Kamp has soft serve, an overhauled restaurant and bar space, and executive chef Bridgett Lewis going for it (Images: Kamp Social House)
The signature cocktails at Kamp can be ordered boozy, partly boozy, or, yes, unboozy (Image: Kamp Social House)
Madison Valley has been enjoying the “boozy,” the “partly boozy,” and the “unboozy” party without us.
Kamp Social House opened over the summer and is hitting its stride as a neighborhood restaurant and bar centered around inclusivity and a social cocktail combining old school buzz with non-alcoholic enjoyment.
“Don’t be a stranger,” the neon reads.
CHS reported in May on the concept from business and life partners Marceil Van Camp and Katy Knauff as the veteran restaurant consultants cooked up a plan for a Mad Valley bistro providing cocktails, beers, and wines — with alcohol and without — with daytime and nighttime aspirations of serving the surrounding area. Kamp was made to gracefully serve everyone, Van Camp told CHS, whether you want your Negroni wet, damp, or dry — or boozy, partly boozy, or unboozy as the menu breaks it down.
On the partly boozy end of the spectrum, Kamp-ers will find offerings like the Definitely Maybe, a mix of sweet vermouth, seasonal fruit shrub, bitters, and soda.
Unboozy? “Signature” examples include The Sunset, a cocktail pairing three non alcoholic creations — the Martini Vibrante aperitivo, the citrusy botanical Lustre from Wilderton, and orange DHŌS, and Don’t Scare the Chickens with muddled jalapeno, Seedlip Spice, pineapple juice, and lime juice.
But the bar is just the half of it. CHS may have undersold Kamp’s food ambitions.
Executive chef Bridgett Lewis has created a menu “of East & West coast concepts” combining her “Jamaican flavor with California vibes” with spices “shipped from her mom’s garden.” Kamp has a long list of “shareables” including fried chickpeas, sliders, and wings, plus some more ambitious mains for the dinner menu including glazed pork belly, steamed clams, jerk duck, a seasonal risotto, and a roasted cauliflower steak. There’s a kid’s menu — keep it unboozy, kids — and, importantly, a weekly rotation of two flavors of soft serve. This week’s flavors are ube and wedding cake. And Lewis is also already taking on weekend brunch.
As for the location, Kamp takes over after the short-lived stay of cocktail confetti and decoration maker Snowy River in the former home of Thierry Rautureau’s longtime Madison Valley favorite Luc at the corner of E Madison and 28th. Capitol Hill design firm Awful Good helped design the overhaul and the first of what could be more Kamp venues.
“Kamp’s got something for everyone,” the PR goes. “As it’s a social house, we want you to stay a while. Come for a snack, stay for dinner.”
And, yes, don’t be a stranger.
Kamp Social House is located at 2800 E Madison. You can learn more at kampseattle.com.
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