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Coastal Cuisine
Enjoy a Taste of the Maryland Coast
Vacation - the one time of year you can forget about your alarm clock, lay in the sun all day, go shopping without a list, and, most importantly, indulge in some truly mouth-watering culinary delights, every night of the week. From gourmet dishes to good old-fashioned boardwalk food, Ocean City restaurants are ready to satisfy all your cravings.
In the last decade, the Ocean City restaurant scene has truly blossomed, becoming even more diverse with international options, chef-owned eateries and gourmet restaurants. Of course, returning visitors are always comforted by old favorites, like our many all-you-can-eat buffets and sinfully delicious boardwalk fries.
From the boardwalk to the bay and beyond, you'll find everything from family owned restaurants that have withstood the test of time to new innovative establishments with unique menus; from waterfront settings perfect for a sunset cocktail to fine dining restaurants serving up succulent steaks. The variety ensures every Ocean City vacationer will be able to find the perfect meal in the perfect setting to complete their perfect vacation.
Kids will love the endless buffets, featuring everything from crabs to cookies, while young adults revel in the tropical-themed outdoor cafes and open-air bars. Looking to spark a little romance? Just head to one of Ocean City's gourmet restaurants, where expert chefs create beautiful plates using the bounty of local ingredients. Toast to summer as you watch another beautiful Ocean City sunset melt behind the bay.
From pizza to Thai, steak houses to tiki bars, there is a stunning variety of dining options here. But what most local restaurants have in common is a focus on quality atmosphere, good service and local flavors, such as the famous Chesapeake blue crabs, fresh seafood from the Atlantic Ocean, and fresh veggies from the many farms on Maryland's rural Eastern Shore. You'll find a mind-boggling array of crab cakes, from the breaded and fried boardwalk style cake to the seasoned and herbed gourmet variety. Why not try them all and see which one you liked best?
Perhaps the best part about Ocean City dining is that you don't have to sacrifice atmosphere for a good meal. Both come standard at area eateries, many of which offer beautiful, sweeping ocean or bay views and outdoor seating. Dig your toes into the sand as you sip on a cold beverage at one of the beachfront restaurants, or enjoy the sunset and live music from a bay-front eatery.
WHAT TO EAT WHEN
Wondering what fresh catch you might find on vacation? Here are a few ideas: Blue Crab, the pride of Maryland and tasty menu item sought out by tourists and locals alike, is mainly available from April through December. The season for the soft shell variety ends a few months earlier, in October. That means, during the summer months, you'll find crab on almost every menu in Ocean City, in an infinite array of presentations.
The classic way of cooking crabs, which gives them their signature flavor, involves steaming the live crabs in large pots with water, vinegar and Old Bay seasoning. Many restaurants will substitute or add ingredients to give their crabs a unique flavor. Of course, pasteurized crabmeat is available all year.
Striped bass, or rockfish, is another Maryland legend. As the official state fish, striped bass is a deliciously moist fish that area restaurants can cook up in a multitude of ways. The mild flavor is usually complemented by many added spices, herbs or sauces and grilled, blackened or broiled. While you'll probably find striped bass on the menu all year, the best season for the popular fish is during the fall and winter months, when they migrate south from New England. Tautog is often plentiful in the areas surrounding Ocean City, and because of its lean, firm and tasty meat, it is a popular menu item and choice for the "Catch of the Day." Find the fish served baked, basked with butter and covered in crumbs, or rubbed with spices and grilled. The main fishing season for tautog is May through September, but anglers still manage to reel them in year-round.
Another popular fish in Ocean City is flounder, which is found in the bay during the summer (June through September) and in the ocean all year long. Flaky and delicate, flounder is a mild fish that can be prepared in a myriad of ways, but for the most part, you'll find this tasty fish panfried to perfection.
During the summer, you'll find many other fish on the menu or specials board, including Spanish mackeral and bluefish. Of course, Ocean City menus also feature seafood favorites like shrimp, oysters, clams, lobster and salmon. Always check for specials for the freshest catch and innovative chef's creations. BON APPETIT!
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