Old Family Fish Market Opens New Waterside Cafe

Walt Wickman is busy in the kitchen of a cozy new downtown restaurant, tucked into the little Dunedin Marina building right next to the Dunedin Fish Market.

A few people eat lunch outside, looking over the boats docked at the Marina. Inside, a waitress mixes drinks for a couple seated at the snug bar facing the water.

Wickman is getting orders right for his customers while talking to others who are seated at the bar. He just opened the restaurant, Olde Bay Cafe & Dunedin Fish Market, a couple months ago after leasing the building from the city.

Wickman, a life-long Florida resident went to high school in Clearwater. He is no stranger to Dunedin, his home for the past eight years. His family owned the Dunedin Fish Market for more than 25 years until it was bought out in the early 2000s. Wickman is also no stranger to the restaurant business. He is an 18-year veteran, owner of Walt’s Cuisine on 1140 Main St. There, he serves gourmet seafood dishes in an intimate, chic setting.

Wickman divided the Dunedin Fish Market, making part of it into his new restaurant — a complimentary affair because customers can get fresh seafood from the market and enjoy the fresh catch prepared for them.

Wickman said he plans on adding a raw bar in the near future and expand the menu with breakfast items as well. The Dunedin Fish Market also has live bait and fresh beer for those en route to an angling adventure. Some of the house specialties include $5 fish tacos, shrimp salad wraps, seared ahi (tuna) and other land-fares such as "Walt’s Cuban Sandwich."

Want to go?

• What/Where: Olde Bay Cafe & Dunedin Fish Market, 51 Main St.
• Hours: Open all week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Additional Info: Patio seating available; live music on Sundays. Visit http://www.oldebaycafe.com.

Correction: Walt Wickman leases the space at the Dunedin Marina building.

This article was updated Thursday, May 12 at 9:39 p.m.