As you drive over, or sail underneath, the Route 50 Bridge into Ocean City, you’ll notice a fun, gazebo dockbar built over the water. M.R. Ducks is a staple in downtown Ocean City, and it’s jumping every night of the week. Free boat docking and freet parking make the bar and restaurant an easy destination. Fresh fish and handmade burgers satisfy hungry locals and tourists who visit M.R. Ducks for its bayfront sunsets and live entertainment.
In addition to its delicious seafood and party atmosphere, I like M.R. Ducks because of its expansive, comfortable outdoor seating. Large, umbrella-covered tabletops are flanked with tropical flowers and palm trees. I also enjoy watching the many fishing and leisure boats float past, and often dock, at the bar.
M.R. Ducks features live entertainment Friday-Sunday from 4-9 PM, and never charges a cover. This Friday night, July 26, the Bo Dickerson Band is performing, followed by the Shawn Owens Band SOB on Saturday, July 27, and regional favorites Bird Dog and the Road Kings on Sunday Funday, July 28. It doesn’t get any better than listening to live rock n’ roll music while the sun sets on the bay. On Wednesday, July 31, local celebrity DJ Batman will keep the dance floor packed. Happy Hour at M.R. Ducks is from 3-6 PM, Monday through Thursday, and offers outrageous food and drink discounts.
I enjoyed Happy Hour and then some with my good friend, Natalee DeHart (D3 Corp) this week. After taking advantage of freet parking, which is hard to come by in downtown OC, we sat ourselves in notably comfortable chairs on the outdoor patio and marveled at the gorgeous, colorful sky. Our attentive server, Sam, greeted us and made a few menu recommendations.
We started our meal with an incredible deal—Jumbo Lump Crab Cocktail. If you love picking Maryland steamed crabs, you’ll love this appetizer. It’s all of the meat with none of the mess or work. Served hot or cold, it’s a weighty portion of Maryland Blue Crab sprinkled with Old Bay Seasoning. We opted to eat ours hot with drawn butter.
Because M.R. Ducks is famous for its “C.M. Wangs,” we had to try a pound of the Old Bay Wings, as well. Extra crispy, hot, and served with Ranch or Blue Cheese, these wings truly “M.R. Awesome!” Other available sauces are BBQ, Mild, Asian Chili, Garlic Herb, Mango Habenero, Sriracha Hot, and Sesame Teriyaki.
Just in case you’re not familiar with the old riddle, it goes like this (said in an Eastern Shore accent) ... “M.R. Ducks/M.R. Not/O.S.A.R. C.M. Wangs/L.I.B. M.R. Ducks.” For the complete history of M.R. Ducks, visit http://www.mrducksbar.com/ocean-city-history. It’s a quick read and a great story that inspires many of the items in the restaurant’s apparel shop.
While we enjoyed our appetizers, we noticed many other tempting dishes on the menu, including Coastal Calamari served with spicy seafood aioli and Tuna Nachos—fresh tuna encrusted with sesame seeds on won-ton chips and seaweed salad with cucumber wasabi and island teriyaki. Bayside Crab Dip is a crowd pleaser, as are handmade Crab Balls and Coconut Shrimp. Specialty appetizers include Grilled Shrimp Skewer and Lucky Ducky Spring Rolls—filled with duck confit, cabbage, ginger, water chestnuts, spring onions, and sesame seeds.
In addition to appetizers, M.R. Ducks is popular for its overstuffed, delicious sandwiches. The house special is the Crabby Chicken Sandwich, comprised of a grilled, marinated chicken breast, Crab Dip, applewood bacon, cheddar cheese, and a Telera roll. The Crab Cake Sandwich is handmade every day from a recipe handed down from three generations. Try it topped with cheddar cheese and applewood bacon, if you please. Shrimp Salad and Softshell Crab are two more sandwiches available at M.R. Ducks.
Fresh Fish Sandwiches are top sellers at M.R. Ducks. The Fresh Catch of the Day can be prepared grilled, blackened, or fried, with lettuce, tomato, and onion on a Kaiser roll. The Cobbler’s Island Fish Sandwich is topped with American cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce and tomato.
Natalee and I couldn’t resist ordering the Blackened Mahi Mahi Tacos, per Sam’s recommendation. Two soft flour tortillas filled with grilled blackened Mah Mahi, red cabbage, cheddar jack cheese, diced tomatoes, cilantro lime sauce, and mango salsa. Perhaps the only thing that could possibly be better than Mahi Mahi Tacos is the Rockfish Tacos at M.R. Ducks. You can also order a classic Maryland Fish & Chips—pub battered rockfish golden fried and served with fries, coleslaw and tarter sauce.
Burgers are handmade every day at M.R. Ducks. The Bufflehead Burger is a half-pound of fresh ground certified Angus beef hand pattied and grilled. The O-Burger is topped with onion rings, cheddar cheese, and BBQ sauce. Or, try the Surf & Turf Burger topped with Crab Dip, applewood bacon, and cheddar cheese. Land lovers can also try the Island Chicken Sandwich—all natural chicken breast grilled with blackening seasoning and topped with provolone cheese and honey mustard.
From the steamer, you can order a half-pound of Steamed Shrimp with Old Bay and sweet onions, or a baker’s dozen of Steamed Clams from Chincoteague. Other classic appetizers are French Fries, Cheese Fries, Onion Rings, Chicken Tenders, and Stuffed Pretzel—a soft dough pretzel stuffed with pepper jack cheese and jalapeños. Healthy salads are also on the menu.
M.R. Ducks is family friendly and offers a kids menu. Located at the Talbot Street Pier at 311 Talbot Street, M.R. Ducks is also a popular destination for friends and families eager to explore Ocean City’s waterways on a plethora of boat rides available from the pier, including the easily recognizable Duckaneer.
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