Ocean 13 adds whiskey bar, piano lounge on Ocean City Boardwalk

A stroll along the Ocean City Boardwalk can now end in a plush vintage lounge enjoying gourmet plates and craft cocktails. 

Ocean 13 is expanding a year after its original opening date with a Whiskey Bar and Piano Lounge inside the Beach Plaza Hotel. The menu will be a 180 from the restaurant's next door menu of bar food with a fine dining menu of steak, seafood, small plates and craft cocktails. 

Ocean 13 and Whiskey Bar at Ocean 13 are both located on the Ocean City Boardwalk at 13th Street. 

Bringing a flair to the boardwalk

Ocean 13 repurposed the Whiskey Bar and Piano Lounge from spaces the Beach Plaza Hotel already have. The restaurant is also renovating the hotel's banquet room for more seating and events. 

“We’re really excited to bring that kind of flair to the boardwalk," said Jeremy Brink, co-owner. 

Ocean 13 is owned by Brink, Nicholas Sikora, Steve Bowers and Jamie Stewart. It's known along the boardwalk for its casual dishes of burgers, tacos and sandwiches. The restaurant also has a tiki bar serving up its own set of cocktails and an ice cream shop. 

Brink said the goal behind expansion was to offer customers a little bit of everything. If people are looking for casual dining at reasonable prices, they can head downstairs to Ocean 13. But, if they want more of a fine dining experience, the Whiskey Bar is where to go. 

“We want to be able to offer the full gamut," Brink said. 

Creating the bar's vibe

When the four owners went to look at the space, Brink said they immediately got a prohibition-era vibe with the bar's plush seating and wooden bar with golden accents. 

“The whole feel up here is exactly that style," he said. 

Little renovation needed to be done to the space since the Ocean 13 owners liked the vintage style the hotel already has. A bit of painting and cleaning was all the work that needed to be put into the space. 

“The feel for the most part we kept the same," Brink said.

What's on the menu?

Executive Chef John Chiusano and Mixologist Tim Coiner Williams round out the Whiskey Bar at Ocean 13 team. The food and cocktail menu reflect the eatery's goal to offer made-from-scratch, refined dishes and cocktails to its customers. 

Cocktails include the Pink Pepper Paloma and Chai Old Fashioned. Coiner Williams, who came to Ocean City from New York City, brought his mixology experience to the Boardwalk by shaking up classic cocktails with a twist. 

For food, Brink said the Whiskey Bar is currently serving small plates and will expand to a limited menu of entrees starting Memorial Day weekend. The full menu will be available after the eatery's ribbon cutting on June 21. 

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Small plate dishes include tempura fried asparagus with roasted garlic aioli, crispy crab cake bites with house made remoulade and seasame seared ahi tuna with Thai chili drizzle and soy slaw.

Once the full menu is released, customers can expect fresh seafood and steak dishes. A breakfast buffet will also be available soon.   

The four owners are also excited to the dining area fill with wedding and events. With the vintage style and creative menu, Brink expects to see people love the feel of the space.

“We have the perfect view of the ocean," Brink said. 

On Twitter: @The_MegRyan

If you go: 

What: Whiskey Bar and Piano Lounge at Ocean 13 

Where: 1301 Atlantic Ave. in Ocean City 

When: Currently Friday through Sunday, call for hours 

Contact: 410-289-6213, Ocean13ocmd.com

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