Los Angeles  |  Restaurants

The Best Spot to Catch a Santa Monica Sunset

September 26, 2014  |  By: Whitney E. RD

Fresh delicate fish, silky red wine and excellent ambiance — is that so much to ask from a restaurant? I think not.

Ok, usually I’m lucky if I get one of those.

Recently though, I was pleasantly surprised to discover all three at one of the most serene and romantic restaurants in Los Angeles, Catch in Santa Monica.

This upscale seafood restaurant is nestled inside the famous Hotel Casa del Mar on Santa Monica Beach and features breathtaking views of the coast through their panoramic windows.

It’s the perfect spot to celebrate an anniversary or take a new love interest and leisurely enjoy a cocktail in their effervescent Terrazza bar, against the backdrop of a Pacific ocean sunset.

Even more impressive than this understated elegance however is their menu.

With an extensive list of freshly caught fish and their brand new raw bar, Catch is a seafood lover’s dream come true.

On our recent trip, the fiance and I were treated to four — yes four — different kinds of their melt-in-your-mouth crudo.

As a a raw fish fanatic, I’ve had my fair share of crudo, sashimi, carpaccio and tartatre, and these just may have been the best.

Each had its own signature flair and was absolutely exquisite, but the lobster — with its interesting combination of green apple, black truffle and caviar — was by far the favorite.

These amazing appetizers were washed down with their Kitá Pinot Noir, which perfectly fit the bill for my “silky red wine” requirement.

For the main course, we enjoyed the Mustard-Marinated Black Cod and the Wild Alaskan Salmon a la Plancha.

Both dishes were so excellently prepared and beautifully presented.

What I was most amazed about though, was that they didn’t use butter to give these dishes their opulent texture. The fish was prepared with extra virgin olive oil and other healthy components.

If you’d like to know more about Catch’s amazingly healthy meals, head over to FabFitFun for my monthly column “Hot & Healthy L.A. Eats.”

You’ll also find the exact recipe for this fabulous salmon so you can make it at home.

I seriously could not have been more impressed by this restaurant. I can’t remember the last time I dined out and enjoyed absolutely everything I tried.

As we left that evening, the manager asked how our meal was. It was not an exaggeration when I told him that it was the best meal I’d had in a while.

I will certainly be back soon, and if you’re in the L.A. area or visiting soon, I highly encourage you catch a reservation at this hot spot.

Weigh In: What’s your favorite romantic date night restaurant in LA or your hometown? If you love raw fish – do you prefer sashimi, crudo, carpaccio or tartare? Do you know the difference??