With Seabreeze Island Grill in Redington Shores as one of many examples, I enjoy dining at local seafood establishments that are situated by the water whenever I am in Florida. The Big Catch at Salt Creek in Saint Petersburg in Florida is certainly no exception.
The Big Catch at Salt Creek in Saint Petersburg in Florida. Restaurant Review.
The Big Catch at Salt Creek is in a quiet area only a few minutes south of downtown Saint Petersburg. The atmosphere is casual.
Two bar areas are fully stocked with everything from locally brewed beers to top-shelf rums and tequilas, with plenty of choices for cocktails.
The restaurant sits on the water at the Harborage Marina with ample outdoor seating to enjoy the relaxing view and Florida breezes. Alongside the restaurant is a dock for anyone who wants to arrive at the restaurant by boat.
Fish Spread was ordered as the starter for our table. It was created with smoked mullet that is blended with house spices and served with fresh cucumbers, baby carrots, celery, house-pickled onions, and crackers. Although this fish spread was not the best that I have ever had, it was very good — and no trace of fish was left on the plate. I could tell that the fish spread was freshly prepared. $11.00
Big Catch Tacos were three flour tortillas with your choice of shrimp, mahi, or chicken topped with pickled cabbage, mango pico de gallo, and house-made chipotle crema which was quite spicy. You can choose from side dishes such as fries, beans and rice, cole slaw, a side salad, or plantains. The grilled mahi was fresh. The fries were waffle fries that were quite good; but they were a slight notch below what one could get at Chick-fil-A. $15.00
Included with the Fish & Grits were a creamy grit cake and sweet and sour tomatoes which were topped with a blackened snapper. Grilled snapper could also be chosen instead. This meal was cooked well and was quite flavorful. I thought that the bright red tomatoes packed a dazzling punch of flavor and complemented the fish almost to perfection. $25.00
Snapper With Cajun Crawfish Sauce comprised of fresh grilled snapper with house made cajun crawfish sauce, which is served over rice and broccolini. I asked for the sauce to be served on the side in case I did not like it because it contained cream and butter; but the zesty spiciness of the sauce thankfully overpowered its rich dairy notes to the point where I actually liked it. The sauce was almost gone by the time the meal was finished. The thick and nicely cold tartar sauce was also quite good. Both the rice and the broccolini were nicely seasoned. The snapper in both dishes were served with the skin. I would have liked the skin to have been crispy. $28.00
The dining experience also includes live music on Thursday nights, Friday nights, Saturday nights, and Sunday afternoons. You can partake in trivia on Monday nights — and if you are one of the top players, you could win a prize.
Final Boarding Call
I recommend dining at The Big Catch at Salt Creek. The food was fresh and very good; members of the staff were friendly; the service had no issues; and the ambiance of dining casually al fresco at the edge of the water was nice. Substitutions of menu items were absolutely no problem, as members of the staff were as accommodating as possible.
The Big Catch at Salt Creek
1500 2nd Street South
Saint Petersburg, Florida 33701
United States of America
1-727-289-8080
Operating Hours
Monday through Friday from 11:00 in the morning through 9:00 in the evening.
Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 in the morning through 10:00 in the evening.
Free parking is available on site for both motor vehicles on land and boats on the water.
All photographs ©2024 by Brian Cohen.
