OCEAN CITY – Located in front of Northside Park in Ocean City is the Crabby Pig, a restaurant with roots in both Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore.
Owner Terry Crawford opened his first restaurant in his hometown of Cumberland, Md.
The first location is positioned on the zero mile marker between Pittsburgh and the nation’s capital, in between a popular bike trail.
When his restaurant found success, Crawford decided to open a second location in the resort town, the place he visited often as a child.
Crawford found the bayside location while attending a cheerleading competition in February.
The rest was history.
Crabby Pig’s second location took the place of Blue Ox Bar and Grill and opened June 6 of this year.
It took two months of renovations before Crawford opened the doors.
From March to May, he encountered numerous issues and setbacks that delayed the renovation.
But with help from Jerk Pony owner and artist Steve Shreve, Crawford set his sights on updating the dining room and bar.
Now, the updated restaurant seats 120 people in the dining area, 77 in the bar and 75 in the banquet room.
Compared to the size of its first location, the Crabby Pig at the beach has more opportunities to serve tourists and locals alike.
Crawford says his experiences at the Ocean City location are different, but his staff, waiters, and bartenders are exceptional.
“We’ve got a lot of bugs worked out, and we’ve got a lot of talent here as far as the wait staff and the kitchen goes,” Crawford says. “Things are moving smoothly now. We have got a good base crew of locals that are year-round employees.”
With a larger location and a different customer base, Manager Christina Michael says their food will suit every appetite.
“We have awesome burgers and awesome crab cakes,” Michael says. “But we have something for everybody.”
Crawford’s second location uses the same menu as its restaurant in Cumberland, but with a local twist.
“We’ve found that people have a little bit of a different taste down here,” Crawford says.
However, Crabby Pig’s famous ribs and pork continue to remain a staple on its menu.
Just like its Cumberland location, the ribs and pork are smoked with logs onsite.
Starting next year, Crabby Pig will add all-you-can-eat hard shell crabs option to its menu.
Until then, the restaurant will continue to stay open throughout the fall, and possibly into winter to create a local-friendly atmosphere.
“We cater to locals more in the winter, and we want to make them feel welcome,” Michael says.
Ten televisions surround the bar and offer an array of sports channels.
The bar carries more than 40 craft beers and will remain open until all games are finished.
A 120-inch television is also offered in the banquet room for larger parties and celebrations.
Crabby Pig is open 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
The restaurant and bar will offer unique NFL specials, along with happy hour deals on food and drinks throughout the fall.
“Come give us a try,” Crawford says. “We are getting better every time.”
For more information, visit www.thecrabbypig.com, call 410-250-6440, or email [email protected].
