Written by: Christine Hoogasian
GM, Pacific Catch Chestnut Street

Every day I come to work looking forward to another day of taking care of our fantastic guests. Most of the time, I get to exchange pleasantries with regulars as well as first time guests, but I rarely get to feel like I have been part of a real “moment” with them.

Recently, I spoke with a gentleman on the phone who shared a story that really warmed my heart. Dan Dinenberg and his wife Taline have been coming to Pacific Catch for quite a while and Dan told me how Pacific Catch Chestnut Street is their favorite restaurant. He told me that just a few short weeks ago, his daughter had been born in their home and their midwife had suggested he get lots of miso soup to give his wife strength for during and after labor. Dan said he and Taline thought “where better to get the best miso soup than PC!” So, Dan ran over to our restaurant and got a bunch of our Signature Miso Soup to bring home to his wife who was actively in labor bringing their new baby into this world! Dan says Pacific Catch Miso Soup was a part of getting their beautiful new family off to a great start. In talking with Dan, I could hear the excitement in his voice as he told me his story. I think it is so amazing that Delilah Sage Dinenberg was born with a tiny bit of help from my restaurant, Pacific Catch. Dan and his wife even shared a picture of precious little Delilah.

Working in restaurants, some days are more fun and casual, and some days can be more challenging. Coincidentally, the day that Dan told me this wonderful story happened to be one of the toughest shifts I have ever worked, due to an electrical fire and a total computer system failure at the restaurant during a busy Saturday night shift.  But Amidst all the chaos around me, I was able to feel like I was actually sharing a moment with this family by listening to their story.  When I hear wonderful news like this it makes those tough days so much easier to get through with a smile.

Congratulations, Dan & Taline! Thank you for sharing your story! Welcome to the world, Baby Delilah!  

The past few weeks have been gorgeous in San Francisco. The heavy fog that usually blankets the Marina is nowhere to be found and the sun has actually been giving off a little bit of warmth instead of its usual icy brightness. And to top it off, the wind that comes howling off the bay has decided to plague another SF neighborhood for a few days and leave the Marina gust-free. It’s really starting to feel like spring all over the Marina, and in Pacific Catch we are benefiting from the lovely weather too.

During the day, our customers have really taken advantage of the unexpected sunshine. This week we’ve seen tons of people taking extra long lunch breaks from work to stroll down Chestnut and grab a bite with us. Usually we don’t sell much alcohol during the day, but this past week customers in business suits have uncharacteristically been ordering beers at lunch and choosing to dine on the patio outside instead of at a table inside the restaurant. Customers have seemed less stressed and rushed during lunch too; maybe it’s because no one has to worry about bringing an umbrella or getting too cold on their walk from their office to Pacific Catch. We have also seen a growing number of customers coming in specifically for our happy hour, leaving work an hour or two early with their coworkers to enjoy a taco and a beer in the early afternoon.

And with warmer days, have come beautiful nights! Customers have been taking advantage of clear evenings to stroll on Chestnut Street and eat dinner at Pacific Catch. And even with the time change, it seems like the nights have been staying lighter longer, making eating on our patio super popular all night instead of just in the early afternoon. We have also noticed a shift in what people order in warm weather. We have been selling a lot more salads, especially the Ahi and Poke Salads. Also, throughout winter a favorite drink on Chestnut Street was our hot Green Tea which has been less popular as the weather gets warmer. Instead customers have been opting for cold beer, especially our Kona Longboard Lager, and our new Sparkling Agave Lemonade.

Anyone who lives in the Marina would agree with Mark Twain when he famously said, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco”. The beautiful weather may not last through the summer (or even until next week!) so there’s no excuse not to enjoy it while we can!

The Pacific Catch on Chestnut Street (PacCatch) is where it all began. Even thoughPacific Catch’s original location is smaller then the rest, it should hold a special place in all Pacific Catch lovers’ hearts. It’s the birthplace of the Poke Appetizer, Baja Taco, and every other dish that makes customers come back again and again to all three Pacific Catch locations…well ALMOST every dish. We may have a more limited menu, significantly less seating, and a longer wait-list, but after a year of working as a server on Chestnut Street there is definitely no other location in which I would rather work…or eat!

1. Our VERY Happy Hour
PacCatch’s Happy Hour is a relatively new thing, but in just a few months it has become ridiculously popular for customers who want to grab a snack before dinner or those looking for a great deal. From 3 to 6 on weekdays we have a special menu of $3 tacos, sweet-potato fries, beers, and $6 appetizers and wine specials. It’s a perfect way try out PacCatch if you haven’t eaten with us before! And make sure to ask your server what our special taco of the day is…it’s always yummy!

2. We *HEART* Our Regulars
Servers love seeing the friendly faces of their regulars, and with PacCatch’s generous “Local Merchant” 10% discount and “Locals Special Punch Card” we get to see them pretty often! A slew of neighborhood locals and Apple, Lucas Films, Bar Method, and Exploratorium staff flood PacCatch all through lunch and dinner and constitute the true backbone of our business.

3. Bussers, Hosts, and Runners…What are Those?
Ok, ok, occasionally we have runners, but given the small size of PacCatch the servers are responsible for a lot more then just “serving”. We answer phones, seat guests, maintain the wait-list, buss tables and make them ready for the next party. But don’t start feeling bad for us just yet…we have a lot of help! Our hands-on manager Christine is always available to help out and deal with any issues that arise. And luckily, if we’re ever in a real jam and get super busy all at once, our ever-helpful chefs have been known to come out of the kitchen and help us bring food to guests, pack to-go food and take orders on the bar. Thanks guys!!

4. The Tourists
San Francisco is the best city on earth (that’s why we live here!) and the throngs of tourists in the summer just confirm it. Since PacCatch is just blocks away from some of SF’s most famous and beloved landmarks (Lombard Street, Fisherman’s Warf, Ghirardelli Square, Alcatraz) it’s no wonder people from all over the world stop at PacCatch to refuel after a long day of sightseeing. We get many first timers who haven’t tried a lot of the delicious varieties of pacific fish us Californians take for granted. Although it’s tough to convince someone who’s never had tuna to dive right in and get our delicious raw poke in their Wasabi Bowl, we find that tourists are always delighted with our suggestions.

5. “Is that ALL the seating you have?”
The #1 most asked customer question. Usually shouted by a PacCatch Newbie as they’re walking, bewildered, past the back bar. We try to catch the customers at least before they walk out the back door looking for more tables!

6. Our AMAZING Chefs
Every time a customer exclaims, “Wow my food is done so fast!”, or “That looks delicious!”, or “Oh my gosh that was the best meal I’ve ever had!” servers get to smile, nod, and accept the compliment. It’s pretty unfair, because the chefs are the ones who really deserve to hear all the great things said about their food around the restaurant. But true to form, they are usually working too hard grilling salmon, frying sweet potato fries, and wrapping tacos to hear all the complimentary chit chat around them. Without their fast, meticulous work PacCatch servers would have nothing delicious to bring their guests…and would get pretty hungry themselves on break!

7. Unarguably the Most Attractive, Attentive and Charming Staff in all of Pacific Catch History

Not to toot our own horns but…TOOT TOOT! We’ve had some new faces joining us in the past few months, and we are so happy to welcome them into the PacCatch family. We work pretty hard, still aren’t totally sick of PacCatch food, and feel pretty lucky to be working at such a fun restaurant.

8. Where’s the Beef?
At Chestnut Street our menu is just like our restaurant, compact! We serve the traditional Pacific Catch fare, yet we don’t have certain items on our menu like the Vietnamese Steak Sandwich and House Cured Sake Salmon that the other locations offer. And although all the dishes we serve at PacCatch are stellar, we have to admit, we are a tiny bit jealous of the other locations’ sushi menu.

9. Stay Constantly Updated
Want to know about PacCatch’s daily specials, get a weather updates to see if our outdoor seating is availible, and stay informed on the inside scoop? Follow our General Manager Christine on twitter @PCchristineGM.

10. Our Neighbors and Neighborhood
To our left, Tacolicious, to our right, Circa, all around us, the hub bub of Chestnut Street. And if you really squint your eyes on a clear day…the Golden Gate Bridge! Does it get better then that? We don’t think so. But not only are we located in a perfect spot, but PacCatch really embodies the spirit and fulfills the culinary needs of the Marina. We offer healthy, organic, fresh, quick, and locally produced food for a community that wants just that. Whether serving couples out on a cozy date night, groups of friends lounging on the weekends, or families grabbing a to-go order to take home, PacCatch is exactly the kind of food people in the Marina love to eat.

Written By: Rachel, Pacific Catch Chestnut Street, Server

What’s your favorite thing about Pacific Catch, Chestnut?