Clean Catch Fish Market

Blows my mind how many 5 star reviews. Extremely great quality seafood but asinine prices. I guess it’s another way for their patrons to feel super Hollywood exclusive by paying double or triple fair market value.
My first time here was my last time. Plenty of other options popping up all over the Charlotte area that procure the same quality seafood but charge ½ to ¼ the price. Enjoy subsidizing these guys’ lease with every pound of seafood you buy!

The cleanest, freshest, and quality fish you will ever find in North Carolina. The sashimi grade fish is on par or better than some of the most expensive sushi restaurants in NYC and LA. The menu is constantly changing so it’s best to get on their email list and get daily updates. We’ve had Toothfish from Antartica and Triggerfish from right off the NC coast.
Every time we make a purchase, the chefs talk to us about our ideas on sauces and how to prepare the fish. We used to shy away from cooking fish, but with their help and simple digital meat thermometer we’ve created some amazing dishes. It’s a fun way to spend a weekend night and although it’s expensive, you’re still getting far cheaper fish than a nice seafood restaurant and much bigger portions.
For those that don’t want to cook at all, they offer soups, pre-​made crab cakes, fish kits (all you have to do is heat fish and put their sauce on it), oysters, and more. You can have them shuck the oysters right there for you if you’d like to eat them in the store, same thing with sashimi cuts. Highly recommended.

Absolutely the best seafood in CLT. When it doesn’t smell like a fish market, you know you did well. Try the salmon cakes (really): they’re not anything like your Mom made. Oh, yea, bring a wad of cash ’cause this catch ain’t cheap!

Let me count the ways I love this fresh seafood company… While there is no doubt it is expensive the fresh flown in fish and seafood offerings are absolutely the best you can find in Charlotte! They now have delivery service which is problematic for those of us that love what they have to offer and it’s free for orders over $ 50. One thing I really love is their daily email that gives you ideas of how to cook and prepare meals for your family in addition they have some preprepared items like fish tacos or seafood Wellington that are added components to your menu. They are exceptionally friendly and prepare accessories with fresh items. I have been a customer for about six months and this is a special treat for my family each and every week! Tonight we had sushi grade tuna burgers and shrimp pot sticks stuffed with fresh onion and it was remarkable. Keep up the good work guys!

This place does have good fresh Seafood but you’ll really pay for it. I understand we are not on the coast but this is really expensive. The service is pretty uncaring. Not rude but they don’t seem to care about you. They are better if you can get them talking about they’re products and ways to cook it.

Clean Catch is by far my favorite place in the entire ‘food’ category in Charlotte. Seriously, if we are planning on going to a restaurant, I’ll argue for buying fish here instead. Not many restaurants can top what you can cook at home from here, as long as your cooking skills = «can heat it up»
Is it expensive? Yes. But speaking as someone who has flown a salmon from Alaska to Charlotte (I still shudder at that one), carried a bag of live lobsters on an airplane from Maine, and checked 15lbs of fresh Cobia fillets in my suitcase (apologies to others who checked bags on that flight from Florida, I thought I sealed better), it’s not that expensive.
Clean Catch doesn’t compete with the frozen shrimp that were raised in a pond in China thick enough to walk across or leftover squid from charter boat bait boxes that have been frozen 2 or 3 times and are sold in grocery stores, it competes with catching it yourself and getting it to Charlotte. You can sign up for an immensely readable daily email of what is in the case and what to do with it, and you get great service in the store. That’s the kind of small business I support — one who serves a specific customer, and does it exceedingly well.

This fish market has some fantastic seafood and the staff is really nice and helpful. The problem is the prices are so expensive, I can’t consider it a feasible option. I’m sure it’s a fair price for the quality of seafood they carry, it is unbelievable the stuff they have right here in Charlotte! But even though I don’t consider myself frugal at all, even I have a difficult time swallowing the price.
Bottom line is, if I was rich I’d be here daily!

They wanted $ 39.99 for ONE POUND of shrimp. I about dropped dead when I asked for the price — I’m glad I asked before I ordered two pounds! Ended up getting two pounds at Harris Teeter (don’t judge) for $ 17 total. I’m sure Clean Catch sells great products — if cost is no concern!

We love this market. Bill is always friendly and helpful. Everything is superb from the pre-​made items to the fresh fish. Yes it is expensive but it is going to be at least as good as the best restaurant would serve. Half the time we get fish from the super market it tastes so fishy we end up not eating it. So it’s not really cheaper in the long run if you don’t enjoy it. We gladly pay the difference at Clean Catch and know we are going to love it. And if you are a shrimp cocktail fan you must get the huge shrimp. OMG.

After more than 3 years I continue to be a weekly, if not more, customer to Clean Catch. The fish is consistently amazing and over the years they have expanded things, offering a lot more of pre-​prepared fish selections that can be heated at home and are outstanding. Bill and Cain and the rest of the staff are attentive to your preferences, honest about how things taste and recommend amazing ways to cook their daily fish. I am a fish lover and look forward to their creations and daily deliveries.
Recently I have tried their Tuna Tartare, Tuna Meatballs, Shrimp Enchilades, and so much more, all of which I love. And, I cannot forget to mention their homemade dumplings, from the Dumpling Gang. A few different varieties but are all amazing. There is nothing like Clean Catch in Charlotte and I will be a customer for life. Check them out when you get a chance.

By far the best ocean fare within a 3 hour drive. I’d rather come here than go to many places on the coast. I am a shell fish and sashimi junkie so I’m right at home here. They love special orders and never charge you for scrap cuts. Only the best portion of your order is what you are charged for. It doesn’t get better than this. Day old Alaskan Snow Crab legs, Blue Fin belly meat, Halibut collars, Monkfish cheeks, and the best crab cakes on earth. Scallops to die for. My biggest problem is that I haven’t always prepared the food perfectly but that was my fault. The staff is always ready to help if you ask. They are getting much better at having ready to go dishes and sauces but those are usually on the weekends to keep things at the peak of freshness I guess. Been a customer for 2 years now and have started budgeting visits as a part of my monthly expenditures. Pricey, but they have to be. Best around.

The fish selection and quality is superb. However the cost is so high that it is not an option I would consider very frequently.
To give you an idea, I bought a single filet of fish that weighed about a pound for over $ 30. I could understand if it was sushi grade tuna or something, but it was similar to a haddock! For that price, I can get haddock at a nice restaurant already prepared for me with a couple of sides. So, in a pinch, when feeding a small amount of people, I will be back, but no time soon.

I’m only giving it 4 stars because it is very expensive! With that being said, it is hands down the best fish I have ever had at home. The cheapest salmon they had was $ 20/​lb but it was SOOO GOOD! and so fresh! They even gave it to me in a bag on ice to keep it fresh on the ride home. The guy was really nice and gave me some ideas on how to cook it. I barely seasoned the salmon and it was literally the best thing ever. My fiancé hates fish b/​c of the «fishy» taste and even without a lot of seasong, this didn’t have the «fishy» taste. he loved it!
They also had some interesting marinades but I didn’t try them. I understand that the fish has to be priced higher due to their high quality standards but I thought the price on the marinades was too high. It was a very small amount of marinade and for the same price or higher as a bottle of marinade would cost in the store.
Regardless of these cons, I would definitely go back. The fish was THAT delicious! I will also note that you must cook it correctly for it to be delicious… and the crew at this place gives you lots of pointers if you just ask nicely.

Clean Catch Fish Market is BY FAR the best fish market in Charlotte. They have the friendliest staff, and are always most helpful. Yes, they are pricey. The quality of the fish and seafood is well worth it, and not something you can get anywhere else in Charlotte. The market is meticulously clean, and it’s awesome to see how the contents of the cases change continuously.
The fish comes literally from all over the world, and a lot of it was swimming in the ocean the day before it shows up in the Clean Catch case. They only accept the best fish, and I’ve heard a number of times of them rejecting shipment due to low quality. They truly care about delivering a high quality product and experience all around and it shows. There is an extremely wide range of fish, and they aggressively go after the best catches by season. I’ve found the most excellent smoked salmon at Clean Catch — ask for their private reserve rope hung smoked salmon; you’ll be spoiled and never want another smoked salmon.
If you’re a seafood lover — and I am — you will be in heaven. Oyster season brings and amazing selection of fresh oysters on a daily basis. Take them home and shuck away, or they will shuck them for you. Shrimp is always in the case, many different varieties and sizes throughout the year. Their fresh lobster meat is untouchable, shipped right from the docks so you can enjoy your own lobster rolls at home! Another one of my favorites, the Nantucket Bay Scallop, makes an appearance in the winter. These scallops are like little pearls of sweetness. Diver scallops are excellent as well; and the sea scallops are huge. All of their scallops are dry packed. Clams, mussels, soft shelled crabs, huge lobster tails, etc. — an incredible variety of goodness.
They also employ chefs, who create great in house specialties on a daily basis. Some of the best I’ve had: Oysters Rockefeller, Ahi Tuna Burgers, Salmon Burgers, an outstanding Vietnamese Caramel Salmon kit, lots of delicious sauces, I could go on and on. :) Their crab cakes are the best, almost solid crab with very little binder. Chowders and gumbo are excellent — they’re always trying something new.
Highly recommended if you care about the freshness and quality of the fish and seafood you’re eating — Clean Catch is the top. You can also join their daily mailer (
), which provides a list of what’s in the case for the day and also great recipes for the catch. As they say: Respect the fish.

I’m actually surprised by all of the 5 star reviews. Yes, they have fresh seafood… but it is GROSSLY overpriced. And if you do a little research, not all that they serve is sustainable. I guess though they have a captive audience seeing as how there aren’t many other fresh seafood markets in Charlotte.
I’m not a fan of the huge board listing all the fish with NO prices indicated. The fish in the display isn’t labeled either. Granted, i mostly know what i’m looking at but it’s nice to not feel like an idiot when looking at random pieces of fish.
The service is also just weird… it’s not a super welcoming place. I didn’t find anyone particularly rude… just not overly friendly either.
The $ 50/​lb bay scallops i purchased were great and i’m sure the rest of their fish is good as well. But overpaying for fish doesn’t sit well with me so i will not return.

Every city needs a fish market. I just found mine. Bill, whom I had the pleasure to meet last night, owns this spot and it’s a gem to the city. He’s incredibly knowledgeable about all his offerings and exudes joy that’s contagious about his profession. The selection is perhaps the best I’ve seen away from any shore and as fresh as you could find within a 100 mile radius. I ordered the Halibut and Crab Cakes last evening and they were impeccably delicate.
If every city and every man needs a fish market, then this guy just found his in his city.

I was looking for a local fish market that would hopefully pull me away from regular grocery seafood counters and get me in front of some seafood I could actually say came from the sea and not some farm in who knows where.
I found Clean Catch through Unilocal,searching for ‘Fish Markets’. I can say I was not disappointed. When you walk in, the place delicately screams ‘clean’, ‘simple’, ‘fresh’.
This is not where fish go to become placed in a plastic wrapped package, and to be sat out for lord knows how long, or frozen and tossed together in an air tight bag. This is where fish heaven must be right? Only the best are chosen daily to be brought to Clean Catch. Only the best are freshly cut to order in front of your eyes. Only the best fish get this treatment.
Clean Catch makes it easy for you, with their knowledgeable staff, picking out a fish or other sea creature is a sinch, and asking for cooking instructions is a breeze. They even offer freshly made pairings to make it easier for you to dress your fish or have a side dish.
As mentioned before the fish is pricey, but you get what you pay for! Quality service, and quality fish. I purchased two 7−8oz pieces of Halibut (aprox $ 34) and got cooking instructions from the employees. It was SOOOO GOOD. Flaky, moist, tender, melt in your mouth delicious. I will be back!
Side Note: Sign up for their email newsletter to find out what they will have daily in the case, and recipe ideas!

Here are things I enjoy in life: Seafood. Doing everything with more effort, expense, and panache than most people would. Cooking and entertaining.
As such, when the weather warmed up and it came time to bust open the barrel smoker on my deck and put together the first little cookout of summer, I had no other place in mind to find my delectable grillables than at clean catch.
With a shop that is always meticulously polished and lit with a comforting cleanliness and sterility, the moment you walk in the door of Clean Catch you realize you’re a few steps above your average fishmonger.
As I stood, silently salivating, in front of the long crystal-​clear glass of the central counter, I swooned. You can always count on Clean Catch to have certain fish staples, but the real charm of the shop is the exciting revolving nature of the more extraordinary sea-​creatures that they get in fresh daily. On this particular occasion, I was faced with deciding between huge filets of dripping sunset-​orange salmon, a giant blood-​red block of sashimi grade Tuna that looked like the severed tongue of a golden oxen idol, a bowl full of huge rock shrimp, or a selection of the some of the largest scallops I’ve ever seen — seriously, these things were 3″ diameter.
Ultimately, I went for one of the fatter Salmon filets. The friendly fishmonger deftly and precisely sliced it into four even quarters for me, then abided my wishes for a pound each of the shrimp and scallops.
As he was parting, portioning and weighing my selection, my eye was drawn toward a little silver platter of purplish herbed patties at the far corner of the counter. «What’s going on here?» I asked.
«Oh, those are some Tuna burgers we put together,» the handsome, slender sandy-​blonde fellow cutting up my salmon replied.
I squinted, deliberated, and my cocked my head in such a way as to indicate I wanted to know more.
«We just ground those up this morning. They’re full of something something and taragon.»
I was genuinely listening, it’s just that the ‘something something’ was so exotic I didn’t know what he was talking about. Didn’t need to. I was sold.
With two of those burgers added to my order, I was ready to roll.
We skewered and grilled the shrimp and scallops, basted liberally with olive oil and lightly seasoned with sea salt and fresh cracked pepper. The shrimp were easily amongst the best I’ve had and I can’t conceive of a scallop I’ve ever come across that was as rich, flaky, juicy, fully flavorful and meaty as the ones I got from Clean Catch on this day.
Half-​full and wild from that simple first course, we then set upon the grill with cedar planks holding our salmon — encrusted lightly with ground pistachios, oil, and a little honey. Whilst those slowly smoked on the top rack, we tossed on those Tuna burgers.
Served up on a rye roll with just a little arugula, red onion, and a healthy smattering of Old Bay seasoned Mayo, those Tuna burgers crushed my tastebuds. From tongue to throat all the way down to belly then back up to my face and then out and all over all the way to my fingers and my toes I just tingled at the fishy flavor of that hot-​seared, slightly raw tuna falling apart in my mouth.
Then, after a few drinks and the sun set behind the horizon, we turned on the party lights up in the pergola, tuned down the outdoor speakers, and fetched the cedar planks from the grill.
I didn’t think my mouth had any moisture left to water, but that salmon drew from me every last drop. Fat pink flakes sliding off with each delicate wick of my fork, hot pistachio and honey dribbling down each bite, matching the smoked richness of the delicious fish. It all just worked.
I can’t not go to Clean Catch for all my fishy needs now. I’ve been ruined for the Harris Teeter fish counter forever.

You gotta pay for top quality seafood.
Everything is pretty expensive compared to your local mega-​mart, but its worth it. The King salmon they have all the time for $ 22/​lb is 100% worth it. Better serve this sashimi grade fish medium though at most IMO. AWESOME for ceviche as well as sushi. As far as other things go, they normally don’t have bluefin tuna, which is my favorite, but there is always something worth buying.
Softshell crab season is come soon!

I had a groupon for Clean Catch that brought me down here, but I had been wanting to try this place since it opened. I am really kicking myself that I waited so long. It was a little confusing walking in, because they have a big board with several dozen fish and shellfish options while there was only 8 to 10 options in the display case. It was explained to me that the board represents all the product that they may have on any given day depending on availability.
On this day, the black grouper was calling my name, and the wife & I decided to get a crab cake to split with our fish. They offered us some remoulade sauce for our crab cake and we took them up on the offer. They also have instructions on how best to cook the crab cake.
Both the fish and crab cake were delicious once cooked at home. I would like to think that I did a good job with both. They definitely have the best fish that I have bought in Charlotte. It is on the pricey side, but the quality is there and I would not hesitate to return here.