April 20th, 2011
Matt’s Fish Camp, Fresh Seafood, North Bethany, Restaurant, Review, Delaware Beaches, Opening Thursday, 4/21
I needed to write this post last night while my taste buds were still remembering the delicious meal I had just enjoyed.
I experienced at Matt’s Fish Camp a great quality of ingredients, a culinary competence, a very good service and a relaxing and casual ambiance.
Matt’s Fish Camp had soft openings a few nights this week. Officially, this new restaurant is opening on Thursday, April 21st. They will open 7 days a week with lunch and dinner by Memorial Week-End. At present, they are opening at 4:00 p.m., Wednesdays to Fridays, and at 11:00 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Location? South of Indian River Bridge, in North Bethany at Tower Shores. Tel. is 302-539-CAMP. Website? www.mattsfishcamp.com.
Matt’s Fish Camp is the newest addition of already very well-known and successful restaurants from Lewes to Fenwick Island, Delaware, owned by Sodel Concepts. To find out more info. about all their restaurants and catering services, please visit http://www.sodelconcepts.com.
It is just the type of restaurant that captures the essence of coastal dining; the ocean on one side, the bay on the other. Local favorites serving the freshest catch of the day. Just like the fish camps in the south.
On the right side of the building there are picnic tables where you can enjoy your carry out.
In the inside, a little music in the background, bar tables on one side; you can check the sun setting. Open kitchen on the other side.
The dining area is set up with booths and tables. It is very casual. Just come as you are type of restaurant. The staff? Very friendly.
I started checking the menu. I am sure they were wanting to see how it was received. You can purchase wines by the bottle or by the glass. Beers, some local like Evolution Primal Pale Ale, Dogfish 90min ipa and 16 Mile Blues Golden Ale. Others, like Corona, Blue Moon, Troegs Hopback Amber, Miller Light, Coors Light and a Maryland favorite, the Natty Boh.
My eyes first went to what was called Jars. These are starters served in Jars. We ordered Matt’s spice roasted peanuts. Slightly salted, slightly spicy; herbs in plain view.
Then I ordered the conch “red” chowder. I love conch. When I see it, I don’t think twice about it. The soup had plenty of conch; the right amount of spice. The flavor brought me right to the islands of the Caribbean.
My husband had Matt’s imperial crab stuffed oysters. These oysters had a little bit of breading but Matt fixed him some without the breading. Very good; the crab imperial did not take over the oysters.
For the main entree I decided to have the whole black bass. It was grilled and served over mashed potatoes, yellow squash and sugar snaps. Every time I can order a whole fish, I will do so. Even though you have to work around those little bones, it is worth it. The taste is so different; the bones really add so much flavor while cooking. It was tender and, again, perfectly seasoned.
My husband decided to have the skate. Both of us had never had it. It was to have been dredged in flour in ordered to be pan seared but because of the gluten allergy it was served without the flour. I took a bite and it melted in my mouth. Very delicate. I was so surprised. It was so good!!
Potato salad was brought to the table for sharing. Perfect summer side.
By this time, my brain was signaling that I had eaten too much. To please stop! Well, Mike, our waiter, which by the way was very attentive, told me that he really loved the blueberry pie. It was a classic pie. I have to say that it was not overly sweet at all and I think Matt said he put a little pepper and sorry but I forgot which herb he mentioned. Thyme, perhaps?
Then George and Jerry came to the table. Having not seen each other in such a long time we started to catch up. A small order of the skate was ordered again because we raved so much about it that George needed to try it. They were pretty happy with their meals, as well.
I have a feeling we closed the fish camp. Talk to you later….you know what? You are going to love it. You’ll see. Let me know….
Tags: Bethany Beach, Delaware Beaches, fresh seafood, Gluten free awareness, ipswich clam roll, lobster claws, lobster rolls, lunch and dinner, Matt's Fish Camp, North Bethany, Restaurant, review, seafood restaurant, SoDel Concepts
Wonderful dinner with friends tonight. Crabcakes were to die for…as were the lobster deviled eggs! Atmosphere was very friendly and comfortable. Will definitely return! Expect to see a huge crowd this summer!
I agree with you. I think it will be a hit with the summer crowds. People come here to relax and the restaurant is casual with great fresh seafood. Those lobster deviled eggs sound very good. Thanks for the comments to the blog.
Ok, so I just had dinner at Matt’s Fish Camp, and was very disappointed. Considering your name, location, and building, we were expecting to get a reasonably priced meal. like a great fish sandwich and a beer. However, we were delivered a menu with no price under $19.00, so we ordered. Speaking for myself, I had the stuffed flounder. I tasted no crabmeat, just mashed potatoes. Maybe it should be called flounder stuffed with mashed potatoes. We asked for dinner rools, but were told no you have to order them off of the appitizer menu, what! never knew dinner rolls were an appitizer. Since we were still hungary after dinner, we ordered dessert. Apple Cobbler-Awful. Apples undercooked, and no cobbler, just some crumbs and cinnamon. You may want to consider a new dessert chef, like my husband who made a great apple pie for a Saturday dinner party. Matt, this building and surroundings do not emit the feel of a gourmet restaurant, but the prices do. In fact I wish my old breakfast place was back!
Sorry you feel that way. I just happened to have gone there tonight and it is funny you mentioned the apple cobbler because the people at the next table had ordered 2 of them. I did not taste them but I heard them talking about how good it was. Flounder is actually not my kind of fish. I prefer something with a bit more flavor. I had the haddock and it was very good; on top of mashed potatoes and veggies. My husband had the grilled blue fish and I did have a taste and it was definitely fresh, grilled and seasoned to perfection. For an appetizer I had the chilled 1/2 lobster. It was $12 but it definitely had plenty of meat. My husband had also the stuffed clams and there 3 on the plate but very stuffed indeed. To me just like in the post I wrote a “fish camp” is not necessarily a “gourmet” restaurant but one that can deliver the fresh catch of the day. Prior to tonight’s visit I had skate which I had never tasted before and I loved it. Tonight’s patrons were having a good time; children included. Easy and carefree. Come as you are; that laid back attitude when you are at the beach. We are so lucky to have so many places to choose, here at the beach. Try it again you might change your mind. By the way, I do appreciate your comments to my blog. Thanks.
Finally got to Matt’s Fish Camp tonight and had a great meal. Loved the simple decor and our waitress was very friendly and attentive. The food was great and I liked that you could order a larger meal or a sandwich. I have two teenagers and they are not always the easiest to please, but they loved their meals – lobster roll, fried clams, crab dip. Husband and I got the oyster po boys with Natty Bohs and everything was done just right. We will definitely go back!
Thanks so much for your comments to the blog. I have enjoyed it so much, as well.
I’m so looking forward to checking out Matt’s new restaurant~ my teenage daughter and I happened upon Betty’s last year in Rehobeth and, OMG, loved the food, we went out of our way to go back there twice. Then we discoverd Catch 54 in Fenwick, loved it, Betty’s so far still our favorite though, haven’t tried the other two but can’t wait to~and now, The Fish Camp, yummy, can’t wait-can I place the beginning of my order now, 2 lobster rolls, 2 fried clams, ok,ok, I’ll wait til I get there…can we make reservations~coming down for the last week of July! Can’t wait-everything I’ve ever tasted coming out of one of Matt’s kitchens absolutely delicious, see you in a few weeks!
His restaurants are so good because he takes pride in choosing the best ingredients that money can buy. He is innovative and a breath of fresh air in the culinary world. I have tried all of them and so far I have not been disappointed. They are all a bit different and certainly unique. Have fun and let me know how you like it. Matt’s Fish Camp has been very well received. Thanks for your comments.
Because of its outside apperance, we also expected prices to be somewhat lower than Bluecoast but they generally weren’t. Ordered the appetizer of clams and they were excellent but were $14. Not overcook, juicy and very nicely breaded. I had the shrimp,scallop, fish stew and I was underwhelmed. It had a spice taste that toned down the taste of the shrimp and the scallops rather than enhanced them. It also had small lobster tails but it was very difficult getting the meat out. My wife had the scallops and said it was good. Probably will return to try something else.
Thanks a lot for the update. Have not been back for some time. Waiting for the summer to die down a bit. I will pass your e-mail to Sodel Group so that they can see what people are saying. Try it again and tell them you are coming back to make sure that it was just an off night. See you.