What’s the Catch? Now entering its 24th year in business, Catch 22 has endured by simply being what it is: your favorite restaurant. BY BARRY KAUFMAN PHOTOS BY ROB KAUFMAN
In a world where everything you know seems to change with each passing day, we all need a place like Catch 22. You need that familiar seat at your favorite bar to anchor yourself in the maelstrom, that standby dish that you order without fail every time the world seems to be spinning a little too fast. Having endured for 24 years now as an institution on Hilton Head Island, Catch 22 found its niche very early on as that place you go when you just want everything to just feel right. “We have specials every night and a fresh catch every day. Our steaks are USDA prime and we cut all of our fish in house,” said Penny Duren, who opened the restaurant with her husband Gary in 2001. “We’re still doing everything the same way we have for 24 years.” That unapologetic consistency has made Catch 22 the kind of place that not only attracts regulars, but quickly converts them to diehard supporters, spreading the word to everyone 12
TASTEOFHILTONHEAD.COM
who will listen about this tucked-away treasure on New Orleans Road. “We have such great regulars because we actually like our customers. We love seeing them even if they’re here only once a year,” said Penny. “And we get new people in all the time thanks to them. Literally just today I had a couple come in because the bartender at a wine bar on the south end told them they had to come to Catch 22.” So what exactly does Catch 22 do that not only hooks new regulars, but keeps them on the line for the long haul? It hits that sweet spot between upscale and approachable. The L. Robert Standfield art on the walls and the rich wood accents of the dining room mark it as fine dining, but the chatter and laughter speak to its appeal as a gathering spot for friends. Its menu exults in high-quality ingredients, fresh seafood and hand-trimmed steaks prepared with a gourmet’s eye toward