A sensational mix of Spanish and Moroccan, the Mediterranean wares of Catch 15 will hook the most elegant of tastes. You can find it just a block from the Farragut Metro stop at 1518 K Street.
Catch 15 employs subtle chandeliers and T.V. screens to light the place. The screens are built into the walls to look like aquariums, playing footage of über-cool jellyfish that pulsate to the beat of a Sam Cooke remix. In fact, the music was almost as good as the food. Tunes ranged from classic to contemporary, remixed in a soft-funk manner, like a downright groovy version of Kanye West’s “Gold Digger.”
To start the night, lean back and relax in one of the white couches in the ‘70s-style lounge area adjacent to the bar. Order a drink with some friends for the adventurous. I would recommend, “Brine on You Crazy Pearl”: gin, vermouth, oyster brine and smoked oyster. For the less daring, the wine list is expansive.
Next, from swigging to shellfish. The twentieth century French poet Leon-Paul Fargue said that eating oysters “is like kissing the sea on the lips,” and Catch 15’s oysters don’t disappoint.
The Misty Point oysters balance the freshness of the sea with the tangy Sicilian salmoriglio sauce and horseradish aioli, coming together splendidly. The salmoriglio is particularly delicious a fresh mix of olive oil, garlic, oregano, and parsley compliment the oyster’s flavor perfectly.
For dinner, move to an intimate booth upholstered in brown suede reminiscent of a classier “American Hustle.” I almost see Jennifer Lawrence sitting down next to me with her New Jersey accent on full blast, which is fine, so long as she orders the vegetable empanadas for an appetizer. Goat cheese, artichoke, pinenuts and green olive are encased in a melt-in-your-mouth thick, crisp crust. Hot, and potentially spicy, if you add the zesty orange hot sauce they give you on the side.
Follow those with any of the phenomenal seafood offerings. As a group, you can order a variety of small plates to share—about 2 per person—in tapas-style bliss. The salads are a delicious vegetarian option.
The main course should unequivocally be the plancha-seared yellowfin tuna steak. Luscious and rich, the tuna is flavorful on its own, but a dusting of coriander and black peppercorn adds just the twist to make this dish above the norm.
If you make it to Catch 15 before Sunday, take advantage of the three-course Restaurant Week deal. The tuna steak isn’t on the special menu, but is absolutely worth trying. Regardless, Catch 15’s menu is full of fresh takes on Mediterranean fare in a transcendent environment.
Catch 15
1518 K Street, N.W.
11:30 a.m. – 2 a.m. daily
catch15dc.com
