Tucked into a cozy strip of independent and majority woman-owned shops, Kamp Social House stands out, not just for its menu or cocktails but for its unapologetically Queer identity and commitment to community. Also known as “Katy’s and Marceil’s Place,” is run by romantic partners Marceil Van Camp and Katy Knaff.

“The idea behind Kamp is that we wanted people to find a place where they could feel welcome, feel warm, and see familiar faces, whether it's mine or Katy's, or staff or their neighbors,” Van Camp told the SGN. “A lot of what you see in Kamp is a replica of what you might see at our house. The idea is like: welcome to our place, and don’t be a stranger.”

The food, much like the atmosphere, is heartfelt and vibrant. Van Camp explained how her partner is the restaurateur who has been doing it her entire life, and emphasized how Knaff is not only the co-owner but also the executive chef, operator, and bar manager.

For nearly two decades, Knaff trained in a Southern-food-focused kitchen in Los Angeles and brought these roots to Seattle, mixing in her own creative spin. One of her favorites, Knaff said, was the soft serve, due to its weekly changes.

“You don’t get bored with it being here six days a week,” Knaff said, noting that that week’s flavors were “strawberry rhubarb, balsamic black pepper, and then a Meyer lemon cheesecake.”

“We want things that pair well, that make sense together, and also that really reflect what we like,” Van Camp said.

New dishes roll out with the seasons, and right now, people are going wild for Kamp’s gumbo. Van Camp said people are coming in for the sole purpose of tasting Knaff’s favorite dishes. Knaff said she’s been busting out shrimp tostadas, plantain tostadas, and the shrimp plantain tostada combo (watermelon margaritas and ceviche are coming in the summer). The pasta has also been a standout.

“Our pasta is incredible. Handmade fresh daily… The gnocchi, for example, comes with this beautiful pea puree… hand-rolled gnocchi,” Van Camp said. “We work with the local forager… just stuff that I don’t think folks are expecting.”

And let’s not forget the fries: “She has a really special recipe for fries,” Van Camp added.

“It’s the attention to detail,” Knaff said. “Tampons in the bathroom… patios for your dogs… the nonalcoholic menu… It’s …nailing it every time… getting excellent food ratings every time,” Knaff said.

Community, pride, and purpose

Kamp's vision extends far beyond plates and pours, and the owners have been actively involved in creating a purposeful and positive impact in the neighborhood.

“I joined the Madison Valley Merchant Association so we could better connect with SDOT and the Office of Economic Development,” Van Camp said, as she recounted challenges of the RapidRide G Line project, which devasted the Madison Valley business community. “We watched 40% of the businesses in this strip close in a year.”

Despite those setbacks, in less than a handful of years after opening, Van Camp and Knaff have prided themselves on being a part of one of the most welcoming and inviting neighborhoods in Seattle.

During June, the Kamp team heads to the annual Pride parade, as well as the Wildrose to celebrate with the Queer community. As an LGBTQIA+-owned business, Pride, naturally, is a cornerstone of their own annual programming too — but Kamp goes deeper than just rainbows and parties.

“We’re going to be really focusing on health in our community,” Van Camp said. “A mammogram truck, STI resources… folks who maybe need Botox because they’ve just had facial reconstructive surgery because they’re transitioning.”

All of that’s alongside the drag brunches, and the beloved “sliders — we ask if you want all tops or all bottoms,” Van Camp noted.

Burritos and big dreams ahead

As summer approaches, Kamp is planning a new pop-up on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: “A breakfast burrito program… on the way to the beach… really good, delicious burritos [with] really good salsa,” Knaff said. “That’ll be fun… our own pop-up in our own space.”

Van Camp said they’d like to expand and that she believes there is a need for it. Knaff said that many Lesbians already come to Kamp, but at the same time, she’d love to have a small and intimate Lesbian bar. But for now, they’re staying grounded by focusing on what they already have and ensuring its long-term sustainability.

Because, as Van Camp put it, “Neighborhoods need restaurants like ours — the mom-and-mom-type spots to really keep bringing people together. I’m concerned that they’re disappearing. And we’re going to fight really hard to keep Kamp here.”

Kamp Social House is at 2800 E Madison St and online at https://www.kampseattle.com.