I know Ocean City’s best-kept secret. It’s the Reel Inn dockbar & baithouse café, nestled on the docks of Harbour Island on 14th Street. You may know that the Reel Inn is the headquarters for the White Marlin Open fishing tournament, which is the largest billfish tournament in the world.  But did you also know that the Reel Inn is open to the public every day? Offering indoor and outdoor dining, the dockbar hosts live, acoustic music on Saturday and Sunday from 4-7 pm. Dock your boat at a slip directly in front of the restaurant on 14th Street, or take your car, bike, or feet through the gate at Harbour Island and spend an evening at the quaint café. Free parking is available for Reel Inn customers within the gated community.
    This year, the Reel Inn is proud to welcome Head Chef Monte Jones. A retired marine, Monte was the head chef at Camp David during the Carter administration. He completed culinary school and prepared exquisite meals for dignitaries. Moving to Ocean City was a longtime goal for Monte and his wife. When he visited the Reel Inn, he decided to join the family. Husband-and-wife team Angie and Scott Lathroum are the owners and operators of the Reel Inn, and their lovely daughter, Ali, returns year after year as part of the server staff.
    Adding his personal touch to the Reel Inn’s menu, Chef Monte presents nightly dinner specials, such as linguini with clams, shrimp, scallops, and sausage. On Thursday through Sunday night, the featured food special is a 14-ounce blackened Ribeye & Shrimp Scampi. Monday is Burger night, Tuesday is Fish Taco night, and Wednesday is Steamer Night. Plus, the Reel Inn celebrates happy hour daily from 3-6 pm.
    My mom, Nancy, and I enjoyed a mother/daughter dinner at the Reel Inn this week. We sat on the beautiful outdoor patio, which offers beach music and upscale furnishings, between the boat dock and Harbour Island’s poolside. Our server, Jackie, who has a contagious smile, took our appetizer order for one pound of Steamed Mussels and fresh Mushrooms stuffed with Crab Imperial. Served in a garlic broth, the steamed mussels slide from their shell and taste even better when you dip them in melted butter. The hearty mushrooms are extra large and bursting with creamy crab imperial. Mom and I cut the last one in half to share.
    I’m a frequent customer at the Reel Inn, and I’ve sampled almost everything on the menu. I highly recommend the Reel Tuna Bites, which are seared and served with wasabi and ginger. The homemade Ceviche is another must-try appetizer, loaded with shrimp, scallops, and lump crabmeat. Another unique recipe is the Reel Spring Rolls—shrimp rolled with wasabi, seaweed salad, and pickled ginger, flash fried and served with dipping sauce. Calamari, Crab Dip, and Side Salad round off the appetizer selections.
    Seafood fans will indulge at the Reel Inn. For a taste of the chef’s best offerings, order the Captain’s Platter, which includes North Atlantic Scallops, marinated Jumbo Shrimp, and a Reel Crab Cake. The Crab Cake is all lump, and may be ordered in quantities of one or two. The Reel Inn Surf & Turf lets you combine an 8-ounce Filet Mignon with your choice of a crab cake or grilled, marinated jumbo shrimp. Fishing enthusiasts are invited to bring their catch of the day to the Reel Inn, where they’ll filet and prepare it your way.
    In addition to hearty entrées, the Reel Inn is a haven for light fare cuisine. The Assawoman Combo is comprised of the best of the best—Tuna Bites, Blackened Scallops, and Steamed Shrimp. Reel Crab Dip is a crowd pleaser, and Chicken Tenders may be ordered mild or buffalo style. Kids are always pleased with Fries, Mozzarella Sticks, Chips and Queso, and “The Dog That Bait Me.” The Reel House Salad combines mixed greens, red onion, tomatoes, pine nuts, feta cheese, and house vinaigrette. Try topping the salad with grilled jerk chicken, grilled tuna, grilled spiced shrimp, or crumbled bleu cheese.
    Nancy and I ordered delicious sandwiches for our second course. Mom ordered a fresh Reel Tuna Sandwich, which is marinated and grilled to perfection. I selected the Chicken Chesapeake Wrap, which is overstuffed with zesty jerk chicken and creamy crab dip. Plus, I added Sweet Potato Fries to my order. If you’ve never tried sweet potato fries, you’re definitely missing out. Made with provolone cheese and “hots, sweets, and onions,” the Reel Cheesesteak Sub and Chicken Cheesesteak Sub are top sellers. You don’t need to wait until Burger Night to try a six-ounce Big Bait Burger, served with cheese or blackened and topped with bleu cheese. The Grilled Chicken Caesar Wrap and Chicken Breast Sandwich are two more healthy options on the Reel Inn’s light fare menu.
    We devoured our sandwiches, just as a fierce thunderstorm rolled in over the bay. Owner Scott “Spunky” Lathroum was quick to lower plastic covers around the border of the patio, so all of us happy customers were not at all disturbed by the weather. It was awesome watching the sky darken over the water from a dry and safe vantage point, and when the sun came out again, a gorgeous rainbow appeared over the water. What an amazing view!
    Knowing that the Reel Inn serves homemade desserts by Sweet Dispositions, Nancy and I made sure to save room for our favorite summer treat—Key Lime Pie. Made with a coconut-encrusted piecrust, the creamy dessert is irresistible. Peanut Butter Pie and Chocolate Pie with either peanut butter or mango and ginger icing were the other sinfully good dessert options. The Reel Inn also has an extensive and affordable wine list on tap. Relax on the patio and sip on a glass of a variety of white wines: Merlot, Cabernet, Pinot Noir, or Summer Blend Red.
    The Reel Inn also serves up a “Jr. Angler” children’s menu, including Grilled Cheese, Personal Pizza, Peanut Butter and Jelly, a Juice Box, and more. Toys, video games, and a designated play area keep children entertained for hours.
    Stop by the Reel Inn this weekend, and catch an acoustic performance by “Just J” on Saturday and Pat O’Brennan on Sunday, from 4-7 pm. Thousands of spectators will flock to the dock at The Reel Inn during the first week of August, when the annual White Marlin Open fishing tournament arrives. Registration takes place July 31 and August 1, and the weigh-in festivities occur from 4-9 pm on August 2-6. The Reel Inn will be bursting with food and drink specials and plenty of merchandise and souvenirs. It is the most fun place to be. See you there!