On The Bay Seafood

Drove here from New York just to have a taste of Maryland crab and it was definitely worth it! Ordered the «All you can eat» crab fest. All crabs were fresh and juicy. Never had crabs so fresh and meaty.
Place is like a «Mom and Pop» kinda hole in a wall with outdoor dining where you can bury ur toes in the sands. Great touch when eating outdoor.
Definitely be back whenever we’re at Maryland!

My boyfriend, friends, and I returned to Ocean City, MD for Labor Day Weekend this year and our first food stop had to be On the Bay Seafood.
We all ordered our own separate entrée, but shared the large dozen crabs.
I ordered the Homemade Crab Cake Sandwich with boardwalk fries and homemade Cole slaw for sides. The homemade crab cake sandwich was delicious! The crab cakes from Maryland taste insanely good! The sandwich was moist and tasty. The boardwalk fries had a nice crunch and taste to it. I absolutely love the Cole slaw, possibly one of the best Cole slaws I’ve had so far.
My boyfriend ordered the Soft Shell Crab Sandwich with boardwalk fries and Steamed Silver Queen Corn. His entrée looked really good as well. I tried a bit of the Steamed Silver Queen Corn and it had a nice sweetness to it and tasty!
The best part of our meal and experience here were the crabs! Although it was a a bit of a pain and mess to get to the crab meat, I enjoyed the meat. This was my first time having crabs like this and boy were mouth-​watering delicious! The crab meat was sweet, seasoned just perfectly, and moist.
The trip would be incomplete if we didn’t come back here, so I am glad we did. Customer service was still on point. Food was yumazing!

There’s really one mission for foodies in OCMD– To consume as many CRABS as possible!
So in order to complete my first and only mission, we started our Maryland trip at On the Bay Seafood.
On the Bay Seafood is a cafeteria style seafood restaurant in which they serve some of the best and freshest seafood in OC area. We were a bit confused when we first got here so let me explain the procedure:
1. You tell the host/​hostess how many people you got
2. Wait on line for at least 1 hour + (also depending on #1)
3. Get called, host/​hostess will tell you your table number, remember it!
4. Don’t sit down yet, go inside, wait on line and order your food
5. Go to your table, sit you butt down, take off your shoes and put your feet in the sand
6. Get food and FEAST
#5 gets a little tricky, let me elaborate, so On the Bay Seafood is actually not on the beach but it is located somewhere outdoor. The restaurant is basically 20 – 30 long wooden tables that is inside a giant sandbox with beach umbrella above, the feel is super relaxing and once the beer hits the table and your feet hits the sand, you will no longer question why you are sitting in a giant sandbox.
our party got here a bit later on a Friday night so by the time the crab fest was no long available but they still have crabs for a la carte so we went for that along with fried soft shell crab, fried scallops, steamed shrimps, crab cakes and chicken nuggets (We got a preggo friend).
Our 3 favorites while taken price into consideration were:
Fried Scallops– Fresh fresh fresh, so fresh you can taste the sea water. It’s true, you know a fresh scallop when you taste one, this one is totally not slimy. It was perfectly cooked– very lightly fried so it’s crispy on the outside and soft and juicy on the inside while still maintain it’s texture (luckily it wasn’t the overcooked rubbery texture), it comes in 8 – 10 piece an order and it’s addictive as heck and well worth it’s price!
Crab Cakes– Some people like to smash, peel, suck and get their hands dirty, while there are some who like these work done for them, I’m definitely the latter of the two, yea I know the argument how hands make food taste better but I’m just lazy and don’t want my hand to smell like old bay for the next two days so leave me alone ;)
But seriously the crab cake is legit here because it’s really a CRAB cake, emphasizing on the crab part, there’s really not that much filling here, it’s lightly pan fried and it’s hot, crispy on the outside and moist flaky on the inside! Very well seasoned so you don’t even need those tartar sauce, the crab cakes here is truly awesome and if you are like me, this is a MUST GET for you!
Steamed Crabs– Of course you can’t go to any seafood place in OCMD during crab season without getting a dozen plus of these babies. they come in variety of sizes from small/​Med all the way to Xlarge/​Jumbo. We opted for the jumbo since what the heck we don’t come to OCMD that often and it’s well worth! What more can I say about this, fresh, sweet, juicy, meaty and plenty of old bay seasoning. If you enjoy crabs and don’t mind going in with your hands, this is a MUST for you!!!
Service: Excellent, once you are introduced to the waiter/​waitress, they will come back very often checking to see if you need anything either from the kitchen or just water.
Price: I would expect something like this to cost an arm and a leg (I was expecting NY price) but it wasn’t bad. The seafood appetizers were around $ 8-​$ 10 while the platters (comes with 2 sides) were $ 16-​$ 18, Steamed crabs were also priced very reasonably (as of Aug 2015)
Overall: Even though it’s usually a long wait to get in but it’s well worth it, especially when you know you’ll be rewarded with the freshest seafood that is seasoned and cooked perfectly while paying a very reasonable price. On the Bay is the perfect place to be after you got your tan on and needed a place to chill with friends to enjoy the summer nights! Until the next crab season, stay well!

CRAB, CRAB, CRAB, EVERYWHERE, EVERYDAY!!! During Labor Day Weekend, my family and I went to this establish and HOLY COW the line was tremendous. It was so busy that we just order to go and I guess Lady Luck was smiling upon us, because we ordered the last 2 dozen of crabs of the day.
The crabs were sweet and fresh and if you like the flavor of Old Bay seasoning then please pig out. There are different sizes for each bushel of crabs, from small to xx-​large. With take out they will give hammers to help you break the shell, but I honestly think it will just get in the way, «Teeth all the way!»… at least my dentist will be happy taking my money. If you are not afraid to get your hands dirty, then please come to this little shop and pig out. I know I will be coming back here again, when I am in Maryland.

LOVED this place. My friend and I went during my week long #funemployment and I was in search of some crab. This place definitely satisfied my craving. We split 6 medium crabs and a softshell crab platter with a side of slaw and fries. Their outdoor seating is adorable with white table benches and sand as the flooring. They also have a sink and soap right outside for easy access to cleaning when you are all done devouring the crabs.
The service was so nice and accommodating. While we were waiting, they accidentally served us Crab Cake instead of the softshell and when we notified them of the mistake, they immediately apologized and cooked us up the softshell crab. They also gave us the crab cake on the house because what else would they do with it? They are all about the freshness and that crabcake was fresh. The owner would also come around and check on how we were doing. Great service definitely and even better food. The crab was cooked perfectly. Soft and meaty. And if you are an old bay fan, this is the place to be. Crabs were slathered with old bay.
I would 100% go back and order me another half dozen of crabs. This place perfectly represented the crab of ocean city.

AYCE crabs is now $ 29. Price went up but they still got the best crabs in town! So fresh.

Endless blue crabs that are freshly steamed with mouthwatering, savory chunks of meat. Need I say more?!
Without a doubt, On the Bay Seafood is THE BEST place for Maryland blue crabs in Ocean City. At $ 29 a person for AYCE, this outdoor establishment can get very crowded. Orders and payments are taken at a counter in a single queue. DO NOT allow the long lines drive you away! While you are waiting in line, you can watch the workers handling the seafood live on camera (in real time). THAT’S how fresh they are!
The AYCE crabs are served on trays complete with old bay seasoning, hot melted butter, lemon, and plenty of crackers and hammers to go around. Ask for bibs because it WILL get messy! The crabs here are unlike any others offered in Ocean City. Aside from being fresh, they are ridiculously meaty, juicy, and oh so sweet. I find myself drooling just at the thought of it.
The service is relatively good and attentive. Employees will keep the blue crabs coming until your bellies are full, so take your time and come enjoy the delicious seafood here!

I’m not sure if it’s the best idea to go hungry cause you’ll want to eat everything!
The restaurant itself is very cute. You order in this seaside shack of a building and dine outside on picnic tables in the sand, where they bring you your food. It’s community style seating, so try not to take your neighbor’s food while waiting on your own.
The platters are decently priced for the amount and quality of seafood you get. $ 13-​$ 18 for your main and two sides. You can also order your main item alone for a lower price.
I had the crab cake, $ 9 which was pure crab meat. Absolutely delicious. I wouldn’t order it if you are starving, but it’s a great light meal or app. I also had some of my friend’s snow crab legs. These are the most buttery, healthy, meaty crabs I’ve ever had. It’s definately worth the price.
Next time I go I’ll probably try the soft shell crab!

Stopped by this restaurant after a day at the beach because of the rave Unilocal reviews, and was happy I did! The place itself is really cute and interestingly set up– you order inside this tiny crab shack and then sit outside on the sandy patio and wait for your food to come to you. I loved the atmosphere and the quick service!
The food itself was good, but not as amazing as I expected. I got the fried shrimp platter with potato salad and macaroni salad, and everything was decent. My date got the crab legs platter with drawn butter, and while the crab legs were delicious, the butter had a weird taste and his side of corn was lacking in flavor. We also got a crab cake appetizer because of the great reviews, but that was seriously disappointing. Very little crab flavor and very dry.
For the cute atmosphere, fast service, and okay food I’ll give this place 3 stars, but probably wouldn’t return here again.

Our absolute favorite crab shack in Ocean City! We discovered it 2 years ago when we Unilocaled the best crab spots, and realized we were staying just across the street! On a weekend, we tried to come for dinner and the wait was so long that they suggested that we not wait because they don’t think there would be enough crabs for us by the time we got to the front of the line. We weren’t discouraged, and came back the next day at an earlier time! And we are so glad we did!
We came back again this year just for this! We went on a Monday afternoon. No line.
The crabs here are so fresh. We got the medium crabs, and they were really big. The meat in the crab is the best we’ve had. The seasoning on the shell is salty, but you can taste the seasonings in the meat of the crab. The meat itself is thick, sweet, and just perfect. They sell the crabs by the dozen, or you can do the all-​you-​can-​eat option. We knew we couldn’t handle the all-​you-​can-​eat so we got the dozen — and even packed some to bring home for our family to enjoy. The couple next to us (locals) had about 3 dozens while we were there — and were still going strong when we left! They go there at least twice a week… that’s when you know that you’re at the right place!
We also get their fried soft shell crab as an appetizer — it’s a perfect starter. Last time we got steamed oysters, which were surprisingly good (we don’t usually get them prepared this way). This time, we got them fried — the oysters were huge and delicious.
Hands down the best crab in OC! You must try it — it will not disappoint!

I’ve been here twice over the past couple years, once on a Friday and once on a Saturday, both around 5:30pm and no wait. Around ⁶⁄₆₃₀ is when I notice the wait starting.
All you can eat crabs are $ 29 and come with crabs legs and blue crabs. Obviously the crabs are very fresh, theres actually a camera over the guys making them for you to watch. I also get corn on the cob which is always a summer fav.
The service is great. They come by very frequently to check if you need more crabs or anything. I love that this place is outdoors on picnic tables, it really gives the feel of a crab feast. Don’t come all decked out because you get a little messy.
Something my friend mentioned that would be helpful would be to have water cups or something to rinse out the crabs. Although I’m not squeamish, some of my friends were struggling when seeing the guts.

I went to Ocean City for the first time and I knew I needed some authentic Maryland crabs. but i didn’t get any :-/​I know they run out early and I understand that they’re fresh so they only have so many… but it was kind of disappointing! They weren’t even out of them yet when we got there but by the time we were seated the crabs were gone. The hostess was helpful in explaining how everything works– a window outside for pick up orders and drinks, a counter inside for placing your dinner order.
They said the wait would be about an hour but it was definitely quicker than that so thats good. For a place with such a regular wait time they really had no place for guests to hang out while waiting for the table. We were sort of standing in the parking lot until we found a small spot next to the fence to sit and have our drinks. Speaking of drinks– they are very limited. a few beers, one red and one white wine and two frozen drinks.
So we got our food in styrofoam containers which was a turn off for me. Desperate for some sort of crab I did get the Alaskan king crab legs. and they were delicious! I wanted oysters and the only option was fried oysters. I normally eat raw but I thought I’d give it a chance… it was not good. You bite into it and the insides just sort of spill out, I’m not a fan. We also got shrimp and soup which were both pretty good. I think someone next to us was somehow eating the crabs that they were supposedly out of so that was strange (maybe they work there or have some sort of special treatment?) Sitting outside was nice.
Overall, I think it just wasn’t what I expected. I would definitely suggest going earlier.

Just bulldozed 2 dozen small/​medium sized crabs and a snow crab platter with a yuengling lager pitcher from tap. My family and I always make it down here each summer. They can get pretty busy during the lunch/​dinner hours. We made it here at 2pm so there was enough seating. They have outdoor seating ONLY (so NO air conditioner but the summer breeze, fyi).
We love this place because the blue crab is excellent!!! Their snow crabs were decent too. They have 3 beers on tap and 2 frozen slushie adult drinks. Sodas are free refills. We don’t come for the service, décor, or anything else– so don’t expect anything special. It’s a good place to just relax and enjoy the outdoor breeze. Overall, a good eating experience.
I will probably be back next summer!

Came here around 3pm on a Saturday and surprisingly we did not need to wait for a seat.
We were able to be seated right away after ordering inside.
Menu is basic and straightfoward.
They had the usual sides, corn, potatoe salad. They also had crab cakes fries scallops soup etc
Snow crab legs and of course blue crabs
Our group of 6 decided to get the dozen of crabs, 45 dollars without the seasoning since we figured it would be too salty from our past experiences. Without the seasoning, we were able to taste the freshness of the crabs’ and they indeed were!
My friends got the snow crab legs and in my opinion didnt taste as fresh as the blue crabs
Got the crab cake due to some reviews but i didnt like how much batter was on it and a little too fried.
The scallops also were just the fake frozen ones so was a little disappointed
As for the clams, that we also got, these tasted fresh and was very yummy

This place was awesome! It is exactly the type of beach food you want when your at the beach!
The seafood was fresh and sooo good!!! This is a must stop when you’re in Ocean City!

Excellent place. Highly recommend. Met one of the owners and she is super nice!
Crabs were steamed just right.
Line was long but worth the wait! Will be regular stop :)

I Unilocaled «best seafood to get in Ocean City» and this came up an overwhelming number of times, so my boyfriend and I drove out of our way to get there. All of the stars are for the ambiance of the restaurant – it’s really one of those hole-​in-​the-​wall places that you dream of going to! You order at the front desk and then get seated outside, either in the sun or in the shade. Tables covered with paper towel cloth, for messy crab eating, and you can dig your toes in the sand. The owner was super friendly, even though the cashier we had didn’t speak English very well and it was hard to place our order.
We didn’t get the all-​you-​can-​eat crabs, which I’m sure were much better, but instead opted to try some of the other menu items. I had a soft crab appetizer and clams; the soft crab was TINY, like a midget bug, and was simply fried. Clams were fine and large, but the sauce that came with it (a butter-​based substance) was much too salty. Prices were pretty standard, so it wasn’t like the restaurant had hole-​in-​the-​wall deals, either.
Perhaps I ordered the wrong things, but it seems like the all-​you-​can-​eat hard crabs is the best deal… and still with hard-​shell crabs.

The wait was about an hour long for a table, but it was worth the wait. These were some of the best tasting crabs I’ve had in a while. Whatever they steam the crabs in, it’s delicious! We didn’t get the AYCE option, but we got 2 dozen of the medium sized crabs and they were pretty meaty. Service was good & the staff were all nice. Will try to come back again before summer ends :)

In theory, this is everything you could possibly want during your time in Ocean City: a hole-​in-​the-​wall joint with outdoor picnic table set up outside and serving oodles and oodles of crabs, all just steps away from the beachfront. You can order crabs by the dozen, bushel, or just do an AYCE crab feast for $ 29 per person. The AYCE crab feast is probably the best deal if you really enjoy crabs since they’re not filing at all, but you have to factor in wait times and sitting outdoors in the elements (more fully described below).
5 of us ordered 2 dozen «special» crabs” and both the MD and cream crab soups, which was by no means filling but was great just to get that taste. I’m not sure what was so special about the crabs except that they were $ 24/​dozen and cheaper than the small/​medium batch, which they had apparently sold out of anyway. The ones we got were delicious and had a good amount of meat. They were also served with extra old bay and butter, which is enough to make any crab lover die happy. I really enjoyed the cream crab soup too — it was the perfect consistency and with lots of crab meat in it.
In reality, be prepared to deal with 1 – 2 hour waits in the summer during peak hours. They have a rudimentary wait system where they simply write down names on a pad of paper, and if you choose to wander off instead of standing around in the small adjacent parking lot then you will probably miss your name. We put our name down for a 1.5 hour wait and went across the street to grab a quick bite before coming back. Also, since you’re seated outdoors on picnic tables, if the weather is slightly disagreeable then you are in for a challenging dinner. We finally got seated on a colder day in May as the sun was setting and were so cold that our hands were numb picking away at our crabs.

My friends and I wanted to do all you can eat crabs on our last day in OC, so we did a quick review of Unilocal to find a spot near our condo. We tried calling On the Bay Seafood several times before heading over to check to see if they are even doing it because their website wasn’t very helpful, but we just kept getting an automated message. We decided to head there anyways and just hope for the best. We pulled up in their very teeny parking lot. If you are close by I would recommend walking because we had to circle around until someone left.
The atmosphere was pretty cool — there were picnic tables in the sand and you could sit either in the shade or the sun. There was also some toys in the sand for the little ones. If you’re looking for a casual spot to grab dinner with family or friends then this would be a great spot. The name may be a little deceiving though, as there are no bay/​ocean views.
I would have given them a higher rating had customer service been better. When my friends and I first arrived we got in line and said we would like to do the all you can eat crabs. I asked how much the AYCE was (since it isn’t listed on the menu) and the young woman told us it was $ 29 per person and to take a seat at one of the numbered tables. After about 20 minutes, we were a bit concerned that our food hadn’t come out yet so we got back in line to check on the status of the food. The same young woman said that she thought we were just asking how much the crabs were and she hadn’t actually put our orders in. What? Why did you tell us to take a seat at a table then? Seems like the staff is a bunch of young kids who just work here for the Summer.
Our crabs came out about 20 minutes after that. The crabs were covered with their house seasoning, which was good but I would have preferred Old Bay. It was also served with melted butter and lemons. We got a nice mix of small, medium and large crabs which were steamed well. We also felt like we had to hunt down our waiter to ask for more crabs. And I do wish that the AYCE crabs were served with other sides as well, especially for the price. Perhaps some bread, shrimp or corn? I’ll probably come back though despite some setbacks. Hopefully On the Bay Seafood can step up their game with training their staff.