MAY 2, 2014
Ocean City Today
PAGE 55
Ocean City’s 8th annual spring Restaurant Week begins May 4
By Clara Vaughn Staff Writer (May 2, 2014) Close to 20 resort restaurants will offer up $10, $20, $30 and $40 deals starting Sunday, part of Ocean City’s eighth annual spring Restaurant Week. Participating businesses will feature a special, fixed-price menu during the twoweek event, which runs through Sunday, May 18. “It’s a win-win for diners and the restaurants,” said Susan Jones, executive director of the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association. “The whole premise of the promotion is to encourage diners to go out at a time that’s not too busy around here to stir up business, and at the same time, provide diners with deals.” Restaurant Week helps “bring in new faces and show them what we’re all about,” said Executive Chef Travis Wright, of West Ocean City’s Shark on the Harbor restaurant. For him, that’s bringing in local produce and off-the-dock seafood to inspire an ever-changing menu. Sunday through Thursday during dinner, diners came come to Shark on the Harbor for a “three-for-30” Restaurant Week special, where they get three courses for $30. Though the menu shifts based on the day’s catch, spring is soft crab and scallop season. Diners can also expect to see spring peas, leafy greens and asparagus, Wright said.
He’s participated in Restaurant Week since its beginnings and said, “It’s always a good chance to see our loyal regulars and hopefully a few new faces.” The Hobbit on 81st Street will also offer a three-for-30 dinner menu every night featuring its most popular dishes, plus a few new items. “They’re dishes that we’ve really perfected and people really enjoy,” General Manager Garvey Heiderman said. “It’s a good chance for people to come get a deal, get a full belly, and try some new food.” The Hobbit has offered a Restaurant Week menu ever spring for the last four years and the even draws new faces each year, Heirderman said. “It’s something that gets people in who wouldn’t normally come in,” he said. “It gets a lot of people out and about before the season really kicks off” Restaurant Week is “most definitely” a boost to business in the early stretch of the summer season, Jones said. “Typically the restaurants that create the most interesting menus are the ones who do the best — and the ones who offer the best deals,” she said. Newcomer to Restaurant Week this year, Ky West on 54th Street designed an all-new menu for the two-week special, Executive Chef Michael Rendell said. In its three-for-30 dinner special See RESTAURANT Page 56
PHOTO COURTESY SHARK ON THE HARBOR
Travis Wright, chef and owner of Shark on the Harbor in West Ocean City, will prepare a different dish based on the day's fresh catch each night during spring Restaurant Week, May 4-18.