Catch Seafood, Halifax: restaurant review
Read our review of West Yorkshire’s newest seafood restaurant, Catch. It might be as far from the ocean as you can get in the county, but West Vale’s latest offering from prolific local proprietor Lee Roberts, proves that serving the freshest of fish can be done anywhere.
who’s cooking
Head chef Mark Parkinson, a Masterchef: The Professionals contestant in 2014, is also in charge at sister-restaurant The Fleece Inn in Barkisland, which scooped Yorkshire Pub of The Year 2015. The main man at the grill most nights is John Dale, though.
menu in a nutshell
This is a menu packed with plenty of seafood choices (think oysters on ice, whole poached lobster, sashimi tuna steak and haddock chowder), as well as simpler options including prawn cocktail, tuna niçoise and fish pie. There are also a few non-seafood dishes for the awkward ones in the party. Hearty ‘chippy’ chips come as standard. Some of the produce is from Scotland, but the majority comes from nearby Whitby.
must order
Try the Catch seafood grill if you're feeling both hungry and intrigued – roast best-end of Scottish cod with samphire, clams, garlic and white wine.
our review
The decor shouts upmarket, laid-back, cosmopolitan and family-friendly all at the same time. The young, relaxed and jovial staff set the tone, and Catch has quickly become a place for any occasion. It’s buzzy and clattery, thanks to the open kitchen and happy punters.
Choosing from the menu might be a more difficult task than usual, though. There are many dishes that jump out, from crab to lobster, seabass to halibut, salmon to mackerel. Then there’s the typical tempura king prawns and squid rings, cooked to perfection in a light batter, resulting in succulent, melt-in-the-mouth delicious dishes. The main issue will be figuring out how often can you return in order to try out the whole menu.
returning for
It’s got to be that whole lobster. Or dressed crab. Or haddock chowder...
price
Appetisers and starters from £2-£8. Mains and sandwiches from £7-£34. Desserts £5.
top tips
There’s too much unmissable seafood on offer to leave room for dessert. If you’re hungry, eat more starters instead (the portions are generous). Book in advance, and remember there’s also a Fish Bar takeaway at the side, where meals are cooked fresh, so be prepared to wait. It’ll be worth it.
Catch Seafood, Victoria Mills, West Vale, Halifax, HX4 8AD
Written by Claire Smith, yorkshirepudd.co.uk. All images by John Pries
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