99 Sea Level

99 Sea Level in the Marriott Bethany Beach Ocean Suites on the boardwalk at 99 Hollywood St. in Bethany Beach opened officially on July 23, 2015. Managing partner in the restaurant operation is DCDE Hospitality (our local Bethany Blues/Starboard boys).

The concept is raw bar and seafood, with an attractive glassed venue directly on the boardwalk. The menu features a signature Seafood Tower made up of delicacies from the raw bar. The prices range from $29.99 to over one hundred dollars, depending on how many people will be sharing it. Seems expensive until you see the ingredients: Steamed Alaskan Crab cluster (a big pile of plump legs and meaty claws), steamed PEI mussels, Broadwater clams, steamed shrimp and a pile of Chincoteague Bluepoints.

Two soups and 4 hefty salads are tempting appetizers. The Fishkillers Local Lobster Bisque was smooth, creamy and delicious, though for the $8.99 tariff could have contained a bit more lobster. My favorite salad (so far) is the Summer Garden Leaf salad. It contains lots of frisee and I really like the crunch and mouth feel. The dressing is not imposing, but quite delicious paired with the slight bitterness of the greens.  There are seven starters, six of which contain fresh seafood: Bristol sea scallops, octopus, calamari and a happy little pizza they call the Hooper’s Island Blue Crab Flatbread. DCDE has established a relationship with the crabbers and pickers on Hoopers Island in Dorchester County, Md., and the same crabmeat makes up the almost 100 percent pure lump crab cakes at 99 Sea Level. By the way, don’t miss the fish tacos. Flaky, snow white fish is fried or blackened to order, then decorated with cilantro-jalapeno slaw. They pack a polite but noticeable kick that is immediately tempered by chipotle aioli and avocado.

Do note, like most every restaurant, that the menu changes regularly. So use this article and the images as a guide only.

Main courses cover all the bases from seafood (lots of it) to an Airline chicken breast, and from mac ‘n’ cheese (packed with shellfish) to a Whiskey Kobe burger (crowned with a sunny-side-up egg, of course). I really liked the crab cakes – nicely seasoned and pretty much 100% lump crab. Another surprise was the wild rice mix that accompanied the crab cakes. It was one of the stars of the show! The salmon entree is quite generous; properly done on the outside and moist on the inside.

99 Sea Level is on the high side of expensive, but the beautiful venue on the boardwalk facing the Atlantic, along with what so far is a great menu and bar, makes it all worth it. And you can always stroll north a couple of blocks for a Dickie's Frozen Custard dessert. Just sayin'….

99 Sea Level is at 99 Hollywood St., just south of Garfield Parkway on the Boardwalk in Bethany Beach. Call them at 539-0299. Hours are 11-10 Fri. & Sat., 11-9 otherwise.

Off-season Specials & Hours