Situated directly on the bay on 1st Street next to the Route 50 Bridge, de Lazy Lizard is the perfect spot to watch the sunset and gaze at the boats sailing. With a panoramic lineup of Adirondack chairs along the water, the restaurant invites you to sit back and sip on a cocktail while you take in the fun atmosphere at the Lizard. Cornhole games liven up the sandy beach area between two enclosed bars. Palm trees sway in the cool breeze and laidback reggae music wafts through the sound system.
    From Thursday through Sunday, live acoustic acts fill the bayfront barroom with sing-along tunes. In July and August, you can expect two live bands per day, everyday. Happy hour at the Lizard is from 3-6 pm every day, featuring discounts on wings, clams, and shrimp. Try the house specialty cocktail—the fresh-squeezed Watermelon Crush.
    De Lazy Lizard is enthusiastically awaiting the arrival of special events in Ocean City, such as the OC Air Show on June 9 & 10, and Firemen’s Weekend on June 20. Watch the fishing vessels depart and return for the OC Shark Tournament on June 13. Then, on July 13-15, De Lazy Lizard will set up scales on its decks for the 25th Annual Ocean City Tuna Tournament. The White Marlin Open is another outstanding event at De Lazy Lizard. With its prime vantage point, the establishment is a spectacular spot to watch all of the boating action on the bay every day.
    De Lazy Lizard boasts more free boat docking than any other bayfront restaurant at the beach. A dock master is at your service this summer. For cars, plenty of parking is available in the front and the rear of De Lazy Lizard. The restaurant is kid-friendly too, with a children’s menu and a gigantic pirate ship playground on the sand to keep your little ones entertained for hours. For adults, De Lazy Lizard is staffed with some of Ocean City’s favorite bartenders, including Pat Pugh, Joe Gammill, and many others.
    I enjoyed a fabulous sunset dinner with my mom, Nancy, this week at De Lazy Lizard. The friendly and knowledgeable manager, Kelly, greeted us and gave us our choice of tables. We selected an indoor table next to a wall of windows overlooking the umbrella-covered tables and Adirondack chair clusters on the deck dining area. Our cheerful server, Elizabeth (a.k.a. Lala), presented us with menus and took our drink orders.
    For our first course, Nancy ordered the Maryland Crab Soup and I chose the House Salad. Made with chunks of crabmeat and vegetables, the soup is delicious with a little kick. Piled high with fresh tomatoes, carrots, red onion, cucumbers, cheese, and croutons, the salad is large enough to be an entrée.
    For our second course, Nancy ordered the Shrimp Salad Sandwich, while I selected the Raspberry Turkey Wrap. Her sandwich is loaded with juicy, plump shrimp. Mine is overstuffed with sliced turkey, lettuce, tomato, red onion, cheddar cheese, and raspberry vinaigrette in a whole-wheat wrap.
    Entrées at De Lazy Lizard include Crab Cakes, House NY Strip, Twin Flounder Filets, Hog Wild Rib Wings, and Cajun Mango Glazed Tilapia. The Lizard Chicken is two grilled breasts topped with your choice of tangy BBQ, spicy jerk, or sweet bourbon glaze. Try the Chesapeake Mahi for a taste of filet of mahi seasoned with butter, garlic, and Old Bay, or order the Fiery Island Shrimp for spicy shrimp glazed with orange and ginger. Bayside Scallops and Jumbo Fried Shrimp top off the entrées menu. Each dish is served with a choice of two sides: Cole slaw, applesauce, French fries, mixed vegetables, redskin mashed potatoes, or sweet potato fries.
    Sandwiches at De Lazy Lizard include Chicken Salad, Fried or Broiled Flounder, and Prime Rib Sandwich with au jus on a Kaiser roll. The Veggie Wrap is a yummy combo of provolone and white American cheese with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, red onion, and ranch dressing. The Grilled Chicken Sandwich can be prepared BBQ, jerked, or bourbon glazed, while the Crispy Chicken Sandwich is offered plain, buffalo with provolone cheese, or club style with melted cheese and bacon. Seafood lovers will enjoy two lightly breaded soft crabs on a Kaiser roll and the Blackened Mahi-Mahi Sandwich with a cucumber wasabi sauce. Fish Tacos are filled with seasoned tilapia, lettuce, tomato, cheddar jack cheese, and a spicy, garlicky Boom-Boom sauce. Have you ever tried a Po Boy sandwich? The Oyster Po Boy is a hoagie roll piled high with lightly dusted and fried oysters, shredded lettuce, diced tomato, and cocktail or tarter sauce on the side. A famous item on the menu is the Crabby Chicken Melt—a tender grilled breast topped with homemade creamy crab dip and melted cheddar cheese.
    The Sliders menu includes Cheeseburger and Pulled Pork BBQ Sliders. Full-sized Burgers include the Black n Bleu, the Crabby Patty, and the Philly Burger. The California Burger is a half-pound burger topped with bacon, cheddar, and avocado. Big appetites will love the Roundup Burger.
    De Lazy Lizard also serves up your full selection of munchies and appetizers, such as Wings, Crab Dip, Ahi Tuna, Coconut Shrimp, Chicken Fingers, and Onion Rings. Try the Sweet Potato Fries tossed in cinnamon sugar and honey mustard, or order the Crabby Cheese Fries for the best of both worlds—fries and crab dip. De Lazy Lizard is also renowned for its Crab Nachos and mozzarella-filled Leapin’ Lizard Logs. Cream of Crab Soup rounds out the Soups selections. Tropical, Caesar, Buffalo Chicken, and Jerk Chicken are the salad selections. Try the Eastern Shore Cold Plate for a healthy portion of chicken salad, shrimp salad, and Cole slaw.
    A lengthy drink specials menu is the perfect cap to any meal. Got a sweet tooth? The desserts menu includes Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Strawberry Cheesecake Stick, Apple Fritters with Ice Cream, and Chocolate Cookie Crunch Sundae.
    De Lazy Lizard is on Facebook (www.facebook.com/oclazylizard) and has a website (www.oclazylizard.com). For more information on upcoming events, discounts, and band schedules, check the advertisement in Coconut Times or call 410-289-1122. Let’s get slizard at the Lizard!