Most Maryland foodies know that this year’s Maryland Restaurant Week runs from September 13 to 22. As we enter the final weekend, there’s still plenty of time to get out there and enjoy delightful dining at all those local and legendary establishments surrounding you.
Maryland is home to so many iconic eats all across the state. But there’s something undeniably unique about the food scene in Ocean City, Maryland. Several well-known local haunts have even become classic must-do traditions among annual vacationers.
So many Ocean City restaurants are original, family-owned operations with just one or a few locations. Several also boast an antiquated history and interesting backstory to boot. In this Flashback Friday Feature, I’m taking a closer look into the unique foundational history behind some of Ocean City’s most renowned restaurants.
The Angler Restaurant Bar and Grill
With a history spanning more than 85 years, Ocean City’s Angler Restaurant is among the oldest continuously operating establishments on the shore. The family-run business began as a small fishing venture. With increasing popularity as the dock to hang out at among locals, a small 20′ x 20′ building was eventually added for selling bait and renting out boats. They also eventually started selling beverages and even homemade pies here. Later, breakfast, lunch, and dinner were added to the mix. And so began the legacy of Ocean City’s renowned Angler Restaurant Bar and Grill.
The Bonfire
For more than 50 years, the Bonfire Restaurant has been topping the bucket list of must-do dining experiences in Ocean City. Since opening in 1973, this family-owned and operated establishment has garnered praise for its premium steak and seafood offerings. But what sets them apart most is their bountiful buffet, spanning an impressive 150 feet. It’s no wonder why the Bonfire has been voted “Best Buffet in Ocean City” for seven consecutive years and counting.
The Dough Roller
Whether you seek traditional breakfast classics or come for the filling dinner fare, the Dough Roller has you covered. It’s been the familiar family favorite go-to since opening in the spring of 1980 on 3rd Street and the Boardwalk. This original location is situated within the lower portion of Breakers Hotel, where Dough Roller founder Bill Gibbs previously worked in the 1960s. When the opportunity arose for Gibbs to purchase the Breakers Hotel in 1979, he saw the potential to bring forth a new family-friendly dining establishment renowned for pancakes, pizza, and other doughy delights.
In addition to the original operation, the Dough Roller has two additional locations. One is on 41st Street on Coastal Highway and the other is on South Division Street.
Dumser’s Dairyland
Dining at Dumser’s Dairyland is another longstanding tradition—one dating back to 1939. That was the year when Gladys Dumser started operating her homemade ice cream stand on the Ocean City Boardwalk. Eventually, additional locations opened up around Ocean City. The current number stands at seven.
In 1981 ownership passed to Donald Timmons. While ice cream is still the foundational hallmark of all Dumser’s locations, Dumser’s Dairyland on 123rd Street also operates a full-service family restaurant featuring diner-style food favorites. It has become a rite of passage for vacationing diners and locals alike—a place where you can have a hearty American meal followed by that famed homemade ice cream of such high acclaim. Every Dumser’s location follows a vintage malt shop motif.
Embers Restaurant
Embers has been part of the Ocean City scene since the 1950s. While it has undergone several developmental changes throughout its tenure, it’s always remained a time-tested dining hit with visitors and locals alike. It was originally founded by brothers Sam and Irv Taustin as a smaller restaurant called “The Embers,” located on 9th Street. Not long after, they relocated to a larger site on 24th Street, where they earned a reputation as a notable buffet operation of great acclaim. After 40 years of offering all-you-can-eat premium prime rib, Embers Restaurant has since relocated to Philadelphia Avenue, where they’ve reinvented their dining establishment into a new concept, full-service operation.
The Harbor Inn
Better known today as that little watering hole near the Boardwalk, Harbor Inn takes credit for being the oldest still-operating bar in all of Ocean City. They also lay claim to holding the second-oldest liquor license in Maryland. While it was officially established as a bar in 1935, the building itself dates back even earlier, to the 1800s, to be exact. Throughout the 1920s, during the Prohibition era, this location played host to a market operation.
Layton’s Family Restaurant
Layton’s Family Restaurant is another tradition boasting local longevity. Robert and Peggy Layton of Cambridge purchased the lot on 16th Street in 1959. Established as Layton’s Plaza, original onsite operations included a laundromat, car wash, and an 18-hole golf course. In the decade that followed, the family started operating a donut shop. That was just the beginning of what would emerge as the now-popular Layton’s Family Restaurant.
The Original Greene Turtle
While the Greene Turtle franchise knows 33 different locations today, it was on 116th Street in Ocean City where the Original Greene Turtle first opened back in 1976. It first found life as an English-style small tavern of sorts. That was before it was purchased by Steve Pappas and Tommy Dickerson in 1981 and reformatted as a sports bar setup. Greene Turtle’s franchising and additional locations came about later in 1986, but it was in Ocean City where it all started.
Ponzetti’s Pizza
Ponzetti’s has been dishing up the dough and a versatile range of almost every kind of pizza topping imaginable since opening in Ocean City back in 1962. Unlike other original restaurants that have since changed hands in ownership, Ponzetti’s retains the honor of being the only one of Ocean City’s beach restaurants that is still actively owned and operated by the original founding family.
Today you can enjoy two Ponzetti’s Pizza locations. One is at 144th Street and Coastal Highway. The other is in Salisbury.
Tony’s Pizza
Tony’s Pizza, a Boardwalk pizza tradition for generations of families, boasts a storied history dating back to 1960 when Tony Russo first came to this country from Italy. Before establishing Tony’s Pizza in Ocean City, Russo worked at the Squire Café in Dundalk. In 1962 Russo made the trek to Ocean City where he premiered the first Tony’s Pizza operation on 1st Street and the Boardwalk. Two years later, he opened a second Tony’s location in Dundalk, while his Ocean City establishment remained in operation until 1968. The Dundalk location closed in 1972.
In 1968, one year after marrying his wife, the newlyweds started running the Roosevelt Hotel on N. Division Street and the Boardwalk. Two years later, half of the Roosevelt burned down and was reconstructed to become a miniature golf course. Then, in 1972, the second half of the hotel burned down. The remaining property was then reestablished as the current Tony’s Pizza location now loved today by locals and tourists alike.
Many other of Ocean City’s beloved dining locations have intricate backstories behind their founding in addition to those profiled here. Some are far older than others, but all feature a feast of fun facts and intricate explorations into Ocean City’s palatable past and present.