Pacific Catch — Restaurant in San Mateo

Updated: Went back to Pacific Catch recently and had the worst restaurant experience I've ever had. They served us a meal that had a side of seaweed salad that tasted funky with an alcohol taste and smell (we had another dish that also had seaweed salad and the other one tasted fine). I have an alcohol allergy and am extremely sensitive and was starting to have a reaction. We notified them and gave them the seaweed salad but they didn't really do anything other than offer to take our food away after the manager was notified. We then had to ask to talk to the manager, who already had the demeanor that he was annoyed on his way over and when we told him our situation he simply said "I know, it was shown to me and it was fine" and proceeded to deny any possibility that it could've gone bad and that there's no way that it could have any hint of alcohol. I told him repeatedly that of course I have no idea HOW it could have happened but all I know is that I have an alcohol allergy and am having a reaction to it, and that there was something clearly wrong with the seaweed salad served. Something could have fermented, there could have been cross contamination, etc... I have no idea, but at least acknowledge the fact that something may be wrong and try to look into it. The manager ignored the fact that I was having an allergic reaction and kept saying it's not possible for the seaweed salad to have gone bad, dismissed our concerns with an attitude, did not try to listen from the start, and actually WALKED AWAY while we were still trying to talk to him. The worst management I have ever experienced, and as someone who has worked in customer facing jobs, I know it can be difficult, but to completely disregard a customer from the jump and treat them with such disrespect without even acknowledging their concerns was shocking. I will NEVER go to Pacific Catch again after this experience.

Past review: There were so many interesting options on the menu, I had a hard time choosing. I got the Big Kahuna in the end and it was really good! It was a little bit on the pricier side but that comes with seafood, and given the serving size I would say it was worth it. The servers were also incredibly patient and really awesome! Great experience and will be going back to try other...

Dear Management Team,

I am writing to share feedback about a recent visit I had with colleagues at Pacific Catch. We came in for a business lunch, and while the experience began a bit rocky, one of your team members, Margo, truly turned things around with her professionalism and attentiveness.

When we were first seated, we waited over ten minutes without being greeted, which left us uncertain about how the experience might go. However, Margo stepped in, immediately apologized for the delay, and quickly took care of us. She handled both our drink and food orders with genuine courtesy and efficiency, making sure we had everything we needed throughout the meal. Her warm and attentive service stood out, and it’s clear that she values guests and takes pride in her work. Please know that her efforts did not go unnoticed—we all greatly appreciated the way she elevated our lunch experience.

Unfortunately, I must also mention that when it came time to settle the bill, another staff member named Martine brought our check but was neither welcoming nor attentive. He never greeted our table, did not assist with clearing plates, failed to bring condiments when needed, and carried himself in a manner that felt condescending and dismissive. His attitude stood in stark contrast to the excellent service we received from Margo.

Overall, I want to make sure that Margo is recognized for the outstanding way she handled our table. She is a true asset to your team and left us with a positive impression despite the initial challenges. At the same time, I hope this feedback provides an opportunity for further training and improvement where it is needed.

Thank you for taking the time to review this feedback. I look forward to dining at Pacific Catch again and experiencing the same level of service...

This place is way better than it should be. Honestly, I don’t understand how they can have so many things on their menu and yet nail pretty much everything, and for quite reasonable prices (they did just raise their prices though, but who isn’t with inflation?)

Atmosphere: 4/5 Pretty much what you’d expect. A large restaurant in downtown San Mateo with a half-outdoors seating area in the back and a large indoor area in the front. It’s clean, generally bright, and doesn’t feel too cramped. Nothing special, but it gets the job done with no complaints.

Service: 4.5/5 No matter how busy, the food always comes out in a reasonable amount of time and all the waiters I’ve had here are helpful and friendly.

Food: 5/5 What the hell. How can a place with SO MUCH STUFF on their menu serve such good food? I generally get the spicy ahi poke and either the three-taco platter or the fish and chips, but have also had some of their sandwiches and rice bowls. All of the above are fantastic, with the fish and chips being some of the best I’ve ever had. The tacos are also great, and the three-taco platter is very filling.

Overall, would highly recommend, especially if you’re with a larger group and can’t figure out exactly what cuisine you want - from poke and asian-inspired rice bowls to tacos to fish and chips, everything’s...