Catch by Rudi - Have fun with your food

The Catch by Rudi is a mostly seafood based specialty restaurant brought to Princess through their partnership with Chef Rudi Sodamin. His philosophy of having fun with your food results in a lot of whimsical dishes and presentations. You truly eat with your eyes first.

Each meal starts out with Rudi's play on the concept of loaves and fishes. A single soft baguette is brought to the table with a fish shaped dish containing a flavorful spread with tomatoes and pesto. There is also the offer of butter to use on the bread.

Dad's Sherry Baby Salad - tossed salad with greens, shaved vegetables, and sherry dressing. Note the added theming of having the sherry dressing brought to him in a tiny fish shaped bottle. 

My appetizer (big surprise) was the Calamari - seasoned panko coating with lemon aioli. 

My entree was Sea & Shore - surf-and-turf filet mignon 5-6 oz, lobster tail 4 oz, red wine sauce, and steamed vegetables.

Dad's entree was the Poivre Perfection - steak frites with peppercorn sauce, french fries, and frizzled onions.

Roasted fingerling potatoes and parmesan french fries were our choices for sides. We could have also chosen either ratatouille, garden greens, or cauliflower puree.

The theming continues with the fries served in a parchment paper cone. All that was missing was news stories printed on the parchment so it looked like a classic shoreside fish and chips stand wrapping your order in sheets from the local newspaper. 

These fries might have surpassed my love for the old truffle parmesan fries the Crown Grill used to have. 

We both went with the Chantilly Lace for dessert - mini croquembouche filled with creme Chantilly, hot chocolate sauce.

The little shapes of items added to the plate were solid chocolate popped out of molds. I loved how the croquembouche was cold but not hard. Just set up enough to stay put on the chantilly creme. The molded solid chocolates was such a contradiction to the softness of the dessert. I could see offering a little cup of those on the side or even a plate to enjoy later so that they can be savored. 

This was our first time being on a ship that had the Catch by Rudi restaurant onboard. Was it worth trying? Even if you aren't a seafood lover? Absolutely! Is it worth returning to again? Absolutely! That oven baked whole lobster with garlic and herbs is calling my name.