Second Year Brings Upgrades To OC’s Dead Freddies

OCEAN CITY – Dead Freddies Island Grill on 64th Street opened a year ago but is entering into this summer season with newly added space for family fun and a menu aimed to please all kinds of taste buds.

Dead Freddies is the most recent location to open out of its three sites. The original is in Parkville, Md., and the second is in Bel Air, Md., which is titled just Freddies.

According to Dead Freddies Manager Tara Wancowicz, the name of the establishment was created through a customer contest when Parkville first opened. The building was already named Freddies and the owners wanted to keep the sign so they began a contest on who could come up with the best name that included Freddies.

“So a guy came in and there was nobody in the place and he said man this place is dead, you should call it Dead Freddies,” Wancowicz said.

Dead Freddies caters to everybody, whether you’re a single adult, a family or children. “We are here for all ages and we are big on family fun,” Wancowicz said.

Not only do they give out foam swords and eye patches to all the kids, there is also a children’s deck with a life-size pirate ship and this year Dead Freddies has added a beach area with playground equipment. A beach area has also been added to the adult deck as well as an extended bar.

“I love this place,” Wancowicz said. “The food is outstanding.”

Wancowicz said that the food is always consistent as well as a wide variety offered. The menu features appetizers, wings, soups, salads, wraps, burgers, sandwiches, entrees, quesadillas, desserts and a healthy offering of kids items. It’s also home to the original Maryland and Cream of Crab Blend soup, which is a mix of the two classic Maryland soups.

This summer Dead Freddies has added new items to the menu including Chicken Caprese, Pasta Primavera and Captains Chicken, soft serve ice cream to the dessert menu and even vegetarian options and an allergen list.

They also have a list of signature cocktails including the Shipwreck, which is a frozen 22-ounce margarita, with an upside down corona, and a tequila tooter shot.

Dead Freddies’ list of entertainment is set and begins Wednesday of every week and stretches through Monday. During entertainment hours, there is also drink specials provided in the bar area.

“We have entertainment going on like crazy,” Wancowicz said.

On Wednesdays, DJ Crush is scheduled for 80’s Ladies Night. Thursday is Reggae night with a variety of bands. On Friday, DJ Rupe plays, and Saturday and Sunday there is all-day entertainment including live bands and DJ Wax, who also returns again on Monday.

The atmosphere always has customers coming back for more. The establishment’s island theme includes life-sized mermaids, pirates and even an alligator climbing over the inside bar.

“There is always something to look at,” Wancowicz said. “We hope to triple what we did last year because of advertising, word of mouth, and we have a larger staff this year, too.”

Dead Freddies currently features 150 well-trained employees who have to go through two orientations and multiple tests in order to work there. There are 25 to 30 servers on the floor a night to provide the service expected.

“Our staff is motivated, friendly and professional,” Wancowicz said.

She added that the kitchen staff impresses her daily, getting the food out in a timely manner no matter how many people flood the large restaurant.

Operator/Managing Partner Joe Zorbach takes part in the daily grind while cooking in the kitchen.

Dead Freddies works through team work, he and Wancowicz said.

“Every category of positions here, whether you’re a bar back, or a bartender, or a prep cook, they are all just as important because they all know they have to rely on that person,” Wancowicz said. “We run a tight ship.”