Thompson Island Brewing Co.
Another craft brewery in Delmarva sounds, well, redundant, and the ubiquitous entrants start blending together, especially those operated by the area’s most prominent restaurant ownership group, SoDel Concepts. Thompson’s may be a bit different brew pub because it also features a wood fire grill for . . . we are not exactly sure because there are no pizzas or other items seemingly cooked in the wood-fueled grill other than a strip steak and oysters – but it sure gives TIBC a nice aroma. Thompson Island’s menu is similar enough to SoDel’s Ocean View Brewing Company, with street corn nachos, double burger with house sauce, Bavarian pretzel, “TV” dinner, and many other items identical or so nearly identical that the two restaurants are seemingly interchangeable, only miles apart in distance but closer in distinctiveness. So why not just create a second Thompson’s Island (it opened before OVBC) in Ocean View? Perhaps it was to sell more merchandise, because both restaurants offer plenty of stylistic gear and accessories (also available on-line, proving SoDel’s dedication to merch), also similar in approach other than the two restaurants’ distinctive logos. The approach to craft beer is the same as well, and SoDel does a good job as an independent brewer, so much that you can take home a 4-pack of crowlers if you weren’t impressed enough with the TIBC sampler that many experience to indulge in trying various craft beers with a quasi-wood fired grill meal. One thing you can count on at SoDel restaurants is consistency in food and service, because nobody prepares a service staff better than Delmarva’s most prolific restaurant owner. Still, TIBC at its heart is a brew pub, with better food than most other local brew pubs, better service, and even better beer. But being compared to other brew pubs is not TIBC’s goal, as it wants to stand out in Delmarva’s competitive restaurant environment, with a kitchen yearning to cook something other than the corporate menu SoDel has spent so much time and effort curating, and to great success. Until the kitchen is left unrestrained or rebels, neither of which is likely, you will never be disappointed at TIBC, but never captivated enough to turn TIBC into a regular on your Delmarva culinary tour, unless, of course, you only target brew pubs. Such promise at such a compelling location, and with adequate and easy parking, but so disappointed that it could be a little bit better.
