Kemp's Seafood House
based on 17 reviews
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Category: Restaurants
Tags:
seafood fish shrimp, buffet seafood in a styro-foam box, excellent seafood, fish, triangle, seafood, shrimp, best in raleigh
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Price Range: Moderate, $11-30
Accepts Credit Cards: yes
Parking: Private Lot
Wheelchair Accessible: yes
17 reviews for Kemp's Seafood House
Ok, I know people have been very upset by Kemp's changes but the owners have heard your complaints and are currently remodeling to go back to there traditional setup with a full waitstaff and regular menu. I believe they will be open by March for business. I have to say however, I have always been VERY impressed with there food, even during the changes they have always been by far the best calabash seafood available in the Triangle. They have always bought and served only top quality seafood and they even de-vein the shrimp, I know of no other calabash seafood house anywhere in there price range that does this! I know the prices have gone up, along with the prices of absolutely everything else in the US other than your home and car (which is due to the economy) so please be fair and revisit Kemp's for what I hope will be the atmosphere and food you have been missing.
Just wanted to say "Thanks" for all the Info... Live in Cary and work in RTP... went to Kemp's many times (work related lunches) and brought the family a few times too... Sad to hear the "business" atmosphere isnt there anymore. The thanks comment is for saving me the gas money to drive over and find out myself. If Kemps owners or managers are viewing... Suggest you convert back ASAP ... wasnt broken before so why the need to fix it? Amazing isnt it? Hind site is 10/10 when yer broke :0
Blessings
CJ
Dang, crappy to hear that old Kemp let his restrant go down hill. Fart on whoever had this idea. I'll be going to Squids from now on for the best seafood on the triangle.!.
Sorry to hear about Kemps. It was great before. If you want some good seafood may I suggest the Farmer's Market Seafood house at the Farmer's Market on Lake Wheeler or Captain Stanley's on South Saunders. At Caps you get a lot of food, well cooked and the price is right.
8/22/08
I have been eating at Kemps for the past 4 years and found it to be very good; however after the remodel it is now terrible. I last ate there about 3 weeks ago and they have skinless flounder which is less than 1/4 of an inch thick. I will not go back there ever again. I now go to McCall's in Clayton or to Ron' Barn in Angier.
WOW!!!!! Kemps recently remodeled and reformulated their procedures. Have you ever been to a big theme park (Carowinds, Kings Dominion....) and ordered food and then waited? WELL THIS IS THE NEW KEMPS (8/2008). You now come into a huge order area and order your food for you and your family. Then you get a order # and eventually your number is announced over the PA system. You then go and retrieve your styrofoam boxed food w/ plastic utensils to take to a table to sit and eat. If you want a napkin, drink of water, piece of lemon...get over it you are on your own!!! Get up from the table (there are NO waiters or waitresses) and go find what you want on your own. Some of the stuff is in the beverage area some is a mystery and other things are at the order counter to get if you can get a word in for yourself while the orders are being taken. In a nut shell Kemps has gone from a 9-10 restaurant to a camp ground cafeteria style get it yourself and like it, hole in the wall. The portions are smaller and the food items (shrimp, scallops…) are much smaller now. I can only assume somebody bought out the extremely successful Kemps and have now just run it straight down into the ground. What a SHAME this WAS one of the Triangles best restaurants....now it is merely another chain like wait in a line steakhouse (seafood) buffet. I'll NEVER go back again. What a LOSS for RDU.
What a change. This guy is right. They are a totally different dining experience since remodeling this summer (2008). You will be very disapointed in the food, atmosphere, service and overall experience Kemps "USE" to offer. I bet they go out of business in the near future. Very sad..!
Oh yes, and you forgot to mention that although the food portion is less, Kemp's is still very pleased to charge you = or > money for the styro-no-frills version. I wander what business will be next in the building next? I remember it used to be called Champs, and before that it was Cock-of-the-Walk. Maybe the next folks will have waiters at least.
My parents who moved out of town are seafood lovers and absolutely loved Kemps when my husband and I took them there a few years back. It became a tradition to go there everytime they came into town. We went there this past May during their last visit which was following Kemps remodel and we were all so very disappointed. The food was decent (not excellent as before) but as stated above, it's order, wait, do-it-yourself, fetch your own supplies, and pay the same or more for smaller portions served in styrofoam. Needless to say we won't be going back.
I've been to Kemp's a couple of times within the past year. I'm not a huge seafood fan, but I thoroughly enjoyed it both times. They give you plenty of food for a decent price and typically great service. My sister knows the owner personally and he runs a top notch business. I recommend it to anyone who wants great seafood in a comfortable family-style atmosphere.
Have you been lately? They remodeled recently and DOWN SCALED BIG TIME. The portions are smaller the shrimp and scallops are smaller...on and on. It's no longer a resturaunt its a camp style heard and eat. You order your food at a big counter then wait with a heard of people, wait for your number to be called over the PA system and then you receive your food in a styro-foam box and get plastic forks and knives. There are NO waiters to help. Its like eating in a camp ground cafeteria. Very disapointing!!
I haven't been since they did the remodeling. I'm sorry to hear that it has changed that much. I guess when I get the itch for seafood I'll go to 42nd Street.