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    The Bonfire Restaurant

    3.0 (568 reviews)
    PriceyBuffets, Seafood
    Closed 3:00 pm - 8:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    The Bonfire Restaurant Photos

    THE BONFIRE RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - The Bonfire Restaurant

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    Reviews With Photos - The Bonfire Restaurant

    Meats including meatballs, roast beef, and sausage.
    Angela P.

    The pictures were taken during this past summer. This was my family's first time eating at this buffet. Although, we were stuffed, we didn't had many expectations with the place since it was quite overpriced. The place over all was a bit chaotic and decent. Some of the food was good and filling. However, it makes sense since it is the only buffet in the Ocean City area, that it's not the best food place in the city. I would not go there again since there are better buffets anywhere, but if I'm really craving a buffet near me, I'll just visit there again as the only option.

    Crablegs!
    Jill T.

    I know this places "ambiance" is outdated, for sure lol buttttt it's our absolute favorite place to eat when we come to Ocean City. The food is always fresh and delicious & even though they had to increase their pricing after Covid, I still think it's fairly reasonable for the amount that you get! My favorite thing on earth is their beautiful 3 pound plate of fresh Maryland crab legs. My family & I have been coming here for over 25 years & we will never stop coming to the Bonfire

    Greasy residue in my soda.

    After Embers discontinued All You Can Eat (AYCE), Bonfire is the last bona fide seafood AYCE in OC. The good: Everything was hot and I enjoyed most of the meal. The service was good and I tipped a full 20%. Yes they charge for snow crab legs which is expected due to the price and demand. They had a great special, $46 for 3 lbs not including the buffet, which is much lower than most of OC at $20-$27 per lb. If you have 3-5 people to share this is a deal! They should have advertised this online because people would flock there. The bad: Someone raided the soups and dug out every tiny bit of crab meat. I am not kidding. Either these were purees to begin with or they were slop after that person was done with them. There is a security guard for some reason who kept an eye on us in the line. The "brisket" was decent and the prime rib was fatty but OK. If serving brisket they need more BBQ, with types labeled. They ran out of ketchup near the fries and hush puppies. I told the employee and one hour later when I left, it was still empty. The ugly: The glasses were not clean and had a greasy residue (see picture). Does this represent the rest of the cleanliness of the kitchen? The bathrooms. Someone had C-diff and there's very little ventilation. If you have ever smelled it in a hospital, you know what it is and it sticks with you for days later. I tried both family bathrooms plus the men's room, all 3 had the putrid smell. There were no paper towels, only a hand dryer. Overall, try it for the experience but the owners need to put more pride into a 50+ year family business!

    Roseanne P.

    Visited the Bonfire Restaurant while in OCMD over the summer. We were looking for a good buffet spot similar to Philipp's Seafood that we had visited years before. Be warned, there will be a wait during the summer so I highly recommend making a reservation bc we were seated immediately. Good variety of hot foods, seafood, and dessert. Literally there is something for everyone and very family friendly! I loved the fresh donuts-- I literally went back for seconds! Must visit if you are looking for an all you can eat restaurant.

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    1 year ago

    The food was amazing, the service was great, and the environment was clean and chill.

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    Page 1 of 15

    Ask the Community - The Bonfire Restaurant

    Is it fancy like should I dress nice?

    It's nice, but not fancy. Shorts and a shirt is fine.

    Do they open on Thanksgiving?

    Yes- according to their website they are. I would call for reservations, pricing and hours.

    Is there a cheaper price if you do NOT eat any seafood?

    It is cheaper if you choose no Crab Legs for the entire party at your table. The Crab legs are costly. It is posted on their door a special rate, you could call them. If you go within an hour of opening they offer $3 off each adult.

    View All 7 Questions

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    On The Bay Seafood

    On The Bay Seafood

    4.2
    (925 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    This place is great! My sons and I went in, ordered crabs and had a little difficulty with them…read more The owner sat down and gave us a lesson on how to eat crabs. So nice! Prices were pretty reasonable for crabs.

    We had plans to eat at another crab house today but they didn't open until 4pm and we wanted to eat…read moreat noon. We found On The Bay Seafood and decided to give it a try. Rob and Rose greeted and welcomed us. We ordered the Medium steamed Crabs, Crab Cake Sandwich, Crab Bisque, corn on the cob and Hush Puppies. Wow! What a treat so early in the season. The Bisque was excellent. It's not too spicy but they give you extra seasoning and spice to add according to your personal taste. The Crab Cake was just as advertised. No filler, fresh Crab, Eastern Shore style and delicious. The medium crabs were very good. Some establishments would be seeking them as Large. They were seasoned and steamed perfectly. Heavy and sweet. The sides; Corn on the Cob, steamed in the Husk was very good and the Hush Puppies were a perfect pairing. My apologies for lack of pictures, we ate most everything before I started taking pictures. Rob and Rose were very attentive. They told us their story and shared a scrap book of their off season home in New Mexico. They were in the process of training and orienting their summer staff while we enjoyed our meal. The attention to detail, customer first, quality service and passion for excellent food was on full display. The dining is beach rustic and perfect. There's a good amount of parking and it's easy to find them right along coastal highway. What initially seemed like a disappointment today turned into a wonderful discovery of a new favorite. On The Bay Seafood is a must try if you're at the shore this year.

    Photos
    On The Bay Seafood
    Aftermath
    Aftermath
    Outside

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    Outside
    Crab Alley

    Crab Alley

    3.9
    (686 reviews)
    5.0 mi
    $$

    We've been here probably 10 times in the last 5 years - pretty much the only place you can get…read moresteamed crabs during the off season. Always have a good experience with the quality of the food (they always give you extra if the crabs are missing a claw or something), even though the quantity is limited (normal for off season). Service can be a bit slow but we can always find someone if needed, and the vibes is friendly, homey but no frills. Highly recommend for crabs!

    My wife, daughter, and I visited Crab Alley again this year, and unfortunately the reality didn't…read morequite match the reviews. We ordered the seafood combo that included six hard-shell crabs, three pounds of snow crab legs, a half-pound of shrimp, corn, and hush puppies. The hard-shell crabs were decent, although they seemed slightly oversteamed. The meat in the legs was practically fused to the shell, making them difficult to eat. The snow crab legs were good, but the shrimp were noticeably undercooked, which made peeling them nearly impossible. There were a few bright spots. The beer was reasonably priced at $4.50 a pint, and the hush puppies were excellent--arguably the best part of the entire meal. The corn, however, was tough and seemed past its prime. For the roughly $145 we spent on the combo, I expected a better overall dining experience. Sadly, this seems to be the standard at many seafood restaurants these days: higher prices without a corresponding increase in quality. And while it's a minor issue compared to the food, the deck seating chairs were surprisingly uncomfortable and felt out of place for a restaurant charging these prices. Overall, the meal wasn't terrible, but it fell well short of expectations given the cost.

    Photos
    Crab Alley Ambience
    Crab Alley Ambience
    Fried oysters and crab cake
    Fried oysters and crab cake
    Snow Crab Feast For 2 ($125)

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    Snow Crab Feast For 2 ($125)
    Belly Busters

    Belly Busters

    3.9
    (593 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    Located on 45th Street and Coastal Highway, Belly Busters is the definition of a classic, laid-back…read morebeach shack. Operating out of a building that has served as Ocean City's oldest continually operating sub shop location since circa 1950, it officially opened as Belly Busters Seafood and Deli in 1985 under owner Scott and his family. Over the decades, it has grown into a beloved local institution where you can walk straight off the beach in board shorts to grab a cold beer, crack open fresh seafood, or order a massive sub. The Food & Standout Dishes Steamed Crabs: True to its coastal roots, Belly Busters sources heavy, fat blue crabs from Maryland waters when in season (and top regional bayous off-season). Steamed to order with heavy Old Bay seasoning, they're available for dine-in or via their popular local crab delivery service. Blackened Mahi & Fish Tacos: Among their most famous specialties, the fish tacos feature blackened or fried fish piled high with house-made pico de gallo, fresh cabbage, New York spicy cheddar, and a signature cream sauce. The blackened mahi tacos in particular are a fan favorite for their bold Cajun kick. Overstuffed Sandwiches & Subs: True to its name, the portion sizes are huge. Their ribeye cheesesteaks, house-cooked meats, and fresh seafood salads--like the lump crab cake and jumbo shrimp salad subs--are packed generously on toasted rolls. Accolades & Reputation Belly Busters consistently earns spots on Best of Ocean City lists, routinely capturing awards and editorial picks in competitive categories like Best Carry-Out, Best Subs, and Best Fresh Seafood/Tuna. Whether you're looking for an easy takeout meal or want to sit on the porch with a pitcher of beer and a pile of steamed crabs, Belly Busters delivers authentic, no-frills OCMD hospitality every single time.

    We ordered pink lemonade and draft beer. Then two types of Tavos…read more Blackened fish taco you get two fried Rockfish taco. Waiter was friendly . Tacos were not bad . Soft taco with fish and salad on top .

    Photos
    Belly Busters
    French dip
    French dip
    Exterior vibe

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    Exterior vibe
    Tailchasers Restaurant & Dock Bar

    Tailchasers Restaurant & Dock Bar

    4.0
    (444 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    We had such a great experience at Tailchasers. We both started with a grapefruit crush, and it was…read moreso good that I knew after the very first sip I'd be ordering a second one. Perfectly refreshing, bright, and exactly what you want on a beach‑town evening. We shared the pretzel with crab cheese dip, and that was phenomenal -- warm, soft, and paired with a rich, flavorful crab dip that tasted fresh and indulgent without being heavy. For my meal, the crab cake was very good, full of flavor and nicely done. My Caesar salad was crisp and well‑dressed, and the fresh‑cut fries were perfect -- exactly what you'd hope for from classic boardwalk‑style fries, just served in a restaurant setting. Hot, salty, and addictive. Between the drinks, the food, and the relaxed coastal vibe, Tailchasers absolutely delivered for us. We'll definitely be back.

    I enter an establishment at 4:30 on a weekday and it's empty, and smells like glade air freshener…read morespray. The people there did not seem to want to work. Everyone was standing around just gossiping. We sat at the table inside and waited about 15 mins to get a server. I realize this is pretty normal here in OCMD, but there were a lot of people standing around and a handful of people eating. The server was a nice guy. He wasn't one of the folks standing around. We were hopeful. Drinks were watered down. They were supposed to be frozen. We ordered brisket Putíne. Absolutely flavorless. Had to add salt and pepper to make it edible. Even my teens didn't like it. I personally had the shrimp tacos. They fell apart, and were inconsistent in prep. One had 2 shrimps, the other had 4. One had sauce, the other did not. The taco was falling apart after the 3rd bite. Very unpleasant to eat. The oysters we ordered had tons of shell pieces in it. Again, down to the preparation. My husband had the lobster roll. It was actually good, but the portions of lobster were a joke. We went to the crab factory down the road a week ago and the value, bread and amount of lobster was a better value with equal taste. Overall, this seems like a tourist location and very hit or miss. Our experience was definitely miss for the price.

    Photos
    Tailchasers Restaurant & Dock Bar
    Tuna special
    Tuna special
    "Beach" area seats with playground - VN

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    "Beach" area seats with playground - VN

    The Bonfire Restaurant - buffets - Updated July 2026

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