Waterman’s Seafood Co
12505 Ocean Gateway, Ocean City, MD, 21842
Waterman’s Seafood Co Menu
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Address :
12505 Ocean Gateway
Ocean City, MD, 21842 - Phone (410) 213-1020
- Website https://www.crabsoc.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Preston C.
I was very impressed by the look of this establishment... The colors and interior decoration are very nice and go well together There is a little market upon entering where you can purchase live lobsters and other condiments The tables are set up well and I was told big parties or groups of people come in together I got the linguini with clam which came with a side salad The salad was a basic side greens salad and I had it with ranch It was good The linguini with clam was really yummy The noodles were perfect The sauce was perfect And The clams were really great It was my first legit seafoods meal of the East Coast Oh We also shared the crab pretzels and the basket of fries They were both amazing as well Next time I am in the area, whenever that may be, I will definitely try and come in Our server was also very good She told us that she has been there 29 years! :) she was lovely
(5)Paola G.
Based on reviews I decided to bring my family here for all you can eat crabs and other food. I can say it was not good, very pricey for the cost. I feel a little betrayed paying the bill and walking completely un satisfied. Out of 10 people, 9 walked out pretty upset. I'm quite annoyed and I won't be back. . No seasoning . Over cooked chicken, shrimp, fried fish, crab cake plate is tinyyyyy and all sides are terrible and all overpriced. My vegetables were hard and literally steamed with 0 seasoning. Fries sucked and the mahi mahi was terrible. Ambience is nice, huge booth table for a large party. This place you judge by it's look but once you get your food you'll say, "some things are to good to be true." I'm so sorry to be mean but they need restaurant impossible up in here. Only good thing is that- Service is great!!! Ps: sorry for being so brutally honest.
(1)Andrew C.
Stopped in with the family for our first seafood experience while in OC. Not that great... My wife had a broiled seafood platter, which was dry and overcooked. I had an "all you can eat" thing which was reasonably priced... and after having it I know why. Crabs were small, and the bay seasoning was so salty I couldn't continue for long. Came with shrimp that were overcooked and tough, with some old bay thrown on as an afterthought. It also came with fried chicken (?) for some reason. Can't really recommend based on my experience. Eating in a vacation spot is always tough to do.
(2)Tony K.
Great seafood selection, and since the remodeling this place has a great atmosphere. Very bright and inviting.
(5)Jude G.
I went to Waterman's Tuesday evening (8/5/2014) for the first time and loved it! I've heard great things about this place from my friend, that I ended up going with, but it was also her first time going to the new and improved version. Upon entering, I was impressed by the cleanliness and aesthetic of the restaurant. The hostesses were very sweet and let us know of the waiting time. My friend and I were sat to a booth five mins before the hostess had predicted, and were met by out server immediately. Our server Jody was very attentive! Always making sure if we were set. Now the food was outstanding and worth the price! I ordered the shrimp feast and my friend ordered the original feast. It was so good that I got full on one serving and couldn't order another round. Also their drinks were good too! I enjoyed my dining experience here and will recommend this place to everyone going to OC.
(5)Cully R.
We have always been Waterman's fans. Then the fire :-( Now Waterman's is back. But just not the same. While the place is well decorated it has no personality. We usually get AYCE crab feasts. Now it does NOT feel like a crab place. So we ordered off the menu. Food was good, not great. Service was quick but waitress was not very well informed. With all the OC competition, we may be back (or maybe not). Sorry that Waterman's felt the need to update what seemed to be a successful restaurant. On the side note, check out the huge water tank in the middle of their parking lot. That is the water supply for their sprinkler system. Definitely not taking any chances with another fire!
(3)Sharon G.
This is the place we always went to with my grandparents to eat crabs and peel-on shrimp. I have had many happy memories here and many full stomachs.
(4)Emily L.
I must say, the renovations after the fire improved the interior design by A LOT. The chairs are much more comfortable and the environment is welcoming. The service is also fantastic, and although our waiter wasn't always very attentive he made up for it with his great attitude and personality. The food was mediocre. I was disappointed because I heard such good things about the fried chicken and seafood. The jumbo shrimp was not very big or worth the money, and were overly seasoned with Old Bay, which I'm not a huge fan of in general. The fried chicken didn't live up to expectations, and it wasn't cheap either. Overall it wasn't great, I've had better, but I've also had worse.
(3)Tom J.
FAST SERVICE AND GREAT FOOD. She-crab soup was a knockout, a bowl is a meal by itself. Flounder stuffed with lump crabmeat was delicous, Recommended, I'll gladly go there again.
(4)Jeremy K.
Food is very good but there's always a wait. The fried chicken is great if you're sick of seafood. Most people end up getting crabs though there are better places for crabs like Crabs To Go and Crab Bag.
(4)Drew L.
Excellent dinner experience! Food was top quality, clean restaurant and nice service. My seafood platter was delicious as was my wife's flounder stuffed w/crab imperial. Fish and Chips had two large pieces plus fries. Fresh baked bread and lightly battered calamari started the meal off right. The restaurant was bright and refreshingly clean. Our server Jennifer gave us some good suggestions, refilled our drinks and checked back regularly. Would definitely recommend to someone looking for a seafood craving.
(5)Brittany K.
My family and I ate here on Fathers day. We are locals, but even we know a good local restaurant when we see one. It was quite busy, but our table of 8 was sat very quickly at 5:30 pm. Our waiter, William, was AWESOME. He was very attentive, and very quick to get us anything we needed in a timely fashion. The food was very good and reasonably priced.
(5)Shaun M.
This is one of the nicest, best quality restaurants in the Ocean City area. A short drive from the waterfront. Excellent seafood, good prices and a beautifully decorated dining room. Courteous staff, fast service and ample portions. Crab cake sandwich and fish and chips - perfect. A homerun!
(5)Haboo Z.
Awesome find! So glad we went. Hubby and I both had the all you can eat blue crab meal(s) which also comes with all you can eat fried chicken, steamed shrimp, corn on the cob, and hushpuppies. It was really tasty and a fun dining experience. Loved the hushpuppies! I loved it and would definitely return if we are in the area again!
(4)Timothy H.
Ellyn and I enjoyed excellent meal at Waterman's seafood company. Our waitress Lizzie did an outstanding job. We are looking forward to our next visit to this epic restaurant. I recommend fish taco one is more than enough per. Person. I enjoyed chicken Imperial . Ellyn tried the crab imperial. She loved it. Both Ellyn and I were impressed with the tossed salad. The salad was all baby greens. No iceberg lettuce.
(5)Lacey F.
Our server Joann was amazing! She helped us to get seated in the bar area very quickly and was very attentive to us. Thanks Joann! The crabs were amazing and we would definitely come back!
(5)Paul L.
When I first bought in Ocean Pines we went to Waterman's the food was good but the decor was very dark. We just went back yesterday, what a beautiful beach like atmosphere. The seafood market was very active everything looked great. The best reason (s) to go; Happy Hour and Sandy the bartender. I went for happy hour with my wife and mother in law. Had great appetizers. Probably the best bar food for happy hour in Ocean City. The day would not have been complete without Sandy the bartender. She was great and made us feel like locals. Make sure you are nice to the bartenders, they have a lot of territory to cover; the bar, tables in the bar and the restaurant. If you want a great happy hour with the most friendly upbeat bartender, then go visit Sandy at Waterman's
(5)Teri W.
We had the opportunity to visit two times on a recent visit to OC. One for take out & the other dining In the restaurant. We found both equally good. Crab cakes were large with plenty of fresh crab. Easy to cook at home! The fried chicken was so moist & flavorful! My husband was in heaven. The fish & chips were served piping hot. Love your hand cut fries! Little neck steamers certainly hit the spot for this land locked Coloradan! Crab dip on hot, soft pretzel was my reward after riding our bike out to Assateague. Beautifully decorated & Clean! Wish you had a restaurant in CO!
(5)Edward R.
I've dined at Waterman's several times before the fire and subsequent rebuilding and quite frankly my experiences were rather uneven. Yesterday we thought we had better get reacquainted with what proves to be a whole new restaurant and seafood market. Gone is the worn facade and outdoor, beat up wooden oyster shucking bar that saw some very rowdy nights when the hoards of bikers descended on OC.... now a bright white and blue motif ground floor dining room/bar/seafood market stands in it's place. Rather sterile and lacking the warmth of the old dining room with it's cheesy wall hangings and varnished tables, the new one is however, bright,clean and efficient with brushed stainless tables and larger booths. The menu hasn't changed much but you really come to Waterman's for one thing and that's the all you can eat Original crab feast which comes with steamed blue crabs,fried chicken,shrimp,corn and hushpuppies and at the current market price of $34.00.... a excellent deal. The crabs,while all males were still fat,sweet,fresh and steamed to perfection with just the right amount of crab boil seasoning,fried chicken has always been surprisingly good considering this is basically a seafood shack,shrimp was also so tender I ate it shells and all,corn was huge,sweet and so juicy and even the hush puppies were very good if only a trap to fill space in your belly where crabs were meant to occupy. Another diner had the steamed dinner platter which consisted of mussels,clams,shrimp,1 1/4 lb lobster and choice of 2 sides but at $32.00 perhaps a bit pricy considering lobster is now $3.50/lb at whole sale. Drink menu is replete with your usual sugary umbrella cocktails but bottled and draft beers are priced right even if I would have liked the option of larger glasses for draft while not indulging in a pitcher. Wines are offered by the glass also. Conclusion. Waterman's is a whole new experience....Some will undoubtedly lament the passing of the old, charming OC landmark but shit and fires happen and what arose from the ashes IMHO is far better. Bright,clean and less cramped,service is excellent and friendlier,food is better prepared and still largely priced right,seafood market is comprehensive and competitively priced { med soft shells $5.99/each, large farmed oysters $5.99/dozen, little necks $3.29/dozen}. I have made it a habit to only seek out a Maryland blue crab dinner well into the season to avoid the all too prevalent skinny,watery and pricy abominations that is served in the early summer in OC and Waterman's is now my "go to" place....should be your's too.
(4)Andra C.
Myself and my family ate here last night. The decor was beautiful! We had the best waiter, he was very accommodating, even showed me how to eat my first blue crab! Great place worth every penny! 5 stars!
(5)Breann H.
Calamari is fantastic, so is the clams casino! Downfall is that there is a scant amount of crab in the dip on the crabby pretzel. Such a shame being a LOCAL SEAFOOD restaurant that charges enough.
(2)Shauntel J.
Great food and service! Wonderful recommendations made by the server William, who was exceptionally attentive. Will definitely return the next time I come to OC.
(4)K G.
They cook everything to death.Broiled does not mean burnt when it comes to crab cakes.The fried shrimp were also way over cooked and rubbery.Breading on the shrimp was really salty and tasted burnt.
(1)Linda M.
A group of us was here a few weeks ago. Prior to that was 6-7 years ago, my first time as participant in long-time ritual for group camping at Assateague. We'd been reminiscing about Waterman's in these intervening years: the trays of insanely delicious crabs, fresh corn and an old-school vibe of big booths and wood paneling. In short, the crabs are still incredibly delicious, which is an amazing feat considering they had years of memories to live up to. The decor is now white and modern. I like the new decor, although many in our group were nostalgic for the old style. Most in our group opted for the All-You-Can-Eat feast ($34-$35 each I think), and the fried chicken and corn seemed to be tied for first fave along with the crabs. One of the boys in our group and my sister next to me were raving about the corn and encouraged me to try just a bite but that's not allowed for an AYCE non-participant! But we were right at peak corn season so I can imagine it was incredible. [as an aside, the local peaches which were a camping contribution of one of the Original Campers in our group were also perfectly sweet and juicy; I just love summer]. I ordered 3 jumbo crabs, side salad with housemade blue cheese dressing, and side of fries. All of these were *so good*. In fact the salad was so fresh and tasty that 2 at our side of the table ordered this after trying mine. The crabs went for $82-$84 per dozen I think, and were sold by the each. There was so much meat inside that next time I'd go with 2 rather than 3. We loved our waitress too, she was friendly and efficient. So our memories were substantiated and we have new ones to add. Stay strong Waterman's, we'll be back!
(5)Sharon B.
While trying to find a decent restaurant during a brief OC visit last week,my husband and I came upon Waterman's and decided to give it a try. I'm glad we did. A Marylander living in Maine, I don't often get a chance to enjoy real crab soup or crab cakes, so I ordered both and both lived up to my expectations. The preparation was what any born-and-bred Marylander would expect. The waiter even made sure there was a crab leg in my soup. My husband liked his tuna. Don't go to Waterman's looking for fancy prep or atmospherej-- it's kind of cold and bland inside, all light blues and white. However, if you are with a group of friends cracking crabs and drinking beer (assuming they have a beer license) you probably won't mind.
(3)A J.
This place burnt to the ground and then was rebuilt better. Super nice inside. Service was great. Busy place but they get you seated fairly quickly and our waiter was friendly and worked hard. I've had a lot of seafood in the OC area and I'd say waterman's is the best. Head and shoulders above Phillip's. Even the fried chicken was very good. I'll come back for sure.
(5)Jan N.
If you are a blue crab connoisseur then you can tell the difference between fresh steamed and reheated precooked crabs. We were told that the crabs were cooked to order so we ordered a dozen large. They came out warm not hot. They were dry and the meat did not come out easily or juicy as fresh steamed crabs do. We complained and sent them back. Needless to say we were very disappointed. Is there any place in OCMD that serves fresh steamed crabs?
(1)Steve W.
Nothing special. I was there for lunch in the off season and the service was extremely slow despite no one in the restaraunt. The food was decent but nothing special that would make it stand out from the many other seafood joints all over the Eastern Shore. I ordered a meal as opposed to the all-u-can-eat crabs because it was out of season so I'm not sure how they rate. It wasn't terrible but I guarantee you can find much better nearby.
(2)Kate B.
While the food was basic neither here nor there the service literally made this the worst experience dining I can remember. You might as well eat at a dairy queen at the mall. The woman at the front door refused to seat us because a member of our party had not arrived meanwhile there seemed to be only a couple people actually in the resteraunt. She was so rude an mocked us all and when I asked to spoke to the manager she was less than sympathetic. The lack of respect for this resteraunts diners is unreal. Do not go here no part of this is a necessary or worthwhile expirience.
(1)David K.
I've been going to OCMD for nearly 30 years. We've seen crabs houses come and go. Been to pretty much all of them in that time. I don't like Hoopers. And normally, we just order a bushel or half bushel from Watermans and carry out. Sometimes, you'll have big wait times at the restaurant. You can only do so much with an All You Can Eat place. I've enjoyed the AYCE as well as the regular menu many times. We consistently get good food/crabs which is why we continue to go back. FYI, if you're going to order crabs on a weekend, do it earlier that day. A few times, I've tried to order at the last minute and they're out. And we're normally disappointed with where we have to scramble for crabs after that.
(4)Kathy K.
This was our second try at Waterman's the first being about 2 years ago unfortunaly a horrible experience both times. The first time I ordered the soft crab platter there were 6 crabs on the platter (sounds good) they were so small that I asked the waitress if that was even legal?. She immediately took the platter away. The second time I thought every place deserves a second chance to I order a soft crab sandwich, again there were 2 again so small I put both on one side of the bread. I've had spiders in my basement bigger then that. Legal or not (which our waitress said there is no size restrictions on soft crabs) the TOTAL DISREGARD FOR THE BAY should be enough to stop anyone from frequenting this place
(1)Randy L.
Closed now, they had a fire
(4)Tom J.
FAST SERVICE AND GREAT FOOD. She-crab soup was a knockout, a bowl is a meal by itself. Flounder stuffed with lump crabmeat was delicous, Recommended, I'll gladly go there again.
(4)Jeremy K.
Food is very good but there's always a wait. The fried chicken is great if you're sick of seafood. Most people end up getting crabs though there are better places for crabs like Crabs To Go and Crab Bag.
(4)Drew L.
Excellent dinner experience! Food was top quality, clean restaurant and nice service. My seafood platter was delicious as was my wife's flounder stuffed w/crab imperial. Fish and Chips had two large pieces plus fries. Fresh baked bread and lightly battered calamari started the meal off right. The restaurant was bright and refreshingly clean. Our server Jennifer gave us some good suggestions, refilled our drinks and checked back regularly. Would definitely recommend to someone looking for a seafood craving.
(5)Brittany K.
My family and I ate here on Fathers day. We are locals, but even we know a good local restaurant when we see one. It was quite busy, but our table of 8 was sat very quickly at 5:30 pm. Our waiter, William, was AWESOME. He was very attentive, and very quick to get us anything we needed in a timely fashion. The food was very good and reasonably priced.
(5)Linda M.
A group of us was here a few weeks ago. Prior to that was 6-7 years ago, my first time as participant in long-time ritual for group camping at Assateague. We'd been reminiscing about Waterman's in these intervening years: the trays of insanely delicious crabs, fresh corn and an old-school vibe of big booths and wood paneling. In short, the crabs are still incredibly delicious, which is an amazing feat considering they had years of memories to live up to. The decor is now white and modern. I like the new decor, although many in our group were nostalgic for the old style. Most in our group opted for the All-You-Can-Eat feast ($34-$35 each I think), and the fried chicken and corn seemed to be tied for first fave along with the crabs. One of the boys in our group and my sister next to me were raving about the corn and encouraged me to try just a bite but that's not allowed for an AYCE non-participant! But we were right at peak corn season so I can imagine it was incredible. [as an aside, the local peaches which were a camping contribution of one of the Original Campers in our group were also perfectly sweet and juicy; I just love summer]. I ordered 3 jumbo crabs, side salad with housemade blue cheese dressing, and side of fries. All of these were *so good*. In fact the salad was so fresh and tasty that 2 at our side of the table ordered this after trying mine. The crabs went for $82-$84 per dozen I think, and were sold by the each. There was so much meat inside that next time I'd go with 2 rather than 3. We loved our waitress too, she was friendly and efficient. So our memories were substantiated and we have new ones to add. Stay strong Waterman's, we'll be back!
(5)Preston C.
I was very impressed by the look of this establishment... The colors and interior decoration are very nice and go well together There is a little market upon entering where you can purchase live lobsters and other condiments The tables are set up well and I was told big parties or groups of people come in together I got the linguini with clam which came with a side salad The salad was a basic side greens salad and I had it with ranch It was good The linguini with clam was really yummy The noodles were perfect The sauce was perfect And The clams were really great It was my first legit seafoods meal of the East Coast Oh We also shared the crab pretzels and the basket of fries They were both amazing as well Next time I am in the area, whenever that may be, I will definitely try and come in Our server was also very good She told us that she has been there 29 years! :) she was lovely
(5)Paola G.
Based on reviews I decided to bring my family here for all you can eat crabs and other food. I can say it was not good, very pricey for the cost. I feel a little betrayed paying the bill and walking completely un satisfied. Out of 10 people, 9 walked out pretty upset. I'm quite annoyed and I won't be back. . No seasoning . Over cooked chicken, shrimp, fried fish, crab cake plate is tinyyyyy and all sides are terrible and all overpriced. My vegetables were hard and literally steamed with 0 seasoning. Fries sucked and the mahi mahi was terrible. Ambience is nice, huge booth table for a large party. This place you judge by it's look but once you get your food you'll say, "some things are to good to be true." I'm so sorry to be mean but they need restaurant impossible up in here. Only good thing is that- Service is great!!! Ps: sorry for being so brutally honest.
(1)Jude G.
I went to Waterman's Tuesday evening (8/5/2014) for the first time and loved it! I've heard great things about this place from my friend, that I ended up going with, but it was also her first time going to the new and improved version. Upon entering, I was impressed by the cleanliness and aesthetic of the restaurant. The hostesses were very sweet and let us know of the waiting time. My friend and I were sat to a booth five mins before the hostess had predicted, and were met by out server immediately. Our server Jody was very attentive! Always making sure if we were set. Now the food was outstanding and worth the price! I ordered the shrimp feast and my friend ordered the original feast. It was so good that I got full on one serving and couldn't order another round. Also their drinks were good too! I enjoyed my dining experience here and will recommend this place to everyone going to OC.
(5)Patti A.
Great Place! Great Food! Wonderful Staff! We brought the crabs we caught that day to them to steam for us. They went beyond what we expected them to do with our crabs. We also bought side dishes to go with the crabs and take-out meals for our kids who would not try the crabs. The food was great!
(5)Kelsey W.
Exceptional raw oysters and fish & chips. Cool bar area and friendly service.
(4)Joel S.
Ate here often before the fire even though it was a long drive. The all you can eat was always mediocre, small, overcooked crabs. We came for the crab cakes. They had two types, their regular and their more expensive all lump crab cake. The latter was probably the best crab cake on the shore from Route 50 to Bethany Beach. Just sweet lump crab meat simply broiled. No more. Now they have one crab cake dish on the menu. It has a few lumps of tasteless crab (how do they take all the flavor of crab out) mixed with mush and mayo and then covered with such a strong powder mix of seasoning so that you could never taste what was underneath if you ate the seasoning. That may be why it's there. And those sterile steel tables just don't do it for me. Cold, impersonal and very rude people at the front to seat you. All forgiven if they still had those special broiled crab cakes. Sadly, they don't. No reason to ever return and we wont. For your info, we live in Bethany Beach 6 months a year and we eat out three to four times a week so we are very familiar with the restaurant scene and what to expect here at the shore.
(1)Tim K.
Not disappointing, finally a place in Ocean City Md that gives you what you would expect at a restaurant. I ordered the Seafood Diablo. Last time here it was very dry but this time I asked for extra sauce and that seems to have been the secret. My son ordered the fried chicken and he said it was cluckin' great. Looking forward to our next visit to Waterman's.
(4)Joe G.
After spending a week in Ocean City, we were looking for a solid seafood dinner to close out our vacation. I did a lot of research on Yelp and looked at many menus online. Waterman's seems to have some of the best prices and best selections of seafood in Ocean City. We didn't want to spend a bunch of money on crappy fried seafood. My girlfriend is allergic to shellfish, so that rules out the many crab and shrimp houses in the area. Waterman's has a solid selection on the menu - broiled/grilled fish platters, crabcakes, oysters, fried stuff and all-you-can eat crab and shrimp. The corn on the cob that we got as a vegetable was delicious. Also, they have a really good looking fish market here if you want to pick up some seafood to cook at home. We got two dinners and two beers for under $50 - a pretty good deal for Ocean City. I would definitely come here again.
(4)P M.
Pre-fire Waterman's was one of our favorites for seafood. In our opinion the new one has no character at all. Just stark white everywhere. The meal we had was only so-so, although the server was excellent and warranted a generous tip. We're not likely to revisit.
(2)Angelo F.
We did the take out and Great crabs, quick service, and dare I say good value!
(4)Patti A.
Great Place! Great Food! Wonderful Staff! We brought the crabs we caught that day to them to steam for us. They went beyond what we expected them to do with our crabs. We also bought side dishes to go with the crabs and take-out meals for our kids who would not try the crabs. The food was great!
(5)Kelsey W.
Exceptional raw oysters and fish & chips. Cool bar area and friendly service.
(4)Joel S.
Ate here often before the fire even though it was a long drive. The all you can eat was always mediocre, small, overcooked crabs. We came for the crab cakes. They had two types, their regular and their more expensive all lump crab cake. The latter was probably the best crab cake on the shore from Route 50 to Bethany Beach. Just sweet lump crab meat simply broiled. No more. Now they have one crab cake dish on the menu. It has a few lumps of tasteless crab (how do they take all the flavor of crab out) mixed with mush and mayo and then covered with such a strong powder mix of seasoning so that you could never taste what was underneath if you ate the seasoning. That may be why it's there. And those sterile steel tables just don't do it for me. Cold, impersonal and very rude people at the front to seat you. All forgiven if they still had those special broiled crab cakes. Sadly, they don't. No reason to ever return and we wont. For your info, we live in Bethany Beach 6 months a year and we eat out three to four times a week so we are very familiar with the restaurant scene and what to expect here at the shore.
(1)Tim K.
Not disappointing, finally a place in Ocean City Md that gives you what you would expect at a restaurant. I ordered the Seafood Diablo. Last time here it was very dry but this time I asked for extra sauce and that seems to have been the secret. My son ordered the fried chicken and he said it was cluckin' great. Looking forward to our next visit to Waterman's.
(4)Eda S.
Went for dinner got half dosen oysters they were very fresh. The crab dip wasn't to impressive. It was more cheese than crab meat. However the stuffed flounder was amazing!!! We took it to go and eat it cold and still was DELICIOUS! Another dish that I loved was the award winning soup, and it is for a reason, every bite had crab in it, the seasoning was perfect the only change for the chef easy on the salt. Overall I loved the decor of the place the colors are amazing, you feel like you are under the sea. Definetly a must go place.
(4)Steve W.
Was happy with the whole meal. Stuffed flounder, crab cake, raw oysters, crab dip. Guinness, Moscow mule. Liked the local oysters better than the higher priced other two types. Chelsea was the waitress and was great.
(5)Joanne H.
My husband and I went out to eat at Waterman s seafood company. On April 13th Fantastically it was the atmosphere, the server we had Was William Hausmann OMG...OUTSTANDING!!! how you might ask his knowledge of all specials, what's in it, didn't forget us, Perfect!!! his smile aditude of making another feel more than just sitting there waiting for food, I ordered a 1lb lobster he showed me how to Crack it open and take it out, with out his help I thought it was gonna fly away.lol we had such a good time excellent definitely we will come back if he is working and only the cook we want is AJ, he was excellent,hats off to that Cook and no I never met him or the Server William Hausmann...there both definitely keepers to have there. I hope they get awarded in outstanding putting forth Excellent service thank you Much.keep up the great pleasant Ness way to go guys!!!!!!
(5)Morgan M.
Delicious!!!! We stopped in here for a quick lunch and were not disappointed the she-crab/cream of crab soup was amazing... Fresh cream, big pieces crab. The server was a little.... Haggard? Salty? Basically she wasn't super pumped on being a server, but she did her best to hide it. If we lived in the area this would definitely be a regular for us.
(4)Brian H.
Went to Waterman's Seafood Co., on April 13, 2015, the food was outstanding, the cook A J was on point with everything we ordered. Our server William Hausmann was excellent, he was funny and very knowledgeable about menu. Would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone that enjoys seafood and great service!!
(5)C C.
This restaurant has been renovated so it is much brighter, but I don't find it very comfortable. Sadly, it is declining. The food is just not as good as it was in years past. We got the AUCE which now includes fried chicken, shrimp, steamed crabs, and hush puppies and cost about $35 a person. Some of the crabs smelled of ammonia which meant they were dead prior to cooking. The crabs now come from Louisiana as well as other sources, but not usually the Bay, even in season. The shrimp was OK, but I didn't come for the shrimp. I also got the Maryland crab soup. The soup didn't taste fresh, so I asked if it was made from scratch, and it is not. They do make a good bloody mary, and the waiter said they make their own mix. I won't be back unless the food changes for the better.
(2)Aurora C.
Ate there last night. There was a bit of a wait (about 30 minutes), but then we were seated on the first floor. Ordered a couple of drinks and buffalo chicken dip to start. The dip and drinks came out promptly. The dip was to die for, with just the right amount of flavor, and crumbled blue cheese on top. Yum! I ordered sea scallops and my boyfriend ordered flounder with crab imperial. Both were delicious. The portions were huge. The reason I'm knocking this down to four stars is due to the fact that we waited about 15 minutes for our waiter to bring the check after the meal, and we even had to ask for it. Other than that, service was good. We would definitely go back.
(4)Daniel S.
I'd like to write about what a great experience I had, but in truth it was just ok. While the service was punctual, the fish and chips was simply ok. The ambiance and set up wasn't anything grand.
(3)Stephanie A.
We had a fantastic Sunday Funday with Sandy at the Bar . Her drinks were perfect, her attitude and knowledge of the food was great. The food itself was really wonderful, delicious and freshplus the pottions for Happy Hour were plentiful and delicious. We will surely become regulars!
(5)Jan T.
Loved this place! My husband and I ate at Watermans for the first time last Saturday night. We were drawn in by the crowded parking indicating it must be a good place to eat. We drove in and asked some folks coming out how good it was and they raved about it. We went in and were immediately greeted, then seated. My husband ordered the stuffed blackened scallops on special and I ordered the steamed seafood combination. OMG! This was the best seafood dinner we have enjoyed in years. Both dishes were cooked to perfection. All the shellfish was succulent and tender. The lobster was served with REAL melted butter. The fresh veggies were also perfectly cooked slightly al dente. We loved the hush puppies. We will be frequent diners. YUM!
(5)Mark L.
Called in for the fried chicken carry out. I was told 30 minutes. I showed up 40 minutes later and still waited 30 more minutes. Staff dIsorganized and in over their heads. Clerk appologized profusely. I will say the chicken was good, and they put in a lot more than a pound of shrimp.
(3)Raymond W.
We come here for crab feasts after shopping at the Rehoboth outlets. I'm nothing less than impressed with Watermen's. Their service is A-1!!! Upon arrival, 2 BUSLOADS OF HUNGRY FOLKS are IMMEDIATELY seated. Service begins with potato salad and Cole slaw which are good, but then Watermen's hit you with some of the BEST fried chicken I've ever tasted! Hot out the grease, perfectly seasoned and delicious. This may be a seafood restaurant, but the chicken is the bomb. Next comes steamed spiced shrimp. Plump and delicious. YUM!!! The crabs? Outstanding!!!! Medium, males with some of the sweetest meat ever. The kitchen staff assured us they were caught fresh that morning. All in all, Watermen's is a good restaurant to dine in. Will be back!!!
(4)Michelle M.
My family and I visited Waterman's over the holidays. We had trouble trying to find a place that was both open during Christmas week and not overpriced. We stumbled across Waterman's and were pleasantly surprised. The interior was nice and amicable, we were told it had been recently rebuilt after a fire. My family shared some oysters and the crab dip pretzel to start. The oysters were fresh and reasonably priced. The pretzel was ok, I would get it again but it wasn't amazing. I ordered the flounder fish sandwich broiled and it was well cooked and exactly what I was looking for. My SIL got the oyster sandwich and loved it. Would definitely return next time I'm in the area.
(4)Paula T.
The food was ok. I had the cream of crab soup. It came out quickly but was luke warm. My husband had a beer that came in a can. The server didn't offer a glass.
(3)Aaryn P.
I'll tell you openly and honestly, I am not a fan of seafood - at all. My boyfriend, the east coaster he is, was craving some sea fare tonight and we had heard that Waterman's was an alright place to go. Since they had chicken options for me, I was willing to give it a go as well. He got the king crab legs, roasted red potatoes and coleslaw whereas I got the fried chicken with roasted red potatoes and tossed salad. We also got some steamed shrimp to go. While everything tasted alright, I couldn't help but feel, see and in most things taste the mediocrity of the entire place. The fried chicken was ok...but I can't say that I haven't had better out of a grocery store deli...it was moist...but...not especially memorable. My boyfriend thought that the seafood, overall was tasty, well cooked and fresh. The sides were....meh, nothing special..but again, alright. My salad was a nice mix of veggies, but I did find some wilted stems of lettuce. We got seated right away, and our waitress seemed nice enough. We enjoyed her accent, and frequent use of "yous." The decor and ambiance were that of possibly an ill maintained Skippers of my west coast childhood. So, in the end...I find that this place is alright. I recognize they are an established fixture in the community, and that they have probably been doing things the same way for years. While admirable, I think they could benefit from a breath of fresh air here.
(3)Zachary G.
The server at the bar was a wonderful young woman who showed this city boy how to break open and eat a steamed crab. The crab was delicious. The coffee was fresh, and the potato salad hit the spot. Definitely worth revisiting if I'm ever in the area again.
(4)Miriam B.
Just had my birthday dinner here after being referred by the locals. I'm a big seafood lover and this place really fits the bill. I had blue crab, crab imperial, snow crab and peanut butter cake for dessert. This is a no frills down home family style restaurant with amazing food and good service. I will be coming back here again!.
(5)Randy L.
Closed now, they had a fire
(4)Meli G.
The food was well prepared and well sized portions. (My husband and I split the crab dip appetizer and the steamed seafood combo; we walked away with full bellies) The staff was freindly and polite.
(5)Karen Y.
the sign out front states that bringing your own cooler of beer onto the premises is not allow. and there isn't much to be said for the food or the ambiance. sometimes less is more in a review.
(2)Terry M.
I went to Waterman's for dinner with a few friends when the last minute decision of "Crabs" was made. Even though there was a little bit of a wait we sat at the five person bar and relaxed a little bit until a table opened up. The food was good, there table was a bit of a maze to get to, but at the end of the day was comfortable and held all of the crabs that made it to it. "The Good" - The hostess and the waitress were both very nice and polite. - The all you can eat crabs is a staple and one of the main reasons to visit. The crabs were all good, decently priced and the atmosphere. - If you do not have the patience for crackin' crabs and eating slowly over the course of multiple hours... they also have a crab legs order that will fill you up a bit faster. - Hush Puppies... amazing. - The healthy conscience at the table enjoyed the Broiled Seafood platter and the small samples that were handed out were delicious. "The Meh" - The parking lot fills up fast and it is safe to assume that if there is no space in the lot... there is no space in the restaurant and there will be a wait. "The Bad" - Nothing really bad to comment on.
(4)Sean H.
Since the fire and remodel, the restaurant is beautiful! It looks like an upscale beach house. For appetizers we had calamari (basic but fine), steamed shrimp, and mussels (not a big fan of the mussels, the broth was mostly just wine and they tasted very fishy). Many of us had the crab cake sandwiches which were a big hit! They weren't too expensive but had good lumps of meat and were creamy. I had the broiled seafood platter which was also good. Good value for the price, friendly staff, good decor. Probably a 3.5 star but I can't do a half star on my phone haha
(4)Toya D.
My shellfish allergy doesn't allow me to partake of the HUGE crabs that area available with the "crab feast" deal, but...the buffalo chicken tenders were REALLY good. For $7.99, you get 6 large ones and a side order of fries. Good, cheap meal for those not opting for crab, shrimp and all the other seafood they have available. We chilled at the bar while waiting to be seated (we had a large party, so it took awhile for them to get our tables in order). the bartender was cool. We all chose the "bucket" option ($8 for 32oz of sugar-coated booze). They also have a NICE happy hour, which was $8 well spent.
(4)Michael I.
My girlfriend and I ate there yesterday. Most reviews here are right on the mark. Food is good, not great. Cream of crab soup would have been a 10. It had excellent flavor, was a little salty and wasn't creamy enough. This place has the potential to be best restaurant in OC.
(3)Tom L.
Beware! We decided to try Waterman's based on the good ratings we read. Besides a rowdy bunch at a nearby table the place seemed to be ok. The waitress was nice and the food was mostly tasty. The kicker is that my daughter got the shrimp and became quite ill 5 hours later. We called Waterman's in the morning to warn them that their shrimp may be bad so no one else would experience what my daughter did. The Waterman's management did not express any concern or apology and proceeded to blame her sickness on the possibility that she ate something 24 hours before she ate at Waterman's. In addition, the bathrooms were so dirty that they were almost unusable. This place will not care about you.
(2)Joe G.
After spending a week in Ocean City, we were looking for a solid seafood dinner to close out our vacation. I did a lot of research on Yelp and looked at many menus online. Waterman's seems to have some of the best prices and best selections of seafood in Ocean City. We didn't want to spend a bunch of money on crappy fried seafood. My girlfriend is allergic to shellfish, so that rules out the many crab and shrimp houses in the area. Waterman's has a solid selection on the menu - broiled/grilled fish platters, crabcakes, oysters, fried stuff and all-you-can eat crab and shrimp. The corn on the cob that we got as a vegetable was delicious. Also, they have a really good looking fish market here if you want to pick up some seafood to cook at home. We got two dinners and two beers for under $50 - a pretty good deal for Ocean City. I would definitely come here again.
(4)P M.
Pre-fire Waterman's was one of our favorites for seafood. In our opinion the new one has no character at all. Just stark white everywhere. The meal we had was only so-so, although the server was excellent and warranted a generous tip. We're not likely to revisit.
(2)Angelo F.
We did the take out and Great crabs, quick service, and dare I say good value!
(4)Emily H.
The worst place to be buying crabs from. I just came back from Ocean City, MD for vacation and had such a great time there. But once I got back home, I realized that the Waterman's workers shorted me 4 crabs... -_- I ordered 2 dozens of the small blue crabs for $22 each dozen and 2 lbs of the snow legs for $8.99 a lb. They gave the snow crabs to me first and it seemed about right...2 lbs. Then they bagged the 2 dozen blue crabs and we left thinking there should be 24 crabs inside. We didn't check because the crabs had all the seasoning on it and it would be messy to take all the crabs out just to count it. We trusted them and headed home. Once I got home, I came to realize that we only had 20 crabs in the bag. They probably took advantage of the fact that we're tourists and it was pretty obvious with our camera around our necks. We're also not regular customers of course. They short us 4 crabs knowing that it would be a hassle to count the amount. If we were regular customers, I highly doubt that we'd experience such a thing. What a bad place to be buying seafood from. It's just not right and unfair. Those whole 4 crabs is a lot! Please save yourself the trouble and buy elsewhere. This place is not worth the money because it's just a typical seafood place. Hope this helps. *EDIT* 8/17/10 - I called Waterman's up just now and asked to speak with a manager. I told him about my situation and he apologized. Also, credit me back for those 4 crabs that I was missing. With that being said, I will give them an extra star. =P
(2)Linda B.
My husband and I went to Waterman's about a month ago. I had been once before with my sisters and I had such a good experience that I wanted to take him back with me. We both love seafood. So, we ordered the cream of crab soup--a cup for each of us. We should've gotten the BOWL--it is SO good. There's a ton of crabmeat in it and the taste is wonderful. I am a native Marylander and have lived her for 38 of my 39 years alive. I've had a LOT of cream of crab soup in my lifetime--but this was the best - THE BEST - I had ever tasted. We also ordered the Seafood Skins--potato skins covered in crab, scallops, shrimp and cheese. They were very good, but the potatoes themselves could've been baked a little longer. They were sorta hard. Not inedible, just not quite done enough. That would be our only complaint. We didn't send them back or anything. I would suggest giving Waterman's a try if you're in the Ocean City area. It's well worth the trip--even if you have to come from Dewey or Rehobeth or Lewes. It's worth it for the cream of crab soup alone!
(4)Shane G.
This was the best seafood experience I have ever had in my 20+ years going to Ocean City. Every plate at our table was perfectly prepared and the service was fantastic. This is one of the few places that will join the "Recommend to everyone" list.
(5)Tim M.
It always amazes me the disparity of reviews you'll find on this site and how liberally 5 star reviews are dished out. The two previous reviews; one by an "experienced" Yelper are about as far from reality as I've seen in some time. Waterman's is an iconic classic for the Ocean City MD area. It has been here for decades. But how anyone can give this a 5 star review is beyond me. The upsides to Waterman's are that it is out of the way and open year round. That's about where the story ends in comparison to this place and most of the other "we'll fry anything to get a buck out of you" type seafood joints on the OC scene. They sport the typical fried fish, oysters, clam (strips!), shrimp, scallops, and chicken like EVERYONE else does and it is unremarkably indifferent to any vat of fat in town. The menu is limited to mostly seafood which to me is not a shocker but not everyone does the fish thing - I give higher reviews to places that offer more variety despite their seafood leanings even if it IS a 'crab house'. So let's get to that shall we? As to 'the crabs', steamed Maryland Blue Crab is by far my favorite food on the planet. I've been to every major crab house in the state that is worthy of a star on a book by Whitey Schmidt (if you don't know about Whitey sorry - you can't expertly review blue crab period). First of all avoid ANY place that has 'all you can eat' crabs. This means the feed bag is on and they serve quantity over quality consumers. 'All you can eat' also means 'all they can pre-steam'. In order to keep up with demand your crabs are NOT steamed to order but rather steamed way ahead and then re-steamed in volume to keep up. If crabs don't take 20 minutes or more to get to your table they are not steamed to order. The half-dozen crabs I had on 01.02.09 were hot in the middle and cold on the extremities - a trademark of the re-steamed crab. They only typically have #1 or #2 sizes (says so on the menu in fixed print) which is warning sign number two; they don't get 'catch of the day' anything but rather order a standard selection routinely. A good crab joint will have a variety of sizes daily depending on what comes in off the boat and availability is limited. So to the reviewers here who think this is like the 'world's best coffee' of crab houses I'm sorry to call you out but you're about as far off as you can get. I appreciate your zeal and I could go on but I digress. As for the service at Waterman's it appears they are still at least partly family owned and operated and you can tell that by the worn out and insincere way the host/hostess to the wait staff treat things. I guess after 30 some years of pitching out mediocre fried non-descript seafood to the throngs of mostly inlanders who don't know any better wears you out after awhile. We didn't even get a hello, goodbye, or a thank you upon arriving, checking out, or leaving. Sorry - you won't get 5 stars from that either. I had to drag the gal down a couple times just for a refill of weak iced-tea. Upon this visit I had a large New England style clam chowder that was watery, tasteless and I'm pretty sure only had 2 clam pieces in the entire bowl. After a tablespoon of salt and pepper it was palatable. This soup was clearly from a can and probably the same chowder you'll get at 90% of the fry daddy restaurants around town. Oh yeah - 5 star material alright. I added 6 semi-cold crabs which were meaty and at least not watery or dried out but otherwise also unremarkable. My fiancé got the fried chicken with fries and broccoli. The fries must sit next to the crab re-heater as they were pretty much cold. She did mention the chicken breast was moist and flavorful so she was happy. The one upside to Waterman's and that is they are open year round. I wanted a crab fix and I got it but truly it was like a junkie on a binge who got through the night but got ripped off by a knowingly bad deal at the same time. Ocean City MD is NOT a good place to find hard shell steamed crabs which is ironic but considering the drive to get the non-savvy consumer dollar in the restaurant industry there it makes sense. Finding true good food in Ocean City is an art and the product of years of experience - the ratio of really good places is about 1 in 300. Yelpers should not mislead readers the way these 2 previous reviews do - but this is an open forum - everyone has their opinion. You've got an honest review to work with now however. Waterman's is 'ok' - but doesn't stand out whatsoever in a single way, shape, or form from the bulk of other seafood joints in Ocean City. If you're looking to fill up on high carbs, fried food, and 'all you can bloat yourself' with fare in an environment where your kids can dump soda all over the floor and no one will notice then this is an option for you. If you want quality seafood or really great steamed crabs this is NOT the place to come unless you're desperate.
(2)Jenifer M.
We go to Waterman's every year out of habit. Personally, I think the crabs are fine, and I actually like that I get my additional crabs or crab legs within a few minutes. I suppose I am not any kind of crab expert, but then again, it's an all-you-can-eat and we are tourists. I DO agree that everything they serve along with the crabs is a waste of time- it's just a load of filler to reduce the amount of crabs you eat. We went in the middle of June around 7pm, and did not have to wait for a table. The waitress was tough to flag down, and I eventually had to flag down another waiter to get us what we needed. Overall, it is not a bad place to eat...despite some reviews. It seems like a family-friendly restaurant where the food is dumped in the middle of the table and it becomes a free=for-all!
(3)Tom B.
I really like Watermans.....I give 3 stars because it can indeed have tourist written all over it; crowds, wait time, mass produced food...this is all season based. HOWEVER There are some good points about the place. If you hit the place come September, I've had GREAT crabs with plenty of meat, and the crowd has died down as well. Further, even though this is a review of a restaurant, more than once I've gotten some of their retail seafood side and have found it to be fair in price. I would say you have to look at Watermans for what it is; a restaurant not meant to be a hidden secret, but to rope in its share of all you can eat consumers. In the realm of this type of restarurant (a number of them obviously are the OC area) this one is one of the better ones, and competitive price wise. It doesn't overlook water or a marina full of boats, but is one of the better "mass produced crab house" bunch in that area.
(3)Evan L.
My father-in-law, a resident of Worcest county his entire life, took me and my wife-to-be here a little over three years ago. To say that he knows the good eats in OC and the surrounding area is an understatement. When we moved here several weeks ago, he warned us off of Bull on the Beach. Did I listen? No. I was tempted by the so-called beef BBQ. But I digress. He loves Waterman's. And I see why. Waterman's is a cultural slice of the Eastern Shore. It's about as unpretentious as can be and solely focused on the food and cheer. As someone who lives here during the off-season (i.e., now!), there is more to it than crab, crab, and crab. Their lunch specials are awesome. Try the smoked beef brisket sandwich, for instance. But, yes, there is crab. There is excellent crab! However, during the season, the corn on the cob is actually a distraction. With a not-so-cheap all-you-can-eat, you would ordinarily be advised to stick with the expensive stuff with a tenacious resolve. However, let me tell you, their corn on the cob, when in season, is about the best that I've had anywhere. So, by all means, keep going to Hoopers. I and my father-in-law are more than glad to keep Waterman's to ourselves! Update: After living in the Pines for several months, the shine has worn off. Couple of stars off for the slow and seemingly careless servers.
(3)Alison W.
Everyone in Ocean City is always all about Hooper's and I have NO IDEA WHY. Waterman's is absolutely superior in every way. The decor is bare bones and refreshingly centered around food, food and more food. They plop your crabs (does anyone actually eat anything else here? no.) down in front of you with absolutely no pomp and circumstance and leave you to get down to business. They always have more coming when you need them (does anyone do anything but all-you-can-eat here? no.) and they clear your graveyard quickly. It's ever-so-slightly off the beaten path (on Route 50, just across the bridge that takes you to the main boardwalk strips) and that's a good thing, guys. No drunk people falling ALL over you, vomiting and mucking up the atmosphere. That's like a miracle when it comes to beach town nightlife.
(5)Team Asphalt W.
Not very good. The shrimp were tough and overcooked and the rest of the fried items were tasteless and too heavily breaded. The broiled scallops were good. Service was good. A lot of people come for the AUCE crabs and they were a nice size. There a lot of other seafood choices in the area. Disappointed in a business that has been around a long time.
(1)Mark S.
I lived on the Eastern Shore of Maryland for 30 years and Crabs are simply a lifestyle and a tradition. I've been to crab shacks all across the OC strip. Waterman's has been a staple part of Ocean City and represents all that is good on Eastern Shore. The crabs and steamed shrimp are excellent. Order large or jumbo crabs and you'll get your money's worth. The fried chicken is also most excellent. I'm a fried chicken fanatic and take that stuff pretty seriously. But these guys have it down pat.
(5)Kara W.
good ayce deal.
(4)Eda S.
Went for dinner got half dosen oysters they were very fresh. The crab dip wasn't to impressive. It was more cheese than crab meat. However the stuffed flounder was amazing!!! We took it to go and eat it cold and still was DELICIOUS! Another dish that I loved was the award winning soup, and it is for a reason, every bite had crab in it, the seasoning was perfect the only change for the chef easy on the salt. Overall I loved the decor of the place the colors are amazing, you feel like you are under the sea. Definetly a must go place.
(4)Steve W.
Was happy with the whole meal. Stuffed flounder, crab cake, raw oysters, crab dip. Guinness, Moscow mule. Liked the local oysters better than the higher priced other two types. Chelsea was the waitress and was great.
(5)Sharon B.
While trying to find a decent restaurant during a brief OC visit last week,my husband and I came upon Waterman's and decided to give it a try. I'm glad we did. A Marylander living in Maine, I don't often get a chance to enjoy real crab soup or crab cakes, so I ordered both and both lived up to my expectations. The preparation was what any born-and-bred Marylander would expect. The waiter even made sure there was a crab leg in my soup. My husband liked his tuna. Don't go to Waterman's looking for fancy prep or atmospherej-- it's kind of cold and bland inside, all light blues and white. However, if you are with a group of friends cracking crabs and drinking beer (assuming they have a beer license) you probably won't mind.
(3)A J.
This place burnt to the ground and then was rebuilt better. Super nice inside. Service was great. Busy place but they get you seated fairly quickly and our waiter was friendly and worked hard. I've had a lot of seafood in the OC area and I'd say waterman's is the best. Head and shoulders above Phillip's. Even the fried chicken was very good. I'll come back for sure.
(5)Joanne H.
My husband and I went out to eat at Waterman s seafood company. On April 13th Fantastically it was the atmosphere, the server we had Was William Hausmann OMG...OUTSTANDING!!! how you might ask his knowledge of all specials, what's in it, didn't forget us, Perfect!!! his smile aditude of making another feel more than just sitting there waiting for food, I ordered a 1lb lobster he showed me how to Crack it open and take it out, with out his help I thought it was gonna fly away.lol we had such a good time excellent definitely we will come back if he is working and only the cook we want is AJ, he was excellent,hats off to that Cook and no I never met him or the Server William Hausmann...there both definitely keepers to have there. I hope they get awarded in outstanding putting forth Excellent service thank you Much.keep up the great pleasant Ness way to go guys!!!!!!
(5)Morgan M.
Delicious!!!! We stopped in here for a quick lunch and were not disappointed the she-crab/cream of crab soup was amazing... Fresh cream, big pieces crab. The server was a little.... Haggard? Salty? Basically she wasn't super pumped on being a server, but she did her best to hide it. If we lived in the area this would definitely be a regular for us.
(4)Shaun M.
This is one of the nicest, best quality restaurants in the Ocean City area. A short drive from the waterfront. Excellent seafood, good prices and a beautifully decorated dining room. Courteous staff, fast service and ample portions. Crab cake sandwich and fish and chips - perfect. A homerun!
(5)Haboo Z.
Awesome find! So glad we went. Hubby and I both had the all you can eat blue crab meal(s) which also comes with all you can eat fried chicken, steamed shrimp, corn on the cob, and hushpuppies. It was really tasty and a fun dining experience. Loved the hushpuppies! I loved it and would definitely return if we are in the area again!
(4)Timothy H.
Ellyn and I enjoyed excellent meal at Waterman's seafood company. Our waitress Lizzie did an outstanding job. We are looking forward to our next visit to this epic restaurant. I recommend fish taco one is more than enough per. Person. I enjoyed chicken Imperial . Ellyn tried the crab imperial. She loved it. Both Ellyn and I were impressed with the tossed salad. The salad was all baby greens. No iceberg lettuce.
(5)Lacey F.
Our server Joann was amazing! She helped us to get seated in the bar area very quickly and was very attentive to us. Thanks Joann! The crabs were amazing and we would definitely come back!
(5)Paul L.
When I first bought in Ocean Pines we went to Waterman's the food was good but the decor was very dark. We just went back yesterday, what a beautiful beach like atmosphere. The seafood market was very active everything looked great. The best reason (s) to go; Happy Hour and Sandy the bartender. I went for happy hour with my wife and mother in law. Had great appetizers. Probably the best bar food for happy hour in Ocean City. The day would not have been complete without Sandy the bartender. She was great and made us feel like locals. Make sure you are nice to the bartenders, they have a lot of territory to cover; the bar, tables in the bar and the restaurant. If you want a great happy hour with the most friendly upbeat bartender, then go visit Sandy at Waterman's
(5)K G.
They cook everything to death.Broiled does not mean burnt when it comes to crab cakes.The fried shrimp were also way over cooked and rubbery.Breading on the shrimp was really salty and tasted burnt.
(1)Teri W.
We had the opportunity to visit two times on a recent visit to OC. One for take out & the other dining In the restaurant. We found both equally good. Crab cakes were large with plenty of fresh crab. Easy to cook at home! The fried chicken was so moist & flavorful! My husband was in heaven. The fish & chips were served piping hot. Love your hand cut fries! Little neck steamers certainly hit the spot for this land locked Coloradan! Crab dip on hot, soft pretzel was my reward after riding our bike out to Assateague. Beautifully decorated & Clean! Wish you had a restaurant in CO!
(5)Edward R.
I've dined at Waterman's several times before the fire and subsequent rebuilding and quite frankly my experiences were rather uneven. Yesterday we thought we had better get reacquainted with what proves to be a whole new restaurant and seafood market. Gone is the worn facade and outdoor, beat up wooden oyster shucking bar that saw some very rowdy nights when the hoards of bikers descended on OC.... now a bright white and blue motif ground floor dining room/bar/seafood market stands in it's place. Rather sterile and lacking the warmth of the old dining room with it's cheesy wall hangings and varnished tables, the new one is however, bright,clean and efficient with brushed stainless tables and larger booths. The menu hasn't changed much but you really come to Waterman's for one thing and that's the all you can eat Original crab feast which comes with steamed blue crabs,fried chicken,shrimp,corn and hushpuppies and at the current market price of $34.00.... a excellent deal. The crabs,while all males were still fat,sweet,fresh and steamed to perfection with just the right amount of crab boil seasoning,fried chicken has always been surprisingly good considering this is basically a seafood shack,shrimp was also so tender I ate it shells and all,corn was huge,sweet and so juicy and even the hush puppies were very good if only a trap to fill space in your belly where crabs were meant to occupy. Another diner had the steamed dinner platter which consisted of mussels,clams,shrimp,1 1/4 lb lobster and choice of 2 sides but at $32.00 perhaps a bit pricy considering lobster is now $3.50/lb at whole sale. Drink menu is replete with your usual sugary umbrella cocktails but bottled and draft beers are priced right even if I would have liked the option of larger glasses for draft while not indulging in a pitcher. Wines are offered by the glass also. Conclusion. Waterman's is a whole new experience....Some will undoubtedly lament the passing of the old, charming OC landmark but shit and fires happen and what arose from the ashes IMHO is far better. Bright,clean and less cramped,service is excellent and friendlier,food is better prepared and still largely priced right,seafood market is comprehensive and competitively priced { med soft shells $5.99/each, large farmed oysters $5.99/dozen, little necks $3.29/dozen}. I have made it a habit to only seek out a Maryland blue crab dinner well into the season to avoid the all too prevalent skinny,watery and pricy abominations that is served in the early summer in OC and Waterman's is now my "go to" place....should be your's too.
(4)Andra C.
Myself and my family ate here last night. The decor was beautiful! We had the best waiter, he was very accommodating, even showed me how to eat my first blue crab! Great place worth every penny! 5 stars!
(5)Breann H.
Calamari is fantastic, so is the clams casino! Downfall is that there is a scant amount of crab in the dip on the crabby pretzel. Such a shame being a LOCAL SEAFOOD restaurant that charges enough.
(2)Shauntel J.
Great food and service! Wonderful recommendations made by the server William, who was exceptionally attentive. Will definitely return the next time I come to OC.
(4)Andrew C.
Stopped in with the family for our first seafood experience while in OC. Not that great... My wife had a broiled seafood platter, which was dry and overcooked. I had an "all you can eat" thing which was reasonably priced... and after having it I know why. Crabs were small, and the bay seasoning was so salty I couldn't continue for long. Came with shrimp that were overcooked and tough, with some old bay thrown on as an afterthought. It also came with fried chicken (?) for some reason. Can't really recommend based on my experience. Eating in a vacation spot is always tough to do.
(2)Tony K.
Great seafood selection, and since the remodeling this place has a great atmosphere. Very bright and inviting.
(5)Brian H.
Went to Waterman's Seafood Co., on April 13, 2015, the food was outstanding, the cook A J was on point with everything we ordered. Our server William Hausmann was excellent, he was funny and very knowledgeable about menu. Would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone that enjoys seafood and great service!!
(5)C C.
This restaurant has been renovated so it is much brighter, but I don't find it very comfortable. Sadly, it is declining. The food is just not as good as it was in years past. We got the AUCE which now includes fried chicken, shrimp, steamed crabs, and hush puppies and cost about $35 a person. Some of the crabs smelled of ammonia which meant they were dead prior to cooking. The crabs now come from Louisiana as well as other sources, but not usually the Bay, even in season. The shrimp was OK, but I didn't come for the shrimp. I also got the Maryland crab soup. The soup didn't taste fresh, so I asked if it was made from scratch, and it is not. They do make a good bloody mary, and the waiter said they make their own mix. I won't be back unless the food changes for the better.
(2)Aurora C.
Ate there last night. There was a bit of a wait (about 30 minutes), but then we were seated on the first floor. Ordered a couple of drinks and buffalo chicken dip to start. The dip and drinks came out promptly. The dip was to die for, with just the right amount of flavor, and crumbled blue cheese on top. Yum! I ordered sea scallops and my boyfriend ordered flounder with crab imperial. Both were delicious. The portions were huge. The reason I'm knocking this down to four stars is due to the fact that we waited about 15 minutes for our waiter to bring the check after the meal, and we even had to ask for it. Other than that, service was good. We would definitely go back.
(4)Stephanie A.
We had a fantastic Sunday Funday with Sandy at the Bar . Her drinks were perfect, her attitude and knowledge of the food was great. The food itself was really wonderful, delicious and freshplus the pottions for Happy Hour were plentiful and delicious. We will surely become regulars!
(5)Jan T.
Loved this place! My husband and I ate at Watermans for the first time last Saturday night. We were drawn in by the crowded parking indicating it must be a good place to eat. We drove in and asked some folks coming out how good it was and they raved about it. We went in and were immediately greeted, then seated. My husband ordered the stuffed blackened scallops on special and I ordered the steamed seafood combination. OMG! This was the best seafood dinner we have enjoyed in years. Both dishes were cooked to perfection. All the shellfish was succulent and tender. The lobster was served with REAL melted butter. The fresh veggies were also perfectly cooked slightly al dente. We loved the hush puppies. We will be frequent diners. YUM!
(5)Mark L.
Called in for the fried chicken carry out. I was told 30 minutes. I showed up 40 minutes later and still waited 30 more minutes. Staff dIsorganized and in over their heads. Clerk appologized profusely. I will say the chicken was good, and they put in a lot more than a pound of shrimp.
(3)Raymond W.
We come here for crab feasts after shopping at the Rehoboth outlets. I'm nothing less than impressed with Watermen's. Their service is A-1!!! Upon arrival, 2 BUSLOADS OF HUNGRY FOLKS are IMMEDIATELY seated. Service begins with potato salad and Cole slaw which are good, but then Watermen's hit you with some of the BEST fried chicken I've ever tasted! Hot out the grease, perfectly seasoned and delicious. This may be a seafood restaurant, but the chicken is the bomb. Next comes steamed spiced shrimp. Plump and delicious. YUM!!! The crabs? Outstanding!!!! Medium, males with some of the sweetest meat ever. The kitchen staff assured us they were caught fresh that morning. All in all, Watermen's is a good restaurant to dine in. Will be back!!!
(4)Michelle M.
My family and I visited Waterman's over the holidays. We had trouble trying to find a place that was both open during Christmas week and not overpriced. We stumbled across Waterman's and were pleasantly surprised. The interior was nice and amicable, we were told it had been recently rebuilt after a fire. My family shared some oysters and the crab dip pretzel to start. The oysters were fresh and reasonably priced. The pretzel was ok, I would get it again but it wasn't amazing. I ordered the flounder fish sandwich broiled and it was well cooked and exactly what I was looking for. My SIL got the oyster sandwich and loved it. Would definitely return next time I'm in the area.
(4)Cully R.
We have always been Waterman's fans. Then the fire :-( Now Waterman's is back. But just not the same. While the place is well decorated it has no personality. We usually get AYCE crab feasts. Now it does NOT feel like a crab place. So we ordered off the menu. Food was good, not great. Service was quick but waitress was not very well informed. With all the OC competition, we may be back (or maybe not). Sorry that Waterman's felt the need to update what seemed to be a successful restaurant. On the side note, check out the huge water tank in the middle of their parking lot. That is the water supply for their sprinkler system. Definitely not taking any chances with another fire!
(3)Sharon G.
This is the place we always went to with my grandparents to eat crabs and peel-on shrimp. I have had many happy memories here and many full stomachs.
(4)Emily L.
I must say, the renovations after the fire improved the interior design by A LOT. The chairs are much more comfortable and the environment is welcoming. The service is also fantastic, and although our waiter wasn't always very attentive he made up for it with his great attitude and personality. The food was mediocre. I was disappointed because I heard such good things about the fried chicken and seafood. The jumbo shrimp was not very big or worth the money, and were overly seasoned with Old Bay, which I'm not a huge fan of in general. The fried chicken didn't live up to expectations, and it wasn't cheap either. Overall it wasn't great, I've had better, but I've also had worse.
(3)Paula T.
The food was ok. I had the cream of crab soup. It came out quickly but was luke warm. My husband had a beer that came in a can. The server didn't offer a glass.
(3)Daniel S.
I'd like to write about what a great experience I had, but in truth it was just ok. While the service was punctual, the fish and chips was simply ok. The ambiance and set up wasn't anything grand.
(3)Aaryn P.
I'll tell you openly and honestly, I am not a fan of seafood - at all. My boyfriend, the east coaster he is, was craving some sea fare tonight and we had heard that Waterman's was an alright place to go. Since they had chicken options for me, I was willing to give it a go as well. He got the king crab legs, roasted red potatoes and coleslaw whereas I got the fried chicken with roasted red potatoes and tossed salad. We also got some steamed shrimp to go. While everything tasted alright, I couldn't help but feel, see and in most things taste the mediocrity of the entire place. The fried chicken was ok...but I can't say that I haven't had better out of a grocery store deli...it was moist...but...not especially memorable. My boyfriend thought that the seafood, overall was tasty, well cooked and fresh. The sides were....meh, nothing special..but again, alright. My salad was a nice mix of veggies, but I did find some wilted stems of lettuce. We got seated right away, and our waitress seemed nice enough. We enjoyed her accent, and frequent use of "yous." The decor and ambiance were that of possibly an ill maintained Skippers of my west coast childhood. So, in the end...I find that this place is alright. I recognize they are an established fixture in the community, and that they have probably been doing things the same way for years. While admirable, I think they could benefit from a breath of fresh air here.
(3)Zachary G.
The server at the bar was a wonderful young woman who showed this city boy how to break open and eat a steamed crab. The crab was delicious. The coffee was fresh, and the potato salad hit the spot. Definitely worth revisiting if I'm ever in the area again.
(4)Miriam B.
Just had my birthday dinner here after being referred by the locals. I'm a big seafood lover and this place really fits the bill. I had blue crab, crab imperial, snow crab and peanut butter cake for dessert. This is a no frills down home family style restaurant with amazing food and good service. I will be coming back here again!.
(5)Terry M.
I went to Waterman's for dinner with a few friends when the last minute decision of "Crabs" was made. Even though there was a little bit of a wait we sat at the five person bar and relaxed a little bit until a table opened up. The food was good, there table was a bit of a maze to get to, but at the end of the day was comfortable and held all of the crabs that made it to it. "The Good" - The hostess and the waitress were both very nice and polite. - The all you can eat crabs is a staple and one of the main reasons to visit. The crabs were all good, decently priced and the atmosphere. - If you do not have the patience for crackin' crabs and eating slowly over the course of multiple hours... they also have a crab legs order that will fill you up a bit faster. - Hush Puppies... amazing. - The healthy conscience at the table enjoyed the Broiled Seafood platter and the small samples that were handed out were delicious. "The Meh" - The parking lot fills up fast and it is safe to assume that if there is no space in the lot... there is no space in the restaurant and there will be a wait. "The Bad" - Nothing really bad to comment on.
(4)Sean H.
Since the fire and remodel, the restaurant is beautiful! It looks like an upscale beach house. For appetizers we had calamari (basic but fine), steamed shrimp, and mussels (not a big fan of the mussels, the broth was mostly just wine and they tasted very fishy). Many of us had the crab cake sandwiches which were a big hit! They weren't too expensive but had good lumps of meat and were creamy. I had the broiled seafood platter which was also good. Good value for the price, friendly staff, good decor. Probably a 3.5 star but I can't do a half star on my phone haha
(4)Toya D.
My shellfish allergy doesn't allow me to partake of the HUGE crabs that area available with the "crab feast" deal, but...the buffalo chicken tenders were REALLY good. For $7.99, you get 6 large ones and a side order of fries. Good, cheap meal for those not opting for crab, shrimp and all the other seafood they have available. We chilled at the bar while waiting to be seated (we had a large party, so it took awhile for them to get our tables in order). the bartender was cool. We all chose the "bucket" option ($8 for 32oz of sugar-coated booze). They also have a NICE happy hour, which was $8 well spent.
(4)Michael I.
My girlfriend and I ate there yesterday. Most reviews here are right on the mark. Food is good, not great. Cream of crab soup would have been a 10. It had excellent flavor, was a little salty and wasn't creamy enough. This place has the potential to be best restaurant in OC.
(3)Tom L.
Beware! We decided to try Waterman's based on the good ratings we read. Besides a rowdy bunch at a nearby table the place seemed to be ok. The waitress was nice and the food was mostly tasty. The kicker is that my daughter got the shrimp and became quite ill 5 hours later. We called Waterman's in the morning to warn them that their shrimp may be bad so no one else would experience what my daughter did. The Waterman's management did not express any concern or apology and proceeded to blame her sickness on the possibility that she ate something 24 hours before she ate at Waterman's. In addition, the bathrooms were so dirty that they were almost unusable. This place will not care about you.
(2)Meli G.
The food was well prepared and well sized portions. (My husband and I split the crab dip appetizer and the steamed seafood combo; we walked away with full bellies) The staff was freindly and polite.
(5)Karen Y.
the sign out front states that bringing your own cooler of beer onto the premises is not allow. and there isn't much to be said for the food or the ambiance. sometimes less is more in a review.
(2)Tom B.
I really like Watermans.....I give 3 stars because it can indeed have tourist written all over it; crowds, wait time, mass produced food...this is all season based. HOWEVER There are some good points about the place. If you hit the place come September, I've had GREAT crabs with plenty of meat, and the crowd has died down as well. Further, even though this is a review of a restaurant, more than once I've gotten some of their retail seafood side and have found it to be fair in price. I would say you have to look at Watermans for what it is; a restaurant not meant to be a hidden secret, but to rope in its share of all you can eat consumers. In the realm of this type of restarurant (a number of them obviously are the OC area) this one is one of the better ones, and competitive price wise. It doesn't overlook water or a marina full of boats, but is one of the better "mass produced crab house" bunch in that area.
(3)Evan L.
My father-in-law, a resident of Worcest county his entire life, took me and my wife-to-be here a little over three years ago. To say that he knows the good eats in OC and the surrounding area is an understatement. When we moved here several weeks ago, he warned us off of Bull on the Beach. Did I listen? No. I was tempted by the so-called beef BBQ. But I digress. He loves Waterman's. And I see why. Waterman's is a cultural slice of the Eastern Shore. It's about as unpretentious as can be and solely focused on the food and cheer. As someone who lives here during the off-season (i.e., now!), there is more to it than crab, crab, and crab. Their lunch specials are awesome. Try the smoked beef brisket sandwich, for instance. But, yes, there is crab. There is excellent crab! However, during the season, the corn on the cob is actually a distraction. With a not-so-cheap all-you-can-eat, you would ordinarily be advised to stick with the expensive stuff with a tenacious resolve. However, let me tell you, their corn on the cob, when in season, is about the best that I've had anywhere. So, by all means, keep going to Hoopers. I and my father-in-law are more than glad to keep Waterman's to ourselves! Update: After living in the Pines for several months, the shine has worn off. Couple of stars off for the slow and seemingly careless servers.
(3)Emily H.
The worst place to be buying crabs from. I just came back from Ocean City, MD for vacation and had such a great time there. But once I got back home, I realized that the Waterman's workers shorted me 4 crabs... -_- I ordered 2 dozens of the small blue crabs for $22 each dozen and 2 lbs of the snow legs for $8.99 a lb. They gave the snow crabs to me first and it seemed about right...2 lbs. Then they bagged the 2 dozen blue crabs and we left thinking there should be 24 crabs inside. We didn't check because the crabs had all the seasoning on it and it would be messy to take all the crabs out just to count it. We trusted them and headed home. Once I got home, I came to realize that we only had 20 crabs in the bag. They probably took advantage of the fact that we're tourists and it was pretty obvious with our camera around our necks. We're also not regular customers of course. They short us 4 crabs knowing that it would be a hassle to count the amount. If we were regular customers, I highly doubt that we'd experience such a thing. What a bad place to be buying seafood from. It's just not right and unfair. Those whole 4 crabs is a lot! Please save yourself the trouble and buy elsewhere. This place is not worth the money because it's just a typical seafood place. Hope this helps. *EDIT* 8/17/10 - I called Waterman's up just now and asked to speak with a manager. I told him about my situation and he apologized. Also, credit me back for those 4 crabs that I was missing. With that being said, I will give them an extra star. =P
(2)Linda B.
My husband and I went to Waterman's about a month ago. I had been once before with my sisters and I had such a good experience that I wanted to take him back with me. We both love seafood. So, we ordered the cream of crab soup--a cup for each of us. We should've gotten the BOWL--it is SO good. There's a ton of crabmeat in it and the taste is wonderful. I am a native Marylander and have lived her for 38 of my 39 years alive. I've had a LOT of cream of crab soup in my lifetime--but this was the best - THE BEST - I had ever tasted. We also ordered the Seafood Skins--potato skins covered in crab, scallops, shrimp and cheese. They were very good, but the potatoes themselves could've been baked a little longer. They were sorta hard. Not inedible, just not quite done enough. That would be our only complaint. We didn't send them back or anything. I would suggest giving Waterman's a try if you're in the Ocean City area. It's well worth the trip--even if you have to come from Dewey or Rehobeth or Lewes. It's worth it for the cream of crab soup alone!
(4)Jan N.
If you are a blue crab connoisseur then you can tell the difference between fresh steamed and reheated precooked crabs. We were told that the crabs were cooked to order so we ordered a dozen large. They came out warm not hot. They were dry and the meat did not come out easily or juicy as fresh steamed crabs do. We complained and sent them back. Needless to say we were very disappointed. Is there any place in OCMD that serves fresh steamed crabs?
(1)Steve W.
Nothing special. I was there for lunch in the off season and the service was extremely slow despite no one in the restaraunt. The food was decent but nothing special that would make it stand out from the many other seafood joints all over the Eastern Shore. I ordered a meal as opposed to the all-u-can-eat crabs because it was out of season so I'm not sure how they rate. It wasn't terrible but I guarantee you can find much better nearby.
(2)Kate B.
While the food was basic neither here nor there the service literally made this the worst experience dining I can remember. You might as well eat at a dairy queen at the mall. The woman at the front door refused to seat us because a member of our party had not arrived meanwhile there seemed to be only a couple people actually in the resteraunt. She was so rude an mocked us all and when I asked to spoke to the manager she was less than sympathetic. The lack of respect for this resteraunts diners is unreal. Do not go here no part of this is a necessary or worthwhile expirience.
(1)David K.
I've been going to OCMD for nearly 30 years. We've seen crabs houses come and go. Been to pretty much all of them in that time. I don't like Hoopers. And normally, we just order a bushel or half bushel from Watermans and carry out. Sometimes, you'll have big wait times at the restaurant. You can only do so much with an All You Can Eat place. I've enjoyed the AYCE as well as the regular menu many times. We consistently get good food/crabs which is why we continue to go back. FYI, if you're going to order crabs on a weekend, do it earlier that day. A few times, I've tried to order at the last minute and they're out. And we're normally disappointed with where we have to scramble for crabs after that.
(4)Kathy K.
This was our second try at Waterman's the first being about 2 years ago unfortunaly a horrible experience both times. The first time I ordered the soft crab platter there were 6 crabs on the platter (sounds good) they were so small that I asked the waitress if that was even legal?. She immediately took the platter away. The second time I thought every place deserves a second chance to I order a soft crab sandwich, again there were 2 again so small I put both on one side of the bread. I've had spiders in my basement bigger then that. Legal or not (which our waitress said there is no size restrictions on soft crabs) the TOTAL DISREGARD FOR THE BAY should be enough to stop anyone from frequenting this place
(1)Shane G.
This was the best seafood experience I have ever had in my 20+ years going to Ocean City. Every plate at our table was perfectly prepared and the service was fantastic. This is one of the few places that will join the "Recommend to everyone" list.
(5)Tim M.
It always amazes me the disparity of reviews you'll find on this site and how liberally 5 star reviews are dished out. The two previous reviews; one by an "experienced" Yelper are about as far from reality as I've seen in some time. Waterman's is an iconic classic for the Ocean City MD area. It has been here for decades. But how anyone can give this a 5 star review is beyond me. The upsides to Waterman's are that it is out of the way and open year round. That's about where the story ends in comparison to this place and most of the other "we'll fry anything to get a buck out of you" type seafood joints on the OC scene. They sport the typical fried fish, oysters, clam (strips!), shrimp, scallops, and chicken like EVERYONE else does and it is unremarkably indifferent to any vat of fat in town. The menu is limited to mostly seafood which to me is not a shocker but not everyone does the fish thing - I give higher reviews to places that offer more variety despite their seafood leanings even if it IS a 'crab house'. So let's get to that shall we? As to 'the crabs', steamed Maryland Blue Crab is by far my favorite food on the planet. I've been to every major crab house in the state that is worthy of a star on a book by Whitey Schmidt (if you don't know about Whitey sorry - you can't expertly review blue crab period). First of all avoid ANY place that has 'all you can eat' crabs. This means the feed bag is on and they serve quantity over quality consumers. 'All you can eat' also means 'all they can pre-steam'. In order to keep up with demand your crabs are NOT steamed to order but rather steamed way ahead and then re-steamed in volume to keep up. If crabs don't take 20 minutes or more to get to your table they are not steamed to order. The half-dozen crabs I had on 01.02.09 were hot in the middle and cold on the extremities - a trademark of the re-steamed crab. They only typically have #1 or #2 sizes (says so on the menu in fixed print) which is warning sign number two; they don't get 'catch of the day' anything but rather order a standard selection routinely. A good crab joint will have a variety of sizes daily depending on what comes in off the boat and availability is limited. So to the reviewers here who think this is like the 'world's best coffee' of crab houses I'm sorry to call you out but you're about as far off as you can get. I appreciate your zeal and I could go on but I digress. As for the service at Waterman's it appears they are still at least partly family owned and operated and you can tell that by the worn out and insincere way the host/hostess to the wait staff treat things. I guess after 30 some years of pitching out mediocre fried non-descript seafood to the throngs of mostly inlanders who don't know any better wears you out after awhile. We didn't even get a hello, goodbye, or a thank you upon arriving, checking out, or leaving. Sorry - you won't get 5 stars from that either. I had to drag the gal down a couple times just for a refill of weak iced-tea. Upon this visit I had a large New England style clam chowder that was watery, tasteless and I'm pretty sure only had 2 clam pieces in the entire bowl. After a tablespoon of salt and pepper it was palatable. This soup was clearly from a can and probably the same chowder you'll get at 90% of the fry daddy restaurants around town. Oh yeah - 5 star material alright. I added 6 semi-cold crabs which were meaty and at least not watery or dried out but otherwise also unremarkable. My fiancé got the fried chicken with fries and broccoli. The fries must sit next to the crab re-heater as they were pretty much cold. She did mention the chicken breast was moist and flavorful so she was happy. The one upside to Waterman's and that is they are open year round. I wanted a crab fix and I got it but truly it was like a junkie on a binge who got through the night but got ripped off by a knowingly bad deal at the same time. Ocean City MD is NOT a good place to find hard shell steamed crabs which is ironic but considering the drive to get the non-savvy consumer dollar in the restaurant industry there it makes sense. Finding true good food in Ocean City is an art and the product of years of experience - the ratio of really good places is about 1 in 300. Yelpers should not mislead readers the way these 2 previous reviews do - but this is an open forum - everyone has their opinion. You've got an honest review to work with now however. Waterman's is 'ok' - but doesn't stand out whatsoever in a single way, shape, or form from the bulk of other seafood joints in Ocean City. If you're looking to fill up on high carbs, fried food, and 'all you can bloat yourself' with fare in an environment where your kids can dump soda all over the floor and no one will notice then this is an option for you. If you want quality seafood or really great steamed crabs this is NOT the place to come unless you're desperate.
(2)Jenifer M.
We go to Waterman's every year out of habit. Personally, I think the crabs are fine, and I actually like that I get my additional crabs or crab legs within a few minutes. I suppose I am not any kind of crab expert, but then again, it's an all-you-can-eat and we are tourists. I DO agree that everything they serve along with the crabs is a waste of time- it's just a load of filler to reduce the amount of crabs you eat. We went in the middle of June around 7pm, and did not have to wait for a table. The waitress was tough to flag down, and I eventually had to flag down another waiter to get us what we needed. Overall, it is not a bad place to eat...despite some reviews. It seems like a family-friendly restaurant where the food is dumped in the middle of the table and it becomes a free=for-all!
(3)Alison W.
Everyone in Ocean City is always all about Hooper's and I have NO IDEA WHY. Waterman's is absolutely superior in every way. The decor is bare bones and refreshingly centered around food, food and more food. They plop your crabs (does anyone actually eat anything else here? no.) down in front of you with absolutely no pomp and circumstance and leave you to get down to business. They always have more coming when you need them (does anyone do anything but all-you-can-eat here? no.) and they clear your graveyard quickly. It's ever-so-slightly off the beaten path (on Route 50, just across the bridge that takes you to the main boardwalk strips) and that's a good thing, guys. No drunk people falling ALL over you, vomiting and mucking up the atmosphere. That's like a miracle when it comes to beach town nightlife.
(5)Team Asphalt W.
Not very good. The shrimp were tough and overcooked and the rest of the fried items were tasteless and too heavily breaded. The broiled scallops were good. Service was good. A lot of people come for the AUCE crabs and they were a nice size. There a lot of other seafood choices in the area. Disappointed in a business that has been around a long time.
(1)Mark S.
I lived on the Eastern Shore of Maryland for 30 years and Crabs are simply a lifestyle and a tradition. I've been to crab shacks all across the OC strip. Waterman's has been a staple part of Ocean City and represents all that is good on Eastern Shore. The crabs and steamed shrimp are excellent. Order large or jumbo crabs and you'll get your money's worth. The fried chicken is also most excellent. I'm a fried chicken fanatic and take that stuff pretty seriously. But these guys have it down pat.
(5)Kara W.
good ayce deal.
(4)