New review 3/12/26: I strongly recommend that you dine at Catch French Bistro in the Castro. And tell your friends. (Located near the intersection of Market and Castro Streets. Take the 24 Divisadero or 37 Corbett bus, or the K/L/M Metro lines. They all stop at the corner. The N Judah stops a few blocks away at Duboce Park.) Delicious food. Amazing service. Beautiful venue. It's been one of my go-to's for many years. Tonight I sat at the bar and chatted with Wael, the friendly and gracious bartender. Being at the bar, I had to start with a dirty Martini. First course was the light and refreshing Salade Compose. The OMG main course was the Beef Short Ribs with Mashed Potatoes and other veggies in a saucy jus. (Suggestion: Ask for a spoon and for some bread to sop up the delicious jus.) I ended with the light and delicate Opera Cake. A very satisfying meal from start to finish. read more

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Had lunch there today. So sad. The place used to be great once upon a time...but not today. First clue...walking in to the strong smell if cleaning solution...Pine Sol? Should have left...but was hoping for the best. Arugula and beet salad arrived looking very "dingy" in color... as in old. The bottom tips of the arugula were brown, further evidence it was old. The calamari was saturated in oil from the fryer...as were the chips to the tuna tartar. I mean dripping. Wished the patio had been open to the outside air to help with the nauseating smell of Pine Sol. Lastly, they no longer have fish and chips on the menu. How can a seafood restaurant not serve fish and chips? That's bonkers!!! read more

We had Christmas dinner here and the food was genuinely excellent. Both salads we ordered were outstanding--fresh, beautifully balanced, and clearly made with care. For our mains, the beef short ribs and the salmon with risotto were perfectly seasoned and cooked. They were the kind of dishes you keep thinking about after the meal. Everything felt thoughtful and confident, without being fussy. The photos show half-eaten plates because we realized mid-meal that we needed to leave a review. We finished with two desserts (also pictured), which left us with a warm, festive feeling--exactly what you hope for on a holiday evening. This restaurant occupies a space with a long history, and the current incarnation as a French bistro feels very true to that tradition. We traveled to Paris last year, and the food here genuinely reminded us of meals we had in neighborhood bistros there--comforting, well-executed, and satisfying. If you enjoy thoughtfully prepared food and appreciate a classic bistro sensibility, this place is well worth a visit. We'll be happy to return. read more

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Huge space, funky fun decor, lots of seating, and yummy food! Staff is super friendly and great! read more

Catch - EMPTY PLATES = GREAT FOOD! ordered the fries + calamari to begin and it was a great choice! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'm hardly in the Castro and there's a lot of great places there. So I was excited when my friend held his birthday dinner at Catch. I've never been, but my friend and his husband have so I knew I was in for a treat. Everything on the menu looked so good. I didn't know if I wanted a bunch of tapas or an entree. I just knew I couldn't take leftovers because I have no fridge since it broke. I decided on an entree and a side. I got the salmon with spinach risotto and a side of the broccolini. Everyone had actually ordered a salad to start instead of me, and one of the employees was kind enough to task if I wanted to start with the broccolini since I was the only one without a starter. I liked how they plated their broccolini: it was sliced with generous amounts of bacon bits and garlic. The broccolini itself was crunchy and the fattiness from the bacon made it rich. And the garlic added some bite. The salmon was nicely charred and so meaty. The hint of lemon was the perfect amount of acidity. The risotto was so comforting! I could eat a whole bowl of it. The rice was perfectly cooked and I loved the pop of sweetness from the corn. The spinach wasn't bitter at all, and just meshed well with the risotto in both flavor and texture. Service was very friendly and welcoming. And I loved their space. It's very open and yet intimate. And unlike the umbrellas that dot the ceiling. My friend's husband brought the cake so we didn't get to try their desserts. So it's a reason to come back. read more

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With so many places to choose in the Castro I would choose this one again. Wonderful friendly staff, cozy environment (we were by the fireplace ). We only had the starters which was actually enough food for 2 of us. The baked Brie... yum , mussels...delish, Tuna tartare...fresh taste not fishy and escargot ... hot and garlicky! Will definitely be back. read more

So we braved the wind and rain today to dine here for Christmas. And I must say everything was delicious. They had pre-fix menu. 3 courses for $75 which was a great deal. The service was just a little slow but it was fine because only 2 people were working. The inside is beautiful as well. We were stuffed after our meal and ended up taking home some leftovers. For our appetizer I got a delicious French onion soup. And my husband got the beet salad. The entrée i got the lobster fettuccine which was very rich and creamy and it had lots of lobster in it. My husband got the halibut with some roasted veggies. Now on to the desserts. I got the French bread pudding and hubby got the opera cake. I was a delicious dinner and we will definitely be back. read more

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Love hosting events at this place! Good drinks, food, environment, and service. Definitely coming back soon

Great vibe and ambience with gluten friendly options!!! Awesome happy hour deals too

Amazing! This is a bright colorful gem of a restaurant! There are so many delicious options and honestly the experience goes beyond the food. The cocktails, wine list, and service are wonderful. This is the perfect place for big groups, people looking for a restaurant with great natural air flow. The front of the restaurant even has a working fire pit!! For covid conscious people...for big group dinners, for delicious European style food.... Stop here and enjoy. read more

Catch - Fire place in the front! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here last night with my family, and it instantly gave us those classic SF vibes. The food was delicious across the board. One of our items didn't come out, and our main server could've used a bit more menu knowledge, but honestly, as a foodie family, we still found ourselves talking about how excited we'd be to come back and try more dishes. Portions felt perfect for me, though I'm not sure they'd fully satisfy the men in our group. We ordered lots of drinks, oysters, calamari, NY steak, salmon, mixed grill, lobster fettuccine, and ribs, everything was well prepared. We also loved the décor and the touch of French charm provided by our second server. Looking forward to our next visit! read more

Catch - Seafood mixed grill - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

The food I had delivered from this restaurant is the best French food I've ever had. The chicken, mushrooms and beans was absolutely delicious and cooked to perfection. I highly recommend people try this restaurant out and i guarantee you'll love it. I can see myself ordering from there again someday soon. The service and ambiance of the place looks really good too from the pictures I saw and other reviews I read. 5 stars all around read more

Catch - Food - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

We had dinner at Catch last month on a rainy weekday for SFRW. Despite the fire pit and colorful umbrellas and wall decor, the restaurant still had a cold ambiance and didn't feel inviting. Service was wonderful, very attentive and accommodating. However, the food was just OK. We started with the crab salad and French onion soup. The crab salad was very good and refreshing, but there was just a bit too much avocado that it was overpowering. The French onion soup was a generous portion and very cheesy, but a little tiresome near the end. Our mains were the NY steak & fries and duck leg confit with mashed potatoes. The steak was standard, cooked more like a medium than the requested medium rare. Fries were standard as well. The duck was moist and had good flavor. I was expecting a bechemal sauce as written on the menu, but the duck was served with a red wine sauce instead. For dessert, we had the molten chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream and opera cake. Both were very rich and good, and perfectly portioned. Everything was presented nicely and good, but nothing was outstanding. We weren't blown away by any dish in particular. Everything was just "fine". My one takeaway is a cautionary tale: Be cautious about the inverted hanging umbrellas. As pretty as they are, they are a physical hazard. One of them dropped from the ceiling during out dinner service. Luckily, it hit the floor and not anyone. Staff was informed, but I wonder what would've happened if anyone did get injured. read more

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Nicely crafted gourmet seafood. Some solid fine dining for anyone looking for seafood. Tuna tartare with avocado was a delight. Lobster fettuccine was quite filing. read more

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Catch French Bistro is not the Catch that was formerly at this location, but it is very good in its own right. It's a casual and delightful French bistro in The Castro. The eclectic menu has something for everyone dining in a bistro. The 3-course $65 menu option is a good value but we didn't want dessert so ordered a la carte. Coeur D'artichoux / grilled artichokes starter was good, just too much butter/oil prior to dipping in the lemon aioli. French Onion Soupe was delicious and hearty. Crab Salad was just ok, a small portion of lump crab meat mixed with avocado. My entree was Halibut special. It came perfectly grilled, with a nice sear, moist interior and a good size. It was excellent and tasty. Aaron G enjoyed his Salmon which arrived with spinach corn risotto. The wine list is very good with many selections by the bottle and a few choice ones by the glass, in different price ranges. A few more Chardonnay choices by the glass would do well in San Francisco. Service was excellent, friendly and present. We enjoyed sitting outside during dinner with the heat lamp on, and away from the live music inside where it would be harder to converse. Outside and inside, Catch French Bistro's ambiance is a refreshing spot in the gayborhood. read more

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Not their finest hour... slight rebranding from original Restaurant. Whimsical decor... Problem: food was challenging. Ordered crab salad & trout with a cup of tea. $68. Crab salad tasted like.. crab from a can, but with lots of shells. Trout was not prepped appropriately. LOTS OF BABY BONES... sloppy sus chef work... on both the appetizer and the main. The trout was covered in a tasty sauce, but bistro fell short. Green beens full of roasted garlic, which would have been wonderful if the green beans were cooked at least 'al daunte'. The mashed potatoes had something added, but I'm unsure what it was. I didn't say anything on the appetizer, just thought won't order this again. But, as my bread plate was getting filled with the shell pieces and the fish bones, I did tell my waiter. Nothing..no response at all. Also, wasn't offered any bread at the table... not sure the issue, but wasn't a worthy meal. read more

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Decided to eat here after a few drinks on the Castro especially considering I was craving oysters. The oysters were great the New York steak was disappointing and chewy, I've bartended for around 4 years now and the drinks they served genuinely had to be a joke. No foam in the fleur de Lis but u could smell the egg whites, my friend ordered the raspberry martini barely any vodka and it tasted like pure cordial. Personally wouldn't come here again but service was decent just wish the food lived up to its price and the drinks are just overall bad. read more

I highly recommend Catch for a pleasant elevated evening out in the Castro area. They have a very respectable menu and there's sometimes items off menu which you can ask for if you know what they are - think mignon... The service and food quality is consistently good. I highly recommend catch. read more

Overall it was a decent place. Oddly it was empty on a Saturday morning for brunch, but good food and service! We had made a reservation on open table, marked birthday, and they even brought us a small mousse with a candle. Very nice touch! read more

Catch - Calamari - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Catch totally lives up to its name--fresh, flavorful, and exactly what you want in a seafood spot. The oysters were briny perfection, and the lobster roll? Dreamy. Beautiful waterfront vibe, attentive staff, and plates that feel like they were crafted with care. Perfect for a special night out or just treating yourself to top-notch seafood. Definitely a place you'll want to come back to... again and again. read more

Really expensive food that was mediocre at best. The mixed seafood i had was overly salted...really didn't taste good at all. Sorry!

We returned to Catch French Bistro after seeing a show in the city. Again, the people there could not be any nicer or more welcoming. They had a couple of specials, so we both tried the lamb chops. Perfectly prepared and wonderfully delicious. We splurged on a bottle of Chateau La Gurgue, and enjoyed the opera cake dessert. As always the ambiance was perfection from the music, decor, and everyone who worked there. We're going back later in the week! read more

Catch - Lamb chops - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

We really liked the old Catch, and the transition was bumpy re: decor, quality and service...BUT our experience this week was excellent! Super attentive staff, every dish tasted fresh and well-crafted (back to "foodie" standards) and the decor revise seems completed and is fun. SO relieved they survived and are now operating at a higher level, but they need more customers. It is such an exceptionally interesting space -- especially the deck and fire pit. I'm hoping more in the community give it a second chance. We'll definitely return regularly as long as they keep it up. read more

I really like how they've redone the space. It has much livelier decor and the menu has switched up a bit. I stopped in for lunch today and had the french onion soup and the Crepe Forestiere. The french onion soup was very savory and hit the spot. The crepe was also very delicious and came with a side salad. I would definitely come here again. Our server was a Frenchman who was very friendly. I can't complain about the service. I think they run things here like they do restaurants in France. They won't disturb you after you finish your meal since it's considered rude, so you'll have to flag the waiter and ask for your bill. read more

The service was excellent. The mushroom ravioli was the favorite. It's listed as a starter and I am hoping that it becomes a main dish. The drops of truffle oil in a cream sauce enhanced the flavors to a different level. We also ordered the Le Sage Chicken, Grilled Salmon over a Composee Salad, a Beet Salad with Strawberry Dressing with added chicken, and the Tuna Tartare. Ketel One martinis and a nice zinfandel from Paso Robles kept us occupied as we enjoyed each dish that was brought to our table with perfect timing. Live piano music in the background helped to set and keep a warm mood in the restaurant on a cold and drizzly evening. Opera Cake and a Peach Tartlet were our choices for dessert. Both were shining examples of the care taken by the management to make sure that the dining experience ended on a high note. read more

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We went to ketch French bistro today to celebrate pride. It is our usual location because we like the outdoor seating and were delighted to discover that they changed ownership. The food was plentiful and absolutely delicious. We had two plates of escargot and bread and we had a salmon sandwich., eggs Benedict, salad, fettuccine and everything was great! The atmosphere was great and our server Antonio was charming and wonderful. read more

Catch - Eating at the Catch Bistro! Fantastic! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

I was so sad when Catch closed down and I am so grateful for the new Catch French Bistro. My plate, Croque Monsieur, was delicious and I will come back for it again. The service was on the slower side but the food tasted fantastic so I did not mind. I also loved the seafood chowder. My husband had the burger with bleu cheese and enjoyed it - great fries. The French Onion soup needed more seasoning but was good. Prices are a bit high, but what else is new?!?!? As for the ambiance, i love that they kept the look of the old Catch. I love the open space eating area in the front. I will be coming back. read more

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Review My day started with yearly cleaning of emails, what ever happened to never delete anyway? And then old contacts, several San Francisco Chefs who have moved to other cities, I'm sure they dumped their old 415 years ago. I did save some. And looking forward to our dinner at Executive Chef Mina Habil's new place, Catch, I never met them, nor was I part of their soft opening or tastings. I run San Francisco Foodies and one of our members wanted to go here, she said it brought back memories of the best of San Francisco. Personally, the best seafood in San Francisco was Aqua, one of the restaurants that brought Michelin to the US and California, so I've heard tell. But Aqua is dead. Spoiler alert, Catch never was Aqua, and like Aqua's three stars, never ever will be. Walking into Catch was like a blast from the 2000s, and then staring at our AIDS Memorial Quilt hanging in such a way to never be viewed, brought me back to 1980s, getting phone calls from gay men in the Castro being 'unhoused' coming back from a doctor's appointment to their Landlord showing their Apartment to prospective tenants, or from a short hospital stay and their belongings in the street a new person living in the apartment... (well that was NYC). Most were shorter, most I couldn't help, they only called when they ran out of all of their other solutions anyway... victories were few, but living so far away I never celebrated. Calls stopped, not because of new meds, cocktails or San Francisco providing better protection. I pondered the wisdom of putting this in a place where only straight people will see, I can't imagine a gay man eating here. To imagine Catch's menu, walk down the aisle of Costco or Safeway (more gay men can be found a few blocks away there). With a few french words (lowercase intentional). San Francisco Foodies filled a table for eight in an empty dining room. Their print paintings and striped walls and dark lighting help conceal how empty it was, every chair movement, footfall was felt. Like walking on Aqua's grave. The only saving grace was Dee's Keys and their chanteuse was an echo of grande French performers. Catch's prix fixe menu allowed for three courses costing only sixty-five (65 USD) dollars. Curated by Chef Habil and his most trusted advisors he put himself on our plates. I ordered Moules frites for an appetizer, their fruits de mer (mixed grill) and for old times sake Molten Lava Cake. I'll make this shorter than our painful meal. I tasted only one of the mussels and it was astringent, and I recalled eating bad mussels before and could only taste vomit after that, the heavy sauce was old and congealed, the mussels were cold, fries were cut nice, but thin, marking them as french, not Belgium I suppose. Fruits de Mer (Missed Grill) was probably not grilled, even though they have marks you can buy frozen. They were overcooked, grey covering some slimy pieces of cauliflower. Finally, I cut into the hard, dark, cold dome, but didn't try the obviously dry chocolate cake. Overall, with twenty-four courses between us, everyone sent back one or two dishes. I would have sent back more if I felt it made any difference. I paid my bill in full, and will accept no retries. I do revisit every five years or so, but please reconsider hanging our history in their room of haters. read more

This place gets it sooooo close, but in the end it's the food that counts. Service is great. Ambiance is essentially still the old Catch (which is good), and on a nice day the front patio seating is a bonus. That said, on to the food. I only had two items: escargot and the duck leg in port wine sauce with mashed potatoes and brocollini. Escargot is hard to mess up. It's butter, garlic, parsley and a bit of salt. Extremely bland, which I attribute to it being almost completely free of visible garlic. The bread that came with it was great, but I didn't really feel like sopping up the meh butter left over. The duck leg was, frankly, atrocious. WAY overcooked and I was left to try to hack my way through it with a butter knife. The mashed potatoes score a two out of 10. It was a mashed potato -- but missing almost all the dairy that would normally make it velvety and buttery. It's also not French mashed potatoes -- as in, through a ricer first. The port wine sauce tasted like it was just reduced port. I saw some sad little bits of shallot in it, but not enough to add anything to the taste. Brocollini was so under-cooked I gave up trying to saw through it with the aforementioned butter knife. Their menu looks so inviting, and there are most of the bistro classics on it. Sounded promising. But like many others have said, it's all under-seasoned and the execution nor the preparation have anything to do with a French Bistro. They should go hang out at L'Ardoise Bistro a block away and eat dinner there a few times to see what they should aim for. read more

The service was welcoming and friendly. The food was absolutely delicious. We had the Croque Madame, the Mahi Mahi Sandwich, and the Steak Sandwich. We were all commenting on how scrumptious our meals were. We will definitely return there. read more

Went to Happy Hour only to be told they don't offer. Reminded the hostess that the full happy menu is posted on the website. She said it was taken off the website months ago. Sad .... The help is that unaware. read more

Came here last night we tried The three course menu option $65 per person, was a great value. Food portions were large so sharing was definitely happening. Escargot was really good as was the beef bourguignon we really loved the Crevettes Flambees Au Pastis. Also have a really nice selection of French wines available. read more

Catch - Crevettes Flambees Au Pastis - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

The food was "generic" to the point of being forgettable. It failed to reflect any recognizable culinary style--least of all French (except, perhaps, the onion soup), as the restaurant claims. For what they charge, you'd expect refinement or at least a hint of French character. Instead, the experience felt generic and overpriced. Disappointing and not worth a return visit. read more

I had high expectations, but unfortunately the customer service was terrible. Worst customer service I've experienced in a long time. The staff was rude, unhelpful, and acted like my business didn't matter at all. read more

Just returned to this place after trying it a few times after it opened a while back. Our food was incredible. The service was excellent. Can't wait to return read more

Excellent food and very nice owner! Highly recommend. Also atmosphere is really cozy at night.

We had an earlier reservation snafu elsewhere and lucked out when we were able to grab one at Catch for four of tonight. Im sure glad we did too. Outstanding food from start to finish. Not only was the food top tier, the service was on target, making us feel welcome and unrushed. Being xmas eve they offered a special prix fixe meal for $85 per person, which we all opted for. Two of us going with the filet mignon and two doing the chilean sea bass. We shared a dozen oysters which screamed fresh as they slid down. Ending our meals with several of the sweet endings including the Opera and chocolate lava cakes, buche de Noel and pumpkin creme brulee. Each of us proclaiming ours was the best! Im looking forward to making this a new neighborhood rotation as I work through the regular menu. The feel of the new gem in the Castro is how it vibes from brunch to casual pals night out to being date night worthy. Mellow muted live music allowed for use to talk without feeling stifled or having to shout. While not inexpensive. Its well worth the outlay. read more

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Ugh. I did not go in as a hater, but left as one. Mediocre food wrapped in a rainbow revulsion of gay tourist pandering. I am not being a cynic; I know people come from around the world to be out and visible and celebrate in a way they cannot at home, but we also owe those visitors authentic, high-quality SF experiences. This is not one of them. read more

Breakfast was awesome! Had the 3 course brunch, went with the omelette Florentine and it was excellent. Food was fresh and well served! Serving was excellent, you actually leave feeling satisfied, and the coffee was awesome! read more

Catch - Breakfast, Omelette Florentine - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

A great atmosphere! I had the most amazing desserts during dinner and really loved my server. Looking forward to more visits!