(March 1, 2013) The dining public has one week to vote for Ocean City restaurants that are finalists for Restaurant Association of Maryland awards. Voting began Feb. 18, and ends March 8.
Visit www.marylandrestaurants.com to cast a vote.
“We’d love to see Ocean City shine in the spotlight of statewide awards, so I encourage everyone to log on and vote,” Susan Jones, executive director of the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association, said Monday. “The nominees are all great choices and are certainly deserving of the winner title.”
The dining public had until Feb. 5, to nominate a favorite restaurant, bar, tavern, chef, wine, beverage, craft brew program and food truck for the annual awards. On Feb. 12, the association revealed that six Ocean City businesses were finalists in several categories.
Captain’s Table Restaurant, located on the third floor of the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel on 15th Street, between the Boardwalk and Baltimore Avenue, is one of five finalists in the “Favorite Restaurant” category.
“It’s nice to know our efforts to produce high quality food has been recognized and that people appreciate what we do,” said owner Lauren Taylor. “It’s a huge honor because it’s statewide. Just that we were nominated is tremendous.”
Captain’s Table opened in the Santa Maria Hotel on 15th Street in 1956. The family-run hotel and restaurant closed in 2004 and the building was demolished in 2005. Construction of Courtyard by Marriott began in 2007 and after being closed for nearly five years, Captain’s Table opened in the hotel in July 2009.
Macky’s Bayside Bar & Grill, on 54th Street, and Dead Freddies Island Grill, on 64th Street, are finalists in the “Favorite Bar or Tavern” category.
“It’s always nice to be honored by customers and your peers,” said Macky Stan-sell, who owns Macky’s with his wife, Pam. “Just to be chosen is an honor and speaks volumes for what our staff has done.”
Macky’s will celebrate its 20th season in business when it reopens in late April.
Managing partner Jay Bosley was pleasantly surprised that Dead Freddies made the finalist list. The bayside restaurant opened in May 2010.
“It’s a big honor for us to be recognized because we’re new to Ocean City. We appreciate being accepted by the community,” he said.
Travis Wright, chef and owner of Shark on the Harbor with his wife, Jody, is in the running for the Maryland “Chef of the Year” title. The Wrights opened The Shark on 46th Street in Ocean City in May 2000. In February 2008, the eatery was relocated to Sunset Avenue in West Ocean City and named Shark of the Harbor.
Shawn Harman, owner of Fish Tales, and Wayne Odachowski, managing partner of de Lazy Lizard, are finalists in the “Restaurateur of the Year” category.
In 2011, Fish Tales, a family-owned and operated restaurant on the bay at 22nd Street, took home the top award in the “Favorite Bar/Tavern” category. The bayside establishment will celebrate 18 years in business this summer.
Harman calls his nomination “incredibly humbling.” “The restaurant is my life. I end up getting the credit, but it’s not because of me the restaurant is successful, it’s the staff and my wife (Donna),” he said.
De Lazy Lizard, located on the bay at First Street, was the winner in the “Maryland’s Favorite New Restaurant” (open two years or less) category, last year. The restaurant opened June 28, 2010.
RAM members, not the dining public, will choose the recipient of the “Restaurateur of the Year” award. Winners will be announced April 15.
