Morgan’s Seafood at 4023 Market St. in downtown Wilmington has a new sibling up the road. An Ogden location of the quick-service restaurant has opened in the Publix-anchored shopping center at 7150 Market St., next to BenchMark Physical Therapy.
 
Although the restaurant offers speedy service, Morgan’s Seafood is not a fast-food eatery, said Ogden manager Judy Szabo.
 
“Everything is made to order,” she said. “There is not anything precooked. It’s hand-breaded and it’s hot and fresh. The wait for food for a family of four averages 12 minutes.”
 
Tyler Morgan, who co-owns both locations with his father, Robert, said he believes his fare is the “best-priced seafood in town.” As the Ogden location finds its legs, he is updating the menu, simplifying choices, offering grilled as well as fried seafood options, and adding some lunch specials which –– despite the name –– will be available all day. There are non-seafood choices on the menu as well.
 
“Some prices will actually be going down,” Morgan said of items on the new menu, explaining he has found a new, less-expensive source for his fish and shellfish.
 
When Morgan first announced the new location back in the fall, it was set to operate under the same Carolina Fish Fry brand as Morgan’s original downtown location. Then, unhappy with the chain, Morgan and his father dropped the franchise, changed the name and put their own stamp on the food and the service.
 
The décor at the Ogden location is bright and nautical, with an enormous fish mural on one wall. The mural was painted by Bea Johnson, known in art circles as "Chic By Boop."
 
Morgan is in the process of renovating his downtown space as well, taking down an interior wall to create better flow and visibility, installing new floors and freshening up other aspects of the interior. He has also temporarily closed the drive-up window built for the building’s former life as a Taco Bell.
 
“Since we’re not a fast-food place, a drive-up window doesn’t work for us. We will bring it back as a pick-up window, although we will have a curbside option as well,” he said.
 
The Ogden restaurant also offers dine-in, drive-up and delivery options for customers. Hours at both locations are Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.