With seasonal, regional, and other interesting specials dished out by the efficient kitchen on any given night, it’s safe to say that the renowned San Francisco Bay Area restaurant chain Pacific Catch Fresh Fish Grill will never run out of enticing options.
The Pacific Catch outpost on 9th Avenue in San Francisco has a few notable added bonuses. Those are: excellent friendly service, quaint historical Inner Sunset location, and the eatery’s own parking, which is a no small feat in our beloved City by the Bay.
On the island cuisine-centric menu there are crowd pleasing staples, like signature poke dishes, with a changing assortment of Hawaiian fish and creative garnishes; island tacos, showcasing a variety of fillings from cod, shrimp, and mahi mahi to spiced chicken and marinated steak; sushi rolls, and increasingly popular rice bowls with Japanese, Korean, Thai, and Hawaiian contents over white or brown rice. However, besides the regular fare, on any given night there’s always a special menu of freshly flown-in fish, Chalkboard Specials, and In-Season vegetable sides.
The full bar menu offers a wide selection of handcrafted, seasonal cocktails, a curated beer selection, and Pacific region wine. On a recent visit, my dining companion and I shared three seasonal cocktails – Spicy Strawberry Margarita (strawberry, serrano infused reposado tequila lime, agave nectar); Blueberry Mint Julep (blueberry infused Maker’s Mark, mint, lime, house-made honey syrup); and Strawberry Rhubarb Martini (Tito’s vodka, strawberry, rhubarb, lime, turbinado syrup) – each one better than the next.
A special starter of Aku Sashimi Tataki (skipjack tuna), lightly seared with avocado, green onions spicy daikon, ginger, and ponzu sauce looked very picturesque, and tasted even better – this unique species of tuna turning out to be quite meaty, with mild yet distinct flavor.
A half-bowl of Japanese Wasabi with hand-picked Dungeness crab salad included seaweed salad, avocado, daikon, ginger, sesame seeds, shredded nori, and soy-wasabi sauce. It was a delightful combination of tastes and textures over nutty brown rice, topped with micro greens for added freshness.
A special entrée of Grilled Opah (moonfish) with pineapple fried rice, shrimp, sweet peppers, blistered green beans, pork, garlic and chili was garnished with a slice of grilled pineapple, creating a palette of flavors from salty and sweet to mild and spicy, all harmoniously blended on the same plate.
Another interesting special, Monchong (pomfret) with chubby Shanghai noodles, bean sprouts, choy sum, pickled peppers and sunny side egg was new to me – I’ve never tried pomfret before. The fish yielded a nice size filet with firm white flesh, pleasant mild taste, and played out nicely with the garnishes, especially the lightly spiced noodles.
The special menu desserts included the most amazing new dish – Mexican Hot Chocolate Custard with burnt sugar crust. Kind of like crème-brulee, but with a much bolder chocolate profile and lasting impression.
The usual desserts include chocolate, vanilla, and coffee mochi ice cream with dark chocolate dipping sauce, and a variety of regular ice cream flavors from fine local producers.
These special menu items have been created by Pacific Catch's Executive Chef David Gingrass.
"I have selected five different species that are unique, delicious and presented with preparations that highlight each fish," said Chef Gingrass about this particular springtime menu of Hawaiian fish specials. Currently, the Pacific Catch’s summer menu includes other wonderful surprises for the first-times and regulars alike. 
The restaurant’s success stems from the talent and dedication of the industry veterans Aaron Noveshen and Keith Cox who founded Pacific Catch in 2003, debuting on Chestnut Street in San Francisco. They have subsequently opened Pacific Catch restaurants in the Corte Madera Town Center in Marin County, 9th Avenue in San Francisco’s Inner Sunset district, The Pruneyard in Campbell, Third Street in San Mateo, The Village at San Antonio Center in Mountain View and Persimmon Place in Dublin.
The Pacific Catch described here, is located at 1200 9thAvenue, San Francisco, California. For more information visit www.pacificcatch.com.
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