The Great Catch by Taste of Boston — Restaurant in Lutz

So, I had a hankering for fried belly clams and somebody told me about this place so I figured my wife and I would try it. Note – my wife doesn’t really like any kind of fried food but appeased me since they had grilled fish there. We got there and only had to wait about 10 min for a small booth since we don’t like sitting out in the middle of a dining room like a sore thumb.

The restaurant is clean but absolutely nothing fancy like the crowd that goes there. Most of the cliental, I can only assume, that they are there for the generous portions . We sat down and got our menus and I decided to have a cup of their lobster bisque as an appetizer. My wife and I found out that they had steamers that night so we decided to order the smaller version at market price as an appetizer for us both to share. For our dinner she ordered the grilled Grouper at market price, which comes with two sides, so she ordered the fried plantains and yellow rice. I ordered the whole belly clams’ dinner which comes with two sides; I picked French fries and onion rings.

The Food – although all parts of the meal came out hot and in a timely manner there were some issues. • Lobster Bisque cup – came out in a Styrofoam cup and although it was hot and tasted good, I failed to find a single piece of lobster in it, not even a piece on top for presentation. Recommendation - stay away from this. • Steamers small portion (I think a 1.5lbs) came out on a plate with Styrofoam drawn margarine (not butter) in one and clam broth in the other, there were 12 steamers on the plate with two of them being large and the rest were small to tiny. These were the blandest steamers I have ever tasted. Nothing like New England steamers. Recommendation - stay away from these. • Grilled Grouper for wife’s dinner – Plate came out with two huge fillets and the fried plantains on the side. The waitress forgot the yellow rice side and it didn’t arrive until my wife finished dinner. The fish was really fresh and tasty and the Plantains were sweet. When the rice finally arrived, it seemed bland and microwave quickly. Recommendation – get the fish and pick other sides. • Whole belly fried clams’ dinner portion – The platter came out and was hot, crispy and fresh and there was an assload of food. The clams were all on the bottom half with the French fries on the other bottom side and then the whole thing was covered with onion rings. I had to move the onion rings to a side plate to find out what was going on. Th fries are good and so are the onion rings. The fried belly clams were good but they were all small and it was often hard to find the actual belly on these. Recommendation – get them if you have a hankering for them but don’t expect them to be anything like Woodman’s or Farnham’s.

So, I had no idea what to expect for a bill and as we were waiting, I asked my wife what she thought a Google revies was worth from 1 star – 5 stars. She said 3 stars and I agreed. I then told her that if when the bill comes it was reasonable for a place like this, I wouldn’t even bother reviewing it for future perspective customers. The bill came and I looked at it and they definitely pulled my pant down and dinged us really good.

Here you go: Lobster Bisque - $6.99 Steamers 1.25lbs small portion (quantity 12 steamers) - $26.99 Grouper dinner - $28.99 Whole Belly Fried Clam Dinner - $38.99 Total - $101.96 Tax - $7.14 Total = $ 109.10 Tip - $20.00 Grand walkaway total - $129.10

My wife and I do not find it necessary to go back there. Although you get nice portions, we do not see any value here and quite frankly for $50 more we could have went to a fancy restaurant with a nicer ambiance. There it is and remember this is only our opinion for what...

We've been blessed to have the Great Catch as our go-to spot for over a decade, witnessing its growth through three different locations and changes in ownership. What's truly remarkable is the consistency and improvement in their food quality, with generous portions that never disappoint. I've seen firsthand when ordering how they carefully weigh each order to ensure everything is just right (portions are always huge, always consistent).

During our recent visit this weekend, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the opportunity to connect with our loved ones in such a beautiful and spacious setting. The décor is stunning, and the staff is always accommodating, even on busy days. We waited maybe 25 minutes for having a large party, but it was expected and worth it, and our server's recommendations were spot on.

The fried mushrooms were a delight, with a light batter that let the freshness shine through. The calamari was cooked to perfection, and the marinara sauce had just the right amount of sweetness. The lobster bisque was a standout, packed with flavor, and the chicken wings were a wonderful surprise, especially the Bermuda BBQ and lemon pepper dry rub.

Our meals were incredible, with something for everyone. The grilled sea scallops and shrimp were tender and generous, the lobster rolls at market price were perfect with a bowl of French onion and a cup of clam chowder, and the chicken Philly was loaded with veggies and cheese. The fisherman's platter was a feast, and the whole bellies were a treat for us New Englanders. Even the non-seafood lovers enjoyed their burgers and grilled chicken sandwiches.

What struck me most was the joy and appreciation that filled the room. Everyone was smiling, laughing, and raving about the food. It's clear that the Great Catch is a gem that brings people together.

Kudos to the Great Catch for creating a truly exceptional dining experience that's accessible to everyone. Your commitment to quality, generosity, and community is an inspiration. To those who might be tempted to complain, criticize and leave awful reviews, remember that negativity can be damaging. Instead, let's focus on uplifting and supporting one another, just like the Great Catch does every day as a non chained restaurant who shouldn’t have to deal with your negativity in wanting discounts and free food.

Thank you to the entire staff and the management team for making the Great Catch our go to 2-3xs every week!

We...

My husband saw an ad on FB for, The Great Catch by Taste of Boston, and decided to take us there for lunch. I was a bit apprehensive when I saw the place. A smallish entrance in a not to nice looking strip center. ( never judge a book by its cover. Lesson learned) The atmosphere was nautical themed. Lights down a bit made it very cozy. Several large screen TV’s were playing different channels. Everything looked clean, a bit old fashioned, but very nice. We were seated by a very nice, cheerful waitress named Alayna. The menu’s have seen better days but were easily read. Alayna took our drink request and hurried away. People began arriving, filling booths and tables. I only saw Alayna taking care of the guests. She was very quick attending everyone, yet maintained her cheerful attitude. She returned with our drinks, took our orders and headed away. I will admit, I was taken aback with the prices. Yes, they were a bit high for lunch but we were even happier when our huge pile of food arrived. I ordered clam strips. They were very lightly covered in a thin batter that didn’t disguise the flavor of the clam strips. The meal came with a hefty amount of fries, also lightly coated in a tasty dusting of flavoring. The meal came with coleslaw too. My husband ordered a hamburger…a monster of a burger! A pound of meat, with lettuce, tomatoes and other additions. He couldn’t even fit his mouth over it! We also ordered crab bites which were ok. We ordered French onion soup too. The soup was fantastic! None of that greasy stuff or fake tasting stuff used at other places. The ice tea also tasted like it was old fashioned made with tea and real sugar. We were very happy with our entire meal. The Great Catch by Taste of Boston is a most definite try. We will go back. Yes, the price was high, $70.00 for lunch but we had enough for our dinner tonight. I highly recommend The Great Catch by...