Popular for it's World Famous Monday Night Deck Parties, immaculate sunsets, infamous bachelorette crawls, and tribute bands (like Beatlemania Again, which will perform your favorite Beatles hits on Sunday, August 4), Fager's Island has certainly cornered the market on Ocean City's sophisticated nightlife. The establishment also offers plenty of daytime and happy hour fun, including fashion shows, beer festivals, and standup paddle boarding demonstrations.

Complementing the Fager's Island experience is its extensive dining choices. Fine dining, small plates, and light fare menus are served in separate areas of the expansive Fager's Island, where unparalleled views of the sunset and bay can be appreciated from every angle. During lunch (11 AM) and dinner (5 PM), the deck, indoor dining area, and outdoor beach dining at Fager's offer top-notch items, such as House Smoked Fish Plate and Filet Tenderloin and Crab Cake Dinner. On the second level of the restaurant, white table cloths and panoramic water views set the scene for fine dining, which includes options like Chilean Sea Bass Broiled with Plum-Sesame Glaze.

I enjoy every vantage point at Fager’s Island, but my favorite section is the beach dining area, featuring an orange crush bar, palm trees, and fire pit dining. It’s such a treat to sit in front of a private fire pit and indulge in Fager’s extraordinary dishes. For example, Grilled Watermelon, Hudson Valley Feta, and Fresh Mint is one dish on the Appetizers & Small Plates menu. Grilled Swordfish Bites and All Lump Crab Bake are other options.

  During a romantic fireside dinner at Fager’s Island this week with my fiancé, Joey Steward, we ordered the House Smoked Fish Plate—smoked salmon with tarter sauce, cocktail sauce, pickled onions, capers, and saltines—and Baked Accomack Oyster Sampler—two Rockefeller, two Chesapeake, and two Bienville oysters. I highly recommend both of these appetizers. No trip to Ocean City is complete without a sampling of fresh fish and seafood. Baked Brie, Fresh Hummus, Shrimp Cocktail, and Maryland Crab Dip are a few more excellent appetizers on the menu.

For our second course, we ordered the Cuban Fish Tacos and the Grilled 6 oz. Beef Tenderloin Filet. The Cuban Tacos are the freshest fish served on a tortilla with Havarti cheese, tomato, green onion, red cabbage, Thai sauce, cilantro avocado sauce, and fried wontons. These overstuffed tacos are lip-smacking good. Served with baked Idaho potato and sour cream, the Filet is also a top seller. It is available on the fine dining menu, as well.

Other big platters on the lighter fare menu include Maryland Crab Cake, Twin Fresh center Cut Pork Chops, Broiled 8 oz. Fresh Salmon Filet, and 8 oz. Fresh Swordfish Platter with dill Dijon mayo and pineapple salsa. The light fare menu offers an array of sandwiches too, such as Powerhouse Wrap and Jerk Chicken BLT. The Crab Melt is jumbo lump crabmeat served open-faced on English muffin with tomato, cheddar cheese, or imperial sauce. The Islander is a house original with house roasted turkey breast, deep smoked ham, Swiss cheese, romaine lettuce, and Russian dressing on thick-sliced soft rye. One of my favorites—the Fresh Shrimp Salad—is served on French bread or a platter.

Fager’s also features a raw bar with Spicy Steamed Shrimp, Oysters, and Clams. Many of the salads on the menu are the size of a large entrée, including the Bistro Steak Salad and the Bangkok Salad with baked organic chicken, seasonal greens, spicy Thai plum dressing, peanuts, sesame, cilantro, and fried Asian noodles.

Year-round fine dining options abound at Fager’s Island. The oldest appetizer at the restaurant is Chicken Livers and Water Chestnuts in Bacon with horseradish sauce, circa 1976. Beef Tenderloin Kabob, Blackened Day Boat Scallops, Clams Casino, and Fried Green Tomatoes topped with Blue Claw Crab are just a few more examples of the delicious starter dishes waiting for you at Fager’s Island.

Main courses on the fine dining menu are Cold Water Maine Lobster Tail, Herbed Bleu Cheese Crusted New York Strip Steak, Organic Chicken Breasts Thai Curry Style, and Swordfish Italiano—grilled with fresh spinach, garlic, shallots, chopped tomatoes, basil oil, and pine nuts over risotto. And I musn’t fail to mention the amazing Prime Rib with horseradish, a house star since 19761

  Fager’s Island also has an impressive menu of cocktails, including craft beers and fine wines. Try the Blackberry Mojito, Raspberry Pomegranate Sorbet, or Skinny Girl Vodka Cosmo for summertime refreshment. I’m a big fan of the Glazebrook Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, and the red blend Bordeaux-Claret, Fager’s Island. Locally crafted brews include Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, Burley Oak Dirty Blonde, and Evolution Summer Session, just to name a few. Fager’s is also the home of $5 martinis.

A kid’s menu and dessert menu are also available. Joey and I splurged on Bourbon Pecan Pie and Banana Peanut Butter Pie. You have to taste these sweet concoctions for yourself. On Sundays, Fager’s hosts Jazz Brunch with Everett Spells and $5 Bloody Marys.

In 2012, the iconic gazebo at Fager’s Island washed away during Hurricane Sandy. The new gazebo is completed, and is topped with an angel and American flag. It’s truly a beautiful sight with the bay and sunset as a stunning backdrop. Fager’s is also a location of OC SUP & Fitness, a stand up paddle boarding team that offers lessons, rentals, races, and more water sport fun from Fager’s pier.

The hottest deejays and coolest rock, party, and beach music live bands provide nightly entertainment at Fager’s Island. This weekend, Animal House rocks the dance floor on Friday and Saturday nights. For photos and more information about Fager’s Island, visit http://www.fagers.com/ or www.facebook.com/fagersisland, or call 410-524-5500.