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Pacific Catch

3.5 star rating
based on 53 reviews

Categories: Seafood, Latin American, Hawaiian  [Edit]

133 Corte Madera Town Center
Corte Madera, CA 94925
(415) 927-3474
Regional Menu Returns July 7-27

Come in and try our three course regional menu inspired…

Announced 9 days ago
 
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  • Price Range: $$
  • Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
  • Parking: Private Lot
  • Attire: Casual
  • Good for Groups: Yes
  • Good for Kids: Yes
  • Takes Reservations: Yes
  • Delivers: No
  • Take-out: Yes
  • Waiter Service: Yes
  • Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
  • Outdoor Seating: Yes
  • Good for: Lunch
  • Alcohol: Full Bar

53 Reviews for Pacific Catch

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One of Pacific Catch's Favorite Reviews

Photo of Christine R.

 

1

36

Christine R.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
05/01/2008

Prices aren't too bad at a place like this with a variety of Asian/Fusion foods.  Teriyaki bowls are decent, and there are some sushi rolls to choose from, yummy tempura rolls.  Fish tacos are good, and the Korean bbq plates are just as good, but not authentic like the real Korean, Sushi, and Taqueria places in SF.  We sat in the outdoor patio area, and enjoyed the warm sunny day in April.  There was even a long wait if customers wanted to sit outside.  Great kids menu to choose from.  The kids like the chalk board to write on, instead of the same dull crayons with a piece of paper to draw on.  Love the sweet potatoes which are a bit better carbs than regular greasy fries.  Have to try the mochi ice cream fondue to finish off your meal.  If not, there's always Gelato next door, but expensive as hell since we paid $12 for 3 scoops.

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30

39

Jackie B.

San Rafael, CA

3 star rating
05/29/2008

Great tacos- yummy sauces.  I really only come here just for the pineapple martinis and the sweet potato fries.  

Not the best ambiance, admittedly.  No privacy at all- it's definately kid friendly.  But, I'd probably never see a guy again if he took me here for our first date.  Maybe our 10th date, after I knew I didn't need to give it up anymore to keep him around...

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11

21

Adryenn A.

Mill Valley, CA

4 star rating
07/05/2008

Coconut Grilled Shrimp and Sweet Potato Fries! :) YUMMMM.  My sister in law devoured (and licked the bowl) the sushi grade Ahi Tuna Salad.

We sat outside after the parade on 4th of July.  We got their first because we were IN the parade, so we just kept driving and parked right out front! :)

After we arrived, the place was overwhelmed with patrons and handled the onslaught well.  

They loose a star because 2 weeks ago I went in and it smelled bad, like old fish.  Yesterday it smelled great.  Will need a few more trips that are perfect to up rating, but the food was awesome.  Even the meat and potatos guys ate up their fish and chips and asked for more.

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4

Artie D.

Tiburon, CA

3 star rating
07/01/2008

Sadly inconsistent.

My wife and I have eaten here a few times in the past 3 months, with some very good experiences, and one pretty poor.  

On the plus side, they are very kid friendly, have a decent menu, are reasonably priced, and I've found the service to be generally good.  We like the edemame and goldfish or pretzels they serve as starters - a fun touch for sure, and something our son (14 months old) can enjoy as well.  

I had the tacos on my first visit, and they were beyond fantastic -- I could not wait to return to this gem.  

Good second visit as well, had a fish entree that was very well prepared.

Had tacos again on my third visit, and they were quite literally inedible - absurdly over-saturated with some sort of blackened spice-rub which basically burned out my taste buds on the first bite.  They were truly horrible, and I couldn't finish it (which for me basically NEVER happens).  

Worse yet, it really soured me on the whole restaurant, because every time we've thought of returning to pacific Catch (my wife has always enjoyed her food, and wants to return) I'd immediately get that awful taste back in my mouth again and lose my appetite.  I've had bad meals at restaurants I like(d) before, but none that made it so difficult to return to a place I'd previously thought well of.  

I'll be back at some point I'm sure, but what a tremendous disappointment last time around.

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1

22

Michele L.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
07/05/2008

I took my mother here for mother's day this year and we had a great time.  It wasn't too crowded just because of the neighborhood, but we got outdoor seating and excellent service.  The Fish and Chips was really good, as was the ahi-tuna salad.  Definitely one of my favorite chains.

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12

3

Marjorie P.

Burlingame, CA

5 star rating
06/15/2008

This is just a chill place to get some yummy food. I'm always starving when I show up so it's nice that they have edamame and pretzels on your table before you order, instead of the usual bread basket. I love any dish that involves ahi tuna and the citrus ginger mixed drink is a must.  The salads and rice bowls are delicious- I definitely recommend it! Oh yea- and the sweet potato fries will rock your face off.

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4

38

Janet G.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
05/31/2008

Sweet. potato. fries. Oh my god, so good! My family and I love this place. So cute that they bring you goldfish crackers! I recommend starting with the seaweed salad - I'd never had one before, but really like it here. Their fish tacos are awesome, though my stepfather thinks they should change their brand of tortillas, because they do tend to break. I recommend going with my sister so she can tell you what sustainable fish to order, and ask the waiter all the questions you're too embarrassed to ask yourself. Bring your pocket Monterey Seafood Watch Guide!

Mochi fondue - cute idea, and easy to copy at home with a quick trip to Trader Joe's! Wait, do they sell hot fudge at TJ's? I also liked that they took down my cell phone number and called me when our table was ready. Just enough time for a quick trip to the Container Store!

I need to try to the Inner Sunset location. RIP, Canvas.

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Elite '08

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208

Joyce L.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
05/27/2008

I like this Pacific Catch locale - the indoor and outside patio areas are relatively spacious, and the food is consistent with their other locations.  'Tis a nice little escape from the city...and is a fun, low-key place to get your grub on :o)

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Elite '08

37

259

Grace T.

Cypress, CA

4 star rating
03/29/2008

My friends brought me here for dinner on a recent visit to the Bay Area for dinner.  As we were driving there from the East Bay, I was beginning to wonder where we were going since I saw that we had driven past San Quentin (are we having dinner with inmates or what?).  We eventually pull into Corte Madera and my bp starts dropping back to normal.  They had found this place from the IPhone commercials.  Once we were seated, we were waiting for a while until we got a server that would come by our table (boo!).  My friend knew what they wanted and decided to get the scallops special as my entree and we ordered ceviche and spicy fries as starters.  We love the starters and we loved our entrees even more.  I only wish that our server knew how horrible she was.

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Elite '08

133

451

TANYA P.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
03/17/2008

Our server, Liz, was spot on in service...before we even knew what we wanted, she thoughtfully swooped in with a split dish of edamame and gold fish. When we asked if the Teriyaki bowl would be enough to share with the bug she replied she'd even bring another bowl out. What usually takes several rounds of scattered service was uber efficient and friendly. Fresh food. Had avoided it in the past...Patio great on warm days. Fun wine by the glass list. Surprisingly pleasant sushi..  

Thanks, Liz!

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1

27

Lauren H.

Fairfax, CA

4 star rating
03/01/2008

I'm basing my review on my favorite dish on the menu--Ahi Tuna Rice Bowl (with brown rice).  It's really, really tasty and I might even like it enough to give PC 5 stars.  However, I just read the review about the ahi being prepared with carbon monoxide so with that in mind: 4 stars.  I'm not sure that I understand what CO preparation amounts to, but it doesn't sound good to me.  

I usually get my Ahi Bowl to go, but the times I've eaten there, the service was good.  On my most recent to-go visit, I found the girl at the cash register to have a crap attitude, but that was the first time the service was sub-par.
The decor, inside and out, is pleasant.
Final comment: the pretzels and edamame they give you while you wait for your meal are a nice routine.  I think they should include them with the to-go meals, too--$15 for a rice bowl is steep and a handful of soybeans doesn't seem too much to ask.

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Elite '08

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166

christine e.

Sausalito, CA

1 star rating
01/30/2008

ZERO STARS........... WARNING

I called to see if their ahi was processed using carbon monoxide and James said yes. Well................ that process has been banned in Japan since 1997 and Europe banned it last year.

First of all carbon monoxide! That gives that bright fresh red look to ahi that masks whether a fish is fresh or not. Tuna starts to turn brown, but using this carcinogen, one can't tell!

I certainly won't be eating that! Should you??????

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4

88

Bellini B.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
04/04/2008

pretty good.  The wasabi bowls are yummy.  That tuna post scared the crap out of me!!  I remember getting the Ahi Poki and it hurting my tummy, not sure if that had anything to do with it.

If you are in a rush and need a yummy asian/seafoodie meal this is the place.  I prefer to-go since the place feels a little cold, but the wasabi bowls are where it's at!!!

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4

Avora S.

Novato, CA

5 star rating
05/29/2008

I just LOVE this place!! Great everything, and I have tried just about all of the menu. We go hear at least once per week. So nice that they offer healthy choices on the kids' menu. Mmm, sweet potato fries!! The appetizers are delicious as well, fresh sushi, spicy ceviche, yummy tacos, etc. The salads are huge, which I love, and so tasty! The service is usually quick as well.

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Elite '08

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201

Natalie G.

Larkspur, CA

2 star rating
01/03/2008

Marin..why do you do this to me!?! Another over hyped mediocre white washed food-ery filled with lackluster eats. Ahi Poke Rice bowl? Sup, tenuous cubes of fish in an okay marinade with roughly 3 cups of overly glutenous under seasoned "sushi rice"? The coconut shrimp almost gave me a toothache it was so sweet and instead of introducing any contrast they pair it with an equally if not sweeter dipping sauce. The Lemongrass Iced Tea tasted like Liptons with lemon in it.

I just don't get it.

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Elite '08

23

113

Liz P.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
12/29/2007

UPDATE:
Jan. 25, 2008

The management has contacted me regarding my recent experience wanting to make amends.  I went back Thursday night with a good girlfriend.  Given the rainy evening the place was pretty empty.  I enjoyed the Coconut Shrimp and Grilled Corn.

My pal had the Mahi Mahi.  It was OK, but she preferred my Shrimp over her entree.  Our waitress was friendly, attentive but not overly so.  What was a bit of a turnoff was the slightly fishy smell wafting from the open kitchen.  It wasn't overwhelming.  I have a super sensitive nose to this given I grew up in a fishing town.  

Overall, a very pleasant and relaxing experience.

ORIGINAL REVIEW:
I don't get the allure of this place.  The highly regarded sweet potato fries were soggy.  The corn tortillas were the stale, packaged variety.  The shrimp in my tacos were chewy since they were overcooked and the black beans were bland.

I'd forgive the food as being average since some of my fellow diners seemed to enjoy their entrees (fish tacos, fish and chips, salads).  What I can't forgive is the lame service.  We had a reservation for an outside table.  The patio was nearly empty.  It took them at minimum 10 minutes to seat us because they had to push two tables together.  Our waitress forgot our drinks, then forgot to bring us sugar for our drinks.  I finally got up and snatched it from another table.  

No thanks.  I'll eat my tacos in the Mission or in the same mall at Baja Fresh for a lot less cash.

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2

12

Caroline Q.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
02/03/2008

I wish I could say good things about Pacific Catch because I really wanted to.. but the food left me wanting more flavor!

Meeting up with my husband, my cousin and her boy on a really, REALLY rainy day, we were ready for some chow. I ordered a fish dish, my husband ordered a taco plate, and the other two shared some combo plates. Our general consensus was the the food was pretty flavorless and not all that exciting.

Soon after we left my cousin's boyfriend realized that he left his phone on the table. He called the restaurant multiple times until he finally got an answer. They said that no phone was found and said that they would ask around. Unfortunately it appears that one of the bussers took the phone and actually made calls on it. Not the restaurants fault but frustrating none the less.

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6

25

Amanda M.

San Rafael, CA

1 star rating
11/26/2007

Terrible F!
So my husband and I went here last weekend and I was really excited to go. The place was packed and it smelled great.
I ordered a Pineapple martini. It wasn't too sweet and I really enjoyed it. It came with a slice of Pineapple which attracted gnats. YAY!

We both ordered our main course and I also ordered the grilled artichoke appetizer. The came out cold with no sign of being grilled at all. We asked the server to take them back and have them grilled. When he returned with them they were still cold. Didn't even bother eating them.

I ordered the Spicy chicken taco platter. Two chicken tacos with a spicy salsa verde, black beans and sweet potato fries.
I Was halfway through the first taco (which was cold as well) and because the thing was soaked is spicy salsa I didn't realize I was eating a fish taco. So I put that fish taco down and proceeded to eat my chicken taco. The chicken was tough covered in WAY TOO MUCH salsa and again cold like everything else I was served.

My husband did enjoy his rice bowl dish though. The totally crappy part was that he actually paid for the meal, if you could call it that.

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23

443

Tim G.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
02/11/2008

It's a supersized version of its Marina parent.  Bigger space, impressive menu, and the same quality food.

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4

58

Janelle C.

San Jose, CA

4 star rating
01/13/2008

Fresh shrimp tacos with a yummy lime sauce! Steak tacos super tasty. Loved the sweet potatoe fries. Great service, location, food. Will definately go back again. The menu is diverse and healthy.

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Elite '08

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511

Jason R.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
12/19/2007

They serve the same stuff as the one on Chestnut

BUT

1. The service has been slow every time I've been.

2. Their prices are all at least a buck or two more than their other location on every item.

No thanks.

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12

Double-Dash C.

San Rafael, CA

4 star rating
01/29/2008

I had the seared ahi sandwich with the wasabi mayo, ginger, avocado, daikon sprouts with a side of the sweet potato fries. Twas awesome.  My husband had the mixed fish and chips basket, which had three different fried things in it and was really good. We had to wait a while to get seated, but our waitress was great. Also, the food came out REALLY fast. I like that they have so much fresh fish on the menu, but I want to try it before making any judgement call. Overall, a good experience that made me want to come back to try more on the menu.

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11

35

Raven B.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
11/29/2007

I wouldn't feel right rating the service because I was eating there to help review it for a magazine article, so they probably fussed over our table more than your average jo.

But... the food as pretty tasty for the price. The thing that stood out the most for me was their Traditional Baja Fish Taco, which we had as an appetizer.  I've looked high and low in CA for even passably decent fish Tacos, but once you've actually eaten them in Baja the vast majority of places fall woefully short.  This place didn't disappoint, they came pretty close to the original and I would honestly stop by just to get my fish taco fix.

Also not to be missed is the Hawaiian Poke from their sashimi menu. The cubes were a little on the large side for my taste, but for a mere $8.50 you get a ton of food.

For desert go with the Fried Dulce de Leche "Spring Rolls", it sounds a little odd but man is it tasty.

The entrees I tried were a little unremarkable, but I think they do pretty well with their smaller dishes.

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45

Fernand P.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
01/05/2008

Fresh and Tasty
I was taken by surprise by this chain restaurant. This was a really tasty lunch.
I can't speak for the rest of the menu, but if you order the chipotle glazed grilled Salmon with corn salsa and lime crema and   the Baja fried shrimp taco with shredded cabbage fresh lime,  sour cream, pico de gallo and avocado with sweet potato fries covered in syracha sauce it is a thing of beauty.
I was in bliss.
My wife had the poke bowl though I did not think it was the best I have ever had it was very good.
Everyone seems to rate this place really low, I must have really lucked out  with my food. Everything and I mean everything was on point.
I think the one thing that would sum up my experience at Pacific catch was every thing I ate was so fresh from the Tortillas, the fish, the salsas.

I went back again and it was not the same. It was still enjoyable,but not great.

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2

Andrew H.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
12/04/2007

Very Average......

Bring a fly swatter; The fruit flies ate more than we did.  

I am fairly sure the sweet potato fries were made some time in the late 90's...

At least the beer was cold.

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200

Hannah Q.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
07/16/2007

I keep ordering food from here and expecting something... more. The concept is great - fresh, healthy meals with fish, at reasonable prices... Think of what Pasta Pomodoro does for, well, pasta, but throw in some Ahi, and you get the idea.

LONG, LONG WAITS & NO "HOLD" MUSIC
So, what's not working about PC? To begin with, if you call in during busy times to place an order, you can get put on hold, but there's no hold music... Which on the one hand is fine unless if you have a penchant for muzak (tm), but on the other is really annoying because you have no way of knowing if you're actually on hold, or if you've been hung up on. I called in one Friday night to place a take-out order and waited for 20 minutes with no one coming back.

MANAGEMENT NEEDS TO ADDRESS CORE ISSUES
I'm not sure why, but somehow these guys manage to get in the weeds on weekends and really don't know how to get out. I've consistently had terrible wait times when trying to get take-out from Pacific Catch during peak hours. If your business is consistently having the same issues, well... maybe you need to figure our what you're mismanaging.

DISORGANIZED KITCHEN
The last time I got take out from here, I'd called in and been told it would be 10-15 minutes. Great! I showed up 15 minutes later and ended up waiting another 20. The big hang-up on my order? The miso soups. My total order required NO COOKING whatsoever... just soup and salad - takes 3 minutes to assemble from pre-prepped stuff. Yet, it took 35 minutes for me to get. What's up with that?

DIRTY HANDS ON MY FOOD
Here's what threw it over the edge for me... in an effort to get me out the door (which was considerate), one of the non-waitstaff people (I dunno... bartender? cashier? shift manager?) took it upon himself to get my soups together. That would've been great, except that it required him using his bare hands to grab some veggies to toss into the take-out container and then add the miso base to. This would be perfectly fine if he were working in the kitchen (which is open to the restaurant, which is how I saw him doing this), but he's HANDLING CASH TRANSACTIONS. DISGUSTING.

Will I eat here again? Probably. I do find the entire staff to be very charming and, when I'm done knocking off the baby weight, I REALLY want to hit those sweet potato fries. In general, however, PC is off the heavy rotation list and I think I'll only bother with it in the middle of the week to avoid the craziness.

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107

Catrinel A.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
08/08/2007

Just a smidge less better (food wise) than the Chesnut Street location.. a ton more seating which is a huge plus...the patio is pretty big actually.  I tried the grilled salmon sandwich yesterday, different than my typical and it was really good.  The bun is always MUCH bigger than the fish piece and I end up not eating almost half of the bun...a waste.  I love the cole slaw they serve up and the people I usually eat with enjoy the meal sized bowls..next time I'll do the same!

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8

270

Jan P.

San Jose, CA

4 star rating
10/19/2007

Mmmm, I really liked this place!! The feel is of a fun chain restaurant, even though it isn't quite one (I wish they had a location in the South Bay!). It is cheap and good; there are a variety of items to choose from. The service is lacking and slow in more ways than one, but if I was in Corte Madera again, I would definitely swing by.

CA rolls were yummy, and the clams miso soup was surprisingly delicious.

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3

3

Juliya R.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
08/28/2007

What can I say other than that the sweet potato fries are to die for! These very well may be the best fries I've ever had in my life - perfect combination of sweetness and saltiness, with a tangy sauce on top. Yum. Our server was also in the sweet potato fries category - sweet and helpful but tangy and fast.

Everything else was disappointingly mediocre. The entres were rather dry, the atmosphere was rather bleak and the party of five at the table next to ours was seated much too close for comfort. Their topic of choice was, and I kid you not, intestinal pain. Yum.

It may be affordable sea food, but you can certainly afford not to go to this place.

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316

Jessica H.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
09/23/2007

I should start this review out by saying that I don't eat fish.  So my initial pet peeve here, and suggestion for them, is that they should really list all of the dishes where tofu can be substituted for fish.  Once I asked, they were very happy to do so.  It would be much easier if I could see all of my options though.

For the fish eaters that were with me, it was great that they offered a "plain" option in addition to some of the spicy and funky options.  That way, there really was something for everyone.  

Depending on where you are seated, it can be odd/annoying to be right near the kitchen.  The other strange thing that happened here was that my napkin was really wet, as if it had come right out of the washer and never been put into the dryer.  So wet in fact that it made my pants wet.  Yuck.  I don't think I've encountered that at another restaurant before.

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7

32

Heather W.

Albany, CA

5 star rating
07/05/2007

I love this place! And it's all because of the iphone. Anyway I love the asian decor inside and the tropical feel outside. They play beachy music on the patio which makes me feel like I am on vacation. The ice tea is yummy and the ceviche is good too. They have sweet potato fries that are to die for.

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0

6

Lisa M.

Corte Madera, CA

3 star rating
01/25/2008

Pro's: It's 2 blocks from my house and when I'm wanting fresh fish, this place is great.
Con: I really wanted sushi tonight. I can't find a great sushi place in Marin except for Sushi Ran (way too expensive for a take-out friday night) so I thought I'd try Pacific Catch's Poke and two sushi rolls.  First time I was at this place, I think I must have had beer goggles as I thought it was heaven. (with a CPK like decor inside though).  Tonight, it was just ok.  Poke was decent, fresh and a lot of fish for $8.50, but the two rolls had a creamy sauce on them and weren't very exciting.  Hate the creamy sauce on sushi.

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21

238

Pelle Y.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
08/12/2007

Came here to chow after hiking Mt. Tam.  Sitting out on their patio with a poke rice bowl and a pint of extra cold Kirin was just what we needed to refresh.

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0

33

Stephie L.

Benicia, CA

2 star rating
09/04/2007

Four words: do not eat here. It wasn't absolutely horrible, but it was definitely mediocre. Here is why:

* I don't know what other people were talking about on here, but the sweet potato fries were not that good. After reading everyone else's reviews on here about how awesome the fries are, I was looking forward to trying them. Sadly, I was greatly disappointed. When we got our food, the fries were COLD and looked like they had been sitting around all day (and this was lunch time, too). Plus, the taste was nothing to rave about. I've had better fries at Wendy's, honestly. At least you can get them WARM over there.

* The staff was unfriendly. When we first entered the restaurant, the young woman at the counter didn't even greet us. All of the waitresses and waiters seemed really stuck up and unhelpful.

* The miso soup was mediocre, at best. You can get better miso soup elsewhere at a regular Japanese restaurant for a cheaper price. Plus, they don't give you very much.

* There were flies everywhere in the restaurant. I had to keep swatting at them to keep them away from our food. If they have such a fly problem, why don't they just keep the doors closed?

* We had the fish and chips, and the fish was probably the only positive part of the dining experience. It was fresh and didn't have a "fishy" taste at all. I've had better fish elsewhere, but it was still very good. It's the only reason I gave this place two stars.

All in all, it wasn't a good dining experience. I would suggest going elsewhere for better quality food and a friendlier staff. Don't waste your time with this place.

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Lara R.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
01/16/2007

Face it: it was about time the Corte Madera Town Center had more eating options than just Safeway and the legendary Il Fornaio.  Pacific Catch offers a reasonably priced menu of fresh fish daily specials, along with rice bowls and sushi hand rolls. I haven't been disappointed here yet, but then again, I haven't tried much on the menu because I'm hooked on their Wakame (seaweed) salad. Their selection of wines by the glass aint too shabby either. Even my father, who's quite the wine connosieur, has enjoyed some tasty pinot blancs here.

And.... (drumroll please)...

I humbly vote Pacific Catch as having the best darn seaweed salad in  all of Marin County!

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Brian B.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
02/11/2008

Have only had the tacos & sweet potato fries so not enough to really judge this place.  I always think next time I'll try something else on the menu but those tacos & fries are so dang good!!!

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Elite '08

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Nicolas H.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
04/09/2007

Pretty much the same idea as the San Francisco location, just a lot larger dining room and they have a nice outdoor patio area. Its hard for me not to get the poke bowl, but this time i added the tobiko (which probably wasn't necessary). Also unnecessary, but delicious, were the sweet potato fries (with the usual dipping sauces). Its not the cheapest lunch in corte madera, but the ever changing fish specials makes it always a good option.

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Elite '08

63

250

Shannon F.

Larkspur, CA

3 star rating
11/14/2007

Somebody hand a me a flavor wand for Marin, for goodness sake! The food was good, and the service was good. There was just nothing great about Pacific Catch. I don't get the pretzel goldfish, but they were tasty. I love edamame, and free things to eat when I'm hungry and figuring out my meal is always awesome! The Ahi Poke Wasabe Rice bowl was decent in some ways. Out of the generous portion of probably over ten sizable cubes of fish, one was sushi quality, where it melted in my mouth with the touch of my teeth.The marinade was tasty, but the fish was incredibly tenuous, in large chunks, and hard to chew.  The sushi rice was bland (to the point where I wondered if they even used vinegar at all). The Coconut Shrimp were rather tasty, but so sweet that I felt as though I was eating candy. That, coupled with sweet potato fries, and a sweet (and mildly spicy) sauce, was just way too much sweetness. C'mon Pacific Catch, do me a favor and mix it up a lil' in flavor. Oh, and by the way, don't bother with any of their drinks. The "lemongrass inflused" iced tea was a joke. If I wanted watered down lemon Lipton, I'd ask for it, thanks.

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Elite '08

26

158

Glenn H.

Pacifica, CA

4 star rating
06/15/2007

One of my favorite new finds; I love the meal-sized fresh fish salads, particularly the Sushi-Grade Ahi for only $12.95: [from their on-line menu:] "Grilled rare & served with avocado, cucumber, daikon sprouts, pickled ginger, carrots, baby tomatoes, toasted sesame seeds & soy-wasabi vinaigrette," and brown rice on the side.  This is got to be a bargain salad and healthy and deeeelish!

The big surprise is just because its seafood does not mean its super expensive or that everything is fried.

We like the light atmosphere and the pleasant staff.

Update 10/13/07: went back and had their Japanese rice bowls tonight and had both the Wasabi Ahi Tuna and the Teriaki Ahi Tuna bowl (the latter over pineapple fried rice), each for $13.95. And we had the spicy calamari appy for $8.95.

All the food was terrific although the Wasabi Bowl beat out the Teriaki for just great fresh flavors of the sesame seaweed salad and the large serving of pink ginger and of course the perfectly done rare Ahi Tuna slices.

The calamari was delicious but could have been a little less oily.

The Teriaki bowl was generously dressed with grilled Asian greens, asparagus, and lots of chopped Shitake mushrooms over a really good pineapple fried rice.

Overall, again a great dinner (more than we could eat) with good tastes and a healthy overall feeling that we'd eaten WELL.

I honestly have limited my selections to the Salads and the rice bowls because they do them so well here. So I don't have a real good sense of the other dishes since these are (1) under $15 each (2) really brightly flavored (3) healthy, and (4) filling so are (5) a great value. So why rock the boat and try the alleged "mediocre" stuff?

[Oh Yes I do remember straying ONCE from these choices some time ago with the sweet potato fries there with another dish that was not the salad or rice bowl and--well--let me say that it didn't make that much of an impression of me. Set me back on the correct path...]

The outside patio was spacious and well stocked with heat sources but I hardly noticed. The service was good and they even had a Hawaiian group playing Saturdays there--that we just missed (dang it).

So try the dishes that I know are good and I don't think you can go wrong.

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Elite '08

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153

Leon R.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
12/18/2006

Although it's only number two, the new Pacific Catch in Marin feels like an upscale chain on verge of sprouting a hundred locations across the country.  It's the yin to neighboring Il Fornaio's yang.  With its slick, corporate, overly produced interior, I could easily picture this restaurant in any Affluent Suburb, USA.  First, Walnut Creek.  Next, suburban Atlanta...

With that in mind, Pacific Catch makes a wonderful utility choice for the Marin mom (i.e. pacific snatch).  For lunch, she can slam a Citrus Ginger Cooler (or four) with her gal pals while carefully picking at the edges of a "meal-sized salad."  For dinner, pack the kids into the SUV and head on over --- "little Aiden just LOVES the fish and chips."  How's that for versatility?

Allright, no more cheap shots.  I should move on to food because it's pretty damn good.  My favorites are the wasabi bowls and meal sized salads, which I usually get with sushi grade Ahi.  They come with  seared tuna (or unagi), avocado, cucumber, daikon sprouts, pickled ginger, tomatoes and soy wasabi sauce.  The fresh, plentiful ingredients and the variety of flavors, temperatures, and textures undoubtedly leave me satisfied.

The other stuff I've tried is also solid.  When the farmer's market is held at the Town Center on Wednesdays, I've made a habit of picking up the free samples of Hawaiian Poke Tuna and the Baja Shrimp Ceviche.  I recommend both.  The BBQ salmon sandwich and the various tacos also get my endorsement.  If you're in mood for something fried, PC does an interesting fish and chips with jalapeno tartar and Thai sweet chili dipping sauce.  And they don't skimp on sweet potato fries.  The only item that was underwhelming, if at all, was the Rock n' Roll.                        

Here's to hoping that Pacific Catch doesn't join TGI Fridays, Chevy's, CPK, etc. in the pantheon of America's "top" chains.  They certainly won't be the first to proffer "fresh" quality food and then water the product down in a gaggle of new locations.  I'm not holding my breath.

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