OC Eats

Ocean City, Maryland is a huge vacation spot for those of us native to Maryland and the Delmarva area. In order to try and assist you all with some of my favorite restaurants of Ocean City, I’ve devoted this GoodEats post to the areas best.

Ocean City is full of gimmicky restaurants claiming to feature fresh seafood and local produce. The truth of the matter is the majority of the restaurants use frozen meats and cheap preparations. Just because you’re on vacation does not make it okay to eat poorly, so I hope you enjoy some of these recommendations.

Let’s start with the most important meal of the day: breakfast. My absolute favorite breakfast restaurant in Ocean City is General’s Kitchen, known for their chipped beef (a creamed sauce with slits of cured beef) and huge three-egg omelets. The wait staff is exceptionally friendly and professional and the décor is highlighted by hundreds of hats stapled to the. The unbeatable prices for the portions you receive make this even more of a catch. Just remember to wake up early because the kitchen closes at 1 p.m. daily.

Next on the menu we have to take a look at lunch/dinner restaurants. Unfortunately, Ocean City doesn’t have a ton of lunch special based restaurants, so the menus are pretty similar between the two courses.

The first lunch/dinner spot, Mother’s Cantina, is a little Mexican inspired restaurant located on 28th St. It only has a few tables in the entire place, but the food coming out of the tiny kitchen is delicious. Try the chorizo burrito or the chilles rellenos (a traditional Mexican dish pairing roasted Anaheim peppers with a rice and meat mixture). The drinks are just as complex and delicious as the food. Please get one of the house made margaritas or orange crushes. Entrees are between $10and $20.

Next, I have to let you all in on two of my favorite crab houses Ocean City has to offer. The first, Crab Alley, is located in West Ocean City and the second, my family’s favorite, Crab Bag, is located on 130th street. The two restaurants are known for their all you can eat crab specials, highlighted by Maryland blue crabs smothered in Old Bay. If crabs aren’t your fancy, the other seafood dishes are great. Just know that if you are with someone indulging in the crabs, you will be waiting for a while. The all you can eat specials start at $40. It may be expensive but it’s worth it.

It’s only necessary to feature a fancier restaurant as my last recommendation. Upon a heads-up from a family friend and some light research, I decided to go to Catch 54, which is right off of Madison Avenue in Fenwick (2 minutes from Ocean City). The décor was chic and very modern, highlighted open seating right on the water, which is always a plus. The menu is constantly changing based on what’s fresh that day. I had the pleasure of trying the mussels cooked in a light butter sauce with bacon and the crab mac n’ cheese. Holy cheesy! The fish was fresh and the dishes delicately put together. I will definitely be back to this gem! Being a fancier restaurant, the prices are a bit higher (average of about $25 per entrée).

Oh, I have to remind everyone of Dumsers Dairyland for dessert, where you can get huge portions of rich homemade ice cream. You can’t do Ocean City right if you don’t go to Dumsers at least once.

Please, next time you venture down to the Eastern Shore try one of these recommendations. Ocean City is full of GoodEats, go out and explore the area through the food.

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Until next time. I wish you GoodEats.

Mussels from Catch 54

Chicken burrito from Mother’s Cantina

Banana split from Dumsers Dairyland

All you can eat crabs from Crab Bag

Caprese Salad from Catch 54

Edited by Jared Kurlander.

Sin City Eats

When you think of Las Vegas, gambling, partying, and all of the shows are atop of the list. When I think of Las Vegas, all that I’m worried about is the restaurants I have the pleasure of enjoying. Every block of Las Vegas Boulevard houses some of the most decadent and tantalizing restaurants your taste buds and stomach has ever enjoyed.

The restaurants of Vegas are highlighted by both hidden dives scattered throughout the strip turning out righteous food, and award winning restaurants that have the pleasure of having famous executive chefs no matter what your preference you are in for a treat.

I’d like to start talking about the hidden gems on the strip. One of my absolute favorites, Hash Hash A Go Go, is located in The Quad Hotel. This local favorite is open 24 hours and is known for it’s humongous portions and homemade eats. Highlighted by their award winning breakfast, you will be satisfied by whatever you indulge in. My recommendation is the homemade fried sage infused chicken, and beautiful fluffy waffles with a hot maple reduction. Wow! The burgers are just as beautifully presented as they taste, served as gigantic one pound patties, stuffed with fresh ingredients and accompanied by homemade french-fries.

Another breakfast hot spot is The Peppermill. This neon-lit diner has been voted best of Las Vegas year after year. Located right off the strip, the breakfast classics here are dynamite. The breakfast classics are all big portions and full of flavor.  You have to try Munch’s Breakfast, a Peppermill classic. The dish includes every vegetable, incorporated into homemade hash browns and topped by two perfectly cooked eggs. You have to get one of their gigantic cocktails alongside whatever you choose to eat.

The last hidden spots I have to talk about are the numerous different burger joints tucked away off the strip.  The ones that I had the pleasure to enjoy were Gordon Ramsay’s BURGR in Planet Hollywood, Mario Batali’s B&B in the Venetian, and BLT Burger in the Mirage. These three have countless flavorful combinations between hand packed patties, countless toppings and sauces and airy buns that serve as a vessel for these amazing burgers. If you are looking for a greasier and absolutely bomb burger, you have to go to Smasburger. Located a couple minute drive from the strip, these burgers are unreal. It’s one of the juiciest burgers I have ever had. Hands down.

Think of any famous chef you’ve ever heard of and I can almost promise you that this particular chef has an upscale restaurant in Vegas. Mario Batali, Gordon Ramsay, Bobby Flay, Thomas Keller, Tom Colicchio, just to name a few. Not to mention the countless other beautiful upscale restaurants throughout the Vegas strip.

Tom Colicchio’s Craft Steak in MGM Grand was unbelievable.  White tablecloths, elegant food, and immaculate service backbones this James Beard award-winning restaurant. You have to try the Kobe beef so tender and juicy it melts in your mouth. The braised short ribs are to die for. They are slow cooked for 24 hours and are so tender that a fork can cut them. I can assure you whatever you choose will be beautiful.

Whether you are looking for a fancier restaurant or a cheaper place that still bangs out unreal food, trust me, Vegas has it all. Please don’t cut corners when you visit and go to big name chains. Save a couple extra bucks before your trip and indulge in some of the better, more unique spots.

Until next time. I wish you GoodEats!

Chicken and waffles from Hash Hash a Go Go

Famous burger from Ramsay’s BURGR

Munch’s Special from The Peppemill

Beautifully prepared mahi mahi from Joe’s Stone Crab

Buffalo Mozzarella from Craft Steak

Edited by Jared Kurlander.