Princess Cruises has introduced a new specialty seafood restaurant on the Enchanted Princess. The Catch by Rudi is a joint venture between the cruise line and Chef Rudi Sodamin, the head of culinary arts for Princess Cruises. The restaurant will offer a completely fresh take on seafood, with Sodamin's contemporary interpretations of classic dishes, international fusion influences, and creative presentations. It is the first Princess restaurant devoted primarily to seafood, and it is expected to appeal to both seafood aficionados and guests who prefer great "surf and turf."
The Catch by Rudi will replace Bistro Sur la Mer and is expected to make a splash given the menu that offers playful takes on seafood go-to dishes like Asian-fried calamari, modern twists on comforting seafood classics like lobsters with garlic butter crust, and stunningly presented signature seafood inventions. The Seafood Trolly is a feast for the eyes, with fresh lobster tail, shrimp, oysters, mussels, piled high, along with other gifts from the sea.
The new specialty dining location also includes vegetarian dishes and signature beef classics like steak frites, all presented with the creativity that is distinctively Chef Rudi. All wines will be hand-picked to pair with seafood, and the waitstaff will make knowledgeable recommendations for white, red, rose, and sparkling wines from the great wine-growing regions located near coastal areas across the world. The Catch will be about comfort, fun, and engagement with wine selections that will not intimidate and be comfortable for guests to select and experience.
Guests will notice as soon as they pick up their menus that they are experiencing something unexpected and novel, as they read headings like "Beauty on the Plate" and "Tower of Taste." The place settings are equally distinctive. Guests are greeted at their table by a special cocktail created by mixologist Rob Floyd. Priced at just $39 per person and available as a specialty dining option within the Princess Premier premium add-on package, the restaurant's menu features The Daily Catch, the freshest, sustainably sourced seafood from local ports of call.
“The Catch by Rudi is my way of combining my love of food, seafood, and people with my incredible culinary journey at sea and my lifelong history of cooking seafood across the globe to delight Princess guests,” said Sodamin. “I want to deliver a new way to enjoy seafood and a fresh perspective on something they thought they knew. Everything we are doing with The Catch is about ‘catching’ that precious moment we call ‘now’—and doing it in such a memorable and unexpected way that makes you say ‘wow!’”
The Catch by Rudi is located across from the guest services desk on Deck
5, as Sabatini's moves to Deck 7 in the piazza,
where Bistro Sur la Mer was previously located. The new restaurant concept will be added aboard several other Princess ships, including Majestic Princess, Sky Princess, and Discovery Princess.
Along with The Catch by Rudi, Princess Cruises will also launch O'Malley's, a contemporary Irish pub on the Enchanted Princess, starting April 15. The pub will feature traditional Irish music, interactive entertainment, and extraordinary food, including the new O'Malley's ribeye burger. The O'Malley's menu also includes Scotch eggs, fried pickles, pan-fried Guinness chicken, along with favorite Irish beers, ales, and whiskeys. The new pub will also offer tasting experiences that include an introduction to the history of Irish Whiskey along with a tasting flight, as well as Guinness cocktail classes.