The Catalyst is amazing I have been here many times now and I would highly recommend this restaurant they fill up very quickly as this is a very small restaurant you need to get there before 5p. This restaurant have their own boat they go out and supply the restaurant with fresh crab I will tell you it's awesome the crab is amazing their server's are very friendly they are right there checking on you to see if you need anything the Restaurant has a nice variety to choose on their menu They are open lunch and dinner read more

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We did take out but the choices are fairly limited on the menu you find online so I highly recommend asking for specials in advance when you call. Everything we ordered was tasty and filling. I would recommend them and we would order but I think next time I would prefer to sit down. Stuff was friendly when we picked up our order and from what I could see the restaurant was packed. read more

Worst dining experience in a long time. There wasn't a long wait. It did seem popular and while the reviews are lower 4.0 on Yelp it did pull in a 4.3 on google. Was aiming for the fresh crab as this place has a family history of crabbing for last 70+ years. We lucked out and sat outside as the patio overlooks the marina parking lot but much better vibe than the interior which is super dark and felt cramped. We were excited it's a dog friendly patio and sat by some cute pups. We ordered to find out they're out of the whole crab...literally why we came. Waited quite a while for waitress to come back to get our updated choices. We selected chowder with shrimp, fish and chips and shrimp and chips. Chowder was best part but was just ok. Shrimp was overcooked and shrimp had a weird taste. Fish and shrimp were laden with grease. Neither of us finished our meals and we were both hungry from a day of hiking and beaching. Total meal was $56 pre tip. Ok pricing but way over priced considering we couldn't eat it. We did let waitress know the food wasn't very good and she didn't even really acknowledge us. Just brought the tab. Nope no thanks. read more

Catalyst Seafood - Clam chowder - Seafood Near Me - Brookings, Oregon

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We enjoyed an excellent lunch here. I had the Blackened Rockfish, my husband the Grilled Rockfish & Salad. Despite the names, the two meals are nearly identical, with the noticeable differences (besides the $2) being my grilled fish was blackened, and my salad included Bell Peppers. Some places do a terrible job (IMO) of blackening fish. This is not one of them. For me, this was the perfect blackened fish: Soft, succulent, with a blackened flavor that complemented the taste without overwhelming or destroying it. Yum! My husband also enjoyed his Grilled Rockfish. Without the blackening, he was able to more easily appreciate the taste of Rockfish, which is not "fishy" (whatever that is), but is definitely tasty, unlike many bland whitefishes. Again, perfectly cooked so that it was well done, but still flakey, soft, and moist. The salad was decent but unremarkable, other than the cherry tomatoes which were so tasty, and the garlic vinaigrette dressing, which was delicious and a nice departure from the more common vinaigrettes. Service was very friendly and prompt. Our only negative is we felt the portion sizes were a bit on the small side, which probably goes hand-in-hand with the reasonable prices. Bigger portions would mean more expensive entrees, but we both would have appreciated a bit more fish (about 25% more?). Update: Went back on 6/11 and had another excellent experience: Great service and food (both my husband and I ordered Blackened Rockfish and Salad). read more

Catalyst Seafood - Grilled Rockfish & Salad - Seafood Near Me - Brookings, Oregon

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Came here for the crab specifically and made a a reservation for 6:00, didn't get seated until 6:20- no drinks or menus until after 6:30 and then they tell us they are out of crab... also sat our party of 6 with a baby at a 4person table right next to the entrance that was completely packed-didn't get silverware, water refills- food was way overpriced and not cooked right read more

Their service was good, consistent and fast. We're did make reservations and our table was waiting. Cute & simple atmosphere, morning fancy! Food was delicious and my first whole crab ever. My husband had the Top Sirloin Oscar and he ate it all. read more

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Came here on a Friday night during early spring, the place was packed and the wait time was longer than 45 minutes for a party of two. We were seated on the patio, outdoor heaters were blasting so we didn't really feel cold but it was kinda dark as you can tell from the photos. The food was ok, the batter they use is pretty salty, a little on the pricey side for a dockside restaurant without a scenic view but the portions are shareable. Service... at one point, I think the server was overwhelmed and forgot about the diners outside. Took a while to get drinks, food and drink refills, an entree that we didn't get, which was just forgotten completely and so they just took it off the tab since we didn't really receive our food. Again, I think the server was just very overwhelmed. They're open until 9pm I think which is nice, given most of the restaurants around the docks close at 7pm. We were in town again just recently and tried to get a table here for a Saturday dinner, but since our group was large and we didn't call ahead, the wait time is significantly long so we opted for another restaurant. Overall, it's a good restaurant to try out if you're in the area. read more

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Service and food were great Didn't have to wait since it's September Had steamer clams and husband had fish with salad read more

Another stop along the Oregon Coast for our road trip up north, we stopped by this place for lunch. We got to choose indoor or outdoor seating, and you can't really go wrong with either, so we opted for indoor seating to cool down a bit from the outside. We shared a fish and chips (deep fried), a bowl of clam chowder, and the special of the day - pow pow clam strip taco. The fish and chips were fairly solid, though the amount of fish filet is on the smaller end. They gave a generous amount of fries so that technically, we would have been full by just sharing one fish and chips. The clam chowder is pretty good, a bit thicker in consistency in comparison. However, the clam strip taco was a bit of a miss. I barely taste the clams as the sweet and spicy sauce completely overpowered the taco. I'd recommend just sticking with the usuals like fish and chips and clam chowder if you were to go here, but otherwise, this is a good spot to stop at if you are craving some seafood. They do have some crab dishes, but we were not in the mood to splurge for this meal. read more

Catalyst Seafood - Clam chowder bowl - IG @bougiefoodieboi - Seafood Near Me - Brookings, Oregon

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My husband and I stopped in for dinner at Catalyst on a Wednesday evening at 7:30. It was pretty packed but luckily we found 2 seats at the bar. The bartender was nice but the kitchen was pretty backed up; it took about an hour for our food to come out. I got onion rings and a blackened chicken Caesar salad. The onion rings were pretty good but a little over fried. The blackened chicken was veryyy good with great flavor. My partner got fried rockfish and said it was good; I tasted it and as someone who doesn't like seafood, I thought it was pretty good as well. read more

Catalyst Seafood - Bar area - Seafood Near Me - Brookings, Oregon

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We went there two weeks ago. The taco was so small. It wouldn't even feed a pee and it was lousy service. We just went there today. We waited 20 minutes. We just got off a 7 mile walk and all we wanted with Water, but the waitress just ignored us and none of them said hi or anything. We finally just got up and left. I don't know what happened to this restaurant. We always go to this restaurant twice a week we will not be coming back. read more

Definitely known for the fish and chips great option of grilling it rather than deep fried. Fish Tacos were amazing!! Clam chowder was amazing and a special peanut butter mouse pie. Definitely recommend. Friendly staff and good service. read more

I really like this place. The servers are friendly and attentive. It's in the small town of Brookings and I would guess a lot of locals eat here. I came in with my daughter, son in law and their 2 small kids. I had a "loaded" clam chowder bowl. It had calamari and shrimp in it and when they cut off the top of the bun to make a bowl, the top piece was seasoned and grilled and placed along side the bowl. The popcorn shrimp and fried calamari appetizer was a great start to the meal. They also sell locally canned tuna. I picked up a few cans of regular albacore and a few cans of smoked albacore to take home. I added photos of what is available and the prices. This is my kind of place. Casual, simple and a friendly vibe to it. Highly recommend. 5 stars for you! I will be back! read more

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Just ate there after not being able to get a table the previous night. We called and were able to make a reservation which we were grateful for. We get there and were treated by the hostess who set the tone for the restaurant, right or wrong. Our waitress was really great, super nice. The good was the food they did have was pretty darn good, fish tacos, chowder and surf and turf. The bad was the fact that during crab season they were out of certain crab items. Another negative was the hostess who walked over at the end of the meal and dropped off the check and left, no thank you for coming or anything. Additionally, we had to call 4 times to try to see if we could get a table. read more

Our clam strips were great, although they were packed differently. I never asked for them to be divided. I ordered a house salad and never received it. I called but I was told I only ordered a salad and she hung up on me. I'm going to miss this place. read more

We were out of town visiting and counted on Yelp to help us find a dinner spot. We're happy we chose this place. The portions are very generous, the service was friendly and prompt and the environment is welcoming. It was a busy night but we walked in and got a table for 4 with no wait. It was a tad noisy when we got there, it was clear an early bird crowd was there before us. It was surprisingly not super loud considering hard floors, walls and chairs. It was never hard to hear each other. Everyone was friendly and prompt. Very helpful with our requests and filling waters. We didn't have to wait any time at all to place our order once we were ready and I got a good tip on what to order from our server. Truthfully my only negative about the service is that I hate to be asked if I want dessert in the middle of my entree. Especially twice. Maybe it is just me since it happens a lot of places, but please consider not asking me until we are at least done with our main course. The food was very good. Generous in size and in the key ingredient, crab. We all felt like we had enough food to enjoy our own meals, share bites with each other, and some came home in a to go box. It is crab season, which thrilled us all since we all love crab and wanted to make sure we enjoyed it in some way with our meals. I had the crab tacos with jalapeño slaw, lemon zest aioli and a $2 up charge of mango salsa. I like things pretty spicy and these were not spicy But for folks who don't like spice so much, these would be perfect. There were plenty of hot sauce choices on the table. The flavors mixed so well together! In each taco there was plenty of huge chunks of crab meat and a nice mix of sweet cool mango and crunchy kicky slaw. They came on taco sized corn tortillas. My wife had the fettuccine Alfredo with crab and a side salad. Again, the crab was very generous. As Alfredos go it was pretty standard, but it was cooked perfectly and piping hot with plenty of parmesan dusted on top. The bread on the side was soft and toasty at the same time. Our friends had the rockfish and crab cakes. The rockfish was cooked perfectly, so it was buttery but not tough, with three good sized pieces. She had a side salad and a side of crab for a $6 up charge. The crab cakes at first seemed lacking but when we tasted them we realized that they were all crab. Not a bunch of filler, just crab. They were very tasty. She had a side salad too, and a side of fries. Good thing it was generous, they looked so good we all dug in! They were the kind that are battered and crispy, not burnt or mushy. Really nice seasoning too. In all none of us were disappointed with our meals and we are already talking about going back for lunch tomorrow to eat crab in different ways. Whether this trip or another, crab season or not, we will be back. read more

Catalyst Seafood - Crab tacos with jalapeño slaw lemon zest aioli and mango salsa. - Seafood Near Me - Brookings, Oregon

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In town for work, and staying at the beachfront inn, since we are in a beach town I wanted fresh seafood. Saw this place as I was running an errand and decided to give it a try. Sign out front said fresh crab. I grew up on the west coast and had fresh crab every Christmas, I have missed it. Because I was a party of one I got seated right away. While I was waiting for my waitress, lots of people came in, they had to start a wait list that was about 30mins to be seated. This restaurant is right at the docks and seats I would guess no more than 30-45 people. It is rather small but locally owned and operated, the best kind. I always try to eat local when I am in small towns. They have 2 menus, one that is standard the other is a rotating menu with the season of what is legal to be caught. All seafood is caught from their fishing vessel, F/V Catalyst. I went with the seasonal seafood, Dungeness crab. I had the crab tacos (3 of them) with mango salad upgrade (+ $2) in the side. Really did not need the mango salas, it was good but too sweet for the taco. I had the salas on only one taco. They each had a good amount of crab meat in them. They did. It skimp on the crab. My waitress did check on my a few time but she seemed a bit frazzled with so many people in for dinner. She was sweet and got me everything I needed. I do not sit and stay in restaurants very long by myself, I like to eat and go. If I drink (not my thing) but if I did, today was Thirsty Thursday. They had $4 margaritas and $4 Rockfish Tacos. I would come back here. Next time I want to try the fish and chips, the people next to me had them and they looked fabulous. read more

Catalyst Seafood - Fresh Dungeness, crab tacos with mango salas in the side - Seafood Near Me - Brookings, Oregon

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One of my favorites! The service is excellent and the food always good. The clams as an appetizer is excellent. The calamari is awesome, not overly breaded. Clam chowder is one of the best in the area. It looks small but it has an outdoor area with heaters if needed. read more

As loyal local patrons, we have supported your establishment (Catalyst) for years, hoping to find a dining experience to cherish. Regrettably, our recent visit (and last few, actually) has led us to decide it will be our last. Despite your potential, the inconsistent food quality--often bland, cold, or accompanied by uninspired ingredients--has fallen short of expectations. The frequent turnover in staff and reliance on mediocre standards suggest a lack of commitment to excellence. For those seeking a memorable meal and inviting atmosphere in Brookings, we recommend exploring Khun Thai, Pete's Bar & Grill, Black Trumpet Bistro, Rail House, Sprezzatura, Pacific Sushi, or Lucky Pirate Chop House. We aren't spending our money on mediocre any longer. We wish you the best in future endeavors but will no longer be returning. read more

The place was fairly busy. The steamer clams with prawns was delicious! The clam chowder was creamy and very tasty. There was some confusion with wait staff and tables, but all in all it was a good experience! The music was great!! read more

The best place to support a local fishing boat and restaurant in Brookings. Portions are generous fish is crispy and tasty. I wish the chips were fresh but nobody's does that in this town. Drinks are good free refills and you don't have to wait hours like zolas. Happily supporting this place .oh they have a sunny patio! read more

I've been here twice and both times I have left wanting. Ordered the chicken bacon ranch sandwich and the chicken was dry and bacon way overdone. French fries were good and the clam chowder was yummy though. They have a fun alcoholic drinks which the table enjoyed. read more

Right on the Brookings Harbor, this restaurant was delicious and unassuming. The service was quick and food/drinks perfect temp. We enjoyed the fried clam strips and oyster shooters. The oysters were gigantic! This was followed by an oyster po-boy and a bowl of clam chowder. The chowder was delicious! Some of the best I had on the coast. Would definitely recommend checking out. read more

Catalyst Seafood - Colossal oyster shooter and clam strips. Delicious! - Seafood Near Me - Brookings, Oregon

The food was wonderful ! We ordered clam chowed, fish and chips, and the steamed clams. Everything was really good. read more

Catalyst Seafood - We ordered the clam chowder, steamed clams, and fish and chips. Everything was so fresh and delicious! We loved it so much! - Seafood Near Me - Brookings, Oregon

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Just had the best bowl of clam chowder ever Service was friendly and pretty prompt though short on staff. Interesting decore based on the local fishing. read more

We we're quickly seated in the bar area which fine as it had a window that brought in light. Our server gave us menus and water and let us know it would take her a few minutes to get back to us as there was a medical emergency taking place in another area of the restaurant. Once the emergency was handled she came to get our order. She let us know her name was Emma. She was sweet caring and friendly. We order a started of onion rings, which were delicious and had a special sauce. The guys went with the fish and chips, and the gals went with the fried clam strips and clam chowder. Everything was really fresh and good with good size portions. I couldn't finish all of my clams. We liked so much are retuning for dinner tonight. read more

My husband had the steamed clams, andouille sausage and prawns. I had the grilled rock fish and a salad. Everything was delicious. We sat at the bar since the dining room was full. The bartender was working hard to keep everyone happy. I like this kind of place. Fresh seafood, nicely prepared with no frills. Get me in, feed me and get me out. Also, it was within walking distance of Ocean Suites. read more

We've ALWAYS had good luck at Catalyst... pre-COVID, during and post-COVID. Service is friendly, helpful & patient. Food is simple, fresh and unadulterated. Drinks and food both on point, 100! We've been here a handful of times now and they consistently offer great service and food. read more

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We went twice while in Brookings. The service was so friendly and fun. We returned for the shooters. Sweet, salty, creamy, briny. So delicious. Highly recommend! read more

Catalyst Seafood - Oyster shooters from your dreams! - Seafood Near Me - Brookings, Oregon

We were pleasantly surprised with our meal. The fish tacos were delicious with the pico salsa, clam strips crispy and grilled rockfish tender and flavorful. Fries were quite good! read more

Second time here. As previously mentioned, the place is very popular and crowded. But service was fast, pleasant and efficient. We agreed to eat outside and we were well attended. I go for their oysters and they were great. The two-bite shooters were clean tasting and fresh. I had the shrimp tacos and my spouse the shrimp and chips. The shrimp also were plump and fresh with a good rub on mine and a decent crust on the deep fried shrimp. I added the mango salsa to my tacos and it was tasty. But I have one complaint. Tortillas are not meant to be served uncooked. The tortillas were not heated prior to serving and were chalky and fell apart immediately. At other restaurants, they are heated first AND doubled. It's a much better way to serve the small corn tortillas. The oysters will bring me back but I'm not ordering the tacos again. read more

We had a fantastic experience dining at Catalyst. The service was amazing. We sat in the bar area and enjoyed the nautical decor. The seasonal drinks were delicious, they had great food. We had the calamari for an appetizer. I will be dreaming of this for days to come. The mango salsa shrimp tacos were fresh and the fish sandwich was fire. They had oyster shooters which made for a fun group activity. We missed crab season by a few weeks, but it's always fun to have something to look forward to next time we find ourselves on the Oregon coast. Great job chef! read more

Ordered take out. The popcorn shrimp was outstanding. Fried the right amount for a tasty crispy crunch and perfectly done shrimp. Also had two cups of chowder that was very good. Will definitely eat there again on our next trip back to Brookings. read more

Everything is good. Fish and chips you can have fried or grilled. You can also ask for lingcod. Good drinks. Outside dining. It's Clean with friendly staff. If I get to go, rock fish sandwich, blackened with a salad. Holds up well. Love this place!! Way better than anything in Monterey ca. just saying. read more

Our meals were spot on delicious and the staff were terrific and fast! We enjoyed this quick stop!

Best seafood In brookings! Love the indoor and outdoor dinning! Service is always good.

My wife and I stopped in for lunch about 2 o'clock on a weekday. The ambience was relaxed and friendly. The food was cooked extremely well. We both had fish and it was tender and moist. The clam chatter was rich and tasty, and the sweet potato fries were very good. read more

Fish and chips: Great chips, but the fried fish was soft and oily. Fryer oil too cold? Grilled rockfish sandwich, clam strips, clam chowder, fish tacos: All of these were excellent! read more

Stopped in for lunch when I was in Brookings. The food was okay. I had fish and chips. My friend had the tuna melt said it was amazing. We had a child's grilled cheese with fries it was on sourdough. My friend said the chowder was good. It did arrive fast. Set out on the back deck. read more

We ordered fried calamari, fried clams, and fried shrimp & chips. Everything was so greasy, it appears that the food came directly from the fryer directly into the baskets. Besides that, the fried clams were overcooked, could not taste the clams. We couldn't believe how small the fried shrimp were with just six pieces. We were so disappointed, we will not be returning again. read more