Unveiling The Catch by Rudi & Our Experience
A unique culinary option on board some Princess ships is The Catch by Rudi, a restaurant experience focused on seafood and refined menu options.
The Catch replaces the French-inspired Bistro Sur La Mer on most ships or is a completely new offering on newer ships.
The Catch is a “Specialty” restaurant that costs $45 per person or passengers with the Princess Premier package can use one of their 2 dining credits at the restaurant.
The Culinary Influence of Chef Rudi Sodamin
For connoisseurs of cuisine, Chef Rudi Sodamin’s expertise leaves its mark at every turn. A prominent figure in the world of cruise dining his culinary creativity adds a layer of sophistication. His passion, for serving seafood and creating a dining experience is evident in the menu of The Catch. The restaurant offers crafted dishes that elevate otherwise typical seafood choices.
Another distinguishing feature of The Catch by Rudi is the presentation. Chef Rudis’s approach revolves around showcasing the seafood with innovation and style. Each dish embodies a harmonious blend of flavors from the fried calamari to the lobster creations.
In our opinion, while the plating was clean, it was quite simple. Neither here nor there, it’s just that the reality is a bit at odds with the marketing of the restaurant.
Atmosphere and Design
This specialty eatery creates a backdrop for a welcoming dining experience featuring maritime-inspired decor that complements the upscale offerings.
Beyond just the decor, the layout of the restaurant includes a raw bar-style seating area where guests can sit around the glass cases and observe the creation of meals. However, it’s not for the faint of heart (MORE ON THIS LATER)
Unfortunately on ships like the Sky Princess and the new Sun Princess, the location overlooks the Piazza. The activities, music, and general buzz of all of the surrounding venues really detract from the ambiance of The Catch.
Nautical motifs adorn the space setting a stage that enhances your dining pleasure. Vibrant color schemes and distinct design features contribute to an upscale atmosphere.
The restaurant’s layout is carefully designed to accommodate dining preferences offering tables with views of the central square (Piazza) and expansive windows. At the core of the establishment lies a U-shaped seafood bar which seemed unused.
The Catch Menu on Princess Cruises
Emphasizing freshness The Catch by Rudi presents signature dishes such as Sea and Shore a combination of succulent lobster. Perfectly cooked filet mignon, as well as the classic Spaghetti alle Vongole, served in a delicious clear broth.
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Seasonal Menus and Fresh Ingredients
The emphasis, on seasonality ensures that you can look forward to dishes that showcase the ingredients during your cruise enhancing both the flavors and your overall dining experience. For example, on your journey, you might encounter dishes featuring local seafood immersing you deeper into the culinary delights of a region like Alaska.
Service Approach and Staff Expertise
The trained staff members are knowledgeable about the menu offering suggestions while ensuring each diner has a delightful and personalized experience. Your server will guide you through the menu making your dining journey feel truly special.
While the service was friendly and knowledgeable, it felt rushed and a bit impersonal.
WARNING: For those with food allergies, do not rely on your medallion information (assuming you’ve registered a food allergy). A person in our party had a severe nut allergy, and the server proceeded to place an amuse-bouche of nothing but nuts on the table.
Waiting Times
Securing reservations in advance is key for getting the best time/day at The Catch by Rudi. With its popularity booking early can help you avoid waits and ensure the ability to experience the restaurant.
If you haven’t been able to book online or via the app before boarding, don’t worry, there are usually blocks of time left to reserve once on board.
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Special Dining Events and Promotions
The restaurant hosts special nights and exclusive promotions that showcase ingredients or dishes, from time to time.
Don’t miss out on the sea days when The Catch transforms into an oyster bar offering oysters from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM. This unique opportunity lets you savor seafood in a lunch setting enhancing your overall dining experience onboard. Remember to keep an eye out for these events when planning your trip! The events vary by ship.
Customer Reviews and Feedback of The Catch by Rudi
Every dining encounter is unique. The Catch by Rudi is no different when it comes to customer satisfaction. Based on reviews from cruisers many guests express satisfaction with both the quality of food and the ambiance at this restaurant. The catch has resonated well with diners establishing it as a favorite, among Princess Cruises specialty dining venues. Customers enjoy the seafood paired with preparation creating a memorable dining experience.
Like any restaurant, The Catch by Rudi is not immune to criticism.
Let’s start with ours.
Being seated at the edge of the restaurant overlooking the Piazza cheapened the experience and really took away from the ambiance and overall experience.
Additionally, we observed what we thought was likely fake ‘lobster’ on ice for show. Then a staff member proceeded to pick up the lobsters and show them around like a cruel petting zoo. The lobsters started to come to life as they warmed and the staff poured water over them, sending the lobsters into a short frenzy before placing them back on ice. Not only was it extremely cruel to watch, it was really unappetizing.
It was so disturbing in fact, that I ended up sending a letter to Princess Cruises (without a reply). In that letter, I pointed out the fact that we were in European waters where the treatment of animals, even for food products, was highly regulated and this likely violated local laws.
I’ll end my rant, but it in fact was disturbing.
We found the food to be pretty good, but probably wouldn’t pay the extra fee had it not been included in the Princess Premier package.
Some guests have observed that evenings can feel prolonged due to dishes being made to order resulting in long dining times. Guests have opinions, on how the meal is served with some preferring a speedier service to catch the evening entertainment onboard. While the food quality receives praise the timing between courses may not always meet everyone’s expectations especially if you have post-dinner plans like attending shows or parties. Consider this when booking your dining reservations.
The Catch by Rudi cost & cover charge
When it comes to pricing at The Catch by Rudi there’s a surcharge of $45 per person along with an 18% gratuity (children under 12 are half price). If you’re into seafood special dishes like split baked lobster can be added for $30. They also offer a bar with oysters and cold seafood towers priced at about $30 each allowing you to tailor your seafood feast.
Is The Catch worth it?
If the. meal had not been part of our Princess Premier package, I would have left pretty disappointed. Not that the food was bad, it’s just the whole experience didn’t live up to the marketing. However, for diehard seafood lovers, this is the best option on the cruise.
Dietary Requirements & Food Allergies
Address any concerns you may have about accessibility and dietary restrictions. Princess Cruises tries to accommodate dietary issues, but we noticed that at The Catch, there were no questions about anyone’s food allergies at the table, which almost led to a real problem with a nut allergy being ignored. So don’t forget to reinforce any food allergies! Obviously, this is a best practice anywhere on a ship.
Our Conclusion
Princess Cruises promises an adventure filled with superbly prepared seafood dishes in an upscale environment.
Our experience fell short of that, unfortunately. While the food was good, the service was rushed and the unique preparation we were looking forward to was in reality, very plain and didn’t feel terribly “adventurous”. The food was fresh with a wider variety of seafood from anywhere else on the ship. So this restaurant shines brightly among other special dining choices for seafood lovers.
