1234 N. Orange Ave.
Winter Park, FL 32789
Restaurant industry veteran Fred Thimm (Hard Rock, The Palm), has begun renovations at a well known Winter Park address that will soon house his first independent venture, Reel Fish Coastal Kitchen + Bar.
Taking its inspiration from classic Florida fish camps and offering coastal cuisine in an inland setting, the restaurant will specialize in sustainably sourced seafood from the Sunshine State’s Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
Remodeling is currently underway in the building recently vacated by The Ravenous Pig at 1234 Orange Ave. Reel Fish Coastal Kitchen + Bar anticipates opening by early February 2017. Seating capacity will be 150.
Taking its inspiration from classic Florida fish camps and offering coastal cuisine in an inland setting, the restaurant will specialize in sustainably sourced seafood from the Sunshine State’s Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
Remodeling is currently underway in the building recently vacated by The Ravenous Pig at 1234 Orange Ave. Reel Fish Coastal Kitchen + Bar anticipates opening by early February 2017. Seating capacity will be 150.
“Reel Fish Coastal Kitchen + Bar will be a contemporary version of a classic fish camp, serving fresh Florida seafood prepared in a southern style and served in a casual, family friendly environment,” said Thimm. “With Winter Park being located almost directly between Florida’s Atlantic and Gulf coasts we’re in the perfect place to receive daily shipments from the state’s top sustainable seafood purveyors.”
The kitchen at Reel Fish Coastal Kitchen + Bar will be led by chefs Michael Zajac and Michael Huffler. Zajac, an alumnus of Houston’s restaurants and former owner of High Cotton in Atlanta, will oversee developing the culinary team. Huffler will spearhead the restaurant’s daily blackboard specials and core recipes, which will feature creative takes on fresh-caught fish not typically found on many inland Florida seafood restaurant menus, including tile fish, trigger fish, sheephead, hogfish and other local species.
The Reel Fish menu will also include fish camp classics like fried seafood platters, Shrimp & Creamy Cheese Grits, whole fried market fish, such as yellow tail snapper, and Low Country Boils featuring shrimp, bay scallops and crab legs.
Central to the restaurant will be a raw bar serving oysters on the half shell, broiled and steamed, as well as ceviche and peel & eat fresh Florida shrimp. For the meat lover, Reel Fish’s offerings will include farm-to-table, GMA-free beef & brisket blend burgers from Creekstone Farms, as well as a rotating selection of premium beef cuts. Signature salads will include the Shrimp & Avocado Louie and a fresh tuna salad.
The bar at Reel Fish will offer “coastal cocktails”, local craft beers and a boutique list of sought after reasonably priced wines curated by Alex Plotkin, owner of Chops Restaurant in Philadelphia and former National Director of Wine & Spirits for The Palm. Reel Fish will also offer happy hour food and beverage specials at the bar daily.
Overseeing day-to-day operations at the restaurant will be Chrissy Benoit, who recently joined Reel Fish as General Manager. Benoit brings extensive hospitality industry experience with her, including more than a decade owning and operating popular South Florida establishments The Little House Restaurant, Adventurous Palate and Havana Hideout.
In 2009, Benoit and Havana Hideout were featured on the acclaimed Food Network’s series Diners, Drive-in and Dives. In 2013, The Little House, which Benoit designed, received a prestigious “Outstanding Renovation” Award from the Florida Redevelopment Agency for rescuing a historic cottage in Boynton Beach and giving it new life as a “charming and lively restaurant.”
Reel Fish Coastal Kitchen + Bar will open to the public on Thursday, Feb. 9 for dinner service only. Weekend brunch service will debut on Feb. 18-19 and lunch service will begin on Tuesday, March 7. Reel Fish Coastal Kitchen + Bar will be open every Tuesday through Sunday.