Catch99 at Naomi Beach Resort, Weligama | Restaurant Review

“The best tuna steak in the country? They let the food speak for itself.”

Just a quick 5-minute drive from the Weligama Bay, Catch99 (located at the Naomi Beach Resort) is definitely a place to try out if you’re ever around down south Sri Lanka. But with plenty of places to try out in Weligama, what makes Catch99 stand out? Their tuna. Serving some of the freshest tuna in the country, and supposedly one of the best tuna steaks in the country, Catch99 is on a league of its own.

 

APPETISERS

Tuna Platter — LKR 4,800 (4/5)

Perfect for sharing or kicking off a meal as an appetiser. This tuna platter had it all — tuna steak, tuna tataki, tuna tartare, and tuna poke. Each one of the items were pretty darn good, but here’s the kicker — Catch99 is known for having the best tuna steak on the island. So, the mini tuna steak on this platter gave us the perfect sneak peek of what to expect from the main dish. The tuna poke though, had to be my favourite dish from the platter.

NOTE: If you’re looking to dive into and try out some varying versions of tuna for the first time, this platter is a great starting point.

Salad Niçoise — LKR 2,400 (3/5)

The Salad Niçoise had all the classic ingredients: tuna, lettuce, tomato, beans, egg, potato, olives, and onion. But here’s the deal, it was missing a dressing to tie everything together. It felt like something crucial was missing to add that “oomph” to the star of the show — the tuna. Due to the lack of it, the dish fell a bit flat. With the right dressing, it has all the potential to hit the right spot.

 

MAINS

Tuna Steak (200 g) — LKR 3,800 (5/5)

The pièce de résistance here at Catch99 was their tuna steak. Having been previously told that they apparently had the best tuna steak in the country, we were more than excited to try it out! The tuna portion itself, at 200 grams, was pretty generous and it was accompanied by a delicious, velvety mashed potato. Creamy, warm, and downright heavenly, the mash was the perfect companion to the star of the dish — the tuna steak itself. Cooked to rare perfection, the dish managed to showcase the remarkable freshness and richness of the fish with some simple, yet effective techniques. All in all, we think it’s pretty safe to say that this, supposedly the best tuna steak in the country, might just be the best after all.

Eggs Benedict & Smoked Salmon — LKR 3,900 (5/5)

The star of the show —the egg — was perfectly poached and the moment I dug my fork into that egg, the yolk was oozing like liquid gold. The hollandaise sauce was rich and buttery in taste and silky smooth — it was perfect! The smoked salmon added that welcome smokiness that we like to look for in a dish like an eggs benedict. And the garden salad on the side really brought this whole dish together with its fresh greens, crisp veggies, and sweet mango – which was unexpected, but brought a refreshing balance to the richness of the dish.

 

THE SUSHI

Now being the sucker that I am for sushi, seeing a whole section for sushi on the menu made me feel like a kid on his birthday.

Tuna with Shrimp & Avocado Maki (8 PCs) — LKR 3,700 (4/5)

This sushi roll was definitely delicious. But to stand by the name of the dish, I have to admit that the avocado didn’t really steal the show. Don’t get me wrong, the tuna and shrimp were on point, but I was hoping for that creamy avocado goodness to shine through and give it that extra oomph.

Tuna with Shrimps & Mango Maki (8 PCs) — LKR 4,400 (4/5)

Unlike its avocado counterpart, this roll really knew how to bring out the flavour of the mango. Each bite was a burst of sweet and tangy punch, perfectly complementing the fresh tuna and succulent shrimp together with — wait for it — creamy Philadelphia cheese. But for those of you who are sceptical about this mango maki with tuna and cream cheese… don’t knock it till you try it!

Tobiko with Crab Maki (8 PCs) — LKR 5,500 (5/5)

I was hooked from the first bite! The Tobiko (a.k.a. salmon roe), those little popping gems of flavour, added the perfect texture and a salty umami explosion in my mouth. As cliche as it might sound, it really was a party in my mouth! The combination of the delicate crab and the delightful burst of Tobiko was pure sushi magic. So if you’re looking for an excuse to come back to Weligama ever so often, this sushi roll might just be that excuse!

Philadelphia Cheese with Salmon Roll (8 PCs) — LKR 5,500 (5/5)

The combination of Philadelphia cheese and fresh salmon was a match made just for sushi. Each bite was a delicious balance of creamy and savoury with a hint of sweetness. The creaminess of the cheese played so well with the richness of the salmon, and fresh cucumber really brought this up to our list of top picks.

 

DESSERTS

Homemade Coconut Ice Cream — LKR 1,800 (6/5 — Yep, it’s that good!)

This was nothing short of exquisite. The sweetness was just right — not overpowering — so the natural flavour of coconut really shone through in this silky textured goodness. And can we talk about the presentation? While it’s a little pricey for one serving of ice cream, the presentation in the real coconut and the flavour definitely made me not regret a single penny spent. And also, this is definitely for the foodies who are always on the lookout for an Instagrammable moment. It added a fun and tropical touch to the whole experience and we couldn’t have ended the meal on a better note.

 

DRINKS

Mango Smoothie — LKR 1,100 (3/5)

A blend of fresh mango, sweet honey, creamy yogurt and fresh milk. Every sip of this mango smoothie was like a tropical paradise on my tongue — smooth and refreshing.

The Cocaine — LKR 2,500 (3/5)

The name would catch anyone’s eye — and it definitely caught ours. Coming in the form of four tequila shots mixed with coconut milk, egg whites and lime, we gotta admit, the flavour didn’t hit us like a freight train the way we expected it to, but it was decent. It was more of a subtle buzz rather than an explosion of taste.

Lemontini — LKR 1,400 (4/5)

This bad boy was the ultimate saviour from the scorching Weligama sun. Packed with Lemonchello, Martini Rosso, lime and soda, it was a tangy, refreshing delight. It kept us cool and quenched, like a refreshing lemonade with a boozy twist. It’s perfect for lounging by the beach and soaking up those rays.

Poison Ivy — LKR 1,500 (5/5)

Picture this: gin, green tea, lime, basil and mint, all mingling together like a botanical paradise. The lime and mint stole the show, adding a zesty and invigorating punch. Sipping on this bad boy was like a mini vacation in a glass, with a refreshing twist. So if you’re in Weligama and looking to beat the heat, give the Poison Ivy a go.

 

AMBIENCE

 

First off, the views are straight out of a postcard. It’s Insta-heaven right here!

The staff is also very friendly and with plenty of seating, this restaurant, with its indoor-outdoorsy vibe, is the perfect place for you to soak up that Weligama sunshine and enjoy the scenery. The pool access however is limited to their in-house guests. But in the end, it’s the panoramic views this location offers that makes it ideal to catch the prettiest sunsets while munching on some delicious grub.

Overall, the dishes were on the pricier end of things but we would say it’s worth going over just for the sushi and homemade coconut ice cream!

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