By the Central Reservations Team, with local recommendations from Grant Fritschle
Last updated September 25, 2026
Where should you eat in Ocean City, Maryland? For one all-around recommendation, Grant Fritschle points guests toward Longboard Cafe. His crab cake pick is Southside Grille & Deli in West Ocean City. For a special dinner, our shortlist includes Spain Wine Bar, The Hobbit, Liquid Assets, and Ristorante Antipasti. And if you're willing to leave the island, Forgotten 50 in Berlin and The Grove Market in Bishopville deserve a place in your plans.
That gives you somewhere to start. The better question is which restaurant fits tonight: dinner with the kids, a meal worth making a reservation for, or takeout you can eat back at the condo. We've organized our recommendations by area, with a few practical details to help you choose.
Local recommendations from Central Reservations
Our Central Reservations team lives and works here year-round, and we handle roughly 9,000 vacation reservations annually. This guide includes personal favorites from Grant Fritschle, a local owner of Central Reservations, alongside our team's recommendations. No restaurant has paid or provided benefits for inclusion.
Central Reservations has served Ocean City vacationers since 1978. We know that where you eat becomes part of what you remember about a trip, and we want to help you find places you'll look forward to visiting again. This is a selection of our favorites, not a ranked list or a claim that we've covered every worthwhile restaurant.
For this guide, downtown runs from the Inlet through 34th Street, midtown from 35th through 93rd, and North OC from the 94th Street area to the Delaware line. These are practical groupings for planning your meals; use each restaurant's location when mapping your trip.
In this guide:
- Downtown
- Midtown
- North OC
- West OC
- Berlin and Bishopville
- Planning tips
- Dining on a budget
- More dining guides
- Dining questions
- Plan your stay
Downtown Ocean City restaurants
Inlet through 34th Street. Downtown gives you Boardwalk breakfasts, waterfront drinks, and dinners worth planning around. Staying near the Boardwalk can put several options within walking distance, but check the distance from your actual rental. Downtown covers more ground than one short stroll.
Spain Wine Bar | Downtown bayfront. Grant's choice when a group wants dinner to feel like an occasion. Tapas encourage sharing, and the bay views give everyone something to enjoy between plates. For a summer weekend, start checking reservations well ahead of your trip.
Ristorante Antipasti | 31st Street. If you know it as Fausto's, this is the restaurant you're thinking of. It's one of Grant's personal recommendations for an Italian dinner with a group or a special occasion, particularly when the meal itself is the evening's main event.
Harrison's Harbor Watch | Inlet. A seafood dinner with a distinctly Ocean City setting. Choose it when the view and being at the southern end of the Boardwalk are part of the appeal.
Captain's Table | 15th Street. Inside the Courtyard Marriott, this is one of our team's choices for a sit-down dinner downtown. It's a useful option when you want to make dinner a deliberate stop rather than grab something while walking the Boardwalk.
Oyster & Scales | 306 Dorchester Street. A bayfront option for an upscale seafood-focused evening. Check its own reservation calendar for your dates rather than counting on a last-minute table.
The Wedge | Inlet area. A casual stop for cocktails, bites, and a view. Consider it when you want to stay near the southern end of town without committing to a formal dinner.
Coastal Salt | Boardwalk. Our pick for combining a seafood meal with time on the Boardwalk. Check current seating options if eating outdoors is a priority.
De Lazy Lizard | 1st Street bayfront. A family option with a waterfront setting and a play area. It's a good candidate when outdoor space matters as much as what's on the menu.
Dough Roller | Boardwalk locations. Pizza, pancakes, and familiar choices for a family meal. Check the particular location's menu and hours before heading over.
Layton's Family Restaurant | 16th Street. A downtown breakfast choice for a sit-down start to the day. This entry refers to the restaurant at 1601 Philadelphia Avenue, so use that address when searching for directions.
Barn 34 | 34th Street. One of our breakfast recommendations when you want to make the first meal of the day part of the outing. Build some flexibility into your morning during busy periods.
For more morning options, see our Ocean City breakfast guide.
Midtown Ocean City restaurants
35th through 93rd Street. Midtown is a strong starting point for a group with different ideas about dinner. You'll find casual meals, bayside destinations, and special-occasion restaurants, though you should still check parking and transportation before choosing a place.
Longboard Cafe | Midtown. If Grant gets one restaurant recommendation and no other instructions, this is his answer. He likes the focus on the food and the range of choices, which makes it an especially useful recommendation when everyone at the table wants something different. It's the place he suggests when choosing dinner has turned into a group negotiation.
Seacrets | Midtown bayfront. Choose it when the atmosphere is a major part of the outing: waterfront dining, drinks, and an energetic setting. Check current admission and age policies for the time you plan to visit, especially if you're bringing children.
Fager's Island | Midtown bayside. A team pick for dinner with sunset views. Decide which dining experience you want and check the restaurant's booking options before building your evening around it.
The Hobbit | 81st Street bayside. One of our special-occasion recommendations. It's a place to plan ahead for when a longer dinner and the bayside setting are what you have in mind.
Ropewalk | 82nd Street bayside. A family option with outdoor play space. It's worth considering when the kids need room to move and the adults want a bayside meal.
Bad Monkey | 58th Street. A casual option for breakfast or dinner, depending on the current schedule. There's also a West Ocean City location, so check which one is closest to your plans.
Planning the rest of your day around the water? Our bayside vacation guide connects dining with places to stay and things to do.
North Ocean City restaurants
94th Street area to the Delaware line. North OC gives you several different kinds of meals within the same part of town, from pizza to a dinner worth setting aside an evening for. Being nearby helps, but it doesn't guarantee a short wait.
Liquid Assets | 94th Street area bayside. A team favorite for dinner, wine, and a menu with plenty to explore. It does not accept reservations, and your entire party must be present before being seated. Make that part of your plan instead of finding out when half the group is still at the condo.
Vista Rooftop | 138th Street. An option when you want cocktails and food with a rooftop setting. Consider it when you want drinks and a view to be part of the evening.
Tailchasers | North OC. Casual seafood and pub fare, with a playground that makes it a useful family option. It's another option to keep in mind when you're choosing dinner with the kids.
Lombardi's | 94th Street area. Pizza and Italian favorites for an uncomplicated meal. It's one of our suggestions for takeout when everyone would rather settle in at the rental.
Blue Fish | 9401 Coastal Highway. A choice for sushi and Asian dishes when your group wants a change from the usual beach menu. Takeout is also worth considering for a meal back at the condo.
The Original Greene Turtle | North OC. A sports-bar option for familiar food and catching the game. Consider the game schedule and likely atmosphere when deciding whether it fits your group.
Lizzie's | 142nd Street area. A North OC option for lobster rolls and a casual meal. It's a useful alternative when you want something beyond pizza or a burger.
The Crab Bag | North OC. One of our choices when the plan is to sit down for crabs. Ask about current availability, sizes, and pricing before you go.
West Ocean City restaurants
West OC is one of the areas we most want guests to explore. Crossing the Route 50 bridge opens up a different group of restaurants, including several of Grant's personal favorites. The commercial harbor is part of the setting; ask about the day's catch rather than assuming everything on a seafood menu was landed locally.
Southside Grille & Deli | 9923 Stephen Decatur Highway. This is Grant's crab cake pick. The appeal is a crab-forward meal in a no-frills setting, and it's a recommendation he makes with conviction. You're coming for the food, so don't let the deli setting make you overlook it.
Rice House Bistro | 9921 Stephen Decatur Highway. Grant particularly recommends asking about the fresh fish. Owner Chef B, introduced on the restaurant's website as Mr. B, is one of his favorite local cooks for that kind of meal. Ask what's available that evening rather than assuming a particular fish will be on the menu.
Sello's | 9802 Golf Course Road. An Italian dinner option that Grant recommends making the trip for. The founding family has resumed running the restaurant. Check the current menu and reservation options when planning a date night or dinner with friends.
Shark on the Harbor | West OC commercial harbor. A team recommendation for a seafood-focused dinner in the harbor setting. Consider it when you want dinner to be part of an evening around the commercial harbor.
Sunset Grille | Sunset Marina. A choice when the marina setting is part of the evening you want. Check the available dining areas before deciding where you'd like to sit.
Harborside Bar & Grill | West OC harbor. A casual waterfront option for food and an orange crush. It's a different kind of evening from a formal dinner, so choose it with the atmosphere in mind.
Worth the drive to Berlin and Bishopville
One of Grant's strongest suggestions is simple: spend at least one evening outside Ocean City. Berlin and Bishopville give you more to choose from than you'll see by staying on Coastal Highway all week. Travel time depends on where you're staying and the traffic, so check your route before picking a reservation time.
Forgotten 50 | 10103 Old Ocean City Boulevard in Berlin. Grant likes the from-scratch approach and the range of choices, which is also what draws him to Longboard. The restaurant and distillery make a worthwhile change of scene from the island. Check its live-music calendar if you'd like to make more of the outing.
The Grove Market | Bishopville. Grant considers this one of the area's most overlooked dining recommendations. Its small dining room makes planning particularly useful. The restaurant's 2026 policy includes advance reservations with a deposit and traditional requests two weeks ahead, so check the current process instead of assuming you must wait until exactly two weeks before dinner.
What most guests get wrong about dining in Ocean City
Waiting until everyone is hungry
A Friday dinner in July is easier to enjoy when you've thought about it before 5:30 that afternoon. For a meal you don't want to miss, our planning advice is to start checking availability one to two weeks ahead, or earlier for a large group or busy event weekend. That's a starting point, not a rule about when restaurants open their books.
Assuming every restaurant takes reservations
Some do; some don't. Liquid Assets is first-come, first-served, while The Grove has its own reservation process. Check the restaurant directly, have a second option, and allow time for your group to get there together. Planning ahead gives you more choices and less time standing around hungry.
Never leaving town
There's plenty to eat on the island, but West OC, Berlin, and Bishopville deserve consideration too. Pick one evening to try somewhere outside your usual route. You may find the restaurant you build next year's trip around.
Expecting summer schedules all year
Offseason dining is one of Grant's favorite ways to enjoy the area, particularly when restaurants offer weekly specials. Hours, menus, and seasonal closures vary, so check the restaurant's own website or social page before going. An old photo of a special isn't a current offer.
Our Ocean City offseason guide can help you plan the rest of a fall or winter visit.
Treating parking as an afterthought
Check whether the restaurant has its own lot, where overflow parking is permitted, and how far you'll actually walk from your rental. Follow posted parking restrictions and use marked crossings along Coastal Highway. A restaurant being in your neighborhood doesn't necessarily mean it's just around the corner.
The Ocean City Beach Bus is an option for in-town meals, with a standard $4 all-day fare as of this update. Service hours vary by season. Check the route and return schedule; this Coastal Highway service is not a restaurant shuttle to Berlin or Bishopville.
Ways to make your dining budget go further
Check current happy-hour menus and offseason specials at the restaurants you already want to try. Pay attention to the days, seating areas, and ordering times that qualify. This works better than choosing a restaurant based on a discount that may no longer be offered.
Direct bookings with Central Reservations include access to our free Rewards program, with local dining and activity offers. Review the current Rewards choices and terms before your trip; rewards must be ordered before arrival. Individual offers may have spending requirements or other restrictions, so choose the ones that fit your plans.
More Ocean City dining guides
For a closer look at a particular meal or occasion, explore our lunch recommendations, seafood guide, fine-dining picks, and family restaurant guide. Use restaurant websites for current menus and hours.
Common Ocean City dining questions
What is the best all-around restaurant in Ocean City
Longboard Cafe is Grant's pick when he's asked for one recommendation without a particular occasion or cuisine in mind. For a special evening, our shortlist also includes Spain Wine Bar, The Hobbit, Liquid Assets, and Ristorante Antipasti.
Where does Grant recommend crab cakes
Southside Grille & Deli on Stephen Decatur Highway in West Ocean City. It's his personal recommendation, based on the food rather than a waterfront setting or formal dining room.
Where can families eat in Ocean City
Ropewalk, De Lazy Lizard, Tailchasers, Bad Monkey, and Dough Roller are options from this guide. Choose based on your children's ages, the current menu, and whether you want outdoor play space or a straightforward sit-down meal.
Where should we eat near the Boardwalk
Coastal Salt, The Wedge, and the Boardwalk Dough Roller locations are starting points. For classic Boardwalk snacks, think ice cream at Dumser's, Thrasher's fries, or Fisher's popcorn. Check the specific location and operating hours.
Do we need dinner reservations in summer
For restaurants that accept them, we recommend planning ahead for weekend dinners and special occasions. Liquid Assets does not take reservations. Always check the individual restaurant's policy rather than assuming the same process applies everywhere.
Is leaving Ocean City for dinner worth it
Yes, especially if you're here for several nights. Grant recommends Forgotten 50 in Berlin and The Grove Market in Bishopville, while West OC adds Southside, Rice House, Sello's, and harbor dining to the mix.
Can we find restaurants open in the offseason
Yes, but schedules differ by restaurant and some take seasonal breaks. Check current hours and specials before leaving your rental, particularly for a midweek meal.
How we know this
These selections combine Central Reservations team recommendations with Grant Fritschle's firsthand local favorites. No restaurant paid or provided benefits for inclusion. Restaurant opinions are ours; menus, availability, hours, and policies can change.
For this update, we checked key planning details against restaurant websites, the town's transportation information, and Central Reservations' published booking and Rewards information. Use the linked official sources for current reservation requirements and offers before making plans.
Plan your Ocean City stay
Ocean City remains a drive-to beach destination, and many guests arrive with a car. You can still choose a rental that makes some evenings easier on foot or by bus. Start with the beach access and neighborhood you want, then check which restaurants are close to the actual property.
Explore our guide to where to stay and Ocean City vacation rentals. If dining and walkability are priorities, tell our team what kind of evenings you have in mind.
Book directly for our Lowest Rate Guarantee, which applies when comparing the identical Central Reservations property on other booking websites, plus free Rewards. Our Flex Protect policy provides a full refund for eligible cancellations made 14 or more days before arrival; see the full cancellation terms, including payment eligibility and later-cancellation provisions.
Call 410-723-4111 or email info@centraloc.com for help planning your stay.
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About the contributors
The Central Reservations team helps guests plan vacation stays in Ocean City, Maryland, with local service dating to 1978. Grant Fritschle is a local owner of Central Reservations and a second-generation Ocean City area real estate professional. His contributions to this guide focus on the restaurants he personally recommends and the practical advice he gives visitors.