Catches Waterfront Grille

05/29/2008 Posted by MMarkM63

We got the family together for Mother’s Day at Catches Waterfront Grille in Port Richey. What an AWFUL experience! We walked in and sat down. The place was hot, no menus were offered. When we asked, the hostess said, “Oh, it’s all buffet today.” When the waiter bothered to get around to us, he took our beverage orders. When we found the buffet, we saw the food was very low quality and had been sitting in chafing dishes for a VERY long time. The second pass, the staff changed the buffet with others items of even lesser quality. The food was not FRESH, it looked even older than the food they replaced. Not wanting to make a scene, we suffered through it, sweating all the way. The a/c had to be broken. I was presented with a HUGE bill. Our party of 6 was charged $23.95 times 5 people and a child’s price of $8.95. I was stunned. Only 3 in our party actually ate the buffet. My eldest daughter had a salad and was charged $23.95. My middle daughter ate less than a child-sized portion and was charged $23.95. My youngest had a muffin and a waffle and was charged $8.95. They tacked on a 20% gratuity for the waiter. Why? We got our OWN food! We were shocked at the $165.00 bill. The following day we complained to the general manager who said he would refund our credit charge. He claimed that because he had only been the manager for 5 weeks, he didn’t know how to do a charge-back, so he would mail us an $85 refund check. We were notified that the refund was on it’s way. We were later notified that he was not allowed to send us a refund. The “accounting office” had declined the request. Instead, they sent us a gift card. Yeah, like we want to have another terrible experience in that awful restaurant. Steer clear of this place. The food is lousy, the service is lousy, the management is lousy, the location is lousy, and the prices are lousy. Catches Waterfront Grille is a dreadful place to hold a family gathering, unless you want it ruined.

05/29/2008 Posted by Diana1106

Went on Mothers day for a brunch. The buffet was not stocked, the service was horrible and it was overly priced. There are much better waterfronts in the Tampa Bay Area,,,I will never return to this one.

05/01/2008 Posted by maxclements

Having just moved to Spring Hill from Dallas, my wife and I were searching for a nice restaurant in the area to frequent. I read, with great interest the 03/18/2008 posting entitled "Avoid if you'er a minority". The thought of locating a restaurant where patrons are appropriately attired (no pants hanging a foot below their underwear), no reverberating music and no throngs of unsupervised children running around screaming and bothering other patrons was most appealing. Upon arriving at Catches were pleasantly surprised. The men were in suits or appropriate shirt and slacks. The ladies were also appropriately attired for casual evening dining. We arrived just before our 7:00 p.m. reservation time and were seated by the hostess without delay. The dinning room was clean, the tables spaced far enough apart for some privacy and the multitude of windows made it very inviting. The waiter arrived promptly and took our drink order. We found the menu and wine list somewhat limited. However, the fried vegetable appetizer, seafood bisque and both shrimp entrees we ordered were very well prepared and presented. Our aperitifs and the bottle of Sauvignon Blank 2005 were excellent and properly served. The hostess and our waiter were very attentive to our needs but, in our opinion, were much to casually attired for dinner service. Should anyone be interested in dinning in a clean restaurant with fellow patrons that are appropriately attired, no blaring music, reasonable levels of conversation and children, if present, under the control of their parents, this restaurant should be given consideration. This is, without question, not a 'black tie' restaurant. It is lacking in ambiance but, it is a nice, inviting establishment in which to quietly dine, discuss relevant issues in a civilized tone of voice with some sembalance of decorum. We are still searching the Tampa area for a 'black tie' resturant but, Catches will be our home for casual dining for this area.

Pros: Quite with excellent service

Cons: limited menu and wine list

04/27/2008 Posted by jjkk32233

Catches is the best non-chain restaurant in the area hands down. However, if you are looking for lots of cheap, average food then this is not the place to go. Portions are enough for one meal (no doggy bag) which is fine with me because I like to stay trim and fit, the food is fresh and well prepared and prices for entrees average at $17.00 (I don’t consider that expensive for up-scale food.) My husband and I went yesterday and I had the shrimp pasta. The shrimp were plentiful, plump, JUICY and flavorful YUM! You can not find shrimp like that in a chain restaurant. My husband had the fried platter which he loved and could not finish. If you want more free bread—just ask. Lots of drink specials—drinks were 2 for 1 ($2 each). We sat on the patio relaxing while watching boats glide by. The fans kept the breeze going and I felt like I was on vacation! It was wonderful. One of our favorite things to do is to sit at the outside bar, drink the specials and order appetizers. Now, to the girl that wrote about being a minority. I must agree that this is not the area to live in if you are a minority. Many (not all) of the people in this area are white and poorly educated. There is racism and I think it is terrible. However, there are a lot of good people here who do not think like that.

Pros: Yummy food, outside on the water patio, Upscale feel

Cons: Wait staff are inexperienced

03/21/2008 Posted by floridacanuck

I just wanted to say Thank You to everyone who has written a review on this place, it's because of your comments that I now know that I won't be eating here. I was very interested in going to Catches, but I Thank You all for saving me some hard earned money on what I'm now sure would have been a horrible dining experience. Thank you

03/18/2008 Posted by PatriceRN

If you are a minority do not bother entering into this restaurant! I was visiting family that just moved to Spring Hill about 1 yr ago and we decided to try Catches for their seafood. What a mistake! The hostess was very impolite and discourteous. There was no smile on her face and she almost seemed shocked and dumbfounded that we were in the restaurant. When we were seated every person in the restaurant was staring at us like we did not belong. It's a shame that people can be so ignorant in 2008! I'm from the Northeast, and this has never happened to me before. Growing up in the North you rarely see racism. Shame on FL for being so ignorant! To make a long story short, we got up and left. I guess you can say that they got what they wanted, but that's okay because them getting what they wanted is better than me giving them my hard earned money for terrible service! Anyone that is educated and cultured should refrain from going to this restaurant. If you're a person like me that appreciates diversity, you should avoid this area of FL altogether. People down there drive around with confederate flags that read "Red Neck"...it doesn't get any more ignorant than that. May God be with those who think they are better than others because of the color of their skin. Peace be with them all. Two thumbs down to this restaurant.

Pros: None

Cons: Ignorant Staff

02/26/2008 Posted by KyleAnderson

This business has reopened for business when I called them,. They were shut down but now they are not.

02/14/2008 Posted by newfoodcritic

Valentines Date 2008 reservation, at Catchers Seafood in Port Richey, Florida. Table was ready, service was reasonably prompt. It all crashed downward after that! Server brought two rolls each. That's all! Special was Grouper! most expensive at $21.99 for the "large portion" stated as 13 ounces . choice of rice, fries, garlic mashed, coleslaw, meals included "fresh vegetables". No salad The date ordered grouper, sauteed,coleslaw, I followed suit, with garlic mashed potatos. Meal arrived, ---but the "grouper must have swam away"! The date's portion was not 13 ounces, struggled to be 8 ounces. Writers about 9-10 ounces. Asked the server if these portions were the right size, or the "smaller portion". No response, said "That is what you ordered". Then walked away. Being hungry we ate the "smaller portions". No flavor, very bland, exceedingly small portions! Coleslaw ok but very small portion--two tablespoons. Fresh vegetables soggy most unappealing. Garlic mashed potatos size of a small golf ball, grey in color. Bland taste for potato-fish that had no flavor, both cooked till dry and tasteless. server offered desert, made by the "managers wife". No way Overall experience was a very disappointing experience. No manager coming to see if customers enjoyed their meals. This was a busy night, may expect service to be poor. Service adequate. Food was just not up to expectations at this price in portion size, flavor, presentation or any thing else one might expect. We both left hungry and very disappointed! Restaurant was recently reopened after being closed. Perhaps it should close again until their full order of food arrives and portions can support price. Return again? No chance! Should you give it a try? Certainly not on this couples recommendation, but should you decide to, then eat first before you get there.

Pros: Timely service, attractive setting

Cons: Lack of Food, No Flavor, Dry, unappealing

02/09/2008 Posted by KENTUCKY121

The food was very good. The atmosphere is very "waterfront". Our waitress was so busy covering tables across the restaurant we never could get extras. In a place this size they need to zone the waiters...

02/06/2008 Posted by jamienorman

wanted to use their private room for a dinner, but the manager wouldn't speak to me unless I made an appt. I guess they don't really want the business.