LIVE from Discovery Princess Mexican Riviera from LA 2/3-2/10 2024

[sonomaphil]

The Catch by Rudi--Tail of Citrus

[sonomaphil]

The Catch by Rudi--Shiitake Crusted Halibut

[sonomaphil]

The Catch by Rudi--Sole a la Minute

[sonomaphil]

The Catch by Rudi--Rice Pilaf, Ratatouille and Cauliflower Puree  

[sonomaphil]

The Catch by Rudi--Mozart Berry Composition, Handcrafted Palate, Chocolates

[Host CJSKIDS]

Pictures of your dinner in Catch look amazing.  We absolutley loved our meals there and have it booked for 2 nights in April and thinking of adding a 3rd.  

 

Your cruise looks wonderful.  Hope you also enjoyed your day in the Sanctuary. 

[KarmaCruisers]

I will agree; Phil’s Dover sole looked damn good! 😄

[Nina On The Sea]

2 hours ago, sonomaphil said:

Usually when I post pics of food it's virtually moments after it's served, I try to keep the "Live" almost live.  But last night I did not post anything because I wanted to enjoy dinner at The Catch by Rudi.  I have lots of pics and will post them shortly.  

Let me say this about The Catch right away, it was the best meal I've ever had on a Princess ship. Now, this restaurant may not be for everyone.  This is NOT the place to go if you're one of those cruisers who has to do everything and wants to have dinner in 35 minutes.  Dinner took 2+ hours for our 7:20 reservation and it's supposed to take that long.  It's not the precooked meals like in the main dining room.  Everything is cooked to order.  There are three courses plus a welcome glass of champagne, an amuse bouche and chocolates to complete the meal.  It is mostly seafood but Steak Frites is on the menu as is Steak and Lobster. 

My wife had the Tail of Citrus for the appetizer which is a marinated lobster tail and for her main, Shiitake Crusted Halibut.  For dessert she had the Handcrafted Palate, a cheese plate.  I had the Seafaring Stew cioppino and then the Sole a la Minute, dover sole filleted tableside.  My dessert was the Mozart Berry Composition, a berry souffle.  

Everything was delicious and there was not one dish I would not order again.  In fact, we're going again on the final evening.  Service was spot on, it's clear only the best of the best work in this restaurant.  No issues with ordering drinks as Bellini's Bar is the service bar.  

Pics next.  
 

So happy to hear you enjoyed it that much! I was planning on booking 1 evening there but based on all the positive reviews, I think I'll book two nights. 

[New2cruise2022]

6 hours ago, sonomaphil said:

The Sanctuary is turning wair listed people away at the door and yet there are only 8 people in here!

If the spot is yours, use it when you want to. 

[CatMom72]

4 hours ago, sonomaphil said:

Usually when I post pics of food it's virtually moments after it's served, I try to keep the "Live" almost live.  But last night I did not post anything because I wanted to enjoy dinner at The Catch by Rudi.  I have lots of pics and will post them shortly.  

Let me say this about The Catch right away, it was the best meal I've ever had on a Princess ship. Now, this restaurant may not be for everyone.  This is NOT the place to go if you're one of those cruisers who has to do everything and wants to have dinner in 35 minutes.  Dinner took 2+ hours for our 7:20 reservation and it's supposed to take that long.  It's not the precooked meals like in the main dining room.  Everything is cooked to order.  There are three courses plus a welcome glass of champagne, an amuse bouche and chocolates to complete the meal.  It is mostly seafood but Steak Frites is on the menu as is Steak and Lobster. 

My wife had the Tail of Citrus for the appetizer which is a marinated lobster tail and for her main, Shiitake Crusted Halibut.  For dessert she had the Handcrafted Palate, a cheese plate.  I had the Seafaring Stew cioppino and then the Sole a la Minute, dover sole filleted tableside.  My dessert was the Mozart Berry Composition, a berry souffle.  

Everything was delicious and there was not one dish I would not order again.  In fact, we're going again on the final evening.  Service was spot on, it's clear only the best of the best work in this restaurant.  No issues with ordering drinks as Bellini's Bar is the service bar.  

Pics next.  
 

Agree that this is a great venue. I had the steak au poivre at The Catch (on the Sky last August) and it was definitely the best steak I’d ever had on a ship.  I ate it twice.  😂

[sonomaphil]

Tonight is Italian night in the main dining room and though a fine menu there is so much Italian food onboard we're going to do something different.  We're dressing casual (think shorts and we'd never go to the main dining room at dinner in shorts.  Breakfast and lunch, maybe.) and probably eating at the Salty Dog Gastropub and graze for the evening.  Heck if we want Italian there is pasta in the buffet all the time or we can just head back to GiGi's.   We will check out the buffet just in case something piques our interest.  

 

We did spend the entire day at the Sanctuary and it did get busier but there were unused loungers and cabanas.  I forgot to take pics of the food!  D'oh!  I had the morning parfait and then the tuna salad for lunch.  Trying to go a little lighter today.  We did have afternoon tea in the Sanctuary with the highlight being the scones.  

 

Time for a Margarita I think.  

[sonomaphil]

Sailaway from Mazatlan.

[sonomaphil]

The Salty Dog Gastropub menu.

[chubbypiggy]

1 hour ago, sonomaphil said:

Tonight is Italian night in the main dining room and though a fine menu there is so much Italian food onboard we're going to do something different.  We're dressing casual (think shorts and we'd never go to the main dining room at dinner in shorts.  Breakfast and lunch, maybe.) and probably eating at the Salty Dog Gastropub and graze for the evening.  Heck if we want Italian there is pasta in the buffet all the time or we can just head back to GiGi's.   We will check out the buffet just in case something piques our interest.  

 

We did spend the entire day at the Sanctuary and it did get busier but there were unused loungers and cabanas.  I forgot to take pics of the food!  D'oh!  I had the morning parfait and then the tuna salad for lunch.  Trying to go a little lighter today.  We did have afternoon tea in the Sanctuary with the highlight being the scones.  

 

Time for a Margarita I think.  

What is the cost per day to book the Sanctuary?  TIA.

[sonomaphil]

2 minutes ago, chubbypiggy said:

What is the cost per day to book the Sanctuary?  TIA.

$40 for the whole day. They have half days for $20. 

[sonomaphil]

Salty Dog's Dip Sticks. 

[chubbypiggy]

8 minutes ago, sonomaphil said:

$40 for the whole day. They have half days for $20. 

Besides 

 

12 minutes ago, sonomaphil said:

$40 for the whole day. They have half days for $20. 

Thank you.  Just curious, any food or beverage included in the Sanctuary price?   

[sonomaphil]

Poutine and Calamari fries. 

[azbirdmom]

1 minute ago, sonomaphil said:

 

 

 

What are the chunks in the Poutine?  Are those a substitute for cheese curds?

[sonomaphil]

27 minutes ago, chubbypiggy said:

Besides 

 

Thank you.  Just curious, any food or beverage included in the Sanctuary price?   

They have a food menu it's spa-ish but they have burgers on the menu and even muffins and parfaits for breakfast. Afternoon tea also is server.  They have some flavored waters but you pay for alcohol.  It's very worth it. 

[sonomaphil]

21 minutes ago, azbirdmom said:

 

What are the chunks in the Poutine?  Are those a substitute for cheese curds?

Yes, it's cheese just not curds.  It was good, the calamari was flavorless without the tartar sauce. 

Edited February 7 by sonomaphil

[chubbypiggy]

Just now, sonomaphil said:

They have a food menu it's spa-ish but they have burgers on the menu and even muffins and parfaits for breakfast. Afternoon tea also is server.  They have some flavored waters but you pay for alcohol.  It's very worth it. 

Sounds great.  Sorry, just one more question 😁  If book it 1/2 day,  what are the hours of that 1/2 day?  For example, 8am-12 noon?  12 noon-? pm.

[sonomaphil]

4 minutes ago, chubbypiggy said:

Sounds great.  Sorry, just one more question 😁  If book it 1/2 day,  what are the hours of that 1/2 day?  For example, 8am-12 noon?  12 noon-? pm.

I know it opens at 8 and closes at 5:30.  The morning shift is shorter than the afternoon shift but I don't remember the exact hours. Will try and confirm. 

[sonomaphil]

I post this 35 minutes after our first course was served and 15 after we ordered 2 more drinks.  Something is very wrong with the Salty Dag Gastropub. People are walking out to see the 7:30 show without getting desserts.  

[sonomaphil]

And just like that we are served. Lobster Mac and cheese and the burger.