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On first inspection, you
might think Catch is merely a reference to what a
fisherman might snag with a net, hook or trap. Look
closer at the Ridgefield restaurant's sign, and you'll
see there's a catch--the number 22 is embedded in it
too. It's a subtle detail that owners Arthur and Julia
Michaelsen chose to include in their third restaurant in
the area when they opened in March.
Numbered themed names have served the couple well, you
see, as they're responsible for bringing 59 Bank to New
Milford and 33 1/3 to Ridgefield, where Arthur grew up.
So when the old King Neptune restaurant closed, the
Michaelsens pounced. And just as all the prices at 59
Bank (named for its address) end with 59 cents, all the
seafood selections at Catch end in 22. "In this
business,' says Arthur, "you've got to have some sort of
gimmick; it gives people something to talk about,
something to remember." But the food is obviously the
biggest draw: "I have 12 to 15 different fish, we let
people decide whether they want it grilled or
pan-seared. Then you choose a sauce, there are nine
different sauces, then choose two of 10-to-12 sides.
People seem to really like it because they're creating
their own dishes.
We also have a beautiful raw bar built right into the
bar, with little neck clams, cherry stone clams, Alaskan
King Crab and lobster." Michaelsen credits manager
Anelise Kerr for service that he feels helped Catch
capture top seafood resto honors. "I have to believe we
won because of a combination of the customer being able
to choose and design his own plate, as well as our
service," he says. "We have a really good waitstaff
that's crisp and clean and a beautiful wine room and
people can walk in and think about what they want to
drink." Or, they can think about those tasty plates
drawn from the drink. |
