Pacific Catch

From Red Lobster to Bonefish Grill, seafood chains have had a rough last 10 years, as fairly stable and pleasant restaurants were rocked by everything from ill-conceived promotions and diminishing quality to considerable inflation. Today, so many seafood restaurants either under-deliver or overcharge that we naturally assume a new seafood chain won’t be good. That’s why Pacific Catch’s 2023 opening in Tustin surprised us: this Northern California chain generally strikes a solid balance across the board.

Combining poke, ceviche, sushi, tacos, fish and chips, and cooked fish, the menu manages to hit the right American, Asian, and Latin notes to appeal to pretty much anyone looking for a seafood lunch or dinner. Appetizers range from $7-20 (averaging $15), with entrées in the $20-40 range (averaging $30). Basic lunch specials can be had for $16 on weekdays, each day with a single choice ranging from small poke bowl to burger and fries, soup and salad, or two tacos.

Finding the right balance of pure seafood versus prepared dishes isn’t always easy: Beyond adding fatty creams and huge portions of rice or starch to plump up otherwise anemic dishes, owners often try and minimize the seafood content of every item in a quest to maximize profitability. At least for the moment, these aren’t problems at Pacific Catch, though it’s obvious that the temptation is there.