Designed by executive chef Bridgett Lewis, Kamp's menu is a refreshing mix of both new dishes and contemporary spins on nostalgic classics, so there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Beyond comfort food — including cast-iron cornbread, pineapple-rum-glazed chicken wings, and delicious sliders with onion jam — the menu also offers two flavors of soft serve: classic vanilla and a rotating flavor that will change weekly (last week, we enjoyed espresso anise). "It's a fun way to delight people while showing them something that's nostalgic but also really fresh and new," said Van Camp.

For anyone feeling adventurous, there is also a vibrant spread of new dishes to try. Some of our favorites were the confit jerk spice duck leg, rainbow beets labneh, and green plantain shrimp tostadas.

Lewis plans to keep certain staples on the menu while also rotating new dishes. "We're trying to stay fresh, stay new," she said. "We're going to try to keep it seasonal. Especially living in the Northwest, it's quite easy to move it around a little bit."

Van Camp describes the culinary theme as flavor-forward. "From a food perspective... there's a lot of different things happening geographically on the menu. It's really just about what we enjoy and want to share with people," she said.

Don't be a stranger
Farther in, diners are faced with a neon sign on the back wall that displays Kamp's tagline, "Don't be a stranger." (Fun fact: the sign uses the same neon from the original sign in Luc Bistro's window!) "It's our tagline, because that's the whole concept of a social house," said Van Camp. "We want to be a neighborhood spot, and we want people to come and just hang out."

Aspects of the Queer community have lent themselves to the atmosphere of inclusivity and fluidity, but Kamp is also just a place for everyone: families, solo diners, and happy couples can all be seen enjoying meals in the dining room and out on the covered patio (which is dog-friendly).

"It makes me so happy that it's become such a safe space for everyone," Van Camp said.

Beyond the food, the bar also embodies Kamp's mission of versatility and inclusivity. The drink menu ranges from boozy to partly boozy and finally unboozy, inspired by the dry year Van Camp undertook, when she began learning about alcohol-free spirits. As a result, the bar features a wide variety of refreshing drinks for social drinkers and sober folks alike.

On the boozy side, my dining partner and I loved the Summer Old Fashioned and watermelon margarita. If you're looking for something nonalcoholic, we'd recommend Summer Fling or, if you're feeling brave, Don't Scare the Chickens — made with muddled jalapeño, it's not for the faint of heart!

Aside from the thrilling spread of signature cocktails, the bar also offers a selection of wine, and both draft and canned beers and ciders, of which there are alcohol-free options as well.

With a beautifully diverse menu and community-first atmosphere, Kamp feels well on its way to becoming a Seattle staple and neighborhood favorite. Whether you're looking for an exciting new meal to show friends, a comfort meal, or a refreshing drink after work, this is the place to check out. As the Kamp team says, there's always room at the table for one more.