Loco Pez Owner Sets-up Shop in Port Richmond With Bait & Switch Seafood Bar

All photos courtesy of Joe Beckham

Loco Pez Owner Sets-up Shop in Port Richmond With Bait & Switch Seafood Bar

They always say whenever a coffee shop opens up, the neighborhood is about to change.  Earlier this year River Ward Cafe opened its doors in the up-and-coming Port Richmond neighborhood.  It seems the saying rings true because owners of cool and trendy restaurants throughout Philly now have their eyes set on this once traditional Polish pocket of Philly (what a tongue twister).  The newest business owner to ride this ripple (soon to be wave) is Joe Beckham, owner of the wildly popular LA style taco bar Loco Pez in Fishtown. The all-new Bait & Switch Seafood Bar will take over the former Three Fish Pub at 2537 E. Somerset.

What was once a neighborhood dive bar will be altered with a nautical theme.  Chef Joe Hunt was given the task of developing a menu for what we have to believe will be a new hot spot for those near the northern boarder of Fishtown and of course Port Richmond residents.

So What’s on the Bait & Switch Menu?

The menu itself will consist of seafood favorites.  On the appetizer menu, items such as clams casino ($13), clam strips ($12), peel & eat shrimp ($13) and shrimp cocktail ($12) will definitely be crowd pleasers.  Soups & salads including N.E clam chowder ($6-$7) and avocado & pickled shrimp salad ($13) will be available for those looking for light menu options.

Moving down to the entrees expect lots of finger foods and meals that can easily be shared among friends or dates such as fish or shrimp fry ($17), fry basket ($23), fish & chips ($17) and shrimp & grits ($17).  Yes, these prices are a little high especially for the neighborhood but this could be foreshadowing things to come in Port Richmond.

Of course Joe Beckham restaurants always seem to have great signature drinks and Bait & Switch Seafood Bar will not disappoint with options such as The Schuylkill Punch (faber light rum & meyers dark rum, guava, lime, house made grenadine-$7), Leaky Skiff (white wine, faber rum, peaches, lemon, mint-$7) and the 95 Project (Juarez tequila, St. Germaine, lime, pineapple, coconut soda, jalapeños -$7).  Red and white wine is also available and for you beer lovers, 10 beers will be on tap.

If you’re looking for some specials, their happy hour is pretty decent with $1 oysters, 1/2 off bait buckets, 1/2 off draft beer, $3 Schuylkill Punch, $5 red & white wines every Monday-Friday from 5 pm to 7 pm.  The hours for Bait & Switch are 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily, and the kitchen is open till midnight.  There are talks of a brunch being a possibility as well, so stay tuned for that.  You can check out the full menu options here.