Last updated: 17 July 2023
After visiting Crystal River to swim with manatees, we spent some time exploring the restaurants in Citrus County on Florida’s west coast.
Katch Twenty Two is a small restaurant situated on the highway halfway between Crystal River and Inverness. It’s the brainchild of Richard Wiggins who walked away from the comfort and security of Hotel Executive Chef to create delicious food, his way.
Stepping inside Katch Twenty Two, the vibe was chilled and contemporary, the ambience was mellow with subtle classical music through the speakers and colourful pieces of art lining the walls.
The eleven tables in the front room were well spaced to provide comfortable distance between you and your neighbour, unlike some restaurants where the gap is so minimal that you feel like joining in on your neighbour’s conversation. Modern dark timber uno ceiling fans provided ventilation and the installation of decorative sound-absorbing foam in strategic locations improved acoustics.
The menu offered a variety of options but was clearly dominated by locally-sourced seafood. A theme that consistently ran through our meal choices.
While Russ undertook the challenge of the craft beer menu, sampling various pints from Landshark, Kalik Gold, and Imperial (Costa Rica) my eyes scanned over the surprisingly comprehensive wine list before finally settling on a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
For our starters we ordered the Prawn Cocktail, which featured 4 deliciously large fresh king prawns (served tail-on) presented on a clear perspex platter with lemon and a tomato salsa. No cocktail sauce in sight, the presentation is certainly a long way from the 1980s prawn cocktail, shrimp lined over the rim of a martini glass.
The Maryland Style crab cake took my fancy. A single cake served with a creamy remoulade sauce. Deliciously delicate, it was wholly filled with feathery crab meat and just held together with very little breadcrumb. Highly recommended!
For the mains, the plat du jour was a beef fillet on lobster risotto. Russ couldn’t say yes fast enough! The fillet was oh-so-tender and perfectly cooked, the slightly cheesy risotto hit the spot with a superb jus drizzled over the top. Overall a very generous portion which would satisfy the largest appetite in your party.
I opted for one of the house specialities, seafood risotto, something the restaurant is known for. Loaded with mussels, clams, king prawns, chorizo, red peppers, scallops and topped with a lobster tail. Again, a huge portion and I was thrilled to see that it was packed with seafood. I’m sure I licked the plate clean three times over.
I’m normally one to pass on the dessert menu, however the zesty Key Lime Pie seemed like a great choice to finish our meal; with the consistency of a lusciously rich cheesecake with a citrus finish. The homemade chocolate ice cream was deliciously smooth and flavoursome.
The Verdict
Sometimes things don’t quite hit the mark and in my humble opinion there are just a couple of small things needed to take the great experience to the next level. Firstly, the standard forks are cumbersome so adding a lobster fork to the silverware would be ideal to dig through the lobster tail for the best meat. Perhaps we’ve been living in London too long, but in my book, tea should always be served with milk and sugar on the side, not simply in a mug of hot water.
These small things didn’t detract from our experience at Katch Twenty Two, in fact, the restaurant passes the family & friends test with flying colours. The food here is superb and definitely a place to add to your ‘To Eat’ list when visiting Crystal River.
The Essentials | Katch Twenty Two
- Where: 2924 W Gulf To Lake Hwy, Lecanto, Florida 34461
- Insider tip: Given the popularity of this restaurant and the limited number of tables, making a reservation is recommended.
- Cost: Our bill came in at $140 USD plus gratuity and was worth every penny.
- More Information: Facebook | Website | Tripadvisor
Our visit to Katch Twenty Two was in collaboration with Discover Crystal River Florida.
