Attention football fans: The Blue Ox Bar & Grill on 127th Street bayside is the number one spot for NFL fun. Not only does the sprawling establishment have an entire room designated as a Baltimore Ravens Roost, but also it’s home to the weekly “Ravens Rap,” a weekly television show that is filmed every Wednesday at The Blue Ox. The free event is open to the public and attracts guest appearances from celebrities such as Steve Biscotti, owner of the Baltimore Ravens, and former and current NFL athletes.
    The Blue Ox also throws a huge tailgate party before each Ravens game, featuring an outdoor grill and plenty of drink discounts. Manager Chaz, who happens to be a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, wants you to know that if you’re not a Ravens fan you’re still welcome to watch football and join the party at The Blue Ox. High-definition flat-screen televisions line the walls at The Blue Ox, and tall, private booths feature personal television screens for your viewing pleasure.
    For OC Bike Week, The Blue Ox is ready to party all weekend long. You can’t miss the huge “Welcome Bikers” banner displayed on the outdoor deck in front of the bar and grill. Vendors have tents set up in the parking lot, selling everything from food to all-things-biker merchandise. On Friday at 8:00 PM, ride into The Blue Ox for a very important cause. Thunder Roads magazine is hosting a magazine release party for Hogs for Heroes magazine, which is dedicated to retired military and police officers. Models from the first issue will be on display, and food and drinks will be plentiful. It’s the place to be. For the remainder of Bike Week, Deejay Rupe and Deejay Jeremy will rotate sets to keep the music pumping all weekend long.
    Whether football, bikes, or both, tickles your fancy, make sure to sample some of The Blue Ox’s amazing food while you’re here. The restaurant’s Crab Cakes are the best at the beach, and its Grouper and Prime Rib earn high accolades too. The restaurant offers discounts on Crab Imperial on Saturdays, Roasted Chicken on Sundays, Crab Cake on Mondays, Ribs on Tuesdays, Prime Rib on Wednesdays, and Steak & Cake on Thursdays. Look for additional dinner specials during Ocean City’s “second season.” The Blue Ox also serves up a fixed-price menu, inviting you to try three-course or four-course meals for a predetermined, affordable price.
    My boyfriend, Joey Steward, and I had dinner at The Blue Ox this week. From the “Starters” menu, we tried the Crab Dip and Oyster Sliders. The smoking, creamy Crab Dip is served in a hot bowl and covered with melted cheese. Warm pita bread slices accompany the dish. I had never tried Oyster Sliders. Three mini-sandwiches are stuffed with plump, hand-breaded oysters that are fried to a golden brown with special sauce. Oyster Sliders are delicious. I’m now a big fan.
    For our main course, I ordered the New York Strip Steak—12 ounces of center cut choice Angus beef—with mashed potatoes and hand cut fries. Joey ordered the Steak & Cake—a six-ounce Crab Cake with an eight-ounce Filet Mignon. Other “On Shore” entrees at The Blue Ox are Delmonico Steak, King or Queen Prime Rib, and Grilled Chicken Breasts. Try the Chicken Chesapeake for chicken breast topped with Crab Imperial. “On Shore” entrées are served with your choice of dipping sauces: traditional Béarnaise; Dijon Mustard; Ox Sauce, which is creamy garlic black peppercorn and horseradish; and Devil Steak Sauce, which is sweet raspberry infused tomato-based sauce.
    The “Off Shore” entrée options at The Blue Ox include Twin Crab Cakes and broiled Salmon or Tilapia with jumbo lump Crab Imperial. Grouper is prepared fried, broiled, or blackened. Mahi-Mahi is served with mango salsa and can be fried, broiled, or blackened. The next time I come to The Blue Ox, I’ll try the Drunken Shrimp—eight Jumbo Shrimp marinated in sweet Tequila lime sauce on wild rice and topped with Pico de Gallo. “Off Shore” recipes are served with your choice of dipping sauces: Mango Salsa, Ginger Hoisin, Wasabi Curry, or Creamy Dill.
    Staying true to its promise of 25 items for less than $10, The Blue Ox has plenty of affordable sandwiches on the menu. My favorite is Buffalo Chicken Wrap—chicken tenders in wing sauce with bleu cheese crumbles, lettuce, and tomato. Pulled Pork is a classic choice. Loaded with homemade shrimp salad, lettuce, and tomato, the Shrimp Salad Sandwich is another recommendation. The BBQ Chicken & Cheddar Sandwich is served with bacon and fried onions. Grouper Sandwich, Chicken Caesar Wrap, and Classic BLT are a few more options. The Crab Cake Sandwich is the house recipe. Club, Fried Oyster, Cheese Steak, and Chicken Chesapeake top off the sandwich selections.
    The burgers at The Blue Ox are two handfuls of goodness. Try the Cowboy topped with bacon, BBQ sauce, fried onions, and cheddar cheese. Or, try the Chesapeake topped with Crab Imperial. Black & Blue and Mushroom & Swiss are two more mouth-watering burgers. Mini Burgers are also available in orders of three.
    “Our Wings are amazing,” says manager Chaz. They are available in orders of eight, 16, or 25 in mild, medium, hot, garlic butter, honey BBQ, hot BBQ, or Old Bay. Other “Starters” at The Blue Ox are Crab Dip Fries and Soft Pretzel Sticks topped with creamy Crab Dip. Fish Bites, Chicken Tenders, and Steamed Jumbo Shrimp are crowd pleasers that are perfect for sharing. Mozzarella Caprese is a starter dish featuring a concoction of fresh mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and basil with balsamic. The Three Amigos caught my eye, offering a scrumptious blend of homemade spicy taco meat, fresh queso dip, and salsa with tortilla chips and sour cream. The Buffalo Chicken Dip is a must-try too, bursting with chunks of chicken breast baked in creamy, spicy Buffalo-flavored dip tossed with bleu cheese crumbles and served with flatbread. Nachos, Jerk Chicken, Quesadilla, Mozzarella Moons, and Spinach Artichoke Dip round off the “Starters” menu. Soups and Salads are also available, including Crab Bisque and Apple Walnut Salad.
    The Blue Ox is kid friendly, with a $5 kids menu. The restaurant is open at 4 PM on weekdays and noon on weekends, serving lunch, dinner, and late fare. Happy Hour is every weekday from 4-7 PM. Keno, music, televisions, virtual arcade games, Wi-Fi, entertainment, a spacious outdoor deck, and a private party room with a private entrance and patio are just a few more unique features at The Blue Ox. For more information, call 410-250-6440, find The Blue Ox on Facebook, or visit www.theblueox.com