We stumbled happily into Fish Tales while heading to buy bait nearby. At first, we walked into the…read moreoutdoor bar and thought, "Well... I guess this is it." Then someone directed us toward the back, where we discovered a huge outdoor restaurant.
What a fun, totally hidden place!
The floor is sand, the tables and decor are colorful, there are trinkets hanging everywhere and there's even a shipwreck themed play area in the back where kids can explore while waiting for their food. It has a laid-back beach vibe that's hard not to enjoy.
Then there's the view. You're right on the bay, watching boats, birds, and people fishing. Oddly enough, seagulls really weren't a problem. The only one I saw patiently waited for a table to leave, then elegantly hopped into the sand, walked underneath the table, and grabbed a lone French fry. Smart bird.
Service was attentive, the food was good, and the drinks were okay. I've had better cocktails elsewhere in Ocean City, but my mojito was refreshing.
One thing that did annoy me was the cocktail menu. There were no prices listed anywhere. I asked our waitress up front, and she said most cocktails were around $10-$12, which is reasonable these days. So... why hide the prices? I know restaurants often leave prices off online menus because they want you to come in. But once I'm sitting at the table with a menu in my hand, just tell me what everything costs.
One standout entree was the fried shrimp basket. Those shrimp had a delicious seasoning that really made the dish. The fish and chips was another winner...classic, tasty and well executed.
The steamed clams were fresh, but on the small side. There wasn't any broth, butter, or sauce either...just a dozen small steamed clams.
The crab cake sandwich was tasty, although we've had better ones elsewhere in Ocean City for about the same price.
Overall, Fish Tales is a very fun place for lunch or dinner. It's about as casual as it gets. Plastic chairs, your feet in the sand, boats cruising along, kids playing on a shipwreck, and a great view of the bay.