Catch Praise

Story by Sarah Murphy Robertson

Local Catch Bar & Grill in Blue Mountain Beach is quickly becoming a 30A institution. How have they garnered such a great reputation in a relatively short time? Since opening doors in March 2012, co-owners Jimmy Hasser and Adam Yellin credit one key to their success: consistency. It is the common denominator for all aspects of this thriving business, and diving into their fourth tourist season, they are determined to keep it up. Like clockwork, cars line 30A on Sundays to catch live music as locals and visitors alike are embracing this gem on the westside.

Cordon Bleu trained Executive Chef Adam Yellin partnered with college friend, Jimmy Hasser to establish Local Catch. Their longtime friendship is another telling example of consistency working to their advantage. They ebb and flow well together and have found a great rhythm to their ownership style. Adam will woo you with his delicious food and Jimmy’s positive energy and hands-on attitude keep this operation running smoothly. Their collective enthusiasm for this popular restaurant they’ve created together is evident.

“We wanted the food to always be the focus. Fresh and local fare is the reputation we have sought since day one” explains Jimmy. Local Catch is certainly also a great place to have a good time, but the consistent excellence of their southern-inspired coastal cuisine has kept customers coming back.

A chief food philosophy for Chef Adam is balance. His dishes exhibit flavor profiles perfectly balanced and thus take his creations to another level. He credits his culinary career spanning time in New Orleans and San Diego for the Creole and Baja influences on the menu. Their crab cakes are sauced with both sweet and spicy elements. Likewise, the pulled pork tacos are served with a fresh homemade pineapple salsa. Each individual ingredient shines and the result is elevation for the entire dish.

Many of their plates are built entirely from scratch – dressings, sauces, seasonings, even in-house butchering and smoking of meats. And again, Local Catch prioritizes quality and consistency in their food service. The shrimp and grits, variety of stellar tacos, and pork nachos are all customer favorites and serious good eats. I could devour those nachos every day of the week and never tire of them. Crunchy, airy flour tortilla chips are topped with braised pulled pork, Monterrey cheese, pico de gallo, pickled jalapenos, and homemade white and hot sauces. Jimmy and Adam met at the University of Alabama where regional barbeque is a religious experience, so it seemed only appropriate for their version of a pork sandwich to grace the menu. Served up with a nod to the white BBQ sauce tradition of Northern Alabama, this sammie is going to make a lot of folks full and happy this summer.

Versatility is another facet the Local Catch has in spades. The space accommodates both larger boisterous porch-side gatherings as well as dining indoors for quieter dinners. Families with children can enjoy upscale yet approachable cuisine in a casual environment, and sports fans can cozy up to the bar for banter and beverages.

So what’s on deck? In the works for next fall are plans to start serving brunch. It will be the perfect marriage to their Sunday live music tradition. Start dreaming now about crispy golden Bananas Foster pancakes – are you hungry yet? I have a good feeling once you try them you’ll be hooked.

Located at 3711 W County Highway 30A Santa Rosa Beach, Fl 32459 (850.) 622.2022. Open 7 days a week ; 11 am – 10 pm.

All photography provided courtesy of Local Catch Bar and Grill.