You don’t need to deal with the crowds and traffic in Ocean City to find homemade food, awesome specials, fun entertainment, and tons of sports action. You can find all that and more at Whiskers Bar & Grill in the Pines Plaza Shopping Center in Ocean Pines. Locally famous for its mouthwatering burgers, the restaurant hosts half-priced Burger night each Monday. On Tuesday, satisfy your appetite with Fried Chicken and Meatloaf specials. Wednesday is half-priced, foot-long Hot Dog night and Liver and Onions night, too. Bringing in big crowds, Thursday is Mexican Night. Homemade Tacos, Taco Salads, Quesadillas, and more are offered at discounted prices, and the Taco Salad is overstuffed in an edible tortilla bowl. Friday and Saturday bring Steak and Seafood discounts, and every Sunday offers a Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner for only $8.99. Hot turkey with all the traditional sides and fixings, the plate is rumored to weigh 10 pounds.
    I took my favorite Baltimore Ravens fan, Kristi Kruger, to Whiskers on Monday night for an amazing dinner and to cheer on the football team as they beat the Jets. We could clearly see the game on high definition, flat screen televisions in every direction, and we were delighted that the volume was high and we could here the sports broadcasters.
    I was most impressed by the attentive and fun staff at Whiskers. From the moment we walked through the door, we were greeted with smiles, laughter, and all-around good spirits. Our lovely hostess, Jojo, led us to one of the tall, spacious booths that line the restaurant walls. Carol, our knowledgeable server, welcomed us and summarized the menu and specials for us. In the dining area, several tabletops had been pushed together to accommodate a large group. Half-priced burger night is legendary, and every seat in the house was full with satisfied customers. Nevertheless, my dinner companion, Kristi, was by far the loudest person in the joint. “Woo, woo”, she screamed out loud each time the Ravens scored.
    The plate portions at Whiskers are exceptionally large, and substantial specials vary daily. Homemade Lasagna and Rockfish Caesar Salad caught my eye. The jumbo, non-breaded Wings and Broccoli Bites intrigued Kristi. I asked Carol to tell me about the best selling appetizers at Whiskers, and she recommended the lip smacking Wings. Plain, buffalo, and BBQ Wings are sure to please, and the most popular flavors are garlic style and land crab (old bay seasoning). Also, all soups are homemade, including Chili and French Onion Soup, and are certainly crowd pleasers.
    Kristi pointed out that the Sweet Potato Fries are her favorite appetizer at Whiskers, but she wanted to try something different, so she ordered the special Chicken & Corn Chowder. She shouted, “yes!” as she slurped it down. Was it that good? Yes, and the Ravens had just scored again. Classic munchies, like Chicken Fingers, Onion Rings, Mozzarella Sticks, Bacon Cheddar Skins, Steamed Shrimp, Crab Dip, Fish & Chips, Nachos, Fries, and Jalapeño Poppers offer something for everyone’s taste buds. Some unique appetizers on the menu are Cajun Pork Fingers (served with celery and bleu cheese dressing) and Crabby or Jalapeño & Cheddar Stuffed Pretzel. If you’re looking for something to share, order the Nacho Supreme—a delectable pile of cheese, jalapeño peppers, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream, and beef or chicken.
    A big fan of summer vegetables, I ordered the Garden Salad, which is falling-off-the-plate and piled high with fresh tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers. Chicken, Garlic Shrimp, or Tuna Steak can be added to the Garden or Caesar Salad. Made with ham, turkey, beef, and three cheeses, the Chef Salad is a meal in its own right. Tuna Salad Platter with potato salad and Coleslaw is another healthy option.
    For our main courses, Kristi ordered the Grilled Tuna Steak dinner entrée with Sweet Potato Fries and the Veggie D’Jour—tomatoes and green beans. Two 6-ounce filets served Cajun style, her meaty dinner was easily enough to feed two hungry people. Other dinner platters at Whiskers are N.Y. Strip, Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, Steak and Crab Cake, Meatballs Marinara, and Fried Oyster, Flounder, or Shrimp platters. The Broiled Seafood Platter includes shrimp, scallops, jumbo lump crab cake, and fish of the day. The Chicken Platter consists of two boneless breasts served your way—grilled, fried, BBQ, or Cajun.
    From the Hot Open Face Sandwich menu, I ordered one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time—the Turkey Reuben. Prepared with coleslaw and 1000 island dressing, the hot turkey meal is huge and can only be eaten with a fork and knife. It is impeccable. For my side items, I ordered one of the daily specials—homemade Macaroni Salad. Other scrumptious open face sandwiches are Corned Beef Reuben, Roast Beef with Gravy, Turkey with Gravy, and Hamburger with Gravy.
    Most of the diners at Whiskers on Monday night were taking advantage of the half-priced Burgers. A total of 13 different flavors comprise the juicy options, including Bleu Bacon, Chili Cheese, Pizza, Texas, and Triple Cheese. The house specialty—Whiskers Burger—is topped with cheese, mushrooms, and fried onions. The Reuben Burger is piled with kraut, Swiss cheese, and 1000 Island dressing. Try the Tex Mex Burger for a delectable combination of salsa, pepperjack cheese, and raw onion, or, for a healthier choice, try the Turkey Burger. Whiskers also boasts foot-long, all-beef hot dogs with cheddar, chili, kraut, onions, or plain.
    All burgers and sandwiches are served with your choice of fries, chips, potato salad,  and coleslaw and a pickle. Jumbo Lump Crab Cake is a delicious and popular sandwich. Grilled Tuna Steak, Fried Oyster, Corned Beef, Turkey, Ham, Roast Beef, and Traditional Club are other tasty concoctions. A delectable variety of Chicken Sandwiches includes Buffalo, Cordon Bleu, Italian, Southwest, Tex Mex, and Caesar flavors. The Monterey Chicken Sandwich consists of bacon, pepperjack cheese, and ranch dressing. Large Subs include Cheese Steak, Chicken Cheese Steak, Cold Cut, Meatball, and Tuna Salad on your choice of bread.
    For dessert, homemade Peanut Butter Pie is irresistible, but we satisfied our sweet tooth with fresh watermelon slices that accompanied our entrees.
    Kristi and I finished our yummy dinner and moved to the bar to watch the Ravens win the game. With NASCAR paraphernalia on every wall, drink specials during each Orioles game, video games, and keno at every booth, Whiskers Bar & Grill is a hotspot for sports fans. Happy Hour boasts incredible drink and food specials, including $1 Tacos, every day from 4-7 p.m. Sunday is All Sports Sunday with happy hour prices all day. Thursday is Open Mic Night with Doug “Madman”, and Friday brings karaoke with Donnie Berkey. Live entertainment varies each Saturday night. Carry out beer, liquor, and wine is also available. Check out Whisker’s advertisement in the Coconut Times or call (410) 208-3922 for details.