The decision to launch a new brewery and pub was spurred by a combination of success at their original 2nd Street location, and the rising trend of craft beer popularity across the nation.  General Manager Andy Hopkins and Lizard management took notice of the rapidly expanding craft beer scene, and, in turn, saw a void in the local market that could be filled by their own expansion.

The longtime home of Melvin’s Steakhouse (also on 2nd Street) will soon house the new Lazy Lizard Brew Pub; the second of its kind in Ocean City, but first to offer a full service gastropub.  It is also the first to boast an in-house brewery where craft beers will be produced on premises.

When planning and implementing the construction of the brew pub, Lizard management enlisted the help of their friends from Burley Oak Brewery in Berlin, and are so pleased with the results that the three tank brew room features open sightlines and windows, to give guests an uninhibited behind-the-scenes look at the brewing process.  Brewmaster Rodney Hillman is tasked with developing the Lizard’s contributions to the craft beer movement and will be unveiling new creations throughout the summer.  Upon opening, the Lizard will serve three unique styles of suds, along with 20 rotating taps of the best local beers available, but there are plans for as many as 6 in-house brews as the summer progresses.

Keeping with the gastropub concept, the menu will feature exceptional local seafood, produce, meats, and dairy products from vendors across the Eastern Shore.  Fresh and innovative dishes will be specifically designed to showcase or pair with the Lizard’s unique beer selections.

With an anticipated June 15 launch-date penciled in, the Lazy Lizard Brew Pub will be pouring pints and dishing out dinner all summer long, but its gastropub experience will include more than just good beer and eats.  Nightly entertainment during dinner service will feature the best local acoustic acts and the game room and arcade will keep the kids occupied while Mom and Dad take in the live music, and a couple of their favorite lagers, ales, or IPAs.  The Lazy Lizard plans to hold its first annual Octoberfest celebration the in the fall, and patrons should also be on the lookout for release parties coinciding with the unveiling of new beers throughout the summer.

With so much to offer beer aficionados, foodies, casual diners, and their families, the Lazy Lizard Brew Pub is sure to please the palettes of everyone who passes through its doors, and leave them wanting even more of Ocean City’s newest restaurant empire.

Devito’s Famous Pizza and Subs

143^rd Street & Coastal Highway

(In the Resort Plaza)

Ocean City, MD 21842

410-250-1122

Sam DeVito opened the first pizzeria/Italian restaurant in Washington, DC in 1934 and the family ran restaurants there until 1981 when his son, Mike DeVito, left the DC area to open a pizza/sub shop/deli in Ocean City, Md.  Now Mike, realizing that he needed an education in a brand new kind of undertaking, apprenticed in New York and New Jersey where he felt they; at the time, had the best Italian deli/sub shops.  During this time Mike made contacts and learned the ins and outs of the deli business. When he felt ready, Mike brought the family to the Eastern Shore and set up shop on 143^rd Street in the Resort Plaza.  At that time there were only a couple of beach cottages around him and the Sun and Surf Movie Theatre which, back then, only had two screens.  That was 32 years ago and we are all the better, and the heavier, for this great Italian deli being in our town.

DeVito’s is a small storefront with just a counter and deli display in the front along with a couple of soda refrigerators and plenty of articles on the walls celebrating Mike’s dad and mentor, Sam.  There is no seating and no beer or wine is sold.  The menu is Subs (hot and cold) and Pizzas with a couple of salads thrown in to make you feel good about yourself. Mike is there pretty much all the time taking your order and controlling his product; and believe me, it is one hell of a product!

Now, you are probably asking yourself, “With all the sub shops in Ocean City why the hell would I need to drag myself all the way to 143^rd Street just for something I could probably get next door to my hotel or condo?”  I understand your question and believe me I have gone to a number of other shops for a sub and been perfectly content.  That is until I dragged myself to DeVito’s, now I can’t eat another sub or pizza without comparing them and wishing I was eating the original product.  The reason is beautiful in its simplicity but complex in its execution.  DeVito’s is the only place in town that bakes its own sub rolls daily.  Now I don’t mean putting a packaged par-bake roll in the oven and calling it fresh baked.  I mean making the dough from scratch every day, letting it rise and baking it in hot pizza ovens.  The rolls are a revelation; they are toothsome and crusty with a lovely yeasty quality that augments the meats used in your sub.  This makes all the difference in the world because as Mike says, “Anyone can buy the meats I use, the difference has to be in the bread” and I might also add in the balance between meat and bread.  DeVito’s subs are a perfect marriage of meat, bread and toppings.  They are NOT over-stuffed behemoths that you can barely get your mouth around; they are, as I have stated, perfectly balanced.

Now, the same attention to detail placed on the subs is not lost on the pizzas.  DeVito’s pizza crust is made daily, as in most good pizzerias, but this crust has a unique chewiness that when combined with its yeasty aroma and the heat of a well seasoned oven becomes the perfect vehicle for any combination of toppings your heart desires.  All the sauces are home-made, zesty and well seasoned.  The only downside I have is that by the time I get my pizza home it is cold but you can just pop it in the oven and warm it up so no big thing.

Ok, let me be clear here, I am not saying that DeVito’s is the best pizza in the world.  Everyone has their own hometown pie that they dream about.  I have also had a couple of better sandwiches in my time but I really can’t remember where or when off the top of my head.  I am saying that Devito’s is easily one of the top two Italian deli, pizza and sub shops on the Eastern Shore and you would be doing yourself a disservice if you missed out during you next visit to the Ocean City area.  The simple fact is that DeVito’s has been around in one form another since 1934 making people happy with their food so they must be doing it right.  Make the effort and give yourself and your family a treat with a sub or pizza they will not soon forget.

Charles ‘Murph’ and Martha Grimes

Happy anniversary!

Charles “Murph” and Martha Grimes celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary with family and friends on May 6, in Selbyville, Del.

Scholarship winners

Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc., the nonprofit trade association for Delmarva’s chicken business, has announced the recipients in its 2013 College Scholarship Program. From a record number of applicants who are enrolled at or have been accepted at 13 colleges and universities across the country, five were chosen to receive grants totaling $7,500.

The recipients are Joshua C. Massey of Berlin, senior at Stephen Decatur High School who will be attending Delaware Valley College and majoring in agribusiness; Taylor R. DuVall of Dagsboro, Del., a senior at Indian River High School who will be attending the University of Delaware and majoring in nursing; Jeffrey Logan Holland of Franktown, Va., a senior at Broadwater Academy who will be attending Virginia Tech and majoring in agronomy; Jake G. Jones of Milford, Del., a sophomore at the University of Delaware and majoring in plant science; and Morgan B. Jewell of Clayton, Del., a senior at Smyrna High School who will be attending Wesley College and majoring in education.

The Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc. College Scholarship Program is funded by an annual golf tournament. The 2013 DPI College Scholarship Golf Tournament will be held Wednesday, June 19, at Nassawango Golf Club near Snow Hill. Details are posted online at www.dpichicken.org.

Sharon Lee Ward

Stabbing

A 47-year-old Ocean City woman was arrested on May 9 after allegedly stabbing a woman she lived with.

Although Sharon Lee Ward lived with the victim, a Maryland Court Final Domestic Protective Order prohibited her from having any contact with her. But the two argued and during a struggle, Ward allegedly attacked the woman with a kitchen knife, stabbing her multiple times.

The victim fled and, with the assistance of neighbors, contacted police at about 3:50 a.m. Ocean City paramedics treated the victim for neck and shoulder wounds before taking her to Peninsula Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Ward was taken to Atlantic General Hospital, where she was treated for minor injuries before being released to Ocean City police. She was taken to the Public Safety Building, where she was charged with first- and second-degree assault, having a weapon with the intent to injure, reckless endangerment and violation of a protective order.

Ward was being held in the Worcester County jail on $150,000 bond.

Scooter collision

A motor scooter operator was taken to Peninsula Regional Medical Center early Monday morning after colliding with an Ocean City Police Department patrol car.

The patrol car was stopped at a traffic light in the southbound turn lane at 41st Street when Edward Thomas Johnson, 25, of Salisbury, drove his scooter into its rear, causing him to be ejected.

Johnson was wearing a helmet, but it became dislodged because of the collision and failed to fully protect him. The officer in the patrol car rendered immediate aid to Johnson before paramedics arrived.

The officer was treated at Atlantic General Hospital for minor injuries and was released.

The Ocean City Police Department press release said Johnson was believed to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision.

Warrant arrests

Two men were arrested by Berlin police during a property check at Bay Terrace Apartments on May 9 Police checked for possible warrants and found that Darrin Gibbs Jr., 27, of Berlin was wanted for failure to appear in court on traffic charge.

During a search of Gibbs after his arrest, police found suspected heroin. They charged him with possession of heroin, trespassing and making a false statement, because he had given officers a false identity.

Police also determined that Jaireece Dee Von Hobbs, 27, of Berlin was wanted for failure to appear in court on a charge of driving under the influence. They arrested him on the warrant and charged him with trespassing as well.

Delmar James Cubbage

Sex offender

The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office has obtained a warrant for Delmar James Cubbage, 22, for failing to register as a sex offender.

Cubbage was released from the county jail on May 2 after serving a nearly year-long sentence for failing to register as a sex offender and violation of probation. Since his release, he has absconded and moved to an unknown location.

Fight at hotel

Ocean City police arrested two men after seeing them fight in the hallway of a mid-town hotel May 11.

Police were called to the hotel shortly before 5 a.m. because of a fight in progress.

On the fifth floor, they saw Steve Martin Mondelus, 30, of Frankford, Del., on his back on the floor, while Henry Eugene Wilson, 28, of Bowie, was straddling his midsection and punching him in the face.

Earlier, Mondelus had grabbed the hair of Wilson’s girlfriend and bit her finger. According to the charging document, police saw bleeding teeth marks on her finger.

Police also saw a bag containing marijuana on the hallway floor. Wilson reportedly told police it was his marijuana and that the fight started because Mondelus had grabbed it and tried to run out of the hotel room with it.

Wilson reportedly told police he jumped Mondelus in an attempt to get his marijuana back.

Police charged Mondelous with possession of marijuana, affray and two counts of second-degree assault. They charged Wilson with second-degree assault, possession of marijuana, affray and resisting arrest.