Crab CatcherFabulous experienceWe arranged to try Crab Catcher to celebrate a college graduation. It turned out that we got stuck in traffic leaving the graduation and the restaurant graciously accommodated our changing plans. We were seated at a quiet table in the inner courtyard - the night was balmy, so the temperature was perfect. Service was friendly and prompt. The seafood was delicious! The favorites at our meal were the crab-stuffed fish, the grilled tiger prawns (on pasta) and the sea scallps on local beans. The ocean view from the courtyard was good (although, the tables up against the glass wind screens must have had amazing views!) Overall, we has a great time and we all concurred this was an excellent way to celebrate this life milestone.6/15/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Perfect EveningThe Crab Catcher Restaurant in La Jolla is a legacy, so I thought of none other to book a family dinner to celebrate my son's graduation from UC-San Diego. Every detail lived up to our expectations. The staff had reserved an indoor table just feet away from a stunning view of the cove and the coastline. My 23-year-old textile artist daughter simply said it was "classy," and that's it. The lighting in the modern space was lovely, and the wait staff pleasant and attentive without being pretentious. The menu was tantalizing and the food was delicious. It was the perfect place to let my son's years in college settle and to share our affection for each other.6/15/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat fresh fish selections dailyYou just cant beat the ocean view and great fresh fish selections daily at the Crab Catcher, and their complementary parking underground off Cave street is a real plus in hard to find parking La Jolla.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful!!My fiance and I had dinner here while on vacation in La Jolla. What a beautiful place! We were able to get a seat right on the edge, so we had a spectacular view. It was very romantic and I noticed there were mostly couples dining around us. The food was perfect - I had the Halibut and he had the Filet - both cooked to perfection. Service was excellent. Overall, a great find!6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMThe server was great. TheyThe server was great. They brought out a bottle of wine of a newer year than was on the menu. That was a little disappointing. But, we found another on the wine list we were familiar with. The menu needs to be updated. Food was attractive and delicious. The spring roll appetizers were fresh and bright. I am a big vegetable person, and although delicious, I would have liked just a couple more pieces of squash than one quarter sized squash cut in half and two mini zucchini squash 1/4 of an inch by two inches. The crème brulee was excellent also. The view of the ocean was wonderful. It was a very nice experience overall.6/3/2013 12:00:00 AMYummy with a View!The crab stuffed mushrooms and crab bisque were delicious! The brunch came with complimentary champagne and warm croissants. The view was BEAUTIFUL. All together great experience! Would definitely come back for brunch/happy hour again!6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat menu and great viewsFood was great. Prices were on the higher side, but understandable with the level of service and the quality of the food. Food was fresh and served promptly but we were also there on a Sunday night. I thought the decor was more Floridian retirement with the seashell in light pink and mint green and the pale pink wicker tables and chairs. But that didn't make it bad...just made me think, "you can do better..." Totally recommend.6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMCrab CatcherHad a Lovely Dinner Saturday night. The food was very good. Pricey. Service was excellent and beautiful views of the ocean.
A bit on the expensive side.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMCrab Catcher excellent foodWe've been to this restaurant before and had amazing crab legs, which is the #1 reason we came back to this spot, 5 years later. My complaints for this high end restaurant was the lack of service on some levels. We had a reservation and once we were seated, it was at least 5 minutes before we were given water (by the assistant waiter). We had to ask for bread and that bothers me! Our food was great, however the chef cracked the crab legs open (without asking) and while they were great flavor they cooled faster than normal and that was a disappointment for $72 per 1.5# of crab legs. I found that our assistant waiter hustled and took care of us much better than our head waiter, so I made sure to tip him in addition.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat view and lovely seafoodThe place is tastefully decorated, has a warm welcoming feeling to it. Being on the coast you can feel comfortable in dinner attire or a hawain shirt. The weather was lovely so the view was awesome! There are several tables with a view and we were lucky enough to get one. I had the sea scallops. They were pan seared, perfectly done yet tender and sweet on the inside. My husband had the halibut, it was topped with a light yet very tasty sauce. Both were excellent. Finished with a desert similar to a lava cake but so much better than the average! Service was impeccable.5/29/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious food & excellent service!Crab bisque: Lovely and creamy crab goodness.
Crab cake: No bread crumb filler, just lumps of perfectly seasoned crab meat over a bed of pea shoots and onions. I was surprised at how good the cooked onions tasted with the crab!
Crab BLT: So good! Soft yummy bun, fresh lettuce and tomato, crab of course, and super tasty bacon! The combination of flavors is really good.
Crab stuffed fresh fish: Menu says that the fish changes, but I had Seabass. The crab stuffing was delicious, the Seabass was firm and flaky, the lemony sauce was perfect. The bed of pearl shaped pasta was interesting, but not my favorite. It didn't have a lot of flavor, but the texture was fun.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMAnother great evening in LaAnother great evening in La Jolla. Friday night and the bar was hopping! We lucked out with the Center Window table and I think it is a TOP 5 view in San Diego for dinner! We shall be back !5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect Spot for a Romantic DinnerIf you want to pretend you are alone with someone special and have a quiet romantic dinner, table 7 at Crab Catcher is ideal. It's a tiny cubby with an all encompassing view and removed from the hustle of the restaurant to be intimate and private.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyable Experience.Taking advantage of a Groupon my wife and I really appreciated our dining experience and the attentive service of both the waiter and server, even after informing them of the Groupon. The menu pffered a wide range of choices and we enjoyed everything from appetizers to dessert. Very much recommended and we will be returning with or without a special offer!
If you have time and weather permitting, take a stroll along the beach after your meal. It was a great end to the evening.5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMBeautiful view of the La JollaBeautiful view of the La Jolla shoreline, Food is really good and ample, service was wonderful, would really recommend for a romantic outing.5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMA classically La Jolla dining spotThe Crab Catcher is a classic, if rather hidden, La Jolla dining spot, that has maintained its seaside ambience, service and fresh fish selections, enhanced by its outstanding sweeping view of the Pacific and La Jolla Cave, with several venues and menus from which to choose from outside, the separate sushi bar or inside by a window. An added, rare perk for La Jolla is that if you are not on foot, it has underground parking off Cave with elevator service up to the restaurant level. Dress up if you must, but casual is appropriate especially outside5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMSpecial memoriesVery beach friendly, high class, great food and service. The restaurant is warm, homey and friendly. The wine list was broad enough to satisfy most anyone's needs. The bar was bright and could be more inviting but certainly does not detract from the restaurant.5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Mother's Day!We were visiting our grad student son over Mother's Day weekend. The
Crab Catcher was a great finish to the weekend. Very accommodating to our requests. Very good food. Great service! Holly was wonderful!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMMother's Day SpecialWe made reservations and asked for the patio with a view of the ocean. We arrived and did not have to wait and were put in a perfect place to see the ocean view. The waitress Heidi was especially nice and checked on us often. The food was good as always. This is one of my wife's special places.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMI took my Girl out there forI took my Girl out there for Mothers day along with my Noble Brother. The place is just outstanding!!!!!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMVery good but dated designThe crab catcher is a consistently good place for brunch. Nice A la carte menu with free champagne. If you're lucky enough to get by a window you can enjoy the view of the ocean but otherwise you're stuck with a view of the 1980s interior designed space. After you enjoy their version of eggs Benedict - eggs la jolla- crab cakes with poached egg on top (delicious!), then you can walk down to seal beach and see seals and birds close up.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMMarvelous MealNice window table. Kevin was very attentive. Halibut was excellent.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious DinnerWe got a delicious dinner with an outstanding sight on the ocean.5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMoutstandinggood food , excellent service, excellent ocean view.5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat ExperienceEverything was excellent from the moment we walked in :-) :-)5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMhit and missThis time dinner was really good and the service was first rate, but don't expect that everytime.... Overall it is really good..4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMA Gem by the SeaMy husband and I had a deliciously experiential dinner at the Crab Catcher this week, which not only fed our bodies, but our souls and spirits, as well. The quality of their crab cake far exceeds any that I've had, including the expensive East Coast eateries! Their filet mignon melts in the mouth, especially when prepared "black & blue". And the non-traditional rendition of the traditional "mud pie" is refreshing and worth every calorie! We will definitely be back to enjoy more!4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMA special night out!This is an expensive restaurant in La Jolla, but well worth it for a special night out. We had reservations at 8:00 p.m. And although it was dark, we enjoyed our table outside overlooking the ocean and the night lights of La Jolla Shores. Heat lamps provided enough warmth.
We enjoyed the crab bisque and an array of seafood.. It was all delicious. The Crab Catcher would be a good place to take special out of town guests.4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was my first time toThis was my first time to schedule a special event (30th birthday for my son) at your restaurant. Everybody was helpful during the planning stage when I had to make several phone calls. We also were seated at an awesome table and the view was spectacular. The whole king crab we ordered, as well as the side dish, couldn't have been better. It was topped off with the slice of birthday ice cream cake, which was a great surprise. Thank you so much for a memorable evening.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMWe asked for an outdoor viewWe asked for an outdoor view table when asked, and were told we had to wait 10 min which was fine. They ended up taking us to a corner table inside with no view. Then, we waited another 15 min. for a view table to open up.their martini list is extensive and tasty. Their seafood is outstanding.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMMy wife and I had lunch there.My wife and I had lunch there. It was a special day for us. We had GOLDEN KING CRAB LEGS and LIVE MAINE LOBSTER, some drinks and desserts. We were given a table right near the window with beautiful coastal and ocean view. Crab legs and lobster were both great as expected. Desserts were delicious, too. Waitless was friendly and helpful.
The only thing, not really negative but worth mentioning, is that I had to struggle hard to break open the lobster claws. If they had made bigger cuts before serving, it would have been a lot easier.
Overall, it's a wonderful restaurant worth visiting many times.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat birthday celebrationGoing in late in the lunch period left us with a fine table for a birthday celebration and unrivalled quiet. As usual the food and service were excellent. This is one of our special places.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMWe hadn't been to Crab CatcherWe hadn't been to Crab Catcher for years and were prompted to go because of generous Groupon discount. The restaurant decor, service and view were all lovely. The food was also exceptionally good and attractively presented, particularly the two appetizers we shared -- the ravioli and baked oysters. Our main courses were good but less so and the portions were small relative to their cost. Overall, I would consider the restaurant rather expensive but would consider going again for a special occasion because of the overall ambiance and wonderful views of La Jolla Cove.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyed a delightful afternoonEnjoyed a delightful afternoon brunch with a stunning view of the ocean. Who could ask for more?4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat ExperienceMy husband and I had an amazing dinner at the Crab Catcher restaurant. We made reservations for 6:45 pm and were immediatley taken to our table when we arrived. The hostess made her way to a table on the outdoor patio against the glass that over looked the cove. It couldn't have been a more perfect table. Our server was wonderful and had lots of knowledge and also suggestions about the items on the menu. We each ordered appetizers (crab ravioli/fire shrimp) and an entree (New York Steak/Halibut) then shared a dessert (Ice cream pie!!!). The food was just amazing. Our water glasses were never empty, which to me is a sign of great service.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a nice lunch for 6.We had a nice lunch for 6. Nice view, nice table. Food and service were very good. Prices were on the high side, especially the wine.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food, casual atmosphereExcellent food! More casual than I expected. Wear warm clothes if you plan to dine after sunset.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was excellent, serviceFood was excellent, service was good, and the view spectacular - even on a rainy day it was beautiful.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat restaurantCrab catcher has great food. We ordered oyster, king crab leg and shrimp noodle, all of them are of great taste.
The waiter is very nice, he got to know it's my boyfriend's birthday, he brings us a cake and candle for free.
It's a little expensive, but if you got the $50 for $100 groupon, it'll be perfect since crab catcher has no restrictions on the use of Groupon, the only thing is don't forget to make a reservation.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful meal. Eat dessert first!We spent a very lovely and relaxing Friday evening at Crab Catcher. Ambiance and service were great. No rushing at all. It was a cold night in La Jolla, so we sat indoors and waited only about 10 min for a table near the window to enjoy the incredible ocean views. (We had made reservations through Open Table!) Crab Catcher had very reasonably-priced wine specials and we shared a delicious bottle of cab. My entree crab-stuffed fish was a little dry, wish I had ordered something else. Waiter recommended key lime pie for dessert (portion is definitely for sharing) and it was fantastic. Not too tart, but just right. Crab Catcher is quite pricy, so for us this was a once in a blue moon splurge.4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMSpectacular views. Great seafood.Spectacular views. Great seafood. Really nice service. Loved it. Can't wait to go back.4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMget a seat by the window forget a seat by the window for a great view of LaJolla Cove.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent menu--intimate atmosphereExcellent selection of well prepared seafood. I had crab-stuffed seabass. It was excellent. The small dining room is quiet and nicely decorated. Not too dark. Lovely, panoramic view of La Jolla Cove through towering Torrey Pines. Good service.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMWe asked for a table withWe asked for a table with a view and they gave us the best spot in the restaurant, it was very lovely. The food was terrific as well as the service. We will be sure to eat here again if we are in the area.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfectBeautiful view! We sat outdoors under heatlamps. The weather was perfect. Great service, as well as wonderful food. They had a children's menu, but we chose to order off of the adult me my and split it. The filet and king crab with the side paleta was fantastic.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent menu, plenty toExcellent menu, plenty to choose from. Food was very good, everyone enjoyed their selection even the desserts.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMWill definitely return!We thoroughly enjoyed our brunch. The food was excellent! Our server, Carmen, couldn't have been better. Thanks so much!3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMFive of us had a delightfulFive of us had a delightful and delicious lunch. We were seated outside so enjoyed
the wonderful view. The crab cake sandwich was fabulous, our one vegetarian was
taken care of very nicely. Excellent iced tea. The service was great, took care of
our every need.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Food was great, the AmbienceThe Food was great, the Ambience was nice, and very pleasant...and view was magnificant.
The King Crab was awesome!!!3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMWe have been going to CrabWe have been going to Crab Catcher for years. Sometimes it's been very disappointing. Even then, the management has always been responsive to our comments. This time we took my mother out for her birthday. The food was great and the service very good, even with a full house (it was a Saturday).3/9/2013 12:00:00 AM