Ocean City Restaurant Week welcomes diners during shoulder season
Hope you're hungry — Ocean City Restaurant Week is back.
The event, running from April 15-29, gives tourists and locals alike an opportunity to try out Ocean City restaurants through prix fixe menus ranging from $10-40 a person. Susan Jones, executive director of the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association, said the event's benefits are three-fold.
As restaurants generate business during the shoulder season, employees are able to see an increase in tips during a fairly slow time for the resort and diners get a great deal.
“It gives you an excuse to go out to eat," said Jones.
More:Restaurant Week showcases flavors of Salisbury
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Jones said Ocean City Restaurant Week will have about 30 participating restaurants once the week begins. The eateries are given full creative freedom when it comes to planning the menu. She said the Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association will give guidelines to follow the pre-planned price points.
The prix fixe menus are special to the spring Ocean City Restaurant Week, she said. With a large range of eateries in the Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association, diners are given a wide variety of options for their palettes and wallets.
“That’s why there’s such a wide range of menu prices, because we have a lot of different types of restaurants that are members,” Jones said.
At Dunes Manor Hotel & Suites, located at 2800 Baltimore Ave., Food and Beverage Director Joe Cann said the hotel restaurant is trying out some new menu items for restaurant week. The new items, including trendy offerings like brussels sprouts and cauliflower, are an attempt to modernize the menu and spice things up.
For $30, Dunes Manor is offering a three-course meal, with three options for each course.
Menu items guests can choose from include the blackened hanger steak with chimichurri sauce, roasted fingerling potatoes and bacon cauliflower au gratin, or French style boneless chicken with mushroom au jus, grilled asparagus and Parmesan risotto.
For dessert, Dunes Manor is offering chocolate tart, key lime pie or raspberry panna cotta.
Cann said restaurant week acts as a way to get more exposure in the community. Along with tourists who are beginning to head back to the beach, the event allows locals to get a taste of what Dunes Manor is serving.
"Let locals see what we have to offer," Cann said.
At The Hobbit Restaurant, located at 121 81st St., owner Garvey Heiderman is offering new and current menu items. For $39, customers can choose three courses, which include items like the orange poppy seed and goat cheese salad, Guinness-braised short rib and duck leg cassoulet.
The menu strikes a balance between hearty winter dishes and light spring dishes.
Heiderman said he's happy restaurant week comes during the offseason as it brings people to the area and allows locals to come in and sample dishes at a reasonable price.
"It's built up into a really good event," Heiderman said.
The Hobbit doesn't plan on cutting back on portions, so customers can expect the same quality as a usual meal, but at a discounted price, he said.
At Bourbon Street on the Beach, owner Barry Reichart made his restaurant week menu by combining eatery favorites with new items. The eatery located at 11604 Coastal Highway will offer classics including the Bourbon Street steak, shrimp and crawfish étouffée and jambalaya.
Reichart wants customers to know restaurant week is a time to see Bourbon Street on the Beach's quality and serving sizes at a fraction of the price.
"We want people to see the value," he said.
He sees restaurant week as a great way to liven up Ocean City during the shoulder season.
Those interested in dining during Ocean City Restaurant Week can visit the event's website to see the participating restaurants' menus and price points.
More:Popular Berlin boutique to open in Ocean City
More:Going Out: Ocean City, Delaware beach music listings April 6-12
More:Craft beer scene in Rehoboth gets boost from Iron Hill
If you go
What: Ocean City Restaurant Week
Where: Various restaurants across Ocean City
When: April 15-29
Contact: Oceancityrestaurantweek.com