Indeed Waterman’s Seafood Company is an Eastern Shore tradition. My first impression as I approached the huge crab house on Route 50 West was, “This is a gigantic restaurant!” An outdoor tiki bar, a T-shirt and merchandise boutique, an indoor carryout store and fresh seafood market, and an expansive ground-floor dining area are just part of the enormous restaurant. Upstairs, another large dining area and a lively sports bar and raw bar complete the complex structure.
    I visited Waterman’s Seafood Company this week with my handsome dinner date, Joey Steward, who rated the restaurant as his favorite best bites experience. A polite hostess led us to a large booth in the sports bar, where the lovely Jessica was our server. Our booth was big enough to accommodate a large family, and several nearby tables were packed with happy customers taking advantage of all-you-can-eat specials. Large windows offer a bird’s eye view of West Ocean City, while skylights illuminate the tavern-style sports bar. A jukebox, live musicians and deejays, and flat screen televisions add to the fun atmosphere.
    As I looked around the second level, I recognized several local faces enjoying happy hour specials. Happy Hour at Waterman’s Seafood Company presents some of the best discounts in Ocean City. Available from 3-7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and from 1-7 p.m. on Sunday, happy hour discounts include Fish Tacos, Shrimp Tacos, Crab Cake Sliders, Cheeseburger Sliders, and Carolina Pulled Pork Sliders. Wings, Sandwiches, Raw Bar items, and other appetizers are discounted, and for less than $10 you can enjoy entrées like Ribs, Pasta, Sirloin Steak, Fish & Chips, Chicken & Shrimp, and Chicken Chesapeake. Plus, at the tiki bar only, select Sliders are only $1 and Wings are 25 cents.
    Waterman’s Seafood Company is locally famous for its all-you-can-eat feasts. The Original Feast includes Blue Crabs, Steamed Shrimp, Fried Chicken, French Fries, Hushpuppies, and Corn on the Cob for $29.99. The Shrimp Feast is a concoction of Steamed Shrimp, Fried Chicken, French Fries, Hushpuppies, and Corn on the Cob for $21.99. For the early birds, you can enjoy all-you-can-eat Crabs and Chicken or Corn for $24.99 and 12 entrées for under $12 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Waterman’s Seafood Company also boasts daily $16.99 fresh fish specials. On the day we dined at the restaurant, the fish special was Swordfish, prepared blackened with a corn and black bean salsa.
    Joey and I started our feast with bowls of Cream of Crab Soup. A little bit spicy, the Cream of Crab Soup is brimming with chunks of lump crabmeat. Waterman’s Seafood Company also serves Clam Chowder and Vegetable Crab Soup. Next, Jessica presented us with a plate of chilled, jumbo lump crabmeat on a bed of lettuce with toast crackers. Garnished with a refreshing dill & old bay seasoning, the heaping plate of crabmeat is simply delicious. “This is easily two pounds of lump crabmeat,” commented Joey.
    From the Appetizers menu, Joey and I devoured Waterman’s Crab Dip. Served piping hot, it is the creamiest Crab Dip I’ve ever tasted. Wings, Hushpuppies, Crab Pretzel, Seafood Skins, Clams Casino, Fried Shrimp, Clam Strips, Chicken Fingers, French Fries, and Onion Rings top off the Appetizers menu. Try the Angels on Horseback for four jumbo Gulf shrimp stuffed with horseradish, wrapped in bacon, and topped with BBQ sauce.
    For our entrée, Joey and I shared the Steamed Seafood Combination. Consisting of a whole Lobster, Shrimp, Clams, Mussels, and red potatoes, the Steamed Seafood Combination is enough to feed an army. The Fried Seafood Combination includes Shrimp, Soft Crab, Crab Cake, Haddock, and Clam Strips. You may build your own combo meal, or order the Broiled Seafood Combination, which includes Shrimp, Scallops, Crab Cake, and Flounder.
    Served with your choice of two sides, entrées at Waterman’s Seafood Company are extra-large portions. Seafood platters include your choice of Salmon, Scallops, Soft Crab, Crab Cake, Whole Lobster, Crab Imperial, or Jumbo Shrimp (broiled, fried, or stuffed). From the Land, platters include Prime Rib, Sirloin Filet, Chicken Chesapeake (topped with ham and crab imperial), and Waterman’s Fried Chicken.
    For smaller appetites, Waterman’s Seafood Company offers “small plates” of Tuna, Shrimp, Flounder, Haddock, Clam Strips, or Crab Cakes. Sandwiches include Fresh Fish, Shrimp Salad, Soft Shell Crab, Crab Cake, Prime Rib, Carolina BBQ with slaw, Grilled Chicken Breast, and a half-pound Cheeseburger.
    Waterman’s Seafood Company also features an extensive Steamed menu. Clams, Shrimp, Mussels, and Oysters are a few of many choices. Blue Crabs, Snow Crab Clusters, Dungeness Crab Clusters, and Alaskan King Crab Legs are available steamed too. From the Raw Bar, enjoy top neck Clams on the half shell and Oysters on the half shell. Add two sides and rolls with butter to make it a meal.
    A kid’s menu and irresistible dessert menu—including Cheesecake, Carrot Cake, Double Chocolate Cake, Coconut Key Lime Cake, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cream Pie, and Chocolate Tuxedo Cheesecake—are also available. Plus, Waterman’s Seafood Company offers a wide selection of adult beverages, including draft & bottled beer, wine by the bottle, and buckets of beer. In the fresh seafood market, the best deal in town is the Carry-Out Special, which features 12 pieces of Fried Chicken, one pound of steamed or fried shrimp, 3 homemade sides, and rolls with butter for $19.99.
    Boasting high definition televisions in every direction, and the NFL Sunday Ticket Package, Waterman’s Seafood Company’s sports bar offers happy hour drink discounts during all college and professional football games, plus a $5 tailgate menu. The restaurant is also active on Facebook and Twitter, and offers an electronic newsletter. To learn more, check out Waterman’s website at www.crabsoc.com .  For more information, call (410) 213-1020.