Catch Restaurant & Bar

With a group of friends and a big fishbowl of fruity red sangria to begin, the fun factor at this upscale dining spot in Longport is only matched by longtime restaurateur Joseph Tucker’s zesty Italian American flavors. His signature meatball, tweaked with sausage, comes with a dollop of creamy ricotta. Superb octopus is sauteed with the sweet and spice of Sambucca and chorizo, with big caper berries adding piquant crunch. Critic Craig LaBan is also fond of the wide tube paccheri smothered in soulful short rib ragu, the crisp and oozy grilled cheese stuffed with lobster salad and, for the lighter eaters, the OMG salad featuring a smoky grilled head of romaine lavished with huge shrimp and lump crab.