The Shark Restaurant in Ocean City

Amazing Food and Great Lunch Deals Across the Route 50 Bridge

For me, eating in Ocean City, Maryland is about convenience. After living in New York City for five years, I hate driving and rarely go anywhere that can’t be reached on foot. But I would travel to the ends of the earth to eat at The Shark restaurant (which, in Ocean City geography, means crossing the Route 50 bridge).

To get there, Kenny, my parents, and I travel south on Coastal Highway, the only road in Ocean City. We pass several miniature golf courses, all with a different theme; hotels and condos on every block; and the crowded Boardwalk area, which runs from 27^th Street to the Inlet. When we near the end of Ocean City we make a right, crossing that Route 50 Bridge to West Ocean City, driving past a handful of fishermen and rows of cast lines along the way. After exiting the bridge, making a couple of turns, and crossing a frustrating two-way stop sign intersection, we arrive at a harbor.

A few boats sit, parked between their designated wooden posts and, across the water, another handful of fisherman (not to be confused with the first handful on the bridge) are unloading the day’s catch. It is quiet and the air smells like fish and salt. The drive takes 15 minutes on a good day. The reward: the Shark Restaurant’s delicious $5 lunch.

The Shark has wonderful dinners (starting with an amuse bouche and warm bread with a thick cheese spread), but it’s hard to beat their $5 lunch deal, especially during these tough economic times. We sit down to a menu that offers a tuna sandwich, a flounder sandwich, and a burger made with mako shark and swordfish. As a side, we choose between organic mixed greens or thick-cut house-made potato chips.

I get the last mako burger available, served with Creole mustard. The mustard has an extra kick, which my family and I decide must be horseradish. It’s a thick, messy sandwich. I struggle to wrap my mouth around it and, after every bite, must wipe away the mustard or piece of lettuce that gets stuck to my chin. But I am happy to sacrifice sophistication for this filling burger.

The flounder, ordered by Kenny and my parents, has a light, crisp crust with a fresh lemon flavor. This sandwich is thinner, leaving my face cleaner when I take a bite. Both meals are amazing – hearty, flavorful and worth much more than their $5 price (to see the daily $5 lunch specials, visit In the Kitchen).

Another reason I am in love with the Shark: its commitment to natural and/or local products. The first page of The Shark's menu proudly proclaims their participation in the local/natural food movement. Most of the seafood dishes come from “the Southern Connection dock located right here in the commercial harbor” (the harbor is pictured above). Angus beef, pork, and chicken come from animals who are fed a natural diet with no antibiotics or hormones. Produce, butter, cheese, and ice cream are sourced locally.

For other great Ocean City dining experiences, Elizabeth Large of The Baltimore Sun has some ideas including the Sunset Grille, located right across the street from the Shark. Their food may be delicious, but my loyalty to the Shark is strong. I can’t imagine driving for anyone else.

Visit the The Shark at 12924 Sunset Avenue in West Ocean City, Maryland. Directions can be found here.