Ketch
2614 Shelter Island Drive
San Diego, CA 92106
619-814-8080
By Judi Curry
This is my 5th time having a meal at the “Ketch”. I’ve written two other reviews on it – one for the OB Rag in October 2018 which is available if you are interested in reading it.
This time members of my widow group got together to welcome one of our members back to San Diego, and it was up to me to decide where to go. I knew it was a cold and rainy day and we would eat inside, but decided to give the restaurant another try. I am happy to say that it was a nice experience.
We arrived on a Saturday at 11:45am. This presented a problem because we could only order off of the breakfast menu for the next 15 minutes. If any of us wanted lunch, we would have to wait until 12:00pm to place the order because the kitchen was not prepared to make both breakfast and lunch items. By the time we decided what we wanted to do it was lunch time and the decision was made for us.
Short Rib Melt
Once again the menu has changed since I was there last. Things I would have liked to try were gone and new items were in their place.
For a “first” – every one of us ordered something different. That gave me a chance to try many different items on the menu. Ro ordered the Short Rib Melt, which was slow braised beef short ribs, caramelized onions, arugula, American cheese, horseradish aioli that was served on thick cut griddled sourdough with a beer cheese sauce. The price was a reasonable $13. It was served with either a side of French fries or greens.
Fish and Chips
Sue ordered the “IPA battered local fish and chips,“ which was $15; Irene ordered the “Grilled Fresh Fish Street Tacos” served with locally caught fish, roasted jalapeno crema, house salsa, cilantro, cabbage and pickled onions on corn tortillas. There were 3 taco’s on the plate along with a large portion of blue corn chips. The price was $15.
Candy ordered the “West Coast Chowder, which was loaded with mussels, oysters and local white fish.” The bowl was large and brimming with the ingredients and was only $10.
West Coast Chowder
I ordered the “Ketch 10 oz Double Cheeseburger” which was listed as being a “special grind Imperial Valley beef, aged white cheddar, house-cured bacon, caramelized onion, herb alioli, Bibb lettuce and served on a toasted brioche. It was served with either French Fries or greens. I elected to have the French Fries.
0 oz Double Cheeseburger
opened Cheeseburger
Unlike the fish and chips I had the last time, this order was moist and tasty. Perhaps they have changed their recipe because the contrast from before was 180 degrees. I would order them again. The fries were too salty for my taste, and I did not bring home those that I didn’t eat. Ro agreed that they were salty, but she said that she likes salty things. Her Short Rib Melt was tender and succulent.
Candy kept raving about her Chowder and said she would order it again. My hamburger was delicious. The caramelized onions were so good that I would order a side order of them if they were offered. The two patties were cooked perfectly (medium) and had a grilled flavor to them. I could not finish the order, and so Shadow benefited from my order.
Street Tacos
The only down side of all of us was Irene’s street taco’s. She felt that they were without flavor, but it needs to be pointed out that she did not use the jalapeno crema nor the house salsa. What she had were pieces of grilled fish on a corn tortilla. I tried both sauces and thought they were good and would have been a nice addition to the meal.
With the exception of the street taco’s, I did not find anything else on the menu that someone with a gluten problem could eat. That doesn’t mean that there was nothing else, but there were no comments on the menu that indicated a gluten free meal. So many people now-a-days have problems with their diets that I would hope that something for them would always be available.
From L to R: Sue, Ro, Irene, Candy and Judi.
I am happy to see that the Ketch has made so many improvements in their quality of food from the last time. I am anxious to try it again in the near future, to see if the quality control is maintained. I hope so, because it was a very enjoyable meal.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Names of the ladies dining at the Ketch -Sue, Ro, Irene, Candy and me.
Appreciate your review, Judi.
Ketch is good but they already ditched one of the best items on their menu… Hiramasa-Hamachi Tostadas.
Went to order them the other day and was told they were pulled cause they were “too spicy”. Good grief. (there is no such thing as “too spicy”, IMHO).
(I believe Supanee did the same & toned down all of their spiciness a few years back – when they opened, and for a while, you could get some seriously spicy Thai fare).
Still, Ketch, a good place.
Just a heads up Supannee spice might be worth another try. I feel like I like high hot. And recently their ‘thai hot’ a couple times now has backed me down to just ‘hot’. (And they might even know me well enough they’d noticed me ordering up from hot to thai hot and just let me have it; since then hot’s been plenty and I even imagine they picked up I like hot hot!) So they got it, imo (though tastes vary, of course; but I bet they’re happy to go Thai hot as you like :)
Hottest Thai food around here was from Sab-e-lee in Linda Vista.
This article is more like a paid as than an honest review. Been there three times now and each time equally disappointed. The view and environment are spectacular and the drinks well done but it is the Denny’s of seafood and bottom of the barrel in taste and quality. It boasts for fresh seafood but it is not. The salmon salad was wanting. The slab of fish was like particle board. The mahi sandwich hid the fish in an oversized bun. The warm potato salad was nothing less than gross in taste, presentation and price. Will never go there again for food but will go often as possible for the environment. A terrific staff which deserves a fare of food worthy of their talents and efforts.