Speaking of not resting on laurels, the Catch Hospitality Group proves again that they’re not dialing it in. With NYC restaurants Or’esh, The Eighty-Six, and The Corner Store, they’re on top of the world. But they couldn’t let their namesake fall to the wayside, so the original Catch in the Meatpacking has gotten a Kris-Jenner-level facelift. To frame it, fifteen years in the Meatpacking District is either a lifetime or a blink, depending on your relationship with 9th Avenue. The fact that Catch still exists, puts it in the rarified group of restaurants to have staying power in the neighborhood. Catch is marking its achievement with a renewed food-first mentality and a refreshed space designed by the Rockwell Group. For those in the know, there are even a few of the favorites, like that dirty martini and butlered water service that pay homage to its siblings, Or’esh and The Eighty-Six.

Atmosphere

Aesthetically, the 400-seat, tri-level space (complete with al fresco dining on the roof) has been tightened up.  The room still buzzes, the lighting still flatters, and the rooftop still delivers those panoramic city views. What’s different is that Catch feels like it’s moved on from the early aughts. It feels less like a party that got out of hand and more like one that isn’t trying too hard, and is welcoming to everyone.

The Meatpacking has a way of separating the institutions from the tourists traps, and Catch has always straddled that line with varying degrees of success. With the relaunch of Catch, it continues to attract both locals and visitors, as everyone has to eat. Catch does not have the kind of upper-tier crowd like The Corner Store, Eighty-Six or Or’esh. You’re likely not going to see Eli Manning or a Bronfman running around. However, when you want a place to eat good food and/or bring a large group of out-of-town guests, the scene is still respectable. Personally, I am planning to take my friend’s twenty-something daughters there, and I will absolutely come off as a hero.

Food + Beverage

Even if as a certain NY Housewife said that eating at Catch was so 2005, the food at Catch was always good. I would say that in the re-launch of Catch, they have leveled up the cuisine and beverage. Like its sister restaurants, they start strong by offering you a selection of mint, citrus and cucumber to add to your water. And the cocktails are some of the best in the city, including the dirty martini, which has strong similarities to the one they serve at Or’esh. The olives are like a meal, stuffed and seasoned with furikake mascarpone. The lychee martini was perfectly balanced and not too sweet, unlike other renditions prepared by the amateurs. The Bananas Foster Old Fashioned is also a flex that somehow works.

On food, Catch is sourcing from the best purveyors. For example, fish is flown in directly from Tokyo’s Toyosu Market — a detail that you can actually taste. The Catch Roll and Truffle Sashimi remain non-negotiable. And, I’ve always had a soft spot for the baked crab hand roll and the eponymous Catch roll. Returning favorites like the complimentary Pretzel Croissant Pull Apart Bread and Baked Lobster Mac & Cheese have been reimagined, rather than simply preserved. That pull-apart bread is everything; I could have eaten the whole loaf myself with the mustard butter. New additions, like the Crudo di Catch and Angry Lobster Pasta, elevate the dining experience. The kitchen has been paying attention to where the conversation in New York dining has been going. Overall, Catch is a place where you would come explicitly for the food.

Service

One thing that is not so 2005 about Catch is the service. Back in the early aughts, in general, the service in New York was meant to make you feel like you were lucky to be there. In all the time that Catch has been in business though, that’s something they’ve completely shifted in all their restaurants. Everyone, from the bouncers at the front door to the hosts and waitstaff, now is genuinely welcoming. I would even go as far as to say that the service is equal to or even greater a virtue than the food. The relaunch comes with a sharpened focus on service and experience, and you feel it.

Overall: 8.6/10

Catch didn’t need to prove anything at 15 years old. It chose to anyway. The relaunch is the rare renovation that actually delivers on its promise — a sharper kitchen, a more confident room, and a cocktail program worth lingering over. The Meatpacking institution has officially grown up, and it suits them.

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FAQs

Q: Where is Catch NYC located?

A: Catch NYC is located at 21 9th Ave, New York, NY 10014, in the heart of the Meatpacking District.

Q: What kind of food does Catch NYC serve?

A: Catch NYC is a globally influenced seafood restaurant featuring modern renditions of classic dishes served in a streaming, shareable style of dining. The menu spans sushi, steak, and seafood, with fish sourced directly from Tokyo’s Toyosu Market.

Q: What is different about the newly reopened Catch NYC?

A: The relaunch brings a refreshed interior by the Rockwell Group. There’s also a renewed food-first mentality, and an evolved menu featuring both reimagined classics. The Baked Lobster Mac & Cheese and Pretzel Croissant Pull Apart Bread have been re-imagined. New additions include the Crudo di Catch and  Angry Lobster Pasta. There’s also a refined cocktail program. The overall experience has been recalibrated around service and intention without sacrificing the energy the original was known for.