OCEAN CITY - no time to research PLEASE HELP
 

Hi - <BR> <BR>We're headed to Ocean City, Maryland. <BR> <BR>Does anyone have recommendations for both fine dining and also casual dining? <BR> <BR>Also, any suggestions for early 30's couple for a night on the town w/o the baby (any good dance clubs with outdoor decks?)? <BR> <BR>Thanks for your suggestions!

I don't think you'll find much fine dining. The best looking restaurant I've seen there is Fager's Island.(Their fine dining room)They remodeled a few years ago and the food went down hill a little. I would eat outside on their deck at sunset, if they're not have a deck party for twenty somethings. Their crabcakes are pretty good. They play the 1812 overture at sunset and have dancing at night with a live band. <BR> <BR>Secrets is a lot of fun. It's very big with indoor and outdoor music. You can eat there; the food is of the Jamaican variety.

If you want fine dining, drive 20 miles up the road to Rehoboth Beach, where there really is fine dining.

The other posters are right, there's very little "fine dining" right in Ocean City. Although my husband and I always dine at Fager's (the "fine dining" part) since that's where we went on our first anniversary, I know that The Hobbitt is very good and offers bayfront dining. Seacret's is fun, but mostly a "younger" crowd (read: early twenties) at night this time of year and it can get a little rowdy. Rehobeth Beach does have the little artsy restaurants, but I don't know how good any of them are. Have a great time!

Rehoboth has more than little artsy. Chez La Mer, fantastic; Cloud 9 - great fusion restaurant; Blue Moon - consistently award winning/high ratings from Washingtonian magazine and other sources. See http://www.bluemoonrehoboth.com/reviewsandawards.htm.

Bev, <BR> <BR>Windows on the Bay at 61st St. and The Bay is a very nice restaurant with a great view. Also, Harrison's Harbor Watch at the Inlet has good food and a beautiful view. Try Macky's Bayside Bar & Grill at 54th St. and the Bay. Go to www.mackys.com for more information and also discount coupons for dining. This is a great place to watch the sunset as you sit outside. Also, there are a few Phillips restaurants where you can get great crab cakes. Our favorite is Phillips by the Sea, in the Phillips Hotel on 13th St. right on the Boardwalk. For Italian, we've enjoyed Paoli's at 117th St. Sorry, I don't know of anyplace to go dancing.

For nice dining in OC - try Nantucket's (it's actually in Fenwick, I believe) -haven't eaten there in a while but it used to be my favorite. We've also enjoyed Reflections at the Holiday Inn for a special occasion meal. The Hobbit is good too. Make sure you make reservations well in advance. <BR>

We used to go to Ocean City when I was a kid. That was many, many, many years ago. What's the place like nowadays? Judging from the comments re: restaurants, it doesn't sound real "upscale". What's the deal? [I know I could do my own preliminary research, but I saw this Post and like I said, I used to go there as a kid . . . ] Thanks.

Capt. <BR> <BR>Is that human years, Vulcan years, or light years? <BR> <BR>;-)

It's pretty much like you probably remember as a kid, just WAY WAY more crowded, more high rises, more chain stuff, too much traffic, bumper to bumper gridlock on the weekend. So far as eating and entertainment, upscale is not a word I would associate with Ocean City, but it's not slummin'. Still fun if that's your thing!!!

The trick with Ocean City is that if you're not into the crowds, you need to stay somewhere out a bit. It's really not a hardship because Ocean City has sort of "expanded" beyond the main drag over the years. There's lots to do in the surrounding area (like Berlin or West Ocean City, which are near Assateague)and it's just a short trip to the Boardwalk and all of that. We have a friend who owns a small, single-family home between OC and Assateague and we stay there. The community has a lake, 2 swimming pools, and is right on the water with its own crabbing pier. Perfect!