Catch Of The Day…

Do I have a Catch for you.

Granted it is an hour plus drive from the city, but if you crave great seafood at reasonable prices head to Patchogue, New York located on Long Island.

I love down home little seafood shacks that are simple and have amazingly fresh clams, oysters and lobster.

Patchogue, New York has rustic charm and is slowly becoming a bit bougie with water views, walkable streets, nature paths, wild turkeys and deer roaming residential areas and that feeling you have somehow stumbled into a town where everyone knows your cousin, whether you have one or not.

Nestled on a side street like a pearl in an oyster shell is Catch Oyster Bar, a seafood shack so delightfully tiny it feels like you’re dining inside someone’s very stylish bait-and-tackle daydream.

Let’s start with the oysters. The Pink Moons were all that. Local, sweet, and maybe the best fresh oysters I have ever enjoyed with mignonette, cocktail sauce and the essential fresh horseradish.

The Pink Moons were definitely slurp-worthy and we even ordered six more after the freshman six ($3.50).

Then came the Tuna Tacos, a special that were perfectly seasoned, with tuna that tasted like it had just leapt from the ocean into a tortilla along with fresh guacamole ($22).

The clams. Not steamers which have the thingy you have to peel off. They were tender and extremely sweet in a delish broth ($24).

The Tuna Nachos are superb, served on a crispy, crunchy chip loaded with fresh tuna, mango and veggies ($26).

The ambiance? Think seafood joint meets Cheers, if Sam Malone had traded the bar for a shucker’s knife.

Regulars in local t-shirts were perched at the counter with the ease of people who’ve been ordering the same thing since the Back Street Boys were young men.

The server knew everyone’s name and possibly their cholesterol count. Newcomers (like yours truly) were welcomed with a knowing smile, as if to say, “You’re lucky you found us before the Times does.”

It’s cash or card, no reservations, and no attitude. Just ridiculously good seafood, a hint of salt air and the low hum of local gossip drifting over the sound of clinking oyster shells. Even the trendy Aperol Spritz was offered and quite tasty as are a plethora of local draft beers.

Final verdict: Catch isn’t trying to be trendy. It is just really, really good.

In this age of $24 kale, pricey caviar bumps and deconstructed everything, Catch may just be all that.

Try to Catch Lobster Fresh Tuesdays. A traditional Lobster dinner with a 1 1/4lb. lobster, fresh corn and potato for $40.

Catch Oyster Bar 63 North Ocean Avenue Patchogue, New York. Open Monday-Thursday 11:30am-9pm, Friday and Saturday 11:30am-10pm, Sunday 11:30am-8pm. No reservations.


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