OCEAN CITY – Adolfo’s Italian Restaurant on the Ocean is continuing to grow each season in its new Boardwalk location and this summer has added breakfast and lunch to the mix.
Adolfo’s, located on the first floor of the Beach Plaza Hotel on 13th Street and the Boardwalk, is known for fine Italian fare with an Eastern Shore flair.
But new this year is breakfast, served Thursday through Monday, and has been growing popular at Adolfo’s since the new addition hit the tables on Memorial Day weekend.
Kitchen Manager Autumn Dodson serves up unique breakfast and lunch menu items.
“She does an excellent job,” owner Kimberly Griffin said.
Popular breakfast dishes include the Italiano Split made with strawberries and bananas atop French toasted Brioche drizzled with Nutella and chocolate. Other favorites include cannoli stuffed French toast and pancakes; the Serephin, which is angel food cake, dipped in French toast batter with strawberries and sweet cream cheese; bacon and cheddar pancakes; shrimp and grits; and omelets.
“My mom and brother have been in the breakfast business at Satellite Coffee Shop on 24th Street and 46th Street, so breakfast is in the family also,” Griffin said. “Being in the hotel you have a lot people here in the mornings, so it is worth it to give it a try. You can’t beat breakfast and this view. Everybody wants to sit outside.”
Lunch kicked off a couple weeks ago being served on Saturday and Sunday. Favorite menu items so far are the Casa Grilled Chicken served on a roll with melted brie and avocado, and the Summer Salad made of spinach, basil, artichokes, Roma tomatoes, avocado, strawberries, and fresh mozzarella.
Adolfo’s moved to 13th Street and the Boardwalk in 2012 after being located near the Inlet for many years. Adolfo’s dining room overlooks the Boardwalk and Atlantic Ocean and offers an outdoor deck with seating. Recently added this year is courtyard seating on the Boardwalk level.
The outdoor seating becomes increasingly in demand each year as it was completely booked for OC Air Show a few weeks back and is already close to being booked on the 4th of July.
The restaurant’s elegant “old world charm” theme has attracted many wedding receptions throughout the past several years as well.
“We do a lot of weddings here … for the most part wedding receptions take place in the bride’s hometown, so nine out of 10 I have gone to high school with the bride’s parents,” Griffin said. “I love weddings, it so fun.”
Adolfo’s parlor-lounge will continue to provide live entertainment this season. This year’s line-up includes Bryan Russo, Billie Carlins Band, Rhonda and Dale and Jake Welsh.
Griffin first started working at Adolfo’s as a server in 1991 and became the restaurant’s owner 10 years later just a few months before she was married to her husband, David.
Once the Griffin’s caught wind the restaurant space on the hotel’s first floor was available, they went for it and haven’t looked back since.
“We love it here,” Griffin said, looking back over the past few years.
Adolfo’s is open year-round and expects to carry on breakfast and lunch until Labor Day and on weekends into the fall season.
To keep up with Adolfo’s visit its Facebook page, Adolfo’s on the Ocean.