Whatta Catch’s innovative menu offers a scallop-centered experience, exploring more creative takes on classic and familiar flavors. With their star ingredient being freshly sourced scallops, it drives their menu to explore unexpected combinations, with each dish offering a unique flavorful experience.
The concept was crafted by two ID111 Benilde alumni Bianca Laureano from the Export Management program and Audrey Albert from Industrial Design. Additionally, the establishment is co-owned by Antonio Sanchez, a graduate from San Beda University’s Marketing program. Whatta Catch’s menu showcases a strong focus on seafood, making it a standout choice for seafood lovers.
In an interview with The Benildean, the co-owners shared they wanted to introduce a new flavor to Taft. Each dish is carefully crafted to merge familiar tastes with the distinctive use of scallops as the main ingredient. This harmonious balance is especially evident in the combination of flavors and ingredients in their rice bowls.
“This is a place where you want to have good food and want to share it with your friends,” Sanchez said. Co-owners Laureano and Albert also expressed how they wanted the scallop bar to be both affordable and accessible to the students in the area, “Scallops is [sic] usually quite expensive [...] but, we’re trying to make it affordable for them [...] and then kakaiba nga ‘yung dishes for it, hindi [ito] ‘yung mga basic lang na scallops.”
Elevating scallops on Rice: Whatta Catch’s rice bowls
For those looking for their next lunch spot, the Whatta Catch menu currently serves rice bowls. Each rice bowl’s flavor profile is carefully curated to combine classic flavors with their distinct twists.
Scallop Aburi Rice Bowl
Dubbed as Whatta Catch’s ultimate bestseller, the Scallop Aburi Rice Bowl is a harmonious blend of Japanese flavors and seafood. Priced at ₱199, the dish features Japanese-style torched scallops in teriyaki and Japanese mayo. The scallops are nestled on top of their secret base sauce filled with rich flavors, all tied together with toppings of nori, togarashi (a Japanese spice mix), and bonito flakes. Its varied flavors are sure to take your taste buds on a worthwhile savory trip.
Scallop Salpicao Rice Bowl
A seafood twist on a Filipino classic, the Scallop Salpicao Rice Bowl combines the garlicky goodness that salpicao is known for with the tenderness of the scallops. In this dish, scallops replace the traditional beef used in salpicao. For garnishes, the dish features shiitake mushrooms and kamote toppings on the side. This wonderful combination of characteristic and classic flavors is priced at ₱189.
The perfect bite: Whatta Catch’s scallop sides
The Whatta Catch menu also provides appetizing sides that can be enjoyed all on their own. From their salty Cheese Scallops to their Scallop Nori Tacos, each dish is filling even if they’re served without the rice.
Cheese Scallops
Starting at a base price of ₱169, Whatta Catch’s Cheese Scallops is a cheese-lovers dream. The dish features a special three-cheese combo torched to perfection on top of Cebu Scallops. The three-cheese scallops come in two variants, Supersized and Regular. The Supersized variant includes four pieces of larger-seized Cebu Scallop shells priced at ₱179, the regular variant includes six pieces of the regular-sized Cebu Scallops and is priced at ₱169.
Scallop Poppers
These bite-sized delights feature deep-fried scallop meat drizzled with a special sriracha sauce and topped with crispy nori strips. Priced at ₱159, the Scallop Poppers offer a balanced blend of crunch and spice, with the sriracha adding a zesty kick that complements the tender, slightly briny scallops. The nori strips provide a notable umami flavor, enhancing the overall taste experience.
Scallop Nori Taco
This inventive dish combines scallop meat with kani (imitation crab) in a flavorful sriracha sauce, served on a bed of crispy fried nori. Topped with pickled onions and additional nori strips, the Scallop Nori Taco offers a delightful contrast of textures and flavors. Priced at ₱139, these one-of-a-kind tacos come in two pieces.
A Fizzy Finale
Of course, a flavorful meal wouldn’t be complete without a refreshing drink to pair with it. Enjoy your meal with Whatta Catch’s addicting fizzy drinks that come in three flavors: Strawberry, Lychee, and Apple, all priced at ₱79.
Strawberry Fizz
A sweet and refreshing beverage, the Strawberry Fizz is the perfect choice for those looking for a light, fruity drink. The strawberry flavor is prominent, offering a pleasant sweetness that’s well-balanced. It’s an ideal choice for a casual sip alongside your meal.
Lychee Fizz
The Lychee Fizz stands out with its very sweet profile and the addition of jellies. The lychee flavor is both fragrant and fruity, making it a delightful treat for those who enjoy a rich, sweet drink. The jellies add a refreshing aftertaste, making this fizz a luxurious choice for dessert-like refreshment.
Apple Fizz
With its iced tea-like taste mixed with carbonated water, the Apple Fizz offers a refreshing twist on a classic flavor. The carbonation provides a fizzy, effervescent quality, while the apple flavor is light and crisp. It’s a great option for a more subdued, yet still enjoyable, beverage experience.
Whatta Catch’s uniquely scallop-centric menu and cool interiors create a relaxed atmosphere for enjoying good food with friends, classmates, and colleagues. Their menu which features their one-of-a-kind twists on classics and their own innovative creations guarantees a flavorful adventure with every bite.
Stay hungry and stay tuned by following any future exciting menu updates on Whatta Catch’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
