At the intersection of a local pub, a craft brewery, and a fresh seafood restaurant sits The Watershed Pub—The Millworks owner Joshua Kesler's newest farm to table experience.
The name intentionally comes from the Chesapeake Watershed, forging a direct connection between restaurant and food source. The best part? It’s right here on Market Street in Camp Hill.
It is the first pub in Camp Hill since prohibition, making its historical location in a late 1700s farmhouse even more fitting. With an interest in historical preservation, Kesler catered to the original structure of the building while undertaking a sizable renovation to accommodate a modern industrial kitchen. The space offers ample indoor and outdoor dining, bar seating on two floors, and a beautiful wrap-around porch.
Camp Hill is the perfect location due to Kesler’s personal ties as a town resident for almost a decade. The location also supports his sustainable business model, thanks to the walkability of the area. While the hope is that customers will continue to drive in from all over Central Pennsylvania and beyond, Kesler notes, “I want people to view this as their neighborhood pub—to kick up their feet after work with some happy hour oysters and half-off drafts, and walk home feeling satisfied.”
The ambience itself is meant to emulate a friendly neighborhood environment for all who enter. Having studied German in college, Kesler uses gemutlich to describe the desired feel of The Watershed Pub, explaining, “It’s an important word in German culture. Without direct translation, it essentially means the light is right, the atmosphere is right, the beer is right, the friend is right.”
Sustainability is at the very heart of each of Kesler’s establishments. This is not just because it is a trending topic, but “because of how pressing human impact on the environment and how massive our individual footprint is,” he explains. He has always been an environmentalist. As a college student, he recalls starting a campaign to rid the mess hall of plastics. Emerging into the food and beverage scene from real estate, he saw the importance of integrating ethical consumption into the Greater Harrisburg restaurant scene.
By raising awareness and offering a responsible seafood dining experience, The Watershed Pub is a direct response to Central Pennsylvania's historical impact on the Chesapeake Watershed. Ties between the Susquehanna Valley and the Chesapeake run deep, stretching back over one hundred years. When Kesler purchased The Millworks in downtown Harrisburg, he found oyster shells all over the floor, and a neighbor confirmed that they were brought in fresh every day for urban consumption. With overfishing posing a serious threat to waters around the globe, The Watershed Pub creates a menu that considers seasonality of fish (and recovered populations such as swordfish), monitors fish populations through resources like the Monterey Bay Watch, and sources directly from sustainable, ethically harvested fisheries.
The result of monitoring the local footprint on the Chesapeake is a diverse and delicious menu that may not be quite what visitors are expecting, straying from traditional crab legs and shrimp to options like Morroccan spiced monkfish cooked over a wood fired grill and marinated afterwards to sustain flavor. Kesler’s personal favorite menu item is the Swordfish; served with stone ground raw milk cheddar grits, wilted kale, tomatoes, roasted kennett square mushrooms, and malt vinegar beurre blanc.
Po’ Boys are the most popular menu item, inspired by Kesler’s trip to 167 Raw in Charleston, South Carolina. Customers can choose between hand-dredged chicken, catfish, clam, or day boat scallops sandwiched in a hoagie roll with bay spice, coleslaw, pickled mustard seed remoulade, butter lettuce, and tomato. They’re meant to pair perfectly with a lighter beer like a crisp lager.
There is no shortage of excellent craft beer at the Watershed Pub, thanks to its direct connection to The Millworks right across the river. With a rotating fourteen beers on tap ranging from more traditional pilsners to trending IPA’s, there’s certain to be something for everyone. Maintaining its locally sourced menu, wine and spirits are available from strictly Pennsylvania sources.
Sunday brunch takes place every weekend from 10am - 3pm, featuring more family friendly options like Chicken and Waffles or French Toast, alongside innovative selections such as Smoked Cod Eggs Benedict. The Cheesesteak Hash is a crowd favorite. Made up of crispy smashed potatoes, shaved strip steak, caramelized onion, cheddar sauce, pickled peppers, green onion, and a sunny side up egg. Pair with a Mimosa or Espresso Martini off of their brunch cocktail menu to end the weekend on a good note. Whether you’re drawn in by the history, the food, or the mission, there are so many reasons to transport your taste buds to the bayside this summer with a visit to The Watershed Pub.
The Watershed Pub
2129 Market St, Camp Hill, PA 17011 | thewatershed.pub
