dishes. Two guys took turns to come and check up on us every other minute when we were eating, and literally took the plate away the second I lifted the last bit of food!
(3)Bill O.
Best halibut I've had in the city. A fantastic herbed vinagarette gave the dish a savory and tart flavor. The lemongrass scallops were excellent, and the waiter did an excellent job pairing everybody's entree with a delicious wine. I would definitely return! Bonus - if you are going to a nearby theater, you can valet here for $10, they will keep your car all night AND give you $10 credit on your food bill.
(4)Lil D.
We all had the chilean sea bass and devoured it in less time than ever. I'm usually the slowest one to finish my meal, which may still have some left on the plate, but not this time, not here. I think I just inhaled the mouthfuls--it was that good! Perfectly seared and caramelized juicy sea bass served over a bed of rice with a ginger sauce, and vegetables. It doesn't get any better than that! If we had more time in Chicago, we'd be eating here everyday! Came here for the seafood. We didn't try the meats. Service was very attentive and even comp'd us ice cream for the two who were celebrating birthdays. My only regret was not finding this earlier so that we may have repeat(s).
(5)Mike C.
Catch 35 has potential to really be a top of the line restaurant. However, the service there, across the board, leaves much to be desired. We got there early, so we took a seat at the bar to have a couple of drinks before our table was ready. The bartender comes over, and he has absolutely no personality at all. He doesn't smile, and his voice was very low. In addition, he seemed as if he didn't want to be there. We order our drinks. I had the Moscow Mule. I've had better, but it was okay. Our table is ready, yet I have to chase down the bartender just to pay for our drinks, which is never a good thing. We get to our table. It takes the waitress forever to get to our table, even though Catch 35 was not crowded for a Saturday night. Even though the place was not crowded, it seemed as if she was rushing all over the place; she never really seemed calm at all. She finally gets to us, and we place our orders. The caesar salad was okay, my ribeye was above average, and the creme brulee was decent. However, that key lime martini that my girl had was absolutely awful. I would have liked to have gotten another drink for myself, but the waitress rarely stopped by. I didn't see her again until after we were done with our meal. Word to the wise: if you want a good tip, make sure to actually visit your tables every now and then to see if they need anything.
(2)John G.
Great food and service. Didn't seem to mind that we had a 11 month old with us (although we went at 5:30 for that very reason), and even gave us free fresh fruit to give to her. Definitely recommend.
(5)T G.
My wife and I have been going to this place in Chicago for 20 years. The food is consistently spectacular and the service is really friendly and helpful. The bartenders are always on point. Great location and vibe.
(5)Ozge S.
Sea bass is excellent however a bit pricey and fix menu is affordable- plus you can select a soup/salad salmon and a dessert-. Place is elaborated and spacey.You can bump into live music.
(4)Jordan Y.
For starters we ordered the beet & goat cheese salad and crab & shrimp bisque soup. The salad was delicious, while the bisque has a different taste than I was expecting as it had a red base, but was still very tasty. The sour dough bread they bring out was an excellent compliment to the soup! For entrees we got the salmon with lemon dill sauce and the Hawaiin poke ahi tuna. The tuna was fantastic, very spicy and fresh. The salmon I thought was a little bland without the dill sauce. The only negative I would say was the service. It wasn't terrible by any means, but since this place is in the theatre district they're used to catering to tourists. I got the feeling our waitress didn't expect we would ever dine there again, as she kept pushing desserts, coffee, etc. She even circled the tip line on the bill, which I thought was incredibly tacky for a nice restaurant. Other than the end of the meal, the service was good.
(4)Adam V.
I am in town for a conference and had dinner with a client here on her recommendation. The ambiance of the restaurant is very classy and certainly an appropriate choice for a business dinner. We had a number of appetizers which were ok, not particularly memorable however the tempura asparagus and blue cheese mashed potatoes were enough to offset that. I had the seabass as my entree and it was perfectly cooked. Overall I would return to Catch 35 even though I wasn't completely blown away.
(4)Julie T.
Glad I tried it but wouldn't return. Ambiance: 4 :the live music definitely ups the charm as the decor and atmosphere itself wouldn't be enough to deem it classy/trendy Food: 3 : Shrimp/crab bisque - too tomatoey and way too salty; Stuffed soft shell crab - delicious although it was accompanied by salty sautéed spinach and bland (and dry) mashed potatoes; Scallop appetizer - I asked for them seared and I thought they were sufficient but not above average Service: 4.5 : I admit, I can be difficult but my server handled me well. He granted my requests and checked up on me frequently. I docked 1/2 a star since he didn't quite understand that I only wanted to add scallops to my entree and not order an entirely separate appetizer; not a big deal Overall, it's conveniently located but I would recommend this place as a last resort.
(3)Christa Lei S.
This place was OK. It's like a much fancier McCormick & Schmick's, though it has food of the same quality. The service here is impeccable-- I'm not going to argue with that. The bread, great. The food fell sort of short, though. The quality of everything is excellent, but being a foodie-- I was sort of disappointed with the way it was cooked. I got the halibut, and the mushrooms didn't match with the risotto, which didn't match with the way the halibut was cooked. The whole dish didn't work together, and it fell apart as a result. My mom said the same thing about her salad, but I guess it's all about personal preference. The bread is amazing here, service is great-- but it's expensive for the quality you're getting. I could go to McCormick & Schmick's and get the same food for cheaper...
(3)Jeff F.
We stopped into this restaurant on a whim. The food is great, the portions are appropriate, but you'll definitely pay for it.
(4)Suvondal E.
This place is phenomenal! Great location and great ambiance in the inside. My husband and I had the beer battered coconut shrimp and the crab cake for an appetizer. For dinner I had the blackened Atlantic Salmon with the sweet chili pepper sauce and he had the King Crab leg with the Filet Mignon. They both were great and the prices....well no complaint here! We will go back. (And the drinks are great as well!)
(5)Jasmine G.
I enjoy this restaurant because I love seafood and steak. They also have a great selection of wine. I will be back.
(5)Jamie S.
Uniquely styled restaurant with great food and service! I tried Hugo's and Joe's and while the food and service at all 3 places are very comparable, I had the best meal at Catch 35. Exceptional service from start to finish. Everything I ate, which was outstanding! I begin the evening with the shrimp and crab bisque, which was very good, and for the appetizer, I had the crispy clam and shrimp combo...flashed fried with a perfectly seasoned batter. For the entree, I had blackened sea bass, which was really good and full of flavor - not on the menu, but its something I asked for. This is definitely one of the places I return to every time Im in Chicago. A must try for good seafood!
(5)Wendy B.
Rock solid seafood, perfectly executed and reasonably priced for downtown Chicago. The raw bar selections were fantastic (I found a new favorite) and the service was top notch. Our server was actually a former Alinea staffer who left Achatz to return to his first love. He was great and it wasn't a surprise to see that he's worked in the finest restaurants in Chicago. I took our server's recommendation to get the cedar-planked Alaskan salmon and it was a stunner. Paired with vegetable lomein, the Asian-inspired glaze complemented the fish without drowning out the flavor. I would eat that same meal once a week if I could. If the rest of the meal had maintained that level of perfection, this would be a five star review. However, my counterpart selected the pan-seared Atlantic salmon and the fish was dry and overcooked compared to my salmon. Granted, we could argue that there's a considerable difference between Alaskan and Atlantic salmons (and in fact, I was surprised to even see Altantic salmon on their menu, given the sustainability issues), but it wasn't just that -- the menu had advertised a lemon herb sauce on the side, but what arrived was a decided cream-based affair, which would have been an important thing to note on the menu for those of us with food issues (or just those of us who want to know what it is that we're selecting). That cream-based sauce would have been a deal-breaker had it been properly noted on the menu. As with my other reviews, I always take away a star if things aren't accurately described on the menu. That being said, his meal wasn't by any stretch bad but in comparison to my dish, it faltered. Additionally, the lobster and crab bisque that is raved about in Yelp reviews fell flat for us. Might have been a bad night, or maybe the recipe just isn't as good as other locations (RL about a mile away has a superb lobster bisque, for instance). The drink menu was creative and delightful, however, and in a drinking town, such creativity is crucial. We were impressed by the selections available, particularly in the wine and scotch listings, although we ended up with martinis, which were superb. For dessert we had the house-made ice cream, a scoop each of vanilla and banana. The vanilla was, you know, vanilla ice cream. The banana was good, although the yellow color gave the artificial flavoring away immediately and the first spoonful confirmed it. Is this a bad thing? Not really. It was still good ice cream, but could have been amazing if it had been made with real bananas. The atmosphere was lively, and the jazz band was an interesting addition. A little too Baby Boomer for us, personally, but the skill of the musicians was very apparent. Unfortunately, light jazz isn't our style, so it didn't inspire us to hang around after our meal. All in all, this was a pretty fantastic restaurant and we're thrilled that we gave it a try. We'll definitely be back, as the rest of the menu looked awesome and we want to check it out.
(4)Kevin O.
Bisque was great. Key Lime pie too. Meal (swordfish) was OK. Place was a little noisy too. It was good but not sure I will be back.
(3)Steve S.
I would give Catch 35 3.5 stars if I could, but I can't so I'll round to 4. The food and service were quite good, but the knock against it would be pretty uncomfortable chairs and pretty high prices. Don't get me wrong, I expect seafood to be pricy - but I would say that Catch 35 is a little above average amongst the "nice / pricy" places. Also let me be clear: I have never once in my life given thought to how comfortable a restaurant's chairs are. These were so odd that I actually tried switching chairs thinking mine was damaged/broken -- it was not. That being said, the food was great and the dessert we had (Sticky Toffee Pudding) was so good I could see myself going back just for that. Our server was attentive and polite and I liked that the tables were pretty spread out. We had a reservation and walked in thinking the place wasn't all that full - but it was! It's just not as tightly packed as a lot of restaurants in terms of cramming tables next to each other, which I think is more comfortable (and makes for a lower noise level). I'd recommend Catch 35, but I'm shocked that such an expensive place has such uncomfortable chairs.
(4)Sandy S.
We just had a fabulous experience. Our server was wonderful and the sea bass was amazing. Very leisurely dining experience
(4)Nathan S.
I started in the bar, and got a nice cocktail. The atmosphere is comfortable and unique. The bar tenders are very nice, and quick to serve you. I made it to the table and was greeted by another knowledgable member of staff. He took our drink orders and left. It took a good while for home to get back and when he did he forgot our drinks. That was the only problem we had. I had a shrimp bisque that was wonderful, and the shrimp and scallops for dinner. Very good food. I highly recommend coming here. The menu changes a lot so I will be back to fill my belly as it does.
(4)Dan L.
OVERALL REACTION: From start to finish, this was a great place for a lovely night in the loop. ATMOSPHERE: Upon walking in off of Upper Wacker, you are presented with what I would call the "TARDIS Effect". It's MUCH bigger on the inside. To get seated, we had a table that was near the end of the restaurant, which felt like it was a city block away. As we made our way there, I did my best not to drool over what I saw everyone else was eating. Wait staff rawked. They let us dine without having to worry about being over visited. WHAT I ATE: We came here on Valentine's Day. Their special menu for the evening included an appetizer, which had scallops, polenta, bacon, and some kind of reduction sauce that we left zero trace of. For an entre, I went with the King Crab Legs. They were only $39.95 for a pound and a half which was a steal. We also went with the Roasted Brussel Sprouts and a side of the Butternut Squash Mash with Caramelized Onions. WILL I RETURN: More than likely for a special occasion because of the classy atmosphere. WHAT TO SKIP: To be honest, nothing. This hit the spot on a romantic evening.
(5)Bob T.
We had a wonderful "pre-Goodman" dinner at Catch 35! Loved our cosy booth. Ann, our waitress, was absolutely fantastic. The calamari appetizer was tender. The whitefish was well presented and delicious as was the lemongrass shrimp/scallops dish. . The deserts were the best we've ever had in our Catch 35 dining experiences. Perfect portion size to conclude a fine meal without pushing you into too serious of a guilt trip. Thanks for making this such a great experience!
(5)Todd L.
Our server was amazing. The ambiance was Jazzy for sure. The decor was cool and comfy. We ordered the crab cake app.....tasty! For dinner the halibut was perfect and the scallops were seared to perfection. highly recommend.
(5)Natalie L.
I have been to Catch 35 twice now with partners from my firm, once for dinner and once for lunch. In fairness, I agree with other reviewers that it's a 3.5 star place. Others have been more enthusiastic that me. I think the food is fine but I have never been blown away. The service is fine. I think the ambiance is much more suited to dinner than to lunch. It's a solid business dining option but it's lacking of a fun factor.
(3)Susan C.
I love this place because of its romantic atmosphere, fresh food and $10 valet parking. They have a variety of fresh fish as well as steaks and other seafood. Sunday was our third visit and I was, however, a bit disappointed with my lemongrass shrimp and scallop meal. If I recall, the scallops used to be whole and now they are thin slices, made to look like there is more, but I think not. There are also way too many carrots in the dish. Desserts are to die for and are meant to be shared. My cocktail was on the weak side. I hope this place isn't skimping or cutting back on their quantity or quality. Overall, I give it a thumbs up.......will return!
(3)Joe J.
EXCELLENT establishment for a nice night out in the city of Chicago. Service was great, recommendations were perfect, here is the breakdown: I had the sashimi tuna app, tasted AMAZING. The way they crusted it and the amount they gave were beyond respectable. The lemongrass shrimp and scallops was a great Asian inspired dish, and zero complaints. The three course price fixe is a great value, with the caesar salad coming with one large crouton on it, and the filet mignon medallions coming in the requested preparation style. Dessert was included, and it only cost $29.95. Drinks were amazing and everything was fairly priced. I'd recommend this place to anyone.
(5)Carol K.
Catch 35 still continues to deliver for me with some of the best fish in town. On my most recent visit, however,- I spent my time in the bar (I know, unusual, right? -ha!) but I had forgotten how great an experience that alone could be. A jazz trio was playing in the center of the space, and as we sat sipping our martinis, at one of the high tops with those plush leather chairs that surround it, I was reminded at what a cool date place this could be. A few sushi rolls, the complimentary greasy but deliciously salty chips, and those blue cheese stuffed olives were just the right accompaniment to my perfectly poured martini. And our server was great- attentive and friendly. A perfect way to start the night.
(4)barb g.
Very mediocre. Crab cakes burned. Creamed spinach blah. Bartender snarky. Husband loved the seabass, hence 2 stars. I would say 0 to 1.....
(2)Kari F.
Best lobster roll I have EVER had.... I'm not kidding I LOVED this thing. I love the freshness, service, and atmosphere of Catch 35. There was no strange seafood smell- a clear sign of the cleanliness and freshness of this place. It has a bit of a fancy look, but laid back enough where you feel comfortable and relaxed. I want to steal every piece of art they have on the walls (Do not fret, I am no thief). The beautiful musical and aquatic themes with the gorgeous piano and high ceilings in the main room... I didn't want to go back to work. I hear they had fantastic happy hours that I have yet to experience. I will be back at any chance I can get!
(5)Larry S.
This is easily one of the best Seafood Restaurants in the city in the eyes of this fussy east coast native. I've dined there at least five times and will be back. .The fish is very fresh and well prepared with nothing too fancy or over the top. On a recent visit my wife (a Bostonian with no tolerance for bad fish) and I had the Crab Bisque, Blackened Swordfish, Halibut, Roasted Brussels Sprouts and the Toffee Cake. All were superb. Prior visits have included excellent soft shell crab, whitefish, scallops, raw bar and Asian shrimp/scallop stir fry. The staff is friendly efficient and knowledgeable. The wine list is solid with a nice selection of wines by the glass. One thing we learned on our last visit is that they offer valet parking and you can leave your car with them for an evening of theater. They offer Happy Hour Jazz and an nice bar as well.
(5)Seeker O.
This is an elegant restaurant with a slightly subdued atmosphere. It's a great place to take a client out or to celebrate a special occasion. I have enjoyed many a meal here and have always had a good experience. The fish dishes are flavorful and coupled with a bottle of nice wine, it's an experience you can really enjoy. A place I have and will continue to recommend to friends and people from out of town. Currently they have a $30 meal special which includes a soup or salad, a main dish and desert. It's hard to pass up a deal like that.
(5)Charlotte T.
Experience and Décor: 4 Nice décor besides the fish paintings on the wall, makes you feel like your in a grocery store/fish market instead of a nice restaurant. Food: 2 Had soft shell crab w/potatoes and spinach Bland and dry Grilled oysters: YUCK!!(and I love oysters) Cajun Chowder: Yummy Wouldn't come back. Wouldn't recommend.
(2)Fred H.
We went there prior to going to the Goodman. Great location for the Goodman. The wine list by the glass is extensive-larger than most restaurants. We had the grilled salmon and the hadddock special, both of which were very good. Since we were there on an icy night, there were very view people. This was the third or fourch time we ate there and have never been disappoined-says something about consistency.
(4)Claudia M.
The ambiance is nice, though they tried to sit us in front of the kitchen where it was very noisy and also smelled like fish a little bit. When we asked another table we were seated in a cozy nice corner that made you wonder why they gave us the first table to begin with. Food is ok, not outstanding. Their wine list is long and diverse. Our waitress was great, attentive but discrete. Overall, nice but I don't think I'll go back.
(3)Jami S.
Must try in the loop. Dined here on Friday for Restaurant Week and our group loved it. The food was great. My fav's were: coconut shrimp crab bisque pecan pie - 4 stars! must try dessert The deal was pretty decent for 4 courses $44. The service was a bit slow, but it was Friday night. And the waiter apologized and made sure all our food came out together and on course. Fab artwork on the walls. great ambiance. fun friday night out
(4)Janene M.
I loved it!!! We went for restaurant week. We had the 4 course meal option. Cocktail shrimp: 2 pieces of shrimp. The shrimp sauce had just enough heat to make it very tasty. shrimp and crap bisque: It is tomato based, thus the reason for some of the negative reviews. I found it very tasty. Butter poached lobster tail: To die for!! It is served with clarified butter, grilled asparagus and mashed potatoes. Everything on the plate tasted great, even the mash potatoes!! Flourless chocolate cake: chocolate, chocolate and more choclate. Our server was very nice and gave great wine and meal recommendations. They had a nice jazz trio playing in the background. We would return!!
(4)Mary D.
I brought my friends here from out of town because last time, I had a really good experience. But this time, my friend found a hair in her food and the server wasn't really that apologetic and just took it off the bill at the end (which was good, but that shouldn't have happened in the first place and they should have done more).
(2)Jessica N.
This is a decent Business lunch spot. Food is good but atmosphere is so strange. It is almost stuck in the 80's? And with the awkward structure of the restaurant the mood shifts from bright to strangely dark quite quickly. The seafood is always fresh, but the menu is strange. Why the pan-asian take with that doesn't seem to be a theme of the restaurant as a whole? Fine for a quick meal. Not somewhere I'd go at night with friends or a date.
(3)D J.
A white table cloth dining experience, where you're surrounding by fellow diners who largely represent the next decade of life is highly recommended to ease into a milestone bday month! A nice mellow Friday night dinner at Catch 35 therefore was a pretty good way to kick off November 2013. Feeling youngish and great conversation with a close friend over some Malbecs was all good. The food department however was infact "meh". The calamari starters with a tofu satay was probably my favorite dish. A double carb attack of mashed potatoes and cauliflower risotto that came highly recommended wasn't entirely inspiring. Interestingly, the spacious area that was teeming with people during the starter course ended up quickly emptying out by the time the late hour came around and so it was that it was practically us and the service staff by the time we finished a somewhat late dinner. I am not about to step into Catch 35, not for another decade perhaps - but an interesting dinner experience nevertheless.
(2)Erika G.
I went here 20some years ago, I went here last week. Out of town friend chose this, and it was a trip back in time. The food was still great, and the 80's decor is actually holding up. I kicked it oldskool and had the shrimp surf and turf. Juicy filet and buttery shrimp with creamed spinach. was delicious. And the Sputnik lamp in the front lobby is still really cool. The large magazine covers on the walls are a little weird, but this is minor. It doesn't affect the food.
(3)Courtney W.
My bf brought me here for some special occasion some time ago and I still haven't forgotten this place! You walk in and are instantly taken aback by a huge Sputnik-like lamp hanging down from the ceiling. This restaurant is long, so don't get lost taking it all in. We sat towards the back and I could look out at the entire place and the decor is pretty awesome. There murals of the sea and the lights were turned low enough to be romantic but there was still enough for me to read my menu. My bf insisted that I get the lobster since he knows it's my favorite so I indulged and I was mighty impressed. Coming from an ocean town, it's hard for seafood anywhere else to compete. He had a filet and of course we shared. I loved how everything was prepared and the lava cake at the end? The real winner, make sure to save some room. Heck, go for the key lime pie and the lava cake!
(5)Jade U.
Went before a show and the waiter (very sorry I don't remember his name because he was awesome) asked us if we would be going to the theater and then suggested what time we should leave to make the show and that he would make sure the kitchen knew the sensitivity of timing. Our party of 4 had the Medallions of beef, Salmon, Sea Bass, and Surf & Turf. Plus 2 had the shrimp/crab bisque. Overall the food was excellent. The only critique is that the Sweet Pea Risotto had a grainy texture and was overpowered with the peas and the shrimp/crab bisque was watery and devoid of any lumps of shrimp or crab. If you want a decent bisque you can't beat the lobster bisque at McCormicks and Schmicks. Overall very attentive service and good food.
(4)Nina R.
My husband and I just visited Catch 35 this past Saturday to celebrate our two year wedding anniversary. This establishment was recommended to my husband by a friend. This was our experience- The entrance into the restaurant is on the fancier side, I ceilings are very tall, there is a beautiful bar and an area where jazz musicians were playing. We had reservations and were sat right away. The host bought us towards the dining area and the fancy factor started to fade. It wasn't a dump by any means, but it reminded me of a Greek family owned restaurant. It got dark, the ceilings became lower and the guests were packed like sardines. The host sat us at a table for two (one of 6 lined up in a row), that sandwiched us between two other couples. We were kindly greeted by our server. She asked if we had any other engagements that evening that would have us on a time schedule. Luckily, all we had planned was enjoying a meal together. Our server went out of her way to make the meal an experience, rather than speeding us along for quick turnover. My husband took me to Prosecco's (on 710 N. Wells St.) the night we got engaged, so it is a tradition that we order a bottle of Prosecco on our anniversaries. The wine tasted good and the server refilled it every time, before we had a chance to. Since it was our first time here, the server did a great job of explaining the menu to us and was able to answer any questions that we had. The menu was slightly deceiving in the fact that it made many of the meals look like they came a la carte, when actually a starch and vegetable accompanied with them. After our wine came out, our server took our appetizer order. We had decided on the oysters Rockefeller. I never thought I'd say, something had too much cheese on it. The flavor was so unbalanced in this dish and it was unfortunate because the oysters we cooked perfectly. They didn't have enough spinach and all you could taste was smoked asiago cheese. I would not recommend this dish. When we were finished with our appetizer, she took our entree order. My husband ordered the Chilean Sea Bass with a Hawaiian ginger scallion sauce (this is the restaurants signature dish) . I ordered the Block Island Swordfish with poached lobster in a Bearnaise sauce. Our order came out in a timely fashion and both of our plates looked appetizing. My husband's sea bass came with carrots, snap peas, a couple other veggies and rice. He was happy with how the fish was cooked and thought that the sauce tasted like store bought stir-fry sauce. Though it tasted good, he was underwhelmed that it was the signature dish and thought that they could have put seasoning on the fish too. I really enjoyed my swordfish, it was cooked well and the sauce was tasty! My dish came with grilled asparagus and herb mashed potatoes. My asparagus was a tad burnt and usually I think mashed potatoes are a lame side, but they surprisingly went well with this dish. My husband had mentioned to our server in conversation that we were celebrating our anniversary and she treated us to dessert on the house! We had our choice of any dessert on the menu, and we chose the cappuccino creme brulee. Though the creme brulee was sightly burnt on the top and our coffees came out after we finished the desert, we still enjoyed it. Overall, we had a moderately good experience. Our bill came out to be $140.00 Chicago is a big city with many choices of restaurants. I probably wouldn't revisit Catch 35.
(3)Stu S.
I was here earlier today for a business lunch. When I arrived at noon, it was pretty much empty, but it was much busier by the time we left. I had a cup of the shrimp and crab bisque to start, which was very good. I didn't have a whole lot of time to savor it, though, as they brought out our mains shortly after. I ordered the sriracha buffalo shrimp roll, which was spicy, crunchy, and delicious. Overall verdict: I'll be back.
(4)Danielle S.
Catch 35 is indeed a very good meal. But there was also nothing over the top or outstanding about it. I ordered the Coconut beer batter shrimp for an appetizer. They were very large shrimp (6 total) and very tasty with a sweet chili sauce drizzled over them. For my dinner I had the "Sauteed Alaskan Halibut" them comes with crab meat and portobello mushrooms on top. The meal was also paired with zucchini, squash and mashed potatoes. The Halibut was good but lacked much flavor, the mushrooms were helpful in this case. The meal was prepared well and everything was cooked perfectly, just no wow factor for me. For dessert I had the signature key lime pie and this did not do it for me either, and key lime is one of my favorites. The service is outstanding. We went on a Wednesday evening and there was live music playing in the front that was quite nice. Overall a good experience.
(3)Gail J.
This is a 3.5 star place aiming for the stars and I can't discredit that--aim high peeps! For the 29.95 prix fixe menu, my amiga and I had the following (it's 3 courses, app, entree and dessert): Apps Cajun seafood bisque (nice kick at the finish like an elite Kenyan runner) Crab and lobster bisque (very tasty with lumps of lobster and some nice stringy crab legs) Entree Filet mignon medallions: nicely prepared steak (with little or no fat) with maytag bleu cheese crumbles. I eschewed the veal glace as I'm fine eating grown up cows, but not babies. Yes, I see the unfortunate irony here. Lemon grass shrimp and scallop: Perfectly cooked shrimp and scallop, however the Asian fusion was over sweetened. Too much teriyaki sauce. Also, odd quarter chunks of under cooked carrots. Dessert Pecan pie: Hey, this had Jack Daniels in the sauce. This is like sauce in the sauce. The crust was severely underattended to...and the pecans were multy (this is a made up word for very squishy) Blood orange cheesecake: VERY blood orangey. The texture was a tad dry for my taste, but the blood orange flava laid over a very vanilla bean base...well, it was, in the word of Winona Ryder in Heathers many years ago, VERY VERY. No, I don't know what that means. For 100 bucks, including two local brews, for two a rather decent meal.
(3)Graham S.
This was my wife and my first time going to this location we have been to the naperville location in the past and it was great so I thought that this would be a good choice. Went to see Wicked and then walked over after the show and arrived early and they were very accommodating and got us in about 45 mins before our reservation. The Waitress was very helpful and nice. I have the Maryland crab cakes which were delicious and my wife had the chilean sea bass which is always a great choice there. We finished up with Turtle Cheese Cake which was also awesome. We will be going back to this location with out a doubt.
(5)Helen H.
really good! ambiance- nice presentation of food- very nice clam chowder- good! mussels- great! haddock- really good too service- excellent!!
(4)Bob H.
We've been there twice this year. First time was before a show, and we were running late. The waitress was used to dealing with show-goers and getting them to the theater on time, so she took really good care of us. Also, when you use their valet parking, you can leave your car through the show as well, much cheaper than using the self-park garage. Food is terrific, which brought us back when we discovered our hotel was a block away. We will keep going back.
(5)Alese R.
We love coming to Catch 35. The portions are just right and the staff is excellent. My fiance and I visited Catch 35 for New Years Eve this year and it wasn't overcrowded at the front door and the food came out in a very timely matter. The steaks are cooked to perfection and the bread is delicious. Definitely recommend to anyone interested in trying a new steakhouse. Martini's always come out perfect and I love that your waiter does not bother you every 5 minutes.
(5)catherine b.
I've been here twice -- once with some out of town guests, and just this past week with some friends. If you are going to see a show -- this is the place for dinner. Just make reservations... it gets really busy! The prix fixed menu was great. Soup or salad and six choices (seven if you count the salmon could be prepared two different ways) for the main course -- and of course, any dessert on the menu. All for $29.95. How can you beat that? I had the haddock with sweet potato/pork belly hash/egg. Ohhh so decadent. expertly cooked. we each picked a different dessert and being girls, we all shared. each one was better than the last. flourless chocolate cake? jack daniels pecan pie?? and the white chocolate creme brulee... ? all excellent! The waitstaff is wonderful, they knew we had to be out by a certain time and gladly accommodated us. The valet service? See... that's part of the deal. it's only $10. Whaa?? Yes. You can get a wonderful meal, go see a show, return, wait inside while they get your car, and then drive home. no creepy self-park, no waiting for the CTA. I will definitely be back.
(5)Adele G.
This is in reference to CATCH & CARRY, their take-out service by the lobby of 35WW. SERIOUSLY?! 1) I asked a colleague to lunch at Catch 35 proper because I had never been. She's usually up for anything, but she was adamant about not coming here. We went to a competing steak and seafood restaurant further from her office. Due to my experience with the take-out portion, I'm not trying the main restaurant. 2) I've eaten take-out from here a couple times, and I'm done giving them a try. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. The first time was a caesar salad. For the outrageous price, it was sub-par. I've had better salads at McDonald's. A few months later I tried the 5 Flavors stir-fry. Again, nearly $8 for a small stir-fry with a few pieces of chicken, and old rice. Some of the rice was crunchy and stale and had to be thrown out. And since when is jasmine rice yellow?? It may be convenient because it's off the lobby of the building, but best bets for lunch without going outside are other restaurants attached to the Pedway. Keep walking.
(1)Ashley S.
The crab cake and oysters were the best I've ever had!! The fish was amazing!! The prix fixe is a great deal. Try the espresso martini for dessert, yum!
(5)Tracy T.
Coming from Washington DC where five star restaurants are on every corner I am a tough customer. Catch 35 was up to the discriminating taste. I scheduled the reservation using OpenTable but got turned around on our walk to the restaurant and was a bit late. We called and it was no problem despite being busy. They met us at the door and already knew my name... All I had to say was, "Sorry I was lost." Excellent service when they know and use your name immediately. The service continued to be outstanding. The prix fixe menu offered great variety and there was not a single complaint from my table mates. I had the Jack Daniels Pecan pie which was outstanding. Great price, great value, great atmosphere.
(5)Marian D.
Had not been here for many years and it is still one of the best seafood restaurants in town. Great food and service. Location perfect for an evening stroll on Michigan Ave to walk off a most delicious meal. If you haven't been in a while, it's time to go again. If this is your first time in town, you can't go wrong with a meal at this restaurant.
(5)Hales L.
Went here for my birthday dinner because I was craving fresh oysters. Turns out, the oysters were not fresh, and the menu failed to mention that they were also miniature. We ordered a dozen and got only 6-- but rest assured, they brought out the other half. Ordered sea bass as my main course to find that the dish was extremely over-buttered. Same case with my boyfriend's halibut. Why ruin such a succulent and delicious fish by overbuttering the crap out of it? Presentation was less than impressive. Our server was also probably having a bad day. She checked on the table next to us twice more than she checked on us. Maybe because we were younger? At least I was in great company.
(2)Lauren S.
I thought this resturant was a bit overrated... the food wasn't bad just does not live up to the hype. I probably wont go back as there are much tastier seafood resturants throughout the city.
(3)Emma M.
Eh... I really wasn't impressed. Based on the Yelp rating and the prices, I expected a lot better. The bread was warm and enjoyable, but nothing spectacular. I love carbs & specifically fresh warm bread, so if I can't at least enjoy the bread at a restaurant that would be a really bad sign. The salad was good; I enjoyed the flavor, but they didn't seem to put much thought into the presentation... honestly I could have made a similar salad at home. The Chilean sea bass was tasty but also nothing to rave about; I liked it but I didn't love it. It came with sides of plain white rice and green beans which really did nothing for me... I could have made those myself at home as well. And I can barely even cook! The key lime pie was wonderfully delicious though... that was definitely the highlight of the meal. However, aside from the pie there was nothing really unique or special about my meal; and in a city with so many amazing dining options, this place really falls short. I think the people on here who are calling this the "best seafood restaurant ever" must have only been to places like Red Lobster in the past. I don't know, I guess it's all a matter of perspective... Anyway, if I'm ever in Chicago again this wouldn't be on my list of places to revisit.
(2)Amy T.
Great choice for seafood lovers, they claim the menu changes from day to day based on the product they have shipped in that morning, so it's got to be fresh! Pleasant ambiance and great location, a quick walk to most of the downtown theaters. Prices vary, you can have a relatively affordable meal or you may splurge, but it's nice to know you have the option.
(4)Kimberly K.
We have dined at Catch 35 several times through the years. Service has always been great. Food is always consistent. Definitely a place to go...when you can't think of a place to go. I mean this in a nice way. Obviously Chicago has a ton of different dining options. Can't go wrong with Catch 35. Very fresh seafood, great specials and very affordable.
(4)Carlann F.
Excellent location for a business lunch. The wait staff was amazing making certain that everyone's needs were met. The food was delicious. I had the lobster salad and it was a great combination of flavors. Really appreciated that the waitress did not rush us as we even went over their close time. A great experience.
(4)Nicole C.
Went for a Valentine's Day dinner. To put it simply: the food was great, but the man serving us was not very friendly - in fact, he seemed to be annoyed by us. Not the sort of service we expected from Catch 35 considering it came so highly recommended. Lobster bisque was delicious, as were the scallops with parmesan risotto.
(3)Steven B.
Loved the soup and seafood items. Oysters were delicious.
(4)Ashley C.
All I have to say is... yummy. We came here during restaurant week on Saturday night since it was clear it was a good deal. I am very hesitant about eating seafood out since I am new to the cuisine and can be rather picky so I was a bit concerned. Catch 35 blew me away! Our waitress was friendly and quick. Since we had never been there before, she was great in offerring suggestions during the entire meal. The bread came and it was yummy. I could see it could be easy to fill up on this. We got our first course quickly - field greens and Cesear salad. Both of us were amazed. We didn't wait too long for our food. We both got the Bank Sea Scallops - with an asian style sauce over risotto and served with asparagus. Oh my!!! The dinner conversation pretty much stopped as we savored every bite. The scallops were cooked perfectly and the sauce gave the right flavor. Dessert was tasty. I got the apple pie and my friend got a special caramel chocolate cake. I have to say I was a bit jealous of her choice since it was amazing! Mine was okay, but not the highlight in comparison. I would go back again. However, without a deal, it could be a bit pricey and 3.5 stars. By the way, it is a nicer place (for dress), but they aren't pretentious and turning people away.
(3)Melanie S.
Has this place really been around for 20 years? In a previous life, I used to work for the company that owns Catch 35, and one of my perks was that I got to eat and drink for free. It was a benefit I did not abuse, as I was afraid it could then be taken away. I made next to nothing, but you better believe I ate good during my tenure. I would dine here on the average of once a month, and I would do it up right. Fast forward 19+ years, and Catch 35 fell off my radar. A friend suggested meeting here for lunch as it was about halfway between us. I had honestly forgotten all about this place until she suggested it. The chef at Catch 35, who is also one of the owners, is Thai, so much of the menu is Asian influenced and many of the dishes have unique preparations that you won't find anywhere else. This is what sets Catch 35 apart from other seafood restaurants. If you enjoy more traditional seafood, then you may enjoy a place like Shaw's better. We were seated on the first level, which is probably the least comfortable part of the restaurant. I prefer the upper levels which are much cozier, and less loud as well. I was thrilled to see that my longtime favorite entree, the Seared Tuna, was still on the menu, and hoped it was as good as I recalled since my taste buds have matured significantly. The Seared Tuna, while good, did not live up to my fond memories (but does anything?). It's sushi-grade ahi tuna, served rare, and it comes with a delicious szechwan glaze that gives it great flavor. I think the tuna itself would be pretty bland without the glaze. The accompaniments are a mouthwatering chive pot sticker, a couple of Maui fried onion rings, fried rice pilaf, and some sauteed vegetables. When this beauty of a dish is placed in front of me, I have a hard time deciding what to taste first. I'm not sure if they have a pastry chef on site anymore or if they outsource their desserts, but they were pretty mediocre. The key lime pie didn't have that mouth-puckering tartness that I so enjoy. In short, I'd rate it 3.5 stars. It's a little pricey, but the food is very good. It's also a great place to come after work and have drinks and appetizers in the bar area. I will put Catch 35 back on my radar for a special-occasion lunch or after work drinks.
(4)Karina F.
After reading many great Yelp reviews, I decided to try it out for Restaurant Week 2010 I went for Lunch and left very satisfied and stuffed Appetizer: Seafood Gumbo was very tasty (while the Corn & Crabmeat Chowder looked really good too) Entree: My Parmesan crusted Whitefish was super, not too salty and cooked just right. Served with some veggies. My friend's blackened Mahi-Mahi was very good as well. Dessert: You can choose anything from the almost 10-choice menu and all sound so good! I opted for the Espresso Mousse served in a cream puff-ish pastry (light yet extremely satisfying) My friend tried the seasonal carrot cake bread pudding, which was heavenly - definitely try it while it's still available! Would definitely come again when I'm in Chi-Town... I had an awesome waiter as well Restaurant Week or not - prices are extremely reasonable for a nice seafood restaurant
(5)Neil B.
Fantastic meal (period). Filet medallions were unbelievable.
(5)Lu H.
Another solid 4. We came here twice, once for dinner and once for happy hour/bar food. The biggest pro is their super fresh and yummy oysters. It's definitely on the same level as Shaw's oysters, but they don't have any half-price special, and we usually order a full dozen, so it can be a bit on the pricey side. But hey, I'd rather pay up to eat fresh oysters than throwing up on cheap but nasty inedible oysters. For dinner, we ordered the mussels as appetizer, it was very fresh and delicious. For entree, I ordered the lobster tails. The grilled lobster tail was to die for, the buttered one was kinda heavy but still very yummy. And we had Molten Chocolate Cake as dessert--I am very picky when it comes to any chocolate-related cake, BUT this one was just perfect! The cake was moist, and the filling was melting just to the right degree. If you are a big chocolate fan as I am, you gotta give it a try. Move on to the bar food--we went on a Tuesday so they have all bar food 50% off. It was such a steal! My bf ordered fish and chips--we were spoiled by all the yummy fish and chips in Seattle, so the bar was pretty high and our expectation was low. BUT, their fish and chips, in my mind, was the yummiest one we've ever had in Chicago. The cod was super tender and fresh, and it came with vinegar as well as tartar sauce. The fries were okay, but we finished everything so we weren't complaining. I ordered the portabella mushroom minis. Every slider only had maybe less than a quarter of portabella on it so I was a little disappointed, but then i started just eating the bread of the slider alone, jeez they were yummy! I'd recommend you order the minis if you judge the sliders by the bread, not so much the mushroom.
(4)Adam L.
Overall, a good meal. This isn't exactly our type of restaurant. We enjoyed the meal generally, but everything was WAY TOO SALTY.
(3)Stephanie W.
Way past their prime? Catch 35 looks borrowed from the 80s. The decor is just bizarre, and what could be a beautiful space is polluted by all the outdated bronze mosaic and weird light fixtures oddly combined with beautiful, classic granite. Confused? Me too. The oysters and wine were a-okay, but not outstanding. Our server kept making slightly inappropriate jokes about my companion and I. And everyone else in the restaurant was at least 20 years older than I am. Think I'll be going somewhere else next time!
(2)D M.
I don't really understand all of the great reviews. We had several appetizers and four entrees and I found them all average. The price was very high for the quality and added value to the dishes. Also, service was unbalanced at best. Not a great choice for us.
(2)Claire M.
The interior of this restaurant is great and feels very welcoming, but the wait staff seemed to have some sort of attitude. The food was OK, nothing special and everyone i was there with would agree. I ordered the Chilean Seabass and it was.... plain and also WAY to thin. This is a fish that should always be at least an inch thick and I believe mine was maybe 1/2 an inch. It would have been perfect had it been a thicker piece. I probably will not be coming back here, but it was great to venture and try somewhere new.
(3)S W.
There is nothing creative here whatsoever. The room is not cutting edge. To which I say "good." There are times this is fine. I mean maybe it was challenging in 1998. To people coming in from Iowa or something. Sometimes that's really not a problem. I find over-wrought "creativity" annoyingly omnipresent and it's nice to avoid it sometimes, frankly. This is a very nice place to decompress. There is nothing *wrong* here either, not on our plates. I'd stick to the strength of the menu - seafood with asian flavor profiles. I did and I don't regret it, got the scallops in red curry. Dining pal had a sudden lust for steak, and this was a good one. Service was very understanding moving "nice de-stressing night out" us away from completely inappropriate loud and horrid toddler birthday party (seriously people? here?) Solid. Not earth shattering, but would go back.
(4)Dee B.
The service and food were great! We were ther on a Sunday about 4:30 p.m. We enjoyed the four course meal. Everything was cooked to perfection. The Reisling wine ws very smooth tasting. The server was knowledgeble about the food, wine list, etc. He was calm and attentive. This was my third time eating here. It is such a short distance to the Goodman Theatre!
(5)Ralph F.
Went here 11/7 for a pre Lyric dinner. Four of us with a 5pm reservation. Bar opened early to seat my inlaws who were early for once. Every single thing about that dinner was executed well, from the killer Hendricks Martini they made me to the oysters to the salad to the entree. Spoke to the father in law yesterday and he's still talking about the Salmon. My Swordfish with Poblano & Fingerling Potatoes was fantastic. The women had scallops (the more savory version on the menu) and both raved about them. Our server (Patricia I think) was courteous, efficient and charming. Interior was beautiful with unique lighting. Pricing was in accordance with the address, so don't come here expecting $5 burger-n-fries. Do come here expecting among the best seafood in the city, excellent service and surroundings. Highly recommended.
(5)Kelly S.
I had a nice time at Catch 35. My husband and I went to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary, and it was nice and romantic, which is what we were looking for. The waiter was very polite, and on top of things. As far as the food goes, the mussels in lemongrass broth were outstanding. The best mussels I have ever had, and the broth was flavorful and thick. For my entree, I had the Schezwan ahi tuna, which was good, but not great. It was fresh, but didn't have a ton of flavor. Next time I would definitely try something different. The dessert menu looked amazing, but as always my husband and I couldn't agree on one. The chocolate chip bread pudding was calling my name, so somebody please get that and tell me how it is!
(4)Kristen S.
The seafood is great, and the service is perfectly attentive. At Catch 35, I ordered the chilean sea bass and had informed our server that I was gluten intolerant. He spoke with the management and the chef and I had one of the most delicious meals in Chicago. The sea bass was served "plainly" (no sauce or butter) with just some julienned carrots and peppers and mushrooms on top. On the side, I enjoyed some steamed asparagus and a scoop of rice. It was so delicious and healthy and I felt great. My husband did not enjoy his steak - he felt it lacked flavor. However, this *is* a seafood restaurant, so I didn't dock them points for this. Especially because the service was top-notch with the gluten intolerance. For dessert, I had white chocolate creme brulee and my husband had a mini chocolate lava cake. Both perfection. The decor is stuck somewhere in the 80s. But the food and live jazz are great. Definitely check out Catch 35 when you are in town.
(4)Chrissy N.
You walk in--and WOW: Located on East Wacker, right across from the Chicago River, the location is ideal. You want to get drinks someplace FUN before dinner- this is the place. When you walk in the main entrance, there is a huge atrium where these light sculptures hang, and it looks AWESOME! The bar is right there when you walk in, and there is a piano set up for jazz everyday but Sundays. A coat check is to your immediate right when you walk in too. This place is known for its (sea) food, but to impress people with some fun drinking ambiance- this place is great for that too! My work has tried to get a private dining room here for some while- but theirs is very very small- no more than 6 or 8 people, and oddly-shaped. Stick to the dining room.
(4)Doreen H.
Overall... I'd return again. My entree made my meal; the other stuff was good enough. Was here with a couple of coworkers, so we tried a bunch of food... Apps we split: Oyster platter: very good, except that I wish their horseradish had more oomph to it. Shrimp cocktail: so-so. Presentation wasn't very appealing... they were laid out on a huge plate, on a bed of ice. Made the shrimp look, well, shrimpy. Entree: Diver sea scallops... scrumptious. They were served on top of a delicious, fried risotto cake that was just crispy enough on the outside. Am still thinking about it. Sigh. Dessert: Key lime pie. I'm not an aficionado, but I thought it was good.
(4)Jeff M.
Really good seafood. The ambiance in the main room is just plain awesome. Super high ceiling, marble without, the huge retro light is a piece of artwork in itself, and there's always live jazz playing inside the restaurant.
(4)Kelly O.
At the time, I thought this place was really great - but after giving it a few days, it was just you average seafood restaurant. My colleagues and I each had the pre-fixe menu to try a little bit of everything, but maybe we should have ordered off the regular menu, because the food was just average. The crab bisque was pretty tasty, but it had no crab chunks. I had the white fish with veggies, and the asparagus and carrots had not taste whatsoever and the white fish was a little too buttery for my liking. The creme brulee was a larger than normal portion and while it was really good, it was too sweet to have more than a couple bites. They did have a couple bottles of wine that were half price, so not a total waste, but I would probably try another seafood place or order off the regular menu next time I'm in the Windy City.
(3)Keziah C.
Ok can you say Yummy?? OMG, I love seafood, mainly shrimp, calamari, lobster, and crab legs. If you feel the same way I do, then you'd wanna head over to Catch 35, to eat, see, and be seen. This is a great place for large groups, group of friends or family, definitely not a romantic place because it's kinda noisy. Other than that the food was excellent, the staff was great. My king crab legs were huge, and were each sliced open so I can just enjoy every bite without working too hard ;-), the calamari was delicious too! We had reservations so we were seated immediatley after arriving. My hubby and I went here for new years eve 2010, and really enjoyed our entrees. I definitely recommend Catch 35 for all seafood lovers, but pack your wallet with cash, this place ain't cheap.
(5)Erin V.
We came here last night for restaurant week. The food was very rich, but was good. The reason being for the two stars - the service was horrible. We had a nice lady but she took forever, took nearly 20 min. to ask what we would like to drink....then when we ordered our appetizer she insisted we wait to order our course dinner. Lady, we know what we want please let us order!! Not to mention she left our menu's on the table I had to give them to a busser. Turned into a two hour dinner - never again. I will opt to try elsewhere before I come back here.
(2)Jenny T.
After one too many Blue Moon's & a taste for delicious seafood I found myself at Catch 35 with my ex-boyfriend & his parents who were visiting from out of town. Awkward, I know. While trying to change into my dress & falling over, I realized I had made a terrible mistake. I decided, however, I would put on my most sober game face & enjoy the opportunity to dine in such a lovely restaurant. Luckily his parents could not tell Matt & I were completely out of it& offered to buy a bottle of wine at dinner. It sounded like a good idea at the time & it really did compliment our meals, but I blame that bottle on not remembering the end of the night. We had appetizers, which were nothing special since I cannot remember what they were. I did have a very delicious & memorable entree that evening. I decided on the ginger shrimp served with rice. It was an upscale version of a shrimp stir-fry minus the veggies, but it was so good. I think I ate the entire dish before anyone else was finished & that's not because of how much I had drank, but because of how delicious it was! It had the perfect amount of seasonings & sauce on both the shrimp & the rice. Everyone liked their meals, but thought mine was the tastiest. Even though I got quite sick much later in the night (due to the alcohol, not the food-I promise you!), I would definitely return, but this time without the afternoon cocktail hours :)
(4)Carolyn H.
This place is great for out of town guests who really do not know what a good restaurant is. The food is just okay and the service is weak. I cannot tell you how long I waited for my second glass of wine. How ridiculous. However, the wines by the glass were excellent and the waiter gave a good recommendation. If you like big portions and are not that picky about how the food tastes you will like this place. It is kind of a nice atmosphere: big and busy and lots of people. I would not go back to this place unless someone else was paying and they really liked it.
(2)Caryl R.
Wow! Filet medallions perfectly cooked that melt in your mouth like butter...succulent. Parmesan risotto done correctly that left your taste buds wanting more. A refreshing tai basil mojito for that slightly humid evening. Stars out, breeze off the water and a nice finish with hazelnut flourless chocolate cake. I will return Chicago! And next time I might even try the fresh "catch".
(5)Mike F.
Maybe I'm just easily impressed by fresh fish on ice. Or maybe Catch 35 just does fish well. The seafood chowder was a gluten-free treat. Very thick and hearty, not because a thickener like flour was used, but because it had so many chunks of fish. My halibut topped with portabello mushrooms was excellent. Very flavorful. And the chocolate mousse, while not divine, was certainly very good.
(4)Alicia E.
The service was great, but extremely stuffy. The food was way over priced, over cooked and just pretty bad. Not to mention it looked like hospital cafeteria food. I'm sorry, but in a city like Chicago where you have so many choices...I would not choose this.
(2)Tom S.
Redemption I had been going to Catch 35 for years, but somewhere along the way, in and around Y2K things started to fall apart at Catch 35. Service had become almost non-existent, the freshness of everything was in question and nothing was ever cooked or seasoned properly. I'd given up, until recently. Catch 35 is again the place I knew it once was: the venue itself is beautiful and clean, the waitstaff fully understands their roles as providers of service, and the selection, seasoning and preparation of everything on their menu [everything I've ever eaten anyway] is equal to what I remember from the early days. I love to indulge, but I can't help be attracted to my favorite lunch option, the crab cake sandwich [that's Crabby Patty for you parents out there] paired with their terrific crab bisque. It's crab and crack-tastic and for under $13.00 you get something so delicious and oh so "sole"-satisfying [sorry]. Another option that isn't too far off that same price is their Fresh Yellow Fin Tuna Niçoise Salad or their Crab Louis Salad. I don't veer too far from these choices at lunch, preferring to stick with the traditional 3 or 4 course meals at dinner. Since I had their crab cake at lunch, I'll opt for oysters to start at dinner. They usually have a good selection that can meet the preferences of oyster lovers from one coast to the other. Most of the appetizers are pretty typical, but I think they do a nice job with their Szechwan Seared Scallops. Nice and spicy and perfectly cooked. I'd probably opt for the crab bisque again, I really do like it that much, but the Fish Chowder wouldn't be a bad choice either. What I like about the dinner mean is that it is broken up into categories of how the food is prepared, Charcoal Grilled, Pan Seared, Oven Baked, Wok, etc. They obviously know seafood and how best to cook different types and cuts. One of my favorite categories to choose from, however, is the Out of the Ordinary and one of my favorite things from that category is the Swordfish Au Poivre, a swordfish steak with a peppercorn crust and cognac avocado "salsa". A wonderful play on steak au Poivre and perfectly executed. As with every seafood and/or steakhouse in town their "signature" dessert is key lime pie. I think Shaw's does it best, but if you're pining for key lime pie whilst dining at Catch 35, go ahead and indulge. I'll get the crème brûlée and we can share.
(4)Tory A.
This was a nice place, though definitely, definitely not cheap. I had a Alaskan Halibut, one of my favorites, with steamed veggies and thought it was very good. I liked the ambiance, it was a long, hall-like, and crowded place tucked into the corner of a busy intersection. It felt jumping. We came as a trio of singles on Valentine's day and surprisingly avoided any overly saccharine public displays of affection. Maybe that's why it was so busy? Anyway, it's a nice seafood restaurant with a decent wine selection. Go on, take a bite.
(4)Paul N.
This is always a great option for business lunches and dinners- the atmosphere is professional but not too stuffy. Food and service are always excellent.
(4)Jenny J.
On the top of my list for Chicago seafood. I like the Asian inspired dishes and the usual seadfood. Some of my favorites include the halibut topped with crab meat, lobster bisque, and lobster and mushroom ravioli. This is an expensive place and if you do not like seafood, not a good idea. Although there are meat dishes on the menu, it is truely a seafood spot. Parking is expensive...but you are downtown Chicago, it is expected.
(4)Brittany M.
Came here a few weeks ago, and this place has fantastic seafood. Welcomed by our waiter, who was so nice and very accommodating. I have a food allergy, and he was very careful to check all of the menu items I wanted. I ordered the scallops and pot stickers for my appetizer - so delicious. Really some of the best scallops I think I've had. The sauce was perfect, too. For my entree, I ordered the Alaskan halibut with crabmeat and mushrooms. Delicious! And super filling. I was so full after this meal, but in a good way. The seafood is so fresh and the service is great. Plus, it's one of the few restaurants in the loop that's actually open for dinner!
(4)P B.
My Wife and I had a great time on Friday 20th. I tasted the stuff shrimp while my wife tasted the crabcakes. Both were delicious. It was complimented with a glass of Reisling wine. The house band was excellent; they played jazz tunes like MD's Nefertiti. The wait staff was outstanding & knowledgeable on the wine lists and menu. A great dining spot in Chicago.
(4)Jennifer P.
Out of all the restaurants in Chicago we went there to celebrate my husband's birthday . Said this in reservation details and reminded them again when I snuck off to the bathroom. While eating our meal, saw the table next to us get a cute dessert with a candle. I figured, cool, that is what my husband will get. Nothing came. I spoke with the waiter to inform him in case the reservations and hostess did not. Nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nada. The only good thing to come out of our experience was that the food was pretty good. Not great, but good. Extremely disappointed.
(1)Samantha L.
My boss took me here for my new hire lunch, and we got 3-course meals during restaurant week. It was pretty yummy... I believe I got the crab bisque- delicious, the crusted whitefish- also very yummy and fresh-tasting, and a creme brulee, which was pretty standard. It is a bit pricey, but I guess that's to be expected when you get fresh fish that's prepared well. Perhaps I will return during the next restaurant week!
(4)Eddie S.
Came here before a musical show. First thing is that the valet is complimentary and the $10 cost comes off your dining bill. Nice way to help out with parking in an area that's tough to find spots. Now to the meal. House bread was warm and tasty. We ordered the scallops as an appetizer and we were not disappointed. Not very spicy at all, more sweet than spice and scallops were cooked just right with a good veggie mixture and large dumpling. Main courses were 3 course meal with salmon and halibut with maryland crab topping and portabella mushroom. All was cooked just right, sides were pretty standard mashed potatoes and veggies which were just fine. Dessert was an apple pie a la mode, which was OK. Pie wasn't heated all the way as it should have been. Overall, pleased with the meal. Service was on par with this level of a restaurant. If you're going before a show, they will ask you and keep your meal coursed and on time so you can make in time for your show. Only a 5 minute walk to the Cadillac.
(4)Alexis B.
Catch 35 is my favorite restaurant in the city of Chicago. I was first taken here by my then boyfriend in celebration of our 1 year anniversary. The service was amazing. When we checked in with the hostess, she wished us a happy anniversary and handed me a long stem rose. Our server was spectacular and her recommendations and meal timing made for a fabulous dining experience. It has been a few years and although I cannot for the life of me remember my entree, I do remember that my boyfriend's lobster mushroom ravioli was one of the freshest most flavorful dishes I have ever tried. While we ate quite well, it was unsaid that we'd stray away from the more expensive dishes due to my boyfriend's college aged budget. I have been meaning to return here for years and I had my chance tonight. When we arrived, we were quickly seated at a cozy candle lit table in the corner. It was surprisingly slow for a Thursday night, and being tucked away it made for great conversation. We ordered a bottle of Napa Chardonnay to start as we enjoyed a very thick and smooth crab bisque. I've had many shellfish bisques, but never any as rich and with such large chunks of crab meat! For my entree, I enjoyed the South African Lobster tail and Filet Mignon combo. While I enjoy lobster in any capacity, I am picky about my steak. I like my steak medium rare (red throughout with a warm center) but in many restaurants, my ideal is considered rare. A true steakhouse rare has a cold center and when I asked my server about the kitchen standards she explained that they did keep steakhouse temperatures. I chose to order medium rare, and it came out perfectly tender and complimented the lobster. My date ordered crab cakes with remoulade sauce and just like our soup, the chunks of crabs were HUGE and tasted as if they had been caught while we were looking over the menu! For dessert we split an order of white chocolate Creme Brulee which was tasty, but a bit much as we were both stuffed from our main courses. Like before, the meal was fabulous with spectacular service. If I lived closer and could afford it, I'd eat here at least twice a week. I've never lived close so a coast, but I'd imagine this is a similar to what East and Pacific NW Coasters enjoy more frequently.
(5)Rose Mary i.
Good seafood place. The staff was attentive and the fish was cooked perfectly. it is a bit noisier than other restaurants of this caliber but it seemed fine.
(4)Santusa M.
Went here with a large group of friends and they were so accommodating. I'm talking 15+ people. The service was superb, the atmosphere was so laid back, and the food was great. I got the surf and turf and it was great, although i did ask for well done when i meant medium well but that was a screw up on my part lol. however, enjoyed myself to the fullest and everything was fab. highly recommend if you have big crowds or love seafood.
(5)Andrea D.
We went here with 10 customers while on a business trip. I found the restaraunt to be WAY to dark and the server was arrogant, stuffy and slow! He didn't seem to think we were worth his time and must have thought our time wasn't valuable since he wasted so much of it. I ordered ne of the specials, a thai dish with shrimp and scallops mixed with veggies and a thai sauce. The veggies were undercooked and hard and crunchy. The shrimp had an odor so I didn't eat it but the scallops were good. The sauce was also very good. More than one of us at the table ordered the same dish and had the same results. When we asked the waiter to just "show" the cook the uncooked sweet potatoes, he said he would. He came back laughing and said "they weren't sweet potatoes but carrots" and set the plate back down. We made it clear we didn't want money off our bill or anythig but just thought the chef should know the veggies were very uncooked so when the waiter came back laughing saying "oh, they are crunchy because they are carrots" we were all kinda scratching our heads.....cooked carrots should be firm not crunchy. Oh well. We then ordered 1 dessert only because my "special" came with one. It was good but we had no intentions of sticking around and ordering anything else. Our bill came to over $600 so we definitely would have expected better service. I will add that the prices of the dishes are not to bad for a seafood restaraunt. We won't be going back though.
(2)John M.
Catch 35 had been suggested to me by several people and I was finally able to get there. I wish I had taken their advice earlier as the food here was exceptional. I had the white fish and my girlfriend had the scallops, both of our dishes were some of the best seafood either of us have had. The décor was warm and inviting and the service was good. Scratch that the service was incredible. We asked the waiter for suggestions for places to grab an after dinner drink and not only did he provide us with several but drew up a quick map of how to get there, I have never experienced this level of service anywhere.The night went great and I would highly suggest it as a place for a date as the environment is romantic but not to the point of being uncomfortable.
(5)Irina K.
Classy place. Great seafood. Tuna appetizer was great. Sea Bass was good too, but I guess I am personally not a fan of that dish. The service was superb.
(4)Lauren M.
The menu offered a fantastic variety of preparations. I enjoyed being adventerous!
(4)Laura F.
The bar staff is terribly inconsiderate. My coworker and I stopped here after work one night for a glass of wine and some project gossip. Two stars because the bartender offered tastes of two Rieslings, but no more because of the sneering and lack of manners. I thanked him several times and got no more recognition than a sideways glance, as well as some major attitude while discussing the wines. I'd be hesitant to stop in again for lunch or dinner.
(2)Kathy S.
This is for the Catch & Carry section. I haven't been here in awhile as it's too far from my work for lunch but I have been missing it. I feel like I'm getting the best of both worlds because I'm getting delicious food for relatively cheap. My typical lunch here would be some of their amazingly delicious crab bisque which is super creamy with succulent chunks of crab and a shrimp salad which is fresh and delightful.
(4)Bruce R.
Great food, great service and just a block from the Chicago theater. A great place for a Pre or post show dinner. Beautiful live jazz trio at the bar was a bonus. The Dijon whitefish was outstanding. We will be back!
(5)Kathleen C.
Catch 35 was good but nothing special. I feel like we were crammed into our seats behind the bar -- waiters even had trouble getting to us. Waiter was nice but it was tricky for him to get to our table so it seemed like he would just avoid it. I was excited about all of the different fish on the menu yet not many really stood out. The BF said he liked it a lot and thankfully he paid--I wouldn't have been too happy shelling out the $$ it cost. Better seafood places out there but glad I was able to see it here. ***I would go back for drinks in their bar. They had live music and a pretty decent set up of seats and bar area. Check it out.***
(3)Aaron K.
Dress for this restaurant is business casual, which is not the same as Yelp Casual. What a comfortable, entertaining, romantic, happy atmosphere. I was really impressed with the middle-of-the-room piano stage, our seating just behind the bassist, and the quiet of our table. I can't speak to the other end of the restaurant, but to have live music playing during dinner is usually great; and it's an even better treat if the musicians were as good as they were last night. Not my style of jazz, to be honest, but everyone on stage was skillful and enjoying themselves. The service was prompt and friendly, the wine suggestion and knowledge of our server was spot-on. My girlfriend and I both ordered white fishes (halibut and grouper) and were surprised at neither of them being dried out at all! Definitely a problem with many white fishes. Our meals tasted wonderful and were prepared with skill. I couldn't get enough, and this has to be some of the best seafood I've had, especially for Chicago. Which is why I'm only giving four stars. Portions were meager and I was left wanting at least one more grouper. I was homesick for good seafood and was really disappointed, but not completely because I'm a glutton; it was just that good that I didn't want it to end. Also their key lime pie was generic-pie and not all that great, but I'm a Miami native and I have high standards. Overall, a pleasure. I'll be going back.
(4)Molly L.
I went to Catch 35 for lunch today. The service was great and the prices were fair, but the food was just OK. I ordered the fish and chips. The fish tasted like overgrown frozen fish sticks. I'm not sure I'd come back with all the other great spots nearby in the Loop and River North.
(2)Zach T.
Excellent! I recomend ordering fish (out-of-ordinary), it melts like butter.
(4)Roslyn C.
Have eaten here on 4 different occasions, including a meal at the bat and lunch. It is consistently fantastic. Top notch attentive service, top quality sea food, great presentation and a totally enjoyable experience. It's not cheap, but the quality is worth it. They bend over backwards to please the customers. Great ambiance. We will be back!
(5)Dean B.
Had the fish of the day, salmon, had them prepare it blackened, total of 4 of us dined all were impressed. Calamari was exceptional, lightly breaded, tender. We'll be back next time we find ourselves in Chicago.
(4)Neal S.
This is good choice if you want seafood in downtown Chicago. Deep and varied menu so you'll have plenty of options. My daughter and I had the salmon and firecracker shrimp. We also had the clam chowder and a dinner salad. All of the food was fresh and prepared perfectly. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and was on time the entire meal. The wine list is deep, particularly if you like California wines. The ambience was great -- they had a jazz band playing in the background. Good music but no so loud that it interfered with the conversation. I do prefer Eddie V's to Catch 35 but you will do fine here.
(3)Andrew K.
This place was good, but nothing special. I should preface that I was here on business, so I was not footing the bill, otherwise I would not have picked Catch35. It did actually exceed my expectations and was perfect for what I was looking for. That being said, I think there are much better options in this price range.
(3)Tara M.
I have been to Catch 35 twice, both times for lunch. Each time I had the same thing--the crab bisque and the lobster ravioli (without peas). Catch is on OpenTable, so that is how I have made my reservations. On both occasions we were seated promptly at the time of our reservation. The service was friendly and prompt, and each lunch was under an hour. The restaurant is quiet when compared to Rivers that gets incredibly loud because you are six inches away from the table next to you. The ceilings are high, the tables are well spaced out, and while the layout of the place is a little odd it seems to work. Especially when discussing business-related topics, it is nice to know that the 6 tables around you can't hear every word you are saying. The crab bisque is pretty standard and the ravioli is awesome. I find myself craving it fairly often. Such a pleasant surprise when you see how much delicious lobster is in the dish! One of my preferred places for a business lunch.
(4)Evelyn S.
Another restaurant week favorite! I rarely order steak out - unless the place is pretty much only known for steak. At Catch 35, however, I was intrigued and not really in the mood for seafood. I must say, they hands down prepared the best ##***!! bleu cheese crusted strip steak I have ever tasted - bar none!! Awesome and amazing!! I will now go back for seafood and more of the live, smooth jazz!
(4)Shradha A.
went here for a business lunch 2 days ago and i am vegetarian. so i don't know how much my review holds for a seafood restaurant but i did think their salad was done nicely. the service wasn't as professional as you'd expect - no one checked up on us after they brought us our food and it just felt like no one really cared. i did hear from a colleague that he enjoyed his fish.
(3)Dustin S.
the food was all pretty good. it took a while to get the check.
(3)Mrs. T M.
In Chicago on business and was told to try this place. The restaurant is really nice! The shrimp and crab bisque was AMAZING!!!! I really wanted mussels and I ordered them and unfortunately I sent them back because they were not tasty at all! BUT I got sweet and spicy shrimp and it was DELICIOUS!!! I had to add the shrimp because the dish comes with chicken. The pecan pie is good too!!! Overall the food and service was good!!!
(4)R R.
Exceptional service... The gal that waited on us the second she saw us try to pour our wine she was over in a jiffy. It was busy too. I was impressed they had my favorite california wine Girard. My steak was great and my bf's fish was cooked to perfection (mahi mahi). We were so full so we did not indulge in dessert. We found this place via yelp and as always YELP does not disappoint.
(5)Paul K.
Great seafood restaurant. Never had anything bad here. A must if your looking for seafood.
(5)Jay V.
This was my third dining experience at Catch 35. Seems like each one gets better than the last. You come in the front door and your first sight is that of the white baby grand under a fabulous ceiling fixture. Next is the fully stocked bar. I dropped my coat off with the coat check girl and was seated 1/2 way through my Knob Creek. I ordered ther Coconut Beer Batter Shrimp - appetizer (to die for). A cup of Catch 35 Crab Bisque - again, excellent and ended up ordering the Yellow Fin Tuna in Ginger sesame sauce. (ok, I forget to mention that I also had the Fresh Mozzarella & Vine Ripened Tomato salad with Opal basil vinaigrette. I am in Chicago, why not) Getting back to dinner - again, to die for! If you are looking for great atmosphere, a place to stop in for a drink and some music - or want a fabulous sea-food meal, than this is the spot. Conveniently located on West Wacker Drive - across from the Chicago River and the Wrigley Bldg. Bon Apetite! Did I mention the service. A 9 out of 10. catch35.com
(4)Victor P.
Had lunch there today. Sea bass was delicious but the blackened salmon was smoothed in pepper. The waitress was MIA for most of the lunch and never asked how the food was or if we needed anything. We'll pass on going back.
(2)Adam S.
Lazy review, sorry. I had: Bluepoint oysters, grilled oysters, crab cake entree, sauteed halibut with crab, coffee and molten lava cake with salted caramel. I paid: 145 plus tip. I thought: Ok but not great. The lava cake was pretty darn good. I disliked: The ambiance, the location, and the crowd. Yawn.
(3)Paul C.
Loved it. Not as good as Shaws, but also not as expensive. The staff was quite courteous and knowledgeable and the seafood was fresh and delicious. You can't go wrong with this spot.
(4)Jesse M.
Pretty yummy.
(4)Lois A.
If you want lobster this is the place to go. The lobster is fantastic! The steak is also amazing so going with the surf and turf only makes sense. As for the Asian Flair dishes that get so many raves...I wouldn't order one of them again. The one I ordered with shrimp and scallops did not prevent me from wishing I was eating the lobster and steak. I LOVE that they serve sourdough bread here. It's a nice change up from other places. Also, the crab here is yummy!
(4)Amy S.
A few of my friends brought our moms here for the Saturday before Mother's Day after we saw Wicked at the Oriental Theater. I guess one word that would describe this place is, unmemorable. I just really don't remember that much about it. I know it wasn't bad, but I just don't remember it being that great either. Oh! I do remember the sashimi appetizer being very good and you got a lot of pieces...like 12 pieces! But that's really all. So go or don't go....it's up to you.
(3)Kaci H.
My boyfriend and I went to Catch 35 for my birthday on a Friday night. For the price we paid, we expected the food to be way better. We started with calamari, which was under-seasoned and bland. (We didn't finish it.) I had the tuna sashimi special with a sesame seed coating which was adequate, but not astounding. The rice that came with it was the best seasoned piece of my entire meal. My boyfriend had the blackened Mahi Mahi with rice and veggies. He said the "sauce was a little odd, offering a savory tangent to the spiciness of the Mahi Mahi, as opposed to a cooling complement as I would have expected." For desert, we had creme brulee and apple pie a la mode, both which were good, but not great. They had live music which was really great. I'd go back, but only for a drink at the bar.
(3)maurice s.
Probably the best seafood restaurant in the city. Great seafood with an Asian twist. The steaks also are very good. In a former life, I brought clients from across the country to Catch 35 on a regular basis. All of them enjoyed their meals very much, and more than one told me that it was the best meal they'd ever had. EDIT: We recently went here after a Sunday matinee, which is an odd hour and it was reflected in the experience. The kitchen was very slow and badly undercooked my wife's steak. The waiter surprisingly anticipated the problem and asked her to check the steak for doneness as soon as it arrived. He took it back to the kitchen, and the cook seared it on both sides and put it back on the plate. (Ordinarily, this could be hard to tell, but this restaurant has an open kitchen.) In the future, I'm going to stick to regular lunch and dinner hours.
(5)Charlie B.
Really basic seafood, done well.
(3)bill w.
I would have liked to eat here, given the complimentary reviews on Yelp. Unfortunately, I could not get past the bad attitude of the hostess. We called around 7:00pm on 10/18 to make 7:30 reservations. She said no need to make reservations, just come on in. We arrived at 7:30, and was told there would be a 10 minute wait. At 7:45, she said that it would be about 10 more minutes. We left at 8:00 pm because we were still not seated. There were open tables. At least the live jazz was good in the bar, so one star for the jazz.
(1)Erin V.
I really, really wanted to like this place. The interior is fun and our waiter was amazingly attentive. However, I thought my food was just so-so. I ordered the salmon, which was the evening's special, and it felt overcooked and tough. The "sun-dried tomato pesto" sauce tasted more like lumpy barbecue sauce than anything else. The steamed veggies were just that. The best thing on my plate was the potato cake. My husband ordered the scallops from the prix fixe menu and he seemed to enjoy them. He ordered the apple pie for dessert and I had the toffee cheesecake. The cheesecake was good, but I would expect no less from any restaurant in Chicago. The apples in the apple pie were way too mushy. At least the wine list was excellent and the wine I chose was lovely. Overall, though, this is a high-priced restaurant where you're paying for service and not spectacular food. Or maybe it just really depends on what you order.
(3)Mags F.
We've come here several times. The food is consistently good (and that's saying something, considering I am not a huge seafood eater). Service is prompt and attentive. We'll definitely be back.
(5)Leang E.
I didn't know that this place had such clientele - my friend and I sat 2 tables away from Terry Bradshaw! I so wanted to go over and ask for an autograph, but my friend told me that it would be rude and that he'd be fair game outside the restaurant. So, I sat squirming trying to abide by my friend's "rules". Anyways, I appreciated the live music with the trumpet and all. It's a relatively spacious place with what seems like 3 levels of seating. We came for my friend's birthday and started with the crab cake, which was pretty good. I had the surf and turf - filet and crab legs. It's true you can't really screw up crab legs too bad, but the filet was a little less than mediocre for me. I think we had the key lime pie and that was quite good. The fish here was pretty good from what I tasted off my friend's plate as well, so maybe stick with the seafood here. The prices are average for seafood. The crab leg portion wasn't as big as I thought it would be though. It's kind of a maybe for me to come back. I mean I could be persuaded if some other celebrity comes by.
(3)Daniel P.
I found this place on here and happened to be a five minute walk away. I came with a friend for lunch and we both loved it. I had the trout topped with a Mediterranean salsa and paired with mashed potatoes and green beans. The trout was PERFECT and the potatoes were as light as I've ever known real potatoes to be. The green beans were seemingly meant to be al dente but that would have been an understatement. The waitstaff was incredibly friendly and the waitress got excited when I ordered what I did. And, to complete the visit, we weren't rushed even though they were about to close up between lunch and dinner.
(4)Joseph C.
Did a holiday Chicago trip with the intent of dining at a standard Chicago steak place, but the positive reviews of Catch35 made me change my mind. Overall, I'm glad I did. On food alone, it is one of the best dining experiences we've had in Chicago. We arrived a half-hour before our reservation to enjoy a drink at the bar. I was a bit put off at first . . . the bartenders were serviceable but distracted, the wait staff was very conversational amongst themselves. There was also a small group of unruly types in the bar that ruined the otherwise first-class ambience of the place (look up from your bar seat to soak in the view). The wine list was underwhelming (when there's only one Willamette Valley pinot noir, that's a sure sign I won't be impressed). Fortunately, once we were seated for dinner all doubts were forgotten. Our waiter was extremely friendly, witty and attentive. The clientele was mostly business groups . . . maybe one or two other couples, certainly no children. Appetizers were an oysters rockefeller (with bacon and asiago), very rich but delightful, and the calamari, served with grilled tofu. Very good, lightly breaded, but no tentacles. I wanted steak for my entree (despite this mainly being a seafood place) so I went with the filet mignon with a veal demi-glaze. One of the best cooked pieces of tenderloin I've ever had. Sides were included, and I can't tell you enough about the king crab mashed potatoes (yes, you read that right). My wife had filet medallions grilled in herbed butter and was similarly pleased. What I was really left with was the tremendous value you get here; a similar meal at a place like Gibson's or Morton's would have cost at least 50% more. We got away with two appetizers, two steak entrees and two glass of wine for less that $120. Pretty amazing for Chicago! We will be back . . .
(4)liana m.
I went for lunch at this restaurant at the recommendation of the concierge at the Hyatt. It was kind of dark inside mid-day and I realized I probably would've liked somewhere with a view or right by the waterfront. But the service was good and the starter bread was nice and warm and fresh. I opted for the $22, 3-course lunch special, had the seafood gumbo, the lake superior white fish, which came with mashed potatoes and sauteed spinach, and strawberry cheesecake. The food was okay. I probably should have tried something a little more daring, and maybe grilled. But it satisfied my belly. The gumbo was pretty good but I think the strawberry cheesecake was my favorite. That, plus an Arnold Palmer and tip cost me $33. So kind of pricey. But I would possibly go back and try something different.
(3)Samantha P.
Good stuff! We went here for my birthday and the salmon was cooked perfectly and seasoned really well. Our waiter was great and took really good care of our table of 6. They have an impressive dessert spread--I recommend the key lime pie! Catch would have gotten 5 stars, but the place was so loud the night that I went. The long skinny space just seemed to intensify the noise, but it could have just been a fluke.
(4)January C.
I came here a couple weeks ago with family visiting from out of town. They were interested in fish and this place was close to their hotel so we decided to give it a go. The ambiance is quite nice and what I would expect for an expensive downtown restaurant. The service was also very good. The food, however, was JUST OKAY. I tried the sea bass which is supposedly the chef's specialty. It was good, but I would hope that if I were the chef, I could do better on something I considered my specialty. I wish I would have ordered one of the cheaper entrees and saved $15, because it probably would have been just as good. I was really unimpressed with the accompanying sides too; the rice was too dry and the asparagus was shy on portion. Maybe I would have felt like I was getting enough to eat if it had come on a smaller plate. I also had the salad with blue cheese, pears, and candied walnuts and the key lime pie for desert. Everything was good, but nothing was OMG delicious for the OMG price we paid. I would come back, but with lower expectations and order something cheaper.
(3)Michael D.
A quality place to grab dinner in the downtown area, and they have a nice selection of offerings for all types. Students should feel welcome if you're on a budget, as they do have a solid fixed menu, although the extras add up. Drinks are as good as should be expected for the general quality of the place. Expect to rub elbows a bit if you're in the back.
(4)Susie C.
This place is pretty good. When I was there over the summer, they had a summer menu and they serve not just seafood dishes. They have other ethnic dishes like Chinese and Thai. The quality of the food is pretty good. I enjoyed my time there. The atmosphere is pretty nice. If you want to go out on a date, Catch 35 is a nice place to go.
(4)l v.
Mediocre food at best. The food didn't 'wow' me and the the oysters were....meh. There are thousands of other restaurants you should try.
(3)Tracey O.
This used to be my favorite place. Last night the service was terrible. We had to flag the waitress down to order. She was not attentive at all. But that is not the worst part of the evening. When we made the reservation, we requested a gluten free menu like we always do. Got the gluten free menu, ordered from the gluten free menu. Then after I ate part of my dinner the waitress informs me that they made a mistake and that my dinner was not gluten free. She took my plate and brought me the gluten free this time as if it was okay. I was absolutely shocked at how lightly this mistake was taken by the restaurant even by the general manager. Well, I would like to thank them for ruining my dinner, my evening and so far today...anyone with any type of food allergy/sensitivity knows how unacceptable this is. I just wish that this restaurant would educate themselves so that this does not happen to anyone else.
(1)Ross R.
Dining at Catch 35 is like eating in downtown Des Moines. By 9PM, on a Friday night, the place is nearly empty. Part of the problem is that the place is big, damn big, so if they only have 100 people it seems like they're empty. The other problem is the proximity to the theaters; the rush at this place occurs early in the evening. So armed with this knowledge, use it to your advantage. Show up at 8PM and have a very quiet dinner with a date. Then head back to other parts of the city to feel like you're not in a ghost town.
(4)fred h.
There was nothing really wrong with this place....just couldn't give it more than 3 stars. Decor was nice, bar was cool. Scene was good. Food was solid but not outstanding. Sushi rolls were average. Calamari was average. we had 4 sea bass at our table of 8... 2 were undercooked significantly. (u don't need to cut fish with a knife). Seabass seems to cook slower than other fish, so it's a common mistake with newer cooks... and maybe that was the problem - menu made by experienced, fulfilled by apprentice? Presentation was super. The most creative and tasty items were dessert. Server was average, if not indifferent.
(3)Bill M.
This little outlet is buried in the bowels of the Leo Burnett building. It is the "back" of the noted Catch 35 seafood restaurant. There is a variety of soups, sandwiches, salads and desserts that are not too badly priced. The tasty taco salad comes in an enormous crunchy tortilla shell, and the blackened chicken salad has a spicy kick to it. Most people take it to go, but you can eat in the nondescript dining area.
(4)George L.
I have not been here in years when it used to be a pretty popular place, but I think it has fallen a bit off the last few years and I am not much of a seafood fan anyway. Had a meeting in the building today and stopped in for lunch because it was nearby. A really good meal, the Thai-seafood fusion combination works well. The lobster ravioli was good with plenty of lobster and the service was quick and efficient. Not something I would probably seek out, but I would stop in again if in the area, even with McCormick and Schmick nearby.
(4)Maricar A.
First time, I visited this restaurant was after a company party to get drinks. Second time, was with my coworkers during the restaurant week pre-fix menu for lunch. I can't remember, what type of fish I ordered, but all I remember was how good the meal was. I finished off everything and I wanted to lick the plate because it was that good! The dessert was too die for, again can't remember other than I think it was some sort of chocolate with ice cream on top. Really really good. I would highly recomment this restaurant...its worth trying...dont look at the price...just order what you want and EAT!!!
(5)Marjie T.
I tried this restaurant when I was in Chicago for the weekend and was very happy I did. Since we had tickets for a show, we got there early at 5:45. The place was pretty empty, but was full by the time we left around 7:30. My friend and I both ordered off of the $29.95 menu, which included a salad, entree, and dessert. That seemed like a pretty good deal. I had the parmesan-crusted whitefish and it was very good. It came with mashed potatoes and mixed veggies, which were also yummy. The salad was a mixture of field greens with a vinaigrette that was pretty bland. For dessert I had the key lime pie, which is their specialty. It was very good, though a little heavy on the whipped cream. Overall, the service and food were both great and I'd definitely go here again.
(4)Craig W.
Nice decor. Staff friendly. Service was decent. Food was average.
(3)Mark C.
The fresh seafood is great, but all the sauces and preparation ruin the freshness. Pretty expensive for a meal I'm not as satisfied as I think I should be.
(3)Debbie W.
Atlantic salmon blackened with chilli sauce is awesome....yummy deserts!
(4)Rob S.
Went here a couple weeks ago for a night out with the gf. Our server was a bit awkward and seemed nervous but we could get over that. Food was pretty good. I thought ambience is kind of bland and sort of 90s. I had the Scallops and she had the sea bass. Scallops were seared perfectly and rissoto under the scallop was delicious. Sea bass but alright, kind of boring in my opinion. We also ordered the oysters with cheese and bacon (rockefellar style). These were decadent and if I go back, I would get another order. Overall pretty good restaurant experience, but I don't really expect to return.
(4)Debra C.
Can never miss....a must stop before the show. Great service and great food. The best part....the prices! I have been coming back for the past twenty years! You can also enjoy a class of wine at the piano bar.
(4)Robyne H.
Very good experience. Four of us went to Catch thirty five for restaurant week and ordered off the prix fix menu. Choices were excellent and mimicked the higher priced entrees on the regular menu. I had the scallops with risotto and it was amazing. Definitely would go back. There was a private room available and the four of us felt like VIP's for sure.
(4)Annie S.
I love this seafood restaurant! The best seafood I've had in a long time. My co-workers and I went to here about a month ago and had a fabulous time. The service is great and the food melts in your mouth! The menu is huge and there are so many choices- it has an Asian flair, which I found interesting. We were able to do a sample of all the appetizers and they were all very tasty. My favorite was the calamari and scallops! I ordered the chilean sea bass with rice while other co-workers ordered the scallops, blackened mahi mahi, halibut, etc. WOW, the sea bass honestly was very soft and juicy. It was so tasty and was perfect. The fish is very fresh and I enjoyed myself at Catch 35. The restaurant is pricey and not sure what it's like during dinner hours, but I am sure it would be a nice date place. I can't wait to go back!
(5)teacherme H.
Myself and two colleagues went here when in town for a conference. The food was fabulous. My first Coloda 35 was amazing, but I tried twice more to recapture the magic to no avail. This, including a bit high priced, is why it received a 4 out of 5 stars. I ordered a yummy sea bass--the flavor was all in the glaze. Dessert was very impressive--the toffee pudding cake. yum! Would definitely go back. Oh, great atmosphere with the live band.
(4)L E.
NO one loves seafood more than me. I can eat my body weight in crustacean and fish. No fancy slop or sauces or accompaniments or even cooking (for some) needed. Just sea creature on a plate. Undeniably one of the worst meals of my life. The creole-cajun style whitefish was cold!!! Yes, served refrigerated temperature. With a gelatenous brown blob of sauce covering the ENTIRE plate. With chunks of chewy canned crawfish!??! Smelled more like sewage shit than it looked! Impossible to believe, right?!? I ate one bite & sent it back. Filled up on salad, red wine, & some scallop pan-asian appetizer that my 12 dining mates gagged over & pushed far away to my end of the table. One star for dessert, an individual pecan pie. Big portion. I was mortified to dine here!! With 12 colleagues, 4 from England, 1 from Australia, & 1 from Costa Rica. Hence, they eat FRESH seafood for the price of a Happy Meal, & were tortured to force feed overpriced frozen sewage!!! I took them to McDonalds for a fish fillet sandwich & fries 2 hours later!!! No joke.
(1)A L.
I went here for a business dinner with my mentor and another colleague. My boss suggested it and so there we were. We started at the bar, waiting for our 3rd to join and decided to start with some wine. I was definitely more picky about my wine, so I sampled 3 before finally deciding on a malbec (decent). The bartenders were super nice and very obliging. We were finally seated after a bit of a wait (45 min) despite reservations, but I wonder if it was because the 3rd person in our party was a little later (20 min). In any case, we were then seated and then out meal began. We started with raw oysters (yum!) and grilled calamari (also lovely, not overcooked). After our salads, we had our entrees. My boss and I both had the halibut which was delicious. Our colleague had the chilean sea bass (no comment) which she enjoyed. We were so full from our delicious meals and a bottle of Chardonnay that we had no room for dessert! I would like to note that we were the last to leave due to our late seating, but not once did we feel rushed to leave. The service was excellent. I would definitely return if I stop by in Chicago again!
(4)Libby T.
for awhile, i was all over the 1/2 price wine and oysters on monday nights. i wouldn't go out of my way to go here, though.
(3)David R.
Reliable fresh seafood served with a variety of sauces or simply grilled. The key lime pie is terrific and the best of the three deserts we ordered. The atmosphere is bright and the service is good. Nice place for a business dinner or large group.
(3)Dave S.
I went here before a Broadway in Chicago show because of the proximity to the theater district. We had made reservations, were sat right when we walked in, and the waiter was conscious of the show time and moved us along with our meal quickly because of the time limit before the show. The service was great. The food was not. We started with the traditional calamari appetizer. Nothing special about this. I then had a cup of a clam corn chowder, which was the highlight of the meal. I ordered a blackened mahi mahi which was over seasoned to the point where I could not even taste the fish. My date had the sea bass, which was very oily. The dessert was delicious but nothing special. I have had much, much better seafood in Chicago and would only recommend this to someone who is going to the theaters afterwords.
(2)Alicya M.
Thought this was a little pricey for the quality of food. Catch thirty-five is one of the few upscale seafood spots in Chi. Atmosphere, service, and presentation would easily earn it 5 stars from me, if it tasted better or cost less. I was really impressed with drinks, appetizers, and they have a great caesar salad I started with, but I was really disappointed with our entrees. I had Grilled Grouper, and my guy had Swordfish with Avacado Salsa. When I bored with my dish, I tried to steal some of his, only to find it as unappetizing as mine. We finished with cheescake (me) and key lime pie (him), which were alright, but nothing spectacular. This spot would be great for after-work drinks, if you're in the Loop on business, but if you're going to drop that kind of cash, you'd be happier trying Joe's Seafood & Stone Crabs on Grand.
(3)Kari S.
When I walked in, I felt like I was in the lobby of a high rise, and I guess I basically was, but the decor is very cool (esp. the light fixtures that look like the big bang theory!). Off to the left side, there was a live jazz band. We sat there for a minute while we waited for our table. No more than 10 minutes later, we were escorted to our spacious seats. I love that I could hear everyone at the table and that I had room! I'm not big, but there was space, which seems hard to come by in downtown chicago. The food is absolutely delicious. We had the coconut beer battered shrimp and a crab cake to start. The salads are very good- my tomato basil vinagrette was a bit unusual and I really liked it. I ordered the Chilean Sea bass, which is the chef's specialty (according to our waitress). It had a stir fry with a sauce on top that was very good. For dessert, the key lime was delicious. They had "chocolate seduction" on a prix fixe menu, but unfortunately it wasn't available to order separately. That was the only downside to the night! The waitstaff is very attentive and knowledgable. They definitely earn their five stars (more stars if I have the option!). It's one of the best seafood places in the city. A must try if you live here.
(5)Briana J.
Try the lobster ravioli! It was great. I wished I could have finished it all but I was stuffed. The waitstaff was very helpful and helped to pick out some wine. I went on my company's tab so I cannot comment on the price but the food is awesome. The bar would be a great place to grab a drink- the decor and people watching are top-notch!
(4)Colonel M.
Outstanding seafood... A definate stop for the seafood lover!
(4)Karl H.
Overall, a wonderful seafood restaurant. My girlfriend and I arrived about 1.5 hours before our show, and got out of there with 20 minutes to spare. Our server was wonderful, asking about our time constraints and making wonderful suggestions from the menu. Atmosphere -- I really enjoyed the jazz club atmosphere and the live music emanating from near the bar. The place had a healthy buzz about it that wasn't overpowering. Entrees -- I had the Chilean sea bass, which is apparently one of their signature dishes. The sea bass, served with green beans and rice, was extraordinary. It practically melts in your mouth. My girl friend ordered the scallops, which were also incredible. Desert -- Be sure to try the Key Lime Pie. It was fantastic!
(4)David G.
I went there last night and the food was delicious. From the start, the food was tasty and fresh. The sour dough bread was crispy on the outside and light on the inside. The Maytag Blue Cheese salad was tasty and well balanced.The only negative about the salad is that there was way too much lettuce to not enough dressing. The blackened salmon was quite intense that was cooled nicely by the sweet pepper sauce. The salmon was a bit over cooked and a little dry. The carrots were seasoned well and cooked perfectly. The rice was rice.... nothing special. The desert was amazing. I had the carrot cake bread pudding was the highlight and would have been that much better if I was not already stuffed.
(4)Marie B.
This is a lovely setting. Have dined here many times in the past. Had friends visiting, so opted to take them here. They weren't entirely impressed. He ordred a steak. It was really disappointing...even the appearance was disappointing! It was covered in this steak sauce?! Any chef knows you don't "ruin" a good steak by putting sauce on it!! He also said the flavor of the sauce was much to tomato-y. Her grouper was only 'ok'. I had the crab cake, which was ok. Not fab, but ok. On a good note, the pear, champagne, apple martini was really good.
(2)Samantha K.
Perfectly located restaurant. Well, for me it is. I go to school right across the Chicago River at the Merchandise Mart. I went there with a group of friends (6 of us) at around 1pm on a Wednesday. Our experience there went surprisingly well. I went to the Catch 35 in Naperville and I wasn't thrilled with the service. I will always choose going to a restaurant located downtown rather than in the suburbs. Our server was super nice and knew EVERYTHING on the menu. We were so excited we didn't have some idiot trying to persuade us into getting the most expensive thing on the menu. I'm not going to list what everyone got, but I will say that everyone was very satisfied with their order. I got a cup of the Catch thirty five crab bisque (LOVED IT.) and the calamari. It doesn't seem like a lot, but trust me it was. There wasn't one thing I didn't like about it. It was one of the best calamari appetizers I've ever had. :) Most of my friends got sandwiches and they looked super yummy. I took a look at the dinner menu and it was pretty pricey. Sure the food was really good, but is it worth all that money? There's a kajillion other seafood, steak restaurants in Chicago that have just as good food, but less money. Other than the prices, I'd absolutely go back. I had a good time and the atmosphere was relaxing. B+.
(4)Erin C.
If this wasn't in my building, I probably would never come here. Not because it's bad, but because I would never have known about it. Seems like most of the customers work at 35 W Wacker. The food is decent and I usually come here when I need a quick lunch or don't want to go outside. The crab bisque (available everyday) is excellent. Also available daily is the frozen yogurt. Nice. The salads are a great value (the Caesar is huge and about $4). They have daily specials which are also a pretty good value. It seems that they've changed how they do their specials lately so it's a constantly changing list of items not typically found on their menu. My biggest complaint about Catch is the lack of veggie-friendly menu items. I think there is one sandwich and it's mediocre. Since I eat fish, I can find a few more things to eat here, but I don't recommend it for vegetarians. This place is crazy busy around noon, but arrive earlier or later and avoid the rush. You may even see some ABC 7 news anchors hanging out and eating some lunch.
(3)Jami K.
It looks like my review for Catch and Carry was merged with the regular Catch35. I've never been to Catch35 proper. I've only been to the lunch stand on the back of the restaurant. It's good and fast and quite popular during lunchtime.
(4)Ahna P.
I've been here a few times and this past was actually the best. It's a typical financial district sort of restaurant. Lots of suits and such at 6:30pm. The decor feels similar to a hotel restaurant hotel or lounge. We started out at the bar with my favorite bottle of sparkling, shrimp cocktail, and the grilled calamari. Seem to be stuck on the grilled vs. the fried of late. For dinner I had the yellow tail char-grilled very rare, perfectly executed. In the past I've tried a green curry dish that was nice and spicy.
(4)Beverly W.
Our concierge at the Westin recommended this as a 'local' seafood restaurant. The location was excellent. We were pleasantly surprised with the restaurant's decor -- very open, but still had a good 'feel' to it. The service was perfectly fine; quick (even early) seating after an Open Table reservation. Sunday evening features half price bottles of select wines on the menu; they don't tell you that; you have to read the fine print. Shared a crabcake; pretty darn good. The best treat was the entree -- a lobster tail, pulled, and over mushroom stuffed ravioli in a cream sauce. This was absolutely excellent; very, very tasty and not overly rich. I ate every single bit in between the "yum's." Highly recommend it.
(4)Dan R.
Excellent high-end restaurant. My wife and I had a romantic dinner in a private booth. The service was outstanding. What to order? If you like seafood, I guarantee the sea bass will not disappoint. It was incredibly tasty. I would have ordered a second if I had room for it.
(5)Mike S.
Great Thai fusion seafood. Great service. A wonderful evening out.
(4)Robert F.
Need to impress? Look no further than Catch 35. Business or pleasure, this place is going to make your guest take notice. The waitstaff is impeccable, and the food is without equal. I have some severe seafood allergies, but there was still a great selection from which to order and the head chef himself came out to assure me of the care they'd take in preparing the meal. Make this place the ace up your sleeve.
(5)Cynthia C.
Simply Amazing! From the 1/2 dozen baked oysters... To the corn and crab meat chowder... The Alaskan halibut topped with crab meat and mushrooms to the best Key lime pie I've ever tasted. Can't wait to go back. The service is awesome, the price great. No complains on my part. Delish!
(4)Curtis B.
Definitely some of the best seafood I've had in the city. The lobster bisque was excellent, though the portion was quite small. The redfish entree was cooked perfectly, and accompanied by a nice variety of other flavors and textures on the plate. Service was as good as I would expect from any good restaurant.
(4)Cheese M.
The Shrimps in my shrimp cocktail were small. The steak tasted like something on special at Friday's. The lobster was good though. If you are gonna spend this kind of money, go to Joe's or Shaw's
(2)Flora F.
underneath the office building, live jazz, awesome seafood and good service. what else I can complain about? 5 stars it is!!!
(5)