Ravens-Steelers OC bars duke it out across the street
Dwane Robbins puffed a cigar and waved across the street.
It wasn’t a friendly wave.
He was standing outside Pit & Pub, the unofficial Ravens bar of Ocean City. It was halftime and the Ravens were in the lead.
Robbins was dressed in purple from head to toe, wearing a Joe Flacco jersey and a beaded necklace.
His gesture was toward the man across the street with a yellow Terrible Towel tucked in his pocket.
"Ravens baby," Robbins yelled.
The other man tugged at his towel and answered, "It ain't over yet."
All in the name of fun
Coke versus Pepsi.
Red Sox versus Yankees.
Batman versus Joker.
The world is full of famous rivalries, and there is one of epic proportions happening right in Ocean City for football fans. Located across the highway at 28th Street, two sports bars have been dueling since 2010.
But not to worry, the owners of Buxy's Salty Dog Saloon and Pit & Pub say it's all in the name of fun.
"Life wouldn't be interesting if we all rooted for the same team," said Doug "Buxy" Buxbaum, owner of Buxy's Salty Dog Saloon, Ocean City's unofficial Pittsburgh bar.
The cozy bar has a tavern-like feel to it. One step inside, and guests might feel as if they have left Ocean City and stepped into Pennsylvania.
The bar's one-of-a-kind theme started when Buxbaum dedicated a wall to his hometown of Johnstown. For the last two decades, loyal customers, friends and family have donated memorabilia to represent the region.
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The wall filled up pretty quick.
Now, the entire place is covered in Pittsburgh decor from photos and signs to clocks and sports gear.
Just like the walls, the menu pays homage to Buxbaum's hometown roots. It offers everything from burgers and salads to homemade soup and a plethora of Pittsburgh sandwiches, like cheesesteaks, pierogies and The Crosby, a half-pound burger topped with crinkle cut fries and homemade slaw on sourdough bread.
"We are like a little piece of Steel City in Ocean City," he said. "And a great place to cheer on the Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates."
Although Maryland fans are more than welcome to hang out, they tend to flock across the street on gameday.
"I want to be with my people," said Dan Lange, a Ravens fan from Glen Burnie.
When Lange visits Ocean City, he always grabs a drink at Pit & Pub.
"I just love the place — the food, the atmosphere, the people, it's fantastic," he said. "And when I come on game day, it's like looking at a sea of purple."
Pit & Pub's owners, Steve "Chief" Hoffman and Mike Horsey, two, "good ole boys," from Baltimore, knew from the start just which kind of crowd their establishment was going to cater to, and they have delivered.
Since it opened in 2010, Pit & Pub has become known as the hangout for die-hard Ravens and Orioles fans.
The menu features everything from fried green tomatoes and fish-n-chips to loaded nachos and fried shrimp. There is a big focus on slow cooked meats, hence the name Pit & Pub, and they specialize in tender pulled pork, barbecue chicken and ribs.
Patrons feeling extra hungry, and ambitious, can order the $30 pig out: a rack of ribs, half barbecue chicken, brisket sandwich, french fries and slaw. Those who eat it in 25 minutes get a free shirt and a 25 percent off coupon, and of course, bragging rights.
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"It's a lot of food," said Nadine Horsey, Mike Horsey's wife. "Only a handful of people have done it."
The pig out challenge is just one of the ways Pit & Pub lets loose, and being located across the street from the "Steelers bar" makes things even more fun.
"We play into it," she said, adding that the bars often team up for contests and events, like the annual NFL football 5K challenge, where participants compete wearing their team's colors.
"But at the end of the day, we have each other's back," she said. "There's a lot of mutual respect."
Although the bars have many differences, from the decor and atmosphere to what's featured on the menus, they offer fans an oasis to cheer on their favorite team.
It wasn't over
Robbins finished his cigar and walked inside.
Pit & Pub buzzed with excitement: bartenders poured shots, people yelled at the TV, servers dropped off food to tables, friends clinked beer glasses.
The game had resumed and was in full swing, and the man from across the street had been right — the game was far from over.
The Steelers put together two fourth-quarter touchdowns to make the 21-0 game interesting.
And to Pit & Pub's delight, the Ravens held on.
The patrons on the northbound side of Coastal Highway went home happy.
As for the southbound side, they're looking forward to Dec. 25.
302-537-1881, ext. 207
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