August 26th, 2012
It was going to be my first time visiting Catch 54 after last year’s fire, when they had to completely rebuild the restaurant. Since their opening, at the beginning of the summer, people kept telling me how cool it had turned out. Well, it has taken me until last week to stop by with friends and enjoy a night of laughter, good food, awesome views and great service.
Catch 54 is part of the family of restaurants under SoDel Concepts, http://www.sodelconcepts.com. It is, also, one of Matt Haley’s restaurants.
Catch 54 is located at 38931 Madison Ave., Fenwick Island, DE 19944. Tel. 302-436-8600. Website? http://www.catch54.com. If you are traveling on Coastal Highway, please turn west at the intersection of Rt. 54 and Coastal Highway (Rt. 1), cross over the bridge. You’ll see the restaurant on your right. Turn right, you will find plenty of parking available. Catch 54 is also located on the same spot as Shark’s Cove Marina. The restaurant opens 7 days a week at 11:30 a.m. Happy hour, from 12 until 6 p.m. They do not accept reservations. You can find Catch 54 on Facebook and Twitter.
From Rehoboth Beach, it takes about half an hour, give or take, with the summer traffic. I was rushing to get there before sunset. Catch 54 has one of the most gorgeous views at our Delaware Beaches. It sits right at Little Assawoman Bay; the salt marshes that line the bay are home of many species of waterfowl. At that time of the evening is breathtaking, serene, and peaceful.
 
Since I don’t like to wait at restaurants, I have started eating late during the height of the season at the Delaware Beaches. So, we decided to meet at around 7:45 p.m., thinking that people would be almost on their way out. Surprised surprise, there were people waiting. No problem, I just went around to take pictures, some sat at the bar, waiting to be called. No rush. Catch 54 has 2 floors with a bar on each one.
At the upstairs bar, there are also booths available for dining, as well.
It was a beautiful evening so the restaurant was showing off how pretty it looked at night.
Indoors is light, and modern, exhibiting the casual atmosphere of our beaches.
There are 2 decks with tables for dining al fresco.
The outdoor dining tables were going to take some time, so we decided to eat indoors. The restaurant has glass windows throughout so you have an excellent view if you are indoors.
Our server came to get us. His name was Michael. As we are walking to our table, I proceeded to tell him that one person in our party had to eat gluten free. His answer? No problem, I have had Celiac disease since I was young. I know exactly what your dietary requirements are. Worry free eating!! No questions!! I bet Catch 54 does not know what an asset he, actually is. It turned out that Michael was also a fantastic server. Very attentive and his suggestions were perfect.
It goes without saying that when I have lunch or dinner with friends….they cannot touch their food until I take pictures. A few try to dive into their entrees, but are usually stopped on their tracks. I also want them to, honestly, tell me how their dinner was.
So, here is what we ordered.
Oysters on the half shell were ordered; the saltier, the better. Chincoteague Salts came on ice and were delicious.
A friend ordered the Heirloom Tomato Salad, on toast, with herbs, grilled red onion, blue cheese, and a Dijon garlic vinaigrette. The tomatoes are still so tasty; green, red, and yellow.
I went with the Crab & Clam Cakes. I thought they sounded different. They had bacon, Parmesan, spicy mayo, micro beets and lemon. They were soooo good. It really was a good combination. Definitely, would order them again in a heart beat.
For our entrees:
A couple decided to order the Fish Camp Stew. It had fresh fin fish, shellfish, white wine, tomato butter broth, and toast. One came without the toast because of the gluten allergy. It had a well seasoned broth, very light and plenty of seafood.
Another person decided to order the Day Boat Scallops on cheese grits, sweet corn, zucchini and PBR tomato jus. She really enjoyed them, and thought they were very good; cooked to perfection.
I loved my fish. I really did. I had the Pan Roasted Whole Trout, on roasted farm beans, Crimini mushrooms, almonds, and lemon butter. The whole fish was so flavorful. I would, definitely, order it again.
Dessert:
We decided to order two desserts.
The Roasted Summer Peach Bread Pudding was served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and caramel. Comfort dessert! Not overly sweet, either.
A Lemon Icebox Pie with Blueberries was the second dessert. Sort of like a key lime pie, except lemons were used.
The person that had to eat gluten free is hoping that Catch 54 brings back a dessert called Flourless Chocolate Torte. This dessert was so good whether you had to eat gluten free or not.
Our Delaware Beaches are full of wonderful restaurants. It really is a dining destination for many. We are so lucky!!
Note: Catch 54 also has a kid’s menu!!
Have a great week! Talk to you later….you know I will.
July 17th, 2012
Welcome is what I want to say to all of Matt Haley’s Restaurants. It has been 3 years since I started this blog. The concept has stayed true. I wanted to promote the Delaware Beaches. I really do love living here and that’s what I told Matt Haley when I was pestering him about advertising on my website. It is a little tricky when you are talking and writing about restaurants. Afterall, it is your own experience. I write about them on my own terms; no technical training, for sure. I know how I like to be served. I like a variety of foods. And I love innovative cuisines.
I have eaten in several of Matt Haley’s Restaurants. Every time I wrote a post, I would send an e-mail to the company. It did not fail that Matt Haley was the one that answered those e-mails immediately. Not his managers and others in his staff; but, himself. That has not happened very often. I thought that said a lot about the man behind the concepts. And, SoDel Concepts restaurant group, is his restaurant development company located in Delmarva.
I have had the opportunity to attend several fundraising events hosted by Matt Haley. Yes, he does wear many hats besides the Chef’s. On those occasions, I have watched him interact with his staff. It is like a one on one kind of thing. Mutual respect and admiration. Maybe family is the right word to describe it.
Matt Haley’s feels at ease whether he is the Chef at a fundraising event at a farm or fundraising at one of his restaurants for Global Delaware.
 
In 2010, the organization Outstanding in the Field chose him as the Host and Chef for an amazing dinner held at the Indian River Life Saving Station. The organization, Outstanding in the Field, travels the world to find exceptional chefs to showcase the local food culture and salute area farmers, growers and fishermen. It was a first for Delaware!!
You can find SoDel Concepts and Plate Catering on the right hand side of this website. Just click on either one to go directly into their sites and find all there is to know about them. You can also click on the links available on the left hand side of this website, as well, to go directly into all the individual restaurants, including Plate Catering.
The Owner and Executive Chef is Matt Haley. Southern Delaware has the farms and the water. These provide us all with a unique advantage to fresh food, wonderful vegetables, poultry and beef. There are amazing restaurants and chefs making Southern Delaware a dining destination. And, Matt Haley’s Restaurants have the whole package.
Matt Haley’s Restaurants are under SoDel Concepts. And, here they are:
SoDel Concepts – Tel. 302-436-8600. Website? http://www.sodelconcepts.com.
Fish On! – Tel. 302-645-9790. Website? http://www.fishon.bz. Happy Hour, Opens at 5 p.m., Sunday 3 Chef designed courses for $19. Location? 17300 North Village Main Blvd., Lewes, DE 19958. At The Villages of Five Points. I wrote a post on the restaurant on 7/10/12. Just click on the month of July and scroll down to the date.
Lupo di Mare – Tel. 302-226-2240. Website? http://www.lupodimarerehoboth.com. Happy Hour 5 – 7 p.m. Early Bird Special, 3 courses for $19 if seated before 6 p.m. Location? 247 Rehoboth Ave., inside the Hotel Rehoboth. I have written in the past about this restaurant. Just click on the month and scroll down to the date. 6/12/2011, 12/4/2011, 5/5/2012
Matt’s Fish Camp – Tel. 302-539-CAMP. Website? http://www.mattsfishcamp.com. Opens 12 p.m. – 9 p.m. Sunday – Thursday. 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Location? North Bethany, South of the Indian River Inlet. I have written in the past, also, about this restaurant. Again click on the month and scroll down to the date. 4/20/2011, 6/26/2012
Bluecoast Seafood Grill – Tel. 302-539-7111. Website? http://www.bluecoastseafoodgrill.com. Opens at 5 p.m. Location? 1111 Highway One, Bethany Beach, DE 19930. It is just north after you leave Bethany Beach.
Northeast Seafood Kitchen – Tel. 302-537-1785. Website? http://www.northeastseafoodkitchen.com. Opens at 5 p.m. Outdoor dining is also available. Location? 29F Atlantic Avenue, Ocean View, DE 19970.
Catch 54 – Tel. 302-436-8600. Website? http://www.catch54.com. Location? 38931 Madison Ave., Fenwick Island, DE 19944. In the Shark’s Cove Marina. Same view, new building due to a fire that took place last year. What I hear are good things and words like so “cool”. I’ll let you know how it is soon. Opens at 11:30 a.m. Happy Hour is from 12 Noon until 6 p.m.
Plate Catering is Matt Haley’s catering company. He is the Owner and Executive Chef. A dinner for 2 or for a large gathering…this is what this company does. Awesome dinners taking the stress out so that you can enjoy your company. Tel. 302-644-1200. Website? http://www.plate-catering.com. Email? info@plate-catering.com.
So, what else can I tell you about Matt Haley? Remember when I mentioned above, the many hats he wears…..a philanthropist’s. It is worth mentioning that Matt Haley founded Global Delaware. It is a non-profit “organization dedicated to providing goods and services to children at risk in distressed situations”. Global Delaware is helping, here at home, and it is also extending a helping hand overseas. To know more about it, to get involved, to donate (anything helps), please visit http://www.theglobaldelawarefund.com.
Notes: Matt Haley’s Restaurants do not accept reservation. You have to do like me; either very early or late. I choose late. It’s summer and it stays light so late. Let me know how you like them.
Matt Haley’s Restaurants are sensitive to those customers with food related allergies. They are very willing to make your visit a pleasurable one.
By the way, let me tell you that there were other e-mails sent to SoDel Concepts. They were the ones that started “Don’t kill the Messenger”, if you get my drift. He did answer!! Have a good one!!
July 10th, 2012
Eating is not merely a material pleasure. Eating well gives a spectacular joy to life and contributes immensely to goodwill and happy companionship. It is of great importance to the morale. e. schiaparelli
This post is reviewing Fish On! twice in one week!!
It was Sunday night when a friend came over to visit. I was probably on a lazy kind of mood. A crowded and hot week-end at the Delaware Beaches. Plain and simple; I did not feel like cooking. So, I chose Fish On! We are so lucky to have all these wonderful restaurants in our beaches. I have to hand it to you, Chefs, because you are doing a great job in keeping all of us interested in your culinary surprises.
Fish On is part of the SoDel Concepts group of restaurants that extend up and down our coastal beaches. Owner and Executive Chef is Matt Haley. It is located at 17300 North Village Main Blvd., Villages of Five Points, Lewes, Delaware 19958. Tel. 302-645-9790. Website? http://www.fishon.bz
Fish On! does not take reservations. That is not bothering me anymore. I am eating late this summer. Love having the restaurants almost all to myself at that time. Fish On! has plenty of parking. The restaurant offers outdoor dining. So, on a beautiful Delmarva night, please take advantage of a pretty nice setting. Eating outdoors is the best.
On Sunday evening the restaurant was comfortably crowded when we arrived. Not soon afterwards, just a few having a leisure coffee and desert.
Our server was Stefana. I have to tell you that she was so pleasant; knew the menu well. Gluten free awareness? Oh yes, she was very well aware of the allergy.
Bread was brought to the table. Even though the bread looked simple, it was a little bit sweet; not overly so. It is baked daily in-house.
I decided to have their Charred Asparagus Soup. It was creamy, full of flavor, with a creme fraiche and basil oil.
Two orders of Pan Seared Halibut, with grilled peach, black bean and corn salsa, cumin and paprika roasted potatoes. Gluten Free!! Got great reviews from my fellow diners.
I decided to go with the Seared Seabass, with summer squash and sweet potato ribbons, and a lemon herb gremolata. It melted in your mouth, the vegetables were perfectly cooked. The picture does not lie. It looked and tasted that good.
Perfectly satisfied, we just had some coffee.
Tuesday evening. Quiet after the hectic week-end. You could see that the traffic was taking it easy. Once again, we decided to go to Fish On! The scallops were calling my husband.
Fish On! was a little more subdued; we also went pretty late.
My choice was the Bean, Corn, and Chicken Soup. It was “brothy”, light and it had been cooked with jalapenos, so there was a nice kick to it. Loved it.
Fish Tacos for my next entree. Shaved brussels sprouts, pickled onions, corn tortillas. Guess what? I learned something new. The fish was called swai. I had never heard of it. It is pronounced sweye. Similar to catfish but with a milder flavor and more delicate texture. It is from Vietnam. Even people that do not like fish, tend to really enjoy this very much versatile fish that can be broiled, baked, sauteed, and fried. My Fish Tacos were delicious and a very healthy portion indeed.
When restaurants are not crowded it is the perfect opportunity to maybe be able to change something on the menu. Fish On! was more than happy to oblige.
The Scallops were ordered. They would have arrived accompanied by summer vegetables and a chorizo succotash. Not sure if the chorizo was gluten free, we decided to replace those with the Roasted Red & Gold Beets; no blue cheese, mustard vinaigrette on the side. Both were outstanding!!
Please note that restaurants get so busy that many times they can not be substituting one thing for another. So…ask but be understanding of their situation.
Again, a little chat here or there with Stefana….and until next time.
Fish On! opens 7 days a week at 5:00 p.m.
A Children’s Menu is also available. Other offerings, besides seafood, are on the menu, as well.
Have a good one!! ttyl g
June 26th, 2012
Matt’s Fish Camp is now a year old. I feel the same way about this restaurant today as I felt when I first visited. It has the essence of casual coastal dining; steps from the ocean and across the bay. Come as you are; or just put something casual and enjoy the culinary competence, the good service, and that relaxed ambiance that we all love at the beach.
It was such a gorgeous day. As I was driving home from Bethany Beach, I passed Matt’s Fish Camp. I knew exactly where I was going for dinner. Looking forward to it, as well. I wanted to see if they would fill my expectations, and see if they were just as good as before. Afterall, is the Summer of 2012.
Matt’s Fish Camp is located at 28635 Coastal Highway (Rt. 1). It is really in North Bethany at Tower Shores. Plenty of parking available. Tel. 302-539-CAMP. Website http://www.mattsfishcamp.com.
Matt’s Fish Camp is part of the family of restaurants, owned by SoDel Concepts, whose Owner and Head Chef is Matt Haley himself.
Matt’s Fish Camp opens at 11 a.m. daily and stays open pretty late too. It does not accept reservations. I have a new strategy since I do not like to wait; going at the latest possible time. Arrive when almost everyone is finishing their dinner. Perfect timing for photos. That’s exactly what we did tonight.
We got a table for two. I was also paying attention to what the people on the next table were saying. There were 3 guys; a delicious meal, they were commenting among themselves.
 I love the long table in the middle of the room. To fill it with friends would be wonderful. We started with a few appetizers. I already knew what my entree would be.
Lobster Deviled Eggs. Again, I had to be fast with the camera. One of them was gone by the time I turned my head. A good amount of lobster and great taste.
The Semi Spicy and Homemade Pickles, served in a jar, I really liked. On summer nights, light with a slight kick.
The first time we ordered skate was at Matt’s Fish Camp last year. Tonight we ordered it again and asked to be cooked gluten free. It was served over mashed potatoes. Even though the restaurant was comfortably crowded still, the chef did not mind it at all. Skate is delicate and mild; from Chincoteague, Virginia.
I decided to have the Fried Baby Tails. I was served 4 tails, beer battered and fried. They were really good; well seasoned and oh soooo tender. The dipping sauce? Just right.
We both ordered watermelon as a side dish. This was excellent; a seasoning of salt, pepper, paprika and other spices. Lemon on the side. Having watermelon as a side dish is so refreshing; it also cleans your palate.
Coffee, pictures….that was it. Sorry, not a sweet ending on this evening. We were perfectly content. We then headed home. It only took us about 10 minutes to get to Rehoboth Beach.
Note: Anastasi was our server. She was friendly, knew her menu well, and was very attentive. She also knew about the gluten allergy; no explanations were necessary.
You can also access Matt’s Fish Camp’s website on AboutMyBeaches, right under links, or you can also click on the banner of SoDel Concepts on the right hand side of my website. Both, will take you directly into their sites.
I hope you have another beautiful day tomorrow!! Talk to you later…
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