NorthEast Seafood Kitchen in Ocean View to celebrate 10th Anniversary Oct. 2
When SoDel Concepts opened NorthEast Seafood Kitchen in May 2005, the restaurant was a bit of a gamble. Chef Matt Haley, SoDel Concepts founder, had a solid history of success in the hospitality industry. However, NorthEast Seafood Kitchen is located in a strip mall in Ocean View, which in 2005 was just starting to experience growth. It was just a few miles from Route 1, but would residents and tourists venture inland?
They did and they do. “NorthEast Seafood Kitchen might be the greatest SoDel success story,” said Scott Kammerer, the current president and CEO of SoDel Concepts. “Today, it’s an incredibly busy year-round restaurant, and it has an incredibly loyal clientele, who support the restaurant and the staff.”
From 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 2, the restaurant will celebrate its milestone anniversary with happy hour drink specials, appetizers and the debut of a commemorative video, which will be shown on the half hour during that time period. The video was created by W Films and SoDel Films, and was directed by Rob Waters.
NorthEast Seafood Kitchen was inspired by the quaint seaside eateries that pepper the New England coast. Several items have been on the menu for a decade, including Ipswich clams, salmon over baked beans, the lobster roll, the lobster BLT, lobster macaroni and cheese, clam dip, oatmeal pie with cinnamon whipped cream and caramel sauce, and fruit crisp.
The restaurant has grown over the years to include a landscaped courtyard - ome to many lobster dinners. The 2,000-square-foot expansion in 2014 added 42 extra seats, 14 of which are at a bar that features craft beer from local breweries and craft cocktails.
A number of employees who worked at NorthEast Seafood Kitchen are still with SoDel Concepts, including Lindsey Jacona, now the comptroller; Andrea Medford, now an administrator; Jason Dietterick, now the chef at Bluecoast Seafood Grill; Andrew Dickinson, the company’s graphic designer; and Elodia Morales, a prep cook.
The celebration Oct. 2 is deserved, Kammerer said. “NorthEast Seafood Kitchen is now a destination restaurant for people living in and visiting the area round it,” he said. “And it’s an anchor in a great community.” For more information, go to sodelconcepts.com.
