In a sea of new restaurant openings and flashy meal deals, it can be easy to get lost in the shuffle of Philly’s restaurant scene. Ocean Prime, an opulent steak-and-seafood house on the corner of 15th and Sansom, is revamping its efforts to stand out.
The 250-seat modern American eatery is the brainchild of Columbus, Ohio-based restaurateur Cameron Mitchell. Since opening in September 2013, the restaurant has worked steadily to enhance its product and reputation. The latest weapon? Chef Jason Shelly.
Shelly, a Pittsburgh native, previously led successful kitchens at Ocean Prime’s Orlando and Atlanta locations. He’s been with Cameron Mitchell since 2004, starting as a middle-station cook and working his way up to executive chef—learning the ins and outs of the menu and business along the way. If there is anyone who knows what it takes for Ocean Prime Philadelphia to succeed, it’s Shelly.
I recently heard from Shelly during an Ocean Prime happy hour. He discussed the restaurant’s updates, his personal menu favorites and what excites him about the Philly food scene.
PA Eats: You’ve worked in Ocean Prime locations in several cities across the country. What excites you about the Philly food scene?
Chef Jason Shelly: I love the diversity of the food scene here in Philadelphia—whether it is the culinary offerings of our Amish citizens or an up-and-coming chef trying new things. The diversity of the people of the city come into play with the food as well. I find it great that you can find such authentic cuisine from various cultures and countries all in one place. I love when you get to talk to people about the food they grew up on and, while it varies, it is something that each person holds dear to them. Philly is definitely a food mecca.
Any Philly-specific trends that stand out?
Lately I have been noticing a lot more BYOBs and I think that is an interesting concept because it allows the guests to pair their own beverage of choice with a menu item. It gives the guests a little more personalization to the meal that they may not be able to get normally.
Why should local eaters pick Ocean Prime for their next meal?
We pride ourselves on our freshness and the fact that we are a scratch kitchen. This allows us to provide the guest with great food, allows us to cater to dietary or allergy restrictions and gives us a sense of pride because all of our goods are produced in-house—whether that be cutting our own fish, preparing one of our house-made desserts or coming up with our seasonal features that allow us to use locally sourced and seasonally fresh ingredients.
Ocean Prime is a great place for a date night or business meeting. We are able to cater to each guest’s needs for the evening while also making it a memorable experience. Our service matches our food, and it is something that we pride ourselves on. Everyone who walks through our door is not our customer, they are our guest. We want everyone to feel special, like a VIP, and do so through our genuine hospitality.
What makes Ocean Prime Philadelphia a top happy hour destination in the City of Brotherly Love?
Our happy hour is a unique chance to try us out at a discounted price. We offer special food items that are only available in the lounge and all night long. Just like our kitchen, we have a completely fresh bar with our bartenders squeezing their own juices, preparing their own mixes and creating cocktail features for the guest.
What’s your favorite food and drink pairing offered at Ocean Prime?
Depending on the time of year, my personal choices change a little. For the spring and summer I prefer our cucumber gimlet paired with our shrimp sautee. The richness and spice of the shrimp is nicely balanced by the crisp freshness of the cocktail.
In the fall and winter I tend to keep it simple and classic with a Manhattan paired with a rib eye or New York strip. The fat and richness of the steak are complemented by the herbaceousness of the vermouth and bitters in the Manhattan. I’m not much a wine drinker myself, but Ocean Prime has you covered with an extensive wine list.
Stop by Ocean Prime for dinner, a bite in the lounge, the nightly prix fixe theatre menu (served before 6:30 p.m.), gluten-friendly dishes or Surf & Turf Sundays. With Chef Shelly at the helm, fantastic fresh fare is a guarantee.
Find Ocean Prime at 124 S. 15th St. in Philadelphia; phone: (215) 563-0163.
- Photography: Ocean Prime
