PARTIAL REVIEW
-Chef Black's menu changes daily depending on what the ocean brings in. Considering Florida's incredible access to fresh, fabulous fish and shellfish, there are a lot of sea-centric restaurants in the area. However, one thing that definitely makes PB Catch stand out is their "Seacuterie" (a cheeky term trademarked by their team). Inspired by the super trendy Charcuterie (salted, smoked, cured meats, pates, terrines, and sausages), their Seacuterie uses the same techniques as seen with pork but, of course, with seafood instead. Seacuterie selections can be chosen in groups of 3 or 6 and are presented together for sharing on a board.
-The remaining sections of the menu include: Raw Bar (9 oysters, clams, snow crab claws, cocktail, platters), Tartares (fish and meat), Daily Specials, Small Plates, Fish, Land (meat and veggie options), and Sides.
Seacuterie ($29 for Choice of 6)
Boquerones (Marinated White Anchovies, Picholine Olives)
Cured Seabass (Red Miso Cured, Crispy Shitake, Sake Aioli, Wakame)
Salmon Pastrami (Rye Crouton, Kraut, 1000 Island Aioli)
Lemon & Oregano Smoked Swordfish (Sauce Remoulade)
Octopus Torchon (Chorizo, Pickled Sweet Corn)
Coffee Cured Pumpkin Swordfish (Vanilla Crème Fraiche)
The seacuterie was hit and miss with us. The Boquerones were briny, flavour packed little bites, with enough fat to balance out all that salt. The Seabass was too chewy and tough to enjoy, though the sake aioli had an interesting flavour. The two swordfishes could not have been more different. The lemon and oregano was so perfectly seasoned and fulfilling, it almost tasted like juicy meat. The pumpkin application, on the other hand, was disappointing. I didn't really notice any pumpkin or coffee flavour imparted on the fish, so the vanilla crème fraiche felt out of place. The octopus also somewhat missed the mark- the torchon was tender but the dish was bland. Considering there were some baby bits of chorizo in there, it just wasn't enough to season the fish. The result was an overly sweet corn flavour and pretty much nothing else. In contrast, however, the salmon was my absolute fave. When combined with the Russian dressing, the sauerkraut and the crispy little rye, the smoked, seasoned fish tasted exactly like a Reuben.
Crispy Bay Scallops ($15)
Braised Oxtail, Fine Herb Spaetzle, Compressed Green Apple
Loved this and wanted more. The combination of the light and crispy scallops with the rich meaty oxtail, the chewy spaetzle dumplings and the sweet and tangy apple was addictive. A really, really good dish.
Crab & Cauliflower Gratin ($18)
Baked Peekytoe Crab Meat, Roasted Cauliflower, Speck, Aged White Cheddar
Another awesome shareable plate. The crab and cauliflower were so sweet, the flavour almost resembled corn, while the salty speck and aged cheese balanced it out. Nothing could be more comforting than smearing a spoonful of this goodness onto a buttery toasty baguette (which honestly were delicious in their own right). My only criticism, and it's minor, is that I think this dish could have been elevated with a little bit of heat- something to balance out the sweet, salty richness going on.
Popcorn Shrimp ($14)
Florida Rock Shrimp, Sweet Chili Garlic, and Tartar Dipping Sauces
Our server wasn't very enthusiastic when we mentioned this selection, which made me hesitant to follow through. But in the end, I was glad we did. The shrimp were fried in a light and crispy batter, that managed to cook the shrimp perfectly without leaving them chewy and overdone. Of the two dips, I actually really liked the less traditional sweet chili, which had a nice level of heat to cut the fat from the fry time.
Caramelized Soy Brussels Sprouts ($9)
My partner and I have a thing for Brussels sprouts, and this was a tasty version. The sweet, salty, umami rich sauce was absolute perfection from a flavour front, but perhaps could have used some reducing time. It was a bit watery in the bottom of the bowl. I also think this dish could have been elevated about 10 fold had the vegetables been roasted and caramelized (as the name suggested) rather than steamed. Regardless, it was delish, and a good way to round out a rich meal.
Key Lime Pie, Coconut Crust ($9)
I've eaten a lot of key lime pie in Florida, and this was a solid version. The curd was silky smooth with a good balance of sweet and sour, and the coconut crust lent a really satisfying chewy texture. Leave room for dessert if you can!
Closing Remarks:
-For 2 cocktails, 2 glasses of wine, 1 glass of Sauternes, 1 cappuccino, 6 Seacuterie, 3 small plates, a side dish and dessert, the bill came to $220 including tax and tip. Worth the price? Considering everything but the dessert and side was made of pricey seafood, I'd say it was money well spent. read more